WO1997037170A1 - Guide tubulaire d'ondes lumineuses pour eclairage lineaire - Google Patents

Guide tubulaire d'ondes lumineuses pour eclairage lineaire Download PDF

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Publication number
WO1997037170A1
WO1997037170A1 PCT/IB1997/000271 IB9700271W WO9737170A1 WO 1997037170 A1 WO1997037170 A1 WO 1997037170A1 IB 9700271 W IB9700271 W IB 9700271W WO 9737170 A1 WO9737170 A1 WO 9737170A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
light guide
tubular light
guide
tubular
film
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/IB1997/000271
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Roberto Casalone
Original Assignee
Intekna S.R.L.
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Intekna S.R.L. filed Critical Intekna S.R.L.
Priority to JP9535079A priority Critical patent/JPH11507172A/ja
Priority to AU22271/97A priority patent/AU2227197A/en
Priority to BR9702159A priority patent/BR9702159A/pt
Priority to EP97905366A priority patent/EP0828967A1/fr
Publication of WO1997037170A1 publication Critical patent/WO1997037170A1/fr
Priority to NO975519A priority patent/NO975519L/no

Links

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
    • G02B6/0001—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings specially adapted for lighting devices or systems
    • G02B6/0096—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings specially adapted for lighting devices or systems the lights guides being of the hollow type
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21W—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES F21K, F21L, F21S and F21V, RELATING TO USES OR APPLICATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS
    • F21W2131/00—Use or application of lighting devices or systems not provided for in codes F21W2102/00-F21W2121/00
    • F21W2131/10—Outdoor lighting
    • F21W2131/101—Outdoor lighting of tunnels or the like, e.g. under bridges
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
    • G02B6/0001—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings specially adapted for lighting devices or systems

