Low-wattage fluorescent lamp
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorEdward E. Hammer
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A low-wattage fluorescent lamp is provided. The lamp has at least one mercury cold spot region effective to maintain the mercury in the lamp at less than 30° C., preferably 25° C., in an enclosed lamp fixture. The lamp also features a reduced distance between electrodes resulting in less power being required to sustain an electric arc discharge during operation of the lamp. The lower power electric arc generates less heat to raise the temperature of mercury vapor within the lamp.
Claims25
A low pressure mercury vapor discharge lamp comprising a light-transmissive glass envelope having an inner diameter and an inner surface, first and second lamp bases attached at each end of said glass envelope, a phosphor layer coated adjacent said inner surface of said glass envelope, a discharge-sustaining fill gas of mercury vapor and an inert gas sealed inside said envelope, first and second electrodes mounted within said envelope, and a mercury cold spot region at an end of said envelope behind said first electrode, said glass envelope having a substantially constant inner diameter and terminating at first and second inner end surfaces located respectively at either end of said glass envelope, each electrode having a mount height measured from said electrode to the proximate inner end surface of said glass envelope, the mount height of said first electrode being at least 31 mm.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.