Lighting device

Abstract

To provide a compact lighting device.SOLUTION: In the lighting device 1 provided with a case body 3 arranged in a ceiling space in a state installed on a ceiling, a light source unit 5 housed inside the case body 3, and a cover 4 having a front glass plate 42 transmitting light from the light source unit 5 toward the inside of a room, the light source unit 5 is provided with an LED substrate mounted with a plurality of LED chips. The top plate of the casing of the light source unit 5 and the top plate 35 of the case body 3 are connected by a flat plate-like connecting bracket 7 extending in parallel to the extending direction of the top plates. This makes it possible to reduce the size of lighting apparatus 1. In addition, with the miniaturization of the lighting device 1, the weight of the lighting device 1 can be reduced, and the installation workability can be improved.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a lighting device, and more particularly to an improvement for miniaturizing a lighting device. [Background technology]

[0002] BACKGROUND ART Conventionally, a safety-enhanced explosion-proof ceiling-embedded lighting device has been known as a lighting device applied to clean rooms, paint booths, and the like (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] The lighting device disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes a rectangular box-shaped case body placed in the ceiling space and a light source unit housed inside the case body that irradiates light indoors. The light source unit uses a straight-tube LED lamp. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 6991281 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] When installing a ceiling-mounted lighting device (hereinafter sometimes simply referred to as a lighting device), the ceiling space must be large enough to accommodate the case body. However, until now, little consideration has been given to saving space in the ceiling space by miniaturizing the lighting device. Furthermore, when installing a ceiling-mounted lighting device in the ceiling of a newly constructed building, such as a new factory, the ceiling space must be large enough to accommodate the lighting device (the case body), so the building must be designed with the height of the lighting device in mind. In other words, the design of a new building was cumbersome, as it required a design that took into account the external shape (size) of the lighting device. For this reason, there has been a demand for lighting devices that are so small that the size of the lighting device does not need to be considered when designing a new building. The miniaturization of lighting devices is not only required when installing lighting devices in the ceiling of a new building, but also when installing new lighting devices in the ceiling of an existing building (replacement of existing lighting devices with new lighting devices) from the perspective of installation workability. The demand for such miniaturization of lighting devices is not limited to ceiling-embedded lighting devices, but also applies to lighting devices installed in various locations.

[0006] The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to provide a lighting device that has been made compact. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The solution of the present invention to achieve the above object is based on a lighting device including a case body that is placed in a predetermined storage space in an installed state, a light source unit housed inside the case body, and a translucent panel that transmits light from the light source unit toward a space to be illuminated. This lighting device is characterized in that the light source unit has an LED board on which a plurality of LED chips are mounted, and the upper end of the light source unit is adjacent to the top plate of the case body, and the lower end of the light source unit is adjacent to the upper surface of the translucent panel.

[0008] In addition, when the lighting device is a ceiling-embedded type, the predetermined accommodation space corresponds to the ceiling space of a building, and the space to be illuminated corresponds to the interior of the building.

[0009] Due to the above-mentioned features, the height dimension of the case body can be shortened to a level that is approximately equal to the height dimension of the light source unit (a light source unit that has been made thinner by having an LED substrate on which multiple LED chips are mounted). This allows for the miniaturization of the lighting device. Furthermore, as the lighting device becomes smaller, the weight of the lighting device can also be reduced, improving installation workability. Furthermore, as the lighting device becomes lighter, the support brackets (brackets) for supporting the lighting device can also be made smaller and lighter, making it possible to reduce the size and weight of the entire lighting device, including these support brackets.

[0010] The light source unit also includes a casing that houses the LED substrate, and the casing has a top plate that extends parallel to the top plate of the case body, and the top plate of the casing and the top plate of the case body are connected by a flat connecting bracket that extends parallel to the extension direction of the top plates.

[0011] This makes it possible to specifically identify a configuration in which the light source unit is supported inside the case body while the upper end of the light source unit is brought close to the top plate of the case body, thereby making it possible to miniaturize the lighting device, and thereby making it possible to put the present invention into practical use.

[0012] Furthermore, among the case body, the light-transmitting panel, and the light source unit, only the light source unit has an explosion-proof structure.

[0013] When a lighting device is used in a clean room, a paint booth, or the like, an explosion-proof structure is generally required for the lighting device. In this case, by applying an explosion-proof structure (e.g., a resin-filled explosion-proof structure) to the light source unit, it is not necessary to adopt an explosion-proof structure for the case body and the translucent panel. As a result, there are no particular restrictions on the structure, shape, material, etc. of the case body and the translucent panel. In other words, it is possible to adopt a structure, shape, material, etc. that allows for further miniaturization and weight reduction of the case body and the translucent panel. In addition, the configuration of the case body and the translucent panel can be customized depending on the requirements of the installation location of the lighting device.

[0014] Furthermore, the cover including the translucent panel is removably attached to the case body by a spring hinge, and the spring hinge has a coil portion supported by the cover and a locking leg portion continuous with the coil portion. When the cover is attached to the case body, the locking leg portion is locked to the spring hinge locking fitting provided on the case body while pressing against the spring hinge locking fitting. When the cover is to be removed from the case body, pressure is applied to the locking leg portion in the opposite direction to the pressing direction to release the locking state of the locking leg portion relative to the spring hinge locking fitting. A cover member made of an elastic material is attached to the tip of the locking leg portion.

[0015] When the cover is removed from the case body and the pressure applied to the locking legs of the spring hinges is released, if the restoring force of the locking legs to their original shape is large, the locking legs may elastically deform toward the translucent panel and collide with the translucent panel. In particular, in the present invention, since the lighting device is compact, the space for arranging the spring hinges is limited, and it is likely that the locking legs of the spring hinges will have to be elastically deformed greatly when removing the cover from the case body, which tends to increase the restoring force. In this solution, because the cover member is attached to the tip of the locking legs of the spring hinges, even if the locking legs elastically deform toward the translucent panel, the cover member will collide with the translucent panel, preventing the locking legs from directly colliding with the translucent panel, thereby preventing damage to the translucent panel.

[0016] The lighting device also includes the following renewal plate: That is, the lighting device is a ceiling-embedded type, the case body is adapted to be inserted into a recessed opening formed in a ceiling panel, and includes a renewal plate to be used when the opening shape of the existing recessed opening is larger than the shape of the case body, the outer shape of the renewal plate is larger than the opening shape of the existing recessed opening, and the shape of the fitting opening provided in the renewal plate is larger than the shape of the case body and smaller than the outer shape of the cover including the light-transmitting panel.

[0017] When replacing an existing lighting device with a new lighting device according to the present invention, the existing lighting device is larger than the new lighting device, so a relatively large recessed opening is formed in the ceiling panel according to the shape of the case body of the existing lighting device. Therefore, simply removing the existing lighting device from the ceiling panel and installing the new lighting device may result in a gap between the new lighting device and the edge of the recessed opening, or the new lighting device may not be able to be installed. In consideration of this, the present solution uses the aforementioned renewal plate, making it possible to replace the existing lighting device with the new lighting device without creating a gap between the new lighting device and the edge of the recessed opening. [Effects of the Invention]

[0018] In the present invention, a lighting device including a case body, a light source unit, and a translucent panel is configured such that the upper end of the light source unit is close to the top plate of the case body and the lower end of the light source unit is close to the upper surface of the translucent panel. This allows for a compact lighting device. Furthermore, as the lighting device becomes more compact, the weight of the lighting device can be reduced, and installation workability can be improved. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0019] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view of the lighting device according to the first embodiment, as seen from below. FIG. [Figure 2] 1 is a perspective view of a lighting device according to a first embodiment, seen from above. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III in FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV in FIG. [Figure 5] 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a hanging structure of a cover in the lighting device according to the first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 6] 3A and 3B are diagrams illustrating a spring hinge and its surrounding area in the lighting device according to the first embodiment. [Figure 7]2 is a cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of a light source unit in the lighting device according to the first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a support structure for a light source unit in the lighting device according to the first embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a conventional lighting device that uses a straight-tube LED lamp as a light source unit. [Figure 10] 1 is a diagram showing a spring hinge and its surrounding area in a conventional lighting device. [Figure 11] Figure 11(a) is a diagram equivalent to Figure 6 for explaining the cover removal process, and Figure 11(b) is a diagram showing an example of the deformation state of the spring hinge when the pressing force on the spring hinge is released after the cover is removed. [Figure 12] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the lighting device according to the second embodiment, as viewed from below. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XIII-XIII in FIG. [Figure 14] FIG. 14(a) is a cross-sectional view showing the support structure of the case body in the lighting device according to the second embodiment, and FIG. 14(b) is a cross-sectional view showing the support structure of the cover in the lighting device according to the second embodiment. [Figure 15] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a support structure for a light source unit in an illumination device according to a second embodiment. [Figure 16] FIG. 10 is a perspective view for explaining the work of replacing an existing lighting device with the lighting device according to the present invention. [Figure 17] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a new lighting device to be replaced with an existing lighting device, as viewed from above. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0020] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In this embodiment, an illumination device according to the present invention is installed on the ceiling surface of a room such as a clean room.

[0021] -First embodiment- First, a first embodiment will be described. Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an illumination device 1 according to this embodiment, seen from below. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the illumination device 1, seen from above. Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV in Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the suspension structure of the cover 4 in the illumination device 1. In the following description, as shown in Fig. 1, the width direction of the illumination device 1 is defined as the X direction, the longitudinal direction as the Y direction, and the height direction as the Z direction.

[0022] The lighting device 1 is of an increased safety explosion-proof type. Specifically, the light source unit 5 housed inside the housing 2, which will be described later, has a resin-filled explosion-proof structure. An emergency light unit may also be housed inside the housing 2. The lighting device 1 is dustproof and waterproof, and is configured to comply with an ingress protection rating (IP code) of, for example, IP65. The lighting device 1 is of a ceiling-embedded type, and when installed on the ceiling, it is supported by beams or the like in the ceiling space using hanging bolts B, B, ... (shown by imaginary lines in FIG. 2), and is fitted into a recessed opening 101 formed in a ceiling board 100 (see FIG. 5).

[0023] As shown in Figures 1, 3 and 4, the lighting device 1 includes a housing 2 and a light source unit 5, and is supported by the aforementioned hanging bolts B, B, ... via support brackets 35b, 35b, ... assembled to the housing 2.

[0024] (Housing) As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the housing 2 includes a case body 3 and a cover 4 disposed below the case body 3 in a detachable manner.

