EP0350522A1 - Luminaire à évacuation de chaleur et lampes tungstène-halogène - Google Patents

Luminaire à évacuation de chaleur et lampes tungstène-halogène Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0350522A1
EP0350522A1 EP88111269A EP88111269A EP0350522A1 EP 0350522 A1 EP0350522 A1 EP 0350522A1 EP 88111269 A EP88111269 A EP 88111269A EP 88111269 A EP88111269 A EP 88111269A EP 0350522 A1 EP0350522 A1 EP 0350522A1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
heat
lamp
socket opening
electrical connector
portions
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP88111269A
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German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Allen Roger Groh
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
LIGHTING Tech Inc
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LIGHTING Tech Inc
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Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by LIGHTING Tech Inc filed Critical LIGHTING Tech Inc
Publication of EP0350522A1 publication Critical patent/EP0350522A1/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21V—FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F21V19/00—Fastening of light sources or lamp holders
    • F21V19/0005—Fastening of light sources or lamp holders of sources having contact pins, wires or blades, e.g. pinch sealed lamp
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21V—FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F21V29/00—Protecting lighting devices from thermal damage; Cooling or heating arrangements specially adapted for lighting devices or systems
    • F21V29/50—Cooling arrangements
    • F21V29/70—Cooling arrangements characterised by passive heat-dissipating elements, e.g. heat-sinks
    • F21V29/71—Cooling arrangements characterised by passive heat-dissipating elements, e.g. heat-sinks using a combination of separate elements interconnected by heat-conducting means, e.g. with heat pipes or thermally conductive bars between separate heat-sink elements
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21V—FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F21V21/00—Supporting, suspending, or attaching arrangements for lighting devices; Hand grips
    • F21V21/14—Adjustable mountings
    • F21V21/30—Pivoted housings or frames
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21V—FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F21V27/00—Cable-stowing arrangements structurally associated with lighting devices, e.g. reels 
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21V—FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F21V29/00—Protecting lighting devices from thermal damage; Cooling or heating arrangements specially adapted for lighting devices or systems
    • F21V29/15—Thermal insulation
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21V—FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F21V29/00—Protecting lighting devices from thermal damage; Cooling or heating arrangements specially adapted for lighting devices or systems
    • F21V29/50—Cooling arrangements
    • F21V29/70—Cooling arrangements characterised by passive heat-dissipating elements, e.g. heat-sinks
    • F21V29/74—Cooling arrangements characterised by passive heat-dissipating elements, e.g. heat-sinks with fins or blades
    • F21V29/76—Cooling arrangements characterised by passive heat-dissipating elements, e.g. heat-sinks with fins or blades with essentially identical parallel planar fins or blades, e.g. with comb-like cross-section
    • F21V29/763—Cooling arrangements characterised by passive heat-dissipating elements, e.g. heat-sinks with fins or blades with essentially identical parallel planar fins or blades, e.g. with comb-like cross-section the planes containing the fins or blades having the direction of the light emitting axis
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21V—FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F21V29/00—Protecting lighting devices from thermal damage; Cooling or heating arrangements specially adapted for lighting devices or systems
    • F21V29/85—Protecting lighting devices from thermal damage; Cooling or heating arrangements specially adapted for lighting devices or systems characterised by the material
    • F21V29/89—Metals
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21V—FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F21V21/00—Supporting, suspending, or attaching arrangements for lighting devices; Hand grips
    • F21V21/34—Supporting elements displaceable along a guiding element

Definitions

  • the present invention relates generally to lighting apparatus, and more particularly provides a uniquely constructed heat-dissipating light fixture for use with tungsten-halogen lamps.
  • incandescent flood lamps which range in power from 100 watts to 300 watts.
  • incandescent display lighting is subject to several well known disadvantages and limitations. For example, the efficiency of incandescent lamps is limited to approximately eight to eleven percent, which results in high electrical power consumption compared to the useful light obtained. Additionally, the spectrum of the light generated by incandescent display lamps is heavily weighted toward the infrared portion of the spectrum. This results in relatively poor color balance of the displayed objects.
  • infrared com­ponent of incandescent display lamps heat that is generated by the infrared com­ponent of incandescent display lamps is projected forwardly, thereby potentially creating undesirably high temperatures on the illuminated merchandise.
  • This last point is particularly relevant where bright lighting is required for expensive or irreplacable objects such as clothing, furs, jewelry, or pain­tings.
  • concentrated infrared energy can significantly deteriorate the object at which it is directed.
  • infrared energy can change the molecular struc­ture of diamonds and other precious stones, thereby signifi­cantly decreasing their value.
  • watches are particularly sensitive to heat, and are easily damaged under incandescent lighting.
  • tungsten-halogen low voltage lamps As an alternative to high wattage, low efficiency incandescent lighting, dichroic, tungsten-halogen low voltage lamps have recently been utilized in display applications and potentially offer several distinct advantages over incandescent lighting systems. For example, the efficiency of tungsten-­halogen low voltage lamps is approximately ten times that of incandescent lamps. At 12 volts, a 75 watt tungsten-halogen lamp produces essentially the same amount of usable light as a much higher wattage incandescent lamp, and produces more of the light output in the visible spectrum. This, of course, repre­sents a significant energy savings.
