JPH10214593A - Low-pressure mercury vapor discharge lamp and lighting system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent any peeling-off of a phosphor coating formed at the inner face of a bulb due to inactive gas or mercury discharged from an opening of an exhaust pipe of a stem by disposing a metal ring opposite to a filament electrode and the opening in such a manner as to surround the opening. SOLUTION: A metal ring 7 molded into an elliptic cylinder is bonded to a support wire 42 by welding or the like in such a manner as to surround a filament electrode 6 and an opening 51 of an exhaust pipe 5. A piece or a plurality of band-like metal plates made of iron, iron plated with nickel or iron covered with an oxidizing coating such as Fe3 O4 are connected in a circumferential direction by welding or caulking, and further, is formed into an elliptic cylinder opened at upper and lower ends, so as to surround the filament electrode 6 and the opening 51 at the edge of a crashing/sealing portion 22 of a stem 2. Consequently, it is possible to prevent direct collision of introduced gas or mercury, thus preventing peeling-off of a phosphor coating 3 formed at the inner face of a bulb 1.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a low-pressure mercury vapor discharge lamp in which a metal ring is arranged around a coil-shaped filament electrode in a glass bulb, and a lighting device equipped with the discharge lamp.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A low-pressure mercury vapor discharge lamp such as a fluorescent lamp has a flare stem sealed at an end of a tube-shaped glass bulb having a phosphor coating formed thereon, and a coiled filament is inserted between lead wires implanted in the stem. The electrodes are provided and an easy discharge gas such as mercury and argon is sealed therein as a discharge medium. Ultraviolet light having a wavelength of 254 nm or the like in the excitation spectrum of mercury atoms due to electric discharge is used as an excitation source for the phosphor film to emit light.

[0003] The coil-shaped filament electrode of the fluorescent lamp is formed with an electron-emitting substance made of barium, strontium, calcium oxide or the like to facilitate discharge of the lamp. This electron-emitting substance evaporates and scatters as the lamp is turned on, and is consumed. When the electron-emitting substance runs out, the discharge sustaining voltage increases, making it difficult to discharge, and the lamp becomes inconsistent and has a long life.

On the other hand, a compound of mercury and an emissive substance of an electron-emitting substance or an electrode substance adheres to a phosphor coating on a bulb surface near a bulb end facing a filament electrode and causes blackening. Therefore, as a means for blocking the evaporant and the compound from the filament electrode, an elliptical metal ring is provided around the filament electrode.

[0005]

In the process of manufacturing a fluorescent lamp, there are a cleaning process for exhausting the inside of a glass bulb, and introducing and discharging an inert gas such as nitrogen or argon gas, and a process for introducing an inert gas or mercury. The supply and discharge are performed via an exhaust pipe provided in the stem. When the inert gas is introduced, the gas supplied into the valve in a vacuum state is vigorously discharged from an opening formed in the crushed sealing portion of the flare stem, so that the valve surface facing the exhaust pipe opening. The fluorescent film on the upper part is strongly sprayed, and the fluorescent film in this part is peeled off by a strong collision, causing spots and the like on the fluorescent film to deteriorate the appearance of the fluorescent lamp or, in severe cases, lowering the emission characteristics. Was invited.

[0006] In recent years, downsizing (thinning) of luminaires has been promoted, and it has been attempted to reduce the diameter of a fluorescent lamp bulb. When the valve diameter is reduced, the distance between the exhaust pipe opening of the stem crushed sealing part and the valve surface becomes smaller, so when an inert gas is introduced into the valve, the gas is blown more strongly to the phosphor coating than a large diameter valve. As a result, there is a possibility that the phosphor coating in this portion may be peeled off by a strong collision.

For this reason, as another means, the direction of the exhaust pipe opening formed in the flare stem is made more parallel to the valve surface (the direct distance from the opening to the valve surface is lengthened). Attempts have been made to reduce contact with the phosphor coating. However, to make the direction of the exhaust pipe opening constant when producing the stem, there is variation depending on the stem pipe, the diameter of the exhaust pipe, the glass wall thickness, the heating burner for manufacturing, the blow state for forming the opening, The problem has not been solved.