[0025] The case body 3 is made of, for example, a steel plate and has a rectangular box shape. The case body 3 may be painted white. The case body 3 includes a pair of side plates 31, 32 extending perpendicular to the X direction and facing each other, a pair of side plates 33, 34 extending perpendicular to the Y direction and facing each other, and a top plate 35 extending between the upper ends of the side plates 31 to 34. This gives the case body 3 a rectangular box shape with an opening 36 on the lower side. As shown in FIG. 2 , flat reinforcing panels 35a are attached to both sides of the top plate 35 in the Y direction. Four support brackets 35b are attached to the upper side of the reinforcing panel 35a by bolts B1 inserted through the reinforcing panel 35a and the top plate 35. The hanging bolts B are inserted through bolt insertion holes provided in the support brackets 35b.

[0026] The cover 4 is detachable from the case body 3, and is configured to cover the opening 36 when the cover 4 is attached to the case body 3. The cover 4 has a front frame 41 made of steel plate (for example, white-painted steel plate) and a front glass plate 42 provided inside the front frame 41. The front frame 41 is not limited to being made of steel plate, and may also be made of an aluminum alloy (for example, anodized) or stainless steel (for example, buffed).

[0027] The front frame 41 is provided with a plurality of spring hinges 43 (see FIG. 6). The spring hinges 43 are provided to attach the cover 4 to the case body 3. In this embodiment, two spring hinges 43 are provided along the Y direction on each side in the X direction (a total of four spring hinges 43 are provided). The number and positions of the spring hinges 43 are not limited to this, and a configuration in which three spring hinges 43 are provided along the Y direction on each side in the X direction (a total of six spring hinges 43 are provided) is also possible. The attachment structure of the cover 4 using these spring hinges 43 will be described later.

[0028] As shown in Fig. 1, the front glass plate 42 has a transparent glass portion 42a and frosted glass portions 42b, 42b. The transparent glass portion 42a is located opposite the light source unit 5 and is configured so that light emitted from the light source unit 5 passes through the transparent glass portion 42a. Therefore, the front glass plate 42 corresponds to the translucent panel of the present invention. The frosted glass portions 42b, 42b are located on both outer sides of the transparent glass portion 42a in the Y direction and are provided to hide part of the interior of the case body 3. Note that the entire front glass plate 42 may be transparent without providing the frosted glass portion 42b.

[0029] Here, the attachment structure (hanging structure) of the cover 4 to the case body 3 will be described with reference to Fig. 5. Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view (cross-sectional view along the X direction) showing the state in which the cover 4 is attached to the case body 3 by the spring hinge 43.

[0030] As shown in FIG. 5 , the lower portion of the side panel 31 of the case body 3 includes a first horizontal portion 31a extending horizontally outward from the lower end of the side panel 31, and a first vertical portion 31b extending slightly upward from the outer end of the first horizontal portion 31a. A gasket 37 is housed in the area surrounded by the side panel 31, the first horizontal portion 31a, and the first vertical portion 31b. When the case body 3 is suspended and supported by the hanging bolts B, the first horizontal portion 31a and the first vertical portion 31b are located below the ceiling panel 100 (indoor side), and the gasket 37 abuts against the underside of the ceiling panel 100. This configuration is provided around the entire periphery of the case body 3, preventing a gap from forming between the case body 3 and the ceiling panel 100.

[0031] On the other hand, the outer shape of the front frame 41 is slightly larger than the opening shape of the recessed opening 101 in the ceiling panel 100, and when attached to the case body 3 by the spring hinge 43, the outer peripheral edge of the front frame 41 abuts against the underside of the ceiling panel 100.

[0032] The front frame 41 includes a second horizontal portion 41a extending horizontally, an inclined portion 41b extending diagonally upward from the outer end of the second horizontal portion 41a, and a second vertical portion 41c extending vertically upward by folding back from the inner end of the second horizontal portion 41a. A packing 44 is disposed above the second horizontal portion 41a, and when the cover 4 is attached to the case body 3, the packing 44 is sandwiched between the first horizontal portion 31a and the second horizontal portion 41a, thereby preventing a gap from forming between the case body 3 and the cover 4.

[0033] 5 and 6 (views of the spring hinge 43 and its surroundings from the X-direction), a spring hinge support bracket 45 is screwed to the second vertical portion 41c. The spring hinge support bracket 45 includes a third vertical portion 45a screwed to the second vertical portion 41c, a third horizontal portion 45b extending slightly horizontally from the lower end of the third vertical portion 45a toward the center of the cover 4, and a locking portion 45c continuing from the upper portion of the third vertical portion 45a and locking with the coil portion 43a of the spring hinge 43. A packing 46 is disposed between the second horizontal portion 41a and the third horizontal portion 45b, and this packing 46 elastically holds the outer periphery of the front glass plate 42.

[0034] 6, the spring hinge 43 is configured by bending a metal wire, and includes the aforementioned coil portion 43a and a pair of locking legs 43b, 43b extending obliquely upward (diagonally upward toward the outside in the Y direction) from both sides (both sides in the Y direction) of the coil portion 43a. Meanwhile, a spring hinge locking fitting 47 is screwed to the side plate 31 of the case body 3. The spring hinge locking fitting 47 includes a fourth vertical portion 47a screwed to the side plate 31, and a fourth horizontal portion 47b extending horizontally from the lower end of the fourth vertical portion 47a toward the center of the case body 3. The center of the fourth horizontal portion 47b is provided with a notch 47c into which the locking legs 43b of the spring hinge 43 are inserted. As shown in Fig. 6, when the cover 4 is attached to the case body 3, the locking legs 43b of the spring hinge 43 press against the inner edge of the notch 47c of the spring hinge locking fitting 47. That is, the left locking leg 43b in Fig. 6 presses the inner edge of the notch 47c toward the left in the figure, and the right locking leg 43b in Fig. 6 presses the inner edge of the notch 47c toward the right in the figure. This pressing force (a pressing force outward in the Y direction in Fig. 6) acts as a force to pull the cover 4 upward, thereby pressing the cover 4 against the underside of the ceiling board 100 and the case body 3, thereby ensuring a stable suspended support state.

