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US3882345A - Metal halide discharge lamp containing tin and sodium halides - Google Patents

Metal halide discharge lamp containing tin and sodium halides Download PDF

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US3882345A
US3882345A US414807A US41480773A US3882345A US 3882345 A US3882345 A US 3882345A US 414807 A US414807 A US 414807A US 41480773 A US41480773 A US 41480773A US 3882345 A US3882345 A US 3882345A
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lamp
sodium
weight ratio
halide
arc tube
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US414807A
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Gregory J Kazek
Dimitrios M Speros
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General Electric Co
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General Electric Co
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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01J—ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS
    • H01J61/00—Gas-discharge or vapour-discharge lamps
    • H01J61/02—Details
    • H01J61/12—Selection of substances for gas fillings; Specified operating pressure or temperature
    • H01J61/18—Selection of substances for gas fillings; Specified operating pressure or temperature having a metallic vapour as the principal constituent

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  • ABSTRACT A tin halide lamp containing stannous chloride SnCl stannous iodide SnI and mercury which are almost completely vaporized in operation, an excess of tin for thermodynamic stability, an inert starting gas, and a predetermined small quantity of sodium chloride, bromide, or iodide exceeding the quantity vaporized.
  • the lamp exhibits a continuous spectrum on which the broadened sodium D-lines are superimposed. The D- lines shift the color coordinates to the black body locus and simultaneously increase the efficacy for a superior combination of color rendition and efficiency without any reduction in life.
  • This application is a continuation-in-part of our earlier copending application Ser. No. 200,714 filed Nov. 22, 1971, similarly titled and assigned, and now abandoned.
  • the invention relates to high pressure discharge lamps and more particularly to lamps of this kind containing mercury vapor and metallic halides.
  • the high pressure mercury vapor lamp which is extensively used for outdoor and industrial lighting pro prises radiation concentrated in the yellow-green area of the spectrum.
  • the distinct lace of radiation in the orange and red as well as in the blue results in poor color rendition.
  • a radical improvement in both color rendition and efficiency has been achieved by adding to the mercury one or more vaporizable metal halides under proper control of loading, temperature and pressure.
  • Such improved lamps are described and claimed in US. Pat. No. 3,234,421 to Gilbert l-I. Reiling, issued Feb. 8, 1966.
  • the preferred metal halides used in combination with mercury have been sodium iodide, thallium iodide and indium iodide.
  • the object of the invention is to further improve the color rendition and efficiency of the tin chloride molecular radiation lamp.
  • the addition of the sodium D-lines to the preexisting spectrum shifts the color coordinates from the green side of the black body locus substantially to the black body locus and simultaneously increases the efficacy for a superior combination of color rendition and efficiency without any reduction in life.
  • the discharge sustaining filling includes per cubic centimeter of arc tube volume from about 0.15 to 0.70 milligrams of SnCl from about 0.60 to 2.50 milligrams of Snl from about 2.0 to 6.0 milligrams of mercury, at least 0.10 milligrams of tin, and from about 1.0 X 10 to 2.0 X 10 moles of sodium chloride, bromide, or iodide (0.06 to 1.17 mg. in the case of NaCl), and a small quantity of inert ionizable starting gas.
  • fill ingredients are added as listed above or as related compounds and elements should be determined on the basis of convenience. For instance it may be more convenient to add all or part of the Snl as I-IgI plus additional Sn metal to make up the molar quantity, in which case Hg is reduced by the corresponding molar quantity. Very soon after the lamp has gone into operation, an equilibrium will be established and it will be the same providing corresponding molar quantities have been used.
  • FIG. 1 illustrates in side view a jacketed high intensity lamp embodying the invention.
  • FIG. 2 is a spectral energy distribution diagram of a typical tin chloride molecular radiation lamp without added sodium.
  • FIG. 3 is a spectral energy distribution diagram of a tin chloride molecular radiation lamp having added sodium chloride in accordance with the invention.
  • FIG. 4 is a chromaticity coordinate plot of lamps with various fillings to which various quantities of sodium halide have been added in order to pull the color cooordinates closer to the black body locus.
  • a tin chloride vapor arc lamp 1 in which the invention is embodied generally similar in construction and appearance to the high pressure mercury metal halide lamps sold commercially by applicants assignee under the trademark Multi-Vapor.
  • the lamp comprises an outer vitreous envelope or jacket 2 of ellipsoidal form having a neck portion 3 closed by a reentrant stem 4 through which extend stiff inlead wires 5,6.
  • the inleads are connected at their outer ends to the contacts of a screw base 8 and at their inner ends to the inner arc tube 9.
  • the inner arc tube is made of quartz-like glass or fused silica and has sealed therein at opposite ends main arcing electrodes 11,12 plus an auxiliary starting electrode 13.
