Metal vapour discharge lamp

Abstract: A metal vapor discharge lamp comprises a discharge tube having a ceramic container into which a pair of electrodes 17 and a discharge metal compound are sealed. The container comprises a first cylindrical portion 11, tapered portions 14a and 14b, second cylindrical portions 12a and 12b and third cylindrical portions 13a and 13b. The third cylindrical portions 13a and 13b are shrinkage-fitted to the second cylindrical portions 12a and 12b. The electrodes 17a and 17b are attached to the third cylindrical portion 13 with a sealing member 18. An inner wall of the third cylindrical portions 13 and the electrodes 17 define a gap. The inner surface of the tapered portions 14 and a central axis of the electrodes 17 define an angle of 40° - 80°. Thus, a metal vapor discharge lamp is provided whose discharge tube does not include disks among its parts, and which can maintain, over a long period of operation, good operating characteristics that depend only little on the lamp orientation.

Description: The present invention relates to a metal vapour discharge lamp using a ceramic material for the discharge tube. A conventional high-pressure metal vapour discharge lamp using a ceramic material for the discharge tube is disclosed, for example, in Publication of Unexamined Japanese Patent Application No. Hei 6-196131. This conventional high-pressure metal vapour discharge lamp uses a discharge tube where the two ends of a cylindrical portion are plugged with disks by shrinkage fitting. Regardless of the lamp orientation of this high-pressure metal vapour discharge lamp during operation, in other words for vertical operation, where the metal vapour discharge lamp is arranged so that the axes direction of the electrodes point in a vertical direction, as well as for horizontal operation, where the metal vapour discharge lamp is arranged so that the axes of the electrodes point in a horizontal direction, a condensed phase of the excess discharge metal compound is present in the shrinkage-fitted plug portion. Thus, a high-pressure metal vapour discharge lamp whose operating characteristics are independent from the lamp orientation can be obtained. However, since in this conventional high-pressure metal vapour discharge lamp the ends of two cylindrical portions of the discharge tube are plugged with disks by shrinkage fitting, the airtightness of the plug portion is not very reliable, and the lamp characteristics cannot be maintained sufficiently over long-term use. In this document and in EP-A-587238 a metal vapour discharge lamp is also disclosed that comprises a discharge tube comprising a container made of ceramics and having a first cylindrical portion, second cylindrical portions with an outer diameter that is smaller than the inner diameter of said first cylindrical portion and tapered portions having an inner surface and containing a discharge metal compound sealed into said container, and a pair of electrodes having first ends and second ends arranged in said container, wherein said first cylindrical portion, said tapered portions and said second cylindrical portions are formed in one piece, the first ends of said pair of electrodes oppose each other inside the container, the second ends of said pair of electrodes are attached and sealed into the second cylindrical portions using a sealing member, an inner wall of said second cylindrical portions and said electrodes define a gap, and the inner surface of said tapered portions and a central axis of said electrodes define an angle. Another configuration that has been proposed for high-pressure metal vapour discharge lamps using a ceramic discharge tube relates to a discharge tube with cylindrical portions and tapered portions, wherein the ends of two cylindrical portions are plugged by shrinkage fitting without disks. This high-pressure metal vapour discharge lamp can ensure airtightness with higher reliability, because the discharge tube is shrinkage-fitted without disks. However, its operating characteristics depend on the lamp orientation, and vary when the position of the condensed phase of the excess discharge metal compound changes. It is an object of the present invention to solve the problems of the prior art. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a metal vapour discharge lamp wherein (a) the discharge tube does not include disks among its parts and (b) the shape of the discharge tube is optimized, so that good operating characteristics are maintained over long-term use, and the operating characteristics depend only little on the lamp orientation. In order to achieve this purpose, a metal vapour discharge lamp in accordance with the present invention comprises a discharge tube comprising a container made of ceramic. The ceramic container has a first cylindrical portion; second cylindrical portions with an outer diameter that is smaller than an inner diameter of the first cylindrical portion; third cylindrical portions with an outer diameter that is substantially the same as an inner diameter of the second cylindrical portion; and tapered portions having an inner surface. The ceramic container contains a discharge metal compound sealed into the ceramic container. The metal vapour discharge lamp further comprises a pair of electrodes having first ends and second ends arranged in the ceramic container. The first cylindrical portion, the tapered portions and the second cylindrical portions are formed in one piece. Each of the third cylindrical portions is attached to one of the second cylindrical portions. The first ends of the pair of electrodes oppose each other inside the ceramic container. The second ends of the pair of electrodes are attached and sealed into the third cylindrical portions using a sealing member. An inner wall of the third cylindrical portions and the electrodes define a gap. The inner surface of the tapered portions and a central axis of the electrodes define an angle of 40° - 80°. This configuration raises the reliability with regard to airtightness compared to conventional configurations, which used disks for the sealing by shrinkage-fitting, because the first cylindrical portion, the second cylindrical portions and the tapered portions are formed in one piece. Moreover, a lamp whose characteristics do not depend on its orientation can be attained, because the inner surface of the tapered portions and a central axis of the electrodes define an angle of 40° - 80° It is preferable that the metal vapour discharge lamp satisfies 0.85d ≦ D ≦ 0.95d. wherein d (mm) is an inner diameter of the third cylindrical portions and D (mm) is an outer diameter of at least a portion of the electrodes. This configuration makes it possible to obtain a metal vapour discharge lamp with a long lifetime whose operating characteristics depend only little on the lamp orientation, because the condensed phase of the discharge metal compound does not easily enter the space between the electrodes and the third cylindrical portions during lamp operation. It is preferable that an axial length L (mm) of the gap defined by the inner wall of the third cylindrical portions and the electrodes of the metal vapour discharge lamp is 3mm ≦ L ≦ 10mm. If the axial length of the gap is less than 3mm, the end face of the sealing member in the third cylindrical portion is close to the discharge space, so that the lamps lifetime is shortened due to the reaction between the sealing member and the discharge metal compound. On the other hand, if the axial length of the gap is more than 10mm, the amount of the condensed phase of the discharge metal compound that enters the gap between the electrodes and the third cylindrical portions during operation becomes too large, so that the desired initial lamp characteristics cannot be attained. Consequently, in the present invention, it is preferable that that the axial length of the gap is within the above-mentioned range. Moreover, it is preferable that the sealing member of the metal vapour discharge lamp comprises a cermet. This preferable configuration makes it possible to obtain a metal vapour discharge lamp that is very resistant against thermal shocks that occur, for example, when the discharge tube is sealed or when the lamp is turned on or off. This is because the cermet plugs have an expansion coefficient that is closer to the expansion coefficient of the ceramic of the discharge tube than the feed portions. Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view outlining the configuration of a high-pressure metal vapour discharge lamp according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the discharge tube of the high-pressure metal vapour discharge lamp in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of part III of the discharge tube in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a graph showing how the correlated colour temperature difference due to the lamp orientation depends on the angle α of the tapered portion of the high-pressure metal vapor discharge lamp according to the first embodiment of the present invention Fig. 5 is a graph showing how the correlated colour temperature difference due to the lamp orientation depends on the outer diameter D of the feed portions of the high-pressure metal vapour discharge lamp according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 6 is a graph showing how the luminous flux maintenance factor depends on the operating time of the high-pressure metal vapour discharge lamp according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 7 is a graph showing how the initial correlated colour temperature depends on the length L of the gap between the feed portion and the third cylindrical portion of the high-pressure metal vapour discharge lamp according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 8 is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view of the discharge tube of a high-pressure metal vapour discharge lamp according to a second embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 9 is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view of the discharge tube of a high-pressure metal vapour discharge lamp