Modular light fixture with power pack and radiative, conductive, and convective cooling

• US 7,628,506 B2
• Filed: 06/29/2007
• Issued: 12/08/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Orion Energy Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Orion Energy Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Verfuerth, Neal R., Wetenkamp, Kenneth J., Bartol, Anthony J.
• Primary Examiner(s): TSO, LAURA K
• Application Number:
  US11/771,370
• Publication Number:
  US 20080007944A1
• Time in Patent Office: 893 Days
• Field of Search: 362/218
• US Class Current: 362/218
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/06 by suspension
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/008 the casing being outside the housing of the lighting device
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/026 Fastening of transformers or ballasts
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0442 activated by means of a sensor, e.g. motion or photodetectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/06 the elements being coupling devices , e.g. connectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 25/02 coming into action when lighting device is disturbed, dismounted, or broken
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/508 of electrical circuits
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/83 the elements having apertures, ducts or channels, e.g. heat radiation holes
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2103/00 Elongate light sources, e.g. fluorescent tubes
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2113/00 Combination of light sources

Abstract

A light fixture includes a lampholder mounted to a raceway, where the lampholder is electrically connected to a lampholder connector. A power pack includes a power pack cover and a ballast. An outer surface of the power pack cover includes an emissive coating such that heat generated by the ballast is emitted from the power pack cover. The ballast is mounted in direct contact with the power pack cover such that the heat generated by the ballast is conducted from the ballast to the power pack cover. The ballast includes a power input connector adapted to electrically connect to a power cord and a ballast output connector adapted to electrically connect to the lampholder connector.

Claims

1. A light fixture comprising:

a lampholder mounted to a raceway, wherein the lampholder is electrically connected to a lampholder connector;

a power pack comprising

a power pack cover, wherein an outer surface of the power pack cover comprises an emissive coating such that heat generated by a ballast is emitted from the power pack cover; and

the ballast mounted in direct contact with the power pack cover, wherein the ballast includes a power input connector adapted to electrically connect to a power cord and a ballast output connector adapted to electrically connect to the lampholder connector.

2. The light fixture of claim 1, wherein the emissive coating comprises a black powder coating.

3. The light fixture of claim 1, wherein the emissive coating comprises at least one of a film, a paint, and a tape.

4. The light fixture of claim 1, wherein the power pack cover comprises aluminum.

5. The light fixture of claim 4, wherein the aluminum is anodized to obtain the emissive coating.

6. The light fixture of claim 1, wherein the ballast is mounted to the power pack cover with a fastener, and further wherein at least a portion of an outer surface of the fastener comprises the emissive coating.

7. The light fixture of claim 1, further comprising a light reflecting sheet and a raceway mounted to the light reflecting sheet, wherein the power pack is mounted to the raceway.

8. A power pack for a light fixture comprising:

a power pack cover, wherein an outer surface of the power pack cover comprises an emissive coating such that heat generated by a ballast is emitted from the power pack cover; and

the ballast mounted in direct contact with the power pack cover;

a power input connector mounted to the ballast and adapted to electrically connect to a power cord; and

a ballast output connector mounted to the ballast and adapted to electrically connect to a lampholder connector.

9. The power pack of claim 8, wherein the emissive coating comprises a black paint.

10. The power pack of claim 8, wherein the emissive coating comprises at least one of a film, a paint, and a tape.

11. The power pack of claim 8, wherein the power pack cover comprises aluminum.

12. The power pack of claim 11, wherein the aluminum is anodized to obtain the emissive coating.

13. The power pack of claim 8, wherein the ballast is mounted to the power pack cover with a fastener, and further wherein at least a portion of an outer surface of the fastener comprises the emissive coating.

14. A method of dispersing heat from a light fixture comprising:

mounting a ballast in direct contact with a power pack cover such that heat generated by the ballast is conducted from the ballast to the power pack cover, wherein the ballast includes a power input connector adapted to electrically connect to a power cord and a ballast output connector adapted to electrically connect to a lampholder connector;

applying an emissive coating to an outer surface of the power pack cover; and

mounting the power pack cover to a light fixture.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the emissive coating comprises a black powder coating.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the emissive coating comprises at least one of a film, a paint, and a tape.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the power pack cover comprises aluminum.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the aluminum is anodized to obtain the emissive coating.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the ballast is mounted to the power pack cover with a fastener, and further wherein at least a portion of an outer surface of the fastener comprises the emissive coating.

20. The method of claim 14, further comprising connecting the power input connector to the power cord, and connecting the ballast output connector to the lampholder connector.

21. A light fixture comprising:

a lampholder electrically connected to a lampholder connector;

a power pack comprising

a ballast, wherein the ballast includes a power input connector adapted to electrically connect to a power cord and a ballast output connector adapted to electrically connect to the lampholder connector; and

a power pack cover extending over the ballast; and

a raceway mounted to the power pack cover and the lampholder, and comprising an aperture such that heat generated by the ballast is dispersed through the aperture.

22. The light fixture of claim 21, wherein the raceway further comprises an endplate, and further wherein the aperture is located in the endplate.

