Explosion Protection Housing Lens System for LED Visibility
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Explosion protection housings face challenges in effectively signaling operating states in potentially explosive environments due to difficulties in routing electrical lines and the inferior luminous efficiency of light-emitting diodes through transparent panes, which are prone to breaking and absorb most of the emitted light.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a glass body with a converging lens on the inner side and a diverging lens on the outer side within a threaded opening, converting divergent light from a light-emitting diode into parallel beams for efficient transmission and then fanning them out for broad angular visibility, eliminating the need for electrical leadthroughs and enhancing structural strength.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a transparent pane is used to make the light source visible from outside, then visibility is improved, but the pane is prone to breaking under explosion pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The transparent pane is segmented into a modular assembly consisting of a threaded opening, packing material, and lens system. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function while collectively providing both visibility and explosion resistance.
Solution Approach 2:
The solution uses composite construction combining transparent packing material with lens elements to create an assembly that maintains structural integrity under explosion pressure while providing optical functionality for light transmission and focusing.
2Device complexity
If a slender rod of transparent material is used to transmit light, then the structure is simple, but light absorption is high and luminous efficiency is inferior
Solution Approach 1:
The lens elements introduce curved surfaces that focus and redirect light rays, reducing absorption by ensuring light travels through minimal path length in the transparent material while maintaining efficient transmission to the observer.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical parameters are changed by introducing lens elements with specific focal lengths and curvature radii, transforming the light transmission characteristics from simple rod-like diffusion to focused, efficient optical pathways that minimize energy loss.
3Device complexity
If a light-emitting diode is arranged inside the housing, then electrical routing is simplified, but the light emerges at a small angle reducing visibility range
Solution Approach 1:
The lens system acts as an intermediary between the light-emitting diode and the external environment, transforming the divergent light rays into a broader beam pattern that maintains the simple internal electrical routing while significantly improving the viewing angle and visibility range.
Solution Approach 2:
The angular distribution parameter of the emitted light is changed by the lens system, which transforms the small emergence angle from the LED into a broad viewing angle suitable for external observation, while the LED remains positioned inside the housing for simplified electrical connection.
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 solution ensures that a significant portion of the light emitted by the light-emitting diode is made visible from a broad angular range with minimal loss, providing effective signaling without compromising the structural integrity of the housing.
Implementation Method 1
A converging lens is situated in front of the planar face that faces the housing interior... Due to the converging lens arranged on the inner side of the housing, a large part of the light emitted in a divergent fashion is converted into a ray of light with parallel beams
Implementation Method 2
a diverging lens is provided adjacent to the outer planar face... The diverging lens arranged on the outer side ensures that the ray of light consisting of parallel light beams is once again fanned out in order to achieve a broad viewing angle
Implementation Method 3
The packing is provided with planar faces on both ends... Light that would otherwise be absorbed at this location without a converging lens reaches the interior of the packing due to the converging lens and can be transmitted outwardly without reflection on boundary surfaces
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to an explosion protection housing having a threaded opening. A threaded bushing comprising a glass body in the interior thereof is mounted in the threaded opening. The glass body has a diverging lens on the exterior and a converging lens on the interior. A light-emitting diode is present at the focal point of the converging lens. In this manner, that light impinging within the capture region of the converging lens is converted into parallel light passing through the glass body to the diverging lens. The parallel light bundle is converted back into a divergent light bundle by the diverging lens so that the emerging light is visible from a wide angle range.