The present invention relates generally to an enhanced lighting ceramic metal-halide lamp assembly. More so, the present invention relates to a ceramic metal-halide lamp that provides enhanced lighting at higher temperatures and improved color temperatures, color renderings, and luminous efficacies through use of a 630 watt double ended ceramic metal-halide lamp. The lamp assembly also utilizes two conductive and resilient U-shaped coupling mechanisms that connecting each of the ceramic arc tubes to one of the sealed conductive ends of the container to provide conductivity and a buffering clearance between the ceramic arc tubes
The following background information may present examples of specific aspects of the prior art (e.g., without limitation, approaches, facts, or common wisdom) that, while expected to be helpful to further educate the reader as to additional aspects of the prior art, is not to be construed as limiting the present invention, or any embodiments thereof, to anything stated or implied therein or inferred thereupon.
Typically, a ceramic metal-halide lamp is a source of light that is a type of metal-halide lamp which is about 10-20% more efficient than the traditional quartz metal halide. A ceramic metal-halide lamp uses ceramic instead of the quartz of a traditional metal halide lamp. It is known that ceramic arc tubes allow higher arc tube temperatures, which some manufacturers claim results in better efficacy, color rendering, and color stability.
Generally, lighting from ceramic metal-halide lamps produces bright, white light. The ceramic arc tubes generate electrical arcs between tungsten electrodes housed in a translucent or transparent fused quartz or ceramic arc tube, which is enclosed within an outer bulb. The tube contains a mixture of various gases and metal halide salts. For instance, ceramic arc tubes heat a mixture of mercury, argon and halide salts. As the arc heats up it vaporizes the metal salts to form a plasma, which intensifies the light produced by the arc and cuts down the power consumption.
It is known that, compared with incandescent and fluorescent lighting, ceramic metal-halide lamps have a higher luminous efficacy since a bigger proportion of their radiation is in visible light, not heat. Generally, ceramic metal-halide lamps are more resistant than standard quartz metal halide tubes to the corrosion metal halide salts create within the arc tube. This allows the ceramic arc tubes to operate at higher temperatures than quartz metal halide tubes, boosting performance and quality-of-light characteristics as lumen maintenance (10-30 percent higher), lamp color-shift and spread stability, Color Rendering Index (CRI) and dimming.
However, ceramic metal-halide lamps do have limitations. Throughout their lifetime, all metal halide lamps experience reduced light output and some increase in power consumption. Further, ceramic metal-halide lamps are susceptible to having their ceramic arc tubes damaged from impact and buffering forces. The color temperatures, color renderings, and luminous efficacies are also not optimal in these previous lamps.
Other proposals have involved ceramic metal halide lamps with enhanced illumination properties and extended life spans. The problem with these ceramic metal halide lamps is that they do not provide the optimal 630 watts of power. Also, they do not stabilize the ceramic arc tubes sufficiently inside the tube. Even though the above cited ceramic metal halide lamps meet some of the needs of the market, an enhanced lighting ceramic metal-halide lamp assembly that provides enhanced lighting at higher temperatures and improved color temperatures, color renderings, and luminous efficacies through use of a 630 watt double ended ceramic metal-halide lamp; and further provides two conductive and resilient U-shaped coupling mechanisms that connecting each of the ceramic arc tubes to one of the sealed conductive ends of the container, so as to provide conductivity and a buffering clearance between the ceramic arc tubes, is still desired.
Illustrative embodiments of the disclosure are generally directed to an enhanced lighting ceramic metal-halide lamp assembly. The lamp assembly serves to provide enhanced lighting at higher temperatures and improved color temperatures, color renderings, and luminous efficacies through use of a 630 watt double ended ceramic metal-halide lamp. The lamp assembly also utilizes two conductive and resilient U-shaped coupling mechanisms that connecting each of the ceramic arc tubes to one of the sealed conductive ends of the container to provide conductivity and a buffering clearance between the ceramic arc tubes. At least one fastening bracket, having resiliency, helps stabilize the ceramic arc tubes inside the elongated container.
In some embodiments, the lamp assembly comprises an at least partially transparent container defined by an inner surface, an outer surface, a pair of sealed conductive ends, and an inner volume defined by a vacuum. The lamp assembly may further include a plurality of ceramic arc tubes that are disposed in the inner volume of the at least partially transparent container. This being a halide-metal style lamp, the ceramic arc tubes being filled with an ionizable gaseous mixture.