[0035] (light source unit) Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of light source unit 5. Note that the internal structure of light source unit 5 is not limited to that shown in Fig. 7. As shown in Fig. 7, light source unit 5 has a casing 51 having an opening 51a on the bottom side, a board mounting plate 52 attached to casing 51 so as to cover opening 51a, a case portion 53 attached to board mounting plate 52, a light emitting portion 54 housed inside case portion 53, a power supply portion 55 housed inside casing 51, and an outer plate portion 56 attached to the outside of case portion 53.

[0036] The casing 51 includes an outer peripheral side surface portion 51b and a top plate 51c. The casing 51 is made of, for example, an aluminum alloy. Each portion of the casing 51 is ribbed to improve its strength.

[0037] The board mounting plate 52 is formed from, for example, a steel plate, etc. The board mounting plate 52 is fixed to the lower end side of the casing 51 at a plurality of points on the peripheral side by fastening members (not shown).

[0038] The case 53 includes a right case 53a and a left case 53b made of a light-transmitting material (e.g., acrylic resin). Both the right case 53a and the left case 53b open upward and define an accommodation space α therein capable of accommodating the light-emitting unit 54. The right case 53a and the left case 53b are each fixed to the outer surface of the board mounting plate 52 at multiple locations on their peripheries by fastening members (not shown).

[0039] The light-emitting unit 54 includes a large number of LED chips 54b mounted on an LED substrate 54a, and is housed in the housing space α of the case 53. The conductive parts of the light-emitting unit 54, including the LED chips 54b, are covered with an insulating member such as a resin mold, thereby ensuring the electrical insulation distance of the light-emitting unit 54 (for example, insulation spatial distance, creepage distance, etc.).

[0040] The power supply unit 55 supplies power from a commercial power source to the light-emitting unit 54 and a charging device (not shown). The power supply unit 55 includes a power supply board (not shown) equipped with a power control circuit. The power supply unit 55 is fixed to the inner surface of the top plate 51c of the casing 51 by fastening members 55b on both sides via fixing brackets 55a. The current-carrying portions of the power supply unit 55 are covered with an insulating member such as a resin mold. This ensures an electrical insulation distance for the power supply unit 55.

[0041] The outer plate portion 56 is formed from a light-transmitting material (for example, transparent glass), and is fixed to the lower end side of the casing 51 at multiple points on the peripheral side by fastening members 55c via fixing brackets 56a. An annular sealing member 56b made of silicone sponge rubber or the like is provided between the casing 51 and the outer plate portion 56. The sealing member 56b prevents water, dust, and the like from entering the inside of the casing 51, ensuring the waterproof and dustproof properties of the casing 51 (for example, to a degree that complies with the IP65 protection rating).

[0042] As described above, the light source unit 5 has an increased safety explosion-proof structure in which the electrical insulation distance between the light emitting section 54 and the power supply section 55 is ensured and the waterproof and dustproof properties of the casing 51 are ensured.

[0043] (Light source unit storage configuration) One of the features of this embodiment is the manner in which the light source unit 5 is accommodated inside the housing 2.

[0044] Specifically, the upper end of the light source unit 5 is close to the top plate 35 of the case body 3, and the lower end of the light source unit 5 is close to the upper surface of the front glass plate 42. This makes it possible to reduce the height dimension of the housing 2. The manner in which the light source unit 5 is accommodated inside the housing 2 will be described below.

[0045] Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing the support structure for the light source unit 5 inside the case body 3. In Fig. 8, the case body 3 and the reinforcing panel 35a are shown by virtual lines. Also, Fig. 8 shows the support structure for the light source unit 5 on one side in the Y direction, but the support structure on the other side (the other side in the Y direction) is substantially the same. Note that in the support structure on this other side, a similar support structure is employed below the terminal box TB (see Figs. 2 and 3) disposed on the top plate 35 of the case body 3.

[0046] 8, the top plate 51c of the casing 51 of the light source unit 5 and the top plate 35 of the case main body 3 are connected via a connecting bracket 7. The connecting bracket 7 is made of metal and has a flat plate shape, with an area on one side in the Y direction (the left side in FIG. 8) serving as a first connecting portion 71 that is connected to the top plate 51c of the casing 51 of the light source unit 5, and an area on the other side in the Y direction (the right side in FIG. 8) serving as a second connecting portion 72 that is connected to the top plate 35 of the case main body 3 and the reinforcing panel 35a.

[0047] Specifically, the dimension of the first connecting portion 71 in the X direction is set to be slightly shorter than the dimension of the second connecting portion 72 in the X direction. The dimension of the first connecting portion 71 in the X direction substantially matches the dimension of the top plate 51c of the casing 51 of the light source unit 5 in the X direction. Bolt insertion holes are formed in two locations on both sides of the first connecting portion 71 in the X direction, and bolts B2, B2 are inserted into the bolt insertion holes to connect the first connecting portion 71 to the top plate 51c of the casing 51 of the light source unit 5. More specifically, the portion of the top plate 51c of the casing 51 of the light source unit 5 on which the first connecting portion 71 of the connecting bracket 7 is placed is not ribbed, and this portion is flat. A flat connecting plate 73 is placed on top of this flat portion, and bolts B2, B2 are inserted through bolt insertion holes formed in the top plate 51c of the casing 51, the connecting plate 73, and the first connecting portion 71, thereby connecting the top plate 51c of the casing 51 of the light source unit 5 to the first connecting portion 71.

