HERMETICALLY-SEALED LIGHT FIXTURE FOR HAZARDOUS ENVIRONMENTS

• US 20170082279A1
• Filed: 09/23/2015
• Published: 03/23/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Original Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Inventors: Manahan, Joseph Michael
• Granted Patent: US 9,869,464 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 15/01 Housings, e.g. material or assembling of housing parts F21V15/02 takes precedence housings forming signs or letters G09F13/04
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 25/12 Flameproof or explosion-proof arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/763 the planes containing the fins or blades having the direction of the light emitting axis
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 3/02 characterised by the shape
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 31/005 Sealing arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

A light fixture is disclosed herein. The light fixture can include a base having at least one wall that forms a cavity, where the at least one wall includes at least one lens mating surface. The light fixture can also include a lens having at least one base mating surface that forms a hermetic seal with the at least one lens mating surface, where the hermetic seal encapsulates the cavity. The light fixture can further include at least one solid state light source disposed within the cavity.

Claims

1. A light fixture, comprising:

a base comprising at least one wall that forms a cavity, wherein the at least one wall comprises at least one lens mating surface;

a lens comprising at least one base mating surface that forms a hermetic seal with the at least one lens mating surface, wherein the hermetic seal encapsulates the cavity; and

at least one solid state light source disposed within the cavity.

2. The light fixture of claim 1, further comprising a heat sink disposed within an aperture in the at least one wall, wherein the heat sink is thermally coupled to the at least one solid state light source.

3. The light fixture of claim 2, wherein the heat sink has a first coefficient of thermal expansion, wherein the at least one wall of the base has a second coefficient of thermal expansion, and wherein the first coefficient of thermal expansion is substantially the same as the second coefficient of thermal expansion.

4. The light fixture of claim 2, wherein the at least one wall of the base is overmolded onto the heat sink.

5. The light fixture of claim 2, wherein the at least one wall of the base and the heat sink couple to each other to form an additional hermetic seal.

6. The light fixture of claim 1, wherein the at least one wall of the base is made of a first polymeric material.

7. The light fixture of claim 6, wherein the lens is made of a second polymeric material.

8. The light fixture of claim 1, wherein the hermetic seal is created using an ultrasonic weld between the at least one base mating surface and the at least one lens mating surface.

9. The light fixture of claim 1, wherein the lens further comprises at least one deflection member.

10. The light fixture of claim 9, wherein the hermetic seal is maintained when the at least one deflection member is deflected.

11. The light fixture of claim 10, wherein the lens remains continuous when the at least one deflection member is deflected.

12. The light fixture of claim 1, wherein the at least one wall of the base comprises a glass-filled polycarbonate material.

13. The light fixture of claim 12, wherein the lens comprises a polycarbonate material without glass.

14. The light fixture of claim 13, wherein the lens has a first coefficient of thermal expansion, wherein the at least one wall of the base has a second coefficient of thermal expansion, and wherein the first coefficient of thermal expansion is substantially greater than the second coefficient of thermal expansion.

15. The light fixture of claim 1, wherein the at least one solid state light source comprises a light-emitting diode.

16. The light fixture of claim 1, further comprising a power source disposed within the cavity of the base, wherein the power source provides power to the at least one solid state light source.

17. A lighting system, comprising:

a power supply; and

a light fixture electrically coupled to the power supply, wherein the light fixture comprises;

a base comprising at least one wall that forms a cavity, wherein the at least one wall comprises at least one lens mating surface;

a lens comprising at least one base mating surface that forms a hermetic seal with the at least one lens mating surface, wherein the hermetic seal encapsulates the cavity;

at least one solid state light source disposed within the cavity.

18. The lighting system of claim 17, wherein the light fixture is located in a hazardous environment.

19. The lighting system of claim 17, wherein the light fixture further comprises a power source, wherein the power source receives system power from the power supply and delivers, using the system power, power signals to the at least one light source.

20. An enclosure, comprising:

a base comprising at least one wall that forms a cavity, wherein the at least one wall comprises at least one cover mating surface, and wherein the at least one wall has a first coefficient of thermal expansion;

a cover comprising at least one deflection member and at least one base mating surface that forms a hermetic seal with the at least one cover mating surface, wherein the hermetic seal encapsulates the cavity, and wherein the cover has a second coefficient of thermal expansion; and

at least one heat-generating device disposed within the cavity,

wherein the first coefficient of thermal expansion differs from the second coefficient of thermal expansion by an amount, and

wherein the at least one deflection member changes form to maintain the hermetic seal when the base, when exposed to heat, expands at a different rate than the cover.