Fluorescent discharge lamp with inner hollow tube offset from envelope axis

Claim 1

A low pressure gas discharge lamp which comprises an elongated sealed, light transparent lamp envelope having first and second ends and a geometric axis, an ionizable medium in said lamp envelope, a first electrode in said lamp envelope at said one end thereof, a discharge space within said lamp envelope, an elongated hollow inner tube disposed within said lamp envelope with one end thereof disposed about said first electrode and engaging said first end of said lamp envelope, the other end of said inner tube being open to the interior of said lamp envelope, a second electrode disposed in said inner tube at said first end thereof, and a luminescent coating disposed on at least a portion of the inner wall of said lamp envelope, said inner tube having a geometric axis, said inner tube being disposed in said lamp envelope with said axis of said envelope and said axis of said tube being generally parallel, said tube being eccentrically disposed in said lamp envelope and further including a luminescent coating on the outer wall of said inner tube extending over not more than 80% of the circumferential extent of said inner tube, the portion of said inner tube which is provided with a luminescent coating facing away from the portion of said inner tube which is nearest to the wall of the lamp envelope, said lamp having not more than one inner tube in said lamp envelope.