Environmental shroud

Abstract

The invention provides an environmental shroud ( 190, 290, 390 ) and a camera assembly ( 10, 20, 30 ) including the shroud. The environmental shroud ( 190, 290, 390 ) absorbs and dissipates heat energy that is not reflected and heat energy that is generated by the contents of the camera housing so that the camera housing temperature does not exceed the maximum rated temperature. In one embodiment, the camera assembly includes a camera housing ( 130 ) having a mounting cap ( 140 ) attached to sidewalls ( 126 ) to which is attached an optical surface ( 135 ), the camera housing enclosing a camera system; and an environmental shroud ( 190 ) attached to the camera housing . The shroud has a lower section ( 100 ) having sidewalls ( 126 A) that descend to a drip edge ( 108 ), and at least one vent ( 105 ) in a top portion; and an upper section ( 120 ), at least the lower section having means that reflects or deflects radiant heat energy and means to remove unreflected or undeflected heat from the camera housing ( 130 ) through said vent ( 105 ), the upper section ( 120 ) covering the vent ( 105 ) and having a lower edge ( 125 ) situated below the vent and over the sidewalls ( 126 A) to provide a tortuous path which prevents the penetration of water into the camera housing ( 130 ).

We claim:  
     
         1 . A camera assembly ( 10 ) which comprises: 
 a camera housing ( 130 ) having a mounting cap ( 140 ) attached to sidewalls ( 126 ) to which is attached an optical surface ( 135 ), the camera housing enclosing a camera system; and    an environmental shroud ( 190 ) attached to the camera housing and effective to reflect and/or deflect heat energy, dissipate heat energy not reflected or deflected, and protect the camera housing from the ingress of moisture,    wherein said shroud comprises a lower section ( 100 ) having sidewalls ( 126 A) that descend to a drip edge ( 108 ), and at least one vent ( 105 ) in a top portion thereof; and an upper section ( 120 ), at least the lower section having means that reflects and/or deflects radiant heat energy and means to remove unreflected and undeflected heat from the camera housing ( 130 ) through said vent ( 105 ), the upper section ( 120 ) covering said vent ( 105 ) and having a lower edge ( 125 ) situated below the vent and over the sidewalls ( 126 A) of the shroud to provide a tortuous path which prevents the penetration of water into the camera housing ( 130 ).    
     
     
         2 . A camera assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the shroud is formed of aluminum.  
     
     
         3 . A camera assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the means for reflecting or deflecting radiant energy is a coating on at least one surface of said shroud having a specified emissivity.  
     
     
         4 . A camera assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein a ridge ( 103 ) is formed in front of the vent  105  to further assist in the removal of water from said vent.  
     
     
         5 . A camera assembly ( 30 ) which comprises: 
 a camera housing ( 330 ) having a mounting cap ( 340 ) attached to sidewalls ( 326 ) to which is attached an optical surface ( 135 ), the camera housing enclosing a camera system; and    an environmental shroud ( 390 ) attached to the camera housing and effective to reflect and/or deflect heat energy, dissipate heat energy not reflected or deflected, and protect the camera housing from the ingress of moisture,    wherein said shroud comprises a section ( 300 ) having sidewalls ( 326 A) that descend to a drip edge ( 308 ), and at least one louvre vent ( 305 ) in a top portion thereof; at least a portion of the section ( 300 ) having means that reflects and/or deflects radiant heat energy and means to remove unreflected or undeflected heat from the camera housing ( 330 ) through said louvre vent ( 305 ), the louvre vent having a lower edge ( 325 ) situated over the sidewalls ( 326 A) of the shroud to provide a tortuous path which prevents the penetration of water into the camera housing ( 330 ).    
     
     
         6 . A camera assembly ( 20 ) which comprises: 
 a camera housing ( 230 ) having a mounting cap ( 240 ) attached to sidewalls ( 226 ) to which is attached an optical surface ( 135 ), the camera housing enclosing a camera system; and    an environmental shroud ( 290 ) attached to the camera housing and effective to reflect or deflect heat energy, dissipate heat energy not reflected and/or deflected, and protect the camera housing from the ingress of moisture,    wherein said shroud comprises an outer shroud section ( 200 ) having sidewalls ( 226 A) that descend to a drip edge ( 208 ), and at least one vent ( 205 ) in a top portion thereof, and an inner shroud section ( 220 ) having at least one vent ( 228 ) in a top portion thereof and at least one water channel ( 225 ) located below the vent ( 228 )and leading to a portion of the sidewall ( 226 A), the outer shroud vent ( 205 ) and the inner shroud vent ( 228 ) being coincident and offset relative to each other and communicating with said water channel ( 225 ) to provide a tortuous path which prevents the penetration of water into the camera housing ( 230 ), at least a portion of the outer shroud section ( 200 ) having means that reflects and/or deflects radiant heat energy and means to remove unreflected or undeflected heat from the camera housing ( 230 ) through said vents ( 205 ,  228 ).    
     
