JP2002289151A - Electrodeless discharge lamp device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electrodeless discharge lamp device, the coolest portion of which can be maintained easily. SOLUTION: A support body 4 is almost in the shape of a disk as a whole, made of plastic with high thermal conductivity, having a hollow touched to a ring body 1b at the center, having four notches 4b on the edge of the disk at clearance ratio of 10%, and also having clearance through which a thin ring 1a can pass into a cap body. The support bodies 4 hold a lamp 1 between the ring bodies 1b via O rings not shown in the figure. In other words, the ring body 1b is in indirect contact with the support body 4 via only the O ring of low thermal conductivity.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to an electrodeless discharge lamp having a straight tube type electrodeless discharge lamp.

2. Description of the Related Art Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-285868 describes a conventional electrodeless discharge lamp device.

In an electrodeless discharge lamp, a discharge medium made of a rare gas and mercury is sealed in a straight and elongated discharge vessel, and supports are formed at both ends. This one is
The induction coil is disposed around the electrodeless discharge lamp along the longitudinal direction of the electrodeless discharge lamp.

[0003] At one end of the outer tube, a cap containing an electric circuit for generating a high-frequency magnetic field in the coil is provided, and a thin tube of the discharge lamp protrudes toward the cap. The thin tube should be the coldest part for optimizing the vapor pressure of the discharge lamp. The electrodeless discharge lamp device having the above-described structure is housed in an outer tube made of quartz glass or the like in order to facilitate its handling, and the both ends of the outer tube are provided with caps having higher heat conductivity than the outer tube. Seal.

However, in such a conventional electrodeless discharge lamp device, the lamp may be destroyed because it comes into contact with members in the device.
The inventor discovered that there was no problem with a relatively low output of the discharge lamp, but it was not possible to control the temperature with a large output. That is, the heat of the lamp escapes from the member that comes into contact with the lamp, and proper temperature control cannot be performed. The inventor has considered providing extra cooling control means, but there is a problem that the end structure of the lamp device becomes complicated due to the control means and the like, so that maintenance cannot be performed.

An object of the present invention is to provide an electrodeless discharge lamp device which can easily maintain the coldest part of the lamp.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electrodeless discharge lamp having mercury therein, a pair of annular bodies provided at both ends, and a thin tube projecting from one end communicating with the inside. An electrodeless discharge lamp having a straight tube shape; and an induction coil support comprising at least one pair of conductive members extending along the longitudinal direction of the electrodeless discharge lamp while being insulated from each other at a position separated from the electrodeless discharge lamp And a bar; a metal induction coil wound around the electrodeless discharge lamp with a gap therebetween and having one end connected to one induction coil support bar and the other end connected to the other induction coil support bar A radiation transmissive outer tube open at least at one end and containing a discharge lamp, an induction coil and a support;
A bottomed cylindrical cap body that is sealed and attached to the open end of the outer tube, and has higher thermal conductivity than the outer tube; having a heat insulating ring in contact with the peripheral surface of the annular body; And a pair of supports for supporting the electrodeless discharge lamp only through the heat insulating ring.

In the present invention and each of the following inventions, definitions and technical meanings of terms are as follows unless otherwise specified.

Electrodeless discharge lamp The electrodeless discharge lamp of a straight tube type includes a discharge tube of a straight tube type and a discharge medium sealed in the inside thereof. The discharge vessel evacuates an airtight vessel made of fused quartz or the like, and transmits radiation generated by the discharge to the outside. The discharge medium depends on the radiation to be obtained, but when generating ultraviolet light for use in photochemical treatment, noble gases such as mercury and argon can be used, for example. The discharge vessel may have a cylindrical shape with both ends sealed, or may have a structure in which the cross section has a donut shape.

Furthermore, the length of the electrodeless discharge lamp in the tube axis direction does not affect the startability in the case of electrodeless discharge, and can be arbitrarily set according to a desired radiation output amount.

In the present invention, annular members for support are provided at both ends of the discharge lamp. The same material as the discharge vessel, for example, fused quartz, can be used as the annular body and can be welded to both ends of the discharge vessel.

