IMPROVEMENTS IN LIGHTING ASSEMBLIES

Abstract: A device for mounting a lighting assembly on a pylon so that it can be easily lowered for maintenance and raised and locked releasbly in place, consisting of a support head with downwardly opening socket (17), which is mounted on the pylon, a locking block (29) on the lighting assembly, and a cable (25) for lifting the locking block (29) into, or lowering it from the socket (17). The socket (17) and locking block (29) are provided with cam (32, 33) and locking piece (19) means which automatically interact when the locking block (29) is lifted into the socket (17) and then lowered a short distance in it, to support the locking block (29); and then the locking block (29) is subsequently raised in the socket (17), to disengage this support so the locking block (29) and lighting assembly (13) can be lowered from the support head.

Description: Title: "IMPROVEMENTS IN LIGHTING ASSEMBLIES" BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION ( 1 ) Field of the Invention This invention relates to improvements in lighting assemblies. (2) Prior Art ' ' Car parking areas, sporting fields and stadiums and goods storage areas are commonly illuminated by floodlights provided on tall pylons, standards or masts. The servicing of these lighting assemblies has always been a major problem and a number of systems have been adopted to enable the floodlights to be lowered to the ground for servicing. One common method has been to pivot the pylon or standard near to its base so it can be hingedly lowered to one side. A second method employs a pulley system at the top of . the pylon or standard, a cable running over the pulley with the floodlights attach¬ ed to one end and a counterweight attached to the other. A problem with this method has been to provide a simple, effective and reliable method for locking the floodlights in their raised position, while enabling them to be easily released and lowered for servicing. SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a simple, efficient locking means to secure a light assembly at the top of the pylon, standard or mast, and capable of being easily released when required to enable the light assembly to be lowered for servicing. With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention resides broadly in means for mounting a lighting assembly on a pylon (which expression includes a standard, mast or other elevated support) Including a support head for mounting on the pylon, a socket in the support head, a locking block for attachment on the lighting assembly, means for lifting the locking block into, and for -lowering OMPI It from, the socket of the support head, and cam and locking piece means arranged for automatic Interaction when the locking block is lifted into the socket to bring the locking block to a position supported by the locking piece, and, when the locking block is subsequent¬ ly lifted in the socket, to disengage such support to permit the locking block to be lowered from the support head. Preferably two locking pieces ' are provided, extending inwardly from opposite sides of the socket, and the locking block is formed with two opposed but otherwis similar cam tracks which automatically engage the locking pieces when the locking block Is raised into the socket and, when the locking block is lowered a short distance, bring support recesses on the locking block into engageme with the locking pieces, subsequent lifting and lowering of the locking block disengaging the support recesses fro the locking pieces. Preferably the support head encloses a pulley and the means for lifting and lowering the locki block includes a cable from a winch passing over the pull to the locking block. Other features of the invention will become apparent from the following description. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In order that a preferred embodiment of the invention may be readily understood and carried into practical effect, reference is now made to the accompany¬ ing drawings, wherein:- FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a pylon for a lighting assembly fitted with a support head for the lighting assembly according to the invention, FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view to larger scale of the support head, and FIG. 3 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of the support head. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In the drawings, a pylon.10 is of generally - 3- conventional type, of upwardly tapered tubular form with an annular top plate 11 welded or otherwise secured on its top. A tubular spigot 12 is secured coaxially to, and extends upwardly from, the top plate 11, and slidably engaged on this spigot is a support , head for a lighting assembly indicated generally at 13- The support head includes a pulley housing 14 from which there extend downwardly a mounting tube 15 fitted closely over the spigot 12 and secured by screws 16, and a socket 17 with a flared lower end 18 and with a pair of locking pins 19 extending inwardly from diam¬ etrically opposed positions in the lower . part of the tube. A frusto-conical deflector 20 is secured about the lower part of the mounting tube 15 to extend to the peri- phery of the annular top plate 11 of the pylon. Within the pulley housing 14 a transverse axle 21 carries two adjacent pulleys 22 and 23- The housing 14 is closed at the top by a removable cap 24.. A cable 25 is wound on the drum of a small winch " (not shown) within the lower part of the pylon 10, the winch being accessible through an access door at 25a. The cable is carried up through the pylon, the spigot 12 and mounting tube 15, over the pulley 22 and down through the socket 17, being then made fast to a shackle 26 by which the cable is connected to a pin 27 held by two lugs 28 to the top of a locking block 29. The locking block is sub¬ stantially cylindrical, and carries the lighting assembly 13, which includes a tubular carrier arm 30 centrally fixed under the locking block, a pair of flood lighting fittings 31 being suspended under the ends of the carrier arm. The locking block 29 is provided with a pair of oppositely arranged but otherwise similar cam tracks forme - by the application to the block of two first cam sections 32, which may consist of a single shaped metal piece, and two second cam sections 33- When the winch Is operated to wind in the cable 25, the locking block carrying the lighting assembly 13 is-lifted close to the pylon -10. The locking block is guided, by the flared lead-in at 18, to enter the socket r 17, so that each of the locking pins 19 enters a cam track defined by a first cam section 32 and a second cam section 33- The locking block is brought to rest when each of the locking pins 19 is received In the bottom of a first recess 34 in a first cam section 32. The cable 25 is then slackened so that at each side of the locking block a first recess 34 Is lowered clear of a locking pin 19, which Is then guided into the top of a support recess 35 of a second cam section 33, as shown in FIG. 2. The locking block, and the lighting assembly 13, are then held firmly and securely in place. To release the locking block and lower it, with th lighting assembly 13, the cable 25 is tensioned to raise the locking block so the support recess 35 of each second cam section 33 Is cleared of a locking pin 19, which Is then guided, by a first cam section 32, into a second recess 36 of that cam section. -The cable 25 is then slackened so that the first and second cam sections 32 and 33 descend past and clear of the locking pins 19, and the lighting assembly 13 may then be lowered to groun The electrical leads for the floodlights, omitted from FIG. 2, are carried- up through the pylon 10, " over th second pulley 23, as indicated in FIG. 3 at 37, and through the locking bloc 29 and the carrier arm 30 to the floodlights 31- Lighting assembly supports according to the invention will be found to be very effective in achieving the objects for which they have been devised. It will of course be understood that the particular embodiment of the invention herein described and illustrated may be subject to many modifications of constructional detail and design, which will be readily apparent to skilled persons. For example, the locking pins may extend from the locking block, the socket being provided with internal cam tracks and support recesses to receive the pins. Such modifications are considered to lie within the ambit of the invention hereinafter claimed. OMP