  • the electrodes are supported on inleads which include intermediate thin molybdenum foil sections 14 hermetically sealed through the flattened or pinched ends of the arc tube.
  • the main electrodes 11,12 each comprise a double layer helix of. tungsten wire wrapped around a tungsten core.
  • the arc tube is supported within the outer jacket by a two-part mount, at the base end and 16 at the dome end. Each part comprises a pair of longitudinally extending support rods bridged by metal straps 17 which clamp about the pinched ends of the arc tube.
  • the base end mount part is welded to inlead 6 and serves as a conductor to main electrode 11.
  • the dome end mount part has attached thereto a spring collar 18 which engages a reentrant nipple 19 in the dome end .of the jacket.
  • Main electrode 12 is connected to inlead 5 by curving wire 21.
  • Starting electrode 13 is connected to inlead 5 through current limiting resistor 22.
  • a thermal switch 23 consisting of a bimetal is arranged to short circuit auxiliary electrode 13 to main electrode 11 after the lamp warms up. Heat reflective coatings 24, suitably of ZrO are provided on the arc tube ends to assure adequate heating.
  • the fill in one lamp of 175 watt rating wherein the arc tube had an overall body length of about 6.30 centimeters and a volume of about 4.60 cc., the fill consisted of 1.33 milligrams SnCl 3.48 milligrams SnI 3.02 milligrams tin, 22.9 milligrams mercury, 0.60 milligrams sodium chloride, and torr argon at room temperature. It may be more convenient to introduce the fillings as tin chloride, mercury chloride, tin and mercury in which case equivalent molar quantities are used as follows: 1.33 mg. SnCl 4.24 mg. Hgl 4.13 mg. Sn, 21.0 mg. Hg and 0.60 mg. NaCl.
  • the spectral distribution diagram of the lamp of the previously described preferred embodiment is shown in FIG. 3 whereas the spectral distribution for the same lamp without the added sodium chloride is shown in FIG. 2.
  • the spectra differ primarily by the presence of the broadened sodium D-lines at 589.0 589.6 nm. in FIG. 3 which are absent in FIG. 2, with substantially no change in the underlying continuum.
  • lamps constructed in accordance with our invention have discharge sustaining fillings as given in Table 1 below.
  • the parent or first lamp of the series has a tin chloride-iodide, tin, mercury filling which is modified in the derivative lamps by the ad- 0.33 mg/cm Nal 0.13 mg/cm NaCl 0.89 mg/cm" Snl, 0.93 mg/cm Sn 4.98 mg/cm Hg Lamp B Lamp B l Lamp B2 To B add 0.13 mg/cm NaCl 0.29 mg/cm SnCl To B add 0.33 mg/cm Nal 0.76 mg/cm Snl 0.65 mg/cm Sn 4.98 mg/cm Hg Lamp C Lamp Cl Lamp C2 0.39 mg/cm SnCl To C add 0.45 mg/cm Nal To C add 0.23 mg/cm NaCl Lamp A Lamp Al Lamp A2 1.13 mg/cm Snl 0.65 mg/cm Sn 2.83 mg/cm Hg Referring
  • the chromaticity coordinates are shown for the various lamps listed in Table l, in each case for the lamp before and after the addition of the sodium salt.
  • the black body locus 31 is also shown and it will be observed that in each case the addition of the sodium salt increases the x chromaticity coordinate to a very substantial extent, for instance by as much as 0.040, while having little effect on the y chromaticity coordinate.
  • the addition of the sodium salt shifts the chromaticity coordinate into close proximity with the black body locus line.
  • the weight ratio of added Na to Sn preferably should be from about 0.07 to 0.09.
  • the preferred weight ratio of SnCl to SnI for high efficiency coupled with reasonably long life is from about 0.3:1 to 0.411.
  • the sodium requirement may be added to the lamp either as the chloride, bromide, or iodide, but depending upon the choice of halide in a given SnCl -SnI lamp, a different equilibrium composition will result.
  • the introduction of sodium halide to the lamp leads to the equilibrium SnCl (f) 2Nal(s) SnI (g) 2NaCl(s)
  • SnCl (f) 2Nal(s) SnI (g) 2NaCl(s) Calculations based on thermodynamic data and experimental observations indicate that for a lamp with a SnCl -SnI -Hg atmosphere prior to the addition of sodium halide, the minimum change in equilibrium tin halide pressures is obtained when sodium is added in the form of NaCl.
  • lamps embodying the invention such as lamps Al, A2, B1, B2, C1 and C2 is in excess of 70 lumens per watt. Efficacies up to about 90 lumens per watt have been measured at color temperatures from 3000 to 5000l(. This makes the lamp competitive with all other metal halide lamps in regards to efficacy and at the same time the lamp is significantly superior in regards to color rendition.
  • the presence of sodium also has the desirable effect of lowering the peak voltage at cyclical reignition. This means an improvement in power factor and the ability to operate on lower cost ballasts.
  • a high intensity discharge lamp exhibiting a substantially continuous spectrum in the visible range plus broadened sodium D line radiation comprising a sealed elongated arc tube of light-transmitting material
  • arc supporting electrodes mounted at opposite ends of said are tube on inleads sealed therethrough, and a discharge sustaining filling within said are tube comprising per cubic centimeter of arc tube volume from 0.15 to 0.70 milligrams of SnCl from 0.60 to 2.50 milligrams of Snl at least 0. l milligram of tin, from 2.0 to 6.0 mg of mercury, from 1.0 X 10 to 2.0 X 10 moles of one of sodium chloride, sodium bromide, sodium iodide and mixtures thereof, and a small quantity of an inert starting gas.
  • a lamp as in claim 1 wherein the weight ratio of Na to Sn present in halide form is in the range of about 0.07 to 0.09.

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Abstract

A tin halide lamp containing stannous chloride SnCl2, stannous iodide SnI2, and mercury which are almost completely vaporized in operation, an excess of tin for thermodynamic stability, an inert starting gas, and a predetermined small quantity of sodium chloride, bromide, or iodide exceeding the quantity vaporized. The lamp exhibits a continuous spectrum on which the broadened sodium D-lines are superimposed. The D-lines shift the color coordinates to the black body locus and simultaneously increase the efficacy for a superior combination of color rendition and efficiency without any reduction in life.

Description

United States Patent 1 Kazek et al.
[451 May 6,1975
[ METAL HALIDE DISCHARGE LAMP CONTAINING TIN AND SODIUM HALIDES [75] Inventors: Gregory J. Kazek, Eastlake;
Dimitrios M. Speros, Painesville, both of Ohio [73] Assignee: General Electric Company,
Schenectady, NY.
[22] Filed: Nov. 12, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 414,807
Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation-impart of Ser. No. 200,714, Nov. 22,
1971, abandoned.
[52] US. Cl. 313/229 [51] Int. Cl. H01j 61/18 [58] Field of Search 313/184, 229, 225
[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,279,877 lO/l966 Smith et al 313/229 UX 3,351,798 11/1967 Bauer 313/225 3,398,312 8/1968 Edris et al 313/229 X 3,566,178 2/1971 Mori et al. 313/229 3,586,898 6/1971 Speros et al. 313/229 Primary Examiner-Palmer C. Demeo Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Ernest W. Legree; Lawrence R. Kempton; Frank L. Neuhauser [57] ABSTRACT A tin halide lamp containing stannous chloride SnCl stannous iodide SnI and mercury which are almost completely vaporized in operation, an excess of tin for thermodynamic stability, an inert starting gas, and a predetermined small quantity of sodium chloride, bromide, or iodide exceeding the quantity vaporized. The lamp exhibits a continuous spectrum on which the broadened sodium D-lines are superimposed. The D- lines shift the color coordinates to the black body locus and simultaneously increase the efficacy for a superior combination of color rendition and efficiency without any reduction in life.
6 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures Fig 1. 1
lnven tors: Gregor'g J. Kazek Dimvtrios MS eros by A Their A t t ;neg
PATENTEBMY 61375 2 345 SHEET 2 OF 3 WRVELENGTH AVELENGTH'A/ANoME TEBS 400 450 500 550 600 650 700 750 lnvavtors: Gregory J. Kazek Dimktrios M. Spgaros b9 :7 :15, Their A'Ttofneg METAL HALIDE DISCHARGE LAMP CONTAINING TIN AND SODIUM I-IIALIDES REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a continuation-in-part of our earlier copending application Ser. No. 200,714 filed Nov. 22, 1971, similarly titled and assigned, and now abandoned.
Cross-reference is made to copending application Ser. No. 121,141 filed Mar. 4, 1971, by D. M. Speros,
R. M. Caldwell, and W. E. Smyser, entitled Metal Halide Discharge Lamp and similarly assigned and now abandoned, and to copending application Ser. No. 78,484 by D. M. Speros, R. M. Caldwell, R. H. Springer and R. P. Taylor, filed Oct. 6, 1970, entitled Tin Chloride Molecular Radiation Lamp and similarly assigned.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to high pressure discharge lamps and more particularly to lamps of this kind containing mercury vapor and metallic halides.
The high pressure mercury vapor lamp which is extensively used for outdoor and industrial lighting pro duces radiation concentrated in the yellow-green area of the spectrum. The distinct lace of radiation in the orange and red as well as in the blue results in poor color rendition. In recent years a radical improvement in both color rendition and efficiency has been achieved by adding to the mercury one or more vaporizable metal halides under proper control of loading, temperature and pressure. Such improved lamps are described and claimed in US. Pat. No. 3,234,421 to Gilbert l-I. Reiling, issued Feb. 8, 1966. The preferred metal halides used in combination with mercury have been sodium iodide, thallium iodide and indium iodide. Although with this combination a remarkable improvement in efficiency and color rendition is achieved, the spectrum of the radiation nevertheless consists essentially of the lines of the various metals superimposed on a weak continuum and is not equivalent to natural daylight.
