FLASH LAMP AND CIRCUITRY FOR USE WITH AN INCANDESCENT LIGHT

Abstract: A flash (10) lamp in which a flash tube (12), transformer (14), capacitor (16) and base (18) are coupled together to form a unitary integral lamp. A portion of the flash tube (12) the transformer (14) and capacitor (16) may be encapsulated by a potting compound. An electrical circuit consisting of a flash lamp and a conventional incandescent light is also provided for operation in parallel from a remotely located power supply.

Description: - 1 - FLASH LAMP AND ' CIRCUITRY FOR USE WITH AN INCANDESCENT LIGHT CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application is a continuation-in-part of my U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 376,752, entitled, "Flash Lamp: and filed on May 10, 1982, the benefit of which filing date is being claimed herein. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention concerns a novel flash lamp and flash lamp assembly. The novel flash lamp has particular applications in circuitry for operation in parallel with a conventional incandescent light or lamp. In emergency lights, such as emergency ve¬ hicle light bars, incandescent lamps having a dual contact bayonet base are often used. I have discovered a flash lamp assembly that can be easily substituted for this type of incandescent lamp. It is to be under¬ stood, however, that my invention is not limited to use in emergency vehicle light bars. My invention may take various forms in which a simple flash lamp as¬ sembly is provided having a two-contact circuit in con¬ trast to the prior art three-contact circuits. For example, a conventional flash tube has two end contacts which may be designated an anode and a cathode for convenience, although these designations may be arbitrary. The conventional flash lamp also has a trigger electrode, often in the form of a metal band. In con¬ ventional prior art flash circuits, all three electrodes must be connected to external circuitry, and thus the prior art flash tube assemblies cannot be merely in¬ serted into an ordinary two-contact receptacle such as used with the conventional incandescent lamp. In another aspect of my invention, I have developed circuitry in which, my improved flash lamp assembly can be operated in parallel with a conventional incandescent lamp so that only a single power supply wire is required for connection. A conventional in- candescent lamp and a conventional prior art flash lamp could be operated off the same power supply line only if the power source for the flash lamp was housed in the same package. For purpose of convenience in illustration, a schematic circuit in block diagram form showing this prior art construction is shown in Fig¬ ure 9 and has been designated with the legend "Prior Art". This prior art arrangement suffers from the disadvantage of requiringthe mounting of the power source in close proximity to the flash lamp which would be impractical where the flash lamp is installed in a re¬ mote location such as on the wingtips of an aircraft. Thus, not only would such construction require ad¬ ditional wiring, it would not be appropriate due to limitations of space and weight. It is, therefore, an object of the present in¬ vention to provide a flash, lamp that is insertable into an incandescent lamp receptacle. Another object of the present invention is to provide a flash lamp in which the flash lamp assembly is formed in a unitary, integral construction. A further object of the present invention is to provide a flash, lamp assembly in which a flash tube, transformer, capacitor and base are coupled together to form a unitary, integral lamp, with all or a portion of the flash tube, the transformer and capacitor being en¬ capsulated by a potting compound. <** INS ITUTE SHEET A further object of the present invention is to provide a flash lamp which is simple in construc¬ tion and easy to manufacture. Still another object of the present inven- tion is to provide an electrical circuit including a novel flash lamp assembly and an conventional in¬ candescent lamp connected in parallel and housed in a single package where the power supply for the same is adapted to be located at any desired remote area. Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent as the description pro¬ ceeds. ' SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with, the present invention, a flash lamp is provided which comprises a flash tube having an anode, a cathode and a trigger electrode. A transformer and a capacitor are electrically coupled to the flash tube and a multi-contact lamp base is provided. The anode of the flash tube is connected to another base contact. The flash tube, transformer, capacitor and base all form a unitary integral lamp. In the illustrative embodiment, the lamp in¬ cludes potting means encapsulating a portion or all of . the flash tube, the transformer and the capacitor. The base has a main hollow metallic body forming a ground contact and having a single centrally-located bottom contact, with the anode connected to the bottom contact and the cathode connected to the ground con¬ tact. In the illustrative embodiment, the flash lamp assembly comprises the flash tube, transformer, capacitor and means connecting the capacitor in series with the transformer primary. One side of the cap¬ acitor is connected to one side of the transformer primary and the other side of the capacitor is con¬ nected to either the anode or cathode. . The other side of the transformer primary is connected to the other <_?! fp*r , 7» * r-* IT". _-, electrode of the flash ' tube. One side of the trans¬ former secondary is connected to the trigger electrode of the flash tube and the other side of the transformer secondary is connected to either the anode or cathode. The electrical circuit includes the novel flash lamp and a conventional incandescent lamp connected in parallel therewith. A first end of the flash lamp is connected to a diode in series with a first end of the incandescent lamp, and the second end of the flash lamp is connected to the second end of the incandescent lamp. A single power supply wire is connected to the junction of the first end of the flash lamp and the diode in series with, the incandescent lamp and to one end of a remotely located power supply. In a second embodiment of the electrical circuit, a first end of the flash lamp is connected to an inductor in series with a first end of the in¬ candescent lamp, and the second end of the flash lamp is connected to the second end of the incandescent lamp. A more detailed explanation of the invention is provided in the following description and claims, and is illustrated in the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a flash tube constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention; FIGURE 2 is an enlarged view thereof, with portions broken away to show the interior thereof; . FIGURE 3 is an exploded view thereof; FIGURE 4 is a schematic circuit diagram of a flash, lamp assembly constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention; FIGURES 5-8 are schematic circuit diagrams of flash lamp assemblies constructed in accordance with modified forms of the invention; - 5 - FIGURE 9 is a schematic circuit in block diagram form, illustrating the prior art construction in which the power source is positioned in close prox¬ imity to the conventional flash lamp, FIGURE 10 is a schematic circuit in block diagram form, illustrating an embodiment of the elec¬ trical circuit according to the present invention in which the power source is disposed at a remote loca¬ tion; and FIGURE 11 is a schematic circuit in block diagram form, illustrating another embodiment of the electrical circuit according to the present invention. • DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE • ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS Referring to FIGURES 1-4 of the drawings, a flash lamp 10 is shown therein comprising a flash tube 12, a transformer.14, a capacitor 16, a contact base 18 and a central body portion 20. Flash tube 12 may comprise a conventional flash tube having a first electrode 22 which for con¬ venience will be designated an anode, a second elec¬ trode 24 which for convenience will be designated a cathode, and a trigger electrode 26 which extends from metal trigger band 28. Although no limitation is in- tended, flash tube 12 may be General Electric Model FT-106C. Transformer 14 is preferably a miniature transformer and although no limitation is intended, transformer 14 may comprise a Siemens ZS-1062 trans- former. Capacitor 16 is preferably a disc ceramic capa¬ citor and although, no limitation is intended, capacitor 16 may comprise a Sprague 5GAS-S10 capacitor. ■ Base 18 is preferably a metal base having a pair of opposed bayonet pins 30, a centrally positioned electrical contact 32 surrounded by a non-conductive high temperature insulator 34, with the remainder of base 18 for¬ ming a ground contact. Uβ.'U«. _~»>-*-*3 * r»ϊiT ■**■ U • — »E*— S*~HEET Referring to FIGURE 2, it can be seen that base 18 is hollow to enclose transformer 14 and capa¬ citor 16. Electrical lead 36 couples anode 22 to lead 38 of capacitor 16 while lead 40 of capacitor 16 is connected to one side 42 of transformer primary 44. Lead 46 connects the other side of transformer pri¬ mary 44 to the ground contact of base 18 and to one side of the transformer secondar -48. Lead 50 con¬ nects trigger electrode 26 to the other side of the transformer secondary 48. Central body portion 20 is formed of a potting compound which, fills hollow base 18 to encapsulate transformer 14 and capacitor 16 therewithin, and to form a portion of the housing for the flash lamp. It can be seen that the flash tube 12, transformer 14, capa¬ citor 16, base 18 and central body portion 20 combine together to form a unitary, integral lamp 10. Although, no limitation is intended, the potting compound which forms central body portion 20 and en- capsulates an epoxy resin such as ' "Sylgard" brand elas¬ tomer No. 184 sold by Dow Corning Corp. of Midland, Michigan. It is desirable that base 18 be a conventional incandescent lamp type two-contact bayonet base. In this manner, flash lamp 10 can be easily substituted into a conventional bayonet receptacle for incandescent lamps. In other forms of the invention, as illustrated in FIGURES 5-8, series injection type flash tube as¬ semblies are provided. As illustrated in FIGURE 5, the flash tube anode 22 is connected in series with the primary 54 of a transformer 56, while the cathode 24 and trigger electrode 28 are connected directly to ground line 58. One side of secondary 60 of transformer 56 is connected to primary 54 and the other side of secondary 60 is connected to a capacitor 62 which is connected to