  • the life of a tungsten-halogen lamp is approximately 2.5 to 3 times that of an incandescent lamp due to the "halogen cycle" which re-­deposits evaporated tungsten on the lamp's filament, preventing blackening of the lamp envelope and also prolonging the life of the tungsten filament.
  • the color spectrum of the light produced by tungsten-­halogen lamps provides a truer color representation for illumi­nated objects due in part to the high "white hot" temperature that the tungsten filiment is heated to, and to the special dichroic coating on the lamp reflector which reflects visible light and absorbs other transmitted frequencies such as infrared.
  • projected heat from a tungsten-halogen lamp is significantly reduced by its dichroic reflector which absorbs approximately 70 percent of the infrared radiation (as well as ultraviolet) resulting in a safe light for illuminating delicate merchandise.
  • the seal portion of the lamp often fails, thereby allowing the halogen gas within the glass envelope to escape, due to interior seal temperatures exceeding 350°C.
  • the lamp seal is typically made of electri­cally conductive strips such as molybdenum, pressed between the quartz envelope. Due to the high filament temperature and high current (6.25 amps at 75w) flowing through the strips they often reach very high temperatures. Additionally, if the reflector temperature is allowed to exceed approximately 350°C, the reflector's dichroic coating can deteriorate.
  • the connector fitting within the fixture can also be caused to fail due to the high temperature transmitted from the lamp base to the connector pins. Excessively high temperature can result in increasing resistance and eventual breakdown of the connector pin and of the power supply connection thereto.
  • a uniquely constructed heat-dissipating light fixture for use with tungsten-halogen lamps to significantly prolong their operating life by preventing excessive heat buildup in such lamps.
  • the fixture comprises a heat conductive, externally finned metal body in which a cavity is formed for receiving a tungsten-halogen lamp, the cavity opening outwardly through the exterior surface of the fixture body.
  • an electrical connector which is connected to suitable external power wiring and has a pair of openings formed therein for receiving the connector prongs which extend outwardly from the base portion of the lamp.
  • a metal heat shield which engages around its periphery the interior surface of the cavity and is positioned adjacent the electrical connector.
  • a socket opening is formed through the heat shield and is adapted to receive the base portion of the lamp so that the reflector portion of the lamp is disposed on one side of the heat shield and the electrical connector is disposed on the other side.
  • the lamp is operatively connected to the electrical connector by passing the lamp base portion through the socket opening until the lamp connector prongs are received in the corresponding openings in the electrical con­nector.
  • a compliant, heat conducting material such as a suitable graphite foil, is secured to the reflector side of the heat shield and has a portion which projects into the socket opening.
  • a portion of the graphite foil is bent inwardly into the socket opening and is compressed between the lamp base portion and an interior surface portion of the socket opening.
  • the slightly compressed portion of the foil provides an efficient heat conduction flow path between the exterior surface of the lamp base portion and the interior surface of the socket opening in the heat shield.
  • the heat shield interposed between the electrical connector and the reflector portion of the lamp functions to intercept infrared radiation transmitted from the reflector toward the connector.
  • the infrared radiation intercepted by the foil-faced heat shield is absorbed therein and transferred therethrough by con­duction to the metal fixture body which serves as a conductive heat sink.
  • heat within the lamp base is very efficiently conducted through the compressed foil portion into the heat shield and, again by conduction, into the fixture body heat sink.
  • the external fins on the fixture body enhance the dissipation of heat conducted thereto by means of radiation and convection to the surrounding ambient air.
  • both the reflector and base portions of the lamp, and the electrical connector portion of the fixture are protected from excessive heat buildup in a manner maintaining the temperature of the connector and the lamp base below acceptable limits to thereby significantly pro­long the useful life of the lamp.
  • a lamp seal tem­perature reduction of approximately 30% is achieved compared to seal temperatures of tungsten-halogen lamps housed in conven­tional fixtures.
  • the finned body portion thereof is inexpensively formed from a tubular metal inner section and a series of metal discs. Central circular portions of the discs are punched out, pro­vided with appropriate openings therethrough and then press-­fitted into the interior of the tubular section to form the heat shield and connector support structure within the body. The remaining annular portions of the discs are axially press-­fitted onto the tubular section to form the external cooling fins on the light fixture body.
  • a specially designed cooled lamp connector assembly which may be utilized, in retrofit applications, to replace the existing electrical lamp connector within the outer housing of a conventional light fixture.
  • the improved connector assembly is preferably formed from two extruded aluminum sections which are suitably intersecured to form a hollow, externally finned cooling body section of the assembly. This body section, at the front end thereof has a socket opening which extends inwardly into an enlarged cavity within the body.
  • a uniquely configured lamp connector structure which comprises two stacked pairs of metal blocks that are positioned in a side-by-side relationship, and are encapsulated within and separated by a silicon insulating material that is highly resistive to the flow of electricity therethrough, but has relatively good thermal conductivity.
  • a pair of electrical power leads are each connected to one of the metal block pairs.
  • a forwardly facing opening is formed in the silicon insulation material and communicates with the socket opening formed in the cooling body.
  • a back portion of the cooling body has suitably secured thereto a connecting bolt by means of which the body may be mounted in the interior of an existing light fixture housing.
