DE2165784A1 - Lighting fixtures for use underwater and in a wet environment - Google Patents

Description

PATENT LAWYERS DR.-ING. H. FINCKE DIPL.-ING. H. BOHR DIPL.-ING. S. STAEGER

Telephone: '26 60 60 Telegrams: Claims Munich Posischeckkonto: Mönchen 27044

Bank details: Bayerische Vereinsbank Munich, account 620404

Folder No. 8939
Please indicate in the answer

8 MUNICH S, Müllerstrasse 31

3 0 DEC. 1971

Gases 61 959/70 7166/71

to the patent application

Electronic Control & Surveillance Limited, Beiton Lane, Grantham, Lincolnshire / England

and
Michael Gordon Boddy, Newark, Nottinghamshire, England

and
Graham Swwell, Huddersfield, England

and
Michael Sewell, Bingham, England

concerning

"Lighting fixtures for use underwater and in wet environment "

Priority: 31-12.1970

3/15/1971 - England

The invention relates to a lighting fixture that can be used not only under water but also generally in a wet environment can be used, for example, where examinations

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be carried out on pipelines.

The lighting in all these conditions offers various options Problems, the most important of which is that of sprinkling or total or partial immersion of a lamp of high working temperature in water a failure of the glass lamp cover due to overheating is to be feared. Water in and around electrical connections is also a hazard. Furthermore, it has so far been a failure too avoid, necessary, take precautions against entry of water in underwater connections or plug contacts and lamp housings.

Well they are due to their ratio of light output / physical Dimensions as well as, due to their 3? Ar temperature, tungsten-halogen, for example tungsten-iodine lamps, are very suitable both for underwater as well as pipe or pipeline surveillance work in association with specially designed television and Film cameras. When inspecting with! Television in wastewater * and similar pipelines and in a similar water environment, tungsten-halogen lamps have even become one Sprinkling or showering in acid and alkali effluents and exposed to liquids. However, since quartz and other types of glass are used for bulbs for eolohe light sources be used under acid or alkali attack, too if this is mild, failure, was with such a lamp for the protection of a liquid-tight lamp housing required, which essentially reduces not only the physical size and weight of the unit, but also the related Costs increased.

In accordance with the invention, for use under water and / or In a naaser environment an improved lighting fixture of a form can be created in which the protection of a waterproof larapen housing and the electric (Steok) connector is not required.

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The lighting fixture according to the invention comprises an electrical one Low voltage lamp that has a working voltage that is 50 volts does not exceed, has and within an outer bulb on practically inert glass with an extremely high Resistance to Xhermoshock is included and which has the property of any occurring within the unit chemical reaction not to contaminate, since a cavity is provided between lamp and bulb, which at least was evacuated to such an extent that expansion of both the lamp and the est gas or .the air within of the cavity is possible that stresses on the piston

to

or a rupture of the piston from the inside would be feared, this piston is also of such a mechanical design that it withstands substantial external pressures in water is able to hold and whereby the construction of the unit ensures that residual gas or air is chemically unchanged remains, regardless of the heat generated inside the outer bulb by the lamp,

Thus, while any suitable low voltage electrical lamp is incorporated into the improved lighting fixture it is most beneficial. any suitable tungsten halogen *., e.g. Tungsten iodine lamp with a working voltage of for example 24 volts, but more than 50 volts (direct current or alternating current) should not go out to use. It is usually preferred to use a standardized lower voltage tungsten iodine lamp.

While again the outer piston of any suitable Glass with a low coefficient of thermal expansion and d. so that can be with a high resistance to Ihermoshock, an outer jacket made of boron-coated glass is preferred. Borosilicate is a double salt of boric and silica.

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The necessary electrical connections to the lamp can expediently be provided on two metal pins that the Put the outer piston through a glass / metal seal. Since the working voltage is relatively low, only occurs low leakage current directly between the pins during the entire immersion in water or a saturated salt solution on; and this can be circumvented by creating a long Leek current path between the pins, either, by sheathing the pins and feed conductors directly connected to them with an insulating material or by one provides a freely floodable lamp holder of the kind to be described · the exclusion of water or saline solution from the pins or the lamp socket is not necessary, provided that the leakage current path between the conductors long is

One is enough! long electrical leakage path for this Purpose is formed when the lighting fixture fits together with said freely floodable lamp socket.

For easier understanding and easier practical Implementation of the invention is now to be based on an exemplary embodiment of a freely floodable lamp socket will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which

Pig .. 1 a longitudinal section through a BäLeuohtungskörper shows up;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section through the lighting fixture which can be inserted into a freely floodable lamp socket;

Pig, 3 is a longitudinal section through the lamp holder itself the line III-III in Fig. 4; and

Fig. 4- is a front view of the lamp socket towards of the arrow B in Pig. 3 and

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Pig. Figure 5 is a detailed illustration of the base of the outer Bulb showing how the lamp pins of the lighting fixture are connected directly to twin flags are.

