US3226597A - High pressure metal vapor discharge lamp - Google Patents

High pressure metal vapor discharge lamp Download PDF

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Publication number
US3226597A
US3226597A US306476A US30647663A US3226597A US 3226597 A US3226597 A US 3226597A US 306476 A US306476 A US 306476A US 30647663 A US30647663 A US 30647663A US 3226597 A US3226597 A US 3226597A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
electrode
starting
arc tube
main
lamp
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 - Lifetime
Application number
US306476A
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English (en)
Inventor
Alwin C Green
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.)
General Electric Co
Original Assignee
General Electric Co
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by General Electric Co filed Critical General Electric Co
Priority to US306476A priority Critical patent/US3226597A/en
Priority to GB33058/64A priority patent/GB1070374A/en
Priority to SE10359/64A priority patent/SE303156B/xx
Priority to NL646410100A priority patent/NL146327B/xx
Priority to DE1964G0041433 priority patent/DE1217496C2/de
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3226597A publication Critical patent/US3226597A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H05B—ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
    • H05B41/00—Circuit arrangements or apparatus for igniting or operating discharge lamps
    • H05B41/14—Circuit arrangements
    • H05B41/16—Circuit arrangements in which the lamp is fed by DC or by low-frequency AC, e.g. by 50 cycles/sec AC, or with network frequencies
    • H05B41/18—Circuit arrangements in which the lamp is fed by DC or by low-frequency AC, e.g. by 50 cycles/sec AC, or with network frequencies having a starting switch
    • H05B41/19—Circuit arrangements in which the lamp is fed by DC or by low-frequency AC, e.g. by 50 cycles/sec AC, or with network frequencies having a starting switch for lamps having an auxiliary starting electrode
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01J—ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS
    • H01J61/00—Gas-discharge or vapour-discharge lamps
    • H01J61/02—Details
    • H01J61/54—Igniting arrangements, e.g. promoting ionisation for starting
    • H01J61/541—Igniting arrangements, e.g. promoting ionisation for starting using a bimetal switch
    • H01J61/542—Igniting arrangements, e.g. promoting ionisation for starting using a bimetal switch and an auxiliary electrode inside the vessel

