Segmented Track Lighting Unit for Curved Mounting Slots
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing track lighting systems lack flexibility and elegance in accommodating curved mounting tracks, with existing solutions being complex and costly to manufacture.
Innovation Solution
A lighting unit for track lighting systems featuring a mounting track with flexible segments and bendable axes, allowing the unit to be easily adapted to curved paths, while incorporating components like light generating apparatus and electrical components in a protected and efficient manner.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the lighting unit body is made rigid to protect and retain components, then component protection and retention precision are improved, but the ability to accommodate curved mounting tracks deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The lighting unit body is divided into multiple lighting unit segments (first, second, third segments) that can be connected in series. This segmentation allows the lighting unit to bend at the connecting regions while keeping individual segments rigid for component protection, resolving the contradiction between rigidity and flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The connecting regions are designed to enable flexible bending about bending axes, allowing the lighting unit body to dynamically adapt to curved mounting tracks. This dynamic flexibility at connecting regions compensates for the static rigidity of individual segments, achieving both component protection and curved track accommodation.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the lighting unit body is made flexible to accommodate curved tracks, then adaptability to curved mounting tracks is improved, but component protection and structural stability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the lighting unit body into rigid sections connected by flexible joints, each segment can protect its components while the overall structure remains adaptable to curved tracks. The segmentation distributes the flexibility requirement to connecting regions only.
Solution Approach 2:
Different parts of the lighting unit body have different mechanical properties: lighting unit segments are rigid for component protection, while connecting regions are flexible for track accommodation. This local differentiation of mechanical properties resolves the contradiction between overall flexibility and local rigidity.
3Ease of manufacture
If the lighting unit is designed as a single integrated body, then manufacturing simplicity is improved, but the ability to provide flexible bending is deteriorated
Solution Approach 1:
The lighting unit body is manufactured as multiple segments that are subsequently connected. This segmentation enables flexible bending at connecting regions while maintaining manufacturing simplicity through modular production of individual segments using standard processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The connecting regions incorporate corrugation structures with crests and troughs that enable bending. This curved corrugation design provides the necessary flexibility while maintaining a relatively simple manufacturing process through standard forming operations.
4Volume of moving object
If the lighting unit body is made compact to reduce size, then space efficiency is improved, but the complexity of providing bendable connecting regions increases
Solution Approach 1:
The connecting regions use corrugation structures with crests and troughs that provide bending capability in a compact form. These curved geometric features enable flexibility without requiring additional space or complex mechanisms, maintaining compact overall dimensions.
Solution Approach 2:
The connecting regions incorporate flexible elements with corrugated structures that provide bending capability while occupying minimal space. These thin-walled flexible structures enable the lighting unit to adapt to curved tracks without significantly increasing overall volume.
Data Source
AI summary
A track lighting system having a lighting unit includes a mounting track, which is shaped to follow a path curved at least in portions and which track system, along a longitudinal extension of the mounting track, is provided with at least one mounting slot. The lighting unit can be inserted into the mounting slot for electrical contacting of a conductor device of the mounting track. The lighting unit includes a lighting unit body, which is divided into two or more lighting unit segments along a longitudinal extension of the lighting unit body. In each case, the mutually adjacent lighting unit segments are connected to one another in a connecting region. The connecting region allows the lighting unit body to be flexibly bent about at least one bending axis, wherein the bending axis runs non-parallel to the longitudinal extension of the lighting unit body in each case.