Abstract: A metal halide discharge lamp with a coaxial discharge vessel (2) and outer ulb (9) contains a fill of metals with a tendency to diffusion. Their specific content is less than 6 .mu.mols/cm.sup.3. The current supply leads (4, 5) are surrounded, over a large portion of their length, by a sheath (14) that is UV-shielded.

Abstract: To reduce flicker in low-power, high-pressure discharge lamps, the electrs, in the region in which they face each other, have wrap windings, of about 2 to 4 turns wrapped thereabout and the terminal end of the electrode has an essentially spherical end head element (19, 19', 39) melted thereon, which essentially spherical head element may be a segment of a sphere, ellipsoid-shaped or similarly formed. The electrode shaft, the wrap winding and the sphere preferably are all made of undoped tungsten, although the electrode shaft may be of a lower melting metal, such as rhenium.

Abstract: To provide for pre-heating of low-power small metal halide high-pressure charge lamps (1), at least one of the electrodes (16) is formed as a heater wire by introducing a thin tungsten wire, in V shape, into one end of the elongated bulb (2), and carrying out each one of the legs of the V, separately, and electrically insulated within an end press seal (4) by parallel foils (10, 11) externally of the bulb. Continuous heater current is caused to flow through the V-shaped wire electrode, thus heating the discharge vessel, to complete vaporization of the fill. To start the lamp, the two legs of the V, of the heater electrode, are connected in parallel and across the lamp operating voltage and then a high-voltage pulse is applied between the V-shaped heater electrodes, for example between one or both of the external conductors and the other electrode (9). Light output, upon starting, is substantially accelerated from a lamp of this type with respect to non-preheated lamps.

Abstract: To retain a double-ended elongated discharge lamp in position in an automve headlamp, and prevent breakage or loosening of a connection of a base of the lamp at one end with the apex (5) of the reflector, a lamp retention and guide arrangement (14) including narrow strips extending radially from a sleeve (18) towards the inner wall of the reflector (1) is located, the sleeve receiving the forward end of the lamp. Preferably, the forward end of the is jacketed by an inner forward sleeve element (18), to which also the forward lamp connection (20) is attached, to provide for electrical connection to the forward end of the lamp, for example by a cable (23) extending in a groove or duct of one of the strips (16), or by the strips themselves, if they are made of metal.

Abstract: To improve the high-voltage flash-over resistance by increasing the lead aration of the lamps, the pinch or press seal is, while the lamp is being made and the lamp tubing is in plastically deformable condition, extended at least is the region adjacent the end of the later formed pinch seal by introducing spreader jaws, either parallel or, at least eventually, in acutely angled relation to each other into the softened end portion, and then spreading apart the jaws so that, at the outer end portions of the jaws, the plastically deformable region will assume an oval shape whose longer dimension is wider than the outer diameter of the tubing in the region which will later from the discharge vessel.