Osram Sylvania Inc.

Louise D Cleary

Joseph V Lima

Richard Speer

Philip E Moskowitz

James A Gotay

R Kenneth Hutcherson

Gregory Zaslavsky

Method for introducing a limited amount of mercury into a fluorescent lamp during manufacture thereof includes the steps of forming the lamp with an exhaust tubulation therein open at an end thereof, exhausting the interior of the lamp through the exhaust tubulation, placing a body of metal material not reactive with mercury in the exhaust tubulation open end, the body having a coating of metal which amalgams with mercury, over a selected surface area of the body, and having mercury on the coated area of the body, such that a limited amount of the mercury is retained by the metal coating, and sealing the open end of the exhaust tubulation, whereby the amount of mercury retained on the body and introduced into the lamp is limited by the surface area of the metal coating on the body.

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

Method for introducing a limited amount of mercury into a fluorescent lamp during manufacture thereof includes the steps of forming the lamp with an exhaust tubulation therein open at an end thereof and provided with a ball retention structure, exhausting the interior of the lamp through the tubulation open end, placing a rigid ball of inert material in the tubulation between the ball retention structure and the tubulation open end, the ball having a coating of a selected one of silver, gold, and indium, of a selected mass over a selected surface area of the ball, and mercury on the coated area, and sealing the open end of the tubulation, whereby the amount of mercury retained on the ball and thereby introduced into the lamp is limited by the selected mass of the coating on the ball.

An amalgam assembly for a fluorescent lamp includes a glass exhaust tubulation extending from an envelope portion of the lamp toward a base portion of the lamp, the tubulation being closed at an end adjacent the lamp base portion, and a glass body disposed in the tubulation and retained by a pinched portion of the tubulation, the glass body being disposed between the pinched portion and the closed end of the tubulation. A mercury amalgam body is disposed between the glass body and the closed end of the tubulation. A mercury wetting metallic layer is disposed on a selected one of (i) an inside surface of the tubulation between the pinched portion and the closed end of the tubulation, and (ii) a surface of the glass body whereby to a wet at least one of (i) the interior surface of the glass tubulation and (ii) the surface of the glass body, to prevent the amalgam, when liquidized, from flowing past the tubulation pinched portion and into the lamp envelope.

Fluorescent lamp and amalgam assembly therefor

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 adjacent the lamp base portion, and a metal cup disposed in the tubulation and retained by a pinched portion of the tubulation. The cup defines an annular outer wall having a free edge extending toward the tubulation closed end, a tubular central core portion extending toward the tubulation closed end, and an annular trough formed by the core portion and the outer wall. A mercury amalgam ball is disposed between the metal cup and the tubulation closed end, a diameter of the ball exceeding an inner diameter of the core portion, and a coating of a metal wetting agent is disposed on interior surfaces of the trough.

A mount for a fluorescent lamp has a glass base, a longitudinal electrode coil mounted upon lead-in wires extending from the base, and a shield mounted upon the base. The shield comprises a pair of spaced apart shield plates, one on either side of the electrode coil and spaced therefrom.

Electrode shield for fluorescent lamp having a pair of spaced apart shield plates

A fluorescent lamp comprises a glass tubular body defining a discharge space, and first and second electrode assemblies mounted in the discharge space in opposition to each other, each of the electrode assemblies comprising a first electrode and a second electrode. Each of the first electrodes comprises a metal lead wire with an electron-emitting material disposed on a free end thereof, and each of the second electrodes comprises a cup-shaped tube coaxially surrounding one of the first electrodes and the electron-emitting material disposed on the first electrode. The second electrode tube and the electron emitting material therein form an annular gap therebetween.

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Salem, MA, United States of America

Louise D Cleary