US2678380A - Arc discharge lighting fixture - Google Patents

Description

May 11,11954 s. B. wr-:sTBY 2,678,380

I ARG DISCHARGE LIGHTING FIXTURE Filed Dec. 9, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet l J vf/WH im'lmnllhnyuWHI MMIII mmhMINIIMHWH ,1| 3

May 11, 1954 s. B. wEsTBY 2,678,380

ARG DISCHARGE LIGHTING FIXTURE Filed Dec. 9, 1.950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 11|, 1954 UN ITED STATESV ATEN T VOFFICE. zgtvsst Ano DISCHARGE LIGHTING FIXTURE Sidney B. Westby, Elmhurst, Ill. VApplieatimi iie'cmti 9, 1950, serial No. 200,017 claims. y(ol. 24o-51.11)

The present invention relates to lighting fixtures. More particularly, the invention relates to lighting fixtures utilizing elongated light# ing tubes operated by a high voltage are discharge. Y

The installation and maintenance` of fixturesutilizing high voltage arc discharge lighting tubes, such as uorescent lighting tubes, has heretofore been a source of considerablev expense, and has involved a number of hazardsV to per'- sonnel charged with the installation and maintenance of such fixtures. Because such lighting fixtures require a ballast means, which is gen-7 erally a heavy item in itself, and reflector and tube receiving means or sockets, the entire fix#- ture is comparatively heavy, and is extreme-tydiiiicult to handle. This is particularly Vtrue if the fixture is being placed in an overhead posi@ tion where a ladder is required while installation is being completed. Further, after a period of use, the amount of illumination supple'dby such fixtures is generally reduced due to the accumulation of dust, and the like, or due to failure of the lighting tubes, thus requiring an established maintenance program inorder toas-'- sure maxi-mum illumination. With arc discharge lighting fixtures heretofore known, cleaning of the reflector means of the fixture, or changing 'ofv the lighting tubev itself, has required that-the personnel charged with maintenance do such Work while standing on a ladder, or the like. The manner in which this Work is done therefore involves considerablev hazard to the personnel. Further, while such maintenance work is 'going on, operations in the area being illuminated bythe fixture are interrupted, sometimes for sub# stantial periods of time.

It is therefore one object of the present invention to provide an arc discharge lighting tube xture which will facilitate installation of the fixture, and will reduce the hazards. to personnel making the installation.

Another object of the invention is to prov-ide an arc discharge lighting tube fixture which will simplify maintenance of the fixture, and will substantially reduce the hazards to personnel chargedwith the maintenance of the fixture so that provision oi maximum illumination there# from is always assured.

A further object of the invention is to provide an arc discharge lighting fixture which will reduce to a minimum both the number and' the duration of interruptions occurring! in the work-S lng area illuminated by the nxture by reasons of' maintenance measures.-

A featureof thea invention is the provision of an arc discharge. lighting fixture which is constructed in substantially two, easily separable parts. One partincludesa first housing member which hasv an arc discharge lighting tulbe ballast means physically mounted therein, and which is adapted to be connected to. a supporting structure. The other part. includes` a. second housing member adapted to be. removably mounted on the first housing member. Supported on the second housing member are electrically operable arc discharge lighting tubev receiving means or sockets, and reiiector means; the sockets being positioned Within the reflector means. The sockets. are electrically connected tothe ballast means in the first housing member through a mechanically separable, electric disconnect means having a first portion mounted on the rslt housing member, and a secondaportion mounted on the secorid housing member; The. electric disconnect` means is so designed that, upon the second housing member being removed from the first housing member, the disconnectmeans automatically operates to electrically disconnect the light tube sockets from. theiballa-'st means.

Many other objects, and advantages, of the, construction herein shown and described will be obvious to those skilledin the art from the disclosure herein given when. considered in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, wherein like reference characters indicate like or corresponding parts:

Fig. 1 is aside, perspectivel view of an arc discharge lighting fixture constructed in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional View of the xture taken through planeV 2-2 of Fig. 1,Y and illustrates the fixture in an assembled position;

Fig. 3 is apartial, sectional view of one end of the xture taken through plane 3-3 of Fig. 2;V

Fig. 4 is a crossv sectional View of the fixture which is similar to:v the cross section shown in Fig. 2, but-illustrating` the fixture in a partially disassembled position;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary, perspective View of a preferred hinge structure incorporated in the fixture comprising the invention; and j Fig. 6 is a'vschematic. wiring diagram illustrating the manner in Which the invention operates electrically.

Referring new te Fig'. I of the drawings`, an arc discharge lighting fixture, comprising the iii-'- vention, is shown at Ill. Fixture ll includesa first',- elongated-,1` rectangular 'shaped nous'VV g member Hadapted to bel cdniiected to a site# aevasso porting structure by means such as the suspension cables shown at I3. Removably mounted on housing member I2 is a second, elongated, rectangular-shaped lower housing member I4. Mounted on the second housing member I4 are electrically operable, fluorescent, light radiating apparatus receiving means or sockets I6 in which a plurality of fluorescent arc discharge lighting tubes I'I' are seated. The fluorescent lighting tube receiving means I6 are positioned within an elongated, semi-parabolic reflector means I8 mounted on second housing member I4, and having the reflecting surface thereof downwardly disposed.

Second housing member I4 is removably mounted on first housing member I2 by means of an easily separable securing means including a hinge structure, indicated at I9 in Fig. l, which, as is best shown in Fig. 5, comprises a hooked, pointed hinging member 2| secured to first housing member I2, and adapted to pivotally cooperate with a cross bar member 22, xed to second housing member I4, in the manner shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings. The easily separable securing means also includes a separable latch structure 23 which may be of any standard construction, but is preferably of the type used on small trunks and foot lockers. By reason of the easily separable securing means I9 and 23, housing member I4 can be readily mounted on, or removed from, housing member I2 by simply hooking the cross bar member 22 over the pointed hook member 2i, and pivoting the housing member thus suspended upwardly, in the fashion shown in Fig. 4, to the closed position shown in Fig. 2.

Physically mounted in the first, upper housing member I2 is a fluorescent lighting tube ballast means 26 which may be constructed in any manner, but generally comprises an electrical transformer, and is therefore relatively heavy. As is best seen in Fig. 6, ballast means 25 is adapted to be electrically connected to a source of electric power through a power supply cord 26 shown in Fig. 1. Ballast means 25 is adapted to be electrically connected to the fluorescent lighting tube receiving means I6 on second housing member I4 by mechanically separable, electric disconnect means comprising a multiprong connector having a female portion 2 physically mounted on upper housing member I2, and a male portion 28 physically mounted on second housing member I4. The two portions of the connector means are so positioned and aligned that upon the second housing member I4 being mounted upon the first housing member I2 in the manner illustrated in Fig. 2, the electrical circuit `between the ballast means 26 and the fluorescent lighting tube receiving means It is established through closure thereof.

To facilitate installation and maintenance of the fixture, handle means are provided which include a raised handle grip 29, and as is best shown in Fig. 3, an inwardly punched handle portion SI formed on the end of the housing member. Handle grip 29 is positioned on housing lli in such a manner that the member can be carried in a suitcase fashion, and handle portion 3i formed on both of the ends of the housing may, in substantially the same manner, allow the housing member to be carried in a tray-like fashion.

From the above description it can be appreciated that installation of the lighting fixture comprising the invention can be accomplished very simply by separately installing the two housing members of which the nxture is comprised. In this manner, the total weight of the fixture to be handled at any one time can be approximately halved during the steps of the installation. Having secured the cables I3, or other supporting means, in place, and connected the rst housing member I2 to the ends of the cables, the second housing member can be easily mounted on the first housing member by pivotally securing the same to the first housing member in the above described manner. It is, of course, to be understood that the fixture does not have to be supported by the exact means disclosed. If desired, the first housing member may be secured directly to a ceiling, with the units placed end to end in longitudinal alignment throughout the length of a space to be illuminated. Also, for installations of the above type, the first or upper housing member can be elongated considerably to accommodate three or four, or any desired number of second or lower housing members. As such an installation would incorporate all of the advantages and features of the installation described above further description thereof is believed unnecessary.

