EP1046187B1 - Tube, device and method for emitting electromagnetic radiation - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a tube emitting electromagnetic radiation which is made of glass or transparent non-fluorescent quartz, and has an elongated boring able to house a radiation-emitting filament or bundle. The boring has a substantially square or rectangular cross-section, at least two opposite sides of which form dioptric convex surfaces shaped to alter the direction of the radiation emitted by the filament or axis of the bundle so as to render them parallel or substantially parallel in the solid transparent glass medium.

Description

Technical field of the invention

The present invention relates to a transmitter tube electromagnetic radiation, produced in one transparent non-fluorescent material, especially based on glass or quartz, and having a structure straight pierced end to end with an elongated bore around an axis so as to define a housing suitable for containing a filament or a bundle radiation emitting plasma.

It also relates to a device and a method using such a tube.

The invention finds a particularly application important, although not exclusive, in the field of photochemical treatment of materials by radiation ultraviolet with emitting tubes containing a gas ionized, the pressure of which depends on the concentration of plasma inside the tube, by example used in the field of sterilization, in the paper industry, the textile industry, the wood and plastics, industry food, automotive and in the field of printing, especially for polymerization inks or varnishes on films, for example formed by widths as a support in paper, cardboard material, or even material support metallic, such as aluminum strip, copper or steel, or even support in synthetic material such than plastic, PVC, polyethylene or other, even support in natural wood, recomposed or synthetic, even electronic circuits or any other medium.

Another application is in the field of infrared.

The invention is not limited to the types of products to treat. It can for example be used for drying of plate products, for drying certain varnishes and adhesives, for drying wired products lying around an axis, or for the sterilization of liquid products in sheet form or in column around an axis.

State of the prior art

We already know. Emitting glass tubes of ultraviolet or infrared radiation including a cylindrical bore.

These tubes in general associated with reflectors concaves of parabolic cross sections or ellipticals have drawbacks. They have a large footprint, and are not optimized efficiency.

Indeed most of the devices of the prior art essentially describe transmitters / reflectors separate, implementing a distribution of radiation emitted by a beam or a filament according to two embodiments, namely radiation primary from the source in a flow divergent, and secondary radiation which, starting from the source, are reflected on a surface having a cross section along a curve mathematical to arrive at the irradiated plane according to a convergent or parallel flow.

In all cases, and by structural defect of the system, primary radiation therefore does not have the same optimized trajectory, and consequently the same efficiency as secondary radiation.

Document US-A-3885181 describes a lighting lamp high pressure sodium intended to emit lines in the visible range. It includes a tubular discharge envelope, made in a polycrystalline material loaded with alumina. She owns a non-circular section for a distribution asymmetric polar of the light emitted by the lamp. The emissive source is diffuse from a surface luminous, and its plasma section is imposed by the internal geometry of the envelope. Source radiant is not punctual, and the lamp is without reflector or monobloc transmitter / reflector. Such a lamp is used for public lighting, or traffic lights.

Document US-A-2254962 relates to a device optical composed of a cylindrical lens having a central refractive surface, and a reflector additional elliptical reflection and same virtual focus refraction. The light source is separate, and is housed in a semi-open notch by being dissociated from the reflector, which does not can restore all of the radiation. The walls of the notch are arranged so as to obtain in the lens, divergent fluxes as the dioptric planes formed by the edges delimiting the notch. Such a device does not constitute a monoblock transmitter / longitudinal reflector likely to recover 360 ° the entire radiation emitted.

Subject of the invention

The present invention aims to provide a transmitter tube radiation, a device and a method using using such a tube, responding better than those previously known to the requirements of practice.

A first object of the invention consists in producing a compact and space-saving tube, suitable for rendering homogeneous, complementary, and in the same direction towards the irradiated product, primary radiation and · secondary, to optimize the radiant energy photochemical, photothermal and / or photoluminous, usable

A second object of the invention consists in recovering all the spatial radiation emitted by a tube electromagnetic transmitter to increase the focus and energy efficiency.

The invention starts from the idea of giving the bore a substantially square cross section or rectangular, at least two opposite sides of which are of cross section in the shape of a convex curve, so as to obtain flows parallel to the passage of dioptric planes formed by said sides.

By convex is meant here a convex curve interior, the apex of which is directed towards the axis of the bore.

By substantially square or rectangular it is necessary hear a four-sided figure inscribed in a square or rectangle, said sides being in an arc of circle with large radii of curvature, i.e. by example R> 10 mm.

To do this the center of the plasma beam, or the radiating filament, is arranged to be at the center of the geometric optics of said dioptric surfaces.

Thus the convex dioptric surfaces of the bore modify the divergent radiant flux from the geometric center of the convex curves, to form a parallel, or substantially parallel, flow in the transparent solid medium, then parallel or again converge on the plane to be irradiated, in combination with the dioptric exit surface of the tube and / or a reflective surface of emitted radiation located on the sides, on both sides, for example symmetrically with respect to the axial plane of the bore.

The tube according to the invention is characterized in that the bore has a cross section of shape substantially square or rectangular of which at least two opposite sides are shaped like convex curves, said sides forming dioptric surfaces arranged to change direction of radiation emitted from filament or beam axis transmitter to make them parallel or substantially parallels in the solid transparent medium of the glass.

By obtaining parallel radiation in the middle transparent, it considerably facilitates further treatment of radiation. We reduce also the abundance of radiation in allowing in particular, in the case of focusing, excellent power density and in the case of parallel flow irradiation, a limitation of divergent radiation.

In an advantageous case, the sides of the bore are respectively symmetrical with respect to the planes of symmetry of the square or rectangle, the direction of rays being substantially parallel to that of a plane of symmetry of the square or the rectangle of the bore.

In the embodiments more particularly described, the present invention uses a tube rectilinear transmitter whose geometric center emission is confused with the focus of a reflector correspondent, also rectilinear and of section transverse at least partly flat or substantially flat to treat flat, or cross-sectional surfaces transverse at least partially reverse parabolic to focus the radiation, the generator at top of the reflector curve being parallel to the axis coincides with the focal line, and the edges end of straight or parabolic portions being located below the axis of the bore, on the other side of it relative to said generator at the top.

By inverse parabola is meant the reflection curve which transforms parallel flow into convergent flow focused on a line.

More specifically, radiation emitters ultraviolet, and / or visible, and / or infrared of the invention more particularly described here, are tubes with very high electrodes temperature (above 1000 ° C) called electrodes heat generating an emission plasma arc continuous or discontinuous photonics.

The electric arc generated by the two electrodes, respectively located on each side of the tube transparent non-fluorescent, generates a cylinder bright constant cross section generally formed by one or more metal iodides to the plasma state, or by xenon or a mercury / xenon mixture or other gases or rare earths

The light cylinder has a total length constituted by the distance between the two electrodes, for example between a few mm for short arc transmitters and more generally between 30 mm and 2500 mm or even several meters, for example ten or fifteen meters, and also presents a section of the bright area with high plasma concentration lower than the inner section of the transparent tube which contains it.

