CORE TROFFER LENS-RETAINER WITH BUILT IN AIR FUNCTIONALITY

Abstract

The invention provides a troffer-based lighting arrangement (100) comprising a troffer, a lighting window (140), and a lighting window retainer (150) configured to retain said lighting window (140) attached to said troffer, wherein the lighting window retainer (150) comprises a part (151) configured to host part of said lighting window (140), and wherein the lighting window retainer comprises a retainer opening (152), wherein the troffer comprises a troffer opening (132), and wherein the retainer opening (152) and the troffer opening (132) are configured in gaseous communication with each other. The invention also provides a system comprising the troffer-based lighting arrangement (100) and a device selected from the group consisting of a heating device, a ventilating device, and an air conditioning device, wherein said troffer-based lighting arrangement (100) further comprises a connection element for a functional connection with a gas port to provide a gaseous communication between the troffer opening (132) and the gas port.

Claims

1. A troffer-based lighting arrangement comprising a troffer, a lighting window, and a lighting window retainer configured to retain said lighting window attached to said troffer, the troffer-based lighting arrangement comprises a side edge and a back plate, wherein one or more of said side edge and said back plate comprises said troffer opening, wherein the lighting window retainer comprises a part configured to host part of said lighting window, and wherein the lighting window retainer comprises a chamber with a retainer opening, the retainer opening being directly opposite or directly next to the troffer opening, and wherein the retainer opening and the troffer opening are configured in gaseous communication only with each other via said chamber.

2. The troffer-based lighting arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the side edge comprises an end plate comprising the troffer opening and wherein the retainer opening is located in the lighting window retainer where the lighting window retainer contacts the end plate.

3. The troffer-based lighting arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the troffer defines a troffer area A1 and wherein the retainer opening defines a retainer opening area A2, having a ratio A2/A10.1.

4. The troffer-based lighting arrangement according to claim 1 wherein the troffer-based lighting arrangement has an arrangement length (L1), wherein the lighting window has a window length (L2) and wherein the lighting window retainer has a retainer width (W1), wherein L20.8*L1, W10.2*L1, and L1L2+W1.

5. The troffer-based lighting arrangement according to claim 1 further comprising a connection element for a functional connection with a gas port of a device selected from the group consisting of a heating device, a ventilating device, and an air conditioning device, to provide a gaseous communication between the troffer opening and the gas port.

6. The troffer-based lighting arrangement according to claim 1 further comprising a flow control element for controlling an opening area of one or more of the retainer opening and the troffer opening.

7. The troffer-based lighting arrangement according to claim 1 wherein the retainer opening comprises louvres.

8. The troffer-based lighting arrangement according to claim 1 further comprising a flow control element for controlling a direction of a gas flow escaping from the retainer opening.

9. The troffer-based lighting arrangement according to claim 8, wherein the flow control element comprises one or more of a Snap-On element for snapping on the troffer-based lighting arrangement, a sliding element for slidingly controlling an opening size of the retainer opening, and an adaptable deflection element for deflecting said gas flow, wherein the deflection element is configured in said retainer opening or downstream thereof.

10. The troffer-based lighting arrangement according to claim 1, comprising two lighting window retainers configured to retain said lighting window attached to said troffer.

11. A system comprising the troffer-based lighting arrangement according to claim 1 and a device selected from the group consisting of a heating device, a ventilating device, and an air conditioning device, wherein said troffer-based lighting arrangement further comprises a connection element for a functional connection with a gas port to provide a gaseous communication between the troffer opening and the gas port.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein the device is an HVAC system.

13. The system according to claim 11, further comprising a dropped ceiling, wherein the troffer-based lighting arrangement is comprised by said dropped ceiling.

14. A method of controlling one or more conditions in a space, the method comprising controlling lighting conditions in said space with said troffer-based lighting arrangement according to claim 1.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the method further comprises controlling one or more parameters selected from the group consisting of temperature, ventilation, and air quality in said space with a device selected from the group consisting of a heating device, a ventilating device, and an air conditioning device, wherein said troffer-based lighting arrangement is functionally coupled with said device by a gaseous communication between the troffer opening and a gas port of said device.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0054] Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings in which corresponding reference symbols indicate corresponding parts, and in which:

[0055] FIGS. 1a-1b schematically depict some aspects related to the invention;

[0056] FIGS. 2a-2c schematically depict some embodiments;

[0057] FIGS. 3a-3d schematically depict some further aspects;

[0058] FIG. 4 schematically depicts an embodiment of the system.

[0059] The schematic drawings are not necessarily on scale.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0060] FIG. 1a schematically depicts troffer-based lighting arrangement 100 comprising a troffer 130 and a lighting window 140. The troffer-based lighting arrangement may further comprise one or more retainers, which are here not depicted. The troffer 130 comprises end plates 1300, and in between bridging elements 1400. The bridging elements may have reflective surfaces 1410 for controlling the beam size and direction of the light generated by a lighting unit, indicated with reference 1200, and having a lighting window 140. The bridging elements include openings 132, also indicated as troffer openings 132. The position of these openings 132 is less desirable. Therefore, the invention proposes another solution, which further also allows a higher controllability of the gas flow, if desired.

[0061] FIG. 1b essentially depicts a similar troffer-based lighting arrangement 100, but now lighting window retainers 150 are depicted. In general, such troffer-based lighting arrangement 100 comprises at both sides lighting window retainers 150, as depicted here. The lighting window retainers 150 are configured to retain said lighting window 140 attached to said troffer 130.

[0062] Further, the lighting window retainer 150 comprises a retainer opening 152. This retainer opening 152 can be used to suck gas, especially air, into the troffer-based lighting arrangement 100 for withdrawal by a device (not shown here, but further also described above and below), optionally via a plenum (see also below). Likewise, this retainer opening 152 can be used to provide gas, especially air, into the troffer-based lighting arrangement 100 for providing said gas in a space where the troffer-based lighting arrangement 100 is configured (see also FIG. 4). Hence, the troffer-based lighting arrangement 100 may be part of a device that provides ventilation and/or that controls the temperature and/or that controls air purity, etc. . . .

[0063] Also the troffer-based lighting arrangement 100 comprises a (further) opening; here the troffer 130 comprises a troffer opening 132. The retainer opening 152 and the troffer opening 132 are configured in gaseous communication with each other. Hence, the embodiment schematically depicted in FIG. 1b may essentially be the same as the embodiment schematically depicted in FIG. 1a, except for the fact that the openings are configured at an essentially different part of the troffer-based lighting arrangement 100, allowing a better control and allowing a more desirable appearance of the troffer-based lighting arrangement 100. Therefore, gas may flow from retainer opening to the troffer opening, and also vice versa. Hence, in embodiments the troffer-based lighting arrangement 100 comprises a side edge 101 and a back plate 102 (see also FIG. 3a), wherein one or more of said side edge 101 and said back plate 102 comprises the troffer opening 132 (as indicated herein, the term troffer opening may also refer to a plurality of troffer openings.

[0064] In FIG. 1b, the retainer opening 152 comprises louvres 154 (here shutters or slats which are configured within the retainer opening 152).

[0065] The window 140 may be used as lens. Further, the lighting unit 1200 may include a plurality of solid state light sources (not depicted), configured upstream of the window 140.

[0066] FIG. 2a very schematically depicts in more detail an embodiment of the lighting window retainer 150, which comprises a part 151 configured to host part of said lighting window 140. Further, the retainer 150 comprise said retainer opening 152. Here a plurality of retainer openings 152 are schematically depicted in FIG. 2a.

[0067] The retainer opening 152 is in gaseous communication with the troffer opening 132. Note that the such opening is not necessarily in gaseous communication of that part that is enclosed by the lighting window 140. In contrast, there may be no substantial gaseous communication between the retainer opening and the part of the lighting unit that is enclosed by the window 140/the part 151 configured to host part of said lighting window 140.

[0068] FIG. 2b shows that the retainer opening 152 is in gaseous communication with a troffer opening 132, which is here comprised by an end part 1300. Further, very schematically depicts a flow control element 210 for controlling an opening area ofin this embodimentthe troffer opening 132. The retainer 150 has a retainer opening 152. Here, the retainer 150 also has a second retainer opening, indicated with reference 153, in gaseous communication with the (first) retainer opening 152. The second retainer opening 153 may be in gaseous communication with the troffer opening 132. Hence, gas may flow from the second retainer opening to the troffer opening 132 and vice versa and gas may flow from the troffer opening to the retainer opening and vice versa. The invention also provides the retainer 150 per se.

[0069] FIG. 2c schematically depicts a top view of the troffer-based lighting arrangement 100. Here, the retainer opening comprises, by way of example, two retainer openings 152, for each retainer 150. The width of the retainer is indicated with reference W1. As can be seen, the width W1 of the retainer is much smaller than of the length L2 of the window 140 and the length L1 of the troffer-based lighting arrangement 100. Especially, the lighting window retainer 150 has a retainer width W1, with L20.8*L1, W10.2*L1, and L112+W1. As there are two lighting window retainers 150, W1 is the sum of the individual widths of these retainers 150. Note that the length L2 of the window is in fact the effective length, i.e. the length that is not blocked downstream of the window by the retainer, as the retainer 150 may host part of the window 140. The width of the troffer-based lighting arrangement 100 is indicated with W2. Hence, W2*L1 is the troffer area A1. The area provided by the retainer openings 152 is herein indicated as A2 ((sum of) hatched areas in FIG. 2c).

[0070] FIG. 3a schematically depicts a further embodiment wherein the troffer-based lighting arrangement 100 further comprising a connection element 110 for a functional connection with a gas port 172 of a device 170 (device 170 is not depicted in FIG. 3a, as it is not part of the troffer-based lighting arrangement 100) selected from the group consisting of a heating device, a ventilating device, and an air conditioning device, to provide a gaseous communication between the troffer opening 132 and the gas port 172. Here, the device 170 is not shown, but may e.g. be an HVAC (see also FIG. 4). The gas port 172 comprises in this schematically depicted embodiment an air boot, though other options may of course also be possible. Further, by way of example, fitting with the embodiment of the air boot, the troffer opening comprises a plurality of troffer openings 132. All may be in gaseous communication with the device 170. In such embodiment, the troffer openings 132 may be at the back side, and a troffer opening at an end plate 1300 is not necessary anymore. This latter opening may be absent or may be closed in such embodiments. Optionally, this may be another opening, which may still be used, but which may not necessarily in contact with the retainer opening 152 (see FIG. 3b) or the troffer opening 132. Here, the troffer openings may be configured in a back plate 102 of the troffer-based lighting arrangement 100. The back plate can be defined as the part between the end plates 1300, which in use is directed to e.g. a ceiling.

[0071] Further, for this and other embodiments it may also be possible to use two retainers 150 with different functions, such as one to provide air and the other one to suck air.

[0072] FIG. 3b schematically depicts an embodiment of the troffer-based lighting arrangement 100 which further comprises a flow control element 210 for controlling an opening area of one or more of the retainer opening 152. Note that the embodiment schematically depicted can e.g. be a Snap-On element 211 for snapping on the troffer-based lighting arrangement 100. Alternatively or additionally, it may be a sliding element 212 for slidingly controlling an opening size of the retainer opening 152. Further, as also indicated above, the flow control element 210 may be a deflection element 213 for deflecting said gas flow, wherein the deflection element 213 is configured in said retainer opening 152 or downstream thereof. Such flow control element 210 may provide one or more of above functions, and in the presently schematically depicted embodiments substantially all the above listed functions are included. Hence, amongst others a flow control element 210 for controlling a direction of a gas flow escaping from the retainer opening 152. Here, in this embodiment the flow control element 210 is especially configured to direct a gas flow escaping from the retainer opening 152 in a direction non-perpendicular to the troffer-based lighting arrangement 100.

[0073] Hence, the flow control element 210 can herein be used to control the direction of the flow and/or the flow speed.

[0074] FIG. 3a schematically depicts a back view and FIG. 3b schematically depicts a front view of the troffer-based lighting arrangement 100.

[0075] FIG. 3c schematically depicts in more detail an embodiment of a flow control element 210, which includes two parts, see also FIG. 3d.

[0076] FIG. 4 schematically depicts an embodiment of a system 1000 comprising the troffer-based lighting arrangement 100 as defined and the device 170, which may especially be selected from the group consisting of a heating device, a ventilating device, and an air conditioning device. The troffer-based lighting arrangement 100 further comprises a connection element 110 for a functional connection with a gas port 172 to provide a gaseous communication between the troffer opening 132 and the gas port 172. This connection element may include a rotation closure, fixation means like screws, bolts, etc., or other means facilitation the functional connection between the two devices (via e.g. tubings and/or other means). The device 170 may e.g. be an HVAC system. Such device may serve more than one space 2000. However, by way of example a single space 2000 is depicted. Hence, the system may be used for and/or may include a dropped ceiling 1310, wherein the troffer-based lighting arrangement 100 is comprised by said dropped ceiling 1310. The troffer-based lighting arrangement 100 may essentially be at the same level, as schematically depicted here, or my be also dropped. The back plate 102 may be directed to the ceiling, whereas the lighting unit 1200 is configured to provide light 11 to the space 2000 (below the dropped ceiling 1310). Further, the invention is not limited to plenum based application. Here, the plenum is indicated with reference P. Reference C indicates the ceiling. By way of example, one of the retainers 150 further comprise flow control element 210 configured to direct a gas flow escaping from the retainer opening 152 in a direction non-perpendicular to the troffer-based lighting arrangement 100. An essential perpendicular direction may be less desirable for a person right below the troffer-based lighting arrangement 100. Reference 13 indicates a gas flow, which may be generated by the device 170 and is provided in the space 2000 via the troffer-based lighting arrangement 100, as the retainer opening 152 is via the troffer opening 132 in gaseous communication with the device 170.

[0077] Hence, with the troffer-based lighting arrangement 100 it is possible to control the lighting conditions in the space 2000 and/or to control one or more parameters selected from the group consisting of temperature, ventilation, and air quality in the space 2000.

[0078] The term substantially herein, such as in substantially all light or in substantially consists, will be understood by the person skilled in the art. The term substantially may also include embodiments with entirely, completely, all, etc.

[0079] Hence, in embodiments the adjective substantially may also be removed. Where applicable, the term substantially may also relate to 90% or higher, such as 95% or higher, especially 99% or higher, even more especially 99.5% or higher, including 100%. The term comprise includes also embodiments wherein the term comprises means consists of. The term and/or especially relates to one or more of the items mentioned before and after and/or. For instance, a phrase item 1 and/or item 2 and similar phrases may relate to one or more of item 1 and item 2. The term comprising may in an embodiment refer to consisting of but may in another embodiment also refer to containing at least the defined species and optionally one or more other species.

[0080] Furthermore, the terms first, second, third and the like in the description and in the claims, are used for distinguishing between similar elements and not necessarily for describing a sequential or chronological order. It is to be understood that the terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances and that the embodiments of the invention described herein are capable of operation in other sequences than described or illustrated herein.

[0081] The devices herein are amongst others described during operation. As will be clear to the person skilled in the art, the invention is not limited to methods of operation or devices in operation.

[0082] It should be noted that the above-mentioned embodiments illustrate rather than limit the invention, and that those skilled in the art will be able to design many alternative embodiments without departing from the scope of the appended claims. In the claims, any reference signs placed between parentheses shall not be construed as limiting the claim. Use of the verb to comprise and its conjugations does not exclude the presence of elements or steps other than those stated in a claim. Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout the description and the claims, the words comprise, comprising, and the like are to be construed in an inclusive sense as opposed to an exclusive or exhaustive sense; that is to say, in the sense of including, but not limited to. The article a or an preceding an element does not exclude the presence of a plurality of such elements. The invention may be implemented by means of hardware comprising several distinct elements, and by means of a suitably programmed computer. In the device claim enumerating several means, several of these means may be embodied by one and the same item of hardware. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage.

[0083] The invention further applies to a device comprising one or more of the characterizing features described in the description and/or shown in the attached drawings. The invention further pertains to a method or process comprising one or more of the characterizing features described in the description and/or shown in the attached drawings.

[0084] The various aspects discussed in this patent can be combined in order to provide additional advantages. Further, the person skilled in the art will understand that embodiments can be combined, and that also more than two embodiments can be combined. Furthermore, some of the features can form the basis for one or more divisional applications.