WO2018104341A1

WO2018104341A1 - Lighting unit

Info

Publication number: WO2018104341A1
Application number: PCT/EP2017/081583
Authority: WO
Inventors: Adam Robinson; Peter SLEVIN; Paul Reynard
Original assignee: DISRUPTIVE MARKETING Ltd
Current assignee: DISRUPTIVE MARKETING Ltd
Priority date: 2016-12-05
Filing date: 2017-12-05
Publication date: 2018-06-14
Anticipated expiration: 2019-06-05
Also published as: GB2557291A; GB2570090A; GB2570090B; GB201906787D0; GB201620633D0

Abstract

A light unit comprising: a housing for securing the unit to a fixture, the housing having a central axis and an axial aperture; a socket adapted to receive a lamp, the socket including a connector for connecting the lamp to a power supply; the socket being mounted on a socket mount within a casing, the socket mount including a socket body; wherein one of the housing and casing includes a driving member and the other of the housing and casing includes a rotational actuator engaging the driving member so that the rotational actuator can cause rotation of the driving member relative to the rotational actuator to cause the casing, socket mount, socket and a lamp received in the socket to rotate axially relative to the housing; wherein the socket mount is pivotally connected to the casing by a hinge located circumferentially of the socket mount; a tilt actuator arranged to cause the socket mount to pivot about the hinge from an axial orientation wherein a lamp engaged to the socket is in a retracted position within the aperture to a deployed position wherein the lamp is deployed at least partially through the aperture tilted relative to the axis; and a heat sink extending upwardly away from the socket mount, the heat sink comprising an array of thermally conductive laminar members located in spaced relation and separated by passageways; wherein the one or more thermally conductive laminar members includes an engagement to engage the tilt actuator to enable the socket mount to pivot from the retracted position to a deployed position.

Description

LIGHTING UNIT

This invention relates to a lighting unit of the kind used to mount a lamp on a ceiling, wall, panel or other fixture, particularly but not exclusively within a cavity formed in the fixture. A typical application is that the unit may be received within a hole in a suspended ceiling.

In particularly advantageous embodiments the lamp may comprise a LED lamp array. Alternative embodiments may comprise halogen bulbs, OLED lamps or incandescent lamps. LED lamps generate a lot of heat during use, particularly over a prolonged period. This creates difficulties in design of lighting units.

US 2005/027619A discloses a recessed LED light assembly having a motorised gimbal with pairs of orthogonal bearings to enable rotation of the lamp on two axis. A disadvantage of such an assembly is that the gimbal bearings have a poor capacity for conduction of heat from the lamp. LED "scoop" light fittings are commonly used in retail environments to provide high quality light for display purposes. Such a fitting can be rotated and the lens tilted and to direct light onto an area of special interest, for example a display stand. A significant limitation of current fittings is that when a retail store layout is changed, for example, due to seasonal stock changes, light fittings must be manually adjusted for the new layout. Due to the distance of the fittings from the floor and inherent dangers or working with lighting, this may necessitate availability of specially trained staff. Health and safety requirements must be complied with. A manual adjustment process also has the disadvantage of being time consuming, being prone to error and being difficult to implement consistently across multiple fittings or at different store locations. According to the present invention a light unit comprises a housing for securing the unit to a fixture, the housing having a central axis and an axial aperture;

a socket adapted to receive a lamp, the socket including a connector for connecting the lamp to a power supply;

the socket being mounted on a socket mount within a casing, the socket mount including a socket body; wherein one of the housing and casing includes a driving member and the other of the housing and casing includes a rotational actuator engaging the driving member so that the rotational actuator can cause rotation of the driving member relative to the rotational actuator to cause the casing, socket mount, socket and a lamp received in the socket to rotate axially relative to the housing;

wherein the socket mount is pivotally connected to the casing by a hinge located circumferentially of the socket mount;

a tilt actuator arranged to cause the socket mount to pivot about the hinge from an axial orientation wherein a lamp engaged to the socket is in a retracted position within the aperture to a deployed position wherein the lamp is deployed at least partially through the aperture tilted relative to the axis; and

a heat sink extending upwardly away from the socket mount, the heat sink comprising an array of thermally conductive laminar members located in spaced relation and separated by passageways; wherein the one or more thermally conductive laminar members includes an engagement to engage the tilt actuator to enable the socket mount to pivot from the retracted position to a deployed position.

