LED light with cooling system

• US 9,404,648 B2
• Filed: 01/15/2014
• Issued: 08/02/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Chilled Tech, LLC
• Original Assignee: Chilled Tech, LLC
• Inventors: Druchinin, Vitaly
• Primary Examiner(s): Guharay, Karabi
• Application Number:
  US14/156,272
• Publication Number:
  US 20150198321A1
• Time in Patent Office: 930 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 7/045 with electric lighting
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 9/249 Lighting means with special arrangements for promoting growth A01G7/045
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/00 Light sources using semiconductor devices as light-generating elements, e.g. using light-emitting diodes [LED] or lasers
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/04 the elements being switches safety devices F21V25/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/56 using liquid coolants F21V29/51 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/67 characterised by the arrangement of fans
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/70 characterised by passive heat-dissipating elements, e.g. heat-sinks
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/763 the planes containing the fins or blades having the direction of the light emitting axis
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2105/10 comprising a two-dimensional array of point-like light-generating elements
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/00 Circuit arrangements for operating light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/56 involving measures to prevent abnormal temperature of the LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/18 via data-bus transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/196 characterised by user interface arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 40/25 Greenhouse technology, e.g. cooling systems therefor
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 60/14 Measures for saving energy, e.g. in green houses

Abstract

Technologies related to light fixtures, cooling systems, electronic controllers for light fixtures, methods of manufacture, and methods for operating light fixtures are described herein. Example light fixtures may include Light Emitting Diode (LED) light fixtures equipped with cooling systems. Example cooling systems may comprise liquid cooling systems, duct cooling systems, fan cooling systems, and combinations thereof. Example light fixtures may furthermore include switches and a local controller for controlling the light fixture.

Claims

1. A Light Emitting Diode (LED) light fixture equipped with a cooling system, comprising:

a light fixture housing;

at least one LED lighting module within the light fixture housing, wherein the at least one LED lighting module comprises a heat sink, a Printed Circuit Board (PCB), LEDs affixed to the PCB, and a lens covering the LEDs;

wherein the light fixture housing comprises an opening for the lens of the at least one LED lighting module;

at least one driver within the light fixture housing and electronically coupled with the at least one LED lighting module;

a power input interface electronically coupled with the driver;

a cooling system comprising a watertight liquid cooling manifold within the light fixture housing, wherein the liquid cooling manifold comprises;

a liquid intake fitting and a liquid expulsion fitting;

a first transport conduit with a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the liquid intake fitting is positioned at the proximal end of the first transport conduit

a second transport conduit with a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the second transport conduit is aligned parallel with the first transport conduit such that the proximal end of the second transport conduit is at a same side of the liquid cooling manifold as the proximal end of the first transport conduit, and the distal end of the second transport conduit is at a same side of the liquid cooling manifold as the distal end of the first transport conduit, and wherein the liquid expulsion fitting is positioned at the distal end of the second transport conduit; and

two or more liquid cooling conduits connecting the first and second transport conduits so that liquid entering the manifold at the liquid intake fitting travels through the two or more liquid cooling conduits to the liquid expulsion fitting, and so that liquid entering the manifold at the liquid intake fitting travels a same distance to the liquid expulsion fitting via any of the two or more liquid cooling conduits;

wherein the light fixture housing comprises an opening for the liquid intake fitting, and an opening for the liquid expulsion fitting; and

wherein the liquid cooling manifold is arranged so that when the liquid intake and liquid expulsion fittings are positioned at corresponding openings in the light fixture housing, the at least one liquid cooling conduit is in thermal communication with the heat sink of the at least one LED lighting module.

2. The LED light fixture of claim 1, wherein a diameter of the first and second transport conduits is larger than a diameter of the two or more liquid cooling conduits.

3. The LED light fixture of claim 1, wherein at least one of the two or more liquid cooling conduits is in thermal communication with the heat sink of the at least one LED lighting module by contact between an outer surface of the at least one liquid cooling conduit and a groove traversing a center section of the heat sink, and wherein a diameter of the groove substantially matches a diameter of the outer surface of the at least one liquid cooling conduit.

4. The LED light fixture of claim 1, wherein the two or more liquid cooling conduits are made of copper.

5. The LED light fixture of claim 1, wherein the two or more liquid cooling conduits are in thermal communication with two or more heat sinks of a corresponding two or more LED lighting modules.

