CA1246132A - Electrode positioning in metal halide lamps - Google Patents

Electrode positioning in metal halide lamps

Info

Publication number
CA1246132A
CA1246132A CA000482195A CA482195A CA1246132A CA 1246132 A CA1246132 A CA 1246132A CA 000482195 A CA000482195 A CA 000482195A CA 482195 A CA482195 A CA 482195A CA 1246132 A CA1246132 A CA 1246132A
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
metal halide
electrodes
merit
discharge lamp
arc tube
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired
Application number
CA000482195A
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
William M. Keeffe
Zeya K. Krasko
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Osram Sylvania Inc
Original Assignee
GTE Products Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by GTE Products Corp filed Critical GTE Products Corp
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of CA1246132A publication Critical patent/CA1246132A/en
Expired legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01JELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS
    • H01J61/00Gas-discharge or vapour-discharge lamps
    • H01J61/82Lamps with high-pressure unconstricted discharge having a cold pressure > 400 Torr
    • H01J61/827Metal halide arc lamps
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01JELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS
    • H01J61/00Gas-discharge or vapour-discharge lamps
    • H01J61/02Details
    • H01J61/04Electrodes; Screens; Shields
    • H01J61/06Main electrodes
    • H01J61/073Main electrodes for high-pressure discharge lamps
    • H01J61/0732Main electrodes for high-pressure discharge lamps characterised by the construction of the electrode

Landscapes

  • Vessels And Coating Films For Discharge Lamps (AREA)
  • Discharge Lamp (AREA)

Abstract

ELECTRODE POSITIONING IN METAL HALIDE LAMPS
ABSTRACT
A low wattage metal halide discharge lamp includes an evacuated outer envelope, a domed quartz sleeve therein and an arc tube within the domed quartz sleeve with the arc tube having a pair of electrodes press sealed therethrough with each of the electrodes having a coil thereon spaced from the press seal and from the end of the electrode to provide a figure of merit (FM) substantially equal to the product of the distance from the press seal to the coil and the distance from the press seal to the end of the electrode.

Description

6~3~2 ELECTRODE POSITIONING lN METAL HALID~ LAMPS

TECHNICAL FIELD:

Thi~ invention relate6 to metal halide di6charge lamps and more particularly to the po6itioning of ele~trode~ in low power metal halide discharge lamp6 to enhance the efficiency of 6UC~
lamps.

BACKGROUND ART:

In the present-day market place, metal halide di~charge lamp~ are, in general, of the intermediate and high wattage variety. More specifically, the known metal halide discharqe lamp~ which are ~eadily available have a rating in the range of about 175 to 1500 watt~. Also, it i6 known that the~e metal ~alide di6charge lamp6 having the higher wattage6 al~o have the higher efficacy. Moreover, efficacy is directly related to efficiency and i6 conveniently defined a6 t~e total lumen output to input power and i~ expres6ed in lumens per watt.
: Of the known metal ~alide di6charge lamp~ employed for u6e for general illumination, the 6malle6t is the;175 watt ver6ion. Such relatively 6mall lamp6, in accordan~e with conducted testing, appear to have an efficacy of about 80 LP~
or lumen~ per watt, a lumen output of about 14,000 lumen6 and a color temperature~ of about 4400 K for a clear lamp and about 4000K for a pho6pho~ coated lamp.
~ owever, it ha6 been a common belief that metal halide di6charge lamps of a size 6maller ~han about 175 watts would be impractical due to the undesired relatively low efficacy.
Al~o, it ha6 been presuppo6ed that the color temperature of about 4400~, commo~ to pre6en~-day lamp~, would al6a appear on *~

~6~32 the low wattage metal halide discharge lamp. Mo.reover, a color temperature of about 4400K would be unsatisfactory for general illumination purposes since the ordinary incan-descent lamp has a color temperature of about 2780K.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a metal halide discharge lamp which overcomes the ~roblems of the prior art. Another object of the invention is to provide an improved metal halide discharge lamp. Still another object of the invention is to provide an enhanced low wattage metal halide discharge lamp having improved efficacy.
A further object of the invention is to provide an improved low wattage metal halide discharge lamp with an enhanced electrode configuration.
According to the presen-t invention there is provi.ded a low wat-taye metal halide d:Lscha~ge lamp comprislng an evacuated outer envelope; a domed quartz sleeve located within said evacuated outer envelope; and an arc tube dis-posed within said domed quartz sleeve, said arc -tube having a fill gas therein and a pair of spaced electrodes press sealed therethrough with each of said electrodes having a coil thereon spaced from said press seal and from the end of said electrode within said arc tube and each of said electrodes having a figure of merit (FM) substantially equal to the product oE the back space (BS) and the insertion length (IL) ~,There BS = distance from press seal. to coil IL = distance from press seal to end of electrode, said figure of merit ~FM) being greater than about 1.0 and less than about 1.5 and said lamp having a color temperature in the range of about 2800 to 3200K.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a low wattage metal halide discharge lamp of the invention;
FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of an electrode of the arc tube of FIG. l; and ~L2~ 3;~
~-~4-1-007 FIG. 3 is a compari~on chart illus~rating the eficacy and color temperature for a given figure of merit of a low wattage metal halide discharge lamp of the invention.

EST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION:

For a better understanding of the pre~ent invention, together with other and further objects, advantage~ and capabilitie~ thereof, reference i6 made to the following disclosure and appended claims in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
Referring to FIG. 1 of the drawings, a low wattage metal halide arc di~charge lamp 5 includes an evacuated outer envelope 7 hermetically sealed to a glass stem member 9 and having an external ba~e member 11 affixed thereto. A pair O~
electrical conductors 13 and 15 are sealed into and pas6 through the ~tem member 9 and provide access for energization of the discharge 5 by an external source (not ~hown).
Within the vacuum of the evacuated outer envelope 7, a 6upport member 17 is affixed to one of the electrical conductors 13 and extends 6ubstantially parallel to the longitudinal axi~ of the lamp 5 and form~ a circular configuration 19 near the upper portion of the envelope 7.
This circular configuration 19 in conjunction with the upper portion of the envelope 7 tend to maintain the 6upport member 17 in proper alignment and re~i6tant to deformation caused by external shock.
A first strap member 21 is welded to the ~upport member 17 and extends therefrom in a direction normal to the longitudinal axis of the ~upport member 17. A hea~ con~erving means such as a domed quartz sleeve 23 ha6 a pair o~ oppo~i~ely di~po~ed notche6 25 and 27 on the end 28 thereof opposite to the domed D 84-1-007 ' ' portion. The~e notches 25 and Z7 are formed to slip over the first strap member 21 whic~ serve& tD ~upport the domed quartz sleeve 23. Also, a substantially circular-shaped strap 29 6urround~ the domed quartz sleeve 23 near the domed portion thereof and is attached to the fiupport member 17.
~ ithin the domed quartz sleeve 23 is an arc tube 31. The arc tube 31 has a pinch seal at opposite ends thereof, 33 and 35 respecti~ely. Metal foil'members 37 and 39 are sealed into the press seals 33 and 35 and electrical conductors 41 and 43 are attached to the foil members 37 and 39 and extend outwardly from the press seals 33 and 35. A flexible support member 45 is affixed to one of the electrical conductor6 41 and to the support member 17. Also, a lead 47 is affixed to the other electrical conductor 43 which pas6e~ through the domed portion of the domed quartz ~leeve 23. Moreover, a ~lexibl~
spring-like member 49 connects the lead ~7 to the other one 15 of the pair of electrical conductors 13 and 15. A pair of getters 51 and 53 are affixed to the electrical conductors 13 and 15 and serve to provide and maintain the vacuum within the evacuated outer envelope 7 and the domed quartz sleeve 23.
Moreover, a pair of electrode~ 55 and 57 project into opposite end~ of the arc tube 31.
Referring more specifically to the arc tube 31, i~ is to be noted thar" each of the endfi thereof immediately adjacent and including ~he pre~s seal6 33 and 35 i6 coated with a white zirconium oxide paint in order to provide a wall temperature ofincreased uniformity. Al60, t~e arc tube 31 contains a ~tar~ing gas, ~ercury and scandium and sodium metal halide~.
Moreo~er, other metal halides are also suitable to the ~: 30 stru~ture.
Referring to the enlarged ~ectional ~iew of FIG. 20 the detail~ of the electrodes 55 and 57 and the press seals 33 and 35 can be more clearly seen. Since both ends of the structure ~2~3~

are &imilar, a review of one end serve6 to illu~trate the configuration. As can be 6een, an electrode 55 i~ at~ached to a foil mamber 37 and thi~ electrode 55 includes a coil 59 affixed thereto. Al60, the coil 59 iE; positioned on the electrode 55 in a manner to provide a specific di~tance from the pres6 ~eal 33 to the back of the coil 59 and this distance i~ de6ignated the back space (BS). A-Lso, tha electrode 55 projec~s into the arc tube 31 for a given distance and this di6tance from the pre~ 6eal 33 to the inner end oE the electrode 55 is known as the insertion length (IL).
Importantly, it has been found that the back space (BS~ and the insertion length (IL) are critical parameters and the product thereof provide a design criteria which may be referred to as a figure of merit lFM). To repeat, the figure of merit (FM) i~
~ub6tantially equal to the product of the back ~pace (BS) and the insertion length (IL). Accordingly, the figure of merit (FM) provides a discharge lamp de6ign capability whereby specific de6ign parameters are obtainable.
As to the above-de6cribed figure of meri~ (FM), it has been found that a back space (BS) or the di6~ance of the back of a coil on an electrode to the pre~ seal i6 preferably in the range of about 0.5 + 0.2 mm for lamp6 having a figure of merit (FM) greater than about 1.0 and le6s than 1.5. Al~o, lamps employing thoriated tungsten electrodes having a diameter of about 0.017 inch and a space ~herebetween of about 1.~ cm are preferable for low wattage lamp configuration6.
~ eferring more ~pecifically to ~he comparison chart of FIG. 3, there`in a comparison i6 provided for a 100 watt metal halide discharge lamp with the above-described figure of merit (FM) compared with bo~h lamp efficacy and a color ~emperature.
A~ can readily be 6een, a 100 watt metal halide discharge lamp ha~ing a figure of merit (FM) greater than about 1.0 and le6s than about 1.5 would provide a lamp having an afficacy (LPW) in ~2~ 3'~

