Patents Represented by Attorney John F. McDevitt
  • Patent number: 4446511
    Abstract: An improved automotive lamp unit is provided having a shape to reduce the air resistance when the automotive vehicle moves. Specifically, the lens member of said automotive lamp construction is aligned in a non-vertical direction when bonded directly to the reflector member so that the lamp unit slips through the air with less resistance than occurs with the conventionally designed unit. The preferred embodiments illustrate various shapes of the lens member to include both rectangular-shaped and circular-shaped lens members having various prism element constructions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1982
    Date of Patent: May 1, 1984
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Robert W. Sands
  • Patent number: 4442378
    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 in order to heat the ceramic envelope before lamp starting and thereby reduce the starting voltage requirements. In the preferred embodiment, said resistance heater means comprises a refractory metal coil wound around the tungsten shank of one thermionic electrode and electrically insulated therefrom and which is supplied with lower current than is subsequently applied to said electrodes for the lamp operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1982
    Date of Patent: April 10, 1984
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Robert G. Frey, Charles I. McVey
  • Patent number: 4442379
    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 in order to increase the quantity of amalgam being vaporized during lamp operation and thereby help maintain the desired lamp color temperature. In a preferred embodiment, said resistance heater means comprises a refractory metal coil wound around the tungsten shank of one thermionic electrode and electrically insulated therefrom with said thermionic electrode including a tubular metal inlead serving as the amalgam reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1982
    Date of Patent: April 10, 1984
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Robert G. Frey, Charles I. McVey
  • Patent number: 4441051
    Abstract: A lamp seal glass is described suitable for direct hermetic sealing to molybdenum which consists essentially of oxides in approximate percent by weight 52-60 SiO.sub.2, 11-17 Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, 11-16 BaO, 8-12 CaO, and 3-7 B.sub.2 O.sub.3, along with minor amounts of incidental impurities, residual fluxes and refining agents, said glass having a liquidus temperature no greater than about 1170.degree. C., a softening point in the approximate range 900.degree.-930.degree. C., a strain point in the approximate range 650.degree.-680.degree. C., a working point in the approximate range 1180.degree.-1240.degree. C., and an average coefficient of linear thermal expansion in the 0.degree.-300.degree. C. temperature range between about 45-50.times.10.sup.-7 cm/cm/.degree.C. The glass composition enables improved manufacture of incandescent lamps operating in the moderately elevated temperature range 500.degree.-650.degree. C., especially regenerative cycle halogen lamps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1982
    Date of Patent: April 3, 1984
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: George L. Thomas
  • Patent number: 4441046
    Abstract: A silica powder mixture containing a glass frit having neodymium oxide dispersed therein is disclosed for electrostatic deposition to provide diffuse light from an incandescent lamp which improves the aesthetic appearance of objects illuminated by the lamp emission. Specifically, said coating selectively absorbs green and yellow color radiation being given off by the incandescent lamp filament rendering objects illuminated by the remaining light to appear more pink in color.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1981
    Date of Patent: April 3, 1984
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: William G. James
  • Patent number: 4441047
    Abstract: A silica powder mixture is disclosed for electrostatic deposition to provide diffuse light from electric lamps. The present powder mixture exhibits improved moisture resistance along with shelf life and comprises in weight proportions approximately 35-65 parts calcined diatomaceous silica, approximately 35-65 parts fumed silica, and approximately 5-15 parts colloidal hydrophobic silica.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1981
    Date of Patent: April 3, 1984
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Clifford B. Collins, William G. James
  • Patent number: 4426773
    Abstract: An array of electronic packaging substrates in horizontal and vertical rows in which each substrate has a plurality of internal and external terminals that are electrically interconnected is described. The array has (a) lines of separation along which the substrates may be separated from the array, (b) a plurality of adjacent rows of substrates with lines of separation therebetween that are spaced and parallel, and (c) at least a pair of metallized traces at least one of which runs between the spaced lines of separation, each of which is electrically connected to at least one external terminal in the adjacent rows of substrates and to a contact pad on the array. Selected terminals of substrates in the array are thus electrically connected to a contact pad whereby, after attachment of electronic components to the substrates, the components may be tested in an array format.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1981
    Date of Patent: January 24, 1984
    Assignee: General Electric Ceramics, Inc.
