Portable high and low temperature test box for vehicle lamp assembly

Abstract

The present application relates to the field of high-low temperature test chamber, and particularly provides a portable high-low temperature test chamber for vehicle lamp assembly, which comprises a folding chamber body and a temperature control member. The folding chamber body has a containing cavity for containing the vehicle lamp assembly, and the chamber wall of the folding chamber body is composed of a plurality of side-by-side arranged inflatable air columns. The plurality of air columns jointly support the folding chamber body and form the containing cavity after being inflated, and the folding chamber body can be flattened and folded after the plurality of air columns are deflated. The temperature control member is used for heating or cooling the air in the containing cavity, so as to form a high temperature or low temperature test environment required by the vehicle lamp assembly in the folding chamber body. The present application can reduce the transportation and storage volume of the high-low temperature test chamber, and is suitable for temporarily high-low temperature test of the vehicle lamp assembly at the vehicle road test site or the after-sales maintenance site.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of high and low temperature chambers, and more particularly to a portable high and low temperature test chamber for automotive lighting components. Background Technology

[0002] Automotive headlight components must undergo rigorous environmental reliability testing before leaving the factory. This typically involves using a fixed high and low temperature test chamber to simulate temperatures and check for issues such as fogging, water ingress, material embrittlement, or electrical faults.

[0003] However, existing stationary high and low temperature test chambers are heavy-duty equipment, bulky, and require three-phase power. Once testing begins, they cannot be moved, making them only suitable for random inspections in laboratories or production facilities. In practical applications, many headlight malfunctions occur during road testing or customer use at dealerships. When road test engineers or after-sales technicians discover abnormalities in the headlights (such as fogging inside the lens at specific temperatures, LED flickering, or thermal protection of the driver module), the current standard procedure is: on-site personnel record the fault symptoms and ambient temperature, then disassemble the headlight assembly from the vehicle, pack it, and send it back to the manufacturer's or testing center laboratory in another location for reproduction testing. This traditional inspection method has significant drawbacks, such as extremely poor timeliness. Returning the vehicle, queuing for testing, and issuing reports often take several days to several weeks, causing road tests to stall or escalating customer complaints. It is impossible to provide a conclusion on the spot. Furthermore, the faults are difficult to reproduce. Headlight faults are often related to the local temperature field, humidity, and airflow when the vehicle is in motion. After the assembly is disassembled and sent back, the environmental variables have changed, making it difficult for the laboratory to accurately reproduce specific working conditions such as occasional "fogging when the engine is warm" or "cracking in extreme cold". It is also costly: the round-trip logistics, packaging, and possible secondary damage increase the warranty and after-sales costs for vehicle manufacturers and parts suppliers.

[0004] To address the aforementioned issues, this application proposes a portable high and low temperature test chamber for automotive lighting components. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The purpose of this invention is to provide a portable high and low temperature test chamber for automotive lighting components, so as to solve the problem that current automotive lighting components need to be sent back to the manufacturer for temporary high and low temperature tests during road testing or after-sales service.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides the following technical solution: A portable high and low temperature test chamber for automotive lighting components includes a folding chamber and a temperature control component. The folding chamber has a cavity for accommodating the automotive lighting components, and the chamber wall is composed of multiple inflatable air columns arranged side by side. When the multiple air columns are inflated, they jointly support the folding chamber; when the multiple air columns are deflated, the folding chamber can be folded. The temperature control component is used to heat or cool the air inside the cavity.

[0007] Preferably, the air columns are interconnected, and multiple air columns are connected to an inflation port, with a one-way inflation valve installed at the inflation port.

[0008] Preferably, the folding box further includes a flexible protective shell, which is a box structure fixed to the outside of the air column, so that a cylindrical cavity is formed between the flexible protective shell and the adjacent air column, and an arc-shaped cavity is formed between the flexible protective shell and the bent edge of the folding box. The arc-shaped cavity and the cylindrical cavity are connected, and a one-way inflation valve structure is also provided on the cylindrical cavity.

[0009] Preferably, the temperature control component includes a heating / cooling component and an air circulation component. The heating / cooling component is used to heat or cool the air in the receiving cavity, and the air circulation component is used to drive the air passing through the heating / cooling component to flow towards the headlight assembly.

[0010] Preferably, the heating and cooling assembly includes multiple elongated thermoelectric coolers, flexible connectors, cooling plates, and a circulation component. The thermoelectric coolers are arranged parallel to each other, and adjacent thermoelectric coolers are connected by flexible connectors so that the multiple thermoelectric coolers and flexible connectors together form a rollable sheet structure. The cooling plate is disposed on the side of the thermoelectric cooler facing away from the receiving cavity, and the cooling plate includes two interconnected flexible patches, with the unconnected area between the two flexible patches forming a cooling channel. The circulation component is connected to the cooling channel and is used to drive the circulation of coolant. The circulation component includes a heat dissipation structure for dissipating heat from the coolant to the external environment and a heat replenishment structure for heating the coolant.

[0011] Preferably, the air circulation assembly includes a bladeless fan ring and an air circulation component. The bladeless fan ring includes an upper plate and a lower plate, with an air duct between the upper and lower plates. The upper and lower plates are each provided with multiple corresponding air outlets. The air outlets on the lower plate are smaller than those on the upper plate. Two corresponding air outlets are coaxially arranged, and an air outlet slit communicating with the air duct is formed between their edges. The bladeless fan ring is also provided with an air inlet communicating with the air duct. The air outlet of the air circulation component is connected to the air inlet, and the air inlet of the air circulation component is connected to the receiving cavity to draw air from the receiving cavity and deliver the air to the bladeless fan ring.

[0012] Preferably, the lower plate is provided with multiple guide rings on the side facing the receiving cavity, each guide ring is arranged around the corresponding air outlet, and the air outlet direction of the air outlet slit is tangent to the arc guiding surface of the corresponding guide ring.

