Classifications

• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F21—LIGHTING
  • F21S—NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
  • F21S45/00—Arrangements within vehicle lighting devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, for purposes other than emission or distribution of light
  • F21S45/60—Heating of lighting devices, e.g. for demisting
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F21—LIGHTING
  • F21S—NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
  • F21S45/00—Arrangements within vehicle lighting devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, for purposes other than emission or distribution of light
  • F21S45/40—Cooling of lighting devices
  • F21S45/42—Forced cooling
  • F21S45/43—Forced cooling using gas
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60Q—ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60Q1/00—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor
  • B60Q1/0017—Devices integrating an element dedicated to another function
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F21—LIGHTING
  • F21S—NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
  • F21S45/00—Arrangements within vehicle lighting devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, for purposes other than emission or distribution of light
  • F21S45/30—Ventilation or drainage of lighting devices
  • F21S45/33—Ventilation or drainage of lighting devices specially adapted for headlamps
• • 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
  • F21V29/60—Cooling arrangements characterised by the use of a forced flow of gas, e.g. air
  • F21V29/67—Cooling arrangements characterised by the use of a forced flow of gas, e.g. air characterised by the arrangement of fans
  • F21V29/677—Cooling arrangements characterised by the use of a forced flow of gas, e.g. air characterised by the arrangement of fans the fans being used for discharging
• • 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
  • F21V29/90—Heating arrangements
• • 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
  • F21V31/00—Gas-tight or water-tight arrangements
  • F21V31/03—Gas-tight or water-tight arrangements with provision for venting

