Bi-directional highway luminaire

Claim 2

A highway lighting luminaire for illuminating both sides of a bi-directional highway on one side of which traffic flows in one direction and on the other, approximately adjacent side of which traffic flows in a second and opposite direction, said luminaire comprising a reflector for use with a light source, the light source being disposed within said reflector above the rim thereof said reflector having first panel means for reflecting light from the light source into a low, parallel beam of light of predetermined vertical angle in the direction against the traffic flow of the highway first side, said reflector having second panel means for reflecting light from the light source into a high angle parallel beam of light of predetermined vertical angle in the direction of traffic flow of the first highway side, said reflector having third panel means for reflecting light from the source into a second, low, parallel beam of light of predetermined vertical angle, in the direction against traffic flow of the second highway side and said reflector having fourth panel means for reflecting light from the light source into a second high, parallel beam of light of predetermined vertical angle in the direction of traffic flow of the second highway side said panel means being disposed on either side of a vertical median plane bisecting said luminaire whereby to constitute means for reflecting light from the source into beams which cross below the rim of said reflector.

Claim 3

A luminaire as defined in claim 1, wherein said high beam panels have a contour dissimilar to the contour of said low beam panels.

Claim 4

A luminaire according to claim 1, wherein said luminaire further comprises a second reflector positioned beneath the light source and comprising means for redirecting down light into said high beams of light.

Claim 5

A luminaire comprising light directing means, for use with a light source the light source being disposed within said light directing means and for illuminating both sides of a bi-directional highway having one side in which traffic flows in one direction and having a second, approximately adjacent side in which traffic flows in a second and opposite direction, said light directing means comprising a refractor for transmitting lateral light over a 360* arc and having first panel means for refracting light from the source into a low beam of light directed against the traffic flow of the first highway side, said refractor having second panel means for refracting light from the light source into a high beam of light directed in the direction of the traffic flow of the first highway side, said refractor having third panel means for refracting light from the light source into a low beam of light directed against the traffic flow of the second highway side and said refractor having fourth panel means for refracting light from said light source into a high beam of light directed in the direction of traffic flow of the second highway side said panel means being disposed on either side of a vertical median plane bisecting said refractor whereby to constitute means for refracting light from the source into a high and a low beam on either side of the plane.

Claim 6

A luminaire comprising light directing means, for use with a light source the light source being disposed within said light directing means and for illuminating both sides of a bi-directional highway having one side in which traffic flows in one direction and having a second, approximately adjacent side in which traffic flows in a second and opposite direction, said light directing means comprising a refractor for transmitting lateral light over a 360* arc and having first panel means for refracting light from the source into a low beam of light directed against the traffic flow of the first highway side, said refractor having second panel means for refracting light from the light source into a high beam of light directed in the direction of the traffic flow of the first highway side, said refractor having third panel means for refracting light from the light source into a low beam of light directed against the traffic flow of the second highway side and said refractor having fourth panel means for refracting light from said light source into a high beam of light directed in the direction of traffic flow of the second highway side said panel means being disposed on either side of a vertical median plane bisecting said refractor whereby to constitute means for refracting light from the source into a high and a low beam on either side of the plane.

Claim 7

A luminaire for illuminating both sides of a bi-directional highway having one side in which traffic flows in one direction and having a second approximately adjacent side in which traffic flows in a second and opposite direction, comprising light directing means for use with a light source disposed therein, said light directing means having a reflector with a refractor disposed at its lower edGes, said reflector and said refractor having first panels, said reflector first panel comprising means for reflecting light from the light source onto said refractor first panel, said refractor panel comprising means for refracting said light from said first reflector panel into a low beam of light in the direction against the traffic flow of the first highway side, said reflector and said refractor each having second panels, said second reflector panel comprising means for reflecting light from the source onto said second refractor panel, said refractor panel, comprising means for refracting said light from said second reflector panel into a high beam of light in the direction of traffic flow of the first highway side, said reflector and said refractor having third panels, said third reflector panel comprising means for reflecting light from the source to said third refractor panel, said third refractor panel comprising means for refracting said light into a low beam of light in the direction against traffic flow of the second highway side, and said reflector and said refractor each having at least fourth panels, said fourth reflector panel comprising means for reflecting light from the source to said fourth refractor panel, said refractor panel comprising means for refracting the light from the source into a high beam of light in the direction of traffic flow of the second highway side, wherein said first, second, third and fourth reflector panels are disposed on opposite sides of a vertical median plane of the luminaire with respect to the corresponding ones of those refractor panels to which they reflect light.

Claim 8

A luminaire for illuminating both sides of a bi-directional highway having one side in which traffic flows in one direction and having a second approximately adjacent side in which traffic flows in a second and opposite direction, comprising light directing means for use with a light source disposed therein, said light directing means having a reflector with a refractor disposed at its lower edGes, said reflector and said refractor having first panels, said reflector first panel comprising means for reflecting light from the light source onto said refractor first panel, said refractor panel comprising means for refracting said light from said first reflector panel into a low beam of light in the direction against the traffic flow of the first highway side, said reflector and said refractor each having second panels, said second reflector panel comprising means for reflecting light from the source onto said second refractor panel, said refractor panel, comprising means for refracting said light from said second reflector panel into a high beam of light in the direction of traffic flow of the first highway side, said reflector and said refractor having third panels, said third reflector panel comprising means for reflecting light from the source to said third refractor panel, said third refractor panel comprising means for refracting said light into a low beam of light in the direction against traffic flow of the second highway side, and said reflector and said refractor each having at least fourth panels, said fourth reflector panel comprising means for reflecting light from the source to said fourth refractor panel, said refractor panel comprising means for refracting the light from the source into a high beam of light in the direction of traffic flow of the second highway side, wherein said first, second, third and fourth reflector panels are disposed on opposite sides of a vertical median plane of the luminaire with respect to the corresponding ones of those refractor panels to which they reflect light.

Claim 9

A luminaire as defined in claim 5 wherein said high beam panels have a contour dissimilar to the contour of said low beam panels.

Claim 10

A luminaire as defined in claim 5, wherein said reflector further comprises transverse reflecting panels and wherein said refractor further comprises transverse refracting panels, the said transverse reflecting panels comprising means for reflecting light incident thereon to said transverse refracting panels, said transverse refractor panels comprising means for redirecting said reflected light into transverse beams of light directed transverse to said highway whereby said highway is illuminated transverse to said highway.

Claim 11

A highway lighting luminaire for illuminating both sides of a bi-directional highway having one side in which traffic flows in one direction and having a second approximately adjacent side in which traffic flows in a second and opposite direction, comprising a light source and light directing means said light directing means comprising a reflector having two discrete continuous surfaces extending completely around said light source, said surfaces meeting in an approximately horizontal plane, the reflector surface portion having the closest proximity to the highway having a first panel comprising means for reflecting light from the light source into a high beam of light in the direction of traffic flow of the first highway side and having a second panel comprising means for reflecting light from the light source into a high beam of light directed in the direction of traffic flow of the second side, said reflector portion having the furthest proximity from the highway surface having a first panel comprising means for reflecting light from the light source into a low beam of light directed against traffic flow of the first side, said reflector portion having a second panel comprising means for reflecting light from the light source into a high beam of light directed in the direction of traffic flow of said first side, said reflector portion having a third panel comprising means for reflecting light from the light source into a low beam of light directed against traffic flow of the second side and said reflector portion having a fourth panel comprising means for reflecting light from the light source into a high beam of light directed in the direction of traffic flow of the second side of the highway.

Claim 12

A highway lighting luminaire for illuminating both sides of a bi-directional highway having one side in which traffic flows in one direction and having a second approximately adjacent side in which traffic flows in a second and opposite direction, comprising a light source and light directing means said light directing means comprising a reflector having two discrete continuous surfaces extending completely around said light source, said surfaces meeting in an approximately horizontal plane, the reflector surface portion having the closest proximity to the highway having a first panel comprising means for reflecting light from the light source into a high beam of light in the direction of traffic flow of the first highway side and having a second panel comprising means for reflecting light from the light source into a high beam of light directed in the direction of traffic flow of the second side, said reflector portion having the furthest proximity from the highway surface having a first panel comprising means for reflecting light from the light source into a low beam of light directed against traffic flow of the first side, said reflector portion having a second panel comprising means for reflecting light from the light source into a high beam of light directed in the direction of traffic flow of said first side, said reflector portion having a third panel comprising means for reflecting light from the light source into a low beam of light directed against traffic flow of the second side and said reflector portion having a fourth panel comprising means for reflecting light from the light source into a high beam of light directed in the direction of traffic flow of the second side of the highway.

Claim 13

A Luminaire according to claim 8, wherein said luminaire further comprises a second reflector positioned beneath the light source and comprising means for redirecting down light into said high beams of light.

Claim 14

A highway lighting luminaire for illuminating both sides of a bi-directional highway on one side of which traffic flows in one direction and on the other, approximately adjacent side of which traffic flows in a second and opposite direction, said luminaire comprising a reflector for use with a light source, the light source being disposed within said reflector above the rim thereof said reflector having first panel means for reflecting light from the light source into a low, parallel beam of light of predetermined vertical angle in the direction against the traffic flow of the highway first side, said reflector having second panel means for reflecting light from the light source into a high angle parallel beam of light of predetermined vertical angle in the direction of traffic flow of the first highway side, said reflector having third panel means for reflecting light from the source into a second, discretely, low, parallel beam of light of predetermined vertical angle, in the direction against traffic flow of the second highway side and said reflector having fourth panel means for reflecting light from the light source into a second high, parallel beam of light of predetermined vertical angle in the direction of traffic flow of the second highway side said panel means being disposed on either side of a vertical mediam plane bisecting said luminaire whereby to constitute means for reflecting light from the light source into beams which cross below the rim of said reflector, wherein each of said low beam reflector panels'' contour comprises a single smoothly continuous curvilinear line and wherein said high beam reflector panels'' contour is comprised of two curvilinear portions intersecting angularly forming a continuous contour.

