 |
Description  |
|
|
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates in general to light fixtures and more particularly,
to an air-cooled light fixture adapted to emit a narrow spectral energy
band from a broad spectral energy band high intensity light source.
Light sources such as seal beam lamps and the like include optical devices
which direct the light therefrom along a narrow beam path. These lamps get
exceptionally hot when confined to a small area. It is important to
operate these lamps at or as near as possible to their recommended
operating temperatures. Higher than optimum temperature operation reduces
their life span and lower temperatures prevents the inert gas contained in
many such lamps from returning tungsten from the bulb wall to the filament
coils which blackens the lamp walls causing a reduced intensity output.
In the type of light fixture to which this invention is directed the
required temperatures within the fixture vary. The filters must be held
within a range of ambient temperatures while the lamp must be operated at
a normal high temperature of several hundred degrees Fahrenheit.
In many applications of this type of a source of light from a fixture of
this type, a requirement exists for the intensity of the light leaving the
fixture to be varied according to the distance of the object to be
illuminated, the reflectance factor of the illuminated object and the
existing ambient light level. There are light sources that can be adjusted
as to intensity levels by the viewer at remote locations. None of the
prior art teaches automatic light intensity control at the light source
which considers the variables above mentioned. It is particularly
important for automatic light control when the light is used to illuminate
objects picked up by television means when the objects continually vary as
to distance from a few feet to several hundred feet.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,321,659 teaches the cooling of the filters by the use of an
ambient air stream drawn through the filters. This system is adequate for
cooling the filters used with low or medium powered light sources, but
does not teach maintaining different temperatures within the housing,
prevent moisture from entering the housing, provide safety shut down of
the lamp if lamp temperatures fall outside of their operating perimeter.
There is a continuing need for improvements in light fixture of the type
defined.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The above noted existing problems, and others, are overcome in accordance
with the light fixture of this invention which basically comprises an
elongated housing having a filter pack at a light emitting first end, a
light source intermediate the housing end and a fan near the second end.
The filter pack consists of a plurality of spaced apart filter lens
having, in combination, selected energy transmitting and absorbing
characteristics so that only energy in a desired spectral band is emitted.
Each of the individual filters, except the filter adjacent the first end,
has a portion of its periphery removed. The removed or cut away portions
of each filter is arranged so as to complement each other so as to provide
substantially uniform light filtration effect across the entire face of
the filter pack and provide a tortuous air path between the filters. The
end surfaces of two non-adjacent filters are joined by a wall parallel to
the inner surface of the light fixture housing to separate the tortuous
air path into two separate tortuous air paths between different adjacent
filters.
A diffusion lens is provided between the light energy source and the
filters to maintain a higher temperature in the general area of the light
energy source. Temperature control means within the housing controls the
fan operation relative to internal housing temperatures.
A sensing means is positioned on the external surface of the housing for
varying the intensity of the light energy source according to the varying
distance to the object to which the filtered light is directed, the
reflective factor of that object, ambient light levels, etc.
An air filter is provided to prevent moisture or foreign objects from
entering the housing.
An object of this invention is to provide temperature control within a
light fixture having different internal temperature requirements.
Another object of this invention is to provide a light fixture capable of
housing a high energy level light source and filter system.
Another object of this invention is to provide temperature sensing means
associated with a fan for controlling fan operation relative to
temperature requirements.
Still another object of this invention is to provide a light fixture
wherein the light output intensity is constantly varied relative to
external requirements.
These and other features and objects will become apparent to those in the
art while reading the specifications in view of the following drawing
figures wherein:
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Details of the invention and preferred embodiments thereof will be further
understood upon reference to the drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1 is a perspective elevated partial cut-away view of the first
embodiment of the fixture exposing internal components;
FIG. 2 is a partial cut-away side view of the lens pack assembly of a
second embodiment thereof;
FIG. 3 is a showing similar to FIG. 1 of a second embodiment of the
invention;
FIG. 4 is a similar showing as FIG. 2 of a second embodiment of the lens
pack of FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is an electrical schematic of the energy source intensity control of
the invention; and
FIG. 6 is a schematic showing of the fan control system of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is seen a perspective, partially
cut-away of one embodiment of the light fixture according to this
invention. A cylindrical housing 10 surrounds and supports the internal
components. Of course, housing 10 could have any other suitable shape,
such as a square cross-section, and could be bent at either end, if
desired.
