PORTABLE LIGHT HAVING A HEAT DISSIPATER WITH AN INTEGRAL COOLING DEVICE

• US 20110121727A1
• Filed: 11/17/2010
• Published: 05/26/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Streamlight, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Streamlight, Inc.
• Inventors: Ziegenfuss, Peter J., Sharrah, Raymond L.
• Granted Patent: US 9,200,792 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 315/32
• CPC Class Codes: F21L 4/00 Electric lighting devices with self-contained electric batteries or cells
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/67 characterised by the arrangement of fans
• 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 29/773 the planes containing the fins or blades having the direction of the light emitting axis
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/83 the elements having apertures, ducts or channels, e.g. heat radiation holes
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

A portable light or device or heat dissipater may comprise a heat sink for having a light source or other heat generating element thermally coupled thereto, and having a plurality of walls extending from a side thereof for defining a cavity and plural passages, a fluid mover in the cavity of the heat sink for selectively causing a fluid to move through the cavity and the plural passages, and a light source or other heat generating element adjacent to and thermally coupled to the heat sink. The heat dissipater may be connected to a housing in various configurations.

Claims

1. A portable light heat dissipater comprising:

a heat sink having a first side for having a light source thermally coupled thereto, and having a plurality of walls extending from a second side thereof for defining a cavity and plural passages in fluid communication with the cavity;

a fluid mover disposed in the cavity of said heat sink for selectively causing a fluid to move through the cavity and the plural passages defined by the walls of said heat sink; and

a light source disposed adjacent to and thermally coupled to the first side of said heat sink.

2. The portable light heat dissipater of claim 1 further comprising:

an electronic circuit proximate said heat sink for controlling electrical power applied to said light source;

or

an electronic circuit proximate said heat sink for controlling operation of said fluid mover;

or

an electronic circuit proximate said heat sink for controlling electrical power applied to said light source and operation of said fluid mover.

3. The portable light heat dissipater of claim 2 wherein said electronic circuit controls electrical power applied to said light source or controls operation of said fluid mover or controls both responsive to the temperature of said light source.

4. The portable light heat dissipater of claim 2 wherein the electronic circuit is disposed on a circuit board defining a periphery of a given shape and size, and wherein said heat sink has a recess in the first side thereof, the recess having a shape and size corresponding to the given shape and size of the periphery of said circuit board, and wherein said circuit board is disposed in the recess.

5. The portable light heat dissipater of claim 1 wherein said heat sink comprises a generally circular base providing the first side for having a light source coupled thereto, and a plurality of generally cylindrical walls extending from the base of said heat sink, wherein an inner one of said cylindrical walls defines the cavity for receiving said fluid mover, and wherein at least one of said cylindrical walls has openings therethrough for defining the plural passages.

6. The portable light heat dissipater of claim 1 wherein said heat sink comprises a base providing the first side for having the light source coupled thereto, an enclosing wall extending from said base defining a passage and a plurality of generally radial walls extending from at least the base of said heat sink into the passage defined by said enclosing wall to define one or more of the plural passages adjacent said base, and a hollow member extending therefrom defining a cavity in fluid communication with the plural passages, wherein said hollow member defines the cavity for receiving said fluid mover.

7. The portable light heat dissipater of claim 6 including an articulated connection between said heat sink and said hollow member and a flexible sheath enclosing said articulated connection and providing a fluid passage between said hollow member and said heat sink.

8. The portable light heat dissipater of claim 1 wherein said heat sink includes at least one heat pipe coupling the first and second sides thereof.

9. The portable light heat dissipater of claim 1 wherein said light source comprises:

a high power light emitting diode;

or

an array of light emitting diodes;

or

a high power light emitting diode and an array of light emitting diodes.

10. The portable light heat dissipater of claim 1 wherein said fluid mover includes a fan for moving air.

11. The portable light heat dissipater of claim 1 further comprising:

a cover adjacent said fluid mover and having openings therethrough through which the fluid moved by said fluid mover moves;

or

a thermal interface adjacent said fluid mover and defining passages through which the fluid moved by said fluid mover moves.

13. The portable light of claim 11 further comprising:

an electronic circuit proximate said heat sink for controlling electrical power applied to said light source;

or

an electronic circuit proximate said heat sink for controlling operation of said fluid mover;

or

an electronic circuit proximate said heat sink for controlling electrical power applied to said light source and operation of said fluid mover.

14. The portable light of claim 13 wherein said electronic circuit controls electrical power applied to said light source or controls operation of said fluid mover or controls both responsive to the temperature of said light source.

15. The portable light of claim 13 wherein the electronic circuit is disposed on a circuit board defining a periphery of a given shape and size, and wherein said heat sink has a recess in the first side thereof, the recess having a shape and size corresponding to the given shape and size of the periphery of said circuit board, and wherein said circuit board is disposed in the recess.

12. A portable light comprising:

a housing defining a cavity for receiving a source of electrical power therein; and

a head connected to said housing and including a light source, a reflector and a heat dissipater,

said heat dissipater comprising;

a heat sink having a first side for having a light source thermally coupled thereto, and having a plurality of walls extending from a second side thereof for defining a cavity and plural passages in fluid communication with the cavity; and

a fluid mover disposed in the cavity of said heat sink for selectively causing a fluid to move through the cavity and the plural passages defined by the walls of said heat sink;

wherein said light source is disposed adjacent to and thermally coupled to the first side of said heat sink.