    Inventor: Billy M. Hargis
  • Patent number: 4427255
    Abstract: This invention relates to glass halogen lamps and more particularly to a glass halogen lamp having contact blades which are inserted within openings in a plastic base for permanently securing the lamp in referenced position to the base. The base has a generally cylindrical exterior configuration with a mediately disposed rim and a set of forwardly disposed locking ears which, when the base is inserted within a reflector, respectively engage the exterior and interior reflector surfaces to secure the lamp to the reflector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1981
    Date of Patent: January 24, 1984
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Charles W. Cox
  • Patent number: 4425606
    Abstract: An adhesively sealed beam lamp unit including a lens and reflector having cooperating and opposing step-shaped 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 innermost pair of opposing steps. Additionally, reservoirs, located on either side of the sealing surfaces, restrict excess adhesive from spreading onto areas affecting lamp unit optical performance or outer dimensions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 1982
    Date of Patent: January 10, 1984
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Bruce E. Shanks, Joseph P. Marella
  • Patent number: 4425607
    Abstract: An adhesively sealed beam lamp unit including a lens and reflector having substantially rectangular peripheries and cooperating and opposing step-shaped 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 long sides of a pair of opposing steps. Additionally reservoirs, located on either side of the sealing surfaces, restrict excess adhesive from spreading onto areas affecting lamp unit optical performance or outer dimensions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 1982
    Date of Patent: January 10, 1984
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Bruce E. Shanks
  • Patent number: 4418973
    Abstract: An improved socket member for a wedge base type incandescent lamp is disclosed which includes resilient engagement means to mount the lamp and socket assembly for subsequent operation along with particular electrical termination means being provided in the lamp socket member to help facilitate automatic installation of the lamp and socket assembly. The preferred termination means further include insulation piercing elements to physically grip the insulated electrical conductors associated with said lamp assembly during final installation of the lamp and socket assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 1981
    Date of Patent: December 6, 1983
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Andrew Smetana, James M. Hanson
  • Patent number: 4418328
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a reinforced strip of insulative material comprising the steps of extruding a thermoplastic insulative material in the shape of a tube or spaced apart strips about a plurality of separated and substantially parallel reinforcing strands positioned within said tube or strips and compressing and cooling the tube or strips to form a flattened single strip having opposed flattened sides with the reinforcing strands firmly secured therebetween is disclosed. A reinforced support for a ballast resistor manufactured in accordance with the described method is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1981
    Date of Patent: November 29, 1983
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Frederick Hetzel, William G. McCracken, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4415835
    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 22, 1981
    Date of Patent: November 15, 1983
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Amarendra Mishra, Dimitri M. Speros, Roger M. Eastin
  • Patent number: 4415830
    Abstract: An improved inlead construction for an electric lamp is disclosed which utilizes an iron alloy containing sufficient silicon to avoid transformation of the inlead from the alpha ferrite phase to the gamma austenite phase at lamp operation temperatures. This precludes debilitating deformation of the inlead wires caused by on-off cycling of the lamp and concomitant cycling of the wire through the alpha to gamma transformation range. Such deformation can lead to structural or operational failure if the inleads become disconnected or electrically shorted from the resistive filament during lamp operation. In a preferred lamp construction, a pair of the improved inlead wires serve as the sole means of physical support for a resistive incandescent filament directly connected thereto and said inlead wires can further be coated with a dissimilar metal for higher lamp loading requirements in order to help avoid iron migration which can produce deterioration of the resistive incandescent filament.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1981
    Date of Patent: November 15, 1983
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: John W. Pugh, Francis W. Pikus, James A. Graves, John E. McMillan, John L. Walter
  • Patent number: 4410307
    Abstract: A modified conductive ink is provided for a photoflash array having a plurality of high voltage flash lamps connected to a lamp firing circuit pattern deposited on a circuit board with radiation-sensitive switches and fuse elements being connected in said circuit pattern for sequential firing of said flash lamps, said fuse elements being provided by narrowing the width of the circuit pattern at the fuse locations and undergoing thermal decomposition activated with radiation, wherein the improvement comprises a modified carbon ink containing a particulated electrically conductive material such as conductive powdered carbon incorporated therein. Increased electrical conductivity is provided at the fuse locations before thermal decomposition of the fuse elements takes place together with increased residual electrical resistance being provided by the thermally decomposed fused elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1980
    Date of Patent: October 18, 1983
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Edward J. Collins, Mary E. Suster
  • Patent number: 4409516
    Abstract: An incandescent lamp of the tungsten halogen type is disclosed which includes the tipped-off residue of an exhaust tube formed with a high temperature aluminosilicate glass comprising in approximate weight percent 56-63 SiO.sub.2, 13-17 Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, 19-24 BaO, 1-4.5 CaO, and 0-3 R.sub.2 O wherein R is an alkali metal ion, along with minor amounts of incidental impurities, residual fluxes and refining agents such that the aggregate BaO and CaO content lies within the approximate range 21-26 weight percent in order to eliminate need for the refractory metal spiral being contained within said exhaust tube in order to keep said exhaust tube open while the lamp lead-in wires are being hermetically sealed in the lamp envelope. The same glass composition can also be employed to form the entire lamp glass envelope along with the exhaust tube portion thereof with comparable results.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1981
    Date of Patent: October 11, 1983
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: George L. Thomas, William A. Graff
  • Patent number: 4408154
    Abstract: A dual voltage power supply, for example operable from 120 and 240 volts a-c and having three voltage input terminals, is provided with an input filter having three windings on a core and inductively coupled together, the three windings being connected respectively to the three input terminals. Filter capacitors are connected to the windings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1981
    Date of Patent: October 4, 1983
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Paul T. Cote
  • Patent number: 4395653
    Abstract: Selective light absorption coatings are provided for electric lamps which comprise a transparent vitreous frit containing neodymium oxide to selectively absorb radiation in the green and yellow wavelength region of the visible spectrum while transmitting the remaining visible radiation. A preferred vitreous frit is zinc borosilicate glass containing neodymium oxide which can be fired as an enamel coating on the exterior surface of the soda-lime glass envelope customarily employed for incandescent lamps. In a different preferred embodiment, the transparent vitreous frit containing neodymium oxide is admixed with an inorganic particulate filler and said mixture electrostatically deposited on the interior surface of the lamp glass envelope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1981
    Date of Patent: July 26, 1983
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: William A. Graff
  • Patent number: RE31411
    Abstract: A radiation curable ink is provided which is convertible to a conductive coating when cured on the surface of a substrate. A particulated electrically conductive .[.metal containing.]. material is used in combination with an organic resin binder. Low temperature cure of the ink can be achieved with either actinic or ionizing radiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1978
    Date of Patent: October 11, 1983
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Donald A. Bolon, Gary M. Lucas, Ralph L. Bartholomew
  • Patent number: RE31519
    Abstract: A lead-in seal of the type having a metal foil seal member sealed into an envelope, comprising a relatively narrow intermediate foil tab member connected between the foil seal member and a conductor. The result is reduced stress in the seal and less likelihood of cracking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1982
    Date of Patent: February 7, 1984
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: John C. Sobieski