Claims: -6- CLAIMS 1. A device for mounting a lighting assembly on a pylon, including: a support head for mounting on the pylon, a socket in the support head, a locking block for attachment on the lighting , assembly, means for lifting the locking block into, and for lowering it from, the socket of the support head, and cam and locking piece means arranged for automati interaction when the locking block is lifted Into the socket and then lowered within the socket to bring the locking bloc to a position supported by the locking piece; and when the locking block is subsequently lifted in the socket to diseng such support to permit the locking block to be lowered from the support head. 2. A device according to Claim 1 wherein the cam and locking piece means include: two diametrically opposed locking pins extending inwardly of the socket, and two oppositely arranged but otherwise similar ca tracks in the locking block, each with an inlet and an outlet and with an intermediate support recess for engagement with a locking pin to support the locking block. 3- A device according to either of the preceding clai wherein the means for lifting and lowering the locking block into or from the socket include: a pulley in the support head, a cable from the support block and passed over the pulley and down through the support head and the pylon to a winch. 4. A device according to Claim 3 wherein: electrical leads for the lighting assembly are carried up through the pylon, over a second pulley in the support head and down to the support block and lighting OM -7- assembly attached thereto. 5. A device for mounting a lighting assembly .on a pylon substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Inventors: FINDLATER GREGORY, FINDLATER, GREGORY
Applicants: JONES WILLIAM EDWARD, JONES, WILLIAM, EDWARD
Application year: 1984
Main classification: F21V21
IPC codes: F21V21