EXPLOSION-PROTECTED LUMINAIRE

Abstract

This application analyzes components that can be used to prevent the transmission of flames or hot gas from the inside to the outside of a luminaire housing due to an internal explosion, thus obtaining an explosion-proof luminaire housing. Consequently, the components and assemblies described herein can be safely integrated into systems operating in the presence of explosive gas.

Description

EXPLOSION-PROTECTED LUMINAIRE PQCQcn / cznz / q / Y CLAIM OF PRIORITY This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. provisional patent no. 63 / 136,362, entitled Explosion Protected Luminaire, filed on January 12, 2021, which is incorporated herein by reference. BACKGROUND The application relates to luminaires and components for luminaires. Lighting fixtures, or luminaires, include electric light sources and provide an aesthetically pleasing and functional housing for both indoor and outdoor applications. Luminaire housings often comprise a volume sufficient to enclose a gas between a light-emitting element or elements and a lens. Therefore, when luminaires are used in environments containing explosive gases, legal regulations sometimes require that the luminaires be rated for safe use in such an environment. Rating for safe use of such a luminaire housing in an environment containing explosive gas may include the requirement that any flame or hot gas resulting from the ignition of the explosive gas enclosed within the luminaire housing be contained by the housing.In other words, the requirement may be that the luminaire box is capable of protecting an external environment from an explosion that occurs inside the luminaire box (for example, an explosion-proof box or explosion encapsulator). PQCocn / cznz / q / uιλι COMPENDIUM According to an illustrative modality, a luminaire includes an explosion-encapsulating luminaire box that includes a luminaire box lens. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES FIG. 1 is a side view of a cutaway of a light fixture box. FIG. 2 is a front view of the luminaire box. FIG. 3 is a view of a PCB board, an LED array, and an LED protective lens array configuration in an explosion-proof luminaire housing. FIG. 4 is a detailed view of a lens safety structure of the luminaire box. FIG. 5a is a top view of an LED protective lens array. FIG. 5b is a bottom view of an LED protective lens array that includes gaps for the flame path. FIG. 5c is a side view of an LED protective lens array. FIG. 5d is a detailed view of an LED protective lens design. FIG. 6a is a perspective view of a luminaire comprising an explosion-encapsulating luminaire box. FIG. 6b is a top view of a luminaire comprising an explosion-encapsulating luminaire box. FIG. 7a is a perspective view of a luminaire comprising an explosion-encapsulating luminaire box. FIG. 7b is a top view of a luminaire comprising an explosion-encapsulating luminaire box. FIG. 8a is a top view of a self-contained battery indicator light lens. FIG. 8b is a side view of a cutaway of a self-contained battery indicator light lens. DETAILED DESCRIPTION Before explaining any modality in detail, it should be understood that the modalities described and illustrated are not limited in their application to the construction details and component arrangements set forth in the description below or illustrated in the figures below. The modalities described PQCocn / cznz / q / υιλι illustrated can be practiced, carried out in various ways, and other modalities are possible. Furthermore, it should be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are descriptive and not intended to be exhaustive. The use of terms such as "includes," "comprising," or "having" and their variations is intended to encompass the elements listed below and their equivalents, as well as additional elements. Unless otherwise specified or limited, the terms "mounted," "connected," "supported," and "coupled" and their variations are used broadly and encompass direct and indirect assemblies, connections, supports, and couplings. As used herein, the word "or" may mean "including or." By way of non-limiting example, if it is stated herein that element Z may comprise element A or B, this may be interpreted to disclose an element Z comprising only element A, an element Z comprising only element B, as well as an element Z comprising both elements A and B. Several of the methods described herein are directed at luminaire components that prevent the transmission of flames or hot gas from inside a luminaire housing to the outside of a luminaire housing due to an explosion occurring within the housing. In certain PQCocn / cznz / q / uli aspects, the luminaire box can be used in an environment containing explosive gas, for example, in specialized laboratory work, testing applications, or high-risk areas such as mines or