Flame-Encapsulating Luminaire Optic for Light Transmission
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing luminaires used in environments with flammable gases do not effectively encapsulate flames within the luminaire, posing a risk of flame transmission to the exterior.
Innovation Solution
A luminaire enclosure with a flame encapsulating design, featuring a luminaire enclosure backing and cover secured together to prevent flame escape, along with LED protective lens arrays and a sealing agent to ensure a flame-tight seal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a luminaire enclosure is designed to encapsulate flames, then flame protection is improved, but light transmission capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The luminaire enclosure is divided into multiple segments including a flame encapsulating portion and a light transmission portion. The flame encapsulating portion (enclosure body) provides flame protection while the light transmission portion (lens or window) allows light to pass through. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by assigning different functions to different parts of the enclosure system.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the luminaire enclosure have different properties: the flame encapsulating portion is designed with flame-resistant materials and structure to contain flames, while the light transmission portion is designed with transparent or translucent materials to allow light passage. This local differentiation of properties enables both flame protection and light transmission simultaneously.
2Reliability
If flame encapsulation structure is added to the luminaire, then flame protection is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The flame encapsulation function is merged with the luminaire enclosure itself rather than being added as a separate external component. The enclosure body is designed to inherently provide flame encapsulation while housing the light source and optical components, thus providing flame protection without significantly increasing overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The luminaire enclosure serves multiple functions: it houses the light source, provides structural support, and encapsulates flames. By making the enclosure multi-functional, the patent avoids adding separate dedicated flame containment structures, thereby reducing complexity while maintaining flame protection.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The luminaire effectively prevents the transmission of internal flames to the exterior, ensuring safe operation in environments with flammable gases while allowing light to be transmitted through the luminaire enclosure.
Implementation Method 1
along with LED protective lens arrays and a sealing agent to ensure a flame-tight seal
Implementation Method 2
allowing light to be transmitted through the luminaire enclosure
Data Source
AI summary
Various embodiments described herein are directed to luminaire components that prevent flame transmission from the inside of a luminaire to the outside of a luminaire. In certain aspects, the luminaire can be used in an environment containing flammable gas, for example, in specialized lab work or testing applications. This application discusses components that can be used to prevent flame transmission from the inside of a luminaire to the outside of a luminaire, thereby yielding a flame encapsulating luminaire. Accordingly, the components and assemblies described herein can be safely integrated with systems that operate in the presence flammable gas.