In Pig. 1 it can be seen that the luminaire body has a tungsten-halogen lamp 1 which is encapsulated within an outer bulb 2 made of borosilicate glass. According to this particular embodiment, the lamp 1 is a standardized low-voltage tungsten iodine lamp with a tungsten wire 3 which is encapsulated within a lamp or a bulb 4 made of quartz glass. The working voltage of the lamp 1 is 24 volts direct current or alternating current and its rated power is 70 watts. At such a low voltage, the light output of the lamp is 1750 lumens.

The lighting fixture just described is one with internal ones and outer bulb, i.e. an inner bulb4 made of quartz glass, which encapsulates the wire 3, and an outer protective bulb 2 made of borosilicate glass

Tungsten pins 5 penetrate the base 2a of the outer glass envelope 2 and are electrically connected to the ends of the tungsten wire 3. At 6 a liiokel brace arm is shown.

Between the lamp 1 and the outer borosilicate glass bulb 2 there is a cavity G which is evacuated and thus forms a vacuum in which the tungsten-halogen lamp 1 can work unaffected by the external environment up to the outer bulb. The absence of gas or air within the outer piston 2 also avoids changes in the mechanical stress on the outer envelope from the inside, said stress would otherwise be caused by the expansion and contraction of both the lamp 1 as the trapped air or the enclosed (Jases _o

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The borosilicate glass from which the outer bulb 2 is formed is, is preferably one of the following recipes

Silica 81 <fo

Soda 5 <fo

Boric acid. $ 12

iDonerde $ 2

Important properties of such borosilicate glass are:

"is
(1) It / practically inert and has little or no tendency to react with other chemicals

(2) It is practically free of metals like copper, zinc, lead, chromium, manganese, arsenic and barium and it is reliable in from the point of view of contamination of any chemical reaction in the environment in which it is used is to be feared.

(3) It has extremely high resistance to Tliermoshock

This property (2) is essential because the residual gas inside the outer bulb (two) made of borosilicate glass after evacuation and the quartz glass bulb of the tungsten halogen lamp remain chemically unchanged despite the heat that is generated

In an important aspect of the invention, this is vacuum inside the outer bulb 2 essentially of such a volume that it takes up the additional volume of the actual Wolfrara halogen lamp 1 with expansion and it thus enables the outer piston to be of a mechanical design such that resistance to very significant external pressure is guaranteed. So it is made possible by the properties of borosilicate glass combined with Shape and size of the outer bulb 2, (which, as previously mentioned, is in the manner of a capsule which encapsulates the lamp,

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present) it the piston, a high degree of Ihermoshock without To prevent damage to the actual lamp inside.

the tungsten lamp pins 5 are between their two Ends covered in glass gaiters or trousers configurations 2b, which form integral parts of the base 2a of the borosilicate outer piston 2. In this way an effective glass / Metal formation provided at the base of the light fixture. The inner end parts of the pins 5, which are electrically connected to the ends of the wire 3, are indicated at 5a, whereas the outer end parts of these same pins, which extend freely from the lighting fixture, are labeled 5b are designated.

A freely floodable lamp holder, which is suitable for combination with the improved lamp body described here is, soll.vo :: with reference to the lig. 2 to 4 described will. Such a lamp socket comprises an axially drilled and counter-drilled stainless steel outer housing 7. These Counterbore 8 within each outer housing is an annular shoulder 9, on which a core 10 made of insulating material, preferably sintered glass is set * Pest embedded within the insulating core 10, two are axially drilled lamp pin sockets 11 made of gold-plated nylon 48. This creates a long leakage current path on the power source for the lamp provided. The pin receptacles 11 are around the the same distance apart as the lamp pins 5, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, each of these has an axial bore 11a in its inner end formed into which the outer end part 5b of the corresponding pin 5 is inserted * ± rd. Like in Pig. 2 will see the The diameter of the bore 11a, which is the inner diameter of the pin sockets, is greater than the diameter of the lamp pins 5 executed and spring contact clips 12 made of beryllium copper

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are introduced into the spaces thus formed and are in contact both with the pins and with the holes in the walls. This way there is good electrical contact between the larapen pins 5 and the lamp pin sockets 11 within the lamp socket ensured.

The spring contact clips 12 also serve different rates and allow extensions of mechanical expansion and contraction of the lamp base and lamp socket, thereby reducing stresses can be avoided in both components Fit, the lamp base would break due to the pressure on the pins caused by the different expansion coefficients of the two units was caused.

