A METHOD OF CONNECTING REFLECTORS AND LOUVERS TO FLUORESCENT
LAMPS
Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of attaching light weight poly-composite reflectors, louvers and diffusers to fluorescent light tubes and fixtures where the tube and associated control gear is integrated within a composite housing or extrusion containing wiring and high frequency control gear and allows for a rapid lightweight easily manufactured solution that beneficially allows simple, effective and rapid installation without tools.
Background of the Invention
In the lighting industry where fluorescent tubes are used in conjunction with lightweight polymer reflector and louver accessories it is necessary to closely fix and integrate lamp, luminar and reflector or louver together. Traditionally this has been achieved by manufacturing various complex solutions such as metal frames, expensive moulded components, metal brackets and large heavy enclosures.
There are two types of optical arrangements in the lighting industry. One is a form of reflector, typically a constant parabolic shaped reflective sheet focussed co-axially on the axis of a lamp, another form the louver is similar to this but with the addition of a plurality of cross blades constructed to fit at 90 degrees to the lamp axis, for the purpose of controlling glare and providing lamp cut off. Such constructions are well known and understood to those practised in the industry.
Recent technology developed has made possible the production of a form of light fitting in which the whole structure and operating control gear can be integrated within the typical axis and volume of space previously occupied by a single conventional fluorescent tube.
There is a necessity for providing a method of connecting reflectors and louvers to the new fluorescent lamps.
Summary of the Invention This present invention provides a method to retrofit new technology into existing lighting installations and to provide the opportunity of designing luminaries and optical control systems, which can be made substantially smaller to advantage. The present invention further provides reflectors, which can be fitted in the new concept lighting fittings.
This is achieved when a reflector is fixed to the small structural cross blade and the resultant assembly can be pressed into place on the lamp, during this process the small structural cross blade will distort and flex, then return to its original shape due to the inherent memory held in the polymer material. The reflector is then held in the desired co-axial position by the structural cross blade.
It is a feature of this invention that the flexibility and memory of the polymer material are utilised to allow the assembly to grip the tube adequately. The design of the shape of the structural cross blade will vary according to the diameter of any fluorescent tube and the length and other load
rorces.
It is further a feature of this present invention that the shapes and forms described will be cut using Computer Aided Design and Computer Aided Manufacturing processes so that expensive and time consuming manufacturing methods will be avoided.
In the present invention resultant composite products will be lightweight and robustly flexible being able to withstand severe handling but lightweight enough to be supported by a fluorescent tube without the need for metal frames, expensive moulded components, metal brackets and large heavy enclosures. The polymer surfaces can be coated with highly reflective aluminium and sealed using optically clear polymers to prevent oxidisation and maintain efficiencies.
It is yet another feature of the invention that the fluorescent tube is inserted in a plurality of cross blades arranged along the length of the parabolic reflector. The precise shape of the cross blade and parabolic reflector will be designed to be integrated closely with the new composite luminaries.
Another variation of the invention allows for a second type of cross blade also manufactured from poly-composite material and is designed so that the shape has apertures which allow the cross blade to be pressed or slid into position on the cross section. The invention also allows for a third type of construction where a reflector profile can be attached to the extrusion profile/ballast enclosures.
The principle proposed by the invention with regards to the new cross blades is then used to allow the construction of optical control methods to control the output of fluorescent tubes. The
fluorescent tubes are the same as fluorescent tubes detailed previously and are assumed to be mounted within the composite luminaries.
An uplighter is attached to a typical cross blade, which is further attached to a fluorescent tube. The reflective surface of the uplighter projects the light from the fluorescent tube upwards. The reflector attached to the uplighter can be rotated to direct light emitted by the fluorescent tube.
Glossary Of Terms; 1. POLY-COMPOSITE: Poly-composite in this context means a material manufactured of a laminated plastic structure, which has a highly reflective surface on one face.
2. LOUVER: A louver is a construction of cross blades and edge fins which are designed to control light output from fluorescent tubes and control glare.
