# US 9,040,947 B2 · Contactless coupling and method for use with an electrical appliance

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- Number: US 9,040,947 B2
- Document ID: US9040947B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/510,102
- Filed: 2010-11-12
- Published: 2012-09-13
- Granted: 2015-05-26
- Earliest claimed: 2009-11-16
- Assignees: 300K Enterprises Pty Ltd
- Applicants: Christopher Scott Trewin; Johnny Fabian Russell; Christian Albin Weimann; Michael Rodway
- Inventors: Christopher Scott Trewin; Johnny Fabian Russell; Christian Albin Weimann; Michael Rodway
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9040947B2

## CPC

- H01F 38/14: Inductive couplings
- F21V 21/116: Fixing lighting devices to arms or standards (F21V21/002 takes precedence)
- F21V 23/02: the elements being transformers, impedances {or power supply units, e.g. a transformer with a rectifier}
- H02J 50/10: using inductive coupling
- H05B 47/21: of two or more light sources connected in parallel
- F21S 8/086: {with lighting device attached sideways of the standard, e.g. for roads and highways}
- F21V 25/02: coming into action when lighting device is disturbed, dismounted, or broken
- F21V 25/12: Flameproof or explosion-proof arrangements
- F21W 2131/101: of tunnels or the like, e.g. under bridges
- F21W 2131/103: of streets or roads
- F21W 2131/402: for working places
- F21Y 2115/10: Light-emitting diodes [LED]
- Y10T 29/49208: by assembling plural parts
- H01F: MAGNETS; INDUCTANCES; TRANSFORMERS; SELECTION OF MATERIALS FOR THEIR MAGNETIC PROPERTIES
- F21V: FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY
- H05B: ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
- F21S: NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
- F21W: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES F21K, F21L, F21S and F21V, RELATING TO USES OR APPLICATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS
- F21Y: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES F21K, F21L, F21S and F21V, RELATING TO THE FORM OR THE KIND OF THE LIGHT SOURCES OR OF THE COLOUR OF THE LIGHT EMITTED
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

A coupling and various methods of use of the coupling. In one embodiment a coupling is provided for use with an appliance operated by a power supply, which coupling allows mounting/dismounting of the appliance without electrical isolation from the supply, said coupling comprising: a) a mounting member having a first encapsulated transformer element and suitable controls connectable to the power supply, said member being suitable for fixing to a structure; and b) a holder member engageable with said mounting member and suitable for holding or for connecting thereto an appliance, said holder member including a second encapsulated transformer element able to conduct power to an appliance.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A coupling for use with a standard industrial or commercial lamp fitting operated by a power supply, wherein the coupling allows safe and intrinsically safe mounting/dismounting of the lamp fitting without electrical isolation from the power supply, said coupling comprising:
a) a mounting member comprising:
a first encapsulated transformer element,
first controls connectable to the power supply, wherein the power supply is a mains power supply that permanently supplies power to the first encapsulated transformer element, and
a cylindrical sleeve with an open end to receive a spigot containing electrical wiring from the power supply; and
b) a holder member for holding the lamp fitting and engageable with said mounting member, wherein the holder member comprises:
a cylindrical element adapted to receive at least a portion of the mounting member,
second controls, and
a second encapsulated transformer element to conduct power from the power supply to said lamp fitting;
wherein when the mounting member is engaged with the holder member:
i) current is inducted in the second encapsulated transformer element to continuously power the lamp fitting, and
ii) a signal is carried between the first and second controls and the lamp fitting to control and/or monitor the lamp fitting, wherein the signal is carried by a communications path between said first controls of the first encapsulated transformer element and said second controls of the second encapsulated transformer element, said communications path provided by an optical path with infrared light via a light tube, the signal including information about the lamp fitting selected from the group consisting of: power feedback, dimming, blinking, changes in color, and temperature;
wherein when the mounting member is disengaged from the holder member there is no induction of current in the second encapsulated transformer element and there is no signal carried between the first and second controls and the lamp fitting; and
wherein, when the mounting and holder members are engaged, the mounting and holder members form a weather resistant housing.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The coupling of claim 1 wherein said first and second controls allow the lamp fitting to operate in a range of power supply voltages and/or detect the presence or absence of the lamp fitting on the coupling.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The coupling of claim 1 wherein communication is provided by an IR LED and an IR receiver.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The coupling of claim 1, wherein the lamp fitting comprises at least one LED.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The coupling of claim 1 wherein the mounting and holder members are configured to i) ensure alignment of the communication path when the mounting and holder members are engaged and ii) form a protective housing having a longitudinal axis, wherein outer surfaces of the first and second encapsulated transformer elements are physically contactable through 360° of rotation about the axis.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

Use of the coupling of claim 1 to mount a standard industrial or commercial lamp fitting to a structure.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The coupling of claim 1 wherein the first and second encapsulated transformer elements comprise windings in the form of suitable printed or etched material.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The coupling of claim 1 wherein the first and second controls comprise a programmed CPU.

### Claim 9

A method of manufacture of coupling for use with a standard industrial or commercial lamp fitting operated by a power supply, wherein the coupling allows safe and intrinsically safe mounting/dismounting of the lamp fitting without electrical isolation from the supply, said method comprising:
producing a coupling by assembling:
a) a mounting member comprising:
a first encapsulated transformer element,
first controls connectable to the power supply, wherein the power supply is a mains power supply that permanently supplies power to the first encapsulated transformer element, and
a cylindrical sleeve with an open end to receive a spigot containing electrical wiring from the power supply; and
b) a holder member for holding the lamp fitting and engageable with said mounting member, wherein the holder member comprises:
a cylindrical element adapted to receive at least a portion of the mounting member,
second controls, and
a second encapsulated transformer element to conduct power from the power supply to said lamp fitting;
wherein when the mounting member is engaged with the holder member:
i) current is inducted in the second encapsulated transformer element to continuously power the lamp fitting, and
ii) a signal is carried between the first and second controls and the lamp fitting to control and/or monitor the lamp fitting, wherein the signal is carried by a communications path between said first controls of the first encapsulated transformer element and said second controls of the second encapsulated transformer element, said communications path provided by an optical path with infrared light via a light tube, the signal including information about the lamp fitting selected from the group consisting of: power feedback dimming, blinking, changes in color, and temperature;
wherein when the mounting member is disengaged from the holder member there is no induction of current in the second encapsulated transformer element and there is no signal carried between the first and second controls and the lamp fitting; and
wherein, when the mounting and holder members are engaged, the mounting and holder members form a weather resistant housing.

### Claim 10

An improved method of maintenance of a standard industrial or commercial lamp fitting operated by a power supply which method allows safe and intrinsically safe mounting/dismounting of the lamp fittings without electrical isolation from the supply, said method comprising:
provision of the standard industrial or commercial lamp fitting associated with a coupling, said coupling comprising:
a) a mounting member comprising:
a first encapsulated transformer element,
first controls connectable to the power supply, wherein the power supply is a mains power supply that permanently supplies power to the first encapsulated transformer element, and
a cylindrical sleeve with an open end to receive a spigot containing electrical wiring from the power supply; and
b) a holder member for holding the lamp fitting and engageable with said mounting member, wherein the holder member comprises:
a cylindrical element adapted to receive at least a portion of the mounting member,
second controls, and
a second encapsulated transformer element to conduct power from the power supply to said lamp fitting;
wherein when the mounting member is engaged with the holder member:
i) current is inducted in the second encapsulated transformer element to continuously power the lamp fitting, and
ii) a signal is carried between the first and second controls and the lamp fitting to control and/or monitor the lamp fitting, wherein the signal is carried by a communications path between said first controls of the first encapsulated transformer element and said second controls of the second encapsulated transformer element, said communications path provided by an optical path with infrared light via a light tube, the signal including information about the lamp fitting selected from the group consisting of: power feedback, dimming, blinking, changes in color, and temperature;
wherein when the mounting member is disengaged from the holder member there is no induction of current in the second encapsulated transformer element and there is no signal carried between the first and second controls and the lamp fitting;
wherein, when the mounting and holding members are engaged, the mounting and holding members form a weather resistant housing; and
wherein replacement of the lamp fitting can be carried out under full power load by disengaging the holder member and replacing it with a new lamp fitting attached to a second holder member.