A voltage between electrodes between 20 volts / cm and 150 volts / cm, for example 30 volts / cm or 100 volts / cm indeed leads to a cross section of substantially reduced extremely cylindrical beam, forming a luminous brush appearing as fully detached from the bore walls, creating a space of a relative vacuum that generates pressure reduced substantially equal to atmospheric pressure at the inner wall of the cylindrical tube or the monobloc transmitter / reflector tube.

Furthermore, the plasma concentration promotes a electronic vacuum and plasma gas in the vicinity internal walls which slow down heat transfer outward, causing walls of the envelope colder.

The metal iodide (s) can come from pure metals or alloys namely and for example a pure mercury, pure iron, pure gallium, iron / cobalt (mixture), one gallium / lead (mixture), one mercury / gallium (mixture), etc.

The gas or gases used can be pure (for example xenon) or as a mixture (e.g. mercury / xenon), as it is known to frequencies other than 50Hz, or alternating current, either pulsed current or not, constant polarity and of varying intensity.

The list of mixtures of metals, rare earths and / or gases mentioned above is of course not limiting. Furthermore, their respective proportions, such as those of the choice of frequency, pulsation or modulation, are determined based on specific wavelengths of radiation.

• les côtés de l'alésage sont agencés pour former des surfaces dioptriques pour, en combinaison avec la surface dioptrique de sortie du tube ou avec une surface réflectrice associée avec la surface dioptrique de sortie du tube, diriger les rayonnements en flux parallèle ou convergent vers une surface ou une ligne à irradier;
• les quatre côtés de l'alésage sont de forme convexe, par exemple les côtés opposés étant identiques deux à deux;
• la forme convexe des parois internes de l'alésage est une portion de cercle dont le rayon de courbure est déterminé par un calcul classique de rayon de courbure de lentille épaisses biconvexe . Par exemple, le rayon du cercle R1 de valeur 10 mm est, pour une distance des surfaces convexes opposées de 12,6 mm pour focaliser le rayonnement au foyer virtuel F', à une distance de 50 mm de la surface externe de la paroi inférieure.
• le tube comporte une paroi externe supérieure, dite face supérieure, de surface externe agencée pour renvoyer les rayonnements vers l'axe de l'alésage, ladite paroi externe étant recouverte, d'une matière réfléchissante, pour fonctionner sous une forme dite en rayonnement inverse. La surface externe est symétrique par rapport au plan axial longitudinal de l'alésage, vertical ou perpendiculaire au plan à irradier, et par exemple en arc de cercle ou plane;
• le tube comporte une surface réflectrice solidaire dudit cube ;
• il comporte une surface réflectrice des rayonnements émis située d'un côté dudit tube, comportant deux ailes latérales longitudinales symétriques par rapport à un plan axial de l'alésage, la portion de surface réflectrice dioptrique ou métallique desdites ailes latérales s'inscrivant dans une surface de section transversale droite ou parabolique inverse, ou encore sensiblement droite ou sensiblement parabolique inverse;
• la surface réflectrice est formée au moins en partie par les faces internes des ailes, par réfraction dioptrique ;
• la surface réflectrice est formée au moins en partie par un matériau réfléchissant ;
• le tube comporte une face externe inférieure de jonction des ailes, située du côté opposé à la génératrice au sommet du tube par rapport à l'alésage. La face est convexe au centre et sensiblement droite aux extrémités, selon une courbe symétrique par rapport au plan axial contenant la génératrice au sommet, de manière à diriger les rayons émis vers une ligne de focalisation située sur le plan d'irradiation. Dans le cas où la surface réflectrice est formée au moins en partie de deux plans symétriques par rapport au plan axial vertical de l'alésage, la génératrice est remplacée par la droite d'intersection des faces planes s'inscrivant dans un « chapeau chinois » dont l'arête supérieure est ladite croite d'intersection ;
• le tube est symétrique par rapport à un plan axial de l'alésage parallèle au plan d'irradiation.
• le plan d'irradiation est en général une surface perpendiculaire au plan axial longitudinal de symétrie du tube ;
• la paroi externe, ou face supérieure, du tube est partiellement cylindrique du côté de la génératrice au sommet du tube entre les faces externes des ailes latérales ;
• la face supérieure du tube est tronquée, formant une face externe plane entre les faces externes des ailes latérales ;
• le tube est de forme sensiblement cylindrique et comporte deux ailes rapportées en verre, symétriques ou non par rapport au plan axial de l'alésage perpendiculaire au plan d'irradiation.

In advantageous embodiments, one and / or the other of the following arrangements are also used:

• the sides of the bore are arranged to form dioptric surfaces for, in combination with the dioptric exit surface of the tube or with a reflective surface associated with the dioptric exit surface of the tube, to direct the radiation in parallel or convergent flux towards a surface or line to be irradiated;
• the four sides of the bore are convex, for example the opposite sides being identical two by two;
• the convex shape of the internal walls of the bore is a portion of a circle whose radius of curvature is determined by a conventional calculation of the radius of curvature of thick biconvex lenses. For example, the radius of the circle R1 with a value of 10 mm is, for a distance from the opposite convex surfaces of 12.6 mm to focus the radiation at the virtual focus F ', at a distance of 50 mm from the external surface of the bottom wall .
• the tube has an upper external wall, known as the upper face, with an external surface arranged to return the radiation towards the axis of the bore, said external wall being covered with a reflective material, to operate in a form known as reverse radiation . The external surface is symmetrical with respect to the longitudinal axial plane of the bore, vertical or perpendicular to the plane to be irradiated, and for example in an arc of a circle or plane;
• the tube has a reflective surface integral with said cube;
• it comprises a surface reflecting radiation emitted located on one side of said tube, comprising two longitudinal lateral wings symmetrical with respect to an axial plane of the bore, the portion of the dioptric or metallic reflecting surface of said lateral wings being inscribed in a surface of straight cross section or reverse parabolic, or substantially straight or substantially parabolic reverse;
• the reflecting surface is formed at least in part by the internal faces of the wings, by dioptric refraction;
• the reflecting surface is formed at least in part by a reflecting material;
• the tube has a lower external junction face of the wings, located on the side opposite the generator at the top of the tube relative to the bore. The face is convex in the center and substantially straight at the ends, according to a symmetrical curve with respect to the axial plane containing the generatrix at the top, so as to direct the rays emitted towards a line of focus situated on the irradiation plane. In the case where the reflecting surface is formed at least in part from two planes symmetrical with respect to the vertical axial plane of the bore, the generator is replaced by the line of intersection of the planar faces inscribed in a “Chinese hat” whose upper edge is said intersecting cross;
• the tube is symmetrical about an axial plane of the bore parallel to the irradiation plane.
• the irradiation plane is generally a surface perpendicular to the longitudinal axial plane of symmetry of the tube;
• the external wall, or upper face, of the tube is partially cylindrical on the side of the generator at the top of the tube between the external faces of the lateral wings;
• the upper face of the tube is truncated, forming a flat outer face between the outer faces of the lateral wings;
• the tube is of substantially cylindrical shape and comprises two attached wings of glass, symmetrical or not with respect to the axial plane of the bore perpendicular to the irradiation plane.

