Gas discharge lamp, lamp panel for high operating voltages and use of such a lamp

Abstract

To provide a gas discharge lamp that satisfies requirements for electrical sealing for high operating voltages. [Solution] In a gas discharge lamp including a discharge vessel 01 filled with gas, electrodes 02', 02" for generating a gas discharge arranged at one end of the discharge vessel 01 and inside the discharge vessel 01, electrical conductors 04', 04" for electrical contact of the electrodes 02', 02", and a seal for electrically insulating and surrounding an outer portion of the electrical conductors 04', 04" adjacent to the wall of the discharge vessel 01, the electrical seal is formed by an insulating shielding portion 30', 30" which surrounds the outer portion of the electrical conductors 04', 04" at a distance from the electrical conductors 04', 04" such that a first end of the shielding portion 30', 30" facing the discharge vessel 01 is hermetically connected to the discharge vessel 01 and a second end opposite the first end is open.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates generally to a gas discharge lamp, for example air- or water-cooled, designed to produce high light intensity (luminosity) at high operating voltages. The present invention particularly relates to a lamp panel comprising a plurality of gas discharge lamp devices arranged closely next to one another. The present invention also relates to the use of such a gas discharge lamp. [Background technology]

[0002] A typical gas discharge lamp comprises a closed discharge vessel that is transparent to magnetic radiation at least in the visible range, the hollow space of the discharge vessel being filled with a gas. The gas discharge lamp further comprises two electrodes for generating a gas discharge, which are arranged at one end and in the interior of the discharge vessel, respectively. The two electrodes are contacted by two electric conductors, which are guided to the electrodes through respective through-passages formed gas-tightly in the wall of the discharge vessel.

[0003] Gas discharge lamps with relatively low operating voltages are known, for example from motor vehicle headlights (Patent Documents 1 to 3). Such lamps comprise a gas discharge vessel followed by various seals enclosing the adjacent electrical conductors and a lamp socket for mounting in the motor vehicle. Such lamps are operated in continuous operation and have much lower requirements with regard to electrical seals than the typical gas discharge lamps described below. The same is true for UV lamps which are operated periodically and continuously and not with high voltages or high currents or high powers (Patent Document 4).

[0004] At least one electrical conductor at high potential relative to earth potential is surrounded in an electrically insulating manner in its outer part adjacent to the wall of the discharge vessel, said surrounding being commonly called an electrical seal, to prevent flashover (arcing) from the electrical conductor to devices or components of adjacent gas discharge lamps.

[0005] By high operating voltage is meant voltages from several kilovolts to tens of kilovolts, and in special cases up to a hundred kilovolts. By closely spaced lamps is meant a spacing between directly adjacent lamps on the order of the diameter of the plasma tube. By high light intensity is meant a distance of 1 kW / cm from the surface of the discharge vessel. 2 Larger than approx. 100kW / cm 2 The intended light output is up to 1000 mA.

[0006] Typically, gas discharge lamps with such light intensity have an arc length of more than 0.5 meters up to several meters, in special cases up to 10 meters. Instead of individual gas discharge lamps, several lamps can be connected in series, the arc lengths of the individual lamps being summed to a total arc length. Then, to obtain the same operating parameters as a first approximation, the same voltages are applied to both ends of the lamp string as for a single lamp with an arc length corresponding to the total arc length of the lamp string.

[0007] For some applications, gas discharge lamps are operated as flash lamps only for short periods of time, for example less than one second, for example less than one millisecond, and also in the range of microseconds. To illuminate a fairly large area, for example a hundred square centimeters or several square meters, with high light intensity evenly, it is possible to arrange several flash lamps with cylindrical geometry parallel to each other in one plane. Such lamp panels are used in so-called "flash lamp annealing" or "photonic sintering" or coated architectural glass.

[0008] At high light intensities, e.g. 10 kilowatts per square centimeter for a duration of 1 millisecond, the polymers degrade considerably, especially in the ultraviolet (UV) light emitted by the flash lamp. The UV portion of the lamp spectrum can be almost completely absorbed by doping the glass body of the flash lamp with cerium. However, this either shortens the life of the flash lamp or leads to overheating of the glass body during the illumination pulse. Some applications, e.g. disinfection of breath or cleaning of wastewater, are based on the action of UV light, so doping is not possible.

[0009] In the parallel arrangement of gas discharge lamps in one plane for exposure of the above-mentioned rather large areas, the so-called creepage distance (creepage section) or air gap cannot often be observed due to the small spacing required to produce a high light intensity with uniform simultaneous illumination.

[0010] By creepage distance is intended the distance (section) on the surface of an insulator over which a sliding charge can travel between two electrical conductors with air as the medium adjacent to the insulator.

[0011] By air gap is intended the space between two electrical conductors, between which only air or an inert gas is present. Deionized water or other gaseous media, which can be used for example to cool gas discharge lamps, is obtained with appropriate creepage distances and liquid sections.

[0012] A commonly known rule for DC voltages is to set a creepage distance of at least 1 cm per kilovolt and an air gap of at least 0.5 cm per kilovolt, which is necessary to prevent sliding charges or ionization of the air on a large scale or to prevent electrical flashover between conductors. For example, at a voltage difference of 30 kilovolts, the air gap should not be less than 15 cm between two wires. The geometry of the surface has a significant effect on the actual size. For example, small protrusions on the conductors increase the electric field strength, so that air ionization is possible even at smaller voltages. The same is true for electrically insulated surfaces with water films and dirt.

