LED lights for deep ocean use
An underwater LED light for use in high ambient pressure environments having a housing, a transparent pressure-bearing window, an MCPCB having one or more LEDS, and a multilayer stack of spacers for carrying loads applied to the window to the MCPCB and to the housing.
1 . A submersible light, comprising:
a housing for withstanding deep ocean pressure comprising metal and having a forward side and an aft side, the housing further having a hollow interior enclosing a first volume and a first aperture extending through the forward side of the housing, wherein the housing comprises thermally coupled forward and aft sections, wherein heat from an LED driver circuit is conducted through a coupling element into the aft section, while heat from an LED PCB is conducted into the forward section independently of the coupling element such that heat from the LED PCB is physically decoupled from heat from the LED driver PCB;
a transparent window extending across the first aperture;
a seal between a periphery of the transparent window and the housing for providing resistance to the entry of water into the hollow interior of the housing;
at least one LED mounted inside the first volume in a cavity formed by at least one exterior surface of the forward side of the housing and a rear side of the window; and
a sealed servicing volume positioned aft of and separate and isolated from the first volume within the housing for remotely replacing an electrical connector, the sealed servicing volume being smaller in size than the first volume; and
an internal seal for the sealed service volume comprising a printed circuit board (PCB) to mechanically isolate the sealed servicing volume from the first volume;
wherein the electrical connector is at least partially within the serviceable housing and extends through a second aperture in a rear side of the housing.
2 . An underwater light, comprising:
A transparent window;
a lighting element comprising a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) positioned adjacent the transparent window;
a driver circuit for driving the lighting element;
a housing to contain the lighting element, the housing including a first volume enclosing the lighting element and a serviceable second volume separate, water-sealed, and mechanically isolated from the first volume so as to prevent gas transfer therebetween, wherein the transparent window is positioned at a forward end of the housing, wherein the housing comprises thermally coupled forward and aft sections, wherein heat from an LED driver circuit is conducted through a coupling element into the aft section, while heat from an LED PCB is conducted into the forward section independently of the coupling element such that heat from the LED PCB is physically decoupled from heat from the LED driver PCB;
a user-serviceable removable rear connector mount assembly disposed partially in the serviceable second volume near an aft side of the housing and extending therefrom and configured to be user field serviceable;
a connector wiring area within the housing; and
an electrical connector at least partially within the serviceable housing.
3 . The light of claim 2 , wherein the housing comprises a first diameter section, and a second diameter section having a reduced diameter relative to the first diameter section.
4 . The light of claim 3 , further comprising a mounting bracket coupled to the housing at the reduced diameter section.
5 . The light of claim 4 , wherein the mounting bracket is removably clamped to the housing at the reduced diameter section.
6 . The light of claim 3 , further comprising an internal water barrier between the lighting element and the connector wiring area.
7 . The light of claim 6 , wherein the internal water barrier comprises a PCB.
8 . The light of claim 1 , wherein the housing includes an aft housing cap partially enclosing the second volume.
9 . The light of claim 8 , further including an aft housing cap retainer seated about the aft housing cap.
10 . The light of claim 8 , wherein one or more O-rings seal the aft housing cap to the housing.
11 . The light of claim 1 , wherein the electrical connector is sealed with a connector O-ring.
12 . The light of claim 8 , wherein the electrical connector is threaded and is threaded into an opening in the aft housing cap.
13 . The light of claim 1 , further comprising a serviceable interconnect PCB.
14 . The light of claim 2 , further including an aft housing cap.
15 . The light of claim 14 , further including an aft housing cap retainer seated about the aft housing cap.
16 . The light of claim 14 , wherein one or more O-rings seal the aft housing cap to the housing.
17 . The light of claim 2 , wherein the electrical connector is sealed with a connector O-ring.
18 . The light of claim 14 , wherein the electrical connector is threaded and is threaded into an opening in the aft housing cap.
19 . The light of claim 2 , further comprising a serviceable interconnect PCB.