[0013] Preferably, a flexible partition is provided on the inner side of the side wall of the folding box. One side of the flexible partition is connected to the inner wall of the folding box, and the other side is connected to the edge of the air circulation component, so as to form a side air duct between the flexible partition and the inner wall of the folding box. The lower end and the upper end of the side air duct are respectively connected to the receiving cavity.

[0014] Preferably, the bottom of the folding box is provided with a flexible support. The flexible support includes multiple rigid bars arranged in parallel with each other and flexible connecting pieces connecting adjacent rigid bars. Multiple air vents are provided on the rigid bars. The flexible support is spaced apart from the bottom wall of the folding box and forms a bottom return air space between them. The bottom return air space is connected to the air inlet of the air circulation component.

[0015] In summary, the present invention has the following advantages compared with the prior art: This invention utilizes multiple inflatable air columns to form the walls of a folding housing. When inflated, these columns collectively support the folding housing and create a cavity for housing the vehicle lighting components, eliminating the need for the rigid, heavy-duty housing of traditional high and low temperature test chambers. Simultaneously, the air within the columns reduces heat transfer between the inside and outside of the folding housing, allowing the columns to function as both support and insulation. Releasing the gas from the columns allows the housing to be flattened and folded, significantly reducing the test chamber's storage volume and making it easy to carry with test vehicles or after-sales service personnel. Temperature control components can heat or cool the cavity of the folding housing, providing a high- or low-temperature testing environment for the vehicle lighting components at test sites or after-sales service locations. This facilitates the on-site reproduction of anomalies such as fogging, cracking, flickering, or thermal protection failures that occur in the vehicle lighting components at specific temperatures, reducing the time and cost required for transporting vehicle lighting components back and forth and for queuing for testing in different locations. Attached Figure Description

[0016] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a portable high and low temperature test chamber for vehicle lighting components disclosed in Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

[0017] Figure 2 This is a front view of a portable high and low temperature test chamber for vehicle lighting components disclosed in Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

[0018] Figure 3 for Figure 2 Sectional view of AA.

[0019] Figure 4 for Figure 3 A magnified view of a section at point I.

[0020] Figure 5 for Figure 2 A cross-sectional view of BB.

[0021] Figure 6 for Figure 5 A magnified view of section II in the middle.

[0022] Figure 7 for Figure 2 The left view.

[0023] Figure 8 for Figure 7CC section view.

[0024] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the semiconductor cooling chip and flexible connector in a portable high and low temperature test chamber for vehicle lighting components disclosed in Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

[0025] Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of the cooling water channel in a portable high and low temperature test chamber for vehicle lighting components disclosed in Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

[0026] Figure 11 This is a schematic diagram of the distribution of cooling water channels on the cooling fins in a portable high and low temperature test chamber for vehicle lighting components disclosed in Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

[0027] Figure 12 This is a schematic diagram of the adhesive application on the bladeless fan ring in a portable high and low temperature test chamber for vehicle lighting components disclosed in Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

[0028] Figure 13 This is a schematic diagram of the flexible support structure in a portable high and low temperature test chamber for vehicle lighting components disclosed in Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

[0029] Figure 14 for Figure 13 A magnified view of a section at point III.

[0030] Figure 15 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a portable high and low temperature test chamber for vehicle lighting components disclosed in Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

[0031] Figure 16 This is a front view of a portable high and low temperature test chamber for vehicle lighting components disclosed in Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

[0032] Figure 17 for Figure 16 DD section view.

[0033] Figure 18 for Figure 17 A magnified view of section IV in the middle.

[0034] Figure label: 100. Folding enclosure; 101. Air column; 102. Transparent door; 110. Flexible partition; 120. Flexible outer protective shell; 200. Heating and cooling components; 210. Semiconductor cooling chip; 220. Flexible connector; 230. Cooling plate; 231. Flexible patch; 232. Cooling channel; 233. Channel connector; 300. Bladeless fan ring; 301. Glue application area; 302. Air outlet; 303. Air inlet; 310. Upper body; 320. Lower body; 321. Air guide ring; 330. Air duct; 400. Flexible support; 410. Rigid strip; 420. Flexible connecting piece; 411. Vent hole. Detailed Implementation

[0035] The technical solutions of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings of the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of the present invention without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0036] Example 1: As Figures 1 to 8 As shown, this embodiment provides a portable high and low temperature test chamber for automotive lighting components, including a folding chamber 100 and a temperature control component. The chamber wall of the folding chamber 100 is formed by multiple air columns 101 connected side by side. Adjacent air columns 101 are fixedly connected and interconnected, so that when the multiple air columns 101 are inflated, they together form a chamber wall structure with supporting capacity. The air inside the air columns 101 can also reduce the heat transfer between the inside and outside of the folding chamber 100, so that the air columns 101 simultaneously constitute a supporting structure and a heat insulation structure.

[0037] Multiple air columns 101 are connected to an inflation port, and a one-way inflation valve is installed at the inflation port. Air can be simultaneously injected into each air column 101 through the inflation port. The one-way inflation valve is used to prevent gas from flowing back out of the air column 101. The folding box 100 can remain in the unfolded state after inflation. After the test, the gas in the air column 101 is released through the one-way inflation valve, and the folding box 100 can be flattened and folded for storage.

[0038] Preferably, an insulating lining may also be provided on the inner wall of the folding box 100. The insulating lining is a flexible sheet structure. In this embodiment, the insulating lining is a closed-cell silicone foam, which is fixed to the inner wall of the folding box 100 by adhesive bonding.

[0039] One end of the folding housing 100 is provided with an opening for inserting or removing the vehicle light assembly under test. A transparent door 102 is provided at the opening, and the transparent door 102 is detachably connected to the opening. In this embodiment, the transparent door 102 and the opening are connected by a sealing zipper. The sealing zipper is continuously provided along the edge of the transparent door 102. When the sealing zipper is closed, the transparent door 102 closes the opening to reduce air exchange between the inside and outside of the folding housing 100. The transparent door 102 is made of a transparent material that is resistant to high and low temperatures, so that the test personnel can observe whether the vehicle light assembly under test exhibits fogging, cracking, flickering or other abnormal phenomena without opening the transparent door 102.

[0040] In this embodiment, the folding box 100 is made of a material resistant to high and low temperatures. For example, in this embodiment, the folding box 100 is made of silicone-coated fiberglass cloth.

[0041] The foldable box 100 can be processed using the heat-sealing forming process of an air column bag. For example, in this embodiment, the specific processing method is as follows: Based on the dimensions of the folding box 100, a plan view is designed, and the bottom wall, left side wall, top wall, right side wall, front side wall, and rear side wall are arranged in the plan view. A bending connection area is reserved between adjacent box wall areas. The bending connection area does not form an air column cavity and is used to form the box edges during subsequent assembly.

[0042] It should be noted that the bottom wall, left side wall, top wall, right side wall, front side wall and rear side wall are all arranged in the same planar unfolded view, but after cutting, they are respectively formed into peripheral wall blanks, front wall blanks and rear wall blanks. The peripheral wall blanks include the bottom wall, left side wall, top wall and right side wall connected in sequence. The front wall blanks and the rear wall blanks are respectively processed and overlapped and vulcanized at the front end and rear end of the peripheral wall blanks.

[0043] Each box wall region is provided with a local air inlet chamber, and each local air inlet chamber is connected to the air column chamber within that box wall region. The local air inlets of adjacent box wall regions are connected by a flexible connecting pipe, which passes through the bending connection area and is fixed between the two box wall substrates by silicone rubber curing. The local air inlets of the front wall blank and the rear wall blank are also connected to the local air inlet of the peripheral wall blank through the flexible connecting pipe, so that all the air columns 101 are connected to the one-way inflation valve. The total air inlet chamber referred to herein includes each of the local air inlet chambers and the flexible connecting pipes connecting each of the local air inlet chambers.

[0044] Cut the first and second box wall substrates. Both the first and second box wall substrates are made of double-sided silicone-coated fiberglass cloth. The dimensions of the two substrates are adapted to the planar unfolded diagram, and a connection allowance for overlap and vulcanization is reserved around the perimeter. Plasma treatment or a silicone primer is applied according to the bonding requirements of the silicone adhesive to improve the subsequent vulcanization bond strength.

[0045] According to the planar unfolded diagram, uncured silicone rubber is applied to the side of the first box wall substrate facing the second box wall substrate. The silicone rubber can be formed using strip-shaped film, screen-printed adhesive layer, or dispensing. The silicone rubber forms parallel longitudinal adhesive strips along the boundaries of each air column and peripheral adhesive strips around the perimeter of the box wall area. No rubber is applied between adjacent longitudinal adhesive strips, allowing this area to form the air column cavity after curing.

[0046] Each of the longitudinal adhesive strips has a gap between the end near the air intake side and the peripheral adhesive strip, and the gap forms the connecting neck. Multiple connecting necks communicate with the main air intake chamber, thereby forming a parallel air column structure similar to an air column bag.

[0047] A valve seat is provided at one end of the main air intake chamber. The valve seat is preferably made of a high- and low-temperature resistant silicone material capable of co-curing with the silicone rubber compound. The connecting edge of the valve seat is placed between two substrates, and uncured silicone rubber compound is wrapped around the valve seat. The valve seat has a through hole communicating with the main air intake chamber. Before hot-pressing and curing, a high-temperature resistant core rod can be placed in the through hole to prevent it from being compressed and closed during the hot-pressing process. After curing is complete, the core rod is removed, and then the one-way inflation valve is installed on the valve seat.

[0048] The second box wall substrate is placed over the first box wall substrate after the adhesive has been applied, aligning the edges of the two substrates. The stacked substrates are then placed in a flat hot-press mold with air column bonding texture. The hot-press mold applies pressure to the longitudinal bonding strips, the peripheral bonding strips, and the bending connection area, causing the uncured silicone adhesive to cure and connect the first and second box wall substrates into one unit. Areas without silicone adhesive remain separated, thus forming multiple air column cavities and the main air inlet cavity.

[0049] The hot-pressing vulcanization temperature, pressure, and time are determined based on the material parameters of the silicone rubber compound. For example, when using hot-curing silicone rubber compounds, the vulcanization temperature can be 140℃ to 180℃, the pressure can be 0.2MPa to 0.8MPa, and the holding time can be 10 minutes to 30 minutes. These parameters are only a processing example and should be adjusted according to the vulcanization curve of the rubber compound during actual processing.

[0050] As a specific processing example, the total thickness of the silicone-coated fiberglass cloth is 0.35 mm to 1 mm, the distance between adjacent longitudinal adhesive strips in the uninflated state is 30 mm to 80 mm, the width of the longitudinal adhesive strips is 5 mm to 12 mm, and the working pressure of the air column 101 is 20 kPa to 60 kPa. The specific pressure is determined according to the size of the folding box 100, the diameter of the air column 101, and the weight of the vehicle light assembly under test.

[0051] The peripheral wall blank, after the air column processing is completed, is placed on a rectangular positioning jig and bent sequentially along each of the bending connection areas, so that the bottom wall, left side wall, top wall and right side wall form a rectangular cylindrical structure.

[0052] The first and last edges of the peripheral wall blank are overlapped, and an uncured silicone connecting strip is placed at the overlap position. Then, a local hot-pressing vulcanization device is used to connect the overlap position. Subsequently, the rear wall blank is covered on the rear end of the rectangular cylindrical structure, and overlap vulcanization is performed along the periphery of the rear wall blank.

[0053] For three-dimensional joints that are inconvenient to place in a hot press, the joints can be first sewn together with high-temperature resistant fiber thread, then room temperature vulcanizing silicone rubber can be applied to both the inner and outer sides of the joint, and covered with silicone sealing tape. After the silicone rubber cures, the joint will have both connection strength and airtightness.

