US3551667A - Heavy duty floodlight with replaceable optical system - Google Patents

Description

I United States Patent 1 3,55 1,667

[72] Inventors Donald E. Husby 3.018.366 1/1962 OKeefe 240/41 Fair iew P k; 3.086,!04 4/1963 240/3 Alfr d K- MI and. Ohio 3,303,336 2/ l 967 Husby 240/3 [21] Appl. No. 710,854 3.325.638 6/1967 Pfaff. Jr. et al... 240/3 [2 Filed 1968 3,350,554 10/1967 Wood 240/3 palfimed 1970 3.392.274 7/1968 Neely et al 240/3 [73] Asslgnee Vvestlnghouse Electrlc Corporation Prima" Examinepdohn M. Hora Pittsburgh, Pa. E h 1H corporation of Pennsylvania Asszsran! xammer- 1c ae arms a Attorneys-A. T. Stratton, W. D. Palmer and B. R. Studebaker [54] HEAVY DUTY FLOODUGHT WITH ABSTRACT: A heavy-duty floodlight having a replaceable REPLACEABLE OPTICAL SYSTEM 6 Claims 6Drawin Fi optical system which includes a reflective housing and light g transmissive closure member within which is mounted a lamp [52] U5. Cl 240/3, socket and lamp. The replaceable optical system is removably 240/25, 240/4135, 240/4155 connected to the floodlight housing by means of male electri- [51} Int. Cl F2lp 5/00 cal connector blades extending from the narrow end or neck [50] Field of Search 240/3, 25, of the "television tube" like optical system and a female elec- 41435, -37, 41.55 trical receptacle within the floodlight housing. At its other end the replaceable optical system closes off the front of the [56] References C'ted floodlight housing. The floodlight is further provided with a UNITED STATES PATENTS mounting bracket which facilitates both vertical and horizon- 2,318,31 1 5/1943 Hicks 240/4135 ml selective aiming ofthe floodlight- 52 I I as 34 i .PATENTEDUE C2 9|Q70 305519-667,

SHEET 1 OF 4 INVENTORS Donald E.Husby 8. Alfred K,Goeiz ATTORNEY HEAVY DUTY FLOODLIGHT WITH REPLACEABLE OPTICAL SYSTEM BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In many applications which require the-use of floodlights I the floodlights are located in comparatively inaccessible locations. This is particularly true where the floodlights are used for sporting event lighting such as for example both indoor arenas and outdoor stadiums. In past years, the relamping of the stadium-type floodlight was a'both difficult and precarious operation, which had to be accomplished on approximately an annual basis at which time the other portions of the optical system such as for example the reflectors and refractors would be cleaned in order to maintain good lumen output from-the floodlight. With the advent of the 16,000 hour mercury vapor lamp, relamping need be accomplished only about every years or in some instances an even longer period mayelapse before it is necessary to relamp. The new long-life lamp however did not eliminate the requirement for cleaning of the various elements of the optical system at fairly frequent intervals.

- SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is the object of the present invention to provide a heavyduty floodlight which may be operated for extensive periods of time without requiring periodic cleaning of the optical system.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a heavy-duty floodlight with a completely removable optical system. e

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a heavy-duty floodlight which includes a replaceable, sealed, light-generating and distributing system and which may be selectively aimed through both horizontal and vertical adjustment.

The foregoing objects are accomplished in accordance with the present invention 'by providing a heavy-duty floodlight which has an outer-housing member open at the forward end thereof and which includes therewithin adjacent the other end a female electrical receptacle and electrical component compartments. Within the outer-housing member is mounted a replaceable sealed optical systemwhich includes a reflective housing and atransparent cover member sealed to and closing off the reflective housing. Mounted within the reflective housing is a lamp socket and lamp with male electrical connector blades extending from the lamp socket through one end of the reflective housing which are adapted to be electrically connected to the female electrical receptacle mounted within the outer floodlight housing. The floodlight housing also has connected thereto mounting means which includes a first adjustable means to permit vertical selective aiming of the floodlight and second adjustable means which permits horizontal selective aiming of the floodlight.

/ BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The foregoing objects, and the others, along with many of the attendant advantages of the present invention will become v more readily apparent and better understood as the following detailed description is considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a floodlight constructed in accordance with the present invention; 1

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of a floodlight constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line III-III of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view partly in section of the electrical connector mechanism of the floodlight;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a sealed optical system constructed in accordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 6 is a rear end view of the sealed optical system of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now in detail to the drawings wherein like reference characters represent like parts throughout the several views there is shown in FIGS..] and 2 the general external configuration of a floodlight constructed in accordance with the present invention, generally designated 10. Theouter housing 12 may be manufactured in unitary form or may be assembled from sections as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. As

0 shown, a removable reartop cover portion 14 an and a removable rearbottom cover portion 16 are held to the remainder of the outer cover member by bolts or other suitable securing means. As best illustrated in FIG. 3, theouter housing 12 terminates in anedge 20 at the forward end thereof to define a wide mouthed opening. At the other end of theouter housing 12 is located a pair ofcompartments 22 and 24 in which may be mounted necessary electrical equipment to operate the light source, as for example, illustrated by thetransformer 26 in thecompartment 24. Should it be necessary to utilize capacitors in the operation of the light source they may be expediently mounted incompartment 22 along withterminal block 28. Abushing 30 is provided in the side of thehousing 12 to permit electrical power to be conducted from a source into the floodlamp housing. Mounted on aframe 32 between thecompartments 24 and 22 is a femaleelectrical receptacle 34 with a pair ofelectrical leads 36 connected thereto. The femaleelectrical receptacle 34 is adapted to receive male electrical connector blades which extend from I the sealed optical system to provide for the simple and effective mounting and electrical connection of the sealed optical system, later to be described, to the floodlight housing and electrical components.

The sealed optical system of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6 wherein there is shown the sealed optical system generally designated 40 which includes a reflective housing orreflector 42 sealed to a light transmissive closure orlens 44 which may merely be a glass plate or if preferred may be designed and constructed in the form of a lens to provide specific light patterns. Alternatively, thetransmissive closure member 44 can be constructed of a high strength, high temperature nonyellowing plastic which also may or may not include flutes and prisms to provide a specific light pattern. The lighttransmissive closure member 44 is sealed to the reflective housing orreflector 42 by means of a relatively high-bonding, heat-resistant, sealing composition at 46 which may preferably be of a siliconerubber composition. A ring ordoor frame 48 is also provided which may be secured to the reflective housing by a plurality ofbrackets 50. Upon tightening of thebolts 51 holding thebrackets 50 to the frame orring 48 pressure is applied to the seal betweenreflective housing 42 andcover 44 which will assist in retaining a good hermetic seal between thereflective housing 42 and the lighttransmissive cover 44.

The entire sealed optical system gives a television tube" like appearance with the reflective housing terminating at its lower end in a substantiallyfrustoconical neck portion 52 within which is mounted aconventional lamp socket 54 which is electrically connected, as best illustrated in FIG. 4, to anelectrical connector block 56 having male electrical connector blades 58extending therefrom. The male connector blades extend from theelectrical connector block 56 through the base of the reflectivehousing neck portion 52 and are sealed therethrough by means of a sealing.gasket 60 which serves to seal off the lower end of thereflective housing 42. The male electrical connector blades facilitate a quick and simple disconnect from the female electrical receptacle in the same manner as a conventional electrical convenience outlet.

'Areflective disc 62 is positioned at the top of theneck portion 52 by means of a force fit to aid in the reflection of light from alight source 64 which may preferably be a conventional high pressure mercury vapor lamp wi which threadably engageslamp socket 54.

The reflective housing of the sealed optical system may be constructed from two separatereflective portions 41 and 43 joined together to form the entirereflective housing 42. It is desirous that the connection betweenreflective housing portions 41 and 43 be hermetically sealed but also have the facility for separation in order that the a sealed optical system can be opened and thelamp 64 replaced at, for example, the factory and resealed and returned to service. To accomplish this the mating coextensive surfaces of thereflective housing portions 41 and 43 have a sealing composition, again preferably a silicone-rubber composition, bonded therebetween as illustrated at 66 and the two mating surfaces secured together as for example by a plurality of fastening means such asbolts 68.

Returning now to FIGS. 1 and 2, the mounting arrangement for the floodlight of the present invention will be described in detail. Themounting bracket 70 is generally U-shaped and secured at its ends to thehousing 12 by threadedwing bolts 72. The threadedwing bolts 72 on each side of thehousing 12 can be loosened and the floodlight adjusted to any angular vertical position and subsequently retained in that position by tightening ofthewing bolts 72. As best illustrated in FIG. 2, anarcuate slot 74 is provided in amounting plate 76 attached to the U-shapedmounting bracket 70. Themounting plate 76 can be secured to the member upon which the g floodlight is being mounted by means of a bolt that extends throughslot 74, and the horizontal direction of the floodlamp adjusted by rotating the floodlight while the bolt, not shown, moves along thearcuate slot 74. When a preselected direction is reached, the bolt is tightened thus retaining the floodlight in a position in a predetermined horizontal direction.

The floodlight of the present invention is particularly adapted for use in situations where the floodlights are used often but are comparatively inaccessible as for example football stadiums, baseball parks, multisport arenas, etc. By employing a completely sealed optical system the necessity for cleaning the optical parts of the floodlight in order to maintain a predetermined level of lumen output is substantially reduced. Furthermore, servicing or more particularly relamping the floodlight, which in many cases must be done under conditions which place the serviceman in a rather precarious position, can be simply and quickly done by removing a few bolts unplugging the entire optical system and replacing it with a new one. Additionally, the sealed optical system of the present invention is not necessarily completely rendered useless by failure of thelamp 64 since the optical system can be opened, the lamp replaced, the optical system resealed, and the entire optical system returned to service.

As will be apparent from the foregoing, the sealed optical system of the present invention provides a compact unitary floodlight which may be installed and permitted to operate for extensive periods of time without the requirement for continuing maintenance to maintain the lumen output of the floodlight and wherein the lumen output of the floodlight is controlled solely by lamp maintenance, and not by the build up ofdust and dirt particles on the reflector and refractor.

Since numerous changes may be made in the abovedescribed apparatus, and different embodiments of the invention without departing from the spirit thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the foregoing description or shown in the accompanying drawings, shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

We claim:

1. A heavy-duty floodlight with a replaceable optical system comprising:

an outer housing member, open at the forward end thereof and having a quick disconnect electrical receptacle mounted therein adjacent the rearward end thereof;

an electrical component compartment within said outer housing adjacent said electrical receptacle;

a replaceable optical system including, a separable two part reflective housing, a quick disconnect electrical connector extending from one end of said separable two part reflective housing, a lamp socket and lamp mounted within said reflective housing with said electrical connector connected to said lamp socket and extending through said reflective housing. and a transparent cover member closing off a said reflective housing and sealed thereto, the peripheraljuncture of said transparent cover member and said reflective housing closing off the open outer end of said outer housing.

2. A heavy-duty floodlight with a replaceable optical system comprising:

an outer housing member, open at the forward end thereof and having a female electrical socket mounted therein adjacent the rearward end thereof;

an electrical component compartment within said outer housing adjacent said female electrical receptacle for housing electrical component means;

a sealed, replaceable optical system having a tapered configuration with male electrical connector means extending from the narrowest end of said replaceable optical system for electrical connection to said female electrical socket, said sealed replaceable optical system including a two part reflective housing, a lamp socket mounted within said reflective housing with said male electrical connector means connected thereto and extending through said reflective housing, and a transparent cover member sealed to and closing off said reflective housing with the peripheral juncture of said transparent cover member and said reflective housing closing off the open end of said outer housing, said two-part reflecting housing assembly including a first large substantially dish-shaped part connected to said transparent cover member and a second part of substantially frustoconical shape having said lamp socket mounted therein, and means for releasably sealing said first and second reflective housing parts together.

3. A heavy-duty floodlight according to claim 2 wherein said sealing means includes a silicone-rubber composition positioned between adjacent surfaces of said first and second reflective housing parts and mechanical securing means capable of pressing said surfaces together to form a seal therebetween.

4. A heavy-duty floodlight according to claim 2 wherein mounting means is secured to said outer housing, said mounting means including a first adjustment means permitting vertical selective aiming of said floodlight and second adjustment means permitting horizontal selective aiming of said floodlight.

5. A heavy-duty floodlight with a replaceable optical system comprising:

an outer housing member, open at the forward end thereof and having a quick disconnect electrical receptacle mounted therein adjacent the rearward end thereof;

electrical component compartments within said outer housing adjacent said electrical receptacle;

a replaceable optical system including, a separable two part reflective housing, a quick disconnect electrical connector extending from one end of said separable two part reflective housing, a lamp socket and lamp mounted within said reflective housing with said electrical connector connected to said lamp socket and extending through said reflective housing, a transparent cover member closing off said reflective housing and sealed thereto, the peripheral Juncture of said transparent cover member and said reflective housing closing off the open outer end of said outer housing, said two part reflective housing including a first large part connected to said transparent cover member and a second part of substantially frustoconical shape having said lamp socket mounted therein, and means for releasably securing said first and second reflective housing parts together whereby said lamp may be replaced.

6. A heavy-duty floodlight with a replaceable optical system comprising:

an outer-housing member, open at the forward end thereof and having a quick disconnect electrical receptacle mounted therein adjacent the rearward end thereof.

peripheral juncture of said transparent cover member and said reflective housing closing off the open outer end of said outer housing; and

mounting means secured to said outer housing, said mou nting means including a first adjustment means permitting vertical selective aiming of said floodlight and second adjustment means permitting horizontal selective aiming of a said floodlight.

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