JP7741477B2 - lighting equipment - Google Patents

Description

An embodiment of the present invention relates to a lighting device.

Conventionally, there is a lighting device that includes a fixture body in which a power supply unit is located, and a light source unit that can be attached and detached to the fixture body. In this lighting device, an earth wire is used to connect the fixture body and the light source unit to ensure continuity of earth (functional earth) between the fixture body and the light source unit, with the aim of preventing electric shock in the event of a power leak. The earth wire is electrically connected to the fixture body by being secured with a nut to a bolt that attaches the power supply unit to the fixture body.

However, because the ground wire is wired inside the fixture body along with the output wire that supplies lighting power from the power supply to the light source unit, the wiring structure from the power supply is complicated. When the wiring structure from the power supply becomes complicated in this way, if there is an installation structure for installing the fixture body in the direction of the wiring from the power supply, this can get in the way of installation work or there is a risk of the ground wire getting pinched during installation.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2019-169455

The problem that this invention aims to solve is to provide a lighting device that can simplify the wiring structure from the power supply unit.

The lighting device according to the embodiment includes a metal fixture body, a power supply unit disposed in the fixture body, a light source unit detachably attached to the fixture body, an attachment mechanism, and a ground wire. The attachment mechanism includes a metal body attachment part electrically connected to and attached to the fixture body, and a light source attachment part attached to the light source unit, and the light source unit is detachably attached to the fixture body by the body attachment part and the light source attachment part. The ground wire is electrically connected to and attached to the body attachment part, and extends from the body attachment part toward the opposite side of the power supply unit , and is electrically connected to the light source unit.

The lighting device of this embodiment simplifies the wiring structure from the power supply.

1 is a perspective view of a lighting device showing a first embodiment. FIG. FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the main unit of the lighting device. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the lighting device before a ground wire is connected to the main body mounting portion. FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the lighting device with a ground wire connected to the main body mounting portion. FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a second embodiment of the lighting device before a ground wire is connected to a main body mounting portion. FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the lighting device with a ground wire connected to the main body mounting portion.

The first embodiment will be described below with reference to Figures 1 to 5.

Figures 1 and 2 show a lighting device 10. The lighting device 10 shown in Figures 1 and 2 is an example of a surface-mounted lighting device that is installed on an installation surface, such as a ceiling. The lighting device 10 is an elongated base light whose light-emitting area is a continuous line along the longitudinal direction.

The lighting device 10 comprises a main unit 11 and a light source unit (light source bar) 12 that is detachably attached to the main unit 11.

As shown in Figures 1 and 3, the main unit 11 includes an elongated instrument body 20, a terminal block 21 and a power supply unit 22 located in the longitudinal center of the instrument body 20, and a pair of main body mounting portions 24 of an attachment mechanism 23 located near both longitudinal ends of the instrument body 20.

The appliance body 20 is made of metal and is formed in an elongated shape. The appliance body 20 has a long top plate portion 26 on the upper surface, side plate portions 27 on both sides in the width direction (the short direction that intersects the longitudinal direction), and end plate portions 28 on both longitudinal ends, and an opening 29 is formed on the underside. The top plate portion 26 and both side plate portions 27 are formed integrally, and the end plate portions 28 are attached to both longitudinal ends of the top plate portion 26 and both side plate portions 27.

A wiring hole 30 is provided in the approximate center of the length of the top panel 26 of the fixture body 20, allowing the power cable running above the ceiling to be pulled into the fixture body. The power cable can be, for example, a three-wire cable combining a pair of power lines and one earth line.

The top plate portion 26 of the fixture body 20 is provided with, near both longitudinal ends, mounting holes 31 for suspension bolts to be attached to suspension bolts protruding from the ceiling surface, and mounting holes 32 for screwing to the ceiling surface. The mounting holes 31, 32 are located in the center of the width of the top plate portion 26. The mounting holes 31 for suspension bolts are arranged in pairs at different pitches along the longitudinal direction of the fixture body 20. Multiple mounting holes 32 for screwing are arranged in the shape of a bell-shaped hole along the longitudinal direction of the fixture body 20.

The terminal block 21 is attached near the wiring hole 30. The terminal block 21 is located on one end of the fixture body 20 relative to the wiring hole 30, between the wiring hole 30 and the mounting holes 31 and 32. The terminal block 21 has multiple terminals into which the power cable drawn into the fixture body 20 from the wiring hole 30 is inserted and connected. The terminals include a pair of power terminals to which a pair of power lines of the power cable are connected, and an earth terminal to which the earth line of the power cable is connected.

