Bismuth-indium amalgam, fluorescent lamps, and methods of manufacture
OwnerSteven C. Hanseninventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The disclosure relates to fluorescent lamps and methods of manufacture wherein the mercury is dosed into the lamp in a solid material containing mercury, bismuth, indium and another metal. In one embodiment, the metal is selected from the group consisting of zinc, tin, lead, silver, gold, copper, gallium, titanium, nickel, and manganese. Preferably, the atomic ratio of the indium to the bismuth is in the range of about 0.4:0.6 to 0.7:0.3. The atomic ratio of zinc to the combination indium and bismuth may preferably be in the range of about 0.01:0.99 to 0.20:0.80, and the atomic ratio of mercury to the combination of the indium, bismuth and zinc is preferably in the range of about 0.01:0.99 and 0.15:0.85.
Claims30
A solid lamp fill material for delivering a precise dose of mercury into a fluorescent lamp and for regulating the mercury vapor pressure during operation of the lamp, said material comprising bismuth, indium, mercury, and a metal forming one or more intermetallic phases with the mercury selected from the group consisting of zinc, gold, copper, gallium, titanium, nickel, and manganese, said material having an atomic ratio of indium to bismuth within the range of about 0.4:0.6 to 0.7:0.3.
A pellet for delivering a precise dose of mercury into a fluorescent lamp and for regulating the mercury vapor pressure during operation of the lamp, said pellet comprising mercury, bismuth, indium and a metal selected from the group consisting of zinc, gold, copper, gallium, titanium, nickel, and manganese, said pellet having an atomic ratio of indium to bismuth within the range of about 0.4:0.6 to 0.7:0.3.
A solid lamp fill material forming a plurality of free-flowing pellets at substantially room temperature, each suitable for delivering a precise dose of mercury into a fluorescent lamp and for regulating the mercury vapor pressure during operation of a lamp, said pellets comprising bismuth and indium for regulating the vapor pressure of the mercury during operation of a lamp, and one or more intermetallic phases of mercury and a fourth metal for preventing agglomeration of the pellets, said fourth metal being selected from the group consisting of zinc, copper and manganese, said material having an atomic ratio of indium to bismuth within the range of about 0.4:0.6 to 0.7:0.3.
A pellet comprising mercury, bismuth and indium having an atomic ratio of indium to bismuth within the range of about 0.4:0.6 to 0.7:0.3, and an intermetallic phase of mercury and a metal selected from the group consisting of zinc, gold, copper, gallium, titanium, nickel, and manganese.
A pellet for dosing mercury into a fluorescent lamp and for regulating the mercury vapor pressure during operation of the lamp, said pellet comprising bismuth, indium, zinc and mercury, wherein the atomic ratio of indium to bismuth is within the range of about 0.4:0.6 to 0.7:0.3;
- wherein the atomic ratio of zinc to the combination of indium and bismuth is within the range of about 0.01:0.99 to 0.20:0.80, and wherein the atomic ratio of mercury to the combination of indium, bismuth and zinc is within the range of about 0.01:0.99 to 0.15:0.85.
An amalgam controlled fluorescent lamp containing one or more pellets for regulating the mercury vapor pressure in said lamp, one or more of said pellets comprising bismuth, indium, mercury, and manganese.
A pellet for dosing mercury into a fluorescent lamp, said pellet comprising bismuth, indium, manganese and mercury, wherein the atomic ratio of indium to bismuth is within the range of about 0.4:0.6 to 0.7:0.3;
- wherein the atomic ratio of manganese to the combination of indium and bismuth is within the range of about 0.01:0.99 to 0.20:0.80, and wherein the atomic ratio of mercury to the combination of indium, bismuth and manganese is within the range of about 0.01:0.99 to 0.15:0.85.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.