The present invention provides a low-pressure mercury vapor discharge lamp capable of preventing a phosphor film formed on a bulb surface from being peeled off by an inert gas or mercury released from an exhaust pipe opening of a stem, and a lighting apparatus having the discharge lamp. The purpose is to provide.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A low-pressure mercury vapor discharge lamp according to claim 1 of the present invention has a glass bulb, a stem having an exhaust pipe sealed at an end of the bulb, and an implanted stem. A coil-shaped filament electrode connected between the provided lead wires, and a metal ring disposed so as to surround and surround the exhaust electrode opening of the filament electrode and the stem. It is characterized by.

[0010] When the lamp is started or turned on, scattered matter such as a filament electrode member or an emissive substance such as an electron-emitting substance adhered to the electrode adheres to the metal ring and is captured, and is captured by the bulb. The blackening of the valve can be reduced by preventing the heading. In addition, the metal ring shields the electrode that is heated to the highest temperature at the time of lighting, so that the electrode cannot be seen directly, and the appearance of the lamp can be improved in combination with the reduction of the blackening.

Further, the metal ring covers the opening of the exhaust pipe opened at the side edge of the crushed sealing portion of the stem, so that when cleaning the inside of the valve or introducing inert gas or mercury to be sealed, The spray of the gas or mercury is firstly dispersed by hitting the metal ring, so that it does not strongly hit the inner surface of the valve, so that unnecessary substances can be reduced from adhering to the valve.

The shape of the metal ring may be such that the ring portion is a circle such as an ellipse, an ellipse or a perfect circle, or a rectangle. Further, the present invention can be applied to a glass bulb using a straight tubular glass tube, a straight tubular glass tube bent into a U-shape, a W-shape or the like, or a glass bulb connected to a plurality of straight-tube bulbs.

Therefore, with the simple structure in which the shape of the conventional metal ring is slightly changed, the appearance of the discharge lamp can be improved.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a low-pressure mercury vapor discharge lamp, comprising: a glass bulb having a phosphor film formed on an inner surface thereof; a stem having an exhaust pipe sealed at an end of the bulb; A coil-shaped filament electrode connected between lead wires implanted in the stem, and a metal ring disposed to surround the filament electrode and the exhaust pipe opening of the stem so as to surround the opening. It is characterized by having.

In addition to the same effect as described in the first aspect, since the introduced gas and mercury do not directly collide with the phosphor coating formed on the inner surface of the bulb, peeling of the phosphor coating can be prevented. In particular, it is suitable for fluorescent lamps and the like, in which the outer diameter of the bulb is reduced (about 20 mm or less), which is being developed in accordance with the downsizing (thinning) of the lighting equipment.

In general, blackening of a lamp bulb on which a phosphor film is formed is noticeable, but blackening can be reduced by a metal ring.

A low-pressure mercury vapor discharge lamp according to a third aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the metal ring is formed in a cylindrical shape surrounding the filament electrode and the exhaust pipe opening of the stem.

The shape of the metal ring is, for example, an elliptical cylindrical body, formed so as to cover the entire surface of the crushed sealing portion of the stem, and is directly radiated from the exhaust pipe regardless of the position of the exhaust pipe opening. Gas flow. For this reason, the gas does not directly hit the inner wall of the bulb, and the inner wall can be prevented from being stained and the phosphor film or the like can be prevented from peeling off.

Further, in the case of this cylindrical body, when connecting a metal ring to a support wire or a lead wire, the restriction of directivity is reduced and the work is easy.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a low-pressure mercury vapor discharge lamp according to the present invention, wherein the metal ring covers the cylindrical portion surrounding the filament electrode and the opening of the stem so as to cover the exhaust pipe opening. It is characterized by consisting of.

A conventional metal ring is provided with a rectangular or circular shielding plate so as to cover the opening direction of the substantially circular exhaust pipe opening, so that gas or the like directly radiated from the exhaust pipe is prevented. Receive the flow. For this reason, the gas does not directly hit the inner wall of the bulb, and the inner wall can be prevented from being stained and the phosphor film or the like can be prevented from peeling off.

