Patents Represented by Attorney John F. McDevitt
  • Patent number: 4499404
    Abstract: An electrically insulative base for an incandescent lamp is disclosed having a two-part construction with the individual base parts being joined together in butt-seal engagement along a horizontal plane transverse to the longitudinal lamp axis. Said base construction is especially useful in the tungsten halogen cycle lamps of the high wattage type requiring that a ceramic material be used and whereby the ceramic base parts are joined together before lamp assembly with a ceramic sealing material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1982
    Date of Patent: February 12, 1985
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: LaVerne E. Walsh
  • Patent number: 4498008
    Abstract: An improved X-ray image converter is disclosed which utilizes a phosphor layer of plate-like rare earth oxyhalide phosphor crystals having said phosphor crystals physically aligned to improve light emission from the phosphor layer. More particularly, said phosphor layer is formed with the plate-like crystals being aligned generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of said phosphor layer at both surface regions while the intermediate phosphor crystals are aligned generally perpendicular to said longitudinal axis. Said improvement can be provided during formation of phosphor layer from a liquid suspension by introducing particular velocity gradients in the flow pattern of said liquid suspension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1983
    Date of Patent: February 5, 1985
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Jacob G. Rabatin
  • Patent number: 4495558
    Abstract: Thickness of an electrically insulative metal oxide film deposited on an electrically conductive metal substrate is determined by electrolytically reducing the metal oxide in an electrochemical cell while continuously measuring the cell voltage. A mathematical relationship between the cell voltage change and elapsed time of electrolytic reduction serves as a means for determining thickness of said oxide coating. This method and apparatus is particularly suitable for measurement of the oxide coating thickness on a metal wire substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1982
    Date of Patent: January 22, 1985
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Pieter G. Cath, John Capp, William P. Loeffler
  • Patent number: 4493639
    Abstract: A modified carbon ink for a flash lamp array circuit containing a particulated electrically conductive material such as graphite or metal flakes, metal-coated glass spheres and the like. The increased electrical conductivity obtained in this manner improved flashability and electrostatic flash out protection for the associated flash lamps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1984
    Date of Patent: January 15, 1985
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Mary E. Suster
  • Patent number: 4487574
    Abstract: A multiple flashlamp array is disclosed having a plurality of lamps fired individually and in sequence by means of a plurality of static solid switching devices capable of reliable actuation by radiant energy generated during flashing of the lamps. Initially, these switching devices have a high electrical resistance ("off position") and after being actuated by the heat and light radiation, they undergo chemical conversion to an electrically conductive state ("on position"). The switch devices are prepared in a conventional manner from a particulate mixture of silver oxide with a metal exhibiting both thermal and electrical conductivity but which does not react exothermally with said silver oxide. A binder mixture is used which includes a conventional organic polymer binder which serves as a fuel during conversion of the silver oxide together with a second organic polymer binder which is more resistant to combustion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1982
    Date of Patent: December 11, 1984
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Mary S. Jaffe, Vaughn C. Sterling
  • Patent number: 4487589
    Abstract: An electric discharge type device is described having electrode means which include a refractory metal substrate having sintered thereon an open porous coating of refractory metal particles at a thickness up to about 1 millimeter thickness with electron emissive material being disposed in the pores of said sintered refractory metal coating. Representative electric discharge devices having said improved electrode means include discharge type electric lamps and photographic flash tubes wherein the electrode members have an elongated shaped body which is terminated at one end to provide more surface area for the coatings sintered thereon. Various electron emissive materials can be employed for impregnation of the open porous coating of refractory metal particles by such conventional techniques as dipping or spraying.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 1983
    Date of Patent: December 11, 1984
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Amarendra Mishra, Dimitri M. Speros, Roger M. Eastin
  • Patent number: 4486738
    Abstract: An array of electrically interconnected spaced electrical components on an apertured substrate wafer, each component being connected to terminal conductor pads on one surface of the substrate and to terminal conductor pads on the opposite surface of the substrate by thick film conductor strips which extend along the walls of the apertures is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1982
    Date of Patent: December 4, 1984
    Assignee: General Electric Ceramics, Inc.
