Ceiling Light Heater Venting for Downward Warm Air Flow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing light fixtures with heating capabilities are often obtrusive and difficult to maintain, lacking a design that balances aesthetic integration with functional heating and lighting needs.
Innovation Solution
A light fixture design featuring a tubular housing with an air inlet, a light diffuser, a heat source, and a locking plate with exhaust openings, allowing heated air to be efficiently expelled and facilitating easy maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If light fixtures incorporate heaters to warm the surrounding air, then heating capability is improved, but aesthetic integration deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the heater and light fixture into a single integrated unit, merging two separate functions (heating and lighting) into one device. This eliminates the need for separate bathroom heaters while providing both lighting and heating capabilities, resolving the contradiction between adding heating functionality and maintaining aesthetic integration.
Solution Approach 2:
The light fixture is designed to perform multiple functions: it provides illumination through the light source and heating through the heater element. This multi-functional design allows the single device to serve both as a light fixture and a space heater, improving versatility without requiring additional separate heating equipment that would compromise aesthetics.
2Adaptability or versatility
If light fixtures with heaters are designed for heating capability, then heating function is improved, but ease of maintenance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The light fixture is divided into separable components including the light source, heater element, and housing. This segmentation allows individual components to be easily accessed, removed, and replaced for maintenance purposes, resolving the contradiction between integrating heating functionality and maintaining ease of repair.
Solution Approach 2:
The heater element and light source are designed as extractable components that can be easily removed from the housing for maintenance or replacement. This extraction capability ensures that adding heating functionality does not compromise the ease of maintenance, as components can be independently serviced without replacing the entire fixture.
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 provides a unobtrusive and easily maintainable light fixture that can function as both a light and a heater, directing heated air downward for effective room warming while maintaining a sleek appearance.
Implementation Method 1
a heat source to heat air passing through the housing air channel
Data Source
AI summary
A light fixture (10) is provided having a housing (11), a light diffusor (12), a light source (13), and a heating source (14). The housing includes a mounting plate (17) adapted to be mounted to the ceiling of a structure in conventional fashion. The mounting plate includes a radial array of mounting arms (18) which form air intake openings (19) therebetween. The mounting plate is coupled to a tubular flow channel (21) having a central passage (22) extending therethrough. The bottommost portion of the flow channel includes threaded neck (24). A threaded locking plate (28) rotatably mates with the threaded neck. The locking plate includes a radial array of exhaust openings (32) extending therethrough. The heat source includes a heating element (38) and a motorized fan (39).