SOLID STATE LOW BAY LIGHT WITH INTEGRATED AND SEALED THERMAL MANAGEMENT

• US 20110228529A1
• Filed: 03/16/2011
• Published: 09/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Infinilux, LLC
• Original Assignee: Infinilux, LLC
• Inventors: Patel, Jitendra, Vilgiate, Anthony W.
• Granted Patent: US 8,692,444 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/235
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 19/0055 by screwing
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/009 the casing being inside the housing of the lighting device
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/506 of globes, bowls or cover glasses
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/83 the elements having apertures, ducts or channels, e.g. heat radiation holes
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 3/02 characterised by the shape
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/40 Lighting for industrial, commercial, recreational or military use
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2107/30 on the outer surface of cylindrical surfaces, e.g. rod-shaped supports having a circular or a polygonal cross section
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

A lighting fixture utilizing LED light sources for illumination of commercial, outdoor and other large area applications incorporates efficient heat dissipation and improved convective air flow. An integrated heat transfer assembly is disclosed that is configured to enhance heat dissipation by providing an efficient thermal conductive pathway for radiation of heat to an external environment. The lighting fixture body is configured with a lens body and heat sink having a chimney tube with internally facing finned heat sink arrangement for providing enhanced convective air flow through the light fixture body. When the heat sink transfers heat from the LED light sources during operation so as to create heated air surrounding the heat sink, ambient air is drawn through the chimney and the heated air is exhausted through air gaps so as to create a conductive air current with the environment. The heat sink fins are configured to enhance the natural air draw through the chimney by tapering the surface areas of the fins.

Claims

1. a solid state lighting apparatus comprising:

a) a thermally conductive housing having an interior cavity and at least one air vent;

b) a thermally conductive heat sink with a central air gap and a plurality of cooling fins extending into the central air gap, the heat sink coupled with the conductive housing providing a thermally conductive pathway and providing a convective thermal pathway;

c) a plurality of solid state light sources thermally associated with the heat sink for conductively transferring heat from said plurality of solid state light sources to the heat sink;

d) a substantially transparent lens body enclosing said solid state light sources and heat sink, the lens body fixed to the housing and having an air gap coupled to the central air gap of the heat sink, wherein materials are prevented from entering the lens body.

2. The solid state lighting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the solid state light source comprises a light emitting diode.

3. The solid state lighting apparatus of claim 2, wherein the light emitting diode comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes disposed on a printed circuit board.

4. The solid state lighting apparatus of claim 3, wherein the printed circuit board is powered by an electric power supply.

5. The solid state lighting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the interior surface of the lens body further comprises a plurality of facets for reflecting light.

6. The solid state lighting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cooling fin is tapered, whereby convective thermal air flow is enhanced.

7. The solid state lighting apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a thermally conductive heat sink bezel fixed to the heat sink and the housing and providing a conductive thermal path to radiate heat to the exterior environment.

8. A solid state lighting apparatus comprising:

a) a thermally conductive housing having a top cap with vents, a housing body with a first air gap and an interior cavity, the housing having a second air gap between the top cap and housing body;

b) a thermally conductive heat sink with an open cylinder area having an air entry side and an air exit side and having a plurality of cooling fins extending into the cylinder area, the heat sink coupled with the conductive housing to provide a thermally conductive pathway and whereby the first air gap and the exit side of the open cylinder area are jointed to provide a conductive thermal air current pathway;

c) a plurality of solid state light sources thermally associated with the heat sink for conductively transferring heat from said plurality of solid state light sources to the heat sink;

d) a lens body enclosing said solid state light sources and heat sink, the lens body having an opening coupled to the entry side of the open cylinder area for allowing convective air flow through the lighting apparatus.

9. The solid state lighting apparatus of claim 8, wherein the solid state light source comprises a light emitting diode.

10. The solid state lighting apparatus of claim 9, wherein the light emitting diode is coupled to a printed circuit board.

11. The solid state lighting apparatus of claim 10, wherein the printed circuit board is powered by an electric power supply.

12. The solid state lighting apparatus of claim 8, wherein the interior surface of the lens body further comprises a plurality of facets for reflecting light.

13. The solid state lighting apparatus of claim 8, wherein the plurality of cooling fins are tapered.

14. A method for cooling a solid state lighting apparatus comprising:

Generating convective air currents through the body of the lighting apparatus by drawing air through a thermally conductive heat sink with an open cylinder area having an air entry side and an air exit side and having a plurality of cooling fins extending into the cylinder area;

Providing an air expansion chamber with venting fixed to the heat sink, wherein hot air drawn through the heat sink expands in the chamber and is expelled through the vents into the environment.

15. A method of generating convective air current in a light emitting diode device comprising;

providing an air channel through a heat sink;

extending cooling fins into the air channel;

tapering the cooling fins of a heat sink.