EP0067758B1 - Flash lamp with radial electric connections and gaseous supply - Google Patents

Flash lamp with radial electric connections and gaseous supply Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0067758B1
EP0067758B1 EP82401004A EP82401004A EP0067758B1 EP 0067758 B1 EP0067758 B1 EP 0067758B1 EP 82401004 A EP82401004 A EP 82401004A EP 82401004 A EP82401004 A EP 82401004A EP 0067758 B1 EP0067758 B1 EP 0067758B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
electrode
brought
metal
discharge tube
bushing
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
EP82401004A
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German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0067758A2 (en
EP0067758A3 (en
Inventor
Marcel Bedu
Jean-Claude Farcy
Christian Goin
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.)
Commissariat a lEnergie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives CEA
Original Assignee
Commissariat a lEnergie Atomique CEA
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Publication of EP0067758A2 publication Critical patent/EP0067758A2/en
Publication of EP0067758A3 publication Critical patent/EP0067758A3/en
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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01J—ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS
    • H01J61/00—Gas-discharge or vapour-discharge lamps
    • H01J61/02—Details
    • H01J61/24—Means for obtaining or maintaining the desired pressure within the vessel
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01J—ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS
    • H01J61/00—Gas-discharge or vapour-discharge lamps
    • H01J61/70—Lamps with low-pressure unconstricted discharge having a cold pressure < 400 Torr
    • H01J61/80—Lamps suitable only for intermittent operation, e.g. flash lamp

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  • Vessels And Coating Films For Discharge Lamps (AREA)
  • Lasers (AREA)
  • Discharge Lamps And Accessories Thereof (AREA)
  • Common Detailed Techniques For Electron Tubes Or Discharge Tubes (AREA)
  • Elimination Of Static Electricity (AREA)

Description

La présente invention concerne un tube à éclairs à connexions électriques radiales avec alimentation en gaz. Elle trouve une application notamment dans le pompage optique des lasers (et en particulier des lasers à iode), dans le domaine du visible ou du proche ultraviolet.The present invention relates to a flash tube with radial electrical connections with gas supply. It finds an application in particular in the optical pumping of lasers (and in particular iodine lasers), in the visible or near ultraviolet range.

Dans les tubes à éclairs classiques, les électrodes sont reliées à des tiges métalliques servant de connexions électriques. Ces tiges sont disposées dans l'axe du tube à décharge et reliées à celui-ci par des scellements verre-métal. Il en résulte, d'une part, une assez grande difficulté technologique de réalisation et, d'autre part, une longueur « morte (c'est-à-dire une partie ne contribuant pas à l'émission de lumière) importante. Par ailleurs, comme ces tubes sont scellés, le milieu gazeux dans lequel s'effectue la décharge ne peut être renouvelé, et l'on assiste à une dégradation progressive de sa pureté qui limite la durée de vie du tube à quelques milliers d'éclairs. En outre, la nature et la pression du milieu gazeux sont fixés définitivement.In conventional flash tubes, the electrodes are connected to metal rods serving as electrical connections. These rods are arranged in the axis of the discharge tube and connected to the latter by glass-metal seals. This results, on the one hand, in a fairly great technological difficulty of production and, on the other hand, a significant “dead length” (that is to say a portion which does not contribute to the emission of light). Furthermore, as these tubes are sealed, the gaseous medium in which the discharge takes place cannot be renewed, and there is a gradual deterioration in its purity which limits the life of the tube to a few thousand flashes. . In addition, the nature and the pressure of the gaseous medium are definitively fixed.

Cependant, on connaît par le document FR-A-2 345 809 un tube à éclairs dans lequel chaque électrode est reliée au tube à décharge par des joints d'étanchéité.However, document FR-A-2 345 809 discloses a flash tube in which each electrode is connected to the discharge tube by seals.

La présente invention a pour objet un tube à éclairs de ce genre, muni de sa ligne d'alimentation, dans lequel des moyens de connexion originaux sont prévus qui facilitent le montage et réduisent la longueur morte.The present invention relates to a flash tube of this kind, provided with its supply line, in which original connection means are provided which facilitate mounting and reduce the dead length.

Selon l'invention, l'électrode destinée à être portée à un potentiel élevé est fixée à une pièce de connexion métallique disposée dans un embout isolant muni d'un manchon isolant disposé radialement par rapport au tube à décharge, ce manchon étant percé d'un canal. Selon une autre caractéristique, la ligne d'alimentation est un câble coaxial possédant un conducteur central qui emprunte le canal du manchon isolant et est relié à la pièce de connexion de l'électrode destinée à être portée à un potentiel élevé, et l'électrode destinée à être portée au potentiel de la terre est fixée dans un embout métallique muni d'un manchon métallique disposé radialement par rapport au tube à décharge.According to the invention, the electrode intended to be brought to a high potential is fixed to a metal connection piece disposed in an insulating endpiece provided with an insulating sleeve disposed radially with respect to the discharge tube, this sleeve being pierced with a canal. According to another characteristic, the supply line is a coaxial cable having a central conductor which borrows the channel of the insulating sleeve and is connected to the connection part of the electrode intended to be brought to a high potential, and the electrode intended to be brought to earth potential is fixed in a metal tip provided with a metal sleeve disposed radially with respect to the discharge tube.

