Abstract: A germicidal lamp having amalgam for controlling mercury vapor pressure contained in a location facilitating efficient high output operation. A low pressure mercury vapor discharge lamp has an amalgam container containing an amalgam positioned behind an electrode out of the arc path or space. The amalgam position is retained during high wall loading of the lamp preventing the amalgam from moving out of position. A heating and cooling element is placed generally at the amalgam position controlling the temperature of the amalgam. Efficient operation with high current loads and resulting high wall loading and temperatures is possible. The temperature control of the amalgam may also be used to dim or modify the illumination output of the lamp. The germicidal lamp is particularly suited to being positioned vertically in a waste water treatment system.

Abstract: A low iron soda glass is combined with a UVA phosphor to provide increased uvb transmission from a florescent lamp which may be used as a tanning lamp.

Abstract: A compact germicidal lamp having a plurality of adjacent parallel glass cylinders capable of transmitting different wavelengths of ultraviolet radiation connected by a perpendicular glass tube. A first glass cylinder made of a doped quartz material and capable of transmitting ultraviolet radiation in the wavelength range of approximately 254 nanometers is positioned adjacent a second glass cylinder made of a quartz material capable of transmitting ultraviolet radiation in the wavelength range of approximately 185 nanometers. The first and second glass cylinders are connected by a perpendicular glass tube. The compact germicidal lamp, when used in a germicidal system, provides effective germicidal action in a small space. The germicidal lamp of the present invention is more easily manufactured than prior germicidal lamps and can be made having a high power.

Abstract: A low iron soda glass is combined with a UVA phosphor to provide increased uvb transmission from a florescent lamp which may be used as a tanning lamp.

Abstract: A germicidal lamp having amalgam for controlling mercury vapor pressure contained in a location facilitating efficient high output operation. A low pressure mercury vapor discharge lamp has an amalgam container containing an amalgam positioned behind an electrode out of the arc path or space. The amalgam position is retained during high wall loading of the lamp preventing the amalgam from moving out of position. A heating and cooling element is placed generally at the amalgam position controlling the temperature of the amalgam. Efficient operation with high current loads and resulting high wall loading and temperatures is possible. The temperature control of the amalgam may also be used to dim or modify the illumination output of the lamp. The germicidal lamp is particularly suited to being positioned vertically in a waste water treatment system.

Abstract: A germicidal lamp having amalgam for controlling mercury vapor pressure contained in a location facilitating efficient high output operation. A low pressure mercury vapor discharge lamp has an amalgam container containing an amalgam positioned behind an electrode out of the arc path or space. The amalgam position is retained during high wall loading of the lamp preventing the amalgam from moving out of position. Efficient operation with high current loads and resulting high wall loading and temperatures is possible. The germicidal lamp is particularly suited to being positioned vertically in a waste water treatment system.

Abstract: A bent fluorescent lamp for backlighting a display providing uniform illumination. A fluorescent lamp is made from a tubular glass envelope having right angles formed therein with shaped corners. The right angles provide improved illumination of a plane surface for backlighting a liquid crystal display. The right angles and shaped corners eliminate dark regions in the illuminated surface. A right-angled bend is also formed at the ends of the fluorescent lamp. An electrode is positioned sufficiently far from a central portion of the lamp so that any dark spaces in the gas discharge of the fluorescent lamp, such as the Faraday dark space associated with a cathode of a lamp are not formed within the central portion.

Abstract: A bent fluorescent lamp for backlighting a display providing uniform illumination. A fluorescent lamp is made from a tubular glass envelope having right angles formed therein. The right angles provide improved illumination of a plane surface for backlighting a liquid crystal display. The right angles eliminate dark regions in the illuminated surface. A right-angled bend is also formed at the ends of the fluorescent lamp. An electrode is positioned sufficiently far from a central portion of the lamp so that any dark spaces in the gas discharge of the fluorescent lamp, such as the Faraday dark space associated with a cathode of a lamp are not formed within the central portion. As a result, the central portion of the fluorescent lamp has a uniform brightness or intensity providing improved illumination for backlighting a liquid crystal display. The resulting more uniform illumination with less dark regions results in a more legible display and more accurate information being displayed.

Abstract: A compact germicidal lamp having a plurality of adjacent parallel glass cylinders capable of transmitting different wavelengths of ultraviolet radiation connected by a perpendicular glass tube. A first glass cylinder made of a doped quartz material and capable of transmitting ultraviolet radiation in the wavelength range of approximately 254 nanometers is positioned adjacent a second glass cylinder made of a quartz material capable of transmitting ultraviolet radiation in the wavelength range of approximately 185 nanometers. The first and second glass cylinders are connected by a perpendicular glass tube. The compact germicidal lamp, when used in a germicidal system, provides effective germicidal action in a small space. The germicidal lamp of the present invention is more easily manufactured than prior germicidal lamps and can be made having a high power.

Abstract: A germicidal lamp having a non-uniform contour increasing turbulence. An ultraviolet fluorescent lamp used in a purification system having a helical groove increasing turbulence of the fluid flow. The non-uniform contour may be placed directly on the tubular envelope forming the lamp or may be formed on a separate envelope enclosing a conventional cylindrical tubular germicidal lamp. The germicidal lamp having a non-uniform contour when placed in a fluid flow, such as water or air, creates turbulence, which improves the efficiency of the germicidal action. Smaller, more efficient purification systems requiring less exposure time are obtained.