Preferred embodiments provide recessed retail fittings that allow for remote control of light direction, light colour and lighting intensity, both for individual fittings and for groups of fittings. Remote control may be afforded using computer software or smart device applications. Commands from the software may be typically communicated to individual light units or groups of light units by wireless communication methods such as Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. However signals may also be sent through the mains power circuit.

The use of such a lighting unit may provide one or more of the following benefits: 1. Easy manipulation of light fittings by staff members from the floor level removes the need for manual adjustment and reduces health and safety considerations;

2. Individual light fittings can be adjusted or lights can be grouped and adjusted simultaneously saving time and ensuring consistency;

3. Lighting can be controlled from remote locations, for example by a Head Office; 4. Control of multiple retail or other sites from a single location and the ability to copy and replicate lighting layouts from one location to another; 5. Lighting layouts can be pre-programmed during retail layout design and may be quickly implemented during roll out;

6. Energy saving can be achieved by dimming unused areas. Additionally automatic dimming can be facilitated through inclusion of motion sensors. The socket body may be part spherical. The part spherical socket body may be arranged to be deployed at least partially through the aperture and tilted relative to the axis when in a deployed position.

The socket body may be arranged to extend substantially across the aperture in the retracted position. The socket body may extend radially from the hinge in a direction perpendicular to the hinge axis, the socket body having a peripheral configuration with an outer radial dimension less than the radial dimension of the casing in the direction extending from the hinge axis. This configuration permits rotation of the socket mount and heat sink so that the lamp may pivot out of the aperture to a deployed position without interruption of the light beam by the edge of the housing.

The driving member may be a circular ring. Alternatively a partially circular ring, for example a C-shaped member may be provided for use in embodiments in which complete rotation of the unit is not required.

The driving member may comprise a toothed rack arranged to engage a toothed pinion of the actuator. In alternative embodiments the driving member may comprise a friction drive.

The actuator and the tilt actuator may be electric motors, for example stepper motors.

The driving member may be integral with the casing, the actuator being secured to the housing. In this embodiment the motor only thermally conductively connected to the lamp through the rack and pinion, reducing any risk of thermal damage to the motor. Supply of electric power to the motor is also facilitated.

The heat sink may be integral with the socket mount and arranged to conduct heat from the lamp in use, preventing overheating of the lamp and adjacent components.

The laminar members and passageways may extend generally vertically to facilitate convection of air in use. In an exemplary embodiment 5 to 20 plates or fins, typically about 11 plates or fins may be employed. The casing may comprise a shell to form a socket which at least partially encloses the socket mount.

The casing may have an inner surface with a spherical configuration, and the socket mount and heat sink having spherical outer surfaces with a smaller radius than the casing inner surface to permit rotation of the socket mount within the casing about the hinge axis. A ball and socket arrangement may be provided.

The casing may have an inner surface with a spherical configuration, and the socket body and heat sink may have spherical outer surfaces with smaller radii than the casing inner surface to permit rotation of the socket mount within the casing about the hinge axis. A ball and socket arrangement may be provided.

The array of thermally conductive laminar members may be parallel to each other and located in spaced relation and separated by passageways.

The casing may have an inner surface with a spherical configuration, and the socket body and the one or more thermally conductive parallel laminar members may have spherical outer surfaces with smaller radii than the radius of the casing inner surface to permit rotation of the socket mount within the casing about the hinge axis.

The thermally conductive parallel laminar members may extend radially of the hinge perpendicular to the hinge axis, each laminar member having a peripheral configuration with an outer radial dimension less than the radial dimension of the casing in the direction extending from the hinge axis. This configuration permits rotation of the socket mount body and heat sink so that the lamp may pivot out of the aperture without interruption of the light beam by the edge of the housing. This provides an efficient scoop light fitting.

The tilt actuator may comprise a motor, typically a stepper motor mounted on the casing. The motor may be located adjacent the axis of the unit. One or more laminar members may include an engagement to engage the tilt actuator to enable the socket mount and lamp to be pivoted from the retracted position to the deployed position.

The engagement of the one or more laminar members may be a toothed rack referred to in this specification as a tilt rack, arranged to engage a pinion of a tilt motor or other tilt actuator. Preferably the tilt motor is a stepper motor mounted on the casing. The motor may be located adjacent the central axis of the unit. Actuation of the tilt motor causes the socket mount, lamp and heat sink to move between the retracted position and a deployed position.

A location of the tilt rack circumferential! y of the heat sink provides an efficient and convenient arrangement for adjustment of the orientation of the lamp unit. Precise and reproducible control of the tilt angle is facilitated.

