Underwater Hand Light

Abstract

The invention described hereinafter relates to an electric hand-type light especially adapted for underwater use. The new lamp is unique in several respects, especially in that the light source is adapted to be slidably positioned relative to its co-operating reflector; and, it is also easily slidably removable from its reflector association for independent use. A special light source is employed which also forms a part of the invention. The light source is of the quartz-iodide type and by reason of particular mounting features, it is rendered especially adapted for underwater use, particularly as regards its light-giving life.

Parent Case Text

This application is a division of my co-pending application Ser. No. 713,114, filed Mar. 14, 1968 now U.S. Pat. No. 3,500,037.

Description

This invention relates to a multipurpose, hand-type lamp. Lamps of the type of interest herein are commonly referred to as flashlights or lanterns in that they are battery operated and adapted for the purpose of hand use. Primarily, the invention is concerned with the provision of a lighting assembly especially adapted for underwater use. However, as will be apparent, the lamp may be used under ordinary conditions. Additionally, by reason of the nature of the new assembly, the lamp of this invention is readily convertible to permit use of the actual light-giving element as an ordinary hanging, or otherwise positionable lighting source. Because of the nature of the light source per se which is employed, the lamp provides a very high degree of illumination, whether it is used in its combined assembled relationship, or whether the light source is employed separately. As will be understood upon further consideration of the nature of the structure, the actual light source, when detached from its main housing and reflector portion may be employed either underwater, or for example, on board ship, or otherwise as may be desired.

In addition to the foregoing features, the lamp assembly of the invention affords a high degree of general adaptability to underwater use and conditions. It is especially responsive to the needs of the user as such needs and conditions are variously encountered under water. More particularly in this regard, the light source is normally positioned in a housing which carries a reflector. In normal use, the light source and the reflector are associated in co-operating relationship. However, the lamp of this invention involves the special feature that its light-source assembly is positioned in the housing-reflector unit in both removable and sliding relationship thereto, so that the light-source assembly is very readily and immediately positionable relative to the reflector merely by a simple sliding movement relative to its housing. This unique arrangement not only gives the light the above-indicated versatility, but it affords an unusually responsive mode of altering the character of the reflected light from a spot type of projection to a more deffused character. The arrangement eliminates co-operating threaded parts as are usually required for changing the nature of the projected light. Moreover, the usual type of lens system is dispensed with and easy and quick access at all times is afforded to the light source itself. As will be understood, association of parts by means of threaded type elements usually found in such lighting equipment has a very great disadvantage in underwater use due to corrosion problems which tend to set the threaded elements in fixed, or difficulty moveable positions. The lamp of this invention, in the main, is free of this disadvantage and it is also extremely easy to clean and service otherwise.

An additional feature of the lamp of this invention is with regard to the actual light source. More particularly, the light source which is especially preferred for use is of the quartz-iodide type. By reason of its unique character, this type affords a highly intense light from a very small, compact source. For example, this type of bulb is available in a size scarcely larger than an ordinary flashlight bulb while providing 100 watts in light power. These lamps are rated for ordinary atmospheric condition use at a life of about 15 hours. In the course of this invention, it was found that such bulb when employed underwater suddenly suffered a great loss of its rated life. More particularly, such life would not usually be more than about 45 minutes. This occurrence normally would render such bulb use as intended herein far too expensive; however, because of a discovery made pursuant to this invention, the bulb life is restored to its normal expected duration. In fact, it appears that by reason of this invention normal bulb life may actually be lengthened somewhat.

The solution to the problem just described was solved by enclosing the light bulb within a shielding glass tube. The outer glass tube not only serves as a means of actual protection of the bulb itself against accidental breakage and leakage of water into the socket; but, it was discovered that in using such tube, life span of the bulb very surprisingly was restored. Evidently, the loss of life of such type bulb when employed under water in an unshielded manner is due to the low temperature maintained in the glass envelope of the bulb when in direct contact with the water. When it is taken under water, it appears that the resultant low temperature of the glass envelope quenches the special recycling action occurring within this type of bulb in normal, atmospheric use whereby dissipation of the filament is inhibited, is impaired to an extent that such filament dissipation occurred at a greatly accelerated rate. In other words, the filament burned out at a much higher rate. If this analysis of the matter be correct, it seems that the benefit of the outer shielding tube, in addition to affording protection against breaking, also provides an insulating volume of air surrounding the bulb envelope such that its temperature characteristics remain substantially unaltered under water.

