Self-Aligning Lamp Housing Assembly for Safe High-Voltage Handling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Handling of lamp-housing assemblies in liquid chromatography systems is cumbersome and potentially dangerous due to the difficulty in aligning and connecting high-voltage lamps, which can lead to injury and damage.
Innovation Solution
A lamp-housing assembly design featuring a lamp seat, lamp, and lamp cap that align axially and radially, with a thermally conductive and electrically insulating flange member, and convection-inhibited staggered chambers to ensure safe and efficient handling and heat removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional lamp-housing assembly methods are used, then the lamp can be installed, but the alignment and connection process is cumbersome and potentially dangerous
Solution Approach 1:
The lamp housing assembly is designed with self-aligning features where the lamp automatically aligns with the housing and electrical contacts during insertion, eliminating the need for manual alignment operations. The asymmetric contact geometry and guide features enable the lamp to self-position correctly without user intervention for alignment.
Solution Approach 2:
An intermediate contact structure with asymmetric geometry serves as a mediator between the lamp and housing, facilitating automatic alignment. The intermediate structure includes guide features and contact surfaces that automatically position the lamp correctly as it is inserted into the housing.
2Reliability
If manual alignment procedures are used, then connection can be established, but the risk of injury and damage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The assembly system performs its own alignment function through self-aligning features built into the lamp and housing interfaces. The lamp automatically positions itself relative to the housing and electrical contacts during insertion, eliminating the need for manual alignment operations that pose safety risks.
Solution Approach 2:
The lamp and housing are pre-configured with alignment features and contact geometries that automatically establish correct positioning during the insertion process. The asymmetric contact structure and guide features are designed in advance to guide the lamp into proper alignment before electrical contact is made.
3Temperature
If conventional lamp housing design is used, then basic functionality is achieved, but thermal management is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The lamp housing internal volume is segmented into multiple convection-inhibited staggered chambers that create separate thermal zones. This segmentation prevents hot air circulation and improves heat removal efficiency by directing thermal pathways through specific chambers, reducing thermal coupling between different regions of the lamp assembly.
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 safe, tool-free assembly and reliable electrical connection of high-voltage lamps, reducing the risk of injury and overheating while maintaining operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a thermally conductive and electrically insulating flange member arranged on the lamp body for enhancing an electric isolation of the first electric terminal with respect to the second electric terminal and configured for removing heat from the lamp body
Implementation Method 2
a lamp seat-sided portion of the lamp and a lamp cap-sided portion of the lamp are arranged in different separated accommodation volumes defined by the lamp seat and/or by the lamp cap, and wherein the lamp seat-sided portion is arranged in an accommodation volume which is divided into at least two convection-inhibited separated staggered chambers
Data Source
AI summary
A lamp-housing assembly includes a lamp seat with a first contact member, a lamp with axially opposite first and second electric terminals, and a lamp cap with a second contact member. The lamp is insertable into the lamp seat. The lamp cap is mountable on the lamp seat and the inserted lamp. Inserting the lamp into the lamp seat establishes an electric coupling of the first electric terminal with the first contact member. Mounting the lamp cap on the lamp seat and inserted lamp establishes an electric coupling of the second electric terminal with the second contact member. The lamp seat, lamp and lamp cap are matched such that, after insertion and mounting, the lamp is axially and radially aligned and electrically and thermally coupled with the lamp seat and the lamp cap. The assembly may be utilized for a detector of a fluidic sample separation apparatus.