Definitions

  • the mercury arc lamp has achieved commercial acceptance by virtue of its long life and reasonably good efficiency in the range of 50 to 60 lumens per arc watt. However, it suffers the disadvantage of relatively poor color rendition due to the bluish-green quality of its light, and also its efficiency is appreciably below the 70 to 80 lumens per arc watt range of the ordinary fluorescent lamp.
  • a radical improvement in both color rendition and efficiency may be achieved by adding to the mercury one or more vaporizable metal halides under proper control of loading, temperature and pressure, the preferred metal halide additive being sodium iodide, optionally with thallium iodide.
  • Such improved lamps are described and claimed in copending application Serial No. 84,068 of Gilbert H. Reiling, filed Jan. 23, 1961, entitled Gaseous Electric Discharge Lamps and assigned to the same assignee as the present invention. For convenience, such lamps will hence forth be referred to herein as mercury metal halide lamps.
  • the mercury metal halide lamp resembles the conventional high pressure mercury vapor lamp. It comprises a quartz arc tube mounted within a glass outer jacket having a screw base at one end.
  • the are tube contains a quantity of mercury and metal halide such as sodium iodide along with an inert gas such as argon for starting purposes.
  • Thermionic main electrodes are provided at the ends of the arc tube, and an auxiliary starting electrode is located adjacent one of the main electrodes in order to facilitate starting, and is connected through a current limiting resistor to the other main electrode.
  • the space between the arc tube and the outer jacket is evacuated in order to reduce loss of heat from the arc tube to assure the required arc tube wall temperature.
  • the ends of the arc tube are also preferably provided with a heat reflecting coating in order to assure the desired temperature at the ends.
  • a solution to the problem resides in positively connecting the starting electrode to the adjacent main electrode after starting of the lamp so as to eliminate any possibility of potential difference between them.
  • a practical and inexpensive way of accomplishing this is to provide a bimetal switch between the starting electrode and the adjacent main electrode.
  • the switch is normally open and it is actuated by the heat of the lamp after starting and short-circuits the starting electrode to the adjacent main electrode.
  • the bimetal switch may be arranged to disconnect the starting electrode from the current limiting resistor at the same time as the short circuit connection to the adjacent main electrode is made.
  • FIG. 1 is a side view of a mercury metal halide arc lamp embodying the invention.
  • FIG. 2 is a similar view illustrating a variant of the invention.
  • a high pressure mercury vapor lamp 1 comprising an outer vitreous envelope or jacket 2 of generally tubular form modified by a central bulbous portion 3. It is provided at its outer end with a re-entrant stem 4 having a press 5 through which extend relatively stiff inlead wires 6,7 connected at their outer ends to the contacts of the usual screw type base 8, namely the threaded shell 9 and the insulated center contact 10.
  • the electrodes may be activated by a very thin layer of thorium. metal vacuum-deposited thereon.
  • the are tube contains a quantity of mercury which is entirely vaporized during operation of the lamp and which at such time exerts a pressure in the range of l to 15 atmospheres.
  • a quantity of sodium iodide is provided in excess of that vaporized at the operating temperature of the arc tube which should be not less than 500 C. at any place. Since the lowest temperature is encountered at the ends, a heat reflective coating indicated by the speckling is applied to the ends of the arc tube and to the adjacent portions of the pinch seals.
  • a conductor 30 threaded through an insulating glass sleeve 31 connects inlead l6'ofn1ain electrode 13 to inlead wire dot the outer jacket which in turn is connect-ed to base shell 9.
  • a conductor 32 connects inlead 17 of main electrode 14 to rod 24 through which circuit continuity is provided, to center contact of the base.
  • auxiliary starting electrode 15 permanently to main electrode 14 at the opposite end of the arc tube by means of a current limiting resistor 33 connected between inlead 18 of the starting electrode and side rod 24 as illustrated in FIG. 1.
  • the current limiting resistor 33 may have a value of 40,000 ohms by way of example.
  • a line voltage of 230 to 240 volts A.C. as indicated is applied across the lamp terminals in series with a ballasting reactor 34, sub stantially the full line voltage appears between main electrode 13 and auxiliary electrode 15, and thisis sufiicie-nt to start the lamp.
  • the voltage drop across the lamp may be approximately 100 vol-ts and resistor 33 then limits the starting electrode current to A milliampere or less.
  • the thermal switch may consist of a strip of dissimilar metals'bent toa U-shape and having one leg welded or otherwise fastened to inlead 16 of main electrode 13.
  • the switch extremities lie close together.
  • the U-shaped piece opens out and the piece of molybdenum wire 36 welded across the free end of the bimetal strip engages molybdenum inlead 18 of the starting electrode. 1 have found it suitable to use a strip of bimetal having a thickness of approximately .010 inch, 43 x 3 millimeters in dimensions, and formed to a U about /4 inch in overall length.
