Interlaced heat sink for recessed light

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9657933-B2
Application number	US-201514606654-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 27, 2015
Priority date	Feb 3, 2014
Publication date	May 23, 2017
Grant date	May 23, 2017

Abstract

A recessed light fixture can include a movably adjustable light source and a thermal management system that includes a movable first heat sink, and a second heat sink. The first heat sink is thermally coupled to the adjustable light source, and is connected to move with the adjustable light source. The first heat sink includes a plurality of spaced apart first thermally conductive elements, such as fins. The second heat sink includes a plurality of spaced apart second thermally conductive elements, such as fins, which are interlaced between the first thermally conductive elements of the first heat sink. The interlaced thermally conductive elements increase surface area and heat transfer pathway(s) between the two heat sinks, while reducing physical contact, and thus friction, therebetween when movably adjusting the light source.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A recessed light fixture comprising:
a movable first heat sink thermally coupled to a movably adjustable light source, the first heat sink being connected to move with the adjustable light source, the first heat sink comprising a plurality of spaced apart first thermally conductive elements; and
a second heat sink comprising a plurality of spaced apart second thermally conductive elements interlaced between the first thermally conductive elements to allow heat transfer between adjacent first and second thermally conductive elements; wherein:
the first heat sink is movable along an adjustment direction in relation to the second heat sink;
the first thermally conductive elements form one or more first planar surfaces aligned with the adjustment direction;
the second thermally conductive elements form one or more second planar surfaces aligned with the adjustment direction; and
a plurality of the first planar surfaces face corresponding ones of the second planar surfaces, in a parallel face to face relationship along the adjustment direction.

2. The recessed light fixture of claim 1 , wherein the first and second thermally conductive elements comprise fins.

3. The recessed light fixture of claim 1 , wherein the one or more first planar surfaces of the first heat sink transfer heat to proximate portions of the one or more-second planar surfaces of the second heat sink across an air gap.

4. The recessed light fixture of claim 3 , wherein the air gap provides the primary heat transfer medium between the first heat sink and the second heat sink.

5. The recessed light fixture of claim 1 , wherein the first heat sink is rotatably adjustable relative to the second heat sink, such that the adjustment direction is an arc.

6. The recessed light fixture of claim 1 , wherein the first heat sink is linearly adjustable along with the adjustable light source such that the adjustment direction is a linear translation of the first heat sink relative to the second heat sink.

7. The recessed light fixture of claim 1 , wherein two or more of the first thermally conductive elements have substantially the same shape and dimension, and each of the first planar surfaces of the first thermally conductive elements face corresponding ones of the second planar surfaces, in the parallel face to face relationship.

8. The recessed light fixture of claim 1 , wherein two or more of the second thermally conductive elements have substantially the same shape and dimension, and each of the second planar surfaces of the second thermally conductive elements face corresponding ones of the first planar surfaces, in the parallel face to face relationship.

9. The recessed light fixture of claim 1 , further comprising the adjustable light source.

10. The recessed light fixture of claim 9 , further comprising:
a mounting frame, mountable onto a wall, to support the adjustable light source and the first and second heat sinks, the mounting frame having an opening through which light is emitted from the adjustable light source.

11. The recessed light fixture of claim 10 , wherein the second heat sink is connected to the mounting frame proximate the opening, the second thermally conductive elements of the second heat sink extending vertically along a length of the second heat sink.

12. The recessed light fixture of claim 11 , wherein the first thermally conductive elements extend vertically along a length of the first heat sink, the first heat sink further including a first vertical slot, the second heat sink further including a second vertical slot, the recessed light fixture further including a fastener, extendable through the first and second vertical slots, to secure the first heat sink and adjustable light source at a selected vertical position relative to the second heat sink.

13. The recessed light fixture of claim 12 , further comprising: a substantially cylindrical housing connected to the first heat sink and the adjustable light source, the housing having an open end arranged over the opening of the mounting frame.

14. The recessed light fixture of claim 13 , wherein the housing includes a side opening through which the first thermally conductive elements of the first heat sink extend and interlace with the second thermally conductive elements of the second heat sink.

15. The recessed light fixture of claim 10 , further comprising a support frame to support the first and second heat sinks and the adjustable light source, the support frame being connected to the mounting frame, the first heat sink and the adjustable light source being movably connected to the support frame, the second heat sink being fixedly connected to the support frame.

16. The recessed light fixture of claim 15 , wherein the support frame includes a first support frame wall and an opposing second support frame wall, the first and second heat sinks and the adjustable light source being disposed and connected between the first and second support frame walls.

17. The recessed light fixture of claim 15 , wherein:
the first heat sink is rotatably adjustable relative to the second heat sink, such that the adjustment direction is an arc that lies perpendicular to an axis of rotation, and
the first thermally conductive elements are projections that are perpendicular to the axis of rotation, wherein an end of each projection that is distal to the axis of rotation, is bounded by a first arc shape.

18. The recessed light fixture of claim 17 , wherein the second thermally conductive elements are projections integrally formed with a portion of the second heat sink that is fixedly connected to the support frame, the projections being perpendicular to the axis of rotation and projecting from the portion of the second heat sink along a second arc shape, to reduce the size of an air gap between the first arc shape and the second arc shape.

19. The recessed light fixture of claim 17 , wherein a center line of the axis of rotation is substantially at the center of the opening.

20. The recessed light fixture of claim 1 , wherein each of the first planar surfaces of the first thermally conductive elements defines a depth that is orthogonal to the adjustment direction, and at least one of the planar surfaces of each of the first thermally conductive elements faces the one or more of the planar surfaces of the second thermally conductive elements, in the parallel face to face relationship, along at least fifty percent of the depth.

21. A recessed light fixture comprising:
a movably adjustable light source;
a movable first heat sink thermally coupled to the movably adjustable light source, the first heat sink being connected to move with the movably adjustable light source, the first heat sink comprising a plurality of spaced apart first thermally conductive elements; and
a second heat sink comprising a plurality of spaced apart second thermally conductive elements interlaced between the first thermally conductive elements to allow heat transfer between adjacent first and second thermally conductive elements, the first heat sink being movable in relation to the second heat sink;
a mounting frame, mountable onto a wall, to support the adjustable light source and the first and second heat sinks, the mounting frame having an opening through which light is emitted from the movably adjustable light source; and
a support frame to support the first and second heat sinks and the movably adjustable light source, the support frame being connected to the mounting frame, t

Assignees

• Abl Ip Holding Llc

Inventors

• Clark Stephen Howard

Classifications

• F21V29/763 Primary

  the planes containing the fins or blades having the direction of the light emitting axis · CPC title

• F21S8/026

  intended to be recessed in a ceiling or like overhead structure, e.g. suspended ceiling · CPC title

• F21Y2101/00

  Point-like light sources · CPC title

• F21V19/02

  with provision for adjustment, e.g. for focusing · CPC title

• F21V29/83

  the elements having apertures, ducts or channels, e.g. heat radiation holes · CPC title