Explosion-proof LED Module with Insertion Recess Casting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing explosion-proof LED solutions are complex and costly to manufacture, and they often require separate sealing and cooling for each LED, which complicates the implementation of 'intrinsic safety' and 'encapsulation' types of protection.

Innovation Solution

An explosion-proof LED module design featuring a heat sink with a longitudinal insertion recess for the LED circuit board, surrounded by a casting compound, and a modular LED cover that extends into the heat sink recess, providing efficient cooling and sealing for multiple LEDs using a single heat sink and potting compound, allowing for flexible and cost-effective production.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If separate sealing and cooling structures are used for each LED, then reliable explosion-proof protection is achieved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveexplosion-proof protectionVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple LEDs into a single encapsulated module where one casting compound structure seals and cools multiple LEDs simultaneously. The heat sink integrates a common insertion recess that accommodates the entire LED array, eliminating the need for separate sealing and cooling structures for each individual LED, thus reducing device complexity while maintaining explosion-proof reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The casting compound serves multiple functions simultaneously: it seals the LEDs relative to the external explosive atmosphere, provides thermal management by conducting heat away from the LEDs, and structurally supports the LED array within the insertion recess. This multi-functional design reduces the number of components needed while achieving reliable explosion-proof protection

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

2Reliability

If separate sealing structures are used for each LED, then reliable arc containment is achieved, but manufacturing time and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvearc containmentVSAvoidmanufacturing efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent consolidates the sealing function into a single casting compound structure that encapsulates multiple LEDs simultaneously. This modular approach allows the entire LED array to be sealed in one operation rather than requiring separate sealing processes for each LED, significantly improving manufacturing efficiency while maintaining reliable arc containment

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The LEDs are pre-mounted on a circuit board as a complete array before the encapsulation process. This preliminary arrangement allows the casting compound to be applied once to seal the entire array, rather than requiring individual sealing operations after LED installation, thus streamlining the manufacturing process

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Temperature

If individual cooling structures are used for each LED, then sufficient heat dissipation is achieved, but material usage and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheat dissipationVSAvoidmaterial usage
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a shared cooling structure where a single heat sink with one insertion recess serves multiple LEDs. The casting compound acts as a thermal interface material that conducts heat from all LEDs to the common heat sink, reducing material usage compared to individual cooling structures for each LED while maintaining sufficient heat dissipation through the integrated thermal path

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 enables easy and cost-effective manufacturing of explosion-proof LED modules with sufficient cooling and reliable prevention of arcs escaping into explosive environments, while simplifying the production process and reducing material usage.

Implementation Method 1

a heat sink connected to it

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

surrounded in this plug-in recess by a casting compound to seal the LED relative to an external and potentially explosive atmosphere

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhysical containment: Physical Containment

Data Source

PatentEP2697565B1Explosion-proof LED module
Publication Date: 2019.03.06 EATON INTELLIGENT POWER LTD
  • EP2697565B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2697565B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP2697565B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

The invention relates to an explosion-proof LED module (1) that has at least one light-emitting diode (2), a heat sink (3) connected to said diode and an LED cover (5) that covers the LED at least in the emission direction. The LED cover (5) extends into an insertion recess (6) of the heat sink (3). In this insertion recess, the LED cover is surrounded by a casting compound (7) sealing the LED relative to an external and potentially explosive atmosphere. Thus, an explosion-proof LED module can be provided, which can be produced relatively simply and cost-effectively from prefabricated parts in a short time. At the same time, the explosion-proof LED module is further characterised in that sufficient cooling is provided according to the ignition protection class "intrinsically safe" and embedding of the component is provided according to the ignition protection class "cast encapsulation."