Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6692309
-
Patent Number
6,692,309
-
Date Filed
Friday, March 28, 200321 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, February 17, 200420 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
Agents
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 439 6992
- 439 6991
- 439 854
- 439 419
- 439 619
- 439 356
- 439 753
- 439 226
- 439 242
- 313 31801
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
A connector includes a tubular wall on a first body containing a lamp envelope, coaxially receiving an insulating tube mounted on a second body having a cavity that receives the first body, spring metal strip terminals on the outside of the tubular wall in resilient contact with spring metal strip terminals on the inside of the cavity, and microprocessor controlled heated and cooled air delivered to the lamp envelope by way of the insulating tube in response to a sensor that monitors at least one of lamp amalgam temperature and lamp radiation.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the invention
The invention relates to a two-part electrical connector for a flourescent lamp, more specifically to a connector assembly that receives a lamp envelope in one body of the connector that inserts into another body and locks against rotation within the other body, and by engagement of electrical contacts on the two bodies locks axially with the other body of the connector, the bodies comprising concentric tubes forming an axial passageway through the connector for delivering heating or cooling gas through the connector to the lamp envelope.
2. Description of the Prior Art
U.S. Pat. No. 4,100,448 patented Jul. 11, 1978 by Chipner et al. describes a lamp base containing a lamp envelope. The base is axially received in an annular socket collar that is more flexible than the lamp base. The depth of the base in the socket collar is limited by an annular radially outward extending ring on the base resting on a radially inward extending annular ring within the collar. Prongs associated with electrical pins on the lamp base that are connected to the lamp wires, catch under the annular ring within the collar preventing axial withdrawal of the base from the collar. The socket collar snaps onto an electrical supply connector by way of an annular groove around the connector. Conductive tabs which extend axially upward from a wall that seals the bottom of the electrical supply connector make radial outward contact with the lamp base electrical pins which extend into the electrical supply connector.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is one object of the invention to provide a connector for a flourescent lamp that receives a lamp envelope in a first body that is axially, slidingly received in a second, electrical supply, body.
It is another object of the invention that temperature controlling fluid is delivered to a lamp in the first body by way of a conduit through the first and second body.
A connector includes a first body comprising a first end, a second end, and a first axis extending through said first end and said second end, means on said first end adapted for receiving a lamp, a first wall on said first body extending axially from said second end along a length of said first body toward said first end, a first axial tubular opening having a third end and a fourth end, extending through said first wall, a first metal electrical contact strip extending axially along an outer surface of said first wall, a fifth end of said strip extending radially over said first wall at said second end adjacent to said third end of said first axial tubular opening, a sixth end of said strip comprising means for attaching electrical wire from said lamp to said strip, extending radially over said first wall adjacent to said fourth end of said first axial tubular opening, a second body comprising a seventh end and an eighth end, a cavity extending axially into said second body from an opening in said seventh end, receiving said first wall in said second body, an electrically non-conductive tube having a ninth end open through said eighth end, extending axially along a length of said second body in said cavity toward said seventh end, in said first axial tubular opening, coaxial with said first axial tubular opening, a second metal electrical contact strip extending from said eighth end, axially along a length of said second body in said cavity toward said seventh end, in radially inward contact of said second strip with said first metal contact strip, a lamp mounted in said first end, fluid conduit means connected to the ninth end of said electrically non-conductive tube, a fluid in contact with said lamp, moving in said conduit means, means for sensing at least one of radiation from the lamp and temperature of the lamp, microprocessor controlled fluid heating means connected to the means for sensing and to the fluid conduit means, responsive to the means for sensing for controlling temperature of the lamp by the fluid, said first metal electrical contact strip extending axially along said first wall in a longitudinal radially open recess. At least one of said first strip and said second strip is resilient, the first and second strips contacting in said recess. Three faces about the first axis on the outer surface of said first wall, including at least one face of said three faces on each side of said first metal electrical contact strip, comprising an asymmetrical pattern when viewed axially, each face of said three faces in radially opposed adjacency to a face on an inner surface of said cavity.
Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent to one from reading the ensuing description of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In order that the invention be more fully comprehended, it will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1
is a top perspective view of the lamp envelope receiving body of the connector assembly.
