Pen size LED inspection lamp for detecting fluorescent material

• US 20030007345A1
• Filed: 08/09/2002
• Published: 01/09/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/05/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Spectronics Corporation
• Original Assignee: Spectronics Corporation
• Inventors: Garcia, Gustavo, Cooper, B. William
• Granted Patent: US 6,854,859 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/139
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/6447 by visual observation
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/645 Specially adapted constructive features of fluorimeters
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/0221 Portable; cableless; compact; hand-held
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode

Abstract

A pen-size inspection lamp for detecting fluorescent leak detection materials in hard-to-reach areas. The inspection lamp includes a housing, an extendible handle, at least one LED and a mirror assembly. The mirror assembly includes a mirror, a clip for attaching the mirror to the housing, and an arm extending between the clip and the mirror with a hinge connection for rotating the mirror to different reflection angles with respect to the LED.

Claims

1. An inspection lamp for detecting refrigerant leaks from air-conditioning systems through illumination of fluorescent material added to the refrigerant, the inspection lamp comprising an LED pen light having an extendible handle and an LED lamp housing at one end of the handle, the lamp housing containing an LED, said inspection lamp further comprising;

a mirror assembly comprising

a mirror;

a clip for attaching the mirror to the lamp at or near the LED lamp housing; and

an arm extending between the clip and the mirror, said arm having a hinge connection with the mirror for rotating the mirror to different reflection angles with respect to the LED.

2. An inspection lamp as in claim 1, wherein the LED emits light within a wavelength band below about 500 nm.

3. An inspection lamp as in claim 1, wherein

the handle has an upper flexible portion attached to the lamp housing and a lower portion, wherein the flexible portion may be bent to fit into hard-to-reach areas of air-conditioning systems.

4. An inspection lamp as in claim 3, wherein the LED emits light within a wavelength band below about 500 nm.

5. An inspection lamp as in claim 1, further comprising:

the handle having a grip section and telescoping sections adapted to be pulled out to extend the handle and pushed in to retract the handle; and

a battery housing containing a battery, the battery housing being attached at one end thereof to the telescoping section that is furthest from the grip section when the handle is extended.

6. An LED inspection lamp for detecting refrigerant leaks from air-conditioning systems through illumination of fluorescent materials added to the refrigerant and lubricating oil, said inspection lamp comprising:

an extendable and retractable handle having a grip section and telescoping sections adapted to be pulled out to extend the handle and pushed in to retract the handle,

a battery housing containing a battery, the battery housing being attached at one end thereof to the telescoping section that is furthest from the grip section when the handle is extended;

an LED lamp assembly connected to the battery housing and containing an LED that emits light within a wavelength band below about 500 nm; and

a mirror assembly having

a mirror,

a clip for attaching the mirror to the battery housing, and

an arm extending between the clip and the mirror, said arm having a hinge connection with the mirror for rotating the mirror to different reflection angles with respect to the LED.