Headlamp assembly having cooling channel

• US 20060181894A1
• Filed: 02/16/2005
• Published: 08/17/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Varroc Lighting Systems S.R.O. (Varroc Engineering Limited)
• Original Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies Incorporated (Visteon Corporation)
• Inventors: Singh, Harvinder, Sayers, Edwin M., Tarne, James D., Chinniah, Jeyachandrabose N.
• Granted Patent: US 7,275,848 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/547
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/143 the main emission direction of the LED being parallel to the optical axis of the illuminating device
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 45/33 specially adapted for headlamps
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 45/42 Forced cooling
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 45/48 with means for conducting heat from the inside to the outside of the lighting devices, e.g. with fins on the outer surface of the lighting device
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/71 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
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/74 with fins or blades
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/83 the elements having apertures, ducts or channels, e.g. heat radiation holes
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 31/03 with provision for venting for vehicle head lights F21S45/33; for vehicle rear lights F21S41/192
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

A headlamp assembly for a motor vehicle is disclosed as having a light source, a chamber within which the light source is located, and a cooling channel extending through the chamber. The chamber substantially fluidly sealed from the atmosphere and the cooling channel is fluidly sealed from the chamber to prevent direct fluid exchange between the chamber and the channel. Heat exchange, however, is permitted between the chamber and the cooling channel. The heat exchange may be further promoted by a plurality of heat exchange fins extending away from the wall of the cooling channel.

Claims

1. A headlamp assembly for a motor vehicle comprising:

a first wall at least partially defining a chamber that is substantially fluidly sealed from the atmosphere;

a light source located with the chamber; and

a second wall at least partially defining a coolant channel through the chamber to exchange heat between the chamber and the channel, the channel being fluidly sealed from the chamber to prevent direct fluid exchange between the chamber and the channel, the channel terminating at an inlet and an outlet in fluid communication outside of the chamber.

2. A headlamp assembly as in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of fins extending away from the second wall and promoting the exchanger of heat between the chamber and the channel.

3. A headlamp assembly as in claim 1, wherein the second wall includes an inner surface that defines the channel and an outer surface that is exposed to the light source.

4. A headlamp assembly as in claim 3, further comprising a thermoelectric device coupled to the second wall and promoting the heat exchange between the chamber and the channel.

5. A headlamp assembly as in claim 4, wherein the thermoelectric device includes a semiconductor that promotes a temperature differential between the inner and the outer surfaces of the second wall.

6. A headlamp assembly as in claim 5, wherein the thermoelectric device includes a plate having a first portion extending into the channel and a second portion extending into the chamber.

7. A headlamp assembly as in claim 6, wherein the thermoelectric device is in electrical connection with a power source such that the first portion has a first temperature and the second portion has a second temperature greater than the first temperature.

8. A headlamp assembly as in claim 3, wherein the inner surface of the second wall including a plurality of vanes extending along the channel to promote airflow through the channel.

9. A headlamp assembly as in claim 1, wherein the inlet is positioned below the outlet.

10. A headlamp assembly as in claim 1, further comprising a third wall at least partially defining a second channel that extends through the chamber to permit heat exchange between the chamber and the second channel, wherein the second channel is fluidly sealed from the chamber to prevent direct fluid exchange between the chamber and the second channel.

11. A headlamp assembly as in claim 10, further comprising a fourth wall at least partially defining a third channel that extends through the chamber to permit heat exchange between the chamber and the third channel, wherein the third channel is fluidly sealed from the chamber to prevent direct fluid exchange between the chamber and the third channel.

12. A headlamp assembly comprising:

a light source;

an outer housing having a front wall and a rear wall defining a chamber that is substantially fluidly sealed from the atmosphere, the light source being located within the chamber; and

an inner housing positioned within the chamber and spaced apart from each of the front and rear walls, the inner housing defining a channel that extends through the chamber to permit heat exchange between the chamber and the channel.

13. A headlamp assembly as in claim 12, wherein the channel is fluidly sealed from the chamber to prevent direct fluid exchange between the chamber and the channel.

14. A headlamp assembly as in claim 12, further comprising a plurality of fins extending away from the second wall and promoting the heat exchange between the chamber and the channel.

15. A headlamp assembly as in claim 12, further comprising a thermoelectric device promoting the heat exchange between the chamber and the channel.

16. A headlamp assembly as in claim 15, wherein the thermoelectric device has a plate having a first portion positioned within the channel and a second portion positioned within the chamber, the thermoelectric device in electrical connection with a power source such that the first portion has a first temperature and the second portion has a second temperature greater than the first temperature.

17. A headlamp assembly as in claim 12, wherein the channel includes an inlet and an outlet, the inlet positioned below the outlet such that air flowing through the channel rises from the inlet towards the outlet.

18. A headlamp assembly as in claim 12, wherein the channel has generally parallel front and back faces.

19. A headlamp assembly as in claim 12, further comprising:

a third wall at least partially defining a second channel that extends through the chamber to permit heat exchange between the chamber and the second channel, wherein the second channel is fluidly sealed from the chamber to prevent direct fluid exchange between the chamber and the second channel; and

a fourth wall at least partially defining a third channel that extends through the chamber to permit heat exchange between the chamber and the third channel, wherein the third channel is fluidly sealed from the chamber to prevent direct fluid exchange between the chamber and the third channel.

20. A headlamp assembly as in claim 19, wherein each of the first, second, and third channels having a generally-circular cross-section.