6. The LED light fixture of claim 1, further comprising at least one fan within the light fixture housing, wherein the light fixture housing comprises an opening over the at least one fan, wherein the at least one fan is positioned substantially above the heat sink of at least one LED lighting module, and wherein the light fixture housing comprises one or more openings along at least one side of the light fixture housing to allow air flow from the opening over the at least one fan, across the heat sink, and out the one or more openings along at least one side of the light fixture housing.

7. The LED light fixture of claim 6, further comprising a plurality of fans within the light fixture housing, wherein the plurality of fans are arranged in an axial row of fans across a middle section of the light fixture housing.

8. The LED light fixture of claim 7, further comprising at least one internal divider to separate air flow from the plurality of fans into different channels within the light fixture housing.

9. The LED light fixture of claim 1, further comprising a ventilation duct extending from a side of the light fixture housing.

10. The LED light fixture of claim 9, wherein the light fixture housing comprises at least one removable side panel, and wherein the ventilation duct comprises a ventilation duct attachment adapted to attach to the light fixture housing in place of the at least one removable side panel.

11. The LED light fixture of claim 9, wherein the ventilation duct is adapted to couple with the light fixture housing in a substantially horizontal orientation as well as in a substantially vertical orientation.

12. The LED light fixture of claim 11, wherein the ventilation duct comprises an L bracket interface which adapts the ventilation duct to couple with the light fixture housing in a substantially horizontal orientation as well as in a substantially vertical orientation.

13. The LED light fixture of claim 9, wherein the ventilation duct comprises at least one internal divider to separate air flow into two or more channels.

14. The LED light fixture of claim 13, wherein the light fixture housing comprises at least one internal divider to maintain air flow, within the LED light fixture, in the two or more separate channels established at the ventilation duct.

15. A Light Emitting Diode (LED) light fixture equipped with a cooling system, comprising:

a light fixture housing;

at least one LED lighting module within the light fixture housing, wherein the at least one LED lighting module comprises a heat sink, a Printed Circuit Board (PCB), LEDs affixed to the PCB, and a lens covering the LEDs;

wherein the light fixture housing comprises an opening for the lens of the at least one LED lighting module;

at least one driver within the light fixture housing and electronically coupled with the at least one LED lighting module;

a power input interface electronically coupled with the driver;

a cooling system comprising a watertight liquid cooling manifold within the light fixture housing, wherein the liquid cooling manifold comprises;

at least one liquid cooling conduit, a liquid intake fitting, and a liquid expulsion fitting;

wherein the light fixture housing comprises an opening for the liquid intake fitting, and an opening for the liquid expulsion fitting; and

wherein the liquid cooling manifold is arranged so that when the liquid intake and liquid expulsion fittings are positioned at corresponding openings in the light fixture housing, the at least one liquid cooling conduit is in thermal communication with the heat sink of the at least one LED lighting module; and

a plurality of switches, comprising;

an on/off switch for turning the LED light fixture on and off;

a fan on/off switch for turning one or more fans within the LED light fixture on and off;

a power output switch for switching the LED light fixture between a low power state and a high power state;

a first frequency composition switch for switching the LED light fixture between a white light mode and a grow light mode; and

a second frequency composition switch for switching the LED light fixture between a blue biased vegetative growth mode and a red biased flowering mode.

16. A Light Emitting Diode (LED) light fixture equipped with a cooling system, comprising:

a light fixture housing;

at least one LED lighting module within the light fixture housing, wherein the at least one LED lighting module comprises a heat sink, a Printed Circuit Board (PCB), LEDs affixed to the PCB, and a lens covering the LEDs;

wherein the light fixture housing comprises an opening for the lens of the at least one LED lighting module;

at least one driver within the light fixture housing and electronically coupled with the at least one LED lighting module;

a power input interface electronically coupled with the driver;

a cooling system comprising a watertight liquid cooling manifold within the light fixture housing, wherein the liquid cooling manifold comprises;

at least one liquid cooling conduit, a liquid intake fitting, and a liquid expulsion fitting;

wherein the light fixture housing comprises an opening for the liquid intake fitting, and an opening for the liquid expulsion fitting; and

wherein the liquid cooling manifold is arranged so that when the liquid intake and liquid expulsion fittings are positioned at corresponding openings in the light fixture housing, the at least one liquid cooling conduit is in thermal communication with the heat sink of the at least one LED lighting module; and

a local controller, wherein;

the local controller is electronically coupled with the at least one driver;

the local controller is electronically coupled with at least one communications interface adapted to receive at least one communications cable;

the local controller is adapted to control the LED light fixture responsive to instructions received from an external controller via the at least one communications cable; and

the local controller is adapted to provide status information for the LED light fixture to the external controller via the at least one communications cable.

