Double-Tube Discharge Lamp Support Structure for Vibration Damage

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Solution Overview

Problem

Discharge lamps with a double tube structure face damage from vibrations due to the increased amplitude of holding materials made of quartz glass, which can collide with the luminous and protection tubes, leading to potential damage during transportation or attachment to processing devices.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a support portion with a tubular holding portion and an arm surrounding the outer wall of the luminous tube, which reduces the collision speed and amplitude of the holding material, thereby minimizing the risk of damage to the tubes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the holding material is made of quartz glass to hold the wire, then the wire is securely held, but the mass becomes large and collision speed increases causing damage to tubes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewire holding stabilityVSAvoidholding material mass
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The holding material is divided into multiple segments along its length, with each segment capable of independent vibration suppression. This segmentation reduces the effective mass participating in collision while maintaining overall holding function through distributed support points.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The holding material uses a composite structure combining quartz glass segments with vibration suppressors made of different materials having different elastic moduli. This composite approach maintains the electrical insulation and holding properties of quartz glass while adding damping characteristics to reduce collision impact.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Productivity

If the light emission length is increased, then the processing capability is improved, but the amplitude of the holding material increases causing easier collision with tubes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocessing capabilityVSAvoidholding material amplitude
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The holding material is segmented into multiple sections along its length, with each segment having reduced amplitude characteristics. This segmentation breaks up the continuous vibration mode that would occur in a single long piece, thereby reducing the maximum amplitude reached during operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Vibration suppressors are added as a dimensional feature to the holding material segments. These suppressors extend in a direction perpendicular to the main holding material axis, providing additional stiffness and damping in the vibration direction without significantly increasing the light-blocking cross-section.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Productivity

If the holding material length is increased to accommodate longer light emission, then the collision frequency increases, but the tube damage risk increases due to higher collision speed from mass

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight emission lengthVSAvoidtube damage risk
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The holding material employs a composite construction with quartz glass segments combined with vibration suppressors having different material properties. This composite structure reduces the effective collision mass while maintaining the necessary length for extended light emission, thereby lowering collision speed and damage risk.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

Vibration suppressors are pre-installed on the holding material segments to provide cushioning before collision occurs. These suppressors absorb and dissipate vibration energy, reducing the impact force when the holding material contacts the tubes during operation or transport.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Data Source

PatentEP4489052A1Discharge lamp and processing device
Publication Date: 2025.01.08 TOSHIBA LIGHTING & TECHNOLOGY CORP
  • EP4489052A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4489052A1 patent drawingFigure 2~4
  • EP4489052A1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

[Abstract] Provided are a discharge lamp and a processing device capable of suppressing damage to at least one of a luminous tube and a protection tube when vibration is applied to the discharge lamp. [Problem] A discharge lamp according to an embodiment includes: a protection tube having a tubular shape and extending in a first direction; a luminous tube provided inside the protection tube and extending in the first direction; a first electrode provided at a first end of the luminous tube; a second electrode provided at a second end of the luminous tube facing the first end; a first holder provided inside the protection tube to hold the first end of the luminous tube; a second holder provided inside the protection tube to hold the second end of the luminous tube; a first wire provided inside the protection tube and electrically connected to the first electrode; a second wire provided inside the protection tube and electrically connected to the second electrode; a holding material extending in the first direction between the first holder and the second holder inside the protection tube and holding the second wire; and at least one support portion provided between the first holder and the second holder inside the protection tube to support the holding material. The support portion includes a holding portion having a tubular shape and provided with the holding material; and an arm surrounding an outer wall of the luminous tube in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and joined to the holding portion.