The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 30, 2001
Filed:
Jun. 01, 2000
Andrew P. Blau, Richmond Hts., OH (US);
William W. Akins, Aurora, OH (US);
Joseph C. Borowiec, Schenectady, NY (US);
Sandor Lukacs, Veroce, HU;
General Electric Company, Schenectady, NY (US);
Abstract
A glass extension (,) with a cavity (,) for an amalgam (,) is added to an exhaust tube (,) or a flare (,) of a fluorescent lamp. The mouth (,) of the cavity (32) is provided with a bimetal valve having a cover portion (,) to close the cavity (,) when the lamp is cold and to open the cavity when the lamp is hot. The amalgam (,) is a metallic amalgam of, for example, mercury or other know suitable materials for establishing a metallic vapor equilibrium during operation of a discharge lamp. The amalgam holder helps to maintain optimum mercury vapor equilibrium at start-up, and to reduce the effects of mercury vapor starvation resulting from off-times.