the range of about 98~ to 93~ and color tempe~atUEe (T~ in the range of abou~ 2800K to 3200K. Thus, it can be seen that a 100 watt metal halide discharge lamp can be designed ~o haYe a color ~emperature most satisfactory for general 5 illumina~ion. Moreover, the design al~o provides an efficacy much i~proved over prior known low wattage structure~.
While there has been shown and described wha~ is at present : the preferred embodiments of the invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that variou~ changes and 10 modifications may be made therein without departing from the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims (12)

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:-
1. A low wattage metal halide discharge lamp comprising:
an evacuated outer envelope;
a domed quartz sleeve located within said evacuated outer envelope; and an arc tube disposed within said domed quartz sleeve, said arc tube having a fill gas therein and a pair of spaced electrodes press sealed therethrough with each of said electrodes having a coil thereon spaced from said press seal and from the end of said electrode within said arc tube and each of said electrodes having a figure of merit (FM) substan-tially equal to the product of the back space (BS) and the insertion length (IL) where BS = distance from press seal to coil IL = distance from press seal to end of electrode, said figure of merit (FM) being greater than about 1.0 and less than about 1.5 and said lamp having a color temperature in the range of about 2800 to 3200°K.
2. The low wattage metal halide discharge lamp of claim 1 wherein the operational voltage of said lamp is about 100 volts.
3. The low wattage metal halide discharge lamp of claim 1 wherein said figure of merit (FM) is greater than about 1.0 and less than about 1.5 and said lamp has an efficacy in the range of about 93 to 98 lumens per watt.
4. The low wattage metal halide discharge lamp of claim 1 wherein said arc tube fill consists of a starting gas, mercury and scandium and sodium metal halides.
5. The low wattage metal halide discharge lamp of claim 1 wherein said electrodes are thoriated tungsten rods having a diameter of about 0.017 inch, are spaced from one another by about 1.4 cm and the lamp operating voltage is about 100 volts.
6. The low wattage metal halide discharge lamp of claim 1 wherein said back space (BS) is in the range of about 0.5 ? 0.2 mm.
7. The low wattage metal halide discharge lamp of claim 1 wherein said figure of merit (FM) is greater than 1.0 and less than 1.5 and said operational voltage is about 100 volts.
8. In a low wattage metal halide discharge lamp having an evacuated outer envelope with a domed quartz sleeve located therein and an arc tube positioned within said domed quartz sleeve, the improvement wherein said arc tube includes a fill gas therein and a pair of spaced electrodes press sealed therethrough with each of said electrodes having a coil thereon spaced from said press seal and from the end of said electrode within said arc tube, each of said electrodes having a figure of merit (FM) substantially equal to the product of the back space (BS) and the insertion length (IL) where BS = distance from press seal to coil IL = distance from press seal to end of electrode, said figure of merit being greater than about l.0 and less than about 1.5.
9. The improvement of claim 8 wherein said back space (BS) is in the range of about 0.5 ? 0.2 mm.
10. The improvement of claim 8 wherein said arc tube includes a starting gas, mercury, and scandium and sodium halides.
11. The improvement of claim 8 wherein said discharge lamp is operational at about 100 volts, said fuse tube has a figure of merit (FM) greater than 1.0 and less than 1.5, said electrodes are thoriated tungsten having a diameter of about 0.17 inch and said electrodes are spaced from one another by about 1.4 cm.
12. The improvement of claim 8 wherein said electrodes have a figure of merit greater than 1.0 and less than about 1.5 and said lamp has a color temperature in the range of about 2800 to 3200°K.
CA000482195A 1984-05-29 1985-05-23 Electrode positioning in metal halide lamps Expired CA1246132A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US61490384A 1984-05-29 1984-05-29
US614,903 1984-05-29

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA1246132A true CA1246132A (en) 1988-12-06

Family

ID=24463193

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA000482195A Expired CA1246132A (en) 1984-05-29 1985-05-23 Electrode positioning in metal halide lamps

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0163301A3 (en)
JP (1) JPS6122552A (en)
CA (1) CA1246132A (en)

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4963790A (en) * 1985-12-27 1990-10-16 Gte Products Corporation Low wattage metal halide discharge lamp

Family Cites Families (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4281274A (en) * 1979-08-01 1981-07-28 General Electric Co. Discharge lamp having vitreous shield

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0163301A3 (en) 1987-11-04
EP0163301A2 (en) 1985-12-04
JPS6122552A (en) 1986-01-31

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