In a preferred embodiment the engagement or toothed rack is provided on a laminar member having a spherical outer surface with a maximum radius. This allows for a greater degree of angular movement when pivoting the socket mount from the retracted position to the deployed position, so that the lamp may extend by a greater distance from the ceiling aperture in use. The laminar member may be fin-shaped. The one or more laminar members may be perforated to reduce weight and increase ventilation.

In a preferred embodiment the one or more laminar members extend outwardly from an opening defined by the socket body.

At least a portion of the outer surface of the socket body may have a radius which is the same as the radii of the outer surfaces of the one or more of the laminar members.

In a preferred embodiment at least a portion of the outer surface of the socket body has a radius which is the same as the radius of the laminar member with a maximum radius.

The laminar members may have an outer radial dimension as disclosed above and an inner radial dimension configured to provide clearance from the housing, casing and rotational actuator as the socket mount moves from the retracted position to a deployed position. The configuration may have the shape of a sharks fin. The configuration may be selected so that each member has a maximum size to optimise the heat absorbing and radiating capacity. The configuration may be selected so that one or more of the laminar members overhang the housing. This allows for longer angular movement when pivoting the socket mount from the retracted position to the deployed position.

In a preferred embodiment of this invention the parallel laminar members have outer edges which form a part-spherical outer surface to the heat sink and the socket body has a spherical or part-spherical radially inwardly facing socket surface. The radius of the socket surface may be greater than the radius of the outer edges of the heat sink so that the heat sink may rotate around both the hinge axis and also about a vertical axis, providing a universal mounting for the lamp unit. In a preferred embodiment one of the parallel laminar members acts as a driving laminar member, such as a fin-shaped driving laminar member. The driving laminar member may extend in or adjacent a vertical plane passing through the centre of the part- spherical socket body so that the engagement or toothed rack is located at a maximum radius from the hinge axis.

The driving laminar member may have a circumferential toothed rack or friction drive surface. This allows the rack or surface to have a maximum length, optimising the responsiveness of the tilt actuator and permitting use of a lower power or less expensive drive motor. Furthermore the tilt actuator may be located at a maximum distance from the lamp, reducing heating of the motor by the lamp in use.

Moreover the centrally extending driving laminar member may have a maximum length, to maximise the extent of the downward, scoop like movement of the lamp as it is deployed. Also location of this drive mechanism on the longest fin ensures that it receives maximum convection and conduction cooling. Equatorial location of the drive plate ensures that the forces applied to the drive mechanism have balanced reducing wear on prolonged use.

In a preferred embodiment at least a portion of the heat sink is deployed at least partially through the aperture tilted relative to the housing when in a fully deployed position. This configuration allows improved ventilation using air within the room into which the deployed lamp is extended.

In a preferred embodiment the housing comprises a collar. The collar may have an outer flange to overlie and cover an edge of an aperture of a ceiling or other facia into which the unit may be installed.

A plurality of spring clips or other fastenings may be used to retain the housing in the aperture.

The socket or socket mount may include a window to protect the LED or other lamp unit. The window may have a lens to produce a focused beam. A decorative bezel may be applied to the extension of the unit.

The socket mount preferably covers the lamp and heat sink when the latter are in the deployed position, preventing ingress of dust and affording a clean and tidy appearance. The invention is further described by means of example only but not in any limitative sense with reference to the accompanying drawings, i which:

Figure 1 is a top perspective view of the light unit with a rack housing removed;

Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of the housing and driving member;

Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the engagement arrangement between the actuator and the driving member of the light unit;

Figure 4 is a side view of the light unit with the socket mount in the deployed position;

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional side view of the light unit;

Figure 6 is a bottom perspective view of the light unit; and

Figure 7 is a top perspective view of the light unit.

The same reference numerals are used to denote like components in each drawing.

Figure 1 shows a light unit 1 comprising a housing 2 having an axis, a socket mount 3 and a casing 4. The housing 2 comprises an annular mounting collar 5 which defines an axial aperture 6. An annular side wall 7 extends upwardly from the mounting collar 5 and is located between an inner 8 and outer 9 edge of the mounting collar 5 to define an inner 10 and outer 11 rim of the mounting collar 5. An electric stopper motor 12 which serves as a rotational actuator is connected to the side wall 7 in an elevated position above the inner rim 10 of the mounting collar 5. Two or more, three as illustrated, spring clips 13, connected to the side wall 7, allow for the light unit 1 to be securely fastened to a ceiling panel or other fixture (not shown).

The casing 4 includes a driving member 14 comprising an annular flange 15 located at its base and which defines a driving member aperture 16. The annular flange 15 includes a toothed rack 17 extending circumferential ly around an outer edge 18 of the annular flange 15.

The casing 4 is suitably dimensioned so that the annular flange 15 can be positioned on the inner rim 10 of the mounting collar 5 so that the annular flange 15 can be rotated around the inner rim 10 through engagement of the toothed rack 17 with a pinion 19 of the electric motor 12. The casing 4 further includes a side wall 20 extending substantially around an inner edge 21 of the annular flange 15. The side wall 20 tapers upwardly, from a location adjacent to the electric motor 12, to an apex. The casing 4 forms a socket which at least partially encloses the socket mount 3. A tilting electric motor 22 is connected to the apex of the side wall 20 via a bracket 23. The tilting electric motor is located on the casing 4 at a maximum distance from the lamp to reduce heating of the motor by the lamp is use. The rotational electric motor 12 and tilting electric motor 22 may be positioned diametrically opposed to each other.

The socket mount 3 comprises a part-spherical dome shaped socket body 24 defining a socket mount aperture 25. Located within the part-spherical dome shaped socket body 24 is a socket 26 for receipt of a light source, for example an LED chip. The socket mount 3 further includes a heat sink comprising an array of fins 27, for example in the shape of a shark fin, separated by passageways 28 which extend vertically outwardly from the socket mount aperture 25. A central fin 29 of the array of fins 27 includes a toothed tilt rack 30 located on the outer peripheral edge of the central fin 28. Each of the fins on either side of the central fin 29 successively has a reduced longitudinal or radial dimension compared to its preceding neighbour. The peripheral edges of the fins form a spherical or dome shaped array. The socket mount 3 is pivotally attached to an inner edge 29a of the annular flange 15 by a hinge 29b. The socket mount 3 is positioned so that it can be pivoted about the hinge 29b through engagement of the toothed rack 30 with a pinion 31 of the electric motor 22.

The casing 4 has an inner surface with a spherical configuration, and the socket body 24 and the central fin 29 have spherical outer surfaces with smaller radii than the inner surface of the casing 4 to allow for rotation of the socket mount 3 within the casing 4 about the hinge axis. The spherical outer surface of the central fin 29 has a maximum radius, relative to the other fins. This allows for a greater degree of angular movement when pivoting the socket mount 3 from the retracted position to the deployed position, so that the lamp may extend by a greater distance from the ceiling aperture in use. The outer peripheral edge of the central fin 28 including the toothed tilt rack 30 has an outer radial dimension less than the radial dimension of the casing 4 in a direction extending from the hinge axis. The casing 4 has an inner surface with a spherical configuration, and the socket mount 3.

In particular, the central fin 29 extends in or adjacent a vertical plane passing through the centre of the part-spherical dome shaped socket body 24 so that the toothed tilt rack 30 is located at a maximum radius from the hinge axis.

The central fin 29 also has a maximum length, relative to the other fins, to maximise the extent of the downward scoop like movement as the socket mount is pivoted from the retracted position to the deployed position. Several of the fins 27, including the central fin 29, are sufficiently long to ensure that they overhang the housing 2 when in the retracted position. Also, locating the toothed tilt rack 30 on the longest fin ensures that the central fin 29 receives maximum convention and conduction cooling when the light unit 1 is in use.

In use engagement of the toothed rack 17 of the annular flange 15 with the pinion 19 of the electric motor 12 causes rotation of the driving member 14 relative to the electric motor 12 to cause the casing 4, socket mount 3, socket 26 and a lamp received in the socket 26 to rotate axially relative to the housing 2. In addition, engagement of the toothed rack 30 of the central fin with the pinion 31 of the electric motor 22 causes the socket mount 3 and lamp to pivot about the hinge from an axial orientation wherein the lamp is in a retracted position 32 within the axial aperture 6 to a deployed position 33 wherein the lamp is deployed at least partially through the axial aperture 6 tilted relative to the axis.

Figure 2 is a detailed view which shows the housing 2 and casing 4 of Figure 1. The inner rim 10 of the mounting collar 5 comprises a plurality of rollers 32 which facilitates movement of the driving member 14 relative to the electric motor 12.