[0054] The overlapping method of the front and rear walls is the same as that of the edge of the peripheral walls.

[0055] It should be noted that during the manufacturing process, an opening is reserved in the middle of the front wall, and an air column 101 is provided at the edge of the opening to enhance the strength of the front wall.

[0056] A flat, non-inflatable connecting edge is formed around the opening. A layer of fiberglass reinforcement can be added inside the flat connecting edge to prevent tearing caused by repeated opening and closing. One side of the sealing zipper is fixed to the flat connecting edge, and the other side of the sealing zipper is connected to the transparent door 102. The sealing zipper can be first sewn with high-temperature resistant fiber thread, and then silicone sealant is applied to the seam and covered with silicone sealing tape to seal the pinholes formed by the sewing.

[0057] It should be noted that when manufacturing the folding box 100, an installation area is set on the rear wall for installing interface structures, such as electrical interfaces, air vents, and circulation interfaces. The installation area avoids the air column 101, and the area of ​​the installation area should be smaller than the rear wall to prevent affecting the strength of the rear wall.

[0058] The transparent door 102 can be made of transparent polyimide film or transparent FEP film, and is used to observe the experimental conditions of the vehicle headlight assembly.

[0059] Preferably, a sensor is installed inside the folding box 100. The sensor is used to detect the temperature inside the folding box 100 and send the detection result to the controller. The controller is an external controller, which is connected to the sensor through a quick-release electrical interface fixed to the box. The controller controls the operation of the temperature control component according to the set temperature and the detected temperature, so that the inside of the folding box 100 is maintained within the set high temperature or low temperature range.

[0060] The controller is existing technology, such as a programmable temperature controller or a PLC controller, which has PID adjustment function and can automatically start and stop the temperature control component according to temperature feedback.

[0061] like Figure 5 , Figure 6 as well as Figures 9 to 12 As shown, the temperature control component includes a heating and cooling assembly 200 and an air circulation assembly. The heating and cooling assembly 200 includes a plurality of semiconductor cooling chips 210, a flexible connector 220, a cooling plate 230, and a circulation component.

[0062] The sensor is configured with at least three sensors, respectively located at the air outlet of the air circulation assembly, near the headlight assembly under test, and at the air return point at the bottom of the folding box 100. The controller adjusts the temperature based on the average temperature detected by the three sensors and determines the temperature uniformity inside the box based on the difference between the three detected temperatures.

[0063] The multiple semiconductor cooling chips 210 are all elongated and arranged parallel to each other. There is a bendable gap between adjacent semiconductor cooling chips 210. Each semiconductor cooling chip 210 has a skirt structure around its periphery. The skirt structure is used to increase the connection area between the semiconductor cooling chip 210 and the flexible connector 220.

[0064] like Figure 9 As shown, the flexible connector 220 consists of two pieces, located on opposite sides of the thermoelectric cooler 210 and connected to the skirt structure by bonding, riveting, or sewing. The thermoelectric cooler 210 is confined between the two flexible connectors 220, forming a bamboo-strip-like structure together. Adjacent thermoelectric coolers 210 can rotate relative to each other using the flexible connector 220 as a bending point, allowing the heating and cooling assembly 200 to roll up along the arrangement direction of the multiple thermoelectric coolers 210. When unfolded, the heating and cooling assembly 200 can cover the top area inside the folding box 100; when rolled up, it reduces the storage volume.

[0065] In this embodiment, the semiconductor cooling chip 210 is fixedly connected to the inner wall of the folding box 100 via a flexible connector 220. The two are fixed by adhesive or riveting. During the processing of the folding box 100, the edge structure of the flexible connector 220 is fixedly connected inside the folding box 100. After the processing of the folding box 100 is completed, the flexible connector 220 is fixed to the folding box 100 by riveting, sewing or adhesive. After the folding box 100 is inflated, the sheet-like structure formed by the semiconductor cooling chip 210 and the flexible connector 220 is stretched, and the semiconductor cooling chip 210 and the flexible connector 220 are fixed to the top wall of the folding box 100.

[0066] The skirt structure is an insulating mounting frame covering the periphery of the semiconductor cooling chip 210. The insulating mounting frame is made of high and low temperature resistant silicone or polyimide material and is connected to the edge of the semiconductor cooling chip 210 by high and low temperature resistant silicone adhesive. The flexible connector 220 is riveted, bonded or sewn to the insulating mounting frame, and does not directly form riveting holes or sewing holes on the ceramic substrate of the semiconductor cooling chip 210.

[0067] like Figure 10 and Figure 11 As shown, the cooling plate 230 is disposed on the side of the semiconductor refrigeration chip 210 facing away from the interior of the folding housing 100. The cooling plate 230 includes two flexible patches 231, which are bonded together. The unbonded area between the two flexible patches 231 forms a cooling channel 232. The cooling channel 232 is arranged in a continuous and meandering manner to extend the flow path of the coolant in the cooling plate 230 and improve the heat exchange efficiency between the cooling plate 230 and the semiconductor refrigeration chip 210.

[0068] The controller is equipped with a polarity switching circuit, which is connected to the thermoelectric cooler 210. The controller changes the current direction of the thermoelectric cooler 210 through the polarity switching circuit to switch between cooling mode and heating mode. When switching, the power supply to the thermoelectric cooler 210 is cut off first, and then the power supply is reversed after a preset delay time to avoid current surge caused by direct reverse connection.

[0069] Each of the semiconductor cooling chips 210 is provided with a positive lead and a negative lead. The positive lead and the negative lead are made of flexible wires resistant to high and low temperatures and are arranged along the flexible connector 220. Multiple semiconductor cooling chips 210 are connected in parallel to the controller. Each parallel branch is provided with a current limiting protection device. The lead connection position is encapsulated with insulating silicone to prevent condensation from causing a short circuit.

