Rotatable Light Fixture Collar for Hazardous Area Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Light fixtures in hazardous environments are prone to failure due to environmental conditions, posing safety hazards and violating industry standards, and existing solutions do not adequately address easy access and adjustment without powering down.
Innovation Solution
Collars for light fixtures that allow easy access to components without uninstalling and enable position adjustment, while meeting industry standards for hazardous environments, made from durable materials and using coupling features for secure attachment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a light fixture is mounted in a location subject to frequent condensation, then the light fixture can be installed in desired locations, but condensation accumulates on the interior surfaces of the light fixture housing and optical components, degrading light output and creating safety hazards
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful condensation from the light fixture interior by providing drainage pathways that channel condensed moisture from the housing and optical components to the exterior environment, preventing accumulation and maintaining optical performance
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces intermediary drainage structures including drainage channels, wicks, and hydrophilic coatings that facilitate the removal of condensation by providing controlled pathways for moisture transport from critical interior surfaces to the exterior
2Ease of manufacture
If conventional light fixtures are used in high humidity environments, then installation is simple, but condensation degrades light output and creates safety hazards requiring fixture replacement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates drainage channels and hydrophilic coatings during manufacturing to preemptively address condensation issues before the fixture is installed, enabling simple installation while ensuring reliable operation in humid environments through built-in moisture management capabilities
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables the light fixture to self-manage condensation through passive drainage channels and capillary wick structures that automatically transport moisture without requiring external power or active control systems, maintaining reliability while preserving installation simplicity
3Object-affected harmful factors
If drainage channels are added to the light fixture housing, then condensation can be removed, but the housing structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the drainage function with the existing housing structure by integrating drainage channels into the housing walls and using structural features that serve both mechanical support and moisture drainage functions, reducing overall complexity while achieving effective condensation removal
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
Enhances the reliability and safety of light fixtures in hazardous environments by allowing easy access and adjustment without powering down, ensuring compliance with industry standards.
Implementation Method 1
The interior surface of the light fixture housing may be treated with a hydrophilic coating that attracts condensed moisture and channels the moisture away from optical components of the light fixture
Implementation Method 2
A wick may extend from an interior surface of the housing to an exterior surface of the housing. The wick may be formed from a hydrophilic material that attracts condensed moisture
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 1C
Figure 1D
AI summary
A light fixture can include a housing having at least one wall and a collar limiting feature disposed at a top end of the at least one wall. The light fixture can also include a collar disposed around the at least one wall, where the collar abuts against the collar limiting feature and is rotatable relative to the housing, where the collar includes a first cover coupling feature. The light fixture can further include a cover coupled to the collar, where the cover includes a first collar coupling feature, where the first collar coupling feature couples to the first cover coupling feature of the collar. The housing can be rotatable relative to the collar and the cover when the cover is decoupled from the collar, where the housing can be held in a fixed position relative to the collar and the cover when the cover is coupled to the collar.