Interlocking U-Shaped Yoke for Moving Head Lighting Fixture

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Solution Overview

Problem

Prior moving head lighting fixtures are complex and costly to manufacture, leading to high prices and complicated serviceability issues due to numerous components and unbalanced head designs that wear out bearings quickly.

Innovation Solution

A moving head lighting fixture with a U-shaped yoke comprising interlocking shell parts that provide a stiff and cost-effective structure, reducing the need for internal metal support and incorporating belt tensioning mechanisms for simplified assembly and reduced component count.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If traditional moving head lighting fixtures use multiple components and unbalanced head designs, then the optical performance and light effects are improved, but the manufacturing cost increases and serviceability becomes complicated

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight outputVSAvoidnumber of components
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple components into an integrated yoke assembly where the yoke shell parts interlock to form a unified structure. The head assembly is integrated with the yoke through the interlocking mechanism, reducing the number of separate components while maintaining the necessary optical performance and light effects.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The yoke is divided into two shell parts that can be manufactured separately and then interlocked. This segmentation allows for easier manufacturing and assembly while creating a complete yoke structure that supports the lighting fixture's optical components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of manufacture

If traditional moving head lighting fixtures use unbalanced head designs, then the head can be mounted on one side, but the bearings wear out quickly and serviceability is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly simplicityVSAvoidbearing durability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The interlocking yoke shell parts create a balanced structural framework that distributes the head's weight and operational forces more evenly across the bearing points. The interlocking mechanism provides structural support that counteracts the unbalanced loading conditions that cause premature bearing wear.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #8Anti-weight (Counterweight)

3Strength

If traditional moving head lighting fixtures use complex internal metal support structures, then the structural strength is maintained, but the manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural strengthVSAvoidmanufacturing cost
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses interlocking shell parts to create the yoke structure instead of traditional internal metal support frameworks. These shell parts provide the necessary structural strength through their interlocking geometry and material properties while being more cost-effective to manufacture than complex internal metal structures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

4Reliability

If traditional moving head lighting fixtures use separate tensioning components, then the belt tensioning is achieved, but the component count increases and assembly time is extended

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebelt tensioningVSAvoidcomponent count
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The belt tensioning function is merged into the interlocking yoke shell parts themselves. The interlocking mechanism incorporates the tensioning function, eliminating the need for separate tensioning components while maintaining reliable belt tensioning for the lighting fixture's movement control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP2536974B1Illumination device with interlocked yoke shell parts
Publication Date: 2015.01.21 MARTIN PROFESSIONAL
  • EP2536974B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2536974B1 patent drawingFigure 1b
  • EP2536974B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

The present invention relates to an illumination device comprising a base, a U-shaped yoke connected to and rotatable relative to the base and a head connected to and rotatable relative to the yoke. The U-shaped yoke comprise two upstanding arms and the head is mounted between the upstanding arms. The head comprises at least one light source generating a light and the yoke comprises two interlocked U-shaped yoke shell parts. The present invention relates also to a method of manufacturing such illumination device. The method comprises the steps of providing the base, providing the head and providing the yoke where the step of providing the yoke comprises the step of locking two yoke shell parts together across the entire width of said yoke.