Self-inflatable balloon containing a high-power electric lighting device.

Technical field of the invention

The invention relates to a lighting balloon having an inflatable envelope containing: -a lighting device having at least one electric power bulb mounted on a bulb support,

- a pneumatic fan device for ensuring the automatic inflation of the envelope by means of a fluid, in particular of the surrounding air,

- a protective cage-shaped grid surrounding the lighting device, said grid ensuring a mechanical rigidity effect for the envelope structure in the inflated state and preventing, in the deflated state, the envelope from coming into contact with said lighting device.

State of the art

A lighting balloon of the mentioned type is known from the document EP 834 693. The electric bulb and the cylindrical protective grid are mounted on a fixed support integral with the support plate for the balloon. As it is placed on the outside, the balloon at the top of a mast can be subjected to mechanical vibrations, which can be transmitted to the electric bulb. The prolonged action of these vibrations then risks to affect the electric connection and to cause an early wear of the bulb.

Object of the invention

The object of the invention consists in carrying out a self-inflatable balloon containing a reliable electric lighting device, insensitive to vibrations and providing a uniform lighting.

The lighting balloon according to the invention is characterized in that the bulb support is elastically connected to the protective grid by means of at least one set of springs for absorbing mechanical vibrations, and centering the lighting device along the median vertical axis of the balloon.

The bulb support of the lighting device can be formed by a hollow profile vertically extending at the center of the grid, each face of said profile being used as a connecting support for the bulbs.

According to a preferential embodiment, the profile has a quadrangular shape, and is provided with two sets of springs at its two opposite ends, the springs of each set being angularly shifted from one another for positioning said profile along the median vertical axis. The faces of the profile can be provided with several bulbs, for example in twos on opposite faces. The profile is thus floatingly mounted relative to the grid and to the fan thanks to the provided springs. Moreover, in addition to the vibration absorption, as the springs are distributed, the profile is stressed in the direction of the vertical median axis of the envelope.

The lighting device can be provided with any type of electric bulbs or lamps, in particular halogen bulbs, discharge tubes or power LED.

Brief description of the drawings

Other advantages and characteristics will more clearly arise from the following description of various embodiments of the invention given as nonrestrictive examples and represented in the annexed drawings, in which:

- Figure 1 is a front view of the balloon provided with the lighting device according to the invention;

- Figure 2 shows a detailed view, on a magnified scale, of the grid and the lighting device in Figure 1, which is provided with four halogen bulbs R7S of 1000 W each;

- Figure 3 is a view identical to Figure 2 with two halogen bulbs R7S;

- Figure 4 is an view identical to Figure 1, with a gas-discharge lamp E40 of 1000W;

- Figure 5 represents a view similar to Figure 2 with the gas-discharge lamp in Figure 4;

-Figure 6 is another alternative of the balloon in Figure 1, with a lamp HMI of 250 W;

- Figure 7 illustrates a detailed view of the grid and lamp unit in Figure 6.

Description of a particular embodiment

In reference to Figures 1 and 2, a lighting balloon 10 comprises an inflatable envelope 11 containing a high-power electric lighting device 12, and a pneumatic device 13 for ensuring the automatic inflation of the envelope 11.

As an example, the envelope 11 is made by a tight flexible film with a low thickness and out of reinforced plastic material with a good mechanical resistance. Of course, the plastic film can be replaced by any other flexible material adapted for inflating the envelope 11.

The pneumatic device 13 preferably includes a fan 14 or a suction device fixed to a support plate 15 at the bottom of the envelope 11. The fan 14 is arranged inside the envelope 11, and is connected on the suction side to a filter 16, which is mounted on the external face of the support plate 15, i.e. outside the envelope 11.

The power supply of the lighting device 12 and the fan 14 is carried out by means of an electric cable 17 in connection with a supply network or with an external electric generator. The electric cable 17, insulated by a protective sheath, tightly extends through the support plate 15, and is connected through connecting means (not represented) to the lighting device 12 and the fan 14.

The whole balloon 10 is carried by a vertical mast 18 anchored to a fixed support, for example the ground, and it is fixed by its upper end to the support plate 15. In the inflated state, the envelope 11 has a shape of revolution that is flattened at its bottom and top. It is clear that any other shape can be used, in particular spherical, ellipsoidal, etc....

A metal protective grid 19 having the shape of a cylindrical cage, coaxially surrounds the lighting device 12, while vertically extending from the fan 14 up to the top of the envelope 11. The presence of this grid 19 has a double function:

- it provides the structure of the balloon, in the inflated state of the envelope 11, with a, mechanical rigidity effect;

- it prevents the film of the envelope 11 from coming into contact with the bulbs of the lighting device 12 during a deflation due to a pressure drop or a leakage inside the envelope 11.

The lighting device can be provided with various types of electric power bulbs, in particular halogen bulbs, or fluorescent discharge lamps or tubes. It is imperative that the lighting device is well positioned inside the grid 19 without coming into contact with the same. It must also be protected against possible vibrations or shocks applied to the balloon 10.

In reference to the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the lighting device 12 of the balloon 10 comprises a series of four halogen bulbs 20 of the R7S type, distributed along a vertical profile 21 inside the grid 19. The profile 21 is hollow, and has a quadrangular section each face of which can be used as a connecting support for the bulbs 20, each of them having a power of 1000W. Any other polygonal profile shape can of course be used.

