WO2010010255A1

WO2010010255A1 - Device for bearing a removable self-supported lighting system for a porthole

Info

Publication number: WO2010010255A1
Application number: PCT/FR2009/000912
Authority: WO
Inventors: David Martrou; Laurent Guiraud
Original assignee: Centre National De La Recherche Scientifique - Cnrs
Priority date: 2008-07-24
Filing date: 2009-07-22
Publication date: 2010-01-28
Also published as: FR2934356A1; FR2934356B1

Abstract

The invention relates to a homogenous removable and self-supported lighting system for illuminating an enclosure through a porthole (4). The invention provides a system for lighting an enclosure protected by a porthole (4) that is secure, easily removable, and cheap while distributing a substantially homogenous lighting. To this end, the invention relates to a bearing device for a system for illumination through a porthole (4) provided with a peripheral edge (4a) defining an observation area (4b), characterised in that the device comprises a guiding member (12a, 12d) adapted for receiving a strip of LEDs (10) as well as maintaining means (12, 14, 18, 20) capable of removably maintaining said guiding member (12a, 12d) relative to the porthole (4) so as to position the LED strip (10) around the observation area (4a) of the porthole (4).

Description

DEVICE FOR SUPPORTING A REMOVABLE LIGHTING SYSTEM AND

RIDING FOR HUBLOT

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The invention relates to a support device for a homogeneous illumination system, removable and self-supporting, for illuminating an enclosure through a porthole.

The present invention relates to the technical field of lighting systems. More particularly, the invention relates to the technical field of lighting systems of media or equipment, arranged inside a sealed enclosure under pressure, under vacuum or ultra-high vacuum and through a porthole.

STATE OF THE PRIOR ART

It is sometimes necessary, in the context of experiments carried out in sealed enclosures under pressure, under vacuum or ultra-high vacuum, to illuminate the interior of these enclosures through portholes. However, the windows used can not be directly illuminated by an incandescent bulb or a halogen because, given the heat and the high pressure exerted on the enclosure, the door is likely to explode. It is nonetheless necessary to use devices for illuminating in a substantially homogeneous manner the interior of a sealed enclosure under pressure or under vacuum, through a porthole.

Such devices are known from the state of the art. In particular, one of them, represented in FIG. 1, consists in using a cold light source 2 illuminating the interior of the enclosure through a window 4. The light is then conveyed to the window by However, these devices have several drawbacks. First, they have a size and cost that are important. Then they operate at low voltage, which requires the use of a particular power supply. In addition, they allow to illuminate only one or two portholes simultaneously and it is therefore necessary to move or buy several when the equipment 8 includes more than two areas to illuminate. A second solution, shown in Figure 2, is to use a hot light source 2 positioned at a distance from the window 4. However, these systems are of poor quality and are problematic insofar as they involve heat production. undesirable, the use of a dedicated power supply and a large footprint.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention aims to overcome the disadvantages of the state of the art by providing a support device for a lighting system through a porthole that is easily removable and allows to release the defined observation area by the porthole, while providing a substantially homogeneous lighting.

The invention also aims to provide a lighting system comprising such a support device to obtain efficient and secure lighting.

To do this, the present invention proposes to provide a support device comprising a guide rail adapted to receive a ribbon of light-emitting diodes oriented towards the inside of the enclosure, so as to position them around the zone. observation of the porthole.

As such, the invention relates according to its most general acceptance a device for supporting a lighting system through a window having a peripheral edge defining an observation area, comprising a guide member. adapted to receive a ribbon of light-emitting diodes and holding means adapted to removably hold said guide member vis-à-vis the window so as to position the strip of light-emitting diodes around the viewing area of the porthole .

Positioning the light-emitting diodes around the viewing area of the window provides a homogeneous light, without reflection on the window, while clearing the viewing area of the window. Moreover, the presence of guiding means facilitates the assembly operation of the light emitting diodes with the support device. According to particular embodiments:

- The guide element has cutouts facing the light emitting diodes to allow the propagation of light to the inside of the window, which ensures an optimal and therefore homogeneous propagation of light to the enclosure;

- The guide element is a groove groove cooperating with a closure member so as to isolate the diode ribbon from the outer light.

