[0001] The present invention refers, in general, to an airtight lighting apparatus.
[0002] More particularly, the invention relates to a pre-assembled lighting roof lamp for
airtight and corrosion proofing environments.
[0003] The lighting roof lamps for airtight and corrosion proofing environments are lighting
apparatus with typically IP65 protection degree, entirely made of plastic or metal,
which make use of fluorescent lamps of T5 or T8 type.
[0004] These traditional roof lamps present a protection screen made of plastic or moulded
glass or a slab of tempered glass; moreover, they can use luminous flux recuperators
(reflectors) made of polished aluminium or metallised plastic.
[0005] The protection degree against liquids or fluids in general penetration is achieved
by using a seal gasket which is arranged between the plastic structure or body and
the screen and held in position by perimetric closure hook.
[0006] The lighting sources used in these lighting apparatus imply a non-negligible size
of the same (about 1,3-1,5 meters, depending on the type of fluorescent lamp used)
and, therefore, the perimeter where the seal gasket works becomes a path which can
exceed 3 meters.
[0007] It follows, therefore, that the closure hooks (present in a number of 8-10 per each
lighting apparatus) distribute the pressure exerted on the gasket in a non-uniform
way and, moreover, in most applications, the same hooks can become dirt, oils, etc.
repositories and thus make difficult the cleaning operations, necessary for the maintenance
of the lighting apparatus. Finally, the seal gasket is stressed whenever it becomes
necessary to access to the interior of the apparatus in order to perform routine maintenance
(e.g., for replacing the exhausted fluorescent lamps), with the risk of compromising
the seal degree of the apparatus.
[0008] The purpose of the present invention is therefore to eliminate the drawbacks complained,
creating an airtight lighting apparatus which allows to keep for long the seal against
the penetration of fluids, without the need to use hooks or other closure elements
between the body and the screen of the apparatus.
[0009] Another purpose of the present invention is to make available an airtight lighting
apparatus which allows to achieve an effective protection of the surfaces of the reflector
both from the penetration of dirt and/or harmful fluids and from any damage during
routine or special maintenance.
[0010] Other purpose of the invention is to provide an airtight lighting apparatus which
allows to achieve good photometric performances.
[0011] Another purpose of the present invention is to carry out an airtight lighting apparatus
which has an excellent ratio quality/price and presents a high ease of installation
and maintenance of the lamps and/or electronic control ballast.
[0012] Further purpose of the present invention is to provide an airtight lighting apparatus
which allows to perform a through wiring harness for mounting apparatus in a continuous
row, thanks to the easy access at both the ends of the apparatus.
[0013] These and other purposes, according to the present invention, are achieved by providing
an airtight lighting apparatus, according to the claim 1 enclosed.
[0014] Other specific and detailed technical features are contained in the dependent claims.
[0015] Advantageously, the airtight lighting apparatus, which is the object of the present
invention, allows to get the lighting of airtight and corrosion proofing environments,
presenting the body and screen pre-assembled, with seal, without the use of closure
hooks.
[0016] Furthermore, an excellent protection of the surfaces of the reflector is obtained
both from the seeping of dirt and/or harmful fluids and from any damage which may
occur during routine (lamps replacement) and/or special (operations on the electronic
ballast) maintenance.
[0017] Similarly, the opening operations of the apparatus to access to the interior of the
same are easy, as it is possible to carry out a through wiring harness in order to
mount apparatus in a continuous row, thanks to the direct accessibility at both the
ends of the product.