The lamp of this invention employs a relatively new type of reflector which affords retention of the reflected light in large measure within a generally rectangular area. Consequently, a greater quantity of light actually afforded by the source may be brought to bear in a localized way. This type of reflector is not critical in the invention, although it is preferred for use in the assembly.

As will be appreciated, the entire lamp assembly is provided with water sealing means so that the wiring, battery, etc., is protected from actual water contact.

The invention is more fully illustrated in drawings which are attached hereto in which:

FIG. 1 is a view in side elevation;

FIG. 2 is an end elevational view looking into the reflector-light assembly;

FIG. 3 is a side view partly in section;

FIG. 4 is a view showing the light-source assembly, revealed in the view of FIG. 5, removed from its normal position;

FIG. 5 is a partial sectional view through the reflector-light source assembly;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a shielded quartz-iodide lamp according to this invention.

Referring first to FIG. 1 of the drawings, numeral 10 denotes a battery case which may be of any suitable material, either metal or plastic, which is conditioned to be resistant to water, especially salt water. The case is of such dimension as to contain an ordinary 12 volt battery and it is provided with strap holders 12 (FIG. 2) by which it may be readily attached to a belt for support on the diver's body. Numeral 14 denotes a member serving as a closure for the battery case, the member being held tightly in sealing position by wing nuts 16. Numeral 18 denotes a box serving to house electrical connections and parts, numeral 20 denoting a switch for turning the light on and off, and numeral 22 denoting plug-in type electrical outlet. Numeral 24 denotes a top for box 18 held in position by any suitable means, as by bolt 26. Numeral 28 is an electrical conduit extending between the connector unit 22 and leading to the light-source assembly 30 (see FIG. 5). The lamp itself is moveably and detachably mounted on the electrical circuit box, and it is provided with a yoke 32 for this purpose. Thus, as will be observed, the association of parts is such as to allow the lighting portion to be hand held either separately from the battery case, which may be attached to diver's belt, or the entire assembly may be hand carried completely detached from the body of the user.

It is not considered necessary to discuss the details of the circuitry and wiring since the arrangement is perfectly conventional and the wiring is shown in the drawings.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 5, numeral 34 denotes a reflector of the type mentioned hereinabove. As will be seen, the light-source assembly 30 is shown positioned in relation to the reflector. The portion of the lamp assembly by which it is held is generally cylindrical and of such size to be readily accommodated in the hand, while also providing a housing for the light source. The said housing portion is denoted by numeral 36. Numeral 38 denotes a bulb or light socket member which is positioned within the housing 36. The socket member is frictionally held in position by resilient circular rings 40. Numeral 42 denotes a quartz-iodide type bulb which is connected to the battery cable 28 through the interior of the socket member which is hollow. Numeral 44 denotes an outer light-transmitting shielding tube which is frictionally held on the socket member, in water sealing relationship thereto, by the resilient ring 46. It may be remarked that the difference in diameter of the socket member as between the portion which carries rings 40 and the portion which carries ring 46 is for the purpose of adapting the socket to the assembly from the standpoint of convenient size. The light socket, the bulb and the bulb shielding tube when in assembled relation may be regarded as unitary; thus, when the light socket, numeral 38, is moved relative to the housing, these parts move as a unit. The frictional engagement of the light socket with the outer housing is such that the unitary assembly is normally held firmly in position; however, not so firmly as to render it immovable. The pressure between the rings 44 and housing is such as to permit the light socket to be moved longitudinally of the housing so that the bulb may be positioned with respect to the reflector as may be desired, simply by manipulation of the light socket at the point of entry of the electrical conduit at numeral 48. Similarly the unitary assembly including the light socket, bulb and bulb shield may be easily withdrawn from its housing by pulling rearwardly at the same point of electrical connection so that the light source becomes useable entirely apart from the lamp assembly. It will be perceived that the electrical conduit may be as long as desired, or adapted to be replaced by a longer or shorter conduit.

