US1792398A - Illuminating unit for swimming pools - Google Patents

Description

Feb. l0, 1931. E. M. RoTHEN v 1,792,398

ILLUMINATING UNIT Fon SWIMMING PooLs INVENTOR award/V P /776/1 BY n /UWAMM1L ,Y ATTORNEY Patented Feb. l0, 1931 EDWARD M. ROTHEN, F NEW YORK, N. Y.,

ASSIGNOR TO RUSSELL & STOLL COMPANY,

OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK ILLUmNA'rING UNIT ron SWIMMING rooLs i Application filed July 12,

This invention rela-tes to improvements in illuminating units, the invention being particularlyconstructed for use in illuminating swimming pools or other bodiesof water.

'5 It' is a. primary object of the invention to provide an illuminating device of this character which can b e used beneath the water level without injury to the light or any of its' connections.

It is a further object to provide a device of the above character in which the lighting unit or fixture can be readily removed from its support beneath the water level to a point above the water level for re-lamping, repairing or replacing the fixture -or any of its parts.

It is a still further object to provide a light of this character which will be cooled by the liquid from theY pool. 20 The above and other objects will appear more fully from the following description when considered in connection with the draW-, ings, in which:

Fig. l is a vertical sectional view, parts be- 25 ing in elevation, of4 one form which my invention may assume, showing the same applied to a pool illuminating apparatus.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the lamp or fixture and the wall housing.

Fig. 3 is a front elevational view, parts bel ing Vin section,of the construction shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail showing the method of attaching the lens and bezel to the light casing.

The present invention is shown asapplied to under-water illuminating devices for a. swimming pool 6 formed "of concrete or other substantial and permanent material 8. The inner faces of the walls and bottoni of the pool may be lined with tile or other material as indicated for example at 10.

i A The apparatus zmay be bestv applied to the pool during its construction, the same coni- -prisinv a wall housing l2 formed w1th an open face 13 and a rearward closed portion 14 of slightly reduced proportions. The open exposed edge .13 is preferably arranged sub- 'ttiallyush with the inner face of 'the wall 8 or its lining, if employed. The interlarly for the purpose of more readily absorb- 1929. Serial No. 377,641.

mediate portion of the sidewall of the housing 12 may includey a projecting flange or bead 15 for more permanently attaching the housing in the concrete or other material of which the wall 8 is formed. The wall housing includes an opening. at 16 for receiving the lighting cable and its conduit or housing. The housing 12 is further provided with lamp supporting devices indicated generally at 18. These devices, in the preferred form ofthe invention, include supporting members 20 secured in recesses at opposite sides of the housing l2. The members 20 are of general hook shape and are formed with depressions 21 to form sockets for receiving e5 the supporting lugs 22 mounted upon the opposite sides of the lighting fixture described in detail below.V l The supporting members 2O are shown as facing upwardly-so 4that the fixture may be moved into place and rest upon the supports.

The lighting fixture indicated generally at l 24 includes a body casing 26 of general conical shape and formed with a rearward pur-` tion 28 for receivingthe lamp socket, electrical conductors, etc., and, with a forward portion 30 for receiving the lens.

The inner face of the casing 26 has arranged thereon a series of radial vanes 32 formed integrally with the casing 26 and 80 projecting inwardlyI toward the light bulb referred 'to below. The vanes 32 extend around the light bulb, when the same has been assembled, and are provided particuing the heat from the light and dissipating the same through the cooling infiuence of'the water surrounding the fixture 24. It will be understood that the number of vanes or ribs 32 and the exact proportions of the same may be varied withini wide limits in correspondence with the present invention.

Since the fixture 24 will be entirely surrounded by the liquid (water) from the pool it is necessary to completely seal every por! tion of the fixture to prevent the ingress of the water into the light fixture. To this e'nd the lens 34, of any usual lor preferred construction, has the edges thereof sealed by the rubber gaskets 35 and 36 in combination with 100 bezel 40 and ring Vcasing 26.

. any suitable 'waterproof com ound, these gaskets and the outer edge of t e lens being received and compressed between the outer lens ring 38 and the bezel 40. The edges of the lens are formed with flattened surfaces 37 where the same are engaged by the rubber washers 35 and 36, this constructioncompletely avoiding any tendency of leakage atthis point. The ring 38 is, according to the present construction, drawn toward the bezel 40 and held in position by means of a series of machine bolts 42. The upper portion of the outer ring 38 is provided with ga. supporting handle`44 for facilitating the movement of the fixture to and from the wall housing 12.