16. The portable light of claim 12 wherein said heat sink comprises a generally circular base providing the first side for having a light source coupled thereto, and a plurality of generally cylindrical walls extending from the base of said heat sink, wherein an inner one of said cylindrical walls defines the cavity for receiving said fluid mover, and wherein at least one of said cylindrical walls has openings therethrough for defining the plural passages.

17. The portable light of claim 12 wherein said heat sink comprises a base providing the first side for having the light source coupled thereto, an enclosing wall extending from said base defining a passage and a plurality of generally radial walls extending from at least the base of said heat sink into the passage defined by said enclosing wall to define one or more of the plural passages adjacent said base, and a hollow member extending therefrom defining a cavity in fluid communication with the plural passages, wherein said hollow member defines the cavity for receiving said fluid mover.

18. The portable light of claim 17 including an articulated connection between said heat sink and said hollow member and a flexible sheath enclosing said articulated connection and providing a fluid passage between said hollow member and said heat sink.

19. The portable light of claim 12 wherein said heat sink includes at least one heat pipe coupling the first and second sides thereof.

20. The portable light of claim 12 further comprising:

a pivot connector for connecting said heat dissipater to said housing, wherein said head and said housing are in a lantern configuration;

or

a thermal interface for connecting said heat dissipater to said housing, wherein said head and said housing are in a flashlight configuration;

or

an articulated connection connecting said heat dissipater to said housing, wherein said head and said housing are in an area light configuration.

21. The portable light of claim 20 wherein said thermal interface includes a plurality of radial walls defining passages through which the fluid moved by said fluid mover moves.

22. The portable light of claim 12 wherein said light source comprises:

a high power light emitting diode;

or

an array of light emitting diodes;

or

a high power light emitting diode and an array of light emitting diodes.

23. The portable light of claim 12 wherein said fluid mover includes a fan for moving air.

24. The portable light of claim 12 further comprising:

a cover adjacent said fluid mover and having openings therethrough through which the fluid moved by said fluid mover moves;

or

a thermal interface adjacent said fluid mover and defining passages through which the fluid moved by said fluid mover moves.

25. A portable heat dissipater comprising:

a heat sink having a first side for having a heat generating element thermally coupled thereto, and having a plurality of walls extending from a second side thereof for defining a cavity and plural passages in fluid communication with the cavity;

a fluid mover disposed in the cavity of said heat sink for selectively causing a fluid to move through the cavity and the plural passages defined by the walls of said heat sink; and

a heat generating element thermally coupled to the first side of said heat sink.

26. The portable heat dissipater of claim 25 further comprising:

an electronic circuit proximate said heat sink for controlling electrical power applied to said heat generating element;

or

an electronic circuit proximate said heat sink for controlling operation of said fluid mover;

or

an electronic circuit proximate said heat sink for controlling electrical power applied to said heat generating element and operation of said fluid mover.

27. The portable heat dissipater of claim 26 wherein said electronic circuit controls electrical power applied to said heat generating element or controls operation of said fluid mover or controls both responsive to the temperature of said heat generating element.

28. The portable heat dissipater of claim 26 wherein the electronic circuit is disposed on a circuit board defining a periphery of a given shape and size, and wherein said heat sink has a recess in the first side thereof, the recess having a shape and size corresponding to the given shape and size of the periphery of said circuit board, and wherein said circuit board is disposed in the recess.

29. The portable heat dissipater of claim 25 wherein said heat sink comprises a generally circular base providing the first side for having a heat generating element coupled thereto, and a plurality of generally cylindrical walls extending from the base of said heat sink, wherein an inner one of said cylindrical walls defines the cavity for receiving said fluid mover, and wherein at least one of said cylindrical walls has openings therethrough for defining the plural passages.

30. The portable heat dissipater of claim 25 wherein said heat sink comprises a base providing the first side for having the heat generating element coupled thereto, an enclosing wall extending from said base defining a passage and a plurality of generally radial walls extending from at least the base of said heat sink into the passage defined by said enclosing wall to define one or more of the plural passages adjacent said base, and a hollow member extending therefrom defining a cavity in fluid communication with the plural passages, wherein said hollow member defines the cavity for receiving said fluid mover.

31. The portable heat dissipater of claim 30 including an articulated connection between said heat sink and said hollow member and a flexible sheath enclosing said articulated connection and providing a fluid passage between said hollow member and said heat sink.

32. The portable heat dissipater of claim 25 wherein said heat sink includes at least one heat pipe coupling the first and second sides thereof.

33. The portable heat dissipater of claim 25 wherein said heat generating element includes:

at least one light emitting diode;

or

a high power light emitting diode;

or

an array of light emitting diodes;

or

a high power light emitting diode and an array of light emitting diodes.

34. The portable heat dissipater of claim 25 wherein said fluid mover includes a fan for moving air.

35. The portable heat dissipater of claim 25 further comprising:

a cover adjacent said fluid mover and having openings therethrough through which the fluid moved by said fluid mover moves;

or

a thermal interface adjacent said fluid mover and defining passages through which the fluid moved by said fluid mover moves;

or

a thermal interface adjacent said fluid mover and having a plurality of radial walls defining passages through which the fluid moved by said fluid mover moves.

36. The portable heat dissipater of claim 25 further comprising:

a housing defining a cavity for receiving a source of electrical power therein; and

a head connected to said housing and including said heat dissipater and said heat generating element; and

further comprising;

a pivot connector for connecting said heat dissipater to said housing, wherein said head and said housing are in a lantern-like configuration;

or

a thermal interface for connecting said heat dissipater to said housing, wherein said head and said housing are in a flashlight-like configuration;

or

an articulated connection connecting said heat dissipater to said housing, wherein said head and said housing are in an area light-like configuration.