EP0415667A1

EP0415667A1 - Natural lighting fixture

Info

Publication number: EP0415667A1
Application number: EP90309312A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Michael Winhausen
Original assignee: Colt International Holdings AG
Current assignee: Colt International Holdings AG
Priority date: 1989-08-26
Filing date: 1990-08-24
Publication date: 1991-03-06

Abstract

The invention relates to a natural lighting fixture having, in particular, two or more transparent lighting panels 2 or groups of panels, which are arranged one behind the other in alignment in the longitudinal direction and are curved in arcuate shape in the transverse direction and which can preferably be supported in places at the inside on supporting bars bent according to the curvature of the panels, having a base frame 3 with edge-supporting sectional bars 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 which border the lighting panels 2 or groups of panels and/or support them at the edge, and having at least one holder 12, particularly of tension-band construction, which engages over a lighting panel and which can be located at both ends on the base frame by means of a tensioning element 11 of a tensioning device, which tensioning element produces a tensional force directed substantially coaxially with the longitudinal direction of the holder. In order to be able to fasten the lighting panels securely, particularly in an installation-friendly manner, the tensioning device has a progressive pressure member 14 which can be connected to the tensioning element 11 and through which the holder 12 can be acted upon by a holding pressure 17 directed substantially transversely to the direction of the tensional force 13 of the tensioning element 11.

Description

The invention relates to a natural lighting fixture.
Natural lighting fixtures have been proposed having two or more transparent lighting panels or groups of panels, which are arranged one behind the other in alignment in the longitudinal direction and are curved in arcuate shape in the transverse direction and are supported on supporting bars bent according to the curvature of the panels. A base frame is provided with edge-supporting sectional bars extending in the longitudinal direction, surrounding the lighting panels or groups of panels and/or supporting them at the edge, and having at least one holder, particularly of tension-band construction, which engages over the lighting panels and can be located at both ends on the base frame by means of a tensioning element of a tensioning device, which tensioning element produces a tensional force aligned substantially coaxially with the longitudinal direction of the holder.
Natural lighting fixtures of this kind are used for the daylight lighting of buildings and are in the form of roof elements, for example in the form of strips of natural lighting, or in the form of roofing or roofing over, for example for footpaths, passages and the like.
In a known natural lighting fixture of the kind mentioned, the edge sectional bar of the base frame, extending in the longitudinal direction, is constructed in the form of a supporting strut which, on the one hand borders and supports the lighting panel and on the other hand locates supporting bars, and which is adapted to be connected to the building or the like by screw connections. At its outer end edge, the edge sectional bar has a tensioning device with a tensioning element in the form of a tightening screw through which the holder constructed in the form of a tension band and engaging over the lighting panels in the region of the supporting bars is adapted to be braced to the edge sectional bar at both ends. The tensional force exerted by the tension band on the lighting panel is greatest in the centre of the curvature but scarcely acts any more in the region of the two outer regions in particular, so that in these known natural lighting fixtures, additional screw connections have to be provided whereby the lighting panels are secured to the supporting bars in particular. This involves considerable installation expense since the natural lighting fixture has to be completely scaffolded for the screw connection work.
It is the object of the present invention to provide a natural lighting fixture of the kind mentioned at the beginning available wherein the lighting panels can be fastened securely in a more installation-friendly manner.
In order to solve this problem, the natural lighting fixture of the kind mentioned at the beginning is distinguished in that the tensioning device comprises a progressive pressure member which can be connected to the tensioning element and through which the holder can be acted upon by a holding pressure directed substantially transversely to the direction of the tensional force of the tensioning element.
In the natural lighting fixture according to embodiments of the invention, a tensional force in the longitudinal direction of the holder or tangentially to the surface of the lighting panel is to be produced by the tensioning element, which force at first acts most powerfully in the centre of curvature of the lighting panels as in the known natural lighting fixtures. Through the progressive pressure member, however, a holding pressure directed transversely to the tensional force is to be additionally produced in the region of the outer ends of the lighting panels so that these can be reliably secured even without the need for additional screw connections. The installation expense necessary for this is little and usually only requires the tensioning of the tension band by means of the tensional force producer and the actuation of the progressive pressure member, while tensioning element and progressive pressure member may form a structural unit, for example by constructing the tensioning element in the form of a tightening screw with an eccentric disc placed thereon, furthermore by constructing the tensioning element in the form of a tightening screw which passes through two wedges resting one against the other, or in the form of a screw connection on which an additional screw acts from above so that, as a result of the actuation of the tightening screw, the progressive pressure member likewise executes its advance movement causing its holding pressure on actuation of the tensioning element.
Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompaning drawings, in which:-