[0013] For example, if a distance of 1 cm is desired between the two supply lines of a flash lamp in order to obtain a high light intensity, then at an operating voltage of 20 kilovolts, an additional insulator (isolator) must be provided between the supply lines, since the minimum air gap required is ten times larger. Therefore, typically, the supply lines are covered with an insulator such as a ceramic or polymer. Ceramic materials can be manufactured with difficulty, are mechanically less flexible and have a poorer thermal shock resistance than polymers. Therefore, at voltages in the kilovolt range, polymers are used especially for electrical supply lines.

[0014] Special requirements for the electrical insulation in gas discharge lamps in the abovementioned high voltage range in the case of small spacing arise between the ends of the electrical supply lines and the glass body of the gas discharge lamp, hereinafter referred to as "electrical seal". These are in particular a high operating temperature, which in some cases can be up to several hundred Kelvin higher than room temperature, very high UV stability, good adhesion in the glass body of the lamp and in the polymer of the supply lines, high mechanical flexibility or at least a coefficient of thermal expansion approximately the same as that of the glass body and a sufficiently high electrical dielectric strength. Gas discharge lamps in which the discharge vessel is surrounded by flow lines for realizing air and water cooling are known, for example, from US Pat. No. 5,399,323 and US Pat. No. 5,499,633. These are also used in continuous operation.

[0015] The electrical seal must also prevent leakage currents between the sealing material itself and the glass body of the gas discharge lamp and between the sealing material and the polymer of the supply line, i.e. must have an airtight connection to the aforementioned materials. Ageing of the electrical seal by the light of the gas discharge lamp is a regular problem, especially when the light of the gas discharge lamp has a large UV fraction. As a result, the electrical seal loses its electrical insulation during use, which can lead to the occurrence of leakage currents, which ultimately lead to the destruction of the gas discharge lamp and other components of the installation in which the lamp is used.

[0016] The degradation process can proceed very quickly, i.e. within minutes during operation. The process can be slowed down by various measures, but cannot be prevented or delayed long enough. Generally, no polymer has a sufficiently high UV stability, because the photon energy is much larger than the bond energy in polymers. As mentioned above, no other material has been found so far that meets all the requirements for electrical sealing.

[0017] Ceramic adhesives with a similar coefficient of expansion to quartz glass are also only of limited suitability, since they do not have sufficient thermal shock resistance at the surface to the glass during operation of the gas discharge lamp as a flash lamp, i.e. they lead to the ceramic peeling off during operation. In addition, it is difficult to ensure a permanent gas-tight bond of the supply line to the polymer with ceramic. Another important aspect is that ceramics can be cut more easily than shrink hoses during regular lamp replacement. Therefore, when replacing the lamp, the supply line must be renewed.

[0018] Heretofore, it has not been possible to find a suitable material which satisfactorily meets all of the above requirements for electrical sealing. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0019] [Patent Document 1] U.S. Pat. No. 5,032,758 [Patent Document 2] DE 19640666 A1 [Patent Document 3] DE 10342801 A1 [Patent Document 4] JP 2017-216158 A [Patent Document 5] JP 2009-26478 A [Patent Document 6] JP 2010-67474 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0020] The present invention builds on the above-mentioned prior art and addresses the problem of providing a gas discharge lamp which is able to meet the requirements for electrical sealing for the above-mentioned high operating voltages. [Means for solving the problem]

[0021] This problem is solved in the subject matter of claim 1, which provides that the previous requirements for an electrically insulating material of the electrical seal are avoided by changing the construction form of the gas discharge lamp, thus avoiding or at least reducing the electrical sealing problems described for the prior art and significantly increasing the service life of the gas discharge lamp.

[0022] The modified design leads to further advantages, especially with regard to the mounting of the lamp in the housing: in particular, the modified gas discharge lamp is suitable for arrangement in lamp panels with the initially mentioned small spacing between the individual gas discharge lamps.

[0023] The gas discharge lamp according to the invention comprises one or more electrically insulating shields surrounding the outer components of a gas discharge vessel operated at a voltage of 1 kV, preferably above 10 kV and up to 100 kV, the shields being connected to the discharge vessel at a first end and open at a second end opposite the first end.

[0024] In contrast to the electrically insulated jacket parts of the conductor according to the prior art, the shielding parts are at least partially surrounded, i.e. formed at a distance at least to the surface of the electric conductor. The distance between the inner surface of the shielding part facing the electric conductor and the electric conductor forms at least a part adjacent to the connection of the shielding part with the discharge vessel in each shielding part. Optionally, the distance extends over the length of the shielding part up to its second end. The length of the spaced shielding parts arises in particular depending on the length of the components of the gas discharge lamp to be shielded.

[0025] At least one shielding part is an alternative to the electrical seals known from the prior art and is connected to at least one or both ends of the discharge vessel of a gas discharge lamp, the high operating potential of which is applied to one or more electrodes. In the following, the invention is described for only one end of the gas discharge lamp which is to be electrically sealed. Similarly, the invention is applicable to two electrical seals.

