Electric reflector lamp

Abstract: The electric reflector lamp comprises a reflector body (1) with a neck-shaped portion (12) in which a transverse wall (18) with openings (17) is present. A light source (31) in a lamp vessel (32) with a seal (33) is mounted in the reflector body by means of a mounting member (34). The mounting member rests in axial direction against the stop (16) and is kept pressed against this stop by current conductors (4) which are fixed to the transverse wall with tension. For this purpose, metal tubes may be provided around the current conductors and fastened to said conductors. The lamp has a simple construction which can be easily realised.

Description: The invention relates to an electric reflector lamp comprising: a hollow moulded reflector body having an optical axis and having a neck-shaped portion with a transverse wall provided with openings; a lamp cap provided with contacts and connected to the neck-shaped portion; a light source in a lamp vessel with a seal, arranged in the reflector body and electrically connected to the contacts of the lamp cap by means of current conductors running through the openings in the transverse wall; a metal mounting member around the said seal of the lamp vessel, mounted in the neck-shaped portion. Such a reflector lamp is known from US 4 829 210. The known lamp has a mounting member which is fixed in the neck-shaped portion with clamping fit by means of, for example, a flanged rim which is possibly subdivided into tags. The mounting member in this construction is passed into the neck-shaped portion so far that the light source assumes the desired position in the reflector body. A disadvantage of the known lamp is that the lamp is sensitive to shocks and vibrations. During transport, for example, the mounting member may shift in the neck-shaped portion, so that the light source departs from its original position. Another disadvantage is that the manufacture of the lamp is complicated, since the position of the light source must be adjusted. It is an object of the invention to provide an electric reflector lamp of the kind described in the opening paragraph which is of a reliable construction which can be manufactured in a simple manner. According to the invention, this object is achieved in that the neck-shaped portion comprises a stop against which the mounting member rests in the direction of the axis and in that the current conductors are fixed to the transverse wall with tension. Owing to the construction of the reflector lamp according to the invention, the position of the light source is resistant to shocks and vibrations. The position is safeguarded on the one hand by the mounting member and the stop, and on the other hand by the current conductors. The stop also means that the position where the light source is placed during assembly is unequivocally defined. The stop may be formed by one or several projections in the neck-shaped portion, for example, a circumferential rim or several studs. An attractive embodiment is one in which a second stop is present at a distance in the direction of the axis. The reflector body then offers the possibility of accommodating a light source requiring a different position by means of a mounting member which is adapted as to its dimensions to said second stop. This is important because the reflector body is an expensive lamp component because of the mould required for its manufacture. It is favourable and inexpensive when the mounting member is a substantially flat plate which is possibly provided with tags which retain the seal of the lamp vessel for easy mounting. For example, metal plating, for example, steel plating of 0.38 to 0.45 mm thickness may be used for the mounting member. The plate may be covered with aluminium to achieve a high reflectivity. The current conductors may be fixed tautly tensioned during mounting of the light source in the reflector body, for example, with a force of 44 to 53 N. The mounting member may be pulled into a convex shape towards the lamp cap by this. Owing to temperature fluctuations caused by burning and extinguishing of the lamp, the tension may be partly lost in the course of lamp life. Generally, however, a tension of approximately 22 N will remain in the current conductors. The current conductors may be fixed to the transverse wall in various manners, for example, with glue or cement, or with welded joints. Bushes may be provided for this purpose in the openings, for example, tubular rivets. Alternatively, wire pieces may be fixed, to the current conductors ,for example transversely, at a surface of the transverse wall which faces the lamp cap. A favourable construction, however, is one in which a metal tube is fixed around a current conductor, for example, in that this tube is flattened and/or welded. In particular, a tube which widens towards the transverse wall may be used. This has the advantage that a comparatively thin tube can be used, which can be readily fastened, while it nevertheless rests securely against the transverse wall around the relevant opening. The reflector may be pressed from glass in a mould, or may be shaped from a synthetic resin which is, for example, pressed, cast or injection-moulded. The reflector body may be closed with a lid in the finished lamp, which lid is fastened with, for example, cement or glue. Pollution of the reflector can be counteracted by this. The lid, however, may in addition have an optical function, for example, forming a beam or smoothing the light. The lamp cap may be fastened to the reflector body in conventional manner with, for example, glue or cement. In an attractive embodiment, however, the neck-shaped portion has one or several pits into which the lamp cap is dimpled. Such pits may be readily obtained without provisions in the mould in that the reflector body is dented in while still hot upon leaving the mould. The light source may be, for example, an incandescent body or a pair of electrodes in an ionizable gas. An embodiment of the electric reflector lamp is shown in the drawing, in which Fig. 1 is an axial section of a lamp; Fig. 2 shows the lamp of Fig. 1 rotated through 90°. In Fig. 1 and 2, the electric reflector lamp has a hollow moulded reflector body 1, for example moulded from glass, with an optical axis 11 and a neck-shaped portion 12. The reflector body has, for example internally, a mirror coating, for example a vapour-deposited aluminium layer 19, but alternatively a dichroic mirror. The reflecting surface is smoothly curved. Alternatively, however, it may be faceted or subdivided into, for example, axial lanes. The reflector body 1 shown is closed off by a lid 10, for example made of moulded glass, which is fixed, for example, with cement. A lamp cap 2 provided with contacts 21, 22 is connected to the neck-shaped portion. A light source 31 is arranged in the reflector body and electrically connected to the contacts of the lamp cap 2 by means of current conductors 4. In the Figures, the light source is an incandescent body 31 in a gas comprising halogen in a lamp vessel 32. The current conductors 4 run through respective openings 17 in a transverse wall 18 in the neck-shaped portion 12. The neck-shaped portion 12 has a pit 15 into which the lamp cap 2 is dimpled so as to be securely fixed. The lamp vessel 32 has a seal 33 which is accommodated in a metal mounting member 34, a substantially flat plate in the Figures. The mounting member is mounted in the neck-shaped portion 12. The neck-shaped portion 12 has a stop 16 against which the mounting member 34 rests in the direction of the axis 11. The current conductors 4 are fixed to the transverse wall 18 so as to be tautly tensioned. The stop is formed by three projections, two of which are visible in each Figure. The lamp has a second stop 14 at an axial distance from the first stop. Although exhibiting a kink in the Figure, the current conductors 4 are tautly tensioned and pull the mounting member into a convex shape towards the lamp cap. A tube 41 is fixed around each of the current conductors 4, which tube rests against the transverse wall 18 at a side thereof facing the lamp cap 2. The tubes 41 widen conically towards the transverse wall 18 and rest against the latter, surrounding the openings 17. Melting fuses 42 are included in the current conductors 4.