In copending application Ser. No. 121,141 by D. M. Speros et al., filed Mar. 4, 1971, entitled Metal Halide Discharge Lamp, and assigned to the same assignee as the present invention, there are described and claimed high intensity arc discharge lamps of a molecular radiation type. These lamps contain a filling of mercury, an inert starting gas, stannous chloride SnCI stannous iodide SnI and excess tin. In the discharge, molecular species are distributed over very closely spaced energy levels in different electronic states between which radiative transistions may occur. The very closely spaced lines, or band spectra, characteristic of low pressure molecular emission are practically masked at high temperatures and pressures; thus there is produced a very broad continuum with the atomic lines of tin and mercury superimposed thereon.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The object of the invention is to further improve the color rendition and efficiency of the tin chloride molecular radiation lamp.
In accordance with the invention, we provide, in a high pressure gaseous discharge lamp, a filling containing stannous chloride SnCl stannous iodide SnI and mercury in predetermined quantities which are nearly all vaporized in operation, an excess of tin for thermodynamic stability against attack of the tungsten electrodes by chlorine, an inert starting gas at a low pressure, and a predetermined quantity of sodium chloride, bromide, or iodide exceeding the quantity vaporized. The addition of the sodium D-lines to the preexisting spectrum shifts the color coordinates from the green side of the black body locus substantially to the black body locus and simultaneously increases the efficacy for a superior combination of color rendition and efficiency without any reduction in life. Due to the exceptionally high radiating efficiency of the sodium atom, very litle sodium is required in the are for a sizable contribution from it through the D-lines at 589.0 and 589.6 nanometers. In lamps according to our invention, the discharge sustaining filling includes per cubic centimeter of arc tube volume from about 0.15 to 0.70 milligrams of SnCl from about 0.60 to 2.50 milligrams of Snl from about 2.0 to 6.0 milligrams of mercury, at least 0.10 milligrams of tin, and from about 1.0 X 10 to 2.0 X 10 moles of sodium chloride, bromide, or iodide (0.06 to 1.17 mg. in the case of NaCl), and a small quantity of inert ionizable starting gas.
Whether the fill ingredients are added as listed above or as related compounds and elements should be determined on the basis of convenience. For instance it may be more convenient to add all or part of the Snl as I-IgI plus additional Sn metal to make up the molar quantity, in which case Hg is reduced by the corresponding molar quantity. Very soon after the lamp has gone into operation, an equilibrium will be established and it will be the same providing corresponding molar quantities have been used.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 illustrates in side view a jacketed high intensity lamp embodying the invention.
FIG. 2 is a spectral energy distribution diagram of a typical tin chloride molecular radiation lamp without added sodium.
FIG. 3 is a spectral energy distribution diagram of a tin chloride molecular radiation lamp having added sodium chloride in accordance with the invention.
FIG. 4 is a chromaticity coordinate plot of lamps with various fillings to which various quantities of sodium halide have been added in order to pull the color cooordinates closer to the black body locus.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION Lamp Structure Referring to FIG. 1, a tin chloride vapor arc lamp 1 in which the invention is embodied generally similar in construction and appearance to the high pressure mercury metal halide lamps sold commercially by applicants assignee under the trademark Multi-Vapor. The lamp comprises an outer vitreous envelope or jacket 2 of ellipsoidal form having a neck portion 3 closed by a reentrant stem 4 through which extend stiff inlead wires 5,6. The inleads are connected at their outer ends to the contacts of a screw base 8 and at their inner ends to the inner arc tube 9.