• l'alésage est formé par quatre quartiers en verre répartis radialement, jointifs par leurs extrémités et s'encastrant dans un cylindre en verre périphérique ou un alésage cylindrique effectué dans le tube ;
• le tube comporte un deuxième tube, cylindrique, interne à l'alésage propre à contenir le faisceau plasmatique et/ou contenant un filament émetteur ;
• l'espace entre le tube externe et le tube interne, jointif ou non au tube externe, peut être favorablement utilisé pour la circulation d'un fluide de refroidissement gazeux ou liquide ;
• le deuxième tube, cylindrique, peut être en contact avec la génératrice au sommet des surfaces internes convexes ;
• le deuxième tube cylindrique peut ne pas être en contact avec les surfaces internes convexes dans la mesure où la poussée d'Archimède créée par l'espace interne de l'enveloppe baignant dans un milieu liquide est égale ou sensiblement égale au poids de l'enveloppe, le deuxième tube cylindrique, porté à ses deux extrémités, s'autocentrant alors sur toute sa longueur ;
• l'alésage comporte une surface supérieure de section transversale concave.

In this case, the tube and the wings are joined for example simply in contact or glued by a synthetic or ceramic glue, or welded by fusion of quartz, or even mechanically fixed with each other;

• the bore is formed by four glass quarters distributed radially, joined at their ends and fitted into a peripheral glass cylinder or a cylindrical bore made in the tube;
• the tube comprises a second tube, cylindrical, internal to the bore capable of containing the plasma beam and / or containing an emitting filament;
• the space between the outer tube and the inner tube, whether joined to the outer tube or not, can be favorably used for the circulation of a gaseous or liquid cooling fluid;
• the second, cylindrical tube can be in contact with the generator at the top of the convex internal surfaces;
• the second cylindrical tube may not be in contact with the convex internal surfaces insofar as the Archimedes thrust created by the internal space of the envelope bathing in a liquid medium is equal or substantially equal to the weight of the envelope , the second cylindrical tube, carried at its two ends, then self-centering over its entire length;
• the bore has an upper surface of concave cross section.

• l'alésage est agencé pour contenir un gaz ionisé normalement sous moyenne ou forte pression, les rayonnements émis étant des rayonnements ultraviolets, et/ou visibles, et/ou infrarouges;

In other words, the upper side of the cross section of the bore is concave, that is to say having a radius of curvature whose center is located on the side of the bore or the apex in the opposite direction to it;

• the bore is arranged to contain an ionized gas normally under medium or high pressure, the radiation emitted being ultraviolet, and / or visible, and / or infrared radiation;

• le tube comporte des chambres d'électrode de section interne supérieure ou égale à la section interne de la partie rayonnante émettrice du tube ;
• le tube comporte un filament émetteur de rayonnement infrarouge.

By medium or high pressure is meant absolute gas pressures greater than 2 kg / cm2 for example 3 kg / cm2 for medium pressure and greater than 5 kg / cm2 for high pressure, which can for example reach 15 kg / cm2 .

• the tube has electrode chambers with an internal section greater than or equal to the internal section of the radiating emitting part of the tube;
• the tube comprises a filament emitting infrared radiation.

A third object of the invention consists in making a transmitter / reflector device implementing a or several tubes as described above.

Advantageously, the device comprises, located on the plane focal point of emitted radiation, a slide with parallel or substantially lateral sides funnel-shaped parallels with a radiation input dioptric surface specific to transform the convergent radiation received into a parallel flow of radiation.

In an advantageous embodiment, the device has reflective surfaces separate from the tube and constituted by reflective plates, which can advantageously be flat.

A fourth subject of the invention relates also to a method of applying radiation to a product in sheet form or placed on a flat surface or curve. It consists in irradiating the product with a element (plasma beam or electrical filament) radiation emitter and having a section cylindrical or substantially cylindrical very weak, that is to say with a diameter less than about 10 mm, for example of the order of 4 mm, of the order of 2 mm, or even up to 1 mm or even 0.5 mm (by the order of, should be understood ± 1 mm and / or 10 to 15%), centered in the bore of a straight glass tube, elongated around an axis, said bore being of cross section of substantially square shape or rectangular with at least two opposite sides in form of convex curves, said sides forming dioptric surfaces arranged to modify the direction of the radiation emitted from the axis of the bore to make them parallel or substantially parallels in the solid transparent medium of the glass, before being deflected by reflecting surfaces metallic or dioptric towards the product.

In an advantageous embodiment, the bore has four convex sides, opposite sides being identical two by two.

Advantageously, the emitting element is a beam tubular plasma of photon radiation ultraviolet, and / or visible, and / or infrared.

Preferably, the plasma tubular bundle of ultraviolet radiation is of section presenting a maximum radial dimension less than or equal to on the order of 4 mm.

The emitting element can be constituted by a filament electric, infrared emitter.

In an advantageous embodiment, it is irradiated with the same tube two irradiation planes located symmetrically on either side of said emitter tube.

Brief description of the drawings

The invention will be better understood on reading the description which follows of several embodiments given by way of nonlimiting examples.

• Les figures 1 et 2 sont des vues en coupe transversale de deux variantes d'un premier mode de réalisation de tube émetteur/réflecteur selon l'invention, monobloc, comportant une face supérieure formant la surface réflectrice et comportant deux portions latérales présentant une section parabolique inverse ou sensiblement parabolique inverse.
• Les figures 3 et 4 sont des vues en coupe transversale de deux autres variantes du tube monobloc selon l'invention avec une portion supérieure du tube tronquée, plane recouvert d'un matériau réfléchissant.
• La figure 5 montre un autre mode de réalisation de l'invention avec tube monobloc, du type tête-bêche par rapport au plan axial de l'alésage parallèle aux plans d'irradiation, et à deux foyers virtuels symétriques ou non symétriques, irradiés, et disposés selon un angle de 180°.
• Les figures 6 et 6A montrent des vues en coupe transversale de deux autres modes de réalisations du tube selon l'invention, muni de faces planes de part et d'autre de l'alésage.
• Les figures 7, 8 et 9 sont des vues en coupe transversale d'autres modes de réalisation de tube selon l'invention, sensiblement cylindriques, sans et avec ailes rajoutées, dissymétriquement ou symétriquement.
• La figure 10 est une vue en coupe transversale d'un dispositif comprenant le tube de la figure 1 et une lame de redressement à flux parallèle disposée au foyer, accompagnée de vues partielles à grande échelle montrant deux positionnements de la lame en fonction du foyer.
• Les figures 11 et 12 sont des vues en coupe transversale d'une variante d'un autre mode de réalisation du tube selon l'invention de la figure 1, comprenant un second tube cylindrique émetteur de rayonnements interne à l'alésage d'un tube soit monobloc, soit constitué de quatre éléments assemblés pour être semblables à un monobloc, ledit second tube pouvant être centré par contact aux génératrices des quatre courbes convexes, ou centré sans contact.
• Les figures 13 et 14 sont des vues en coupe d'un autre mode de réalisation du tube selon l'invention avec alésage comprenant une face supérieure concave.
• Les figures 15 et 15A montrent un autre mode de réalisation d'un tube selon l'invention avec un alésage formé par quatre quartiers en forme de lentilles longitudinales biconvexes, enfermées dans un tube cylindrique.
• La figure 16 est une vue en coupe d'une autre variante de tube selon l'invention, du type représenté aux figures 1 et 2, l'alésage étant formé par l'assemblage de lentilles biconvexes.
• Les figures 17 à 20 sont des vues schématiques en coupe de plusieurs modes de réalisation d'un dispositif selon l'invention avec un tube de forme sensiblement cylindrique et des parois réflectrices latérales dissociées du tube, de forme planes ou en portion de section transversale parabolique inverse.

