Ultraviolet germicidal lamp base and socket

• US 7,569,981 B1
• Filed: 02/22/2005
• Issued: 08/04/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Light Sources Incorporated (Levine Ep, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Light Sources Incorporated (Levine Ep, Inc.)
• Inventors: Ciancanelli, Gino
• Primary Examiner(s): Roy; Sikha
• Assistant Examiner(s): GREEN, TRACIE Y
• Application Number:
  US11/062,988
• Time in Patent Office: 1,624 Days
• Field of Search: 31331801-31803, 313/567, 313621-623, 250/504.R, 422/121, 439/587, 439/336
• US Class Current: 313/300
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/20 Ultraviolet radiation
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/325 Irradiation devices or lamp constructions
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/004 Seals, connections
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/3228 Units having reflectors, e.g. coatings, baffles, plates, mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: H01J 5/50 Means forming part of the tube or lamps for the purpose of providing electrical connection to it
• CPC Class Codes: H01J 5/54 supported by a separate part, e.g. base
• CPC Class Codes: H01J 5/62 Connection of wires protruding from the vessel to connectors carried by the separate part
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 439/934 High voltage barrier, e.g. surface arcing or corona preventing insulator

Abstract

An ultraviolet gas discharge lamp having contact pins extending downward from a base cap toward an opposing end. The lamp is placed within a conduit or duct for disinfecting air or water flowing within the conduit. The reverse contact pins that extend toward the opposing end mate with contact holes in a socket attached to the conduit through which the lamp is inserted. The lamp is only energized when the lamp is fully inserted into the duct and is de-energized upon removing the lamp from the duct. A shield protects the pins. A window may be place in the base cap so as to visually confirm that the lamp is energized and radiating. A key and mating receiver may be used on the base cap and the socket so as to prevent accidental insertion of an inappropriate lamp.

Claims

1. A gas discharge lamp comprising:

a tubular glass envelope having a first end and a second end;

a base cap placed on the first end of said tubular glass envelope;

a disk cap connected to the base cap at an end of the base cap opposite from the second end of the tubular glass envelope, the disk cap having a radius larger than a radius of the base cap;

a contact pin formed on the disk cap and extending longitudinally toward the opposing second end of said tubular glass envelope; and

a pin shield extending from an outer edge of the disk cap in a direction toward the second end of said tubular glass envelope.

2. A gas discharge lamp as in claim 1 further comprising:

a window placed in said base cap,

whereby said window permits light to be seen when the lamp is operating providing visual confirmation that the gas discharge lamp is on.

3. A gas discharge lamp as in claim 1 further comprising:

an end cap placed on the second end of said tubular glass envelope; and

electrode wires extending along said tubular glass envelope coupling an electrode adjacent said end cap to said contact pin.

4. A gas discharge lamp as in claim 1 further comprising:

a key placed on said base cap; and

a receiver adapted to receive said key placed on a socket adapted to receive the gas discharge lamp,

whereby said key and receiver mate in a predetermined angular orientation.

5. An ultraviolet lamp used for disinfecting a fluid comprising:

a glass envelope having a first end and a second end;

a cylindrical base attached to the first end of said glass envelope;

a disk cap attached to said cylindrical base, said disk cap having a diameter greater than said cylindrical base;

contact pins extending from said disk cap along said cylindrical base and extending toward the second end of said glass envelope; and

a pin shield extending from an outer edge of the disk cap in a direction toward the second end of said glass envelope;

whereby the ultraviolet lamp is structured to be inserted within a chamber and said contact pins are structured to engage a socket.

6. An ultraviolet lamp used for disinfecting a fluid as in claim 5 further comprising:

a key placed on said disk cap.

7. An ultraviolet lamp used for disinfecting a fluid as in claim 6 further comprising:

a receiver adapted to receive said key placed on a socket adapted to receive the ultraviolet lamp,

whereby said key and receiver mate in a predetermined angular orientation.

8. An ultraviolet lamp used for disinfecting a fluid as in claim 6 further comprising:

a protective tube placed over said glass envelope.

9. An ultraviolet lamp used for disinfecting a fluid comprising:

a tubular glass envelope having a first end and a second end;

a cylindrical base attached to the first end of said tubular glass envelope;

a disk cap attached to said cylindrical base, said disk cap having a diameter greater than said cylindrical base;

contact pins extending from said disk cap along said cylindrical base and having distal ends extending from said disk cap and toward the second end of said tubular glass envelope; and

a pin shield extending from an outer edge of the disk cap in a direction toward the second end of said glass envelope,

whereby the ultraviolet lamp is structured to be inserted within a chamber, said contact pins are structured to engage a socket, and said contact pins are protected from inadvertent contact and damage by said cylindrical shield.

