Indicator light

Abstract

To provide an indicator light which can be seen from lateral sides even though a light emission display part is low-profiled.SOLUTION: A indicator light includes a light emission display part 2a provided with a side of a front face 2aa exposed outside, and a light source part 4 provided in a position behind a rear face 2ab of the light emission display part 2a. The light source part 4 has a light emitter 5 provided such that light within a half-value angle θ is inclined with respect to a front face direction F of the light emission display part, and the light emitter 5 faces from one of lateral sides of the light emission display part 2a to the other lateral side. The light emission display part 2a is characterized in that the rear face 2ab is approximately flat.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an indicator light for indicating the location of various disaster prevention equipment. [Background technology]

[0002] Indicator lights for indicating the location of disaster prevention equipment are provided in various disaster prevention facilities such as indicator lights for fire hydrant facilities, indicator lights for emergency alarm facilities, and indicator lights for automatic fire alarm facilities. The indicator lights include a globe (also called a "cover") with a light-emitting display part that emits light using a light-emitting element as a light source (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-16818 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Indicator lights are also installed in disaster prevention equipment for tunnels (road tunnels, etc.). Specifically, they are installed on the housings of fire hydrant devices, fire extinguisher boxes, etc. installed along the roadway (on inspection roads, etc.).

[0005] However, tunnels constructed using the shield method cannot have so-called "box cutouts" in the side walls for embedded installation of various equipment. Fire hydrant devices, fire extinguisher boxes, etc. installed in such tunnels must be thin, if they are to be installed exposed.

[0006] Conventionally, indicator lights have a cover with a light-emitting display part that protrudes forward. To make the device thinner, it is possible to make the light-emitting display part thinner. However, this alone results in poor visibility from the side. Disaster prevention equipment for tunnels needs to be able to see the indicator light from people in cars traveling on the roadway, so visibility from the side is required rather than from the front.

[0007] In view of the above circumstances, the present invention aims to provide an indicator light that can improve visibility from the side as well as from the front, even if the light-emitting display portion is made thin. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] This invention is an indicator light that displays the location of disaster prevention equipment. It comprises a light-emitting indicator unit whose front side is exposed to the outside, and a light source unit located behind the back side of the light-emitting indicator unit. The light source unit has a light-emitting element arranged so that light within a half-value angle is directed from either the left or right side of the light-emitting indicator unit to the opposite side, while being inclined with respect to the front direction of the light-emitting indicator unit. The back side of the light-emitting indicator unit is approximately flat.

[0009] Here, the terms "front," "rear," "back," "left," "right," and other terms used to specify this invention that indicate position or direction are used according to the position or direction when the indicator light is installed on the front of a disaster prevention device, such as the housing of a fire hydrant. Also, the term "half-value angle" is used to mean the angular range in which the light intensity is 50% or more of the light intensity (maximum intensity) on the central axis.

[0010] In this invention, the light-emitting display unit may have a substantially flat front surface. The light-emitting element may be arranged so that light within a half-power angle is inclined with respect to the front direction of the light-emitting display unit from the rear of the back side of one of the left and right side edges of the light-emitting display unit toward the rear side of the other side edge of the light-emitting display unit. The light-emitting element may have a light-emitting element substrate on which a plurality of the light-emitting elements are mounted and which is inclined with respect to the front direction of the light-emitting display unit. The light-emitting element substrate may have a convex shape in a plan view, with the protruding portion of the convex shape facing the back side of the light-emitting display unit. Of the plurality of light-emitting elements, the light-emitting element arranged closest to the back side of the light-emitting display unit may be arranged so that light within the half-power angle, at a limit angle of the half-power angle on the side with a larger angle of inclination with respect to the front direction of the light-emitting display unit, is transmitted through a position near the other side edge of the light-emitting display unit. The light-emitting element may further include a reflector located behind the back side of the light-emitting display unit, which reflects light emitted by the light-emitting element toward the other side edge and / or center of the light-emitting display unit. The light emitting elements may be arranged in a U-shape with an arcuate rearward direction or an inverted U-shape with an arcuate frontward direction. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] According to this invention, strong light, which is at least half the maximum intensity of the light emitted by the light-emitting element, can be transmitted through the light-emitting display unit while being significantly tilted to either the left or right side of the light-emitting display unit. This allows the light-emitting display unit to shine brightly on both the front side and the side sides. This can be achieved even if the light-emitting display unit is made thin.

[0012] Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to obtain an indicator lamp that can improve visibility from the side even if the light-emitting indicator portion is made thin. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0013] [Figure 1]1 is a front view showing an example of an embodiment of an indicator lamp of the present invention, showing the front side which is the light emitting side. FIG. [Figure 2] 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the AA line portion in Fig. 1. In the figure, the broken lines indicate the direction of light within the half-value angle of the light emitting element at the forefront stage. [Figure 3] Both (a) and (b) are diagrams corresponding to Fig. 2. (a) shows the direction of light within the half-value angle of the light-emitting element in the middle row, and (b) shows the direction of light within the half-value angle of the light-emitting element in the last row. [Figure 4] FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 2 of another example. [Figure 6] 10 is a view corresponding to FIG. 4 of another example of the same. [Figure 7] This shows an example of disaster prevention equipment in which the above-mentioned indicator light is installed, and is a front view showing the front side of the housing of a tunnel fire hydrant device in which the indicator light is installed. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0014] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the indicator light of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 7. The indicator light of the present invention can be used as an indicator light for indicating the location of various disaster prevention equipment, such as an indicator light for fire hydrant equipment, an indicator light for emergency alarm equipment, an indicator light for automatic fire alarm equipment, etc.

[0015] [Basic configuration] The indicator light 1 comprises a cover 2 and a body 3 to the front of which the cover 2 is attached.

[0016] [cover] Illuminated display The cover 2 has a light-emitting display unit 2a that is circular when viewed from the front and whose front surface 2aa is exposed to the outside. The light-emitting display unit 2a is translucent and emits light from a light source unit 4 that is built into the main body 3 and is attached to the back surface 2ab of the light-emitting display unit 2a.

[0017] The indicator light 1 can be used, for example, by being attached to the front of a disaster prevention device, but more specifically, it can be used by being attached to the front of a disaster prevention device with the front surface 2aa of the light-emitting display unit 2a exposed to the outside.

[0018] -Slim profile In the illustrated example, the light-emitting display unit 2a has a flat front surface 2aa and is thin. This shape allows the entire light-emitting display unit 2a to illuminate. Alternatively, the front surface 2aa may be flat and not protrude forward at all, or may protrude slightly forward. The front surface 2aa may be a convex curved surface that protrudes slightly forward, but a flat front surface 2aa is more advantageous because it allows the entire light-emitting display unit 2a to illuminate. Furthermore, when the front surface 2aa is flat, concave and convex grooves may be formed on the front surface 2aa to direct light passing through the light-emitting display unit 2a more to the sides.

[0019] In the illustrated example, the indicator light 1 further includes a front panel 7 having an opening 7a that exposes the front surface 2aa of the light-emitting display unit 2a to the outside. When the front panel 7 is attached to the front of the cover 2, the front surface 2aa of the light-emitting display unit 2a is flush with the front surface of the front panel 7 and does not protrude forward at all from the front surface of the front panel 7.

[0020] [Light source section] LED elements The light source unit 4 is provided at a position behind the back surface 2ab of the light-emitting display unit 2a and has an LED element 5 (an example of a light-emitting element) that serves as a light source for illuminating the light-emitting display unit 2a. The LED element 5 emits light that transmits from the back surface 2ab side of the light-emitting display unit 2a to the front surface 2aa side, causing the light-emitting display unit 2a to emit light. As the LED element 5, for example, one with a narrow half-value angle θ and narrow directivity can be used.

[0021] Here, the light source unit 4 is provided at a position behind the back surface 2ab of the light-emitting display unit 2a and does not protrude toward the light-emitting display unit 2a, which eliminates the need for the light-emitting display unit 2a to protrude forward, allowing the light-emitting display unit 2a to be made thinner.

[0022] ·Slanted arrangement The LED element 5 is arranged so that the light emitted within a half-value angle θ around the central axis X, which is the optical axis, is inclined with respect to the front direction F of the light-emitting display unit 2a and directed from either the left or right side of the light-emitting display unit 2a (left or right relative to the vertical center line C; see Figure 1) to the opposite side (see Figures 2, 3(a) and (b)).