[0026] The discharge vessel of a gas discharge lamp is currently generally made of glass, in particular quartz glass, due to its high transparency for electromagnetic radiation (electromagnetic radiation) from the ultraviolet to infrared range, its small coefficient of thermal expansion and the associated high thermal shock resistance as well as its high electrical dielectric strength. These properties make quartz glass particularly suitable for use at the above-mentioned high operating voltages, high light guiding performance and the associated steep temperature gradients that can be realized in flash lamps. However, the invention is also applicable to gas discharge lamps that use transparent and electrically insulating materials with the above-mentioned properties comparable to glass, in particular quartz glass. This also applies to such gas discharge lamps that may become available in the future as material developments progress, for example in ceramic glasses.

[0027] The electrical seal according to the invention achieves an electrically insulating jacket part depending on the selected material. In accordance with the features of the invention, the material of the shielding part contains an electrically insulating solid as an essential component. However, the material of the shielding part and its connection with the discharge vessel does not contain a polymer.

[0028] A material containing an electrically insulating solid as an essential component is to be understood here as such a material composition in which the component determining the essential electrically insulating properties is an electrically insulating solid. This includes that it may contain technical impurities or technical admixtures useful for producing the shield or for adjusting and maintaining, for example, optical properties. Such impurities or technical admixtures are often in the range of a few percent, less than 10% of the solid.

[0029] In particular, it is advantageous for the shielding to be polymer-free, so that problems known from the prior art can be avoided, and in addition, the shielding being spaced apart from the electrical conductors allows that, in accordance with another embodiment of the invention, the electrical conductors can also be used without a polymer jacket.

[0030] For example, the shield and the discharge vessel can be made of the same material, for example quartz glass or another material suitable for both components. This allows for an integral (integral) formation of both components of the gas discharge lamp. In this case, identical or at least approximately identical expansion coefficients and thermal shock resistance of both materials bonded to one another are also advantageous. This allows future material developments for the discharge vessel of the gas discharge lamp to also be utilized for the shield.

[0031] The shield encloses at least an electrical conductor that extends through the wall of the discharge vessel to an anode or cathode disposed in the discharge vessel.

[0032] Insofar as the electric conductor is connected to an electric contact electrode outside the discharge vessel, the contact electrode is also surrounded by a shielding in accordance with the embodiment of the invention, which then extends beyond the extent of the electric contact electrode due to the enlargement of the insulatingly shielded creepage distances and air gaps between the contact electrode and the conductive surface having a different potential than the contact electrode.

[0033] That is to say, the shielding surrounds (covers) the components in which air gap leakage currents or impact ionization occur. Such components can be, for example, contact sockets, covered or optionally uninsulated electrical lines or other components following the contact sockets over a certain portion. Since the shielding extends the creepage distances and air gaps, it is possible to completely or at least partially omit the formation of a conventional electrical seal in the area of ​​the shielding. For this purpose, it is possible to freely select the length of the shielding depending, inter alia, on the minimum creepage distance or air gap set by the operating voltage. Preferably, the required minimum creepage distance or minimum air gap is maintained by the shielding, i.e. the projection of the open second end of the shielding is equal to or greater than the minimum creepage distance and minimum air gap expected by the operating parameters. An electrical seal can also be used as an option, but this may be less demanding than that described for the prior art.

[0034] The open second end of the shielding allows the contact socket to be easily plugged into a contact electrode located inside the shielding at the end of a connection line for a gas discharge lamp, which makes periodic lamp replacement very easy.

[0035] Further extension of the creepage distances can be achieved by a suitable structuring of the shielding in accordance with the configuration of the gas discharge lamp. Viewed in cross section, at least the inner surface of the shielding can be provided with three-dimensional geometrical structures which protrude into the space enclosed by the shielding and thus enlarge the inner surface of the shielding. For example, a meandering or other surface progression is suitable for further extension of the creepage distances. Alternatively, and with the same effect, the walls of the shielding can have such a progression.

[0036] The shielding part can be formed integrally with the cylindrical glass tube of the gas discharge lamp in various configurations or can be connected to said glass tube. If the connection of the shielding part with the discharge vessel is formed integrally, the shielding part can be added already during the manufacture of the discharge vessel. In this case, the construction of the shielding part from the same material, for example quartz glass, is advantageous. Other configurations of the shielding part are possible, as long as the materials to be combined with one another exhibit sufficiently compatible expansion properties. Other and subsequent connections are possible under the same requirements, as long as the connection is not deteriorated or destroyed by the light of the gas discharge lamp itself or an adjacent gas discharge lamp.

[0037] The shield preferably consists of a cylindrical tube, optionally with a contact electrode located at the cylindrical main axis of the discharge vessel.

[0038] The shielding can be provided with a constriction, in particular for arranging at said location a lamp bracket, a light reflector or other components near the main axis of the gas discharge lamp. The constriction can be connected to a taper at the corresponding end of the discharge vessel of the gas discharge lamp or can form a boundary between the shielding and the discharge vessel. At such a location of the constriction a light reflector can be arranged, which tightly surrounds the reduced diameter of the wall and thus allows maximum protection of the components located in the shielding of the gas discharge lamp from its light. Obviously, depending on the material used for the light reflector, it can be advantageous if the light reflector has a peripheral clearance with respect to the wall of the discharge vessel and / or the shielding.

[0039] Preferably, the shield has an inner diameter that is the same as, larger than, or smaller than the inner diameter of the cylindrical glass tube of the gas discharge lamp. Depending on the variation, it is possible to provide good accessibility to the contact electrodes in the shield or a reduced space requirement or a compact gas discharge lamp that can be manufactured with less effort. Further requirements of the application of the gas discharge lamp may be important for the shape of the shield.

