US 5,496,201 A · Extendable exhausting assembly for the manufacture of gas discharge lamps

Abstract

An apparatus and method for the manufacturing of metal salt gas discharge lamps involves a purging assembly which will allow the purging step to be conducted outside a dry box, while completely shielding the fiber material from possible exposure to the atmosphere, so as to simplify the manufacturing process and reduce operation cost. The purging assembly comprises a manifold, which is removably connected to a vacuum pump and an inert gas supply, respectively. The manifold is provided with a plurality of branch tubes connected thereto. Each of the branch tubes is adapted to be connected to a lamp envelope via a ball valve, which provides a straight passage way therethrough when opened. During the purging operations, the ball valves respectively connecting the lamp envelopes and the branch tubes are open to thereby allow moisture and other undesirable components to be purged from the lamp envelope. After the completion of the purging operation, the ball valves are closed and the manifold, with the lamp envelopes attached thereto, is disconnected from the vacuum pump and the inner gas supply and transferred into a glove box. There, the ball valves are opened and the fiber materials are allowed to enter the lamp envelopes. After the filling operation is completed, the ball valves are closed and the manifold is taken out of the glove box. Finally, the manifold is re-connected to the inert gas supply to fill the lamp envelops with inert before the lamp envelopes are sealed and severed.

Claims17

Dependent claims

A purging assembly for the manufacturing of gas discharge lamps containing a filler material sealed in a lamp envelope comprising:

(a) a manifold having first and second ends for connection to an inert gas supply piping system and a vacuum piping system, respectively;
(b) a branch tube connected to and in communication with said manifold;
(c) a purging connector for receiving said lamp envelope;
and
(d) a filler valve connected between said branch tube and said purging connector so as to shield said lamp envelope from atmosphere when closed and allow a filler material to travel therethrough when opened, wherein said manifold is connected to said inert gas supply and said vacuum piping system via a pair of detachable joints, respectively, and each of said detachable joints comprises a pair of matching flanges.

2 more elements

A method for the manufacturing of gas discharge lamps containing a filler material sealed in a lamp envelope comprising the steps of:

(a) obtaining a purging assembly comprising:
(I) a manifold having first and second ends for connection to an inert gas supply piping system and a vacuum piping system, respectively, wherein said inert gas supply piping system containing a gas supply valve and said vacuum piping system containing a vacuum valve;
(ii) a branch tube connected to and in communication with said manifold;
(iii) a purging connector for receiving said lamp envelope;
and
(iv) a filler valve connected between said branch tube and said purging connector so as to shield said lamp envelope from atmosphere when closed and allow said filler material to travel therethrough when opened.
(b) connecting a lamp envelope to said purging connector;
(c) connecting said purging assembly to an inert gas supply and a vacuum pump at said first and second ends, respectively;
(d) closing said gas supply valve and opening said vacuum valve to evacuate said lamp envelope;
(e) closing said vacuum valve and opening said gas supply valve to force an inert gas into said lamp envelope from an inert gas supply;
(f) closing said filler valve to seal said lamp envelope from atmosphere;
(g) placing said purging assembly with said lamp envelope attached thereto inside a glove box in an inert environment:
(h) opening said filler valve to allow a predetermined amount of a filler material to enter said lamp envelope;
(I) closing said filler valve and removing said purging assembly with said lamp envelope attached thereto from said glove box;
(j) connecting said purging assembly to said inert gas supply until said lamp envelope reaches a predetermined pressure;
and
(k) sealing off said lamp envelope to form a discharge lamp and disconnecting said discharge lamp from said purging connector.

14 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Extendable exhausting assembly for the manufacture of gas discharge lamps

Life of this patent

Extendable exhausting assembly for the manufacture of gas discharge lamps

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims17