SECTOR LIGHT AND LENS

Abstract

The present invention discloses a sector light, said sector light having at least one tier including a light source assembly comprising opaque dividing elements, two or more light sources, and two or more optical lenses; wherein the light source assembly is divided into circumferential sections, each circumferential section being separated by the opaque dividing elements, and each circumferential section containing a light source and an optical lens arranged such that the optical lens collects and outwardly projects the light emitted by the light source.

Claims

1. A sector light, said sector light having at least one tier which includes: a light source assembly comprising: opaque dividing elements, two or more light sources, and two or more optical lenses; wherein the light source assembly is divided into circumferential sections, each circumferential section being separated by the opaque dividing elements, and each circumferential section containing a light source and an optical lens arranged such that the optical lens collects and outwardly projects the light emitted by the light source into a sector, whereby the projected light when viewed from a position indicates whether that position is in a safe or an unsafe sector.

2. The sector light according to claim 1, wherein the opaque dividing elements radially protrude from a central hub and the optical lenses abut end faces of the opaque dividing elements.

3. The sector light according to claim 1, wherein at least three opaque dividing elements are present forming at least two circumferential sections arranged side by side.

4. The sector light according to claim 1, wherein the two or more optical lenses are at least one of: substantially convex, comprising front and rear optical faces with focal planes there between, the rear face being the first point of collection of light emitted by the light source, and the front face being that from which light is projected, and sides and ends with non-reflective properties; and include an angle of curvature between approximately 30 and approximately 60 degrees, preferably 45 degrees.

5. (canceled)

6. (canceled)

7. The sector light according to claim 1, wherein each optical lens projects light in the vertical planes with a narrow angle of divergence of approximately 0.5 to 5 degrees, preferably 3 degrees.

8. The sector light according to claim 1, wherein the light source is an LED.

9. The sector light according to claim 1, wherein in use the two or more light sources independently project a different colour of light from the sector light.

10. The sector light according claim 1, having a signal housing element for facilitating remote connections.

11. The sector light according to claim 1, wherein the sector light includes an opaque casing including a wrap-around cover having transparent portions through which the light source may project outwardly, and the casing is sealed to protect the interior cavity from exposure to external elements.

12. (canceled)

13. A light source assembly comprising: opaque dividing elements, two or more light sources, and two or more optical lenses; wherein the light source assembly is divided into circumferential sections, each circumferential section being enclosed by the opaque dividing elements, and each circumferential section containing a light source and an optical lens and arranged such that the optical lens collects and outwardly projects the light emitted by the light source.

14. The light source assembly according to claim 13, comprising at least one of: wherein the opaque dividing elements radially protrude protruding from a central hub and the optical lenses abut end faces of the opaque dividing elements, and at least three opaque dividing elements being present and forming at least two circumferential sections arranged side by side.

15. (canceled)

16. The light source assembly according claim 13, wherein the two or more optical lenses are at least one of: substantially convex, comprising front and rear optical faces with focal planes there between, the rear face being the first point of collection of light emitted by the light source, and the front face being that from which light is projected, and sides and ends with non-reflective properties; and include an angle of curvature between approximately 30 and approximately 60 degrees, preferably 45 degrees.

17. (canceled)

18. (canceled)

19. The light source assembly according to claim 13, wherein each optical lens projects light in the vertical planes with a narrow angle of divergence of approximately 0.5 to 5 degrees, preferably 3 degrees.

20. The light source assembly according to claim 13, wherein the light source is an LED.

21. The light source assembly according to claim 13, wherein in use the two or more light sources independently project a different colour of light from the sector light.

22. The light source assembly according to claim 13, wherein the light source assembly is enclosed in an opaque casing including a wrap-around cover having transparent portions through which the light source may project outwardly, and the casing is sealed to protect the interior cavity from exposure to external elements.

23. (canceled)

24. A method for assisting navigation of vessels, said method including providing a sector light or light source assembly according claim 13 and locating the sector light or light source assembly in a position where light emitted therefrom may be viewed by said vessels.

25. The method according to claim 24, wherein the vessels are marine vessels.

26. The method according to claim 24, wherein the sector light, light source assembly and/or circumferential sections of the light source assembly containing light sources and optical lenses, are arranged such that a white light is projected into a safe sector, optionally together with a red and/or green light projected into an unsafe sector.

27. The method according to claim 24, wherein lights of two different colours are projected from a single tier of the sector light.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS/FIGURES

[0038] In the Figures:

[0039] FIG. 1 shows one embodiment of a sector light according to the present invention: A) front view; B) front cross-section; C) top view

[0040] FIG. 2 shows one embodiment of the sector light optical lens: A) front view; B) top view cross-section; C) isometric view.

[0041] FIG. 3 shows one embodiment of a light source assembly for insertion into the cavity of one tier of the sector light: A) top view; B) front view.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0042] FIG. 1 illustrates in one embodiment a sector light of the present invention. With reference to FIG. 1A, the sector light includes a cylindrical casing 10 including a wrap-around cover in the form of a blinker 12. The blinker includes transparent portions (not shown) through which light may be projected into sectors, but is otherwise generally opaque. The sector light also includes a top-mounted centrally-disposed dome 14 to house electronic componentry. A mounting platform 16 is included for mounting the sector light to a suitable structure, and also a number of upstanding pins 18 to prevent birds from perching and fouling the sector light.

[0043] With reference to cross-sectional FIG. 1B, two tiers of the sector light are shown within the casing 10 separated by an opaque casing wall 20 which is generally horizontal in use. Within each tier 21 is a light source assembly 22 including opaque dividing elements 24. Abutting the end faces of opaque dividing elements are optical lenses 26. The light source assembly in the top tier 21a is shown the light source, in this embodiment an LED 28.

[0044] In this embodiment the light source assembly in the top tier includes a white light source for projecting into a safe sector, while the light source assembly in the bottom tier includes, in side-by-side sections, both a red and a green light source for projecting into unsafe sectors. This is better depicted in FIG. 10 which is a view towards the top of the sector light. The cylindrical casing 10, dome 14 and pins 18 are indicated for perspective. The white light 30 is indicated projecting from the top tier of the sector light into a safe sector. On either side a red 32 and green 34 light is indicated projecting from the bottom tier of the sector light into unsafe sectors. This is an arrangement that would be suitable, for example to guide a marine vessel through a narrow channel, though it is not limiting. The light source assembly and/or lights within the light source assembly may be arranged to project light in any of the 360 degrees of the horizontal plane.

[0045] FIGS. 2A to 2C show various views of one embodiment of the sector light optical lens 26. The front view as shown in FIG. 2A reveals the front optical face 36. It is flanked by non-reflective (e.g. matt finish) ends 38 which engage with opaque casing walls (e.g. 20) when installed in the light source assembly in the sector light. FIG. 2B illustrates a top view cross-section of the optical lens with front 36 and rear 37 optical faces, which highlights its convex shape and 45 degree curvature. A non-reflective (e.g. matt finish) side 40 is indicated in FIG. 2C, which abuts with opaque dividing elements when installed in the light source assembly.

[0046] FIG. 3 in top view 3A and front view 3B illustrates one embodiment of the light source assembly 42 housed within each tier of the sector light. The light source assembly includes an opaque central hub 44 from which radially protrude 8 opaque dividing elements 45 at 45 degrees to each other (based on the centrelines) separating the assembly into 8 circumferential sections 43. 8 LED light sources 28 are included, one in each circumferential section 43. The LED light sources 28 are attached to the central hub and arranged centrally between the opaque dividing elements 45 from where they protrude from the central hub. Accordingly, 8 optical lenses 26 are included abutting the end faces of the opaque dividing elements 45 and each other, at a distance in front of, and centrally-disposed to, the light source 28, arranged to define the periphery of the light source assembly 42.

[0047] This arrangement is not intended to be limiting. The 45 degree angle of protrusion of the opaque dividing elements 45 simply matches the 45 degree curvature of the optical lens illustrated in FIG. 2. In alternative embodiments, two or more opaque dividing elements may protrude in any direction with any angles. Nor are all 8 light sources and optical lenses required in all embodiments. In at least one tier of the sector light, preferably the light source assembly includes two light sources each with an optical lens. In other tiers, the light source assembly may include a single light source with an optical lens and where only two opaque dividing elements radially protrude from the central hub.