Method for making mercury capsule for use in fluorescent lamp
AssigneeOsram Sylvania Inc.
InventorsMark W. Grossman, William A. George, William J. Roche
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A mercury capsule for use in a fluorescent lamp comprises a shell defining a chamber and a bore extending through the shell. A body of mercury is disposed in the chamber. A plug is disposed in the bore to seal the bore. The plug exhibits a melting point reached in manufacture of the fluorescent lamp, to melt from the bore to open an exit passageway for the mercury. A method for making the capsule is provided.
Claims20
A mercury capsule for use in a fluorescent lamp, said capsule comprising:
- a shell defining a chamber and a bore extending through said shell;
- a body of mercury disposed in the chamber;
- and
- a plug disposed in the bore to seal the bore, said plug having a melting point less than a melting point of the capsule otherwise, to melt from the bore to open an exit passageway for the mercury.
A mercury capsule for use in a fluorescent lamp, said capsule comprising a metal ribbon, said metal ribbon comprising:
- a first portion having a depression formed in a surface thereof for receiving and containing mercury;
- a second portion having a protrusion formed on a surface thereof;
- a bendable portion interconnecting said first and second portions to facilitate movement of said second portion to a position wherein said protrusion overlies said depression, and further movement to place said protrusion in sealing engagement with said depression to define a chamber for containing the mercury;
- said ribbon defining a bore extending from an interior surface of the chamber to an exterior surface of the chamber;
- and
- a plug disposed in the bore to seal the bore, said plug having a melting point less than a melting point of said capsule otherwise, to melt from the bore to open an exit passageway for the mercury.
In a fluorescent lamp having an envelope of light-transmitting vitrous material and having opposed end portions and containing an inert gas, first and second electrodes respectively disposed within said opposed end portions, and a pair of lead-in wires connected to each of said electrodes, an improvement comprising a mercury capsule secured to one of said lead-in wires, said mercury capsule comprising:
- a shell defining a chamber and a bore extending through said shell;
- a body of mercury disposed in the chamber;
- and
- a plug disposed in the bore to seal the bore, said plug having a melting point less than a melting point of said capsule otherwise, to melt from the bore to open an exit passageway for the mercury.
A method for making a mercury capsule for use in a fluorescent lamp, the method comprising the steps of:
- forming a metal shell for receiving a body of mercury;
- forming a bore in the shell;
- closing the bore with molten metal and permitting the molten metal to solidify to form a plug in the bore, the plug having a melting point less than a melting point of said shell otherwise;
- depositing a body of mercury in the shell;
- sealing the shell closed with the body of mercury therein;
- and
- heating the plug to melt the plug from the bore to open an exit passageway for the mercury.
A method for making a mercury capsule for use in a fluorescent lamp, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a metal ribbon comprising:
- a first portion having a depression formed in a first surface thereof;
- a second portion having a protrusion formed on a surface thereof;
- and
- a bendable portion interconnecting said first and second portions to facilitate movement of said second portion to a position wherein the protrusion overlies the depression, and further movement to place the protrusion in sealing engagement with the depression to define a chamber for containing the mercury;
- drilling a bore through a wall of the depression;
- coating a second surface of said first portion of the metal ribbon with a flux;
- providing a pool of molten metal;
- dipping said first portion of the metal ribbon in the pool of molten metal and allowing the molten metal on the ribbon to solidify to close the bore with metal;
- depositing a selected amount of mercury in the depression;
- and
- effecting the sealing engagement of the depression and the protrusion to close the chamber with the mercury therein.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.