[0040] The shielding part can be open or closable at its second end opposite to the glass body of the gas discharge lamp. The closure part can be provided with a through-way for the introduction of a cooling medium into the envelope of the gas discharge lamp and / or for the conduction of electrical lines. In addition, the closure part of the shielding part can be formed by means of a lamp bracket, which lamp bracket is suitable for mounting the gas discharge lamp, for example in a housing or a composite device.

[0041] Thus, the lamp bracket can be essentially spaced from the light source, so that when using a polymer for the bracket, the bracket is essentially only very little exposed to the UV beam, and / or a protection device such as the optical reflector mentioned above can be used. The optical reflector can be arranged, for example, at an end of the gas discharge vessel. For example, the optical reflector can be arranged, for example, at a constriction of the shielding part, which is arranged, for example, at a first end of the shielding part.

[0042] The connecting lines emerging from the contact electrodes can be formed without a jacket, preferably in a closed shield, and in particular electrically insulating materials made of polymers can be omitted, thus also making it possible to extend the service life of the connecting lines.

[0043] The formation of a shield instead of a conventional electrical seal also aids in the cooling of the gas discharge lamp by the coolant, since the shield can be formed in such a way that it also closes the volume around the connecting lines, preferably the volume around the contact electrodes.

[0044] The flow line surrounding the discharge vessel with the distance A and conducting the cooling medium then also includes a shielding, so that the electrical lines contained therein, and possibly the connecting lines and the contact electrodes connecting both lines, are not directly located in the cooling medium and therefore no electrical insulation is required in this area. The contact electrodes can therefore be subjected to higher temperatures in operation, since no polymer needs to be used for insulation. The electrical connecting lines only have insulating material made of polymer from the second end of the closed shielding. In this way, a significantly increased distance is achieved between the polymer application and the light source compared to the prior art. The larger distance reduces the requirements on the material, especially with regard to UV stability or heat resistance.

[0045] Thus, in addition to the jacket of the electrical lines, the connection plate, which closes the shielding gas-tight and therefore water-tight, can also be made of at least one polymer material. Such a connection plate can be used not only for conducting lines of media such as voltage and cooling media or signal lines, but also at the same time as a bracket for gas discharge lamps and flow lines.

[0046] Due to the above mentioned advantages of the gas discharge lamp, it is suitable for use in a lamp panel comprising two or more gas discharge lamps which can be arranged with respect to one another with a reduced spacing compared to the prior art. The inner spacing L of directly adjacent lamps can be on the order of magnitude of the average outer diameter of the cylindrical discharge vessels of the lamp panel or on the next smaller order of magnitude. If the average outer diameter is less than 10 of a given length unit, then the lamp panel can be used with a reduced spacing L of two or more gas discharge lamps which can be arranged with respect to one another with a reduced spacing compared to the prior art. 1 If the distance between the insides of two adjacent discharge vessels is on the order of 1(=1×10 0 ) to 99(=9.9×10 1 ) Obviously, normal tolerances for the respective configurations and arrangements of the gas discharge lamp to be used should be added here.

[0047] According to the invention, the gas discharge lamp is provided with a respective shield according to the above description at at least one end of the lamp. The parallelism and planarity of the lamp panel can be set, for example, on the basis of the cylindrical axis or a cylindrical wall of the discharge vessel of the gas discharge lamp.

[0048] To determine the outer diameter of the cylindrical discharge vessel, the portions of the cylinder that define the geometric shape are taken into account. Locally limited constrictions such as the above-mentioned narrowings or similar extensions remain unconsidered. The average outer diameter is obtained based on the average of all the thus determined outer diameters of the gas discharge lamps of the lamp panel.

[0049] Generally, an order of magnitude is called an "order" based on the unit of measurement. So, for example, 10 2 It is inherent in the use of the term "order of mm" that the order of mm includes all lengths having values ​​between 100 and 999 mm, and may include slight excesses or deficiencies of up to 10% of the limits stated above.

[0050] The description of the gas discharge lamp is correspondingly applicable to its use in a lamp panel and / or with the above possibilities.The advantages of the gas discharge lamp are correspondingly related to the use.

[0051] Therefore, another aspect of the invention relates to the use of a gas discharge lamp as described above. By providing an electrical seal, for example with a shield made of glass or other suitable material, and by avoiding or at least reducing the presence of polymers in the immediate vicinity of the light source, it is possible to achieve high voltages in the range of 1 to 100 kilovolts when a voltage is applied during illumination, and thus high light output. The above voltage values ​​refer to the maximum values ​​that the voltage can assume at the start of illumination.

[0052] This relates to another aspect of the invention. The above-mentioned properties and advantages of the gas discharge lamp according to the invention allow in particular to use several gas discharge lamps, but at least two of them, in a lamp panel. Such a lamp panel is suitable for example for processing various formats of components with high light doses. For example, photovoltaic modules, displays or components in the field of "concentrated solar power" or large-format composite components such as architectural glass with so-called Low-E coating or others can also be effectively and uniformly processed. Other applications in the semiconductor industry or other technical fields are also possible with such lamp panels.

[0053] For such processes, flash lamps capable of achieving only thin boundary layers of material with steep temperature gradients and minimal influence of adjacent layers are often desired. The gas discharge lamp according to the present invention supports such use both as individual lamps and in lamp panels.