according to a third embodiment of the present invention. The following is an explanation of preferred embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings. First Embodiment Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view outlining the configuration of a high-pressure metal vapour discharge lamp according to the first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Fig. 1, the high-pressure metal vapour discharge lamp according to this embodiment comprises a ceramic discharge tube 1 inside an outer tube 9, a transparent cylinder 2 surrounding the discharge tube 1, and metal plates 3a and 3b supporting the transparent cylinder 2. A current supply wire 4a is lead through a first side of the discharge tube 1, and a current supply wire 4b is lead through a second side of the discharge tube 1. Inside the outer tube 9, the high-pressure metal vapour discharge lamp further comprises a stem 5, a supporting wire 6a, which passes through the metal plate 3b and is supported by the stem 5, a supporting wire 6b that is similarly supported by the stem 5, a supporting wire 8 connected to the supporting wire 6b, and an insulating sleeve 7 provided at the metal plate 3b. A base 10 is attached to an aperture portion of the outer tube 9. The current supply wire 4b is connected to the supporting wire 6a. The current supply wire 4a is welded to the metal plate 3a and to the supporting wire 8, which is connected to the supporting wire 6b. The current supply wire 4b and the metal plate 3b of this embodiment are insulated by the insulating sleeve 7. The stem 5 seals the discharge tube 1 into the outer tube 9, and the base 10 is attached so as to cover the sealing portion of the stem 5 while evacuating the outer tube 9. Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of the discharge tube 1 in the high-pressure metal vapour discharge lamp of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of part III of the discharge tube 1 in Fig. 2. As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the discharge tube of the present embodiment comprises a first cylindrical portion 11, second cylindrical portions 12 a and 12b, third cylindrical portions 13a and 13b, and tapered portions 14a and 14b connecting the first cylindrical portion 11 to the second cylindrical portions 12a and 12b. The first cylindrical portion 11, the tapered portions 14a and 14b, and the second cylindrical portions 12a and 12b are formed in one piece. The angle between the tapered portion 14a and the central axis of an electrode 17a is α. Also the angle between the tapered portion 14b and the central axis of an electrode 17b is α. The second cylindrical portion 12a and the third cylindrical portion 13a, as well as the second cylindrical portion 12b and the third cylindrical portion 13b are connected by shrinkage fitting. The inner diameter of the third cylindrical portions 13a and 13b is d (in mm). The electrodes 17a and 17b of the present embodiment comprise feed portions 16a and 16b, and electrode rods 19a and 19b, which are fixed with electrode coils 15a and 15b to one side of the feed portions. The electrode coils 15a and 15b connect the ends of the feed portions 16a and 16b to the ends of the electrode rods 19a and 19b and hold them together. The other ends of the feed portions 16a and 16b are connected to the current supply wires 4a and 4b. A frit seal 18 is filled into the third cylindrical portions 13a and 13b at a portion of the current supply wires 4a and 4b and a portion of the feed portions 16a and 16b, so that the inside of the first cylindrical portion 11, the second cylindrical portions 12a and 12b and the third cylindrical portions 13a and 13b is airtightly sealed. A coil is wound around the feed portions 16a and 16b, and including the coil, the outer diameter of the feed portions 16a and 16 b is D (in mm). The length of the portion where a small gap is formed between the third cylindrical portions 13a and 13b and the electrodes 17a and 17b is L (in mm). The axial length C of the first cylindrical portion 11 is 10.8mm, its inner diameter A is 10.7mm, its wall-thickness B is 0.65 mm. It is preferable that A / C is at least 0.8. The wall-thickness E of the second cylindrical portions 12a and 12b is 1.6 mm. The axial length H of the third cylindrical portion is 17.3 mm. The axial length of the overlapping portion F of the second cylindrical portions 12a and 12b with the third cylindrical portions 13a and 13b is 3.1 mm, and the outer diameter G of the third cylindrical portions 13a and 13b (i.e. the inner diameter of the second cylindrical portions 12a and 12b) is 3.2 mm. For a discharge tube 1 as described above, we investigated how the initial characteristics depend on variations of the lamp orientation when the angle α is varied between 30 and 80°. The differences in the correlated colour temperature at 150W lamp power between vertical operation and horizontal operation were taken as the initial characteristics dependent on variations of the lamp orientation. A tungsten wire of 0.25 mm sectional diameter wound five turns around the