Definitions

• the present invention concerns a method for protecting moisture-sensitive spaces, and particularly for leading out moisture that has entered such a space.
• US5406467A describes a ventilation system for, for example, a headlight on a vehicle.
• the system comprises a rubber tube that is secured to a light fixture, wherein the tube has a filter inside it.
• the system resists the induction of dust while permitting the elimination of moisture in the light fixture.
• the filter has a pore size that is large enough to allow water vapor to escape from the light fixture but still small enough to effectively resist the induction of a substantial amount of dust particles from an incoming air stream. Water droplets are removed from the air by means of partition walls before it enters the light fixture. However, smaller water particles will enter the headlight.
• a method and device for dehydrating a lamp housing for a vehicle are known from US6422729B1.
• a passage with an entrance and exit in the lamp housing to allow air to flow into and out of the lamp housing is equipped with a substrate that removes water from air that flows through the substrate.
• moist air can enter the lamp housing in connection with, for instance, lamp replacement.
• EP1927507A1 describes how a heating element is arranged on a lens in a headlight to remove and prevent snow, ice and condensed water from adhering to the lens.
• US20040070339A1 also describes how a heating element can be used to heat the lens. However, these solutions do not include a ventilation flow through the lamp housing.
• Apparatuses other than headlights can also be sensitive to moisture, condensation, etc.
• the object of the invention is thus to achieve a device that can at least partly eliminate the risk that the function of an apparatus will be degraded by moisture or dust.
• the dehumidifying device comprises a space delimited by a housing.
• the housing is equipped with a first passage with a first inlet and a first outlet into the space to enable air to flow from the outside of the housing into the space.
• the housing is further equipped with a second passage with a second inlet from the space and a second outlet to the outside of the housing.
• the second inlet is arranged below the second outlet when the dehumidifying device is in an intended installed position.
• the dehumidifying device further comprises a first heating element disposed below the second inlet in a lower part of the housing intended for collecting liquid.
• the first heating element is adapted so as to heat fluid in the lower part into gas form, whereupon the liquid in gas form is then led via the second inlet through the second passage and via the second outlet to the outside of the housing.
• the dehumidifying device can, for example, be used in a headlight or an electronic control unit that requires ventilation.
• a headlight or an electronic control unit that requires ventilation In apparatuses in which the temperature or pressure can vary, such as headlights and electronic control units with cooling, there is a risk that liquid will accumulate due to condensation. Other causes of moisture accumulation can occur, such as liquid that is absorbed by plastic and penetrates into the space in that way.
• Using the dehumidifying device makes it possible to ensure that no liquid will remain standing in such an apparatus. Having controlled heating of the liquid by means of a heating element and then leading the liquid in gas form through a passage to the outside of the housing makes it possible to avoid having liquid condense uncontrolled and to then spread and, for example, condense on electronics, which can then corrode or short-circuit.
• Fig. 1 shows an example of a vehicle in which a dehumidifying device can be installed.
• Fig. 2 shows a dehumidifying device viewed from the outside according to one embodiment of the invention.
• Fig. 3 shows the dehumidifying device in Fig. 2 in cross-section when it is built into a headlight.
• Fig. 4 shows a part of the dehumidifying device according to another embodiment of the invention.
• Fig. 1 shows a vehicle 1 in which the dehumidifying device 20 to be described below can be used.
• the vehicle 1 can be, for example, a goods vehicle, a car, a work vehicle, etc.
• One of the external light devices 2 on the vehicle 1 is marked in the figure, e.g. the headlights, and the dehumidifying device 20 can
• the dehumidifying device 20 can also be adapted so as to be a part of an external light device 2, which can adapted so as to be arranged on a vehicle 1.
• Another area of application for the dehumidifying device 20 consists of electronic control units in the vehicle 1 , which units can be sensitive to moisture.
• the dehumidifying device 20 can also be used with other apparatuses that face problems with liquid accumulation, such as apparatuses that are subject to large temperature variations and require ventilation.
• Fig. 2 shows a dehumidifying device 20 according to one embodiment.
• the dehumidifying device 20 comprises a housing 3 that delimits a space 21.
• the housing 3 here is the back piece of a headlight 2 (Fig. 1 ).
• the housing 3 is equipped with a first passage 9 with a first inlet 8 and a first outlet 10 into the space 21. In this way air can flow from the outside of the housing 3 into the space 21 even when the housing 3, or the back piece, is installed with, for example, a lens 13 (Fig. 3).
• the housing 3 is also equipped with a second passage 5 with a second inlet 6 from the space 21 and a second outlet 4 to the outside of the housing 3. As can be seen in the figure, the second inlet 6 is disposed below the second outlet 4.
• a first heating element 7 is disposed below the second inlet 6 in a lower part 22 of the housing 3 intended for collecting liquid.
• the first heating element 7 is adapted so as to heat liquid in the lower part 22 to gas form, and the liquid in gas form is led via the second inlet 6 through the second passage 5 and via the second outlet 4 to the outside of the housing 3.
• the first passage 9 is designed, for example, as an opening in the housing 3, or a tube through the housing 3, and can consist of the inner walls of the housing 3.
• the second passage 5 is designed, for example, as a tube or channel and runs into the space 21 that is delimited by the housing 3.
• the second inlet 6 of the second passage 5 is disposed above and in close connection to the first heating element 7.
• the first heating element 7 is here disposed in a lower part 22 of the housing, which part consists of a cavity. In this way liquid that is collected in the housing 3 or the apparatus of which the housing 3 constitutes a part is collected in the lower part 22 of the housing.
• the first inlet 8 and the second outlet 4 are disposed in the housing 3 so that they will not be disturbed by the air pressure that is created when the vehicle 1 (Fig. 1 ) drives at speed.
• they are disposed on the rear side of the housing, i.e. on the back piece of the headlight, and are faced toward the rear end of the vehicle when the dehumidifying device 20 is installed.
• Fig. 3 shows, in cross-section, the dehumidifying device 20 depicted in Fig. 2.
• the housing 3 that delimits the space 21 is shown in the figure.
• the space 21 is further delimited by a lens 13, which is mounted with the housing 3.
• a lamp 15 is mounted in the middle of a reflector 14, and the light from the lamp 15 is reflected by the reflector and shines out through the lens 13 when the lamp 15 is turned on.
• the lamp 15 can, for example, be one or a plurality of light-emitting diodes, a halogen lamp, a xenon lamp, etc.
• Air can enter the space 21 through the first passage 9 via the first inlet 8 and the first outlet 10.
• the second passage 5 along with the second inlet 6 from the space 21 and the second outlet 4 to the outside of the housing 3 permits liquid in gas form to be led out from the space 21 without coming into contact with the lens 13.
• the second inlet 6 is disposed below the second outlet 4.
• the lower part 22 of the housing 3 is shown here as a countersink 22 in which the heating element 7 has been disposed.