Definitions

  • This invention is concerned with a tubular light guide for diffuse lighting of tunnels, sheds, exhibition halls, and of large-sized buildings generally.
  • Light guides are known which convey light over distances of several tens of meters, where the light emerges from the guide through a longitudinal window for diffusely illummating large-sized spaces such as tunnels.
  • Light guides offer well known advan ⁇ tages with respect to conventional lighting using individual hanging lamps, mainly consisting in a better lighting uniformity, which also leads to a lower power con ⁇ sumption for equal performance. Also, when light guides are used for the iUumination of highway tunnels, they avoid glaring and flickering for the drivers of passing vehicles, with improvement of traffic safety.
  • a known hollow light guide uses a metallized tube which conveys the light projected in a quasi-axial direction by a high-power lamp placed at one end of the guide. Light is reflected against the tube wall with a grazing angle, and is thus propagated by successive reflections.
  • a longitudinal slot aperture allows a fraction of the conveyed light to escape to the outside environment to provide illumination.
  • a light guide of this kind comprises an extruded rigid tube of a material such as policarbonate, whose intemal surface is coated with a thin film of total intemal reflection material.
  • This is a film of polimeric material having a smooth surface looking to the inside of the tubular light guide and an opposite surface scored with a myriad, side-by-side isosceles prisms, which impart a total reflection on light hitting in a direction near the axial direction.
  • a film of this kind is disclosed in EP-A-0 225 123, and is manufactured by the 3M Company under the trade name "OLF film” (Optical Lighting Film), and more gen ⁇ erally known as “TIR film” (Total Intemal Reflection).
  • OLF film Optical Lighting Film
  • TIR film Total Intemal Reflection
  • the light emission in this kind of light guide is usually obtained by placing an "extractor" film, having a matte reflecting surface along a longitudinal strip of the guide's intemal surface, on the side opposite to the desired emission: light hitting the extractor is reflected in a diffuse form, and is propagated, at least in part, along directions which, at their next hit into the tube wall, will make an angle greater than the angle of total reflection, so theat the light will escape from the tube to the outside space.
  • the amount and direction of the emission is controlled by the position and width of the extractor.
  • the efficiency of the total-reflection tubular guide is quite superior to the efficiency of the metallic-reflection light guide, and, moreover, it remains high for long periods without a need for maintenance even in unfavourable environments, such as moist environments, where a metalllic reflector tends to oxidize.
  • installing a flex ⁇ ible film within a tube of a diameter of a few tens of centimeters is cumbersome, and transporting the trunks of tubular guide thus prepared is quite expensive, due to their large bulk.
  • the object of the invention is therefore to provide a tubular light guide using total reflection, based on the TIR film, which is easier to manufacture and cheaper to transport.
  • a tubular light guide for linear Ulumin- ation comprising a succession of at least partially transparent tubes which are coated with a flexible film of TIR material on their intemal surface, characterized in that each tube is formed from a semi-rigid rectangular plate of a transparent polimeric material, which is coated with said film of total reflection material on one side, and is bent to bring its longer edges together to be clamped by clamping means.
  • Fig. 1 is a plan view of a flexible plate-like member belonging to a light guide according to a preferred embodiment of the invention
  • Fig. 2 is an end view of the plate-like member of Fig. 1, where thicknesses are greatly exaggerated to show its component layers;
  • Fig. 3 is a view in transverse cross-section of the tubular light guide as obtained from the plate-like member of Fig. 1 ;
  • Fig. 4 is a lateral view of the light guide of Fig. 3, on a greatly reduced scale
  • Fig. 5 is a view in transverse cross-section of the guide of Fig. 1 with a hooking strap, on a slightly reduced scale;
  • Fig. 6 is a view in axial cross-section of the fitting area between two trunks of the tubular light guide of Fig. 4, on an enlarged scale;
  • Fig. 7 is a view in the direction of arrow Nil on Fig. 6;
  • Fig. 8 is a view in axial cross-section of a fitting ring of the tubular light guide of Fig. 4, on an enlarged scale;
  • Fig. 9 is a view in axial cross-section of a terminal reflector member of the tubular light guide of Fig. 4, on an enlarged scale.
  • a tubular light guide starts from an elongated plate 10 of semi-rigid, transparent polycarbo ⁇ nate, of about 1.5 mm thickness, and having two lateral, square-bent fins 12, 14 along its longer sides.
  • Plate 10 is typically about 2 to 3 meters long and about 1 meter wide, fins 12, 14 each being preferably 10 millimeters wide.
  • the plate is provided with a masking 16 comprising a flexible, adhesive sheet of white opaque material, such as the material known under the trade name "Tivek".
  • Masking 16 initially covers the entire surface of the plate as manufactured, and is then removed over a central, uniform window as shown with 18, the window having a width which, depending on the desired lighting specification, typically ranges from l ⁇ to l ⁇ of the width of plate 10.
  • a TIR film 20 is then laid over the entire surface of plate 10, covering both the masked areas and the bared central window 18.
  • the TIR film may be attached with cement along a narrow longitudinal strip.
  • two extractors 22, 24, further described below, are glued onto TIR film 20.
  • the extractors are two elongated, iso ⁇ sceles triangles of an opaque reflective film, which extend from their respective bases near one end of plate 10, tapering to its opposite end. Both extractors 22, 24 are arranged symmetrically with respect to the longitudinal axis of plate 10, each near one of lateral fins 12, 14.
  • plate 10 prepared as described, is bent transversely to bring fins 12, 14 togemer.
  • the fins are then received into respective longitudinal grooves made in a webbed aluminum shoe 26.
  • Shoe 26 is bolted at intervals to a girder 28, with which it forms a clamping means to fasten the longitudinal finned edges of plate 10, so mat a hollow cylinder is formed, which constitutes a trunk of a tubular light guide according to the invention.
  • Two ribs 30 depend from the longitudinal opposite sides of shoe 26. Ribs 30 are shaped with grooves to elastically grip an arched sheet 32, which is itself coated with a TIR film.
  • the operation of the guide as described above will be evident to the person skilled in the art.
  • the light which is focussed by projector 46 to hit the guide walls with an angle smaller than Brewster's angle, will be reflected in succession by total intemal reflection on TIR film 20, and will zigzag forward along the tube.
  • the light hitting extractors 22, 24 is diffusely reflected, and a fraction of such reflected light will hit window 18 with an angle larger than Brewster's angle, and therefore will cross TLR film 20 and emerge to the outside space.
  • the diffused light crossing TIR film 20 outside window 18 is reflected by masking 16 and is retumed to the intemal space of the guide.
  • Fig. 4 shows a light guide as assembled from several trunks as shown on Fig. 3, which are connected to one another.
  • Each guide trunk 32, 34, 36 is hung to a horizon ⁇ tal rail 38 by means of hooking brackets 40 which are fastened to straps 41, as better described below.
  • the trunks are connected end-to-end by means of fittings com ⁇ prising pairs of rings 42, 44, which are also further described below.
  • a light source is attached, i.e. a focused projector 46 (which is also hung to rail 38 through a bracket 40).
  • Projector 46 is known to a person skilled in the art and does not belong to the invention, so that it is not described further.
  • the oppsite end of the guide is terminated by a reflector 48, further described below, although an identical projector to projector 46 might be mounted in its place.
  • Fig. 5 shows in more detail how the light guide is hooked to horizontal rail 38. Near its opposite ends, each trunk is individually embraced in a stainless-steel strap 41 having terminal flanges for fastening to a hook 40 by means of bolts 50.
  • the connection of two tube trunks such as 32, 34 is made by means of two webbed rings 42, 44 of a technopolymer, each having an intemal bore sized for a snug fit with the associated light guide trunk, and further having a hosing slot for the end of girder 28 and a flaring 52 (see Fig. 8) where a rubber gasket 54 is received.
  • Ring 42 has an annular groove on the side facing ring 44, which groove matches an annular rib 56 (Fig. 8) on the side of ring 44.
  • Fig. 9 shows a preferred terminal reflector 48.
  • the reflector is similar to a fitting ring 42 and, similarly, is assembled against a ring 44 having gaskets 54 and clips 58.
  • Te ⁇ ninal 48 is different from the fitting ring substantially in that it is shut by a cross-wall 64, having a projection issuing from its center, to which a convex, metal-coated reflector 68 is bolted.
  • the above described tubular light guide structure is definitely cheaper than known light guides based on TIR films, with respect both to the cost of the starting materials and, even more, to the costs of processing, transport and assembly.
  • the plates can be pre-assembled in the factory with masking, TIR film and extractors, and be then transported in a stacked condition to the site of installation, where they can undergo their final assembly by means of easy steps and of simple tools.
  • laying the several optically active films is much easier than in light guides based on extruded tubes; the decrease in bulk with respect to guides made from extruded tubes is also considerable, and it entails a corresponding decrease of the transport costs.