The relative diameters of the lamp pins and the lamp sockets 11 and the use of spring contact clips 12 are used yet another useful purpose in providing a resilient attachment for the lamp, thus increasing the degree of mechanics Magnify the shock to which the lamp socket may be exposed before the lamp is damaged.

Grooves 13 are coaxially aligned in the sintered glass core 10 provided to the inputs in the lamp pin sockets 11 and the aforementioned, the intermediate parts of the lamp pins 5 enveloping glass leggings 2b fit into these recesses or grooves. The length of the glass gaiters 2b from the base 2a of the outer glass bulb 2 seen outwards is slightly smaller than the axial dimension, i.e. the depth of the grooves 13 in the insulating core 10.

Thus, there are gaps between the outer ends of these glass gaiters and the bottoms of the grooves when the lighting fixture is fitted inside the larape socket. Thus becomes

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the electrical leakage current path between lamp pins 5 by a factor of about two in the particular shown Embodiment enlarged.

In order to provide further insulation, the lamp pins 5 must be arranged over this and covered with silicone rubber H, which, during the introduction of the lighting fixture into the lamp socket, aharmonica-like be pushed together and (as shown in Pig. 2) into the free spaces between the ends of the glass gaiters 2b and the bottoms of the grooves 13 are pressed.

The counter-drilled part of the outer hanteis 7> which extends forward with respect to the core 10 of sintered glass, has a socket 15 for receiving that part of the outer glass socket 2 which is adjacent to the lamp pin gaiters is. This socket 15 is provided with an external thread at 16 and takes, for example, a lamp reflector mounting. The rear part 7a of the lamp socket housing 7 is at with external thread for direct "bulkhead" or "bung mounting" provided and an annular groove 19 * on the back of the is formed with outer flanges 7b provided part of the outer housing 7, receives an O-ring seal. In the In actual practice, the sintered glass core 10 can be made from a number of parts as shown in FIG be, the grooves 13 actually initially round off Holes are formed, which are formed through a relatively thick ring 10 »made of glass.

As far as the outer passive ends of the pin sockets 11 are concerned, they extend, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, all the way through the bore 20 in the housing / and release the rear end of the latter. If no bulkhead attachment (ina bulkhead) is provided, the lamp socket can alternatively to match with a free cable input book "

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- ίο -

With the combination shown in Mg. 2, everything to the left of the line A-A is dry under water, everything to the right of the line is wet.

Instead of inserting the bulging body, as described, into a flooded lamp socket, it is alternatively possible to connect the lamp pins directly to two conductors, that is, the "twin tails" (twin tails ¹ ) in the manner described in FIG. E-rsichtlich a tubular metal pin bushing 21 to each lamp pin ψ to connect a bare end 22a of a table covered with rubber or plastic wire conductor 22 is in this case used. That is, the pins 5 and the pointed ends 22a of the wires are inserted into respective opposite ends of the two tubular metal bushings 21; the wires are stiffly secured in these sockets by soldering or welding connections. Silicone rubber bushings 23, which were previously applied to the covers of the wire conductors 22, are then pushed into a layer in order to additionally cover the

two metallic sockets 21 and the glass gaiters 2b to umsind

grasp. For the sake of expedient presentation / the components Parts of such a direct connection pulled apart shown on the right-hand side in FIG.

Although the dimensions of the unit may vary, the following are given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying ones Drawings indicated.

a = 50.8 mm

b = 60.32mm

c = 6.35 ^mm

d = 26.04 mm

While water or saline solution in the lamp pin sockets 11 can penetrate inside / lamp socket, the electrical '' The leakage current path is completely blocked using the methods described here, which could damage the pins and the pin

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cans is prevented by electrolytic action, if Direct current is used as a power source and thus a waste of electrical power on the operating medium is avoided will.

The invention makes an underwater lighting fixture possible, the smaller, simpler and "cheaper" aggregates known "up to now" of this type is. In addition, the ratio of light output to weight and space requirements of the lighting fixture according to the invention substantially larger than that of any currently available unit. Wears as described above the lead body according to the invention also contributes to _Bleüehtungsprobleme in a wet environment, for example / monitoring sewer pipes by watching TV dissolve, exposing the lamps to a shower of water, effluent, or saline solution.

D4r lighting fixture according to the invention is such that it can reach its maximum working temperature in air even before being completely immersed in ice-cold water without Failure of the tungsten halogen lamp or the borosilicate glass outer bulb.

In the test, the exposure body according to the invention withstood 560 kg / cm (8,000 p.s.i.) in water, so that a lamp at a distance of about 553 m (17 500 feet) can be affected,

Since the lamp and lamp sockets can be flooded freely, there is no need for the heavy housing and laborious seals are provided. In addition, the lamps can be replaced underwater if necessary.

