US3780331A - Apparatus and method for eliminating microcracks in alumina ceramic discharge devices - Google Patents

Apparatus and method for eliminating microcracks in alumina ceramic discharge devices Download PDF

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Publication number
US3780331A
US3780331A US00291489A US3780331DA US3780331A US 3780331 A US3780331 A US 3780331A US 00291489 A US00291489 A US 00291489A US 3780331D A US3780331D A US 3780331DA US 3780331 A US3780331 A US 3780331A
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United States
Prior art keywords
lead
arc tube
conductor
frame
envelope
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Expired - Lifetime
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US00291489A
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English (en)
Inventor
W Knochel
L Werner
F Lin
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Philips North America LLC
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Westinghouse Electric Corp
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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01J—ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS
    • H01J61/00—Gas-discharge or vapour-discharge lamps
    • H01J61/02—Details
    • H01J61/50—Auxiliary parts or solid material within the envelope for reducing risk of explosion upon breakage of the envelope, e.g. for use in mines

Definitions

  • ABSTRACT A ceramic discharge device including an outer vitreous envelope sealed to a metallic base, a pair of leadin conductors connected to the base and extending into the envelope with one of the lead-in conductors connected to one end of an alumina arc tube mounted within the outer envelope and the other lead-in conductor forming a portion of a support frame for the arc tube and being connected to the other end of the arc tube.
  • the lead-in conductor forming a portion of the support frame being constructed of stainless steel and having a chrome oxide coating formed on its surface.
  • a non-photoelectron emissive element forming a photoelectron collector electrically
  • first lead-in conductor connected to the first lead-in conductor may be interposed between the arc tube and the second lead-in conductor forming'a portion of the frame 'and,if desired, the lower portion of the frame may be surrounded by a quartz or ceramic sleeve.
  • This invention relates to gas discharge lamps employing an alumina ceramic arc tube containing a discharge sustaining fill which includes sodium and more particularly to the structure and method for preventing lamp failure from the formation of dendritic cracks in the are tube wall.
  • nickel plated iron side rods of the frame carry the current to the electrode located at the end of the lamp opposite from the base and a barium getter flash is employed in the base end of the lamp to getter impurities from within the outer envelope and retain a hard vacuum therein.
  • the side rods of the frame are alternately negative and positive with respect to the electrode-tubulation assembly at the lower end of the lamp. These side rods are illuminated with visible light from the arc tube which has much lower quantum energy than does ultraviolet radiation with the result that photoelectrons are emitted from the side rod when the side rod is at a negative potential.
  • These compounds of sodium silicate, sodium aluminate, magnesium sodium aluminate and magnesium aluminate which are formed have different thermal expansion rates than the bulk alumina surface and therefore, during on/off cycling of the lamp creates thermal cracking at locations near surface irregularity defects or at grain boundaries and these microcracks further propagate along the grain. boundaries and flnally crack through the tube wall thus allowing sodium to leak through the crack area and deposit on the wall of the outer glass bulb and hence cause lamp failure.
  • the second mechanism is the interposition of a photo-electron collector between the lead-in conductor frame and the arc tube which is preferably stainless steel and electrically connected to the other lead wire so that when the frame is negative, the photo-electron collector is at a positive potential.
  • a ceramic or fused quartz insulator as for example, a thin walled alumina fused quartz tube can be placed over the support frame thus preventing the barium from depositing on the support wire and hence impeding photoelectron emission.
  • a ceramic discharge lamp which comprises an elongated outer vitreous envelope sealed to a metallic base and having a pair of lead-in conductors connected to said base and extending into said envelope; and an arc tube mounting frame connected to one of said lead-in conductors and extending within the envelope for a substantial portion of the length thereof; an alumina ceramic arc tube containing a discharge sustaining fill including sodium mounted axially within the outer envelope between the other of the lead-in conductors and the frame; by providing a frame of stainless steel having a chrome oxide coating thereon and additionally a photoelectron intercept'or means mounted on said second lead-in conductor and extending between one end of the arc tube and the frame.
  • a tubular ceramic or fused quartz shield may be provided surrounding a substantial portion of the frame particularly in the area of the lower electrode.
  • FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a ceramic discharge lamp incorporating the principles of this invention
  • FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the discharge lamp of FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of an alternative embodiment of a ceramic discharge lamp incorporating the features of this invention.
  • FIG.'4 is a side elevational view of the ceramic'discharge lamp of FIG. 3.
  • FIG. 1 a gas discharge lamp generally designated 10 which illustrates a typical construction for a thousand watt ceramic discharge lamp.
  • the lamp includes a conventional threaded mogal base 12 having sealed thereto a conventional glass outer envelope 14.
  • the glass bulb is sealed to a conventional stem press 16 which has sealed therethrough first and second lead-in conductors 18 and 20 respectively.
  • the lead-in conductor 20 is connected to the base eyelet 22 while the lead-in conductor 18 is connected to the side wall of the base shell.
  • the are tube supporting frame 24 is mounted to the lead-in conductor 18 and extends longitudinally to the top of the bulb 12.
  • a conventional alumina ceramic arc tube 26 including the alumina ceramic body 28 closed off at each end by niobium end caps 30, and having mounted therein at each end tungsten electrodes 32 is electrically connected to the lead-in conductor adjacent the base of the lamp and to the lead-in conductor 18 through the mounting frame 24 at the upper end of the lamp.
  • the alumina ceramic arc tube generally encloses a discharge sustaining fill including an inert gas, mercury and sodium.
  • the are tube supporting frame 24 is centrally retained within the outer envelope [4 by means of upper and lower pairs of conventional arc tube retaining springs 34, which are secured to the supporting frame 24 and coact with the internal walls of the bulb 14.
  • Stainless steel getter mounting frames 36 are mounted to each of the lead-in conductors l8 and 20 and carry the barium getter at 38.
  • the lead-in conductors 18 and 20 as well as the current carrying upright members 24 of the support frame and the upper cross piece 24a of the support frame 24 are all constructed of stainless steel, which stainless steel has been wet hydrogen baked to form a chrome oxide coating on the surface thereof.
  • the upper end of the arc tube 26 is physically connected to the support frame 24 by a tantalum, niobium or stainless steel slider 40 which at its ends loosely surrounds the upright members 24 to compensate for linear expansion of the arc tube during operation of the lamp.
  • Electrical connection of the arc tube upper electrode 32 to the current carrying support frame 24, 24a is by means of a flexible tantalum, niobium or stainless steel loop strap 42 which is connected between the upper end cap 30 and the support frame crossbar 24a.
  • the arc tube support frame 24, 24a is preferably constructed of stainless having a chrome oxide coating thereon because of the nonphotoelectron emissive characteristics of that material it could also be constructed of chrome iron, tantalum clad nickel or iron, titanium, or platinum or gold plated or coated metal since each of these is more or less non photoelectron emissive under irradiation by visible light and particularly visible light in the yellow orange area of the spectrum.
  • deposition of barium on the nickel surface of conventional arc lamp support frames caused by the gettering of barium which during the gettering operation will substantially coat the lower end of the glass bulb as illustrated at 44 as well as the lower portions of the supporting frame
  • deposition of the barium on the support frame of this invention as well as the inhibiting of the radiations reaching the arc tube support frame can be accomplished by sheathing all, as on the right side of the FIG. 1 embodiment or the lower portion of the supporting frame, as
  • this tubular ceramic or fused quartz shield on the arc tube support frame is one method by which the buildup of a negative charge on the arc tube wall can be accomplished.
  • FIG. 1 An even more effective mechanism by which the migration of negative ions from the support frame to the arc tube wall can be prevented is illustrated in FIG. 1 wherein a U-shaped photoelectron interceptor 50 is electrically connected to the lead-in conductor 20 and is interposed between the arc tube support frame 24 and the ceramic envelope 28.
  • the U-shaped photoelectron interceptor 50 is electrically connected to the lead-in conductor 20 and the lamp is operated from a source of AC potential, when the frame is at a negative potential and susceptible to emitting photoelectrons when irradiated by the visible light from the arc tube, the U-shaped photo-electron interceptor will be at a positive potential as is the lower electrode 32 and will cause photoelectrons which would normally migrate to the arc tube wall to be intercepted by the positively charged photoelectron interceptor 50.
  • the photoelectron interceptor 50 is also constructed from stainless steel having a chrome oxide coating on the surface, it is not particularly photoelectron emissive and therefore will not release photoelectrons to the frame members 24 when, due to the character of the AC operation, the photoelectron interceptor is at a negative potential and the arc tube support frame 24 is at a positive potential.
  • FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrates an alumina ceramic discharge lamp of the 400 watt type wherein a shorter arc tube is employed and therefore can be suitably support with a single arc tube support frame member.
  • the embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4 includes a con ventional outer envelope 52 sealed by means of a stem press 54 to a standard mogul base 56.
  • a pair of lead-in conductors 58 and 60 are secured through the stem press to the side wall and eyelet respectively of the mogul base 56.
  • the single armed arc tube support frame 62 is electrically connected to the lead-in conductor 58 and extends longitudinally of the outer enve lope to the upper end of the lamp.
  • the arc tube is mounted at its upper end to the 7 shaped arc tube support frame 62 through a slider mechanism 72 similar to that of the FIG. 1 embodiment and the upper end of the arc tube support frame 62 is physically retained centrally disposed within the outer envelope by means of conventional spring retainers 74 which coact with the interior surface of the outer envelope wall.
  • a tantalum, niobium or stainless steel loop strap 76 is utilized to electrically connect the upper cross member of the arc tube support frame 62 to the upper electrode of the arc tube 70. Similar to the FIG. 1 embodiment a barium getter carrying stainless steel member 78 is secured to the lead-in conductor 60 in the lower portion of the outer envelope.
  • This conventionally constructed alumina ceramic discharge lamp illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 for a400 watt discharge lamp is to a lesser extent subject to early lamp failure because of te irradiation of the barium coated nickel iron support frame by light from the arc tube which causes photoelectrons to be emitted and build up on the arc wall creating, during on/off cycling of the lamp, the dendritic cracking earlier described.
  • the support frame 62 of this invention is again preferably constructed from chrome oxide coated stainless steel and a photoelectron interceptor 80 is electrically connected to the lead-in conductor 60, and therefor always of an opposite potential from that carried by the support frame, and is interposed between the lower portion of the arc tube support frame 62 and the arc tube body 66 to intercept any photoelectrons which may be emitted from the arc tube support frame when the arc tube support frame is negatively charged and thus prevent those negative ions from building up on the outer wall of the arc tube body 66.
  • FIGS. 3 and 4 embodiment may also-include a ceramic or fused quartz sleeve positioned over the en tire length, or at least the lower portion, of the arc tube support frame 62 as illustrated in phantom at 82.
  • the alumina ceramic discharge lamp of this invention may employ any one or all of three photoelectron emission inhibitors either singly or in combination to thereby inhibit the migration of photo-electrons from the arc tube support frame to the wall of the alumina ceramic arc tube.
  • Each of these mechanisms inhibit photo-electron emission to a greater or lesser extent and may be employed singly or in combination to the extent that it is necessary to inhibit such emission.
  • a ceramic discharge lamp comprising an elongated outer vitreous envelope sealed to a metallic base, a pair of lead-in conductors connected to said base and extending into said envelope;
  • an arc tube mounting frame connected to one of said lead-in conductors and extending within said envelope for a substantial portion of the length thereof, an alumina ceramic arc tube containing a discharge sustaining fill including sodium mounted axially within the said outer envelope between the other of said lead-in conductors and said frame, said frame being stainless steel and having a chrome oxide coating formed on the surface thereof.
  • a high intensity discharge device adapted to be operated from an AC potential source and comprising an elongated alumina arc tube having electrodes operatively sealed therein proximate the ends: thereof and enclosing a discharge sustaining filling comprising inert gas, sodium and mercury, said are tube being supported within an outer envelope by supporting frame means comprising at least one elongated lead-in conductor spaced from said are tube and longitudinally extending substantially the entire length of said are tube, and a short lead-in conductor positioned substantially at an end of said outer enveloped, said lead-in conductors being connected to said electrodes of said device, and said outer envelope enclosing a vacuum which method comprises:
  • the method of improving the performance of a high intensity discharge device adapted to be operated from an AC potential source which discharge device includes an elongated alumina arc tube having electrodes operatively sealed therein proximate the ends thereof and enclosing a discharge sustaining fill including sodium, said are tube being supported within an outer envelope by a supporting frame, said supporting frame being spaced from said are tube and extending longitudinally substantially the entire length of said outer envelope, and a short lead-in conductor, said lead-in conductors connected to said electrodes of said device, and said outer envelope enclosing a vacuum, which method comprises:
  • a ceramic discharge lamp comprising an elongated outer vitreous envelope sealed to a metallic base
  • an arc tube mounting frame connected to one of said lead-in conductors and extending within said envelope for a substantial portion of the length thereof;
  • photoelectron interceptor means is electrically con- 7 nected to said other lead-in conductor and extending between one end of said are tube and said frame, said photoelectron interceptor means at all times during operation of said lamp being of the same electrical potential as said other lead-in conductor and at the opposite potential of said frame.
  • a ceramic discharge lamp according to claim 6 wherein a tubular insulating shield surrounds a portion of said frame.