The earth terminal of the terminal block 21 is electrically connected to the fixture body 20. For example, when the terminal block 21 is attached to the fixture body 20 with a screw, the screw is electrically connected to the earth terminal, and the earth terminal is electrically connected to the fixture body 20 through the screw.

The power supply unit 22 is attached to the other end of the fixture body 20, between the wiring hole 30 and the mounting holes 31 and 32, on the side opposite the terminal block 21. The power supply unit 22 is elongated and arranged along the longitudinal direction of the fixture body 20.

The power supply unit 22 is, for example, an AD-DC converter, and converts AC power, which is external power supplied via a power cable, into DC power, which is the specified lighting power, and supplies it to the light source unit 12.

One end of the power supply unit 22 is provided with an input unit 34, which is a primary input unit that inputs external power, and the other end is provided with an output unit 35, which is a secondary output unit that outputs lighting power. The input unit 34 and output unit 35 can be configured, for example, with connectors. The input unit 34 of the power supply unit 22 is electrically connected to internal wiring that is laid between the input unit 34 and the terminal block 21. The output unit 35 of the power supply unit 22 is electrically connected to one end of multiple output wires 37 of the main wiring unit 36, which are used to connect to the light source unit 12.

The main wiring unit 36 includes multiple output wires 37, one ground wire 38, and a connector 39. One end of each of the output wires 37 is electrically and mechanically connected to the output section 35 of the power supply unit 22. One end of the ground wire 38 is electrically and mechanically connected to the main body mounting section 24 on the other end opposite the output section 35 of the power supply unit 22. The other ends of the output wires 37 and the ground wire 38 are electrically and mechanically connected to the connector 39. The length of the ground wire 38 is shorter than the length of the output wires 37 by an amount corresponding to the distance between the power supply unit 22 and the main body mounting section 24. An earth wire terminal, such as a fastening terminal 40, is attached to one end of the earth wire 38. The fastening terminal 40 is crimped to the ground wire 38 at its base end, and both edges on its tip end are bent to form insertion grooves 41 for tab insertion that open toward the tip end.

The output wire 37 and ground wire 38 of the main wiring unit 36 are wired from the power supply unit 22 and the main mounting unit 24 inside the fixture body 20 toward the other end, and are wired along one side panel 27 near one side in the width direction of the fixture body 20. The ground wire 38 extends from the main mounting unit 24 toward the opposite side of the power supply unit 22. Furthermore, the middle portions of the output wire 37 and ground wire 38 of the main wiring unit 36 are held within the fixture body 20 by a holder such as a wire clamp or band, and the other ends are pulled out from the opening 29 of the fixture body 20 so that the connector 39 can be connected to the light source unit 12.

In some cases, multiple lighting devices 10 are arranged consecutively in the longitudinal direction, and a power cable from the ceiling surface is connected to the terminal block 21 of one lighting device 20, supplying power to adjacent lighting devices 10 via a feeder wiring. In this case, it is preferable to wire the feeder wiring on the other side of the fixture body 20 in the width direction opposite to the side of the width direction where the main wiring unit 36 is wired.

The mounting mechanism 23 also detachably mounts the light source unit 12 to the fixture body 20. The mounting mechanism 23 has a pair of body mounting parts 24 that are attached to the fixture body 20. The pair of body mounting parts 24 are attached near both longitudinal ends of the top plate part 26 of the fixture body 20, closer to the end of the fixture body 20 than at least the mounting holes 31 for the suspension bolts. The body mounting part 24 on the other end opposite the output part 35 of the power supply unit 22 is positioned between it and the output part 35 of the power supply unit 22 so that at least the mounting holes 31 for the suspension bolts are located.

The main body mounting portion 24 includes a metal spring receiving bracket 43. The spring receiving bracket 43 includes a mounting plate portion 44 that is attached along the inner surface of the top plate portion 26 of the fixture main body 20, and a support plate portion 45 that is positioned approximately perpendicular to the mounting plate portion 44 and the top plate portion 26. The width dimension of the mounting plate portion 44, which corresponds to the width direction of the fixture main body 20, is wider than that of the support plate portion 45, and both widthwise sides of the mounting plate portion 44 protrude beyond the support plate portion 45. An engagement opening 46 is formed in the support plate portion 45, and a hook portion 47 protrudes from the center of the lower edge of this engagement opening 46.

