US3858078A - Metal halide discharge lamp having an arched arc tube - Google Patents

Metal halide discharge lamp having an arched arc tube Download PDF

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Publication number
US3858078A
US3858078A US00377442A US37744273A US3858078A US 3858078 A US3858078 A US 3858078A US 00377442 A US00377442 A US 00377442A US 37744273 A US37744273 A US 37744273A US 3858078 A US3858078 A US 3858078A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
arc tube
arc
discharge
lamp
arched
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
US00377442A
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English (en)
Inventor
F Koury
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GTE Sylvania Inc
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GTE Sylvania Inc
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Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by GTE Sylvania Inc filed Critical GTE Sylvania Inc
Priority to US00377442A priority Critical patent/US3858078A/en
Priority to CA202,726A priority patent/CA999914A/en
Priority to GB2750774A priority patent/GB1470814A/en
Priority to DE2432210A priority patent/DE2432210C3/de
Priority to JP49080693A priority patent/JPS5038379A/ja
Priority to BE2053735A priority patent/BE817402A/xx
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3858078A publication Critical patent/US3858078A/en
Priority to JP1979100122U priority patent/JPS555500U/ja
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01J—ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS
    • H01J61/00—Gas-discharge or vapour-discharge lamps
    • H01J61/82—Lamps with high-pressure unconstricted discharge having a cold pressure > 400 Torr
    • H01J61/827—Metal halide arc lamps