The shielding plate may be integrally formed with the cylindrical portion or may be separately formed and connected to the cylindrical portion. It may be formed in place.

A low-pressure mercury vapor discharge lamp according to claim 5, wherein the metal ring has a mercury-releasing structure.

By forming a mercury-releasing structure such as amalgam or a getter or a mercury-releasing structure on the surface of a metal ring for shielding an electrode, the same effect as described in the above-mentioned claims 1 to 4 can be obtained. Since it is not necessary to introduce mercury into the bulb in the form of a liquid or a lump, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of inconvenience caused by the collision between the lump of mercury and the bulb due to the inert gas.

Further, by forming a mercury releasing structure,
Mercury can be weighed with higher precision than when liquid mercury is sealed, and quantitative mercury can be easily sealed.

Further, when the getter is formed directly on the metal ring, it is not necessary to form the getter in a special member, and the getter can be easily formed in the best operating temperature region.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a lighting apparatus, wherein the apparatus main body, a socket provided on the apparatus main body, and the low-voltage device according to any one of the first to fifth aspects mounted on the socket. It is characterized by comprising a mercury vapor discharge lamp and a lighting circuit device for a low-pressure mercury vapor discharge lamp provided in the apparatus main body.

By mounting the low-pressure mercury vapor discharge lamp according to any one of claims 1 to 5, it is possible to provide an illuminating device having the effects described in claims 1 to 5. Have.

[0029] By mounting the discharge lamp having the functions described in the first to fifth aspects, it is possible to obtain a lighting device with improved light emission characteristics.

[0030]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.
This will be described with reference to FIG. 1 is a partial cross-sectional front view showing one end of a low-pressure discharge lamp, for example, a straight tube fluorescent lamp L, FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional side view of FIG. 1, and FIG. FIG. 3 is a top view of a section taken along a line.

In the drawing, reference numeral 1 denotes a straight tubular valve made of soda lime glass or lead glass, and a hermetic translucent bulb is formed by sealing a flare stem 2 at each end. (Since both ends are the same, only one end is shown in the figure.) Also, reference numeral 11 denotes a sealing portion with the stem 2, and reference numeral 3 denotes a phosphor coating.

The stem 2 is a flared glass tube (stem tube) 21 made of soda lime glass or lead glass.
A pair of lead wires 41, 41 and a support wire 4
2 and an exhaust pipe 5 are sealed, and a crushing sealing part 22 is provided. An opening 51 of the exhaust pipe 5 is formed at an edge of the crushing sealing part 22. In addition, the lead wires 41,
A coil-shaped filament electrode 6 formed by winding a tungsten wire is connected between 41. Further, a metal ring 7 formed into a long cylindrical shape so as to surround the filament electrode 6 and the opening 51 of the exhaust pipe 5 is joined to the support wire 42 by means such as welding.

The metal ring 7 is formed by rolling one or a plurality of strip-shaped metal plates, for example, one metal plate in which iron, iron is nickel-plated or iron is coated with an oxide film such as Fe ₃ O ₄ , for example, in the circumferential direction. The filament electrode 6, which is formed by being connected by means of welding or overtightening and is formed to be long along the coil axis direction, and the opening 5 at the edge of the crushed sealing portion 22 of the stem 2
1 and has a long cylindrical shape with both upper and lower ends open. An electron-emitting substance (not shown) such as barium oxide, strontium oxide or calcium oxide is applied to the coil-shaped filament electrode 6.

The manufacture (exhaust step) of the fluorescent lamp L is performed, for example, as follows. 4 and 5 are explanatory views of the exhaust process. In the drawings, reference numeral 91 denotes an exhaust head; 92, a switching valve connected to the exhaust head 91; Active gas supply source. (Note that FIG. 4 shows the lamp L and the devices arranged symmetrically in the left and right directions. In the figure, the left device is denoted by a, and the right device is denoted by b.) First, both ends of the glass bulb 1 The exhaust pipes 5a and 5b of the stem 2 sealed to the airtight are connected to the exhaust heads 91a and 91b in an airtight manner.