The mounting plate portion 44 of the spring receiving bracket 43 is fixed to and electrically connected to the fixture body 20 by a plurality of screws 48, such as tapping screws, that are threaded through the top plate portion 26 of the fixture body 20.

The mounting plate 44 of the spring receiving bracket 43 is provided with a tab terminal 49, which is a ground wire connection portion to which the ground wire 38 is connected. The tab terminal 49 is integrally formed on one widthwise side of the mounting plate 44, closer to the support plate 45 in the widthwise direction, at an edge position facing the other end of the fixture body 20. The tab terminal 49 is formed in a generally L-shape, rising from the mounting plate 44 and protruding toward the other end of the fixture body 20. A gap is formed between the tab terminal 49 and the top plate 26 of the fixture body 20. The faston terminal 40 of the ground wire 38 is connected to the tab terminal 49. The insertion groove 41 of the faston terminal 40 is inserted relatively into the tab terminal 49, and the tab terminal 49 and the faston terminal 40 are electrically connected while the faston terminal 40 elastically holds the tab terminal 49. The ground wire 38 connected to the tab terminal 49 is wired along the inner surface of the top plate 26, extending from the spring receiving bracket 43 toward the other end of the fixture body 20.

Next, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, the light source unit 12 is elongated and formed with approximately the same length as the fixture body 20. The light source unit 12 includes a long chassis 60, a light source 61 attached to the underside of the chassis 60, a cover 62 attached to the chassis 60 to cover the light source 61, and a pair of light source mounting portions 63 of the mounting mechanism 23 attached to the upper surface of the chassis 60 near both longitudinal ends.

The chassis 60 is made of metal and is formed into an elongated shape. The light source 61 is composed of a light source module having a long substrate and multiple light-emitting elements mounted along the longitudinal direction of the substrate. The light-emitting elements can be LEDs or organic ELs. The cover 62 is translucent and light-diffusing, allowing light from the light source 61 to pass through.

The light source unit 12 is electrically connected to a light source wiring unit 65, which is electrically connected to the main body wiring unit 36 of the main body unit 11. The light source wiring unit 65 includes multiple input lines, one ground wire, and a connector 66. One end of the multiple input lines is electrically connected to the light source module, the ground wire is electrically connected to the chassis 60, and the other ends of the multiple input lines and the ground wire are connected to the connector 66. The light source wiring unit 65 is pulled out from the other end of the top surface of the chassis 60 in correspondence with the main body wiring unit 36 being pulled out from the other end of the fixture body 20, and the connector 66 is detachably connected to the connector 39 of the main body wiring unit 36. By connecting the connector 39 of the main body wiring unit 36 and the connector 66 of the light source wiring unit 65, the output lines 37 and ground wire 38 of the main body wiring unit 36 are electrically connected to the input lines and ground wire of the light source wiring unit 65, respectively.

The mounting mechanism 23 also detachably mounts the light source unit 12 to the fixture body 20. The mounting mechanism 23 includes a pair of light source mounting portions 63 that are attached to the light source unit 12. The pair of light source mounting portions 63 are detachably mounted to a pair of body mounting portions 24 that are attached to the fixture body 20.

The pair of light source mounting portions 63 include spring mounting brackets 68 attached to the chassis 60 and mounting springs 69 attached to the spring mounting brackets 68.

The mounting spring 69 is formed by bending a single wire rod with spring properties. The mounting spring 69 has a pair of coil sections 70 wound into a coil shape, an arm section 71 extending from one end of the coil sections 70 and bent into a roughly U-shape, and a pair of end sections extending from the other end of each coil section 70 and attached to the spring mounting bracket 68. The mounting spring 69 is arranged so that the arm section 71 faces the opposite end from the center of the chassis 60, and a downward spring force is applied to the arm section 71 so that it approaches the top surface of the chassis 60.

The mounting spring 69 is configured so that, with the tip of the arm 71, which rises diagonally from the chassis 60 against the spring force, inserted into the engagement opening 46 of the spring receiving bracket 43 from the longitudinal center of the fixture body 20, the spring force causes the arm 71 to move toward the longitudinal end of the fixture body 20 relative to the spring receiving bracket 43, thereby lifting up the light source unit 12 and attaching it to the fixture body 20.