Figure 3 is a detailed partial view which shows the light unit 1 of Figure 1. The pinion 19 of the electric stopper motor 12 is shown engaged with the toothed rack 17 o the annular flange 15. The socket mount 3 includes an engagement 32 which is adapted to allow the socket mount 3 to be connected to the hinge 29b of the annular flange 15.

Figure 4 shows the light unit 1 of Figure 1 in the deployed position 33. The pinion 31 of the tilting electric motor 22 is engaged with the outermost teeth of the toothed rack 30. The socket mount 3 is shown in its fully deployed position with the socket mount 3, part-spherical dome shaped socket body 24, and the heat sink located at least partially through the axial aperture 6 and tilted relative to the axis. This configuration allows improved ventilation using air within the room into which the deployed lamp is extended.

Figure 5 show the light unit 1 of Figure 1 in the retracted position 31. The pinion 31 of the tilting electric motor 22 is engaged with the inner most teeth of the toothed rack 30. The socket mount 3 and socket 26 are located within the axial aperture 6. The socket 26 includes an upper wall 33 which contacts the array of fins 27. A light source is attached to the upper wall 33 within the socket 26. The light source may for example be an LED chip 34 and form part of a lighting unit 35. The lighting unit 35 may further comprise a reflector 36 and lens 37. Figure 6 shows a botto view of the light unit 1 of Figure 1 with the lens 37 attached.

The socket body extends across the axial aperture 6 Figure 7 shows the light unit of Figure 1. A removable protective housing 38 is positioned over the toothed rack 30 and tilting electric motor 22. A further removable protective housing 39 is positioned over the electric motor 12.

Claims

1. A light unit comprising: a housing for securing the unit to a fixture, the housing having a central axis and an axial aperture; a socket adapted to receive a lamp, the socket including a connector for connecting the lamp to a power supply; the socket being mounted on a socket mount within a casing, the socket mount including a socket body; wherein one of the housing and casing includes a driving member and the other of the housing and casing includes a rotational actuator engaging the driving member so that the rotational actuator can cause rotation of the driving member relative to the rotational actuator to cause the casing, socket mount, socket and a lamp received in the socket to rotate axially relative to the housing; wherein the socket mount is pivotally connected to the casing by a hinge located ci rcumferenti ally of the socket mount; a tilt actuator arranged to cause the socket mount to pivot about the hinge from an axial orientation wherein a lamp engaged to the socket is in a retracted position within the aperture to a deployed position wherein the lamp is deployed at least partially through the aperture tilted relative to the axis; and a heat sink extending upwardly away from the socket mount, the heat sink comprising an array of thermally conductive laminar members located in spaced relation and separated by passageways; wherein the one or more thermally conductive laminar members includes an engagement to engage the tilt actuator to enable the socket mount to pivot from the retracted position to a deployed position.

2. A light unit as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the laminar members are plates or fins.

3. A light unit as claimed in claim 2, wherein 5 to 20 plates or fins, are employed.

4. A light unit as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the laminar members and passageways extend generally vertically.

5. A light unit as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the laminar members extend radially of the hinge perpendicular to the hinge axis.

6. A light unit as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein each laminar member has a peripheral configuration with an outer radial dimension less than the radial dimension of the casing in the direction extending from the hinge axis.

7. A light unit as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the engagement of the one or more laminar members is a toothed rack arranged to engage a pinion of the actuator.

8. A light unit as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the heat sink is integral with the socket mount and arranged to conduct heat from the lamp in use.

9. A light unit as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the driving member comprises a toothed rack arranged to engage a toothed pinion of the actuator.

10. A light source as claimed in claim 9, wherein the driving member is a circular ring.

11. A light unit as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the actuators are electric stepper motors.

12. A light unit as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the driving member is integral with the casing and the actuator is secured to the housing.

13. A light unit as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the casing comprises a shell to form the socket which at least partially encloses the socket mount.

14. A light unit as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the casing has an inner surface with a spherical configuration, the socket mount and heat sink having spherical outer surfaces with a smaller radius than the casing inner surface to permit rotation of the socket mount within the casing about the hinge axis.

15. A light unit as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the housing is a collar.

16. A light unit as claimed in claim 15, wherein the collar has an peripheral flange to overlie an edge of the aperture on a ceiling or other facia into which the light unit is installed.

17. A light unit as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the socket or socket mount includes a window to protect the lamp unit.

18. A light unit as claimed in claim 17, wherein the window has a lens arranged in use to produce a focused beam.

19. A light unit as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the socket mount covers the lamp and heat sink when the latter are in the deployed position.