Various exemplary embodiments relate to light fixtures or luminaires, for example indoor luminaires.
Light fixtures, or luminaires, are used with electric light sources to provide an aesthetic and functional housing in both interior and exterior applications. For example, highbay and lowbay luminaires can be used in larger open indoor environments such as heavy industrial settings, warehouses, gyms, churches, and shopping malls.
According to an exemplary embodiment, a luminaire includes a rail assembly including a first rail and a second rail. A light bar assembly is releasably connected to the rail assembly extending between the first rail and the second rail. The light bar assembly includes a light bar and a light emitter connected to the light bar. A control component assembly is releasably connected to the rail assembly extending between the first rail and the second rail and operatively connected to the light bar assembly. The control component assembly includes a control component housing containing at least one control component.
According to another exemplary embodiment, a luminaire includes a rail assembly with a first rail having a first channel and a second channel and a second rail having a third channel and a fourth channel. A light bar assembly is connected to the first channel and the third channel. A control component assembly is connected to the first channel and the third channel. A mounting component is connected to the second channel and the fourth channel.
In another exemplary embodiment, a method of assembling a luminaire includes selecting a first rail and a second rail of a desired length. Two or more light bar assemblies are selected and connected to the first and second rail. A control component assembly is selected and connected it to the first and second rail. The control component assembly is operatively connected to the selected light bar assemblies.
The aspects and features of various exemplary embodiments will be more apparent from the description of those exemplary embodiments taken with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
According to various exemplary embodiments, a luminaire includes one or more light bar assemblies 10 and one or more control component assemblies 12, connected to a rail assembly 14. The rail assembly 14 provides support and an attachment point for the light bar assemblies 10 and the control component assemblies 12.
The first and second endplates 36 are connected to opposite ends of the light bar 30. A gasket 50 can be positioned between the endplates 36 and the light bar 30. One or more fasteners are used to connect the endplates 36, for example a fastener extends through the endplates 36, the gasket 50, and into the first channel 42 to secure the endplate 36 to the light bar 30. The endplates 36 include a connection feature to connect the light bar assembly 10 to the rail assembly 14. In an exemplary embodiment the connection feature includes a tab 52 that extends from the endplate 36 to engage the rail assembly 14. The tab 52 includes an opening for receiving a mechanical fastener. A conduit 54 can be formed in one of the endplates 36 to allow the light emitters 34 to be electrically connected to one or more control components. The conduit 54 can receive one or more conductors connecting to the light emitters 34 or a connector, for example a type 2 wire connector, can be positioned in the conduit. Different types of connectors can be used, including various industry standard connectors. A gasket can also be positioned in the conduit 54.
In an exemplary embodiment, the lens 32 includes first and second hooks 54 that connect to the second channels 46 in the light bar 30. The lens 32 can be flexed so that the hooks 54 can be removable engaged. Different types of lenses 32 can be connected to the light bar 30. The lenses 32 can include different sizes, shapes, materials, and optical features or characteristics.
Any size, shape, or configuration of light bar 30 can be used and the size, type, spacing, and configuration of fins 40 can be varied as needed. The light bar 30 can be made from a variety of materials and by a variety of manufacturing processes. In an exemplary embodiment, an extrusion process is used to form the light bar 30 to any desired length.
Different types of light emitters 34 can be connected to the light bar 30 depending on the application and the desired light output. In various exemplary embodiments, the light emitter 34 is an LED array that includes a plurality of LEDs mounted on a printed circuit board (PCB). The PCB connects to the base 38 of the light bar 30, for example through one or more mechanical fasteners. A connector extends from the PCB. The number, size, spacing, and configuration of the LEDs on the PCB can be varied depending on light output and thermal management considerations. For example, each light bar assembly 10 can utilize a light emitter 34 that is configured to emit approximately 7-7.5 k lumens and the desired light output can be increased by adding additional light bar assembly 10. In other exemplary embodiments, the light emitter 34 can be configured to output between 5-12 k lumens. Fewer lumens can be used in lowbay applications of the disclosed embodiments.
The control housing 60 has a substantially elongated configuration that extends between the first rail 20 and the second rail 22. The control housing 60 includes a top wall 72, pair of side walls 74, a bottom wall 76, and first and second end plates 78 defining an interior for receiving one or more control components.
The side walls 74 each include a protrusion 86 extending into the interior and defining a plurality of channels to connect various components. In an exemplary embodiment the side wall 74 channels include a first set of channels 88 having a rectilinear configuration and a second set of channels 90 having a curvilinear configuration, although other shapes and configurations can be used. According to an exemplary configuration, the first set of channels 88 receive fasteners that connect the bottom wall 76 while the second set of channels 90 receive fasteners to connect the endplates 78.
The bottom wall 76 includes a pair of outer grooves 92 and a first and second set of interior protrusions 94 that define a pair of channels 96. The outer grooves 92 can mate with the side wall protrusion 86 to position the bottom wall 76. The bottom wall 76 channels 96 are used to connect one or more of the control components. For example, the channels 96 can receive fasteners that connect to the control components or to various brackets or mounting plates used to retain the control components. The size, shape, and configuration of the channels 96 can vary. Although not shown, various openings can be provided in or through the bottom wall 76 to connect control components, such as the sensor 64.
The first and second endplates 78 are connected to opposite ends of the control housing 60. A gasket 98 can be positioned between the endplates 78 and the control housing 60. One or more fasteners are used to connect the endplates 78, for example fasteners extend through the endplates 78, the gasket 98, and into the channels on the top wall 72, side wall 74, and bottom wall 76. The endplates 78 include a connection feature to connect the control component assembly 12 to the rail assembly 14. In an exemplary embodiment the connection feature includes a pair of tabs 100 that extend from the endplate 78 to engage the rail assembly 14. Each tab 100 includes an opening for receiving a fastener.
Conductors pass through the control housing 60 to be connected from a source to the control components and form the control components to the light bar assemblies 10.
Any size, shape, or configuration of control housing 60 can be used and the size, type, spacing, and configuration of fins 80 can be varied as needed. The control housing 60 can be made from a variety of materials and by a variety of manufacturing processes. In some embodiments, an extrusion process is used to form the control housing 60 to any desired length.
In an exemplary embodiment the connecting features of the first rail 20 include a side channel no, an upper channel 112, an upper slot 114, and one or more inner channels 116. In an exemplary embodiment, the connecting features of the second rail 22 include a side channel 120, an upper channel 122, an upper slot 124, and one or more inner channels 126. As shown in
The endplates 242 are connected to the light bar 236 through one or more fasteners and a gasket 244 can be positioned between the endplates 242 and the light bar 236. The endplates 242 include a connection feature to connect the light bar assembly 210 to the rail assembly 214. In an exemplary embodiment the connection feature includes a tab 246 that extends from the endplate 236 to engage the rail assembly 214. The tab 246 includes an opening for receiving a mechanical fastener. A conduit 248 can be formed in one of the endplates 242 to allow the light emitters 238 to be electrically connected to one or more control components.
In some exemplary embodiments, the light emitter assembly 210 can include a wire guard 250 that is connected to the end plates 242 as best shown in
The rail assembly 212 includes a first rail 260 and a second rail 262.
In an exemplary embodiment the connecting features of the first rail 260 include a side channel 264, an upper channel 266, an upper slot 268, and one or more inner channels 270. In an exemplary embodiment, the connecting features of the second rail 262 include a side channel 272, an upper channel 274, an upper slot 276, and one or more inner channels 278. The side channels 264, 272 are configured to receive a fastener that can connect, for example, mounting components such as the yoke assembly 216 and the hanger brackets 234. As best shown in
Various exemplary embodiments are also directed to a method of making and assembling a luminaire. A rail assembly is selected, for example a first rail 20, 260 and a second rail 22, 262 are selected. In an exemplary embodiment the rails can include a side channel, an upper channel, an upper slot, and one or more inner channels. The rails can be formed through extrusion to have a desired length. At least one light bar assembly 10, 210 and at least one control component assembly are connected to the first and second rails 10, 210 as discussed herein. Different lenses and a wire guard can be selectively connected to the light bar assembly 10, 210 as discussed herein. Electrical connections can be made from a power source, to the control component assembly 12, 212, and then to the different light bar assemblies 10, 210. Quick connectors can be associated with the light bar assemblies 10, 210 and control component assembles 12, 212 to facilitate easy connection during manufacture and installation. An assembled luminaire can then be mounted, for example to a yoke or a wire suspension as discussed above. In an exemplary embodiment, the rails, light bars and control component housings are formed through an extrusion process, so that each of these components can be formed to a required size to accommodate different light outputs.
The number and type of light bar assemblies 10, 210 used in each luminaire can vary. The number and type of control component assemblies used in each luminaire can also vary. For example, two to six light bar assemblies 10, 210 can be used with a control component assembly 12, 212 positioned either in the middle, between one or more, or at the ends of the light bar assemblies 10, 210. In another example, between five and eight light bar assemblies 10, 210 can be used with two control component assemblies 12, 212, with one control component assembly 12, 212 positioned at each end of the luminaire.
In certain exemplary embodiments the luminaires can be used in harsh environments that can include high temperatures. For example the luminaires can be used as industrial light fixtures that can survive in ambient temperatures of approximately 65 degrees Celsius. The luminaires can also be rated to be water resistant so that they can be used in damp or wet locations or washed down. Although the exemplary embodiments are described and shown as being used with highbay and lowbay luminaires, the described embodiments may also be incorporated into other types of luminaires.
The foregoing detailed description of the certain exemplary embodiments has been provided for the purpose of explaining the general principles and practical application, thereby enabling others skilled in the art to understand the disclosure for various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. This description is not necessarily intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure to the exemplary embodiments disclosed. Any of the embodiments and/or elements disclosed herein may be combined with one another to form various additional embodiments not specifically disclosed. Accordingly, additional embodiments are possible and are intended to be encompassed within this specification and the scope of the appended claims. The specification describes specific examples to accomplish a more general goal that may be accomplished in another way.
As used in this application, the terms “front,” “rear,” “upper,” “lower,” “upwardly,” “downwardly,” and other orientational descriptors are intended to facilitate the description of the exemplary embodiments of the present application, and are not intended to limit the structure of the exemplary embodiments of the present application to any particular position or orientation. Terms of degree, such as “substantially” or “approximately” are understood by those of ordinary skill to refer to reasonable ranges outside of the given value, for example, general tolerances associated with manufacturing, assembly, and use of the described embodiments.
This application is based on U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/242,596, filed Oct. 16, 2015, U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/325,639, filed Apr. 21, 2016, and U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/372,851 filed Aug. 10, 2016, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety and to which priority is claimed.
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