First Embodiment of Exhaust Work (See FIG. 4) (1) First, the switching valves 92a, 92 are heated while the valve 1 is heated.
2b is connected to vacuum pumps 93a and 93b, and the inside of the valve 1 is evacuated until the degree of vacuum becomes about 3 Torr.

(2) Next, the switching valve 92a on the exhaust pipe 5a side is switched to the inert gas supply source 94a side while the exhaust on the exhaust pipe 5b side is continued, so that the inert pressure in the valve 1 becomes an equilibrium pressure of about 15 Torr. Gas is allowed to flow for about 10 seconds.
The impurity gas inside is discharged through the exhaust pipe 5b together with the flowing gas.

(3) Next, in the state of (2), a voltage of about 8.5 V is applied to the left and right filament electrodes 6a, 6b for about 1
Electric current is applied for 2 seconds to thermally decompose the electron-emitting substance or the like applied to the filament electrodes 6a and 6b, and the gas generated at this time is discharged together with the flowing gas through the exhaust pipe 5b.

(4) Next, in the state of (2), the filament electrodes 6a and 6b on both the left and right sides are applied with a voltage of about 12 V higher than that of (2).
Is applied for about 8 seconds to energize to generate an end glow discharge in both filament electrodes 6a, 6b to cause the electrodes 6a, 6
Decompose the electron-emitting material at the end of b. Then, the released gas generated at this time is discharged together with the flowing gas through the exhaust pipe 5b.

(5) Next, the switching valve 92 on the exhaust pipe 5a side
a is switched to the vacuum pump 93a, and the inside of the valve 1 is evacuated through both the exhaust pipes 5a and 5b until the degree of vacuum becomes about 0.1 Torr.

(6) The switching valve 92b is closed and the switching valve 92a is closed.
Is switched to the side of the inert gas supply source 94a, and about 2.8 Torr of the inert gas is introduced into the valve 1.

(7) After heating both exhaust pipes 5a and 5b with a burner or the like and sealing them tightly, the valve 1 is connected to the exhaust head 9
The pumping operation is completed by taking out from 1a and 91b.

Second Embodiment of Exhaust Work (See FIG. 4) (1) The switching valves 92a and 92b are connected to the vacuum pumps 93a and 93b while heating the valve 1, so that the degree of vacuum in the valve 1 becomes about 3 Torr. Exhaust until

(2) Next, the switching valve 92a on the exhaust pipe 5a side is switched to the inert gas supply source 94a side while the exhaust on the exhaust pipe 5b side is continued, so that the inert pressure in the valve 1 becomes an equilibrium pressure of about 15 Torr. Gas is allowed to flow for about 10 seconds.
The impurity gas inside is discharged through the exhaust pipe 5b together with the flowing gas.

(3) Next, in the state of (2), a voltage of about 8.5 V is applied to the right filament electrode 6b for about 8 seconds to energize, and the electron-emitting material applied to the right filament electrode 6b is applied. Is decomposed by heating, and the generated decomposition gas is discharged through the exhaust pipe 5b together with the flowing gas.

(4) Next, the switching valve 92 on the exhaust pipe 5a side
a is switched to the vacuum pump 93a side, and the inside of the valve 1 is exhausted from both the exhaust pipes 5a and 5b. Then, a voltage of about 8.5 V is applied to the left filament electrode 6a for about 8 seconds to energize, and the electron-emitting substance or the like applied to the right filament electrode 6b is heated and decomposed, and the degree of vacuum in the bulb 1 is reduced. About 1
Exhaust until Torr.

(5) The above operations (3) and (4) are repeated as necessary.

(6) Next, the switching valve 92 on the exhaust pipe 5a side
is switched to the inert gas supply source 94a side, an inert gas having an equilibrium pressure of about 15 Torr is allowed to flow through the valve 1 for about 6 seconds, and the flowing gas is discharged through the exhaust pipe 5b side.

