Method for introducing mercury into a fluorescent lamp during manufacture and a mercury carrier body facilitating such method

A method for introducing a limited amount of mercury into an envelope of a fluorescent lamp during manufacture of the lamp, the method comprising the steps of:

• forming the fluorescent lamp with an exhaust tubulation therein, the exhaust tubulation being open at an end thereof;
• exhausting the interior of the lamp envelope through the exhaust tubulation open end;
• placing a rigid body of inert material in the lamp by way of the exhaust tubulation open end, the body having a coating of a metal comprising a selected one of silver, gold, and indium, and respective alloys thereof, of a selected mass, over a selected surface area of the ball, and having mercury on the coated area of the ball, such that a limited amount of the mercury is retained on the ball by the metal coating;
• and
• sealing the open end of the exhaust tubulation;
• whereby the amount of mercury retained on the ball and thereby introduced into the lamp is limited by the selected mass of the metal coating on the ball.

A body for placement in a fluorescent lamp during manufacture of the lamp, the body comprising:

• a sphere of rigid inert material;
• a coating of a metal comprising a selected one of silver, gold, and indium, and alloys thereof, of a selected mass disposed over a selected surface area of said sphere;
• and
• mercury disposed on said metal coating and retained thereby in an amount up to that permitted by the selected mass of said metal coating;
• said body being adapted for retention in the lamp after sealing of the lamp at completion of manufacture, and for introducing the permitted amount of mercury into the lamp.