FIG. 2
is a front perspective view of the body of FIG.
1
.
FIG. 3
is a top schematic view of the body of FIG.
1
.
FIG. 4
is a front schematic view of the body of
FIG. 1
less the contact strips, including a lamp envelope.
FIG. 5
is a bottom schematic view of the body of FIG.
1
.
FIG. 6
is a top perspective view of the electrical supply body of the connector assembly.
FIG. 7
is a front perspective view of the body of FIG.
6
.
FIG. 8
is a top schematic view of the body of
FIG. 6
FIG. 9
is a cross section view of the body of
FIG. 8
taken along
9
—
9
.
FIG. 10
is a bottom schematic view of the body of FIG.
6
.
FIG. 11
is a schematic view of the spring metal contact strips of the bodies of
FIGS. 1 and 6
locking together.
FIG. 12
is a cross section view of another body of the invention that receives the body of FIG.
1
.
FIG. 13
is a cross section view taken at the top of the body of
FIG. 12
, of the body of
FIG. 12
receiving the body of FIG.
1
.
FIG. 14
is a front schematic view of a connector of the invention comprising the bodies of FIGS.
1
and
6
.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Before explaining the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the detail of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the drawings since the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. It is also to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed is for the purpose of description only and not of limitation.
Referring to
FIGS. 1-5
,
11
and
12
, spring metal contact strips
32
a
,
32
b
,
32
c
, and
32
d
, are similar to each other in shape and in how they mount on one-piece molded rigid plastic or ceramic body
34
.
Top
36
of spring
32
b
wraps over an edge
38
of vertical wall
40
in recess
44
of the wall. Edge
38
is shown adjacent to cut-away view of contact
32
c
in FIG.
2
.
Bottom
64
of spring metal contact strip
32
b
wraps over edge
68
of vertical ridge portion
77
that separates hole
54
from tubular opening
74
.
Hollow
58
is designed to receive lamp envelope
46
which is glued to inner wall
66
of the shell.
Lamp envelope
46
may contain an amalgam which is included in many present mercury vapor lamps to control the amount of mercury vapor in the lamp by taking in or releasing mercury vapor. One amalgam that is widely used in present mercury vapor lamp manufacture is indium plus mercury. It is known that the amount of mercury vapor in a lamp envelope can be controlled by cooling or heating the amalgam, hereinafter called the mercury vapor control amalgam. The amount of mercury vapor may also be controlled by cooling or heating the envelope.
Tubular opening
74
formed through vertical wall
40
provides a conduit to the lamp envelope for cooling or heating gas for changing the temperature of the mercury vapor control amalgam
52
in the envelope or a portion of the envelope at the shell.
Electrical terminal
48
of strip
32
b
receives one of the wires
45
from the lamp envelope in terminal hole
49
(FIG.
1
). Terminal hole
49
extends through U-fold
78
of the spring. U-fold
78
comprises bottom portion
50
of the spring which extends through hole
54
in horizontal top
56
of hollow
58
shell
60
portion of body
34
.
Referring to
FIGS. 6-11
, spring metal contact strips
80
a
,
80
b
,
80
c
, and
80
d in recess
99
of housing
92
, are similar to each other in shape and in how they mount on body
84
.
Body
84
is preferably one piece plastic or ceramic, and is preferably rigid. Body
84
comprises tube
90
which extends from bottom wall
112
into housing
92
, and preferably extends through bottom wall
112
.
In another preferred embodiment body
84
comprises a ceramic high voltage insulation tube
90
fixedly mounted in a rigid plastic housing
92
.
Tube
90
provides a conduit to the lamp enclosure for the cooling or heating gas.
Cavity
86
of hollow shell
88
is designed to receive vertical wall
40
of body
34
so that tube
90
of body
84
extends into tubular opening
74
in body
34
, concentric with tubular opening
74
, axis
70
and
72
preferably coinciding when body
34
is inserted into body
84
. In
FIG. 13
, body
34
is inserted into body
85
which but for sealed rod
91
is similar to body
84
.
The concentric tubes form an axial passageway through the assembled bodies for delivering heating or cooling gas through the assembled bodies to the lamp envelope.