3. REFLECTOR: A Reflector is a continuous section arranged around the axis of a fluorescent tube usually parabolic in section whose purpose is to efficiently direct light output in a desired direction.
4. HIGH FREQUENCY: This is a generic term used in the lighting industry to describe a method of igniting and controlling the power consumption of a fluorescent tube.
5. PRISMATIC: This is a generic term used within the lighting industry to describe a transparent or semi-transparent plastic sheet used for diffusing the light output of a fluorescent tube.
6. UPLIGHTER: This is a generic term used in the lighting industry to describe a reflective surface the purpose of which is to direct light towards a ceiling or wall.
Brief Description Of The Drawings
The following detailed description of the invention is supported by the schematically described embodiment examples, which function only for better understanding and are to be evaluated in no way as a restriction of the range of protection of the invention.
Figures 1 & 2 Illustrate a typical cross-section of two types of composite housings in existing lighting arrangemen.
Figures 3, 4 & 5 Depict various cross-section according to the invention.
Figure 6. Shows the louver attachment to the cross blade which is mounted on the fluorescent tube. Fig 7. Shows the uplighter attached to a typical cross blade, which is attached to a fluorescent tube.
Fig 8. Illustrates the reflector whose reflective surface can be rotated
Detailed Description Of A Preferred Embodiment The following detailed schematic description functions for the understanding of the invention concept, however, it cannot depict this exhaustively since uncounted construction variations both in the design, as well as in the functional construction, are possible.
Figures 1 illustrates a typical cross-section of a composite housing (1) that is an extruded section, which encloses the high frequency control gear and provides mechanical support for the fluorescent tube (5) lamp holders.
Figure 2 illustrates another variance in a typical cross-section of a composite housing which shows an extrusion (2), which has a separate semi circular shape (8), which is intended to direct light from the tube (5).
Figure 3 shows a cross-section of the new method of a poly-composite reflector to the composite housings (1) (2) shown in Figures 1 and 2. The cross-section shown in Figure 3 contains a cross blade (6), a parabolic reflector profile (7), an aperture (9) of suitable size to allow the insertion of a fluorescent tube (5). The fluorescent tube (5) is inserted in a plurality of cross blades (6) arranged along the length of the parabolic reflector (7). The precise design and shape of the cross blade (6) and parabolic reflector (7) will be designed to integrated closely with the new composite luminaries described in Figures 1 and 2.
Figure 4 illustrates a second type of cross blade (10) that is also manufactured from poly- composite material and is designed so that the shape has apertures (11) which allow the cross blade (10) to be pressed or slid into position on the cross section (8) detailed in Figure 2.
Figure 5 illustrates a third type of construction where a reflector profile (12) can be attached to the extrusion profile detailed in Figures 1 and 2, so that the reflector profile (12) attaches to the extrusion (1) detailed in Figure 1 or extrusion (2) detailed in Figure 2. Figure 5 omits the detail of
extrusion (2) for clarity.
The principle of the new cross blades (6) in Figure 3 and cross blades (10) in Figure 4 is then used to allow the construction of optical control methods used to control the output of fluorescent tubes (13) detailed in Figures 6 and 7. The fluorescent tubes (13) are the same as fluorescent 5 tubes (5) detailed previously and are assumed to be mounted within the composite luminaries detailed in Figures 1 and 2.
Figure 6 shows a louver (14) attached to a reflector (7), which is mounted on a typical cross blade attached snapping to fluorescent tube (13).
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Figure 7: Shows an uplighter (19) prismatic perforated diffuser attached to a reflector (7) and intermediate support louvers (21) to hold the prismatic perforated diffuser in its position and then the whole assembly is snapped on the fluorescent tube (13).
15 Figure 8: Shows a clear non-reflective wider diffuser (20) attached to the intermediate support louvers [non-reflective] to hold the wider diffuser (20) in its position and then the whole assembly is snapped in to the fluorescent tube (13) and the added advantage of this reflector is to get indirect lighting also, which is possible by not incorporating the reflector (7) of Figure 7.