electrode rods 19a and 19b was used for the electrode coils 15a and 15b. A tungsten rod with 0.5 mm sectional diameter was used for the feed portions 16a and 16b. The inner diameter of the third cylindrical portion was 1mm, and a molybdenum wire of 0.2 mm sectional diameter wound 50 turns around the feed portions 16a and 16b was used for the coils. A niobium wire of 0.92 mm sectional diameter was used for the current feed wires 4a and 4b. Tungsten rods were used for the electrode rods 19a and 19b. For the sealed-in metal compound, 5.0 mg of dysprosium iodide, thallium iodide, sodium iodide and lithium iodide in a weight ratio of 22:19:55:4 was added to 16 KPa argon gas. Then a suitable amount of mercury was added to establish a lamp voltage of 93 V. The molybdenum wire coil that is wrapped around the feed portion 16a and the electrode rod 19a provides a high temperature resistance and a low reactivity with the emission metallic compound (halide). It is also possible to use a tungsten wire instead of the molybdenum wire. The result of the above investigation is shown in Fig. 4, where the abscissa marks the angle α, and the ordinate marks the difference between the correlated colour temperatures. As becomes clear from Fig. 4, the operating characteristics do not depend as strongly on the lamp orientation when the angle α is large, and to keep the change of the correlated colour temperatures below 300K, α has to be at least 40°. When the discharge tube is produced, the discharge tube material is expanded along a form or poured into a form. Thus, for angles α of more than 80°, it is difficult to sustain the thickness of the tapered portions 14a and 14b, and irregularities become considerable, so that the production of such a discharge tube becomes difficult. Therefore, angles α of more than 80°, have been exempted from our investigation. Next, the angle α was set to 45°, and the inner diameter d of the third cylindrical portion 13a and 13b to 1 mm. Then, the diameter of the molybdenum wire wrapped around the feed portions 16a and 16b was changed so that the outer diameter D of the feed portions 16a and 16b varied between 0.7 mm and 0.95 mm, and the dependency of the initial characteristics on the lamp orientation variations was examined. As above, we took the difference between the correlated color temperatures as the initial characteristics. The result of the above investigation is shown in Fig. 5, where the abscissa marks the ratio between the outer diameter D (in mm) of the feed portion and the inner diameter d (in mm) of the third cylindrical portion, and the ordinate marks the difference between the correlated colour temperatures. As becomes clear from Fig. 5, the operating characteristics do not depend as strongly on the lamp orientation when the outer diameter D is large, and to keep the change of the correlated colour temperatures below 300K, the outer diameter D has to be at least 0.8 mm. Because of dimensional irregularities in the feed portions 16a and 16b and the third cylindrical portions 13a and 13b, the coils wound around the feed portions 16a and 16b occasionally cannot be inserted into the third cylindrical portions 13a and 13b when the outer diameter D is larger than 0.95mm, and a production with a good yield cannot be attained, so that larger outer diameters D have been exempted from our investigation. Thus, the result of our investigation is that it is preferable that the relationship between the inner diameter d of the third cylindrical portions 13a and 13b and the outer diameter D of the feed portions 16a and 16b is governed by 0.85d ≦ D ≦ 0.95d. In the present embodiment, the outer diameter D of the feed portions 16a and 16b was 0.9mm and the inner diameter d of the third cylindrical portions 13a and 13b was set to 1mm. Next, the angle α was set to 45°, and the inner diameter d of the third cylindrical portions 13a and 13b to 1 mm. Then, it was investigated how the luminous flux maintenance factor and the initial correlated color temperature at vertical operation depend on the gap length L, which was varied between 1mm and 12mm. The result of these investigations is shown in Figs. 6 and 7. As is shown in Fig. 6, when L is less than 3 mm (i.e. when L = 1 mm or L = 2 mm), a lifetime of 6000 hours cannot be achieved, and the luminous flux maintenance factor drops below 70% at an early stage. On the other hand, when L is at least 3 mm, a luminous flux maintenance factor of more than 70% can be maintained even after an operating time of 6000 hours. However, when L is 11 mm or larger, the initial correlated colour temperature digresses from the target range of 4100K - 4500K, as can be seen from Fig. 7. In order to correct this, the sealed material can be increased, or the tubewall load can be raised, but these methods decrease the lifetime of the lamp. Thus, in the present embodiment, it is preferable that the length L of the gap in the feed portions 16a and 16b is 3 mm ≦ L ≦ 10 mm. Thus, according to the present embodiment, a metal vapour discharge lamp can be obtained that displays excellent colour rendition with high luminous efficacy, and has excellent long-term use characteristics (lifetime) regardless of the lamp orientation. It is preferable that the axial length of the overlapping portion F (see Fig. 3) of the second cylindrical portion 12a with the third cylindrical portion 13a is 1.5 mm ≦ F ≦ 4.5 mm. If F is less than 1.5mm, gaps appear easily in the junction between the second cylindrical portion 12a and the third cylindrical portion 13a, and problems with the airtightness may develop. On the other hand, if F is larger than 4.5 mm, the thermal capacity of the second cylindrical portion 12a becomes too large, the heat loss increases, and the luminous efficacy of the lamp decreases. It is preferable that the relation between the wall thickness E of the second cylindrical portion 12a and the wall thickness g of the third cylindrical portion 13a is 0.5g ≦ E ≦ 3g. If E is less than 0.5g, the strength of the junction of the second cylindrical portion 12a and the third cylindrical portion 13a may not be sufficient. On the other hand, if E is larger than 3g, the thermal capacity of the second cylindrical portion 12a becomes too large, the heat loss increases, and the luminous efficacy of the lamp decreases. It is preferable that the relation between the wall thickness B of the first cylindrical portion 11 and the wall thickness E of the second cylindrical portion 12a is 0.8 ≦ E/B ≦ 4.0. If E / B is less than 0.8, the strength of the junction of the second cylindrical portion 12a and the third cylindrical portion 13a may not be sufficient. On the other hand, if E / B is larger than 4.0, the thermal capacity of the second cylindrical portion 12a becomes too large, the heat loss increases, and the luminous efficacy of the lamp decreases. It is preferable that the relation between the axial length F of the second cylindrical portion 12a and the axial length H of the third cylindrical portion 13a is 0.1 ≦ F/H ≦ 0.3. If F / H is less than 0.1, gaps appear easily in the junction between the second cylindrical portion 12a and the third cylindrical portion 13a, and problems with the airtightness may develop. On the other hand, if F / H is larger than 0.3, the thermal capacity of the second cylindrical portion 12a becomes too large, the heat loss increases, and the luminous efficacy of the lamp decreases. Second Embodiment Fig. 8 shows an enlarged partial cross-sectional view of a discharge tube in a high-pressure metal vapour discharge lamp according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The discharge tube of this embodiment has basically the same configuration as the discharge tube in the first embodiment, only the configuration of the feed portion is different. In the first embodiment, a coil is wound around the feed portions, and the spacing between the outer diameter D of the feed portion in conjunction with the coil and the inner diameter d of the third cylindrical portion was prescribed. In this embodiment, on the other hand, no coil is wound around the feed portion 36, and the spacing between the outer diameter D of the feed portion 36 itself and the inner diameter d of the third cylindrical portion 33 is prescribed. The discharge tube of this embodiment includes a first cylindrical portion 31, tapered portions 34, and second cylindrical portions 32 that are formed in one piece. The second cylindrical portions 32 and the third cylindrical portions 33 are plugged together by shrinkage fitting. Moreover, in this embodiment, the electrode 37 comprises an electrode rod 39 to which an electrode coil 35 is attached on one end, and a feed portion 36 connected to the other end of the electrode rod 39. Furthermore, a current supply wire 4 is connected to the other end of the feed portion 36 (i.e. the end that is not connected to the electrode rod 39). A portion of the current supply wire 4 and a portion of the feed portion 36 are airtightly sealed with the third cylindrical portion 33 and a frit seal 18. The discharge tube of the high-pressure metal vapour discharge lamp according to this embodiment thus differs from the discharge tube in the first embodiment in the configuration of the electrode shaft (there is no coil wound around the feed portions in this embodiment). However, the configuration of all other elements is basically the same, and, as has been mentioned above, the relationship between the outer diameter D of the feed portion 36 and the inner diameter d of the third cylindrical portion 33 is governed by 0.8d ≦ D ≦ 0.95d. Moreover, as mentioned above, the length L of the gap between the feed portion 36 and the third cylindrical portion 33 is 3 mm ≦ L ≦ 10 mm. Consequently, the present embodiment can attain the same positive effects as the first embodiment. To be specific, the outer diameter D of the feed portion 36 can be set to 0.92 mm, and the inner diameter d of the third cylindrical portion 33 to 1.0 mm, the length L of the gap to 7 mm, and the outer diameter of the electrode including the electrode coil 35 wound around it can be 0.5 mm. Moreover, since the feed portion 36 in this embodiment