Classifications

• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F21—LIGHTING
  • F21V—FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • F21V29/00—Protecting lighting devices from thermal damage; Cooling or heating arrangements specially adapted for lighting devices or systems
  • F21V29/50—Cooling arrangements
  • F21V29/60—Cooling arrangements characterised by the use of a forced flow of gas, e.g. air
  • F21V29/67—Cooling arrangements characterised by the use of a forced flow of gas, e.g. air characterised by the arrangement of fans
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F21—LIGHTING
  • F21V—FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • F21V9/00—Elements for modifying spectral properties, polarisation or intensity of the light emitted, e.g. filters
  • F21V9/40—Elements for modifying spectral properties, polarisation or intensity of the light emitted, e.g. filters with provision for controlling spectral properties, e.g. colour, or intensity
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G02—OPTICS
  • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
  • G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
  • G02B6/0001—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings specially adapted for lighting devices or systems
  • G02B6/0005—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings specially adapted for lighting devices or systems the light guides being of the fibre type
  • G02B6/0006—Coupling light into the fibre
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G02—OPTICS
  • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
  • G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
  • G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
  • G02B6/42—Coupling light guides with opto-electronic elements
  • G02B6/4298—Coupling light guides with opto-electronic elements coupling with non-coherent light sources and/or radiation detectors, e.g. lamps, incandescent bulbs, scintillation chambers

Definitions

• the present invention relat 9 to a high-intensity light source for a fiber optics illuminati 0 system wherein an axial flow, propeller-type impeller, that is 1 a fan, is positioned to have its vanes rotated through the gap 2 between the lamp and the light conduit and the light is direct 3 along the predetermined path onto one end of a fiber optics 4 illumination conduit. 5 6 7 8 2. Description of the Prior Art
• High-intensity light sources for fiber optics illumination systems are well known in the art. Typical of the fiber optics sources known in the art are those described in U.S. Patent Nos. 3,775,606 and 3,733,481.
• the fiber optics light console disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 3,775,606 relates to a light source which includes a dual illumination system which permits simultaneous use of two cables with the same console and which enables the user to switch from one cable to another cable in the event of failure of one light source during a surgical operation.
• the light console employs light and heat shielding means surrounding each of the light sources, and the shielding means function as a heat sink.
• the shielding means may be air cooled to protect the front portion of the console to reduce the temperature thereof.
• the light console is air cooled by a fan-type motor with the motor located rearward of the light source and the bayonet-type mounting apertures which are adapted to receive ends of fiber optics light cables.
• U.S. Patent No. 3,733,481 discloses a fiber optics light source which includes a lamp house including a lamp, reflector and condenser aligned for focusing light into the receiving end of a fiber optics bundle and which utilizes an air impeller mounted laterally of the lamp house to direct air over the lamp for dissipating heat build-up. 1 It is also known in the art to position one end of a fiber 2 optics bundle a predetermined distance from a light source 3 forming a gap therebetween to permit the light from the light 4 source to be received by the one end of the fiber optics bundle
• the fiber optics bundle is utilized to illumina a musical instrument such as a guitar.
• hot mirrors which absorb infrared and thus become hot, while reflecting 8 visible light, have been used to reduce heat and temperature at g the light-receiving end of the light conduit, but hot mirrors do
• the high-intensity light source for a fiber optics 17 illumination system has a large number of advantages over the 18 known prior art light sources.
• None of the known prior art 19 systems disclose, suggest, or teach the use of an impeller or 20 fan located in the gap between a light source and one end of the 21 fiber optics bundle.
• the impeller displaces air heated by the 22 light source located in the vicinity of the reflector, light 23 source, and one end of the fiber optics bundle along a generally 24 axial path towards the end of the fiber optics bundle and away 25 from the light source.
• the air flow produces a negative ⁇ ' ⁇ 26 pressure in the vicinity of the impeller, reflector, and light 27 source which causes cooling of the end of the fiber optics.
• None of the fiber optics light sources disclosed in U.S. Patent Nos. 3,775,606 and 3,733,481 disclose a cooling fan having its blades disposed between the light source and the fiber optic.
• Fiber optics Two fundamentally different type of fiber optics, or light conduits, are employed in the art.
• a fiber optic formed from carefully extruded glass filaments, or fibers, which are very fine. A plurality of such fibers are bound together into a bundle, whic is glued together with an adhesive such as epoxy. Fiber optics of this type are commonly used for transmitting communications, as well as for simple transmission of light for lighting purposes. Glass fiber optics are not well suited for general illumination systems disclosed in the prior art. Glass fiber optics are quite fragile and each fiber must be coated with a protective coating , typically a flourine-bas ⁇ d polymer, to protect the glass fiber. The bundle of a plurality of fiber optics must then be encased in a larger sheath. As noted, the individual fibers are then glued together with an adhesive,
• a chemical 8 product of reaction of the decompositiion of many types of 9 epoxies used in glass fiber optics is a flourine-based acid, 0 which eats into the glass fibers and ruins them.
• the second type of optic fiber is a polymerized plastic 27 type substance, which may be any of a number of chemical 28 1 co positions that are well known in the art. Such compounds ar 2 customarily formed i_ ⁇ situ in some type of vessel, such as a length of tubing.
• the resulting product is a semi-solid plasti type material, which may be roughly transparent or translucent. It may be more or less flexible. It is customarily available i sizes ranging from about 3/16 inch to about 5/8 inch in diamete and in various lengths. The material is not, however, a fiber
• plastic light conduits 0 melt at temperatures of about 180 degrees F. At temperatures 1 well below the melting point, such plastic light conduits oxidize and chemically deteriorate, with readily apparent* 1 color shift from translucent to amber, to yellow, to brown. Naturally, this color shift caused by the chemical deterioratio reduces the amount of light that the light conduit will conduc and reduces the color temperature and changes the color of the light trasnraitted through the light conduit, all of which redu
• light conduit shall be a generic term that refers to an 26 type of material designed to transmit, or conduct light throug 27 it, including glass fiber optic bundles, polymerized plastics, 28 or other material that is or may become known.
• the heat from the light source makes the end of the fiber optic extremely hot, which severely reduces the life of the fiber optic.
• the epoxy used in the glass fibers may break down, reducing the amount of light entering into the fiber optics bundle.
• Plastic- fiber optics are even more susceptible to heat damage than bundles of glass fibers and, because of this heat damage, the number of applications in which the plastic light conduit can be used is limited primarily to applications requiring small amounts of light.
• Plastic or polymerized fiber optics, or light conduits deteriorate quickly when exposed to heat and oxygen. They become quite brittle and turn brown. The brown color of the light receiving end discolors the light transmitted through the fiber optic in an unpleasing manner, and causes the fiber optic to absorb more heat and to convert more light to heat, both of which accelerate the deterioration of the fiber optic.
• the present invention is directed to an illumination system that can easily employ high intensity light sources consuming 500 watts of electricity or more. Even using dramatically more powerful lamps, the present invention also permits placement of the light conduit at the focal point of a focusing reflector or lens.
• This invention relates to a new, novel and improved high
• the high-intensity light source includes a high intensity incandescent halogen lamp, although any suitable light source may be used, and a reflector for o directing light from the high-intensity light source along a . 0 predetermined path.
• the fiber optics illumination system 1 includes means adapted to position one- end of a fiber optics 2 illumination conduit along the predetermine * d path at a spaced
• An axial flow, propeller-type impeller having a 5 plurality of vanes extending radially therefrom at a selected 6 pitch, that is, a fan is located along the predetermined path. 7 The fan is positioned relative to the gap such that when the fa 8 is rotated, the blades are transported through the gap and the 9 light is directed along the predetermined path.
• the fan is 0 capable of being rotated at a rate of rotation at least equal t a predetermined rate so that the interception of the light by ?
• the fan blades is visibly imperceptible to a user, while the fa simultaneously displaces air heated by the light source located in the vicinity of the reflector, light source, and positioning means, along a generally axial path towards the positioning 6 means and away from the light source to form a negative pressur in the vicinity of the fan, the reflector, and the light source 3 -12-
• the fiber optics illumination system 6 naturlly includes an electric motor coupled to the fan to rotate 7 it at a predetermined rate.
• the fan may advantageously be made 8 of a transparent material, such as a transparent plastic.
• the 9 color of the fan does not have much effect on the illumination 10 from the light conduit — even a black fan will not noticably 11 reduce the light in the light conduit.
• a transparent fan will,
• Figure 1 is a schematic representation, partially in section, of a high-intensity light source for a light conduit illumination system according to the present invention.
• Figure 2 is a schematic representation, partially in section, of a high-intensity light source mounted on an insulated bracket and illustrating the negative pressure area between the cooling fan and the light source;
• Figure 3 is a perspective view, partially in section, showing the relationship between the lamp, the cooling fan, an the light-receiving end of the light conduit.
• Figure 4 is a schematic representation, partially in section, illustrating a high-intensity light source for a ligh conduit illumination system according to the present invention and having a rotatable color wheel located between the cooling fan and the light-receiving end of the light conduit.
• Figure 5 is a plan view of a color wheel according to the present invention.
• Figure 7 is a diagrammatic representation of one end of a
• Figure 8 is a pictorial representation of a light conduit
• Figure 9 is a diagrammatic representation of a display sign
• Figure 10 is a display device utilizing the teachings of 21 the present invention wherein the light-transmitting ends of a o o plurality of light conduits are formed into a pattern to form a dollar sign.
• Figure 11 is a perspective view of a swimming pool lighted 26 according to the present invention.
• 27 28 1 Figure 12 is a sectional elevation of a fluid-tight 2 coupling member for a light conduit, according to the present 3 invention.
• 4 5 Figures 13A, 13B, and 13C illustrate that the angle of the 6 cone of light transmitted through the fluid-tight coupling is 7 determined by the distance between the light-transmitting end o 8 the light conduit and the lens of the fluid-tight coupling.
• Figure 14 is a sectional elevation of a fluid-tight 11 co'upling member according to the present invention.
• FIG. 15 is a top plan view of a high-intensity light source for a light conduit illumination system according to the present invention adapted for use with a display device. iO
• Figure 16 is a top plan view of a high-intensity light source for a light conduit illumination system adapted for use with other devices, such as medical devices.
• Figure 17 is a plan view, partially in section, of another
• Figure 18 is a section taken along lines 18 -18 of Figure
• Figure 19 is a section taken along lines 19 -19 of Figure
• Figure 20 is a section taken along lines 20 -20 of Figure
• FIG. 21 is an elevation, partially in section, of a glass 7 envelope for retaining and protecting a light conduit in a high 8 intensity light source according to the present invention.
• 9 0 Figure 22 is an elevation, partially in section, of another embodiment of the a glass envelop and stopper according to the present invention.
• Figure 23 is a schematic illustration showing the
• FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a mechanical light 1 attenuation member for controlling the amount of light received 2 by the light-receiving end of the light conduit according to the present invention.
• FIG. 25 is a schematic top plan view of a high intensity 6 light source for a light conduit illumination system having 7 three separate illumination systems according to the present 8 1 invention housed in one apparatus, 2 3
• Figure 26 is a top plan view of an illumination system according to the present invention illustrating the ventilation ducts and their relation to the housing.
• Figure 1 illustrates a high-intensity illumination means adapted for use in a fiber optics illumination system which includes light conduit 30 having one end 32 thereof which is adapted to receive light from high intensity light source 24.
• Light conduit 30 has its remote end 36 formed such that light will be transmitted through end 38 at an angle alpha.
• the illumination means includes a high-intensity lamp 24, which is a quartiz halogen lamp designed to operate on twenty- 2 four volts in a preferred embodiment, and reflector % 25 for directing light from the high-intensity light source along a predetermined path from lamp 24 to the one end 32 of the fiber 5 optics bundle 30.
• Gap 40 is located between lamp 24 and end 22 of light conduit 30.
• the end 32 of light conduit 30 is positioned at the focal point of lamp 24 in order to provide the maximum coupling efficiency between the light generated by xt.he light source 24 and the end 32 of the fiber optics bundle 30.
• Reflector 25 is specially designed to focus the light into a light-spot (rather than the theoretically perfect "focal points") of about five eights of. an inch in diameter, at a distance of about one and one-half inches in front of the leading edge of reflector 25, as is well known in the art. Reflectors having different diameter light spots and different focal lenghts may be selected and matched to a particular lighting system, which is well within the skill of the ordinary
• the diameter of the 2 light spot produced by the reflector would be the same as the 3 diameter of the light conduit being used. Even so, much of the light produced by the lamp will be scattered an will not strike the light-receiving end of the light conduit.
• I O especially those employing more than one glass element, substantially reduce the light available to the light conduit.
• one end of the light conduit is referred to as the "light-receiving end” and the other end is referred to as the "light-transmitting end” when 5 is necessary to distinguish between the two ends.
• a plurality of vanes 44 extendin ected pitch.
• the impeller 42 is 40 such that when the impeller 42 ng vanes 44 are transported t the light being directed along peller 42 is capable of being t least equal to a predetermined s that rate wherein the e plurality of-vanes 44 is but wherein the rotating air heated by the light source he reflector 25 and light source ath is a generally axial path he heated air is directed away
• impeller 44 is 5 drawn into the negative pressure area, heated by the light 6 source 24, and then displaced in response to rotation of the 7 impeller 44.
• the impeller 42 is rotated by a rotating 0 means, such as motor 48, at a rate of rotation which is at least 1 equal to the predetermined rate.
• the motor 48 and the light ! source 24 are operatively coupled via lead 50 to a power source 52.
• Figure 2 is an alternate embodiment of a side view wherein 0 the impeller is rotated such that the blades thereof intercept the light passing from the light source to the fiber optics bundle.
• a high-intensity light In the embodiment of Figure 2, a high-intensity light
• source is operatively coupled to light source bracket 66 by a Teflon insulator 68.
• the Teflon insulator is preferably formed of F ⁇ ? Teflon, which is well known in the art.
• the reflector 62 li reflects the light generated from the high-intensity light source 60 when energized by electrical power applied to terminal 70 thereof. The light then heats the air located in the d o vicinity of the reflector illustrated by 92, which is then 26 displaced by rotation of the impeller having a hub 76, radially 27 extending vanes 73, which are curved so as to displace the air 28 1 fro the vicinity of the reflector 62 towards the end 83 of
• Figure 3 illustrates the preferred embodiment of the high- intensity light source, which includes a high-intensity light source 112, which may be a halogen lamp, and a parabolic-shaped reflector 110 which defines a discrete edge 114. There is a slight distance between the end of reflector edge 114 and the impeller 116.
• the impeller 116 includes a hub 118 and a plurality of radially extending blades 120 which have a predetermined pitch. The pitch illustrated in Figure 3 is such that the blades displace the air from the vicinity of the reflector 110 and axially towards the one end 128 ⁇ f fiber. optics bundle 126.
• Figure 4 illustrates a variation of the high-intensity light source illustrated in Figure 1 with the addition of a light-attenuating member, such as a rotatable disc 130 having color gels located in the end thereof.
• the light-attenuating member is positioned along the predetermined path intermediate the impeller 42 such that the plurality of rotating vanes 44 will rotate without hitting the light-attenuating member.
• the light traversing along the predetermined path is attenuated by the filter member such that the wavelength of the lights ultimately applied to the one end 32 of the fiber optics bundle 30 can be selected.
• the rotatable member 130 includes a hub 135 which has an annular-shaped outer rim 134 formed thereon. The extending
• 1 outer rim includes a plurality of air-bleeding holes 142 and a 2 plurality of ap ⁇ rtured areas 138 which are adapted to receive 3 color gels 140.
• a motor 148 is positioned to rotate the 4 rotatable member 130 in such a manner that the outer edge 5 thereof including the color gels 140 are selectively passed 6 through the light path and intermediate the light source 24 and 7 the one end 32 of the fiber optics bundle 30.
• Figure 5 shows the rotatable disc member 130 in a front
• the gels are formed into an arcuate shape so as to ensure that the color gel is positioned between the light source 24 and the end 32 of a fiber optics bundle 30 for a controlled sector angle of the disc rotation.
• the disc 130 is rotated at a relatively low rate of rotation, such as about 2 RPM.
• Glass fiber optics do not leak enough light 27 from their sidewalls to be useful for signs or other lighted 28 1 i displays that rely on sidewall lighting.
• Plastic-type polymer based light conduits do leak enough light from their sidewalls to be useful for such signs and lighted displays.
• 11 surface 158 is spaced from light-transmitting end 150 at a i o predetermined distance to reflect the light received from the iO end thereof back into the light conduit, simulating a, light source, with the reflected light being shown by arrows 160.
• the end of a sign remote from the light source is about 17 10% - 15% brighter than it otherwise would be, increasing the 18 unformity, and hence esthetic appeal of a display or sign using 19 illuminated plastic-type light conduits.
• Coating otherwise 20 light-transmitting end 150 of the light conduit with a white 21 substance, such as paint, increases the amount of light 22 reflected back into the light conduit even more.
• a colored 23 coating on the otherwise light-receiving end 150 of the light conduit reflects its color back into the light conduit, creatin
• the color applied to the otherwise light- 26 transmitting end of the light conduit may be the same as the 27 color of a filter at the light-transmitting end, to create a 23 nearly uniform color throughout the display, or it may be a different color.
• a high intensity illumination system may be applied to each end of the light conduit, with or without a color wheel at either or both ends of the light conduit. Rotation of the color wheels may be synchronized so that the color changes from each end of the light conduit are the same through time.
• Figures 7 and 8 shown alternate methods of controlling the wavelength of the light transmitted ⁇ by the fiber optics cable.
• Figure 7 illustrates a fiber optics cable 170 having a color gel 172, or other light filter, applied to the end thereof.
• the end with the color gel 172 can be utilized in the embodiment of Figures 1 and 3 to control the wavelength of the light being applied thereto.
• the low temperature located in the vicinity of the fiber optics end is such that the gel 172 will not melt.
• Figure 8 illustrates the use of a fiber optics cable, or other light conduit, having a plurality of segem ⁇ nts, with adjacent segments being separated by a colored gel or other light filter.
• Segment 180 is separated from segment 186 by a filter or gel material 184.
• Segment 186 is separated from segment 190 by second color gel 183.
• segment 190 is separated from segment 194 by color gel 192.
• the color effect is cumulative as the light traverses lignt conduit 195, because once the light passes through one filter, the light is no longer white, but takes on the color of the filter, so the next filter will not produce the- same color it . would produce if white light had passed through it. That is, if the first filter or color gel 184 is green, segment 186 will glow with green light. Then if color gel 183 is yellow, segment 190 will glow blue, and so forth according to principles of light color .that a-re well known in the art. Naturally, if light is is transmitted through light conduit 195 in the opposite direction, and the same filters or color gels are in place, an entirely different set of colors will be generated, also according to well known principles of light color. (The passage of light through the fiber optics 195 is illustrated by arrows 1S5.) Methods of splicing plastic-type light conduit and of attaching color filters to it are well known in the art.
• Figures 9 and 10 illustrate a display device utilizing the teachings of the present invention.
• Figure 9 illustrates a display sign wherein the sign 200 has a fiber optics conduit 203 formed therein into a predetermined graphic de-sign.
• One end of the fiber optics 208 illustrated by end 206, is operatively coupled to a high-intensity light source 202.
• the high- intensity light source 202 has power applied thereto through a power source 204.
• conduit 208 is formed into a predetermined path to form letters.
• Figure 10 illustrates an alternate embodiment of a display
• Figure 11 shows a spa
• a high-intensity light source 242 which is energized from a power source ' 244 produces a high-intensity light which is
• the fiber 22 optics bundle has its other end thereof divided into a plurality 23 of smaller fiber optics bundles, illustrated by fiber optics 24 bundles 248, 250, 252, 254, 256 and 258, which terminate in 25 planar light-transmitting members 260, 262, 264, 266, 268 and 26 270, respectively.
• the specific construction of the fluid-tight 27 coupling member is illustrated in greater detail in connection 23 1 with the discussion of Figure 12.
• the fluid-tight coupling member is adapted to 4 receive the other end of a -fiber optics cable such that the 5 light which emanates from the end of the cable is transmitted 6 through the planar members 260, 262, 264, 266, 268, 270 to 7 illuminate the interior of the spa 238.
• This provides a 3 pleasing illumination effect.
• the color of the light can be controlled to provide a
• FIG. 12 illustrates a fluid-tight coupling member which comprises an elongated cylindrical-shaped member 270 having a hollowed-out central area 278.
• the cylindrical-shaped member 270 terminates in a relatively planar member or light-transmitting member 260, which is sealingly attached to the one end of the elongated cylindrical-shaped member 270.
• the planar member is capable of transmitting light from the interior of the elongated cylindrical-shaped member 270 to the other side thereof.
• the elongated cylindrical-shaped member 270 has its exterior surfac 272 threaded and has its other end thereof terminating in the elongated boss 276.
• the exterior dimension of the elongated boss 276 is less than the dimension of the threaded portion 272 of the elongated cylindrical-shaped member 270.
• a first connector 280 has a central portion and a larger
• the central portion includes means
• a planar washer member 286 is adapted to be positioned
• 14 280 is capable of being rotated in a first direction coacting
• a second connecting means 290 includes means for defining an interior cavity thereof 292 which includes means for defining
• the second connecting member 290 when 2 positioned over the end of the elongated cylindrical-shaped 3 member 270 and when threaded in a predetermined direction 4 thereagainst, causes the end cap 294 to be urged into the O-ri 5 member 296, urging the O-ring member 296 into sealing engageme 16 with the other end of the elongated cylindrical-shaped member 17 270 forming a fluid-tight seal therebetween.
• the fiber optics 13 conduit 300 is responsive to a light illumination being applie 19 thereto at one end thereof and to transmit light therethrough 20 the other end of the fiber optics conduit 302, which is locate 21 j near the flat, light-transmitting member 260.
• the light passes 22 out of the end of fiber optics conduit 302, through the flat, 23 light-transmitting member 260, and is then transmitted on the d ⁇ other side of the thin wall 240.
