Discharge lamp having mechanical disconnect guard against jacket failure

摘要

The inner arc tube of some jacketed discharge lamps transmits ultaviolet radiation which is normlly intercepted by the glass outer envelope. To prevent harmful release of such radiation in the event the outer envelope should be shattered, a mechanical disconnect is provided in the interenvelope space comprising a springy conductor fastened to a conductive support and compressed between the outer envelope and an arc tube inlead. Upon fracture of the outer envelope, the conductor straightens out whereupon the circuit is opened and the arc tube is disabled.