[0018] Additional features and advantages of an airtight lighting apparatus, according to
the present invention, will be more evident from the following description, referring
to an illustrative and preferred, but not limiting, embodiment and from the attached
drawings in which:
- figure 1 is an assonometric view from the bottom of an airtight lighting apparatus,
according to the present invention;
- figure 2 shows an enlargement of the detail indicated by A in figure 1;
- figure 3 is a first partial side view of the airtight lighting apparatus, according
to the present invention;
- figure 4 is a partial plan view from the bottom of the airtight lighting apparatus,
according to the present invention;
- figure 5 is a second partial side view of the airtight lighting apparatus, according
to the present invention;
- figure 6 is a partial plan view from the top of the airtight lighting apparatus, according
to the present invention;
- figures 7 and 8 show two front views taken at the ends of the airtight lighting apparatus,
according to the present invention;
- figure 9 is a partial assonometric view from the bottom of the airtight lighting apparatus,
in a first operating position, according to the present invention;
- figure 10 is a partial side view of the airtight lighting apparatus, according to
the present invention, in the operating position of figure 9;
- figure 11 is a partial assonometric view from the bottom of the airtight lighting
apparatus in a second operating position, according to the present invention;
- figure 12 is a partial side view of the airtight lighting apparatus, according to
the present invention, in the operating position of figure 11;
- figure 13 is a partial assonometric view from the bottom of the airtight lighting
apparatus in a third operating position, according to the present invention;
- figure 14 is a partial side view of the airtight lighting apparatus, according to
the present invention, in the operating position of figure 13;
- figure 15 is a partial side view of the airtight lighting apparatus, according to
the present invention, in a further operating position;
- figure 16 is an assonometric view from the bottom of the airtight lighting apparatus,
according to the present invention, in the operating position of figure 15;
- figure 17 is a partial plan view from the bottom of the airtight lighting apparatus,
according to the present invention, in the operating position of figure 15;
- figure 18 is a view along the cutting plane XVIII-XVIII of figure 17;
- figure 19 shows an enlargement of the detail indicated by B in figure 18;
- figure 20 is an assonometric view from the bottom of a reflector or flux recuperator
used in the airtight lighting apparatus, according to the present invention;
- figure 21 is an enlargement of the detail indicated by C in figure 20;
- figure 22 is a front view of the reflector or flux recuperator of figure 20, according
to the present invention;
- figure 23 is an enlargement of the detail indicated by D in figure 22;
- figure 24 is a partial assonometric view from the bottom of the airtight lighting
apparatus in a opening position of a head, according to the present invention;
- figure 25 is a partial plan view from the bottom of the airtight lighting apparatus
in the opening position of figure 24, according to the present invention;
- figure 26 is a view along the cutting plane XXVI-XXVI of figure 25;
- figure 27 is a front view according to the plane XXVII-XXVII of figure 26, according
to the invention;
- figure 28 is an enlargement of the detail indicated by E in figure 27;
- figure 29 is a partial plan view from the bottom of the airtight lighting apparatus
in a closing position of a head, according to the present invention;
- figure 30 is a view along the cutting plane XXIX-XXIX of figure 29;
- figure 31 is a view along the cutting plane XXX-XXX of figure 30;
- figure 32 shows an enlargement of the detail indicated by F in figure 30;
- figure 33 shows an enlargement of the detail indicated by G in figure 31.
[0019] With particular reference to figures 1-8 mentioned, the airtight lighting apparatus,
which is the object of the present invention, comprises a main body 10, made of iron
single piece moulded sheet, painted with epoxy polyester powder, an upper closing
screen 11, obtained from a flat slab of tempered glass, suitable to protect the light
sources (the lamps 25, connected with the respective lamp holders 26), a luminous
flux recuperator or reflector, arranged inside the body 10 and around the screen 11,
for a more effective spread of the light towards the outside, and two side heads 12,
13, moulded by die-casting of aluminium and positioned to close the side ends of the
apparatus, which are movable in opening and integrate respective seal gaskets so as
to completely seal both the body 10 and the screen 11.
[0020] A mobile and in particular roto-translatable support 22, on which the lamp holders
26 of the lamps or light sources 25 are wired, is also arranged inside the body 10.
[0021] In particular, in order to allow the installer a routine maintenance (such as the
replacement of the lamps 25) the support 22 is able to translate towards the outside
and rotate, operated by the user at one of the ends of the apparatus, once removed
the corresponding head 12 or 13, in order to electrically disconnect the lamp holders
26 of the light sources 25 exploiting the axial coupling which incorporates a compression
spring (as shown in detail in the attached figures 9-14).
[0022] Additionally, in order to allow the installer a special maintenance of the electronic
control ballast 20 of the light sources 25, the same ballast 20 is housed in a removable
support plate 21, at the ends of which the roto-translatable support 22 is fixed (figures
15-18).
[0023] The removable support plate 21, extremely compact and easy to handle by the installer,
is also equipped with a tongue security system 23, which limits the stroke in phase
of extraction (as shown in detail in the attached figure 19).
[0024] As shown in detail in the attached figures 20-23, the reflector or flux recuperator
24 is incorporated to the group constituted by the body 10 and screen 11 by means
of a single mechanical crimping process; this applicative solution allows, in fact,
an excellent protection of the surfaces of the reflector 24 both from the dirt and
any damage which may occur during the cited routine and/or special maintenance operations.