    Inventors: James L. Sadlo, Gary D. Musil
  • Patent number: 4485308
    Abstract: A photo detection system is described utilizing an x-ray source to produce light emission on one or more phosphor materials being used to mark or tag various objects. More particularly, x-ray excitable phosphors are contained in a suitable medium such as marking ink to produce visible emission when irradiated by said x-ray source so that optical detection means positioned adjacent the x-ray source provide a response when objects marked with said phosphors are subjected to such inspection. In the preferred embodiments, an improved postal detection system is provided wherein the postal stamps are marked with at least one x-ray excitable phosphor and said photo detection system can further include a plurality of detection stations along with multiple optical photo detection means at a single station and even a supplemental source of ultraviolet radiation to excite one or more of said phosphors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 1982
    Date of Patent: November 27, 1984
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Jacob G. Rabatin
  • Patent number: 4481416
    Abstract: Oxyhalides of lanthanum, gadolinium and lutetium coactivated with a first activator selected from bismuth and samarium to provide the color of light emission and a second coactivator which increases the amount of stored energy in a stored radiographic latent image are found to be superior in their conversion efficiency of x-rays to visible light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1982
    Date of Patent: November 6, 1984
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Jacob G. Rabatin
  • Patent number: 4478933
    Abstract: Rare earth oxyhalide phosphors activated with thulium ion are employed in X-ray intensifying screens having modified ultraviolet emission characteristics which reduce crossover effects without significant reduction in film speed and further increases screen brightness. Relatively low concentration levels of the thulium activator ion have been found to shift the ultraviolet emission of said phosphor when excited by X-rays to lower wavelengths in both the ultraviolet and near-ultraviolet spectral regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 1983
    Date of Patent: October 23, 1984
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Jacob G. Rabatin
  • Patent number: 4471157
    Abstract: An improved sealed beam glass PAR lamp design is disclosed which employs a particular ferrule construction permitting electrical wire conductors to be connected thereto without soldering or screw terminals. The improved termination features physical engagement between the ferrule member and a metal contact element having flexible fingers to grip an inverted tapered wall section of said ferrule member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1982
    Date of Patent: September 11, 1984
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Harvey G. Peters, Joseph J. Wojtowicz
  • Patent number: 4470104
    Abstract: An inner-bulb assembly for use in an automotive lamp unit such as a headlamp or foglamp unit comprising an inner-bulb, an electrically nonconductive base and a metallic spring clip. The base can be designed to retrofit an H3 type of base. Additionally the metallic spring clip serves to secure the assembly to the rest of the lamp unit and as an electrical conductor for one of the inner-bulb pin leads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 1981
    Date of Patent: September 4, 1984
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Charles W. Cox
  • Patent number: 4468071
    Abstract: An improved plastic base for annular fluorescent lamps is disclosed having two semicylindrical parts which can be assembled together reliably in high speed manufacture to provide an assembled lamp less prone to failure during use. The first part includes double latch means together with locking pins and mates with a second part having means to receive these latching and locking elements when the parts are joined together. Other elements are also located on both parts to limit rotation of the assembled base about the annular lamp. Tapered conductive contact ends can also be used to facilitate high speed manufacture when inserted into tapered openings in the lamp base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1983
    Date of Patent: August 28, 1984
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Irving Bradley, Gerald W. Povall
  • Patent number: 4464603
    Abstract: An improved end closure for a tubular light-transmitting ceramic envelope used in sodium vapor lamps is disclosed which comprises assembly of a ceramic disc fitted into one end of a metal sleeve having a different diameter opening at its opposite end for circumferential engagement with the arc tube inserted therein with all of the assembled members being hermetically sealed together by a ceramic sealing frit. The improved end closure permits thermionic electrodes to be inserted through openings in the ceramic discs with said electrodes being hermetically sealed at said openings with additional ceramic sealing frit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1982
    Date of Patent: August 7, 1984
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Charles I. McVey
  • Patent number: 4464600
    Abstract: A light bulb is held by a base having an outer base member surrounding an inner member holding the bulb and which is secured to the outer base member after being adjusted longitudinally, laterally, and rotationally with respect thereto, as needed, to accurately position the bulb's filament with respect to the outer base member. No cement or adhesive is in contact with the light bulb.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1982
    Date of Patent: August 7, 1984
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Walter J. Kosmatka, Frank E. Zalar
  • Patent number: 4463278
    Abstract: A light bulb is held by a base to which the bulb is secured after being adjusted longitudinally, laterally, and rotationally, as needed, to accurately position the bulb's filament with respect to the base. No cement or adhesive is in contact with the light bulb.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1982
    Date of Patent: July 31, 1984
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Walter J. Kosmatka, Frank E. Zalar
  • Patent number: 4461077
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a ceramic article having raised electrical contacts. Selected surfaces of the contacts are metallized. The method provides articles suitable for use in packaging electronic components and permits selective and controlled flow of solder during bonding operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 1982
    Date of Patent: July 24, 1984
    Assignee: General Electric Ceramics, Inc.
    Inventor: Billy M. Hargis
  • Patent number: 4459513
    Abstract: An improved high pressure sodium vapor lamp is described having resistance heater means contained within a tubular light-transmitting ceramic envelope that further contains a reservoir of sodium-mercury amalgam in excess of the quantity vaporized during lamp operation and which are supplied by electric current other than the lamp current responsive to a rise in the lamp operating voltage to reduce the quantity of amalgam being vaporized during lamp operation to help maintain said lamp operation at a relatively constant voltage. In a preferred embodiment, said resistance heater means comprises a refractory metal coil wound around the tungsten shank at one thermionic electrode and electrically insulated therefrom, with said thermionic electrode including a tubular metal inlead serving as the amalgam reservoir, and with the electric current being supplied at a lower value to said refractory metal coil than being supplied to said thermionic electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1982
    Date of Patent: July 10, 1984
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Robert G. Frey, Charles I. McVey
  • Patent number: 4458177
    Abstract: An improved phosphor admixture is provided for an electroluminescent cell or lamp which reduces the electric arc susceptibility during normal operation. Said phosphor admixture includes an electrically non-conductive, same color light-transmitting particulate solid as a means of reducing the current density of said electroluminescent cell during operation with a minimum brightness loss.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1980
    Date of Patent: July 3, 1984
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: James W. Hunter, Francois A. Lavallee
  • Patent number: 4447862
    Abstract: An adhesively sealed beam lamp unit including a lens and reflector preferably having substantially rectangular peripheries and cooperating and opposing sealing surfaces located approximately about the lens and reflector peripheries. Contact between the lens and reflector sealing surfaces is limited to one or more portions along the sides thereof. Additionally reservoirs, located adjacent to the sealing surfaces restrict excess adhesive from spreading onto areas affecting lamp unit optical performance, outer dimensions, and integrity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 1982
    Date of Patent: May 8, 1984
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Bruce E. Shanks