A sealed pod and lighting device

Abstract

The application discloses a sealed bin and a lighting device, and belongs to the technical field of sealed containers. The sealed bin comprises a barrel, a first end cover assembly and a second end cover assembly, a vacuum extraction channel and a negative pressure sealing mechanism are arranged in the second end cover assembly, the negative pressure sealing mechanism is composed of an elastic sealing piece, a blocking piece and an elastic piece, when vacuum extraction is performed, the gas in the barrel pushes the blocking piece to move away from the elastic sealing piece and compresses the elastic piece, so that the blocking piece is separated from the elastic sealing piece and the vacuum extraction channel is opened; after the vacuum extraction is completed, the elastic piece rebounds and pushes the blocking piece to move towards the elastic sealing piece, and the elastic sealing piece is compressed, so that the vacuum extraction channel is closed and the negative pressure in the barrel is maintained. The application remarkably improves the long-term sealing reliability of the sealed bin in harsh environments such as underwater and high pressure by means of automatic negative pressure sealing and multiple sealing design, and the sealing performance and functional requirements are considered, so that stable protection is provided for internal components.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application belongs to the field of sealed container technology, and in particular relates to a sealed chamber and lighting device. Background Technology

[0002] In the field of sealed container technology, especially in sealed chambers used in harsh environments such as underwater, humid, or high-pressure environments (e.g., protective housings for underwater lighting equipment and underwater camera devices), their sealing performance and stability directly determine the service life and operational reliability of the equipment. In existing technologies, sealed chambers often employ single sealing methods such as sealing rings or welding. Over long-term use, these methods are prone to deterioration in sealing performance due to component aging and pressure shocks, posing a risk of leakage.

[0003] Therefore, there is an urgent need for a new type of sealed chamber that is structurally stable, reliably sealed, and adapted to the efficient operation of functional components. Utility Model Content

[0004] The purpose of this application is to provide a sealed chamber and a lighting device.

[0005] The embodiments of this application can be implemented through the following technical solutions:

[0006] A sealed chamber includes a cylindrical body, and a first end cap assembly and a second end cap assembly respectively connected to openings at both ends of the cylindrical body. The second end cap assembly has a vacuum channel, one end of which communicates with the interior of the cylindrical body, and the other end is used to connect to an external vacuum device. The vacuum channel has a negative pressure sealing mechanism, which includes an elastic sealing element, a blocking element, and an elastic element arranged sequentially along the axial direction. One end of the elastic element is connected to the blocking element, and the other end is connected to a limiting structure on the side of the vacuum channel away from the cylindrical body.

[0007] During vacuuming, the gas inside the cylinder pushes the sealing element away from the elastic seal and compresses the elastic seal, causing the sealing element to detach from the elastic seal and open the vacuuming channel. After vacuuming is completed, the elastic element rebounds and pushes the sealing element closer to the elastic seal, pressing the elastic seal and closing the vacuuming channel while maintaining negative pressure inside the cylinder.

[0008] Furthermore, the sealing element is a T-shaped plunger, which includes a head and a rod; the elastic sealing element is an O-ring, which is fitted onto the rod, and the inner diameter of the O-ring is larger than the diameter of the rod, while the outer diameter is smaller than the diameter of the head.

[0009] Furthermore, the elastic element is a spring, and its length in the free state is greater than the distance from the side of the sealing element away from the elastic sealing element to the limiting structure of the vacuum channel away from the cylinder in the negative pressure sealing state.

[0010] Furthermore, the vacuum channel includes an inner section, a middle section, and an outer section in sequence along the direction away from the cylinder, and the diameter of the middle section is larger than that of the inner section and the outer section;

[0011] The first shoulder of the limiting elastic seal is formed at the transition between the middle section and the inner section;

[0012] The transition between the middle section and the outer section forms a second shoulder that abuts against the elastic member.

[0013] Furthermore, the second end cap assembly includes a second end cap and a vacuum connection member. The vacuum connection member is fixedly connected to the end of the second end cap away from the cylinder. Both the second end cap and the vacuum connection member are provided with axially extending stepped holes. The stepped holes of the two are coaxially connected to each other to form a vacuum channel.

[0014] Furthermore, the second end cap is connected to the cylinder by welding.

[0015] Furthermore, the second end cap assembly also includes a third sealing ring, which is disposed between the outer wall of the second end cap and the inner wall of the cylinder to achieve radial sealing between the two.