Abstract: A bent fluorescent lamp for backlighting a display providing uniform illumination. A fluorescent lamp is made from a tubular glass envelope having right angles formed therein. The right angles provide improved illumination of a plane surface for backlighting a liquid crystal display. The right angles eliminate dark regions in the illuminated surface. A right-angled bend is also formed at the ends of the fluorescent lamp. An electrode is positioned sufficiently far from a central portion of the lamp so that any dark spaces in the gas discharge of the fluorescent lamp, such as the Faraday dark space associated with a cathode of a lamp are not formed within the central portion. As a result, the central portion of the fluorescent lamp has a uniform brightness or intensity providing improved illumination for backlighting a liquid crystal display. The resulting more uniform illumination with less dark regions results in a more legible display and more accurate information being displayed.

Abstract: An ultraviolet lamp used for creating ozone. An ultraviolet lamp is enclosed by a container having an inlet at one end and an outlet at the other end. An air flow containing molecular oxygen is created between the container and the ultraviolet lamp. A portion of the wavelength of the ultraviolet lamp is used for generating ozone. Another portion of the wavelength of the ultraviolet lamp is used to kill microorganisms or disinfect a fluid. The ozone generated may be released in the fluid, further purifying and deodorizing the fluid. The present invention combines the germicidal properties of a ultraviolet lamp with the deodorizing properties of ozone in a single device which may be used to purify water or other fluid.

Abstract: A cathode shield for a gas discharge lamp having a predetermined size hole proportional to the diameter of a cup and the diameter of the glass envelope of the gas discharge lamp. A conductive cup is placed around an electrode or a filament. The cup is covered with an insulator material having a hole therein. The diameter of the hole in the cover has a proportional relationship to the diameter of the envelope of the lamp and the diameter of the cup. The ratio of the diameter of the envelope and the hole in the cover ranges between 3.5 and 4.5. The ratio of the diameter of the cup and the hole in the cover ranges between 2.0 and 3.0. It has been determined that these ratios improve current loads without changing discharge characteristics. Additionally, lower temperature operation and starting is facilitated with increased service life. The cathode shield is particularly applicable to germicidal lamps used in water treatment due to the cooler starting and operating temperatures required.

Abstract: A germicidal lamp having amalgam for controlling mercury vapor pressure contained in a location facilitating efficient high output operation. A low pressure mercury vapor discharge lamp has an amalgam container containing an amalgam positioned behind an electrode out of the arc path or space. The amalgam position is retained during high wall loading of the lamp preventing the amalgam from moving out of position. Efficient operation with high current loads and resulting high wall loading and temperatures is possible. The germicidal lamp is particularly suited to being positioned vertically in a waste water treatment system.

Abstract: A bent fluorescent lamp for backlighting a display providing uniform illumination. A fluorescent lamp is made from a tubular glass envelope having right angles. The right angles provide improved illumination of a plane surface for backlighting a liquid crystal display. The right angles eliminate dark regions in the illuminated surface. An electrode is positioned sufficiently far from a central portion of the lamp so that any dark spaces in the gas discharge of the fluorescent lamp, such as the Faraday dark space associated with a cathode of a lamp are not formed within the central portion. The central portion of the fluorescent lamp has a uniform brightness or intensity for backlighting a liquid crystal display. A method of forming a right-angled bend in a glass tube is also disclosed.

Abstract: An electrode shield for a fluorescent tanning lamp comprising an open cup encircling a filament or electrode increasing the service life of the fluorescent tanning lamp. The cup having an open end acts as a shield reducing the sputtering of impurities onto the glass tube and contaminating the phosphor surface. In one embodiment, the cup is electrically and thermally coupled to an electrode support. The life of the fluorescent tanning lamp is greatly increased despite the use of relatively high currents and large number of on and off cycles.

Abstract: A bent fluorescent lamp for backlighting a display providing uniform illumination. A fluorescent lamp is made from a tubular glass envelope having right angles formed therein with shaped corners. The right angles provide improved illumination of a plane surface for backlighting a liquid crystal display. The right angles and shaped corners eliminate dark regions in the illuminated surface. A right-angled bend is also formed at the ends of the fluorescent lamp. An electrode is positioned sufficiently far from a central portion of the lamp so that any dark spaces in the gas discharge of the fluorescent lamp, such as the Faraday dark space associated with a cathode of a lamp are not formed within the central portion. As a result, the central portion of the fluorescent lamp has a uniform brightness or intensity providing improved illumination for backlighting a liquid crystal display. The resulting more uniform illumination with less dark regions results in a more legible display.

Abstract: A bent fluorescent lamp for backlighting a display providing uniform illumination. A fluorescent lamp is made from a tubular glass envelope having right angles formed therein. The right angles provide improved illumination of a plane surface for backlighting a liquid crystal display. The right angles eliminate dark regions in the illuminated surface. A right-angled bend is also formed at the ends of the fluorescent lamp. An electrode is positioned sufficiently far from a central portion of the lamp so that any dark spaces in the gas discharge of the fluorescent lamp, such as the Faraday dark space associated with a cathode of a lamp are not formed within the central portion. As a result, the central portion of the fluorescent lamp has a uniform brightness or intensity providing improved illumination for backlighting a liquid crystal display. The resulting more uniform illumination with less dark regions results in a more legible display and more accurate information being displayed.

Abstract: An electrode shield for a fluorescent tanning lamp comprising an open cup encircling a filament or electrode increasing the service life of the fluorescent tanning lamp. The cup having an open end acts as a shield reducing the sputtering of impurities onto the glass tube and contaminating the phosphor surface. In one embodiment, the cup is electrically and thermally coupled to an electrode support. The life of the fluorescent tanning lamp is greatly increased despite the use of relatively high currents and large number of on and off cycles.

Abstract: A full spectrum fluorescent lamp having a phosphor coating for producing visible light having a high color rendering index and balanced amounts of ultraviolet energy at the same correlated color temperature in which the coating is formed of two groups of phosphors, the first producing the full spectrum when excited and the second narrow bands of visible light to improve the lumen output of the lamp.