The description refers to the accompanying drawings in which:

• Figures 1 and 2 are cross-sectional views of two variants of a first embodiment of the emitter / reflector tube according to the invention, in one piece, having an upper face forming the reflecting surface and comprising two lateral portions having a parabolic section reverse or substantially parabolic reverse.
• Figures 3 and 4 are cross-sectional views of two other variants of the one-piece tube according to the invention with an upper portion of the truncated, flat tube covered with a reflective material.
• FIG. 5 shows another embodiment of the invention with a monobloc tube, of the head-to-tail type with respect to the axial plane of the bore parallel to the irradiation planes, and to two virtual focal points, symmetrical or non-symmetrical, irradiated, and arranged at an angle of 180 °.
• Figures 6 and 6A show cross-sectional views of two other embodiments of the tube according to the invention, provided with planar faces on either side of the bore.
• Figures 7, 8 and 9 are cross-sectional views of other embodiments of the tube according to the invention, substantially cylindrical, without and with wings added, asymmetrically or symmetrically.
• Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view of a device comprising the tube of Figure 1 and a parallel flow straightening blade disposed at the focus, accompanied by partial views on a large scale showing two positions of the blade according to the focus.
• Figures 11 and 12 are cross-sectional views of a variant of another embodiment of the tube according to the invention of Figure 1, comprising a second cylindrical tube emitting radiation internal to the bore of a tube either monobloc, or consisting of four elements assembled to be similar to a monobloc, said second tube being able to be centered by contact with the generatrices of the four convex curves, or centered without contact.
• Figures 13 and 14 are sectional views of another embodiment of the tube according to the invention with bore comprising a concave upper face.
• Figures 15 and 15A show another embodiment of a tube according to the invention with a bore formed by four quarters in the form of biconvex longitudinal lenses, enclosed in a cylindrical tube.
• Figure 16 is a sectional view of another variant of the tube according to the invention, of the type shown in Figures 1 and 2, the bore being formed by the assembly of biconvex lenses.
• Figures 17 to 20 are schematic sectional views of several embodiments of a device according to the invention with a tube of substantially cylindrical shape and lateral reflecting walls dissociated from the tube, in planar shape or in portion of parabolic cross section reverse.

In the following description, we will use preferably the same reference numbers for designate elements that are identical or of the same type.

Detailed description of various modes of preferred embodiments of the invention

Figures 1 and 2 show a tube 1 in section transverse, straight in glass, for example in extruded quartz.

The tube 1 is drilled end to end by a bore 2, for example obtained by spinning.

The bore is elongated around an axis 3, of section substantially square, of which the four sides 4 identical two by two are shaped like a convex curve (C2, C4,), in this case in a portion of a circle of radius R2 and R4, the center of which is located outside of the bore, with R4> R2, for example R4 = 1.2 R2.

The sides 4 form dioptric surfaces which modify the direction of the rays 5 emitted at from axis 3, or substantially from axis 3, for example by the plasma beam or the infrared filament with axis coincident with axis 3 and shown at 6 in the figures, to make them parallel or substantially parallel (radiation 5 ') in the solid transparent medium 7 of the glass.

In the embodiment of a transmitter to ultraviolet radiation, the tube is closed each time end with electrode-carrying plugs (not shown), and contains an ionized gas, for example iodide, or mercury, or xenon, or krypton, suitable for emitting 5 or ultraviolet radiation, either infrared or essentially in the spectrum visible light when the tube is energized and that it creates a plasma arc between the electrodes, in a manner known in itself.

The tube 1 has an upper external wall 8, called the upper face, with an external surface 9 of section at least partially reverse parabolic, of equation Y = x ² / 4f, f being the focal distance of the parabola between the focal point 21 which coincides with the irradiated point F 'located on the axial plane of symmetry 12 of the bore, and the apex P of the parabola which is the extension of the side wall plumb or the intersection with the horizontal focal axis of F 'and which realizes the focal distance PF' in such a way that PF '= f.

According to the embodiment of the invention of the Figure 1, the surface 9 of the central portion 11 in cylindrical part C3, symmetrical with respect to the plane 12, is covered, for example by spraying cathodic under vacuum or any other known means of a person skilled in the art allowing adhesion to quartz, a film 13 (in broken lines in the figure 1) a material reflecting ultraviolet (U.V.) emitted, for example consisting of a metallic layer micron thick aluminum, for Wavelength UV from 100 nm to 500 nm, by example of 360 nm. This same reflection material can be used for radiant emissions in the visible or infrared spectrum. For these wavelengths, we can advantageously replace the reflective layer of aluminum by a layer of reflection in gold or silver or enamel.

The tube 1 closes on the other side of the portion 11 relative to bore 2 by a solid wall 14, extending between the ends 15 of the side wings solid 16 formed by satellite sections inverse symmetrical with respect to the axial plane 12.

• que l'énergie rayonnante (totale ou quasi totale) qui irradie à partir du foyer 10 d'émission, est constituée par la somme de deux énergies rayonnantes, comprenant l'énergie rayonnante primaire, qui irradie directement dans un espace prismatique fermé 18, d'angle au sommet ∝' par exemple de 7°, et dont les limites sont sensiblement les extrémités 19 des pointes latérales 20 formant des angles aigus par exemple inférieurs à 40°, par exemple compris entre 35° et 10°, de l'alésage 2, et l'énergie rayonnante secondaire, qui irradie de façon sensiblement parallèle sur la courbe de réflexion du réflecteur pour y être réfléchie et revenir vers la face externe 17 de jonction entre les extrémités des ailes vers le produit situé dans le plan irradié 21 perpendiculaire au plan axial 12,
• que le rendement énergétique d'un faisceau divergent dépend de la distance qu'il parcourt de son point d'émission à son point de réception; en raccourcissant cette distance du point d'émission au plan de réflexion d'une part, et du plan de réflexion au produit irradié d'autre part, l'invention optimise donc le rendement,
• qu'une meilleure pénétration du produit à irradier dépend d'une forte densité de puissance rayonnante.

