A light shield and cooling apparatus was developed for a high intensity ultraviolet lamp including water and high pressure air for cooling and additional apparatus for shielding the light and suppressing the high pressure air noise

Meador, T. G., Jr.

English

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NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION
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MAY 2 4 1374
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Attn: Miss Winnie M. Morgan
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Bonnie L. Woerner
Enclosure
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19740014953 2020-03-17T14:43:38+00:00Z
United States Patent
Meador, Jr.
Hi] 3,8H,044
[45] May 14, 1974
[54] LIGHT SHIELD AND COOLING
APPARATUS
[75] Inventor: Thomas G. Meador, Jr., Hampton,
Va.
[73] Assignee: The United States of America as
represented by the Administrator of
the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration, Washington, D.C.
[22] Filed: Nov. 10, 1972
[21] Appl. No.: 305,638
[52] U.S. Cl 240/47, 353/54, 353/61
[51] Int. Cl F21v 29/00
158] Field of Search 240/47; 352/202; 353/52,
353/54, 61; 250/504, 493
[561 References Cited
UNITED STATES PATENTS
3,626,176 12 /1971 Tsugami 240/47
1,630.057 5/1927
3,242,314 3/1966
1,435,192 11/1922
2,837,965 6/1958
Buttolph 240/47 X
Eckles 250/504 X
Anderson 240/47 X
Goldsmith 353/54
Primary Examiner—Richard M. Sheen
Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Howard J. Osborn; Wallace
J. Nelson; John R. Manning
[57] ABSTRACT
A light shield and cooling apparatus for a high inten-
sity ultraviolet lamp including water and high pressure
air for cooling and additional apparatus for shielding
the light and suppressing the high pressure air noise.
3 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures
(H&SJ-Case-LAR-10089-1) LIGHf SHIELD fiHD
COOLIHG APPAEAl'OS Patent (NASA) H p
CSCI 20F
874-23066^
Unclas
00/15 38231 .
PATENTED MAY 14 1974 3.811,044
24
26
FIG. 1
FIG.2a
22
FIG. 3
3,811,044
LIGHT SHIELD AND COOLING APPARATUS
ORIGIN OF THE INVENTION
The invention herein described was made by an em-
ployee of the National Aeronautics and Space Admin-
istration and may be manufactured and used by or for
the Government for governmental purposes without
the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates generally to the shielding and
cooling of a high intensity light and more specifically to
apparatus for cooling a high intensity ultraviolet lamp
with water and high pressure air while shielding the
lamp so as to confine the intense light to a desired area
and so as to suppress the noise created by the high pres-
sure air.
In the consideration of'material for possible use in
outer space, tests must be conducted to determine the
effect of ultraviolet light on such materials for extended
periods of time. High intensity quartz-mercury lamps of
the BH-6 type can produce ultraviolet light for the re-
quired period but their use has been restricted due to
their tendency to explode from overheating. Lamps of
this type attain temperatures over 1,000°F. and are ex-
tremely dangerous when they explode. Attempts have
been made in the prior art to cool lamps of this type
using high pressure air, but the noise levels generated
by the air were not acceptable to personnel working
nearby. Therefore there is a definite need for an im-
proved apparatus for cooling high intensity ultraviolet
lamps including apparatus for shielding nearby person-
nel from the intense light given off and from the danger
of lamp explosions.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention
to provide an apparatus for cooling a high intensity ul-
traviolet lamp so as to reduce the tendency of the lamp
to explode.
Another object of the present invention is to provide
an improved apparatus for shielding the intense light
emitted by a high intensity ultraviolet lamp.
Another object of the present invention is to lower
the noise level of a high pressure air cooling system to
an acceptable level.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The foregoing and other objects are attainable in the
present invention by providing a circular metallic
jacket around a high intensity ultraviolet lamp so as to
limit the path.of high intensity light given off by the
lamp. A hollow coil is wound around the outer surface
of the jacket such that coolant flowing therethrough
serves to keep the jacket cool. An air inlet extends
through the jacket to the lamp. The jacket and coil are
enclosed in a shield spaced from the jacket. High pres-
sure air is pumped through the air inlet in the jacket to
cool the lamp, the open volume between the coil and
the metallic shield serving as an expansion chamber to
suppress the high pressure air noise.
The use of liquid coolant circulating through the coils
surrounding the jacket and high pressure air serves to
cool the lamp thereby reducing its tendency to explode
from over-heating, wherein the enclosing of the lamp
serves to limit the path of the high intensity light and
lowers the high pressure air noise to an acceptable
level. .
20
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
A more complete appreciation of the present inven-
tion and many more of the attendant advantages
5 thereof will be more readily appreciated as the same
becomes better understood by reference to the follow-
ing detailed description when considered in connection
with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the shielding and cool-
10 ing apparatus of the present invention;
FIGS. 2a and 2b are views of the two annular covers
for the shielding and cooling apparatus shown in FIG.
1; and
FIG. 3 is a top view of the apparatus with the annular
'^ cover removed.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring now to the drawings, the light shield and
cooling apparatus is shown in FIG. 1 and designated
generally by reference numeral'10. Light shield 10 in-
cludes an annular jacket 12 formed of a suitable con-
ductive material, such for example, copper. A plurality
of circular openings 14 are circumferentially disposed
in spaced adjacency about the perimeter of jacket 12.
An air inlet 16 extends perpendicularly through one
side wall of jacket 12. A coolant coil 18, having a cool-
. ant inlet 22 and a coolant outlet 24 in fluid connection
therewith, is disposed in intimate contact with and sub-
-JQ stantially surrounding jacket 12.
An exterior shield 26 surrounds a major portion of
and is spaced from jacket 12 and coils 18 such that
frontal access to air inlet 16, coil inlet 22 and coil outlet
is maintained.
35 Referring now to FIGS, la and'26, an annular cover
28, having a central opening 38 formed therein, is
mounted onto the upper edge of shield 26. A second
annular cover 30, having a removable cover plate 32
attached thereto, is mounted onto the lower edge of
40 shield 26 such that an inner chamber 36 is formed be-
tween shield 26, jacket 12, annular cover 28 and annu-
lar cover 30. Annular cover 28 and annular cover 30,
having cover plate 32 attached thereto, serve with
shield 26 to form a unitary structure enclosing jacket
45 12.
Referring now to FIG. 3, >a .high intensity quartz-
mercury lamp 34, mounted on fixture 40, is shown
within the annular opening of jacket 12. Air nozzles 42,
in fluid communication with air inlet 16,-leading from
50
 a high pressure air source (not shown), are aimed di-
rectly at lamps 34. The interior surface of jacket 12 and
the interior surface of shield 26 are coated with a black
radiation absorbent material, while the exterior surface
of shield 26 is coated with a white radiation reflective
5
 material. Electrical power receptable 44 is mounted in
shield 26 and is in electrical connection with fixture 40
and lamp 34 in a conventional manner.
OPERATION
60
the operation of the present shielding and cooling ap-
paratus, receptable 44 is connected to a suitable elec-
tric power source to activate lamp 34 and a liquid cool-
,. ant supply, such for example water, is connected to coil
inlet 22. The coolant flows through coil 18 thereby di-
rectly cooling jacket 12 and indirectly cooling quartz-
mercury lamp 34. At the same time high pressure air is
3,811,044
pumped through air inlet 16 and air nozzles 42 such
that the air impinges on and directly cools lamp 34.
The high pressure air flows from the annular opening
in jacket 12 through circular openings 14 formed in
jacket 12 and into inner chamber 36. The air then es-
capes from inner chamber 36 through central opening
38 formed in cover 28 and the portion of shield 26
which does not completely surround jacket 12. Inner
chamber 36 serves as a noise diffusion chamber such
that the noise generated by the air escaping is reduced
to a level acceptable to nearby personnel. Cover plate
32 is conventionally attached to cover 30 and is readily
removed whenever lamp 34 requires servicing or when-
ever it is desired to monitor the intensity of the lamp.
Jacket 12 surrounding lamp 34 serves to limit the
path of the intense light rays generated therefrom
whereby the rays are directed only at the material to be
tested such that nearby personnel are protected from
the hazardous rays. Jacket 12 also serves as a guard to
protect nearby personnel from injury in the event lamp
34 explodes.
The radiation absorbent material coated on the inter-
ior surfaces of shield 26 and jacket 12 and the radiation
reflective material on the exterior surface of shield 26
serve to reduce the transmission of heat through the ap-
paratus and also serve to remove radiation in the appa-
ratus. Shield 26 is readily attachable to any suitable
support structure so as to direct the light rays in the de-
sired direction.
It is to be understood that the form of the present in-
vention shown and described herein is to be taken as
the preferred embodiment only, and that the invention
may be practiced otherwise than as specifically de-
scribed. The invention is not limited to the preferred
embodiment and other variations and modifications
will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art with-
out departing from the spirit and scope of the appended
claims.
What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by
Letters Patent of the United States is:
1. Apparatus for shielding personnel from lamp
breakage, ultraviolet radiation, heat, and high intensity
light hazards while at the same time reducing the noise
level of high pressure air flow used in cooling the lamps
and permitting in-situ service of the lamps, comprising:
a high intensity ultraviolet lamp and appropriate
holding fixture;
an open ended cylindrical jacket constructed of heat
S conductive material positioned around said lamp to
form an enclosure accessible only at both ends so
as to define a path of radiation for said lamp which
is coaxial to said cylindrical jacket;
conduit means in communication with a high pres-
10 sure air source extending into said jacket in a direc-
tion transverse to the axis of said cylindrical jacket
for direct air cooling of said lamp;
coil means substantially surrounding and attached in
intimate contact with said cylindrical jacket;
15 coolant inlet and coolant outlet means in fluid con-
nection with said coil means for circulating a flow
of liquid coolant in said coil means to keep said
jacket relatively cool when said lamp is in opera-
tion;
20 a cylindrical metallic shield coaxial with said cylindri-
cal jacket surrounding the major portion of-said
jacket and said coil means and spaced therefrom,
a first annular member having a central opening
therein sufficiently large to permit radiation from
25 said lamp to be directed upon external objects at-
tached to one open end of said jacket and a second
annular member attached to the other open end of
said jacket, said second annular member having a
service access port therein, and a cover plate re-
30 movably covering said service access port so that
said lamp can be serviced and replaced; and
means for connecting said exterior shield, said cylin-
drical jacket, and said coil means into a unitary
structure so as to confine radiation from said lamp
35 to the desired direction.
2. The apparatus of claim' 1 wherein the space be-
tween said jacket and said shield defines an expansion
chamber, and said cylindrical jacket has a plurality of
openings permitting expulsion of the high pressure air
40 from within said jacket into said expansion chamber
prior to the passage of the air from said apparatus to
thereby reduce the air pressure noise level.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the interior sur-
face of said jacket adjacent to said lamp is provided
45 with a black radiation absorbent coating.
50
55
60
65


Light shield and cooling apparatus

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