Light Curing Device Heat Absorbing Element Base Station Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing light curing devices with high LED output suffer from long cycle times due to cooling requirements, making them impractical and non-sterilizable, especially when using LEDs with luminous flux over 100 lumens.
Innovation Solution
A compact, stick-like light curing device with a metallic heat absorbing element in thermal connection to a base station, featuring a large heat transfer area with low thermal resistance, allowing for rapid cooling without a fan, and a sliding sleeve for protection, enabling efficient heat dissipation and sterilization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a solid body is used as thermal capacitance in the light curing device, then heat storage capacity is improved, but cycle time increases due to cooling requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The thermal capacitance function is segmented between the light curing device (for heat storage during operation) and the base station (for rapid heat dissipation). The light curing device contains a thermal capacitance element that stores heat generated by the LED, while the base station provides a separate cooling system with higher thermal capacitance that rapidly dissipates this heat, enabling short cycle times while maintaining effective heat management.
2Temperature
If a fan is included for cooling, then heat dissipation is improved, but sterilizability deteriorates due to fluid ingress through housing openings
Solution Approach 1:
The fan is extracted from the light curing device and relocated to the base station. The light curing device maintains a closed, sterilizable housing without openings for fan access. The base station, which is not subject to sterilization requirements, houses the fan that provides cooling airflow to the thermal capacitance element in the light curing device through thermal conduction, thus eliminating the conflict between heat dissipation and sterilizability.
3Temperature
If a large thermal capacitance is used in the light curing device, then heat storage capacity is improved, but device size and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The base station acts as an intermediary that provides the bulk of the thermal capacitance and cooling capacity externally. The light curing device only needs a small thermal capacitance element for heat storage during operation, while the base station's larger thermal capacitance handles the heat dissipation. This intermediary arrangement allows the light curing device to remain lightweight and compact while still achieving effective thermal management through the base station's cooling capability.
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 rapid cycle times and sterilizability of light curing devices with high LED output, maintaining a compact and ergonomic design while ensuring effective heat dissipation through intensive contact with the base station's cooling device.
Implementation Method 1
a heat absorbing element (24), which is in particular metallic, and which is in thermally conducting connection with a heat source
Implementation Method 2
the rear region is formed as a heat exchange region, and it is precisely there that the increased thermal capacitance is provided for fan-free cooling of the light source
Implementation Method 3
the cooling device of the base station may have a thermal capacitance of its own, which may well be higher by a factor of 10 for example than the thermal capacitance of the heat absorbing element in the light curing device
Implementation Method 4
Rapid heat dissipation can take place as a result of the intensive contact between the heat absorbing element of the base station and the cooling device
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a light curing device/base station combination, comprising a heat absorbing element, which is in particular metallic, and which is in thermally conducting connection with a heat source, in particular a light source, and in particular comprising a handle. The base station (12) has for the light curing device (14) a heat dissipating device(27), which lies against the heat absorbing element (24) when the light curing device (14) is accommodated in or on the base station (12).