GB2047871A - Strip Lighting for Vehicles - Google Patents

Abstract

Strip lighting for the interior of a vehicle (1), e.g. a bus or coach, comprises a row of fluorescent lamp fittings (3-8), pairs of adjacent fittings (3 and 4, 5 and 6, 7 and 8) being operated by one inverter (3', 5', 7') located in one of the fittings of each pair. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Strip Lighting For Vehicles The invention relates to strip lighting for vehicles comprising several fluorescent lights arranged one behind the other longitudinally and operated by inverters.

In these inverter lights, it is usual to provide each light with an inverter in order to be able to arrange and operate the light at any desired point on the vehicle. In fact it is already known to operate several lights from a separate preconnected device. However such an arrangement has the disadvantage that each light has to be connected to the pre-connected device so that the expenditure on wiring is considerable.

The invention seeks to create a strip lighting arrangement of inverter lights in which even with the longest strip lighting, a minimum of expenditure on wiring and minimum use of preconnected devices is necessary.

According to the invention, there is provided strip lighting for vehicles comprising fluorescent lights arranged one after the other longitudinally and operated by inverters, wherein one inverter designed for two lights is associated in each case with a pair of adjacent lights and this inverter is located in one light of the pair.

The invention will now be described in greater detail, by way of example with reference to the drawing, the single figure of which shows one embodiment of the invention.

In a bus or coach 1, shown schematically, strip lighting 2 is arranged longitudinally in the centre of the passenger compartment and comprises a total of six lights, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8. The lights 3 and 4 or 5 and 6 or 7 and 8 are joined together to form a pair. One light 3, 5 and 7 of each pair is equipped with an inverter 3', 5', 7'. Each inverter of the pair supplies the other light 4, 6 and 8. The lights 4, 6 and 8 are thus simpler in manufacture.

Overall there is a reduction in expenditure in the case of relatively long strip lighting since while the inverters 3', 5', 7' have to be increased in output in relation to the output required for single-light operation, there is no cost of a second inverter. Instead of eight wires from a preconnected device to each two lights, the above described embodiment only requires two wires in total for the whole of the strip lighting, which has any desired number of individual transistor lights.

Claims

1. Strip lighting for vehicles comprising fluorescent lights arranged one after the other longitudinally and operated by inverters, wherein one inverter designed for two lights is associated in each case with a pair of adjacent lights and this inverter is located in one light of the pair.

2. Strip lighting for vehicles substantially as described herein with reference to the drawing.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (2)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Strip Lighting For Vehicles The invention relates to strip lighting for vehicles comprising several fluorescent lights arranged one behind the other longitudinally and operated by inverters. In these inverter lights, it is usual to provide each light with an inverter in order to be able to arrange and operate the light at any desired point on the vehicle. In fact it is already known to operate several lights from a separate preconnected device. However such an arrangement has the disadvantage that each light has to be connected to the pre-connected device so that the expenditure on wiring is considerable. The invention seeks to create a strip lighting arrangement of inverter lights in which even with the longest strip lighting, a minimum of expenditure on wiring and minimum use of preconnected devices is necessary. According to the invention, there is provided strip lighting for vehicles comprising fluorescent lights arranged one after the other longitudinally and operated by inverters, wherein one inverter designed for two lights is associated in each case with a pair of adjacent lights and this inverter is located in one light of the pair. The invention will now be described in greater detail, by way of example with reference to the drawing, the single figure of which shows one embodiment of the invention. In a bus or coach 1, shown schematically, strip lighting 2 is arranged longitudinally in the centre of the passenger compartment and comprises a total of six lights, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8. The lights 3 and 4 or 5 and 6 or 7 and 8 are joined together to form a pair. One light 3, 5 and 7 of each pair is equipped with an inverter 3', 5', 7'. Each inverter of the pair supplies the other light 4, 6 and 8. The lights 4, 6 and 8 are thus simpler in manufacture. Overall there is a reduction in expenditure in the case of relatively long strip lighting since while the inverters 3', 5', 7' have to be increased in output in relation to the output required for single-light operation, there is no cost of a second inverter. Instead of eight wires from a preconnected device to each two lights, the above described embodiment only requires two wires in total for the whole of the strip lighting, which has any desired number of individual transistor lights. Claims

1. Strip lighting for vehicles comprising fluorescent lights arranged one after the other longitudinally and operated by inverters, wherein one inverter designed for two lights is associated in each case with a pair of adjacent lights and this inverter is located in one light of the pair.

2. Strip lighting for vehicles substantially as described herein with reference to the drawing.