Les caractéristiques de l'invention apparaîtront mieux après la description qui suit, d'un exemple de réalisation donné à titre illustratif et nullement limitatif. Cette description se réfère à une figure annexée qui représente, en coupe longitudinale, un tube à éclairs conforme à l'invention.The characteristics of the invention will appear better after the following description of an embodiment given by way of illustration and in no way limiting. This description refers to an appended figure which represents, in longitudinal section, a flash tube according to the invention.

Tel que représenté sur cette figure, le tube à éclairs comprend essentiellement un tube à décharge 10 en matériau transparent (par exemple en silice) fermé par deux électrodes 12 et 14. Ces électrodes sont reliées au tube 10 par des joints 16 et 18. Ces joints assurent, d'une part, l'étanchéité du tube à décharge et, d'autre part, une certaine souplesse dans la liaison des électrodes avec le tube. L'une des électrodes, l'électrode 14, est destinée à être portée à un potentiel élevé pendant la durée d'excitation du tube ; l'autre, l'électrode 12, est portée au potentiel de la terre. Cette dernière électrode est fixée dans un embout métallique 20, par exemple au moyen d'une vis 22, cet embout comprenant un manchon métallique 24 disposé radialement par rapport au tube à décharge et servant de connexion électrique. L'électrode 14, qui est destinée à être portée à un potentiel élevé, est solidaire d'une pièce métallique de raccordement électrique 26 au moyen d'une vis 28. L'électrode 14 et la pièce 26 sont intégrées dans un embout isolant 30 muni d'un bouchon isolant 32. L'embout 30 est solidaire d'un manchon 34, également en matière isolante, et disposé radialement par rapport au tube à décharge. Ce manchon 34 est percé d'un canal 36.As shown in this figure, the flash tube essentially comprises a discharge tube 10 made of transparent material (for example silica) closed by two electrodes 12 and 14. These electrodes are connected to the tube 10 by seals 16 and 18. These joints ensure, on the one hand, the tightness of the discharge tube and, on the other hand, a certain flexibility in the connection of the electrodes with the tube. One of the electrodes, the electrode 14, is intended to be brought to a high potential during the duration of excitation of the tube; the other, electrode 12, is brought to earth potential. The latter electrode is fixed in a metal end piece 20, for example by means of a screw 22, this end piece comprising a metal sleeve 24 disposed radially relative to the discharge tube and serving as an electrical connection. The electrode 14, which is intended to be brought to a high potential, is secured to a metallic piece of electrical connection 26 by means of a screw 28. The electrode 14 and the piece 26 are integrated in an insulating tip 30 provided with an insulating plug 32. The end piece 30 is integral with a sleeve 34, also made of insulating material, and arranged radially with respect to the discharge tube. This sleeve 34 is pierced with a channel 36.

Le tube à éclairs est alimenté électriquement par un câble coaxial dont le conducteur intérieur 40 emprunte le canal 36 pour aller se souder sur la pièce de raccordement 26. Le conducteur extérieur 42 de ce câble est relié à une pièce métallique 44 qui est fixée à l'extrémité du manchon isolant 34. Cette pièce 44 est reliée au manchon métallique 24 propre à l'électrode 12, par une barre métallique 46 qui s'allonge parallèlement au tube à décharge 10.The flash tube is electrically powered by a coaxial cable, the inner conductor 40 of which passes through the channel 36 to be welded to the connection piece 26. The outer conductor 42 of this cable is connected to a metal piece 44 which is fixed to the end of the insulating sleeve 34. This piece 44 is connected to the metal sleeve 24 specific to the electrode 12, by a metal bar 46 which extends parallel to the discharge tube 10.

Ce mode de connexion limite l'inductance du circuit et permet d'obtenir des décharges brèves. En outre, la barre 46 peut servir de support à un réflecteur 48, disposé autour du tube éclair et apte à concentrer la lumière émise par celui-ci vers l'organe d'utilisation.This connection mode limits the inductance of the circuit and allows short discharges to be obtained. In addition, the bar 46 can serve as a support for a reflector 48, disposed around the flash tube and capable of concentrating the light emitted by the latter towards the member of use.

L'électrode 12, qui est portée au potentiel de la terre, est par ailleurs percée d'ouvertures 50 de petit diamètre, reliées à un canal 52 percé dans le manchon métallique 24. A l'extrémité de celui-ci se trouve un raccord 54 qui peut être relié à une source de gaz non représentée.The electrode 12, which is brought to earth potential, is moreover pierced with openings 50 of small diameter, connected to a channel 52 pierced in the metal sleeve 24. At the end of the latter is a connector 54 which can be connected to a gas source not shown.