• Figures 13A, 13B and 13C pictorially illustrate the 27 relationship between the end of fiber optics conduit 300 23 1 relative to the flat, planar, light-transmitting surface 260.
• FIG. 13A As illustrated in Figure 13A, if the end 302 of fiber optics 3 bundle 300 is located very near to or contiguous with planar 4 member 260, the light passes therethrough and forms a light 5 having a diameter illustrated by dashed lines 310.
• Figure 133 6 illustrates that when the end 302 is positioned a short distance 7 from the flat, light-transmitting member 260, which results in 8 an increased angle of light thereby increasing the amount of 9 light passing through the flat, light transmitted therethrough. 10 If the fiber optics 300 is positioned such that end 302 is moved further remotely from the flat, ' light-transmitting surface 260, a greater degree and angle of light passes through the ffat,
• Figure 14 illustrates an alternate embodiment of a fluid- iU tight coupling member which is adapted to be utilized in a fluid environment. This is a variation of the device of Figure 12,
• the fluid-tight coupling 20 member includes a fiat, light-transmitting member 400 which has 21 an elongated central area 402 extending therefrom which defines 22 a hollowed-out central area 406 in the center thereof.
• a thin 23 wall 410 of a fluid environment such as the wall of a swimming 24 pool, is formed with an aperture therein which is adapted to 25 pass the elongated central member 402 therethrough, causing the 26 ridge of the flat, light-transmitting member 400 to be brought 27 into sealing engagement with one side of the thin wall 410.
• the elongated central member has its outer periphery thereof threaded with threaded members 404.
• the connecting member 414 having an annular-shaped ridge member 420 and having threaded members located in the interior thereof is mounted relative to the elongated central member 402 so as to coact with the threaded members 404 formed around the periphery thereof.
• a standard light bulb illustrated by 16 light bulb 430 and a light socket '432, can be positioned into the hollowed-out area 406.
• the light bulb 430 can be positioned into the hollowed-out area 406.
• the light bulb can be withdrawn from the 19 area 406, replaced or serviced, and then reinserted into 20 position. This avoids the necessity of removing a front light- 21 transmitting member 400, which is typical in certain swimming 22 pool or other applications.
• Figure 15 illustrates a high-intensity light source
• Step-down 25 a housing 500 which encloses the entire system.
• Step-down 25 transformer 502 is energized from a 110-volt, 60-hertz, AC 27 source via lead 504 and plug 506.
• illumination means directs the light from high-intensity light 2 source 612 along a predetermined path onto the end 630 of a 3 fiber optics conduit 634.
• a coupling means 632 operatively 4 connects the one end 630 and holds the same in a predetermined 5 position relative to the light source 612.
• the end 630 is positioned at the focal point of the high-intensity light source 612, which is developed by the reflector 610.
• An impeller in the form of a rotatable fan-type
• impeller 616 having a plurality of radially extending vanes 0 ext ⁇ nding therefrom and having a predetermined pitch is 1 positioned to intercept the light as it passes from the light
• the fan-type impeller 616 is driven by a motor 618 which is energized via lead 620 electrically connected to plug 606.
• FIG 17 illustrates a preferred embodiment of the illumination system of the present invention including cooling duct 700 for exhausting air from housing 702 of the illuminatior system.
• Cooling duct inlet 704 has an inside diameter that matches the outer diameter of fan blade 42, which is located perpendicular to the orientation of cooling duct air inlet 704 of cooling duct 700 and is located at the terminal edge of cooling duct inlet 704. Cooling duct 700 turns approximately
• Cooling duct 700 constructed in the configuration
• cooling duct 700 directs heated cooling air away
• cooling duct 700 2' have a 90. degree elbow. It is only important that light conduit 3 30 can penetrate elbow 708 and be retained within cooling duct 4 700 without being parallel to it.
• 16 cooling duct 700 tapers throughout its length until cooling duct 7 700 terminates in exhaust port 710, in sidewall 26 of housing 8 702.
• Housing air inlet 712 whose diameter is at least equal to 21 the diameter of exhaust port 710, provides a ready path for 22 outside ambient air to flow to fan blade 42, insuring an
• Housing air inlet 712 may be located at any convenient place on 26 a sidewall or the top or bottom of housing 702. In the 27 preferred embodiment illustrated in Figures 17 and 26, housing 23 1 air inlet 712 is located in the same sid ⁇ wall as exhaust port 2 710, facilitating bundling and running lenthy ventilation ducts from both openings in housing 702.
• the cooling system 7 exhausts hot air from the housing, preventing the build-up of
• * _ 13 maintains a high level of turbulence on the end of glass envelope 716, and the length of glass envelope 716, which prevents build-up of heat on glass
• the tapering of cooling duct 700 causes the l' 7 velocity of the air in duct 700 to increase throughout the l ⁇ ngth of duct 700, due to operation of the gas laws, which
• FIG. 19 further increases turbulence around glass envelope 716.
• An 2 illumination system according to th ⁇ pr ⁇ sent invention having 21 cooling duct 700 as illustrated in Figure 17 is th ⁇ best mode of 22 practicing the present invention now known to the inventor.
• Heat build-up in cricital areas of housing 702 can be controlled by applying a material that reflects infrared radiation, visible light, and ultraviolet light to selected portions of the interior of housing 702.
• a strip of r ⁇ flectiv ⁇ aluminium foil having a paper backing (well known in the art) applied to top half 703 of housing 702 by conventional adhesive or other means directly above lamp 24 and reflector 25, and applied, across the , _. width of housing 702 prevents any distorition of a plastic housing that might occur from radiated or convected h ⁇ at from lamp 24.
