RU2710864C1 - Low-pressure discharge lamp - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: electricity.SUBSTANCE: invention relates to gas-discharge engineering, namely to low pressure gas discharge lamps, and can be used for light enclosures of supports and lines of high-voltage power transmissions and other high-rise structures, availability of which in areas of movement and maneuvering of aircrafts can disrupt or worsen safety of flights. Low-pressure gas-discharge lamp has a bulb in which electrodes and a discharge channel are located. Electrodes are made in the form of hollow cylindrical cold cathodes, in the cavity of which there are open ends of the discharge channel on one third of their length. Outputs of electrodes through opposite ends of the bulb are connected to source of supply voltage. Gas-discharge channel volume is filled with inert gas. Discharge channel is made in the form of a spiral gas-discharge tube located coaxially to the bulb axis and fixed inside the bulb by elastic centralisers. Cylindrical cathodes are fixed inside the bulb with O-rings. Bulb volume between O-rings is filled with damping fluid. Bulb volume between elastic rings and bulb ends is filled with elastic compound. It is preferable that glasses are secured at the bulb ends, flanges with electrode assemblies are installed by means of the threaded connector.EFFECT: increasing light output of the lamp at low consumed currents and improving reliability and service life of the gas-discharge lamp owing to increasing mechanical strength and temperature stability.8 cl, 1 dwg

Description

The invention relates to gas-discharge equipment, namely to low-pressure gas-discharge lamps and can be used for the light-shielding of supports and high-voltage power lines and other high-rise structures, the presence of which in the areas of movement and maneuvering of aircraft can violate or impair flight safety.

Known gas discharge light source filled with low pressure gas. The light source includes a lamp with a sealed balloon filled with an inert gas, such as neon, at a pressure of 1.5-15 mm Hg. Electrodes are installed in the cylinder. The lamp is powered from a high-frequency voltage source with a frequency of more than 5 kHz (US patent No. 4461981 for the invention of “LOW PRESSURE INERT GAS DISCHARGE DEVICE”, IPC H01J61 / 76, published on July 24, 1984). The disadvantage of this lamp is the impossibility of its operation from a source of constant and alternating voltage of low (50 Hz) frequency. The operation of this lamp from a high-frequency power source complicates the life-support system of the lamp and makes this lamp unacceptable for a number of tasks.

Known low-pressure discharge lamp, which contains a leg with two electrodes, a flask with a longitudinal partition separating the electrodes and forming a U-shaped discharge channel. The longitudinal partition is made integrally with the bulb of the lamp, and the leg is hermetically connected to the partition (application of the Russian Federation No. 96105447/07 for the invention "DISCHARGE LAMP OF LOW PRESSURE", IPC Н01J61 / 30, published on 06/20/98). The disadvantage of this lamp is the large current consumption at low light output, as well as the inability of the lamp to work with alternating current, which limits its area of use.

A low-pressure discharge lamp is known, equipped with a tubular bulb with electrodes at opposite ends, in which a discharge channel with a cross section smaller than the tube section is located on a portion of the length of the interelectrode gap. The length of the discharge channel is from x r to L - 2D, where x r is the relaxation length of the electron energy for a given gas, L is the distance between the electrodes, D is the internal diameter of the discharge bulb. The discharge channel may be formed by the inner wall of the discharge tubular flask or by the wall of an additional tube made of optically transparent material or of refractory metal. The additional tube is hermetically installed in the hole of the partition located perpendicular to the axis of the flask and hermetically connected to it. The partition made of refractory metal (application for the Russian Federation No. 92003657 for the invention "DISCHARGE LAMP OF LOW PRESSURE", IPC H01J 61/00, published 1995.07.20. A disadvantage of the known lamp is its low light output due to the short length of the discharge tube, as well as the inability to operate the lamp with alternating current.

Known closest in the aggregate of essential features to the claimed invention and selected as a prototype low-pressure discharge lamp containing a bulb in which the electrodes and discharge channel are located. The electrodes are made in the form of hollow cylindrical cold cathodes, in the cavities of which one third of their length includes the open ends of the discharge channel. The terminals of the electrodes through the opposite ends of the bulb are connected to a source of supply voltage, and the volume of the gas discharge channel and the bulb is filled with an inert gas. The lamp contains a partition made as a unit with the bulb and dividing the inner volume of the bulb in half. The partition is hermetically connected to the bulb, and also hermetically connected to the discharge channel, made in the form of a capillary located coaxially with the axis of the bulb. The lamp is filled with an inert gas, such as neon or a mixture of neon and helium, providing an orange-red color for the glow of the discharge. The conclusions of the electrodes can be connected to an AC or DC voltage source (RF patent No. 2299494 for the invention "DISCHARGE LAMP OF LOW PRESSURE", IPC H01J 61/00, published on 05/20/2007). Known lamp can operate from either an alternating or direct voltage source. However, its disadvantage is also the low light output due to the short length and radiated projection area of the discharge capillary. In addition, it is characterized by a low mechanical strength of the structure due to the cantilever fastening of the discharge capillary.