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US00291489A 1972-09-22 1972-09-22 Apparatus and method for eliminating microcracks in alumina ceramic discharge devices Expired - Lifetime US3780331A (en)

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US29148972A 1972-09-22 1972-09-22

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US (1) US3780331A (ru)
JP (1) JPS5245431B2 (ru)
BE (1) BE805060A (ru)
CA (1) CA984441A (ru)
DE (1) DE2346132A1 (ru)
ES (1) ES418972A1 (ru)
FR (1) FR2200617B1 (ru)
GB (1) GB1439045A (ru)
IT (1) IT995463B (ru)
NL (1) NL7313047A (ru)

Cited By (14)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3878421A (en) * 1974-01-31 1975-04-15 Atlantic Ultraviolet Corp High intensity ultraviolet lamp and method for producing the same
US4037128A (en) * 1975-09-12 1977-07-19 Izrail Aronovich Levin Three-phase discharge lamp
US4281274A (en) * 1979-08-01 1981-07-28 General Electric Co. Discharge lamp having vitreous shield
US4333032A (en) * 1978-09-25 1982-06-01 Gte Products Corporation High pressure sodium lamp containing barium getter
NL8702495A (nl) * 1986-10-20 1988-05-16 Tungsram Reszvenytarsasag Alkalihalogenide als toevoegsel bevattende metaalhalogeenontladingslampen.
US4866328A (en) * 1988-04-15 1989-09-12 North American Philips Corp. Electric lamp with reduced internal photoelectron production
US4963790A (en) * 1985-12-27 1990-10-16 Gte Products Corporation Low wattage metal halide discharge lamp
US5248913A (en) * 1990-03-15 1993-09-28 Patent-Treuhand-Gesellschaft Fur Elektrische Gluhlampen M.B.H. High pressure discharge lamp
US5272407A (en) * 1991-12-18 1993-12-21 North American Philips Corporation Electric lamp having screens for reducing photo electron emission
WO2001039246A1 (en) * 1999-11-22 2001-05-31 Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. High-pressure discharge lamp
WO2008143587A1 (en) * 2007-05-24 2008-11-27 Auralight International Ab High pressure sodium lamp
US20090015162A1 (en) * 2003-06-30 2009-01-15 Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. Electric Lamp Having Strapless Support Mount for Mh Arc Tubes
US20090134797A1 (en) * 2007-09-28 2009-05-28 W.C. Heraeus Gmbh Current Lead-Through for Ceramic Burner in Halogen-Metal Vapor Discharge Lamps
US20100141181A1 (en) * 2005-08-12 2010-06-10 W.C. Heraeus Gmbh Wire and frame in particular niobium-based for single-side socket lamps and a method for the production and use thereof