Claims: An electric reflector lamp comprising: a hollow moulded reflector body (1) having an optical axis (11) and having a neck-shaped portion (12) with a transverse wall (18) provided with openings (17); a lamp cap (2) provided with contacts (21, 22) and connected to the neck-shaped portion (12); a light source (31) in a lamp vessel (32) with a seal, arranged in the reflector body (1) and electrically connected to the contacts (21, 22) of the lamp cap (2) by means of current conductors (4) running through the openings (17) in the transverse wall (18); a metal mounting member (34) around the said seal (33) of the lamp vessel (32), mounted in the neck-shaped portion (12), characterized in that the neck-shaped portion (12) comprises a stop (16) against which the mounting member (34) rests in the direction of the axis (11) and in that the current conductors (4) are fixed to the transverse wall (18) with tension. An electric reflector lamp as claimed in Claim 1, characterized in that the stop (16) is formed by at least one projection. An electric reflector lamp as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a second stop (14) is present at a distance from the stop (16) in the direction of the axis (11). An electric reflector lamp as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the current conductors (4) pull the mounting member (34) into a convex shape towards the lamp cap (2). An electric reflector lamp as claimed in Claim 1, 2 or 4, characterized in that a metal tube (41) is fixed around each of the current conductors (4), which tube rests against a surface of the transverse wall (18) facing the lamp cap. An electric reflector lamp as claimed in Claim 5, characterized in that the tubes (41) widen towards the transverse wall (18).

Inventors: FIELDS LARRY RAY, WILL JERALD DUANE, FIELDS, LARRY RAY, WILL, JERALD DUANE
Applicants: PHILIPS ELECTRONICS NV, PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.
Application year: 1991
Main classification: H01J5
IPC codes: F21V15, H01K7, H01K1, H01J5