The holding means comprise means for retaining the supply wire of the ribbon of light-emitting diodes so as not to obstruct the observation zone of the porthole;

- The holding means have fixing lugs adapted to fit on the window. Thus, this support device is securely fixed and can cooperate with any type of porthole, whatever its orientation;

- The holding means further have a clamping elastic fastening lugs on the window to increase the quality of the fixing of the device on the window.

- The device fits on portholes having a peripheral wall and comprises holding means having at least one spring element capable of compressing to position the guide member against the peripheral wall and generate a return force for wedging this guiding element against said peripheral wall. The use of a spring is convenient to facilitate assembly operations and separation of the support device vis-à-vis the porthole. It is thus easy to change the location of the lighting system, which avoids multiplying the number of products to buy for large scale installations;

- The holding means comprise a spring and a flexible and open holding ring whose ends are provided with housing for receiving the spring. This configuration is practical and economical since only one ring and one spring are needed.

- The housing for receiving the spring extend in a plane substantially perpendicular to the median plane of the retaining ring, so as to release the observation space of the window and optionally add diodes on the entire periphery of the porthole ;

- The holding means comprise a flexible and open holding ring forming the spring element, which allows to abstain from the use of a full-fledged spring; and

At least part of the holding means is made of ABS material, in order to obtain the mechanical properties required in terms of flexibility.

The invention also relates to a lighting system comprising a support device according to the invention and wherein a ribbon of light-emitting diodes is inserted into the guide element. The use of light-emitting diodes makes it possible to avoid any risk of explosion of the window under the effect of heat, prolongs the life of the device and limits the consumption of electrical energy.

Furthermore, the light-emitting diodes are preferably evenly spaced in the guide element to ensure good homogeneity of the illumination.

The invention further relates to a window with a lighting system according to the invention, and an installation comprising at least one window according to the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES [0016] Other features and advantages of the invention will emerge from the following reading of a detailed exemplary embodiment, with reference to the appended figures which represent respectively: - Figures 1a and 1b, two schematic views of a first and a second lighting system of the prior art;

FIGS. 2a and 2b, two perspective views of examples of portholes on which can be fixed support devices of a lighting system according to the invention;

- Figure 3, a schematic view of a light emitting diode ribbon belonging to a lighting system according to the invention;

- Figures 4a and 4b, two views respectively in perspective and in section of an embodiment of a holding ring belonging to a support device according to the invention;

- Figures 5a and 5b, two perspective views of a second embodiment of a retaining ring belonging to a support device according to the invention.

- Figures 6a, 6b and 6c three perspective views of a first embodiment of a lighting system according to the invention;

FIGS. 7a and 7b, two perspective views of a second exemplary embodiment of a lighting system according to the invention;

- Figures 8a and 8b, two schematic views of other embodiments of a lighting system according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT

Figures 2a and 2b show an example of porthole 4 on which can be adapted a removable and self-supporting support device according to the invention.

It should be noted that this porthole 4 has a peripheral edge 4a defining an observation zone 4b of the enclosure. This window 4 comprises a transparent protective window capable of withstanding pressures greater than 100 kPa in the case of a vacuum chamber.

According to the embodiment shown in Figure 2a, the protective glass is positioned below the peripheral edge 4a of the window 4, which defines a peripheral wall 4c. However, alternatively, the protective window of the window 4 could be positioned at the level of the peripheral edge 4b of the window 4, as shown in Figure 2b.

FIG. 3 represents a schematic view of a light emitting diode ribbon 10 as used in the present invention.

This diode ribbon 10 is composed of a plurality of light sources consisting of light emitting diodes 10a, arranged on a flexible ribbon 10b and flat. These light-emitting diodes 10a are oriented in the same direction and in the same direction of propagation of the light, or towards the inside of the enclosure.

In addition they are preferably spaced regularly, which allows in the context of the present invention to diffuse a substantially homogeneous light. This type of light-emitting diode ribbon 10 may for example be a "Linearϋght" model from the company OSRAM.

Figures 4a and 4b respectively show a perspective view and a sectional view of a retaining ring portion 12 that can be used to hold the diode ribbon 10. As shown in these figures, such a ring of 12 has a substantially C-shaped section so as to define a guide rail 12a into which the diode strip 10 and an open portion 12b can be inserted to release a passage for the light emitting diodes 10b. This retaining ring 12 preferably comprises a cutout 12c facing each light-emitting diode 10b so as to allow the propagation of light towards the inside of the enclosure.

It should be noted that according to other embodiments, the retaining ring 12 may have a different section, as far as its complementarity vis-à-vis the diode ribbon 10 allows him to keep it in position. It is also understood that the length of the retaining ring 12 depends on the proportions of the window 4 on which the support device according to the invention must be adapted. Another form of a retaining ring 12 according to the invention is shown in Figures 5a 5b. In this embodiment, the retaining ring 12 has a substantially U-shaped section defining a corrugated guide groove 12d for receiving the diode ribbon 10. This retaining ring 12 advantageously comprises a closure piece 12 which engages with the groove guide groove 12d so as to maintain a low brightness inside the corrugated guide groove 12d.

In the same way as before, the retaining ring 12 has a cutout 12c facing each light emitting diode 10b so as to allow the propagation of light towards the inside of the enclosure.

Figures 6a to 6c show perspective views of a lighting system comprising an embodiment of the removable and self-supporting support device according to the invention.

In this embodiment, the support device comprises a retaining ring 12 partially open and whose radius of curvature is substantially identical to that of the window 4. Advantageously, this retaining ring 12 is made of ABS material and therefore present. sufficient flexibility to adapt its radius of curvature according to the dimensions of the window 4.

The retaining ring 12 also has fastening tabs 14 comprising clips capable of fitting on the peripheral edge 4a of the window 4. The support device is thus self-supporting, that is to say, held in position. on the window 4 independently, and whatever the orientation of the window 4.

In order to improve the holding of the retaining ring 12, an elastic 17 may be placed on the outer cylinder of the ring 12 producing an additional clamping force of the clamps on the periphery of the porthole. Such an embodiment is shown by way of example in FIG. 5c. In addition, the retaining ring 12 comprises a guide rail 12c in which the ribbon of diodes is inserted. The diode ribbon 10 is then held in the guide rail 12c and has a radius of curvature identical to that of the retaining ring 12. When the support device is fixed on the window 4, said guide rail 12c is positioned around the viewing area 4b of the window 4 and the diodes 10b thus illuminate the interior of the enclosure.

It should be noted that the retaining ring 12 is also provided with a retaining means 16 of the supply wire of the diode ribbon 10. This retaining means 16 retains the supply wire 16 so that it does not obstruct the viewing area 4b of the window 4.

Figure 7 shows a perspective view of a second embodiment of the lighting system according to the invention.

In this embodiment adapted to portholes 4 having a peripheral wall 4c as defined above, the support device also has a retaining ring 12 whose section is similar to that of Figure 4b. This retaining ring 12 thus comprises a guide rail 12c in which the diode ribbon 10 is inserted. The retaining ring 12, which is flexible and open, also comprises a retaining means 16 for the electroluminescent diode ribbon supply wire 10. In the same way as before, the diode ribbon 10 is then held in the guide rail and has a radius of curvature identical to that of the retaining ring 12.

Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the retaining ring 12 has two ends provided with housings 18 for receiving a spring 20. These housings 18 may alternately extend along a plane parallel to the median plane of the retaining ring. 12 or in a plane substantially perpendicular to the median plane of the retaining ring 12.

