Patent US3906272A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3906272A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Low wattage high pressure sodium vapor lamps
Assignee: General Electric Co
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Filing: 1974-04-01
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Granted: 1975-09-16
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Expires: 1994-04-01
Abstract
Abstract A high pressure sodium vapor lamp arc tube comprising a tubular envelope of alumina ceramic having end closures supporting thermionic electrodes and containing a filling of sodium-mercury amalgam in excess of the quantity vaporized. In the smaller sizes of lamps from about 300 watts down to 50 watts, the arc tube bore has an important effect on efficacy, and a correlation exists between lamp voltage drop and optimum bore for a given power input. A bore of 5.5 millimeters is near optimum for a 150 watt lamp operating at a lamp voltage drop of 58 volts, and is also suitable for a 250 watt lamp operating at a lamp voltage drop of 98 volts.
Inventors
- 👤 Byron R Collins
- 👤 Charles I Mcvey
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 09:58
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01J; H01J61/00; H01J61/02; H01J61/30; H01J61/12; H01J61/18; H01J61/22; H01J61/82; H01J61/825
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
217 words
A high pressure sodium vapor lamp for operation at a given power input in the range of 50 to 300 watts and at a given lamp voltage drop in the range of 20 to 180 volts comprising: a tubular light-transmitting alumina ceramic envelope having thermionic electrodes sealed into its ends and containing inert starting gas and a charge of sodium-mercury-amalgam in excess of the quantity vaporized in normal operation; the proportion of sodium in said charge being from 10 to 40% by weight; said envelope being substantially uniform in bore in the space between the electrodes and being dimensioned in respect of bore and effective length for a loading in the range of 14 to 24 watts per square centimeter of envelope surface; said envelope having a bore in the range of 3.0 to 7.5 millimeters, said bore being determined within + OR - 20% by the intersection of the given power input curve with the given lamp voltage line by utilizing the curves of FIG. 2 and interpolations therebetween; said lamp being proportioned in respect of heat losses to the outside to have a temperature at the cold spot where the excess amalgam collects which results in a metal vapor pressure producing said given lamp voltage drop at which said bore is optimum for lamp efficacy.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
217 words
A high pressure sodium vapor lamp for operation at a given power input in the range of 50 to 300 watts and at a given lamp voltage drop in the range of 20 to 180 volts comprising: a tubular light-transmitting alumina ceramic envelope having thermionic electrodes sealed into its ends and containing inert starting gas and a charge of sodium-mercury-amalgam in excess of the quantity vaporized in normal operation; the proportion of sodium in said charge being from 10 to 40% by weight; said envelope being substantially uniform in bore in the space between the electrodes and being dimensioned in respect of bore and effective length for a loading in the range of 14 to 24 watts per square centimeter of envelope surface; said envelope having a bore in the range of 3.0 to 7.5 millimeters, said bore being determined within + OR - 20% by the intersection of the given power input curve with the given lamp voltage line by utilizing the curves of FIG. 2 and interpolations therebetween; said lamp being proportioned in respect of heat losses to the outside to have a temperature at the cold spot where the excess amalgam collects which results in a metal vapor pressure producing said given lamp voltage drop at which said bore is optimum for lamp efficacy.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
45 words
A lamp as in claim 1 for operation at a power input of approximately 150 watts and a lamp voltage drop of approximately 58 volts wherein the envelope has a bore of approximately 5.5 millimeters and an arc gap between electrodes of approximately 3.7 centimeters.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
A lamp as in claim 1 for operation of the power input of approximately 150 watts and a lamp voltage drop of approximately 100 volts wherein the enveloPe has a bore of approximately 4.2 millimeters and an arc gap of about 5.6 centimeters.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
45 words
A lamp as in claim 1 for operation at a power input of approximately 100 watts and a lamp voltage drop of approximately 51 volts, wherein the envelope has a bore of approximately 4.8 millimeters and an arc gap between electrodes of approximately 2.9 centimeters.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
45 words
A lamp as in claim 1 for operation at a power input of approximately 250 watts and a lamp voltage drop of approximately 58 volts, wherein the envelope has a bore of approximately 7.5 millimeters and an arc gap between electrodes of about 4.7 centimeters.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
43 words
A lamp as in claim 1 for operation at a power input of approximately 250 watts and a lamp voltage drop of approximately 98 volts, wherein the envelope has a bore of approximately 5.5 millimeters and an arc gap of approximately 7 centimeters.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
A lamp as in claim 1 wherein the amalgam contains about 25 weight percent sodium.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
A lamp as in claim 2 wherein the amalgam contains about 25 weight percent sodium.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
A lamp as in claim 3 wherein the amalgam contains about 25 weight percent sodium.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
A lamp as in claim 6 wherein the amalgam contains about 25 weight percent sodium.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-09-15 | 1979-03-17 | 1979-09-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-09-15 | 1983-03-17 | 1983-09-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-09-15 | 1987-03-17 | 1987-09-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |