Electrical connectors – Coupling part to receive fluorescent or neon lamp – With provision for axial receipt of lamp contact
Reexamination Certificate
2002-10-31
2004-03-30
Paumen, Gary (Department: 2833)
Electrical connectors
Coupling part to receive fluorescent or neon lamp
With provision for axial receipt of lamp contact
C439S240000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06712629
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to electrical connections in lamps. More particularly, the invention relates to the connections for lamps which experience high voltage and/or high current.
2. Description of the Related Art
Arc lamps experience high current (e.g., such as up to about 15 A at low voltage) and high voltage (e.g., 800 V at low current). As a result of the power drain associated with this voltage, the exterior of the lamp can reach temperatures around 850° C.
Currently, there are two methods of making the electrical connection to an arc lamp which will deliver the necessary power to the lamp. A first prior art method is shown in
FIGS. 7A
,
7
B in which a lamp electrode
105
is enclosed in one end of the lamp enclosure
106
. It is to be understood that the electrical connection may be the same at the other end of the lamp
106
. According to this method, the lamp electrode
105
is terminated inside an end fitting
102
. This end fitting is preferably formed of a ceramic insulating material.
The electrode
105
projecting from the lamp
106
is received within the end fitting
102
and electrically engages a power line
104
along a weld joint
101
. The electrode
105
and lamp
106
are held in place in end fitting
102
using non-conductive potting material
128
. The power line
104
, which is preferably a high-temperature wire of about 8″-14″ in length, is flexible and is wrapped in a high-temperature insulation
108
at substantially all points between the weld joint
101
and an electrical connector
107
which is provided at a distal end of the power line
104
and which has a hole therein.
As shown in
FIG. 7B
, the connector
107
is adapted to receive a metal fastener
109
which may be in the form of a screw, as shown. The fastener
109
also receives a similar electrical connector
114
of a second power line
116
which is integrally connected to a power source and which is also preferably wrapped in high-temperature insulation
108
. When the fastener
109
receives both electrical connectors
107
,
114
, an electrical connection is established between the first power line
104
and the second power line
116
. Further, to maintain the electrical connection, the fastener
109
is fastened to a standoff
110
which is connected to the lamp housing
112
, e.g., the fastener
109
may be screwed into the standoff
110
.
In the second method, which is shown in
FIGS. 8A and 8B
, an internal electrical connection is made between a metallic end fitting
130
and a lamp electrode
105
projecting from one end of a lamp
106
. It is to be understood that the connection may be the same at the other end of the lamp
106
. The electrode
105
is received by the metallic end fitting
130
thereby establishing an electrical connection
126
between the electrode
105
and the end fitting
130
which is preferably formed of metal. Electrode
105
and lamp
106
are held in place to end fitting
130
using nonconductive potting material
128
.
The end fitting
130
is received within a recess
137
formed in an insulating block
134
which is preferably formed out of a ceramic material. Positioned in the recess
137
is a proximal end
142
of a power line
140
which is preferably a high-temperature wire. Substantially all of the power line extending beyond the insultating block
134
is wrapped in a high-temperature insulation
108
. When the end fitting
130
is received in the recess
137
, the outer collar of the metallic end fitting
130
contacts the distal end
142
of the power line
140
thereby electrically connecting the power line
140
and the electrode
105
.
A clamp
131
, such as a c-shaped clamp, may be positioned on top of the end fitting
130
to hold the end fitting
130
in the recess
137
. Without a clamp, the electrical connection between the end fitting
130
and the power source will be unstable. Accordingly, fasteners
139
are typically used to lock the clamp
131
onto the block
134
; the fasteners may pass through holes
133
in the clamp
131
and be received in bores
135
in the block
134
. A distal end
143
of the power line
140
is connected to an electrical connector
144
which is adapted to be connected to a power source.
Unfortunately, the first of the aforementioned methods of supplying power to the lamp requires the use of insulating standoffs
110
configured with threaded holes in which the fasteners
109
connect the lamp wire with the wire from the power source. In the second method, to establish a stable connection, fasteners
139
and a clamp
131
must be employed to lock the end fitting into the insulating block
134
. Thus, although two solutions currently exists to transmit power to an arc lamp, the solutions require the use of additional parts which have a cost associated therewith. In addition, the connections require the fastening and unfastening of fasteners (e.g., turning of the screws) which is not only time consuming, it is also problematic as the fastener or standoff may be damaged. For example, the threads of the screw may become stripped thereby making the connection unstable and/or difficult to disconnect.
In light of the aforementioned, it is desired to achieve one or more of the following in a new apparatus and method for an electrical connection: (a) effectively transmit power to an arc lamp; (b) reduce the number of necessary parts and/or production costs; and/or (c) easily establish and disestablish an electrical connection in an arc lamp.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention herein contains multiple embodiments including a connective apparatus for an electrical connection, the apparatus including: (a) a housing including: (1) a bore through the housing which is adapted to receive an arc lamp end fitting having a female electrical connector projecting therefrom; and (2) an electrical connector container having one end in communication with the bore; and (b) a male electrical connector provided in the electrical connector container, wherein a first portion of the male electrical connector is adapted to engage electrically the female electrical connector, and wherein a second portion the male connector is electrically connected to a power supply.
In another embodiment of the connective apparatus, the electrical connector container may be substantially transverse to the bore.
In another embodiment of the connective apparatus, the male electrical connector may include a spring provided adjacent the second portion.
In another embodiment of the connective apparatus, the male electrical connector may include a spring provided adjacent the second portion, wherein the first portion of the male electrical connector may be biased by the spring toward the bore.
In another embodiment of the connective apparatus, the male electrical connector may include a spring provided adjacent the second portion, wherein the first portion of the male electrical connector may be biased by the spring toward the bore. In this embodiment, when the arc lamp end fitting is positioned in the bore, the first portion of the male connector, which electrically engages the female electrical connector, may be adapted to be driven downward in the electrical connector container by the female electrical connector.
In another embodiment of the connective apparatus, the electrical connection between the second portion of the male connector and the power supply may not be readily disengaged.
In another embodiment of the connective apparatus, the second portion of the male connector may be integrally connected to the power supply.
In another embodiment of the connective apparatus, the housing may be formed of a nonconductive material.
In another embodiment of the connective apparatus, a front side of the housing may have a gap formed therein which extends into the bore and which may be adapted to receive the female electrical connector.
In another embodiment of the connective apparatus, the female electrical connector may include a socket which may be adapted to receive
Alexander Charles
Tausch Mark
Wallenhorst Thomas
Delaware Capital Formation Inc.
Paumen Gary
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