Protective ultraviolet-transmitting sleeve for fluorescent lamp
AssigneeGTE Sylvania Incorporated
InventorsRonald G. Blaisdell, Harold L. Hough, Robert E. Levin
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Abstract
A protective shield for an ultraviolet-emitting fluorescent lamp comprising a tubular sleeve coaxially surrounding the lamp envelope and formed of a plastic material, such as a fluorocarbon resin of a fluorinated ethylene-propylene, which has a spectral transmittance of at least about 80 percent of the ultraviolet radiation emitted from the lamp over the wavelength range from about 320 to 400 nanometers and substantially maintains such transmittance, along with mechanical integrity, after at least about 1000 hours of lamp operation.
Claims21
A lamp assembly comprising, in combination:
- an electric lamp having a frangible envelope and adapted for emitting a significant amount of ultraviolet radiation during normal operation;
- a protective shield for said lamp disposed in substantially adjacent relationship with said envelope and formed of a plastic material comprising a fluorocarbon resin having a wall thickness in the range of about 0.010 to 0.040 inch which has a spectral transmittance of at least about 80% of the ultraviolet radiation emitted from said lamp over the wavelength range from about 320 to 400 nanometers and, after at least 100 hours of normal operation of said lamp, maintains a transmittance of at least about 80% of said ultraviolet radiation and substantially maintains its mechanical integrity;
- and,
- means for retaining said shield in the aforesaid relationship with said envelope.
A protective shield for an ultraviolet-emitting lamp having a tubular glass envelope, said shield comprising a tubular sleeve adapted to coaxially surround said lamp envelope and formed of a plastic material comprisng a fluorocarbon resin having a wall thickness in the range of about 0.010 to 0.040 inch which has a spectral transmittance of at least about 80% of the ultraviolet radiation emitted from said lamp over the wavelength range from 320 to 400 nanometers and, after exposure to at least 1000 hours of normal operation of said lamp, maintains a transmittance of at least about 80% of said ultraviolet radiation and substantially maintains its mechanical integrity.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.