Adaptable Sensor Mount for Vapor-Tight Light Fixtures
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing light fixtures with control capabilities face interoperability issues due to mechanical design obstructions that can obscure sensing capabilities, making it difficult to add control devices to various fixtures without compromising their functionality.
Innovation Solution
An adaptable sensor assembly with a mount that includes a break point and two mount portions, allowing for connection to light fixtures with either short or long gasket lips, and the use of spacers to ensure proper alignment and obstruction-free sensing areas, enabling versatile mounting options.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a control device is added to a light fixture knock-out, then control capability is achieved, but the mechanical design of the fixture may obscure the sensing capability of the control device
Solution Approach 1:
The mount is divided into two separate portions that can be selectively assembled. The first mount portion includes a gasket lip interface, while the second mount portion includes the sensor housing. This segmentation allows the user to select only the necessary portions based on the specific fixture type, ensuring the sensor is positioned correctly without obstruction while maintaining control capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The mount design allows for dynamic adaptation between different fixture configurations. By providing a break point between the first and second mount portions, the system can be dynamically reconfigured to match either fixtures with gasket lips or fixtures without gasket lips, ensuring optimal sensor positioning and unobstructed sensing capability for each scenario.
2Reliability
If the control device is designed specifically for a particular fixture, then sensing capability is maintained, but interoperability with other fixtures is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor assembly is designed with universal adaptability through its modular mount structure. The separate first and second mount portions can be selectively combined to interface with different fixture types (those with gasket lips and those without). This multi-functionality allows a single sensor assembly design to maintain reliable sensing capability across multiple fixture platforms, achieving both specificity and universality.
Solution Approach 2:
The system achieves dynamic interoperability by allowing selective assembly of mount portions. The break point enables the mount to be reconfigured for different fixture types, making the same sensor assembly compatible with various fixtures while maintaining proper sensor positioning and sensing capability for each application.
3Device complexity
If a single mount design is used for all fixtures, then device complexity is reduced, but proper sensor positioning may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
Rather than creating a completely different sensor assembly for each fixture type, the mount is segmented into standardized portions that can be selectively assembled. This maintains relatively simple individual component designs while achieving precise sensor positioning through proper selection and combination of mount portions based on the specific fixture type.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to an adaptable sensor assembly to be mounted to a light fixture in a fixture opening of the light fixture. A mount extends from the sensor housing. A break point is defined in the mount. First and second mount portions are located on either side of the break point. Each of the first and second mount portions are able to connect to the light fixture at the fixture opening. The first mount portion may connect to the light fixture if the light fixture has a large gasket lip, and the second portion may connect to the light fixture if the light fixture has a short gasket lip.