Landscapes

  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Optics & Photonics (AREA)
  • Light Guides In General And Applications Therefor (AREA)
  • Discharge Lamps And Accessories Thereof (AREA)
  • Planar Illumination Modules (AREA)
  • Securing Globes, Refractors, Reflectors Or The Like (AREA)

Abstract

La présente invention concerne une rangée de tubes transparents (32, 34, 36) formés chacun d'une plaque rectangulaire (10) semi-rigide de polycarbonate transparent revêtue sur l'une de ses faces d'un film (20) à réflexion interne totale et qui est incourvée de façon à en réunir les côtés longs et à les agrafer. Le dispositif d'agrafage peut être constitué d'une semelle rainurée (26) recevant les rebords longitudinaux (12, 14) rabattus à angle droit de la plaque (10) et d'une poutre (28) boulonnée sur le semelle. L'invention concerne également un guide de lumière constitué par l'assemblage de plusieurs de ces tronçons connectés les uns aux autres. Chaque tronçon de guide (32, 34, 36) est suspendu à un rail horizontal (38) au moyen de potences à crochets (40) fixées à des cerclages (41). Les tronçons sont montés bout à bout au moyen de fixations constituées d'une paire de bagues (42, 44) décrites dans la suite de la spécification. Une source lumineuse, en l'occurrence un projecteur focalisé (46), est également suspendu au rail (38) par une potence (40) à l'une des extrémités du guide.
PCT/IB1997/000271 1996-03-29 1997-03-19 Guide tubulaire d'ondes lumineuses pour eclairage lineaire WO1997037170A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (5)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP9535079A JPH11507172A (ja) 1996-03-29 1997-03-19 直線照明用の管状導光器
AU22271/97A AU2227197A (en) 1996-03-29 1997-03-19 Tubular light guide for linear lighting
BR9702159A BR9702159A (pt) 1996-03-29 1997-03-19 Condutor tubular de luz para iluminação linear
EP97905366A EP0828967A1 (fr) 1996-03-29 1997-03-19 Guide tubulaire d'ondes lumineuses pour eclairage lineaire
NO975519A NO975519L (no) 1996-03-29 1997-12-01 Rörformet lysleder for lineær belysning

