AU2012100374A4 - Solar Powered Lighting Apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

A solar powered lighting device including: a light source; a solar panel; a chassis; a battery; and a battery regulator, wherein the battery and battery 5 regulator are housed within the chassis, and wherein solar panel is configured to be capable of charging the battery via the battery regulator, and wherein the battery is configured to be capable of powering the light source, and wherein the chassis is attachable to a railing of a walkway. Figure 3

Description

1 SOLAR POWERED LIGHTING APPARATUS FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention generally relates to solar powered lighting, particularly for use in mining operations. 5 BACKGROUND In Australian mining operations, it is common to find fixed plant and structures which are located above ground, which require handrails and balustrade to make walkways that meet the requirements set by government regulations. In many situations there is no electrical mains power available in the 10 areas where such walkways are situated, and the costs of providing electrical cabling can be very high. Therefore, providing the required lighting to enable work in low light conditions is time consuming and expensive. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a solar 15 powered lighting device including: a) a light source; b) a solar panel; c) a chassis; d) a battery; and 20 e) a battery regulator, wherein the battery and battery regulator are housed within the chassis, and wherein solar panel is configured to be capable of charging the battery via the battery regulator, and wherein the battery is configured to be capable of powering the light source, and wherein the chassis is attachable to a railing of a 25 walkway. Preferably, the light source is a LED light source. The light source may be operable for at least 60 hours between charges. The light source may be located on the chassis. Alternatively, the light source is connected to the chassis via a main arm. Alternatively, the light source may be connected to the main arm via a 30 further auxiliary arm. Preferably the solar panel is connected to the chassis via a main arm. Preferably, the lighting device is positioned such as to provide illumination to a walkway.

2 Preferably, the chassis is configured for attachment to one or more railings of a walkway. Further preferably, the walkway may have two railings and the chassis is configured to be attachable between an upper railing and a lower railing. 5 Preferably, the solar powered lighting device includes a controller configured for controlling the state of the light source. The controller may be configured to cause the light source to operate during non-daylight hours. The controller and the battery regulator may be features of a single device. Preferably, the main arm is located separately from the chassis. The main 10 arm may be attached to one or more railings of a walkway. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. It is to be appreciated that the embodiments are given by way of illustration only and the invention is not limited by this illustration. In the 15 drawings: Figure 1 shows a side-view of a solar powered lighting device according to an embodiment; Figure 2 shows a front-view of the lighting device of Figure 1; Figure 3 shows a side-view of a solar powered lighting device according to 20 another embodiment; Figure 4 shows a front-view of the lighting device according to Figure 3; Figure 5 shows a side-view of a solar powered lighting device according to another embodiment; Figure 6 shows a front-view of the lighting device according to Figure 5; 25 Figure 7 shows the internal components of the chassis according to an embodiment; and Figure 8 shows the internal components of the chassis according to another embodiment. The solar powered lighting device includes a chassis 1, a main arm 7, and 30 a solar panel 9. The solar panel 9 is rotatably attached to a first end 11 of the main arm 7 such that the solar panel 9 may be rotated about the lengthwise axis of the main arm 7, preferably through 360 degrees. Furthermore, the solar panel 9 can be mounted such that it may be tilted from a horizontal position. For 3 example, the solar panel 9 may be swivelled through 80 degrees, 40 degrees in one direction away from the horizontal and 40 degrees in the opposite direction away from the horizontal. The main arm 7 may include one or more bends 31, for example as illustrated in Figure 1. The main arm 7 can be connected to the 5 chassis 1 at a second end 13 (as shown in Figures 1 and 3). The chassis can include an access panel 15. The access panel 15 provides access to the internal components of the chassis 1, for example the access panel 15 may operate as a lockable door to the chassis 1. According to the embodiment as shown in Figures 1 and 2, the access 10 panel 15 includes a light source 17 configured to provide lighting for a walkway or other area requiring lighting. In this configuration, the access panel 15 is positioned to be facing the walkway. If no access panel 15 is present, or is not located facing the walkway, the light source 17 can be included on a walkway facing wall of the chassis 1. 15 According to the embodiments as shown in Figures 3 to 6, a light source 17 is attached to an auxiliary arm 19, which in turn is attached to the main arm 7 at a point between the first end 11 and the second end 13. The light source 17 is configured to light a walkway or other area requiring lighting. The light source 17 can be a LED light source 17, for example a 6 W lamp 20 rated for 500 lumens output such as the DURALUX Mini 6 W LED Flood Lamp. The position of the light source is not limited to the embodiments shown in Figures 1 to 4, and may include, for example, a light source 17 located separately from the chassis 1 and main arm 7, connected by appropriate cabling. In another configuration, an auxiliary arm 19 is attached to the chassis 1 separately to the 25 main arm 7. In a further configuration, as shown in Figures 5 and 6, the main arm 7 is located separately from the chassis 1, for example the main arm 7 is attached to a top handrail 27 and a bottom handrail 29 via a first main arm attachment means 35 and a second main arm attachment means 37, respectively. In this configuration, the main arm 7 is located separately from the chassis 1, while still 30 being in electrical communication. This configuration is not limited to the light source 17 being attached to the main arm 7 (via an auxiliary arm 19), and includes, for example, embodiments in which the light source 17 included with an access panel 15 (or otherwise included with the chassis 1).

4 The chassis 1 includes suitable attachment means for attaching to a structure such that the chassis 1 is fixed in place with respect to the structure. In a particular arrangement (as shown in the embodiments according to Figures 1 to 6), the chassis 1 includes a top rail connection means 3 and a bottom rail 5 connection means 5, each of which are configured for attachment to a standard rail configuration, wherein the rails are separated by a standard spacing. Alternatively, the top rail connection 3 and the bottom rail connection 5 are movably attached to the chassis 1, such that the spacing between the top rail connection 3 and the bottom rail connection 5 is variable. It is further possible to 10 attach the chassis 1 to include one connection, for example a top rail connection means 3. Referring to Figure 7, the chassis I includes an internal chamber 21. The internal chamber 21 houses at least a battery 23 and a solar power battery regulator 25, wherein the battery 23 and the solar power battery regulator 25 are 15 in electrical communication, for example the battery 23 and the solar power battery regulator 25 can be contained within a common unit or alternatively they can be wired together. The solar power battery regulator 25 is configured to regulate the electrical power generated by the solar panel 9 to provide appropriate charging of the battery 23. The battery 23 is configured to provide 20 electrical power to the light source 17 when lighting is required. Commonly, charging and lighting will occur at different times, however there may be some overlap especially in medium light situations. In order for electrical power to be transferred from the solar panel 9 to the solar power battery regulator 25, electrical cabling can be located within the main arm 7, providing an electrical 25 connection between the solar panel 9 and the solar power battery regulator 25. When the light source 17 is located away from the chassis 1, then appropriate electrical cabling is required to provide power from the battery 23 to the light source 17. In the embodiment according to Figures 3 and 4, the cabling can be located within the main arm 7 and the auxiliary arm 19. 30 The battery 23 should be capable of providing electrical power to the light source 17 for an extended period of time, for example a requirement can be that the battery 23 and light source 17 be capable of providing lighting for up to 5 nights at 12 hours per night (a total of 60 hours lighting) without intervening 5 charging. A suitable battery 23 is a regulated sealed lead acid gel battery (for example an ENDUROGEL Valve Regulated Lead Acid Battery). Referring to Figure 8, the solar powered lighting device can include a light source controller 33, which can be located within the chassis 1 (as per Figure 8). 5 The light source controller 33 is configured for switching the light source 17 on and off when preset conditions are met. For example, the light source controller 33 can be configured to turn the light source 17 on at a certain time (for example, 6.30 pm), and off at another time (for example, 6.30 am). Alternatively, the light source controller 33 can be in communication with an ambient light sensor (not 10 shown), and configured to turn the light source 17 on and/or off when the ambient light reaches preset levels. In another alternative, the light source controller 33 is configured to operate the light source 17 in response to the power output of the solar panel 9, for example turning on the light source 17 when the power output falls below a preset value, and turning off the light source 17 when the power 15 output rises above a preset value. The light source controller 33 and the solar power battery regulator 25 can be located within the same housing, for example the light source controller 33 and the solar power battery regulator 25 can be the same device. An example of suitable solar power battery generator 25 and light source controller 25 is the GENIUS Solar Charge Regulator Controller 5A (PWM). 20 A benefit of the present invention is that the invention can be easily installed, operated, uninstalled, and moved to a new location due to the relative compactness and simplicity of the design, and the lack of need for electrical cabling to an immovable power generator. In particular, a benefit of configuring the chassis 1 for attachment to one or more rails, for example handrails running 25 parallel to a walkway, is that such rails are generally present in locations requiring lighting (for example, due to the requirements of regulations) and therefore the chassis 1 can easily be installed without consideration of what mounting points may be available in a particular location. An example of installation and use in an Australian mining situation will be discussed. 30 For a walkway located above ground, solar powered lighting is suitable for providing lighting of the walkways. In order for the lighting to be used at night, the solar powered lighting device must include an electrical storage capacity. The present invention meets these requirements.

6 When a walkway requires solar lighting, one or more solar powered lighting devices can be installed. For a particular mining configuration, walkways include two handrails (27, 29) on at least one side, usually both sides, of the walkway. These handrails (27, 29) are arranged as a bottom handrail 29 and a 5 top handrail 27, and are fixed in place with respect to the walkway. The chassis 1 of each solar powered lighting device can be fixedly attached to the top handrail 27 of the walkway via the top rail connection means 3, and to the bottom handrail 29 of the walkway via the bottom rail connection means 5. The top rail connection means 3 and the bottom rail connection means 10 5 can be clasps which are capable of easy removal when required. The spacing between the top handrail 27 and the bottom handrail 29 can be a standardised spacing, in which case the top rail connection means 3 and the bottom rail connection means 5 can be separated by a fixed amount. Alternatively, the spacing between the top handrail 27 and the bottom handrail 29 can be variable, 15 in which case the separation between the top rail connection means 3 and the bottom rail connection means 5 can be altered as required to fit the spacing. According to the embodiment as shown in Figures 1 and 2, the chassis is positioned such that the access panel 15, and therefore the light source 17, is facing towards the walkway, thereby illuminating the walkway when necessary. 20 Alternatively, according to the embodiments as shown in Figures 3 and 6, the light source 17 is located at an end of an auxiliary arm 19, thereby illuminating the walkway from above. In general, the requirement of the positioning of the light source 17 is that the walkway is adequately illuminated as required. As walkways may lead in any direction, once the chassis 1 is fixedly 25 attached to the top handrail 27 and the bottom handrail 29, the solar panel 9 is positioned for optimal solar exposure due to the rotatable attachment to the main arm 7. In Australian mining situations, a common requirement is to ensure the solar panel 9 is positioned facing north at an angle of approximately 30* to the horizontal. A hinge 31 can be included as part of the main arm 7, such that the 30 chassis 1 can be positioned at a range of angles while still enabling the first end 11 of the main arm 7 to be positioned vertically.

7 The solar powered lighting device should be sufficiently durable to operate in mining situations, for example the chassis 1, main arm 7, and all other external components should be designed to operate in such an environment. Further modifications and improvements may be made without departing 5 from the scope of the present invention. For example, one chassis may be associated with multiple light sources.

Claims (5)

1. A solar powered lighting device including: a) a light source; b) a solar panel; 5 c) a chassis; d) a battery; and e) a battery regulator, wherein the battery and battery regulator are housed within the chassis, and wherein solar panel is configured to be capable of charging the battery via 10 the battery regulator, and wherein the battery is configured to be capable of powering the light source, and wherein the chassis is attachable to a railing of a walkway.

2. A solar powered lighting device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the light source is a LED light source. 15

3. A solar powered lighting device as claimed in any one of the previous claims wherein the light source is located on the chassis and the solar panel is connected to the chassis via a main arm.

4. A solar powered lighting device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 2 wherein the light source and the solar panel are connected to the chassis via a 20 main arm.

5. A solar powered lighting device as claimed in any one of the previous claims wherein the chassis is configured for attachment to a top railing and a bottom railing of a walkway. 25 ULTRA AUTO WATERMARK PATENT & TRADE MARK ATTORNEYS