It will thus be seen that the combined bezel, outer ring 38 and lens 34, may be handled as a unit and attached to or detached from the light casing 26 without disturbingthe mounting or the lens 34. `The combined lens and bezel is shown as attached to the casing 26 by means of a series of machine bolts 46 which may extend through the ring 38 and bezel 40 and into the outer lens supporting portion 30 of the casing. The portion 30 is formed with a recess for receiving the rubber or other gasket 48 to eiectively seal the space between the bezel 40 and casing 26. A guide pin 47 is preferably employed to facilitate the assembling of the ringv 38, bezel 40 and casing `26. This pin may, as shown in Fig. 2, be

rigidlysu ported in the bezel 40, the projecting en sof the pin being received in suitable bore holes formed in the ring 38 and The interior of the light fixture is formed with a socket supporting plate 50 supporting the cable terminals'and light socket 52, the latter receiving the bulb 54. A refiector 56 encircles the bulb 54 .and is formed with the spaced parabolic reflecting portions 56a and 566 for scattering the rays of light within certain limits as will be readily understood.

Since the housing 12 and fixture 24 will be (positioned beneath the water level of the bo y of water 6 these parts as well as the 38 are constructed of noncorrosive materlal, 'for example bronze, so that the apparatus may be used even with salt water without destroying or harming the4 fixtureor the'wall housing for the same.

It will be noted that t e support for the fixture 24 is such .that the fixture may be' tilted vertically to vaiytheinclination of the beam of light. Y The lamp is held in its adjusted position by -devices preferably carried entirely by the fixture 24. To this end the rearward portion 28 'of the light fixture is provided with a verticalladjustable rod or bar 58 received in a su stantially vertical opening in one of thelugs 59 formed on the casing 26. The bar may be held in position by 'a set screw 60 or other suitable device.` By adjusting the rod 58 vertically prior to etc.

the introduction of the fixture into its position Iwithin the housing 12, the angle of inclinatioh of the lamp may be varied as desired.

Power is supplied to the bulb 54 by means of a water-proof cable 62. This cable passes inwardly into the interior of the casing 26 through an opening 63.` The space within the opening 63 which surrounds the cable 62 is provided with compressible packing material 64 and an adjustable nut for compressing the packing firmly around the cable 62 to prevent leakage through the opening 63. Y

The cable 62 passes upwardly through a cable.k conduit 66 and into a cable housing 68v positioned above the water level of the tank. These parts likewise are preferably formed of non-corroding material such for example as brass or bronze. The housing 68 is lformed with sloping sides and bottom portion so that any liquid which may pass into the same will readily drain back into the conduit 66 and thence into the tank. The housing 68 is of sufiicient proportions to accommodate several feet of excess cable which is normally stored therein when the apparatus is in use. The upper face of this housing is covered by a removable f'loor plate 69. It is preferred that the housing 68 be embedded in the concrete or other material of which the wall 8 is formed'in order to avoid any possibility of disturbing the conduit 66 or its connections to the housings 12 or 68.

It will be observed that the terminals (not shown) for receiving the ends of the cable 62 are thus maintained out of contact with the water of the pool. The terminals at the light are sealed within the light casing and the power terminals at the housing 68 are yvatrproofed and are above the high water eve In assembling and'installing this ap aratus and after the installation of the liousings 12 and 68 in the wall or otherwise adj acent the body of water 6 the fixture is first completel assembled. In assembling this fixture it 1s provided with the socket 52 suitably connected tothe cable 62, the bulb 54, reflector 56, bezel 40, lens 34, packing 64, The mounting for the lens and the opening 63 around the cable 62 are thus completely sealed after which 'they may be tested for any leakaged The shaft 58 is adjusted to.provide thevdesired angle of inclination for the light beam. The cable 62 may thereafter be passed upwardly through the pipe 66 and connectedto the source of power at a point adjacentthe cable housing 68. The position ofthel hting fixture when completely assembled an .connected to the power cableis indicated" in dotted lines in Fig. 1. The fixture may then be carried downwardly beneath the water level tofthe wardly through the conduit 66. By a simple movement of the light fixture it is set in place upon the light supports 20. Thereafter the cable 62 is arranged within 'the housing 68 and the cover 69 placed in posi'- tion over the same. Since the casing 26 is entirely surrounded by water the lamp is maintained at a normal operating temperature due in part to the heat absorbing capacity ofthe vanes 32.