[0070] The cooling plate 230 is located on the side of the thermoelectric cooler 210 near the top wall, and the two are attached together and connected by thermal conductive gel or edge fixing, so that after the folding box 100 is inflated, the cooling plate 230 and the thermoelectric cooler 210 are attached together, thereby controlling the temperature of the side of the thermoelectric cooler 210 near the top wall when the thermoelectric cooler 210 is working.

[0071] The two ends of the cooling water channel 232 are respectively connected to water channel connectors 233, and the two water channel connectors 233 serve as the liquid inlet and liquid outlet respectively. The circulation component is connected to the two water channel connectors 233 through a circulation pipeline to drive the coolant to circulate between the cooling fins 230 and the circulation component.

[0072] The circulation component is a device capable of heat dissipation and heat replenishment. Considering portability, an integrated pump-and-discharge water-cooled radiator, a technology already in use, can be adopted. The radiator has a built-in circulating water pump, and its inlet and outlet are connected to heat-conducting metal pipes, such as pure copper metal pipes. The surface of the metal pipes is wrapped with a heating strip. The outer surface of the heating strip is a heat-resistant silicone layer, and the inner side is a nickel-chromium alloy heating wire, used to heat the coolant entering and exiting the radiator. The power control structure of the water pump, heating strip, and cooling fan on the radiator is independently electrically connected to the controller, so that the controller can independently control the power of the water pump, cooling fan, and heating strip, enabling the circulation component to achieve the functions of heat dissipation and heating. The circulation component is connected to the water channel connector 233 through a bidirectional self-sealing liquid quick-release connector.

[0073] It should be noted that the heat dissipation function of the circulation component refers to transferring the heat generated on the back of the semiconductor cooling chip 210 to the external environment. The circulation component itself does not actively cool the coolant to below the ambient temperature. The active cooling inside the test chamber is completed by the semiconductor cooling chip 210.

[0074] The circulation components form a closed-loop liquid circuit in the order of "cooling outlet, water pump, cooling plate 230, cooling inlet". The coolant is an ethylene glycol or propylene glycol type coolant with a freezing point lower than the lowest test temperature. The flow rate of the water pump is determined according to the total heat exchange of the semiconductor refrigeration chip 210, and the temperature difference between the liquid inlet and outlet of the cooling plate 230 is kept within a set range. The rated heat dissipation of the cooling radiator is not less than the sum of the heat absorbed by all the semiconductor refrigeration chips 210 and the input electrical power.

[0075] A thermally conductive insulating layer, a heating band, and an elastic covering layer are sequentially arranged on the outside of the metal tube. The elastic covering layer presses the heating band and the thermally conductive insulating layer onto the metal tube. The heating band is wound around the metal tube, and its working power does not exceed 70% of the continuous allowable power. A temperature fuse is installed on the heating band. The water pump is electrically interlocked with the heating band, and the heating band is allowed to be energized only when the water pump is running.

[0076] The elastic covering layer is adhesive tape or wrapping tape.

[0077] The bidirectional self-sealing liquid quick-release connector is existing technology. For example, the two connector bodies of the bidirectional self-sealing liquid quick-release connector are respectively provided with spring-driven self-sealing valve cores. When the two connector bodies are inserted, the two self-sealing valve cores abut against each other and open simultaneously; when the two connector bodies are separated, the two self-sealing valve cores close under the action of the springs, so that the coolant on both sides of the cooling plate 230 and the circulation component remains sealed.

[0078] In heating mode, the heating band is only used to keep the coolant within a temperature range suitable for the heat absorption of the semiconductor cooling chip 210, and does not directly heat the coolant to the target temperature inside the tank. The maximum allowable temperature of the coolant is determined according to the rated temperature of the water pump, hose and quick-release connector.

[0079] The cooling plate 230 can be configured as a single piece, with one cooling plate 230 simultaneously contacting multiple thermoelectric coolers 210; alternatively, the cooling plate 230 can be configured as multiple pieces, with each thermoelectric cooler 210 connected to one cooling plate 230. When using a multi-piece structure, adjacent cooling plates 230 can be bent relative to each other to accommodate the winding of the heating and cooling assembly 200.

[0080] A plate temperature sensor is provided on the cooling plate 230, and liquid temperature sensors are respectively provided at the liquid inlet and liquid outlet of the circulation component. The controller simultaneously monitors the temperature on both sides of the semiconductor cooling plate 210 and the temperature of the coolant. When any temperature exceeds the corresponding safety threshold, the semiconductor cooling plate 210 and the heating belt stop working, and the water pump runs for a delay.

[0081] In a preferred embodiment of this invention, the air circulation assembly includes a bladeless fan ring 300 and an air circulation component. The air circulation component employs a plunger pump or a miniature exhaust fan to draw air from inside the folding box 100 and deliver the air to the bladeless fan ring 300.

[0082] Preferably, in this embodiment, the controller, the air circulation component, and the circulation element are integrated into an external housing to form an external component. The external component has a built-in power module for connecting to the vehicle power supply, AC power, or battery power.

[0083] The bladeless fan ring 300 includes an upper plate 310 and a lower plate 320. The upper plate 310 and the lower plate 320 are respectively provided with a plurality of corresponding air vents 302. The air vents 302 on the lower plate 320 are smaller than the air vents 302 on the upper plate 310.

[0084] The upper sheet 310 has an adhesive coating area 301 on the side facing the lower sheet 320. The adhesive coating area 301 extends along a predetermined path. After the upper sheet 310 and the lower sheet 320 are bonded together in the adhesive coating area 301, they form an air duct 330 between them. Each air duct 330 is interconnected and connected to the corresponding air outlet 302. Each air duct 330 forms a slit structure at the corresponding air outlet 302.

[0085] The bladeless fan ring 300 is provided with an air inlet 303, which is connected to the air duct 330. The air outlet of the air circulation component is connected to the air inlet 303. The air output by the air circulation component enters the air duct 330 through the air inlet 303 and is then dispersed and discharged through multiple air outlets 302.