In one embodiment, the lamp assembly provides a ballast that is disposed in the inner volume of the ceramic arc tubes, the ballast comprising at least one electrode generating an electric arc through the ionizable gaseous mixture. The electric arc is operational to vaporize the gaseous mixture, which creates a plasma to generate illumination. In one non-limiting embodiment, the ceramic arc tube produces about 630 watts of power when illuminating.
In some embodiments, a wire may extend between the pair of sealed conductive ends of the at least partially transparent container. The wire carries an electrical current through the ballast, so as to enable energizing the electrodes.
In some embodiments, the lamp assembly may further include two U-shaped coupling mechanisms. The two U-shaped coupling mechanisms are integral to the wire. The two U-shaped coupling mechanisms connect each of the ceramic arc tubes to one of the sealed conductive ends of the container. The two U-shaped coupling mechanisms are defined by a conductive material, and are generally resilient. In this manner, the two U-shaped coupling mechanisms provide conductivity and a buffering clearance between the ceramic arc tubes and the sealed conductive ends of the container.
In one embodiment, the lamp assembly provides at least one fastening bracket that helps secure the ceramic arc tubes in a stabilized position inside the at least partially transparent container. The fastening bracket is defined by a first end and a second end. The first end engages the inner surface of the at least partially transparent container for stabilizing the ceramic arc tubes. The second end engages the ceramic arc tubes. The fastening bracket is also resilient, so as to enable buffering and to protect against impactful forces against the container or ceramic arc tube.
In another aspect, the at least partially transparent container has a cylindrical shape
In another aspect, the at least partially transparent container is a glass tube.
In another aspect, the at least partially transparent container has a length up to 388 millimeters.
In another aspect, the at least partially transparent container has a diameter up to 32.5 millimeters.
In another aspect, the at least partially transparent container is at least partially fabricated from quartz glass.
In another aspect, the lamp assembly further comprises two electrical leads connecting to the pair of sealed conductive ends of the at least partially transparent container.
In another aspect, the ceramic arc tube uses about 200 volts when illuminating.
In another aspect, the ceramic arc tube produces about 3 amps when illuminating.
In another aspect, the ceramic arc tube is at least partially fabricated from polycrystalline alumina.
In another aspect, the maximum attainable temperature of the ceramic arc tubes is about 700° Fahrenheit.
In another aspect, the ionizable gaseous mixture consists of a mercury vapor and at least one metal-halide.
In another aspect, the ballast comprises an electronic ballast or an electromagnetic ballast.
One objective of the present invention is to provide an enhanced lighting ceramic metal-halide lamp assembly having a 630 watt double ended ceramic metal-halide lamp.
Another objective is to connect a plurality of ceramic arc tubes with two U-shaped coupling mechanisms that provide both conductivity, and a buffering clearance between the ceramic arc tubes.
Yet another objective is to efficiently generate an electrical arc in the ceramic arc tubes with electrodes in a ballast.
Yet another objective is to produce 630 watts of power.
Yet another objective is to provide ceramic arc tubes having a maximum attainable temperature of about 700° Fahrenheit.
Yet another objective is to protect the ceramic arc tube from buffering.
Yet another objective is to securely fasten the ceramic arc tube concentrically in the container.
Yet another objective is to increase the life of the lamp assembly.
Yet another objective is to create improved color temperatures, color renderings, and luminous efficacies for the lamp assembly.
Yet another objective is to provide a ceramic arc tube that reduces reactions with the ionizable gaseous mixture contained within.
Yet another objective is to provide a resilient fastening bracket to help stabilize the ceramic arc tubes inside the elongated container.
Yet another objective is to provide an inexpensive to manufacture enhanced lighting ceramic metal-halide lamp assembly.
Other systems, devices, methods, features, and advantages will be or become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following drawings and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features, and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the present disclosure, and be protected by the accompanying claims and drawings.
The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the various views of the drawings.