In another preferred embodiment of the invention, a sealed element is used. Preferably the element is hollow. A hollow, sealed rod
91
is shown in
FIG. 12
described later herein.
When body
34
is inserted axially into body
84
, horizontal radially inward extending crease
62
on outer contact surface
42
of contact strip
32
b
slides over and locks against horizontal radially inward extending crease
76
on inner contact surface
94
of the C-fold
96
in contact strip
80
c
, and bodies
34
and
84
are aligned rotationally about axis
70
and axis
72
by radially outward angular portion
102
of vertical wall
40
in radially outward angular groove
104
.
Electrical wiring connection end
106
of spring
80
a
extends through slot
110
in bottom wall
112
. Each contact strip
80
is prevented from being pulled out of cavity
86
by rivets
120
. Connection end
106
is wired to an electrical supply which is not shown.
Referring to
FIG. 11
, springs
32
b
and
80
c
are in locking alignment against axial movement of one of spring metal contact strip
32
b
and
80
c
along the other. Strips
32
b
and
80
c
are shown spaced apart for clarity of illustration.
Referring to
FIGS. 12 and 13
, in body
85
, the same numbers are applied to like elements which are in body
84
. Rod
91
which extends from end
97
toward end
98
closely fits into tubular opening
74
when body
34
is received in body
85
.
Each recess
99
is on a radial line
101
with a recess
44
.
Radially inward extending crease
76
preferably extends into recess
44
of wall
40
where it contacts crease
62
.
Faces
113
,
114
,
115
,
116
, and
117
between recesses
44
in wall
40
are parallel to faces
125
,
126
,
127
,
128
and
129
respectively between recesses
99
in housing
93
. The asymmetrical shape of the faces on wall
40
permit inserting wall
40
in cavity
86
in only one position rotationally about axis
72
.
Preferably, radially adjacent surfaces of assembled body
34
in body
84
are spaced from each other such that the adjacent surfaces do not interfere axially with each other or with axially passing strip
32
b
or
80
c
to prevent axial separation of the bodies when body
34
is withdrawn from body
84
. Prevention of axial separation of the bodies is performed preferably solely by the engagement of crease
76
in crease
62
.
Referring to
FIGS. 4
,
9
, and
12
, length
100
of wall
40
from end
108
of wall
40
to horizontal top
56
of shell
60
is less than the depth
82
of cavity
86
from end
98
of body
84
and of body
85
. Preferably the distance of crease
62
from horizontal top
56
and the distance of crease
82
from end
98
is such that when crease
82
is in crease
62
, the engagement of the creases holds end
98
of body
84
spaced axially from horizontal top
56
, that is, the axial surfaces of body
84
are spaced axially from body
34
when body
34
is mounted on body
84
. In
FIG. 14
, connector
122
comprises assembled bodies
34
and
84
. Passageway
124
of concentric tubular opening
74
and tube
90
delivers temperature control gas
134
from supply tube
130
to lamp envelope
46
.
Temperature control gas impinging on lamp envelope
46
exits the connector preferably by way of passageways
136
.
Exit passageway may be provided by space between the tube and body
34
or other ways.
Temperature control gas supply microprocessor controlled module
140
heats or cools gas to control lamp envelope or amalgam temperature in response to sensor
144
which preferably monitors lamp radiation. Sensor
144
may be mounted in contact with the lamp for measuring temperature of the envelope or amalgam by thermal conduction.
Heating and cooling respectively of the gas is provided preferably by an electric resistance heating element
148
, and by compressed gas received by way of an electrically controlled valve
150
.
Heating and cooling may be provided by air passed through filter
156
and over an array of peltier effect junctions
160
which are supplied electrical power in which current flow direction is switched for heating or cooling at the junctions.
While preferred embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise than as herein specifically illustrated or described, and that certain changes in form and arrangement of parts and in the specific manner of practicing the invention may be made without departing from the underlying idea or principles of this invention within the scope of the appended claims. Drawing Designators of the Formal Drawings (Informal list)
32
a
spring metal contact strip
32
b
spring metal contact strip
32
c
spring metal contact strip
32
d
spring metal contact strip
34
molded plastic or ceramic body
36
top of spring
38
edge
40
vertical wall
42
outer contact surface of contact strip
32
b
44
recess in vertical wall
40
45
lamp envelope wires
46
lamp envelope
48
electrical terminal
49
terminal hole
50
bottom portion of spring
32
52
mercury vapor control amalgam
52
in the tube
54
hole
56
horizontal top
58
hollow
60
shell
62
crease, horizontal radially inward extending
64
bottom of spring metal contact strip
32
b
68
edge
66
inner wall
70
axis
72
axis
74
tubular opening
76
crease, horizontal radially inward extending
77
vertical ridge portion
78
U-fold
80
c
spring metal contact strip
80
d
spring metal contact strip
80
b
spring metal contact strip
80
a
spring metal contact strip
82
depth of cavity
86
84
molded plastic body
85
body
86
cavity
88
hollow shell
90
tube
91
rod
92
housing
94
inner contact surface of contact strip
96
C-fold
97
end of body
84
98
end of body
84
99
recess
100
length of wall
40
101
radial line
102
radially outward angular portion
104
radially outward angular groove
106
electrical wiring connection end
108
end of wall
40
110
slot
112
bottom wall
113
face
114
face
115
face
116
face
117
face
120
rivet
122
connector
124
passageway
125
face
126
face
127
face
128
face
129
face
130
supply tube
134
gas
136
passageway
140
supply module
144
sensor
148
heating element
150
valve
156
filter
160
peltier effect junction array
Claims
- 1. A connector comprising:a first body comprising a first end, a second end, and a first axis extending through said first end and said second end, means on said first end adapted for receiving a lamp, a first wall on said first body extending axially from said second end along a length of said first body toward said first end, a first axial tubular opening having a third end and a fourth end, extending through said first wall, a first metal electrical contact strip extending axially along an outer surface of said first wall, a fifth end of said strip extending radially over said first wall at said second end adjacent to said third end of said first axial tubular opening, a sixth end of said strip comprising means for attaching electrical wire from said lamp to said strip, extending radially over said first wall adjacent to said fourth end of said first axial tubular opening, a second body comprising a seventh end and an eighth end, a cavity extending axially into said second body from an opening in said seventh end, receiving said first wall in said second body, an electrically non-conductive rod, extending axially from said eighth end along a length of said second body in said cavity toward said seventh end, in said first axial tubular opening, a second metal electrical contact strip extending from said eighth end, axially along a length of said second body in said cavity toward said seventh end, in radially inward contact of said second strip with said first metal contact strip.
- 2. The connector of claim 1 further comprising:said first metal electrical contact strip extending axially along said first wall in a first longitudinal radially outward open recess, from the extending of said first metal strip radially over said first wall adjacent to said third end to the radial extending of said first metal strip over said first wall adjacent to said fourth end.
- 3. The connector of claim 2 further comprising:at least one of said first strip and said second strip is resilient, the first and second strips contacting each other in said recess.
- 4. The connector of claim 1 further comprising:a radial crease on said first strip being in engagement with a radial crease on said second strip, radially adjacent surfaces of assembled body in body are spaced from each other such that the adjacent surfaces do not interfere axially with each other or with axial passage of strip or such that they prevent axial separation of the bodies when body is withdrawn from body so that prevention of axial separation of the bodies is performed solely by the engagement of crease in crease.
- 5. The connector of claim 1 further comprising:said second metal electrical contact strip extending axially in a second longitudinal radially inward open recess in said second body on a radial line with said first radially inward open recess.
- 6. The connector of claim 1 further comprising:three faces about the first axis on the outer surface of said first wall, including at least one face of said three faces on each side of said first metal electrical contact strip, comprising an asymmetrical pattern when viewed axially, each face of said three faces in radially opposed adjacency to a face on an inner surface of said cavity.
- 7. The connector of claim 1 further comprising:said rod comprising an opening axially through said rod through said eighth end.
- 8. A connector comprising:a first body comprising a first end, a second end, and a first axis extending through said first end and said second end, means on said first end adapted for receiving a lamp, a first wall on said first body extending axially from said second end along a length of said first body toward said first end, a first axial opening extending into said first wall from said second end, a first metal electrical contact strip extending axially along an outer surface of said first wall comprising means for attaching electrical wire from said lamp to said strip, a second body comprising a third end and a fourth end, a cavity extending axially into said second body from an opening in said third end, receiving said first wall in said second body, an electrically non-conductive rod, extending axially from said fourth end along a length of said second body in said cavity toward said third end, in said first axial tubular opening, a second metal electrical contact strip extending from said fourth end, axially along a length of said second body in said cavity toward said third end, in radially inward contact of said second strip with said first metal contact strip.
- 9. The connector of claim 8 further comprising:three faces about the first axis on the outer surface of said first wall, including at least one face of said three faces on each side of said first metal electrical contact strip, comprising an asymmetrical pattern when viewed axially, each face of said three faces in radially opposed adjacency to a face on an inner surface of said cavity.
- 10. A connector comprising:a first body comprising a first end, a second end, and a first axis extending through said first end and said second end, means on said first end adapted for receiving a lamp, a first wall on said first body extending axially from said second end along a length of said first body toward said first end, a first axial tubular opening having a third end and a fourth end, extending through said first wall, a first metal electrical contact strip extending axially along an outer surface of said first wall so that a fifth end of said strip is adjacent to said third end of said first axial tubular opening and a sixth end of said strip comprising means for attaching electrical wire from said lamp to said strip is adjacent to said fourth end of said first axial tubular opening, a second body comprising a seventh end and an eighth end, a cavity extending axially into said second body from an opening in said seventh end, receiving said first wall in said second body, an electrically non-conductive rod, extending axially from said eighth end along a length of said second body in said cavity toward said seventh end, in said first axial tubular opening, a second metal electrical contact strip extending from said eighth end, axially along a length of said second body in said cavity toward said seventh end, in radially inward contact of said second strip with said first metal contact strip.
- 11. The connector of claim 10 further comprising:three faces about the first axis on the outer surface of said first wall, including at least one face of said three faces on each side of said first metal electrical contact strip, comprising an asymmetrical pattern when viewed axially, each face of said three faces in radially opposed adjacency to a face on an inner surface of said cavity.
- 12. The connector of claim 10 further comprising:said rod comprising an opening axially through said rod through said eighth end.
- 13. A connector comprising:a first body comprising a first end, a second end, and a first axis extending through said first end and said second end, means on said first end adapted for receiving a lamp, a first wall on said first body extending axially from said second end along a length of said first body toward said first end, a first axial tubular opening having a third end and a fourth end, extending through said first wall, a first metal electrical contact strip extending axially along an outer surface of said first wall so that a fifth end of said strip is adjacent to said third end of said first axial tubular opening and a sixth end of said strip comprising means for attaching electrical wire from said lamp to said strip is adjacent to said fourth end of said first axial tubular opening, a second body comprising a seventh end and an eighth end, a cavity extending axially into said second body from an opening in said seventh end, receiving said first wall in said second body, an electrically non-conductive tube having a ninth end open through said eighth end, extending axially along a length of said second body in said cavity toward said seventh end, in said first axial tubular opening, a second metal electrical contact strip extending from said eighth end, axially along a length of said second body in said cavity toward said seventh end, in radially inward contact of said second strip with said first metal contact strip, a lamp mounted in said first end, fluid conduit means connected to the ninth end of said electrically non-conductive tube, and a fluid in contact with said lamp, in said conduit means.
- 14. The connector of claim 13, further comprising:means for sensing at least one of radiation from the lamp and temperature of the lamp, microprocessor controlled fluid heating means connected to the means for sensing and to the fluid conduit means, responsive to the means for sensing for controlling temperature of the lamp by the fluid.
- 15. The connector of claim 13, further comprising:said first metal electrical contact strip extending axially along said first wall in a longitudinal radially open recess.
- 16. The connector of claim 13, further comprising:at least one of said first strip and said second strip is resilient, the first and second strips contacting in said recess.
- 17. The connector of claim 13, further comprising:three faces about the first axis on the outer surface of said first wall, including at least one face of said three faces on each side of said first metal electrical contact strip, comprising an asymmetrical pattern when viewed axially, each face of said three faces in radially opposed adjacency to a face on an inner surface of said cavity.
US Referenced Citations (7)