Lighting apparatus

Abstract

A lighting system employs luminaires having reflectors with a fluorescent lamp support frame at the base end of the inside of the reflector. The support frame includes a plurality of extensions for holding the bases of compact fluorescent lamps arranged in a general star configuration around the center line of the reflector. The extensions are at an angle to cause the compact fluorescent lamps to follow the outwardly-flared inside surface of the reflector. A system of luminaires then provides a substantially uniform volume of light in a facility due to the patterns of overlapping light contributed by the individual luminaires.

I claim: 
     
       1. Lighting apparatus including in combination: reflector means having a base end of a first size and a light-emitting end of a second size larger than said first size and having a center line extending from the center of the base end to the center of the light-emitting end thereof;   lamp support means located within said reflector means at the base end thereof for supporting a plurality of compact fluorescent lamps substantially equally angularly displaced about said center line within said reflector means between the base end and the light-emitting end thereof, said lamp support means including at least two lamp support surfaces on said lamp support means on opposite sides thereof and angled toward the base end of said reflector means for causing compact fluorescent lamps supported thereby to extend outwardly at an angle from said center line toward the light-emitting end of said reflector means to substantially parallel said reflector means; and   means for supplying operating electric power to lamps supported by said lamp support means.   
     
     
       2. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said lamp support means comprises an integral part of the base end of said reflector means. 
     
     
       3. The combination according to claim 2 wherein said lamp support surfaces on said lamp support means are located adjacent said reflector means and are angled toward the base end of said reflector means by an amount selected to cause compact fluorescent lamps supported thereby to be more closely located to said reflector means than to said center line. 
     
     
       4. The combination according to claim 3 wherein said reflector means has substantially circular cross sections in planes perpendicular to said center line. 
     
     
       5. The combination according to claim 4 wherein said substantially circular cross sections increase in diameter from the base end of said reflector means to the light-emitting end thereof. 
     
     
       6. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said first size of said base end of said reflector means is a first diameter and said second size of said light-emitting end of said reflector means is a second diameter. 
     
     
       7. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said lamp support surfaces on said lamp support means are located adjacent said reflector means and are angled toward the base end of said reflector means by an amount selected to cause compact fluorescent lamps supported thereby to be more closely located to said reflector means than to said center line. 
     
     
       8. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said reflector means has substantially circular cross sections in planes perpendicular to said center line. 
     
     
       9. The combination according to claim 8 wherein said substantially circular cross sections increase in diameter from the base end of said reflector means to the light-emitting end thereof. 
     
     
       10. .[.The combination according to claim 1.]. .Iadd.Lighting apparatus including in combination: reflector means having a base end of first size and a light-emitting end of a second size larger than said first size and having a center line extending from the center of the base end to the center of the light-emitting end thereof;   lamp support means located within said reflector means at the base end thereof for supporting a plurality of compact fluorescent lamps substantially equally angularly displaced about said center line within said reflector means between the base end and the light-emitting end thereof, said lamp support means including at least two lamp support surfaces on said lamp support means on opposite sides thereof and angled toward the base end of said reflector means for causing compact fluorescent lamps supported thereby to extend outwardly at an angle from said center line toward the light emitting end of said reflector means to substantially parallel said reflector means;   means for supplying operating electric power to lamps supported by said lamp support means; and .Iaddend. wherein said lamp support means includes eight equally-spaced lamp support surfaces thereon.     
     
     
       11. The combination according to claim 10 wherein said lamp support surfaces on said lamp support means are located adjacent said reflector means and are angled toward the base end of said reflector means by an amount selected to cause compact fluorescent lamps supported thereby to be more closely located to said reflector means than to said center line. 
     
     
       12. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said reflector means is a generally bell-shaped fluted reflector with the flutes lying in planes passing through said center line. 
     
     
       13. .[.The combination according to claim 12.]. .Iadd.Lighting apparatus including in combination: reflector means having a base end of first size and a light-emitting end of a second size larger than said first size and having a center line extending from the center of the base end to the center of the light-emitting end thereof;   lamp support means located within said reflector means at the base end thereof for supporting a plurality of compact fluorescent lamps substantially equally angularly displaced about said center line within said reflector means between the base end and the light-emitting end thereof, said lamp support means including at least two lamp support surfaces on said lamp support means on opposite sides thereof and angled toward the base end of said reflector means for causing compact fluorescent lamps supported thereby to extend outwardly at an angle from said center line toward the light emitting end of said reflector means to substantially parallel said reflector means;   means for supplying operating electric power to lamps supported by said lamp support means;   wherein said reflector means is a generally bell-shaped fluted reflector with the flutes lying in planes passing through said center line; and .Iaddend. wherein portions of the flutes of said fluted reflector which lie closest to said center line also are located to be substantially centered with compact fluorescent lamps mounted on said lamp support surfaces.     
     
     
       14. The combination according to claim 13 wherein said lamp support surfaces on said lamp support means are located adjacent said reflector means and are angled toward the base end of said reflector means by an amount selected to cause compact fluorescent lamps supported thereby to be more closely located to said reflector means than to said center line. 
     