Further, the electrodeless discharge lamp of the present invention is formed by projecting a thin tube from one end of the discharge vessel in order to maintain the vapor pressure of mercury in the operating discharge medium at an appropriate value.

Regarding the induction coil support bar: The induction coil support bar mechanically supports the induction coil,
Supply high frequency power. In addition, since it extends in the longitudinal direction of the electrodeless discharge lamp, it is required to have sufficient rigidity, and at the same time, it must have sufficiently low electric resistance. Therefore, it is preferable to use a copper square bar or a flat plate as the induction coil support bar. When using a flat plate, it is desirable to position the plane parallel to the radiation direction so that the plane does not block radiation. Further, in the present invention, means for extending the induction coil support bar along the longitudinal direction of the electrodeless discharge lamp in a state in which the induction coil support bar is insulated from each other at a position separated from the electrodeless discharge lamp does not matter. However, it is preferable to fix the induction coil support bar directly or indirectly to the electrodeless discharge lamp because handling as an electrodeless discharge lamp device is facilitated.

Although at least one pair of induction coil support bars is used, a plurality of pairs may be used if necessary. Induction coil The induction coil is made of inexpensive metal.
For this reason, since the heat conductivity is good, the lamp is wound with a gap so as not to contact the lamp in order to maintain the light characteristics of the lamp.
One or more coils can be used according to the length of the non-discharge discharge lamp.

The support does not need to be made of a material having lower heat conductivity than the cap and the outer tube. That is, a heat insulating ring is provided on the support member, and the electrodeless discharge lamp is supported only through the ring.

The cap body may have a light-shielding property, and a metal plate obtained by deep drawing a metal plate can be used from the viewpoint of ease of machining and strength. Sealing between the cap body and the outer tube can be performed using packing. According to the present invention, the electrodeless discharge lamp, the induction coil, and the induction coil support bar housed inside by the outer tube and the cap body having higher heat conductivity than the outer tube are sealed from the outside. The entire electrodeless discharge lamp device can be cooled and used by immersing it in the liquid to be treated. Therefore, the present invention is suitable for photochemical treatment.

When a high-frequency power source is connected to one end of the induction coil support bar, power is supplied to the induction coil via the induction coil support bar. When electricity is supplied to the induction coil, the induction coil generates a high-frequency magnetic field. This high-frequency magnetic field
The distribution in the tube axis direction of the electrodeless discharge lamp exposes the discharge medium in the electrodeless discharge lamp to a high-frequency magnetic field. As a result, the discharge medium is excited, and a secondary current flows in the discharge medium in a ring shape, so that a discharge occurs in a donut shape when viewed from the cross section. The discharge produces radiation that depends on the discharge medium, such as ultraviolet light or visible light. Then, the radiation can be extracted outside from between the induction coils. According to the configuration of the present invention, since the lamp is not substantially in contact with the coil, the bar, or the support, it is possible to obtain a stable light output without being thermally affected by these members.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electrodeless discharge lamp device according to the first aspect, wherein a part of the support has an elongated internal space formed by a cap and an outer tube. It is characterized by being present at an intermediate position of a thin tube so as to be vertically divided, having a gap between the thin tube, and not being in contact with the thin tube.

The support is desirably made of a material having a lower thermal conductivity than the cap and the outer tube. Under this condition, when the apparatus is submerged, the coolest part is kept cool during lighting. That is, the temperature unbalance of the water cooling, the cap body, the outer tube, and the support acts, so that the coolest part can be favorably maintained. Further, it is desirable that the support has no gap so that the space cross section is completely divided except for the thin tube. However, the gap ratio is 20%
If it is below, it was found that the influence of the heat convection is reduced and the heat convection hardly occurs in the cap.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a first embodiment of the electrodeless discharge lamp device of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a side view of the same. FIG. 3 is a side view showing a state in which a cap body having higher heat conductivity than the outer tube is removed. In the figure, 1 is an electrodeless discharge lamp, 2A1, 2B1, 2A2, 2
B2 is a pair of induction coil support bars, 3 is an induction coil, 4 is a support, A and B are terminals, 5 is a quartz glass outer tube, and 6 is a cap body having higher heat conductivity than the outer tube. It is.

