Luminaire having an improved thermal management arrangement

• US 5,183,328 A
• Filed: 12/09/1991
• Issued: 02/02/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Osteen, Mitchell M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ostrager, Allen M.
• Application Number:
  US07/805,249
• Time in Patent Office: 421 Days
• Field of Search: 362/293, 362/294, 362/345, 362/307, 362/373
• US Class Current: 362/294
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/83 the elements having apertures, ducts or channels, e.g. heat radiation holes
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/87 Organic material, e.g. filled polymer composites; Thermo-conductive additives or coatings therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/24 characterised by the material
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 9/04 for filtering out infrared radiation dichroic reflectors F21V7/22; using liquid-filled chambers F21V9/12
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/40 Lighting for industrial, commercial, recreational or military use

Abstract

In an industrial luminaire having an acrylic reflector for directing light output in a desired pattern, and in which a high wattage light source is utilized, a cooling sleeve constructed of a light transmissive material is mounted in surrounding proximity to the light source. The cooling sleeve is cylindrically shaped with at least one opening through which heat generated by the light source can be channeled away from the acrylic reflector in a chimney like manner. The cooling effect of the sleeve is further supplemented by the ability to pass a flow of air within the reflector, around the cooling sleeve, and through a space formed between the reflector and the cooling sleeve. A venting arrangement can be formed in the housing or other support structure on which the reflector, light source and cooling sleeve are mounted.

Claims

1. A lighting fixture comprising:

a fixture support member;

a high intensity light source connected to said support member;

means for energizing said light source, said energizing means being connected to said support member;

reflector member connected to said support member and being disposed at least partially around said light source so as to direct the light output of said light source in a predetermined pattern, said reflector member having at least one opening formed therein;

a sleeve member connected to said support member and being disposed in at least a partially surrounding manner to said light source and at a position between said reflector member and said light source;

wherein said sleeve member is constructed of a light transmissive material and has an opening formed at the upper end thereof, said sleeve member being effective such that a portion of the heat generated by said light source can be channeled through said sleeve member opening and away from said reflector member thereby; and

,

wherein said opening of said sleeve member is smaller in size relative to said at least one reflector opening, said sleeve member opening and said reflector member opening being disposed relative to one another such that a space exists therebetween, said space being effective such that an air flow can occur between said reflector member and said sleeve member, such air flow travelling through said space.

2. A lighting fixture as set forth in claim 1 wherein said reflector member is shaped in a flared manner and wherein said at least one opening is a first and a second opening formed at opposite ends of said reflector member, said second opening being larger than said first opening and wherein said first opening is formed at one end of said reflector member on which said reflector member is connected to said support member.

3. A lighting fixture as set forth in claim 1 wherein said sleeve member is cylindrically shaped and said light transmissive material from which said sleeve member is constructed is Teflon.

4. A lighting fixture as set forth in claim 3 wherein said sleeve member constructed of said Teflon material has a thickness of at least 0.01 inches.

5. A lighting fixture as set forth in claim 3 wherein said sleeve member constructed of said Teflon material has a thickness of less than 0.01 inches and further wherein said sleeve member includes an inner support member.

6. A lighting fixture as set forth in claim 3 wherein said reflector member is constructed of an acrylic material.

7. A luminaire comprising;

a housing;

a dome-shaped reflector mounted on said housing;

a light source mounted on said housing so as to be disposed substantially at a central longitudinal axis to said reflector;

means for energizing said light source, said energizing means being disposed in said housing;

a sleeve member constructed of light transmissive material and being mounted on one end to said housing, said sleeve member being disposed in surrounding proximity to at least a portion of said light source, said sleeve member further being mounted to said housing member in a manner so that an opening formed at one end thereof opens into said housing and is effective such that heat generated by said light source can be directed through said opening and away from said reflector member; and

,

means for venting such heat externally of said housing.

8. A luminaire as set forth in claim 7 wherein said light source is a high intensity discharge lamp and said sleeve member extends around at least the portion of said discharge lamp in which a discharge occurs.

9. A luminaire as set forth in claim 7 wherein said sleeve member is cylindrically shaped and said light transmissive material is TFE Teflon having a thickness of at least 0.01 inches.

10. A luminaire as set forth in claim 7 wherein said sleeve member is cylindrically shaped and said light transmissive material is FEP Teflon having a thickness of less than 0.01 inches.

11. A luminaire as set forth in claim 10 further comprising a wire support member disposed within said sleeve member, said wire support member being effective such that the collapse of said less than 0.01 inch thickness sleeve member is prevented thereby.

12. A luminaire as set forth in claim 7 wherein said venting means includes louvers formed in said housing in the vicinity of said opening formed at said one end of said sleeve member.

13. A luminaire as set forth in claim 7 further comprising a space formed between said end of said sleeve member on which said opening is located and a corresponding end of said dome-shaped reflector member, said space being effective such that air flow occurring within said reflector member and around to said sleeve member can be directed through said venting means.

14. A luminaire as set forth in claim 13 wherein said sleeve member is cylindrically shaped having a second end opposite to said end on which said opening is formed, and further wherein said reflector member has a wide opening formed at the end corresponding to said second end of said sleeve member, said wide opening of said reflector member being substantially larger than said corresponding end of said reflector member at which said space is formed so that such air flow occurring within said reflector member is directed through said space in a funnel-like manner.