• Reflective foil 715 ( Figures 18, 19, and 20) is attached to top half 703 of housing 702, permitting housing to be more compact because top half 703 can be physically closer t lamp 24 and reflector 25.
• Such r ⁇ fl ⁇ ctive foil, or other reflectiv ⁇ means, may be advantageously applied to any other ho spots found in a high intensity illumination system according t the present invention.
• Ventilation duct 709 having a tapered insertion end, is inserted into exhaust port 710, and ventilation inlet duct 713, having a tapered insertion end, is inserted into housing air inlet 712, providing means fo a complete circuit for ventilation air.
• Ventilation ducts 709, 712 may be as long as necessary to insure that adequate ambient air of suitable low temperatures is readily available in sufficient quantities. In some applications, for example, it may be desirabl ⁇ to bury th ⁇ illumination system in the ground (providing a manhole-type cover for maintenance access) that do net permit the free flow of air. Ventilation ducts 709, 712 can then be run to a place that free flowing air is available. Ventilation ducts 709, 712 forty feet in length and more have been used sucessfully with the pr ⁇ s ⁇ nt inv ⁇ ntion as disclosed herein.
• the apparatus of Figure 17 includes other elements of the illumination system accordng to the present invention, including a power supply, which conveniently may be transformer 52.
• transformer 52 is a step-down transformer that converts standard 115 volt power to 24 volts to illuminate lamp 24.
• Lamp 24 may have a voltage rating of 17 volts and a transform ⁇ r producing 17 volts may b ⁇ used. It has been found, however, that a 24 volt power supply produces a whiter light from lamp 24 than 17 volts does. hen supplied with 24 volts, such a lamp consumes approximately 200 watts of electrical power. If desirable, lamps consuming up to about 500 watts of electricity or more can be employed in th ⁇ present invention without adversl ⁇ y a-ffecting light conduit 30.
• Transformer 52 may b ⁇ replaced by any suitable electrical power supply capabable of meeting the power needs of lamp 24, such as, for example, a solid state power supply (not shown) .
• a solid state power supply would be mor ⁇ compact than transformer 52, permitting use of a smaller housing.
• Cooling fan 42 is driven by electric motor 48, which rotates cooling fan 42 at a rate determin ⁇ d by the design of electric motor 48, and may conveni ⁇ ntly b ⁇ any sp ⁇ ed greater than about 500 RPM, although in a prefeffed embodim ⁇ nt, the rate of rotation is about 3,000 RPM.
• Color wheel 540 is disposed between fan 42 and light- receiving end.32 of light conduit 30 so that color wheel 540 is cooled by air from fan 42, while at the same time coloring th ⁇ light r ⁇ ceived by light conduit 30 in order to provide pleasing colors and changes of colors of the light transmitted by light conduit 30.
• Color wheel 540 is rotated by motor 542 at a rate of about 2 RPM.
• Naturally th ⁇ rate of rotation of color wheel 540 may be adjusted by selecting a motor having a different rate of rotation, or by using a gear reduction system having different ratios than the gear reduction system employed in color wheel 540 drive motor 542.
• Color wheel 540 and color wheel drive motor 542 are off-set from reflector 25 so that only a band along the outer circumfrence of color wheel 540, having the same width as the diameter of light conduit 30 being used in a specific application passes by light-receiving end 32 of light conduit
• Fan 42 is likewise off-set from lamp 24, so that, while cooling fan 42 is aligned with cooling duct inlet 704, as described above, only the outermost portion of the circumfr ⁇ nc ⁇ of cooling fan 42 blades pass between lamp 24 and light- receiving end 32 of light conduit 30.
• the radially outermost portion of most fans, including cooling fan 42 move more air than any other portion of the fan blade, and at great ⁇ r velocity. Accordingly, the arrangement just described provides the greatest amount of th ⁇ fastest moving air that fan 42 can provide directly onto the ⁇ nd of glass ⁇ nveolpe 716, which houses light-receiving end 32 of light conduit 30. This creates and maintains continued high turbulence in the air surrounding the end of glass env ⁇ lop ⁇ 716 that is inside housing 702.
• Housing 702 may conveniently be molded in one pi ⁇ c ⁇ of any
• housing 702 may be conveniently molded in two sections, upper section 703 o (illustrated in Figures 18, 19, and 20) and lower section 701 7 (illustrated in Figures 17 -20) , and the two sections then 8 joined together by means of adhesive or threaded fastners, as is 9 well known in the art. Fittings and support structures for 0 mounting internal components of the illumination system are 1 pr ⁇ f ⁇ rrably molded into housing 702, providing for ready o assembly and easy maintenance. ,
• Cradle fingers 714 molded as integral members of housing 702, firmly support and control glass ⁇ nv ⁇ lope 716, as is illustrat ⁇ d in Figur ⁇ s 17, 13, 19, and 21.
• Two craddl ⁇ fingers 7 714 are mold ⁇ d into bottom section 701 of housing 702 and two S opposed craddle fingers 714 are molded into top section 703 of 9 housing 702.
• glass envelope 716 is rested on 0 the craddle fingers in bottom section 701 of housing 702, and 1 then top section 703 is joined to bottom section 701, forming a 2 complete housing 702 and the clamping action of the opposed 3 craddle fingers 714 holds glass envelope firmly- in place.
• thread ⁇ d projection 724 which conveniently 6 may be molded as an integral part of housing 702 and also may 7 have an upper s ⁇ ction and a lower section, as illustrat ⁇ d in 8 Figures 18, and 19, provides an additional clamping on glass envelope 716. If desired, an adhesive that will stick to glass and to plastic may b ⁇ applied to craddle finger 714 and to the interior surfaces of thr ⁇ aded projection 724.
