Method of producing a low-pressure mercury vapor discharge lamp
AssigneeU.S. Philips Corporation
InventorsBerend J. Mulder, Sybrandus van Heusden
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of producing a low-pressure mercury vapor discharge lamp which includes positioning a container in the lamp vessel of the lamp between the electrodes. The container holds a quantity of mercury required for operation of the lamp and is attached to a supporting element (wire). The supporting element is connected to a lead-in wire of a first electrode by a metal connecting wire. A direct current discharge is generated between the container and the second electrode, the mercury escapes from the container, thereafter the connection between the supporting element and the lead-in wire is interrupted.
Claims7
A method of producing a low-pressure mercury vapor discharge lamp:
- providing a lamp vessel in which at least two electrodes are arranged;
- providing the quantity of mercury required for operation of the lamp in a metal container disposed in a position in the lamp vessel between the electrodes;
- attaching the container to a metal supporting element;
- connecting the metal supporting element to one of the electrode lead-in wires of a first electrode by means of a metal connecting wire;
- releasing mercury from the container by heating after evacuation of the lamp, said heating step being accomplished by a direct current discharge being temporarily generated between the container and a second electrode, whereby the container is heated and mercury is released from the container, whereafter the connection between the supporting element and the electrode lead-in wire is interrupted.
A low-pressure mercury vapor discharge lamp comprising a lamp vessel having at least two electrodes therein, a metal container provided in the lamp vessel between the electrodes and holding a quantity of mercury required for operation of the lamp, a metal supporting element which supports the container in said position, and a fusible metal connecting wire which connects the supporting element to one of the lead-in wires of a first of said electrodes, said metal supporting element being attached to a wall portion of said lamp vessel which is electrically insulated from the electrode lead-in wires, the mercury being releasable from the container by establishing, via the fusible wire, a direct current electrical discharge between the container and a second said electrode, and the fusible wire is fused by establishing such a discharge having a higher discharge current that that required to release the mercury.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.