  • the bimetal switch closes 2 to 4 minutes after starting of the lamp and substantially eliminates the seal failure problem.
  • the bimetal switch by short-circuiting the starter electrode to the adjacent main electrode, in effect leaves the starting resistor 33 connected in parallel with the arc tube during operation of the lamp.
  • the bimetal is fastened to inlead 18 of the starting electrode and its free end is disposed to move between blind pin 37 and inlead 16 of main electrode 13.
  • An electric discharge lamp comprising a vitreous outer jacket enclosing a quartz arc tube, said are tube having a pair of main thermionic electrodes sealed therein at opposite ends and a starting electrode located adjacent one of said main electrodes sealed therein at one end, an ionizable filling within said are tube comprising mercury, a metal halide, and an inert starting gas, means supporting said are tube within said outer jacket and providing circuit connections to said main electrodes, means including a current limiting resistor within said, outer jacket connecting said starting electrode to the main electrode at the opposite end of the arc tube, and a thermal switch actuated by the heat of said are tube during normal operation and arranged to short-circuit the starting electrode to the adjacent main electrode when actuated.
  • An electric discharge lamp comprising a vitreous outer jacket enclosing a quartz arc tube, said are tube having a pair of main thermionic electrodes sealed therein at opposite ends and a starting electrode located 'adjacent one of said main electrodes sealed therein at one end, an ionizable filling within said are tube comprising mercury, sodium iodide, and an inert starting gas, means supporting said are tube within said outer jacket and providing circuit connections to said main electrodes, means including a current limiting resistor within said outer jacket connecting said starting electrode to the main electrode at the opposite end of the arc tube, and a thermal switch unactuated at room temperature andactuated by the heat of said are tube during operation of said lamp, said thermal switch being arranged to short-circuit'the starting electrode to the adjacent mainelectrode when actuated.
  • An electric discharge lamp comprising a vitreous outer. jacket enclosing a quartz arc tube, said are tube having a pair of main thermionic electrodes sealed therein atopposite ends and a starting electrode located adjacent one of said main electrodes sealed therein at one end, an ionizable filling within said are tube comprising mercury, a metalhalide, and an inert starting gas, means supporting said are tube within said outer jacket and providing circuit connections to said main electrodes, 21 current limiting resistor connected to the main electrode at the opposite end of the arc tube, and a thermal switch within said outer jacket, said thermal switch when unactuated at room temperature providing circuit continuity between said starting electrode and said resistor, and when actuated by the heat of said arc tube during normal operation providing circuit continuity between said starting electrode and the adjacent main electrode.
  • An electric discharge lamp comprising a vitreous outer jacket enclosing a quartz arc tube having main thermionic electrodes supported by inleads sealed therein at opposite ends, a starting electrode adjacent one of the main electrodes supported by an inlead sealed through said are tube proximately to that of the adjacent main electrode, an ionizable filling within said arc tube comprising mercury, sodium iodide and an inert gas at a low pressure, a frame including conductors supporting said arc tube within said outer jacket and providing circuit connections to said main electrodes, a current limiting resistor connected between said starting electrode and said frame, and a U-shaped bimetal strip fastened at one end to the inlead of one of said starting electrode and the adjacent main electrode and having its free end disposed to engage the inlead of the other when actuated by the heat of said are tube, whereby to shortcircuit the starting electrode to the adjacent main electrode during normal operation of said lamp,
  • An electric discharge lamp comprising a vitreous outer jacket enclosing a quartz arc tube having main thermionic electrodes supported by inleads sealed therein at opposite ends, a starting electrode adjacent one of the main electrodes supported by an inlead sealed through said arc tube proximately to that of the adjacent main electrode, an ionizable filling within said arc tube comprising mercury, sodium iodide and an inert gas at a low pressure, a frame including conductors supporting said are tube within said outer jacket and providing circuit connections to said main electrodes, a blind pin mounted on the starting electrode end of said are tube, a starting resistor connected between said blind pin and said frame, and a U-shaped bimetal strip fastened at one end to the inlead of said starting electrode and having its free end movable between said blind pin and the inlead of the adjacent main electrode, said bimetal strip operating to engage said blind pin at room temperature whereby to connect the starting electrode through said resistor to the opposite main electrode, and engaging