Ces moyens permettent l'introduction de gaz dans le tube à décharge, l'évacuation du gaz pollué après un certain nombre d'éclairs, puis la réintroduction de gaz frais. Ils autorisent également un réglage de la pression de gaz en vue d'une optimisation des performances du tube à décharge.These means allow the introduction of gas into the discharge tube, the evacuation of the polluted gas after a certain number of flashes, then the reintroduction of fresh gas. They also allow adjustment of the gas pressure with a view to optimizing the performance of the discharge tube.

Claims (5)

1. Flash tube provided with a supply line, the flash tube comprising a discharge tube (10) of transparent material, an electrode (12, 14) at each end of the discharge tube, one electrode (12) adapted to be brought to earth potential and the other electrode (14) adapted to be brought to an elevated potential, an electrical connection linking each electrode to a respective conductor of the supply line, each electrode being connected to the discharge tube by sealing members (16, 18), characterised in that the electrode (14) adapted to be brought to elevated potential is fixed to a metal connecting member (26) located in an insulating end member (30) having an insulating bushing (34) radially disposed with respect to the discharge tube, said bushing being pierced by a bore (36), in that the supply line is a coaxial cable (38) having a central conductor (40) which passes through the bore (36) of the insulating bushing (34) and is linked to the connecting member (26) of the electrode (14) adapted to be brought to an elevated potential, and in the electrode (12) adapted to be brought to earth potential is fixed in a metal end member (20) having a metal bushing (24) radially disposed with respect to the discharge tube.
2. Flash tube according to Claim 1, characterised in that the coaxial cable (38) has an external conductor (42) which is connected by a metal bar (46) to the metal bushing (24) of the electrode (12) adapted to be brought to earth potential.
3. Flash tube according to Claim 2, characterised in that it comprises an optical reflector (48) fixed to the metal bar (46).
4. Flash tube according to Claim 1, characterised in that the electrode (12) adapted to be brought to earth potential is pierced by vents (50) and in that the metal bushing (24) is pierced by a bore (52) communicating with said vents and having a coupling (54) for supply and evacuation of gas.
EP82401004A 1981-06-05 1982-06-02 Flash lamp with radial electric connections and gaseous supply Expired EP0067758B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR8111143A FR2507385A1 (en) 1981-06-05 1981-06-05 FLASHING TUBE WITH RADIAL ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS WITH GAS SUPPLY
FR8111143 1981-06-05

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0067758A2 EP0067758A2 (en) 1982-12-22
EP0067758A3 EP0067758A3 (en) 1983-04-06
EP0067758B1 true EP0067758B1 (en) 1986-10-01

Family

ID=9259223

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP82401004A Expired EP0067758B1 (en) 1981-06-05 1982-06-02 Flash lamp with radial electric connections and gaseous supply

Country Status (6)

Country Link
US (1) US4496873A (en)
EP (1) EP0067758B1 (en)
JP (1) JPS57212761A (en)
CA (1) CA1192598A (en)
DE (1) DE3273534D1 (en)
FR (1) FR2507385A1 (en)

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5039904A (en) * 1989-09-28 1991-08-13 General Electric Company Mount for miniature arc lamp
US5245624A (en) * 1991-11-14 1993-09-14 Toepel Michael P Lase and laser pump lamp chamber
US5785543A (en) * 1995-12-04 1998-07-28 Litton Systems, Inc. High voltage flashlamp connector method and apparatus

Family Cites Families (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2342806A (en) * 1938-06-22 1944-02-29 Hofmann Josef High pressure mercury vapor lamp
US3172000A (en) * 1961-08-31 1965-03-02 Giannini Scient Corp Gas discharge light source with a recirculating gas supply
US3555449A (en) * 1966-11-15 1971-01-12 Westinghouse Electric Corp Liquid cooled laser system
US3447030A (en) * 1967-02-28 1969-05-27 Electro Optical Systems Inc Cold seal lamp pressure regulation
US3721917A (en) * 1971-06-17 1973-03-20 V Fisher Gas-discharge devices for optical pumping of lasers
US4074208A (en) * 1975-09-17 1978-02-14 Jersey Nuclear-Avco Isotopes, Inc. Stabilized repetitively pulsed flashlamps
US3993922A (en) * 1976-01-05 1976-11-23 Gte Sylvania Incorporated Arc discharge lamp with integral trigger electrode

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0067758A2 (en) 1982-12-22
JPS57212761A (en) 1982-12-27
US4496873A (en) 1985-01-29
DE3273534D1 (en) 1986-11-06
CA1192598A (en) 1985-08-27
EP0067758A3 (en) 1983-04-06
FR2507385B1 (en) 1984-11-02
FR2507385A1 (en) 1982-12-10

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