[0054] The above-mentioned features are illustrated in the examples, for clarity, but not for the purpose of limitation, with reference to the associated drawings. Those skilled in the art will combine the features of the above-mentioned various configurations of the invention and the features realized in the following examples in further embodiments, as far as they deem useful and reasonable. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0055] [Figure 1] 1 is a cross-sectional view of a gas discharge lamp configuration according to the prior art; [Diagram 2] 2 is a partial detailed illustration of the left half of the air-cooled gas discharge lamp according to FIG. 1; [Diagram 3] 2 is a partial detailed illustration of the left half of the water-cooled gas discharge lamp according to FIG. 1; [Figure 4] 1 shows a configuration of a gas discharge lamp according to the invention with electrical seals arranged on both sides of the lamp; [Diagram 5]FIG. 5 shows the arrangement of the air-cooled gas discharge lamp according to FIG. 4 with the light reflector, the lamp bracket and the connecting lines in a detailed view of the left end of the lamp. [Figure 6] FIG. 5 shows an alternative configuration of the gas discharge lamp according to FIG. 4 with a light reflector, a lamp bracket, connecting lines and a water cooling part in a detailed view of the left end of the lamp. [Figure 7] FIG. 5 shows a gas discharge lamp based on the gas discharge lamp of FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 5 shows a lamp panel in which a number of gas discharge lamps according to FIG. 4 are arranged in one plane. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0056] In the drawings, the devices are shown only diagrammatically to the extent necessary to explain the invention, and the drawings do not impose any claim as to completeness or scale.

[0057] same Components designated with a single reference number perform the same function.

[0058] All figures described below show cross sections of rotationally symmetrical parts, the axis of rotation being horizontal in the plane of the paper.

[0059] FIG. 1 shows an example of a prior art gas discharge lamp which consists of a cylindrical discharge vessel 01, e.g. a glass body made of quartz glass. The hollow space of the discharge vessel 01 is filled with a noble gas, e.g. xenon. In the hollow space of the discharge vessel 01, an electrode 02', 02" is arranged at each end, e.g. two tungsten electrodes which represent the anode and cathode of the gas discharge lamp. Between the electrodes 02', 02" an arc length 06 extends as the actual light source of the gas discharge lamp. Outside the gas-filled space, two contact electrodes 03', 03" for electrical contact on both sides of the gas discharge lamp and two rod-shaped conductors 04', 04", e.g. made of tungsten and used for connecting the electrodes 02', 02" with the contact electrodes 03', 03" are arranged. The passage of electric current into the hollow space of the discharge vessel 01 is made possible by two transition glasses 05', 05", which have a thermal expansion coefficient between that of the discharge vessel 01 and that of the electrical conductors 04', 04". In the illustrated case, the transition glass 05 is arranged in the inner region of the discharge vessel 01. In gas discharge lamps with small diameters of the glass cylinder, for example less than 16 mm, the transition glass is often provided in the outer region without significantly affecting the light output and the application of the lamp.

[0060] In Fig. 2, in an excerpt, a detailed illustration of the left half of the gas discharge lamp according to Fig. 1 is shown, the right half of which has a mirror-symmetrical structure. For the sake of clarity of the mirror-symmetrical illustration only, the reference symbols shown carry a prime "'", even if the corresponding mirror-image components are not shown in the drawing.

[0061] In this case, the shape of the electrodes 02', 02" in the hollow space and their doping may be different. For example, the cathode has a higher doping for easier emission of electrons. In practice, asymmetric or other structures than cylindrical shape arise, which do not differ in particular from the materials used.

[0062] In addition to the illustration in Fig. 1, Fig. 2 shows further components of a gas discharge lamp: an electrical connection line 11' surrounded by a polymer, for example silicone, an electrical contact socket 12' which fits into the contact electrode 03', a lamp bracket 14' made of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) which is used to fix the gas discharge lamp in a housing not shown, and a light reflector 15' which, apart from its function of reflecting the light of the arc length 06, may also have other roles, such as protecting other components of the lamp bracket or the housing or electrical supply lines from UV rays or overheating.

[0063] The electrical seal 13', 13" between the polymer of the connecting lines 11', 11" and the glass body 01 of the gas discharge lamp is, for example, a shrink hose made of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) with an adhesive located on the inside for an airtight connection. Also other airtight and electrically insulating electrical seals can be used.

[0064] In particular, the arrangement of the components in FIG. 2 is typical for air-cooled gas discharge lamps according to the prior art, since the light reflectors 15′, 15″ surround the glass body of the gas discharge lamp as closely as possible without touching it. This minimizes the exposure of the components, in particular the polymers used, to light, in particular UV beams.

[0065] In Fig. 3 a modified construction is shown for water cooling of a gas discharge lamp. For this purpose a flow line 20, often also called a flow tube and made of, for example, quartz glass, is used through which highly purified and deionized water is pumped. The centering of the gas discharge lamp in the flow line 20 is effected by a lamp bracket 14', 14" which is made of, for example, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and is provided with suitable through-holes 16', 16" for example for the flow of cooling water (indicated by arrows, the direction of which is shown only by way of example and without limitation). In the present embodiment the optical reflectors 15', 15" are arranged outside the flow line 20.

[0066] The gas discharge lamp according to figures 1 to 3 shows an embodiment according to the prior art. Various components can be designed differently for the same function, e.g. in terms of geometry, in terms of materials, in terms of spatial arrangement or in terms of cooperation with other components or other details.