• Glass envelop ⁇ 714 which encloses light-r ⁇ ceiving end 32 of light conduit 30, is sealed by the action of stopp ⁇ r 718 as is illustrat ⁇ d in Figur ⁇ 21.
• Stopper 718 is tapper ⁇ d inwardly, in basically the shape of a flask stopper in common use in chemical laboratories.
• Stoppers 718 may be manufactured in a variety of sizes to 0 accomodate different diameters of glass envelopes 716 (Glass envelopes 715 according to the preferred embodiment disclosed herein are in th ⁇ shape of a glass tube) and different Q i. diameters of light conduits 30.
• stopper 713 may be made of
• the stopper may include a plurality of holes
• each hole receiving one or more of the individual strands of light conduit.
• O-ring o -* 730 for sealing light conduit 30 within glass envelope 716 (not 0 shown) .
• O-ring 730 may conveniently be sized to fit snuggly over the outside diameter of light conduit 30, and to substantially fill channel 725 on inside lip 727 of threaded cap 3 729.
• the system of enclosing light-rec ⁇ iving ⁇ nd 32 of -light 6 conduit 30 within an air-tight glass envelope has several significant benefits, which include: (1) End 32 of light 8 conduit 30 is protected from being pushed into fan blades 42, 9 reducing th ⁇ chances of damaging the apparatus; (2) the heat that end 32 of light conduit 30 is exposed to is reduced because the glass insulates light conduit 30 from the heat to a certain 2 extent, and the glass may be coated with a heat absorbing coating, such as a dichroic coating, to reduce the amount of heat that light conduit 30 is suj ⁇ ct ⁇ d to; and (3) sealing ⁇ light conduit 30 within glass envelop ⁇ 714 radically reduc ⁇ s th ⁇ 6 amount of oxygen available to oxidiz ⁇ light conduit 30. This is particularly important when a polymer based light conduit is 8
• Figure 23 schematically illustrates the spatial relationships between lamp 24, reflector 25, cooling fan 42,
• Dotted lines 732 illustrate the focusing of light from lamp 24 by reflector 25 into a con ⁇ (th ⁇ actual light and focusing occur in thr ⁇ dim ⁇ nsions, while the drawing of Figur ⁇ 23 illustrates it in two dimensions) having a focal point.
• Th ⁇ dia ⁇ t ⁇ r of th ⁇ actual focal point or spot is a characteristic of the design of refl ⁇ ctor 25 and can be adjusted to suit a particular specification, by one skilled in the art. The parts are spaced
• Reflector 25 focuses infrared radiation, as well as visible light, and having cooling fan 42 near focal point insures that most of that infrar ⁇ d will b ⁇ converted to h ⁇ at and exhausted without reflecting throughout housing 70-2, thereby additionally reducing th ⁇ heat build-up.
• Figure 24 illustrates a mechanical light attenuation member d o consisting of rotating shutter 740 comprising opaque spiral ask 744 permanently applied by painting, enameling, or other
• Rotating shutter 740 is located within housing 702 in the place of color wheel 540 when it is desired to control easily the amount of light available to light-receiving end 32 of light conduit 30. In use, rotating shutter 740 is rotated by turning. nob 743, which is attached to shaft 742, to cause more or lass of opaque spiral 744 to obscure light from light-receiving end 32 of light conduit 30.
• Shaft 742 may b ⁇ turned by hand, so that the amount of light available to the light conduit can be set to provide a desirable level of light output from light conduit 30, which can be changed on demand, or may be attached to a motor, such .as the motor that rotates the color wheel, thereby providing continuously varying levels of light output from light conduit 30 for aesthetic appeal, such as simulated strobe lights.
• Rotating shutter 740 do ⁇ s not change the color temperature of the light striking light-receiving end 32 of light conduit 30, which any light filter or voltage regulator operating on lamp 24 would do. Th ⁇ ability of rotating shutter 740 to reduce the amount of light transmitted through light conduit 30 without changing the color temperature is a significant advantage.
• Circular disk 745 may be made of glass, plastic, or the like. Alternatively, it has been found that an opaque rotating shutter made of metal, for example, steel or similar material, cut-out in the shape of opaque mask 744 provides the desired light attenuation and does not d ⁇ teriorate in the heat.
• D Figure 25 illustrates a high-intensity illumination system
• Illumination systems such as thes ⁇ are useful 0 when it is desired to have one centrally located unit supply 1 lighting needs that requir ⁇ mor ⁇ than one light conduit.
• Such 2 an apparatus simplifies installation and maintenance, and simplifies manufacture because only one housing 746, one cooling duct 748, and one cooling fan 750 are r ⁇ quired.
• Each of these thre ⁇ elements must be large enough to accomodat ⁇ the -0 physical dimensions of the three lamps, reflectors, and light conduits .
• light conduit 634 may have its distal end 640 operativ ⁇ ly connected to a medical or other device, such as an endoscope, o: the like, represented by device 644.
• a medical or other device such as an endoscope, o: the like
• the embodiment of Figure 15 has wide use for medical applications and devices which require high-intensity light sources.
• the illumination system of Figure 16 do ⁇ s not includ ⁇ a color wheel, since in medical and oth ⁇ r applications is desirable to use whit ⁇ light having a
• the illumination system without a color wheel has two advantages for applications requiring white light: (1) No color filters or transparent color whe ⁇ l att ⁇ nuates the light striking light- receiving end 32 of light conduit 30; and (2) light-rec ⁇ iving ⁇ nd 32 of light conduit 30 can be placed n ⁇ arer the actual focal point of the light beam from lamp 24 and reflector 25.