The problem to which the claimed technical solution is directed is to create a reliable and highly efficient low-pressure discharge lamp, characterized by improved technical performance.

 The technical results achieved by solving the task are to increase the light output of the lamp at low current consumption, as well as to increase the reliability and service life of the discharge lamp by increasing the mechanical strength and temperature stability.

The specified technical result is achieved by the fact that the low-pressure discharge lamp contains a bulb in which electrodes and a discharge channel are located. The electrodes are made in the form of hollow cylindrical cold cathodes, in the cavities of which one third of their length includes the open ends of the discharge channel. The terminals of the electrodes through the opposite ends of the bulb are connected to a source of supply voltage. The volume of the gas discharge channel is filled with inert gas. The discharge channel is made in the form of a spiral-shaped gas discharge tube located coaxially to the axis of the flask and fixed inside the flask by elastic centralizers. Cylindrical cathodes are fixed inside the flask with O-rings. The volume of the flask between the sealing rings is filled with damping fluid. The volume of the flask between the elastic rings and the ends of the flask is filled with an elastic compound.

It is preferable that glasses be attached to the ends of the flask, onto which flanges with electrode assemblies are mounted by means of a threaded connector.

It is also preferred that the electrode assemblies are connected by flexible conductors to the terminals of the cathodes and connected to the supply voltage.

Preferably, the flask was made of quartz glass.

It is preferable that a mixture of neon and argon be used as the inert gas, preferably in a ratio of 300: 1 to 500: 1 at a total pressure pd defined by the formula 15≤pd≤30.

In some cases, the execution of the conclusions of the electrodes are connected to a constant voltage source.

In other cases of execution, the terminals of the electrodes are connected to an AC voltage source.

A comparative analysis of the claimed invention with the prototype showed that in all cases of execution, it differs from the well-known, closest technical solution:

- the discharge channel is made in the form of a spiral gas discharge tube;

- the implementation of a gas discharge tube fixed inside the flask with elastic centralizers;

- the implementation of cylindrical cathodes fixed inside the flask of the sealing rings;

- the implementation of the volume of the flask between the sealing rings filled with a damping fluid;

- the implementation of the volume of the flask between the elastic rings and the ends of the flask filled with an elastic compound.

In preferred cases, the invention differs from the well-known, closest technical solution:

- the presence of glasses mounted on the ends of the flask;

- the presence of flanges with electrode assemblies mounted on the glasses by means of a threaded connection;

- the implementation of the electrode assemblies connected by flexible conductors to the terminals of the cathodes and connected to the supply voltage;

- the implementation of the flask made of quartz glass;

- using a mixture of neon and argon as an inert gas, preferably in a ratio of 300: 1 ÷ 500: 1 at a total pressure pd defined by the formula 15≤pd≤30.

The implementation of the discharge channel in the form of a spiral gas discharge tube can significantly extend the gas discharge and increase the projection area of the emitted surface, which ensures high light output with low current consumption. The centralizers supporting the discharge tube and damping fluid in the area of the discharge channel increase both the mechanical strength and the temperature stability of the lamp, which ensures an increase in the service life of the device. The use of a mixture of neon and argon gases provides an orange-red color for the glow of the discharge and low energy costs for maintaining the discharge. Using a mixture of neon and argon in a ratio of 300: 1 ÷ 500: 1 at a total pressure defined by the formula 15≤pd≤30 provides a given spectrum of light emission from the discharge channel and reduces power consumption. The presence of glasses mounted on the ends of the flask, and flanges with electrode assemblies mounted on the glasses through a threaded connection; the implementation of the electrode assemblies connected by flexible conductors with the conclusions of the cathodes and connected to the supply voltage increases the operational reliability of the lamp.

The invention is illustrated in the schematic drawing shown in FIG. 1.