17. The LED light fixture of claim 16, wherein:

the at least one communications interface comprises an input interface and an output interface;

the at least one communications cable comprises an input cable and an output cable;

the local controller is adapted to control the LED light fixture responsive to instructions received from the external controller via the input cable and input interface;

the local controller is adapted to provide status information for the LED light fixture to the external controller via the output interface and output cable;

the local controller is adapted to receive status information for one or more other LED light fixtures via the input cable and input interface; and

the local controller is adapted to relay the instructions received from the external controller, as well as status information for the one or more other LED light fixtures, via the output interface and output cable.

18. The LED light fixture of claim 16, wherein:

the local controller is adapted to automatically turn off the LED light fixture in response to a high temperature in the LED light fixture; and

the local controller is adapted to automatically notify the external controller via the at least one communications cable of the high temperature in the LED light fixture.

19. The LED light fixture of claim 16, wherein the local controller is adapted to automatically override one or more local switch settings using the instructions received from the external controller.

20. The LED light fixture of claim 16, wherein the instructions received from the external controller comprise instructions to:

turn the LED light fixture on or off; and

apply designated power output levels at multiple different drivers corresponding to multiple different frequency outputs of the LED light fixture.

21. A Light Emitting Diode (LED) light fixture equipped with a cooling system, comprising:

a light fixture housing;

at least one LED lighting module within the light fixture housing, wherein the at least one LED lighting module comprises a heat sink, a Printed Circuit Board (PCB), LEDs affixed to the PCB, and a lens covering the LEDs;

wherein the light fixture housing comprises an opening for the lens of the at least one LED lighting module;

at least one driver within the light fixture housing and electronically coupled with the at least one LED lighting module;

a power input interface electronically coupled with the driver;

a cooling system comprising two or more of;

a watertight liquid cooling manifold within the light fixture housing, wherein the liquid cooling manifold comprises a liquid intake fitting positioned at a first side of the light fixture housing, and a liquid expulsion fitting positioned at a side of the light fixture housing which is opposite the first side;

ventilation duct attachments extending from opposite sides of the light fixture housing, wherein the ventilation duct attachments couple with a duct cooling system comprising a multi-light duct cooling circuit, and wherein the ventilation duct attachments attach to the light fixture housing in place of at least one removable side panel of the light fixture housing;

or

a plurality of fans within the light fixture housing and at least one internal divider to separate air flow from each of the plurality of fans into a different respective channel within the light fixture housing, wherein the light fixture housing comprises a respective opening over each of the plurality of fans, wherein each of the plurality of fans is positioned substantially above a respective heat sink of at least one LED lighting module, and wherein the light fixture housing comprises one or more openings along at least one side of the light fixture housing, such that each of the plurality of fans drives air flow from its respective opening, through its respective channel, across its respective heat sink, and out the one or more openings along at least one side of the light fixture housing.

22. A Light Emitting Diode (LED) light fixture equipped with a cooling system, comprising:

a light fixture housing;

at least one LED lighting module within the light fixture housing, wherein the at least one LED lighting module comprises a heat sink, a Printed Circuit Board (PCB), LEDs affixed to the PCB, and a lens covering the LEDs;

wherein the light fixture housing comprises an opening for the lens of the at least one LED lighting module;

at least one driver within the light fixture housing and electronically coupled with the at least one LED lighting module;

a power input interface electronically coupled with the driver;

the cooling system comprising ventilation duct attachments extending from opposite sides of the light fixture housing, wherein the ventilation duct attachments couple with a duct cooling system comprising a multi-light duct cooling circuit, and wherein the ventilation duct attachments couple with the light fixture housing in a substantially horizontal orientation as well as in a substantially vertical orientation;

and a plurality of fans within the light fixture housing and at least one internal divider to separate air flow from each of the plurality of fans into a different respective channel within the light fixture housing, wherein the light fixture housing comprises a respective opening over each of the plurality of fans, wherein each of the plurality of fans is positioned substantially above a respective heat sink of at least one LED lighting module, and wherein the light fixture housing comprises one or more openings along at least one side of the light fixture housing, such that each of the plurality of fans drives air flow from its respective opening, through its respective channel, across its respective heat sink, and out the one or more openings along at least one side of the light fixture housing.