ITMI20102266A1 - LED MODULE DOOR. - Google Patents

Description

"LED MODULE HOLDER"

DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to a module holder, particularly for LED modules.

More particularly, the invention relates to a module holder which has a high ease of assembly of the LED module and reliability over time of the thermal junction between the LED module and the heat sink element.

As is known, the modules are intended to be fixed to a heat sink.

The LED module consists of a board on which the LEDs are positioned and a connector with cable or a cable directly for connection to the power supply line, from a circular plastic body with the possibility, in elevation, of different levels, a TIM thermal interface material is attached to an aluminum plate, intended to come into contact with a heat sink. The TIM must ensure correct heat transfer from the module to the heatsink, since the LEDs inside the module must never exceed a certain temperature.

In essence, therefore, the module holder must ensure that there is a good and lasting pressure between the TIM and the heat sink, and finally that there is adequate mechanical restraint of the module itself.

The aforementioned LED modules are generally of the type with external power supply and are not mains voltage.

The known LED modules currently provide for the fixing of the module holder to the dissipator element by means of screws placed on the external part of the module which also guarantee the correct pressure between the TIM of the module and the dissipator.

This solution has some drawbacks due to the fact that the tightening of the screws to fix the module takes place on the plastic body of the module, with the risk of deforming or breaking it during fixing or over time during operation.

Furthermore, the screw tightening solution has some drawbacks due to the fact that following a possible yielding and reduction in thickness of the TIM with the passage of time, the screws do not allow to compensate for this yielding, with the consequence of having an increase in the thickness temperature of the LEDs and therefore a reduction in the life of the LED module.

Finally, the replacement of the module must be carried out by a specialized technician and in addition the module that is replaced may not be mounted correctly if not all the screws are tightened correctly and the pressure on the TIM is not uniform.

In order to try to ensure correct module replacement, it is also necessary to use a torque screwdriver for the correct fixing torque.

The main aim of the present invention is to provide a module holder, particularly for LED modules, which allows to guarantee a good and lasting pressure between TIM and heat sink, compensating for TIM failure during the life of the LED module.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a module holder, particularly for LED modules, in which a uniform pressure can be applied during locking of the module to the TIM.

Within this aim, an object of the present invention is to provide a module holder in which the replacement of the LED module can take place without using a dynamometric screwdriver to determine the correct fixing torque.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a module holder which can hold it in position, before locking it, by means of suitable keys.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a module holder which can allow the removal of the LED module without the use of tools.

Not least object of the present invention is to provide a module holder, particularly for LED modules, which is highly reliable, relatively simple to manufacture and at competitive costs.

This task, as well as these and other purposes that will appear better later, are achieved by a module holder, particularly for LED modules, comprising a module holder body, suitable for allowing the housing of an LED module, called module holder body. being provided with holes for fixing said body to the dissipator element, characterized by the fact that said holes house elastic means kept in compression by retention means inserted and blocked within said holes, said retention means allowing the housing of coupling screws of said body to said dissipating element and by the fact of comprising a clamping ring 30 adapted to clamp said module within said body and push it against the dissipating element.

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become clearer from the description of preferred but not exclusive embodiments of the module holder according to the present invention, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of the module holder according to the present invention according to a first embodiment, with the clamping ring having external knurls to help its rotation;

Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of the module holder according to the present invention, in accordance with a second embodiment, with the clamping ring having two fins;

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the module holder illustrated in Figure 1, with the clamping ring not rotated;

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the module holder of Figure 1, shown in the tightening condition of the screws that fix it to the dissipator element, with the clamping ring rotated and with the LED module compressed;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a first variant of the module holder according to the present invention, with an opening;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a second variant of the module holder according to the present invention, with three openings;

Figure 7 is a perspective view of a first form of clamping ring;

Figure 8 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a clamping ring, similar to that illustrated in Figure 2;

figure 9 is a perspective view of the coupling between the module holder and the heat sink element, with the LED module in the version with plug connector;

Figure 10 is a perspective view of the module holder according to the invention, with LED module in the version with attached cable; And

Figure 11 is a perspective view of the LED module adapted to be used in the module holder according to the invention.

With reference to the figures, the module holder according to the invention, globally indicated by the reference number 1, comprises a body 2 of the module holder, made in a single piece, for example in plastic material, and provided with a plurality of holes, for example example three, indicated by the reference number 3, for fixing the body of the module holder to a heat sink element 4.

The LED module 6 can have, integral with it, at least one plug connector 5 for the electrical connection to a socket connector with cable.

Alternatively, the LED module 6 can be equipped with a cable that comes out directly from the module, for the electrical connection.

Both these versions of the LED module 6 are of the type with external power supply and house the various LEDs suitable for providing lighting.

The lower surface of the LED module 6 is covered with a layer of so-called TIM 8 material intended to come into contact with the upper surface of the heat sink element 4.

The module holder according to the invention further comprises a clamping ring 30 adapted to clamp the LED module 6 inside the body 2.

The clamping ring 30 is equipped, in correspondence with the face opposite to that of clamping against the LED module, with a pair of fins 31 suitable for facilitating the rotation of the clamping ring 30.

Another version of the clamping ring 30 is equipped, at its peripheral edge, with grooves 36 to facilitate gripping on the clamping ring 30 and the consequent rotation of the clamping ring.

The clamping ring 30 can also be equipped with at least one retention tooth 32, and preferably a pair of teeth adapted to hold the LED module 6 when the module is inserted inside the body 2 and to allow the rotation of the ring in any case. tightening 30 even when the LED module inserted inside the body 2 can no longer rotate.

These teeth, after snapping the LED module into the clamping ring, hold the module during the phase of inserting the LED module into the body of the module holder or removing it from the body of the module holder, which therefore can be easily done even when the module holder is fixed downwards and the LED module would tend to fall out of the body of the module holder.

The retention teeth 32 act on a relief 33 with an undercut 34 defined along the perimeter edge of the LED module 6.

The module holder ring 30 is also equipped with a lowered portion 41 disposed circumferentially around the collar of the LED module 6, which allows a pushing action of the clamping ring 30 on the upper part 8 of the LED module 6, pushing it towards the heat sink element.

The lowered portion 41 is adapted to allow a pushing action of the clamping ring 30 through the upper part 42 of the collar, where it is devoid of teeth, on the LED module 6.

The body 2 of the module holder is equipped with at least one opening 35 for a connector, for the passage of cables 40 and for removing the LED module 6 with the fingers, without the aid of tools, or with a tool.

Furthermore, the body of the LED module can be equipped with radially projecting fins (towards the outside or towards the inside of the module) 23 which allow to prevent the rotation of the LED module 6 once it is housed within the body 2 , and allow to define the modules according to the powers or lumens, avoiding their interchangeability.

Conveniently, the body of the module holder, 2, is provided with regions 10 for supporting pins 7 of the clamping ring 30. The regions 10 are defined by a flat area, ie substantially parallel with the upper and lower faces of the module holder preceded by an inclined plane 11 which therefore allows, once the clamping ring 30 is housed within the cavity of the module holder and, after the rotation of the clamping ring 30, to bring the pins 7 into contact with the planes inclined 11.

This therefore allows, by virtue of the passage along these inclined planes with a rotation of the clamping ring 30, to position the pins 7 in correspondence with the regions 10, pressing the LED module 6 downwards and therefore towards the dissipator element. 4.

In this way, the surface of TIM material 8 adheres and compresses against the upper face of the dissipating element 4, while allowing the body 2 of the module holder to be raised, by virtue of the presence of elastic means described below.

An eventual step 22 placed between each inclined plane 11 and the relative flat portion 10 allows a click to be made to prevent the reverse rotation of the clamping ring 30 during operation.

In particular, the body 2 of the module holder is provided with elastic means 12, for example springs, able to be inserted into the holes 3 and into which the elastic means are inserted rivets 13 which allow to lock the elastic means 12 inside the holes. 3, keeping them partially in compression.

Figure 2 illustrates the positioning of a rivet 13 in the hole 3 of the body 2 of the module holder, with the riveting of the rivet in correspondence with the lower region of the body of the module holder, and then the positioning of the elastic means 12 in a partially compressed condition.

The riveting of the rivet 13 makes it possible to make both the rivet 13 and the relative elastic means 12 captive once the body of the module holder 2 is disconnected from the dissipator element 4, at this point the screws 25 must be inserted into the body of the module. rivet and will screw into corresponding holes 16, defined on the upper face of the heat sink element 4.

The screw 25 used to screw the module holder body 2 to the heat sink element 4 can be a standard, conventional screw.

Figure 3 illustrates the second embodiment of the module holder according to the invention where, in the hole 3, a washer 15 is inserted on which the spring 12 rests in which the rivet 13 is then inserted.

In this case, as shown in Figure 4, the washer 15 acts as a stop and support element for the spring 12.

The operation of the module holder according to the invention is as follows.

The body 2 of the module holder is fixed with three standard screws adhering to the heatsink 4 and the lower face of the body 2 of the module holder can be in contact with the heatsink 4.

