Fiber optic light source having a dual characteristic fan
AssigneeSuper Vision International, Inc.
InventorXing Ouyang
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A fiber optic light source cooled by a tube-axial fan having a blocking device covering a portion of its outlet. The blocking device generates a relatively higher velocity stream of cooling air just downstream of the blocking device in the direction of the rotation of the fan blades, while maintaining the velocity of cooling air is produced across the remainder of the fan outlet relatively unchanged. The higher velocity cooling air is used to cool the fiber optic cable ends while the relatively lower velocity cooling air is used to cool the bulb and other components of the light source. The dual characteristics of the cooling air produced by the fan provides an efficient, low noise cooling source that facilitates higher levels of light input without the problem of melting of the fiber optic cable ends.
Claims20
A fiber optic lighting device comprising:
- an enclosure;
- a fiber optic cable having an end disposed within the enclosure;
- a lamp disposed proximate the end of the fiber optic cable;
- a fan assembly having an outlet for directing a flow of cooling air into the enclosure;
- a blocking device disposed proximate the outlet of the fan assembly for blocking the flow of cooling air through a portion of the outlet of the fan assembly to separate the flow of cooling air into a higher velocity portion for cooling the cable end and a lower velocity portion.
A cooling arrangement for a fiber optic light source having a lamp and a fiber optic cable end located proximate the lamp, the cooling arrangement comprising:
- a fan assembly having an outlet disposed to provide a flow of cooling air for cooling the cable end and the lamp;
- a blocking device disposed proximate the outlet of the fan assembly for blocking the flow of cooling air through a portion of the outlet of the fan assembly to separate the flow of cooling air into a higher velocity portion for cooling the cable end and a lower velocity portion.
A fiber optic lighting device comprising:
- an enclosure;
- a fiber optic cable having an end disposed within the enclosure;
- a lamp disposed proximate the cable end;
- a tube axial fan assembly having an outlet for directing cooling air into the enclosure, the cooling air exiting the outlet having an average velocity across the outlet;
- the outlet further comprising a first portion having an obstruction preventing the flow of cooling air therethrough and a second portion located immediately downstream of the first portion in the direction of rotation of the blades of the fan assembly, the velocity of the cooling air exiting the second portion having a velocity that is higher than the average velocity.
The device of ckaim 15, wherein the obstruction is sized to provide a velocity of the cooling air exiting the second portion that is at least 25% higher than the average velocity.
The device of ckaim 15, wherein the obstruction is sized to provide a velocity of the cooling air exiting the second portion that is at least 40% higher than the average velocity.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.