[0016] Furthermore, the first end cap assembly includes a transparent end cap, a sealing connector, a first sealing ring, and a second sealing ring; one end of the sealing connector is bonded to the transparent end cap, and the outer wall of the other end is clearance-fitted with the inner wall of the cylinder; the first sealing ring is disposed on the radial outer wall of the sealing connector and is interference-fitted with the inner wall of the cylinder to achieve radial sealing; the second sealing ring is disposed at the connection section between the sealing connector and the transparent end cap to achieve axial sealing between the two.

[0017] Furthermore, the sealing connector is an aluminum alloy ring, and the transparent end cap is made of glass.

[0018] A lighting device includes a sealed chamber as described in any of the above claims, and a lighting assembly disposed inside the cylinder; the lighting assembly includes a light source, a mounting base, a drive plate, and a heat sink, the mounting base is connected to the inner wall of the cylinder, the drive plate and the light source are mounted on the mounting base, one end of the heat sink is in contact with the drive plate, and the other end is attached to the inner wall of the cylinder.

[0019] The sealed chamber and lighting device provided in the embodiments of this application have at least the following beneficial effects:

[0020] On the one hand, the sealing chamber of this application significantly improves the long-term sealing stability in harsh environments such as underwater, high pressure, and humidity through an automatic negative pressure sealing mechanism, providing reliable protection for the efficient operation of functional components such as lighting and sensing inside the cylinder. Through the coordinated action of the elastic sealing element, plugging element, and elastic element of the negative pressure sealing mechanism, the channel is automatically opened by the pressure difference during vacuuming, and automatically closed by the rebound of the elastic element after completion, realizing the dynamic adaptive switching of "vacuuming-negative pressure sealing", avoiding sealing failure caused by human operation error, and stably maintaining the negative pressure inside the cylinder to enhance the sealing effect.

[0021] On the other hand, the adaptability to harsh environments such as underwater and high pressure is improved through further multi-seal design. For example, the second end cap and the cylinder adopt double protection of "welding + radial sealing of the third sealing ring"; the first end cap assembly achieves double sealing through "radial sealing of the first sealing ring + axial sealing of the second sealing ring". Combined with the high light transmittance of the transparent end cap, it ensures reliable sealing while meeting the light transmittance requirements of functional components. Attached Figure Description

[0022] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the sealed chamber according to one embodiment of this application;

[0023] Figure 2 This is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of a sealed chamber according to an embodiment of this application;

[0024] Figure 3 This is a schematic cross-sectional view of a second end cap assembly component according to an embodiment of this application;

[0025] Figure 4 An exploded view of the overall structure of the lighting device for the sealed chamber using this application;

[0026] Figure 5 A schematic cross-sectional view of the overall structure of the lighting device for the sealed chamber of this application.

[0027] Numbers in the diagram

[0028] 1-Cylinder body, 2-First end cap assembly, 21-Transparent end cap, 22-Sealing connector, 23-First sealing ring, 24-Second sealing ring, 3-Second end cap assembly, 30-Vacuum channel, 301-Inner section, 302-Middle section, 303-Outer section, 31-Second end cap, 32-Vacuum connector, 33-Negative pressure sealing mechanism, 331-Elastic sealing element, 332-Blocking element, 333-Elastic element, 34-Third sealing ring, 4-Lighting assembly, 41-Mounting base, 42-Drive plate, 43-Heat sink. Detailed Implementation

[0029] The present application will now be further described based on preferred embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0030] Furthermore, for ease of understanding, various components on the drawings have been enlarged or reduced, but this is not intended to limit the scope of protection of this application.

[0031] Singular forms of words also include plural meanings, and vice versa.

[0032] In the description of the embodiments of this application, it should be noted that if terms such as "upper," "lower," "inner," or "outer" are used to indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, or the orientation or positional relationship commonly used when the product of this application is in use, they are only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation on this application. In addition, in the description of this application, in order to distinguish different units, the terms "first," "second," etc. are used in this specification, but these are not limited by the manufacturing order, nor should they be construed as indicating or implying relative importance. Their names may differ in the detailed description and claims of this application.

[0033] The vocabulary used in this specification is for illustrative purposes and is not intended to limit the scope of this application. It should also be noted that, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "set," "connected," and "linked" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection, a direct connection, or an indirect connection via an intermediate medium; or they can refer to the internal communication between two components. Those skilled in the art will understand the specific meaning of these terms in this application.

