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CA1222275A - Unsaturated vapor high pressure sodium lamp fabrication process and structure - Google Patents

Unsaturated vapor high pressure sodium lamp fabrication process and structure

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Publication number
CA1222275A
CA1222275A CA000448956A CA448956A CA1222275A CA 1222275 A CA1222275 A CA 1222275A CA 000448956 A CA000448956 A CA 000448956A CA 448956 A CA448956 A CA 448956A CA 1222275 A CA1222275 A CA 1222275A
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
sodium
arc tube
lamp
high pressure
mercury
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
Application number
CA000448956A
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Philip J. White
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.)
Osram Sylvania Inc
Original Assignee
GTE Products Corp
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 GTE Products Corp filed Critical GTE Products Corp
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of CA1222275A publication Critical patent/CA1222275A/en
Expired legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01JELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS
    • H01J9/00Apparatus or processes specially adapted for the manufacture, installation, removal, maintenance of electric discharge tubes, discharge lamps, or parts thereof; Recovery of material from discharge tubes or lamps
    • H01J9/38Exhausting, degassing, filling, or cleaning vessels
    • H01J9/395Filling vessels

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
  • Manufacture Of Electron Tubes, Discharge Lamp Vessels, Lead-In Wires, And The Like (AREA)
  • Vessels And Coating Films For Discharge Lamps (AREA)

Abstract

UNSATURATED VAPOR HIGH PRESSURE SODIUM LAMP
FABRICATION PROCESS AND STRUCTURE

ABSTRACT

An unsaturated vapor type high pressure sodium lamp and fabrication process includes an arc tube within an evacuated envelope and a dosage of amalgam, selected from a plurality of doses, located within the arc tube whereby the lamp dosage has a deviation less than the deviation obtainable with single doses. The lamp is fabricated by selecting and depositing multiple doses having a standard deviation into an arc tube to provide a dosage of reduced deviation with respect to the standard deviation of single doses.

Description

~222275i FABRICATION PROCESS AND STRUCTURE

C~OSS REFERENCE TO OTHER APPLICATIONS

The following concurrently filed Canadian patent applications relate to unsaturated vapor pressure type high pressure sodium lamps and the fabrication ~hereof: 448,~53-5; 448,955-~; 448,954-3; 448,916-1;
and 4~8,915-2.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to the manufacture of high pressure sodium lamps of the unsaturated vapor type and more particularly to a process for dosing arc tubes for use in high pressure sodium lamps of the unsa~urated vapor types.

D-24,640 1222~S

BACKGROUND ART

In the manufacture of high pressure sodium lamps? it is a normal practice to provide a tubular ceramic arc tube which is supported within an evacuated envelope which is, in turn, affixed to an ordinary screw-in type base member. Usually, the arc tube is filled with an excess amount of sodium in an attempt to compensate for undesired losses thereof during operation of the lamp. Thus, available high pressure sodium lamps are, for the most part, of the so-called saturated vapor type and are known to provide undesired variations in lamp volta~e and color rendition because of this saturated condition.
In an effort to eliminate or at least reduce such undesired effects, it has long been known that a lamp wherein the amount of sodium and mercury employed is only that which will become totally vaporized would provide the desired result. In other words, a high pressure sodium lamp of the unsaturated vapor type wherein sodium and mercury are introduced in only such an amount as to become totally vaporized is a highly desirable structure insofar as efficiency~ cost of manufacture and enhanced lighting capability are concerned.
However, one of the major problems encountered in the fabrication of unsaturated vapor high pressure sodium lamps is the introduction therein of the proper amounts of sodium and mercury.
Since the sodium content is of a relatively small amount and sodium is such a chemically active material, it has been found most difficult to dose or introduce the proper amount thereof into the a~c tube of an unsaturated vapor high pressure sodium lamp.
One known suggestion for dosing an arc tube for a high pressure sodium lamp with the proper amount of sodium and mercury is set forth in U.~. Patent 4,1~6,550, issued to Furukubo et al on May 29, 1979. Therein, sodium azide (NaN3) was dissolved in a solvent, placed in a container and the solvent evaporated. Also, a mercury dispenser in the form of an Al-Zr-Ti-Hg alloy was placed in the container. Thereafter, the container was positioned within one D-24,640 ~.Z2ZZ~7~