Claim 15

A highway lighting luminaire for illuminating both sides of a bi-directional highway on one side of which traffic flows in one direction and on the other, approximately adjacent side of which traffic flows in a second and opposite direction, said luminaire comprising a reflector for use with a light source, the light source being disposed within said reflector above the rim thereof said reflector having first panel means for reflecting light from the light source into a low, parallel beam of light of predetermined vertical angle in the direction against the traffic flow of the highway first side, said reflector having second panel means for reflecting light from the light source into a high angle parallel beam of light of predetermined vertical angle in the direction of traffic flow of the first highway side, said reflector having third panel means for reflecting light from the source into a second, discretely, low, parallel beam of light of predetermined vertical angle, in the direction against traffic flow of the second highway side and said reflector having fourth panel means for reflecting light from the light source into a second high, parallel beam of light of predetermined vertical angle in the direction of traffic flow of the second highway side said panel means being disposed on either side of a vertical mediam plane bisecting said luminaire whereby to constitute means for reflecting light from the light source into beams which cross below the rim of said reflector, wherein each of said low beam reflector panels'' contour comprises a single smoothly continuous curvilinear line and wherein said high beam reflector panels'' contour is comprised of two curvilinear portions intersecting angularly forming a continuous contour.

Claim 16

A highway lighting luminaire for illuminating both sides of a bi-directional highway on one side of which traffic flows in one direction and on the other, approximately adjacent side of which traffic flows in a second and opposite direction, said luminaire comprising a reflector for use with a light source, the light source being disposed within said reflector above the rim thereof said reflector having first panel means for reflecting light from the light source into a low, parallel beam of light of predetermined vertical angle in the direction against the traffic flow of the highway first side, said reflector having second panel means for reflecting light from the light source into a high angle parallel beam of light of predetermined vertical angle in the direction of traffic flow of the first highway side, said reflector having third panel means for reflecting light from the source into a second, discretely, low, parallel beam of light of predetermined vertical angle, in the direction against traffic flow of the second highway side and said reflector having fourth panel means for reflecting light from the light source into a second high, parallel beam of light of predetermined vertical angle in the direction of traffic flow of the second highway side said panel means being disposed on either side of a vertical median plane bisecting said luminaire whereby to constitute means for reflecting light from the source into beams which cross below the rim of said reflector, wherein each of said low beam reflector panels further comprises a lower portion, a middle portion, and an upper portion, said lower portion comprising meanS for reflecting light incident thereon into low beam light, said middle portion comprising means for reflecting light from the source to the opposite high beam reflector panel, said opposite high beam reflector panel comprising means for reflecting the light onto said high beam reflector panel, the said high beam refractor panel comprising means for refracting said doubly reflected light into light beams Having high beam direction but having a predetermined vertical angle less than said high beam angle, and said upper portion comprising means for reflecting light from said light source, to said opposite low beam refractor panel where said reflected rays just miss the opposite edge of said reflector panel.

Claim 17

A highway lighting luminaire for illuminating both sides of a bi-directional highway on one side of which traffic flows in one direction and on the other, approximately adjacent side of which traffic flows in a second and opposite direction, said luminaire comprising a reflector for use with a light source, the light source being disposed within said reflector above the rim thereof said reflector having first panel means for reflecting light from the light source into a low, parallel beam of light of predetermined vertical angle in the direction against the traffic flow of the highway first side, said reflector having second panel means for reflecting light from the light source into a high angle parallel beam of light of predetermined vertical angle in the direction of traffic flow of the first highway side, said reflector having third panel means for reflecting light from the source into a second, discretely, low, parallel beam of light of predetermined vertical angle, in the direction against traffic flow of the second highway side and said reflector having fourth panel means for reflecting light from the light source into a second high, parallel beam of light of predetermined vertical angle in the direction of traffic flow of the second highway side said panel means being disposed on either side of a vertical median plane bisecting said luminaire whereby to constitute means for reflecting light from the source into beams which cross below the rim of said reflector, wherein each of said low beam reflector panels further comprises a lower portion, a middle portion, and an upper portion, said lower portion comprising meanS for reflecting light incident thereon into low beam light, said middle portion comprising means for reflecting light from the source to the opposite high beam reflector panel, said opposite high beam reflector panel comprising means for reflecting the light onto said high beam reflector panel, the said high beam refractor panel comprising means for refracting said doubly reflected light into light beams Having high beam direction but having a predetermined vertical angle less than said high beam angle, and said upper portion comprising means for reflecting light from said light source, to said opposite low beam refractor panel where said reflected rays just miss the opposite edge of said reflector panel.