Abstract: A method of manufacturing an arc tube for a discharge lamp unit, incorporating a primary pinch-sealing step for mounting an electrode assembly in an open end of a glass tube W with a chamber portion 12. The electrode assembly comprises an electrode rod 6, a connecting foil 7 and a lead wire 8 integrally connected in series. The electrode assembly is inserted into an open end of the glass tube W such that a leading end of the electrode rod projects into the chamber portion 12. A temporary pinch seal region L1 of the glass tube W is pinch-sealed such that a portion of the connecting foil that is connected to the lead wire is contacted by the glass tube W. A vacuum is maintained inside the glass tube and a main pinch seal region L2 of the glass tube is pinch-sealed such that a portion of the connecting foil connected to the electrode rod is contacted by the glass tube.

Abstract: A heater has a cylindrical metallic shell, a heater body partly disposed in a front end portion of the metallic shell, an electrode disposed in a rear portion of the metallic shell and electrically connected to the heater body, and a terminal adapted to be capped with an electric connector. The terminal includes a terminal body for power supply to the heater body through the electrode and an engaging portion formed on an outer circumferential surface of the terminal body so as to be engageable with the electric connector. The electrode and the terminal body are formed integrally with each other. Such a heater can maintain good electrical conduction from the terminal to the heater body with its simple structure throughout an extended period of time.

Abstract: The present invention provides an inexpensive heater exhibiting good gas-tightness, as well as a method for manufacturing the same. The heater includes a cylindrical metallic shell having a through-hole with a heating element disposed in the through-hole such that a portion projects from one end of the shell. The heater is adapted to generate heat upon application of electricity thereto. A rod-like axial member has a coil lead for electrically connecting a portion of the axial member and the heating element. A gas-tight seal member formed of an insulating polymeric material is interposed between the axial member and the inner surface of the through-hole in such a manner to surround the outer circumferential surface of the axial member. A crimped portion of the metallic shell brings the gas-tight seal member into close contact with the outer circumferential surface of the axial member and the inner wall surface of the through-hole form a gas tight seal.

Abstract: In a glow plug controller, a glow plug 10 fixed to an engine 30 comprises a heater 4 and a ceramic substrate 2 having an exposed portion 2d which is exposed to the interior of a combustion chamber 32. A glow plug control apparatus 100 causes ECU 105 to control the energization of the heater 4 of the glow plug 10 to keep the surface temperature Ts of the exposed portion 2d to not lower than 500° C. Further, ionic current Ii is measured using the glow plug 10. Switches 102 and 103 switch from the energization of the glow plug to the detection of ionic current or vice versa in response to a command signal from ECU 105.

Abstract: In a glow plug controller, a glow plug 10 fixed to an engine 30 comprises a heater 4 and a ceramic substrate 2 having an exposed portion 2d which is exposed to the interior of a combustion chamber 32. A glow plug control apparatus 100 causes ECU 105 to control the energization of the heater 4 of the glow plug 10 to keep the surface temperature Ts of the exposed portion 2d to not lower than 500° C. Further, ionic current Ii is measured using the glow plug 10. Switches 102 and 103 switch from the energization of the glow plug to the detection of ionic current or vice versa in response to a command signal from ECU 105.

Abstract: A mercury supplying method capable of always supplying a constant amount of mercury into a chamber part easily by executing measurement and ejection of the mercury at the same time. A small diameter pipe as a mercury supply path, is inserted through a glass tube elongating from a chamber part of an arc tube from above so as to have the tip part thereof substantially reaching into the chamber part, and connecting the upstream side of the sealed mercury supply path (mercury barrel) with a gas pressure adjuster. The gas pressure adjuster keeps the inside of the mercury supply path (mercury barrel) at a predetermined pressure so as to maintain the inside of the small diameter pipe in the state filled with mercury as well as applying a predetermined pressure to the mercury in the small diameter pipe for a predetermined time and thus ejecting a predetermined amount of mercury from the small diameter pipe tip part so as to be dropped and supplied to the chamber part.

Abstract: The invention is directed to preventing occurrence of molybdenum foil breakage during a pinch sealing operation in a method of fabricating an arc tube having a pair of molybdenum foils pinch-sealed on both sides of a spherical portion of a glass tube by sequentially pinch-sealing the respective molybdenum foils. A first molybdenum foil is not pinch-sealed (first pinch seal) with an inert gas introduced into a glass tube as in a conventional embodiment, but is pinch-sealed with the internal pressure of the glass tube maintained at a vacuum of 0.5 torr or less. As a result, oxidation of the molybdenum foils causing breakage of the molybdenum foils during a pinch sealing operation is minimized. Hence, an arc tube having each of a pair of molybdenum foils made of molybdenum whose purity is 99.95% or more and with a thickness of 20 .mu.m or less can be fabricated.

Abstract: An electrical discharge lamp device in which an ultraviolet filtering globe tightly encloses a sealed glass bulb of an arc tube containing a pair of oppositely disposed electrodes to thereby form a unitary body. The rear end part of the arc tube extending from the ultraviolet filtering globe is supported by an insulating base, and the forward end part of the arc tube is supported by a lead support extending forward from the insulating base. An extending part is formed on the front face of a base main body made of synthetic resin, and the rear part of the ultraviolet filtering globe is supported by the tubular extending part. In this construction, stress is not concentrated on the portion of the arc tube supported by the base main body of the arc tube, and hence the durability of the arc tube is improved.