The radius of curvature of the retaining ring 12 is adapted to the inside diameter of the window 4 defined by the peripheral wall 4c so that, when the retaining ring 12 is inserted into the observation zone 4b of the porthole 4, the spring 20 is compressed. A restoring force is then exerted by the spring 20 on the retaining ring 12, which tends to increase the radius of curvature of the retaining ring 12 and thus to wedge against the peripheral wall 4c of the window 4. Likewise previously, the diode ribbon 10 is then held in position on the periphery of the observation zone 4b of the window 4.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments described and shown. By way of example, FIGS. 7a and 7b show two non-limiting alternative embodiments of a support device according to the invention.

According to Figure 8a, the retaining ring 12 may have a rectangular shape so as to adapt, according to the same principle as above, to a window of rectangular shape or any other polygonal shape.

[004O] In addition, Figure 8b shows an embodiment for which the support device does not have a retaining ring 12, but two half retaining rings 22a and 22b each of which has two housings 18 for receiving each a spring at its end. Thus the restoring force for wedging the ribbon of diodes 10 around the perimeter of the viewing zone 4b of the window 4 is exerted by two separate springs 20 and, preferably, diametrically opposed.

In these two exemplary embodiments, the support device makes it possible to keep the diode ribbon 10 around the observation zone 4b of the window 4.

Furthermore, although the previously described embodiments all include a spring 20 separate from the retaining ring 12, it would be conceivable to obtain a lighting system according to the invention using a retaining ring 12 with the elastic properties alone make it possible to generate a return force sufficient to wedge the retaining ring 12 against the peripheral wall 4c of the window 4 and thus maintain the diode ribbon 10 around the periphery of the observation zone 4b of the porthole 4.

Claims

1. Device for supporting a lighting system through a porthole (4) having a peripheral edge (4a) defining an observation zone (4b), characterized in that it comprises a guide element ( 12a, 12d) adapted to receive a ribbon of light-emitting diodes (10) as well as holding means (12, 14, 18, 20) adapted to removably hold said guide means (12a) vis-à-vis the porthole (4) so as to position the light emitting diode ribbon (10) around the viewing area (4b) of the porthole (4).

2. Support device according to claim 1, wherein the guide element (12a, 12d) has cutouts (12c) facing the light-emitting diodes (10b) to allow the propagation of light towards the inside of the window ( 4).

3. Device according to claim 2, wherein the guide member is a corrugated groove (12d) cooperating with a closure member (12e) so as to isolate the diode ribbon (10) from the outer light.

4. Support device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the holding means (12, 14, 18, 20) comprise means (16) for retaining the ribbon supply wire of light emitting diodes ( 10).

5. Support device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the holding means (12, 14, 18, 20) have fixing lugs (14) adapted to fit on the porthole (4). .

6. Support device according to claim 5, wherein the holding means (12, 14, 18, 20) further have an elastic (17) for clamping the fastening lugs (14) on the window (4).

7. Support device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, for window having a peripheral wall (4c) wherein the holding means (12, 14, 18, 20) have at least one spring element (12, 20). ) capable of compressing to position the guide member (12a) against the peripheral wall (4c) and generate a return force for wedging the guide member (12a, 12d) against said peripheral wall (4c).

8. Support device according to claim 7, wherein the holding means (12, 14, 18, 20) comprise a spring (20) and a retaining ring (12) flexible and open, the ends of which are provided with housings ( 18) for receiving the spring (20).

9. Support device according to claim 7, wherein the holding means (12, 14, 18, 20) comprise a retaining ring (12) flexible and open forming the spring element.

10. Support device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein at least a portion of the holding means (12, 14, 18, 20) is made of ABS material.

An illumination system comprising a support device according to any one of claims 1 to 10 and wherein a ribbon of light-emitting diodes (10) is inserted into the guide element (12a, 12d).

The illumination system of claim 11, wherein the light emitting diodes (10b) are evenly spaced in the guide member (12a, 12d).

13. Hublot with a lighting system according to claim 11 or 12.

14. Installation comprising at least one window according to claim 13.