Safety switch which renders hid lamp inoperative on accidental breakage of outer envelope

Claim 2

In combination with a high-intensity discharge lamp comprising an elongated radiation-transmitting arc tube which is enclosed by and supported within a light-transmitting protective envelope which is opaque to short wavelength ultraviolet radiations, said arc tube enclosing a discharge-sustaining filling and having electrodes operatively positioned therein proximate the ends thereof, electrical lead-in means sealed through said arc tube and connected to said electrodes, electrical adaptor means affixed to the outer surface of said protective envelope to facilitate electrical connection of said lamp to a source of electrical power, and electrical conductor means electrically connecting said electrical adaptor means to said electrical lead-in means, the improvement which comprises: (a) a make-and-break switch means included in series circuit arrangement with said electrical conductor means, said switch means including an electrical contact member having an open position in which said switch means is electrically nonconductive and said electrical contact member also having a closed position in which said switch means is electrically conductive, a spring urging said electrical contact member to the open position, and said electrical contact member being movable to the closed position against the resilient force of said spring; (b) positioning means within said protective envelope for maintaining said switch means in predetermined position within said protective envelope, and a mechanical contact member of said positioned switch means pressing against the inner surface of said protective envelope to maintain said electrical contact member in said closed electrically conductive position against the resilient force of said spring; whereby breakage of said protective envelope will permit said electrical contact member to move to said open electrically nonconductive position under the resilient force of said spring to render said lamp inoperative.

Claim 3

The lamp as specified in claim 1, wherein said lamp is of the high-pressure, mercury-vapor discharge type.

Claim 4

The lamp as specified in claim 2, wherein said spring has the configuration of a leaf spring.

Claim 5

The lamp as specified in claim 1, wherein said mechanical contact member presses against the inner-surface portion of said protective envelope which is furthest removed from said electrical adaptor means.

Claim 6

In combination with a high-intensity discharge lamp comprising an elongated radiation-transmitting arc tube which is enclosed by and supported within a light-transmitting protective envelope which is opaque to short wavelength ultraviolet radiations, said arc tube enclosing a discharge-sustaining filling and having electrodes operatively positioned therein proximate the ends thereof, electrical lead-in means sealed through said arc tube and connected to said electrodes, electrical adaptor means affixed to the outer surface of said protective envelope to facilitate electrical connection of said lamp to a source of electrical power, and electrical conductor means electrically connecting said electrical adaptor means to said electrical lead-in means, the improvement which comprises: (a) a make-and-break switch means included in series circuit arrangement with said electrical conductor means as a part thereof, said switch means including a mechanically-actuated contact member having an open position in which said switch means is electrically nonconductive and said contact member also having a closed position in which said switch means is electrically conductive; (b) positioning means within said protective envelope for maintaining both said switch means and said arc tube in predetermined position within said protective envelope, said switch means comprising a resilient leaf spring body having one end thereof rigidly fixed to said positioning means with the other end thereof being movable against the resiliency of said leaf spring body, said switch means contact member affixed to said leaf spring body proximate the movable end thereof, a double-ended rigid switch actuating member having one end thereof affixed proximate said movable end of said leaf spring body and the other end thereof urged by the resiliency of said leaf spring body into contact with the inner surface of said protective envelope, an arc tube electrical contact means electrically connected to a lead-in means of said arc tube, the dimensions of said switch actuating member normally causing the movable end of said leaf spring body to be urged against its resiliency toward said arc tube to cause said switch means contact member to electrically contact said arc tube electrical contact means to maintain said switch means in said closed position, and breakage of said protective envelope permitting said switch actuating member to be moved away from said arc tube by the resiliency of said leaf spring body to break the electrical contact between said switch means contact member and said arc tube contact means to place said switch means in said open position.

Claim 7

In combination with a high-intensity discharge lamp comprising an elongated radiation-transmitting arc tube which is enclosed by and supported within a light-transmitting protective envelope which is opaque to short wavelength ultraviolet radiations, said arc tube enclosing a discharge-sustaining filling and having electrodes operatively positioned therein proximate the ends thereof, electrical lead-in means sealed through said arc tube and connected to said electrodes, electrical adaptor means affixed to the outer surface of said protective envelope to facilitate electrical connection of said lamp to a source of electrical power, and electrical conductor means electrically connecting said electrical adaptor means to said electrical lead-in means, the improvement which comprises: (a) a make-and-break switch means included in series circuit arrangement with said electrical conductor means as a part thereof, said switch means including a mechanically-actuated contact member having an open position in which said switch means is electrically nonconductive and said contact member also having a closed position in which said switch means is electrically conductive; (b) positioning means within said protective envelope for maintaining both said switch means and said arc tube in predetermined position within said protective envelope, said switch means comprising a resilient leaf spring body having one end thereof rigidly fixed to said positioning means with the other end thereof being movable against the resiliency of said leaf spring body, said switch means contact member affixed to said leaf spring body proximate the movable end thereof, a double-ended rigid switch actuating member having one end thereof affixed proximate said movable end of said leaf spring body and the other end thereof urged by the resiliency of said leaf spring body into contact with the inner surface of said protective envelope, an arc tube electrical contact means electrically connected to a lead-in means of said arc tube, the dimensions of said switch actuating member normally causing the movable end of said leaf spring body to be urged against its resiliency toward said arc tube to cause said switch means contact member to electrically contact said arc tube electrical contact means to maintain said switch means in said closed position, and breakage of said protective envelope permitting said switch actuating member to be moved away from said arc tube by the resiliency of said leaf spring body to break the electrical contact between said switch means contact member and said arc tube contact means to place said switch means in said open position.

Claim 8

The lamp as specified in claim 5, wherein said arc tube electrical contact means comprises a second leaf spring body having one end thereof rigidly affixed to one of said lead-in means of said arc tube with the other end thereof movable against the resiliency of said second leaf spring body, and said switch means contact member in its normal position contacting said second leaf spring body proximate the movable end thereof with the contact therebetween maintained by the resiliency of both said switch means leaf spring body and the resiliency of said second leaf spring body to accommodate for tolerance differences.

Claim 9

The lamp as specified in claim 6, wherein said double-ended switch actuating member has one end thereof normally uged against the dome portion of said protective envelope.