To install the lighting device 10, the power cable from the ceiling surface is pulled into the fixture body 20 through the wiring hole 30, and the fixture body 20 is attached to the ceiling surface using the mounting hole 31 or mounting hole 32.

When attaching the fixture body 20 to a pair of suspension bolts protruding from the ceiling surface, the pair of suspension bolts are passed through a pair of mounting holes 31 with a pitch corresponding to the pitch of the pair of suspension bolts, nuts are screwed onto the suspension bolts from inside the fixture body 20, and the fixture body 20 is tightened with the nuts to attach it to the ceiling surface. When attaching the fixture body 20 to the ceiling surface with screws, screws are screwed into the ceiling surface through the two mounting holes 32 on both ends of the fixture body 20, and the fixture body 20 is tightened with the screws to attach it to the ceiling surface.

In this case, only the output line 37 of the main wiring unit 36 is wired between the output section 35 of the power supply section 22 and the spring receiving metal fitting 43 on the other end opposite this output section 35; the ground wire 38 is not wired, simplifying the wiring structure.

In a typical structure in which the earth wire 38 is attached to the bolt that attaches the power supply unit 22 to the fixture body 20, the earth wire 38 extends from the width center of the fixture body 20 toward the mounting holes 31, 32 located in the width center of the fixture body 20. This means that the earth wire 38 can get in the way of operating the nut on the hanging bolt passed through the mounting hole 31 or the screw through the mounting hole 32, and there is a risk that the earth wire 38 will get pinched by the nut or screw.

In contrast, in the configuration of this embodiment, the earth wire 38 is attached to the main body mounting portion 24 and extends from the main body mounting portion 24 in the opposite direction from the power supply unit 22, simplifying the wiring structure between the output portion 35 of the power supply unit 22 and the spring receiving bracket 43 on the other end. As a result, when mounting using the mounting hole 31 or mounting hole 32 between the output portion 35 of the power supply unit 22 and the spring receiving bracket 43 on the other end, the earth wire 38 does not interfere with the operation of the nut on the suspension bolt passed through the mounting hole 31 or the operation of the screw through the mounting hole 32, and the earth wire 38 does not get pinched by the nut or screw.

After installing the fixture body 20, connect the power cable to the terminal block 21.

While lifting the pair of mounting springs 69 of the light source unit 12 from the chassis 60 against the spring force, insert the tip ends of the arms 71 of the mounting springs 69 from the center of the fixture body 20 into the engagement openings 46 of the spring receiving brackets 43 and hook them onto the hook portions 47, suspending the light source unit 12 from the fixture body 20. The connector 39 of the main body wiring unit 36, which is pulled out from the other end of the fixture body 20, is connected to the connector 66 of the light source wiring unit 65, which is pulled out from the other end of the light source unit 12.

By pushing the light source unit 12 up toward the fixture body 20, the spring force of the mounting spring 69 causes the arm portion 71 of the mounting spring 69 to move toward the outer end of the fixture body 20 in the longitudinal direction relative to the spring receiving bracket 43, while the light source unit 12 is pulled up and attached to the fixture body 20, completing installation.

When external power is supplied to the power supply unit 22 of the lighting device 10, the power supply unit 22 converts the external power into a predetermined lighting power and supplies this lighting power to the light source 61 of the light source unit 12 via the main wiring unit 36 and the light source wiring unit 65, causing the light source 61 to light up.

The fixture body 20 and light source unit 12 are electrically connected via the ground wire 38 of the main body wiring unit 36 and the ground wire of the light source wiring unit 65, ensuring ground continuity (functional ground) between the fixture body 20 and the light source unit 12.

Furthermore, the mounting structure of the earth wire 38 to the main body mounting portion 24 may be the mounting structure shown in the second embodiment in Figures 6 and 7.

The mounting plate 44 of the spring receiving metal fitting 43, which forms the main body mounting portion 24, is provided with a burring portion 80, which is the earth wire connection portion to which the earth wire 38 is connected. The burring portion 80 is located on one widthwise side of the mounting plate 44, further to the widthwise side than the support plate 45, and is formed by burring to protrude cylindrically from the upper surface of the mounting plate 44.

A ring-shaped crimp terminal 81 is used as the earth wire terminal for the earth wire 38.