Definitions

  • ABSTRACT The are tube of a metal halide arc discharge lamp has electrodes at each end thereof and contains a fill including mercury and a metal halide.
  • the are tube has an arch shape so that, during operation of the lamp in a horizontal position, the arc discharge is substantially equidistant from the walls of the arc tube.
  • Metal halide arc discharge lamps for general illumination have become commercially useful in the past five to ten years because they are more efficient and yield a whiter light than high pressure mercury vapor lamps.
  • the arc tube in metal halide lamps is generally made of fused quartz (a high silica glass) and is generally a straight cylindrical tube having press seals at each end. Since the arc tube is a straight cylinder, positional orientation of the arc tube during lamp operation is immaterial.
  • Some capillary arc discharge lamps of thirty or forty years ago did have only the upper arc tube wall of a horizontal operation lamp curved to prevent overheating of the middle of the arc tube. Such lamps were very heavily loaded (watts/sq.cm.) in comparison to presently used commercial metal halide lamps and had a thicker arc tube wall and smaller bore. In such lamps, the arc discharge extended to the walls of the arc tube and was confined thereby; in contrast, the arc discharge of present metal halide lamps is not confined by the walls of the arc tube and the arc discharge shape cna, therefore, be affected by convection currents within the arc tube.
  • Curved arc tubes are also disclosed in the field of low pressure are discharge lamps, such as fluorescent lamps and low pressure sodium lamps. It is common for such lamps to employ a U-shaped arc tube in order to conserve space, for the reason that such arc tubes are so lightly loaded that an extremely long arc tube is needed, in comparison to metal halide lamps, for a lamp of even moderate wattage.
  • the arc discharge is affected by convection currents in the arc tube during normal operation, so that the arc discharge is not coaxial with the straight cylindrical arc tube. Instead, the arc discharge is bowed or raised to the upper portion of the arc tube and extends to the wall thereat.
  • the in crease is about 10 or 15 percent and may be higher.
  • Centering of the arc discharge within the arc tube means that the core of the arc discharge substantially coincides with the curved axis or center line of the arch shaped arc tube or, in other words, that the visible arc discharge is substantially equidistant from the walls of the arc tube.
  • a lamp in accordance with this invention have a base that positions the arc tube with its arch uppermost when the lamp is inserted in a socket.
  • This is in contrast to the usual screw type base that is used with prior art commercial metal halide lamps; a screw type base is not a positioning base and can be used in prior art lamps since the arc tubes thereof are straight cylinders.
  • FIGURE in the drawing is an elevational view of a metal halide arc discharge lamp having an arched arc tube in accordance with this invention; the view shows the lamp in a horizontal position with the arch uppermost.
  • an arc discharge lamp in accordance with this invention comprises an outer glass envelope or jacket I.
  • Jacket I is provided at its end with a sealed reentrant stem 2 through which extend relatively stiff lead-in wires 3 and 4 connected at their outer ends to the electrical contacts of a positioningtype base 5.
  • Disposed within jacket 1 is an arched arc tube 6.
  • the relationship between arc tube 6 and base 5 is such that when base 5 is inserted into a suitable socket, the lamp will be in a substantially horizontal position, with the arch of arc tube 6 uppermost.
  • Arc tube 6 is supported within jacket I by means of metal frames 7 and 8 at each end of arc tube 6.
  • Metal frames 7 and 8 comprise rigid wires 9 and 10, respectively, to which are fastened clamps 11 and 12 each of which supports a pressed seal end of arc tube 6.
  • Clamps l1 and 12 are located angularly in respect to the axis of envelope 1, as shown in the drawing, because of the arched shape of arc tube 6.
  • similar type clamps were generally perpendicular to the envelope axis, since the arc tube was coaxial with the envelope.
  • Metal frame 7 is supported by lead-in wire 4 to which it is welded.
  • Metal frame 8 is supported at the other end by metal leaf springs 13 which press against the inner wall of envelope 1.
  • the atmosphere within jacket 1 is an inert gas, such as nitrogen; also disposed within jacket 1 is a getter 19, for gettering hydrogen, mounted on frame 8.
  • Arc tube 6 has an arch shape that substantially conforms to the shape of the arc discharge therein during normal operation of the lamp in a horizontal position. During such operation the arc discharge normally bows upward primarily because of convection currents within the arc tube. Optimum results for the purpose of this invention are obtained when the arc discharge is substantially centered within the arched arc tube, that is to say, when the visible arc discharge is substantially equidistant from the walls of the arc tube.
  • prior art lamps that is, lamps having a straight arc tube had efficiencies of 85 to- 87 lumens per watt during horizontal operation.
  • Lamps in accordance with this invention that is, lamps having an arched arc tube had efficiencies of 102 to 105 lumens per watt.
  • the visible arc discharge was pushed against the upper wall of the arc tube for almost the entire length of the arc tube while the space between the arc discharge and the lower wall was equal to about half the diameter of the visible arc discharge.
  • the visible are discharge was substantially centered within the arched arc tube, the space between the discharge and the walls of the arc tube equalling about one-quarter of the diameter of the visible arc discharge.
  • the curvature was such that the angle formed by the two ends of the arc tube was about 140.
  • lamps made in accordance with this invention is a significant improvement in maintenance during lamp operation.
  • the prior art lamps had a maintenance of 72.5 percent after 2,000 hours operation. That is to say, their efficiency in lumens per watt after 2,000 hours was only 72.5 percent of their initial efficiency.
  • the maintenance after 2,000 hours operation was 87 percent.
  • a metal halide arc discharge lamp comprising: an outer envelope; an arched arc tube, having electrodes at each end thereof, disposed within said envelope, said are tube containing a fill including mercury, metal halide and an inert gas, the arched shape of said are tube being such that during normal horizontal operation with the arch of the arc tube uppermost, the are discharge does not extend to the walls of the arc tube and said discharge is substantially equidistant from the walls of the arc tube; and means to energize said arc tube.
  • a metal halide arc discharge lamp comprising: an outer envelope having a positioning type base at one end thereof; an arched arc tube, having electrodes at each end thereof, disposed within said envelope, the arched shape of said are tube being such that during normal horizontal operation of the lamp with the arch of the arc tube uppermost, the arc discharge is spaced from and is substantially centered within the arc tube.
  • a metal halide arc discharge lamp comprising: an outer envelope having a positioning type base at one end thereof; an arched arc tube, having electrodes at each end thereof, disposed within said envelope, the arched shape of said arc tube being such that during normal horizontal operation of the lamp with the arch of the arc tube uppermost, the arc discharge does not extend to the walls of the arc tube and the space between said discharge and said walls is substantially uniform around the circumference of said discharge.
  • a general illumination metal halide are discharge lamp of the type wherein the arc discharge is bowed upward by convection currents within the arc tube during normal lamp operation, the improvement which comprises an envelope having a base at one end thereof and an arched arc tube, having electrodes at each end thereof, disposed within said envelope, the arched shape of said arc tube being such that during normal horizontal operation with the arch of the arc tube uppermost, the arc discharge does not extend to the walls of the arc tube and is substantially centered therein.
  • the lamp of claim 4 wherein the angle formed by the two ends of the arc tube is between about and 6.
  • the lamp of claim 4 wherein, during normal lamp operation, the core of the arc discharge substantially coincides with the longitudinal center line of the arched arc tube.

