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 having at least one tier, the sector light further including: a sealed casing having at least one transparent portion, and a light source assembly positioned radially inwards from the sealed casing, the light source assembly provided in a form of: an opaque central hub, at least one opaque dividing element radially protruding from the opaque central hub, at least two light sources, and at least two optical lenses, wherein the light source assembly is divided into at least two circumferential sections, each of the at least two circumferential sections being separated by the at least one opaque dividing element and each of the at least two circumferential sections containing one of the at least two light sources and one of the at least two optical lenses arranged such that the one of the at least two optical lenses collect and outwardly project light emitted by the at least one of the two light sources into a sector.

2. The sector light according to claim 1 further comprising at least one opaque casing wall oriented in a horizontal direction to separate the at least one tier into a first tier and a second tier.

3. The sector light according to claim 2, wherein each of the at least two optical lenses is substantially convex and includes an angle of curvature between 30 degrees and 60 degrees, each of the at least two optical lenses further comprising: a front optical face and a rear optical face with a focal plane therebetween, the rear optical face being a first point of collection of light emitted by the at least two light sources, and the front optical face being that from which light is projected, and at least one side and at least one end, the at least one side and the at least one end each having non-reflective properties, wherein the at least one end engages with the at least one opaque casing wall.

4. The sector light according to claim 3, wherein the at least one side and the at least one end are each light impermeable to define boundaries of light projection by reducing light scatter.

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

6. The sector light according to claim 1, wherein each optical lens projects light in at least one vertical plane with an angle of divergence of 0.5 degrees to 5 degrees.

7. The sector light according to claim 1, wherein each of the at least two light sources is an LED.

8. The sector light according to claim 1, wherein in use the at least two light sources each independently project a different color of light from the sector light.

9. The sector light according to claim 1 further comprising a signal housing element for facilitating remote connections.

10. The sector light according to claim 1, wherein the at least two light sources may project light outwardly through the at least one transparent portion.

11. A light source assembly comprising: at least two light sources; at least two substantially convex optical lenses each with a side and an end having non-reflective properties; and at least one opaque casing wall designed to engage with the end from each of the at least two substantially convex optical lenses, wherein the light source assembly is divided into at least two circumferential sections, each of the at least two circumferential sections having at least one opaque dividing element, wherein each of the at least two circumferential sections contains one of the at least two light sources and one of the at least two substantially convex optical lenses lens arranged such that one of the at least two substantially convex optical lenses collects and outwardly projects light emitted by one of the at least two light sources.

12. The light source assembly according to claim 11 further comprising an opaque central hub, wherein a first dividing element from the at least one opaque dividing element protrudes from the central hub at an angle of about 45 degrees relative to a second dividing element from the at least one opaque dividing element, and wherein the first dividing element has a length extending between the central hub and one of the at least two substantially convex optical lenses.

13. The light source assembly according claim 12, wherein each of the at least two substantially convex optical lenses has an angle of curvature between 30 degrees and 60 degrees and include a front optical face and a rear optical face with a focal plane therebetween, wherein the rear optical face is a first point of collection for light emitted by the at least two light sources and the front optical face is that from which light is projected.

14. The light source assembly according to claim 11, wherein each optical lens projects light in a vertical plane with an angle of divergence of 0.5 degrees to 5 degrees.

15. The light source assembly according to claim 11, wherein at least one of the at least two light sources is an LED, wherein at least one of the at least two light sources protrudes from the central hub, and further wherein at least one of the at least two light sources is arranged centrally within one of the at least two circumferential sections.

16. The light source assembly according to claim 11, wherein in use each of the at least two light sources independently projects a different color of light from the light source assembly.

17. The light source assembly according to claim 11, wherein the light source assembly is enclosed in an opaque casing including a wrap-around cover having transparent portions through which the at least two light sources may project outwardly, wherein the opaque casing is sealed to protect an interior cavity from exposure to external elements.

18. The sector light according to claim 11, wherein the non-reflective properties are provided at least in part by a matt finish.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) In the Figures:

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

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

(4) 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

(5) 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.

(6) 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 the light source 28 is an LED.

(7) 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.

(8) 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.

(9) 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 8 opaque dividing elements 45 radially protrude at 45 degrees to each other (based on the centerlines) separating the assembly into 8 circumferential sections 43. The 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 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.

(10) 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.