Patent Application
20070296340
For a better understanding of the present invention, together with other and further objects, advantages and capabilities thereof, reference is made to the following disclosure and appended claims taken in conjunction with the above-described drawings.
Referring now to the drawings with greater particularity, there is shown in
An electrically conductive mounting member 22, preferably formed from stainless steel wire having a diameter of 1.40 mm, has grippers 24 formed on the ends 26 thereof that engage the grooves 20, preferably by friction, and has a center portion 28 with a U-shaped segment 30 positioned within the cylindrical base 18.
An arc tube assembly 32 comprises an arc tube 34, preferably of a ceramic material such as polycrystalline alumina (PCA) and has axially extending electrode lead-ins 36, 38 sealed within a shroud 40. The shroud 40 preferably is constructed of a material known as UV-Stop quartz glass, and has parallel electrical connections 42, 44 extending from a press-seal, as is known in the art. A first of the electrical connections, for example 42, is electrically and mechanically fixed to the U-shaped segment 30 of the electrically conductive mounting member 22 and a second of the electrical connections, for example 44, is electrically insulated from the mounting member 22 by an insulator 23, which can be a glass sleeve 52.
A threaded, medium screw shell 46 is fixed to the base 18. Fixation can be effected by a basing cement or, preferably, by welding the shell to the grippers 24 or, alternatively, by means of a clip, as is known. The shell 46 has a first electrical contact 48 (the screw portion) electrically connected to the electrically conductive mounting member 22 and a second electrical contact 50 (the eyelet) electrically connected to the second of the electrical connections 44.
The lamp has an overall length of about 110 mm, making it smaller even that a typical PAR lamp.
Alternatively, a low-wattage, high intensity arc discharge electric lamp 10a can comprise a thick-walled outer envelope 12a extending along a longitudinal axis 14a and having a body 16a composed of a plurality of cylindrical and conical sections 17, 17a, with one of said cylindrical sections 17 being a base 18 including the oppositely disposed grooves 20 that extend parallel to said longitudinal axis 14a Such a construction is known as an E17 bulb. The electrically conductive mounting member 22 with grippers 24 formed on ends 26 thereof engages the grooves 20 to mount the member 22 to the neck 18. A center portion 28 of the mounting member 22 has a U-shaped segment 30 and is positioned within the base 18, as in the previous embodiment.
The arc tube assembly is similar to that previously described and is similarly mounted.
Thus there is provided a high intensity discharge lamp in a choice of small envelopes that are applicable to downlighting, fulfilling a long-felt need in the commercial lamp area.
While there have been shown and described what are at present considered to be the preferred embodiments of the invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made herein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