In a preferred embodiment, the low-pressure discharge lamp comprises a quartz glass bulb 1 in which electrodes are arranged in the form of hollow cylindrical cold cathodes 2 and a discharge channel made in the form of a spiral-shaped discharge tube 3 located coaxially to the axis of the bulb 1 and secured with elastic centralizers inside the bulb 4. The open ends of the gas discharge tube 3 enter the cavity of the hollow cylindrical cold cathodes 2 by one third of their length. The conclusions of the electrodes 2 through the opposite ends of the flask 1 are connected to a source of supply voltage (not shown in the drawing). When the lamp is operating on AC voltage, the cathode electrodes 2 alternately perform the function of either anodes or cold cathodes. Cylindrical cathodes 2 are fixed, inside the flask 1 by sealing rings 5. At the ends of the flask 1 are fixed (for example, with the help of a compound) glasses 6 onto which flanges 7 with electrode assemblies are mounted by means of a threaded connection 8. Electrode assemblies 8 are flexible conductors (for example, flexible mounting tapes) are connected to the output of the cathode electrode 2. The electrode assemblies 8 are designed both for connecting to the supply voltage and for fixing the lamp during its operation. The lamp is pumped out, trained and filled with a mixture of working gases of neon and argon, in a ratio of 300: 1 ÷ 500: 1 at a total pressure pd defined by the formula 15≤pd≤30 (for example, in a ratio of 300: 1 at a total pressure of 10 mm Hg .). The working gas pressure is optimized based on the high durability of the cold cathode and the maximum brightness of the discharge glow. The volume of the flask 1 between the sealing rings 5 is filled with a damping fluid, and the volumes of the flask between the elastic rings 5 and the ends of the flask 1 are filled with an elastic compound. The conclusions of the electrodes 2 can be connected to a source of constant or alternating voltage.

The invention works as follows.

The electrode nodes 8 are supplied with operating voltage (constant or variable). In the capillary of the gas discharge tube 3, a discharge lights up. With a constant operating voltage, the electrodes 2 operate as an anode and a cathode, depending on the applied potentials, and with an alternating operating voltage, the electrodes 2 operate alternately as an anode and a cathode.

A gas discharge inside a narrow capillary of a gas discharge tube 3, even at low operating currents (within 10 mA), has a high brightness, and its large length due to the spiral-shaped discharge channel allows for a large light flux in the lamp.

The proposed lamp has high reliability, durability, brightness at low discharge currents.

An example of the practical implementation of the proposed lamp: a two-electrode gas discharge lamp with a discharge capillary of a spiral design, filled with a mixture of neon and argon gases in a ratio of 300: 1 at a total pressure of 10 mm Hg. The lamp operating voltage is 3.6 kV. the lamp operates both from a constant voltage source and from a source of alternating (50 Hz) voltage. The luminous flux emitted at a discharge current of 10 mA is 900 lm. The overall dimensions of the lamp are Ø55x965 mm.

The inventive low-pressure discharge lamp is easy to operate, reliable, durable and has low electrical power consumption, low electrical energy consumption and the ability to work from an AC voltage source, which allows it to be used to designate the support of power lines and power lines with power supply directly due to capacitive coupling with live wires of a high voltage line.

Claims (8)

1. A low-pressure gas discharge lamp containing a bulb in which electrodes and a discharge channel are located, wherein the electrodes are made in the form of hollow cylindrical cold cathodes, in the cavities of which one-third of their length includes the open ends of the discharge channel; the electrode leads through the opposite ends of the bulb are connected to a source of supply voltage, and the volume of the gas discharge channel is filled with inert gas, characterized in that the discharge channel is made in the form of a spiral-shaped gas discharge tube located coaxially to the axis of the bulb and fixed inside the bulb by elastic centralizers; cylindrical cathodes are fixed inside the flask with sealing rings; the volume of the flask between the sealing rings is filled with damping fluid, and the volumes of the flask between the elastic rings and the ends of the flask are filled with an elastic compound. 2. The gas discharge lamp according to claim 1, characterized in that at the ends of the bulb are fixed glasses on which flanges with electrode assemblies are mounted by means of a threaded connection. 3. The discharge lamp according to claim 2, characterized in that the electrode assemblies are connected by flexible conductors to the terminals of the cathodes and are connected to the supply voltage. 4. The discharge lamp according to claim 1, characterized in that the bulb is made of quartz glass. 5. The discharge lamp according to claim 1, characterized in that a mixture of neon and argon is used as an inert gas. 6. The discharge lamp according to claim 5, characterized in that a mixture of neon and argon in a ratio of 300: 1 ÷ 500: 1 at a total pressure pd defined by the formula 15≤pd≤30 is used as an inert gas. 7. Gas discharge lamp according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the terminals of the electrodes are connected to a constant voltage source. 8. Gas discharge lamp according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the terminals of the electrodes are connected to an AC voltage source.

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