Thermally isolated high intensity light source
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A high intensity discharge light source comprising:
- a bulb having;
a first end;
a second end;
a central region extending between said first end and said second end in a longitudinal direction; and
an outer surface extending between said first end and said second end;
a thermally insulative and optically transparent sleeve having an inner surface, said sleeve longitudinally aligned with and separated from said bulb outer surface by an insulating distance;
a first spacer positioned adjacent to said bulb first end and between said bulb outer surface and said sleeve inner surface;
a second spacer positioned adjacent to said bulb second end and between said bulb outer surface and said sleeve inner surface;
wherein;
said first spacer and said second spacer provides said insulating distance between said bulb outer surface and said sleeve inner surface, thereby forming an insulative volume around said bulb; and
during use said bulb and surrounding insulative volume reach an elevated steady state operating temperature to maintain or enhance a spectral performance parameter.
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Abstract
Provided herein is a high intensity discharge light source having a thermally insulative and optically transparent sleeve for maintaining or enhancing a spectral performance parameter. The configuration of the sleeve provides an insulative volume that allows an elevated steady state operating temperature to be reached, even when the light source is cooled. The sleeve is also configured to withstand a bulb failure event, thereby protecting the surrounding environment from falling debris. Also provided herein are methods for dissipating heat from the light source without adversely affecting the bulb operating temperature or the enhanced spectral performance parameter.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A high intensity discharge light source comprising:
a bulb having; a first end; a second end; a central region extending between said first end and said second end in a longitudinal direction; and an outer surface extending between said first end and said second end; a thermally insulative and optically transparent sleeve having an inner surface, said sleeve longitudinally aligned with and separated from said bulb outer surface by an insulating distance; a first spacer positioned adjacent to said bulb first end and between said bulb outer surface and said sleeve inner surface; a second spacer positioned adjacent to said bulb second end and between said bulb outer surface and said sleeve inner surface;
wherein;said first spacer and said second spacer provides said insulating distance between said bulb outer surface and said sleeve inner surface, thereby forming an insulative volume around said bulb; and during use said bulb and surrounding insulative volume reach an elevated steady state operating temperature to maintain or enhance a spectral performance parameter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A method for operating a high intensity discharge light source at a constant operating temperature comprising the steps of:
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providing a high-intensity discharge light source having a first end and a second end; positioning a first spacer clip at or adjacent to said first end and a second spacer clip at or adjacent to said second end; positioning a thermally insulative and optically transparent sleeve around said high-intensity discharge light source and said first and second spacer clips, wherein said spacer clip contacts an inner surface of said sleeve and an outer surface of said high-intensity discharge light source, thereby providing an insulative volume between said high intensity discharge light source and said sleeve; energizing the light source; and flowing a source of cooled air over an outer surface of said sleeve to cool an environment surrounding said sleeve without adversely affecting an insulative temperature of said insulative volume to maintain or enhance a spectral performance parameter. - View Dependent Claims (28)
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Specification