When the module 6 is inserted in the body 2 of the module holder, by tightening exerted by the clamping ring 30, the body 2 of the module holder is raised with respect to the plane of the dissipator element 4, compressing the springs 12 which push the upper surface of the rings 8 or 34 of the module 6 against the dissipating element 5, guaranteeing the required pressure.

The lifting movement of the body 2 of the heat sink is determined by the sliding of the three pins 7, integral with the clamping ring 30, on the three inclined planes 11 defined in the body 2 of the module holder, (as described in the patent application MI2008A00559 in the name of the same applicant of this application)

In this way, the pressure between the surface TIM 8 of module 6 and the heat sink element 4 is uniform as it follows the vertical movement of the LED module 6, even if the surface of the body decreases in thickness over time, thus allowing the body 2 of the module holder to maintain a uniform distribution of pressure on the surface of the TIM.

Furthermore, with the module holder according to the invention, when the LED module 6 is completely inserted, the body 2 of the module holder is raised with respect to the heat sink element 4. This allows to ensure greater air circulation around the base of the module. LED module 6, thus favoring heat dissipation and thus avoiding overheating.

The presence of a washer 15 allows the pressure to be distributed more on the plastic body 2 of the module holder.

The riveting of the free part of the rivet 13 makes it possible to make the spring 12 captive, to the full advantage of the installation and disassembly operations of the module holder according to the invention.

In practice, it has been found that the module holder according to the present invention fully achieves the intended aim and objects, since it allows to make the springs in the body of the module holder impossible to lose, to be able to fix the module holder to the element heatsink with standard screws and not with special screws, to ensure uniform pressure between the LED module and heatsink, to be able to tighten the fixing screws of the module holder to the heatsink element without releasing the latter on the plastic body and therefore deforming or breaking it during fixing, to maintain a space between the lower face of the module holder body and the upper face of the heat sink element, thus ensuring a circulation of air useful to avoid overheating of the module holder and of the relative LED module, to allow removal of the module LED even without the aid of tools, and to ensure adequate mechanical retention of the module.

The module holder thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the inventive concept; moreover, all the details can be replaced by other technically equivalent elements.

In practice, the materials used, as well as the contingent shapes and dimensions, may be any according to the requirements and the state of the art.

Claims (10)

R IV E N D I C A Z I O N I 1. Module holder (1), particularly for LED modules, comprising a body (2) of the module holder, suitable for housing a LED module (6), said body (2) of the module holder being provided with holes (3) for fixing said body to a dissipating element (4), characterized by the fact that said holes (3) house elastic means (12) kept in compression by retention means (13) inserted and locked within said holes (3) ), said retention means allowing the housing of screws (25) for coupling said body (2) to said dissipating element (4) and by the fact of comprising a clamping ring (30) adapted to tighten said module within said body (2) and push it against the heat sink element. 2. Module holder according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that said clamping ring (30) is equipped, in correspondence with the face opposite to that of clamping against said body, with a pair of fins (31) suitable for facilitating rotation of said tightening ring (30). 3. Module holder according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said clamping ring (30) is equipped, in correspondence with its perimeter edge, with grooves (36) to facilitate gripping on said clamping ring (30 ) and the consequent rotation of said tightening ring. 4. Module holder according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said clamping ring (30) is equipped with at least one retention tooth (32) able to hold said LED module (6) when said module is inserted within said body (2) and in any case allowing the rotation of said clamping ring (30), said at least one retention tooth by acting on a drain (33) with undercut defined along the perimeter edge of said LED module (6). 5. Module holder according to claim 1, characterized in that said clamping ring (30) is equipped with a lowered portion (41) arranged circumferentially around a collar of said clamping ring, said lowered portion (41) being suitable to allow a pushing action of said clamping ring (30), through the upper part (42) of the collar, on said LED module (6). 6. Module holder according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said body (2) of the module holder is equipped with at least one opening (35) for a connector, for the passage of cables (40) and for removing said LED module (6) with your fingers or with a tool. 7. Module holder according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that said retention means (13) comprise a rivet able to be inserted into said hole (3), inside said elastic means (12) and riveted at the opposite end to that of insertion to guarantee the impermissibility of the elastic means (12). 8. Module holder according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises, in correspondence with the housing region of said LED module, and to allow housing of said LED module (6), inclined planes (11) adapted to allow locking by rotation of said clamping ring (30) within the body (2) of the module holder, said inclined planes (11) each connecting with a plane (10) substantially parallel to the upper face and to the lower face of the body (2) of the door module . 9. Module holder according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said rivets (13) are adapted to allow the insertion of screws (25) for fixing said body (2) of the module holder to the upper surface of said dissipator element (4). 10. Module holder according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a step (22) between said inclined planes (11) and said planes (10).