[0034] Existing underwater lighting devices typically consist of an external sealed chamber and lighting functional components integrated within it. As described in the background section, the sealing of existing underwater lighting devices often relies on single sealing methods such as welding, sealing rings, or bolts. These methods have significant limitations in harsh environments such as underwater, humid, or high-pressure conditions. Over long-term use, single-seal structures are prone to performance degradation due to media corrosion, temperature changes, and alternating pressure impacts. For example, aging and cracking of sealing components, and gaps arising from manufacturing defects or vibration at connection points, significantly increase the risk of leakage. Therefore, this application provides a novel sealed chamber.

[0035] Combination Figures 1 to 3 As shown in the embodiment of this application, a sealed chamber includes a cylinder 1, a first end cap assembly 2, and a second end cap assembly 3. The first end cap assembly 2 and the second end cap assembly 3 are respectively connected to the two end openings of the cylinder 1 along the axial direction of the cylinder 1. The three together constitute a cavity for accommodating functional components such as lighting or cameras.

[0036] Furthermore, the second end cap assembly 3 is provided with a vacuum channel 30 and a negative pressure sealing mechanism 33. Through the cooperation of the two, it can not only realize the vacuuming operation of the cavity to form an internal negative pressure, but also automatically seal the channel after the vacuuming is completed and maintain the negative pressure state for a long time, thereby using the internal and external pressure difference to enhance the overall sealing performance of the sealing chamber.

[0037] Specifically, the vacuum channel 30 extends through the second end cap assembly 3 along the axial direction of the cylinder 1. One end of the vacuum channel 30 is connected to the interior of the cylinder 1, and the other end is used to connect to an external vacuuming device. The negative pressure sealing mechanism 33 is disposed within the vacuum channel 30. Specifically, it includes an elastic sealing element 331, a blocking element 332, and an elastic element 333 arranged sequentially from the inside to the outside (i.e., from near the cylinder to away from the cylinder) along the axial direction. The elastic sealing element 331 is disposed on the side of the vacuum channel 30 near the cylinder 1 and can cooperate with the blocking element 332 to seal the vacuum channel 30. The blocking element 332 can slide along the axial direction of the vacuum channel 30. The two ends of the elastic element 333 are respectively connected to the end of the blocking element 332 away from the elastic sealing element 331 and the limiting structure on the side of the vacuum channel 30 away from the cylinder 1. During vacuuming, the pressure difference between the cavity and the outside pushes the sealing element 332 away from the elastic seal 331 and compresses the elastic element 333, causing the elastic seal 331 to separate from the sealing element 332, opening the channel for air extraction. After vacuuming is completed, the elastic element 333 releases its elastic potential energy, pushing the sealing element 332 back to the direction closer to the elastic seal 331 until the two are tightly fitted and the channel is sealed. The cavity is kept under negative pressure by the continuous pre-tightening force of the elastic element 333, keeping the cavity in a negative pressure sealed state.

[0038] In some preferred embodiments, the elastic seal 331 is an O-ring, the plugging member 332 is a T-shaped plunger consisting of a head and a rod, and the elastic member 333 is a spring. The O-ring is fitted onto the rod, its inner diameter matching the rod, and its outer diameter smaller than the diameter of the head, allowing it to seal the vacuum channel 30 together under pressure from the head. One end of the spring is connected to the head, and the other end is connected to the end of the vacuum channel 30 away from the elastic seal 331. Its length in its free state is greater than the distance from the side of the plugging member 332 away from the elastic seal 331 to the end of the vacuum channel 30 under negative pressure sealing conditions, ensuring that its restoring force provides continuous pre-tightening force.

[0039] In some other alternative embodiments, the elastic sealing element 331 can also be in the form of a rectangular sealing strip, as long as it can cooperate with the sealing element 332 through elastic deformation to form a seal; the sealing element 332 can also be in the form of a ball, a cone, etc., as long as it can fit or separate from the elastic sealing element 331 under the drive of the elastic element 333 to realize the opening and closing of the channel; the elastic element 333 can also be an elastic column, as long as it can generate rebound potential energy after being compressed to drive the sealing element 332 to reset; that is, as long as the core function of "the channel opens when vacuuming and the elastic element drives the sealing element to fit and seal with the elastic sealing element after completion" can be achieved, the specific form of the above components can be adjusted according to the actual scenario, and all of them fall within the protection scope of this utility model.