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  • Vessels And Coating Films For Discharge Lamps (AREA)
US00377442A 1973-07-09 1973-07-09 Metal halide discharge lamp having an arched arc tube Expired - Lifetime US3858078A (en)

Priority Applications (7)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US00377442A US3858078A (en) 1973-07-09 1973-07-09 Metal halide discharge lamp having an arched arc tube
CA202,726A CA999914A (en) 1973-07-09 1974-06-18 Metal halide discharge lamp having an arched arc tube
GB2750774A GB1470814A (en) 1973-07-09 1974-06-20 Metal halide discharge lamp having an arched arc tube
DE2432210A DE2432210C3 (de) 1973-07-09 1974-07-05 Halogenmetalldampflampe
JP49080693A JPS5038379A (ja) 1973-07-09 1974-07-08
BE2053735A BE817402A (fr) 1973-07-09 1974-07-09 Lampe de decharge a halogenure metallique
JP1979100122U JPS555500U (ja) 1973-07-09 1979-07-18

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US00377442A US3858078A (en) 1973-07-09 1973-07-09 Metal halide discharge lamp having an arched arc tube

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3858078A true US3858078A (en) 1974-12-31

Family

ID=23489127

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US00377442A Expired - Lifetime US3858078A (en) 1973-07-09 1973-07-09 Metal halide discharge lamp having an arched arc tube

Country Status (6)

Country Link
US (1) US3858078A (ja)
JP (2) JPS5038379A (ja)
BE (1) BE817402A (ja)
CA (1) CA999914A (ja)
DE (1) DE2432210C3 (ja)
GB (1) GB1470814A (ja)

