Reverse pin ultraviolet germicidal lamp system

Abstract

An ultraviolet gas discharge lamp having contact pins extending from a base cap toward an opposing end in reverse pin fashion. The lamp is placed within a conduit or duct for disinfecting air or water flowing within the conduit. The reverse contact pins that extend toward the opposing end mate with contact holes in a socket attached to the conduit through which the lamp is inserted. The lamp is only energized when the lamp is fully inserted into the duct and is de-energized upon removing the lamp from the duct. A shroud may protect the pins. A window may be incorporated in the base cap so as to visually confirm that the lamp is energized and radiating. A key and mating receiver may be used on the base cap and the socket so as to prevent accidental insertion of an inappropriate lamp. A locking latch may also be included.

1 . A germicidal gas discharge lamp comprising: 
 a lamp envelope containing gas and having a first end and a second end;    an anode and a cathode located in the lamp envelope;    a base cap placed on the first end of the lamp envelope and having a portion of the base cap extending radially beyond at least one side of the envelope;    at least one return wire connected to the anode or the cathode wherein one of the anode or the cathode is located proximate to the second end, and wherein the least one return wire connects the anode or the cathode to at least one contact pin structured to extend towards the opposing second end of the lamp envelope and formed on the radially extending portion of the base cap externally to the envelope; and    wherein the at least one return wire extends along said lamp envelope.    
     
     
         2 . A germicidal gas discharge lamp as in  claim 1  further comprising: 
 a shroud attached to the base cap,    whereby the at least one contact pin is protected.    
     
     
         3 . A germicidal gas discharge lamp as in  claim 1  further comprising: 
 a window incorporated in the base cap,    whereby the window permits light to be seen when the germicidal gas discharge lamp is operating providing visual confirmation that the lamp is on.    
     
     
         4 . A germicidal gas discharge lamp as in  claim 1  further comprising: 
 an end cap placed on the second end of the lamp envelope.    
     
     
         5 . A germicidal gas discharge lamp as in  claim 1  further comprising: 
 a key incorporated on the base cap; and    a receiver adapted to receive the key incorporated on a socket adapted to receive the germicidal gas discharge lamp,    whereby the key and the receiver are structured to mate in a predetermined orientation.    
     
     
         6 . A germicidal gas discharge lamp as in  claim 1  wherein the germicidal gas discharge lamp is an ultraviolet lamp.  
     
     
         7 . A germicidal gas discharge lamp as in  claim 1  wherein the germicidal gas discharge lamp is structured for being inserted within a chamber and the at least one contact pins are structured to engage a socket when the germicidal gas discharge lamp is inserted through the socket and into the chamber.  
     
     
         8 . A germicidal gas discharge lamp as in  claim 1  further comprising: 
 a protective tube placed over said envelope.    
     
     
         9 . A germicidal gas discharge lamp as in  claim 1  wherein the at least one electrical contact pin comprises a plurality of electrical contact pins orientated in a chosen pattern.  
     
     
         10 . A germicidal gas discharge lamp as in  claim 1  wherein the at least one electrical contact pin comprises a plurality of electrical contact pins orientated in different planes.  
     
     
         11 . A germicidal gas discharge lamp assembly comprising: 
 a lamp envelope containing gas and having a first end and a second end;    an anode and a cathode located in the lamp envelope;    a base cap placed on the first end of the lamp envelope and having a portion of the base cap extending radially beyond at least one side of the envelope;    at least one return wire connected to the anode or the cathode wherein one of the anode or the cathode is located proximate to the second end, and wherein the least one return wire connects the anode or the cathode to at least one contact pin structured to extend towards the opposing second end of the lamp envelope and formed on the radially extending portion of the base cap externally to the envelope and wherein the at least one return wire extends along said lamp envelope;    a receiving socket having contact pin receiving holes with receiving contacts therein; and    wherein the second end, and the envelope, are capable of being inserted through a hole in the receiving socket and wherein the at least one contact pin is structured to engage the contact pin receiving holes with receiving contacts therein in the socket.    
     
     
         12 . A germicidal gas discharge lamp assembly as in  claim 11  further comprising: 
 a shroud attached to the base cap whereby the at least one contact pin is protected.    
     
     
         13 . A germicidal gas discharge lamp assembly as in  claim 11  further comprising: 
 a window incorporated in the base cap whereby the window permits light to be seen when the germicidal gas discharge lamp is operating providing visual confirmation that the lamp is on.    
     