[0067] In all the above figures reflecting the prior art, despite the shading by the light reflector 15', 15" or the lamp bracket 14', 14", a large portion of the light generated by the gas discharge lamp is incident on the electrical seal 12', 12", and at least on the surface where the electrical seal 12', 12" contacts the discharge vessel 01 of the gas discharge lamp. One consequence is the formation and progressive propagation of leakage currents, which leads to the above-mentioned failure of the adhesion of the electrical seal 12', 12" and ultimately to an electrical flashover (arc) or destruction of the gas discharge lamp. As explained in the introduction to the prior art, the transitional glass 05', 05" also extends the life of gas discharge lamps only in some applications.

[0068] FIG. 4 shows a gas discharge lamp according to the invention with the general components in a cylindrical discharge vessel 01: two electrodes 02', 02" made of tungsten for generating and maintaining the arc length, their electrical connection by means of an electrical conductor 04', 04" and their penetration through the wall of the discharge vessel 01 by means of a transition glass 05', 05". The transition of the discharge vessel 01 to the shielding part 30', 30" made of glass is in this embodiment formed on both sides by constrictions 34', 34". The material of the shielding part 30', 30" can correspond to the material of the discharge vessel 01 or can differ therefrom at least in the individual components, as long as the above-mentioned material properties can be guaranteed.

[0069] The gas discharge lamp includes an electrically insulated shielding portion 30', 30" at each end of the discharge vessel 01, surrounding a contact electrode 03', 03" therein. The shielding portion 30', 30" is integrally connected to the discharge vessel 01 at its first end 32', 32" and is open at its opposite second end 33', 33" where it protrudes beyond the contact electrode 03', 03".

[0070] Due to the arrangement and length of the shielding parts 30', 30", both the contact electrodes 03', 03" and also parts of the electrical supply lines of the electrodes 03', 03" which follow them are surrounded by the shielding parts 30', 30". In addition, parts of the connection lines 11', 11" of the gas discharge lamp can also be surrounded.

[0071] However, the shielding portions 30', 30" in FIG. 4 are exemplary and are not originally formed as cylindrical glass tube extensions and can be added already during manufacture of the gas discharge lamp. Additionally, the second ends 33', 33" of the shielding portions 30', 30" shown open can be closed.

[0072] The diameter of the shielding part 30', 30" shown in FIG. 4 corresponds to the cylinder of the discharge vessel 01 in the part that characterizes the shape between the tungsten electrodes 02', 02". In principle, however, the respective diameter can depend on the specific requirements without modifying the operating parameters of the gas discharge lamp. Likewise, the length of the shielding part 30', 30" with or without a surface structure or the inner projection 31', 31" of the second end 33', 33" of the shielding part 30', 30" beyond the end of the contact electrode 32', 32" can be freely selected as described above.

[0073] Similar to configurations with light reflectors and lamp brackets known from the prior art, the embodiment according to Fig. 5 is provided with these components. Fig. 5 shows a configuration of a gas discharge lamp according to Fig. 4 with light reflectors 15', 15" and lamp brackets 14', 14".

[0074] The plate-like light reflectors 15', 15" are positioned and extend radially in order to optimally protect components outside the discharge vessel 01 from the light of the arc length 06 at the narrowed portions 34', 34" between the glass tube and the shielding portions 30', 30" of the integrally formed discharge vessel 01.

[0075] A similarly plate-like lamp bracket 14', 14" can be attached to the second end 33', 33" of the shielding part 30', 30", where it is protected from the harmful beam of the gas discharge lamp by the light reflector 15', 15". The lamp bracket contributes to holding the gas discharge lamp in a housing (not shown). The lamp bracket can then form a clearance relative to the housing wall which can be used for air cooling of the gas discharge lamp.

[0076] In a further embodiment of the gas discharge lamp according to FIG. 4, the gas discharge lamp is water-cooled (FIG. 6). For this purpose, the gas discharge lamp is arranged in a flow line 20. A lamp bracket 14', 14" arranged on either side of the discharge vessel 01 closes the flow line 20 and holds it at a distance relative to the discharge vessel 01 and thus relative to the shielding part 30, 30" which is formed as a glass tube extension. Like the flow line 20, the shielding part ends (discontinues) in the lamp bracket 14', 14", so that the lamp bracket 14', 14" also closes the shielding part 30', 30".

[0077] The lamp bracket 14', 14" is provided with suitable through-passages 16', 16" for conducting the connection lines 11', 11" of the gas discharge lamp to the shielding parts 30', 30" and towards the contact electrodes 03', 03". Further through-passages 16', 16" located outside the shielding parts 30', 30" serve for the supply and discharge of a suitable cooling medium (shown by arrows), such as, for example, water or air or any other suitable fluid.

[0078] Due to the closure of the shielding parts 30', 30" by the connecting plates 14', 14", the contact electrodes 03', 03" and the lines 04', 04", 11', 11" connected thereto are not in contact with the cooling medium, so that these lines 04', 04", 11', 11" can be used without an insulating jacket, in particular without such a jacket made of a polymer. The parts of the connecting lines which are not covered or which are covered differently are indicated with the reference numbers 17', 17" for distinction.

[0079] A light reflector 15', 15'' per side of the discharge vessel 01 is optionally arranged outside the flow conduit 20 in the area of ​​the constriction 34', 34''.