[0048] In addition, bolt insertion holes are formed in two locations on both sides of the second connecting portion 72 in the X direction, and bolts B3 are inserted into these bolt insertion holes to connect the second connecting portion 72 to the top plate 35 and reinforcing panel 35a of the case main body 3.

[0049] Since the top plate 51c of the casing 51 of the light source unit 5 and the top plate 35 of the case body 3 are connected via such a flat connecting bracket 7, there is only a gap approximately the thickness of the connecting bracket 7 between the top plate 51c of the casing 51 of the light source unit 5 and the top plate 35 of the case body 3. Also, as described above, the lower end of the light source unit 5 is located close to the upper surface of the front glass plate 42.

[0050] With these configurations, the height dimension of the case body 3 can be shortened to a degree that is approximately equal to the height dimension of the light source unit 5 (a light source unit that has been made thinner by having an LED substrate 54a on which a plurality of LED chips 54b are mounted) and therefore the lighting device 1 can be made more compact.

[0051] FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view (corresponding to FIG. 3) showing a conventional lighting device a that employs a straight-tube LED lamp b as a light source unit. As is clear from FIGS. 3 and 9, the height dimension of the housing 2 of the lighting device 1 according to this embodiment is significantly shorter than that of the conventional lighting device a. For example, it is about 50% shorter than that of the conventional lighting device a (e.g., about 100 mm). This value is not limited to this. Furthermore, the lighting device according to this embodiment has shorter length dimensions in both the X and Y directions than that of the conventional lighting device a. For example, the length dimension in the Y direction of the lighting device 1 according to this embodiment is about 30% shorter than that of the conventional lighting device a (e.g., about 1000 mm in the Y direction and about 350 mm in the X direction). These values ​​are also not limited to these. Due to the shorter height and length dimensions, the weight of the lighting device 1 is also reduced. Specifically, the weight of the lighting device 1 according to this embodiment is about 40% shorter than that of the conventional lighting device a (e.g., about 22 kg). This value is also not limited to these. As a result of this reduction in the weight of the lighting device 1, it is also possible to reduce the size and weight of the brackets (the support brackets 35b described above) that support the lighting device 1, making it possible to reduce the size and weight of the entire lighting device 1, including these brackets. Furthermore, by using the LED board 54a on which the LED chip 54b is mounted as the light source, it is possible to achieve an improvement of approximately 30% in specific energy consumption efficiency compared to the conventional lighting device a that uses a straight-tube LED lamp b as the light source. However, this value is not limited to this.

[0052] (Protective structure of the front glass plate) Another feature of this embodiment is that, as shown in Fig. 6, cover members 43c, 43c made of an elastic material are attached to the tip of each of the locking legs 43b, 43b of the spring hinge 43. These cover members 43c are made of rubber or resin and are molded, for example, into a cylindrical shape with a bottom, and are attached so as to cover at least the tip of each of the locking legs 43b, 43b. This is to prevent the tips of the locking legs 43b, 43b from directly hitting the front glass plate 42 and damaging it when the cover 4 is removed from the case body 3. This will be explained in detail below.

[0053] FIG. 10 shows a spring hinge c and its surroundings in a conventional lighting device a. In the conventional lighting device a, the height of the case body d was relatively large, providing ample space for the spring hinge c, and the angle of inclination of the locking legs e of the spring hinge c relative to the vertical was relatively small. To remove the cover f from the case body d, an operator presses the locking legs e, e inward (toward the opposite locking leg e) (see arrow F in FIG. 10 ), shortening the gap between the pair of locking legs e, e, and then pulls the locking legs e, e out of the notch in the spring hinge locking fitting g. In this case, in the conventional lighting device a, the angle of inclination of the locking legs e, e relative to the vertical was relatively small, so the amount of deformation due to the pressing force was small. Therefore, even when the pressing force was released, the restoring force of the locking legs e, e, attempting to return to their original shape was small. In other words, the locking legs e, e do not undergo large elastic deformation toward the front glass plate h.

[0054] However, in the lighting device 1 according to this embodiment, since the height dimension of the case body 3 is short as described above, it is not possible to secure sufficient space (vertical space) for arranging the spring hinge 43. As a result, the inclination angle of the locking legs 43b of the spring hinge 43 relative to the vertical direction is large (they extend in a direction closer to the horizontal direction than conventional hinges). Specifically, the height dimension of the entire spring hinge 43 is shortened by bending a portion of the locking legs 43b outward (outward in the Y direction). In addition, the tip portions of the locking legs 43b include bent portions 43d for suspending the cover 4 in a state where it is locked to the case body 3 (in a state where it is locked to the spring hinge locking fittings 47). Therefore, when removing the cover 4 from the case body 3, the operator must pull the cover 4 down from the case body 3 and temporarily engage the bent portion 43d with the fourth horizontal portion 47b of the spring hinge locking fitting 47 to hang it down, and then deform the locking legs 43b, 43b significantly inward (by applying a pressing force indicated by arrow F in Figure 11(a)) to shorten the distance between the pair of locking legs 43b, 43b, and then pull the locking legs 43b, 43b out of the cutout portion 47c of the spring hinge locking fitting 47. At this time, the amount of deformation due to the pressure is large. Therefore, when the pressure on the locking legs 43b is released after removing the cover 4 from the case body 3, the locking legs 43b have a large restoring force to return to their original shape. This causes the tips of the locking legs 43b (tips of the bent portions 43d) to be significantly elastically deformed toward the front glass plate 42 and may collide with the front glass plate 42. In this embodiment, the cover members 43c are attached to the tips (bent portions 43d) of the locking legs 43b of the spring hinge 43. Therefore, even if the locking legs 43b are significantly elastically deformed toward the front glass plate 42, as shown in FIG. 11(b), the cover member 43c will collide with the front glass plate 42 (the tips of the metal locking legs 43b will not directly collide with the front glass plate 42), thereby preventing damage to the front glass plate 42.

[0055] (Effects of the embodiment) As described above, in this embodiment, the upper end of the light source unit 5 is close to the top plate 35 of the case body 3, and the lower end of the light source unit 5 is close to the upper surface of the front glass plate 42. This allows the height dimension of the housing 2 to be shortened, allowing the lighting device 1 to be made more compact. As a result, space above the ceiling can be saved. Furthermore, as the lighting device 1 is made more compact, the weight of the lighting device 1 can be reduced, and installation workability can be improved.

[0056] Furthermore, in this embodiment, cover members 43c, 43c made of an elastic material are attached to the tip of each of the locking legs 43b, 43b of the spring hinge 43. As a result, even if the locking legs 43b, 43b are significantly elastically deformed toward the front glass plate 42 when the cover 4 is removed from the case body 3, the cover member 43c will collide with the front glass plate 42, preventing damage to the front glass plate 42.

[0057] Furthermore, in this embodiment, since an explosion-proof structure (resin-filled explosion-proof structure) is applied to the light source unit 5, there is no need to adopt an explosion-proof structure for the housing 2. As a result, there are no particular restrictions on the structure, shape, material, etc. of the case body 3 and cover 4 that constitute the housing 2. In other words, it is possible to adopt a structure, shape, material, etc. that allows the case body 3 and cover 4 to be further reduced in size and weight. Furthermore, the structure of the housing 2 can be customized according to the requirements of the installation location of the lighting device 1, thereby expanding the application forms of the lighting device 1.

[0058] -Second embodiment- Next, a second embodiment will be described. In this embodiment, the support structures of the case body 3 and the cover 4 in the lighting device 1 are different from those in the first embodiment described above. Specifically, the case body 3 is bolted to the ceiling panel 100, and the cover 4 is bolted to the case body 3. The other configurations are substantially the same as those in the first embodiment described above, so here, differences from the first embodiment will be mainly described.

[0059] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the lighting device 1 according to this embodiment, as seen from below. FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XIII-XIII in FIG. 12. FIG. 14(a) is a cross-sectional view showing the support structure of the case body 3, and FIG. 14(b) is a cross-sectional view showing the support structure of the cover 4. The cross-sectional positions in the Y direction are different between FIG. 14(a) and FIG. 14(b). In this embodiment, the support structure of the case body 3 shown in FIG. 14(a) is provided at multiple locations (e.g., six locations) along the Y direction on both sides of the lighting device 1 in the X direction, and the support structure of the cover 4 shown in FIG. 14(b) is provided at multiple locations (e.g., four locations) along the Y direction on both sides of the lighting device 1. In each drawing, the same components as those in the first embodiment described above are designated by the same reference numerals, and their description will be omitted.

[0060] 14(a), similar to the first embodiment, the lower portion of the side plate 31 of the case body 3 includes a first horizontal portion 31a and a first vertical portion 31b. In addition, a fifth vertical portion 31c extends upward from the middle portion in the X direction of the first horizontal portion 31a.

[0061] A reinforcing metal fitting 102 with an L-shaped cross section is disposed along the edge of the recessed opening 101 on the upper surface of the edge of the recessed opening 101 in the ceiling panel 100. A bolt B4 is inserted from below through bolt insertion holes formed in the first horizontal portion 31a of the case body 3, the ceiling panel 100, and the reinforcing metal fitting 102, and the bolt B4 is screwed into a nut N provided at the top of the reinforcing metal fitting 102, thereby attaching the case body 3 to the ceiling panel 100. A packing 37 is housed in the area surrounded by the side panel 31, the first horizontal portion 31a, and the fifth vertical portion 31c. When the case body 3 is attached to the ceiling panel 100, the packing 37 is sandwiched between the ceiling panel 100 and the first horizontal portion 31a. This configuration is provided around the entire periphery of the case body 3, preventing a gap from occurring between the case body 3 and the ceiling panel 100.

[0062] 14(b), the front frame 41 includes a second horizontal portion 41a extending horizontally, a sixth vertical portion 41d extending upward from the outer end of the second horizontal portion 41a, and a seventh vertical portion 41e extending upward from the inner end of the second horizontal portion 41a. Reinforcing members 41f and 41g are attached to the second horizontal portion 41a and the sixth vertical portion 41d, respectively. A gasket 48 is disposed between the sixth vertical portion 41d and the reinforcing member 41g. This gasket 48 abuts against the underside of the ceiling panel 100, preventing a gap from forming between the ceiling panel 100 and the front frame 41. A gasket 49 is also disposed between the seventh vertical portion 41e and the reinforcing member 41f. This gasket 49 elastically holds the outer periphery of the front glass plate 42.

[0063] A support bracket 38 for supporting the front frame 41 is welded to the underside of the first horizontal portion 31a, and a bolt B5 is inserted from below through a bolt insertion hole formed in a horizontal portion 38a provided at the bottom of this support bracket 38 and a bolt insertion hole formed in the second horizontal portion 41a, and the bolt B5 is screwed into a nut N1 provided on the horizontal portion 38a, thereby attaching the front frame 41 to the case body 3. For this reason, the head of the bolt B5 faces the interior of the room (see Figures 12 and 13), and the cover 4 can be removed from the case body 3 by removing the bolt B5.

[0064] In this embodiment, the upper end of the light source unit 5 is close to the top plate 35 of the case body 3, and the lower end of the light source unit 5 is close to the upper surface of the front glass plate 42, which makes it possible to shorten the height dimension of the housing 2.

[0065] Fig. 15 is a perspective view showing the support structure for the light source unit 5 inside the case body 3. In Fig. 15, as in Fig. 8, the case body 3 and the reinforcing panel 35a are shown by virtual lines. Fig. 15 also shows the support structure for the light source unit 5 on one side in the Y direction, but the support structure on the other side (the other side in the Y direction) is substantially the same.

[0066] As shown in FIG. 15 , the top plate 51c of the casing 51 of the light source unit 5 and the top plate 35 of the case main body 3 are connected via a connecting bracket 7. The connecting bracket 7 is made of metal and has a flat plate shape. One side in the Y direction (the left side in FIG. 15 ) serves as a first connecting portion 71 that is connected to the top plate 51c of the casing 51 of the light source unit 5, and the other side in the Y direction (the right side in FIG. 15 ) serves as a second connecting portion 72 that is connected to the top plate 35 of the case main body 3 and the reinforcing panel 35a. The connecting structure between the first connecting portion 71 and the top plate 51c of the casing 51 of the light source unit 5 is the same as in the first embodiment described above, so a description thereof will be omitted here. The connecting structure between the second connecting portion 72 and the top plate 35 of the case main body 3 and the reinforcing panel 35a is also the same as in the first embodiment described above, so a description thereof will be omitted here.

[0067] Since the top plate 51c of the casing 51 of the light source unit 5 and the top plate 35 of the case body 3 are connected via such a flat connecting bracket 7, there is only a gap approximately the thickness of the connecting bracket 7 between the top plate 51c of the casing 51 of the light source unit 5 and the top plate 35 of the case body 3. In addition, the lower end of the light source unit 5 is located close to the upper surface of the front glass plate 42.

[0068] With these configurations, even in this embodiment, the height dimension of the case body 3 can be shortened to a degree that is approximately equal to the height dimension of the light source unit 5. As a result, the illumination device 1 can be made more compact.

[0069] -Replacing lighting equipment- The lighting device 1 according to each of the above-described embodiments can be installed on the ceiling of a newly constructed building such as a newly constructed factory, but can also be used as a lighting device newly installed on the ceiling of an existing building (a lighting device that replaces an existing lighting device).

[0070] Hereinafter, the work of replacing an existing lighting device with the lighting device 1 according to the embodiment (compact lighting device: hereinafter referred to as a new lighting device) will be described.

[0071] The existing lighting device is larger than the new lighting device, and a relatively large recessed opening 101 is formed in ceiling board 100 in accordance with the shape of the case body of the existing lighting device. Therefore, if one attempts to simply remove the existing lighting device from ceiling board 100 and install the new lighting device, a gap may be created between the new lighting device and the edge of recessed opening 101, or the new lighting device may not be able to be installed.

[0072] In view of this, when replacing such lighting devices, a renewal plate is used to close the gap.

[0073] FIG. 16 is a perspective view illustrating the process of replacing an existing lighting device 1′ with a new lighting device (a lighting device according to the present invention; the lighting device shown in FIG. 16 is the lighting device according to the first embodiment) 1. The renewal plate 8 is made of, for example, a rectangular metal plate with an opening (fitting opening) 81 in its center for embedding the lighting device. The outer shape (width and length) of the renewal plate 8 is set slightly larger than the outer shape (width and length) of the recessed opening 101 into which the existing lighting device 1′ was fitted. In other words, if the model of the existing lighting device 1′ is known in advance, the outer shape of the corresponding recessed opening 101 is also known, and a renewal plate 8 of an appropriate size can be prepared. Furthermore, the shape of the opening 81 provided in the renewal plate 8 is set slightly larger than the shape (shape in plan view) of the case body 3 of the new lighting device (lighting device according to the present invention) 1 and slightly smaller than the shape (shape in plan view) of the front frame 41 of the new lighting device 1.

[0074] In replacing the lighting devices 1', 1, as shown in FIG. 16, after removing the existing lighting device 1' from the ceiling board 100 (see arrow A indicated by a dashed line in FIG. 16), the renewal plate 8 is attached to the ceiling board 100 at a position corresponding to the recessed opening 101 (see arrow B indicated by a dashed line in FIG. 16). This renewal plate 8 may be attached by bolting it directly to the ceiling board 100 if the strength of the ceiling board 100 is sufficiently high. Alternatively, a reinforcing metal fitting (reinforcing metal fitting 102 similar to that shown in FIG. 14(a)) may be arranged on the upper surface of the opening edge of the recessed opening 101 in the ceiling board 100, and the renewal plate 8 may be bolted across this reinforcing metal fitting 102 and the ceiling board 100.

[0075] After the renewal plate 8 is attached to the ceiling board 100 in this way, the new lighting device 1 is attached by fitting it into the opening 81 of the renewal plate 8 in the same manner as in the previously described embodiment (see arrow C indicated by the dashed line in FIG. 16). In other words, the opening 81 provided in the renewal plate 8 is treated in the same way as the recessed opening 101 in the previously described embodiment, and the new lighting device 1 is attached.

[0076] Because the lighting device (newly installed lighting device) 1 according to the present invention has a shorter height dimension than the existing lighting device 1', it may not be possible to support it with the suspension bolts B, B, ... using the support brackets 35b, 35b, ... as shown in FIG. 2. That is, when a lighting device 1 is newly installed as in the above-described embodiment, it is possible to support the lighting device 1 by providing dedicated suspension bolts B, B, ... to the lighting device 1 (see FIG. 2). However, when replacing the existing lighting device 1' with the new lighting device 1, the positions of the suspension bolts used to support the existing lighting device 1' may not match the positions of the support brackets 35b, 35b, ..., so it may not be possible to support the lighting device 1 by inserting the suspension bolts (the suspension bolts that had been used to support the existing lighting device 1') into the bolt insertion holes of the support brackets 35b, 35b, ... 17 (a perspective view of the new lighting device 1 viewed from above), a support frame 6 is placed across support brackets 35b, 35b facing each other in the Y direction, and bolt insertion holes are formed in the support frame 6 corresponding to the positions of the suspension bolts (the suspension bolts that had previously been used to support the existing lighting device 1′), and the new lighting device 1 is supported by inserting suspension bolts B into the bolt insertion holes. The support frame 6 is designed according to the shapes of the support brackets 35b, 35b, ... and the positions of the suspension bolts that had been used to support the existing lighting device 1′.

[0077] In this way, by interposing the renewal plate 8 between the ceiling board 100 and the new lighting device 1, it becomes possible to replace the existing lighting device 1' with the new lighting device 1 without creating a gap between the new lighting device 1 and the opening edge of the recessed opening 101.

[0078] -Other embodiments- The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and all modifications and applications within the scope of the claims and equivalents thereto are possible.

[0079] For example, in each of the above embodiments, the present invention has been described as being applied to a ceiling-embedded lighting device 1. However, the present invention is not limited to this and can be applied to lighting devices installed in various locations.

[0080] Furthermore, in each of the above-described embodiments, the connecting bracket 7 connecting the top plate 51c of the casing 51 of the light source unit 5 and the top plate 35 of the case body 3 is a flat plate-like member having a uniform thickness throughout. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the connecting bracket 7 may be a flat plate-like member having a non-uniform thickness, or a plate-like member having a shape that is partially bent in the thickness direction. In other words, it is sufficient that the configuration contributes to miniaturization of the lighting device 1 by bringing the upper end of the light source unit 5 and the top plate 35 of the case body 3 sufficiently close to each other when the top plate 51c of the casing 51 of the light source unit 5 and the top plate 35 of the case body 3 are connected. [Industrial Applicability]

[0081] The present invention is applicable to a ceiling-embedded lighting device that is explosion-proof and has increased safety. [Explanation of symbols]

[0082] 1. Lighting equipment 3 Case body 35 Top plate 4 Cover 42 Front glass plate (translucent panel) 43 Spring hinge 43a Coil section 43b Locking leg 43c Cover member 47 Spring hinge locking fitting 5 Light source unit 51 Casing 51c Top 54a LED board 54b LED chip 7 Connecting bracket 8 Renewal Plate 81 Opening (recessed opening) 100 Ceiling Panel 101 Recessed opening

Claims

1. A lighting device comprising: a case body that is placed in a predetermined storage space in an installed state; a light source unit that is stored inside the case body; and a light-transmitting panel that transmits light from the light source unit toward a space to be illuminated, The light source unit is configured to include an LED substrate on which a plurality of LED chips are mounted, An illumination device, characterized in that an upper end of the light source unit is close to a top plate of the case body, and a lower end of the light source unit is close to an upper surface of the light-transmitting panel.

2. 2. The lighting device according to claim 1, The light source unit comprises a casing that houses the LED substrate, the casing having a top plate that extends parallel to the top plate of the case body, and the top plate of the casing and the top plate of the case body are connected by a flat connecting bracket that extends parallel to the extension direction of the top plates.

3. 3. The lighting device according to claim 1, A lighting device characterized in that, among the case body, the light-transmitting panel, and the light source unit, only the light source unit has an explosion-proof structure.

4. 3. The lighting device according to claim 1, a cover including the light-transmitting panel is detachably attached to the case body by a spring hinge; The spring hinge comprises a coil portion supported by the cover and a locking leg portion continuous with the coil portion, and when the cover is attached to the case body, the locking leg portion is locked to the spring hinge locking fitting provided on the case body while pressing the spring hinge locking fitting, and when the cover is to be removed from the case body, pressure is applied to the locking leg portion in a direction opposite to the pressing direction to release the locking state of the locking leg portion with respect to the spring hinge locking fitting, A lighting device characterized in that a cover member made of an elastic material is attached to the tip of the engaging leg portion.

5. 3. The lighting device according to claim 1, The lighting device is a ceiling-embedded type, The case body is adapted to be inserted into a recessed opening formed in a ceiling panel, and includes a renewal plate that is used when the opening shape of the existing recessed opening is larger than the shape of the case body, the outer shape of the renewal plate is larger than the opening shape of the existing recessed opening, and the shape of the fitting opening provided in the renewal plate is larger than the shape of the case body and smaller than the outer shape of the cover including the translucent panel.

Images