[0023] Advantages of tilted placement In the indicator light 1, the LED elements 5 are arranged at an angle as described above, allowing strong light, at least half the maximum intensity of the light emitted by the LED elements 5, to pass through the light-emitting display unit 2a while tilting at a large angle to the left and right sides. This allows the light-emitting display unit 2a to shine brightly not only in front of the light-emitting display unit 2a but also to shine brightly on the sides, thereby improving visibility from the side. The indicator light 1 is intended to be installed in front of a fire hydrant located on the side wall of a tunnel, and when the indicator light 1 is viewed from the roadway or guard passage, it is often viewed from the side. Therefore, good visibility from the side is particularly advantageous in tunnels. In the illustrated example, the light-emitting display unit 2a is thin and does not protrude, but even with this configuration, it can still shine brightly on the sides as described above, improving visibility from the side.

[0024] Placement on both the left and right sides When viewing the indicator light 1 from the front (as shown in Figure 1), the light source units 4 are provided on both the left and right sides of the light-emitting display unit 2a, and the LED elements 5 are provided on both the left and right sides of the light-emitting display unit 2a, facing each other and arranged at the inclination described above. The indicator light 1 is installed in a horizontal position with the light source units 4 located on both the left and right sides. This allows light within the half-value angle θ of the LED elements 5 to pass through the light-emitting display unit 2a, at an incline as described above, on both the left and right sides.

[0025] LED element substrate The light source unit 4 has a flat LED element substrate (an example of a light-emitting element substrate) 6. A plurality of LED elements 5 are mounted on the LED element substrate 6 (see FIGS. 4 and 6). The LED element substrate 6 is attached to the attachment portion 3a (see FIG. 4) in the main body 3 in a state inclined with respect to the front direction F of the light-emitting display unit 2a so that the LED elements 5 are in the inclined arrangement with respect to the light-emitting display unit 2a. The arrangement of the LED elements 5 with respect to the light-emitting display unit 2a is determined by the arrangement of the LED element substrate 6.

[0026] Mounting part The mounting portions 3a are provided on the left and right sides of the main body 3 when viewed from the front, and are attached so that the end of the LED element substrate 6 is sandwiched between the mounting portions 3a and the inner peripheral wall of the main body 3. Other possible mounting methods include providing a hook on the main body 3 and fixing the LED element substrate 6, directly fixing the LED element substrate 6 to the main body 3 with screws or the like, or fixing the LED element substrate 6 with a filler or the like, but are not limited to these.

[0027] Light transmission position The LED element 5 is arranged so that light within the half-value angle θ passes through the position near the side end 2ac on the other side opposite the left and right of the light-emitting display section 2a, so that the light within the half-value angle θ of the LED element 5 can be tilted more to the left and right lateral sides, and can shine more brightly on the lateral sides.

[0028] Position of LED element By separating the LED element 5 from the position where light within the half-value angle θ passes through the light-emitting display unit 2a in the left-right direction, and by placing it close to the back surface 2ab of the light-emitting display unit 2a in the front-to-back direction (up-down direction in Figure 2), the light within the half-value angle θ of the LED element 5 can be tilted more to the left and right lateral sides, making it possible to shine more brightly on the lateral sides.

[0029] Maximize tilt angle In other words, if the LED element 5 is arranged, for example, behind the back surface 2ab of the side end portion 2ac on either the left or right side of the light-emitting display portion 2a, close to the back surface 2ab, and arranged so that light within the half-value angle θ passes through the opposite left or right side of the light-emitting display portion 2a, that is, through the light and the position near the side end portion 2ac on the other side, the light within the half-value angle θ of the LED element 5 can be tilted most to the left or right side.

[0030] Specific examples of placement 2 and 3 show specific examples of the arrangement of the LED elements 5 in the indicator lamp 1, together with the direction of light within the half-value angle, etc.

[0031] As shown in the figure, the LED element substrate 6 is provided at a position behind the rear surface 2ab of the side end portions 2ac on both the left and right sides when viewed from the front of the light-emitting display unit 2a. In the illustrated example, the plurality of LED elements 5 are arranged in a row of three in the front-to-rear direction, and each is arranged so that a portion of light within a half-value angle θ is inclined with respect to the front direction F of the light-emitting display unit 2a, from a position behind the rear surface 2ab of the side end portions 2ac on either the left or right side of the light-emitting display unit 2a toward the rear surface 2ab near the side end portion 2ac on the opposite side.