The wall 14 has an external face 17, transparent to radiation, for the passage of rays 5 'emitted directly or rays 5 "reflected by the reverse parabola. We recall here, for the record:

• that the radiant energy (total or almost total) which irradiates from the focal point 10 of emission, is constituted by the sum of two radiant energies, including the primary radiant energy, which irradiates directly in a closed prismatic space 18, d 'apex angle ∝' for example 7 °, and the limits of which are substantially the ends 19 of the lateral points 20 forming acute angles for example less than 40 °, for example between 35 ° and 10 °, of the bore 2, and the secondary radiant energy, which irradiates in a substantially parallel manner on the reflection curve of the reflector to be reflected therein and return to the external face 17 of junction between the ends of the wings towards the product situated in the irradiated plane 21 perpendicular in the axial plane 12,
• that the energy efficiency of a divergent beam depends on the distance it travels from its point of emission to its point of reception; by shortening this distance from the emission point to the reflection plane on the one hand, and from the reflection plane to the irradiated product on the other hand, the invention therefore optimizes the yield,
• that better penetration of the product to be irradiated depends on a high density of radiant power.

The intensity radiated in any direction is equal to the product of the intensity radiated in the direction of the normal to the surface irradiated by the cosine of the angle that this direction makes with the normal to the irradiated plane (Lambert law).

The external face 17 of FIGS. 1 and 2 is convex to the center along a curve C1 forming a portion of cylinder of radius R1 and substantially straight C6 towards the ends, from or substantially from the point of the curve C1 situated in the extension of the radius passing through the end 19 of the lateral points 20 of the bore located on the side of the plane to be irradiated.

In the embodiments more particularly described here, the transmitter / reflector device is a monobloc entity, in extruded quartz glass material, very high quality of transparency in the band bandwidth from 180 nm to 2000 nm and with a very low fluorescence level, in which are intimately linked, confused and inseparable, the issuer and its reflector.

The other part, facing the irradiated product, is transparent and arranged to direct all radiation emitted to the product in such a way that all or most of the radiation primary and secondary, parallel flow or substantially parallel perpendicular to the product irradiated, according to Lambert's law, or in the direction of axial plane 12 towards the focal point F ′ of the reverse parabola in the focused case.

The geometric shape of the dioptric surfaces of sides of the bore, implemented and developed structurally as part of the modes of embodiment of the invention more particularly described here, is designed with reference to the hearth geometrical of the device comprising a tube according to the invention, home generally confused with the axis of the bore, which will therefore be called the axis below focal.

Thus any light point coming from the focal axis radiates radially as shown later in the figures.
On the other hand, it will be noted that any light point of the beam, located outside the focal axis, only partially responds to this mode of radial irradiation corresponding to the design of the dioptric surfaces. Only the radiations emitted in the plane passing through the focal axis correspond to this conception.

By concentrating the beam significantly plasma emitting photon radiation or with an infrared emitting filament, and with the shape of the bore according to the invention, one concentrates substantially or substantially all of the emitting light flux on the focal axis, which achieves results considerably improved compared to the prior art, for example the light density is multiplied by ten by compared to the prior art.

In the case of FIG. 1, the rays passing through the transparent solid medium 5 ′ are substantially parallel and are reflected on a curve with dioptric reflection C5, in which the angle ∝ ₁ of incidence / reflection of the rays 5 is ≥ 2 x 42 °, with the hypothesis, the wavelength λ = 360 nm, which determines a limiting angle of incidence ∝ _L of dioptric refraction.

Note that the primary 5 and secondary rays 5 'which cross the dioptric curves C1, opposite on the lower side of the square bore, and C6 are refracted (therefore deflected) to be focused entirely at the virtual focus F 'on the plane 21.

Figure 2 shows a tube 1, including a bore 2 and a cross section similar to those described with reference to Figure 1. Only the angle incidence / reflection of rays 5, β1 <2 x 42 ° east different here, needing to cover the surface external 9 of a reflective layer 13, for example obtained by metallization of the entire curve reflection represented in broken lines by C3 and C5.

It will also be noted that the diopter curve C6 of the external face 17 of the bottom wall 14, unlike that of Figure 1, is here in all point perpendicular to the secondary rays 5 'which pass through (so the radiation is not deflected) to end up with the primary radiation crossing the curve C1, the virtual focus F '.

Figure 3 shows a variant of Figure 2 with the upper face 8 'of the tube truncated by a surface horizontal plane C3 covered with film reflective 13 ', shown in broken lines.

The rays 5 pass through the transparent solid medium 7, in strictly parallel flow, and meet a dioptric reflection curve C5 in reverse parabola in which the angles of incidence / reflection of the rays 5 are such that ∝3>∝2> ∝1 ≥ 2 X 42 °.
It is noted here that the metallic reflection curve C3 of planar shape responds to the inverse light image. Recall that the limiting angle ∝ _L of refraction taken here equal to 42 ° is a function of the wavelength used.

So the secondary radiant energy from the angle entered ∝5 is added to the radiant energy primary registered in the angle of remission of radiation towards the focal point F 'inside which the rays are all directed towards plane 21 located at the front of the transmitter / reflector.

At this level, all radiant energy normally registered on 360 ° is thus brought back in the angle α6.

Figure 4 is the same type as Figure 3, but β ≠ ∝, and β1 <β2 <β3 <2 x 42 ° imposing a layer of 13 "metallic reflection over the entire surface outer 9 of the upper wall 8 'characterized in C'3 and C'5, with R '# R and therefore the C' curves of the figure different from the curves C of figure 3.

Figure 5 shows a transmitter / reflector tube 22 monobloc called "head to tail" with two virtual homes opposite irradiated and arranged at an angle of 180 °, F 'and F' ', characterized in that the radiation reflected 5 'never goes back through the hearth plasma.

The tube comprises two wings 23 symmetrical with respect to to the perpendicular axial planes 24 and 25, and has on both sides an external face 26 of the type of that described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 and two reflecting surfaces 27 and 28 in the form of portion of symmetrical reverse parabola, forming between they an obtuse angle 29.

In the same spirit as before, we could have four opposite irradiated virtual homes according to a 90 ° angle, F ', F' ', F' '' and F '' '' (not shown).

In Figure 6 there is shown a straight tube 30 with bore 31 as described with reference to the figure 1 and according to the embodiment of the invention more particularly described here.

The 5 'radiation here crosses the solid medium 32 transparent with strictly parallel flow. The tube 30 has an external upper face 33 comprising two surfaces 34 symmetrical with respect to the axial plane 35 perpendicular to the irradiated plane 36, reflecting dioptric, flat, inclined at 45 ° to the axial plane 35 in which ∝1 is equal to 90 ° (therefore> 2 x 42 °).

The upper face of the tube also has a rectangular, flat central part 37, covered a reverse image reflective layer 38, the face lower 39 being flat, rectangular and parallel on face 37 and on plane 36 to be irradiated.

This type of embodiment of the transmitter / reflector monobloc, with a 45 ° slope, allows irradiation by primary and secondary radiation fully returned perpendicularly or substantially perpendicular to the irradiated plane 36.

This produces a monoblock transmitter / reflector type "iron" allowing, for example especially in the case of sterilization, to treat irradiated solid or liquid planes 36 which can be directly in contact with the radiating element, which is entirely new.