ground line 58. SU2STSTUTE SHEET - 7 - In the embodiment of FIGURE 6, which is similar to the embodiment of FIGURE 5, one side of secondary 60 is connected to cathode 24 while the other side of secondary 60 is connected through capa- citor 62 to primary 54. In the FIGURE 7 embodiment, primary 54 is in series with cathode 24 of flash tube 12. One side of capacitor 62 is connected to anode 22 while the other side of capacitor 62 is connected to one side of secondary 60. The other side of secondary 60 is con¬ nected to primary 54. In the FIGURE 8 embodiment, which is similar to the FIGURE 7 embodiment, one side of secondary 60 is connected to anode 22 while the other side of secondary 60 is connected to one side of capacitor 62. The other side of capacitor 62 is connected to primary 54. As used in the specification and claims, the terms "anode." and "cathode" are for convenience only. There is no -intention for one or the other to be limited to the electrode which is connected to the ground line or the higher voltage line. In FIGURE 10, there is shown a schematic circuit in block diagram form according to the present in¬ vention. The elements corresponding to those shown in Figure 1 are- designated with, similar reference numerals. The electrical circuit 80 includes the novel flash lamp 10 and a conventional incandescent light or lamp 82 coupled in series with a diode 94. The incandescent lamp and the diode 94 are " connected in parallel with the flash. lamp 10. The base 18 of the lamp which is the ground contact is coupled via lead line 84 to one end of the incandescent lamp 82. The centrally positioned electrical contact 32 of the lamp 10 is coupled via lead line 86 to the anode of the diode 94. The cathode of the diode 94 is connected to the other end of the incandescent lamp 82. A single power supply wire 88- is connected to the juncture of the flash lamp 10 and- the anode of the S UBSTITUTE SHEET diode 94 and to one end of a power supply 90. Thus, it can be seen that the flash lamp and the incandescent lamp with series diode may be housed in a single package 92 and are operated in parallel by the same power supply 90 which is disposed at a re¬ mote location. Only the single wire 88 is required to make connection between the power supply 90 and the package 92. In FIGURE 11, there is shown another embodi- ent of the electrical circuit in block diagram form in accordance with the present invention. The elements corresponding to those shown in Figure 10 are designated with similar reference numerals. Unlike the circuitry shown in Figure 10, an inductor has been connected in the place of the diode 94. In all other respects, the construction of the circuitry is identical to that of Figure 10. In particular, the electrical circuit 80 consists of the novel flash lamp 10 and the conventional incandescent lamp 82 coupled in series with an inductor 96. The incandescent lamp and the inductor 96 are connected in* parallel with the flash lamp 10. The base 18 of the lamp 10 which is the ground contact is coupled via lead line 84 to one end of the incandescent lamp 82. The centrally positioned electrical contact 32 of the lamp 10 is coupled via lead line 86 to one end of the inductor 96. The other end of the in¬ ductor 96 is connected to the other end of the in¬ candescent lamp 82. A single power supply wire 88 is connected to the juncture of the flash lamp 10 and the inductor 96 and to one end of a power supply 90. Similarly, the flash, lamp, and the incandescent lamp with series inductor may be housed in a single package 92 and are operated in parallel by the same power supply 90 which is disposed at a remote location. ■mj m- 1__> < W ϊ if t 5 U _> Ti £. S_ l OΛ-.PI . Λ V/iPO - 9 - From the foregoing detailed description, it can thus be seen that the present invention provides an improved flash lamp assembly which is formed in a unitary, integral construction and is adapted for insertion into a conventional incandescent lamp re¬ ceptacle. Further, there are provided electrical circuits consisting of the improved flash lamp and a conventional incandescent lamp for operation in par¬ allel and housed in a single package where the power supply is disposed at a remote location. While there has been illustrated and de¬ scribed what is at present to be preferred embodiments of the present invention, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes and mod- ifications may be made, and equivalents may be sub¬ stituted for elements thereof without departing from the true scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situ- ation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the central scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that this invention not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed as the best modes contemplated for carrying out this inven¬ tion, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims. SUBSTITUTE SHEET

