WO2004102067A1

WO2004102067A1 - Leuchtenraster

Info

Publication number: WO2004102067A1
Application number: PCT/IB2004/002266
Authority: WO
Inventors: Matthias Eickel; Bernd Radin; Thomas Goeke
Original assignee: Trilux-Lenze Gmbh + Co. Kg
Priority date: 2003-05-19
Filing date: 2004-05-17
Publication date: 2004-11-25

Abstract

The invention concerns a light louvre (10) which can be mounted in a light exit window of a light, having an inside directed towards the interior of the light in the installed position and an outside directed towards the light exit window, comprising concave lateral reflectors (12) extending in the longitudinal direction, three-dimensional slats (20) which extend transversely with respect to the lateral reflectors between same and which each have a slat outer edge (22) in the light exit window and slat inner edges (24) directed towards the inside, wherein respective concave slat deflection surfaces (26) extend between the slat outer edge (22) and the slat inner edges (24), and a three-dimensional V-reflector (40) arranged between the lateral reflectors (12) on the slats(20) , having a respective reflector outer edge (44) in the light exit window and reflector inner edges (46) directed towards the inside, wherein a respective concave reflector deflection surface (42) extends between the reflector outer edge (44) and the reflector inner edges (46).

Description

Light louvre

The invention concerns a light louvre which can be mounted in a light exit window of a light, having an inside directed towards the interior of the light in the installed position and an outside directed towards the light exit window, comprising concave lateral reflectors extending in the longitudinal direction, three-dimensional slats which extend transversely with respect to the lateral reflectors between same and which each have a slat outer edge in the light exit window and slat inner edges directed towards the inside, wherein respective concave slat deflection surfaces extend between the slat outer edge and the slat inner edges, and a three-dimensional V-reflector ar- ranged between the lateral reflectors on the slats, having a respective reflector outer edge in the light exit window and reflector inner edges directed towards the inside, wherein a respective concave reflector deflection surface extends between the reflector outer edge and the reflector inner edges . A light of that kind is usually provided with a light exit window and means for accommodating a tubular electric lamp in a plane P which is perpendicular to the light exit window, along said light exit window. The side portions are frequently also referred to as concave lateral reflectors which are arranged along the plane P and which have an outer edge near the light exit window. Arranged between the side portions are the three- dimensional slats which are substantially wedge-shaped in cross-section and which extend transversely with respect to the plane P and transversely with respect to the light exit window, which each have a slat outer edge in the light exit window and which have slat inner edges in the housing. The slats are provided on both sides with concave deflection surfaces between the slat outer edge and the slat inner edges, which has a concave curvature in the plane transversely with respect to the plane P. The V-reflectors, as viewed in cross-section, are also in the form of a three-dimensional wedge, with inner edges which are arranged in the light housing and which enclose an upper surface, and an outer edge, wherein the reflector extends from the inner edge to the outer edge in a parabolic configuration and in a configuration of converging to a point outwardly.

The louvre, that is to say the side portions, the slats and the V-reflector, are usually made from metal sheet of a material thickness of about 0.3 mm, which is bent into the respective geometry at suitable fold locations. Multi-lamp or wider lights are provided with correspondingly wider louvres. In those, the V-reflectors are fixed between the side bars to the slats in order to prevent a viewer from looking directly in on to the lamps and possibly being dazzled. In addition the parabolic deflection surfaces of the V-reflector focus the light flux of the lamps in order to achieve a desired light-intensity distribution of the light. Light louvres are frequently used for lights at screen workstations as here there is a need for light which does not cause dazzle .

The V-reflector can either be coupled in place with its two deflection surfaces to the ends of the slats which extend on an axis, so that the V-reflector is held between the slats. That however is quite expensive in terms of assembly procedure. In addition, it is also possible for the V-reflector to have slots which extend from the outside of the reflector and through which the slats are pushed in the installation posi- tion, the slats extending from one side portion to the other. That fitting procedure is also relatively complicated and expensive and frequently causes scratching to the deflection surfaces of the slats.

The object of the invention therefore is to provide a light louvre of the general kind set forth, in which the V- reflector can be more easily fitted.

In accordance with the invention that object is attained in that the slats and the V-reflector have recesses of a mutually corresponding configuration and at which the V-reflector can be pushed on to the slats in such a way that the recesses engage into each other in the installation position. The geometry of the recesses in the slats and the V-reflector are matched to each other in such a way that, for fitting, the V- reflector can be simply pressed on to the slats, with the recesses engaging into each other in that case. As it is only the recesses that are in contact with each other, scratching of the reflector or deflection surfaces is effectively prevented.

Preferably the recesses in the slats and the recesses in the reflector have mutually corresponding entry contours in order to permit them to bear against each other without clearance in the installed position. For example the edges of the reflec- tor recesses can be of a convex configuration, corresponding to the parabolic contour of the deflection surfaces of the slats beneath the slat recesses. In the same manner, for that purpose, the edges of the slat recesses, which extend in the longitudinal direction of the recess, can also be of a convex con- figuration so that in the installed position they bear snugly without clearance against the deflection surfaces of the reflector above the reflector recesses.

It is particularly advantageous if the recesses are so matched to each other that the V-reflector can be pushed on to the slats to such an extent that the slat outer edges and the reflector outer edge terminate approximately flush, that is to say they can be in one plane in the installed position.

Preferably, the cut edges of the slat recess converge in a wedge shape towards each other in the cut direction. To provide adequate slat stability however the slat recess does not terminate in an acute angle, but the bottom of the substantially wedge-shaped incision terminates approximately centrally at the height of the slat in an edge extending parallel to the outside wall. That still retains a material thickness for the slats, which ensures the required level of flexural stiffness.

An optimum interaction between stability and optimised re- flection properties is achieved if the slat recess extends approximately as far as the centre of the slat and the reflector recess extends approximately as far as the centre of the V- reflector. In order to have the minimum possible clearances between the slats and the reflector, the slat recesses are sub- stantially wedge-shaped, tapering in the direction in which they extend, and the reflector recesses are also of a substantially wedge-shaped configuration but increase in width in the direction in which the recess extends.

In the region of the slat beneath the slat recess, which region adjoins the edge extending parallel to the outer edge of the slat at the bottom of the slat recess, the two deflection surfaces can each have an entry bead (region pressed towards each other) so that here the required thickness of material for the slat is still retained, but at the same time it is¹ also possible for the edges of the reflector recess to bear closely against the outer edge of the slats. Consequently the recess of the V-reflector at the outer edge of the reflector is preferably just as large as double the thickness of material of the sheet metal profile of the slats. It has proven to be advantageous to provide latching or retaining means for coupling the slats to the V-reflector. It is particularly advantageous if those latching means are non- releasably connected together after assembly. The latching means for example can be of such a configuration that, in the region of the reflector recess, the V-reflector has additional cut-outs into which engage retaining projections provided at the entry contour of the slat recesses.

Those cut-outs or openings can be in the form of holes which are separate from the recess itself. In that case however there is the problem that the small scrap or waste pieces which are cut or stamped out for the openings pass under the protec- tive film of the reflector portions, and they have to be removed manually. It is therefore basically desirable to avoid such small scrap pieces.

In accordance with the invention that can be achieved in that the openings for fixing purposes is in the form of a con- tinuous hole pattern with the recesses at the slats, side bars or V-reflectors. The term continuous hole pattern is used to denote only one recess which is subdivided into portions by way of suitable latching projections at the oppositely disposed edges. Consequently at least two projections which project to- wards each other but which do not touch each other must be provided at the edges of the recess, which serve as latching projections for fixing to the other component which is of a corresponding configuration. Those continuous hole patterns give rise to markedly larger cut-out pieces at least of the size of the openings and the recess, and they can be removed more easily than the small scrap pieces. The provision of a continuous hole pattern is thus particularly advantageous from the point of view of production engineering, as the small pieces which occur due to stamping out the separate holes are completely avoided.

The invention further concerns an assembly process for a light louvre of the above-described kind, which is distinguished in that the slats are firstly coupled with their ends to the side portions and the V-reflector is then pushed with its reflector recesses into the slat recesses. That assembly process is very assembly-friendly as, in comparison with the state of the art, there is no need for the individual slats to be pushed through the V-reflector. Instead, it is only necessary for the V-reflector to be simply pushed on to the slats and latched in position, in one working step. In that case, the V-reflector can be fitted on to the slats from above or from the outside or from the inside, but preferably from the inside.

It will be appreciated that the light louvre according to the invention may also include a plurality of V-reflectors which are arranged between the lateral reflectors, if the light exit window of the light is of a correspondingly wide configu- ration or if a plurality of lamps are provided in mutually juxtaposed relationship in the light, and such lamps have to be suitably shielded to prevent dazzle. In that case a plurality of slat recesses have to be provided over the length of the slats, wherein the reflector recesses of the V-reflectors can be fitted into the slat recesses.

The light louvre according to the invention is described in detail hereinafter by means of a preferred embodiment by way of example and illustrated in the drawing in which:

Figure 1 shows a side view of the light louvre,

Figure 2 shows a front view on an enlarged scale of a slat according to the invention, Figure 3 shows a plan view of the sheet metal profile of the slat in the unrolled condition,

Figure 4 shows an end view of the V-reflector according to the invention,

Figure 5 shows a partial side view of the V-reflector shown in Figure 4,

Figure 6 shows a view on an enlarged scale of the left- hand portion of the light louvre of Figure 1,

Figure 7 shows an end view on an enlarged scale of the light louvre of Figure 1, Figure 9 shows an end view of an alternative embodiment of the light louvre according to the invention for avoiding small scrap pieces in manufacture,

Figure 10 shows a development of the slat of an alternative configuration for a single-lamp light as shown in Figure 9,

Figure 11 shows a side view of an alternative configuration of a V-reflector for avoiding small scrap pieces in manufacture,

Figure 12 shows a plan view of the development of an al- ternative embodiment of a slat for a two-lamp light,

Figure 13 shows a front view of the slat shown in Figure 12, Figure 14 shows an end view of the slat shown in Figure 12, and

Figure 15 shows a side view of a side bar adapted to avoid small-size scrap. The light louvre which is generally identified by reference numeral 10 comprises two lateral reflectors 12 which extend in mutually parallel relationship in the longitudinal direction and between which are arranged a plurality of three- dimensional slats 20. The slats 20 extend transversely with re- spect to the lateral reflectors and each have a slat outer edge 22 in the light exit window and slat inner edges 24 directed towards the inside. Each slat 20 has slat deflection surfaces 26 which move away from each other from their slat outer edge 22 and which are concavely curved in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the slat 20. The general structure of such three-dimensional slats is known. The outer edge 22 of the slat 20 is of equal thickness over the entire length thereof, more specifically twice as thick as the sheet material from which the slat is formed. All the above-described parts of the light louvre 10 are bent and folded from a respective single piece of sheet metal material. The slat outer edges 22 bear in opposite relationship against each other in the bent condition.

The slat 20 is coupled to the lateral reflectors 12 of the light louvre 10.

Centrally, the slat 20 is provided with a wedge-shaped slat recess 30 which extends from the slat inner edges 24 in the direction of the slat outer edge 22. The slat recess 30 extends approximately as far as the middle of the height of the slat 20. In that region the slat recess 30 goes into an inner edge which extends in parallel relationship to the slat outer edge 22. In the direction of the slat outer edge 22, an entry bead can be provided beneath that edge on both sides, serving to reduce the width of the slat in order to permit the V- reflector to bear with as little clearance as possible against the deflection surfaces 26 in the installed condition of the slat 20. The entry bead is only illustrated in Figure 13.

The edge contours of the slat recesses 30 are suitably adapted to receive the V-reflector 40 according to the invention in the installed position and to bear snugly without clearance against the parabolic deflection surfaces 42 of the V-reflector 40 above the reflector recesses 48.

The V-reflector 40 which is also three-dimensional is of a wedge-shaped configuration and extends over the entire length of the light louvre 10 over the slats 20. The V-reflector can be of a length of up to 150 cm and like the slats 20 can be cut to shape in one piece from sheet metal material, for example from anodised aluminium, in order to be able to form therefrom by bending and folding at the reflector inner edges 46 the reflector 20 as shown in Figures 4 and 5. The V-reflector has concave reflector deflection surfaces 42 which converge towards each other from the reflector inner edges 46 and which bear against each other at the reflector outer edge 44.

Extending from the reflector outer edge 44 to the reflec- tor inner edges 46, in the reflector deflection surfaces 42, are as many reflector recesses 48, which are mutually spaced at the slat spacing, as there are slats 20 in the louvre 10. The reflector recesses 48 are each of a wedge-shaped configuration and increase in width in the direction of cut. They extend approximately as far as the middle of the V-reflector 40 and each go into an edge extending in parallel relationship to the reflector inner edges 46.

Upon fitment of the V-reflector 40 on the slats 20 the re- flector recesses 48 are fitted into the slat recesses 30 and the V-reflector 40 is pushed in until the horizontal edge of the reflector recess 48 comes to bear against the horizontal edge of the slat recesses 30. In the installed position the edges of the reflector recesses 48 bear snugly without clear- ance against the slat deflection surfaces 26 beneath the slat recesses 30 and the edges of the slat recesses 30 bear snugly without clearance against the reflector deflection surfaces 42 above the reflector recesses 48.

For connection to the slats 20, above the reflector re- cesses 48, the V-reflector 40 has openings 49, into which engage retaining or latching projections 42 which are provided at the entry contour of the slat recess 30, in the installed position. In known manner this configuration permits coupling between the V-reflector 40 and the individual slats 20 in order to produce a non-releasable connection.

As can be particularly clearly seen from Figure 7 the slat outer edges 22 and the reflector outer edge 44 lie in one plane in the installed position and therefore terminate flush with each other.

Finally, the invention concerns a slat and a V-reflector for providing the light louvre described in the opening part of this specification. The slat according to the invention is distinguished in that the slat has at least one slat recess, into which a V-reflector according to the invention can be inserted. The V-reflector according to the invention is distinguished in that it has a number of reflector recesses, which corresponds to the number of slats of the light louvre, the reflector recesses being spaced from each other in accordance with the slat spacing. Preferably the slat recesses and the reflector recesses have mutually corresponding entry contours in order to permit them to be joined without clearance. Figures 9 to 15 show components of an alternative configuration (side bar, slat, V-reflector) of a louvre, in which, to avoid small parts being formed in production of latching openings, those openings are in the form of continuous hole patterns with the recesses. In the case of the slat 50 that is achieved for example in that, at the ends, as an abutment for the side bars 40, recesses 52 are now provided instead of the latching openings indicated in Figure 7, in the region of the ends of the slat 20. The latching projections 62 bear in the installed condition against the abutment edges 54 of those recesses 52, the latching projections 62 being provided at the edges of the openings 64 in the side bars 60 for receiving the slats 50. In the assembly procedure the slats 50 are fitted with their latching noses 56 which are provided at the outer edge and the notch adjoining same into the lower end of the opening 64 in the side bar 60 in such a way that the nose 56 engages behind the side bar 60 at the outside thereof. The side bars 30 are then pivoted upwardly about that connection location as a pivot point, until the latching projections 62 come to bear against the abutment edges 54 of the slats 50 in the installed position, as shown in Figure 9. In a corresponding manner, the two-lamp slat 70 shown in Figure 12 also has such recesses 72 in order to avoid small- size scrap by virtue of stamping out small holes which serve as retaining or latching holes.

Unwanted small pieces would also occur when stamping out the openings 49 shown in Figure 5. That can be avoided if the reflector recesses 82 and the openings of the V-reflector shown in Figure 11 are also in the form of a closed hole pattern. For fixing to the latching projections 74 of the slat 70, latching noses 84 are provided at both edges of the reflector recesses 82 at the entry contour of the slat recesses 76. Accordingly, in the installed position, the latching projections 74 at the slat recess 76 and the latching noses 84 at the reflector recess engage behind each other to produce a non-releasable connection . Fixing of the slats 50, 70 to the side bars 60 is effected by way of latching or retaining strips 58, 78 provided at the inner edge which extends horizontally at the top side in the installed position. Those latching strips 58, 78 engage behind the upper edges of the openings 64 at the outside thereof after the side bars 60 have been folded up and thus non-releasably fix the side bars 60 to the slats 50, 70. The slats according to the invention are each folded at the inner edge and the free ends of the sheet metal profile bear against each other at the outer edge. That is linked to the advantage in terms of production engineering, that the slats can be produced 'film-free'. 'Film-free' means that no protective film has to be applied to the reflecting outside surface of the slats, which protects the slat against impression markings of the bending bars used in the folding operation and which has to be removed manually after the folding operation. It is possible to forego protective films of that kind by virtue of displacing the fold locations to the inner edge of the slat, which is relatively uncritical in terms of the reflection properties .