The crimp terminal 81 of the earth wire 38 is then fitted around the burring portion 80 of the main body mounting portion 24, and the tip of the burring portion 80 is crimped to expand toward the outer diameter, thereby crimping the tip of the burring portion 80 to the crimp terminal 81, electrically connecting and mechanically fixing the crimp terminal 81 to the main body mounting portion 24.

The earth wire 38 may be attached to the main body mounting portion 24 before the main body mounting portion 24 is attached to the fixture body 20, or the earth wire 38 may be attached after the main body mounting portion 24 is attached to the fixture body 20.

As described above, with the lighting device 10, the earth wire 38 is electrically connected to and attached to the main body mounting portion 24 rather than the power supply unit 22, and only the output wire 37 is wired from the power supply unit 22, simplifying the wiring structure from the power supply unit 22.

As a result, when mounting using the mounting hole 31 or 32 between the output part 35 of the power supply unit 22 and the spring receiving bracket 43 on the other end opposite this output part 35, the earth wire 38 does not interfere with the operation of the nut on the hanging bolt passed through the mounting hole 31 or the operation of the screw through the mounting hole 32, and the earth wire 38 is not pinched by the nut or screw.

Furthermore, the length of the ground wire 38 can be made shorter than the length of the output wire 37 by an amount equivalent to the distance between the power supply unit 22 and the main body mounting unit 24, allowing for a simpler and less expensive configuration. It is also easy to distinguish between the output wire 37 and the ground wire 38 by their lengths, preventing wiring errors.

In addition, because the earth wire 38 extends from the main body mounting portion 24 toward the opposite side of the power supply unit 22, it does not interfere with the installation of the fixture main body 20 using the mounting holes 31, 32 between the power supply unit 22 and the main body mounting portion 24.

In addition, because the earth wire 38 is attached to the mounting plate portion 44 of the body mounting portion 24, which is attached along the inner surface of the fixture body 20, the earth wire 38 can be routed along the inner surface of the fixture body 20, preventing the earth wire 38 from interfering with the installation work of the fixture body 20.

Furthermore, if a fastening terminal 40 is used to attach the earth wire 38 to the main body mounting portion 24, the fastening terminal 40 can be easily attached to the tab terminal portion 49 of the main body mounting portion 24, making it suitable for automation.

Furthermore, by using a burring structure to attach the ground wire 38 to the main body mounting portion 24, the ground wire 38 can be firmly fixed to the main body mounting portion 24, ensuring reliable electrical connection.

Furthermore, by using a fastening terminal 40 or a burring structure to attach the ground wire 38 to the main body mounting portion 24, nuts and screws can be eliminated, reducing the number of parts.

Furthermore, the earth connection portion (tab terminal portion 49 and burring portion 80) for connecting the earth wire 38 can be formed integrally with the main body mounting portion 24, which also reduces the number of parts.

The structure of the main body mounting portion and the light source mounting portion of the mounting mechanism 23 may be reversed.

The mounting mechanism 23 may also use a mounting spring 69 in the main body mounting portion 24 and a spring receiving bracket 43 in the light source mounting portion 63. Furthermore, the mounting mechanism 23 may use a mounting structure other than the spring receiving bracket 43 and mounting spring 69.

While several embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments may be embodied in a variety of other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their variations are within the scope and spirit of the invention, and are also included in the scope of the invention and its equivalents as set forth in the claims.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 10 Lighting device 12 Light source unit 20 Fixture body 22 Power supply section 23 Mounting mechanism 24 Body mounting section 31, 32 Mounting holes 38 Ground wire 44 Mounting plate section 63 Light source mounting section

Claims (3)

a metal body of the device;
a power supply unit disposed in the device body;
a light source unit detachable from the fixture body;
an attachment mechanism including a metal body attachment part electrically connected to and attached to the fixture body and a light source attachment part attached to the light source unit, the attachment mechanism detachably attaching the light source unit to the fixture body by the body attachment part and the light source attachment part;
a ground wire electrically connected to and attached to the main body mounting portion, extending from the main body mounting portion toward the opposite side of the power supply portion , and electrically connected to the light source unit;
A lighting device comprising : The lighting device according to claim 1 , wherein the fixture body has a mounting hole for installing the fixture body between a position where the power supply unit is disposed and a position where the body mounting unit is attached. The main body mounting portion has a mounting plate portion that is attached along the inner surface of the tool main body,
The lighting device according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the ground wire is attached to the mounting plate portion.