[0032] Of the three rows of LED elements 5, the one in the front row (the top row in the drawing) is located closest to the rear surface 2ab of the light-emitting display unit 2a. More specifically, as shown in Fig. 2, the front row LED element 5 is arranged so that light at a limit angle HL of the half-value angle on the side of the inclination angle φL, which is the larger angle of inclination to the left or right side with respect to the front direction F of the light-emitting display unit 2a, within the half-value angle θ, is transmitted through a position near the side end 2ac on the other opposite side.

[0033] That is, the front LED element 5 is designed so that the light transmitted through the light-emitting display unit 2a within the half-value angle θ is most inclined to the left and right sides among the three LED elements 5 in the front and rear, and the strongest light is emitted to the sides. This allows the sides to be illuminated most brightly.

[0034] All of the light within the half-value angle θ between the limit angle HL on the side of the inclination angle φL, where the angle of inclination to the left or right is large, and the limit angle HS on the side of the inclination angle φS, where the angle of inclination is small, is transmitted through the light-emitting display unit 2a. In other words, all of the light within the half-value angle θ is transmitted through the light-emitting display unit 2a. This allows not only the sides of the light-emitting display unit 2a but also the center portion when viewed from the front to emit a constant amount of light, so the entire light-emitting display unit 2a can be illuminated.

[0035] 3, the LED elements 5 in the middle and last rows are arranged so that, for the middle row, light within the half-value angle θ between the central axis X and the limit angle HL on the side of the inclination angle φL, which has a larger angle of inclination to the left or right, passes through a position near the side edge 2ac on the opposite left or right side, while for the last row, light on the central axis X passes through the position near the side edge 2ac on the opposite left or right side. In both cases, the angle of inclination to the left or right of the light within the half-value angle θ that passes through the light-emitting display unit 2a is smaller than that of the LED elements 5 in the front row, and not all of the light within the half-value angle θ passes through the light-emitting display unit 2a. However, for both the LED elements 5 in the middle row and the LED elements 5 in the last row, strong light within the half-value angle θ, which is more than half of the maximum intensity, passes through the side edge 2ac, thereby increasing the amount of strong light to the sides.

[0036] The LED elements 5 on the LED element substrate 6 may be arranged so that the front row of each column forms a U-shape, with the LED elements 5 arcing backward. When the light-emitting display unit 2a is circular, the LED elements 5 located farther from the center of the circle have a shorter distance to the side edge 2ac of the light-emitting display unit 2a in a front view. Therefore, if the front row of LED elements 5 are arranged in a vertically linear fashion, the amount of light transmitted through the light-emitting display unit 2a will be reduced. Conversely, the LED elements 5 located closer to the center of the circle have a longer distance to the side edge 2ac of the light-emitting display unit 2a, and therefore the amount of light transmitted through the light-emitting display unit 2a will be greater. In other words, by arranging the front row of each column in a U-shape, the amount of light transmitted through the light-emitting display unit 2a of each LED element 5 can be efficiently increased.

[0037] Furthermore, when an annular groove for diffusing light is provided on the rear or front surface of the light-emitting display unit 2a, the LED elements 5 may be arranged in an inverted U shape that arcs forward along the groove. This allows light to be emitted in an annular pattern along the groove, improving the aesthetic appearance.

[0038] -Examples of various angles The half-value angle θ of the LED elements 5 can be, for example, about 30 degrees. The inclination angle of the LED element substrate 6 can be, for example, about 20 degrees to the opposite side of the light of the LED elements 5, so that the angle of inclination of the light on the central axis of the mounted LED elements 5 is about 70 degrees to the left or right with respect to the front direction F of the light-emitting display unit 2a. In other words, the light within the half-value angle θ of the LED elements 5 can be inclined, for example, in a range of about 85 to 55 degrees to either the left or right with respect to the front direction F of the light-emitting display unit 2a. If the LED elements 5 are arranged so that all of the light within the half-value angle θ is transmitted through the light-emitting display unit 2a, the light within the half-value angle θ within that angle range can be emitted with an inclination to either the left or right side.

[0039] [Wider angle of light distribution, etc.] Groove in illuminated display An annular groove 2ad is provided on the back surface 2ab side of the light-emitting display unit 2a. The annular groove 2ad functions to refract and diffuse light that passes through the light-emitting display unit 2a toward the sides and the center, thereby enabling light to be distributed over a wide angle range toward the sides and also toward the front.