Light louvre List of references

light louvre lateral reflectors slat slat outer edge slat inner edge slat defl .ection surface slat recess latching projection

V-reflect :or reflector deflection surface reflector outer edge reflector : inner edge reflectoi : recess opening slat recess abutment edge latching nose latching strip side bar latching projection opening slat recess latching projection slat recess 78 latching strip

80 V-reflector

82 reflector recess

84 latching noses

Claims

Light louyreCLAIMS

1. A light louvre (10) which can be mounted in a light exit window of a light, having an inside directed towards the interior of the light in the installed position and an outside directed towards the light exit window, comprising

- concave lateral reflectors (12) extending in the longitudinal direction, - three-dimensional slats (20) which extend transversely with respect to the lateral reflectors (12) between same and which each have a slat outer edge (22) in the light exit window and slat inner edges (24) directed towards the inside, wherein respective concave slat deflection surfaces (26) extend between the slat outer edge (22) and the slat inner edges (24), and

- a three-dimensional V-reflector (40) which can be connected between the lateral reflectors (12) to the slats (20), having a respective reflector outer edge (44) in the light exit window and reflector inner edges (46) directed towards the in- side, wherein respective concave reflector deflection surfaces (42) extend between the reflector outer edge (44) and the reflector inner edges (46) , characterised in that the slats (20) and the V-reflector (40) have recesses which are of a mutually corresponding configuration and by means of which the V- reflector can be pushed on to the slats .

2. A light louvre (10) according to claim 1 characterised in that the recesses of the slats are in the form of slat recesses (30) and the recesses of the V-reflector (40) are in the form of reflector recesses (48) and that the slat recesses (30) and the reflector recesses (48) have mutually corresponding en- try contours.

3. A light louvre (10) according to claim 1 characterised in that the slats (20) have at least one wedge-shaped slat recess (30) extending from the slat inner edges (22) in the di- rection of the slat outer edge (24) and that the V-reflector has a plurality of reflector recesses (48) extending from the reflector outer edge (44) to the reflector inner edges (46) .

4. A light louvre (10) according to claim 3 characterised in that the slat recesses (30) extend approximately as far as the middle of the slat (20) and the reflector recesses (48) extend approximately as far as the middle of the V-reflector (40) .

5. A light louvre (10) according to claim 3 or claim 4 characterised in that the slat recesses (30) are substantially wedge-shaped and decrease in width in the direction in which they extend and that the reflector recesses (48) are substantially wedge-shaped and increase in width in the direction in which they extend.

6. A light louvre (10) according to one of the preceding claims characterised in that latching means are provided for coupling the slats (20) to the V-reflector (40) .

7. A light louvre (10) according to claim 6 characterised in that the V-reflector (40) has recesses (49) into which engage latching projections (32) provided at the entry contour of the slat recesses (30) .

8. A light louvre (10) according to claim 7 characterised in that the recesses and the reflector recess (82) are in the form of an interconnected hole pattern and are delimited from each other by latching noses (48) which are provided in mutually protruding relationship at the side edge of the reflector recess (82) .

9. A light louvre (10) according to one of the preceding claims characterised in that the slats (20) have an entry bead at the bottom of the slat recess (30) .

10. An assembly process for a light louvre (10) according to one of the preceding claims characterised in that the slats (20) are firstly connected with both ends into the side por- tions (12) and the V-reflector is then inserted with the reflector recesses (48) into the slat recesses (30) .

11. A V-reflector (40) for a light louvre (10) character- ised in that it has a number of reflector recesses (48) , which corresponds to the number of slats (20) of the light louvre (10) , which reflector recesses are spaced from each other according to the slat spacing and by means of which the V- reflector (40) can be fitted on to corresponding slat recesses (30) .

12. A slat (20) for a light louvre (10) characterised in that it has at least one slat recess (30) into which a V- reflector (40) can be inserted.

13. A three-dimensional slat (20, 50, 70) which comprises a folded metal sheet and which extends transversely with respect to the lateral reflectors (12) of a light louvre (10) between them and which respectively have a slat outer edge (22) in the light exit window and slat inner edges (24) directed towards the inside, in particular for a light louvre (10) according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterised in that

- the slat (20, 50, 70) is folded at the inner edges and the free ends of the metal sheet bear against each other at the outer edge,

- latching noses (56) are provided in the region of the ends of the outer edge, which can be inserted into an opening ( 64 ) in a side bar ( 60 ) ,

- provided at the ends of the slat (20, 50, 70) are recesses (52) or latching openings which function as an abutment for side bars (60) of a louvre, and

- provided in the region of the ends at the slat inner edges are latching strips (58, 78) which involve a latching connection to the upper edge of the openings (64) in the side bars (60) in the installed position.