(7) Next, both the switching valves 92a and 92b of the exhaust pipes 5a and 5b are switched to the vacuum pumps 93a and 93b to exhaust the inside of the valve 1 until the degree of vacuum becomes about 0.5 Torr, and to evacuate both the left and right. Of the filament electrode 6a,
A voltage of about 12 V is applied to 6b for about 6 seconds to energize, and an end glow discharge is generated at the filament electrodes 6a and 6b to accelerate the decomposition of the electron-emitting material at the ends of the electrodes 6a and 6b. Then, the decomposition gas generated at this time is discharged through both the exhaust pipes 5a and 5b together with the flowing gas.

(8) The two exhaust pipes 5a, 5
Evacuate through b until the degree of vacuum reaches about 0.1 Torr. (9) Close the switching valve 92b, switch the switching valve 92a to the inert gas supply source 94a side, and introduce the inert gas into the valve 1 at about 2.8 Torr.

(10) After the two exhaust pipes 5a, 5b are heated by a burner or the like and hermetically sealed, the valve 1 is removed from the exhaust heads 91a, 91b, and the exhaust operation is completed.

Third Embodiment of Exhaust Work (See FIG. 5) (1) The switching valves 92a and 92b are connected to the vacuum pumps 93a and 93b while heating the valve 1, and the degree of vacuum in the valve 1 becomes about 3 Torr. Exhaust until

(2) Then, the switching valve 92a on the exhaust pipe 5a side is switched to the inert gas supply source 94a side while the exhaust on the exhaust pipe 5b side is continued, so that the inert pressure in the valve 1 becomes an equilibrium pressure of about 15 Torr. Gas is allowed to flow for about 10 seconds.
The impurity gas inside is discharged through the exhaust pipe 5b together with the flowing gas.

(3) Next, in the state of (2), a voltage of about 8.5 V is applied to the right filament electrode 6b for about 8 seconds to energize, and the electron-emitting substance applied to the right filament electrode 6b is applied. Is decomposed by heating, and the generated decomposition gas is discharged through the exhaust pipe 5b together with the flowing gas.

(4) Next, the switching valve 92 on the exhaust pipe 5a side
a to the vacuum pump 93a side and the exhaust pipe 5b
The switching valve 92b is switched to the inert gas supply source 94b side, an inert gas having an equilibrium pressure of about 15 Torr flows through the valve 1 for about 6 seconds, and the impurity gas in the valve 1 flows through the exhaust pipe together with the flowing gas. Discharge through the 5a side.

(5) Next, in the state of (4), a voltage of about 8.5 V is applied to the left filament electrode 6a for about 8 seconds to energize, and the electron-emitting material applied to the left filament electrode 6a is applied. Is decomposed by heating, and the decomposition gas generated at this time is discharged together with the flowing gas through the exhaust pipe 5a.

(6) The above operations (2) to (5) are repeated as necessary.

(7) Next, both the switching valves 92a and 92b of the exhaust pipes 5a and 5b are switched to vacuum pumps 93a and 93b to evacuate the inside of the valve 1 until the degree of vacuum becomes about 0.5 Torr, and both left and right are exhausted. Of the filament electrode 6a,
A voltage of about 72 V is applied to 6b for about 6 seconds to conduct electricity, and an end glow discharge is generated in the filament electrodes 6a and 6b to accelerate the decomposition of the electron-emitting substance at the ends of the electrodes 6a and 6b. Then, the decomposition gas generated at this time is discharged through both the exhaust pipes 5a and 5b together with the flowing gas.

(8) The two exhaust pipes 5a, 5
Evacuate through b until the degree of vacuum reaches about 0.1 Torr. (9) Close the switching valve 92b, switch the switching valve 92a to the inert gas supply source 94a side, and introduce the inert gas into the valve 1 at about 2.8 Torr.

(10) After the two exhaust pipes 5a, 5b are heated by a burner or the like and hermetically sealed, the valve 1 is removed from the exhaust heads 91a, 91b, and the exhaust operation is completed.

Then, in the above-mentioned bulb 1, a base (not shown) is joined to the sealing portion 11 to complete the lamp L.

When the fluorescent lamp L having such a configuration is turned on by a lighting device, ultraviolet light having a wavelength of 254 nm or the like is generated from the evaporated mercury in the bulb 1 of the lamp L to excite the phosphor coating 3 to a predetermined level. The luminescence characteristics are shown.

At the time of lighting, the filament electrodes 6a,
A metal ring 7 surrounding the electrodes 6a and 6b catches flying substances such as evaporates and compounds of electrode-deposited substances such as the members of the electrodes 6a and 6b and electron-emitting substances and prevents them from going to the bulb 1. Electrodes 6a and 6b,
The fact that the electrode cannot be seen directly and the blackening of the bulb 1 can be reduced.

The opening 51 of the exhaust pipe 5 opened at the side edge of the crushed sealing portion 22 of the stem 2 by the metal ring 7.
When the inside of the bulb 1 is cleaned or the inert gas to be sealed is introduced, the gas spray is firstly distributed by hitting the metal ring 7 so that the phosphor formed on the inner surface of the bulb 1 is dispersed. The phosphor film 3 can be prevented from peeling off without strongly colliding with the film 3.

Therefore, with a simple configuration in which the shape of the conventional metal ring is slightly changed, the blackening of the discharge lamp 1L can be reduced and the light emission characteristics and appearance can be improved.

Also, as shown in FIG. 1, the sealing portion 52 at the end of the exhaust pipe 5 is brought into contact with a sliding contact plate or the like at the time of sealing to form the exhaust pipe 5.
By bending in a direction intersecting with the axis,
And the occurrence of cracks can be reduced. Further, if the exhaust pipe 5 is bent, the protruding length can be shortened, and if the length of the lamp L is fixed, there is an advantage that the effective light emitting portion on the bulb 1 side can be increased and the luminous efficiency can be improved.

The evacuation operation in the evacuation step of the lamp L can employ the above-described first to third embodiments. When an inert gas is introduced from one exhaust pipe and discharged from the other exhaust pipe, while the inert gas is passed, the filament electrode 6a or 6b is energized to decompose the electron-emitting substance. The disassembly of the filament electrode on the lower side of the path is preferably performed. This is because, once the impurity gas released by decomposition is adsorbed on the phosphor coating 3 and the wall of the bulb 1, it cannot be removed by suction with a vacuum pump.
If it remains in the bulb 1, it is released as an impure gas while the lamp L is turned on, and combines with mercury to form a bulb 1 near the electrode.
It adheres to walls and causes blackening.

Therefore, of the first to third embodiments, the third embodiment is the most preferable.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the metal ring used in the lamp of the present invention. In the figure, the same parts as those in FIGS. Omitted. The metal ring 7 has an oval ring-shaped cylindrical portion 61 surrounding the coil-shaped filament electrode 6 in the same shape as the conventional one, but is connected to the ring-shaped cylindrical portion 71 to form the stem 2. A substantially rectangular shielding plate 72 is provided at a portion facing the opening 51 so as to cover the opening 51 at the edge of the crushed sealing portion 22.

As described above, the portion covering the stem tube 21 is not the entire periphery of the stem tube 21, but at least the opening 51 of the stem 2.
6 are sufficient, and the opening 51 may be formed on both sides of the crushed sealing portion 22. Therefore, as shown by dotted lines in FIG. In such a case, when attaching to the support wire 42, joining can be easily performed without detecting the position of the opening 51.

The metal ring 7 of this shape can be formed by pressing the ring-shaped tubular portion 71 and the shielding plate portion 72 from a single metal plate by pressing or the like, or by welding or crimping them separately. It may be integrated by joining together.

Then, the metal ring 7 having this configuration also has the same operation as the above-described embodiment.

FIG. 7 shows another embodiment of the metal ring used for the lamp L of the present invention.
The same parts as those described above are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof will be omitted. The metal ring 7 has two U-shaped plate members 74, 74.
And a shielding plate 72 covering the opening 51 and a flat plate 75 (which may also be as long as the shielding plate 72) are joined to form a rectangular tube. A mercury alloy made of an alloy powder of mercury and titanium or zirconium or G is provided on the inner surfaces of the U-shaped plate members 74 and 74.
A mercury releasing structure 78 such as EMEDIS (trade name) is held (applied).

