Lamp reflector cooling air deflector

• US 7,736,026 B2
• Filed: 07/01/2002
• Issued: 06/15/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Texas Instruments, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Texas Instruments, Inc.
• Inventors: Overmann, Scott Patrick, Krycho, Steven P., Teichgraeber, Bryan R., Poradish, Frank J.
• Primary Examiner(s): TON, ANABEL
• Application Number:
  US10/186,851
• Publication Number:
  US 20030021120A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,906 Days
• Field of Search: 362/294, 362/345, 362/373, 362/547, 362/268, 362/217, 362/548
• US Class Current: 362/294
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/60 characterised by the use of a forced flow of gas, e.g. air
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/74 with fins or blades
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/83 the elements having apertures, ducts or channels, e.g. heat radiation holes
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/16 Cooling; Preventing overheating

Abstract

To improve the cooling efficiency and ensure uniform cooling of all portions of the inside back surface of the reflector, a deflector (108) has been developed. The air deflector (108) typically encircles the lamp (102) allowing air (110) to flow between the deflector (108) and the lamp (102). This air (110) cools the lamp (102). Air (112) passing between the deflector (108) and the reflector (100) is deflected outward to cool the inside surface of the reflector near the lamp (102). Because the deflector (108) is small and is located directly behind the lamp (102), it does not block any of the useful light generated by the lamp (102). The light striking the deflector (108) from the lamp (102), if not for the deflector (108), would have passed through the opening in the reflector (100) and would have been lost. The deflector (108) typically has a number of vanes around the perimeter of a cylindrical body portion. The vanes are bent outward at an angle sufficient to force part of the cooling air to flow across the inside back surface of the reflector.

Claims

1. A method of cooling a lamp reflector comprising:

providing a lamp reflector having a first reflective side defining an inner volume and focusing light from a lamp bulb, a second outer side, and a passage portion connecting said outer side to said reflective side;

providing said lamp bulb in said lamp reflector, said bulb extending through said passage; and

providing an air deflector between said lamp reflector and said lamp bulb, said air deflector allowing a portion of air entering said hole to cool said lamp bulb, and deflecting another portion of air entering said hole to cool said reflective surface, said deflecting performed by a portion of said air deflector located in said inner volume.

2. The method of claim 1, said providing an air deflector comprising providing an air deflector having a plurality of vanes to deflect said another portion of air.

3. The method of claim 1, said providing an air deflector comprising clipping an air deflector into said hole in said reflector.

4. A lamp reflector assembly comprising:

a lamp reflector;

a lamp bulb in said lamp reflector, said bulb extending through a hole in said reflector; and

an air deflector between said lamp reflector and said lamp bulb, said air deflector allowing a portion of air entering said hole to cool said lamp bulb, and deflecting another portion of air entering said hole to cool an inner surface of said reflector said air deflector comprising a plurality of vanes to deflect said another portion of air.

5. The lamp reflector assembly of claim 4, said air deflector comprising clips for holding said air deflector in said hole in said reflector.

6. An air deflector for use in cooling a lamp reflector, comprising:

a central cylindrical body portion, an opening in said central cylindrical body portion providing clearance for air to pass through said body and around a lamp extending through said body; and

at least one vane portion extending from one end of said body portion, said vane portion operable to deflect a portion of air entering said hole to cool an inner surface of said reflector.

7. The air deflector of claim 6 comprising:

clips for mounting and holding said air deflector in a hole in said reflector.