[0080] Figure 7 shows a gas discharge lamp based on the gas discharge lamp of figure 4. The two lamps differ by the configuration of the walls of the shielding part 30', 30". The shielding part is formed in a serpentine shape from the second end 33', 33" to the vicinity of the second end 32', 32", so that the upper surface of the shielding part 30', 30" is enlarged, in particular the inner surface.

[0081] Figure 8 shows a lamp panel (lamp field) in which several gas discharge lamps according to Figure 4 are arranged next to each other and parallel to each other in a plane, here the plane of the paper. Their inner spacing L to each other, measured between the walls of the discharge vessel 01, is in the next smaller order of magnitude than the uniform outer diameter of the cylindrical discharge vessel of the lamp panel. For the configuration of the gas discharge lamps of the lamp panel, reference is made to the description of Figure 4. The present invention may also include the following aspects: 1. A gas discharge lamp comprising a closed discharge vessel (01) transparent for electromagnetic radiation at least in the visible range, the hollow space of which is filled with a gas, two electrodes (02', 02") for generating a gas discharge, arranged respectively at one end of the discharge vessel (01) and in the interior of the discharge vessel (01), two electrical conductors (04', 04") for electrical contact of each one of the electrodes (02', 02") passing through a respective through-pass in the wall of the discharge vessel (01), and at least one seal, also referred to hereinafter as electrical seal (13', 13"), electrically insulating and surrounding the outer parts of the electrical conductors (04', 04") adjacent to the wall of the discharge vessel, 13”. A gas discharge lamp comprising: at least one electrical seal (13', 13") formed by an electrically insulating shield (30', 30") which surrounds the above-mentioned outer part of the electrical conductor (04', 04") at an at least partially existing distance from the electrical conductor (04', 04") such that a first end of the shield (30', 30") facing towards the discharge vessel (01) is hermetically connected to the discharge vessel and a second end opposite to the first end is open. 2. A gas discharge lamp according to claim 1, characterized in that the material of the shielding part (30', 30") contains an electrically insulating solid as an essential component, and the material of the shielding part (30', 30") and its connection with the discharge vessel (01) do not contain polymers. 3. A gas discharge lamp according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the electrical connection lines (11', 11") are free of electrically insulating material made of polymer within the shielding parts (30', 30"). 4. A gas discharge lamp according to any one of 1. to 3. above, characterized in that the gas discharge lamp further includes two contact electrodes (03', 03") for electrical contact of the gas discharge lamp, the contact electrodes being arranged at the end and outside of the discharge vessel, respectively, and each shielding portion (30', 30") has a length that protrudes beyond the corresponding contact electrode (03', 03"). 5. A gas discharge lamp according to any one of 1. to 4. above, characterized in that the inner surface of at least one shielding portion (30', 30") has a three-dimensionally formed geometric structure portion between its first end portion (32', 32") and its second end portion (33', 33") that expands the surface length between both ends (32', 32", 33', 33"). 6. A gas discharge lamp according to any one of 1. to 5. above, characterized in that at least one shielding portion (30', 30") is cylindrical and / or coaxial with the discharge vessel (01) and / or integral with the discharge vessel (01) and / or is made of the same material as the discharge vessel (01) at least adjacent to the discharge vessel (01) and / or comprises a narrowed portion (34', 34") at the first end (32', 32") or between the first end (32', 32") and the second end (33', 33"). 7. A gas discharge lamp according to any one of 1. to 6. above, characterized in that the open second end (33', 33") of one shielding part (30', 30") is formed so as to be closable, and the closure part has a conductive part for an electrical conductor. 8. A gas discharge lamp according to any one of 1. to 7. above, characterized in that the gas discharge lamp comprises a lamp bracket (14', 14") and / or an optical reflector (15', 15"), and the lamp bracket (14', 14") is arranged on the shielding part (30', 30"). 9. A gas discharge lamp according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the gas discharge lamp comprises a flow conduit (20) surrounding the discharge vessel (01) with a radial spacing A, which flow conduit is closed or can be closed on both sides by one connecting plate (18', 18") each, each connecting plate (18', 18") comprising a through-way (16', 16") for the flow medium and for an electrical connecting line (17', 17") of the gas discharge lamp. 10. A gas discharge lamp according to claim 9, characterized in that the connection plate (18', 18") is formed as a bracket for the gas discharge lamp and / or for the second end (33', 33") of the shielding part (30', 30") and / or for the flow conduit (20). 11. A gas discharge lamp according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the second end (33', 33") of the shielding part (30', 30") is connected or can be connected to the connecting plate (18', 18") in a tight relation to the flow medium. 12. A lamp panel including at least two gas discharge lamps, the gas discharge lamps being arranged in one plane and parallel to one another with an inner spacing L, A lamp panel, characterized in that the gas discharge lamp is formed according to any one of 1. to 11. above, and the distance L is on the order of the average outer diameter of the cylindrical discharge vessel (01) of the gas discharge lamp or the next smaller order of magnitude. 13. The maximum voltage applied during operation is 1 to 100 kilovolts and / or 1 to 100 kW / cm 2 12. Use of a gas discharge lamp formed according to any one of claims 1 to 11 for illuminating a substrate with the light output emitted during operation. 14. Use of a lamp panel comprising at least two gas discharge lamps and formed according to claim 12 for irradiating a composite material, characterized in that the composite material is a photovoltaic module, a display or a component in the field of "concentrated solar power" or a coated architectural glass. 15. Use of at least one gas discharge lamp according to claim 13 or 14, characterized in that at least one gas discharge lamp is operated as a flash lamp. [Explanation of symbols]