10. An ultraviolet lamp used for disinfecting a fluid as in claim 9 further comprising:

a window placed in said disk cap,

whereby said window permits light to be seen when the lamp is operating providing visual confirmation that the ultraviolet lamp is on.

11. An ultraviolet lamp used for disinfecting a fluid as in claim 9 further comprising:

a key placed on said disk cap.

12. An ultraviolet gas discharge lamp assembly comprising:

a glass envelope having a first end and a second end;

a protective tube covering said glass envelope;

a cylindrical base attached to the first end of said glass envelope;

a disk cap attached to said cylindrical base, said disk cap having a diameter greater than said cylindrical base;

contact pins extending from said disk cap along said cylindrical base and extending toward the second end of said glass envelope; and

a pin shield extending from an outer edge of the disk cap in a direction toward the second end of said glass envelope;

whereby the ultraviolet lamp is structured to be inserted within a chamber, and said contact pins are structured to engage a socket.

13. An ultraviolet gas discharge lamp assembly as in claim 12 further comprising:

a window placed in said disk cap,

whereby said window permits light to be seen when the ultraviolet gas discharge lamp is operating providing visual confirmation that the ultraviolet gas discharge lamp is on.

14. An ultraviolet gas discharge lamp assembly as in claim 12 further comprising:

a key placed on said cylindrical base or disk cap; and

a receiver adapted to receive said key placed on a socket adapted to receive the ultraviolet gas discharge lamp,

whereby said key and receiver mate in a predetermined angular orientation.

15. An ultraviolet lamp used for disinfecting a fluid comprising:

a glass envelope having a first end and a second end;

a cylindrical base attached to the first end of said glass envelope;

a disk cap attached to said cylindrical base, said disk cap having a diameter greater than said cylindrical base;

contact pins extending from said disk cap along said cylindrical base and extending toward the second end of said glass envelope;

a shield attached to said disk cap and extending from said disk cap toward the second end of said glass envelope; and

means for mating with a socket, formed on said cylindrical base, disk cap, or shield,

whereby the ultraviolet lamp structured to be inserted within a chamber and said contact pins are structured to engage the socket.

16. An ultraviolet lamp used for disinfecting a fluid as in claim 15 wherein:

said means for mating with a socket comprises a key.

17. An ultraviolet lamp used for disinfecting a fluid as in claim 15 wherein:

said means for mating with a socket comprises a receiver.

18. An ultraviolet lamp used for disinfecting a fluid as in claim 15 further comprising:

a window formed in said disk cap,

whereby said window permits light to be seen when the ultraviolet lamp is operating providing visual confirmation that the ultraviolet lamp is on.

19. An ultraviolet lamp and socket system used for disinfecting a fluid in a chamber suitable for holding the fluid comprising:

a glass envelope having a first end and a second end;

a cylindrical base attached to the first end of said glass envelope;

a disk cap attached to said cylindrical base, said disk cap having a diameter greater than said cylindrical base;

contact pins extending from said disk cap along said cylindrical base and extending toward the second end of said glass envelope;

a pin shield extending from an outer edge of the disk cap in a direction toward the second end of said glass envelope

a socket structured to attach to the chamber, said socket having a hole there through adapted to receive said glass envelope and said cylindrical base, said socket having contact pin holes positioned to receive said contact pins, wherein said contact pins enter the contact pin holes upon advancing said glass envelope and said cylindrical base through the holes in said socket;

whereby the ultraviolet lamp is structured to be inserted within the chamber and powered only when said contact pins are caused to engage the contact pin holes in said socket, and the ultraviolet lamp is fully enclosed by the chamber thereby preventing any inadvertent exposure outside of the chamber to ultraviolet radiation from the energized ultraviolet lamp.

20. An ultraviolet lamp and socket system used for disinfecting a fluid as in claim 19 further comprising:

a window placed in said disk cap,

whereby said window permits light to be seen when the ultraviolet lamp is operating providing visual confirmation that the ultraviolet lamp is on.

21. A base cap to be fitted on an end of a glass envelope and designed to couple with a socket, the base cap comprising:

a cylindrical base comprising a first end and a second end, the first end being open to receive the glass envelope therein;

a disk cap connected to the second end of the cylindrical base, the disk cap having a radius larger than a radius of the cylindrical base;

at least one contact pin formed on the disk cap and extending toward the first end of the cylindrical base; and

a pin shield connected to an outer edge of the disk cap and extending toward the first end of the cylindrical base.