US4908546A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Lead-in wire for compact fluorescent lamps
Assignee: Osram Sylvania Inc
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Filing: 1988-06-27
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Granted: 1990-03-13
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Expires: 2008-06-27
Abstract
Abstract This invention relates to the lead-in wires used in association with press seals in soda-lime glass for achieving electrical connection into the sealed envelope of a compact fluorescent lamp. The lead-in wires have a core comprising nickel and iron. A metallic plating on the core prevents formation of Fe 2 O 3 during lamp sealing. The invention improves lamp life by maintaining seal integrity at elevated seal temperatures.
Inventors
- 👤 John W. Shaffer
- 👤 Peter V. Caleshu
- 👤 David W. Johnston
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 12:54
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01J; H01J61/00; H01J61/02; H01J61/36; H01J5/00; H01J5/46; Y; Y02; Y02B; Y02B20/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
109 words
A fluorescent lamp comprising: a sealed envelope of light-transmitting vitreous material having a pair of end portions; a phosphor layer disposed on the internal surface of said envelope; an ionizable medium contained within said envelope; and an electrode structure sealed within each of said end portions and including an electrode supported by a pair of lead-in wires; said lead-in wires having a core comprising nickel and iron, said core having a metallic plating thereon sufficient to prevent formation of Fe 2 O 3 during sealing so as to prevent cracks from forming in the seal between said envelope and said lead-in wires at an elevated temperature during lamp operation.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
109 words
A fluorescent lamp comprising: a sealed envelope of light-transmitting vitreous material having a pair of end portions; a phosphor layer disposed on the internal surface of said envelope; an ionizable medium contained within said envelope; and an electrode structure sealed within each of said end portions and including an electrode supported by a pair of lead-in wires; said lead-in wires having a core comprising nickel and iron, said core having a metallic plating thereon sufficient to prevent formation of Fe 2 O 3 during sealing so as to prevent cracks from forming in the seal between said envelope and said lead-in wires at an elevated temperature during lamp operation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The flourescent lamp of claim 1 wherein said plating is selected from the group consisting of nickel, chromium, platinum and gold.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
11 words
The fluorescent lamp of claim 2 wherein said plating is nickel.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
The fluorescent lamp of claim 3 wherein said nickel plating equals from about one percent by weight to about ten percent by weight of said lead-in wires.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The fluorescent lamp of claim 4 wherein said nickel plating equals about four percent by weight of said lead-in wires.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
The fluorescent lamp of claim 1 wherein said core of said lead-in wires consists of a nickel-iron alloy.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
The fluorescent lamp of claim 6 wherein said nickel-iron alloy core is 50.5 percent by weight nickel and 49.5 percent by weight iron.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
The fluorescent lamp of claim 6 wherein said plating on said lead-in wires is nickel.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
The fluorescent lamp of claim 7 wherein said lead-in wires have an outside diameter of approximately 0.016 inch.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
The fluorescent lamp of claim 1 wherein said vitreous material of said envelope is soda-lime glass.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
36 words
The fluorescent lamp of claim 1 wherein said lamp is a compact fluorescent lamp having at least two longitudinally extending leg members and at least one transversely extending envelope portion for interconnection between said leg members.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
The fluorescent lamp of claim 11 wherein said envelope comprises four of said longitudinally extending leg members and three of said transversely extending envelope portions.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
The fluorescent lamp of claim 12 wherein said lamp has a lamp wattage of approximately 13 watts or greater.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
99 words
A fluorescent lamp comprising: a sealed glass envelope having a pair of end portions; a phosphor layer disposed on the internal surface of said envelope; an ionizable medium contained within said envelope; and an electrode structure sealed within each of said end portions and including an electrode supported by a pair of lead-in wires; said lead-in wires having a nickel-iron alloy core with a nickel plating thereon, the seal formed between said glass and said lead-in wires being sufficient to maintain seal hermeticity when the temperature of said seal reaches about 160 degrees Celsius during operation of said lamp.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
99 words
A fluorescent lamp comprising: a sealed glass envelope having a pair of end portions; a phosphor layer disposed on the internal surface of said envelope; an ionizable medium contained within said envelope; and an electrode structure sealed within each of said end portions and including an electrode supported by a pair of lead-in wires; said lead-in wires having a nickel-iron alloy core with a nickel plating thereon, the seal formed between said glass and said lead-in wires being sufficient to maintain seal hermeticity when the temperature of said seal reaches about 160 degrees Celsius during operation of said lamp.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
The fluorescent lamp of claim 14 wherein said nickel plating equals from about one percent by weight to about ten percent by weight of said lead-in wires.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
23 words
The fluorescent lamp of claim 1 wherein said nickel-iron alloy core is 50.5 percent by weight nickel and 49.5 percent by weight iron.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
25 words
The fluorescent lamp of claim 14 wherein said seal temperature is within the range of from about 160 degrees Celsius to about 250 degrees Celsius.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
13 words
The fluorescent lamp of claim 14 wherein said seal is a press seal.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-03-12 | 1993-09-11 | 1994-03-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-03-12 | 1997-09-11 | 1998-03-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-03-12 | 2001-09-11 | 2002-03-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |