PAR LAMP WITH SHORT ARC HID BULB AND CUT-OUT IN ALUMINUM TO PREVENT ARCING

• US 20090273934A1
• Filed: 04/30/2008
• Published: 11/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Secen, Michael Matthew, Gwinn, David A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,758,215 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/310
• CPC Class Codes: H01J 61/34 Double-wall vessels or containers
• CPC Class Codes: H01J 61/36 Seals between parts of vessels; Seals for leading-in conductors; Leading-in conductors
• CPC Class Codes: H01J 61/82 Lamps with high-pressure unconstricted discharge having a cold pressure > 400 Torr

Abstract

A lamp is disclosed that includes a light source that requires high voltage for starting. A reflector body includes an electrically conductive reflective surface that is oriented to receive light from the light source and direct the light in the desired direction. A preselected surface portion of the reflector body is devoid of the electrically conductive reflective surface. First and second lead assemblies associated with the light source, and that supply power thereto, pass through openings in the reflector body. The lead assemblies are spaced from the electrically conductive reflective surface portion by the preselected surface portion that is devoid of the reflective material to preclude arcing. Asymmetrical lead wire assemblies may also be advantageously used to increase the electrical standoff.

Claims

1. A lamp comprising:

a light source that requires high voltage for starting;

a reflector body including an electrically conductive reflective surface oriented to receive light from the light source and direct light in a desired direction, the reflector body further including a preselected surface portion facing the light source devoid of the electrically conductive reflective surface;

first and second lead assemblies operatively associated with the light source for supplying power thereto, the lead assemblies passing through an opening in the reflector body; and

the lead assemblies spaced from the electrically conductive reflective surface portion of the reflector body by the preselected surface portion to preclude arcing between at least one of the lead assemblies and the electrically conductive reflective surface portion.

2. The lamp of claim 1 wherein the preselected surface portion is at least as large as a length of the light source.

3. The lamp of claim 1 wherein the preselected surface portion is oriented to substantially conform to an outline of the light source.

4. The lamp of claim 1 wherein the electrically conductive reflective surface is one of aluminum and silver.

5. The lamp of claim 1 wherein the reflector body includes a substrate formed as a surface of revolution.

6. The lamp of claim 5 wherein the preselected surface portion extends over a truncated portion of the surface of revolution.

7. The lamp of claim 5 wherein the surface of revolution is a paraboloid.

8. The lamp of claim 7 wherein the light source is located near a focal point of the paraboloid.

9. The lamp of claim 1 wherein the reflector body has first and second openings dimensioned to closely receive the first and second lead wire assemblies therethrough.

10. The lamp of claim 1 wherein the light source is an arc discharge light source that is mounted substantially perpendicular to an axis of revolution of the reflector body.

11. The lamp of claim 10 wherein the preselected surface portion intersects the axis of revolution of the reflector body.

12. The lamp of claim 11 wherein the preselected surface portion is a long, narrow section.

13. The lamp of claim 1 wherein the lead assemblies are asymmetric relative to one another.

14. A lamp assembly comprising:

a light source that requires high voltage for starting purposes;

a reflector body formed about an axis including an electrically conductive reflective surface receiving light from the light source and directing the light in a desired direction;

first and second lead assemblies operatively associated with the light source for supplying power thereto, the lead assemblies passing thorough an opening in the reflector body are being asymmetrical relative to one another; and

the first and second lead assemblies each including a portion disposed substantially perpendicular to the reflector body axis, and the portion of the first lead assembly that receives a high voltage pulse for light source starting purposes is spaced a greater dimension from the electrically conductive reflective surface than the portion of the second lead assembly to preclude arcing between the first lead assembly and the electrically conductive reflective surface portion.

15. The lamp assembly of claim 145 wherein the reflector body further includes a preselected surface portion receiving light from the light source that is devoid of the electrically conductive reflective surface.

16. A method of forming a lamp assembly comprising:

providing a light source;

forming a reflector body having an electrically conductive reflective material first surface portion and a preselected surface second portion devoid of the electrically conductive reflective material positioned relative to the light source to inhibit inadvertent arcing between the electrically conductive reflective material and at least one lead supplying power to the light source; and

mounting the light source in the reflector body.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the reflector body forming step includes masking the second portion of the reflector body prior to applying the electrically conductive reflective material.

18. The method of claim 16 further comprising positioning a first mount of the light source at a greater dimension from the electrically conductive reflective material than a second mount.

19. A method of forming a lamp assembly comprising:

supplying a light source in a reflector body that has an electrically conductive reflective surface; and

mounting the light source via first and second mounts that are asymmetrical relative to one another in the reflector body whereby each mount includes a portion that extends generally perpendicular to a surface of the reflector body, and the first mount that receives a high voltage pulse therethrough for lamp ignition includes the mount portion further spaced from the electrically conductive reflective surface.