23. The light fixture of claim 22, wherein the endplate includes a plurality of apertures.

24. The light fixture of claim 22, further comprising a second endplate mounted to the raceway, wherein the second endplate includes a second aperture such that the heat generated by the ballast is dispersed.

25. The light fixture of claim 21, wherein the raceway further comprises a raceway cover, and further wherein the aperture is located in the raceway cover.

26. The light fixture of claim 21, wherein the raceway further comprises a raceway base, and further wherein the aperture is located in the raceway base.

27. The light fixture of claim 21, wherein the power pack cover further comprises a latching end including a latching end opening.

28. The light fixture of claim 27, wherein the raceway further comprises a raceway opening, and further wherein the raceway opening is substantially aligned with the latching end opening when the power pack is mounted to the raceway.

29. The light fixture of claim 21, wherein the raceway comprises a raceway base and a raceway cover mounted to the raceway base, and further wherein the aperture is included in an endplate mounted to the raceway cover.

30. The light fixture of claim 21, further comprising a second raceway mounted to the power pack cover, wherein the second raceway comprises a third endplate including a third aperture and a fourth endplate including a fourth aperture such that air which flows through the third aperture and through the fourth aperture disperses the heat generated by the ballast.

31. The light fixture of claim 21, wherein the raceway is mounted to a light reflecting sheet, wherein an upper surface of the light reflecting sheet forms a valley, and further wherein the power pack is mounted such that the power pack cover covers at least a portion of the valley.

32. The light fixture of claim 31, further comprising a cover plate mounted to the raceway such that the cover plate covers at least a portion of an end of the valley, wherein the cover plate includes a second aperture such that the heat generated by the ballast is dispersed.

33. The light fixture of claim 21, further comprising a collapsible radiator comprising

a first bottom surface positioned between the ballast and the power pack cover;

a top surface; and

a first collapsible side surface mounted to the first bottom surface and the top surface, wherein the first collapsible side is adapted to collapse and expand such that the top surface is respectively lowered and raised.

34. The light fixture of claim 33, wherein the collapsible radiator further comprises

a second bottom surface positioned between the ballast and the power pack cover;

and

a second collapsible side surface mounted to the second bottom surface and the top surface, wherein the second collapsible side is adapted to collapse and expand such that the top surface is respectively lowered and raised.

35. The light fixture of claim 33, wherein the top surface and the first collapsible side surface further comprise an emissive coating adapted to maximize radiation of the heat generated by the ballast.

36. The light fixture of claim 33, further comprising a slot in a side of the power pack cover adapted to receive the first bottom surface.

37. The light fixture of claim 33, further comprising a slot in a top of the power pack cover adapted to receive the first bottom surface.

38. The light fixture of claim 33, wherein the collapsible radiator is composed of copper.

39. A light fixture comprising:

a light reflecting sheet, wherein an upper surface of the light reflecting sheet forms a valley;

a lampholder mounted to a raceway, wherein the lampholder is electrically connected to a lampholder connector;

a power pack mounted over at least a portion of the valley and comprising

a ballast, wherein the ballast includes a power input connector adapted to electrically connect to a power cord and a ballast output connector adapted to electrically connect to the lampholder connector; and

a power pack cover extending over the ballast; and

a cover plate mounted adjacent to an end of the valley, wherein the cover plate comprises an aperture such that heat generated by the ballast is dispersed through the aperture.

40. The light fixture of claim 39, wherein the cover plate is mounted to the light reflecting sheet.

41. The light fixture of claim 39, wherein the cover plate is mounted to the raceway.

42. The light fixture of claim 39, wherein the cover plate includes a plurality of apertures.

43. The light fixture of claim 39, further comprising an endplate mounted to the raceway, wherein the endplate includes a second aperture such that the heat generated by the ballast is dispersed.

44. The light fixture of claim 39, further comprising a second cover plate mounted adjacent to a second end of the valley, wherein the second cover plate comprises a second aperture such that air which flows through the aperture and through the second aperture disperses the heat generated by the ballast.

45. A method of dispersing heat from a light fixture comprising:

mounting a power pack over at least a portion of a valley formed by an upper surface of a light reflecting sheet, wherein the power pack comprises

a power pack cover; and

a ballast mounted to the power pack cover, wherein the ballast includes a power input connector adapted to electrically connect to a power cord and a ballast output connector adapted to electrically connect to a lampholder connector;

mounting a first cover plate adjacent to a first end of the valley, wherein the first cover plate comprises a first aperture; and

mounting a second cover plate adjacent to a second end of the valley, wherein the second cover plate comprises a second aperture such that air which flows through the first aperture and the second aperture disperses heat generated by the ballast.

46. The method of claim 45, further comprising:

mounting a first endplate to a raceway, wherein the first endplate comprises a third aperture, and further wherein the raceway is mounted to the light reflecting sheet; and

mounting a second endplate to the raceway, wherein the second endplate comprises a fourth aperture such that air which flows through the third aperture and the fourth aperture disperses the heat generated by the ballast.