GB1042389A - Electric discharge lamps - Google Patents

Abstract

1,042,389. Electric discharge lamps. DYMO INDUSTRIES Inc. Nov. 10, 1964, No. 45695/64. Heading H1D. A discharge lamp includes a longitudinally disposed series of sealed ampoules containing a gas which is ionizable by a pair of standing waves set up along two pairs of lecher lines extending adjacent the series, the two waves being phase displaced by #/4, such that the field across the ampoules is substantially constant down the series. The gas, which may be an ultra-violet emitting mixture of 98% argon, 2% helium, and a trace of mercury, at a pressure of 7 torr, is contained in annular glass ampoules 12a (Fig. 3, not shown) which are supported within a PVC tube 11a by two pairs of symmetrically disposed conductors 13a, 14a (see 13, 14, Fig. 2, not shown), inductive and capacitive terminations producing the #/4 phase shift between the standing waves 17a, 18a, and the equal potential for the two pairs at the termination of the unit, which latter permits the lengthening of the structure, by any multiple of #/4, by plugging in a further section. An ultra-violet sensitive phosphor is coated on the inside or outside of the ampoules, or on tube 11a, which may be flexible, in which case the two pairs of conductors cross over between ampoules, to enhance the flexibility of the completed structure; support 11a may alternatively be in strip form. In an alternative embodiment (Fig. 1, not shown), not suitable for extension by the addition of further sections, the two pairs of conductors are terminated in short and open circuits, respectively.