Ceramic arc tube mounting structure

Claim 2

A high intensity discharge lamp comprising: an outer vitreous envelope domed at one end and having a base attached to the other end, and a pair of inleads sealed into said envelope and connected to said base; a tubular ceramic envelope having electrodes sealed therein and containing an ionizable medium, a closure at the lower end of said envelope including a metal member serving as an inlead to the electrode, and a closure at the upper end of said envelope comprising a ceramic plug and a slender lead wire sealed therethrough; an arc tube mounting frame within said envelope comprising one side rod extending from one inlead to the dome end of said envelope, and a short support rod extending from the other inlead, said metal member inlead being rigidly connected to one of said rods; a transverse support member extending across from the other of said rods, said transverse support member being a smooth round wire making a single close-fitting loop around said slender lead wire, and a flexible conductor connecting said slender lead wire to said other rod.

Claim 3

A lamp as in claim 1 wherein said flexible conductor is a resilient metal ribbon.

Claim 4

A lamp as in claim 1 wherein said transverse support wire is smooth round wire of metal from the group consisting of niobium, zirconium, titanium, vanadium, molybdenum, tantalum, tungsten and alloys thereof.

Claim 5

A lamp as in claim 3 wherein said flexible conductor is a resilient ribbon of metal from the group consisting of niobium, zirconium, titanium, vanadium, molybdenum, tantalum, tungsten and alloys thereof.

Claim 6

A lamp as in claim 1 wherein said slender lead wire and said transverse support wire are both smooth round niobium wire.

Claim 7

A high intensity discharge lamp comprising: an outer vitreous envelope domed at one end and having a base attacHed to the other end, and a pair of inleads sealed into said envelope and connected to said base; a tubular ceramic envelope having electrodes sealed therein and containing an ionizable medium, a niobium metal end cap closure at the lower end of said envelope including a metal tube projecting through said end cap and serving as an inlead to the electrode, and a closure at the upper end of said envelope comprising a disc-like ceramic plug having a central perforation and a slender niobium lead wire sealed therethrough; an arc tube mounting frame within said envelope comprising one side rod extending from one inlead to the dome end of said envelope, and a short support rod extending from the other inlead, said metal tube inlead being rigidly connected to one of said rods; a transverse support member extending across from the other of said rods, said transverse support member being a smooth round refractory metal wire making a single close-fitting loop around said slender lead wire, and a curved resilient metal ribbon connecting said slender lead wire to said other rod and serving to bias said slender lead wire against one side of said loop.

Claim 8

A high intensity discharge lamp comprising: an outer vitreous envelope domed at one end and having a base attacHed to the other end, and a pair of inleads sealed into said envelope and connected to said base; a tubular ceramic envelope having electrodes sealed therein and containing an ionizable medium, a niobium metal end cap closure at the lower end of said envelope including a metal tube projecting through said end cap and serving as an inlead to the electrode, and a closure at the upper end of said envelope comprising a disc-like ceramic plug having a central perforation and a slender niobium lead wire sealed therethrough; an arc tube mounting frame within said envelope comprising one side rod extending from one inlead to the dome end of said envelope, and a short support rod extending from the other inlead, said metal tube inlead being rigidly connected to one of said rods; a transverse support member extending across from the other of said rods, said transverse support member being a smooth round refractory metal wire making a single close-fitting loop around said slender lead wire, and a curved resilient metal ribbon connecting said slender lead wire to said other rod and serving to bias said slender lead wire against one side of said loop.

Claim 9

A lamp as in claim 6 for base down operation wherein said metal tube inlead is rigidly connected to said short support rod, said side rod extending to the dome end of said envelope includes a reverted portion passing on the other side of said slender lead wire, and said transverse wire support member making a single loop around said slender lead wire extends from said side rod to said reverted portion.

Claim 10

A lamp as in claim 6 for base up operation wherein said metal tube inlead is rigidly connected to said side rod extending to the dome end of said envelope, and said transverse wire support member extends from said short support rod and makes a single close-fitting loop at its distal end around said slender lead wire.

Claim 11

A lamp as in claim 6 wherein said transverse wire support member is no greater in diameter than said slender lead wire and is of metal from the group consisting of niobium, zirconium, titanium, vanadium, molybdenum, tantalum, tungsten and alloys thereof.

Claim 12

A lamp as in claim 9 wherein said curved resilient ribbon is of metal from the group consisting of niobium, zirconium, titanium, vanadium, molybdenum, tantalum, tungsten and alloys thereof.