Lamp having outer shell to radiate heat of light source

• US 8,992,041 B2
• Filed: 02/08/2013
• Issued: 03/31/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toshiba Lighting & Technology Corporation (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toshiba Lighting & Technology Corporation (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Osawa, Shigeru
• Primary Examiner(s): McManmon, Mary
• Application Number:
  US13/763,025
• Publication Number:
  US 20130148364A1
• Time in Patent Office: 781 Days
• Field of Search: 313 44- 46, 362/218, 362/240, 362/249.01, 362/249.05, 362/264, 362/265, 362/294, 362/345, 362/373, 362543-545, 362/646, 362/650, 345 44- 46
• US Class Current: 362/218
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/23 Retrofit light sources for lighting devices with a single fitting for each light source, e.g. for substitution of incandescent lamps with bayonet or threaded fittings
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/232 specially adapted for generating an essentially omnidirectional light distribution, e.g. with a glass bulb
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/238 Arrangement or mounting of circuit elements integrated in the light source
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 17/101 permanently, e.g. welding, gluing or riveting
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/002 Arrangements of cables or conductors inside a lighting device, e.g. means for guiding along parts of the housing or in a pivoting arm
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/006 the substrate being distinct from the light source holder
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/507 of means for protecting lighting devices from damage, e.g. housings
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/70 characterised by passive heat-dissipating elements, e.g. heat-sinks
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/713 in direct thermal and mechanical contact of each other to form a single system
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/773 the planes containing the fins or blades having the direction of the light emitting axis
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/83 the elements having apertures, ducts or channels, e.g. heat radiation holes
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/89 Metals
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 3/00 Globes; Bowls; Cover glasses with refracting properties F21V5/00; with reflecting properties F21V7/00; characterised by cooling arrangements F21V29/506
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 9/08 for producing coloured light, e.g. monochromatic; for reducing intensity of light with provision for controlling the colour F21V9/40
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/30 Driver circuits
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/30 Semiconductor lamps, e.g. solid state lamps [SSL] light emitting diodes [LED] or organic LED [OLED]

Abstract

A lamp may include an outer shell having heat conductivity and a base provided in the outer shell. The outer shell may include a light source support, and a heat radiating surface exposed to the outside of the outer shell. The light source support may, in some examples, be formed integrally with the heat radiating surface. A light source may be supported on the light source support. The light source may be heated during lighting, and be thermally connected to the light source support. In some examples, the light source may be covered by a cover.

Claims

1. A lamp comprising:

an outer shell made of metal and having an end wall and a peripheral wall which is thermally connected to the end wall, a part of the peripheral wall forming a heat radiating path configured to discharge air introduced from a first port to a second port, the end wall not forming the heat radiating path, and one side portion of the end wall having a light source support, the light source support including a flat supporting surface which is not along the heat radiating path, the flat supporting surface being perpendicular to an axis of the lamp;

a light source mounted on the flat supporting surface of the light source support to transfer heat to the light source support;

a base shell;

a connecting member made of resin and provided between the outer shell and the base shell, the connecting member being configured to define a receptacle; and

a lighting circuit disposed in the receptacle,

wherein the connecting member has a through hole located outside the receptacle so that the through hole communicates with the second port of the heat radiating path, and the light source is mounted on the flat supporting surface closer to the first port than to the lighting circuit.

2. A lamp comprising:

an outer shell made of metal and having an end wall and a peripheral wall which is thermally connected to the end wall, a part of the peripheral wall forming a heat radiating path configured to discharge air introduced from a first port to a second port, the end wall not forming the heat radiating path, wherein one side portion of the end wall includes a light source support, the light source support including a flat supporting surface which does not extend along the heat radiating path, the flat supporting surface being perpendicular to an axis of the lamp;

a light source mounted on the flat supporting surface to transfer heat to the light source support;

a base shell;

a connecting member provided between the outer shell and the base shell, the connecting member being configured to define a receptacle; and

a lighting circuit disposed in the receptacle,

wherein the connecting member has a through hole located outside the receptacle, wherein the through hole communicates with the second port of the heat radiating path, and the light source is mounted on the flat supporting surface closer to the first port than to the lighting circuit.

3. The lamp of claim 2, wherein, when the heat of the light source is transferred to the outer shell, an ascending air which flows from the first port to the second port is generated in the heat radiating path.

4. The lamp of claim 2, wherein the base shell is configured to be fit to a lamp socket in a face-up position.

5. The lamp of claim 2, wherein the connecting member has electrical insulation.

6. The lamp of claim 5, wherein the connecting member has heat conductivity lower than that of the outer shell.

7. The lamp of claim 2, wherein the lighting circuit comprises a wiring board and circuit components mounted on the wiring board, the wiring board being disposed in an axial direction of the lamp inside the receptacle.

8. The lamp of claim 2, further comprising an insulating member provided between the lighting circuit and an inner surface of the receptacle.

9. The lamp of claim 8, wherein a heat shielding gap is provided between the light source support and the insulating member.

10. The lamp according to claim 2, wherein the lighting circuit is not exposed to the heat radiating path.

11. The lamp according to claim 10, wherein the first port, the second port and the heat radiating path are configured to introduce air from the first port, pass the air through the heat radiating path and the second port, and discharge the air out of the lamp via the through hole.

12. The lamp according to claim 11, wherein, when the lamp illuminates, the heat generated from the light source is transferred through the end wall and the peripheral wall to a portion near the first port, thereby generating a difference in temperature between the portion near the first port and a portion near the through hole, wherein the difference in temperature causes a flow of air introduced from the first port, passing through the heat radiating path and the second port, and discharged out via the through hole.

13. The lamp according to claim 12, wherein the lamp is devoid of any cooling fan.