Infrared radiation source

Claim 1

An infrared radiation source responsive to an output signal from an alternating current (AC) power supply for producing infrared radiation, comprising a tube of electrically nonconductive ceramic material, a plurality of closely spaced turns of ceramic coated wire wound on said tube over a portion of the length thereof, the ends of said wire terminating adjacent the same one end of said tube, a coating of high emissivity type material over said closely wound turns of ceramic-coated wire for increasing the infrared radiation of said wire at high temperatures, electrically nonconductive means for dielectrically supporting said tube at said one end thereof, a truncated cone having an inner surface which is optically reflective, the apex end of said cone being proximate said dielectric supporting means, means coaxially supporting said tube in said cone with said portion of said tube extending over the axial length of and beyond said truncated cone, a plate which is opaque to infrared radiation adjacent to and axially spaced from the other end of said tube, said plate having an aperture therein coaxial with said cone for producing a substantially cylindrical beam of infrared radiation, an alternating current line voltage stabilizer responsive to the output signal for producing a stabilized AC voltage, said stabilizer including a resonant transformer, and means for electrically connecting the output of said stabilizer to the ends of said wire, said connecting means comprising a variable resistor connected in series between said stabilizer and said wire for limiting the magnitude of the AC current passed thereby.