Lighting Module Elastic Fastening Vibration Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lighting module assembly processes are time-consuming due to the gluing of the circuit board to the cooling element, and they often suffer from rattling and mechanical shock issues, especially in applications like extractor hoods where vibrations are common.
Innovation Solution
A lighting module design featuring a separate cooling element and housing with an elastically deformed fastening device that presses the cooling element onto a carrier element, providing a secure and vibration-resistant assembly while allowing for quick installation and accommodating production tolerances.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the circuit board is glued to the cooling element, then the assembly is secure, but the assembly process becomes time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the adhesive bonding step from the assembly process and replaces it with a mechanical fastening system consisting of a clamp element and fastening element. This allows the cooling element and circuit board to be secured through mechanical means rather than time-consuming gluing operations, thereby maintaining assembly security while significantly improving assembly speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the chemical bonding mechanism (adhesive) with a mechanical fastening system. The clamp element applies mechanical pressure to secure the circuit board to the cooling element, eliminating the need for adhesive bonding and the associated waiting time for adhesive curing, thus resolving the contradiction between secure assembly and fast assembly.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the housing components are tightly fitted, then structural stability is improved, but production tolerances become difficult to accommodate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs the elastic fastening element which can change its physical state (deform elastically) to accommodate variations in component dimensions. This elastic deformation capability allows the fastening system to maintain secure holding force despite production tolerances in the housing and component dimensions, thereby achieving structural stability without requiring extremely tight manufacturing precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic fastening element acts as a pre-built cushion that absorbs dimensional variations and misalignments before they can affect the structural stability. By incorporating this elastic element in advance, the design anticipates and compensates for production tolerances, allowing tighter structural assembly while remaining tolerant of manufacturing variations.
3Temperature
If the cooling element is firmly pressed onto the carrier element, then heat transfer efficiency is improved, but the assembly becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the fastening function and the heat transfer enhancement function into a single integrated system. The clamp element not only secures the cooling element to the carrier element but also applies the necessary pressure to ensure optimal thermal contact. This combination of mechanical fastening and thermal contact pressure application in one component simplifies the overall assembly while achieving both secure mounting and efficient heat transfer.
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 a simple, time-saving assembly process with reduced rattling and improved mechanical shock resistance, ensuring effective heat transfer and uniform pressing of the cooling element, thus enhancing the reliability and efficiency of the lighting module.
Implementation Method 1
at least one elastically deformed fastening element (72a-d), which is effective between the cover (30) and the cooling element (66)
Implementation Method 2
a cooling element (66) that is separate from the housing (12) for cooling the light unit (14, 56)
Data Source
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AI summary
A lighting module (10), particularly for a household appliance, is provided, comprising a housing (12), a lighting unit (14, 56) with a support element (56) and a light source (14), for example, a light-emitting diode, and a cooling element (66) separate from the housing (12). The lighting module (10) also includes a fastening device (30, 48, 72 ad) with a cover (30) for the housing (12), a contact surface (48) for the support element (56), and at least one elastically deformable fastening element (72 ad) that acts between the cover (30) and the cooling element (66). In a preferred embodiment, the housing (12) has an outer frame body (18) with outer walls (20 ad) and an inner frame body (36) arranged between the outer walls (20 ad). The outer frame body (18) and the inner frame body (36) have an opening (28) in the main emission direction (P) of the lighting module.The support surface (48) is preferably arranged on the inner frame body (36) on the side of the inner frame body (36) opposite the main emission direction (P) of the light unit (14, 56). The inner frame body (36) is preferably spaced apart from the outer walls (20 ad) transversely to the main emission direction (P).