Rotational lighting system

Abstract

A remotely controlled rotational lighting system for illuminating any chosen area of a room. A first motor is mounted on the ceiling at the approximate center of the area to be illuminated. A main support arm extends from the shaft of the motor and lies in a substantially horizontal plane. A second motor is suspended at one extremity of the main support arm and mates with a fixture support arm. A cluster of lighting elements is mounted at one extremity of the fixture support arm, while a set of counterweights is mounted at the other extremity. The end of the main support arm remote from the fixture support arm is provided with a set of counterweights so that the main support arm is in substantially perfect balance at its point of association with the ceiling-mounted motor.

1.  A horizontal, remotely controlled lighting system in which a source of illumination can hover over substantially any given region of an area to be illuminated, the lighting system comprising: a first motor element adapted to be fixedly mounted relative to the area to be illuminated, said first motor element having a first rotable motor shaft; a first elongated support arm having first and second ends, said first support arm being mounted on said first motor shaft intermediate its first and second ends, for rotation with said first motor shaft, and in a substantially horizontal plane; a second motor element suspended from the first end of said first support arm, said second motor element having a second rotatable motor shaft; a second elongated support arm having first and second ends, said second support arm being mounted on said second motor shaft intermediate its first and second ends, for rotation with said second motor shaft, and in a substantially horizontal plane; lighting means mounted at the first end of said second support shaft; counterweight means mounted at the second end of said second support arm, weighted and positioned so that said second support arm, said counterweight means and said lighting means are in substantial horizontal balance about said second motor shaft; second counterweight means mounted at the second end of said first support arm, weighted and positioned so that said first support arm, carrying the associated second motor element, second support arm, second counterweight means and lighting means, is in substantial horizontal balance about said first motor shaft; and control means for independently controlling the operation of said first and second motor elements and thereby the respective rotatable motor shafts, and said lighting means; and wherein the distance between the first end of said first support arm and the first motor shaft is substantially equal to the distance between the first end of said second support arm and said second motor shaft. 
     
     
       2. The lighting system recited in claim 1, and further comprising; a flexible support element intermediate said second motor element and the first end of said first support arm, for suspending said second motor shaft in a substantially vertical orientation. 
     
     
       3. The lighting system recited in claim 1, and further cmprising: a vertical post rigidly extending upwardly from said second motor element; an aperture in the first end of said first support arm through which said vertical post extends; a pin for maintaining said vertical post in said aperture; and wherein the outside diameter of said vertical post is less than the inside diameter of said aperture. 
     
     
       4. The lighting system as recited in claim 1, wherein said first and said second motor elements are equipped with clutch means for enabling the respective motor mechanisms to continue operation should the respective motor shafts become immobilized. 
     
     
       5. The lighting system recited in claim 1, wherein said first support arm is comprised of two sections extending substantially in a straight line from opposite sides of said first motor shaft; and wherein said second support arm is comprised of two sections extending substantially in a straight line from opposite sides of said second motor shaft. 
     
     
       6. The lighting system recited in claim 5, wherein the two sections of said first support arm and the two sections of said second support arm each extend from their respective motor shafts in a direction slightly upwardly from the horizontal, so that normal bowing in said first and second support arms can be tolerated in substantially horizontal planes. 
     
     
       7. The lighting system recited in claim 6, wherein one section of said first support arm associates with said counterweight means; wherein the other section of said first support arm associates with said second motor element; wherein one section of said second support arm associates with said second counterweight means; and wherein the other section of said second support arm associates with said lighting means. 
     
     
       8. The lighting system recited in claim 1, wherein the first and second motor elements and said lighting means are remotely controlled by means of a control panel comprising: a first two-position motor toggle switch, biased in an off position, for controlling the operation of said first motor element; a second two-position motor toggle switch, biased in an off position, for controlling the operation of said second motor element; at least one two-position toggle switch for controlling the operation of said lighting means; and a dimmer control for varying the intensity of the lighting means. 
     
     
       9. The lighting system recited in claim 8, wherein said first and second motor elements are reversible motors; and wherein said first and second motor toggle switches control the respective direction of motor operation. 
     
     
       10. The lighting system recited in claim 8, and further comprising: first and second indicator lamps for indicating the operation of said first and second motor elements. 
     
     
       11. The lighting system recited in claim 1, wherein said first and said second motor elements, in repose, form substantially friction-free hubs about which the respective first and second support arms can rotate. 
     
     
       12. The lighting system recited in claim 1, wherein the length of said first support arm is greater from the first motor element to the second motor element than from the first motor element to said counterweight means; and wherein the length of said second support arm is greater from the second motor element to the lighting means than from the second motor element to said second counterweight means. 
     
     
       13. The lighting system recited in claim 1, and further comprising: stop means to limit the rotation of each said first and said second motor shaft to less than 360°. 
     
     
       14. The lighting system recited in claim 13, wherein each of said stop means 13 comprises a first stop element mounted on one of said support arms and a second coacting stop element mounted on one of said motor elements. .Iadd. 15. A horizontal, remotely controlled system in which a source of energy can hover over substantially any given region of an area, the system comprising: a first motor element adapted to be fixedly mounted relative to said area, said first motor element having a first rotatable motor shaft; a first elongated support arm having first and second ends, said first support arm being mounted on said first motor shaft intermediate its first and second ends, for rotation with said first motor shaft, and in a substantially horizontal plane; a second motor element suspended from the first end of said first support arm, said second motor element having a second rotatable motor shaft; a second elongated support arm having first and second ends, said second support arm being mounted on said second motor shaft intermediate its first and second ends, for rotation with said second motor shaft, and in a substantially horizontal plane; energy means mounted at the first end of said second support shaft; counterweight means mounted at the second end of said second support arm, weighted and positioned so that said second support arm, said counterweight means and said energy means are in substantial horizontal balance about said second motor shaft; second counterweight means mounted at the second end of said first support arm, weighted and positioned so that said first support arm, carrying the associated second motor element, second support arm, second counterweight means and energy means, is in substantial horizontal balance about said first motor shaft; and control means for independently controlling the operation of said first and second motor elements and thereby the respective rotatable motor shafts, and said energy means; and wherein the distance between the first end of said first support arm and the first motor shaft is substantially equal to the distance between the first end of said second support arm and said second motor shaft. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 16. A horizontal, movably controlled system in which a source of energy can hover over substantially any given region of an area, the system comprising: a first element adapted to be fixedly mounted relative to said area, said first element having a first rotatable shaft; a first elongated support arm having first and second ends, said first support arm being mounted on said first shaft intermediate its first and second ends, for rotation with said first shaft, and in a substantially horizontal plane; a second element suspended from the first end of said first support arm, said second element having a second rotatable shaft; a second elongated support arm having first and second ends, said second support arm being mounted on said second shaft intermediate its first and second ends, for rotation with said second shaft, and in a substantially horizontal plane; energy means mounted at the first end of said second support shaft; counterweight means mounted at the second end of said second support arm, weighted and positioned so that said second support arm, said counterweight means and said energy means are in substantial horizontal balance about said second shaft; second counterweight means mounted at the second end of said first support arm, weighted and positioned so that said first support arm, carrying the associated second element, second support arm, second counterweight means and energy means, is in substantial horizontal balance about said first shaft; and means for independently controlling the operation of said first and second elements and thereby the respective rotatable shafts, and said energy means; and wherein the distance between the first end of said first support arm and the first shaft is substantially equal to the distance between the first end of said second support arm and said second shaft..Iaddend.