Arrangement for mounting a thermal protective device in a recess mounted lighting fixture

• US 4,450,512 A
• Filed: 09/13/1982
• Issued: 05/22/1984
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/1982
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cooper Technologies Company (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Original Assignee: Mcgraw-Edison Company (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Inventors: Kristofek, Paul J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lechert, Jr., Stephen J.
• Application Number:
  US06/416,880
• Time in Patent Office: 617 Days
• Field of Search: 362/147, 362/276, 362/294, 362/295, 362/364, 362/373, 362/376, 362/802
• US Class Current: 362/276
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/02 of recess-mounted type, e.g. downlighters specially adapted for vehicle exteriors F21S41/00-F21S45/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 25/10 coming into action when lighting device is overloaded, e.g. thermal switch
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/802 Position or condition responsive switch

Abstract

An arrangement for mounting a thermal protective device including a case in which there is mounted a temperature sensitive element, in a lighting fixture adapted for recessed mounting in a ceiling support surface, includes a receptacle dimensioned for receipt of the thermal protective device. The receptacle is mounted on the interior surface of the side wall of the recess mounted housing of the lighting fixture. The housing side wall defines an aperture predeterminedly located therein with which the temperature sensitive element is aligned for sensing the temperature of the area adjacent the exterior surface of the housing side wall. The receptacle includes fingers for biasing the thermal protective device into engagement with the interior surface of the housing side wall. The receptacle is constructed of reflective material to reflect heat emanating from the lamp of the lighting fixture away from the thermal protective device. In a preferred embodiment, the case of the thermal protective device includes a frame-shaped projection aligned with the temperature sensitive element therein. The projection is receivable in the aperture defined in the housing side wall for securing the thermal protective device in place thereon and for aligning the temperature sensitive element with the aperture.

Claims

1. In a lighting fixture adapted for recessed mounting in a ceiling or the like support surface, said lighting fixture including an electrically operated lamp for illuminating an area adjacent said support surface and a thermal protective device connected electrically to said lamp for discontinuing the operation thereof in response to the temperature in an area adjacent the outside of said fixture reaching a predetermined temperature, said thermal protective device including temperature sensing means, a mounting arrangement for mounting said thermal protective device at a preselected location on said lighting fixture, said mounting arrangement including in combination:

a housing in which said electrically operated lamp is mounted, said housing including a side wall having interior and exterior surfaces, said housing being of a predetermined height and having an open end through which light from said lamp emanates, said side wall of said housing defining an aperture therein, said aperture being predeterminedly located along said side wall;

receptacle means for receiving said thermal protective device;

means for mounting said receptacle means on the interior surface of said side wall, said mounting means locating said thermal protective device with said temperature sensing means in alignment with said aperture defined in said side wall, whereby the temperature of the area adjacent said exterior surface of said housing side wall is sensed.

2. A mounting arrangement as claimed in claim 1 further including heat reflective means positioned in said housing between said thermal protective device and said lamp for reflecting heat emanating from said lamp away from said thermal protective device.

3. A mounting arrangement as claimed in claim 2 wherein said receptacle means includes a wall portion positioned between said thermal protective device and said lamp, said wall portion including reflective material for reflecting heat emanating from said lamp away from said thermal protective device.

4. A mounting arrangement as claimed in claim 3 wherein said receptacle means is U-shaped, with the open end of the U facing the inner surface of said side wall of said housing, and wherein said receptacle means is constructed of a heat reflective material.

5. A mounting arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein said housing defines a predetermined number of apertures in said side wall thereof, said apertures being predeterminedly located therein and wherein said means for mounting said receptacle means on said housing side wall includes finger means extending from said receptacle means and positioned for receipt in said apertures in said housing side wall, thereby said receptacle means is attachable to said side wall.

6. A mounting arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein said receptacle means includes means defined thereon, engagable with said thermal protective device for urging said device into contacting engagement with said interior surface of said housing side wall and for aligning said thermal protective device with said aperture in said side wall of said housing.

7. A mounting arrangement as claimed in claim 6 wherein said thermal protective device includes an outer case of insulative material in which said temperature sensing means is enclosed, said case being dimensioned for receipt in said receptacle means and wherein one wall of said case includes a frame-shaped projection defining an area aligned with said temperature sensing means within said case, said projection being dimensioned for receipt in said aperture in said side wall of said housing for aligning said temperature sensing means therewith and for securing said thermal protective device in said receptacle means.

8. A mounting arrangement as claimed in claim 7 wherein the insulative material forming said case in the area defined by said frame-shaped projection is of a reduced, predetermined thickness to permit thermal exposure of said temperature sensing means to the area surrounding said housing.

9. An arrangement for mounting a thermal protective device including a temperature sensing element, in a recess mounted lighting fixture, said fixture comprising a lamp connected to a source of electrical power through said thermal protective device said thermal protective device acting to discontinue the operation of said lamp in response to the temperature in an area surrounding the outside of said lighting fixture reaching a predetermined temperature and a housing in which said lamp is mounted, said housing being of a predetermined shape and having an open end through which light from said lamp emanates for illuminating an area adjacent said housing, said mounting arrangement including in combination;

a side wall of said housing having interior and exterior surfaces, said housing side wall defining a predeterminedly located and predeterminedly dimensioned aperture therethrough;

a receptacle dimensioned for receiving said thermal protective device; and

means for attaching said receptacle on the interior surface of said side wall of said housing so that said temperature sensing element of said thermal protective device is positioned generally in alignment with said aperture in said housing side wall, said receptacle including means for urging said thermal protective device into contacting engagement with said interior surface of said side wall of said housing.

10. A mounting arrangement as claimed in claim 9 wherein said fixture housing is cylindrical in shape having a circular cross-section, wherein the diameter of the open end of said housing is generally about 51/2-61/2 inches, wherein the height of said housing is generally about 7-71/2 inches and wherein said location of said aperture in said housing side wall is approximately 3-31/2 inches from the open end of said housing along a line parallel to the longitudinal axis of said housing.

11. A mounting arrangement as claimed in claim 9 further including light reflective means positioned in said fixture housing between said thermal protective device and said lamp for reflecting heat emanating from said lamp away from said thermal protective device.

12. A mounting arrangement as claimed in claim 11 wherein said receptacle is U-shaped, having joined rear and side walls, said side walls being attachable to said side wall of said housing perpendicularly thereto to provide an enclosure for said thermal protective device, at least said rear wall of said receptacle including a reflective surface for reflecting heat from said lamp away from said thermal protective device.

13. A mounting arrangement as claimed in claim 12 wherein said receptacle further includes resilient finger means engageable with said thermal protective device for urging said thermal protective device into contacting engagement with the interior surface of said housing side wall.

14. A mounting arrangement as claimed in claim 13 wherein said thermal protective device includes an outer case of insulative material enclosing said temperature sensitive element, said case being dimensioned for receipt in said receptacle, one wall of said case including an area of reduced wall thickness, said area being aligned with said temperature sensing element, said thermal protective device being positionable in said receptacle with said area of said case being in alignment with said aperture in said housing side wall, thereby to thermally expose said temperature sensing element to the area surrounding said housing.

15. A mounting arrangement as claimed in claim 14 wherein said case of said thermal protective device further includes a frame-shaped projection surrounding said area of reduced wall thickness, said frame-shaped projection being dimensioned for receipt in said aperture defined in said housing side wall for securing said thermal protective device in place thereon and for aligning said temperature sensitive element with said aperture.