Modular light fixture with power pack and deployable sensor

• US 7,780,310 B2
• Filed: 07/14/2008
• Issued: 08/24/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Orion Energy Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Orion Energy Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Heimerman, Donald C., Verfuerth, Neal R., Wetenkamp, Kenneth J., Ernst, Ronald E., Johnson, Troy M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Payne; Sharon E
• Application Number:
  US12/172,888
• Publication Number:
  US 20090009989A1
• Time in Patent Office: 771 Days
• Field of Search: 362/221, 362/225, 362/217.08, 362/217.09, 362/411, 362/457, 362/458, 362/147, 362/148, 362/655, 362/260
• US Class Current: 362/221
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/06 by suspension
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/026 Fastening of transformers or ballasts
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0442 activated by means of a sensor, e.g. motion or photodetectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/06 the elements being coupling devices , e.g. connectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 25/02 coming into action when lighting device is disturbed, dismounted, or broken
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/83 the elements having apertures, ducts or channels, e.g. heat radiation holes
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2103/00 Elongate light sources, e.g. fluorescent tubes
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6456 comprising keying elements at different positions along the periphery of the connector

Abstract

A light fixture includes a raceway, a lampholder, and a power pack. The raceway includes an aperture and a locking aperture. The lampholder is electrically connected to a lampholder connector. The power pack includes a power pack cover and a ballast and a deployable sensor. The deployable sensor includes a sensor head, a conduit and pivotable coupling that permits movement of the sensor between a deployed position and a stowed position. The power pack cover includes a latching end. The ballast includes a power input connector adapted to electrically connect to a power cord and a ballast output connector adapted to electrically connect to the lampholder connector. The latching end includes a flange adapted to mate with the aperture of the raceway and a locking protrusion adapted to mate with the locking aperture of the raceway such that the power pack is detachably mountable to the raceway.

Claims

1. A light fixture comprising:

a raceway comprising an aperture and a locking aperture;

a lampholder electrically connected to a lampholder connector; and

a power pack comprising

a power pack cover including a latching end, wherein the latching end comprises a flange and a locking protrusion, and further wherein the flange is adapted to mate with the aperture of the raceway and the locking protrusion is adapted to mate with the locking aperture of the raceway such that the power pack is detachably mountable to the raceway;

a ballast mounted to the power pack cover, wherein the ballast includes a power input connector adapted to electrically connect to a power cord and a ballast output connector adapted to electrically connect to the lampholder connector; and

a deployable sensor movable between a stowed position and a deployed position.

2. The light fixture of claim 1, wherein the deployable sensor comprises a conduit, a sensor head coupled to one end of the conduit, and a pivotable coupling coupled to another end of the conduit and to the power pack to provide a power pack and deployable sensor as a single integrated unit.

3. The light fixture of claim 2, further comprising a bracket mounted on the raceway and operable to receive and retain the conduit when the deployable sensor is in the deployed position.

4. The light fixture of claim 3, wherein the conduit and sensor head are aligned substantially parallel with the power pack and when the conduit and sensor head are in the stowed position.

5. The light fixture of claim 4, wherein the deployed position and the stowed position are substantially axially aligned and 180°

apart.

6. The light fixture of claim 1, further comprising:

a second raceway comprising a second aperture and a second locking aperture; and

further wherein the power pack cover further includes a second latching end comprising a second flange and a second locking protrusion, wherein the second flange is adapted to mate with the second aperture of the second raceway and the second locking protrusion is adapted to mate with the second locking aperture of the second raceway such that the power pack is detachably mountable to the second raceway.

7. The light fixture of claim 1, wherein the raceway comprises a raceway base and a raceway cover mounted to the raceway base.

8. The light fixture of claim 7, wherein the aperture is formed along a boundary between the raceway base and the raceway cover.

9. The light fixture of claim 7, wherein the locking aperture is formed in the raceway base.

10. A method of providing a light fixture with a deployable sensor, comprising:

providing a light fixture having a pair of raceways, each coupled to one or more lampholders configured to receive a lamp;

providing a power pack engagable with the raceways

providing a deployable sensor coupled to the power pack and movable between a stowed position and a deployed position, the deployable sensor including a sensor head, conduit and pivotable coupling;

assembling the power pack and the deployable sensor to form an integral assembly;

assembling the power pack to the raceways;

positioning the deployable sensor in the stowed position; and

shipping the assembly with the deployable sensor in the stowed position to a facility.

11. The method of claim 10, further wherein the power pack comprises latches for detachably engaging the raceways.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

receiving the assembly at the facility and installing a sensor eye in the sensor head.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

moving the deployable sensor to the deployed position.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

installing the assembly in the facility.

15. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

replacing the deployable sensor by removing the integral assembly of the power pack and the deployable sensor with a replacement integral assembly.

16. A power pack and deployable sensor assembly for a light fixture comprising:

a power pack cover including a latching end, wherein the latching end comprises a flange and a locking protrusion, and further wherein the flange is adapted to mate with an aperture in a raceway and the locking protrusion is adapted to mate with a locking aperture in the raceway such that the power pack cover is detachably mountable to the raceway;

a ballast mounted to the power pack cover, wherein the ballast includes a power input connector adapted to electrically connect to a power cord and a ballast output connector adapted to electrically connect to a lampholder connector; and

a deployable sensor movable between a stowed position and a deployed position.

17. The power pack and deployable sensor assembly of claim 16, wherein the deployable sensor comprises a conduit, a sensor head coupled to one end of the conduit, and a pivotable coupling coupled to another end of the conduit and to the power pack to provide a power pack and deployable sensor as a single integrated unit.

18. The power pack and deployable sensor assembly of claim 17, further comprising a bracket mounted on the raceway and operable to receive and retain the conduit when the deployable sensor is in the deployed position.

19. The power pack and deployable sensor assembly of claim 18, wherein the conduit and sensor head are aligned substantially parallel with the power pack and when the conduit and sensor head are in the stowed position.

20. The power pack and deployable sensor assembly of claim 19, wherein the deployed position and the stowed position are substantially axially aligned and 180°

apart.