If at any time the light becomes out of order as by reason of an injury to the bulb 54, the same may be readily unhooked from the supports 20 and removed to a position above the Water of the pool, after which the lamp may be repaired or replaced. During the removal of the lamp from its housing 12 the.cable 62 is drawn downwardly through the conduit 66vas will be understood from an inspectiony of Fig. 1. again introduced into the housing 12 the cable is again withdrawn through the conduit 66 to a position of rest Within the housin 68.

t will be understood that various modifications may be made in the apparatus without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim as my invention is: 1. In an under-water illuminating device v fora body of water surrounded by a stationary Wall having a recess therein positioned beneath the normal water level, a stationary housing in said recess, a lighting xture submerged in said water and detachably supported/within said housing, means for supplying electric current to said fixture and means for detachin said fixture from said housing and .removing the sameto a position above said water level Without disconnecting said current supplying means from said fixture.

2. In an under-water illuminating device, a support formed as a stationary fixture housing positioned beneath the normal level of said water, a water-tight electric lighting fixture, means on said fixture for removably supporting the Vsame on said support with said fixture submerged in said Water, extensible means for supplying electric current to said fixture when supported on said support and when removed therefrom and Withdrawn to a position remote from saidsupport.

3. In an under-water illumlnating device for a body of water, a fixture support, a Wa.-

Afrom said support, said last-named means including a water-proof cable attached to When the xture is said fixture by a water-tight joint, a housing for excess cable andra iquid-ti ht cablereceiving conduit connecting sai housing with said body of Water, said cable housing being constructed to drain any liquid therefrom into said conduit. A l4. In an under-water illnminatin device for a body of Water andin combination with a retaining yvall thereof, a fixture housing enibeddedin said wall, a fixture support siecured adjacent said housing, a removable electric lighting fixture having meansv engageable with said fixture support, a cable housing embedded in said wall above the normal level of said body of Water, a waterproof electric conducting cable positioned i in said conduit and extending from said fixture to said cable housing and formed with an excess amount'of cable normally positioned in said cable housing.

5. In an under-Water illuminating device and in combination with a body of water to be illuminated, alighting fixture support positioned adjacent said -body of water beneath the Water level `thereof,a lighting fixture removably supported on said fixture support, a cable housing positioned above the normallevel of said -Water and a cable extending from said `cable housing to a pointA adjacent said fixture support and operatively connected to said fixture. l

6. In an under-Water illuminating device for a body of Water confined Within fixed Walls, a fixture housing formed of non-corroding material and positioned beneath th normal level of said water, a Water-tight electric lighting fixture normally positioned Within said fixture housing, a conduit extending through said wall and terminating Aat a point above the normal level of said Water and an electrical conductor extending through said conduit to said housing for supplying electric'current to said fixture.

7. In an under-Water illuminating device for a body of water, a stationary fixture support positioned beneath the normal level of said Water and exposed to said Water, a lighting fixture engageable with said fixture support when submerged in said Water, said support and fixture being formed with coact-` ing separable supporting elements for readily attaching and detaching said fixture to and from said support.

8. In an under-Water lighting fixture, an enclosed light casing formed with bulb-supporting means and with inwardly extending heat-absorbingI projections directed toward said bulband intimately associated with the material of said casing and means for conducting electric current- -tog-.said bulb.

9. In an under-water'lightin fixture, an enclosed light casingzformed with bulb-supporting means and-vvitli` inwardly projecting fins extending' into the interior of said light casingand formed integrally with said casing and means for conducting electric current to said bulb.

10. In an under-Water lighting fixture, an enclosed light casing formed With bulb-sup- 5 porting means and with a series of radial inlwardly projecting heat-absorbing elements A formed integrally with said casing on the portion of said casing encircling said bulb.

1l. In an under-Water illuminatingr apparatus, a fixture support, a lighting fixture pivotally and removably secured to said support, adjustment means carried by said fix ture, said adjustment means being engageable with said support and adjustable With respect to said fixture for adjusting the angle of inclination of said fixture when supported on said support.

' 12. In an under-Water illuminating apparatus, a fixture support, a lighting fixture pivotally and removably secured to said support, means carried by said lixture for adjusting the angle of inclination of said fixture, said means including a vertically adjustable rod rigidly secured to said fixture l5 and engageable with said support and means for holdingr the same in any adjusted position.

13. An under-Water illuminating device for a body of Water surrounded by a stationary Wall having a recess therein positioned beneath the normal Water level, a lighting fixture detachably supported Within said recess and means exterior to said Wall for maintaining electrical connection to said fixture while permitting said fixture to be moved to a position above said normal Water level.

14. An under-Water illuminating device for a body of Water surrounded by a stationary Wall having a recess therein positioned beneath the normal water level, a lighting fixture detachably supported Within said recess Which forms a housing therefor and means for maintaining electrical connection to said fixture While permitting said fixture to be moved outwardly from said recess and then upwardly through said body of Water to a position above said normal Water level. Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 10th day of July, A. D. 1929.

EDWARD M. ROTHEN.

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