• the second inlet 6 is disposed above and in connection to the heating element 7 and the lower part of the 22 of the housing 3, so that the liquid in gas form can migrate directly into the second passage 5.
• the second part 22 in which the heating element 7 is disposed is preferably the lowest part of the housing 3 in which the liquid in the housing 3 and the parts that are mounted to the housing 3 are gathered, so that the liquid naturally runs to the lower part 22 when the dehumidifying device 20 is in its mounted position.
• the second inlet 6 can be partly secured to the lower part 22 in order to achieve as tight a seal as possible, while still allowing liquid and air to flow to the lower part 22 and on up through the second let 6 (liquid then in gas form) through the second passage 5.
• first passage 9 that conveys in air from the outside and a second passage 5 that conveys air and liquid in gas form to the outside makes it possible for a plurality of airflows to be created in the space 21.
• the air in the space 21 is heated from below by means of the heating element 7.
• One airflow can go through the second passage 5, and a second airflow can go past the lens 13 as shown in the figure. In this way the risk that condensation will form on the inside of the lens 13, which condensation could disrupt the light from the lamp 15 and block light shining out through the lens 13 is decreased. In addition, condensation and mist on the inside of the lens make a less favorable esthetic impression.
• the air that flows past the lens 13 can then reach the outside of the headlight 2 by passing through the second passage 5 via the second inlet 6.
• Fig. 3 shows one embodiment of the dehumidifying device 20 in which the first passage 9 is equipped with a first filter unit 1 .
• said first filter unit 11 is adapted so as to prevent liquid and/or dust particles from entering the space 21.
• “Dust particles” refers to particles of small size.
• the second passage 5 is equipped with a second filter unit 12.
• the second filter unit 12 is preferably disposed in proximity or direct connection to the second outlet 4.
• said second filter unit 12 is adapted so as to prevent liquid and/or dust particles from entering the space 21.
• the second filter unit 12 is adapted so as to allow liquid in gas form to pass through, so that liquid in gas form can reach outside the housing 3.
• the first filter unit 11 can also be adapted in this manner.
• the filter units 11 , 12 can comprise membranes of, e.g. water-repelling hydrophobic material that will not allow dust particles to pass through. Examples of this comprise fabrics of various materials, such as expanded polytetrafluoroethylene, which has
• microscopically small pores that allow water vapor to pass through, but not water droplets.
• Other types of membranes that remove a given type of particles can also be applicable.
• the size of the membrane pores can thus be adapted based on what one wishes to allow to pass through or prevent from passing through. The smaller the pores, the smaller the particles that will pass through.
• the first heating element 7 can, for example, be a separate heating element 7 that has an external power source.
• the first heating element 7 can be a Peltier element or an immersion heater.
• the heating element 7 can obtain its energy from an external unit such as a battery or other energy source in the vehicle 1 (Fig. 1 ), or the heating element 7 can obtain its energy by conducting heat generated by the lamp 15 to the heating element 7.
• the heat can be conducted by means of suitable heat-conducting elements that couple together parts of the lamp 15 that are being heated to the heating element 7.
• Parts of the lamp 15 that are being heated can comprise, for example, the base of the lamp, a circuit board for light-emitting diodes, or an electric element.
• the second passage 5 can have various designs. However, the second inlet 6 must be disposed somewhere beneath the lower outlet 4, and the second passage 5 between them must be designed so that the liquid in gas form rises upward through the passage 5 to the second outlet 4. The second outlet 4 and the second inlet 6 thus do not need to be disposed directly vertically in relation to one another.
• Fig. 4 shows yet another embodiment of a part of the dehumidifying device 20 that can be used in combination with the other embodiments described herein. The second outlet 4 will then be coupled in as explained below.
• the dehumidifying device 20 here comprises a third passage 18 with a third inlet 17 from the space 21 and a third outlet 19 to the outside of the housing (not shown). The second outlet 4 from the second passage 5 is connected to the third passage 18.
• the dehumidifying device 20 can be equipped with a fan device 16 that is arranged in connection to the third inlet 17.
• the fan device 16 is adapted so as to drive a stream of air into the third inlet 17 and via the third passage 18 and the third outlet 19 to the outside of the housing 3.
• the fan device 16 is adapted so as to drive a stream of air into the third inlet 17 and via the third passage 18 and the third outlet 19 to the outside of the housing 3.
• the stream of air that is produced in the third passage 18 creates suction in the second passage 5 so that the liquid in gas form acquires additional speed and force to rise up from the second passage 5 and on outside the housing 3 via the third passage 18.
• the stream of air in the third passage 18 can also be generated in ways other than by using a fan device 16, such as by means of the vehicle airstream or of compressed air from a compressed air system in the vehicle 1.
• the 17 can be connected so as to wholly or partially bypass the space 21 and instead debouch to the outside of the housing 3, and be localized in such a way that when the vehicle 1 gains speed, air will flow into the third passage 18 via the third inlet 17.
• Fig. 4 also shows that the second passage 5 can be equipped with a second heating element 23.
• the heating element 23 is shown here in the form of a coil- shaped heating element 23 that is disposed on the outside of and wound around the second passage 5.
• the second heating element 23 can instead be disposed inside the second passage 5.
• the second heating element 23 has the task of continuing to heat the liquid in gas form that is rising in the second passage 5 so that there is no risk that it will condense on the way out of the second passage 5.
• the second heating element 23 can obtain its energy in the same way as the first heating element 7.
• the dehumidifying device 20 is equipped with one or a plurality of moisture sensors 24 adapted so as to sense moisture.
• the first and/or the second heating element 7, 23 can be adapted so as to be turned on.
• the moisture sensor or sensors 24 are then connected to the first and/or the second heating element 7, 23 so as to be able to be turned on.
• the heating elements 7, 23 are turned on only when they are needed, and energy can be saved.
• the heating elements 7, 23 are preferably adapted so as to heat the liquid to gas form and can, for example, be between 30°C and 150°C.
• the liquid can, for example, be water or a mixture of water and ethanol, isopropanol etc.
• the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Air-Conditioning For Vehicles (AREA)
• Drying Of Gases (AREA)
• Non-Portable Lighting Devices Or Systems Thereof (AREA)

Priority Applications (2)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

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ID=51227853

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (4)

Cited By (11)

Families Citing this family (1)

Citations (4)

• 2013
  • 2013-01-24 SE SE1350075A patent/SE536850C2/sv not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2013-12-18 BR BR112015017308A patent/BR112015017308A2/pt not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2013-12-18 DE DE112013006307.7T patent/DE112013006307T5/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2013-12-18 WO PCT/SE2013/051546 patent/WO2014116160A1/en active Application Filing

Patent Citations (4)

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