[0025] The special profile given to the body 10 actually allows the mechanical crimping
of the aforesaid body 10 along with the slab of tempered glass, which constitutes
the screen 11, and the luminous flux recuperator 24, integrating a suitable seal gasket
14.
[0026] Furthermore, such a profile allows the hook of the mounting brackets 15 directly
on the body 10 without additional assembly elements or systems.
[0027] Finally, always thanks to the peculiar profile of the body 10, the same allows the
sliding, in its inner portion, of the support plate 21 of the ballast 20 without requiring
supplementary guide elements.
[0028] Another important innovative feature of the apparatus, according to the present invention,
relates to the side heads 12, 13, made of die-casting aluminium, each of which incorporates
a seal gasket 16.
[0029] Indeed, in this respect, acting with a traditional tool on a system of closure provided
with a threaded pin 17 with a limit stop, it is possible to carry out, through an
external screw 18, a micrometric compression of the seal gasket 16 of each side head
12, 13; similarly, the operation of opening the apparatus in order to access to the
interior of the same becomes then easy (everything is shown in detail in the attached
figures 24-28 and 29-33).
[0030] The use of this simple system of opening and access to the interior of the apparatus,
provided at both the side heads 12, 13, also allows to perform a through wiring harness
for mounting multiple apparatus in a continuous row, thanks properly to the accessibility
at both the ends of the apparatus.
[0031] From the description made, the technical features of the airtight lighting apparatus,
according to the present invention, as well as the resulting advantages, are clear.
[0032] In particular, among them we mention the following:
- pre-assembly of the structure;
- lack of perimetric closure hooks;
- uniform seal, better than the traditional apparatus;
- innovative design;
- photometric and optical performances equal to the market references;
- ease of installation and maintenance;
- excellent ration quality/price;
- integration of the luminous flux recuperator to the group body-screen by means of
a single process of crimping with greater surface protection;
- operative simplicity in gaining access to the interior of the apparatus.
[0033] It is, finally, clear that several other variations may be made to the lighting apparatus
in question, without for this reason going out of the novelty principles inherent
to the inventive idea, as it is clear that, in the practical implementation of the
invention, materials, shapes and sizes of the illustrated details can be any, depending
on the needs, and the same may be replaced with others technically equivalent.
1. Airtight lighting apparatus, used in particular for lighting airtight and anticorrosive
environments, comprising a containment body (10), produced in a single piece and mechanically
fixed to at least one closing screen (11), said closing the screen (11) being suitable
to spread the output light beam, which is produced by at least one light source (25)
present inside said closing screen (11) and is directed towards at least one light
flow reflector or recuperator (24) before being spread outside of the apparatus, and
at least two side heads (12, 13), placed respectively at the ends of the apparatus,
characterized in that said light flow reflector or recuperator (24) is integrated to said body (10) and
to said screen (11) through a single process of mechanical crimping.
2. Lighting apparatus as claim 1, characterized in that said side heads (12, 13) close said lateral ends of the apparatus and are mobile
to open and/or close said containment body (10).
3. Lighting apparatus as claim 1, characterized in that at least one mobile support (22), on which the lamp sockets (26) of the lights or
light sources (25) present inside said closing screen (11) are wired through an axial
clutch, is housed within said containment body (10), said mobile support (22) being
able to translate towards the outside and/or rotate, once extracted a corresponding
side head (12, 13), in order to electrically disconnect sais lamp sockets (26) of
the light sources (25).
4. Lighting apparatus as claim 3, characterized in that an electronic ballast (20) of driving of said light sources (25) is housed on a removable
support plate (21), at the end of which said mobile and/or roto-translatable support
(22) is fixed.
5. Lighting apparatus as claim 4, characterized in that said removable support plate (21) is sliding inside said containment body (10) and
is provided with a security system (23) in order to limit the stroke thereof during
extraction.
6. Lighting apparatus as claim 1, characterized in that the light flow reflector or recuperator (24) is integrated to said body (10) and
said screen (11) by incorporating at least one seal gasket (14).
7. Lighting apparatus as claim 1, characterized in that each of said side heads (12, 13) incorporates at least one seal gasket (16).
8. Lighting apparatus as claim 1, characterized in that at least one of said side heads (12, 13) provides a closing system (17), through
the movement of fastening means (18) external to said body (10), so as to carry out
the opening and/or access inside the apparatus.
9. Lighting apparatus as claim 1, characterized in that both said side heads (12, 13) provide each a quick hooking system (17) with bayonet
and snap coupling , by the movement of fastening means (18) external to said body
(10), in order to carry out the opening and/or access inside the apparatus.