Fluorescent lamp containing a mercury zinc amalgam and a method of manufacture
AssigneeAdvanced Lighting Technologies, Inc.
InventorsDuane A. Stafford, Steven C. Hansen, Timothy R. Brumleve
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fluorescent lamp containing zinc amalgam and a method of precisely controlling the amount of mercury introduced into a temperature controlled fluorescent lamp. Precise quantities of mercury may be introduced into a fluorescent lamp in the form of solid zinc amalgam pellets that are in a metastable, non-equilibrium state.
Claims36
A fluorescent lamp which does not rely on amalgamative metal to control mercury vapor pressure characterized in that mercury in the lamp is in the form of a zinc amalgam.
A temperature controlled fluorescent lamp having a predetermined amount of mercury sealed therein characterized in that the mercury is in the form of a binary zinc amalgam that is partially in the liquid and partially in the solid phase when the lamp is operating.
A temperature controlled fluorescent lamp having a predetermined amount of mercury sealed therein characterized in that the mercury is a solid amalgam at room temperature.
A lamp fill material for a temperature controlled fluorescent lamp characterized in that the fill material is a zinc amalgam.
A lamp fill material for a fluorescent lamp characterized in that the material includes pellets of zinc amalgam.
A method of dosing a temperature controlled fluorescent lamp characterized in that,
- the mercury is provided in a zinc amalgam that is a solid below about 40° C. and partially solid and partially liquid at the operating temperature of the lamp;
- and
- the amalgam is introduced into the lamp as a solid.
A method of dosing a fluorescent lamp with mercury without introducing lamp fill material which has a significant effect on the vapor pressure of the mercury when the lamp is operating, characterized in that the method includes,
- providing an amalgam that is solid below about 40° C. and that does not significantly regulate the vapor pressure of mercury in said lamp;
- and
- introducing the amalgam into said lamp at a temperature below about 40° C.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.