accelerant production or processing applications. A luminaire within the luminaire box may include light emitters configured to emit light directly through a lens of the luminaire box (e.g., LEDs). This application analyzes components that can be used to prevent the transmission of explosive flames or hot gas from the inside of a luminaire box to the outside of a luminaire box, thereby obtaining an explosion-proof luminaire box.Using the principles described herein, a specialized luminaire housing can be obtained that protects against internal explosions resulting in the transmission of a flame or hot gas from inside to outside the luminaire, while simultaneously facilitating light transmission from inside to outside the luminaire housing. Consequently, the components and assemblies described herein can be safely integrated into systems operating in the presence of explosive gas. FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of a cutaway of a luminaire system 100 comprising a luminaire box 102 including a luminaire box support 104 and a luminaire box cover 106. The luminaire box support 104 and the luminaire box cover 106 are fixed PQCocn / cznz / q / uli are joined together in such a way as to encapsulate any flame or explosion that occurs within the luminaire box 102 and thus prevent such flame or explosion from escaping from the luminaire box 102 at any point where the luminaire box support 104 and the luminaire box cover 106 meet. Furthermore, the luminaire box 102, once assembled, is capable of completely encapsulating any explosion that may occur within the luminaire box 102 in accordance with a protection standard. For example, the explosion encapsulation protection standard for the luminaire box 102 may be the Ex d standard. According to this and other protection standards, a box must be able to encapsulate an explosion and allow combustion gases to escape after cooling sufficiently to eliminate or greatly reduce the risk of igniting a flame or causing an explosion outside the box.A luminaire box lens 112, disposed in the luminaire box 102, allows light to be transmitted from the inside of the luminaire box 102 to the outside of the luminaire box 102, while maintaining the explosion protection standard of the luminaire box 102. In the embodiment shown, an encapsulation gasket 108 is provided between the luminaire box support 104 and the luminaire box cover 106, thus ensuring that no hot gases or flames are transmitted from the inside PQCocn / cznz / q / uli of the luminaire box 102 to the outside of the luminaire box 102 as a result of an explosion. Specifically, the encapsulation gasket 108 ensures that hot gases or flames are not transmitted from the inside of the luminaire box 102 to the outside of the luminaire box 102 through a seal of the luminaire box 102 in which the encapsulation gasket 108 is disposed. In the embodiment shown, a seal where the luminaire box support 104 and the luminaire box cover 106 are joined forms a sufficiently long external flame path 147 that connects the inside of the luminaire box 102 with the outside of the luminaire box. The external flame path 147 helps to mitigate the transmission of flames or hot gases from the inside to the outside of the luminaire box 102 by smothering the flames and forcing the hot gases to cool before exiting the luminaire box.The luminaire housing cover 106 includes a window 114 that houses the lens and has at least one edge 116 on the outer bevel. In the embodiment shown, the lens of the luminaire housing 112 is cemented in place within a window 114 that houses the lens of the luminaire housing cover 106, against the edge 116 on the outer bevel, by means of a sealing agent 118. The sealing agent 118 may be a silicone sealant adhesive, but may include other sealing agents. In some embodiments, the luminaire housing cover 106... PQCocn / cznz / q / uli secures the lens of the luminaire housing 112 to the support of the luminaire housing 104 by inserting the lens of the luminaire housing 112 between the cover of the luminaire housing 106 and the support of the luminaire housing 104 or an extension of either of them (e.g., a blade-like part 127). In other embodiments, the window 114 that houses the lens also includes a rim on the inner bevel (not shown). In other embodiments, the lens of the luminaire housing 112 can be retained between the rim 116 on the outer bevel and a rim on the inner bevel (not shown) of the window 114 that houses the lens. In the embodiment shown, cementing the lens of the luminaire housing 112 into the window 114 that houses the lens, using the sealing agent 118, creates an explosion-proof seal between the lens of the luminaire housing 112 and the luminaire housing cover 106. This explosion-proof seal prevents flames or hot gases that could ignite or cause an explosion from escaping from the luminaire