Air cooled housing for light source

• US 5,172,973 A
• Filed: 02/10/1992
• Issued: 12/22/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ronald M. Spada
• Original Assignee: Ronald M. Spada
• Inventors: Spada, Ronald M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dority, Carroll B.
• Application Number:
  US07/832,950
• Time in Patent Office: 316 Days
• Field of Search: 362/74, 362/218, 362/264, 362/294, 362/345, 362/373
• US Class Current: 362/547
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2500/20 associated with air conditioning arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/00 Protecting lighting devices from thermal damage; Cooling or heating arrangements specially adapted for lighting devices or systems lighting fixtures combined with outlets for air-treatment systems F24F13/078
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/83 the elements having apertures, ducts or channels, e.g. heat radiation holes
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/0092 with heating or cooling devices

Abstract

An apparatus for cooling a light source within a building or vehicle having an air conditioning system includes a housing for surrounding the light source and structure for delivering a stream of cooled air into the housing from the air conditioning system. The structure for delivering a stream of cooled air is preferably a conduit connected to the air conditioning system. The portion of the air conditioning system to which the conduit is connected is preferably an air carrying duct. Where the light source is a light fixture on a ceiling, the housing is essentially frustrum shaped and attached to the ceiling around the light fixture, and has a translucent lens extending over its bottom surface. The housing has an open base and there are three spaced apart lenses at the open base for retaining heated air within the housing, at least one lens being perforated to permit air to enter and exit the housing, the conduits delivering the stream of cooled air between the lenses to absorb and carry away heat. A height adjusting mechanism is preferably provided to adjust the distance between the lens and the open base of the housing. The height adjusting mechanism includes a threaded rod, one end of which is rotatably fit into a threaded bore in the housing and the other end is attached to a knob, such that rotating the knob changes the above-mentioned distance.

Claims

1. An apparatus for cooling a light source within a structure, comprising:

a housing for surrounding said light source, wherein said light source is a light fixture on a ceiling within said structure and said housing attaches to said ceiling around said light fixture,

an air conditioning system comprising a compressor, an evaporator and a cooling fluid,

conduit means for delivering a stream of cooled air into said housing from a portion of said air conditioning system,

wherein said housing has an open base and there are three spaced apart lenses at said open base for retaining heated air within said housing, at least one said lens being perforated to permit air to enter and exit said housing, said conduit means delivering said stream of cooled air between said lenses to absorb and carry away heat.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said conduit means has a flexible segment for permitting movement of said light source relative to said air conditioning system.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said portion of said air conditioning system to which said conduit means is connected is an air carrying duct.

6. An apparatus according to claim 1, additionally comprising exhaust conduit means for carrying air out of said housing and away from said light source.

7. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said structure is a building.

8. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said structure is a vehicle.

2. An apparatus for cooling a light source within a structure, comprising:

a housing having an open base for surrounding said light source, wherein said light source is a light fixture on a ceiling within said structure and said housing attaches to said ceiling around said light fixture, and has a translucent lens extending over said open base,

an air conditioning system comprising a compressor, an evaporator, a cooling fluid, and an air delivery vent,

means for delivering a stream of cooled air into said housing from said air delivery vent,

distance adjusting means to adjust the distance between said lens and said open base of said housing.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2,

wherein said distance adjusting means comprises a threaded rod, one end of which is rotatably fit into a threaded bore in said housing and said other end is attached to a knob, such that rotating said knob changes said distance.