The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the described embodiments or the application and uses of the described embodiments. As used herein, the word “exemplary” or “illustrative” means “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any implementation described herein as “exemplary” or “illustrative” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other implementations. All of the implementations described below are exemplary implementations provided to enable persons skilled in the art to make or use the embodiments of the disclosure and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure, which is defined by the claims. For purposes of description herein, the terms “upper,” “lower,” “left,” “rear,” “right,” “front,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” and derivatives thereof shall relate to the invention as oriented in
An enhanced lighting ceramic metal-halide lamp assembly 100 is referenced in
The lamp assembly 100 provides an at least partially transparent container 102 forming a vacuum. Inside the container 102, a plurality of ceramic arc tubes 112a, 112b are connected by two U-shaped coupling mechanisms 120a, 120b. The coupling mechanisms 120a, 120b are conductive and resilient, so as to provide both conductivity, and a buffering clearance between the ceramic arc tubes 112a-b and the ends of the transparent container 102. The lamp assembly 100 is also unique in that it provides a 630 watt double ended ceramic metal-halide lamp. The ceramic arc tube produces 630 watts, uses about 200 volts and 3 Amps when illuminating. Further, the lamp assembly utilizes at least one fastening bracket 122a, 122b, having a resiliency that helps to stabilize the ceramic arc tubes 112a-b inside the transparent container 102.
These novel features result in an increased life span for the ceramic arc tubes 112a, 112b. This further results in enhanced lighting by the lamp assembly 100, while operating at higher temperatures up to 700° Fahrenheit. This also enables energy saving generation of improved color temperatures, color renderings, and luminous efficacies. The lamp assembly 100 is also efficacious for significantly reducing reactions with the ionizable gaseous mixture contained within. Further, the lamp assembly 100 operates at higher temperature which is adapted to boost performance and quality-of-light characteristics, such as lumen maintenance, lamp color-shift and spread stability, color rendering index, and dimming.
As referenced in
In one non-limiting embodiment, the container 102 is a glass tube having a length of up to 388 millimeters, and a diameter of up to 32.5 millimeters. In one non-limiting embodiment, the at least partially transparent container 102 is at least partially fabricated from quartz glass. The quartz glass material is efficacious for enabling optimal passage of light through. Though other materials that are at least partially transparent may be used.
The lamp assembly 100 further comprises a plurality of ceramic arc tubes 112a, 112b (
In one embodiment, the lamp assembly 100 provides a ballast 114 that is disposed in the inner volume 110 of the ceramic arc tubes 112a, 112b. In some embodiments, the ballast 114 may include an electronic ballast or an electromagnetic ballast. In another embodiment, the ballast 114 comprises at least one electrode 116 generating an electric arc through the ionizable gaseous mixture. The electric arc is operational to vaporize the gaseous mixture, which creates a plasma to generate illumination in the ceramic arc tubes 112a-b.
In one non-limiting embodiment, a wire 118 may extend between the pair of sealed conductive ends 108a, 108b of the at least partially transparent container 102. The wire 118 carries an electrical current through the ballast 114, so as to enable energizing the electrode 116. In one non-limiting embodiment, the lamp assembly 100 further comprises two electrical leads 126a, 126b that connect to the sealed conductive ends 108a, 108b of the container 102. The electrical leads 126a, 126b carry current to the ends of the wire 118.
In one embodiment, the ceramic arc tubes 112a, 112b produce about 630 watts of power when illuminating. In another embodiment, the ceramic arc tube uses about 200 volts when illuminating, and produces about 3 amps when illuminating (
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In one embodiment, the two U-shaped coupling mechanisms 120a-b are defined by a conductive material, and are generally resilient. This may include a tensioned metal leaf or other material that creates a buffering oscillation against the surface of the ceramic arc tubes 112a-b. In this manner, the two U-shaped coupling mechanisms 120a-b provide both the benefits of conductivity and a buffering clearance between the ceramic arc tubes 112a-b and the sealed conductive ends 108a, 108b of the container 102.
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In some embodiments, the fastening bracket 122a-b is resilient, so as to enable buffering and to protect against impactful forces against the container 102 or ceramic arc tubes 112a-b. Similar to the two U-shaped coupling mechanisms 120a-b, the fastening bracket 122a-b are generally resilient, and may include a tensioned metal leaf or other material that creates a buffering oscillation against the surface of the ceramic arc tubes 112a-b and container 102.
These and other advantages of the invention will be further understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art by reference to the following written specification, claims and appended drawings.
Because many modifications, variations, and changes in detail can be made to the described preferred embodiments of the invention, it is intended that all matters in the foregoing description and shown in the accompanying drawings be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. Thus, the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalence.
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