[0086] like Figure 8 As shown, the lower plate 320 has multiple guide rings 321 on the side facing the interior of the folding housing 100. Each guide ring 321 is arranged around the corresponding air vent 302. The guide ring 321 is used to constrain the direction of the airflow discharged from the air vent 302, so that the airflow flows towards the vehicle lamp assembly under test. The high-speed airflow ejected from the air vent 302 can also drive the air near the semiconductor cooling chip 210 to move together, thereby increasing the air circulation speed inside the folding housing 100. The cross-section of the guide ring 321 is circular. According to the Coanda effect, the airflow has viscosity. When flowing over the convex cylindrical surface, it tends to deviate from the original straight direction and flow along the curved surface. The air blown out from the air duct 330 will deflect along the guide ring 321, thereby blowing towards the vehicle lamp assembly. According to Bernoulli's principle, a low-pressure ejector zone is formed in the vicinity of the guide ring 321, thereby driving the airflow near the semiconductor cooling chip 210.

[0087] The air vent 302 on the upper plate 310 and the air vent 302 on the lower plate 320 are coaxially arranged, and an air outlet slit is formed between their edges around the guide ring 321. The width of the air outlet slit is 0.5 mm to 2 mm, and the air outlet direction of the air outlet slit is tangent to the arc-shaped guide surface of the guide ring 321 facing the headlight assembly under test.

[0088] The radius of the arc of the guide ring 321 is 2 mm to 10 mm. The air discharged from the air outlet slit first flows along the arc guide surface and then deflects toward the vehicle light assembly under test. The high-speed airflow forms an ejection area with the surrounding air to drive the air near the semiconductor cooling chip 210 to flow together.

[0089] The cooling fin 230 is disposed near the top wall of the folding housing 100, and the bladeless fan ring 300 is located on the side of the semiconductor cooling fin 210 facing the interior of the folding housing 100, so that the air heated or cooled by the semiconductor cooling fin 210 can be blown toward the vehicle light assembly under the action of the air circulation assembly.

[0090] like Figure 3 , Figure 4 and Figure 8As shown, a flexible partition 110 is provided on the inner side of the side wall of the folding box 100. One side of the flexible partition 110 is connected to the inner wall of the folding box 100, and the other side of the flexible partition 110 is connected to the edge of the air circulation assembly, thereby forming a side air duct between the flexible partition 110 and the inner wall of the folding box 100. The flexible partition 110 is connected to the front and rear walls of the folding box 100 and has gaps between it and the top and bottom walls, so that air can enter the side air duct from the bottom and be blown out from the top.

[0091] The air inlet of the air circulation component is connected to the return air inlet at the bottom of the folding box 100, and is used to draw air from below the headlight assembly under test. After the air flowing through the semiconductor cooling chip 210 blows towards the headlight assembly, part of it is drawn by the air circulation component and part flows into the side air duct.

[0092] like Figure 3 , Figure 13 and Figure 14 As shown, a flexible support 400 is provided at the bottom inside the folding box 100. The flexible support 400 includes multiple rigid bars 410 and flexible connecting pieces 420. The multiple rigid bars 410 are arranged parallel to each other and are connected in sequence through the flexible connecting pieces 420, thereby forming a bamboo-shaped support structure that can be unfolded and rolled up.

[0093] Each of the rigid bars 410 is provided with a plurality of ventilation holes 411, which are spaced apart along the length of the rigid bar 410. The ventilation holes 411 penetrate the rigid bar 410 and the flexible connecting piece 420, allowing air blown toward the vehicle light assembly under test to pass through the flexible support 400. The rigid bar 410 is used to bear the weight of the vehicle light assembly under test, preventing the vehicle light assembly under test from directly pressing the bottom wall of the folding box 100. The flexible connecting piece 420 allows adjacent rigid bars 410 to rotate relative to each other, so that the flexible support 400 can be rolled up and stored.

[0094] The flexible support 400 and the bottom wall of the folding box 100 form a bottom return air space. The air inlet of the air circulation component is connected to the bottom return air space. The air circulation component draws air from the bottom return air space and delivers the air to the air duct 330 through the air inlet 303.

[0095] The air discharged from the air duct 330 flows through the vehicle light assembly under test, and then enters the bottom return air space through the vent 411. Part of the air directly enters the air circulation component, and the other part of the air enters the side air duct through the gap at the lower end of the flexible partition 110, and returns to the vicinity of the semiconductor cooling chip 210 through the gap at the upper end of the flexible partition 110, thereby forming the main circulation air path and the side auxiliary return air path.

[0096] Preferably, in this embodiment, the central axis of the opening where the transparent door 102 is located is perpendicular to the axis of the bottom air column 101. That is, when viewed from the direction of the transparent door 102, the air columns 101 at the bottom and top are horizontal, and the air columns 101 on both side walls are vertical. The length direction of the rigid strip 410 and the semiconductor cooling chip 210 is perpendicular to the axis of the bottom air column 101.

[0097] In this embodiment, the number and total power of the semiconductor cooling chips 210 are determined based on the effective internal volume of the folded housing 100, and the effective internal volume of the folded housing 100 is shown in formula (1): ;Formula (1) Wherein, L, W, and H are the internal net length, internal net width, and internal net height of the folding box 100 after it is inflated and unfolded, respectively.

[0098] Under the same conditions of ambient temperature, target temperature and cooling time, the cooling load of the air inside the chamber is approximately proportional to the effective internal volume. That is, the larger the effective internal volume, the more heat needs to be absorbed by the semiconductor cooling chip 210. The cooling power required for the air inside the chamber to drop to the target temperature within a predetermined time is shown in formula (2): ;Formula (2) in, air density, The specific heat capacity of air, The difference between the initial temperature and the target temperature. To set the cooling time; The folded box 100 also exchanges heat with the external environment through the box wall, and the heat transfer load of the box wall is shown in formula (3): ;Formula (3) Wherein, U is the comprehensive heat transfer coefficient of the folded box 100 box wall, and A is the heat exchange area of ​​the box wall. Under the condition that the shape and length-width-height ratio of the box remain basically unchanged, the heat exchange area of ​​the box wall is approximately proportional to the square of one-third of the effective internal volume.