The low working voltage of the lamp ensures safety of the user of power units that are hand-held in the dry or hate.

claims 209830/1016

Claims (14)

- 12 claims Γ 1. / Lighting fixtures for use underwater and in wet environment, characterized by an electric low-voltage lamp (1) with one enclosed in a bulb (4) Wire (3) »whose working voltage does not exceed 50 volts through an outer bulb (2) within which this lamp (1) is enclosed, this outer bulb made of an inert glass with an extremely high strength against heat shocks and the ability to avoid any chemical reaction has to contaminate the unit; being between the lamp and this outer bulb a room (G) is provided, which is at least in such Degree is evacuated that the expansion of both the lamp, (1) and the residual gas within the cavity are enabled, without stresses on the outer piston (2) from the inside or its breakage being caused, the vacuum inside of the outer envelope is of such a volume that it takes up the additional volume of the expanding lamp contains and enables the outer bulb to be of a mechanical design such that resistance to essential P borrowed external pressure in water and that the construction of the unit ensures that the residual gas remains chemically unchanged, regardless of the inside of the outer bulb of the heat generated by the lamp. 2. Lighting fixture according to claim 1, characterized in that the low-voltage lamp (1) has a working voltage of 24 volts alternating current or direct current, a power rating of 70 watts and a non-output of 1750 lumens. 3. Lighting fixture according to claim 1, characterized in that that the low-voltage lamp (1) consists of a tungsten halogen lamp consists. 2 0 9 9 3 0/1018 4. Lighting fixture according to claim 3> characterized in that the low-voltage lamp (1) consists of a WoIfram iodine lamp Confess. 5.) Lighting fixture according to claim 1, characterized in that the outer jacket (2) consists of borosilicate glass. 6. Lighting fixture according to claim 5> characterized in that the borosilicate glass is of the following recipe: 81 ^c / o silica, 5% soda, 12 # boric acid and 2 <fo alumina. 7. Lighting fixture according to claim 5, characterized in that the wall thickness of the outer glass bulb is such that he under water a pressure of 560 kg / cm 8000 p.s.i. to endure be able to. 8. Lighting fixture according to claim 1, characterized in that that the electrical connections to the low-voltage lamp (1) are formed on two metallic pins (5) which enforce the outer piston (2), with the parts of these pins adjacent to the base (2a) of the piston in glass gaiters (2b) are encased, which form integral parts of this base. 9. Lighting fixture according to claim 8, characterized in that the protruding parts, (5b) of the lamp pins (5) and the electrical current conductors directly connected therewith are encased in the manner of a sleeve with insulating material, whereby there is a long leakage current path between furnace pins and thereby any leakage current between them during immersion of the lighting fixture in water or saturated saline solution is prevented. 10. Lighting fixture according to claim 8, characterized in that the lamp pins (5) in drilled current-carrying sockets (11) are introduced, the latter in a core (10) made of insulating Material within an outer housing (7) one free 209830/1016 -H- floodable socket are embedded in such a way that a long electrical leakage current path between the pins on the power source is given for the lamp. 11. Lighting fixture with lamp holder according to claim 10, dadurcl characterized in that the recesses (13) in the core (10) of insulating material in coaxial alignment with the inputs in the lamp pin sockets (11) ^ are; the glass gaiters (2b) which surround the pins (5) like a sleeve fit into these recesses; the length of the Gaiters from the base (2a) of the outer housing is slightly less than the depth of these grooves (13) in the core, such that there is play between the outer ends the gaiters (21) and the respective bottom of the grooves (13) is given when the illuminating body sits in the fit. 12. Lighting fixture according to claim 11 with lamp holder, characterized in that the lamp pins (5) are surrounded by rubber sleeves (H), which during the insertion of the lighting fixture into the lamp socket become accordion-like and in the space between the ends of the gaiters (2b) and the respective bottom of the grooves (13) are pressed together. 13. Bä.uchteBköiJper with fit according to claim 10, characterized in that the bores (£ 11a) in the lamp pin sockets (11) are each of a diameter greater than that of the lamp pins (5) and that spring contact clips (12) in the so formed Clearances are introduced so that come into contact with both the pins (5) and the walls of the bores (11a). 209830/1016 14. lighting fixture with socket according to claim 10, characterized in that the outer housing (7) of this lamp socket is made of stainless steel and is designed in this way is that it forms a socket (15) for receiving the base ^ part of the lighting fixture, the Outside socket with screw thread (at 16) for receiving a Lampref ejlktorlagerung is provided and that a rear 'File (7a) the lamp holder outside with screw thread (18) is provided with screw thread for direct bulkhead mounting. 209830/1016 Blank page