Abstract: A flange portion is integrally formed with a stem which forms a sealing envelope for a gas discharge tube. Accordingly, operation for building and fixing the flange portion is not necessary, so that lamp assembly operation is simplified, and mass production is facilitated. In addition, when a gas discharge tube is to be fixed to an external stem setting portion, lamp setting is enabled at higher precision by utilizing positioning holes formed in the flange portion in advance.

Abstract: In a gas discharge tube in which a sealed envelope at least a part of which transmits light is filled with a gas, and electric discharge is generated between anode and cathode sections disposed within the sealed envelope, so as to emit predetermined light outside from the light-transmitting part of the sealed envelope, the anode section is mounted on an insulating anode support member, an insulating electrode support member having an opening for exposing the anode section is mounted on a surface surrounding the anode section, a focusing electrode having a focusing opening projecting toward the anode section is further mounted at the front face of the opening, and the cathode section is disposed on the anode support member or focusing electrode support member so as to be spaced from the focusing opening.

Abstract: In the gas discharge tube of the present invention, for elongating the life of the discharge tube itself while lowering the assembling temperature, a side tube itself is formed from glass, and a metal is employed in a joint between a stem and the side tube. Namely, a metal-made first peripheral portion provided in the stem and a metal-made second peripheral portion provided in the side tube are utilized in the joint. As a result, the discharge tube itself can be made smaller.

Abstract: In a gas discharge tube in accordance with the present invention, a side tube is formed from a metal, the outer periphery of the stem is provided with a joint portion made of a metal, and the latter is joined to a metal-made joint portion of the side tube by welding, whereby the assembling is made easier by welding, while the gas discharge tube itself can attain smaller dimensions. Also, since the side tube is small and made of a metal, its handling improves greatly. Further, since side tube is formed from a metal, the gas discharge tube is encouraged to have a wider range of processed forms and attains a prospect for mass production.

Abstract: While high heat is generated in the anode section in the gas discharge tube in accordance with the present invention during its use, the heat is transmitted to the stem by way of the anode support plate due to a configuration in which the anode support plate abuts against the stem, and is released outside from the stem, whereby the cooling efficiency of the anode section is improved. Since the anode section employs not a floating structure including stem pins interposed therein but a configuration in which it is seated on the stem by way of the anode support plate, the anode section is stabilized on the stem, whereby the resistance to vibration improves. Also, for assembling the anode section into a sealed envelope, it will be sufficient if the anode support plate is mounted on the stem, which contributes to improving the easiness in assembling the gas discharge tube.

Abstract: In a gas discharge tube in accordance with the present invention, one or both of the inner wall face and outer wall face of a side tube body are provided with a coating made of a glass material or ceramics. As a result, the side tube body can be made of various materials regardless of properties of the gas filling the inside, whereby the gas discharge tube can have a wider range of processed forms and smaller dimensions at the same time, and its mass production can freely be carried out.

Abstract: Since an internal surface of an arc ball receiving recess, which greatly affects the shape of an arc ball, is formed in an arcuate cross section swelling outward, the arc ball can be formed so as to be received in the arc ball receiving recess in front of a focusing opening of a slit shape, whereby the arc ball can be formed in a well-regulated form. Therefore, the arc ball with uniform luminance distribution in the longitudinal direction of the slit focusing opening can be made with certainty in the arc ball receiving recess.

Abstract: In order to ensure high luminance while enabling lighting of a gas discharge tube, an opening area S of a focusing opening was narrowed down into a range of 0.15 to 0.5 mm2. In addition, in order to attain a uniform emission with high luminance, while taking the aforementioned opening area S into consideration, the inventor noted a relation between an opening length A in a longitudinal direction of the focusing opening and an opening length B thereof in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. Then the shape of the focusing opening was specified by use of an equation to define the relation of B/A and the value thereof was narrowed into a range of 0.1 to 0.5. By limiting the focusing opening by the various parameters in this way, the inventor succeeded in specifying uniform slit light with a good lighting property and with high luminance in the gas discharge tube.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for producing positive and negative ions and/or electrons in a gas of any atmosphere without producing dust, a method and structure for neutralizing a charged body in a short period of time and for completely preventing static electricity from being generated, and various apparatuses and structures, such as a conveyor, wet bench, and clean room, which use the neutralizing method and structure. The gaseous ion producing apparatus produces positive and negative ions and/or electrons in a gas by irradiating, with electromagnetic waves in a soft X-ray region, the gas under a high pressure, atmospheric pressure, or reduced pressure. In the neutralizing structure an X-ray unit is arranged at an appropriate place to apply the electromagnetic waves in a soft X-ray region to the atmospheric gas surrounding a charged body.