is configured as described above, the condensed phase of the sealed-in material does not as easily enter the space between the inner wall of the third cylindrical portion 33 and the electrode 37 (feed portion 36), so that a high-pressure metal vapour discharge lamp with a long lifetime whose operating characteristics depend only little on the lamp orientation can be obtained. It is preferable that the relation between the axial length L s of the gap formed between the inner wall of the third cylindrical portion 33 and the feed portion 36 and the axial length L of the gap between the inner wall of the third cylindrical portion 33 and the electrode 37 is 0.4L ≦ L s ≦ 1.0L. If L s is less than 0.4L, too much condensed phase of the excess discharge metal enters the gap between the inside of the third cylindrical portion 33 and the electrode coil 35, and the dependency of the lamp characteristics on the lamp's orientation becomes strong. If, on the other hand, L s is greater than 1.0L, the feed portion protrudes into the discharge space, so that calescent points due to arc discharge develop on the feed portion, which may result in negative effects, such as the blackening of the discharge tube. Third Embodiment Fig. 9 shows an enlarged cross-sectional view of a discharge tube in a high-pressure metal vapour discharge lamp according to a third embodiment of the present invention. The discharge tube of this embodiment has basically the same configuration as the discharge tube in the first embodiment, only the configuration of the electrodes 27a and 27b, and the method with which the electrodes 27a and 27b are sealed into the third cylindrical portions 23a and 23b is different. The electrodes 27a and 27b comprise electrode rods 29a and 29b, electrode coils 25a and 25b fixed to first ends of the electrode rods 29a and 29b and feed portions 26a and 26b connected to second ends of the electrode rods 29a and 29b. The second ends of the feed portions 26a and 26b are connected to first ends of cermet plugs 28a and 28b. The second ends of the cermet plugs 28a and 28b are connected to first ends of current supply wires 4a and 4b. The cermet plugs 28a and 28b seal the electrodes 27a and 27b into the third cylindrical portions 23a and 23b. The cermet plugs 28a and 28b are made of aluminium oxide and molybdenum. Molybdenum also was used as a material for the current supply wires 4a and 4b. The discharge tube according to the present embodiment is formed in one piece comprising a first cylindrical portion 21, tapered portions 24a and 24b and second cylindrical portions 22a and 22b. The second cylindrical portions 22a and 22b and the third cylindrical portions 23a and 23b are plugged together by shrinkage fitting. The discharge tube in the high-pressure metal vapour discharge lamp according to this embodiment thus differs from the discharge tube in the first embodiment in the method of sealing (structure) the electrode into the third cylindrical portion. However, the configuration of all other elements is basically the same, so that the present embodiment can attain the same positive effects as the first embodiment by adjusting the dimensions of various structural elements to appropriate ranges. Moreover, since the present embodiment uses cermet plugs 28a and 28b for the sealing of the electrodes 27a and 27b into the third cylindrical portions 23a and 23b, a high-pressure metal vapour discharge lamp can be obtained that is very resistant against thermal shocks that occur, for example, when the discharge tube is sealed or when the lamp is turned on or off, and has sealing portions that do not crack readily. This is because the cermet plugs have an expansion coefficient that is closer to the expansion coefficient of the ceramic of the discharge tube 1 than the feed portions (electrodes). Moreover, by sealing the cermet plugs 28a and 28b completely into the third cylindrical portions 23a and 23b, leakage currents from the cermet surface can be prevented. To obtain current supply wires 4a and 4b with sufficient strength, it is preferable to use a metal other than cermet.

Claims: A metal vapour discharge lamp comprising: a discharge tube (1) comprising a container made of ceramics, said container having a first cylindrical portion (11); second cylindrical portions (12a,12b) with an outer diameter that is smaller than an inner diameter of said first cylindrical portion (11); third cylindrical portions (13a,13b) with an outer diameter (G) that is substantially the same as an inner diameter of said second cylindrical portions (12a, 12b) tapered portions (14a, 14b) connecting the first cylindrical portion (11) to the second cylindrical portions (12a, 12b), said tapered portions having an inner surface; and containing a discharge metal compound sealed into said container; and a pair of electrodes (17a,17b) having first ends and second ends arranged in said container; wherein said first cylindrical portion (11), said tapered portions (14a,14b) and said second cylindrical portions (12a,12b) are formed in one piece; each of said third cylindrical portions (13a,13b) is attached to one of said second cylindrical portions (12a,12b); the first ends of said pair of electrodes (17a,17b) oppose each other inside the container; the second ends of said pair of electrodes (17a,17b) are attached and sealed into the third cylindrical portions (13a,13b) using a sealing member; an inner wall of said third cylindrical portions and said electrodes (17a,17b) define a gap; and the inner surface of said tapered portions (14a,14b) and a central axis of said electrodes (17a,17b) define an angle (α) of 40° - 80°. The metal vapour discharge lamp according to Claim 1, characterized in that 0.85d ≦ D < 0.95d wherein d (mm) is an inner diameter of said third cylindrical portions (13a,13b) and D (mm) is an outer diameter of at least a portion of said electrodes (17a, 17b). The metal vapour discharge lamp according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that an axial length L (mm) of the gap defined by the inner wall of said third cylindrical portions (13a,13b) and said electrodes (17a,17b) is 3mm ≦ L ≦ 10mm. The metal vapour discharge lamp according to any of the Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said second cylindrical portions (12a, 12b) overlap said third cylindrical portions (13a,13b) in an axial direction over a length F (mm) of 1.5mm ≦ F ≦ 4.5mm. The metal vapour discharge lamp according to any of the Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that 0.5g ≦ E ≦ 3g wherein E (mm) is a wall thickness of said second cylindrical portions (12a,12b), and g (mm) is a wall thickness of said third cylindrical portions (13a,13b) The metal vapour discharge lamp according to any of the Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that A/C ≧ 0.8 wherein C is a length of said first cylindrical portion (11), and A is an inner diameter of said first cylindrical portion (11). The metal vapour discharge lamp according to any of the Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that said electrodes (17a,17b) have a coil (15a,15b) at least at a portion of an electrode (17a,17b) portion located inside said third cylindrical portions (13a,13b). The metal vapour discharge lamp according to Claim 7, characterized in that said coil (15a,15b) comprises molybdenum. The metal vapour discharge lamp according to any of the Claims 1 to 8, characterized in that said electrodes (17a,17b) comprise a feed portion (16a,16b) located inside said third cylindrical portions; and an electrode rod (19a, 19b), having a first and a second end, whose diameter is equal to or smaller than the diameter of said feed portion (16a, 16b); wherein the first end of said electrode rod (19a,19b) is connected to said feed portion (16a,16b); and the second end of said electrode rod (19a,19b) is located in said container. The metal vapour discharge lamp according to Claim 9, characterized in that said feed portion (16a,16b) comprises tungsten. The metal vapour discharge lamp according to Claim 9 or 10, characterized in that 0.4L ≦ L s ≦ 1.0L wherein L s (mm) is an axial length of a gap defined by an inner wall of said third cylindrical portions (13a,13b) and said feed portion (16a,16b), and L (mm) is an axial length of a gap defined by the inner wall of said third cylindrical portions (13a,13b) and said electrodes (17a,17b). The metal vapour discharge lamp according to any of the Claims 1 to 11, characterized in that 0.8 ≦ E/B ≦ 4.0 wherein B (mm) is a wall-thickness of said first cylindrical portion (11), and E (mm) is a wall-thickness of said second cylindrical portion (12a,12b). The metal vapour discharge lamp according to any of the Claims 1 to 12, characterized in that 0.1 ≦ F/H ≦ 0.3 wherein F (mm) is an axial length of said second cylindrical portion (12a,12b), and H (mm) is an axial length of said third cylindrical portion (13a,13b), The metal vapour discharge lamp according to any of the Claims 1 to 13, characterized in that said sealing member comprises a cermet. The metal vapour discharge lamp according to Claim 14, characterized in that said sealing member is enclosed by said third cylindrical portion (13a,13b). The metal vapour discharge lamp according to Claim 14 or 15, characterized in that said cermet comprises aluminum oxide and molybdenum. The metal vapour discharge lamp according to any of the Claims 1 to 16, characterized in that said second cylindrical portion (12a,12b) and said third cylindrical portion (13a,13b) are connected by shrinkage fitting. The metal vapour discharge lamp according to any of the Claims 1 to 17, characterized in that a correlated colour temperature difference between vertical operation and horizontal operation is not more than 300K.

Inventors: NAKAYAMA SHIKI, NISHIURA YOSHIHARU, NOHARA HIROSHI, SUGIMOTO KOUICHI, TAKEDA KAZUO, YAMAMOTO TAKASHI, NAKAYAMA, SHIKI, NISHIURA, YOSHIHARU, NOHARA, HIROSHI, SUGIMOTO, KOUICHI, TAKEDA, KAZUO, YAMAMOTO, TAKASHI
Applicants: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC IND CO LTD, MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
Application year: 1998
Main classification: H01J61
IPC codes: H01J61