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US 4,361,782 AGranted
Jacketed discharge lamp having oxidizable fail-safe switch
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorGilbert H. Reiling
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A jacketed discharge lamp which would release ultraviolet radiation in the event of fracture of the outer envelope is provided with a disabling fuse link which oxidizes in the event of breakage. The link consists of an alkaline earth metal film, suitably a barium film which may be deposited on a ceramic substrate for connection into the circuit. The outer envelope is evacuated or may contain an inert gas.
Claims5
A jacketed electric lamp comprising:
- a vitreous outer envelope having inleads sealed thereinto;
- an arc tube within said outer envelope, said arc tube being made of material which transmits ultraviolet radiation;
- said arc tube having electrodes sealed into its ends and containing an ionizable medium which produces radiation including ultraviolet which is normally intercepted at the outer envelope;
- and means connecting the electrodes of the arc tube to the inleads of the outer envelope, said means including an oxidizable fuse conductor formed by a thin film of an alkaline earth metal on a non-conductive substrate, said film operating as a low resistance conductive bridge in said connecting means,
- and a vacuum or an inert gas filling in said outer envelope whereby said fuse conductor will oxidize and open-circuit the arc tube only upon fracture of said outer envelope and entry of air into it.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.