Abstract: A gas discharge tube includes a first spacer, a second spacer, an anode support member, and an anode. The first spacer is arranged to contact the rear surface of the focusing electrode support member and the front surface of the anode, and the second spacer is arranged to contact the front surface of the anode support member and the rear surface of the anode. This arrangement clamps the anode between the first and second spacers to hold the anode securely between the rear surface of the focusing support member and the front surface of the anode support member, keeping the distance between the focusing electrode and the anode constant. This structure improves the service life and the operational stability of the gas discharge tube during continuous light emission over an extended period of time.

Abstract: A gas discharge tube includes a first spacer, a second spacer, an anode support member, and an anode. The first spacer is arranged to contact the rear surface of the focusing electrode support member and the front surface of the anode, and the second spacer is arranged to contact the front surface of the anode support member and the rear surface of the anode. This arrangement clamps the anode between the first and second spacers to hold the anode securely between the rear surface of the focusing support member and the front surface of the anode support member, keeping the distance between the focusing electrode and the anode constant. This structure improves the service life and the operational stability of the gas discharge tube during continuous light emission over an extended period of time.

Abstract: The present invention is to provide a gas discharge tube which is properly lighted to improve the reproducibility of a satisfactory light emission state. The gas discharge tube includes an envelop for accommodating a hot cathode for emitting thermoelectrons, an anode for receiving the thermoelectrons, a focusing electrode having a focusing opening for converging paths of the thermoelectrons, and a discharge shielding member supporting the focusing electrode and the anode, the discharge shielding member further supporting a cathode box for surrounding the hot cathode while being electrically insulated from the focusing electrode. Since a lighting device for the gas discharge tube sets the focusing electrode to a zero or negative potential while an electric field is generated between the hot cathode and the anode, the lighting device will be certainly turned on.

Abstract: A gas discharge tube includes a light-emitting section in an envelope sealing a gas therein, positioned at distal ends of lead pins while spaced from an inner side wall of the envelope. The light-emitting section includes a hot cathode, an anode, a focusing electrode, and a discharge shielding member having a front surface which faces the hot cathode. The front surface of the discharge shielding member is defined by a first surface being in direct contact with the focusing electrode, for defining a position of the focusing electrode, a second surface continued from the first surface, for defining a distance between the focusing electrode and the anode, and a third surface continued from the second surface and being in direct contact with the anode, for defining a position of the anode.

Abstract: A gas discharge tube includes an envelope for sealing a gas, lead pins and a light-emitting assembly. The light-emitting assembly includes: a focusing electrode support member of a conductive material; a hot cathode for emitting thermoelectrons; an anode for receiving thermoelectrons; a focusing electrode for converging paths of thermoelectrons; a spacer of an insulator being arranged between the focusing electrode support member and the anode; and an anode support member of an insulator for pushing the anode onto the focusing electrode support member through the spacer. A gas discharge tube having a long service life and capable of improving the operational stability during long-time continuous light emission can be provided.

Abstract: The present invention is to provide a gas discharge tube having a long service life and capable of an operational stability during long-time continuous light emission. The gas discharge tube includes an envelop for accommodating a hot cathode for emitting thermoelectrons, an anode plate for receiving the thermoelectrons, a focusing electrode having a focusing opening for converging a path of the thermoelectrons, and a discharge shielding member of an insulator having a through hole coaxially arranged with an inner diameter larger than the focusing opening, and a support member having projections efficiently gripping the anode plate with the discharge shielding member so as to increase the heat radiation efficiency of the anode plate.

Abstract: A gas discharge tube of the present invention has an envelope for accommodating an anode for receiving thermoelectrons emitted from a thermionic cathode, a focusing electrode for focusing a path of the thermoelectrons from the thermionic cathode to the anode, and a discharge shielding plate consisting of a material having electrical insulating properties, the anode being arranged in contact with one side of the discharge plate, and the focusing electrode being arranged in contact with the other side of the discharge shielding plate. Since the anode and the focusing electrode are arranged in contact with both the sides of the discharge shielding plate consisting of an insulating material such as a ceramic, the positions of these electrodes are held at high accuracy, and the electrical insulating properties therebetween are maintained even at a high temperature during long-time continuous light emission.