As an example, the two lower bulbs in Figure 2 are arranged on the same bottom level on two opposite faces of the profile 21, while the other two upper bulbs are opposite each other on the top level, on the other two opposite faces of the profile 21. Such a distribution of the bulbs 20 makes it possible to have a high power of 4000 W, with a uniform lighting on the whole side surface of the envelope 11. The connecting poles of each bulb 20 are inserted into two electric terminals 22, 23 spaced one another along the profile 21, and electrically insulated from the same. The supply conductors are advantageously placed inside the profile 21. The latter is elastically mounted inside the metal grid 19, with a vertical positioning being ensured by two sets of springs A, B arranged on both sides of the bulbs 20 heightwise. The lighting device 12 according to Figures 1 and 2 is thus not integral with a fixed part of the balloon. As an example, each set of springs A, B is composed of three draw springs connecting the profile 21 to the grid 19. The three springs of each set A, B are angularly shifted from one another by 120°, so as to ensure at the same time an absorption effect for the mechanical vibrations applied to the balloon, and the centering of the profile 21 along the median vertical axis of the balloon 10.

Figure 3 shows a lighting device 120 similar to that 12 in Figures 1 and 2, but with two halogen R7S bulbs 20. The same elastic assembly of the profile 21 is associated with two sets of springs A, B for absorbing vibrations and centering the whole.

In the other embodiments in the following Figures, the same reference numbers will be used to indicate identical or similar parts.

In the embodiment alternative in Figures 4 and 5, the lighting device 220 of the balloon 10 is provided with only one gas-discharge lamp 24 of 1000 W of the E40 type, which has a vertical tube 25 out of translucent material and extends at the center of the cylindrical grid 19. The lower end of the tube 25 is carried by an insulating stud 26 on a plate 27, which is connected to the grid 19 by means of a first set of springs C. The upper end of the tube 25 is also connected to the grid 19 by means of a second set of springs D.

The whole gas-discharge lamp 24 of the lighting device 220 is elastically mounted as in the embodiment in Figures 2 and 3. Each set of springs C and D is provided in this case with six draw springs angularly distributed inside the vertical bars 28 of the grid 19.

In Figures 6 and 7, the lighting device 320 of the balloon 10 is provided with a HMI bulb 29 of the G22 250W type. The lamp 29 is powered by a control block 30 supported by support rods 31 inside the grid 19. The rods 31 are fixed to a disc 32 mounted on the fan 14, this fan being surrounded by the bars 28 of the grid 19. The bottom of the lamp 29 is connected to the grid 19 by only one set of springs E for absorbing mechanical vibrations.

Any other type of power lamp or electric bulb can be used without getting out of the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. Lighting balloon with an inflatable envelope (11) containing:

-a lighting device (12, 120, 220, 320) having at least one electric power bulb mounted on a bulb support,

- a pneumatic device (13) with a ventilator (14) for ensuring the automatic inflation of the envelope (11) by means of a fluid, in particular of the surrounding air,

-a protective cage-shaped grid (19) surrounding the lighting device, said grid providing the structure of the envelope (11), in the inflated state, with a mechanical rigidity effect and preventing, in the deflated state, the envelope (11) from coming into contact with said lighting device,

characterized in that the bulb support of the lighting device (12, 120, 220, 320) is elastically connected to the grid (19) by means of at least one set of springs (A, B,
C, D, E) for absorbing mechanical vibrations, and for ensuring the centering of the lighting device along the median vertical axis of the balloon (10).

2. Lighting balloon according to claim 1, characterized in that the bulb support of the lighting device (12, 120) is formed by a profile (21) with a polygonal section, vertically extending at the center of the grid (19), each face of said profile being used as a connecting support for the bulbs.

3. Lighting balloon according to claim 2, characterized in that the profile (21) has a quadrangular shape, and is provided with two sets of springs (A, B) at its two opposite ends, the springs of each set (A, B) being angularly shifted from one another for positioning said profile along the median vertical axis.

4. Lighting balloon according to claim 3, characterized in that each set of springs (A, B) comprises three draw springs angularly distributed by 120°.

5. Lighting balloon according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the profile (21) is used as a support with two or four halogen bulbs (20) extending in twos along the faces of the profile (21).

6. Lighting balloon according to claim 1, characterized in that the lighting device (220) is provided with a gas-discharge lamp (24) having a vertical tube (25) out of translucent material and extending at the center of the grid (19), said tube (25) having:

- a lower end carried by a insulating stud (26) connected to the grid (19) by means of a first set of springs (C),

- an upper end fixed to the grid (19) by means of a second set of springs (D).

7. Lighting balloon according to claim 6, characterized in that each set of springs (C, D) comprises six draw springs.

8. Lighting balloon according to claim 1, characterized in that the lighting device (320) comprises a HMI bulb (29) using metal halides, said bulb being powered by a control block (30) and being connected to the grid (19) by means of a set of springs (E).

9. Lighting balloon according to any one of the claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the internal fan (14) is associated on the suction side with a juxtaposed filter (16) outside the envelope (11).