The curve C3 of the central part 37 is identical to that of Figure 3 covered with a material reflective. By modifications of the curves convex diopters of the bore, flux 5 ' passing through the solid transparent medium can be slightly divergent, so that ∝1 becomes <2 x 42 °. In this case, we accept a tolerance in the divergence of plus or minus 5 °.

The external faces corresponding to curves C3 and C5 previous figures, on the sides 34, are then provided fully covered with a reflective layer for example metallic, like those shown in Figures 2 and 4.

Figure 6A fall under the same principle of design, construction and use upside down as that of Figure 5. The tube 40 has two identical parts 41, symmetrical with respect to the axial plane 42, centered on the geometric center 43 bore 44 with four convex sides of the type described in FIG. 1.
In the same spirit as before, we could have four planar radiating faces and arranged at an angle of 90 °. Such a device comprises four rectangular exit planes, two by two parallel, making it possible to attack the irradiation planes 47 with the rays 46 perpendicularly.

FIG. 7 describes a tube 50, formed by spinning, with a bore 51 with four convex faces 52 in portion of cylinder of radii R2 and R4, with R2 ≤ R4, or R4 ≥ R2, as described with reference to the previous figures.
The outer dioptric circle is "notched" on its periphery at 53, so as to receive (see FIGS. 8 and 9) elements of right and left wings in the form of a parabolic inverse curve 54 or plane at 45 °, with a surface of dioptric or metallic reflection or on the same principle, head-to-tail wings 55 as described above. The radius R3 can have an infinitely large dimension, the axial origin of which is distant and situated on the vertical axis, so that the curve C3, initially constituted by a portion of cylinder, then becomes a portion of the plane characterizing the reverse light image.

Figure 9 shows a tube 50, composite, finding in all respects the characteristics and advantages of monobloc of Figure 1, and formed by assembly of the tube 50 of FIG. 7 with similar wings 61 to those described with reference to Figure 1, which have clean ends 62 to come to the contact cooperate and click into place with the notches 53 of the tube 50, and an internal face 63 cooperating in contact and partly complementary to the face cylindrical outer 64 of the tube 50.

The advantage of such a construction lies in the realization of a "virtually" transmitter / reflector monobloc from a common core characterized by a tube of shape corresponding to FIG. 7 to which will attach as the case may be element 54 responding to divergent or convergent flows, or element 55 meeting the head-to-tail principle of Figures 5 and 6.

FIG. 10 shows a device 70 comprising a tube 1 identical to that described with reference to the FIG. 1, and a blade element or blade 71, transparent, with 72 parallel side faces.

• haute densité de puissance des rayonnements focalisés obtenue par la focalisation du rayonnement 73 d'un système parabolique inverse,
• rayonnements focalisés rendus perpendiculaires conformément à l'enseignement de la loi de Lambert par l'élément de lame 71, dit collecteur rayonnant ou " C.R. ".

Such a device has the following advantages:

• high power density of focused radiation obtained by focusing radiation 73 of a reverse parabolic system,
• focused radiation made perpendicular in accordance with the teaching of Lambert's law by the element of blade 71, called radiating collector or "CR".

The transparent blade 71 with a thickness Lcr has on the upper edge 75 a concave shape of radius of curvature R'3, and located at a distance dF1 with respect to the virtual focus F ', so that the rays 76 arriving on this concave dioptric plane are rectified in parallel radiating flux represented in the drawing by the width Luv.

• entre quelques millimètres,
• et plusieurs mètres, de manière rectiligne ou curviligne, conduisant le flux lumineux dans l'épaisseur selon la même méthode et la même qualité de restitution des performances lumineuse que celles de la fibre optique.

The blade 71, or radiating collector, can have a length D comprised:

• between a few millimeters,
• and several meters, in a rectilinear or curvilinear manner, conducting the luminous flux in the thickness according to the same method and the same quality of restitution of the luminous performances as those of the optical fiber.

• soit coupé droit pour traverser le plan dioptrique sans être dévié,
• soit usiné de forme concave pour sortir en flux divergent,,
• soit usiné de forme convexe pour sortir en flux convergent.

The blade 71 has on the lower edge 77, an edge machined in three forms:

• either cut straight to cross the diopter plane without being deflected,
• either machined concave to exit in divergent flow,
• either machined in a convex shape to exit in a convergent flow.

Note also that there is only one distance dF1 associated with the concave shape of radius R3 identical which allows refracted radiation in the transparent solid medium of CR, according to a flow strictly parallel.

Any variation of dF1 results in a divergence or a convergence of the flow which will remain channeled between internal dioptric walls, corresponding to the faces side 72, of the transparent blade 71 as long as the first incident limit radius at these same walls does will not exceed the value of 42 ° for λ = 360 nm.

In fact, the mechanical variation of dF1, causes a variation in power density and a fortiori, a power variation. We thus obtain a variator of power at constant wavelength.

The mechanical link between the monoblock transmitter / reflector and the radiant collector can be for example produced by two sheets 78, or T index, represented in a heavy dashed line in Figure 10.

• soit de dimension quasiment identique à la distance minimum entre les courbes convexes 82 de l'alésage 83 (Cf. figure 11), avec lesquelles il est tangent,
• soit de dimension inférieure à cette même distance (Cf. figure 12). Au quel cas des moyens de fixation et de centrage du tube 81 dans l'alésage sont prévus de façon connue en elle-même (non représentés), ou tel que décrit précédemment en ce qui concerne l'exemple d'un liquide de refroidissement circulant dans l'espace libre 83 entre le tube extérieur 80 et le tube intérieur 81 pour lequel le poids de l'enveloppe du tube intérieur par unité de longueur, serait égal ou sensiblement égal à la poussée d'Archimède.

FIGS. 11 and 12 show a tube 80 of shape corresponding to the embodiment described in FIG. 1.
Inside the tube of the conventional form of the monoblock drawn in a single element for FIG. 11, and in several elements for FIG. 12, there is provided a cylindrical tube 81, ultraviolet emitter, and / or visible, and / or infrared, the outside diameter of the cylindrical quartz shell of which is:

• either of dimension almost identical to the minimum distance between the convex curves 82 of the bore 83 (see FIG. 11), with which it is tangent,
• either of dimension smaller than this same distance (Cf. figure 12). In which case means for fixing and centering the tube 81 in the bore are provided in a manner known per se (not shown), or as described above with regard to the example of a circulating coolant in the free space 83 between the outer tube 80 and the inner tube 81 for which the weight of the envelope of the inner tube per unit of length, would be equal or substantially equal to the buoyancy.

FIGS. 13 and 14 show tubes 84 and 85 of the same external shape as that of the tubes represented in FIGS. 11 and 12, adapted to a different form of bore 86 comprising an upper side 87 concave, of cylindrical shape but reversed from that of three other identical convex sides 88 and 89.
The radii of curvature of the upper 87 concave and lower 88 convex faces are for example identical, the sides 89 being identical.

