Headlamp assembly with integrated housing and heat sink
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A headlamp assembly for a motor vehicle comprising:
- a lens;
a housing, the housing and the lens defining an outer wall having interior surfaces cooperating to at least partially define an inner chamber that is generally fluidly isolated from the atmosphere;
portions of the housing extending from the interior surface into the inner chamber to define a base, a light source being mounted onto the base;
the outer wall of the housing having an exterior surface and including portions extending therefrom to define a plurality of fins exposed to ambient air;
an enclosed flow channel defined in part by the exterior surface of the outer wall of the housing, the flow channel having an inlet and an outlet, wherein the fins extend into the flow channel such that heat from within the inner chamber is conducted through the base portion of the housing to the fins of the housing to air within the flow channel; and
a reflector positioned within the inner chamber of the housing and adapted to reflect light from the light source through the lens.
13 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A headlamp assembly for a motor vehicle having a light source, a chamber that receives the light source and a cooling channel for removing heat from the chamber. A conductive wall and an insulating wall cooperate to define the chamber and the channel. The conductive wall has a substantially higher thermal conductivity than the insulating wall to promote the heat exchange between the chamber and the cooling channel and to reduce heat exchange between the cooling channel and the relatively hot engine compartment.
-
Citations
18 Claims
-
1. A headlamp assembly for a motor vehicle comprising:
-
a lens; a housing, the housing and the lens defining an outer wall having interior surfaces cooperating to at least partially define an inner chamber that is generally fluidly isolated from the atmosphere; portions of the housing extending from the interior surface into the inner chamber to define a base, a light source being mounted onto the base; the outer wall of the housing having an exterior surface and including portions extending therefrom to define a plurality of fins exposed to ambient air; an enclosed flow channel defined in part by the exterior surface of the outer wall of the housing, the flow channel having an inlet and an outlet, wherein the fins extend into the flow channel such that heat from within the inner chamber is conducted through the base portion of the housing to the fins of the housing to air within the flow channel; and a reflector positioned within the inner chamber of the housing and adapted to reflect light from the light source through the lens. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
-
-
12. A headlamp assembly for a motor vehicle comprising:
-
a lens; a housing defining an exterior wall, the exterior wall and the lens cooperating to at least partially define an inner chamber that is generally fluidly isolated from the atmosphere, the housing being made from a thermally conductive material selected from the group;
metal, metal alloy, silicon, and graphite;unitary portions of the housing extending from an interior surface of the exterior wall into the inner chamber to define at least one base, at least one light source being mounted onto each base; an enclosed flow channel positioned adjacent an exterior surface of the exterior wall, at least a portion of the flow channel being defined by the exterior surface of the exterior wall, the flow channel being adapted to direct ambient air flowing therethrough; unitary portions of the housing extending from the exterior wall of the housing to define a plurality of fins extending into the flow channel such that heat from within the inner chamber is conducted through the base and exterior wall of the housing to the fins and to the air flowing through the flow channel; a reflector positioned behind the light source within the inner chamber and adapted to reflect light from the light source through the lens. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
-
Specification