[0040] In some preferred embodiments, the second end cap assembly 3 includes a second end cap 31 and a vacuum connection 32, which together form a complete vacuum channel 30 through coaxial docking of a stepped hole. The second end cap 31 has a stepped hole extending axially, which forms two sections from the side near the cylinder 1 to the side away from the cylinder 1: one section is an inner section 301 adapted to slide the rod of the sealing member 332, and the other section is a middle section with a diameter larger than the inner section 301 (i.e., the middle section of the second end cap side). The transition between the inner section 301 and the middle section of the second end cap side forms an annular first shoulder, which is used to axially limit the elastic seal 331. The vacuum connector 32 is fixedly connected to the end of the second end cap 31 away from the cylinder 1 by means of threads or welding. It has a stepped hole inside that is coaxially connected to the middle section of the second end cap 31. The stepped hole includes a remaining middle section (i.e., the middle section of the connector side) with the same diameter as the middle section of the second end cap side, and an outer section 303 with a diameter smaller than the middle section. The transition between the middle section of the connector side and the outer section 303 forms an annular second shoulder, which is used to limit the end of the elastic member 333 away from the sealing member 332.

[0041] After the stepped hole of the second end cap 31 and the stepped hole of the vacuum connector 32 are coaxially connected, they together form a vacuum channel 30 that runs through the axis of the cylinder 1. The channel consists of an inner section 301, a middle section 302, and an outer section 303 in the direction away from the cylinder 1. The diameters of the three sections are related as follows: the diameter of the inner section 301 < the diameter of the middle section 302 > the diameter of the outer section 303. Through the precise positioning of the first shoulder and the second shoulder, the elastic sealing element 331, the sealing element 332, and the elastic element 333 of the negative pressure sealing mechanism 33 are stably assembled and reliably operated in the channel, ensuring the structural stability of the "vacuuming-negative pressure sealing" switching process.

[0042] In some preferred embodiments, the end of the second end cap 31 is fixed to the opening edge of the cylinder 1 by welding to form a rigid seal and ensure the connection strength under high pressure. Furthermore, a continuous annular weld is provided along the mating edge of the second end cap 31 and the cylinder 1. After welding, the weld can be further protected by filling with UV glue or by putting on a plastic ring.

[0043] In some preferred embodiments, the outer wall of the second end cap 31 is provided with an annular groove near the cylinder 1, and a third sealing ring 34 is built in. The third sealing ring 34 is interference-fitted with the inner wall of the cylinder 1 to form a radial auxiliary seal, which works in conjunction with the welded structure to improve the sealing reliability, so as to meet the long-term use requirements of harsh environments such as underwater.

[0044] Furthermore, the first end cap assembly 2 includes a transparent end cap 21, a sealing connector 22, a first sealing ring 23, and a second sealing ring 24, which work together to achieve the sealing and light transmission functions at the end of the cylinder 1.

[0045] Specifically, the transparent end cap 21 is a light-transmitting and protective component at the end of the cylinder 1, and it is connected to the end of the cylinder 1 through a sealing connector 22. In some preferred embodiments, the transparent end cap 21 is made of glass material, which has good light transmittance and mechanical strength, ensuring effective light transmission to the internal functional components of the cylinder 1. The sealing connector 22 adopts an aluminum alloy ring structure, with one end face fixedly connected to the edge of the transparent end cap 21 by adhesive bonding, and the outer wall of the other end clearance-fitted with the inner wall of the cylinder 1 for easy assembly and positioning. The first sealing ring 23 is disposed in the annular groove on the radial outer wall of the sealing connector 22. When the first end cap assembly 2 is assembled to the end of the cylinder 1, the first sealing ring 23 forms an interference fit with the inner wall of the cylinder 1 to achieve radial sealing. The second sealing ring 24 is disposed in the groove of the connection section between the sealing connector 22 and the transparent end cap 21 to achieve axial sealing between the two.

[0046] Combination Figure 4 and Figure 5 As shown, this application also provides a lighting device for a sealed chamber provided in this application. The lighting device includes the sealed chamber described in any of the above embodiments and a lighting component 4 integrated inside the cylinder 1. The lighting component 4 includes a light source (not shown in the figure), a mounting base 41, a drive plate 42 and a heat sink 43.

[0047] Specifically, the mounting base 41 is fixedly connected to the inner wall of the cylinder 1, serving as the supporting structure for the lighting component 4. Its surface is provided with mounting positions for the drive plate 42 and the light source, ensuring the structural stability after assembly. The drive plate 42 is fixedly connected to one side of the mounting base 41 to provide a stable driving current for the light source. The light source is connected to one side of the drive plate 42, and its light can be transmitted to the outside through the transparent end cap 21 to achieve the lighting function. The heat sink is made of high thermal conductivity materials such as aluminum alloy. One end of the heat sink is in close contact with the side of the drive plate 42 away from the light source, and the other end is attached to the inner wall of the cylinder 1, so as to quickly conduct the heat generated by the light source and the drive plate 42 during operation to the outside of the cylinder 1, avoiding heat accumulation in the sealed chamber and affecting the life of the component.