exhaust pipe affixed to the arc tube, and this one exhaust pipe was closed or pinched off. Another exhaust pipe or tube was affixed to the other end of the arc tube and to an exhaust system. The exhaust tube having the container therein was heated to decompose the sodium and mercury-containing compounds and provide the des;red sodium and mercury within the arc tube. Also, the arc tube was evacuated and re-filled with a starting gas.
Another technique for dosing the arc tube of an unsaturated vapor type high pressure sodium lamp includes the employment of an amalgam of sodium-mercury within the arc tube of the lamp.
Normally, the amalgam is in the form of a single pellet introduced into the arc tube to provide sodium and mercury in an amount which becomes totally vaporized. However, it has been found that such arc tube dosing process leaves something to be desired. More specifically, it has been found that a dosage achieved with a single pellet tends to have a relatively large deviation from the mean. In other words, an arc tube having a dosage effected by means of a single pellet has an undesirably large deviation from the mean whereupon undesired relatively large deviations in lamp voltages result.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INYENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide an enhanced unsaturated vapor type high pressure sodium lamp and fabrication process. Another object of the invention is to improve the If fabrication of an arc tube for an unsaturated vapor type high ; pressure sodium lamp. A further object of the invention is to improve the dosing of an arc tube in an unsaturated vapor type high pressure sodium lamp. A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved structure and process for dosing an arc tube of an unsaturated vapor type high pressure sodium lamp.
These and other objects, advantages and capabilities are achieved in one aspect of the invention by a process for fabricating an unsaturated vapor type high pressure sodium lamp wherein an arc D-24,640 ~22~2~75 tube supported within an evacuated glass envelope is dosed by selecting a plurality of doses of amalgam having a sum substantially equal to a given dosage for the lamp with the.average value of dosages located within the arc tube having a standard deviation less than the standard deviation from the mean of dosages in lamps where said dosage was effected by a single pellet of sodium-mercury amalgam.

- BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a preferred form of unsaturated vapor type high pressure sodium lamp of the invention and FIG. 2 is a comparison chart showing the change in deviation from the mean of a dosage effected by employing a plurality of doses.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
.
For a better understanding of the present invention, together with other and further objects, advantages and capabilities thereof, reference is made to the following disclosure and appended claims in connection with the accompanying drawings.
Referring to the drawings, FIG, 1 illustrates an unsaturated vapor high pressure sodium lamp having a hermetically sealed and evacuated glass envelope 5 formed to fit into an ordinary screw-type base member 7. A glass stem member 9 is sealed to the envelope 5 ,~
and projects therein. Electrical conductors, 11 and 13 respectively, are sealed into and pass through the stem member 9 to provide electrical connections from the interior to the exterior of the glass envelope 5.
An electrically conductive support member 15 is affixed to one of the electrical conductors 11 and has a pair of crossbars 17 and 19 affixed thereto at either end. Also, a plurality of spring-like members 21 are affixed to the support member 15 and formed for contact with the glass envelope 5. Moreover, a pair of getters 23 -D-~4,640 ~ZZ227 and 25 are attached to the support member 15 and serve to insure the integrity of the evacuated envelope 5.
Disposed within the glass envelope 5 and supported by the crossbars 17 and 19 is an arc tube 27. This arc tube 27, preferably of a material such as polycrystalline alumina for example, includes an electrode Z7 and 31 at either end thereof. One electrode 29 is affixed to and supported by the crossbar 17 while the other electrode 31 is insulatingly supported by the other crossbar 19, but electrically connected to the electrical conductor 13 passing through the stem member 9. Heat conserving elements 33 may be wrapped about the arc tube 27 at each end thereof in the vicinity of the electrodes 29 and 31 in order to reduce the heat differential thereat from the center of the arc tube 27.
As to fabrication of the above-mentioned unsaturated vapor type high pressure sodium lamp for the arc tube 27, a dosage of sodium and mercury is selected which will become totally vaporized to provide the desired unsaturated condition. Actually, multiple doses of a sodium-mercury amalgam are selected in an amount to provide the desired and necessary dosage of the lamp. These multiple doses of amalgam are introduced into the arc tube 27 and provide an average dosage therein which has a deviation from the mean which is less than the deviation of the dosages of lamps dosed with single doses.
; Moreover, this reduced lamp dosage deviation is substantially equalto the standard deviation of single doses divided by the square root of the number of doses employed. In other words:
x=s where x = standard deviation of lamp dosages employing multiple doses ; 30 s = standard deviation of dosages employing single doses n = Number of doses employed.
Referring to the comparative chart of FIG. 2, let it be assumed that a desired given dosage for an unsaturated vapor type high D-24,640 ~22227~

pressure sodium lamp is about 3-milligrams of a sodium-mercury amalgam having about 3.4% by weight of sodium. If it is assumed that the required given dosage is effected by a single 3-mg pellet, ~he present standard deviation of available materials is about 0.6 mgs (curve A). However, selecting a plurality of doses, three (3) in this example, each having a weight of about 1.0 mg and a standard deviation of about 0.6 mgs to provide the desired given dosage results in a dosage having a standard deviation which is less than the standard deviation of dosage obtained by singly dosing lamps with 3 mg pellets. In other words, providing a 3-mg dosage selected from (33 pellets of l-mg each provides a dosage having a deviation of about 0.35 mg (Curve B). Thus, the dosage remains unchanged but the deviation from the mean thereof is enhanced by a plurality of doses in an amount where the sum of multiple doses is equal to the given dosage.
Preferably, the doses are selected from a sodium-mercury amalgam having pellets which have weight in the range of about 0.05 to 20.0 mgs. Also, it is to be noted that pellets of a size smaller than the previously mentioned weights or powdered material tend to undesirably absorb moisture which is deleterious to the resultant lamp structure. On the other hand, pellets larger than the above-mentioned range seriously limit the number of pellets suitable to unsaturated high pressure sodium lamps and seriously limit the desired reduction in deviation from a mean of the lamp dosage.
As a specific example, 400-watt unsaturated vapor type high pressure sodium lamps having an arc tube with a volume of about 4.3 cubic centimeters were fabricated. The arc tube was provided with a , dosage ~hich includes 3-pellets of about 0.62 mgs of sodium-mercury amalgam having therein about 3.4% sodium by weight. Also, xenon in an amount of about 15 Torr was dispensed into the arc tube which was thereafter sealed and located within an evacuated envelope to provide an unsaturated vapor type high pressure sodium lamp. These lamps exhibited a reduction in lamp voltage range from a value greater than about 30 volts for lamps dosed with a single pellet to a value less than about 8 volts for lamps dosed with multiple pellets.

G-24,640 lZZZ2 ,'S

Wh;le there has been shown and described what is at present considered the preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that. various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims (10)

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:
1. In a process for fabricating an unsaturated vapor type high pressure sodium lamp having an arc tube positioned within an evacuated glass envelope and requiring a given dosage of sodium and mercury such that said sodium and mercury become totally vaporized within the arc tube, the improvement comprising:

dosing said arc tube with a plurality of sodium-mercury amalgam pellets, said pellets providing said given dosage of sodium and mercury within the arc tube.
2. The process for fabricating an unsaturated vapor type high pressure sodium lamp of Claim 1 wherein each of said pellets has a weight in the range of about 0.05 to 20.0 mgs.
3. The process for fabricating an unsaturated vapor type high pressure sodium lamp of Claim 1 wherein each of said sodium-mercury amalgam pellets has about 3.4% sodium by weight.
4. A process for dosing an arc tube of an unsaturated vapor type high pressure sodium lamp comprising:

depositing a plurality of sodium-mercury amalgam pellets into said arc tube, said pellets providing amounts of sodium and mercury which become totally vaporized within the arc tube during lamp operation.
5. The process for dosing an arc tube of Claim 4 wherein each of said pellets has a weight in the range of about 0.05 to 20.0 mgs.
6. The process for dosing an arc tube of Claim 4 wherein each of said sodium-mercury amalgam pellets has about 3.4%
sodium by weight.
7. An unsaturated vapor type high pressure sodium lamp comprising an arc tube located within an evacuated envelope and containing a gas and a given dosage of sodium and mercury such that said sodium and mercury become totally vaporized within the arc tube during lamp operation, said dosage of sodium and mercury being in the form of two of more sodium-mercury amalgam pellets, each of said pellets having a weight in the range of from about 0.05 to 20.0 mg.
8. The unsaturated vapor type high pressure sodium lamp of Claim 7 wherein said given dosage is introduced into the arc tube in the form of three 1.0 mg. sodium-mercury amalgam pellets.
9. The unsaturated vapor type high pressure sodium lamp of Claim 7 wherein said pellets are in the form of sodium-mercury pellets having about 3.4% sodium by weight.
10. The unsaturated vapor type high pressure sodium lamp of Claim 7 wherein said lamp is a 400-watt lamp having an arc tube volume of about 4.3 cubic centimeter and continuing xenon gas at about 15 torr with three pellets of about 0.65 mg sodium-mercury amalgam each having about 3.4% sodium by weight.
CA000448956A 1983-03-10 1984-03-06 Unsaturated vapor high pressure sodium lamp fabrication process and structure Expired CA1222275A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US47389383A 1983-03-10 1983-03-10
US473,893 1983-03-10

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA1222275A true CA1222275A (en) 1987-05-26

Family

ID=23881456

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA000448956A Expired CA1222275A (en) 1983-03-10 1984-03-06 Unsaturated vapor high pressure sodium lamp fabrication process and structure

Country Status (5)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0127928B1 (en)
JP (1) JPS59169049A (en)
AU (1) AU578236B2 (en)
CA (1) CA1222275A (en)
DE (1) DE3473684D1 (en)

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP3673119B2 (en) * 1999-06-25 2005-07-20 株式会社小糸製作所 Pellet supply device for arc tube for discharge lamp

Family Cites Families (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3384798A (en) * 1966-04-26 1968-05-21 Gen Electric High pressure saturation vapor sodium lamp containing mercury
DE3050721C2 (en) * 1979-03-12 1987-12-17 General Electric Co., Schenectady, N.Y., Us
DD157641A1 (en) * 1981-03-24 1982-11-24 Karin Golz AMALGAM DOSING DEVICE FOR DISCHARGE LAMPS

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU578236B2 (en) 1988-10-20
EP0127928A1 (en) 1984-12-12
AU2546984A (en) 1984-09-13
EP0127928B1 (en) 1988-08-24
JPS59169049A (en) 1984-09-22
DE3473684D1 (en) 1988-09-29

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