Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02867320 2014-10-08
LUMINAIRE ASSEMBLIES AND ASSOCIATED INSTALLATION
APPARATUS AND METHODS
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The
present invention relates generally to luminaire assemblies and, more
particularly, the field of luminaire assemblies, and associated installation
apparatus and
methods.
BACKGROUND
[0002]
Luminaires for providing general illumination to an area are well known
and are often used in outdoor lighting applications including roadway
lighting, lighting of
tunnels, bridges and platforms.
[0003] To
install multiple luminaires, a luminaire assembly for supporting the
luminaires is often assembled in situ (under the ceiling of a traffic tunnel
for example).
Once assembled, the luminaires are installed on the luminaire assembly. This
is time
consuming and labour intensive.
[0004] It
would be desirable to have an improved luminaire assembly, installation
apparatus and method.
SUMMARY
[0005]
According to certain embodiments (but not all), the present invention
relates to a luminaire assembly including a generally planar skeletal frame
comprising
longitudinal members and cross members, and an adjustable lock secured to the
frame,
the lock movable along an axis generally parallel to the axis of the cross
members,
between an unlocked retracted position to an extended locked position for
frictionally
securing the assembly between parallel surfaces such as girders. The luminaire
assembly may further include one or more luminaires may be secured to the
frame or
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to one or more of the cross members. The luminaire assembly may further
include one
or more rods extending from the from in a direction generally perpendicular to
the plane
of the frame, wherein the free end of each rod is securable to a surface of an
infrastructure structure.
[0006] According to certain embodiments (but not all), the present
invention
relates to a luminaire assembly for installation between girders including a
frame
assembly on which one or more luminaires may be installed, the frame assembly
being
of a width wider than the gap between the inner facing feet of the girders.
The luminaire
assembly may further include a generally planar skeletal frame including
longitudinal
members and cross members, and an adjustable lock secured to the frame, a lock
movable along an axis generally parallel to the axis of the cross members,
between an
unlocked retracted position to an extended locked position for frictionally
securing the
assembly between girders. One or more luminaires may be secured to the frame
or to
one or more of the cross members. The luminaire assembly may further include
one or
more rods extending from the from in a direction generally perpendicular to
the plane of
the frame, wherein the free end of each rod is securable to a surface of an
infrastructure structure.
[0007] According to certain embodiments (but not all), the present
invention
relates to a method of installing a luminaire assembly between parallel spaced
apart
girders or other surfaces beneath the ceiling of an infrastructure structure,
including
providing a frame assembly on which one or more luminaires may be installed,
wherein
the frame, when oriented in a plane generally parallel to the plane defined by
the bottom
surface of the girders, is wider than the gap between the inner facing feet of
the girders,
orienting the frame at an angle with respect to the plane defined by the
bottom surface
of the girders, whereby the frame may be placed between the girders, and
orienting the
frame to generally to the plane defined by the bottom surface of the girders
whereby the
frame is wider than the gap between the inner facing feet of the girders. The
method
may further include securing the luminaire assembly between the inner sides of
the
girders.
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[0008] According to certain embodiments (but not all), the present
invention
relates to a lifting jig for installing a luminaire assembly including a frame
for supporting
a luminaire assembly; and a rotatable assembly on the frame for rotating the
luminaire
assembly between a generally horizontal position and an inclined position. The
lifting jig
may further include a locking for locking the luminaire assembly to the frame.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] Various embodiments of the present invention will now be described
with
reference to the drawings, in which:
[0010] FIG. 1 is an end view of a luminaire assembly according to an
embodiment of the present disclosure, installed between girders;
[0011] FIG. 2 is a top view of the luminaire assembly of FIG. 1;
[0012] FIG. 3 is a front view of a lifting jig according to an embodiment
of the
present disclosure;
[0013] FIG. 4 is an end view in the direction B-B of the lifting jig of
FIG. 3;
[0014] FIG. 5 is an end view in the direction B-B of the lifting jig of
FIG. 3 with the
frame support pivoted;
[0015] FIG. 6 is an end view in the direction B-B of the lifting jig of
FIG. 3 with the
luminaire assembly of FIG. 1 attached, shown supported by a fork lift in a
raised
position; and
[0016] FIG. 7 is an end view in the direction B-B of the lifting jig of
FIG. 3 with the
luminaire assembly of FIG. 1 attached, with the frame pivoted, and supported
by a fork
lift in a raised position.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0017] The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter
with
reference to the accompanying drawings, which are intended to be read in
conjunction
with both this summary, the detailed description and any preferred and/or
particular
embodiments specifically discussed or otherwise disclosed. This invention may,
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however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as
limited
to the embodiments set forth herein. Instead, these embodiments are provided
by way
of illustration only and so that this disclosure will be thorough, complete
and will fully
convey the full scope of the invention to those skilled in the art.
[0018] Referring initially to FIGs 1 and 2, in one embodiment of the
present
invention there' is provided a luminaire assembly generally indicated by
reference
numeral 2. The luminaire assembly includes a generally planar skeletal frame
formed
of spaced generally parallel longitudinal members 4 and spaced generally
parallel cross
members 6 connecting the longitudinal members 4, wherein the cross members 6
run in
a direction generally perpendicular to the direction of the longitudinal
members 4 and in
the same general plane as the longitudinal members 4. The members 4 and 6 are
made
from metal beams, metal tubes or the like. Metal alloys, composite materials
or other
suitable material having sufficient tensile strength may be used.
[0019] Luminaires 8 are affixed to the cross members 6. The luminaires 8
may
be selected from any number of suitable conventional luminaires or
alternatively
suitable custom designed luminaires may be used or combinations thereof.
[0020] Threaded housings 10 are provided on the outer longitudinal members
4
for receiving threaded bolts 12.
[0021] The luminaire assembly 2 is adapted to be installed between girders
such
as girders 20 which extend from the bottom of a bridge deck 22. The bridge
deck 22
may form part of the ceiling of a traffic tunnel, the underside of a bridge or
other surface
of an infrastructure structure for example.
[0022] To facilitate the installation of the luminaire assembly 2, there
is provided,
according to another embodiment of the present invention, a lifting jig
generally
indicated by the reference numeral 30. The lifting jig 30 is adapted to
support the
luminaire assembly 2 and position it for installation.
[0023] The lifting jig 30 includes a frame generally indicated by 32 from
which
masts 34 extend to supports 66 for supporting the luminaire assembly 2.
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[0024] The frame 32 is constructed as a space truss with a top cord 38 and
two
bottom cords 40 and 42 formed of elongated hollow metal tubes. Webs 44, also
formed
of elongated metal tubes, connect the cords 38, 40 and 42 and define
triangular panels
46. Rungs 48 running generally parallel to the cords 38 and 40 connect the two
webs of
three panels, a panel in the middle and a panel at either end on one side of
the frame
32. Beams 50, are supported by the top cord 38, and run generally
perpendicular to the
longitudinal axis of the top cord 38. The beams 50 are supported by posts 52
which
rest on bottom cords 40 and 42.
[0025] Bars 54 are affixed to the ends of the beams 50 forming a "T". A
platform
(not shown) may be placed on the beams 50 to serve as a work platform. Tips 56
on
the bars 54 serve to restrain lateral movement of a board to the outside of
the frame 32
while the masts 34 restrain lateral movement in the opposite direction.
[0026] The masts 34 extend from the top cord 38 and support a pair of
beams 58
and 60 which run generally parallel to the top cord 38. The beams 58 and 60
are
hinged together, by hinges 62 which permit the beam 58 to be hinged open to a
position
approximately at right angles to its closed position abutting beam 60.
Extending from
each beam 60 is a mast 64 which is collinear with the corresponding mast 34.
Secured
to the end of each mast 64 is a frame support 66 formed of a U-shaped channel
and
running approximately perpendicular to the mast 64. A bracket 68 with a hole
70 is
provided at the ends of the frame supports 66.
[0027] The holes 70 are adapted to receive bolts 72 which are attached to
the
frame support 66 by chains 74. A hydraulic cylinder 76 is attached to the
central mast
34 with the piston 78 attached to the central frame support 66.
[0028] Fork pockets 90 formed of hollow tubes of square profile are
provided mid-
span below the cords 40. The fork pockets 90 are sized and spaced to receive
conventional forks of a conventional fork lifting equipment such as a lifting
rig. The fork
pockets 90 are positioned approximately mid-span of the lifting jig 30. Other
suitable
means for securing the lifting jig on the lifting equipment may be used.
[0029] In operation, the luminaire assembly 2 is secured to the frame
support 66
by slipping the longitudinal members 6 into the U-shaped channels of the frame
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supports 66. The bolts 72 are then inserted into the holes 70 to lock the
luminaire
assembly 2 to the frame supports 66.
[0030] The
luminaire assembly 2 can then be lifted into position. The lifting
operation involves lifting the lifting jig 30 with the luminaire assembly 2
secured to it by a
suitable lifting rig indicated. The forks of the lifting rig are inserted into
the fork pockets
90. The
lifting. jig is then lifted by the lifting rig 90. In order to slip the
luminaire
assembly 2 between girders 20, the cylinder 76 is activated to retract the
piston 78 to
open up the hinged beams 58 and 60 and in turn orient the luminaire assembly 2
in an
axis generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the masts 34.
[0031] The
lifting jig 30 is then elevated to lift the luminaire assembly 2 to a
sufficient height between the girders 20 such that the luminaire assembly 2
can be
rotated to a generally horizontal position without snagging the girders 20.
The cylinder
76 is activated to extend the piston 78 to close the hinged beams 58 and 60
and rotate
the luminaire assembly 2 to a position generally parallel to the beams 50
between the
girders 20. The bolts 12 are then adjusted to press the bolts 12 against the
sides of the
girders 20 to secure the luminaire assembly 2 between the girders 20. The
luminaires 6
can then be electrically connected to a power source (not shown). Workers can
use the
rungs 44 to climb onto the work platform to carry out the electrical
connections. The
bolts 72 are then pulled from the holes 68 to unlock the luminaire assembly 2
from the
lifting jig 30 and the lifting jig 30 can then be lowered leaving the
luminaire assembly 2
in place.
[0032] It
will be understood by a person of ordinary skill in the art that the
luminaire assembly 2 may be sized appropriately according to the spacing of
the girders
between which it is to be installed. The luminaire assembly 2 may also be of
various
lengths such as to accommodate a larger number of luminaires. The number and
spacing of longitudinal members and cross members may vary.
[0033]
Luminaires may be installed on the luminaire assembly after the luminaire
assembly is installed. The luminaire assembly may be installed according the
method
described herein with respect to the installation of luminaire assembly 2. The
luminaire
assembly may also be secured to a bridge, tunnel ceiling or other structure by
rods.
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[0034] While
the present invention has been described above in terms of specific
embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to these
disclosed
embodiments. Many modifications and other embodiments of the invention will
come to
mind of those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains, and which
are intended
to be and are covered by both this disclosure and the appended claims. It is
indeed
intended that the scope of the invention should be determined by proper
interpretation
and construction of the appended claims and their legal equivalents, as
understood by
those of skill in the art relying upon the disclosure in this specification
and the attached
drawings.
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