Abstract: In the manufacture of arc tubes for use as light sources of vehicle headlamps, there is first prepared a semifinished arc tube by inserting one electrode assembly into a tubular glass envelope through one end thereof and by sealing this end. The semifinished arc tube is then placed in communication with a hermetically enclosed space filled with argon under pressure, with the consequent introduction of the inert gas into the glass envelope through a second end thereof. Another electrode assembly and chemicals such as a metal halide and mercury are then introduced from the enclosed space into the semifinished arc tube through the second end, totally without contact with the atmospheric air. Then, with the glass envelope placed out of communication with the enclosed space, the argon is exhausted from within the envelope, and xenon is charged instead into the envelope through the second end, which is closed subsequently.

Abstract: An insulating base for a discharge lamp device which provides good insulation between a lead support connected to a front end lead of an arc tube and a lead disposed on the rear side of the arc tube. The insulating base includes a base main body formed of synthetic resin. The base main body is a disk-shaped injection molding which includes a lead support insertion hole in the form of a first longitudinal through hole for mounting a lead support supporting the front end portion of an arc tube and acting as a current path to a lead disposed on the front side of the arc tube, and a lead insertion hole in the form of a second longitudinal through hole for insertion of a lead disposed on the rear end side of the arc tube.

Abstract: A discharge lamp apparatus in which an insulating base for supporting a lead support base end portion maintains its dielectric strength over long periods of use, and which is simple to assemble. A lead support acting as a current path is projectingly provided on a front surface of a synthetic-resin insulating base, which is a lamp holder, a front end portion of an arc tube, which is a discharge lamp body, is supported by the lead support, a rear end portion of the arc tube is fixedly supported in an engagement concave portion formed in the insulating base, and the lead support is covered with a ceramic insulating cylindrical body. In accordance with the invention, a base end portion of the insulating cylindrical body is integrated with the insulating base through insert molding.

Abstract: An arc tube having a closed glass bulb having no broken-off portion, and a method of manufacturing the arc tube. A glass bulb is formed on a glass tube substantially at the middle. An electrode assembly is inserted into one end portion of the glass tube, and the one end portion is closed by pinch-sealing. A light emitting material is supplied into the glass bulb through the other end portion of the glass tube, another electrode assembly is inserted into the other end portion, and the latter is closed by pinch-sealing. Since the closed glass bulb has no broken-off portion, the arc tube is free from the difficulty that the distribution of light is adversely affected. Moreover, in manufacturing the arc tube of the invention, it is unnecessary to connect an exhaust tube to the glass tube. Therefore, the number of manufacturing steps is small, and the arc tube can be manufactured with ease.

Abstract: A discharge lamp device having an insulator base made of a synthetic resin integrally bonded to a globe holding member made of ceramic wherein a discharge lamp is attached. Also provided is a pair of lead supports for supporting the discharge lamp at its opposite ends. The discharge lamp and lead supports are completely surrounded by an ultraviolet ray shielding globe which is fixed to globe holding member. The globe effectively absorbs harmful ultraviolet rays having a wavelength in a predetermined wavelength range.

Abstract: A discharge lamp electrode having a spherical end portion which serves as a discharge part and has a diameter larger than the remaining base part is formed by simultaneously applying a plurality of laser beams to one end portion of a rod-shaped material of tungsten or tungsten alloy in different directions. Preferably, the rod-shaped material is held vertically while the laser beams are applied to its lower end portion.

Abstract: An electric discharge lamp assembly including a lamp bulb having two lead wires, and a lamp base supporting two lead support members with respective tip ends thereof being connected respectively to the lead wires of the lamp bulb. One of the lead support members is formed to have an elongated length and is covered by an insulating tubular member substantially. The rear end portion of the insulating tubular member is fitted on and secured to a tubular portion of the lamp base which portion is integrally formed with the lamp base. Whereby the electric discharge between the two support members is prevented effectively, and the insulating tubular member is secured to the lamp base reliably.

Abstract: A discharge lamp has a lamp assembly including a discharge lamp unit with a pair of lamp leads extending therefrom, and a base assembly including a pair of base leads electrically connected to the pair of lamp leads and mechanically supporting the lamp unit in position with respect to the base assembly. The base assembly comprises a hollow base structure of electrically insulating material molded in one piece with a partition dividing the interior thereof into a pair of completely isolated spaces. Electrically connected to the base leads, a pair of sheet metal conductors are received with clearances in the respective isolated spaces in order to preclude the possibility of an electric discharge taking place between the pair of conductors within the base structure.

Abstract: For coupling a halogen incandescent lamp to a plastic lamp base in correct positional relationship, a sheet-metal lamp holder is rigidly engaged with a hermetic end seal of the lamp, and a sheet-metal sleeve is anchored in the lamp base. The sleeve has several connecting fingers extending therefrom for somewhat loose engagement in openings in the lamp holder. The loose engagement of the sleeve fingers in the lamp holder openings permit adjustment of the positions of the lamp and the lamp base, which are secured respectively to the lamp holder and to the lamp base, with respect to each other. The sleeve fingers are welded to the lamp holder following the adjustment of the positional relationship between the lamp and the lamp holder.

Abstract: A sealed beam lamp assembly, suitable for use as a motor vehicle headlight, has an incandescent lamp mounted within an inert-gas-filled, molded-glass housing integrally comprising a reflector and a control-lens cover. For supporting the lamp in position within the housing, a metal-made support rod extends forwardly from one of ferrules on the reflector and has its front end preformed into the shape of a U to provide a rearwardly directed fold. Welded to this fold of the support rod is a metal band rigidly encircling the base of the lamp. The lamp position relative to the reflector is therefore adjustable as required by manually turning the fold of the support rod about its main straight portion. The support rod serves also to provide electrical connection between the ferrule and one of the lamp leads.