As will be understood, all electrical components and the battery case itself are protected against water by water-sealed gaskets. For example, such gaskets are shown in FIG. 3 at numerals 50 and 52. The fitting 48 as seen in FIG. 5 is of corrosion resistant metal or plastic and threads onto an extension of the tubular member 38, the extension being denoted by numeral 54. This is a well known pressure type of electrical fitting containing a gasket which is compressed as the nut itself is tightened so as to effect a water seal. Similarly, the switch unit, indicated generally at numeral 20, is of a type especially adapted for underwater use, it being of the toggle type and sealed against water by a rubber enclosure. Numeral 56 denotes the casing for the interior portion.

Referring to the combination of a quartz-iodide type bulb with a co-operating outer shielding tube, it will be apparent that such combination may be provided as a unit entirely apart from the particular lamp structure illustrated herein. It is only necessary to provide a proper socket for receiving both the bulb and outer shielding tube in working relationship. By so doing, a shielded bulb is provided for general use which has the advantages discussed herein. Thus, such a shielded bulb may be employed separately with any desired electrical source and application, and whether or not it is used underwater. If desired, the outer shielding tube may be threaded internally in order to mate with a threaded bulb base or bulb socket so that the two parts become a single unit, yet being separable. Alternatively, the assembly may be completed by providing a retainer cap-like ring surrounding the outside of the tube about the lip portion (see FIG. 5 at numeral 50) which ring may be internally threaded so as to co-operate with a threaded base, thus drawing the tube securely against the base. In such cases, preferably the base should be provided with a cushioned surface, for example a rubber ring or gasket, serving as a bearing surface for the glass lip. The manner of association of the tube and bulb as shown in the drawings is quite satisfactory for both underwater and normal atmosphere use since the ring 46 provides a seal against entry of water and it permits the tube to move longitudinally under inner gas expansion pressure (due to filament heat) as is more likely to occur at atmospheric conditions.

Referring to FIG. 6 of the drawings, a shielded bulb of the general type just discussed is shown. In this drawing, numeral 58 denotes an outer glass envelope or shield which preferably is of a heat-tolerable composition, such as Pyrex or quartz, which envelope is mounted in association with the quartz-iodide type of lamp. The envelope is mounted relative to the bulb proper at the base thereof as shown at numeral 60. The base of the bulb, denoted by numeral 62, is somewhat enlarged over that normally necessary or desirable in order to accommodate the mounting of the outer envelope 58. Desirably, the envelope is secured in place by seating in a high-temperature potting material of the type normally employed in sealing the usual bulb wall with respect to the filament base. A bulb according to the present invention is thus rendered adaptable for the usual purposes.

With regard to the space between the outer shielding envelope 58 and the bulb proper, such space acts as an insulating zone and may be filled with air, or preferably, an inert gas. Also, desirably, the space under discussion may be at a sub-atmospheric pressure, that is to say, a degree of vacuum. By providing a partial vacuum, the degree of insulation can be controlled and thereby adjust the operating temperature of the bulb to the optimum.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A high intensity miniaturized type electric bulb assembly especially useful under water wherein said bulb is provided with a filament normally tending to rapid dissipation, which normal tendency is arrested by the action of quenching materials contained in the glass enclosure of said bulb, comprising a bulb of the type described and an outer transparent quickly detachable enclosing sheath, said sheath and bulb being positioned relative to each other such that the said bulb is provided with a surrounding volume of insulating gas serving to insulate the glass envelope of said bulb against direct contact with the surrounding medium, whereby the quenching action normally occurring during the life of said bulb continues to occur without substantial impairment as results from adverse temperature changes in the envelope of said bulb.