Energy distribution system

Claim 2

An energy distribution system for uniformly distributing radiant energy upon a circumferential area of height h of a tubular member, comprising: at least one radiant energy source means including focusing means for concentrating said radiant energy into an energy bundle substantially circular in cross section; means for maintaining said circumferential area within said energy bundle; and side reflector means symmetrically disposed on either side of said circumferential area about an axis that is mutually perpendicular to and intersects the longitudinal axis of said tubular member and a straight line passing through the center of said energy bundle and the center of the source of radiant energy for collecting radiation impinging thereon and redirecting the collected energy toward the circumferential area of the tubular member, said reflector means each comprises two plano surfaces joined together to form an obtuse angle therebetween of between 100* and 130*, the concave surface of said side reflector means facing away from said tubular member.

Claim 3

An energy distribution system in accord with claim 1 wherein said focusing means has a substantially elliptical cross section said energy bundle being centered at one focus of said ellipse and the radiant energy source at the other.

Claim 4

An energy distribution system in accord with claim 1 wherein said obtuse angle is substantially 120*.

Claim 5

An energy distribution systeM in accord with claim 1 wherein said side reflector means have a height substantially equal to said height h and a width equal to at least 90 percent of envelope diameter.

Claim 6

An energy distribution system for uniformly distributing radiant energy upon a circumferential area of height h at the end of a tubular member enclosing the switch contact elements of a reed switch to effect the sealing of said contact elements in said tubular member, comprising: radiant energy source means symmetrically disposed on opposite sides of said circumferential area, each source means including a radiant energy source and focusing means for concentrating the radiant energy from said source means into an energy bundle, said energy bundles being substantially coextensive with each other and having a substantially circular cross section; means for maintaining said circumferential area of said tubular member and said switch contact elements in a predetermined relationship with respect to each other and within said energy bundle; and side reflector means symmetrically disposed on either side of said circumferential area and on an axis that is mutually perpendicular to and intersects the longitudinal axis of said tubular member and a straight line passing through the center of said radiant energy bundle and both of said radiant energy sources, said side reflector means being so shaped and so oriented as to collect radiation impinging thereon and to redirect the collected energy toward the circumferential area of the tubular member whereby radiant energy from each of said source means is concentrated in said circumferential area and said area is uniformly heated above its softening point and collapses about said switch contact elements to effect a seal therebetween.

Claim 7

An energy distribution system for uniformly distributing radiant energy upon a circumferential area of height h at the end of a tubular member enclosing the switch contact elements of a reed switch to effect the sealing of said contact elements in said tubular member, comprising: radiant energy source means symmetrically disposed on opposite sides of said circumferential area, each source means including a radiant energy source and focusing means for concentrating the radiant energy from said source means into an energy bundle, said energy bundles being substantially coextensive with each other and having a substantially circular cross section; means for maintaining said circumferential area of said tubular member and said switch contact elements in a predetermined relationship with respect to each other and within said energy bundle; and side reflector means symmetrically disposed on either side of said circumferential area and on an axis that is mutually perpendicular to and intersects the longitudinal axis of said tubular member and a straight line passing through the center of said radiant energy bundle and both of said radiant energy sources, said side reflector means being so shaped and so oriented as to collect radiation impinging thereon and to redirect the collected energy toward the circumferential area of the tubular member whereby radiant energy from each of said source means is concentrated in said circumferential area and said area is uniformly heated above its softening point and collapses about said switch contact elements to effect a seal therebetween.

Claim 8

An energy distribution system in accord with claim 5 wherein said side reflector means each comprise two plano surfaces joined to form an obtuse angle therebetween of 120* (+ 10*, - 20*), the concave surface of said side reflector means facing away from said tubular member.

Claim 9

An energy distribution system in accord with claim 6 wherein said side reflector means have a height and width substantially equal to said height h and 90 percent of envelope diameter, respectively.