  • the base of the fixture's lamp is inserted into the socket opening formed in the cooling body so that the lamp base pins enter a pair of pin openings formed along the junc­tures of the stacked metal block pairs.
  • the pairs of such blocks are resiliently held in engagement by the silicon insu­lation material which encapsulates and separates them.
  • each pair of the blocks is slightly separated against the resilient force of the encapsulating insulation material. This provides a desirable "pin wiping" action in the connector which is inex­pensively achieved due to its unique construction.
  • a forward end portion of the cooling body defi­nes a heat shield which is interposed between the reflector portion of the lamp and the captively retained connector struc­ture disposed within the cooling body.
  • a graphite foil sheet is held by the cooling body and is compressed between the lamp base and the inner surface of the socket opening formed in the body.
  • the metal block structure which defines the interior portion of the lamp connector structure functions as a heat sink to absorb further heat transmitted to the connecting pins from the lamp base. Heat received in these metal blocks from the connector pins is conducted outwardly to the silicon encap­sulating material, into the cooling body, and is then dissi­pated into the interior of the light fixture housing through the finned portions of the body, and is further conducted into the light fixture housing through a rear end portion of the cooling body that is bolted to the light fixture housing. In this manner, the improved connector assembly provides addi­tional protection against excessive heat buildup in the connecting pins to further prolong the life of the lamp.
  • its externally finned cooling body is formed from two aluminum extrusions which are positioned in a spaced, side-by-side relationship.
  • the two extruded metal body sec­tions are encapsulated within and separated by a silicon insu­lation material similar to that previously described.
  • a pair of electrical power leads are each connected to one of the extruded metal sections.
  • the cooling body has a lamp base socket formed in a forward end portion thereof and is provided at its rear end with a suitable connecting bolt for connecting the body to the interior of an existing light fixture housing.
  • each of the extruded sections is split along a rearwardly extending cut line which terminates somewhat forwardly of the rear end of the extrusion.
  • a pair of lamp base pin openings At the section junctures defined by this cut line are formed a pair of lamp base pin openings.
  • the base of the fixture's lamp With the cooling body installed within the light fix­ture housing, the base of the fixture's lamp is inserted into the socket opening of the body so that the lamp base pins enter the pin openings. Entry of the pins into their associated openings slightly forces the split portions of the extruded metal sections apart to thereby provide the previously described automatic "pin-wiping" action.
  • a graphite foil strip is secured wtihin the socket opening and has portions which are compressed between the lamp base and the interior surface of the socket opening as previously described.
  • a forward end portion of the cooling body defines a heat shield interposed between the lamp reflector and the portion of the assembly which receives the lamp base pins. Intercepted radiant heat, and heat within the lamp base and its connecting pins are absorbed within the extruded metal sections, and dissipated by the body fins into the interior of the light fixture housing, as well as being conducted from the metal extrusions into the light fixture housing through the encapsulating silicon material.
  • the cooling body itself integrally defines such structure in addition to performing its various cooling and heat dissipation functions.
  • the present invention provides a uniquely constructed heat-dissipating light fixture 10 adapted for use with a conventional tungsten-halogen lamp 12 comprising a glass reflector housing 14 and a tungsten-halogen bulb 16.
  • the reflector housing 14 has a forwardly disposed reflector portion 18 whose inner surface is provided with a dichroic reflective coating 20, and a rearwardly disposed hollow base portion 22 which is tapered along its length and has a generally rectangular cross-section.
  • the back end of the bulb 16 which contains its critical seal portion 23 (Fig. 2), is extended rearwardly through the hollow lamp base 22 and is secured therein by a suitable ceramic potting material 23 a which encapsulates the bulb within the base 22.
  • the back end of the bulb 16 is provided with a pair of connecting prongs 24 (Figs. 2 and 3) which project rearwardly from the lamp base 22.
  • the dichroic reflec­tor coating 20 reflects visible light from the bulb 16 for­wardly (i.e., leftwardly) from the reflector portion 18, while a large portion of the infrared radiation from the bulb is absorbed by the reflector coating 20 and radiated rearwardly (i.e., rightwardly) from the reflector portion 18.
  • Fixture 10 includes a hollow cylindrical aluminum body 26 having a front end 28 and a back end 30.
  • a cavity is formed within the body 26 by cylindrical bores 32, 34 and 36 extending axially therethrough.
  • Bore 32 extends inwardly from the back end 30 of the fixture body 26 and inwardly communicates with the smaller diameter bore 34.
  • Bore 36 extends inwardly from the front end 28 of the housing body and has a conically flared forward end portion 38 as best illustrated in Fig. 2.
  • the bores 34 and 36 are separated by a cylindrical internal dividing wall 40 formed integrally with the balance of the fixture body 26. Extending centrally through the wall 40 is a rectangularly cross-sectioned socket opening 42 whose height and width are just slightly larger than the height and width of the lamp base 22.
  • a front end portion of the fixture body 26 is exter­nally threaded, as at 43, and has secured thereto an annular, internally threaded aluminum cap 44 having at its forward end an annular, radially inwardly projecting lip 46.
  • Extending between the inner end of the externally threaded portion 43 and the back end 30 of the fixture body is an axially spaced series of radially outwardly projecting annular cooling fins 48 which are formed integrally with the balance of the fixture body.
  • the light fixture 10 may be operatively connected to a conventional lighting power track disposed above the fixture by means of an elongated hollow cylindrical support rod 50 having a threaded upper end portion 52.
  • a lower end portion of the support rod 50 is extended into the bore 32 through a slot 54 formed downwardly through a rear end portion of the fixture body 26 and the series of cooling fins 48.
  • the lower end por­tion of the support rod 50 is also received within a radially inwardly extending slot 56 formed in a cylindrical bearing cap 58 which is disposed within the bore 32.
  • Bearing cap 58 is secured to the housing body by means of a pair of screws 60 which extend through openings 62 in the cap 58 and are threaded into an annular shoulder 64 defined between the bores 32, 34 within the fixture body 26.
  • the fixture body 26 is pivotally connected to the lower end of the support rod 50 by means of an elongated pivot pin 66 which extends transversely through the lower end of the rod 50 as best illustrated in Fig. 3.
  • the outwardly projecting end portions of the pin 66 are received in small resilient bearing sleeves 68 which are in turn received in arcuately cross-sectioned radial slots 70 formed in the inner end surface 72 of the bearing cap 58.
  • the sleeved pin 66 together with the bearing cap 58, pivotally connects the fixture body 26 to the support rod 50, thereby permitting the light fixture 10 to be pivotally adjusted in a counterclockwise direction from the position of the light fixture illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2.
  • the bearing sleeves 68 may be compressed to a prede­termined degree between the bearing cap slots 70 and the pivot pin 66 to thereby frictionally maintain the light fixture in its pivotally adjusted position.
  • Suitable power wires 74, 76 are extended downwardly through the interior of the support rod 50 and into the interior of the bore 34 through a small slot 78 (Fig. 3) formed through a lower end of the forwardly facing sidewall surface 80 of the support rod.
  • the inner ends of the power wires 74, 76 are operatively connected to a rectangular ceramic electrical connector 86 disposed within the bore 34.
  • Screws 82, 84 are respectively extended through suitable mounting holes 88, 90 formed in the connector 86, and are additionally extended through mounting holes 92, 94 formed through the internal wall 40 and corresponding mounting holes 96, 98 formed through a graphite foil disc 100 disposed in the bore 36 and having a diameter generally equal to that of the internal wall 40.
  • Retaining nuts 102, 104 are threaded onto the outer ends of the screws 82, 84 to thereby clamp the con­nector 86 to the rear end surface of the wall 40 over the socket opening 42, and clamp the foil disc 100 to the front end surface of the wall 40 as best illustrated in Fig. 2.
  • the foil disc 100 which plays an important role in the present invention, has formed through a central portion thereof an H-shaped cut 106 (Fig. 3) which forms in the disc upper and lower tab portions 108, 110.
  • the tungsten-halogen lamp 12 is installed in the fix­ture 10 by pushing the tapered lamp base 22 rearwardly through the foil cut area 106 and the socket opening 42 until the lamp connector prongs 24 enter prong-receiving openings 24 a (Fig. 3) formed in the forward end surface of the electrical connector 86. Insertion of the lamp base 22 into the socket 42 in this manner bends the foil tabs 108, 110 rearwardly into the socket 42 so that the tabs respectively engage and are compressed by the upper and lower side surfaces 112, 114 (Fig.
  • the degree of such compression varying along the lengths of the tabs (as illustrated in Fig. 2) due to the tapered configuration of the lamp base 22.
  • the tabs 108, 110 which are compressed between the lamp base 22 and the upper and lower interior side surfaces of the socket 42, form a highly efficient heat conductive thermal flow path bet­ween a substantial exterior surface portion of the lamp base 22 and the internal wall 40 which circumscribes it.
  • the assembly of the light fixture 10 may then be completed by screwing the cap 44 onto the externally threaded forward end portion 43 of the fixture body 26.
  • the interior surface thereof engages and supports an annular, outwardly projecting flange 112 on the front end of the lamp reflector portion 18, the flange 112 being spaced rearwardly from the cap lip 46 as best illustrated in Fig. 2.
  • a circular lens element 114 may be dropped into the cap 44 prior to its installation on the fixture body so that the lens is captively retained between the lamp 12 and the cap lip 46 as illustrated in Fig. 2. Additional lens elements, such as "beam shaping" lenses may also be positioned between the lamp and the cap lip. If needed, a circular anti-glare grid member 116 may be pressed into the interior of the cap lip as illustrated.
  • the unique heat-dissipating characteristics of the light fixture 10 will now be described in detail with par­ticular reference to Fig. 2.
  • the high intensity tungsten-halogen bulb 16 generates both visible light and infrared radiation.
  • the dichroic reflector coating within the reflector portion 18 forwardly (i.e., leftwardly in Fig. 2) reflects the visible light toward the display object (not shown) to be illuminated.
  • a very substantial portion of the infrared radiation is absorbed by the dichroic coating 20 (and thus the reflector portion 18) and radiated rearwardly from the reflector portion toward the electrical connector 86.
  • a portion of the heat absorbed by the reflector portion 18 is also conducted therefrom into the lamp base 22.