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
HU183876B (en) * 1982-04-02 1984-06-28 Egyesuelt Izzolampa Metal halogenid lamp
JPS59214154A (ja) * 1983-05-18 1984-12-04 Matsushita Electronics Corp 点灯管

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
NL6703447A (ru) * 1967-03-03 1968-09-04
GB1223955A (en) * 1969-05-16 1971-03-03 Narva Veb High pressure electric discharge lamp
JPS4713360U (ru) * 1971-03-09 1972-10-17
JPS4825985A (ru) * 1971-08-10 1973-04-04

Cited By (19)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3878421A (en) * 1974-01-31 1975-04-15 Atlantic Ultraviolet Corp High intensity ultraviolet lamp and method for producing the same
US4037128A (en) * 1975-09-12 1977-07-19 Izrail Aronovich Levin Three-phase discharge lamp
US4333032A (en) * 1978-09-25 1982-06-01 Gte Products Corporation High pressure sodium lamp containing barium getter
US4281274A (en) * 1979-08-01 1981-07-28 General Electric Co. Discharge lamp having vitreous shield
US4963790A (en) * 1985-12-27 1990-10-16 Gte Products Corporation Low wattage metal halide discharge lamp
NL8702495A (nl) * 1986-10-20 1988-05-16 Tungsram Reszvenytarsasag Alkalihalogenide als toevoegsel bevattende metaalhalogeenontladingslampen.
US4866328A (en) * 1988-04-15 1989-09-12 North American Philips Corp. Electric lamp with reduced internal photoelectron production
EP0342721A1 (en) * 1988-04-15 1989-11-23 North American Philips Corporation Electric discharge lamp with reduced internal photoelectron production
US5248913A (en) * 1990-03-15 1993-09-28 Patent-Treuhand-Gesellschaft Fur Elektrische Gluhlampen M.B.H. High pressure discharge lamp
US5272407A (en) * 1991-12-18 1993-12-21 North American Philips Corporation Electric lamp having screens for reducing photo electron emission
WO2001039246A1 (en) * 1999-11-22 2001-05-31 Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. High-pressure discharge lamp
US20090015162A1 (en) * 2003-06-30 2009-01-15 Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. Electric Lamp Having Strapless Support Mount for Mh Arc Tubes
US20100141181A1 (en) * 2005-08-12 2010-06-10 W.C. Heraeus Gmbh Wire and frame in particular niobium-based for single-side socket lamps and a method for the production and use thereof
US7994692B2 (en) * 2005-08-12 2011-08-09 W. C. Heraeus Gmbh Wire and frame, in particular niobium-based, for single-side socket lamps and a method for the production and use thereof
WO2008143587A1 (en) * 2007-05-24 2008-11-27 Auralight International Ab High pressure sodium lamp
US20100253219A1 (en) * 2007-05-24 2010-10-07 Auralight International Ab High pressure sodium lamp
CN101720494B (zh) * 2007-05-24 2012-04-25 奥拉莱特国际公司 高压钠灯
US8198814B2 (en) 2007-05-24 2012-06-12 Auralight International Ab High pressure sodium lamp with a shielding member between two arc tubes
US20090134797A1 (en) * 2007-09-28 2009-05-28 W.C. Heraeus Gmbh Current Lead-Through for Ceramic Burner in Halogen-Metal Vapor Discharge Lamps

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
ES418972A1 (es) 1976-07-01
FR2200617B1 (ru) 1977-10-14
DE2346132A1 (de) 1974-03-28
JPS4976359A (ru) 1974-07-23
NL7313047A (ru) 1974-03-26
FR2200617A1 (ru) 1974-04-19
CA984441A (en) 1976-02-24
GB1439045A (en) 1976-06-09
BE805060A (fr) 1974-03-20
IT995463B (it) 1975-11-10
JPS5245431B2 (ru) 1977-11-16

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Owner name: NORTH AMERICAN PHILIPS ELECTRIC CORP.

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST.;ASSIGNOR:WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC CORPORATION;REEL/FRAME:004113/0393

Effective date: 19830316