The fluorescent lamp L using the metal ring 7 holding the mercury releasing structure 78 does not need to particularly fill liquid mercury, and a high frequency induction heating coil (not shown) from outside the bulb 1. When the metal ring 7 is heated by induction heating, the mercury releasing structure 7 attached to the metal plate
8 is heated to evaporate and release mercury, so that a predetermined amount of mercury can be sealed in the bulb 1.

The lamp L using the metal ring 7 is mounted on a socket such as a lighting fixture (not shown) or the like, and is lit by energizing the filament electrodes 6 via a lighting circuit device. .

When the lamp L is turned on, the metal ring 7 holding (applying) the mercury release structure 78 disposed around the filament electrode 6 is heated by the heat of the filament electrode 6 which has been heated to a high temperature by energization. Then, the mercury releasing structure 78 is heated, and the remaining new mercury is gradually released into the bulb 1, so that the wear amount absorbed by the phosphor coating 3 or the like can be newly supplied.

Then, similarly to the above-described embodiment, the metal ring 7 is connected to the crushed sealing portion 22 of the filament electrode 6 and the stem 2.
Since the metal ring 7 surrounds the opening 51 on the side edge, the metal ring 7 receives the evaporated substance and the compound from the filament electrode 6 and blocks the metal ring 7 from reaching the phosphor coating 3 of the bulb 1. Blackening of the end of the valve 1 can be delayed.

A getter 79 made of an alloy of aluminum and zirconium is provided on the surface of the metal ring 7.
Is applied, the getter 79 rises in temperature when the lamp L is turned on, adsorbs the impure gas in the bulb 1, and the progress of the blackening can be further reduced, so that the maintenance ratio of the light emission characteristics is improved and the life is extended. . Further, a mercury releasing structure 78 may be formed on the inner surface of the metal ring 7 and a getter 79 may be formed on the outer surface. The fluorescent lamp L of the present invention is used by being mounted on a lighting device, for example, a lighting fixture 8 shown in FIG. In the figure, reference numeral 81 denotes a lighting fixture main body, and this main body 81 is provided with a fixture 82 for a building or the like, a power supply connection mechanism, and a housing 84 in which a lighting circuit device 83 such as a stabilizer is stored. The main body 81 is provided with a reflection plate 85 and socket devices 86, 86,..., And fluorescent lamps L, L are mounted on the socket devices 86, 86,. The fluorescent lamps L, L are supplied with power through a lighting circuit device 83 such as a power supply connection mechanism, a ballast, and the like, and can be stably lit.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, the low-pressure mercury vapor discharge lamp is not limited to a fluorescent lamp, and mercury can be introduced into an ultraviolet radiation lamp or a glass bulb without a phosphor film. The present invention can be applied to an unfilled rare gas discharge lamp and the like, and can be used not only for illumination and ultraviolet radiation, but also for OA equipment.

[0079]

EXAMPLE 1 In a straight tube fluorescent lamp L having a rating of 20 W, a filament electrode 6 of a stem 2 sealed to both ends of a glass bulb 1 having an outer diameter of about 20 mm and a length of about 580 mm, and crush sealing. The major axis is about 13 so as to surround the attachment part 22.
An oval metal ring 7 having a short diameter of about 10 mm and a height of about 16 mm was provided. Example 2 (same shape as shown in FIG. 1),
In a 20 W rated straight tube fluorescent lamp L, the outer diameter is about 2
0 mm, the length is about 13 mm, the short diameter is about 10 mm, and the height is about 5 m so as to surround the filament electrode 6 of the stem 2 sealed at both ends in the glass bulb 1 having a length of about 580 mm.
m, and a shielding plate part having a width of about 8 mm and a height of about 11 mm on the lower side of the cylindrical part 71 so as to cover the exhaust pipe opening 51 of the crush-sealing part 22. The metal ring 7 provided with 72 was provided. (Same shape as shown in Fig. 6)
In both of the fluorescent lamps of Examples 1 and 2, the phosphor coating 3 at the end of the bulb 1 did not peel off, and the fluorescent lamp 10000 was used.
Blackening (depending on sight) after lighting for 20 hours compared to conventional products
It was confirmed that the percentage could be reduced by about%.

[0080]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, most of the scattered matter such as the evaporant and the compound of the filament electrode member and the electrode-attached substance, and the majority of the inert gas or mercury introduced into the valve cleaning or introduced into the metal ring. As a result, the blackening of the bulb can be reduced as a result of blocking once and preventing it from directly adhering to the bulb. Further, the metal ring shields the electrodes, reduces the blackening, and improves the appearance of the lamp.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the same effects as those of the first aspect, the introduced gas and mercury do not directly collide with the phosphor coating formed on the inner surface of the bulb, so that the phosphor coating is formed. Can be prevented from peeling off. In particular, it is suitable for fluorescent lamps and the like whose bulb outer diameter is reduced (about 20 mm or less) to be developed in accordance with the downsizing (thinning) of lighting equipment.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effects similar to those of the first and second aspects, when connecting the metal ring to the support wire or the lead wire,
The work is easy with less restrictions on the mounting direction.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the same effects as those of the first and second aspects can be obtained, and an existing metal ring can be used. Easy.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the same effects as those of the first and second aspects, since the liquid mercury is not used, the environment can be improved and the amount of mercury can be quantitatively sealed. Is improved.

In addition, it is not necessary to form the getter in a special member, and the getter can be easily formed in the best operating temperature region, so that the blackening is reduced, the light emission characteristics are improved, and the life is extended. This has the advantage of providing an improved lamp.

Further, in the invention according to claim 6, the low-pressure mercury vapor discharge lamp according to any one of claims 1 to 5 is mounted, so that the invention according to claims 1 to 5 is provided. Has the advantage of being able to provide a lighting device having excellent light-emitting characteristics and lifetime characteristics.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partially sectional front view showing one end of a low-pressure discharge lamp such as a straight tube fluorescent lamp of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional side view of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a top view of a section taken along line AA in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of an exhaust step.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of another exhaust process.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the metal ring used for the lamp of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the metal ring used for the lamp of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a lighting device according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 L: Low pressure mercury vapor discharge lamp (fluorescent lamp) 1: Glass bulb 2: Stem 3: Phosphor coating 41: Lead wire 42: Support wire 5: Exhaust pipe 51: Opening 6: Filament electrode 7: Metal ring 71: Tube Shaped portion 72: shielding plate portion 78: mercury emission structure 79: getter 8: lighting device (lighting device) 81: lighting device body 83: lighting circuit device

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A glass bulb; a stem having an exhaust pipe sealed at an end of the bulb; a coiled filament electrode connected between lead wires implanted in the stem; and a filament electrode. A metal ring disposed opposite to and surrounding the exhaust pipe opening of the stem. 2. A glass bulb having a phosphor film formed on an inner surface thereof; a stem having an exhaust pipe sealed at an end of the bulb; and a coil connected between lead wires implanted in the stem. A low-pressure mercury vapor discharge lamp, comprising: a filament electrode in a shape of a circle; and a metal ring disposed to surround the opening of the filament electrode and the exhaust pipe of the stem. 3. The low-pressure mercury vapor discharge lamp according to claim 1, wherein the metal ring is formed in a cylindrical shape surrounding the filament electrode and the exhaust pipe opening of the stem. 4. The metal ring according to claim 1, wherein the metal ring comprises a cylindrical portion surrounding the filament electrode and a shield plate at a portion facing the opening so as to cover the exhaust pipe opening of the stem. Low pressure mercury vapor discharge lamp. 5. The low-pressure mercury vapor discharge lamp according to claim 1, wherein the metal ring has a mercury releasing structure. 6. A device main body; a socket provided in the device main body; a low-pressure mercury vapor discharge lamp according to any one of claims 1 to 5 mounted on the socket; and a device provided in the device main body. A lighting circuit device for a low-pressure mercury vapor discharge lamp.