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  • Discharge Lamps And Accessories Thereof (AREA)
  • Circuit Arrangements For Discharge Lamps (AREA)
US306476A 1963-09-04 1963-09-04 High pressure metal vapor discharge lamp Expired - Lifetime US3226597A (en)

Priority Applications (5)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US306476A US3226597A (en) 1963-09-04 1963-09-04 High pressure metal vapor discharge lamp
GB33058/64A GB1070374A (en) 1963-09-04 1964-08-13 Improvements in high pressure metal vapour discharge lamp
SE10359/64A SE303156B (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1963-09-04 1964-08-28
NL646410100A NL146327B (nl) 1963-09-04 1964-08-31 Hogedrukkwikdampontladingslamp.
DE1964G0041433 DE1217496C2 (de) 1963-09-04 1964-09-03 Quecksilberdampf-Hochdruckentladungslampe mit Metallhalogen-Zusatz

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US306476A US3226597A (en) 1963-09-04 1963-09-04 High pressure metal vapor discharge lamp

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3226597A true US3226597A (en) 1965-12-28

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US306476A Expired - Lifetime US3226597A (en) 1963-09-04 1963-09-04 High pressure metal vapor discharge lamp

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US (1) US3226597A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
DE (1) DE1217496C2 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
GB (1) GB1070374A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
NL (1) NL146327B (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
SE (1) SE303156B (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)

Cited By (25)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3307069A (en) * 1964-06-30 1967-02-28 Westinghouse Electric Corp Electric discharge lamp
US3445721A (en) * 1966-07-01 1969-05-20 Sylvania Electric Prod Electric discharge lamp with the starting resistor impedance twice that of the lamp impedance
US3619710A (en) * 1969-10-29 1971-11-09 Sylvania Electric Prod High-pressure electric discharge lamp having electrolysis-preventing means
US3715622A (en) * 1970-06-26 1973-02-06 Thorn Electrical Ind Ltd Metal-halide discharge lamps
US3909660A (en) * 1974-08-08 1975-09-30 Gen Electric Metal halide discharge lamp starting electrode
JPS512981A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) * 1974-06-24 1976-01-12 Gen Electric
US4001634A (en) * 1975-09-02 1977-01-04 General Electric Company Discharge lamp having thermal switch starter
US4024423A (en) * 1975-10-06 1977-05-17 North American Philips Corporation Electric discharge tube having variable electrode area
US4064416A (en) * 1975-04-22 1977-12-20 Patent-Treuhand-Gesellschaft Fur Elektrische Gluhlampen Mbh Starting and operating device for a high pressure discharge lamp
US4137483A (en) * 1975-12-02 1979-01-30 Iwasaki Electric Co., Ltd. High pressure discharge lamp with a starting circuit contained therein
US4191910A (en) * 1978-10-03 1980-03-04 Westinghouse Electric Corp. Starting arrangement for high pressure discharge sodium lamp
US4258289A (en) * 1979-05-09 1981-03-24 Westinghouse Electric Corp. Metal halide lamp for operation with a mercury ballast
EP0028128A1 (en) * 1979-10-25 1981-05-06 Westinghouse Electric Corporation Improvements in or relating to high-intensity-discharge sodium lamps
DE3109539A1 (de) * 1980-03-19 1982-02-25 General Electric Co., Schenectady, N.Y. Hochleistungs-entladungslampe mit elektronischer starthilfe
US4328445A (en) * 1979-04-04 1982-05-04 U.S. Philips Corporation High-pressure discharge lamp
DE3324081A1 (de) * 1983-07-04 1985-01-17 Patent-Treuhand-Gesellschaft für elektrische Glühlampen mbH, 8000 München Quecksilberdampfhochdruckentladungslampe
US4721888A (en) * 1984-12-27 1988-01-26 Gte Laboratories Incorporated Arc discharge lamp with ultraviolet enhanced starting circuit
US4812714A (en) * 1987-10-22 1989-03-14 Gte Products Corporation Arc discharge lamp with electrodeless ultraviolet radiation starting source
US4818915A (en) * 1987-10-22 1989-04-04 Gte Products Corporation Arc discharge lamp with ultraviolet radiation starting source
US5003214A (en) * 1986-12-19 1991-03-26 Gte Products Corporation Metal halide lamp having reflective coating on the arc tube
EP0434287A1 (en) * 1989-12-18 1991-06-26 General Electric Company Electric discharge lamp and thermal switch starter means therefor
US5173639A (en) * 1990-12-27 1992-12-22 Gte Products Corporation Thermal switch assembly for electric lamps
US5248273A (en) * 1992-11-25 1993-09-28 Gte Products Corporation Method of fabricating ultraviolet radiation starting source
US5323091A (en) * 1992-11-04 1994-06-21 Gte Products Corporation Starting source for arc discharge lamps
US5323087A (en) * 1992-11-20 1994-06-21 Gte Products Corporation Ultraviolet radiation starting source and lamp containing same

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS6034223B2 (ja) * 1980-06-18 1985-08-07 株式会社東芝 金属蒸気放電灯
DE3619068C2 (de) * 1986-06-06 1996-08-22 Patent Treuhand Ges Fuer Elektrische Gluehlampen Mbh Kompakte Metallhalogenidentladungslampe
DE19925232A1 (de) * 1999-06-01 2000-12-07 Siemens Ag Lampenanordnung