The cylindrical housing 10 includes an inner wall 12 and an outer wall 14
spaced from wall 12. The two walls are inter connected by supports 16
located at the lens pack end of the housing 10. The lens pack includes
lens 18 which takes the same general configuration as the inner wall 12
cross-section and encloses one end of the housing 10. Fixedly attached to
the inner surface of lens 18 is a partial lens segment 20. Adjacent to the
lens 18 and segment 20 combination is a lens 22. Lens 22 has opposite
sides of its inner wall conforming periphery removed. Lens 22 is connected
to a non-adjacent lens 24, which has a like inner wall conforming
periphery portion removed, by a connector element or plate 26. Lens 24 is
supported by inner wall 10 recesses or grooves 28 as is lens combination
18 and 20 and lens 30 which is positioned between lens 22 and 24. Lens 24
supports inter connected lens 22 in position in the housing. Lens 30 has a
larger periphery area cut out than lens 22 and 24. An additional lens 32
is positioned rearward from lens 24 and like lens 22, 24 and 30 has a
portion of its inner wall conforming periphery removed and is secured in a
slot or groove 28 in the inner wall 12 of the housing. Lens portion 20
conforms to the inner wall conforming surface area removed from lens 30
and is the same type of light filter as is lens 30. Effectively, lens
portion 20 is the inner wall conforming area removed from lens 30.
Spaced rearwardly from lens 32 is a heat baffle 34. Heat baffle 34 is
centered with the lens pack and is supported from inner wall 12 by means
of a plurality of spacers 36, three are shown.
Positioned rearwardly from heat baffle 34 is a high intensity light source
38 which is centered in the housing by means of spacers 40, three shown.
Light source 38 will range in power, for example, between 40 and 1500
watts. The light source is electrically connected in the manner
hereinafter described.
The other end of the housing 10 is closed by means of an end plate 42 with
a plurality of apertures therethrough, four are shown. Mounted on end
plate 42 rearward from light source 38 is a cooling fan 44 of a
conventional variety. The one shown having three cooling blades 46. It
should be understood that any convenient number of cooling blades 46 could
be employed.
Positioned on the inner surface of wall 12 between the fan 44 and light
source 38 is a temperature sensor 48 for fan control which will be more
fully described hereinafter.
Positioned on the outer surface of wall 14 and directed toward the front or
lens end of the housing 10 is a light sensing assembly 50. The light
sensing assembly 50 which includes a light sensor element hereinafter
discussed, is inter connected to the light source 38 and varies the
intensity output of the light source depending on the sensed ambient light
levels. The operation of the light sensing assembly 50 will hereinafter be
described in more detail.
Positioned between walls 12 and 14 is a filter material 57 for filtering
the cooling air entering the housing.
FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment of the housing and lens assembly or pack.
In the FIG. 2 embodiment the housing 10 does not include outer wall 14.
The filter pack, the same lens arrangement as FIG. 1, is held in a housing
52 by wall 53 which slip fits over the end of the housing assembly wall
12. The various lenses are attached to the inner wall of the lens housing
52 by means of adhesive 54 or the like rather than grooves 28. An outer
wall 56 is connected to wall 53 at the front of the lens housing 52
forming a rearly directed opening 58. Filter material 51 is positioned
between the walls 53 and 56. A plurality of openings 60 through a portion
of wall 53 are positioned through a portion wall 53 between lens 24 and
32. Like openings 62 are positioned through a portion of wall 53 between
lens 24 and 30.
As for the purpose of example only, to produce an infra-red light output
from assembly according to FIGS. 1 and 2, lens 18 would be blue in color,
lens portion 20 and lens 24 would be red in color and lens 22, 30 and 32
would be clear or transparent.
Referring now to the second embodiment of the air cooled light fixture of
the invention shown in FIG. 3, the device is similar to the device of FIG.
1 except the lenses are positioned differently. The front most filter
includes two lens 18 and 24 positioned together backed by two adjacent
lens 22 and 32. The lens numbers correspond with the lens colors of the
FIG. 1 and 2 devices to produce the same light frequency output.
Referring now to FIG. 4, the lens assembly of this embodiment is similar to
the showing of FIG. 2 except for lens arrangement and the position of
openings 60 and 62. In this embodiment the lens arrangement is as follows,
a pair of lens 24 and 18 are positioned together with lens 24 being the
forward most or outer lens of the pair. Lens 22 and 32 are positioned in a
manner as lens 30 and 32 of FIG. 2. Openings 60 are positioned partially
around wall 30 between lens 22 and 32 and openings 62 partially around
wall 30, are positioned between lens 18 and 22.
Referring now to the circuit diagram of FIG. 5. FIG. 5 depicts the light
intensity sensing circuit enclosed in light sensor assembly 50. A 117 volt
A.C. 50/60 cycle Hz power source is connected between terminals 64 and 66
which are connected to rectifiers 68, 70, 72 and 74. This full wave
rectifier bridge provides direct current voltage to the anode 76 of the
silicon controlled rectifier 78. The clipping action of a zener diode 80,
in conjunction with resistor 82, the unijunction oscillator circuit formed
by the unijunction transistor 84, resistor 86, and capacitor 88, is
energized by a 20 volt clipped voltage supply. The capacitor 88 begins
charging at the start of the A.C. wave from and the unijunction transistor
84, produces a pulse after a time interval, the time being determined by
the value of resistor 90, in the unijunction transistor 84's emitter
circuit. Since resistor 90 is a variable resistor, the time interval can
be varied. As soon as the silicon controlled rectifier 78 fires, it shorts
out the voltage supply to the unijunction transistor 84 which prevents
capacitor 88 from charging up until the start of the next half cycle. The
silicon controlled rectifier 78 then returns to its blocking state because
of the power supply voltage momentarily dropping to zero. Thus, the timing
of the unijunction transistor 84 is always synchronized to the start of
each one half cycle of the 50/60 Hz supply voltage across terminals 64 and
66. Resistor 91 is a biasing resistor for unijunction transducer 84.
Since the full wave bridge applies full wave voltage to the silicon
controlled rectifier 78, the firing angle for both half cycles is
controlled by the single unijunction transistor 84 and the symmetrical
phase controlled alternating current voltage is delivered to the filaments
92 of the high intensity light source 38.
An NPN transistor 94 with its emitter and collector connected across
capacitor 88, receives a small current to its base from the light
intensity sensor element 96, the amount of this current from sensor
element 96 to the base of transistor 94 will vary according to the amount
of ambient light 98 reaching the sensor element 96 controls the current
flow through the transistor 94, there diverting a portion of the charging
current from the capacitor. Reducing the charging current to the capacitor
88 delays the firing of the unijunction transistor 84 and silicon
controlled rectifier 78 reducing the current flow through the filament 92
of lamp 38 reducing its output intensity.
If the ambient light 98 is reduced or approaches zero, the current flowing
through the transistor 94 is reduced or cut off this will increase the
capacitor 88 charging current which in turn increases the firing sequence
of the unijunction transistor 84 and the silicon controlled rectifier 78
increasing lamp 38 filament current thus increasing the output intensity
of the lamp.
The light sensing monitor 50 is positioned in the direction of the scene or
object to be illuminated by the high intensity lamp 38. The reflective
light from the scene or object raises or lowers the lamp intensity as
hereinbefore explained. If, for example, the lamp 38 is pointed at an
object that is only a short distance away, the reflected light returning
to the sensor 50 will decrease the current flow through the filament 92,
by this means the required illumination will always be present on the
object close or far distant.
Referring now to FIG. 6 which depicts the temperature sensing and fan
control circuit. The A.C. power source, as hereinbefore described above
under the discussion of FIG. 5, is connected across terminals 96 and 98
which applies power to electronic module 48, the module 48 monitors the
temperature of the inner wall 12 of the housing 10. The output 100 from
module 48 turns on and varies the current flowing through the silicon
diode rectifier 102 and hence through the motor coils 104 and 106 of the
fan 44 wired between terminals 96 and 98. Thus, the cooling fan 44 speeds
up or slows down its rotation depending on the temperature level sensed by
sensor 48. The sensor 48 can be adjusted through a range of required fan
speeds relative to sensed temperatures. The fan operation is independent
of the operation of the high intensity lamp 38 and thus will operate
according to sensed temperature levels regardless of lamp 38 operation.
The circuit further includes an air switch 108 shown schematically. The
air switch 108 actually is positioned in the air flow aperture 110. The
aperture 110 is positioned in the air flow path between the walls of
housing or housing and lens assembly. The switch is arranged so that lack
of sufficient air flow through aperture 110 positions the switch 108 in
the position shown in FIG. 6. in this position, the current to the lamp is
removed from the sensing assembly and connected to the A.C. source at 64
through a variable preheat resistor 112.
The preheat resistor 112 has two functions, namely, it warms up the
filament of lamp 38, raises the effective resistance of the filament of
the lamp reducing the current through the lamp filament when the lamp is
turned on, increasing the lamp life; and by applying a low voltage to the
lamp 38 provides heat to the internal portion of the assembly keeping the
internal components dry.
Obviously, when the fan is operating and proper air volume is drawn through
aperture 110 switch 108 will change state allowing the sensor module to
have control over lamp 38 illumination.
THE OPERATION OF THE EMBODIMENT
Referring now to FIG. 1, ambient air is drawn in either in the direction of
arrows 114, passes through air filter 51, through aperture 60, downward
between lens 24 and 32, out the bottom of lens 32, around diffused lens
34, past lamp 38 and past fan 44 out apertures 44. Ambient air is also
drawn in along arrows 116, through air filter 51, through aperture 60,
between lens 24 and 30, over the cutaway end of lens 30, down between lens
22 and 30, over cutaway of lens 22, up between lens 18 and 20 combination
and lens 22, across connector surface 26 and down between lens 24 and 32
where it joins ambient air following arrow 114 and proceed in the same
manner as that air following arrow 114.
The flow path of ambient air in FIG. 2 is substantially the same as that of
FIG. 1, except ambient air, for example, first passes through the air
switch aperture 110 prior to entering the assembly.
In view of the air flow paths of FIGS. 1 and 2, the air flow paths of FIGS.
3 and 4 are provided as shown by arrows 114 and 116. It should be
understood that the air flow path could also be opposite to the direction
of the arrows.
COMPONENT PARTS LIST
The following list of components are representative of the valves and
sources used to practice this invention. It should be understood and any
similar components may be used equally as well to practice this invention.
______________________________________
Part Reference No.
Manufacturer Part Number
______________________________________
38 (lamp) General Electric
PAR 6411
44 (fan) Daytona 2C610
48 (temp Sensa)
DIGI KEY LM 3911
50 (Light sensor and
HB & WG LSEC - 1001
Electronic control)
51 (filter material)
DAYTON L-86
68-70, 72, 74 (rectifiers)
GE Co. GE - IN1695
78 (rectifier) GE Co. C11B
80 (control diode)
RCA ON1527
82 (resistor) OMITE 3.3K 5W
88 (capacitor) RCA 0.1 MFD
90 (resistor) RCA 100K, 5W
91 (resistor) OMITE 47 OHMS, IW
94 Transistor RCA 2M 1305
108 (air flow switch)
KLIXON 2SEI-101-18D
112 (resistor) OMITE 300 OHM, 75W
______________________________________
The various lens are constructed of suitable translucent material, such as
by way of example, and not by way of limitation, plastic, polycarbon,
glass or the like dyed to a suitable color for filtering the light
frequency spectrum discussed.
The housing can be constructed of any material suitable for the purpose
intended herein.
It shall be understood that the fan could be reversed in rotation direction
so that ambient air could be drawn in through the apertures of end plate
42 and flow opposite to the direction of the various air flow direction
arrows and out through the hereinbefore discussed input openings. The
filter material would be representative from its position shown in the
various Figs. to the exterior of the end wall 42.
The foregoing description has been given in detail without thought of
limitation, since the inventive principles involved are capable of
assuming other forms without departing from the spirit of the invention or
the scope of the following claims.
* * * * *
|
|
 |
|
 |
Description |
|