Cited By (22)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3966288A (en) * 1973-08-22 1976-06-29 Gte Sylvania Incorporated Method for making high intensity discharge arc tube
US4001623A (en) * 1974-03-20 1977-01-04 Thorn Electrical Industries Limited Arc tube for high-pressure mercury/metal halide lamp
FR2345808A1 (fr) * 1977-03-22 1977-10-21 Gte Sylvania Inc Perfectionnements apportes aux lampes a decharge a vapeur d'halogene de metal
US4056751A (en) * 1976-03-22 1977-11-01 Gte Sylvania Incorporated Metal halide discharge lamp having optimum electrode location
US4142122A (en) * 1977-11-02 1979-02-27 Gte Sylvania Incorporated Discharge lamp having arched arc tube
US4281267A (en) * 1979-05-14 1981-07-28 General Electric Company High intensity discharge lamp with coating on arc discharge tube
DE3122665A1 (de) * 1980-06-12 1982-03-18 General Electric Co., Schenectady, N.Y. "elektrische lampe und verfahren zu ihrer herstellung"
EP0068264A2 (en) * 1981-06-24 1983-01-05 General Electric Company Electric lamp comprising a transverse arc tube mounting
US4498027A (en) * 1982-06-11 1985-02-05 Gte Products Corporation Arc discharge lamp with improved starting capabilities, improved efficacy and maintenance, and line-of-sight arched arc tube for use therewith
EP0228031A1 (en) * 1985-12-19 1987-07-08 GTE Products Corporation Method and apparatus for position orientation of a metal halide lamp base assembly
US4687453A (en) * 1985-12-19 1987-08-18 Gte Products Corporation Method and apparatus for position orientation of a metal halide lamp base assembly
US5055740A (en) * 1987-02-25 1991-10-08 Venture Lighting Interntional, Inc. Horizontal burning metal halide lamp
US5084807A (en) * 1986-08-22 1992-01-28 U.S. Philips Corporation Illumination system for LCD projection television
US5708328A (en) * 1992-06-03 1998-01-13 General Electric Company Universal burn metal halide lamp
EP1174904A1 (en) * 2000-06-19 2002-01-23 Advanced Lighting Technologies, Inc. Method of improving the performance of horizontal burning hid lamps
US6781312B1 (en) * 2000-06-19 2004-08-24 Advance Lighting Technologies, Inc. Horizontal burning hid lamps and arc tubes
US6857926B1 (en) 2000-06-19 2005-02-22 Advanced Lighting Technologies, Inc. Method of making arc tubes
US20060170361A1 (en) * 2005-01-31 2006-08-03 Osram Sylvania Inc. Single-ended Arc Discharge Vessel with a Divider Wall
US20080054812A1 (en) * 2006-08-29 2008-03-06 Osram Sylvania Inc. Arc discharge vessel having arc centering structure and lamp containing same
WO2011152976A1 (en) * 2010-06-03 2011-12-08 General Electric Company Arc shaped discharge chamber for high intensity discharge automotive lamp
US9552976B2 (en) 2013-05-10 2017-01-24 General Electric Company Optimized HID arc tube geometry
US10354856B2 (en) * 2016-04-28 2019-07-16 Ushio Denki Kabushiki Kaisha Discharge lamp

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4250813A (en) * 1978-05-30 1981-02-17 Midcon Pipeline Equipment Co. Track apparatus
JPS55165685U (ja) * 1979-05-11 1980-11-28
JPS5588379U (ja) * 1979-05-16 1980-06-18

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2179606A (en) * 1938-03-24 1939-11-14 Hanovia Chemical & Mfg Co Metal vapor arc lamp
US2190657A (en) * 1936-12-01 1940-02-20 Germer Edmund Discharge device
US2298239A (en) * 1940-07-22 1942-10-06 Science Lab Inc Light source
US2965790A (en) * 1949-08-20 1960-12-20 Patent Treuhand Ges Fuer Elektrische Gluehlampen Mbh High pressure gas lamp
GB1003971A (en) * 1961-07-24 1965-09-08 Gen Electric Co Ltd Improvements in or relating to high pressure mercury vapour electric discharge lamps
US3753019A (en) * 1972-01-31 1973-08-14 Gen Electric Metal halide lamp

Family Cites Families (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS443499Y1 (ja) * 1966-08-12 1969-02-07

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2190657A (en) * 1936-12-01 1940-02-20 Germer Edmund Discharge device
US2179606A (en) * 1938-03-24 1939-11-14 Hanovia Chemical & Mfg Co Metal vapor arc lamp
US2298239A (en) * 1940-07-22 1942-10-06 Science Lab Inc Light source
US2965790A (en) * 1949-08-20 1960-12-20 Patent Treuhand Ges Fuer Elektrische Gluehlampen Mbh High pressure gas lamp
GB1003971A (en) * 1961-07-24 1965-09-08 Gen Electric Co Ltd Improvements in or relating to high pressure mercury vapour electric discharge lamps
US3753019A (en) * 1972-01-31 1973-08-14 Gen Electric Metal halide lamp