In the embodiment of FIG. 14, the 90 ends of the bore are tangent to surfaces upper and lower faces, which removes blind spots 91 (see FIG. 13) shown in dashed lines in the figures.

The tubes 84 and 85 also have a transparent internal cylindrical tube made of glass 92 which makes it possible to center the emitting beam 93 at the geometric center of the cylinder 94 (in phantom in the figures).
Of course and in the same way, these configurations with tube internal to the bore of an ultraviolet or infrared emitter of conventional cylindrical shape is presented according to the same principle, for the shapes of Figures 3, 4, 5, 6 and 6A.

FIGS. 15 and 15 A show a tube 95, 95 ′ formed by four biconvex lenses 96, 96 ′ inserted in a quartz tube 97 of cylindrical or substantially cylindrical external shape according to FIGS. 7 and 8.
Each lens 96 has an outer surface of shape complementary to that of the cylindrical inner face of the tube 97, and is arranged in contact to form with its convex inner part 98 the bore 99 according to the invention.
A lens 96 ′ may be smaller (see FIG. 15A) and leave a dioptric space 100 between its external face 101 which is convex, and the internal face of the tube 97.
The tube 95 ′ in FIG. 15A also comprises an internal cylindrical tube 102 for retaining the plasma centered on its axis, as described above.

FIG. 16 shows a tube 105 belonging to the same principle of bore formation, with a transmitter / reflector with wings, of monobloc shape, with or without internal tube 102.

More precisely, the tube includes a bore cylindrical 110 provided with the four biconvex elements 96 as described above to form bore 99 in four pointed star.

Figures 17 to 19 show a monoblock transmitter 120 or 120 ′ with symmetrical bore 121 in a four-star convex walls.

The tubes 120 have a cross-sectional shape circular and the 120 'tube crushed on top with a strong radius of curvature associated with walls planar reflectors 122 at 45 °. The curve C3 becomes a plane when the radius R3 tends to infinity.

The radiation passes through the transparent solid medium with a divergent flow, the value of the angle of divergence is compatible with the curve of dioptric refraction of the outer cylinder, such so that the refracted rays 123 form a flux parallel coming out of the tube 120.

Indeed such a provision is equivalent to provide convex walls of the bore arranged to make the radiation flow parallel in the mass glass, reflected towards the plane to be irradiated by same walls of said tube as described above.

Thus, the cylindrical emitter associated with two faces 122 symmetrical and flat reflection, inclined at 45 °, gives a low construction cost, a luminous effect irradiate identical to that of the best reflector parabolic.

In addition, there is provision (Figure 17) for a flat sheet horizontal 124 or C3 metallization on the face external upper (see figure 19) allowing to obtain the effect of the reverse light image.

Conversely, the tube 120 of Figure 18 has a upper face 125 covered with film, curved shape, metallization C3. which allows a return of the reflected radiation elsewhere than on the 126 emission focus.

In Figures 17 to 19, we take advantage of the zones no radiation to arrange openings between the reflectors 122 allowing the passage of a air flow between the emitter and the reflector without loss of radiation.

Figure 20 shows a tube 130 similar to that of Figure 19 with two sheets 131 extending longitudinally along the tube, symmetrical by relative to the axial plane 132, in the form of parabolas inverses, the radii of curvature being such way that all of the primary radiation and secondary are found in the irradiated virtual home F '.

Thus the convex curves of the bore modify the divergent radiating flux from the focal point located in the plasma gas medium, by a parallel flow, or substantially parallel in the transparent solid quartz medium.
The effect more generally resulting from the reflector with an elliptical or parabolic curve is obtained from reflection curves whose mathematical form, as a reflector, is therefore new.

It is from a parallel flow emission (and not more divergent) that we are going to realize a form of inverse parabola of a dioptric surface or metallic which reflects secondary radiation, at converging flow replacing the ellipse usual.

So all of the primary radiation and are found on the irradiated hearth homogeneous and focused in the case of Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4.

Likewise it is from a parallel flow transmission (and no longer divergent) that we will realize a shape 45 ° inclined plane of a dioptric surface or metallic which reflects secondary radiation, at parallel flow to replace the dish usual. So all of the radiation primary and secondary arrives on the irradiated plane of homogeneously, parallel and perpendicular, in the case of Figures 6 and 6A.

• pour les flux correspondant aux rayonnements primaires, des rayons sensiblement parallèles,
• et, pour des flux correspondant aux rayonnements secondaires, des rayons parallèles. Ceci s'obtient en jouant sur les rayons de courbures des courbes convexes dioptriques opposées haute et basse C2 différentes de celles opposées droite et gauche C4.

In general, we obtain in the transparent solid medium:

• for the flows corresponding to the primary radiations, substantially parallel rays,
• and, for fluxes corresponding to secondary rays, parallel rays. This is obtained by playing on the radii of curvature of the opposite dioptric convex curves high and low C2 different from those opposite right and left C4.

This is how (see figure 1) that the correction appropriate dioptric planes crossed in C1 and C6 allows to find the convergent flow focused in F ' according to Figures 1 to 5 or the parallel flow perpendicular to the plane according to Figures 6 and 6A.

• soit pour positionner quatre conducteurs électriques susceptibles de créer suivant les cas, un champ magnétique ou un effet capacitif autour du plasma qui va encore mieux favoriser sa concentration au foyer géométrique et permettra d'aider à l'amorçage plus rapide de l'arc de la lampe,
• soit pour servir de lieu de fixation à des supports mécaniques dans le cas d'émetteurs de grandes longueurs,
• soit pour réaliser une distribution aéraulique longitudinale, avec un gaz neutre ou de l'air de refroidissement par exemple,
• soit pour créer par filage, d'une part deux pièces quartz haute (côté bouclier) et basse (côté rayonnement primaire), et d'autre part une pièce quartz unique (gauche et droite) comme on l'a vu en référence aux figures 12 et 14.

Finally, it will be noted that in certain figures, there are shadow zones created by the deflection of the refracted rays, which can advantageously be taken advantage of with the invention, according to the embodiment more particularly described here:

• either to position four electrical conductors capable of creating, depending on the case, a magnetic field or a capacitive effect around the plasma which will further promote its concentration in the geometric focus and will help to aid the more rapid ignition of the arc of the lamp,
• either to serve as a place of attachment to mechanical supports in the case of long length transmitters,
• either to achieve a longitudinal ventilation distribution, with a neutral gas or cooling air for example,
• either to create by spinning, on the one hand two quartz pieces high (shield side) and low (primary radiation side), and on the other hand a single quartz piece (left and right) as we have seen with reference to the figures 12 and 14.

You can also make the quartz tube according to the invention from a tube inside which slide biconvex lenses and then realize assemblies as shown in FIGS. 15 to 16.

The fasteners of the entire transmitter tube, convex lens-shaped spacers and casing are easy to make.

Indeed, at each end of the transmitter to radiation, behind the electrode, you can either hot crimp the different quartz pieces, i.e. solder, or make a ceramic paste seal refractory, or, more simply, achieve a mechanical fixing.

As is obvious, and as above, the present invention moreover results from what is not limited not to the embodiments more particularly described but embraces the variants where the disc section bright is even more reduced.

Advantageously, the line voltage has a value greater than or equal to 50 Volts / cm, advantageously greater than or equal to 100 Volts / cm.

Even more advantageously, we combine in combination a plasma beam length greater than 1.50m and a line voltage greater than 20 Volts / cm.

In an advantageous embodiment, the radius of the cross section of the cylindrical plasma beam, with respect to the diameter d of the circle inscribed at the apices of the bore, is such that 1 / 100d ≤ r ≤ 1 / 2d, for example 1 / 50d ≤ r ≤1 / 4d or r ≤ 1 / 8d, r ≤ 1 / 10d, and / or r ≥ 1 / 20d.

The invention also relates to apparatus which allow in particular the sterilization of water, i.e. for the reflector with reverse parabola around an axis, either in ply for the 45 ° plane reflector, and the drying ink and varnish to polymerize on wired or circular products around an axis such as the marking of electrical wires, cables, pipes rubber, P.V.C. tube, etc.

So an ultraviolet transmitter / reflector according to the invention can be mounted on a sterilization or polymerization for example in opposition around a transparent cylinder serving as sterilization or polymerization chamber, or again, also and for example, in opposition to on either side of a liquid sheet contained between the two transparent walls formed by the flat faces of the planar emitter / reflector, thus achieving a sterilization chamber.

Claims (31)

1. A tube for emitting electromagnetic radiation, made of a transparent non-fluorescent material, in particular a glass-based or quartz-based material, and having a straight structure drilled from end to end by a bore (2, 44, 51) elongate around an axis, confining a housing designed to contain a radiation-emitting filament or plasma bundle, the bore (2, 44, 51) being of appreciably square or rectangular cross-section, characterized in that at least two opposite sides (4) of the bore are in the shape of convex curves, said sides forming dioptric surfaces arranged to modify the direction of the rays (5) emitted from the filament or from the axis (3) of the emitting bundle to make them parallel or appreciably parallel in the transparent solid medium (7) of the glass.
2. The tube according to claim 1, characterized in that said sides are arranged to form dioptric surfaces so as, in combination with the output dioptric surface of the tube (1, 40, 80, 120) or with a reflecting surface associated with the output dioptric surface of the tube, to direct the rays in a parallel or convergent flux to a surface or a line to be irradiated.
3. The tube according to any one of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the four sides (4) of the bore (2) are of convex shapes.
4. The tube according to any one of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the convex shape of the internal walls of the bore is a portion of a circle.
5. The tube according to any one of the foregoing claims, characterized in that it comprises an upper external wall (8, 9), called the upper face, of external surface arranged to reflect the emitted rays back towards the axis of the bore, said external wall being covered with a reflecting material (13).
6. The tube according to any one of the foregoing claims, characterized in that it comprises a reflecting surface securedly united to said tube.
7. The tube according to claim 6, characterized in that it is provided with a reflecting surface for reflecting the emitted rays situated on one side of said tube, comprising two longitudinal side wings (16) symmetrical with respect to an axial plane (12) of the bore (2), the portion of reflecting surface of said side wings being contained in a surface of straight or inverted parabolic or appreciably straight or inverted parabolic cross-section.
8. The tube according to claim 7, characterized in that the reflecting surface is formed at least partly by the internal faces of the wings, by dioptric refraction.
9. The tube according to claim 7, characterized in that the reflecting surface is formed at least partly by a reflecting material.
10. The tube according to any one of the claims 7 to 9, characterized in that the tube comprises an external face (17) joining the ends of the wings, called the bottom face, situated on the opposite side from the generating line at the apex of the tube with respect to the bore, convex at the centre, and appreciably straight at the ends, according to a curve symmetrical with respect to the axial plane containing the generating line at the apex, said bottom face being arranged to direct the emitted rays towards the axial plane (12) of the bore (2), towards a focalization line situated on the irradiation plane.
11. The tube according to claim 10, characterized in that it is symmetrical with respect to an axial plane of the bore parallel to the irradiation plane.
12. The tube according to any one of the claims 7 to 10, characterized in that the upper face of the tube is partially cylindrical on the side where the generating line at the apex of the tube is located between the external faces of the side wings (16).
13. The tube according to any one of the claims 7 to 10, characterized in that the upper face (8') of the tube is truncated forming a flat external face between the external faces of the side wings.
14. The tube according to any one of the claims 1 to 6, characterized in that it is of appreciably cylindrical shape.
15. The tube according to claim 14, characterized in that it comprises two added-on glass wings (23), symmetrical or not with respect to the axial plane of the bore perpendicular to the irradiation plane.
16. The tube according to any one of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the bore is formed by four radially distributed glass quarters adjoined via their ends and engaging in a peripheral glass cylinder or a cylindrical bore made in the tube.
17. The tube according to any one of the foregoing claims, characterized in that it comprises a second cylindrical tube (81) internal to the bore and designed to contain the plasma bundle and/or containing an emitting filament.
18. The tube according to claim 17, characterized in that it comprises an intermediate space (83) arranged between the internal tube (81) and the external tube to allow flow of a gaseous or liquid coolant.
19. The tube according to claim 14, characterized in that the bore comprises an upper surface of concave cross-section.
20. The tube according to claim 19, characterized in that it comprises electrode chambers of. internal cross-section greater than or equal to the internal cross-section of the radiation-emitting part of the tube.
21. The tube according to any one of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the bore (2, 4, 51, 121) is arranged to contain an ionized gas excited at variable frequencies, the rays emitted being of the ultraviolet, and/or visible, and/or infrared type.
22. The tube according to any one of the claims 1 to 19, characterized in that it comprises a filament emitting infrared radiation.
23. An electromagnetic radiation emitter/reflector device comprising a straight glass tube according to any one of the foregoing claims 1 to 22.
24. The device according to claim 23, characterized in that it comprises on the focal plane of concentration of the emitted rays, a blade (71) with parallel or appreciably parallel side faces in the form of a funnel comprising a dioptric radiation input surface able to transform the convergent rays received into a parallel radiation flux.
25. The device according to either one of the claims 23 or 24, characterized in that it comprises reflecting surfaces separated from the tube and constituted by reflecting plates.
26. The device according to claim 25, characterized in that the plates are flat.
27. A process for application of radiation to a product in sheet form or disposed on a flat or curved surface, characterized in that the product is irradiated with a tube for emitting electromagnetic radiation according to claim 2.
28. The process according to claim 27, characterized in that the plasma bundle is a tubular bundle that emits ultraviolet, and/or visible, and/or infrared rays.
29. The process according to claim 28, characterized in that the tubular plasma bundle has a cross-section presenting a maximum radial dimension smaller than or equal to 4 mm.
30. The process according to claim 27, characterized in that the filament is an electrical filament emitting infrared rays.
31. The process according to any one of the claims 27 to 30, characterized in that at least two irradiation planes situated symmetrically on each side of said radiation-emitting tube are irradiated with a single tube.

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