[0099] The total cooling capacity required by the semiconductor cooling chip 210 The heat load is determined based on the cooling load of the air inside the chamber, the heat transfer load of the chamber wall, the cooling load of the vehicle lamp assembly under test, and the heat generation of the electrical components inside the chamber, as shown in formula (4): ;Formula (4) in, The cooling load of the tested vehicle lighting assembly and its internal structure. The heat generated when the vehicle headlight assembly under test is powered on, as well as the heat generated by the electrical components inside the box. For safety, a value of 1.2 to 1.5 is preferred.

[0100] The number N of each semiconductor refrigeration chip 210 is determined based on the cooling capacity of a single chip under the actual temperature difference between the hot and cold ends, as shown in formula (5): ;Formula (5) Wherein, N is the number of the semiconductor cooling chips 210. This refers to the cooling capacity of a single semiconductor refrigeration chip 210 under actual operating temperature differences. Correction factors to account for thermal contact loss and installation errors.

[0101] It should be noted that the effective internal volume of the folding housing 100 does not directly change the cooling efficiency of a single thermoelectric cooler 210. However, as the effective internal volume increases, the heat load borne by a single thermoelectric cooler 210 increases accordingly. When the number of thermoelectric coolers 210 is insufficient, their hot-end temperature and the temperature difference between the hot and cold ends increase, resulting in a decrease in actual cooling capacity and cooling efficiency. Therefore, when the effective internal volume increases, the number of thermoelectric coolers 210 and the heat dissipation capacity of the circulation component should be increased accordingly to keep each thermoelectric cooler 210 within the allowable operating temperature difference range.

[0102] In use, first unfold the folding box 100, inflate each air column 101 through the inflation port, and maintain the air pressure in each air column 101 through the one-way inflation valve. After the folding box 100 forms a stable box structure, unfold the flexible support 400 and lay it at the bottom inside the folding box 100. Then, place the vehicle light assembly to be tested on the flexible support 400 through the opening. Subsequently, close the transparent door 102 and pull the sealing zipper to form a relatively closed test space inside the folding box 100.

[0103] When starting in cooling mode, the controller first starts the water pump and the cooling fan on the radiator. After confirming that the coolant temperature is normal, it then starts the thermoelectric cooler 210. When starting in heating mode, the controller first starts the water pump, then starts the thermoelectric cooler 210 and the heating element. When stopping, the thermoelectric cooler 210 and the heating element are stopped first, and the water pump and the air circulation component continue to run for a preset time before stopping.

[0104] In cooling mode, the controller controls the semiconductor cooling chip 210 to work, so that the semiconductor cooling chip 210 absorbs heat on one side facing the inside of the folding box 100, and the heat generated on the other side of the semiconductor cooling chip 210 is transferred to the cooling plate 230. The circulating water pump drives the coolant to flow through the cooling water channel 232 and transfers the heat to the radiator. The cooling fan dissipates heat from the radiator.

[0105] Meanwhile, the air circulation component sends air into the air duct 330 through the air inlet 303. The air is blown out from each of the air outlets 302 toward the vehicle light assembly under test, and drives the low-temperature air near the semiconductor cooling chip 210 to flow toward the vehicle light assembly under test. After heat exchange, the air passes through the vent 411, part of which returns to the air circulation component from the bottom, and part of which enters the vicinity of the semiconductor cooling chip 210 from the side air duct, thereby forming a circulating airflow inside the folding box 100.

[0106] In heating mode, the controller adjusts the power supply direction of the semiconductor cooling chip 210 so that the semiconductor cooling chip 210 releases heat towards the side inside the folding box 100. Depending on the heating rate and target temperature, the heating belt can also be activated to heat the circulating coolant, preventing the temperature difference between the two sides of the semiconductor cooling chip 210 from being too large and affecting the heating efficiency. The air circulation component continuously blows the heated air toward the vehicle light assembly under test, making the temperature around the vehicle light assembly under test tend to be uniform.

[0107] During the test, the sensor continuously monitors the temperature inside the folding box 100. When the detected temperature deviates from the set temperature, the controller adjusts the operating status of the semiconductor cooling chip 210, the circulating water pump, the heating belt, the cooling fan, and the air circulation component to keep the test temperature within the preset range. The test personnel can observe the status of the vehicle light assembly under test under high or low temperature conditions in real time through the transparent door 102.

[0108] When the sensor is disconnected, the coolant temperature exceeds the safety threshold, the surface temperature of the thermoelectric cooler 210 is abnormal, or the water pump stops running, the controller cuts off the power supply to the thermoelectric cooler 210 and the heating element.

[0109] After the test, the transparent door 102 is opened and the headlight assembly under test is taken out. The gas in each of the air columns 101 is released, and the folded box 100 is folded and stored after the gas is released. This reduces the transportation volume of the entire equipment, allowing the test box to be carried to the road test site or after-sales service location for on-site high and low temperature reproduction tests on abnormal headlight assemblies, without having to send the headlight assembly back to a laboratory in another location.

[0110] Example 2: Figures 15 to 18 As shown, as another embodiment of the present invention, this embodiment differs from Embodiment 1 in that a flexible protective shell 120 is further provided on the outside of the folding box 100. The flexible protective shell 120 is a box structure, which is fixed to the outside of the air column 101 by adhesive bonding. The flexible protective shell 120 is connected to the outermost side of the air column 101 after inflation through a long strip adhesive area, so that a cylindrical cavity is formed between the flexible protective shell 120 and the adjacent air column 101, and the flexible protective shell 120 is connected to the bent edge of the folding box 100 (i.e., the end area of ​​the air column 101). An arc-shaped cavity is formed in the area, which is connected to the cylindrical cavity. The cylindrical cavity is also equipped with a one-way inflation valve structure. When the air column 101 is inflated, the cylindrical cavity is inflated simultaneously, so that another cylindrical support structure is formed on the outside of the air column 101. The air column 101 and the cylindrical support structure constitute a double-layer air column support, and a static air layer is formed in the area between adjacent air columns 101, which plays a further role in heat insulation and improves the heat insulation effect of the folding box 100. At the same time, the double air column support method further improves the support capacity of the folding box 100.