Figure 1 shows in a sectional diagrammatic partial view, a first example of embodiment of the invention;
Figure 2 shows a detail illustration of the tensioning device of the example of embodiment according to Figure 1, in a side view;
Figure 3 shows an alternative example of embodiment of a tensioning device in a side view, and
Figure 4 shows a further example of embodiment of a tensioning device.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the natural lighting fixture designated in general by 1 in the drawing has groups of transparent lighting panels 2 curved in arcuate shape in the transverse direction, which groups are arranged one behind the other in alignment in the longitudinal direction - not illustrated in detail. Polycarbonate panels of clear or pigmented construction, panels of acrylate, clear or tinted, PVC panels of clear or tinted construction or came double panels for example of polycarbonate in clear or pigmented construction may be used as lighting panels. The lighting panels 2 are each bordered at the edge by sectional bar members of a base frame designated in general by 3. The sectional bar members 4 and 5 bordering the lighting panels, together with a supporting strut member 7 articulately connected to an edge-supporting sectional bar member 6, are held by a supporting yoke 9. At its upper end, the supporting yoke 9 has a slot 10 through which there passes a tightening screw 11 forming the tensioning element. The tightening screw 11 acts on a tension band 12 which engages right over the lighting panel at the outside. The tension band is to be tensioned by means of the tightening screw, a tensional force 13 (Figure 2) being produced aligned coaxially with the longitudinal direction of the tension band 12.
At the outside end, the yoke 9 has a collar 9.1 which is bent at an angle and on which the progressive pressure member designated in general by 14 is supported in the examples of embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 3. In the example of embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2, the progressive pressure member is formed by two wedges 15 and 16 resting one against the other. Through these wedges 15 and 16 forming the progressive pressure member 14, it is possible, on tightening the tightening screw 11, to produce a holding pressure 17 (Figure 2) directed transversely to the tensioning or tensile force 13, in that the tightening screw 11 is moved downwards in the slot during the tightening. As a result, the downwardly directed holding pressure is transmitted to the tension band 12 and hence to the lighting panel 2 so that the lighting panel can be reliably secured to the base frame 3 even in the outer marginal regions, with the minimum expenditure on installation.
In the alternative example of embodiment illustrated in Figure 3, the yoke 9 is the same in its basic formation as in the example of embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2. Here, likewise, a tightening screw 11 forming the tensioning element passes through the slot 10 but it carries an eccentric disc 18. The eccentric disc 18 is supported by its peripheral surface on the collar 9.1 of the supporting yoke 9. A tensile or tensional force 13 can likewise be produced on the tension band (not illustrated) through the tightening screw 11. As a result of the rotary movement of the eccentric disc 18, the holding pressure 17 directed transversely to the tensioning force can be produced, the tightening screw equally being displaced downwards again inside the slot in the graphic illustration.
In the example of embodiment illustrated in Figure 4, the supporting yoke 9 is again designed, in its basic formation, as in the example of embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 3. Here, however, a tapped hole 19, in which a screw 20 is inserted, is introduced into its collar 9.1. The tensioning element is again formed by a tightening screw 11 but it is provided with a bush member 21. The bush 21 and with it the tightening screw 11 can be moved downwards in the slot 10 via the screw 20 as a result of which the holding pressure directed transversely to the tensional force 13 can be transmitted to the tension band or to the lighting panel.

Claims

1. A natural lighting fixture comprising two or more transparent lighting panels (2) or groups of panels, which are arranged one behind the other in alignment in the longitudinal direction and are curved in arcuate shape in the transverse direction, base frame (3) with edge-supporting sectional bars extending in the longitudinal direction, bordering the lighting panels or groups of panels and supporting them at the edge, and at least one holder (12) which engages over the lighting panels (2) and can be located at both ends on the base frame (3) by means of a tensioning element (11) of a tensioning device, which tensioning element produces a tensional force aligned substantially coaxially with the longitudinal direction of the holder, characterised in that the tensioning device comprises a progressive pressure member (14) which can be connected to the tensioning element (11) and through which the holder (12) can be acted upon by a holding pressure (17) directed substantially transversely to the direction of the tensional force (13) of the tensioning element (11).

2. A natural lighting fixture as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the holding pressure (17) produced by the progressive pressure member (14) can be transmitted to the holder (12) via the tensioning element (11).

3. A natural lighting fixture as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the tensioning element (11) is adapted for transverse displacement with respect to the direction of the tensional force, and the transverse displacement of the tensioning element (11) corresponds substantially to the advance movement of the progressive pressure member (14).

4. A natural lighting fixture as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the progressive pressure member (14) is formed by two wedge members (15, 16) with wedge surfaces resting against one another, each of which has an opening to accommodate the tensioning element (11).

5. A natural lighting fixture as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the progressive pressure member (14) is constructed in the form of a rotatable eccentric disc (18).

6. A natural lighting fixture as claimed in claim 5, characterised in that the eccentric disc (18) can be rigidly connected to the tensioning element (11) or has an opening to accommodate the tensioning element (11).

7. A natural lighting fixture as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the progressive pressure member (14) is constructed in the form of a screw (20) acting on the tensioning element (11) in the advance direction.

8. A natural lighting fixture as claimed in any of claims 4 to 7, characterised in that the tensioning element (11) is constructed in the form of a tightening screw which passes through a slot (10) provided in a supporting sectional bar member (9), the supporting sectional bar member (9) having an abutment (9.1) for the progressive pressure member (14).

9. A natural lighting fixture as claimed in claim 8, characterised in that the abutment (9.1) of the supporting sectional bar member (9) is formed by a collar bent at an angle and engaging over the progressive pressure member (14).

10. A natural lighting fixture as claimed in claim 7, characterised in that the tensioning element (11) is constructed in the form of a tightening screw which passes through a slot (10) provided in a supporting sectional bar member (9) and is provided with a bush member (21), the supporting sectional bar member (9) having a collar (9.1) which engages over the bush (21) and comprises a tapped hole (19) to receive the screw (20) forming the progressive pressure member (14).