Cited By (27)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3966288A (en) * 1973-08-22 1976-06-29 Gte Sylvania Incorporated Method for making high intensity discharge arc tube
US4001623A (en) * 1974-03-20 1977-01-04 Thorn Electrical Industries Limited Arc tube for high-pressure mercury/metal halide lamp
US4056751A (en) * 1976-03-22 1977-11-01 Gte Sylvania Incorporated Metal halide discharge lamp having optimum electrode location
FR2345808A1 (fr) * 1977-03-22 1977-10-21 Gte Sylvania Inc Perfectionnements apportes aux lampes a decharge a vapeur d'halogene de metal
US4142122A (en) * 1977-11-02 1979-02-27 Gte Sylvania Incorporated Discharge lamp having arched arc tube
US4281267A (en) * 1979-05-14 1981-07-28 General Electric Company High intensity discharge lamp with coating on arc discharge tube
DE3122665A1 (de) * 1980-06-12 1982-03-18 General Electric Co., Schenectady, N.Y. "elektrische lampe und verfahren zu ihrer herstellung"
US4341975A (en) * 1980-06-12 1982-07-27 General Electric Company Jacketed lamp having transversely mounted arc tube
EP0068264A2 (en) * 1981-06-24 1983-01-05 General Electric Company Electric lamp comprising a transverse arc tube mounting
EP0068264A3 (en) * 1981-06-24 1983-02-16 General Electric Company Electric lamp comprising a transverse arc tube mounting
US4498027A (en) * 1982-06-11 1985-02-05 Gte Products Corporation Arc discharge lamp with improved starting capabilities, improved efficacy and maintenance, and line-of-sight arched arc tube for use therewith
US4687453A (en) * 1985-12-19 1987-08-18 Gte Products Corporation Method and apparatus for position orientation of a metal halide lamp base assembly
EP0228031A1 (en) * 1985-12-19 1987-07-08 GTE Products Corporation Method and apparatus for position orientation of a metal halide lamp base assembly
US5084807A (en) * 1986-08-22 1992-01-28 U.S. Philips Corporation Illumination system for LCD projection television
US5055740A (en) * 1987-02-25 1991-10-08 Venture Lighting Interntional, Inc. Horizontal burning metal halide lamp
US5708328A (en) * 1992-06-03 1998-01-13 General Electric Company Universal burn metal halide lamp
US6857926B1 (en) 2000-06-19 2005-02-22 Advanced Lighting Technologies, Inc. Method of making arc tubes
US6781312B1 (en) * 2000-06-19 2004-08-24 Advance Lighting Technologies, Inc. Horizontal burning hid lamps and arc tubes
EP1174904A1 (en) * 2000-06-19 2002-01-23 Advanced Lighting Technologies, Inc. Method of improving the performance of horizontal burning hid lamps
US20060170361A1 (en) * 2005-01-31 2006-08-03 Osram Sylvania Inc. Single-ended Arc Discharge Vessel with a Divider Wall
US20080054812A1 (en) * 2006-08-29 2008-03-06 Osram Sylvania Inc. Arc discharge vessel having arc centering structure and lamp containing same
US7619350B2 (en) 2006-08-29 2009-11-17 Osram Sylvania Inc. Arc discharge vessel having arc centering structure and lamp containing same
WO2011152976A1 (en) * 2010-06-03 2011-12-08 General Electric Company Arc shaped discharge chamber for high intensity discharge automotive lamp
US8253335B2 (en) 2010-06-03 2012-08-28 General Electric Company Arc shaped discharge chamber for high intensity discharge automotive lamp
CN102918628A (zh) * 2010-06-03 2013-02-06 通用电气公司 用于高强度放电机动车灯的弧形放电室
US9552976B2 (en) 2013-05-10 2017-01-24 General Electric Company Optimized HID arc tube geometry
US10354856B2 (en) * 2016-04-28 2019-07-16 Ushio Denki Kabushiki Kaisha Discharge lamp

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JPS555500U (ja) 1980-01-14
DE2432210B2 (de) 1977-08-25
GB1470814A (en) 1977-04-21
DE2432210C3 (de) 1978-05-11
CA999914A (en) 1976-11-16
BE817402A (fr) 1975-01-09
JPS5038379A (ja) 1975-04-09
DE2432210A1 (de) 1975-01-30

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