Luminaire having ballast circuitry in photocontrol housing

• US 3,949,211 A
• Filed: 06/21/1974
• Issued: 04/06/1976
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/1974
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cooper Industries, Inc. (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Original Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corporation (Paramount Global (f/k/a ViacomCBS Inc.))
• Inventors: Elms, Robert T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Greiner, Robert P.
• Application Number:
  US05/481,931
• Time in Patent Office: 655 Days
• Field of Search: 240/25, 240/3, 240/11.4 R, 240/47, 240/DIG. 6, 240/DIG. 3, 250/239
• US Class Current: 362/265
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/086 with lighting device attached sideways of the standard, e.g. for roads and highways

Abstract

Outdoor lighting fixture utilizes lamp ballast which includes both solid-state control circuitry and a relatively massive inductor ballast. The solid-state control circuitry is mounted in a separate housing, such as the photocontrol housing, which is affixed to the exterior of the fixture by means of a plug-type receptacle, and the relatively massive inductor portion of the ballast is contained within the fixture body. Those portions of the solid-state control circuitry which require cooling use the separate housing as a heat sink. If troubles are encountered in the solid-state circuitry, the entire circuit can be replaced simply by plugging in a new unit.

Claims

1. In combination with an outdoor lighting fixture for a high-intensity discharge lamp, said fixture having a fixture body adapted to receive and retain a discharge lamp, a current limiting ballast means required for operation of said discharge lamp, said ballast means affixed to said fixture and operable to connect said lamp to the energizing potential therefor, said ballast means including as an operative part thereof solid-state control circuitry, a portion of which tends to heat excessively during operation and also including relatively massive inductor means, said inductor means affixed within said fixture body, a photocontrol means affixed to the exterior surface of said fixture body to control the application of energizing potential to said lamp in accordance with predetermined ambient light conditions, said photocontrol means enclosed in a heat-conducting waterproof housing which is affixed to said fixture body by electrical connector means comprising a plug member extending from said housing and a mating female member affixed to the exterior surface of said fixture body, the improvement which comprises:

a. the solid-state control circuitry portion of said ballast means retained within said photocontrol means housing separate from said fixture body and operationally electrically connected to said inductor means and said lamp by said electrical connector means; and

b. that portion of said solid-state circuitry which is subject to excessive heating during operation thereof being affixed in heat-transfer relationship with said heat-conducting housing to remain relatively cool during operation thereof;

whereby operational difficulties encountered with said solid-state control circuitry are readily corrected simply by plugging in a new unit.

2. The combination as specified in claim 1, wherein said solid-state control circuitry which is not subject to excessive heating during operation thereof is mounted on a circuit board which is retained in said photocontrol housing.

3. In combination with an outdoor lighting fixture for a high-intensity discharge lamp, said fixture having a fixture body adapted to receive and retain a discharge lamp, a current limiting ballast means required for operation of said discharge lamp, said ballast means affixed to said fixture and operable to connect said lamp to the energizing potential therefor, said ballast means including as an operative part thereof solid-state control circuitry, a portion of which tends to heat excessively during operation and also including relatively massive inductor means, said inductor means affixed within said fixture body, a heat-conducting waterproof housing which is affixed to said fixture body by electrical connector means comprising a plug member extending from said housing and a mating female member affixed to the exterior surface of said fixture body, the improvement which comprises:

a. the solid-state control circuitry portion of said ballast means retained within said housing separate from said fixture body and operationally electrically connected to said inductor means and said lamp by said electrical connector means; and

b. that portion of said solid-state circuitry which is subject to excessive heating during operation thereof being affixed in heat-transfer relationship with said heat-conducting housing to remain relatively cool during operation thereof;

whereby operational difficulties encountered with said solid-state control circuitry are readily corrected simply by plugging in a new unit.