[0048] The specific embodiments of this application have been described in detail above. For those skilled in the art, several improvements and modifications can be made to this application without departing from the principle of this application, and these improvements and modifications also fall within the protection scope of the claims of this application.

Claims

1. A sealed chamber, comprising a cylindrical body (1), and a first end cap assembly (2) and a second end cap assembly (3) respectively connected to openings at both ends of the cylindrical body (1), characterized in that: The second end cap assembly (3) is provided with a vacuum channel (30), one end of which is connected to the inside of the cylinder (1), and the other end is used to connect to an external vacuum device; The vacuum channel (30) is provided with a negative pressure sealing mechanism (33), which includes an elastic sealing element (331), a plugging element (332) and an elastic element (333) arranged sequentially along the axial direction. One end of the elastic element (333) is connected to the plugging element (332), and the other end is connected to the limiting structure on the side of the vacuum channel (30) away from the cylinder (1). During vacuuming, the gas inside the cylinder (1) pushes the sealing element (332) away from the elastic seal (331) and compresses the elastic element (333), causing the sealing element (332) to disengage from the elastic seal (331) and open the vacuuming channel (30). After vacuuming is completed, the elastic element (333) rebounds and pushes the sealing element (332) to move closer to the elastic seal (331), pressing the elastic seal (331) to close the vacuuming channel (30) and maintain the negative pressure inside the cylinder (1).

2. The sealed chamber according to claim 1, characterized in that, The sealing element (332) is a T-type plunger, which includes a head and a rod; The elastic seal (331) is an O-ring, which is fitted onto the rod, and the inner diameter of the O-ring is larger than the diameter of the rod, while the outer diameter is smaller than the diameter of the head.

3. The sealed chamber according to claim 2, characterized in that, The elastic element (333) is a spring, and its length in the free state is greater than the distance from the side of the sealing element (332) away from the elastic sealing element (331) to the side of the vacuum channel (30) away from the cylinder (1) in the negative pressure sealing state.

4. The sealed chamber according to claim 1, characterized in that, The vacuum channel (30) includes an inner section (301), a middle section (302) and an outer section (303) in sequence along the direction away from the cylinder (1), wherein the diameter of the middle section (302) is larger than that of the inner section (301) and the outer section (303). The first shoulder of the limiting elastic seal (331) is formed at the transition between the middle section (302) and the inner section (301); The transition between the middle section (302) and the outer section (303) forms a second shoulder that abuts against the elastic member (333).

5. The sealed chamber according to claim 4, characterized in that, The second end cap assembly (3) includes a second end cap (31) and a vacuum connector (32). The vacuum connector (32) is fixedly connected to the end of the second end cap (31) away from the cylinder (1). Both the second end cap (31) and the vacuum connector (32) are provided with axially extending stepped holes. The stepped holes of the two are coaxially connected to form a vacuum channel (30).

6. The sealed chamber according to claim 5, characterized in that, The second end cap (31) is connected to the cylinder (1) by welding.

7. The sealed chamber according to claim 5, characterized in that, The second end cap assembly (3) also includes a third sealing ring (34), which is disposed between the outer wall of the second end cap (31) and the inner wall of the cylinder (1) to achieve radial sealing between the two.

8. The sealed chamber according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first end cap assembly (2) includes a transparent end cap (21), a sealing connector (22), a first sealing ring (23), and a second sealing ring (24); One end of the sealing connector (22) is bonded to the transparent end cap (21), and the outer wall of the other end is fitted with the inner wall of the cylinder (1) with a clearance. The first sealing ring (23) is disposed on the radial outer wall of the sealing connector (22) and is press-fitted with the inner wall of the cylinder (1) to achieve radial sealing; The second sealing ring (24) is disposed at the connection section between the sealing connector (22) and the transparent end cap (21) to achieve axial sealing between the two.

9. The sealed chamber according to claim 8, characterized in that, The sealing connector (22) is an aluminum alloy ring, and the transparent end cap (21) is made of glass.

10. A lighting device, characterized in that, Includes the sealed chamber as described in any one of claims 1-9, and the lighting assembly (4) disposed inside the cylinder (1); The lighting assembly (4) includes a light source, a mounting base (41), a drive plate (42), and a heat sink (43). The mounting base (41) is connected to the inner wall of the cylinder (1), and the drive plate (42) and the light source are mounted on it. One end of the heat sink (43) is in contact with the drive plate (42), and the other end is attached to the inner wall of the cylinder (1).

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