Flow-Through LED Cooling via Segmented Heat Sink

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Solution Overview

Problem

LED lighting fixtures face challenges in heat dissipation and adaptability for various mounting positions and situations, requiring improved designs that facilitate efficient heat management and easy installation and maintenance.

Innovation Solution

The design incorporates a housing with a heat sink that allows for constant air circulation, featuring fins extending from the centerline to facilitate airflow and a mounting assembly that simplifies installation, including a fastener system for secure attachment to overhead structures, allowing for easy adjustment and removal by a single person.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If a traditional LED lighting fixture design is used, then the fixture structure is simple, but heat dissipation efficiency is poor

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheat dissipation efficiencyVSAvoidfixture structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The heat sink is segmented into multiple fins extending from the centerline, creating separate airflow channels that enhance heat dissipation efficiency by increasing surface area and promoting convective heat transfer

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The heat sink fins extend radially from the centerline in multiple dimensions, transforming a simple linear structure into a three-dimensional heat dissipation array that maximizes exposure to airflow while maintaining structural integrity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Adaptability or versatility

If a specialized mounting assembly is designed for each mounting position, then mounting adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemounting adaptabilityVSAvoidmounting assembly complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The mounting assembly is designed as a universal system with adjustable positioning mechanisms that can accommodate various mounting positions and configurations, eliminating the need for specialized assemblies for each application

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The mounting assembly incorporates adjustable and reconfigurable components that allow dynamic adaptation to different mounting requirements, enabling a single assembly design to serve multiple mounting scenarios

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If complex installation procedures are used, then mounting security is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemounting securityVSAvoidinstallation ease
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The mounting assembly is pre-configured with alignment features and positioning elements that guide correct installation, eliminating the need for complex alignment procedures and reducing installation complexity while maintaining mounting security

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

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

This solution enhances heat dissipation and adaptability, ensuring efficient operation across different mounting configurations while simplifying installation and maintenance, addressing the limitations of prior LED lighting fixtures.

Implementation Method 1

The heat sink is configured and positioned in the open space to facilitate fluid-flow therealong and through the open space... cool air from outside the fixture enters the open space through the light opening. When the cool air is heated while flowing through the heat sink, it turns into hot air which raises up through the open top.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Implementation Method 2

a heat sink connected to the light emitter(s)... The heat sink preferably has a plurality of heat-dissipation surfaces extending away from the light opening

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentEP2705547B1Lighting fixture with flow-through cooling
Publication Date: 2017.12.20 WOLFSPEED INC
  • EP2705547B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2705547B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2705547B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

A lighting fixture (10) including a housing (20) having an inner surface (23) and open first and second ends (21, 22) formed by closed-perimeter first and second edges (210, 220), respectively, and defining an elongate top-to-bottom open space (12). The first end forms a light opening (13). A light-emitting arrangement (30) is positioned in the open space. The arrangement includes (a) at least one light emitter (31) positioned for directing light toward the light opening and (b) a heat sink (40) connected to the light emitter(s). The heat sink preferably has a plurality of heat-dissipation surfaces (41) extending away from the light opening. The heat sink is configured and positioned in the open space to facilitate fluid-flow therealong and through the open space.