Abstract: Sodium metal has been found to be effective in gettering excess halogen present in metal halide lamps containing mercury, an inert starting gas and at least one ionizable metal halide for forming a light-emitting arc.

Abstract: An oxygen detector for use in a double envelope lamp is described. The detector may be formed by nitriding a metal surface to produce a metal piece with a first visual color or state. The surface thickness is sufficient to exclude oxygen during normal assemble, but thin enough to change colors during lamp operation if oxygen is present.

Abstract: There is provided a metallic tape supporting a mercury vapor releasing material, preferably Ti.sub.3 Hg, admixed with a non-evaporable getter metal, preferably an alloy of 84% Zr--15% Al, contained within a continuous series of depressions within the tape. The depressions form a successive series of pairs of depressions preferably each having an oval shape. Each pair of oval shaped depressions is separated by a distance greater than the distance separating the individual oval shapes. The tape can then be cut between each pair of depressions to form a small strip containing two depressions. Such a small strip can then be folded through an angle of approximately 180.degree. about an axis, in the plane of the tape midway between the depressions, perpendicular to the tape length. This folded strip can then be welded to a support and used as a cold cathode electrode in a miniature fluorescent lamp.

Abstract: A metal halide lamp having a vacuum shroud is disclosed. The vacuum shroud substantially eliminates the detrimental catephoresis effects of operating a metal halide lamp from a low frequency alternating current (A.C.) source or direct current (D.C.) sources, reduces the sodium migration losses typically experienced with a metal halide lamp, reduces the photoelectrons contribution to sodium losses for the metal halide lamp, reduces the detrimental effects of the hydrogen and water that may be within the general confines of such a metal halide lamp, and provides a containment function for an inner envelope that may be operated at a relatively high pressure and possibly experience rupturing to cause the dislodgment of the ruptured material to possibly fracture a glass member confining the metal halide lamp.

Abstract: The invention relates to an unsaturated high-pressure sodium lamp provided with a discharge vessel enclosing a discharge space, having a ceramic wall and closed at both ends by a leadthrough element to which an electrode is secured, and at least one electrode provided with emitter material. The fill material within the discharge vessel contains sodium, mercury and a rare gas. According to the invention, the discharge space also contains in metallic form one or more of the elements Mg, Ca, Sr and Ba up to at most 10% by weight of the mercury metered.

Abstract: A heatable sorption getter body for reactive residual gas clean-up in sealed vessels is provided. The getter body includes an insulating member, two electrical contacts, and a getter composition applied over surface portions of the insulating member. The insulating member serves as a carrier for the getter composition. The getter precursor composition is applied preliminarily after which the resulting dried assembly is subjected to sintering to complete preparation of the getter composition before the getter body is positioned in a sealed vessel.

Abstract: A hydrogen getter for use within the arc tube assembly of a gas discharge lamp e.g. a high pressure sodium discharge lamp, comprises a layer (11) of a getter material (eg Ti) sandwiched by diffusion bonding between layers (12, 13) of a hydrogen permeable material (eg Nb) there being an exposed region of getter material. Hydrogen getters in the form of disc-like washers are formed from the sandwiched layers by a stamping process.

Abstract: An arc tube (13) for a high pressure sodium discharge lamp (10) contains a quantity of a getter materal which comprises an alloy of titanium and niobium metal. The alloy is in the form of a coiled wire (31) which is wound on a tungsten electrode shank (29). The wire may have a sheath of niobium metal.

Abstract: In an arc tube for a high intensity metal halide discharge lamp, a particular composition of metal halide dose is provided to control thorium transport to the electrodes within the arc tube and tungsten transport to the wall to improve arc tube performance.

Abstract: In the present invention, a getter assembly is formed by a housing containing a cavity in which the passageway into the cavity is covered by an end cover which is permeable to selected gases. Internal to the cavity formed by the housing is an activated getter material for eliminating selected gas contaminants within the cavity.

Abstract: A low-pressure alkali metal vapor discharge lamp has a getter for bi- and triatomic gases and a getter holder in the arc tube near at least one electrode. The electrodes need be heated less strongly during evacuation of the prior to final dosing, as a result of which no emitter material of the electrodes is lost. The ignition voltage is considerably lower than that of conventional lamps without a getter.

Abstract: In a glow switch starter comprising an airtight envelope in which a dischargeable gas is contained, and an electrode assembly hermetically sealed in one end of the envelope and having a stem in which a pair of electrodes are set, one or both of which are movable electrodes, a film formed of a mixture of 40% to 90% (by weight) metal barium and 60% to 10% (by weight) metal oxide is deposited on that region of the inner surface of the envelope, which is spaced apart from the stem, at a rate of 0.4 mg to 12.5 mg per cubic centimeter of the envelope capacity.

Abstract: In devices provided with an evacuated bulb in which is present an activated metallic getter, hydrocarbons can be released or produced. As a result, the gas pressure and the heat conductivity increase. In devices according to the invention, for example, low-pressure sodium vapour discharge lamps, solar collectors, display tubes and image intensifiers, a getter auxiliary means is provided. The auxiliary means comprises an inorganic porous carrier charged with a transition metal having an atomic number from the series 23 to 29, 41 to 47 and 73 to 79, in elementary form or in oxide form, or with a combination of at least two of the said materials.