  • the foil-faced internal wall 40 which circumscribes the lamp base 22, is interposed between the lamp reflector portion 18 and the electrical con­nector 86. Because of this unique interposition of the inter­nal wall 40, it functions (together with a circumferential portion of the foil element 100) as heat shield means 117 for intercepting rearwardly directed infrared radiation emanating from the lamp reflector portion 18, thereby shielding the electrical connector 86 from such radiation. Radiation inter­cepted by the heat shield 117 is absorbed thereby, and heat from the absorbed radiation is conducted radially outwardly through the heat shield into the fixture body 26 which func­tions as a conductive heat sink.
  • the cooling fins 48 function to convectively and radiantly dissipate to the surrounding ambient air heat conducted into the fixture body 26.
  • Heat conducted into the lamp base 22 from the lamp reflector portion 18 is very efficiently conducted from the lamp base into the internal wall 40 through the highly conduc­tive foil tabs 108 and 110. Heat transmitted in this manner to the internal wall 40 is also conducted therethrough into the fixture body 26 and convectively and radiantly dissipated by the cooling fins 48.
  • the internal wall 40 operates in conjunction with the foil disc 100 to uniquely pro­tect the connector 86, the lamp base 22 and the connecting prongs 24 from excessive heat buildup which, in fixtures of conventional design, lead to premature failure of the tungsten-­halogen lamp.
  • the novel conductive heat flow path defined by the wall 40 and the foil disc 100 also reduces the operating temperature of the dichroic foil coating 20 to prevent prema­ture deterioration thereof. Because of the reduced operating temperature of the electrical connector 86 provided by the pre­sent invention, the power wiring to the connector is also pro­tected from heat-induced burn out.
  • thermally conductive heat flow path provided between the lamp base 22 and the inter­nal wall 40 by central portions of the foil disc 100 may be alternately provided by other means if desired.
  • heat conductive compliant materials other than graphite foil may be interposed between the lamp base and the interior sur­face of the socket 42. While graphite foil has proven to be particularly well suited for providing this conductive heat link ,other materials such as pliable silicon elements could also be employed. Alternatively, a suitable heat conductive grease could be used.
  • the compliancy of the compressed foil tabs 108, 110 allows them to conform to and engage a substantial portion of the upper and lower lamp base surfaces 112, 114 disposed in the socket 42.
  • relatively non-compliant conductive heat transfer elements could also be used. However, such non-compliant elements would not be as thermally efficient since they normally would not contact the upper and lower lamp base surfaces as uniformly and completely as a compliant material would.
  • the internal wall 40 is con­veniently formed integrally with the balance of the fixture body 26. If desired, however, the wall 40 could be formed separately and internally connected to the fixture body, in heat conductive communication therewith, in another suitable manner.
  • the foil disc 100 is conveniently secured to and covers the front end surface of the internal wall 40 so that the heat shield means 117 are collectively defined by the wall 40 and a radially outer portion of disc 100.
  • the foil or other heat conductive element could be utilized so that the front surface of wall 40 would not be covered by foil or other heat conductive material. In such instance wall 40 would directly intercept infrared radiation from the lamp's reflector portion and would by itself define the heat shield means 117.
  • the light fixture 10 of the pre­sent invention does not to any appreciable degree rely on internal convection to dissipate heat from the lamp. Accordingly, the fixture 10 may be sealed (by, for example, the lens 114) to render the fixture suitable for outdoor use. Moreover, since internal air cooling need not be employed in the fixture 10, auxiliary cooling fans are not required, and no "light leaks" through body cooling openings are created.
  • fixture 10 of the present invention is particularly well suited for use with tungsten-halogen lamps such as lamp 12, it could also be used with other high inten­sity lamps having base portions which are prone to excessive heat buildup.
  • the body 26 of the light fixture 10 just described, together with its external cooling fins 48, may be machined from a single block of aluminum to provide the fixture body with a very pleasing exterior appearance unbroken by assembly joint lines.
  • this body fabrication technique results in a considerable amount of scrap metal which normally must be discarded.
  • Cross-sectionally illustrated in Fig. 4 is an alternate embodiment 10 a of the light fixture 10 which is con­siderably less expensive to produce and generates a signifi­cantly diminished amount of scrap metal.
  • Components in the fixture 10 a similar to those in fixture 10 have been given the same reference numerals, but with the subscript "a".
  • the body 26 a of fixture 10 a has an inner section defined by a length of aluminum tubing 120 which has a counter­bore 122 extending axially into a forward end portion thereof, and an equal diameter counterbore 124 extending axially into a rear end portion thereof.
  • Counterbores 122 and 124 respec­tively define within the tubular body section 120 annular for­wardly and rearwardly facing ledges 126 and 128.
  • the external body cooling fins 48 a are formed from portions of a series of thin aluminum discs 130, one of which is representatively depicted in Fig. 5.
  • a central circular portion 132 having a diameter slightly larger than those of the counterbores 122 and 124, is punched from each of the discs 130 as indicated by the dashed punchline 134, leaving an annu­lar disc portion 136 having an inner diameter somewhat smaller than the outer diameter of the tube 120.
  • the annular disc por­tions 136 are axially press-fitted onto a rear portion of the tube 120 to form the longitudinally spaced external cooling fins 48 a as indicated in Fig. 4.
  • central rectangular openings are formed through three of the punched-out central disc portions 132, and these three central disc portions are press-fitted into the open forward end portion of the tube 120 until they abut the forward annular ledge 126.