     
         7 . A camera assembly as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein water entering the outer shroud vent ( 205 ) is directed to the water channel( 225 ) onto the sidewall ( 226 A) and onto the drip edge ( 208 ) away from the camera housing ( 230 ).  
     
     
         8 . A camera assembly as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein at least a pair of bimetallic strips ( 241 ) are positioned over the outer shroud vents ( 205 ).  
     
     
         9 . A camera assembly as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the bimetallic strips ( 241 ) are actuatable to close the vents when the temperature falls below a predetermined level.  
     
     
         10 . An environmental shroud ( 190 ) attached to a housing ( 130 ) having a top portion ( 140 ) attached to sidewalls ( 126 ) to which is attached a bottom wall, said environmental shroud ( 190 ) being effective to reflect and/or deflect heat energy, dissipate heat energy not reflected or deflected, and protect the housing from the ingress of moisture,  
       wherein said shroud comprises a lower section ( 100 ) having sidewalls ( 126 A) that descend to a drip edge ( 108 ), and at least one vent ( 105 ) in a top portion thereof; and an upper section ( 120 ), at least the lower section having means that reflects and/or deflects radiant heat energy and means to remove unreflected and undeflected heat from the housing ( 130 ) through said vent ( 105 ), the upper section ( 120 ) covering said vent ( 105 ) and having a lower edge ( 125 ) situated below the vent and over the sidewalls ( 126 A) to provide a tortuous path which prevents the penetration of water into the housing ( 130 ).  
     
     
         11 . An environmental shroud as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the shroud is formed of aluminum.  
     
     
         12 . An environmental shroud as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the means for reflecting or deflecting radiant energy is a coating on at least one surface of said shroud having a specified emissivity.  
     
     
         13 . An environmental shroud as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein a ridge ( 103 ) is formed in front of the vent  105  to further assist in the removal of water from said vent.  
     
     
         14 . An environmental shroud ( 390 ) attached to a housing ( 330 ) having a top portion ( 340 ) attached to sidewalls ( 326 ) to which is attached a bottom wall, said environmental shroud ( 390 ) being effective to reflect and/or deflect heat energy, dissipate heat energy not reflected or deflected, and protect the housing from the ingress of moisture,  
       wherein said shroud comprises a section ( 300 ) having sidewalls ( 326 A) that descend to a drip edge ( 308 ), and at least one louvre vent ( 305 ) in a top portion thereof; at least a portion of the section ( 300 ) having means that reflects and/or deflects radiant heat energy and means to remove unreflected or undeflected heat from the housing ( 330 ) through said louvre vent ( 305 ), the louvre vent having a lower edge ( 325 ) situated over the sidewalls ( 326 A) to provide a tortuous path which prevents the penetration of water into the housing ( 330 ).  
     
     
         15 . An environmental shroud ( 290 ) attached to a housing ( 230 ) having a top portion ( 240 ) attached to sidewalls ( 226 ) to which is attached a bottom wall, said environmental shroud ( 290 ) being effective to reflect or deflect heat energy, dissipate heat energy not reflected and/or deflected, and protect the housing from the ingress of moisture,  
       wherein said shroud comprises an outer shroud section ( 200 ) having sidewalls ( 226 A) that descend to a drip edge ( 208 ), and at least one vent ( 205 ) in a top portion thereof, and an inner shroud section ( 220 ) having at least one vent ( 228 ) in a top portion thereof and at least one water channel ( 225 ) located below the vent ( 228 )and leading to a portion of the sidewall ( 226 A), the outer shroud vent ( 205 ) and the inner shroud vent ( 228 ) being coincident and offset relative to each other and communicating with said water channel ( 225 ) to provide a tortuous path which prevents the penetration of water into the housing ( 230 ), at least a portion of the outer shroud section ( 200 ) having means that reflects and/or deflects radiant heat energy and means to remove unreflected or undeflected heat from the housing ( 230 ) through said vents ( 205 ,  228 ).  
     
     
         16 . An environmental shroud as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein water entering the outer shroud vent ( 205 ) is directed to the water channel( 225 ) onto the sidewall ( 226 A) and onto the drip edge ( 208 ) away from the housing ( 230 ).  
     
     
         17 . An environmental shroud as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein at least a pair of bimetallic strips ( 241 ) is positioned over the outer shroud vents ( 205 ).  
     
     
         18 . An environmental shroud as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the bimetallic strips ( 241 ) are actuatable to close the vents when the temperature falls below a predetermined level.