Plastic LED Housing for Corrosive Environments

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional lighting systems with light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are prone to corrosion when exposed to corrosive media, such as ammoniacal gases, leading to premature failure in environments like fattening farms.

Innovation Solution

A lighting system with elongated housings made of plastic material and closed or media-tight connecting parts, which significantly reduces the contact of LEDs with corrosive media, allowing the system to be used permanently in corrosive environments without damage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional lighting systems are used in corrosive environments, then initial installation is simple, but corrosion damage occurs leading to premature failure

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice lifeVSAvoidcorrosion damage
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A plastic housing acts as an intermediary barrier between the LED light unit and the corrosive environment (ammoniacal gases). The housing completely encloses the LED components, preventing direct contact with corrosive media while still allowing light transmission through translucent or transparent material.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs a plastic housing shell that completely encloses the LED light unit. This flexible yet protective shell forms a sealed barrier against corrosive gases and liquids, protecting the internal components while maintaining the lighting function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

2Object-affected harmful factors

If housing is made completely closed to protect against corrosion, then protection against corrosive media is improved, but light emission capability may be reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotection against corrosive mediaVSAvoidlight emission
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The housing is made with different local properties: certain areas are translucent or transparent to allow light transmission, while other areas are opaque for structural integrity and maximum protection. This local differentiation maintains both protection and lighting functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The housing uses composite construction combining opaque structural elements with translucent or transparent sections. This allows the housing to provide complete corrosion protection while maintaining adequate light emission through the translucent portions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Data Source

PatentEP3184891B1Lighting system comprising a plurality of illumination units
Publication Date: 2018.08.15 REHAU AG & CO
  • EP3184891B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3184891B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3184891B1 patent drawingFigure 3A

AI summary

The invention relates to a lighting system (10) comprising several lighting units (12, 13), wherein each lighting unit (12, 13) has a light (14) with at least one light-emitting diode (16) and an elongated housing (18) made of a plastic material, wherein the light (14) is arranged in the housing (18), wherein the housing (18) has a closed housing wall (20), wherein the housing wall (20) is at least partially transparent, and wherein the housings (18) of the lighting units (12) are connected to each other by at least one connecting part (22) made of a plastic material.