Claims: CLAIMS ' 1. A flash lamp which comprises: a flash tube having an anode, a cathode and a trigger elec¬ trode; a transformer and capacitor circuit coupled to said anode, cathode and trigger electrode; a multi-contact lamp base; means connecting said anode to one base contact and said cathode to another base contact; said flash, tube, transformer and capacitor circuit and said base all forming a unitary, integral lamp. 2. A flash lamp as described in Claim 1, said lamp including potting means encapsulating a portion of said flash tube and said transformer and capacitor circuit. 3. A flash lamp as described in Claim 1, said base comprising a hollow substantially metal member and said transformer and capacitor circuit being located within said base. 4. A flash lamp as described in Claim 1, said transformer and capacitor circuit comprising a transformer and a capacitor; means connecting the capacitor in series with, the transformer primary. 5. A flash lamp as described in Claim 4, wherein one side of the capacitor is connected to one side of the transformer primary and the other side of the capacitor is connected to one of said anode and cathode; and the other side of the transformer primary is connected to the other of said anode and cathode. 6. A flash lamp as described in Claim 5, wherein one side of the transformer secondary is con¬ nected to said trigger electrode and the other side of the secondary is connected to one of said anode and cathode. 7. A flash, lamp as described in Claim 1, said lamp base having a main hollow metallic body forming a - 11 - ground contact and having a single centrally-located bottom contact; means connecting said anode to said bottom contact and said cathode to said ground contact. 8. A flash lamp as described in Claim 7, in which said lamp base includes a bayonet pin. 9. A flash lamp which comprises: a flash tube having an anode, a cathode and a trigger electrode; a transformer and a capacitor electrically coupled to said flash tube; a bayonet lamp base having a main hollow metallic body forming a ground contact and having a single centrally-locally bottom contact; means connecting said anode to said bottom contact and said cathode to said ground contact; said lamp including potting means encapsulating a portion of said flash tube, said transformer and capacitor; said flash tube, transformer, capacitor and base all forming a unitary, integral lamp. 10. A flash lamp assembly which comprises: a flash tube having an anode, a cathode and a trigger electrode; a transformer having a primary and a sec¬ ondary; a capacitor; means connecting said capacitor in series with said transformer primary, with one side of the capacitor being connected to one ' side of the trans¬ former primary and the other side of the capacitor being connected to one of said anode and cathode; means con¬ necting the other side of the transformer primary to one of said anode and cathode; means connecting one side of the transformer secondary to said trigger electrode; and means connecting the other side of the transformer secondary to one of said anode and cathode. 11. A flash, lamp assembly as described in Claim 10, wherein said other side of the capacitor is connected to said anode, and said other side of the transformer primary is connected to said cathode. 12. A flash lamp assembly as described in Claim 11, wherein said other side of the transformer secondary is connected to said cathode. SUBSTITUTE SHEET - 12 - 13. An electrical circuit comprising: a flash lamp, said flash lamp having a flash tube with an anode, a cathode and a trigger electrode; a bayonet lamp base having a main hollow metallic body forming a ground contact and having a single centrally-located bottom contact; said anode of said flash tube being connected to said bottom contact and said cathode of said flash tube being connected to said ground contact; a diode having an anode and a cathode; an incandescent lamp having its one end connected to said cathode of said diode and having its other end connected to said cathode of said flash tube; said anode 'of said diode being connected to said anode of said flash tube; and said anode of said diode connected to said anode of said flash lamp being adapted for coupling to a single power supply wire of a power supply, said power supply being disposed remotely from said flash lamp and said incandescent lamp. 14. An electrical circuit as claimed in Claim ■ 14, wherein said flash lamp, said diode and said in¬ candescent lamp are housed in a single package. 15. An electrical circuit comprising: a flash lamp, said flash lamp having a flash tube with an anode, a cathode and a trigger electrode; a bayonet ' lamp base having a main hollow metallic body forming a ground contact and having a single centrally-lo¬ cated bottom contact; said anode of said flash tube being connected to said bottom contact and said cathode of said flash tube being connected to said ground contact; an inductor having a first end and a second end; an incandescent lamp having its one end connected to said first end of said inductor and having it other end connected to said cathode of said flash tube; said second end of said inductor being connected to said anode of said flash, tube; and said second end of said inductor connected to said anode of said flash SUBSTITUTE SHEET C.V. Yλ tube being adapted for coupling to a single power supply wire of a power supply, said power supply being disposed remotely from said flash lamp and said in¬ candescent lamp. 16. An electrical circuit as claimed in Claim 15, where-in said flash lamp, said inductor and said incandescent lamp are housed in a single package. S UBSTITUTE SHEET

Inventors: EGGERS FREDERICK W, EGGERS, FREDERICK, W.
Applicants: FEDERAL SIGNAL CORP, FEDERAL SIGNAL CORPORATION
Application year: 1983
Main classification: H01J61
IPC codes: H01J61, H05B41