The electrodeless discharge lamp 1 comprises a discharge vessel 1a, an annular body 1b and a discharge medium.

The discharge vessel 1a is formed by sealing both ends of a cylinder made of fused quartz glass, and has a thin tube 1a1 protruding from one end. This thin tube 1a1 acts to form the coldest part during operation of the electrodeless discharge lamp so as to maintain the mercury vapor pressure at an optimum value. The annular body 1b has a ring made of quartz glass welded to both ends of the discharge vessel 1a. The discharge medium is
Consists of mercury and argon at the appropriate pressure. Two pairs of induction coil support bars 2A1, 2B1, 2A2, 2B2 are opposed to each other across the electrodeless discharge lamp 1, and 2A1, 2B1 constitute a first pair, and 2A2, 2B2 constitute a second pair. Make up. Six induction coils 3 each having approximately 4.5 turns are arranged at equal intervals along the longitudinal direction of the electrodeless discharge lamp 1. Further, a gap of 2 mm or more is formed between the electrodeless discharge lamp 1 and the electrodeless discharge lamp 1. Each induction coil 3 is formed in the same structure. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating the connection between the induction coil and the induction coil support bar as viewed in a direction indicated by an arrow from a cross section taken along line IV-IV ′ in FIG. 1. Induction coil 3
Is the first one from the right in FIG. 1, but is connected to a first pair of induction coil support bars 2A1, 2B1.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view for explaining the connection between the induction coil and the induction coil support bar as viewed from the section along the line VV 'in FIG. The induction coil 3, which is the second from the right in FIG. 1, is connected to a second pair of induction coil support bars 2A2, 2B2. Induction coils other than those described above also have a first pair 2 of induction coil support bars.
A1, 2B1 and a second pair 2A2, 2B2 are connected alternately. Since each induction coil is excited to the same polarity,
A1 and 2A2, 2B1 and 2B2 have the same polarity, respectively.

The support 4 is substantially disc-shaped as a whole, is made of a resin having high heat conductivity, has a recess formed at the center thereof for contacting the annular body 1b, has four cutouts 4b at the edges, and has a gap ratio of 10%. And a gap for passing the thin ring 1a into the cap body. O (not shown) is provided between the ring member 1b and
The ring supports lamp 1. That is, although it seems that there is no gap in the figure, the annular body 1b and the support 4
Only indirect contact is made with only a silicone O-ring having low thermal conductivity. In FIG. 3, it has a structure divided into two parts, and is attached to the annular body 1b by tightening the annular body 1b while connecting with the screws 4c, 4c. The circumscribed circle of the support 4 is slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the outer tube 5 described later.

The terminals A and B are fixed to the outer surface of the support 4. One pole of a high frequency power supply (not shown) is connected to terminal A, and the other pole is connected to terminal B. The induction coil support bars 2A1 and 2A2 are connected to terminal A,
B2 is connected to terminal B. In order to connect to the terminals A and B, the induction coil support bar passes through a cutout 4b formed in the peripheral edge of the support 4 and is bent toward the terminal. Then, the electrodeless discharge lamp 1, the induction coil support bars 2A1, 2B1, 2A2, 2B2 and the induction coil 3
Are integrated.

The outer tube 5 is made of cylindrical quartz glass and has both ends opened, and has a ridge 5a formed on the outer periphery near both ends. Cap body 6 with higher thermal conductivity than outer tube
Is composed of a deep dish-shaped cap body 6a and a ring body 6b, and a pair thereof is attached to both ends of the outer tube 5.

The cap body 6a is made of stainless steel and has a closable fluid passage 6a1. When the lamp is turned on, it is closed. The fluid communication hole 6a1 is
One is a fluid inlet and the other is a fluid outlet.

One end of the ring body 6b has a ridge 5a of the outer tube 5.
And the other end is fixed to the open end of the cap body 6a by a plurality of bolts 6c. At that time, the outer tube 5
A packing 7 is interposed between the end surface of the outer tube 5 and the cap body having higher heat conductivity than the outer tube to seal the inside of the outer tube 5 to the outside.

The above-mentioned integrated electrodeless discharge lamp 1,
The induction coil support bars 2A1, 2B1, 2A2, 2B2 and the induction coil 3 are housed in an outer tube 5.

Although not shown, a high-temperature circuit is provided in the cap body 6 having a higher thermal conductivity than one of the outer tubes, in which an introduction portion for a high-frequency power supply is formed via a sealing means. Is not present in the cap with the tubule. Note that a circuit component may be present in the other cap body.

Then, the ultraviolet rays emitted from the electrodeless discharge lamp 1 pass through the outer tube 5 from the space between the induction coil 3 and the induction coil support bars 2A1, 2B1, 2A2, 2B2 and are extracted to the outside.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a straight tube-shaped tube having mercury therein, a pair of annular members provided at both ends, and a thin tube projecting from one end communicating with the inside. An electrode discharge lamp; an induction coil support bar comprising at least one pair of conductive members extending along the longitudinal direction of the electrodeless discharge lamp while being insulated from each other at a position separated from the electrodeless discharge lamp; A metal induction coil wound around the lamp with a gap therebetween and one end connected to one induction coil support bar and the other end connected to the other induction coil support bar; at least one end open A radiation-transparent outer tube for housing a discharge lamp, an induction coil and a support; a bottomed cylindrical shape having a higher thermal conductivity than the outer tube, which is mounted in a sealed manner at an open end of the outer tube. With the cap body A pair of supports having a heat-insulating ring in contact with the peripheral surface of the annular body and supporting the electrodeless discharge lamp only via the heat-insulating ring; In addition, since it is not in contact with the coil, the bar, or the support, a stable light output can be obtained without being affected by heat by these members.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the support does not touch the thin tube, the temperature of the thin tube can be controlled without considering the thermal conductivity of the support. The part keeps cooling down easily.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a first embodiment of an electrodeless discharge lamp device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the same.

FIG. 3 is a side view showing a state in which a cap body having higher heat conductivity than the outer tube is removed.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating the connection between the induction coil and the induction coil support bar as viewed in a direction indicated by an arrow from a cross section taken along the line IV-IV ′ in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating the connection between the induction coil and the induction coil support bar as viewed in a direction indicated by an arrow from a section taken along line VV ′ in FIG. 1;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Electrodeless discharge lamp 1a ... Discharge vessel 1a1 ... Thin tube 1b ... Annular body 2A2 ... Induction coil support bar 2B2 ... Induction coil support bar 3 ... Induction coil 4 ... Support 4a ... Hole 4b ... Notch 5 ... Outer tube 5a ... Convex Article 6: Cap body 6a having higher thermal conductivity than outer tube 6a ... Cap body 6a1 ... Fluid flow hole 6b ... Ring body 6c ... Bolt 7 ... Packing A ... Terminal B ... Terminal

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A straight tube type electrodeless discharge lamp having mercury inside, a pair of annular bodies provided at both ends, and a thin tube protruding at one end from the inside thereof; An induction coil support bar made of at least one pair of conductive members extending along the longitudinal direction of the electrodeless discharge lamp while being insulated from each other at a separated position; winding with a gap provided around the electrodeless discharge lamp A metal induction coil having one end connected to one induction coil support bar and the other end connected to the other induction coil support bar; at least one end being open, a discharge lamp, an induction coil, and a support A radiation-transmissive outer tube for housing the outer tube; a bottomed cylindrical cap body which is sealed to the open end of the outer tube and has higher thermal conductivity than the outer tube; Thermal insulation in contact with A ring, an electrodeless discharge lamp pair of support and for supporting only through the heat insulating ring; electrodeless discharge lamp device which is characterized in that comprises a. 2. One of the supports is provided at an intermediate position between the narrow tubes so as to vertically divide an elongated internal space formed by a cap body and an outer tube, and has a gap between the narrow tubes. 2. The electrodeless discharge lamp device according to claim 1, wherein said electrodeless discharge lamp device is not in contact with said thin tube.