  • the rectangular openings in these three disc portions are appropriately aligned to collectively define therein the lamp base socket opening 42 a . If desired, a greater or smaller number of the central disc portions could be used to define the heat shield means 117 a , depending on the thickness of the individual central disc portions and the overall thickness desired for the heat shield.
  • the open back end of the tube 120 is closed by a fourth central disc portion 132 which is press-fitted into the counterbore 124 until it abuts the rearwardly facing annular ledge 128.
  • a suitable circular opening 138 is formed in this disc portion to define an outlet opening for the power leads (not illustrated) from the electrical connector 86 a .
  • Connector 86 a is supported within the body 26 a by means of bolts 82 a which extend through the heat shield 117 a , through the connec­tor 86 a , and through the rearwardly disposed central disc por­tion 132.
  • the connector 86 a is tightened against the rear surface of the heat shield 117 a by means of nuts 140 threaded onto the bolts 82 a .
  • the graphite foil strip 100 a which is interposed between the lamp base 22 a and the interior surface of the socket opening 42 a , is secured to the front surface of the heat shield 117 A by the heads of the bolts 82
  • the body cap 44 a which holds the lens 114 a in place, is provided with a smooth interior surface 142 which may be slipped onto the forward end of the tube 120 and held in fric­tional engagement therewith by means of an O-ring member 143 carried in a suitable groove formed around the exterior periphery of the forward end of the tube 120.
  • the light fixture 10 a is at least somewhat less expensive to produce than the previously described fixture 10 and generates less scrap in the fabrica­tion process.
  • the only portions that are discarded are the central disc portions 132 not used, and the small amount of scrap material resulting from the for­mation of the counterbores 122 and 124. Further, with the exception of forming such counterbores, no machining is required to form the body 26 a .
  • the present invention also provides unique retrofit apparatus which may be used to modify an existing light fixture to incorporate therein the novel lamp heat dissipating principles incorporated in the fixtures 10 and 10 a .
  • the present invention also provides a uniquely designed heat dissipating lamp connector assembly 150 which may be used in retrofit applications to replace the conventional ceramic connector (not shown) disposed within the exterior housing 152 of a conven­tional light fixture 154 that utilizes a tungsten-halogen lamp 156 having a reflector 158, a filament 160, a tapered base por­tion 162 having seal strips 164 therein, and a pair of con­necting pins or prongs 166.
  • a tungsten-halogen lamp 156 having a reflector 158, a filament 160, a tapered base por­tion 162 having seal strips 164 therein, and a pair of con­necting pins or prongs 166.
  • the heat dissipating connector assembly 150 includes a hollow cooling body 168 which is preferably formed from two extruded aluminum sections 170, l72 which have a series of external cooling fins 174 formed on their upper and lower sides.
  • the extruded sections 170, 172 are intersecured in a side-by-side contiguous relationship (Fig. 7) by a pair of alu­minum clamping panels or plates 176 which are held against opposite external side surfaces of the two extruded sections by four connecting bolts 178 extending through the sections 170 and 172 and the panels 176.
  • a forward end portion 180 of the cooling body 168 defines the heat shield means 117 a and has a rectangularly cross-sectioned socket opening 42 a extending rearwardly therethrough.
  • Side edge portions 182 of a pair of rec­tangularly shaped graphite foil elements 100 a are captively retained in a pair of upper and lower slots 184 formed in the interior surface of the socket opening 42 a so that the remaining portions 186 of the foil elements 100 a are bendable into the socket opening 42 a as best illustrated in Fig. 6.
  • the cooling body 168 is also provided with an enlarged, rectangularly cross-sectioned internal cavity 188 which is positioned rearwardly of and communicates with the socket opening 42 a .
  • Clamping plates 176 define opposite side wall portions of both the socket opening 72 a and the cavity 188.
  • a connec­tor portion 190 of the assembly 150 which includes two pairs of vertically stack aluminum blocks 192 and 194 that are posi­tioned in a spaced, side-by-side relationship within the inter­nal cavity 188.
  • the stacked block pairs 192, 194 are encapsulated within and separated by a silicon insulating material 196 which engages the interior surface of the cavity 188.
  • the insulating material 196 is highly resistive to electrical current flow therethrough, but has a relatively high degree of thermal conductivity.
  • Extending rearwardly through the block pairs 192, 194, along their juncture areas 198 and 200, are a pair of connector pin openings 202, 204.
  • a suitable connecting bolt 208 formed from an electrical insulating material.
  • a pair of power lead wires 210 are suitably secured to the block pairs 192, 194 as best illustrated in Fig. 7.
  • the base 162 of the lamp 156 Prior to the installation of the improved heat dissi­pating connector assembly 150 in the existing light fixture 154, the base 162 of the lamp 156 is connected within a conven­tional ceramic electrical connector (not shown) disposed within the housing 152.
  • a forward end flange 212 of the lamp 156 is engaged and supported by spring clip elements 214 (only one of which is illustrated in Fig. 6) that is carried by an annular insert 216 which is frictionally received within the forward end of the housing 152 and also supports the fixture lens 218.
  • a representative louvered trim element 220 Disposed forwardly of the insert 216 is a representative louvered trim element 220 also frictionally received within the forward end of the housing 152.
