Infrared heat irradiating device

• US 7,764,871 B2
• Filed: 07/25/2007
• Issued: 07/27/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Star Progetti Tecnologie Applicate S.p.A.
• Original Assignee: Star Progetti Tecnologie Applicate
• Inventors: Rodegher, Roberto
• Primary Examiner(s): Campbell; Thor S
• Application Number:
  US11/878,521
• Publication Number:
  US 20080056693A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,098 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 392/416
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/521 Sealing between contact members and housing, e.g. sealing insert
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/533 Bases, cases made for use in extreme conditions, e.g. high temperature, radiation, vibration, corrosive environment, pressure H01R13/52 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 33/9658 for tubular fluorescent lamps

Abstract

An infrared irradiating device (1) comprising:

• • a lamp-holder of a material adapted to withstand the thermal and mechanical stresses to which it is exposed in the conditions of use and adapted to house an irradiating system, an infrared bulb (2) inserted in the lamp-holder (20) and able to produces radiations in the infrared wavelength,
  • connector elements (15) at the ends of said infrared bulb (2), adapted to connect them to complementary connector elements (14) which carry an electrical supply cable (26) and further comprising means (10) to protect a connector element assembly (21) from infiltrations of water and from other external agents.

Claims

1. An infrared irradiating device (1) comprising:

a lamp-holder (20) of a material adapted to withstand the thermal and mechanical stresses to which it is exposed in conditions of use and adapted to house an irradiating system;

an infrared bulb (2) inserted in the lamp-holder (20) and adapted to produce radiations in the infrared wavelength, said bulb (2) having two ends (5);

connector elements (15) at each end (5) of said infrared bulb (2) removably connected to complementary connector elements (14), which carry an electrical supply cable (26) to form a connector element assembly (21),

characterized in that the device (1) further comprises a sheath (10) enclosing and protecting said connector element assembly (21) at each end of the bulb (2) from infiltrations of water and from other external agents, said sheaths (10) being composed of a silicone elastomer capable of withstanding temperatures up to 400°

C. and being removably fitted on each end (5) of the bulb (2) to elastically support the bulb (2) in the lamp-holder (20);

said bulb (2) comprising a filament (4) extending from one end to the other of said bulb (2) so that said bulb (2) has a heated surface throughout the length thereof.

2. An infrared irradiating device (1) according to claim 1 characterised in that said sheath (10) comprises a cylindrical portion (10′

) having an axial circular channel (24) and a channel narrowing (24′

) adapted to ensure a tight seal on the electrical supply cable (26).

3. An infrared irradiating device (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that said sheath (10) comprises a substantially rectangular portion (10″

) having an axial channel (24″

) rectangular in section, adapted to ensure the water-tightness for the connector element assembly by fitting for a length thereof on a flat end portion (5) of the infrared bulb (2).

4. An infrared irradiating device (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that said sheath (10) is adapted to be coupled to connection means (25) integral with the lamp-holder (20) to allow the housing and the support of the infrared bulb (2) by providing an elastic type fixing such as to allow the absorption of vibrations and/or of the small knocks due to the outdoor environment.

5. An infrared irradiating device (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that said silicone elastomer consists of a silicone material called MG7203N40.

6. An infrared irradiating device (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that said connector element assembly (21) comprises:

a cylinder of ceramic material (9), connected by means of heat welding to the ends (5) of the infrared bulb (2);

an electric cable (11) connected to said cylinder (9) of ceramic material;

a cable terminal (15), fixed firmly to said electric cable (11), adapted to be connected through the complementary connector elements (14) to the supply cable (26).

7. An infrared irradiating device (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that said connector element assembly (21) comprises a cable terminal (15) partially embedded in the ends (5) of the glass tube (3) of the infrared bulb (2) and connector elements (14) complementary to said cable terminal (15).

8. An infrared irradiating device (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that said connector element assembly (21) comprises a metal rod (6) protruding from each end (5) of the glass tube (3) of the infrared bulb (2) for its connection to the supply cable (26).

9. An infrared irradiating device (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that said cable terminal (15) is a male faston-type terminal and said complementary cable terminal (14) is a female faston-type terminal adapted to be connected to the male faston (15) or vice versa.