Modular Lighting Units with Ball Joint and Heat Sink
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lighting systems for complex spaces are inflexible and costly due to the need for bespoke designs, and they often struggle with heat management, requiring efficient heat dissipation and directional control of light sources.
Innovation Solution
The use of modular lighting units with a universal joint mechanism, incorporating a ball joint arrangement and heat sink, allowing for independent directional adjustment and heat dissipation, and a common power cable system for efficient assembly and power distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If individually designed bespoke lighting systems are used for complex spaces, then directional control and lighting effect are improved, but cost and complexity of design, manufacture and installation increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The lighting system is divided into modular lighting units that can be independently assembled and configured. Each unit contains its own light source, mounting brackets, and adjustment mechanisms, allowing flexible directional control without requiring complex custom-designed systems for each installation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs universal mounting brackets and standardized connection interfaces that can accommodate different light sources and configurations. The mounting brackets include adjustable arms and universal joints that work across multiple unit types, reducing design complexity while maintaining adaptability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple lighting units are assembled to provide required light coverage, then lighting coverage and flexibility are improved, but heat generation from multiple light sources increases
Solution Approach 1:
Heat sinks are introduced as intermediary thermal management components between the light sources and the surrounding environment. These heat sinks conduct heat away from the LED modules and dissipate it through finned structures, enabling the use of multiple lighting units without excessive heat accumulation.
3Ease of operation
If lighting units are made adjustable for directional control, then lighting effect and flexibility are improved, but mechanical complexity of adjustment mechanisms increases
Solution Approach 1:
Universal joint mechanisms with spherical joints are used to enable multi-axis rotation and angular adjustment of lighting units. The spherical geometry naturally accommodates rotation in multiple directions, providing extensive adjustability through simple ball-and-socket type connections rather than complex mechanical linkages.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting brackets incorporate friction-controlled joints that allow manual adjustment to desired positions. By adjusting friction parameters in the universal joints, the system enables easy repositioning during installation while maintaining stable positioning during operation, without requiring motors or complex locking mechanisms.
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
Enables flexible, cost-effective lighting arrangements with improved heat management and directional control, allowing for rapid assembly and adjustment of lighting patterns in complex spaces.
Implementation Method 1
each lighting unit (1) comprises a main body (3) incorporating a heat sink in the form of heat conducting fins (12)
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4
Figure 5~7
AI summary
An electric lighting arrangement including a plurality of lighting units (1) each containing a plurality of LED lights (4), to form a strip of lights. The units (1) are adapted to be joined together by means of a ball joint arrangement (2), which comprises two conjoined balls (7), each ball (7) being adapted to be mounted in a retaining bail cup (9) in a lighting unit, ball cups (9) being provided on opposed ends of the units (1) to enable the units to be pivotable one relative to the other in all planes. Each lighting unit (1) includes a main body (3) incorporating a heat sink in the form of heat conducting fins (12).