  • the lamp 156 To install the new connector assembly 150 in the existing fixture 154, the lamp 156, together with its supporting insert 216, the lens 218 and the trim element 220, are removed from the housing 152.
  • the existing ceramic connector is then disconnected and also removed from the housing 152.
  • the cooling body 168 is then secured to the rear wall 222 of the housing 152 by extending the connecting bolt 208 outwardly through an appropriate opening 224 formed in wall 222 and affixing a suitable nut 226 to the outer end of the bolt 208.
  • a layer of a suitable thermal grease is placed between the rear surface 206 of the cooling body 168 and the interior surface of the rear housing wall 222.
  • a sheet of graphite foil may be interposed between these two surfaces. Suitable power wiring connections are then made to the retrofitted connector assembly 150.
  • the balance of the fixture 154 may be operatively reinstalled.
  • the lamp base 162 is inserted into the socket opening 42 a , and through a forward side opening 230 formed in the encapsulating insulation material 196, until the rear end of the lamp base 162 abuts the block pairs 192, 194 and the connector pins 166 enter their associated pin openings 202, 204.
  • Insertion of the lamp base 162 into the socket opening 42 a bends the graphite foil portions 186 rearwardly within the socket opening, and compresses them between upper and lower side surfaces of the lamp base 162 and the interior surface of the socket opening. This compression of the foil element portions 186 compensates for planarity irregularities in such surfaces, and forms a very efficient and uniform thermal conductivity path therebetween.
  • the pin openings 202, 204 formed in the block pairs 192, 194 are provided with diameters just slightly smaller than those of the connector pins 166 which they receive. Accordingly, when the pins 166 are operatively inserted into the pin openings 192, 194 the metal blocks in each stacked pair thereof are caused to slightly separate against the resilient force of the encapsulating insulating material 196. This creates a frictional force between the block pairs and the lamp base pins inserted therebetween to thereby create a very desirable "pin-wiping" action within the connector assembly 150.
  • this pin-wiping action is often provided by means of a rather complex system of internally spring-loaded contact members which are resiliently biased into engagement with the lamp base pins.
  • this pin-wiping action is achieved in a significantly more reliable and less expensive manner.
  • lamp base heat, seal element heat, and connecting pin heat is uniquely sinked away from the lamp by the improved heat dissipating connector assembly 150 to thereby significantly reduce the lamp operating temperature, and accordingly extend its operating life far beyond that nor­mally occurring when the lamp is installed in conventional fix­tures.
  • the unique lamp heat dissipating abilities provided by the present invention may thus be easily and inexpensively incorporated in a variety of existing light fixtures.
  • Connector assembly 240 comprises a cooling body 242 defined by a pair of extruded aluminum sections 244, 246 having a series of external cooling fins 248 formed on their upper and lower side surfaces.
  • the metal sections 244 and 246 are encapsulated within and laterally separated by a silicon insulating material 250 (similar to the previously described encapsulating insu­lating material 196) which is highly resistive to electrical current flow, but also has a fairly high degree of thermal con­ductivity.
  • a forward end portion 252 of the cooling body 242 defines the heat shield means 117 a and has formed therein a rectangularly cross-sectioned socket opening 254 having a rear end surface 256.
  • Side edge portions of a pair of rectangularly shaped graphite foil elements 258 are captively retained within suitable slots 260 formed in the interior surface of the socket opening 254 so that the remainder 262 of each of the foil ele­ ments may be bent rearwardly into the socket opening 254 as best illustrated in Fig. 8.
  • a pair of ver­tically centered rectangular openings 266 which are formed through the metal sections.
  • the cooling body 242 is vertically split along a cut line 268 which extends rearwardly from the forward end 252 of the cooling body to the openings 266 so that the vertically split portions of the cooling body 242 are joined only along relatively thin, insulation covered metal portions 270 posi­tioned immediately behind the openings 266.
  • a pair of pin ope­nings 272, 274 are formed through the split metal sections 244, 246 along the cut line 268, and are of slightly smaller diame­ters than those of the lamp base connector pins 166.
  • Suitable power lead wires 276, 278 are respectively connected to the split metal sections 244, 246.
  • a connecting bolt 280 formed from a suitable electrical insulating material, is secured to the rear end of the cooling body 242, is extended outwardly through a suitable opening 282 formed through the rear end wall 222 of the fixture housing, and is provided at its outer end with a retaining nut 284.
  • a layer of thermal grease 286, or a suitable heat conductive foil element or the like, is posi­tioned between the rear end of the cooling body 242 and the inner surface of the housing rear wall 222.
  • the lamp 156 is secured to the connector 240 by inserting the lamp base 162 into the socket opening 254 until the rear end of the lamp base 162 abuts the rear surface 256 of the socket opening, and the con­nector pins 166 are received in their associated pin openings 272 and 274. Entry of the lamp base 162 into the socket opening 254 rearwardly bends and compresses the foil portions 262 within the socket opening as previously described.
  • Heat transferred into such internal heat sink is convec­tively dissipated via the cooling fins 248 into the interior of the housing 152, and is further conductively transferred to the rear endwall 222 of the housing via the thermal grease 286. This transferred heat is then dissipated to ambient via the walls of the housing 152.