### Claim 11

A method of providing proximity activated control of luminescence in at least one lamp comprising:
providing a standard industrial or commercial lamp fitting including the at least one lamp, the lamp fitting operated by a power supply and mounted on a structure in a location, wherein the lamp fitting is associated with a coupling which allows safe and intrinsically safe mounting/dismounting of the lamp fitting without electrical isolation from the power supply, the coupling comprising:
a) a mounting member mounted on a structure, said mounting member comprising:
a first encapsulated transformer element,
first controls connectable to the power supply, wherein the power supply is a mains power supply that permanently supplies power to the first encapsulated transformer element, and
a cylindrical sleeve with an open end to receive a spigot containing electrical wiring from the power supply; and
b) a holder member for holding the lamp fitting and engageable with said mounting member, wherein the holder member comprises:
a cylindrical element adapted to receive at least a portion of the mounting member,
second controls, and
a second encapsulated transformer element to conduct power from the power supply to the lamp fitting;
wherein one of the mounting and holder members includes a wireless digital radio transceiver able to receive signals from and transmit signals to said coupling attached to the structure within range and receive signals from and transmit signals to a control station;
wherein when the mounting member is engaged with the holder member:
i) current is inducted in the second encapsulated transformer element to continuously power the lamp fitting; and
ii) a signal is carried between the first and second controls and the lamp to control and/or monitor the lamp fitting, wherein the signal is carried by a communications path between said first controls of the first encapsulated transformer element and said second controls of the second encapsulated transformer element, said communications path provided by an optical path with infrared light via a light tube, the signal including information about the lamp fitting selected from the group consisting of: power feedback, dimming, blinking, changes in color, and temperature;
wherein when the mounting member is disengaged from the holder member there is no induction of current in the second encapsulated transformer element and there is no signal carried between the first and second controls and the lamp fitting;
wherein luminescence of the at least one lamp is controlled by a remote controller via the radio transceiver, said remote controller being operational within a predetermined distance from the coupling and/or manually; and
wherein, when engaged, the mounting and holder members form a weather resistant housing.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11 wherein the remote controller is carried by a person or vehicle.

### Claim 13

A method of providing a distributed supervision control and data acquisition network for remotely controlling a standard industrial or commercial lamp fitting, said method comprising
providing the lamp fitting that is operated by a power supply mounted on power poles or other structures in a location, the lamp fitting associated with a coupling that allows safe and intrinsically safe mounting/dismounting of the lamp fitting without electrical isolation from the power supply, the coupling comprising:
a) a mounting member mounted on a power pole or other structure, said mounting member comprising:
a first encapsulated transformer element,
first controls connectable to the power supply, wherein the power supply is a mains power supply that permanently supplies power to the first encapsulated transformer element, and
a cylindrical sleeve with an open end to receive a spigot containing electrical wiring from the power supply; and
b) a holder member for holding the lamp fitting and engageable with said mounting member, wherein the holder member comprises:
a cylindrical element adapted to receive at least a portion of the mounting member,
second controls, and
a second encapsulated transformer element to conduct power from the power supply to the lamp fitting;
wherein one of the mounting and holder members includes a wireless digital radio transceiver able to receive signals from and transmit signals to couplings attached to other poles or structures within range and receive signals from and transmit signals to a control station;
wherein when the mounting member is engaged with the holder member
i) current is inducted in the second encapsulated transformer element to continuously power the lamp fitting; and
ii) a signal is carried between the first and second controls and the lamp fitting to control and/or monitor the lamp fitting, wherein the signal is carried by a communications path between said first controls of the first encapsulated transformer element and said second controls of the second encapsulated transformer element, said communications path provided by an optical path with infrared light via a light tube, the signal including information about the lamp fitting selected from the group consisting of: power feedback, dimming, blinking, changes in color, and temperature;
wherein when the mounting member is disengaged from the holder member there is no induction of current in the second encapsulated transformer element and there is no signal carried between the first and second controls and the lamp fitting;
wherein the coupling is able to receive signals from and transmit signals to the control station allowing remote control of the lamp fittings; and
wherein, when engaged, the mounting and holder members form a weather resistant housing.