US4020378A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Integral mercury-vapor pressure regulating means for fluorescent lamp
Assignee: Philips North America LLC
•
Filing: 1976-01-26
•
Granted: 1977-04-26
•
Expires: 1996-01-26
Abstract
Abstract The mercury-vapor pressure within a fluorescent lamp is controlled by a metal (indium or an alloy of indium and tin, for example) that wets glass, combines with the mercury within the lamp to form an amalgam and is divided into segments which are fused directly to one or both of the glass stems at spaced locations. The amalgamative-metal segments are of such shape and mass that they inherently remain in place on the stem when they are heat-softened and pressed onto the glass surface. Segments of larger size and mass are retained in place by an overlying porous layer of inert material that adheres to the glass or by an embedded wire mesh member and an exterior porous coating of inert material. The amalgamative metal can also be combined with a fusible binder to form a composite which is divided into small pellets that are pressed onto the glass stem and held in place by the adhesive action of the binder when the latter is fused during the bulb-lehring operation required to fabricate the lamp.
Inventors
- 👤 Chalmers Morehead
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 15:08
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01J; H01J9/00; H01J9/02; H01J9/18; H01J61/00; H01J61/02; H01J61/24; H01J61/28; H01J61/70; H01J61/72
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
149 words
In a low-pressure electric discharge lamp having an envelope that contains an ionizable medium which includes mercury, integral means for controlling the mercury-vapor pressure within the lamp during operation comprising; a vitreous stem secured to and extending inwardly into said envelope, an electrode supported beyond the inner end of said stem, and a predetermined quantity of a metal that combines with the mercury in the lamp and forms an amalgam which regulates the mercury-vapor pressure within the lamp during operation thereof, said predetermined quantity of amalgamative metal being divided into a plurality of discrete segments that are fused to the surface of a selected portion of said stem and are disposed at spaced locations around the periphery of said selected stem portion in such physical relationship with said electrode that the formed amalgam segments maintain the mercury-vapor pressure within a selected range when the lamp is energized and operated.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
149 words
In a low-pressure electric discharge lamp having an envelope that contains an ionizable medium which includes mercury, integral means for controlling the mercury-vapor pressure within the lamp during operation comprising; a vitreous stem secured to and extending inwardly into said envelope, an electrode supported beyond the inner end of said stem, and a predetermined quantity of a metal that combines with the mercury in the lamp and forms an amalgam which regulates the mercury-vapor pressure within the lamp during operation thereof, said predetermined quantity of amalgamative metal being divided into a plurality of discrete segments that are fused to the surface of a selected portion of said stem and are disposed at spaced locations around the periphery of said selected stem portion in such physical relationship with said electrode that the formed amalgam segments maintain the mercury-vapor pressure within a selected range when the lamp is energized and operated.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
The discharge lamp of claim 1 wherein each of said amalgamative-metal segments is retained in position on the stem by a porous adherent layer of inert material that extends over said metal segments and the surrounding portions of said stem.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
The discharge lamp of claim 1 wherein said amalgamative-metal segments contain admixed finely-divided material and a fused binder which together constitute an inert porous matrix that bonds the metal segments to the stem.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
128 words
In a fluorescent lamp that is adapted for operation at a predetermined power loading and has an elongated glass envelope, the combination of; a glass stem that has a tubular portion and a flared portion which is sealed to an end of said envelope, an electrode supported at a location beyond said stem by lead wires that are sealed through a fused part of said stem, and p1 means for controlling the mercury-vapor pressure within said envelope when the lamp is operated at said power loading comprising a plurality of discrete bits of mercury-containing amalgam that wet and are bonded to the surface of a selected part of said stem, said amalgam bits being disposed in spaced-apart array around the circumference of said selected part of the stem.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
128 words
In a fluorescent lamp that is adapted for operation at a predetermined power loading and has an elongated glass envelope, the combination of; a glass stem that has a tubular portion and a flared portion which is sealed to an end of said envelope, an electrode supported at a location beyond said stem by lead wires that are sealed through a fused part of said stem, and p1 means for controlling the mercury-vapor pressure within said envelope when the lamp is operated at said power loading comprising a plurality of discrete bits of mercury-containing amalgam that wet and are bonded to the surface of a selected part of said stem, said amalgam bits being disposed in spaced-apart array around the circumference of said selected part of the stem.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
The fluorescent lamp of claim 4 wherein; each of said bits of amalgam are of substantially the same size and have a mass no greater than about 10 milligrams, and the major constituent of said amalgam comprises indium.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
40 words
The fuorescent lamp of claim 4 wherein; said lamp has a nominal rating of 40 watts and is approximately 122 centimeters long, and said bits of amalgam are arrayed around the circumference of said stem adjacent the flared portion thereof.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
45 words
The 40 watt fluorescent lamp of claim 6 wherein each of said bits of amalgam have a mass no greater than about 10 milligrams and a configuration such that they are each in contact with at least approximately 3 square millimeters of the stem surface.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
48 words
The fluorescent lamp of claim 4 wherein; said lamp is adapted to operate at a power loading in excess of about 10 watts per foot of arc length, and said bits of amalgam are located on the tubular portion of said stem inwardly from the flared portion thereof.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
The fluorescent lamp of claim 8 wherein said bits of amalgam are disposed in rows that are spaced from one another and extend around the circumference of the tubular portion of said stem.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
42 words
the fluorescent lamp of claim 4 wherein each of said bits of amalgam are of substantially the same size, have a mass greater than 10 milligrams and are retained in place on said stem by a porous adherent layer of inert material.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
49 words
The fluorescent lamp of claim 10 wherein said layer of inert material comprises a mixture of (a) an unfused material selected from the group consisting of titania, zirconia, and blends thereof and (b) a fused binder selected from the group consisting of boric oxide lead monoxide, and blends thereof.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
The fluorescent lamp of claim 11 wherein said porous layer of inert material consists essentially of admixed titania and fused boric anhydride.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
The fluorescent lamp of claim 4 wherein said bits of amalgam are located in recesses in the surface of the stem.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
35 words
The fluorescent lamp of claim 13 wherein a porous layer of inert material extends over each of said bits of amalgam and is bonded to the portions of said stem that surround the respective recesses.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
32 words
The fluorescent lamp of claim 4 wherein said bits of amalgam are of rounded configuration and contain an inert admixed material that constitutes a porous matrix which is fused to the stem.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
34 words
The fluorescent lamp of claim 15 wherein; said bits of amagam are less than about 1 millimeter in diameter, and said inert admixed material comprises a mixture of powdered titania and fused boric anhydride.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
74 words
The fluorescent lamp of claim 4 wherein; said bits of amalgam comprise elongated strips that are disposed in end-to-end spaced apart relation around the circumference of the tubular portion of said stem, a single strip of foraminous material is embedded in and extends beyond the sides and ends of the amalgam strips, and the exposed surfaces of said strips of amalgam and foraminous material are coated with a porous layer of inert powdered material.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
38 words
The fluorescent of claim 17 wherein said strip of foraminous material comprises a piece of wire mesh and said porous layer of inert material extends over the entire outer surface of said wire mesh and the amalgam strips.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
55 words
In a low-pressure gaseous discharge lamp having a sealed light-transmitting envelope that contains mercury, the combination comprisingl; a member that constitutes an interior structural part of the lamp and has a surface portion that is indented and defines a recess which is accessible to mercury vapor produced within the envelope when the lamp is energized,
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
55 words
In a low-pressure gaseous discharge lamp having a sealed light-transmitting envelope that contains mercury, the combination comprisingl; a member that constitutes an interior structural part of the lamp and has a surface portion that is indented and defines a recess which is accessible to mercury vapor produced within the envelope when the lamp is energized,
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
48 words
an electrode supported within said envelope at a location remote from said member, a metal disposed within the recess in said member, said metal being of a type that combines with mercury and forms an amalgam, and means retaining said metal in the recess defined by said member.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
48 words
an electrode supported within said envelope at a location remote from said member, a metal disposed within the recess in said member, said metal being of a type that combines with mercury and forms an amalgam, and means retaining said metal in the recess defined by said member.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
31 words
The combination of claim 19 wherein said retaining means comprises a porous layer of inert material that extends over the recess and is attached to the surrounding portion of the member.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
28 words
The combination of claim 19 wherein said retaining means comprises a binder that is admixed with the amalgamative metal and is fused to the surface of said member.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
31 words
The combination of claim 19 wherein the indented portion of said member is of such configuration that the recess has a constricted opening which retains the amalgamative metal in said recess.
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) | 1980-04-25 | 1980-10-25 | 1981-04-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-04-25 | 1984-10-25 | 1985-04-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-04-25 | 1988-10-25 | 1989-04-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |