US3860852A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fluorescent lamp containing amalgam-forming material
Assignee: GTE Sylvania Inc
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Filing: 1974-04-04
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Granted: 1975-01-14
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Expires: 1994-04-04
Abstract
Abstract A tubular fluorescent lamp having a mount structure sealed in each end comprising a glass stem flared at one end and supporting an emissive coil electrode at the other end. Attached to each mount structure and extending from the electrode region to the flared region is a metal strip carrying an amalgam-forming material, such as a coating of indium. A first region of the amalgam-forming material is located at a higher temperature end of the strip near the electrode for facilitating starting, while a second region of the amalgam-forming material is located at a lower temperature end of the strip near the flare for regulating the mercury vapor pressure of the lamp during operation. The strip may also include means, such as a fin, for minimizing transfer of heat from the electrode to the amalgam-forming material at the lower temperature end of the strip.
Inventors
- 👤 Frank M Latassa
- 👤 Howard W Milke
- 👤 Tadius T Sadoski
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 23:31
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01J; H01J61/00; H01J61/70; H01J61/72
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
159 words
A LOW-PRESSURE MERCURY VAPOR DISCHARGE LAMP COMPRISING: AN HERMETICALLY SEALED, ELONGATED LIGHT-TRANSMITTING ENVELOPE CONTAINING AN INERT IONIZABLE FILL GAS AND A QUANTITY OF MERCURY, A MOUNT STRUCTURE INCLUDING A STEM SEALED TO AND EXTENDING INWARDLY FROM EACH END OF SAID ENVELOPE AND AN ELECTRODE SUPPORTED AT THE INWARD END OF EACH OF SAID STEMS, AT LEAST ONE OF SAID MOUNT STRUCTURES HAVING ATTACHED THERETO AN ELONGATED CARRIER EXTENDING FROM THE ELECTRODE REGION THEREOF TOWARD THE OPPOSITE END OF THE STEM THEREOF, AND AN AMALGAM-FORMING MATERIAL CONTAINED ON SAID CARRIER, A FIRST REGION OF SAID AMALGAM-FORMING MATERIAL BEING LOCATED AT THE END OF SAID CARRIER NEAR SAID ELECTRODE TO THEREBY HAVE A HIGHER OPERATING TEMPERATURE FOR FACILITATING STARTING OF SAID LAMP, AND A SECOND REGION OF SAID AMALGAM-FORMING MATERIAL BEING LOCATED AT THE OPPOSITE END OF SAID CARRIER TO THEREBY HAVE A LOWER OPERATING TEMPERATURE THAN SAID FIRST REGION FOR REGULATING THE MERCURY VAPOR PRESSURE OF SAID LAMP DURING OPERATION.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
159 words
A LOW-PRESSURE MERCURY VAPOR DISCHARGE LAMP COMPRISING: AN HERMETICALLY SEALED, ELONGATED LIGHT-TRANSMITTING ENVELOPE CONTAINING AN INERT IONIZABLE FILL GAS AND A QUANTITY OF MERCURY, A MOUNT STRUCTURE INCLUDING A STEM SEALED TO AND EXTENDING INWARDLY FROM EACH END OF SAID ENVELOPE AND AN ELECTRODE SUPPORTED AT THE INWARD END OF EACH OF SAID STEMS, AT LEAST ONE OF SAID MOUNT STRUCTURES HAVING ATTACHED THERETO AN ELONGATED CARRIER EXTENDING FROM THE ELECTRODE REGION THEREOF TOWARD THE OPPOSITE END OF THE STEM THEREOF, AND AN AMALGAM-FORMING MATERIAL CONTAINED ON SAID CARRIER, A FIRST REGION OF SAID AMALGAM-FORMING MATERIAL BEING LOCATED AT THE END OF SAID CARRIER NEAR SAID ELECTRODE TO THEREBY HAVE A HIGHER OPERATING TEMPERATURE FOR FACILITATING STARTING OF SAID LAMP, AND A SECOND REGION OF SAID AMALGAM-FORMING MATERIAL BEING LOCATED AT THE OPPOSITE END OF SAID CARRIER TO THEREBY HAVE A LOWER OPERATING TEMPERATURE THAN SAID FIRST REGION FOR REGULATING THE MERCURY VAPOR PRESSURE OF SAID LAMP DURING OPERATION.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
A lamp according to claim 1 wherein said carrier comprises an elongated strip of metal coated with said amalgam-forming material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
11 words
A lamp according to claim 1 wherein said carrier is foraminous.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
51 words
A lamp according to claim 1 wherein: each of said mount structure stems if formed of a vitreous material, and said carrier is made of a material selected from the group consisting of iron, steel, nickel, stainless steel, aluminum, titanium, a mesh of glass fibers or a mesh of guartz fibers.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
12 words
A lamp according to claim 4 wherein said amalgam-forming material is indium.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
A lamp according to claim 1 wherein said elongated carrier includes means for minimizing the transfer of heat from said electrode to the opposite end of said carrier where said second region of amalgam-forming material is located.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
42 words
A lamp according to claim 6 wherein said means for minimizing heat transfer comprises a heat-shield fin formed from said carrier to project approximately normal to the main portion thereof at a point between said first and second regions of amalgam-forming material.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
A lamp according to claim 6 wherein said means for minimizing heat transfer comprises a narrowed neck portion of said carrier between said first and second regions of amalgam-forming material.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
A lamp according to claim 1 wherein said elongated carrier is attached to said stem of said mount structure.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
A lamp according to claim 1 wherein said elongated carrier is metal and is attached at one end to the electrode supported by said mount-structure and thereby electrically connected to said electrode.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
33 words
A lamp according to claim 10 wherein said electrode comprises a cathode coil with anode probes attached thereto, and said one end of the carrier is attached to one of said anode probes.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
A lamp according to claim 11 wherein said carrier is also clamped to the stem of said mount structure.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
A lamp according to claim 1 wherein said first and second regions of amalgam-forming material comprise two separate patch coatings thereof on said carrier.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
63 words
A lamp according to claim 13 wherein the amount of amalgam-forming material in the first region thereof on each carrier in said lamp is approximately 3 to 10 milligrams, and the total amount of amalgam-forming material in the second regions thereof on all carriers in said lamp has a weight ratio to the mercury in said lamp of from about 2:1 to 12:1.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-01-13 | 1978-07-15 | 1979-01-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-01-13 | 1982-07-15 | 1983-01-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-01-13 | 1986-07-15 | 1987-01-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |