Submersible lighting fixture with color wheel

• US 7,055,988 B2
• Filed: 05/13/2004
• Issued: 06/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Pentair Pool Products, Inc. (Pentair Plc (Ireland))
• Original Assignee: Pentair Pool Products, Inc. (Pentair Plc (Ireland))
• Inventors: Potucek, Kevin, Bachman, Robert, Mateescu, Michael V.
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Shea, Sandra
• Assistant Examiner(s): Negron, Ismael
• Application Number:
  US10/844,847
• Publication Number:
  US 20040208008A1
• Time in Patent Office: 754 Days
• Field of Search: 362/101, 362/243, 362/284, 362/293, 362 1- 3, 362/16, 362/18, 362/35, 362/154, 362/227, 362/235, 362/236, 362/241, 362/242, 362/257, 362/277, 362/282, 362/296, 362/300, 362/307, 362/311, 362/317, 362/319, 362/351, 362326-329, 362/276
• US Class Current: 362/293
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 10/007 using rotating transparent or colored disks, e.g. gobo wheels
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 10/02 changing colors F21S10/002 - F21S10/007, F21S10/04 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/00 Lighting devices intended for fixed installation F21S9/00, F21S10/00 take precedence; using a string or strip of light sources F21S4/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 11/08 using diaphragms containing one or more apertures
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/02 the elements being transformers, impedances or power supply units, e.g. a transformer with a rectifier
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/89 Metals
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 31/00 Gas-tight or water-tight arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/0016 on lighting devices that also provide for direct lighting, e.g. by means of independent light sources, by splitting of the light beam, by switching between both lighting modes
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/0025 Combination of two or more reflectors for a single light source array of reflectors for a cluster of light sources F21V7/0083
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 9/40 with provision for controlling spectral properties, e.g. colour, or intensity
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/401 for swimming pools
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/155 Coordinated control of two or more light sources

Abstract

An underwater lighting fixture adapted for installation in a wall of a swimming pool. The fixture includes a housing having an interior cavity and a transparent cover. A plate is mounted within the housing defines an opening. The plate has a first side facing the transparent cover and a second side opposite the first side. An electric light source includes a reflector positioned at the opening on the second side of the plate so that the reflector is directed toward the transparent cover. A color wheel within the housing is mounted for rotation and has filter segments. A driver mechanism within the housing rotates the color wheel, sequentially positioning successive filter segments to the opening of the plate. An electrical conductor extends through the housing into the interior cavity for delivering power to the electric light source and the driver mechanism.

Claims

1. An underwater lighting fixture adapted for installation in a wall of a swimming pool, the lighting fixture comprising:

a housing comprising an interior cavity and a transparent cover;

a plate mounted within the housing and defining an opening, the plate comprising a first side facing the transparent cover and a second side opposite the first side;

an electric light source comprising a reflector positioned at the opening on the second side of the plate so that the reflector is directed toward the transparent cover;

a color wheel within the housing and mounted for rotation, the color wheel comprising a plurality of filter segments;

a driver mechanism within the housing for rotating the color wheel, the color wheel sequentially positioning successive filter segments to the opening of the plate upon rotation of the wheel; and

an electrical conductor extending through the housing into the interior cavity for delivering power to the electric light source and the driver mechanism.

2. The underwater lighting fixture of claim 1, wherein the plate is oriented transverse to a longitudinal axis of said housing.

3. The underwater lighting fixture of claim 1, wherein said plurality of filter segments comprises a plurality of dichroic radial filter segments.

4. The underwater lighting fixture of claim 1, further comprising:

an electrical supply conduit extending through said housing and into said interior cavity; and

a fluid seal between said supply conduit and said housing.

5. The underwater lighting fixture of claim 1, further comprising a power transformer within the housing.

6. The underwater lighting fixture of claim 1, wherein the color wheel is mounted for rotation about an axis of rotation.

7. The underwater lighting fixture of claim 6, wherein the axis of rotation is parallel to the longitudinal axis.

8. The underwater lighting fixture of claim 6, wherein the axis of rotation is coaxial to the longitudinal axis.

9. A submersible lighting fixture comprising:

a housing comprising an interior cavity and a transparent cover;

an electric light source comprising a concave reflector facing the transparent cover;

a color wheel mounted for rotation between the electric light source and the transparent cover, the color wheel comprising a plurality of filter segments;

a driver mechanism within the housing for rotating the color wheel, the color wheel sequentially positioning successive filter segments to the reflector upon rotation of the wheel; and

an electrical conductor extending through the housing into the interior cavity for delivering power to the electric light source and the driver mechanism.

10. The submersible light fixture of claim 9, wherein said plurality of filter segments comprises a plurality of dichroic radial filter segments.

11. The submersible light fixture of claim 9, further comprising:

an electrical supply conduit extending through said housing and into said interior cavity; and

a fluid seal between said supply conduit and said housing.

12. The submersible light fixture of claim 9, further comprising a power transformer within the housing.

13. The submersible lighting fixture of claim 9, further comprising a plate mounted within the housing and defining an opening, the plate comprising a first side facing the transparent cover and a second side opposite the first side, wherein the concave reflector is positioned at the opening on the second side of the plate so that the reflector is directed toward the transparent cover.

14. The submersible light fixture of claim 13, wherein the plate is oriented transverse to a longitudinal axis of said housing and wherein the color wheel is mounted for rotation about said longitudinal axis.

15. A submersible lighting fixture comprising:

a housing comprising an interior cavity and a transparent cover;

a lighting assembly comprising a plurality of light sources and a plurality of reflectors facing the transparent cover;

a color wheel mounted between the lighting assembly and the transparent cover, the color wheel comprising a plurality of filter segments;

a control device for causing light emitted from the lighting assembly to sequentially pass through successive filter segments; and

an electrical conductor extending through the housing into the interior cavity for delivering power to the lighting assembly and the control device;

wherein said plurality of filter segments comprises a plurality of dichroic radial filter segments.

16. The submersible lighting fixture of claim 15, further comprising:

an electrical supply conduit extending through said housing and into said interior cavity; and

a fluid seal between said supply conduit and said housing.

17. The submersible lighting fixture of claim 15, further comprising a power transformer within the housing.

18. A submersible lighting fixture comprising:

a housing comprising an interior cavity and a transparent cover;

a lighting assembly comprising a plurality of light sources and a plurality of reflectors facing the transparent cover;

a color wheel mounted between the lighting assembly and the transparent cover, the color wheel comprising a plurality of filter segments;

a control device for causing light emitted from the lighting assembly to sequentially pass through successive filter segments; and

an electrical conductor extending through the housing into the interior cavity for delivering power to the lighting assembly and the control device

a plate mounted within the housing and defining a plurality of openings, the plate comprising a first side facing the transparent cover and a second side opposite the first side, wherein each of the plurality of reflectors is positioned at a respective one of the plurality of openings on the second side of the plate so that each reflector is directed toward the transparent cover.

19. The submersible lighting fixture of claim 18, wherein the plate is transverse to a longitudinal axis of said housing and wherein the color wheel is mounted for rotation about said longitudinal axis.

20. The submersible lighting fixture of claim 18, further comprising a driver mechanism for rotating said color wheel in response to said control device, said color wheel sequentially positioning successive filter segments to the openings of said plate upon rotation of said wheel.

21. The submersible lighting fixture of claim 20, wherein the color wheel further comprises a ring gear and wherein the driver mechanism comprises a worm gear that engages the ring gear.