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
IT96TO000252A IT1286292B1 (it) 1996-03-29 1996-03-29 Guida di luce tubolare per illuminazione lineare
ITTO96A000252 1996-03-29

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1997037170A1 true WO1997037170A1 (fr) 1997-10-09

Family

ID=11414512

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/IB1997/000271 WO1997037170A1 (fr) 1996-03-29 1997-03-19 Guide tubulaire d'ondes lumineuses pour eclairage lineaire

Country Status (7)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0828967A1 (fr)
JP (1) JPH11507172A (fr)
AU (1) AU2227197A (fr)
BR (1) BR9702159A (fr)
IT (1) IT1286292B1 (fr)
NO (1) NO975519L (fr)
WO (1) WO1997037170A1 (fr)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
NL1016297C2 (nl) * 2000-09-29 2002-04-03 Nils Light B V Verlichtingsarmatuur.

Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0235447A2 (fr) * 1986-01-15 1987-09-09 Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company Conduit de lumière à réflexion interne totale
US4777072A (en) * 1987-02-24 1988-10-11 Cason Jr Claude Pliable sheet and coupling strip
WO1990004132A1 (fr) * 1988-10-07 1990-04-19 Gulton Industries, Inc. Systeme d'eclairage
US5366263A (en) * 1993-10-22 1994-11-22 Quikcoup, Inc. Releasable fastener for pipe couplings
EP0645580A1 (fr) * 1993-09-28 1995-03-29 E.G.O. Holding Europe Optic Guide Dispositif d'éclairage pour tunnels à source lumineuse linéaire
WO1995030218A1 (fr) * 1994-04-29 1995-11-09 Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company Systeme de conduits lumineux routiers perfectionnes
US5475785A (en) * 1993-04-30 1995-12-12 Johanson; Walter A. Illumination devices and methods of forming same

Patent Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0235447A2 (fr) * 1986-01-15 1987-09-09 Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company Conduit de lumière à réflexion interne totale
US4777072A (en) * 1987-02-24 1988-10-11 Cason Jr Claude Pliable sheet and coupling strip
WO1990004132A1 (fr) * 1988-10-07 1990-04-19 Gulton Industries, Inc. Systeme d'eclairage
US5475785A (en) * 1993-04-30 1995-12-12 Johanson; Walter A. Illumination devices and methods of forming same
EP0645580A1 (fr) * 1993-09-28 1995-03-29 E.G.O. Holding Europe Optic Guide Dispositif d'éclairage pour tunnels à source lumineuse linéaire
US5366263A (en) * 1993-10-22 1994-11-22 Quikcoup, Inc. Releasable fastener for pipe couplings
WO1995030218A1 (fr) * 1994-04-29 1995-11-09 Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company Systeme de conduits lumineux routiers perfectionnes

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
NL1016297C2 (nl) * 2000-09-29 2002-04-03 Nils Light B V Verlichtingsarmatuur.
WO2002027234A1 (fr) * 2000-09-29 2002-04-04 Nils Light B.V. Appareil d'eclairage

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
ITTO960252A0 (fr) 1996-03-29
NO975519D0 (no) 1997-12-01
BR9702159A (pt) 1999-03-02
IT1286292B1 (it) 1998-07-08
JPH11507172A (ja) 1999-06-22
ITTO960252A1 (it) 1997-09-29
NO975519L (no) 1997-12-01
AU2227197A (en) 1997-10-22
EP0828967A1 (fr) 1998-03-18

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