• a cooling duct such as cooling duct 700 ( Figure 17) may advantageously be used when white light is desirable, such as in the embodiment of Figure 16, permitting use of even higher intensity lamps.
• the fiber optics bundle which is fabricated with glass fiber optics.
• the glass fiber optics in the preferred embodiment, can have a .66 numerical ap ⁇ rtura and b ⁇ formed of 2-mil-diameter fibers.
• the fibers are bundled together in a protective sheath made of rubber.
• the terminations at the bundle ends of the fiber optics bundle are epoxied in various types of ferrules .
• Typical specifications for plastic fib ⁇ r optics, or light conduits, which can be utilized in practicing this invention can hav ⁇ diameters which vary from about 1/16 inch in diameter to about 5/8 of an inch in diameter or more.
• the plastic fiber optics, or light conduits can have low heat resistant
• the plastic fiber optics can be made from various materials , such as styrene or polymethylmethacrylat ⁇ , as is w ⁇ ll known in the art.
• the plastic fiber optics ar ⁇ manufactured by use of ⁇ xtruding techniques, although other manufacturing techniques could be used. Manufacturers of plastic fib ⁇ r optics which can be utilized in practicing this invention are Polyoptical (Polyoptics) , DuPont (Crofon) , and Mitsubishi (Eska) .
• Light conduits illustrated in the drawing figures may be - of ⁇ ither plastic (poly eriz ⁇ d) -typ ⁇ , or of glass.
• th ⁇ light conduit is usually coated during manufacture or covered with a cladding or sheath.
• light conduit 30 is enclosed in sheath 31.
• Sheath 31 may be any suitabl ⁇ plastic material and may b ⁇ any desir ⁇ d color. Light leaks from the sidewalls of most plastic-type light conduit, in amounts that can be controlled to some extent by the exact mat ⁇ rial used, the methods of manufacture used, th ⁇ type of coating us ⁇ d, and other factors that ar ⁇ beyond the scope of this patent, but are w ⁇ ll known in the art.
• Teflon (Registered Trademark) provides a suitabl ⁇ mat ⁇ rial for ⁇ xtruding tubing suitable for use as sheath 31.
• the drawing figures may also, however, be interpreted as illustrating bundles of glass fiber optics, since each individual glass fiber must b ⁇ individually enclosed in a
• the color wheel can be made of 7 standard acrylic or polycarbonate materials. Color gels may be 8 Roscoe G ⁇ ls which ar ⁇ glued together or secured to the wh ⁇ l by 9 clips.
• the color 0 wheel is design ⁇ d to p ⁇ rmit air to pass through it such that when the fan blows air directly onto the color wheel, the tips of the fan blade cause the air to b ⁇ v ⁇ ry turbulent near the color gel ar ⁇ a, thereby cooling the same and preventing the color gels or the color wh ⁇ el from deforming or melting.
• the motor driving the color wheel would rotate at about 2 RPM, but speeds of rotation at less than 2 RPM or slightly in ⁇ xc ⁇ ss of 2 RPM can likewise be used without any deleterious effect to the light or the color wheel and associated light filters, whether they are color gels or other filters .
• d jl the motor driving the color wheel would rotate at about 2 RPM, but speeds of rotation at less than 2 RPM or slightly in ⁇ xc ⁇ ss of 2 RPM can likewise be used without any deleterious effect to the light or the color wheel and associated light filters, whether they are color gels or other filters .
• the high-intensity light source of the present invention can be fabricat ⁇ d for above-ground use in a portable unit by utilizing a source box made of very high-impact and v ⁇ ry heat- resistant plastic ma erial .
• ⁇ form ⁇ d of plastic can b ⁇ utilized in portable spas and the like.
• the optical material utilized in such an arrangement can have a
• the lamps which are utilized in the preferred embodim ⁇ nt may be high-intensity lamps which have light temperatures in the order of 3300 degrees K. to about 3400 degrees K.
• the temperature at the fiber optics face is on the order of 200 degrees F.
• the temperature at light-receiving end 32 of light conduit 30 may be on the order of 600 degrees F. or higher.
• a fan that can be used for the cooling fan in practicing th ⁇ pr ⁇ s ⁇ nt invention is manufactured by Thor,gr ⁇ n and is referr ⁇ d to as a "L ⁇ xan Clear Fan Blade," which is made of a substantially transparent material that will not melt or deform in the apparatus described in this application.
• the high-intensity light source described herein has a wide rang ⁇ of applications not disclos ⁇ d herein in detail.
• the high-intensity light source can be utilized for a projector, as light sources for a wide rang ⁇ of types of fiber optics, for pools, spas, or any other applications in which cool non ⁇ electric light is desirable.
• the high-intensity light source can be used in theaters, stages, and the lik ⁇ .
• th ⁇ pr ⁇ sent invention permits use of standard th ⁇ ater light filter gels to control the color of the light.
• the t ⁇ achings of the pres ⁇ nt invention can b ⁇ 1 utiliz ⁇ d in a number of applications, such as projector light,
• Th ⁇ inv ⁇ ntion has been described in considerable detail in ord ⁇ r to comply with th ⁇ patent laws by providing a full public disclosure of one of its forms. Such detail ⁇ d description is not, however, intended to limit the broad features or principles of the invention, or the scope of the patent property to be granted.

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• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Spectroscopy & Molecular Physics (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Optics & Photonics (AREA)
• Light Guides In General And Applications Therefor (AREA)
• Optical Couplings Of Light Guides (AREA)

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• 1986
  • 1986-03-25 EP EP86902605A patent/EP0215943A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 1986-03-25 WO PCT/US1986/000608 patent/WO1986005858A1/en unknown

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