[0111] The flexible protective shell 120 is made of a flexible material resistant to high and low temperatures, preferably silicone-coated fiberglass cloth. The flexible covering layer is fixed to the outer wall of the folding box 100 by adhesive bonding. After the box wall is assembled, air is injected into the air column 101, glue is applied to the side wall of the air column 101, and then the raw materials constituting the flexible protective shell 120 are attached to the air column 101. After the two are firmly bonded, the air column 101 is depressurized.

[0112] The terminology used in this invention is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. The singular forms “a,” “the,” and “the” used in this invention and the appended claims are also intended to include the plural forms unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It should also be understood that the term “and / or” as used herein refers to and includes any or all possible combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

[0113] It should be understood that although the terms first, second, third, etc., may be used in this invention to describe various information, this information should not be limited to these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish information of the same type from one another. For example, first information may also be referred to as second information without departing from the scope of this invention, and similarly, second information may also be referred to as first information. Depending on the context, the word "if" as used herein may be interpreted as "when," "when," or "in response to determination."

[0114] Although embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes, modifications, substitutions and alterations can be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A portable high and low temperature test chamber for automotive lighting components, characterized in that, include: A folding box (100) has a receiving cavity for accommodating vehicle lighting components. The box wall of the folding box (100) is composed of multiple inflatable air columns (101) arranged side by side. When the multiple air columns (101) are inflated, they jointly support the folding box (100). When the multiple air columns (101) are deflated, the folding box (100) can be folded. A temperature control element, which is used to heat the air in the receiving cavity or to cool the air in the receiving cavity.

2. The portable high and low temperature test chamber for automotive lighting components according to claim 1, characterized in that, Each of the air columns (101) is interconnected, and multiple air columns (101) are connected to an inflation port, and a one-way inflation valve is provided at the inflation port.

3. The portable high and low temperature test chamber for automotive lighting components according to claim 1, characterized in that, The folding box (100) also includes: A flexible protective shell (120) is a box structure that is fixed to the outside of the air column (101) to form a cylindrical cavity between the flexible protective shell (120) and the adjacent air column (101). The flexible protective shell (120) and the bent edge of the folded box (100) form an arc-shaped cavity. The arc-shaped cavity and the cylindrical cavity are connected. A one-way inflation valve structure is also provided on the cylindrical cavity.

4. The portable high and low temperature test chamber for automotive lighting components according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The temperature control component includes: A heating / cooling assembly (200) is used to heat the air in the receiving cavity or to cool the air in the receiving cavity; An air circulation assembly for driving air passing through the heating / cooling assembly (200) to flow toward the headlight assembly.

5. The portable high and low temperature test chamber for automotive lighting components according to claim 4, characterized in that, The heating / cooling assembly (200) includes: Multiple elongated semiconductor cooling chips (210) are arranged in parallel to each other; A flexible connector (220) is used to connect adjacent thermoelectric coolers (210) so that multiple thermoelectric coolers (210) together with the flexible connector (220) form a rollable sheet structure; Cooling plate (230) is disposed on the side of the semiconductor cooling plate (210) away from the receiving cavity. The cooling plate (230) includes two flexible patches (231) connected to each other. The unconnected area between the two flexible patches (231) forms a cooling channel (232). The circulation component is connected to the cooling water channel (232) and drives the coolant to circulate. The circulation component includes a heat dissipation structure for dissipating the heat of the coolant to the external environment and a heat replenishment structure for heating the coolant.

6. The portable high and low temperature test chamber for automotive lighting components according to claim 4, characterized in that, The air circulation assembly includes: The bladeless fan ring (300) includes an upper plate (310) and a lower plate (320). An air duct (330) is provided between the upper plate (310) and the lower plate (320). The upper plate (310) and the lower plate (320) are respectively provided with a plurality of corresponding air outlets (302). The air outlets (302) on the lower plate (320) are smaller than the air outlets (302) on the upper plate (310). Two corresponding air outlets (302) are coaxially arranged and an air outlet slit communicating with the air duct (330) is formed between their edges. The bladeless fan ring (300) is also provided with an air inlet (303) communicating with the air duct (330). An air circulation component, wherein the air outlet of the air circulation component is connected to the air inlet (303), and the air inlet of the air circulation component is connected to the receiving cavity, so as to draw air from the receiving cavity and deliver the air to the bladeless fan ring (300).

7. The portable high and low temperature test chamber for automotive lighting components according to claim 6, characterized in that, The lower plate (320) has a plurality of guide rings (321) on the side facing the receiving cavity. Each guide ring (321) is arranged around the corresponding air outlet (302). The air outlet direction of the air outlet slit is tangent to the arc guiding surface of the corresponding guide ring (321).

8. The portable high and low temperature test chamber for automotive lighting components according to claim 6, characterized in that, A flexible partition (110) is provided on the inner side of the side wall of the folding box (100). One side of the flexible partition (110) is connected to the inner wall of the folding box (100), and the other side is connected to the edge of the air circulation assembly (300) to form a side air duct between the flexible partition (110) and the inner wall of the folding box (100).

9. The portable high and low temperature test chamber for automotive lighting components according to claim 6, characterized in that, The bottom of the folding box (100) is provided with a flexible support (400). The flexible support (400) includes a plurality of rigid bars (410) arranged in parallel with each other and a flexible connecting piece (420) connecting adjacent rigid bars (410). A plurality of air vents (411) are provided on the rigid bars (410). The flexible support (400) is spaced apart from the bottom box wall of the folding box (100) and forms a bottom return air space between them. The bottom return air space is connected to the air inlet of the air circulation component.

Images