  • the assembly 240 uniquely functions to significantly lower the operating temperature of the lamp 156 to thereby greatly prolong its operating life.
  • the connector assemblies 150 and 240 described above are very easy and relatively inexpensive to manufacture and install in retrofit applications. They also advantageously provide, in somewhat different manners, internal heat sinks which, compared to the lamp bases and their connecting pins are relative massive to thereby quickly sink away larger portions of the lamp heat ordinarily retained within the reflector, the lamp base, its seal elements and the connecting pins. While the heat dissipating connector assemblies 150 and 240 just described are particularly well suited for retrofit installa­tion applications, it will readily be appreciated that they could also be employed as original equipment in a variety of light fixtures designed for operation in conjunction with tungsten-halogen lamps or other similar lamp elements having high heat generation characteristics.
EP88111269A 1986-10-23 1988-07-14 Luminaire à évacuation de chaleur et lampes tungstène-halogène Withdrawn EP0350522A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

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US92215286A 1986-10-23 1986-10-23

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Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1992005389A1 (fr) * 1990-09-19 1992-04-02 Profili S.P.A. Illuminazione Armature d'eclairage encastree fixe avec applique speciale de fixation au faux plafond, assujettissement de la lampe et du verre protecteur, et systeme de refroidissement special
GB2335027B (en) * 1998-03-02 2001-09-26 Pag Ltd Lamp assembly
NL1020377C2 (nl) 2002-04-12 2003-10-14 Antron B V Lamp.
EP1704752A2 (fr) * 2003-12-11 2006-09-27 Color Kinetics Incorporated Appareil et procedes de gestion thermique pour dispositifs d'eclairage
EP2159484B1 (fr) * 2008-08-25 2015-01-07 LEDexpert B.V. Luminaire
CN107577048A (zh) * 2017-05-27 2018-01-12 深圳多哚新技术有限责任公司 光学镜片调焦组件

Citations (9)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3560728A (en) * 1967-03-23 1971-02-02 Stonco Electric Products Co Floodlight and heat dissipating device
GB1252813A (fr) * 1969-03-10 1971-11-10
US3639751A (en) * 1970-04-10 1972-02-01 Pichel Ind Inc Thermally dissipative enclosure for portable high-intensity illuminating device
FR2169953A1 (fr) * 1972-01-31 1973-09-14 Staff Kg
US3840734A (en) * 1972-10-19 1974-10-08 J Oram Lighting devices
US3936686A (en) * 1973-05-07 1976-02-03 Moore Donald W Reflector lamp cooling and containing assemblies
FR2367245A1 (fr) * 1976-10-11 1978-05-05 Leitz Ernst Gmbh Dispositif de refroidissement pour reflecteurs
GB2066443A (en) * 1979-12-21 1981-07-08 Philips Nv Lamp/reflector unit
US4660132A (en) * 1986-04-03 1987-04-21 Pindar Development Corporation Cooling device for mounting and protecting an optical element

Patent Citations (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3560728A (en) * 1967-03-23 1971-02-02 Stonco Electric Products Co Floodlight and heat dissipating device
GB1252813A (fr) * 1969-03-10 1971-11-10
US3639751A (en) * 1970-04-10 1972-02-01 Pichel Ind Inc Thermally dissipative enclosure for portable high-intensity illuminating device
FR2169953A1 (fr) * 1972-01-31 1973-09-14 Staff Kg
US3840734A (en) * 1972-10-19 1974-10-08 J Oram Lighting devices
US3936686A (en) * 1973-05-07 1976-02-03 Moore Donald W Reflector lamp cooling and containing assemblies
FR2367245A1 (fr) * 1976-10-11 1978-05-05 Leitz Ernst Gmbh Dispositif de refroidissement pour reflecteurs
GB2066443A (en) * 1979-12-21 1981-07-08 Philips Nv Lamp/reflector unit
US4660132A (en) * 1986-04-03 1987-04-21 Pindar Development Corporation Cooling device for mounting and protecting an optical element

Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1992005389A1 (fr) * 1990-09-19 1992-04-02 Profili S.P.A. Illuminazione Armature d'eclairage encastree fixe avec applique speciale de fixation au faux plafond, assujettissement de la lampe et du verre protecteur, et systeme de refroidissement special
GB2335027B (en) * 1998-03-02 2001-09-26 Pag Ltd Lamp assembly
NL1020377C2 (nl) 2002-04-12 2003-10-14 Antron B V Lamp.
EP1704752A2 (fr) * 2003-12-11 2006-09-27 Color Kinetics Incorporated Appareil et procedes de gestion thermique pour dispositifs d'eclairage
EP1704752A4 (fr) * 2003-12-11 2009-09-23 Philips Solid State Lighting Appareil et procedes de gestion thermique pour dispositifs d'eclairage
EP2572932A1 (fr) * 2003-12-11 2013-03-27 Philips Solid-State Lighting Solutions, Inc. Appareil et procédés de gestion thermique pour dispositifs d'éclairage
EP2159484B1 (fr) * 2008-08-25 2015-01-07 LEDexpert B.V. Luminaire
CN107577048A (zh) * 2017-05-27 2018-01-12 深圳多哚新技术有限责任公司 光学镜片调焦组件

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