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
None *

Cited By (26)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3307069A (en) * 1964-06-30 1967-02-28 Westinghouse Electric Corp Electric discharge lamp
US3445721A (en) * 1966-07-01 1969-05-20 Sylvania Electric Prod Electric discharge lamp with the starting resistor impedance twice that of the lamp impedance
US3619710A (en) * 1969-10-29 1971-11-09 Sylvania Electric Prod High-pressure electric discharge lamp having electrolysis-preventing means
US3715622A (en) * 1970-06-26 1973-02-06 Thorn Electrical Ind Ltd Metal-halide discharge lamps
US3965387A (en) * 1974-06-24 1976-06-22 General Electric Company Electric lamp and thermal switch therefore
JPS512981A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) * 1974-06-24 1976-01-12 Gen Electric
US3909660A (en) * 1974-08-08 1975-09-30 Gen Electric Metal halide discharge lamp starting electrode
US4064416A (en) * 1975-04-22 1977-12-20 Patent-Treuhand-Gesellschaft Fur Elektrische Gluhlampen Mbh Starting and operating device for a high pressure discharge lamp
US4001634A (en) * 1975-09-02 1977-01-04 General Electric Company Discharge lamp having thermal switch starter
US4024423A (en) * 1975-10-06 1977-05-17 North American Philips Corporation Electric discharge tube having variable electrode area
US4137483A (en) * 1975-12-02 1979-01-30 Iwasaki Electric Co., Ltd. High pressure discharge lamp with a starting circuit contained therein
US4191910A (en) * 1978-10-03 1980-03-04 Westinghouse Electric Corp. Starting arrangement for high pressure discharge sodium lamp
US4328445A (en) * 1979-04-04 1982-05-04 U.S. Philips Corporation High-pressure discharge lamp
US4258289A (en) * 1979-05-09 1981-03-24 Westinghouse Electric Corp. Metal halide lamp for operation with a mercury ballast
EP0028128A1 (en) * 1979-10-25 1981-05-06 Westinghouse Electric Corporation Improvements in or relating to high-intensity-discharge sodium lamps
DE3109539A1 (de) * 1980-03-19 1982-02-25 General Electric Co., Schenectady, N.Y. Hochleistungs-entladungslampe mit elektronischer starthilfe
DE3324081A1 (de) * 1983-07-04 1985-01-17 Patent-Treuhand-Gesellschaft für elektrische Glühlampen mbH, 8000 München Quecksilberdampfhochdruckentladungslampe
US4721888A (en) * 1984-12-27 1988-01-26 Gte Laboratories Incorporated Arc discharge lamp with ultraviolet enhanced starting circuit
US5003214A (en) * 1986-12-19 1991-03-26 Gte Products Corporation Metal halide lamp having reflective coating on the arc tube
US4812714A (en) * 1987-10-22 1989-03-14 Gte Products Corporation Arc discharge lamp with electrodeless ultraviolet radiation starting source
US4818915A (en) * 1987-10-22 1989-04-04 Gte Products Corporation Arc discharge lamp with ultraviolet radiation starting source
EP0434287A1 (en) * 1989-12-18 1991-06-26 General Electric Company Electric discharge lamp and thermal switch starter means therefor
US5173639A (en) * 1990-12-27 1992-12-22 Gte Products Corporation Thermal switch assembly for electric lamps
US5323091A (en) * 1992-11-04 1994-06-21 Gte Products Corporation Starting source for arc discharge lamps
US5323087A (en) * 1992-11-20 1994-06-21 Gte Products Corporation Ultraviolet radiation starting source and lamp containing same
US5248273A (en) * 1992-11-25 1993-09-28 Gte Products Corporation Method of fabricating ultraviolet radiation starting source

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB1070374A (en) 1967-06-01
NL6410100A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1965-03-05
SE303156B (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1968-08-19
DE1217496B (de) 1966-05-26
DE1217496C2 (de) 1966-12-15
NL146327B (nl) 1975-06-16

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