HEAT EXCHANGER FOR LED LIGHT FIXTURE

• US 20140211486A1
• Filed: 01/30/2013
• Published: 07/31/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Edward T. Rodriguez
• Original Assignee: Edward T. Rodriguez
• Inventors: Rodriguez, Edward T.
• Application Number:
  US13/754,788
• Publication Number:
  US 20140211486A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/373
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/67 characterised by the arrangement of fans
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/70 characterised by passive heat-dissipating elements, e.g. heat-sinks

Abstract

A heat exchange system for an LED light fixture is provided. The heat exchange system includes an enclosure 4, a heat sink 9 positioned inside of and spaced apart from said enclosure 4, and a fan positioned inside of and spaced part from said enclosure 4. Heat is first transferred from LEDs 1 to heat sink 9. Heat is then transferred from heat sink 9 to the air within said enclosure 4 aided by fan 10. Heat is then transferred from the air inside of enclosure 4 to said enclosure 4 and then to outside ambient air. The enclosure 4 may be open (unsealed) or closed (sealed from a surrounding environment). The heat exchange system may be constructed from relatively simple and inexpensive components.

Claims

1. A heat exchange system for a light emitting diode (LED) light fixture, comprising:

an enclosure at least partially surrounding at least one LED;

a heat sink positioned inside of and spaced apart from said enclosure, the heat sink configured to transfer heat away from the at least one LED; and

a fan positioned inside of and spaced part from said enclosure, the fan configured to transfer heat away from the heat sink.

2. The heat exchange system of claim 1, wherein the enclosure is substantially closed from an external environment.

3. The heat exchange system of claim 1, wherein the enclosure forms an exterior of a light fixture.

4. The heat exchange system of claim 1, wherein the enclosure comprises a peripheral wall and the peripheral wall has a substantial inside surface area and a substantial outside surface area.

5. The heat exchange system of claim 1, wherein the enclosure comprises a peripheral wall and the peripheral wall has a very large internal surface area and very large exterior surface area for its size.

6. The heat exchange system of claim 1, wherein said enclosure comprises a peripheral wall and said peripheral wall has a very large internal surface area and very large exterior surface area for its weight.

7. The heat exchange system of claim 1, wherein the enclosure comprises a peripheral wall comprising a pleated structure.

8. The heat exchange system of claim 7, wherein the pleated structure comprises proportions 2X to Y, where Y is the distance between successive peaks and X is the length of each sloping leg.

9. The heat exchange system of claim 8, wherein the pleated structure comprises proportions greater than 2X to Y, where Y is the distance between successive peaks and X is the length of each sloping leg.

10. The heat exchange system of claim 1, wherein the enclosure comprises a peripheral wall comprising a corrugated structure.

11. The heat exchange system of claim 10, wherein the corrugated structure comprises proportions 2X to Y, where Y is the distance between successive peaks and X is the length of each sloping leg.

12. The heat exchange system of claim 11, wherein the corrugated structure has proportions greater than 2X to Y, where Y is the distance between successive peaks and X is the length of each sloping leg.

13. The heat exchange system of claim 1, wherein the at least one LED is mounted on one side of the heat sink and the fan is mounted one of on and proximal to an opposing side of the heat sink.

14. The heat exchange system of claim 1, wherein the fan is oriented to move air toward the heat sink.

15. The heat exchange system of claim 1, wherein the enclosure comprises a peripheral wall and the peripheral wall has a thickness less than about 0.05 of an inch.

16. The heat exchange system of claim 1, wherein the enclosure comprises a peripheral wall and the peripheral wall has a thickness less than about 0.025 of an inch.

17. A thermal management system for an LED light fixture, the system comprising:

a first heat exchanger to remove heat from LEDs to air within an enclosure that at least partially surrounds the LEDs; and

,

a second heat exchanger to transfer heat from the air within the enclosure to air outside of said enclosure.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the enclosure has very large interior surface area and very large exterior surface area.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the enclosure has very large interior surface area and very large exterior surface area for its size and weight.

20. A heat exchange system for an LED light fixture, the system comprising:

an enclosure comprising a peripheral wall that comprises a pleated structure;

a heat sink positioned inside of and spaced apart from the enclosure;

a fan positioned inside of and spaced part from the enclosure and mounted one of on and proximal to a first side of the heat sink; and

,

a baffle positioned inside of and spaced part from the enclosure and positioned one of proximal and abutting to the fan on the first side of the fan;

wherein heat exchange system is closed from an external environment.