AU707500B2 - A lighting assembly - Google Patents

Description

1

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE 5~P F Tr T WT( r M C 0 M P L F T E S P E C I F T r A rV T n XT FOR A STANDARD PATENT

ORIGINAL

Name of Applicant: Actual Inventors: Address for Service: Invention Title: GEC AUSTRALIA LIMITED, A.C.N. 000 437 758 Alan Edmond MERCER and Peter Gordon TOMS SHELSTON WATERS Margaret Street SYDNEY NSW 2000 "A LIGHTING ASSEMBLY" r c r r c r Details of Associated Provisional Application No: PM7990 dated 6th September, 1994 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us:- -2- This invention relates to a lighting assembly of the kind required to be sealed against the ingress of dust and moisture. Such assemblies are normally required to meet Australian Standard AS 1939 to The present invention is primarily directed toward lighting assemblies for use in lighting tunnels and short underpasses. However, it is equally applicable for use in a variety of other lighting situations both in and out of doors. Such applications include flood lighting, street lighting and indoor water-protected lighting.

The manufacture of sealed lighting assemblies presents a number of practical difficulties. One of these difficulties is that whilst an impervious housing can be made, it is necessary to include a removable light transmitting panel with an appropriate seal so that the interior of the assembly can be accessed. Whilst the sealing requirements can be readily met using conventional gasketting, difficulties arise in providing a simple to use clamping system which will not comprise the seal, particularly when the panel is repeatedly removed and replaced over time.

It is an object of this invention to provide a lighting assembly which will S"overcome or at least ameliorate one or more of the disadvantages of the prior art, and/or provide a useful alternative thereto.

Accordingly, the invention consists in a lighting assembly comprising: a housing to contain a light source, said housing having an opening surrounded by a sealing surface and an integral retaining formation adjacent said sealing surface; i°: a light transmitting panel to sealingly close said opening; gasket means to fit between said sealing surface and said light transmitting panel; and -3clamping means to engage said panel and said retaining formation and releasably secure said panel to said housing with said gasket means sandwiched between said sealing surface and said panel, wherein the clamping means includes a frame extending around the perimeter of the light transmitting panel to uniformly apply a clamping pressure.

Preferably, the clamping means also includes one or more over centring toggle latches.

In another preferred embodiment a hinge mechanism is provided to mount the panel to the retaining formation along one side of the lighting assembly. Preferably in S° 10 this embodiment, toggle latches are used along a side opposite the hinge mechanism. In this arrangement the hinge axis is arranged to provide a clamping force along the hinged side of the panel when the panel is secured to the housing by the toggle latches on the :i opposing side.

Preferably, the housing of the lighting assembly is formed by extrusion. In one embodiment, a single extruded element may be used. Alternatively, a pair of identical extruded elements may be used, either joined directly together or by means of an infill panel. It is desirable that such an infill panel may be selected to extend the overall width of the assembly as required by particular applications.

In either embodiments, the housing may be injection moulded, or formed in any other convenient manner.

The sealing surface is preferably an inwardly extending flange formed around the perimeter of opening of the housing.

18241-OODO/MTM In the preferred embodiment the retaining formation is formed as part of the housing and extends along its entire length. This is an especially desirable construction where the housing is extruded.

It is also preferred that the housing includes at least one internal mounting formation to facilitate the mounting of internal components without piercing of the housing.

In the lighting assembly of the present invention, a highly effective seal between the light transmitting panel and housing is achieved without any unnecessary piercing of the housing assembly. In a preferred embodiment the panel is held in place by a perimeter frame which has hinges along one side and toggle latches on the opposing side. In this arrangement the frame does not form part of the sealed assembly but only serves as a support and clamp function for the panel. The hinges and toggle latches respectively engage an integral retaining formation on the housing. This again avoids use of any fastenings which pierce the sealed assembly.

15 One embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example Sonly, with reference to the accompanying drawing which is an end view of a lighting assembly according to this invention.

The lighting assembly 1 comprises a housing formed by two extruded housing "elements 2,3. The housing elements 2,3 are identical and are formed from extruded aluminium. An infill panel 4 is used to join the elements 2,3 to form the housing. The ends of the assembly (not shown) are formed by welded infill panels.

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Each of the housing elements 2,3 terminates at an inwardly extending flange which surrounds an opening 6 in the housing. The outer surface of flange 5 provides a sealing surface 7. A light transmitting panel 8 sealingly closes the opening 6 with the aid of a gasket 9. Gasket 9 is shaped to receive the perimeter edge of panel 8 and is secured to a panel mounting frame 10 by means of a spring clamp 11.

A retaining formation 12 is integrally formed with each of housing elements 2,3.