     
       15. An illumination system having a plurality of reflector means located a predetermined distance from a surface to be illuminated and spaced apart in a predetermined grid pattern above the surface to be illuminated, in which each of said reflector means has a base end of a first size and a light-emitting end of a second size larger than said first size, and having a center line extending from the center of the base end to the center of the light-emitting end thereof, said system including; a plurality of lamp support means, each located within a different one of said reflector means at the base end thereof for supporting a plurality of .[.compound.]. .Iadd.compact .Iaddend.fluorescent lamps substantially equally angularly displaced about said center line within each of said reflector means between the base end and the light-emitting end thereof, said lamp support means comprising a support member including at least two lamp support surfaces on opposite sides thereof, and angled toward the base end of said reflector means for causing compact fluorescent lamps supported thereby to extend outwardly at an angle from said center line toward the light-emitting end of said reflector means to substantially parallel said reflector means;   means for supplying operating electric power to lamps supported by said lamp support means; and   said predetermined spacing between said reflector means being such that light emanating from the light-emitting end of each of said reflector means at a work plane height overlaps light emitted from others of said reflector means in said pattern, and other reflector means in said pattern beyond the nearest reflector means to each of said reflector means.   
     
     
       16. The combination according to claim 15 wherein each of said reflector means has substantially circular cross sections in planes perpendicular to said center line. 
     
     
       17. The combination according to claim 16 wherein said substantially circular cross sections increase in diameter from the base end of each of said reflector means to the light-emitting means thereof. 
     
     
       18. The combination according to claim 17 wherein each of said reflector means comprises an outwardly flared inside surface, and wherein said lamp support surfaces are located to cause compact fluorescent lamps supported thereby to be oriented substantially parallel to said outwardly flared reflector means. 
     
     
       19. The combination according to claim 18 wherein means for supplying electric power operates to selectively apply power to different numbers of lamps supported by said support means in each of said reflector means. 
     
     
       20. The combination according to claim 19 wherein said means for supplying operating electric power further includes a plurality of ballasts associated with each of said reflector means for supplying power to corresponding lamps supported by said lamp support means. 
     
     
       21. The combination according to claim 15 wherein each of said reflector means comprises an outwardly flared inside surface. 
     
     
       22. The combination according to claim 19 wherein means for supplying electric power operates to selectively apply power to different numbers of lamps supported by said support means in each of said reflector means. 
     
     
       23. The combination according to claim 15 wherein means for supplying electric power operates to selectively apply power to different numbers of lamps supported by said support means in each of said reflector means. .Iadd. 
     