After completion of a lighting installation constructed in accordance with the invention, should it thereafter become necessary to service the nxture due to accumulation of dust on the reiiector, or to burn-out of one of the tubes, all that is required is that the lower housing member be removed from the upper housing member by pivoting the same downwardlyin the fashion shown in Fig. ll. Since the downward pivotal movement of the lower housing member I4 automatically mechanically separates and electrically disconnects the electrically operable portions on second housing member I4 from those on first housing member I2, the two housing members can be easily separated with no possibility of an electric shock to the person servicing the fixture. Having swung the lower housing member I4 to the position shown in solid lines in Fig. 4, the lower housing member can then be easily lifted off of the pointed, hooked hinge structure 2|, and the member, including reflector IB and the lighting tubes, lowered to a position where it can be easily and safely worked on. It is of course possible for the servicing personnel to carry an entire spare unit which would be identical in construction to the lower housing member I4, and would include the reiiector means, the arc discharge lighting tube sockets, and the electric disconnect means. This spare unit could then be mounted on the upper housing member I2 in identically the same fashion, and would result in placing the xture in operation in a minimum of time after its failure. The removed member I4 requiring servicing could then be taken to a service shop, or some other locality, where it would not interfere with work going on in the area illuminated by the xture. Consequently, it can be appreciated that provision of the invention not only removes the hazard to maintenance personnel involved in maintaining iiuorescent arc discharge lighting tube fixtures, but reduces to a minimum the number and the duration of interruptions occurring in the working area by reason of the need for maintenance services to the lighting fixture.

Having thus described my invention, it is obvious that various immaterial modifications may be made in the same without departing from the spirit of my invention; hence, I do not wish to dovesse be understood as limiting myself to the exact form, construction, arrangement, and combination of parts herein shown and described, or uses mentioned.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A lighting iixture including in combination a first housing member having a longitudinal edge and open at the bottom thereof and including a ballast means and circuit therefor and adapted for connection to a supporting structure, said ballast means and circuit therefor operatively mounted within the nrst housing member, a portable second housing member including a carrying handle on Van edge thereof and handles on the opposite ends and removably mounted on said first housing member, complementally formed separable hinge means mounted on contiguous longitudinal edges of said housing members whereby said second Ihousing member is adapted to be removably mounted along the aforesaid first-mentioned longitudinal edge of said rst housing member, electrically operable, arc discharge light radiating apparatus receiving means electrically connected and mounted on said second housing member, and mechanically separable, electrical disconnect means for aut-omatically disconnecting said light radiating apparatus receiving means from a source of electric power upon said second housing member being pivoted downwardly about said hinge means by the firstmentioned handle yand adapted to be removed from said rst housing member upon separation of said hinge means with an upward movement, whereby the ballast and circuit therefor may be inspected through the opening oi the first housing member as the second housing member is pivoted downwardly and upon detachment of the second housing member it is adapted to be transported for maintenance.

2. A lighting fixture including in combination a first housing member having a longitudinal edge and open at the bottom thereof and adapted for connection to a supporting structure, separable hinge means, a second housing member being hingedly and removably mounted by the aforesaid separable hinge means along the longitudinal edge of said rst housing member, electrically operable, arc discharge light radiating apparatus receiving means mounted on said second housing member, and mechanically separable electrical disconnect means having a portion mounted on said rst housing member, and a portion mounted on said second housing member for automatically disconnecting said light radiating apparatus receiving means from a source of electric power upon said second housing member being ypivoted downwardly from said rst housing member, and a handle on one edge of said second housing member opposite the connection thereof to the rst housing member, whereby the second housing member is adapted to be pivoted downwardly upon said hinge means for the inspection of said first housing member and upon removal oi said sec-ond housing member .upon separation of said hinge means, said second housing member is adapted to be transported by said handle.

3. A lighting iixture including in combination a rst housing member adapted for connection to a supporting structure, a second housing member being pivotally and removably mounted along an edge of said rst housing member and latched 'i along the opposite edge, separable hinge means 6, for pivoting said second housing member on said first housing member, detachable latch means for latching said first and second housing members together, electrically operable, arc discharge lighting tube receiving means `mounted on said second housing member, reflector means mounted on said second housing member, said lighting tube receiving means being disposed within said reflector means, and mechanically separable electrical disconnect means o-n said housing members for automatically disconnecting said arc discharge lighting tube receiving means from a source of electric power upon said second housing member being pivoted downwardly from said iirst lio-using member, and handles on said second housing member, one of said handles adapted to pivot said second housing member downwardly upon said separable hinge means after the detachable latch means is unlatched, and the other handles adapted for attaching and detaching said irst housing member to and from said first housing member upon said separable hinge means.

li. A lighting fixture including in combination a rst housing member adapted for connection to a supporting structure, arc discharge lighting tube ballast means physically mounted in said rst housing member and adapted to be connected to a source or electrical power, a second housing member including a handle and being pivotally and removably mounted on said first housing member for transport, separable hinge means for pivoting said second housing member on said first housing member, detachable latch means for latching said first and second housing members together, electrically operable, arc discharge lighting tube receiving means mounted on said sec-ond housing member, reflector means mounted on said second housing member, said lighting tube receiving means being positioned within said reflector means, and mechanically separable electric disconnect means having a portion mounted on said iirst housing member, and a portion mounted on said second housing member for electrically connecting said lighting tube receiving means to said ballast means, said disconnect means being automatically operable to electrically disconnect said lighting tube receiving means and said ballast means upon said second housing member being pivoted downwardly from said first housing member, whereby upon the detachable latch means being detached and the second housing member being pivoted downwardly upon said separable hinge means by said handle, the ballast means is adapted to be inspected and maintained, and upon removal of said second housing member by separation of said separable hinge means, the second housing member is adapted for transport by the same handle.

5. A lighting fixture including in combination a first housing member adapted for connection to a supporting structure, arc discharge lighting tube ballast means physically mounted in said iirst housing member and adapted to be connected to a source of electrical power, a second housing member adapted to be pivotally and detachably mounted on said rst housing member, separable hooked, pointed hinge structures pivotally connecting one side or' said second housing member to said first housing member, separable latching structures co-operating with said hinge structures for removably mounting said second housing member on said first housing member, electrically operable, arc discharge lighting tube receiving means mounted on said second housing member, reflector means mounted on said second housing member, said lighting tube receiving means being positioned within said reflector means, and mechanically separable electric disconnect means having a portion mounted on said rst housing member, and a portion mounted on said second housing member for electrically connecting said lighting tube receiving means to said ballast means, said disconnect means being automatically operable to electrically disconnect said lighting tube receiving means and said ballast means upon said second housing member being pivoted downwardly from said rst housing member, and handle means on said second housing member adapted to pivot said second housing member downwardly upon sai-d hinge structures to actuate said disconnect means, and to transport and also to attach and detach said second housing member to and from said rst housing member by said hinge structures and latching structures in either its operative or inoperative position.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,822,019 Desmond Sept. 8, 1931 1,848,276 Smythe et al. Mar. 8, 1932 2,227,739 Pollard Jan. 7, 1941 2,268,731 Van Bloem Jan. 6, 1942 2,272,176 Leinen Feb. 10, 1942 2,327,552 Poehling Aug. 24, 1943 2,330,738 Phillips Sept. 28, 1943 2,368,810 Donnelly Feb. 6, 1945 2,413,599 Beck Dec. 31, 1946 2,439,885 Darley Apr. 20, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 623,992 Great Britain May 26, 1949 OTHER REFERENCES Lighting and Lamps, for April 1948, inside front cover page.

Images