[0040] ·Reflector The light emitted by the LED element 5 may be reflected toward either the left or right side edge 2ac of the light-emitting display unit 2a or toward the center thereof, and then transmitted through the light-emitting display unit 2a. Figures 5 and 6 show an example of such a case.

[0041] 5 and 6, the indicator light 1 further includes a reflector 8 provided at a position behind the center of the light-emitting display unit 2a on the back surface 2ab side. In the illustrated example, the reflector 8 has a slope 8a that reflects light within the half-value angle θ of the LED elements 5 that does not directly head toward the light-emitting display unit 2a toward the light-emitting display unit 2a. More specifically, within the half-value angle θ of the last LED element 5, the light on the limit angle HL side, which has a larger angle of inclination toward the left or right side of the light-emitting display unit 2a with respect to the front direction F, is disposed so as not to directly head toward the light-emitting display unit 2a, but the slope 8a of the reflector 8 is provided to reflect the light on the limit angle HL side toward the side end 2ac on the left or right opposite side of the light-emitting display unit 2a, as shown in FIG. This allows light within the half-value angle θ of the LED element 5 that does not directly pass through the light-emitting display section 2a to be reflected and transmitted through the light-emitting display section 2a, thereby reducing the amount of light that is wasted by not passing through the light-emitting display section 2a and increasing the amount of light that passes through the light-emitting display section 2a.

[0042] The reflection direction of the inclined surface 8a of the reflector 8 may be set appropriately in terms of its position and angle so that the light is reflected toward the center of the light-emitting display unit 2a. In this way, the angle range of light within the half-value angle θ that passes through the light-emitting display unit 2a can be expanded toward the front, improving visibility not only from the side but also from the front.

[0043] [Examples of indicator light installation targets] 7 shows a fire hydrant device 10 that is a fire hydrant facility for a tunnel. The indicator light 1 can be used as an indicator light for such a fire hydrant device 10.

[0044] The housing of the fire hydrant device 10 has a fire hose and the like built in, and is installed beside the roadway (on an inspection road, etc.) with the front side facing the roadway. The indicator light 1 is attached to the front of the housing of the fire hydrant device 10 with the light-emitting indicator 2a attached so that the internal light source 4 is positioned on the left and right and exposed to the outside in a horizontal orientation.

[0045] In such a tunnel fire hydrant device 10, even if the indicator light 1 is made thin, it can still be made visible from the side, which is particularly advantageous considering that there is a demand for thinner devices while at the same time improving visibility from the side. This also applies when the indicator light 1 is provided on a tunnel fire extinguisher box or the like.

[0046] [Configuration change example] The embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to FIGS. 1 to 7. However, the specific configuration is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and includes design modifications and the like within the scope of the gist of the present invention.

[0047] For example, the light source unit 4 may have an adjustment means for adjusting the angle of inclination of the LED element substrate 6 with respect to the front direction F of the light-emitting display unit 2a. By doing so, the angle of inclination of the light within the half-value angle θ of the light-emitting element 5 with respect to the front direction F of the light-emitting display unit 2a can be appropriately adjusted. [Explanation of symbols]

[0048] 1: Indicator light 2: Cover 2a: Illuminated display 2aa: Front 2ab: Rear 2ac: Side edge 2ad: Groove 3: Main body 3a: Mounting section 4: Light source section 5: LED element (light-emitting element) 6: LED element substrate (light-emitting element substrate) 7: Front panel 7a: Opening 8: Reflector 8a: Slope 10: Fire hydrant equipment (for tunnels) C: Vertical center line F: Front direction θ: Half-value angle X: Central axis HL: Limit angle (larger tilt angle) HS: Limit angle (smaller tilt angle) φL: Inclination angle (larger side) φS: Inclination angle (smaller side)

Claims

1. Indicator lights that show the location of disaster prevention equipment, The display device includes a light-emitting display unit having a front surface exposed to the outside, and a light source unit provided at a rear position on a rear surface side of the light-emitting display unit, the light source unit has a light-emitting element disposed in such a manner that light within a half-value angle is directed from one of the left and right sides of the light-emitting display unit to the other side opposite to the left and right sides while being inclined with respect to a front direction of the light-emitting display unit, The indicator light is characterized in that the light-emitting display portion has a substantially flat back surface.

2. 2. The indicator light according to claim 1, wherein the light-emitting indicator has a substantially flat front surface.

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