     
       24.  A lighting apparatus including in combination: an outwardly flared fixture having a base end of a first size and a light-emitting end of a second size larger than the first size, and having a center line extending from the center of the base end to the center of the light-emitting end thereof, and including a plurality of flutes configured to disperse light through the light emitting end of the fixture;   a plurality of linear light sources, each source including a light-generating portion that is at least twice as long as its width;   a support located within the fixture at the base end thereof configured to support the plurality of linear light sources angularly displaced about the center line within the fixture between the base end and the light emitting end thereof, the support including a plurality of support surfaces, each support surface configured to support the linear light sources so that the length of the light-generating portions extend outwardly at an angle from the center line toward the light-emitting end of the fixture to substantially parallel the fixture such that each of a plurality of points located along the fixture receives a plurality of light rays with various angles of incidence and emanating from along the length of the light-generating portions of the linear light sources, so that light rays are dispersed through the larger light-emitting end of the fixture in both vertical and horizontal components to directly generate a defined circle of light beneath the fixture; and   a power supply circuit coupled to and supplying operating electric power to linear light sources supported by the support..Iaddend..Iadd.25. The lighting apparatus of claim 24 wherein the linear light sources are mounted on the support surfaces relative to the fixture so that the light rays emanating from the light emitting end of the fixture collectively create a circle of light at a surface to be illuminated beneath the lighting apparatus, and wherein the circle of light has a diameter that is at least two times the distance between the light-emitting end of the fixture and the surface to be illuminated..Iaddend..Iadd.26. The lighting apparatus of claim 24 wherein the length of the light-generating portions of the linear light sources that parallel the outwardly flared fixture is greater than or equal to one fourth the distance from the base end to the light-emitting end..Iaddend..Iadd.27. The lighting apparatus of claim 24 wherein the power supply circuit includes a power selection circuit coupled to and selectively applying power to different numbers of linear light sources supported by the support surfaces in the fixture..Iaddend..Iadd.28. The lighting apparatus of claim 27 wherein the power supply circuit further includes a plurality of remote ballasts, each ballast being coupled to corresponding linear light sources supported by the support surfaces..Iaddend..Iadd.29. The lighting apparatus of claim 28 wherein the plurality of ballasts are located external to the outwardly flared fixture..Iaddend..Iadd.30. The combination according to claim 24 further comprising a plurality of the lighting apparatuses located a predetermined distance from a surface to be illuminated and spaced apart in a predetermined grid pattern above the surface to be illuminated to form an illumination system wherein the light emanating from the light-emitting end of each of the fixtures and received at a plurality of work plane heights, located from zero to at least four feet above the surface to be illuminated, overlaps light emitted from others of the fixtures in the pattern, beyond the next nearest fixture, in such a manner as to provide a substantially uniform distribution of light at and between each work plane height..Iaddend..Iadd.31. The combination according to claim 24 further comprising a plurality of the lighting apparatuses located a predetermined distance from a surface to be illuminated and spaced apart in a predetermined grid pattern above the surface to be illuminated to form an illumination system wherein the light emanating from the light-emitting end of each of the fixtures and received at a plurality of work plane heights, located from zero to at least 20 percent of the predetermined distance above the surface to be illuminated, overlaps light emitted from others of the fixtures in the pattern, beyond the next nearest fixture, in such a manner as to provide a substantially uniform distribution of light at and between each work plane height..Iaddend..Iadd.32. The lighting apparatus of claim 24 wherein the power supply circuit includes a power selection circuit that operates to vary the amount of light emitted from the light-emitting end..Iaddend..Iadd.33. The lighting apparatus of claim 24 wherein the linear light sources are mounted on the support surfaces relative to the fixture so that the light rays emanating from the light emitting end of the fixture collectively create a circle of light at a surface to be illuminated beneath the lighting apparatus, and wherein the circle of light has a diameter that is within 2.0 to 2.4 times the distance between the light emitting end of the fixture and the surface to be illuminated..Iaddend..Iadd.34. The lighting apparatus of claim 1 wherein the light-emitting end directs light towards a surface to be illuminated..Iaddend..Iadd.35. The lighting apparatus of claim 34 wherein the means for supplying operating electric power includes a power selection circuit coupled to and selectively applying power to different numbers of the compact fluorescent lamps..Iaddend..Iadd.36. The lighting apparatus of claim 35 wherein the means for supplying operating electric power includes a plurality of remote ballasts, each ballast being coupled to at least one of the compact flourescent lamps..Iaddend..Iadd.37. An illumination system having a plurality of outwardly flared fixtures located a predetermined distance from a surface to be illuminated, and spaced apart in a predetermined grid pattern above the surface to be illuminated in which each of the fixtures has a base end of a first size and a light-emitting end of a second size larger than the first size, and having a center line extending from the center of the base end to the center of the light-emitting end thereof, the system including;   a plurality of linear light sources, each source including a perceptible light-generating portion that is at least twice as long as its width;   a plurality of supports, each located within a different one of the fixtures at the base end thereof configured to support the plurality of linear light sources angularly displaced about the center line within each of the fixtures between the base end and the light-emitting end thereof, each support including a plurality of support surfaces, each support surface configured to support the linear light sources so that the length of the light-generating portions extend outwardly at an angle from the center line toward the light-emitting end of the fixture to substantially parallel the fixture;   a power supply circuit coupled to and supplying operating electric power to linear light sources supported by the supports; and   the predetermined spacing between the fixtures being such that light emanating from the light-emitting end of each of the fixtures and received at a plurality of work plane heights, located from zero to at least four feet above the surface to be illuminated, overlaps light emitted from others of the fixtures in the pattern, beyond the next nearest fixture, in such a manner as to provide a substantially uniform distribution of light at and between each work plane height..Iaddend..Iadd.38. The system of claim 37 wherein each fixture includes a plurality of flutes configured to disperse light..Iaddend..Iadd.39. The system of claim 38 wherein the support surface of each fixture is configured to align the length of the light-generating portions of the linear light sources relative to the fixture and its fluting so that each of a plurality of points located along the fixture receives a plurality of light rays with various angles of incidence and emanating from along the length of the light-generating portions of the linear light sources, so that light rays are widely dispersed by the fixture in both vertical and horizontal components..Iaddend..Iadd.40. The system of claim 39 wherein the power supply circuit includes a power selection circuit coupled to and selectively applying power to different numbers of linear light sources supported by the support surfaces in each of the fixtures..Iaddend..Iadd.41. The system of claim 40 wherein the power supply circuit further includes a plurality of remote ballasts, each ballast being coupled to at least one associated linear light sources supported by the support surfaces..Iaddend..Iadd.42. The system of claim 41 wherein the plurality of ballasts are located external to each of the   
     
     
        outwardly flared fixtures..Iaddend..Iadd.43.  The system of claim 37 wherein the linear light sources are configured in each fixture so that each of a plurality of points located along the fixture receives a plurality of light rays with various angles of incidence and emanating from along the length of each linear light source..Iaddend..Iadd.44. The system of claim 49 wherein the linear light sources located within each of the fixtures are mounted on the support surfaces relative to the fixture such that the light rays emanating from the light-emitting end of the fixture collectively create a circle of light at a surface to be illuminated beneath the fixture, the circle of light having a diameter that is at least two times the distance between the light-emitting end of the fixture and the surface to be illuminated..Iaddend.