Fluorescent lamp and amalgam assembly therefor
AssigneeOsram Sylvania Inc.
InventorsRichard S. Speer, Joseph E. Lester
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An amalgam assembly for a fluorescent lamp includes a glass exhaust tubulation extending toward a base portion of the lamp, the tubulation being closed at an end thereof adjacent the lamp base portion, and a retaining structure disposed in the tubulation and retained by a pinched portion of the tubulation. A mercury amalgam body is disposed in the tubulation between the retaining structure and the tubulation closed end. The amalgam body includes lithium for wetting internal surfaces of the glass tubulation to cause the amalgam to adhere to the tubulation internal surfaces when the amalgam body is liquidized, and to thereby prevent the amalgam from flowing past the retaining structure and into the lamp envelope.
Claims18
An amalgam assembly for a fluorescent lamp, the assembly comprising:
- a glass exhaust tubulation extending from an envelope portion of the lamp toward a base portion of the lamp, said tubulation being closed at an end thereof adjacent the lamp base portion;
- a retaining structure disposed in said tubulation and retained by a pinched portion of said tubulation;
- and
- a mercury amalgam body disposed in said tubulation between said retaining structure and the tubulation closed end, said amalgam body including lithium for wetting internal surfaces of said glass tubulation to cause said amalgam to adhere to the tubulation internal surfaces when said amalgam body is liquidized and to thereby prevent said amalgam from flowing past said retaining structure and into the lamp envelope.
An amalgam assembly for a fluorescent lamp, the assembly comprising:
- a glass exhaust tubulation extending from an envelope portion of the lamp toward a base portion of the lamp, said tubulation being closed at an end thereof adjacent the lamp base portion;
- a mercury amalgam body disposed in said tubulation between the tubulation closed end and a pinched portion of said tubulation;
- and
- a layer of metal containing lithium adhered to an inside surface of said exhaust tubulation between the tubulation closed end and the tubulation pinched portion;
- wherein upon liquidizing of said amalgam body, the liquid amalgam adheres to said layer, to thereby prevent the amalgam from flowing past the tubulation pinched portion and into the lamp envelope.
An electrodeless fluorescent lamp assembly, comprising:
- a light-transmissive envelope containing an ionizable, gaseous fill for sustaining an arc discharge when subjected to a radio frequency magnetic field and for emitting ultraviolet radiation as a result thereof, said envelope having an interior phosphor coating for emitting visible radiation when excited by the ultraviolet radiation, said envelope having a re-entrant cavity formed therein;
- an excitation coil contained within the re-entrant cavity for providing the radio frequency magnetic field when excited by a radio frequency power supply;
- a glass exhaust tubulation extending through the re-entrant cavity and into said envelope, said exhaust tubulation having a closed end proximate a base portion of the lamp;
- a pinched configuration formed in said exhaust tubulation at a predetermined distance from the tubulation closed end;
- a retaining structure disposed in said tubulation and retained by said pinched configuration;
- and
- a mercury amalgam body disposed in said tubulation between said retaining structure and the tubulation closed end, said amalgam body including lithium for wetting internal surfaces of said glass tubulation to cause said amalgam to adhere to the tubulation internal surfaces when said amalgam body is liquidized and to thereby prevent the amalgam from flowing past said retaining structure and into the lamp envelope.
An electrodeless fluorescent lamp assembly, comprising:
- a light-transmissive envelope containing an ionizable, gaseous fill for sustaining an arc discharge when subjected to a radio frequency magnetic field and for emitting ultraviolet radiation as a result thereof, said envelope having an interior phosphor coating for emitting visible radiation when excited by the ultraviolet radiation, said envelope having a re-entrant cavity formed therein;
- an excitation coil contained within the re-entrant cavity for providing the radio frequency magnetic field when excited by a radio frequency power supply;
- a glass exhaust tubulation extending through the re-entrant cavity and into said envelope, said exhaust tubulation having a closed end proximate a base portion of the lamp;
- a pinched configuration formed in said exhaust tubulation at a predetermined distance from the tubulation closed end;
- a retaining structure disposed in said tubulation and retained by said pinched configuration;
- a mercury amalgam body disposed in said tubulation between said retaining structure and tubulation closed end;
- and
- a layer of metal containing lithium adhered to an inside surface of said exhaust tubulation between the tubulation closed end and said tubulation pinched configuration;
- wherein upon liquidizing of said amalgam body, the liquid amalgam adheres to said layer, to thereby prevent the amalgam from flowing past said retaining structure and into the lamp envelope.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.