housing 102 between the lens of the luminaire housing 112 and the luminaire housing cover 106. The luminaire housing cover 106, the encapsulation gasket 108, and the lens of the explosion-proof luminaire housing 112 are fixed together and secured to the luminaire housing support 104 by one or more fasteners (not shown). Thus, the luminaire housing cover 106, when fastened PQCocn / cznz / q / uli to the luminaire box support 104 in accordance with the methods and products described herein, creates an explosion-proof encapsulating luminaire box 102. In some embodiments, the encapsulation gasket is fixed to the luminaire box support 104 or is movable. In most embodiments, the lens of the 112 luminaire box is generally flat, but other shapes and configurations are permitted. In embodiments where the lens is not flat, it may still be qualified for use in environments containing explosive gases or under an explosion-proof encapsulation protection standard. Additionally, the lens may be smooth or have optical features (e.g., frosting, textured surface, prisms, etc.) that alter or condition the light emitted from a visible light source, such as LED arrays. The lens can also be used to address color mixing or color angle issues. In the embodiment shown, a plurality of LED arrays 120 are arranged on a PCB board 122. A plurality of LED protective lens arrays 124 are attached to the luminaire housing support 104 via the PCB board 122. The LED protective lens arrays 124 are positioned over each of The LED arrays 120 are attached to the PCB 122. The lens of the luminaire housing 112 is positioned at a distance from the LED protective lens arrays 124 and the PCB 122. In the embodiments shown, a retaining portion 127 of the assembled luminaire housing 102 defines a luminaire cavity 128 between the LED protective lens arrays 124 and the lens of the luminaire housing 112 by mechanically preventing the movement of the lens of the luminaire housing 112 and the PCB 122 towards each other within the luminaire housing 102. When manufacturing the luminaire housing 102, the volume of the luminaire cavity 128 can be strategically determined based on a specific explosion-proof encapsulation protection standard. For example, if the Ex d protection standard is applied, the volume of the luminaire cavity 128 is minimized when the luminaire box 102 is manufactured.For example, to comply with a specific explosion encapsulation standard, the dimensions of the luminaire housing cover and the luminaire housing support can be chosen so that the height of the luminaire cavity (i.e., the distance between the luminaire lens and the luminaire housing support) is between 5 mm and 100 mm. Minimizing the volume of the luminaire cavity 128, while meeting the flame path and gap requirements, helps to reduce the required reference pressure that the luminaire housing 102 must withstand. PQCocn / cznz / q / uli is an overpressure test used in the qualification of an enclosure according to the Ex d protection standard, in particular. In addition to helping encapsulate an internal explosion, the lens of luminaire enclosure 112 prevents the transmission of any flame resulting from an explosion inside luminaire enclosure 102 to the outside of luminaire enclosure 102. In this way, the luminaire cavity 128 provides an internalized secondary combustion path for any flammable gas ignited within luminaire enclosure 102. More generally, the luminaire cavity 128 provides additional space for explosive or flammable gas ignited beneath the LED protective lens arrays 124 to burn without flames or hot gas (i.e., likely to ignite an external flammable or explosive gas) reaching the outside of luminaire enclosure 102 without first cooling. In the embodiment shown, the luminaire housing support 104 comprises a heat-conducting material and acts as a heat sink for the PCB 122, which may become heated during operation. The luminaire housing support 104 acts as a mounting surface for the PCB 122 and can conduct heat to the luminaire housing support 104 via mechanical fasteners 126 or via surface contacts or heat pipes. In some embodiments, the entire luminaire housing 102 may be composed of a heat-conducting light metal, such as aluminum or titanium. In this way, the entire luminaire housing can be used as a heat sink for the LED arrays 120 and the PCB 122 during the operation of the luminaire system 100.In some embodiments, only certain parts, such as limited portions of the luminaire housing support 104 and the luminaire housing cover 106, comprise a heat-conducting material. In such embodiments, these parts can be used as localized heat sinks. In the embodiment shown, the luminaire system 100 includes a control box 132 enclosing a lighting gearbox 134 and an LED driver 136. In this case, the control box 132 can also encapsulate an explosion occurring within the control box 132. That is, the control box 132 comprises a control box support 138 and a control box cover 139 which, when secured together, form a seal preventing flames or hot gases from inside the control box 132 from reaching the outside of the control box 132 (e.g., rated for Ex d protection). In the configuration shown, the control box 132 is detachably connected to the luminaire box 102 via an adapter 140. In some configurations, the adapter 140 connects the control box 132 to the luminaire box 102 via electrical contacts. In others In certain configurations, adapter 140 connects control box 132 to luminaire box 102 wirelessly. In other configurations, adapter 140 connects control box 132 to luminaire box 102 via a fixed or removable cable connection. In configurations where the electrical wires from the contacts pass through adapter 140, the adapter is also rated to contain an explosion, via adapter gasket 141, so that an explosion, flames, or hot gases are not transmitted from luminaire box 102 to control box 132, or vice versa, without first cooling down. In the configuration shown, the lighting gearbox 134 is configured to analogically regulate an electrical input from a power supply (not shown) and output a regulated electrical signal to the LED controller 136. The LED controller 136 sends an electrical signal to the LED matrices 120 based on the regulated electrical signal received from the lighting gearbox 134, causing the LED matrices 120 to emit light. One or more mounting components 142 may be arranged on one or more portions of the luminaire box 102. The mounting components 142 may be configured to attach the luminaire box 102 to a rod, rope, chain, or any other component or assembly known for attaching a luminaire to or suspending it from a surface. Mounting components 142 can also be configured to connect the luminaire box 102 to a rod, pole, ceiling, or other structure. Mounting components 142 can also include clamps having a pair of openings that receive fasteners for attaching the luminaire box 102 to a wall. Similar mounting components can also be used to attach the control box 132 to a surface. The LED driver 136 can be arranged in the luminaire box 102 or the control box 132. Similarly, the lighting gearbox 134 can be arranged in the luminaire box 102 or the control box 132. A power supply 146 can supply power to the luminaire box 102 or the control box 132 and, in turn, to the PCB board 122, the LED driver 136, and the LED arrays 120. The LED driver 136 provides a power signal to the LED arrays 120, causing them to emit light.Power supply 146 can be any combination of drivers, ballasts, or other power sources, depending on the type of LEDs in the LED matrices 120. LED driver 136 can be a separate component or integrated with a light engine on the same circuit board as the LED matrices 120. For example, power supply 146 can be a power signal corrector that includes components such as a voltage regulator or a bridge rectifier. Furthermore, power supply 146... PQCocn / cznz / q / uli can be an integrated or externally connected battery. In some aspects, the luminaire box can be connected to power supply 146 or directly to line power (not shown). One or more control components 148 may be connected to or integrated into the luminaire system 100. Control components 148 may include backup battery units, fuses, microprocessors, FPGAs, surge protectors, wired or wireless communication modules (e.g., CAT5, radio, Wi-Fi, etc.), sensors (e.g., light, occupancy, motion, heat, temperature, etc.), or any combination thereof. In some embodiments, control components 148 include components that facilitate the connection of the luminaire system 100 to a network that includes other luminaire controllers and one or more controllers for distributed communication and centralized control of the luminaire system 100. Certain embodiments utilize reflectors, deflectors, grids, or other optical components to direct light through the lens of the luminaire housing 112 during operation of the luminaire system 100. FIG. 1 shows one embodiment of a luminaire system 100 illustrated as a linear luminaire. LED arrays 120 are positioned in the luminaire housing 102 and configured to emit visible light directly through the lens of the luminaire housing 112. PQCocn / cznz / q / uιλι However, in other configurations, reflectors, grids, fiber optics or deflectors can be used to indirectly transmit the light emitted by the LED arrays 120 through the lens of the luminaire box 112. FIG. 2 illustrates a front view of the luminaire system 100, 200. The box fasteners 230 are positioned along the perimeter of the luminaire box cover 206. The uniform spacing of the box fasteners 230 can help to secure a seal against the luminaire box support 104 that retains hot gases or flames after an internal explosion. Mechanical fasteners 226 secure the PCB board 222 and the LED protective lens arrays 124 to the luminaire housing support 104, thereby creating a flameproof seal between the luminaire housing support 104 and the luminaire housing cover 106 through the encapsulation gasket 108. Mechanical fasteners 226 also ensure that an external flame path 247 is disposed between the luminaire cavity 128 and the encapsulation gasket 108.As with other flame paths, the 247 outer flame path allows flames to smother and hot gases to cool as they travel through the flame path. Specifically, in the case of the 247 outer flame path, the flames or gases... PQCocn / cznz / q / uιλι hot ones cool down before reaching the outside of the luminaire box 102, 202. Figure 3 illustrates a close-up view of the LED protective lens arrays 324 within the luminaire housing 202. A plurality of LED arrays 320 are configured to emit light directly through the LED protective lens arrays 324 and the lenses of the luminaire housing 112, 212 when energized. In the embodiment shown, the LED protective lens arrays 324 are firmly fixed over the LED arrays 320, creating a mechanical seal that prevents a flame or hot gas from moving into or out of any of the protective lenses 352 within the LED protective lens arrays 324 before cooling. In some embodiments, the LED protective lens arrays 324 are cemented in place with a sealing agent (not shown) that helps each LED protective lens array 324 encapsulate the explosion.For example, the sealing agent may be a silicone sealant adhesive, but it may include other sealing agents. In some embodiments, a blast-retaining LED shield lens array gasket (not shown) may be used in conjunction with the 324 LED shield lens arrays. In such cases, the 324 LED shield lens arrays can be pressed down onto the LED shield lens array gasket, thereby creating the aforementioned seal. PQCocn / cznz / q / uli mechanical that encapsulates flames and hot gases. That is, during the assembly of the luminaire system 100, the lower part of the LED protective lens arrays 324 is placed on the PCB board 322 and is secured to the luminaire box support 104, 204, through the LED protective lens arrays 324 and the PCB board 322 by means of mechanical fasteners 326. In the configuration shown, the LED shielding lens array 324 includes eight LED shielding lenses 356 in a rectangular arrangement. Each LED shielding lens 356 includes an LED housing cavity 358. The LED shielding lens array 324 also includes a central opening 360 configured to receive the mechanical fastener 326. Accordingly, the LED shielding lens array 324 is configured to attach to the PCB board 222 by means of mechanical fasteners 126 that interact with the PCB board 222 through the central opening 360. The LED housing cavities 358 are configured to overlap and shield the individual LED elements 323 of the LED arrays 120 when the LED shielding lens array 324 is placed on the PCB board 222. In the configuration shown, the LED protective lens arrays 324 can be fixed to the luminaire housing support 304 to create sufficient pressure between the LED protective lens arrays 324 and the PCB board 322, creating paths PQCocn / cznz / q / uili of sufficiently resistive flames (not shown) under the LED protective lens arrays 324. The flame flows and mitigates the effects of a flame igniting inside one of the LED protective lens arrays 324 on elements outside the LED protective lens arrays 324. Additionally, in some embodiments, an LED protective lens array clamp plate (not shown) can be placed over the LED protective lens arrays 324 and fixed to the luminaire housing support 304, such that the LED protective lens arrays are sandwiched between the LED protective lens array clamp plate and the PCB plate 322, creating even more pressure in the flame path. Figure 4 illustrates a luminaire box cover 406 that includes an encapsulating gasket 408, a luminaire box lens 412, and a box fastener 430. The luminaire box cover 406 is configured to ensure that the luminaire box 202 encapsulates explosions when attached to the luminaire box bracket 104 in accordance with the methods and products described herein. For example, sealing agent 418 cements the luminaire box lens 412 into the window 214 that houses the lens of the luminaire box cover 406. Sealing agent 418 can be explosion-proof and thus create an explosion-proof seal between the luminaire box lens 412 and the PQCocn / cznz / q / uli luminaire box cover 406 that prevents flames or hot gases from escaping from luminaire box 102, 202 between the lens of luminaire box 412 and the cover of luminaire box 406. Similarly, in some embodiments, the encapsulation gasket 408 is explosion-proof. In embodiments where the luminaire box cover 106 is explosion-proof, and the luminaire box cover 106 is explosion-proof and comprises an explosion-proof encapsulation gasket 408, the entire luminaire box 202 becomes explosion-encapsulating when fastened together by the box fasteners 430. In some embodiments, the encapsulation gasket 108 may not assist in encapsulating an explosion and in some embodiments may not be present.For example, in some embodiments, the encapsulation gasket may be configured primarily to prevent the entry of dust or liquid into the luminaire box 102. As another example, the encapsulation gasket 108 may be excluded from the luminaire box 102 because, for a particular use of the luminaire system 100, there may be no need to prevent the entry of dust or liquid into the luminaire box 102. In some embodiments, the lens of the luminaire housing 412 is attached to the luminaire housing 202 in ways not shown. For example, in some embodiments, the sealing agent 418 cements the lens of the luminaire housing 412 PQCocn / cznz / q / uli in oa the luminaire box cover 406 can be replaced by mechanical fasteners, welding, etc. Similarly, in some embodiments, the mechanical fasteners and box fasteners can be replaced by adhesives, welding, etc. In some embodiments, a heat sink 150 may be placed on or in the luminaire housing 202 to draw heat away from the LED arrays 320 during operation. However, in most cases, the luminaire housing 202 is made of a heat-dissipating material, such as a heat-conducting metal, and the luminaire housing 102 itself may act as a heat sink for the LED arrays 120 during operation. It is also contemplated that these embodiments may not include a heat sink. Figures 5a, 5b, and 5c illustrate an LED shielding lens array 524, comprising four LED shielding lenses 556 in a 2x2 configuration. Each LED shielding lens 556 includes an LED housing cavity 558, the LED shielding lens array 524, and a central opening 560 configured to receive mechanical fastener 226. The LED shielding lens array 524 also includes, at its corners, notches that house fasteners 562 configured to be engaged by a mechanical fastener 126. The LED shielding lens array 524 is configured to be attached to the PCB board 222 by mechanical fasteners 126. PQCocn / cznz / q / uli interact with the PCB board 222 through at least one central opening 560 and the notches that house fasteners 562. The LED housing cavities 558 are configured to overlap and protect the individual LED elements 323 from the LED arrays 120 when the LED protection lens array 524 is placed on the PCB board 222. FIG. 5d illustrates a cross-section 562 of one embodiment of the LED protective lens 556. In the embodiment shown, the LED housing cavity 558 includes a plurality of internal walls 564 forming stepped concentric conical cavities of different slopes, diameters, and heights.In the embodiment shown, the outermost wall of the plurality of inner walls 564 has a diameter of 6.7 millimeters and a height of 0.84 millimeters; a second wall, just above the outermost wall, has a diameter of 6.37 millimeters and rises 0.64 millimeters above the outermost wall; a third wall, just above the second wall, has a diameter of 3.97 millimeters and rises 1 millimeter above the second wall; finally, a last wall, just above the third wall, rises 0.21 millimeters above the third wall, has a diameter of 2.06 millimeters, and reaches a closed conical apex in the center of the LED housing cavity 558. Figures 6a and 6b illustrate a perspective view and a top view, respectively, of the 600 luminaire system that PQCocn / cznz / q / uli includes a luminaire box 602. Box fasteners 630 (screws, as shown) are positioned along the perimeter edge of the luminaire box cover 606. The uniform spacing of the box fasteners 630 helps ensure that an explosion-proof seal is formed, including at least one flame path 247, between the luminaire box cover 606 and the luminaire box bracket 604. Additionally, adapters 664a and 664b provide channels for an external power or data source (not shown) to communicate electronically with a control board (not shown) of the luminaire 602 or with PCB 122. For example, a control box 232 can be configured to communicate with the luminaire 602 via the adapters. 664a, 664b and control the LED arrays 620 or the individual LED elements 623.The 602 luminaire also includes a 668 self-contained battery indicator light configured to indicate a battery condition (e.g., low charge, fully charged, or damaged). As discussed in more detail below, a flame-protected, self-contained LED optic houses and provides flame protection for the 668 self-contained battery indicator light. In the configuration shown, a mounting surface 615 of the luminaire housing bracket 604 is visible through the PQCocn / cznz / q / uli window 614 housing the lens of the luminaire housing cover 606. The mounting surface comprises a plurality of mechanical fastener coupling cavities 616 configured to receive mechanical fasteners 326 for fixing the LED protective lens arrays 524 to the PCB board 122, and the PCB board 122 and the LED protective lens arrays 524 to the mounting surface 615 of the luminaire housing support 604. The volume of the luminaire cavity 128 is determined to give priority to the protection against flames and hot gases described herein by reducing the internal pressure that could potentially be caused by an explosion in the luminaire cavity 128.Consequently, the volume of the luminaire cavity 128 is minimized by manufacturing the luminaire box 602 so that an explosion occurring in the luminaire cavity 628 is contained with less effort than would be required if the luminaire cavity 628 were relatively large. Although not shown in FIGS. 6a and 6b, the luminaire 602 may include a hollow compartment arranged in the rear of the luminaire housing bracket 604. The hollow compartment may contain mounting equipment configured to mount the luminaire housing bracket 604 (and therefore the luminaire 602) to a surface (e.g., a wall, a ceiling, a door). The hollow compartment PQCocn / cznz / q / uli can also be used to store electronic components (e.g., a battery, a control circuit). Figures 7a and 7b illustrate a perspective view and a top view, respectively, of another luminaire system 700 that includes a luminaire box 702. The box fasteners 730 (screws, in the embodiment shown) are positioned along the perimeter edge of the luminaire box cover 706. As with the luminaire 602 shown in Figure 7a, the luminaire 702 is also shown. 6a, the uniform spacing of the box fasteners 730 helps ensure that an explosion-proof seal is formed between the luminaire box cover 706 and the luminaire box support 704. Mechanical fasteners 726 secure the LED protective lens arrays 724 onto the PCB board 722 by mechanically coupling the luminaire box support 704 through the PCB board 722. In the embodiment shown, a plurality of LED arrays 720 are configured to emit light through the luminaire lens 712.Additionally, opening 770 provides a way for an external power or data source (not shown) to communicate electronically with a control board (not shown) of the luminaire 702 or with the PCB board 722, as described above, with respect to figure 6. As with the luminaire in FIGS. 6a and 6b, the luminaire 702 includes a self-contained battery indicator light 768 configured to. PQCocn / cznz / q / uili indicates a battery condition (e.g., low charge, fully charged, or damaged). Additionally, opening 770 is configured to maintain the explosion protection status of luminaire 702 by forming a flame and hot gas seal against materials inserted into it (e.g., cables or a plug). Figures 8a and 8b illustrate a self-contained battery indicator light lens 874. The self-contained battery indicator light lens 874 comprises an indicator light cavity 876 configured to receive a self-contained battery indicator light 768 and to provide explosion protection of the type described herein for the self-contained battery indicator light 768 when attached to the PCB board 722. In some configurations, the 324 LED protective lens arrays are not present. In such configurations, the 202 luminaire housing can still function as an explosion encapsulator and contain any explosion that occurs within the 202 luminaire housing. The preceding detailed description of certain illustrative forms has been provided to explain the general principles and practical application, thereby enabling other practitioners to understand the disclosure for various forms and with various modifications to suit the particular use contemplated. This description is not intended to be exhaustive nor to limit the PQCocn / cznz / q / uli disclosure to the disclosed illustrative modalities. Modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the indications of the disclosure without departing from its scope. Any of the modalities and / or elements disclosed herein may be combined with each other to form various additional modalities not specifically disclosed. Accordingly, additional modalities are possible and are intended to be encompassed within this specification and the scope of the appended claims. The specification describes specific examples to achieve a more general objective that may be achieved in other ways. As used in this application, the terms front, back, top, bottom, upward, downward, and other orientation descriptors are intended to facilitate the description of the illustrative features of this application and are not intended to limit the structure of the illustrative features of this application to any particular position or orientation. Terms of degree, such as substantially or approximately, are understood by those skilled in the art to refer to reasonable ranges outside the given value, for example, general tolerances associated with the manufacture, assembly, and use of the described features.

Claims

1. A luminaire system comprising a luminaire housing comprising a luminaire housing cover; a PCB board disposed in the luminaire housing and including a light emitter; an explosion-encapsulating luminaire housing lens disposed in the luminaire housing cover; and a luminaire housing support configured to be attached to the housing cover and thereby form an explosion-encapsulating seal between the luminaire housing support and the luminaire housing cover, wherein an explosion-encapsulating flame path is defined in the seal formed between the luminaire housing support and the luminaire housing cover.

2. The luminaire system of claim 1, wherein the PCB board is fixed to a mounting surface of the luminaire housing bracket by means of housing fasteners.

3. The luminaire system of claim 1, wherein the luminaire face includes a window housing the lens having an edge on the outer bezel and an edge on the inner bezel.

4. The luminaire system of claim 3, wherein the lens of the luminaire housing is retained between the edge on the outer bevel and the edge on the inner bevel of the window housing the lens.

5. The luminaire system of claim 1, wherein the luminaire housing further comprises a heat sink in thermal communication with the PCB board.

6. The luminaire system of claim 1, wherein the luminaire housing comprises a heat-conducting material and acts as a heat sink for the PCB board.

7. The luminaire system of claim 1, further comprising a control box mounted in the luminaire box and configured to communicate electronically with the luminaire box via an adapter, wherein the control box comprises a control box cover and a control box support joined by control box fasteners and with a flame path formed between them.

8. An explosion-encapsulating luminaire box comprising: a luminaire box cover including a luminaire lens and a first plurality of box fastener housing openings arranged along a perimeter of the luminaire box cover; and, a luminaire box support and a second plurality of box fastener housing openings arranged along a perimeter of the luminaire box cover, wherein the luminaire box cover and the luminaire box support are configured to be joined by the box fasteners, and, wherein the luminaire box cover and luminaire box support are configured to form a seal when joined by the box fasteners, wherein a flame path is formed in the seal.

9. The explosion-proof encapsulating luminaire box of claim 8, further comprising mechanical fastener coupling cavities arranged on a mounting surface of the luminaire box support.

10. The explosion-proof encapsulating luminaire box of claim 9, wherein the mounting surface is configured to have a PCB board attached thereto by mechanical fasteners.

11. The explosion-proof encapsulating luminaire box of claim 8, wherein a luminaire cavity is defined by a space between the luminaire box cover and the luminaire box support when PQCocn / cznz / q / uli are joined by the box fasteners, and wherein the dimensions of the luminaire box cover and the luminaire box make the luminaire box compliant with an explosion-protected box standard by defining a thin luminaire cavity.

12. The explosion-proof encapsulating luminaire box of claim 11, wherein the height of the luminaire cavity is between 5 mm and 50 mm.

13. The explosion-proof encapsulating luminaire box of claim 10, further comprising an adapter configured to connect to a power or data cable and provide power or data to a PCB board housed in the luminaire box.

14. The explosion-encapsulating luminaire box of claim 10, further comprising a gasket disposed in the seal.

15. An explosion-proof encapsulating luminaire box comprising: a luminaire box cover including a luminaire lens; a luminaire box support configured to be joined to the luminaire box cover; and an adapter configured to be connected to a power or data cable and to provide power or data to a PCB board housed in the luminaire box, PQCocn / cznz / q / uli wherein the luminaire box cover and luminaire box support are configured to form a seal when joined by the box fasteners, wherein a flame path is formed in the seal.

16. The explosion-encapsulating luminaire box of claim 15, wherein a gasket is disposed in the seal.

17. The explosion-proof encapsulating luminaire box of claim 15, further comprising a mounting surface disposed on one side of the luminaire support facing the luminaire box cover when the two are joined, wherein the mounting surface has mechanical fastener coupling cavities disposed in the mounting surface.

18. The explosion-proof encapsulating luminaire box of claim 17, wherein the mounting surface is configured to have a PCB board fixed thereto by mechanical fasteners.

19. The explosion-proof encapsulating luminaire box of claim 15, wherein a luminaire cavity is defined by a space between the luminaire box cover and the luminaire box support when joined, and wherein the dimensions of the luminaire box cover and the luminaire box make the luminaire box compliant with an explosion-protected box standard by defining a thin luminaire cavity.

20. The explosion-encapsulating luminaire box of claim 19, wherein the height of the luminaire cavity is between 5 mm and 50 mm.

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