Submersible high intensity lamp

• US 4,450,511 A
• Filed: 04/13/1982
• Issued: 05/22/1984
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/1982
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: PEM Fountain Company Division of Imperial Irrigation Company Limited
• Original Assignee: PEM Fountain Company
• Inventors: Micha, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Lechert, Jr., Stephen J.
• Application Number:
  US06/367,805
• Time in Patent Office: 770 Days
• Field of Search: 362/267, 362/218, 362/294, 362/310, 362/373
• US Class Current: 362/267
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/081 of low-built type, e.g. landscape light
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 17/12 by screwing
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 19/0055 by screwing
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/15 Thermal insulation
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/86 Ceramics or glass
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/89 Metals
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 31/00 Gas-tight or water-tight arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2121/02 for fountains

Abstract

A water submersible light fixture for water fountains and the like comprises a light housing with concave light reflective surface, a light bulb positioned in the space defined by the concave light reflective surface and light bulb socket secured to a support which is sealingly engaged with the housing. The housing is submersed to cool and maintain the concave light reflective surface as exposed to the high temperatures produced by the light bulb. The positioning of the light bulb is predetermined by its length to locate the bulb relative to the reflective surface to provide the desired degree of light focus.

Claims

1. A water submersible, hermetically sealed light fixture comprising a light bulb housing having formed therein an interior concave light reflective surface, a support for a light socket mounted on said housing beneath said reflective surface, said support being adapted for sealing engagement with said housing, an elongate high temperature operation light bulb replaceably set in said light socket which is secured to said support, said housing having an aperture at the base of said reflective surface and aligned with said light socket, a transparent cover for the open end of said housing which is sealingly mounted on said housing, said elongate light bulb extending through said aperture into the spaced defined by said reflective surface, the longitudinal axis of said bulb being coincident with the major axis of said concave surface, said housing being in direct contact with the water when in use to cool and maintain said concave light reflective surface as exposed to high temperature produced by said light bulb during operation, said light fixture being adapted to provide different degrees of focused light according to length of said light bulb and positioning of said light socket relative to said concave reflective surface.

2. A light fixture of claim 1, wherein said light socket support with said socket secured thereto determines said location of said bulb relative to said reflective surface.

3. A light fixture of claim 2, wherein said light socket support has a ledge portion to which said light socket is secured, said light socket support being replacable with other like light socket supports, said other supports differing from one another in the spacing of said ledge portion from said housing aperture, said spacing providing the desired variation in degree of focused light.

4. A light fixture of claim 1, wherein said degree of light focus ranges from a spotlight effect to a floodlight effect, said bulb extending slightly above the perimeter of the widest portion of said concave reflective surface when said floodlight effect is desired.

5. A light fixture of claim 1, wherein said transparent cover has a peripheral flange portion encased in a rubber gasket, clamp means being provided for clamping said rubber gasket against said housing to seal said cover to said housing, said housing having a circumferential lip portion projecting above said rubber gasket to prevent direct light radiation from said light bulb radiating said rubber gasket.

6. A light fixture of claim 5, wherein said lip is a continuation of said concave reflective surface which extends above said rubber gasket.

7. A light fixture of claim 1, wherein said light bulb is replacable with a different length bulb to vary the degree of said light focus.

8. A light fixture of claim 1, wherein said housing has a depending flaired flange portion to which said socket support is sealingly engaged to prevent entry of water, said flaired flange portion and socket support as submersed in water being cooled to prevent overheating of electrical wiring.

9. A light fixture of claim 8, wherein said housing is hourglass shaped to provide a reduced neck portion at the interconnection of said light reflective portion with said flaired flange portion, said aperture extending internally through said neck portion, the reduced volume of housing material at said neck portion resisting the conduction of heat from said light reflective portion to said flaired portion.

10. A light fixture of claim 1, wherein said housing is of cast metal having said concave surface machined therein, said machined surface being chrome plated to effectively reflect ight radiation from said light bulb.

11. A light fixture of claim 10, wherein said housing is cast from bronze.

12. A light fixture of claim 10 or 11, wherein said housing is of substantially uniform wall thickness in the area of sid reflective portion whereby heat conduction to surrounding water cools said chrome plated concave light reflective surface.

13. A light fixture of claim 1, wherein said elongate light bulb is a quartz-halogen bulb with threaded base for screw threading into correspondingly threaded light socket.

14. A light fixture of claim 6, wherein said housing has a recessed portion for receiving said gasket, said recess having a sealing surface provided with a plurality of circumferential grooves to enhance the sealing of siad gasket to said housing.