The retaining formation 12 extending along element 3 provides for the fixing of a hinge 13 by screws or rivets (not shown) without the need to pierce the sealed volume of the assembly. Hinge 13 is also secured to frame 10 by screws or rivets (not shown).

Because frame 10 is used for clamping the panel and not sealing the opening, these screws or rivets do not interfere with the sealing of the assembly.

Over centring toggle latches 14 are mounted to the frame 10 on the side of the assembly opposite hinges 13. The latches 14 are mounted to the frame by screws or rivets (not shown) which do not pierce the sealed volume of the assembly. The panel 8 and mounting frame 10 are secured in the closed position by the engagement of toggle latch 14 with mounting formation 12 on housing element 2. The axis of hinge 13 is 15 arranged such that the securing of the panel in the closed position by toggle latch 14 Scompresses gasket 9 along the hinged side of the assembly.

Housing elements 2,3 also include integrally formed mounting formations 15 in the form of slots extending the length of the elements. These can receive suitably dimensioned fixing bolts or brackets (not shown). Each of housing elements 2,3 also includes an internal mounting slot 16 which receives suitably dimensioned bolts to secure a mounting bracket 17 internally. Mounting bracket 17 provides for the support of a suitable reflector system 18, as well as brackets 19 for mounting of a light source, in this case fluorescent tubes. Other light source components such as fuses 20 and electric -6control circuitry 21 are also mounted directly to panel 17 or on bracket 19. Electrical connection to the interior of the lighting assembly 1 is provided by an appropriate gland connection 22 of a conventional type meeting standard It will be apparent that the lighting assembly described above provides a relatively simple arrangement in which a sealed light transmitting panel can be opened for ready access to the interior of the lighting assembly whilst reducing the need for fastenings which pierce the sealed volume of the housing. This in turn reduces the potential problems associated with providing for the sealing of such piercing fittings.

The foregoing describes only one embodiment of this invention and modifications can be made thereto without departing from the scope of the invention.

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Claims (14)

1. A lighting assembly comprising: a housing to contain a light source, said housing having an opening surrounded by a sealing surface and at least one integral retaining formation adjacent said sealing surface; a light transmitting panel to sealingly close said opening; gasket means to fit between said sealing surface and said light transmitting panel; and clamping means to engage said panel and said retaining formation and releasably 10 secure said panel to said housing with said gasket means sandwiched between said Ssealing surface and said panel, wherein said clamping means includes a panel mounting *frame extending around a perimeter of the light transmitting panel to uniformly apply a clamping pressure thereto.

2. A lighting assembly according to claim 1, wherein said gasket is configured to 15 resiliently engage a perimeter of said light transmitting panel.

3. A lighting assembly according to claim 2, wherein said gasket means is secured to said panel mounting frame by means of one or more spring clamps.

4. A lighting assembly according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said sealing surface is an inwardly extending flange formed around the perimeter of said opening.

A lighting assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said clamping means includes at least one over centring toggle latch.

6. A lighting assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a hinge mechanism to mount said light transmitting panel to the retaining

18241-o.Doc/MTM -8- formation on one side of the lighting assembly, wherein the axis of the hinge mechanism is arranged so as to provide a clamping force along the hinged side of the light transmitting panel when said panel is secured to said housing by said clamping means.

7. A lighting assembly according to claim 6, wherein said panel mounting frame is connected to the housing via said hinge mechanism.

8. A lighting assembly according to either claim 6 or claim 7, wherein said clamping S: means includes at least one over centring toggle latch opposite said hinge mechanism.

9. A lighting assembly according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said housing is integrally formed as a single unit.

10 10. A lighting assembly according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said housing is formed from a pair of similar units joined by an infill panel or by welding.

11. A lighting assembly according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said housing is formed by an extrusion process.

12. A lighting assembly according to claim 11, wherein said retaining formation is integrally formed with said housing.

13. A lighting assembly according to claim 12, wherein said retaining formation is formed during extrusion as part of said housing and extends along the entire length of the housing.

14. A lighting assembly according to any one of the preceding claims wherein welded end panels join respective end portions of said housing. A lighting assembly according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said housing includes integral mounting formations for mounting said lighting assembly to a mounting bracket. I8241-oo.Doc/MTM -9- 16. A lighting assembly according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said housing includes at least one internal mounting formation to facilitate the mounting of internal components. 17. A lighting assembly substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawing. DATED this 30th day of April, 1999 *GEC AUSTRALIA LIMITED Attorney: CAROLINE M. BOMMER Fellow Institute of Patent Attorneys of Australia 10 of BALDWIN SHELSTON WATERS *o to S S S *a 18241-OO.DOC/MTM