[0082] 01 Discharge vessel 02',02” electrode 03',03” Contact electrode 04',04” conductor 05',05” Transitional Glass 06 Arc length 11',11" connecting line 12',12" Contact Socket 13',13” Electrical Seal 14',14” Lamp bracket 15',15" Optical Reflector 16',16" gangway 17',17" Connection Line 18',18" Connection Plate 20 Flow Pipe 30',30” shielding part 31',31” Inner protrusion 32',32" First End 33',33" Second End 34',34” stenosis A Distance between discharge vessel and flow pipe L is the inner distance between two gas discharge lamps

Claims

1. A gas discharge lamp comprising a closed discharge vessel (01) transparent for electromagnetic radiation at least in the visible range, the hollow space of which is filled with a gas, two electrodes (02', 02") for generating a gas discharge, arranged respectively at one end of the discharge vessel (01) and in the interior of the discharge vessel (01), two electrical conductors (04', 04") for electrical contact of each one of the electrodes (02', 02") passing through a respective through-pass in the wall of the discharge vessel (01), and at least one seal, hereinafter also called electrical seal (13', 13"), electrically insulating and surrounding the outer parts of the electrical conductors (04', 04") adjacent to the wall of the discharge vessel, 13. A gas discharge lamp comprising: at least one electrical seal (13', 13") formed by an electrically insulating shield (30', 30") which surrounds the above-mentioned outer part of the electrical conductor (04', 04") with an at least partially existing distance from the electrical conductor (04', 04") such that a first end of the shield (30', 30") facing the discharge vessel (01) is hermetically connected to the discharge vessel and a second end opposite the first end is open.

2. 2. A gas discharge lamp according to claim 1, characterized in that the material of the shield (30', 30") contains an electrically insulating solid as an essential component, and the material of the shield (30', 30") and its connection to the discharge vessel (01) is polymer-free.

3. 3. Gas discharge lamp according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the electrical connection lines (11', 11") are free of electrically insulating material made of polymer within the shielding (30', 30").

4. 4. A gas discharge lamp according to claim 1, further comprising two contact electrodes (03', 03") for electrical contact of the gas discharge lamp, the contact electrodes being arranged at the ends and the exterior of the discharge vessel, respectively, and each shielding portion (30', 30") has a length that protrudes beyond the corresponding contact electrode (03', 03").

5. 5. A gas discharge lamp according to claim 1, characterized in that the inner surface of at least one shielding part (30', 30") has, between its first end (32', 32") and its second end (33', 33"), a three-dimensionally formed geometric structure which increases the surface length between both ends (32', 32", 33', 33").

6. 6. Gas discharge lamp according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one shielding part (30', 30") is cylindrical and / or coaxial with the discharge vessel (01) and / or integral with the discharge vessel (01) and / or made of the same material as the discharge vessel (01) at least adjacent to the discharge vessel (01) and / or comprises a constriction (34', 34") at the first end (32', 32") or between the first end (32', 32") and the second end (33', 33").

7. 7. A gas discharge lamp according to claim 1, characterized in that the open second end (33', 33") of a shielding part (30', 30") is designed to be closable, the closure being provided with a conducting part for an electrical conductor.

8. 8. Gas discharge lamp according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the gas discharge lamp comprises a lamp bracket (14', 14") and / or a light reflector (15', 15"), the lamp bracket (14', 14") being arranged in the shielding part (30', 30").

9. 9. Gas discharge lamp according to claim 1, characterized in that the gas discharge lamp comprises a flow duct (20) surrounding the discharge vessel (01) with a radial distance A, which flow duct is closed or can be closed on both sides by one connecting plate (18', 18") each, each connecting plate (18', 18") comprising a through-way (16', 16") for the flow medium and for an electrical connecting line (17', 17") of the gas discharge lamp.

10. 10. Gas discharge lamp according to claim 9, characterized in that the connecting plate (18', 18") is formed as a bracket for the gas discharge lamp and / or for the second end (33', 33") of the shielding part (30', 30") and / or for the flow conduit (20).

11. 11. A gas discharge lamp according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the second end (33', 33") of the shielding part (30', 30") is connected or can be connected to the connecting plate (18', 18") in a tight relation to the flow medium.

12. A lamp panel including at least two gas discharge lamps, the gas discharge lamps being arranged in one plane and parallel to one another with an inner spacing L, 12. A lamp panel, comprising: a gas discharge lamp formed according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the distance L is on the order of magnitude of the average outer diameter of the cylindrical discharge vessel (01) of the gas discharge lamp or the next smaller order of magnitude.

13. A maximum voltage applied during operation of 1 to 100 kilovolts and / or 1 to 100 kW / cm ２ Use of a gas discharge lamp formed according to any one of claims 1 to 11 for irradiating a substrate with the light output emitted during operation.

14. 13. Use of a lamp panel made according to claim 12 comprising at least two gas discharge lamps for irradiating a composite material, characterized in that the composite material is a photovoltaic module, a display or a component in the field of "concentrated solar power" or a coated architectural glass.

15. 15. Use of at least one gas discharge lamp according to claim 13 or 14, characterized in that the at least one gas discharge lamp is operated as a flash lamp.

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