     
         14 . A germicidal gas discharge lamp assembly as in  claim 11  further comprising: 
 an end cap placed on the second end of the lamp envelope.    
     
     
         15 . A germicidal gas discharge lamp assembly as in  claim 11  further comprising: 
 a key incorporated on the base cap; and    a receiver adapted to receive the key incorporated on a socket adapted to receive the germicidal gas discharge lamp,    whereby the key and the receiver are structured to mate in a predetermined orientation.    
     
     
         16 . A germicidal gas discharge lamp assembly as in  claim 11  wherein the germicidal gas discharge lamp is an ultraviolet lamp.  
     
     
         17 . A germicidal gas discharge lamp assembly as in  claim 11  further comprising: 
 a protective tube placed over said envelope.    
     
     
         18 . A germicidal gas discharge lamp assembly as in  claim 11  wherein the at least one electrical contact pin comprises a plurality of electrical contact pins orientated in a chosen pattern.  
     
     
         19 . A germicidal gas discharge lamp assembly as in  claim 11  wherein the at least one electrical contact pin comprises a plurality of electrical contact pins orientated in different planes.  
     
     
         20 . A germicidal gas discharge lamp as in  claim 1  further comprising: 
 a locking latch incorporated on the base cap; and    a receiver adapted to receive the locking latch and incorporated on a socket adapted to receive the germicidal gas discharge lamp,    whereby the locking latch and the receiver are structured to mate in a predetermined orientation.    
     
     
         21 . A germicidal gas discharge lamp as in  claim 1  wherein the base cap comprises a bi-cylindrical base cap having two connected cylindrical sections which are attached or cooperate with a double sectioned u-shaped envelope.  
     
     
         22 . A germicidal gas discharge lamp as in  claim 1  wherein the base cap comprises a multi-base cap for mating with multiple envelopes.  
     
     
         23 . A germicidal gas discharge lamp as in  claim 1  further comprising: 
 a safety switch.    
     
     
         24 . A germicidal gas discharge lamp as in  claim 1  further comprising: 
 a reflector located proximate to the gas discharge lamp.    
     
     
         25 . A germicidal gas discharge lamp as in  claim 1  further comprising: 
 a cover for sealing the gas discharge lamp wherein the cover is connectable to the socket base.    
     
     
         26 . A germicidal gas discharge lamp assembly as in  claim 11  further comprising: 
 a locking latch incorporated on the base cap;    wherein the receiving socket is adapted to receive the locking latch; and    whereby the locking latch and the receiving socket are structured to mate in a predetermined orientation.    
     
     
         27 . A germicidal gas discharge lamp assembly as in  claim 11  wherein the base cap comprises a bi-cylindrical base cap having two connected cylindrical sections which are attached or cooperate with a double sectioned u-shaped envelope.  
     
     
         28 . A germicidal gas discharge lamp assembly as in  claim 11  wherein the base cap comprises a multi-base cap for mating with multiple envelopes.  
     
     
         29 . A germicidal gas discharge lamp assembly as in  claim 11  further comprising: 
 a safety switch.    
     
     
         30 . A germicidal gas discharge lamp assembly as in  claim 11  further comprising: 
 a reflector located proximate to the gas discharge lamp.    
     
     
         31 . A germicidal gas discharge lamp assembly as in claim  111  further comprising: 
 a cover for sealing the gas discharge lamp wherein the cover is connectable to the socket base.    
     
     
         32 . A socket assembly for a germicidal gas discharge lamp comprising: 
 a receiving socket having contact pin receiving holes with receiving contacts therein;    a hole located in the receiving socket for accepting a lamp envelope wherein the lamp envelope contains gas and has a first end and a second end; an anode and a cathode located in the lamp envelope and a base cap is placed on the first end of the lamp envelope and a portion of the base cap extends radially beyond at least one side of the envelope; and at least one return wire connected to the anode or the cathode wherein one of the anode or the cathode is located proximate to the second end, and wherein the least one return wire connects the anode or the cathode to at least one contact pin structured to extend towards the opposing second end of the lamp envelope and formed on the radially extending portion of the base cap externally to the envelope; and wherein the at least one return wire extends along said lamp envelope;    wherein the second end, and the envelope, are capable of being inserted through the hole in the receiving socket and wherein the at least one contact pin is structured to engage the contact pin receiving holes with receiving contacts therein in the socket.