The inner arc tube is made of quartz-like glass or fused silica and has sealed therein at opposite ends main arcing electrodes 11,12 plus an auxiliary starting electrode 13. The electrodes are supported on inleads which include intermediate thin molybdenum foil sections 14 hermetically sealed through the flattened or pinched ends of the arc tube. The main electrodes 11,12 each comprise a double layer helix of. tungsten wire wrapped around a tungsten core.
The arc tube is supported within the outer jacket by a two-part mount, at the base end and 16 at the dome end. Each part comprises a pair of longitudinally extending support rods bridged by metal straps 17 which clamp about the pinched ends of the arc tube. The base end mount part is welded to inlead 6 and serves as a conductor to main electrode 11. The dome end mount part has attached thereto a spring collar 18 which engages a reentrant nipple 19 in the dome end .of the jacket. Main electrode 12 is connected to inlead 5 by curving wire 21. Starting electrode 13 is connected to inlead 5 through current limiting resistor 22. A thermal switch 23 consisting of a bimetal is arranged to short circuit auxiliary electrode 13 to main electrode 11 after the lamp warms up. Heat reflective coatings 24, suitably of ZrO are provided on the arc tube ends to assure adequate heating.
By way of example of a preferred embodiment, in one lamp of 175 watt rating wherein the arc tube had an overall body length of about 6.30 centimeters and a volume of about 4.60 cc., the fill consisted of 1.33 milligrams SnCl 3.48 milligrams SnI 3.02 milligrams tin, 22.9 milligrams mercury, 0.60 milligrams sodium chloride, and torr argon at room temperature. It may be more convenient to introduce the fillings as tin chloride, mercury chloride, tin and mercury in which case equivalent molar quantities are used as follows: 1.33 mg. SnCl 4.24 mg. Hgl 4.13 mg. Sn, 21.0 mg. Hg and 0.60 mg. NaCl. Yet another alternative is to introduce the filling as mercury chloride, mercury iodide, tin and mercury, in which case the equivalent quantities are 1.91 mg. HgCl 4.24 mg. Hgl 4.96 mg. Sn, l9.6 mg. Hg and 0.60 mg. NaCl.
The spectral distribution diagram of the lamp of the previously described preferred embodiment is shown in FIG. 3 whereas the spectral distribution for the same lamp without the added sodium chloride is shown in FIG. 2. The spectra differ primarily by the presence of the broadened sodium D-lines at 589.0 589.6 nm. in FIG. 3 which are absent in FIG. 2, with substantially no change in the underlying continuum.
Examples of lamps constructed in accordance with our invention have discharge sustaining fillings as given in Table 1 below. In each series, the parent or first lamp of the series has a tin chloride-iodide, tin, mercury filling which is modified in the derivative lamps by the ad- 0.33 mg/cm Nal 0.13 mg/cm NaCl 0.89 mg/cm" Snl, 0.93 mg/cm Sn 4.98 mg/cm Hg Lamp B Lamp B l Lamp B2 To B add 0.13 mg/cm NaCl 0.29 mg/cm SnCl To B add 0.33 mg/cm Nal 0.76 mg/cm Snl 0.65 mg/cm Sn 4.98 mg/cm Hg Lamp C Lamp Cl Lamp C2 0.39 mg/cm SnCl To C add 0.45 mg/cm Nal To C add 0.23 mg/cm NaCl Lamp A Lamp Al Lamp A2 1.13 mg/cm Snl 0.65 mg/cm Sn 2.83 mg/cm Hg Referring to FIG. 4, the chromaticity coordinates are shown for the various lamps listed in Table l, in each case for the lamp before and after the addition of the sodium salt. The black body locus 31 is also shown and it will be observed that in each case the addition of the sodium salt increases the x chromaticity coordinate to a very substantial extent, for instance by as much as 0.040, while having little effect on the y chromaticity coordinate. The addition of the sodium salt shifts the chromaticity coordinate into close proximity with the black body locus line.
It is important to limit the quantity of added sodium halide because its vapor pressure is low but should some of the sodium be lost from the arc tube, as by electrolysis through the quartz arc tube wall, the pressure of the halogen remaining behind would rise rapidly. In the case of added NaCl, electrolysis of Na could cause a rise in chlorine pressure, such rise in halogen pressure entailing violent failure of the lamp or rapid erosion of the tungsten electrodes. By limiting the sodium halide charge to 2.0 X 10 moles or less per cubic centimeter of arc tube volume, such possibilities are substantially avoided. Another criterion for avoiding excessive halogen pressure rise at end of life is a weight ratio of Na to Sn present in halide form not exceeding about 0.1. Fortunately the exceptionally high radiating efficiency of the sodium atom permits the desired chromaticity shift to be achieved by small amounts of sodium not exceeding the foregoing limits. To achieve the desired chromaticity shift towards the black body locus in the temperature range from 3000 to 5000K, the weight ratio of added Na to Sn preferably should be from about 0.07 to 0.09. The preferred weight ratio of SnCl to SnI for high efficiency coupled with reasonably long life is from about 0.3:1 to 0.411.
The sodium requirement may be added to the lamp either as the chloride, bromide, or iodide, but depending upon the choice of halide in a given SnCl -SnI lamp, a different equilibrium composition will result. The introduction of sodium halide to the lamp leads to the equilibrium SnCl (f) 2Nal(s) SnI (g) 2NaCl(s) Calculations based on thermodynamic data and experimental observations indicate that for a lamp with a SnCl -SnI -Hg atmosphere prior to the addition of sodium halide, the minimum change in equilibrium tin halide pressures is obtained when sodium is added in the form of NaCl. Correspondingly it may be noted in FIG. 4 that in every case a greater change is occasioned in the x coordinate when sodium is added in the form of iodide than when it is added in the form of chloride. A specific chromaticity coordinate and color rendition requirment in an SnCl -SnI -Hg atmosphere may be satisfied using either NaCl or NaI as the additive, but the quantity will be slightly different in either case and may require a readjustment in the proportions of the other fill ingredients. It may also be satisfied by the addition of NaBr.
The efficacy of lamps embodying the invention such as lamps Al, A2, B1, B2, C1 and C2 is in excess of 70 lumens per watt. Efficacies up to about 90 lumens per watt have been measured at color temperatures from 3000 to 5000l(. This makes the lamp competitive with all other metal halide lamps in regards to efficacy and at the same time the lamp is significantly superior in regards to color rendition.
The presence of sodium also has the desirable effect of lowering the peak voltage at cyclical reignition. This means an improvement in power factor and the ability to operate on lower cost ballasts.
What we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:
1. A high intensity discharge lamp exhibiting a substantially continuous spectrum in the visible range plus broadened sodium D line radiation comprising a sealed elongated arc tube of light-transmitting material,
arc supporting electrodes mounted at opposite ends of said are tube on inleads sealed therethrough, and a discharge sustaining filling within said are tube comprising per cubic centimeter of arc tube volume from 0.15 to 0.70 milligrams of SnCl from 0.60 to 2.50 milligrams of Snl at least 0. l milligram of tin, from 2.0 to 6.0 mg of mercury, from 1.0 X 10 to 2.0 X 10 moles of one of sodium chloride, sodium bromide, sodium iodide and mixtures thereof, and a small quantity of an inert starting gas.
2. A lamp as in claim 1 wherein the weight ratio of Na to Sn present in halide form does not exceed about 0.1.
3. A lamp as in claim 1 wherein the weight ratio of Na to Sn present in halide form is in the range of about 0.07 to 0.09.
4. A lamp as in claim 1 wherein the weight ratio of Na to Sn present in halide form is in the range of about 0.07 to 0.09 and the weight ratio of SnCl to Snl is from about 0.321 to 04:1.
5. A lamp as in claim 1 wherein the weight ratio of Na to Sn present in halide form is in the range of about 0.07 to 0.09 and the quantity of sodium halide is selected to increase the x chromaticity coordinate and shift the color point of the lamp substantially to the black body locus.
6. A lamp as in claim 1 wherein the weight ratio of Na to Sn present in halide form is in the range of about 0.07 to 0.09, the weight ratio of SnCl to Snl is from about 0.311 to 04:1, and the quantity of sodium halide is selected to increase the x chromaticity coordinate and shift the color point of the lamp substantially to the black body locus.

Claims (6)

1. A HIGH INTENSITY DISCHARGING LAMP EXHIBITING A SUBSTANTIALLY CONTINUOUS SPECTRUM IN THE VISIBLE RANGE PLUS BROADENED SODIUM D LINE RADIATION COMPRISING A SEALED ELONGATED ARC TUBE OF LIGHT-TRANSMITTING MATERIAL, ARC SUPPORTING ELECTRODES MOUNTED AT OPPOSITE ENDS OF SAID ARC TUBE ON INLEADS SEALED THERETHROUGH, AND ADISCHARGE SUSTAINING FILLING WITHIN SAID ARC TUBE COMPRISING PER CUBIC CETIMETER OF ARC TUBE VOLUME FROM 0.15 TO 0.70 MILLIGRAMS OF SNCL2, FROM 0.60 TO 2.50 MILLIGRAMS OF SNL2, AT LEAST 0.1. MILLIGRAM OF TIN, FROM 2.0 TO 6.0 MG OF MERCURY, FROM 1.0X10-6 TO 2.0X10-5 MOLES OF ONE OF SODIUM CHLORIDE, SODIUM BROMIDE, SODIUM IODIDE AND MIXTURES THEREOF, AND A SMALL QUANTITY OF AN INSERT STARTING GAS
2. A lamp as in claim 1 wherein the weight ratio of Na to Sn present in halide form does not exceed about 0.1.
3. A lamp as in claim 1 wherein the weight ratio of Na to Sn present in halide form is in the range of about 0.07 to 0.09.
4. A lamp as in claim 1 wherein the weight ratio of Na to Sn present in halide form is in the range of about 0.07 to 0.09 and the weight ratio of SnCl2 to SnI2 is from about 0.3:1 to 0.4:1.
5. A lamp as in claim 1 wherein the weight ratio of Na to Sn present in halide form is in the range of about 0.07 to 0.09 and the quantity of sodium halide is selected to increase the x chromaticity coordinate and shift the color point of the lamp substantially to the black body locus.
6. A lamp as in claim 1 wherein the weight ratio of Na to Sn present in halide form is in the range of about 0.07 to 0.09, the weight ratio of SnCl2 to SnI2 is from about 0.3:1 to 0.4:1, and the quantity of sodium halide is selected to increase the x chromaticity coordinate and shift the color point of the lamp substantially to the black body locus.
US414807A 1971-11-22 1973-11-12 Metal halide discharge lamp containing tin and sodium halides Expired - Lifetime US3882345A (en)

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US414807A US3882345A (en) 1971-11-22 1973-11-12 Metal halide discharge lamp containing tin and sodium halides
CA209,320A CA1011800A (en) 1973-11-12 1974-09-16 Tin halide lamp
JP12562074A JPS5079978A (en) 1973-11-12 1974-11-01

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Cited By (12)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4027190A (en) * 1975-09-05 1977-05-31 Tokyo Shibaura Electric Co., Ltd. Metal halide lamp
FR2344960A1 (en) * 1976-03-16 1977-10-14 Thorn Electrical Ind Ltd High pressure discharge lamp - contains mixed sodium and tin halides
US4135110A (en) * 1975-02-13 1979-01-16 Thorn Electrical Industries Limited Electrical discharge lamp
EP0015022A1 (en) * 1979-02-26 1980-09-03 Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. High pressure mercury vapour discharge lamp
EP0057093A1 (en) * 1981-01-23 1982-08-04 North American Philips Lighting Corporation High intensity discharge lamps
US4581557A (en) * 1979-01-02 1986-04-08 General Electric Company Stabilized high intensity discharge lamp
US4851735A (en) * 1986-12-01 1989-07-25 Patent-Treuhand Gesellschaft Fur Elektrische Gluhlampen M.B.H Single-ended high-pressure discharge lamp with coil and mandrel electrode
US5192891A (en) * 1991-01-11 1993-03-09 Toshiba Lighting & Technology Corporation Metal halide lamp
EP1093152A1 (en) * 1999-10-15 2001-04-18 Lg Electronics Inc. Electrodeless lamp using tin iodide
US6362571B1 (en) * 1998-04-08 2002-03-26 U.S. Philips Corporation Metal-halide lamp with ionizable filling and oxygen dispenser to avoid blackening and extend lamp life
US20090033227A1 (en) * 2004-12-20 2009-02-05 General Electric Company Mercury free compositions and radiation sources incorporating same
WO2016193694A3 (en) * 2015-05-29 2017-02-02 Hanovia Limited Mercury-free gas discharge lamp

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3279877A (en) * 1963-12-31 1966-10-18 Westinghouse Electric Corp Method for processing high-pressure vapor-discharge arc tube
US3351798A (en) * 1962-08-22 1967-11-07 Patent Treuhand Ges Fuer Elektrische Gluehlampen Mbh Scandium halide discharge lamp
US3398312A (en) * 1965-11-24 1968-08-20 Westinghouse Electric Corp High pressure vapor discharge lamp having a fill including sodium iodide and a free metal
US3566178A (en) * 1968-12-11 1971-02-23 Tokyo Shibaura Electric Co High pressure discharge lamp containing an inert gas,mercury,a halogen and tin
US3586898A (en) * 1969-05-19 1971-06-22 Gen Electric Aluminum chloride discharge lamp

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3351798A (en) * 1962-08-22 1967-11-07 Patent Treuhand Ges Fuer Elektrische Gluehlampen Mbh Scandium halide discharge lamp
US3279877A (en) * 1963-12-31 1966-10-18 Westinghouse Electric Corp Method for processing high-pressure vapor-discharge arc tube
US3398312A (en) * 1965-11-24 1968-08-20 Westinghouse Electric Corp High pressure vapor discharge lamp having a fill including sodium iodide and a free metal
US3566178A (en) * 1968-12-11 1971-02-23 Tokyo Shibaura Electric Co High pressure discharge lamp containing an inert gas,mercury,a halogen and tin
US3586898A (en) * 1969-05-19 1971-06-22 Gen Electric Aluminum chloride discharge lamp

Cited By (15)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4135110A (en) * 1975-02-13 1979-01-16 Thorn Electrical Industries Limited Electrical discharge lamp
US4027190A (en) * 1975-09-05 1977-05-31 Tokyo Shibaura Electric Co., Ltd. Metal halide lamp
FR2344960A1 (en) * 1976-03-16 1977-10-14 Thorn Electrical Ind Ltd High pressure discharge lamp - contains mixed sodium and tin halides
US4581557A (en) * 1979-01-02 1986-04-08 General Electric Company Stabilized high intensity discharge lamp
EP0015022A1 (en) * 1979-02-26 1980-09-03 Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. High pressure mercury vapour discharge lamp
US4360758A (en) * 1981-01-23 1982-11-23 Westinghouse Electric Corp. High-intensity-discharge lamp of the mercury-metal halide type which efficiently illuminates objects with excellent color appearance
EP0057093A1 (en) * 1981-01-23 1982-08-04 North American Philips Lighting Corporation High intensity discharge lamps
US4851735A (en) * 1986-12-01 1989-07-25 Patent-Treuhand Gesellschaft Fur Elektrische Gluhlampen M.B.H Single-ended high-pressure discharge lamp with coil and mandrel electrode
US5192891A (en) * 1991-01-11 1993-03-09 Toshiba Lighting & Technology Corporation Metal halide lamp
US6362571B1 (en) * 1998-04-08 2002-03-26 U.S. Philips Corporation Metal-halide lamp with ionizable filling and oxygen dispenser to avoid blackening and extend lamp life
EP1093152A1 (en) * 1999-10-15 2001-04-18 Lg Electronics Inc. Electrodeless lamp using tin iodide
US6633111B1 (en) 1999-10-15 2003-10-14 Lg Electronics Inc. Electrodeless lamp using SnI2
US20090033227A1 (en) * 2004-12-20 2009-02-05 General Electric Company Mercury free compositions and radiation sources incorporating same
US7944148B2 (en) 2004-12-20 2011-05-17 General Electric Company Mercury free tin halide compositions and radiation sources incorporating same
WO2016193694A3 (en) * 2015-05-29 2017-02-02 Hanovia Limited Mercury-free gas discharge lamp

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