EP0029523B1 - Lampe-éclair photographique miniature et procédé de fabrication - Google Patents
Lampe-éclair photographique miniature et procédé de fabrication Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP0029523B1 EP0029523B1 EP19800106716 EP80106716A EP0029523B1 EP 0029523 B1 EP0029523 B1 EP 0029523B1 EP 19800106716 EP19800106716 EP 19800106716 EP 80106716 A EP80106716 A EP 80106716A EP 0029523 B1 EP0029523 B1 EP 0029523B1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- envelope
- flash
- wires
- photoflash lamp
- lead
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
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Classifications
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F21—LIGHTING
- F21K—NON-ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES USING LUMINESCENCE; LIGHT SOURCES USING ELECTROCHEMILUMINESCENCE; LIGHT SOURCES USING CHARGES OF COMBUSTIBLE MATERIAL; LIGHT SOURCES USING SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES AS LIGHT-GENERATING ELEMENTS; LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F21K5/00—Light sources using charges of combustible material, e.g. illuminating flash devices
- F21K5/02—Light sources using charges of combustible material, e.g. illuminating flash devices ignited in a non-disrupting container, e.g. photo-flash bulb
Definitions
- the invention relates to photoflash lamps and particularly to photoflash lamps of the miniature variety (those having an internal volume of about 1.0 cubic centimeter or less), and to a method for making such lamps.
- an electrically activated photoflash lamp comprising a light-transmitting envelope, a flash-producing composition located within said envelope for burning in a substantially localized manner to provide a flash of light, upon ignition thereof, said composition including a predetermined quantity of a powdered metal material and a predetermined quantity of a powdered oxidizer material, and means for electrically igniting said flash-producing composition, comprising a pair of conductive lead-in wires secured within a wall or end portion of said envelope and having exposed, conductive end portions extending within said envelope.
- the flash producing mixture is substantially physically separated from the lamp igniter, the filament, and the metallic supports or lead-in conductors. This requirement necessitates use of a comparably large lamp envelope and therefore precludes the design of miniature flash lamps. In a miniature flash lamp there is simply not enough room for physically separating the flash producing mixture from the other components required to be located within the lamp envelope.
- Miniature flash lamps per se are prior known.
- One type, as disclosed in US-A-3893798 typically includes a quantity of shredded, combustible foil, and a pressurized combustion-supporting atmosphere within the envelope. It is essential that the envelope is hermetically sealed in order to contain the atmosphere and assure operability of the lamp.
- This goal can be achieved, according to the invention, by suitably modifying the prior art photoflash lamp comprising, among others, a flash-producing composition including powdered metal material and powdered oxidizer material if and when that prior art lamp is modified so that said envelope has an internal volume equal to or less than about 1 cubic centimeter and said igniting means extend within said envelope and in contact with said flash-producing composition, as is known per se in photoflash lamps containing a filamentary combustible metal and combustion supporting gas, that said powdered metal material has a particle size within the range of from 10 to 150 microns, and that said lead-in wires each include an insulative coating thereon and are twisted about each other.
- the flash producing characteristics become satisfactory in spite of the physical closeness, and simultaneously the igniting means may be made very sturdy for ease of assembly without occupying an unacceptably large portion of precious space within a miniature lamp.
- the flash lamps including a combustion-supporting atmosphere on the one hand and flash lamps including an oxidant in lieu of that, is to be found in that in the latter type of lamp it is not necessary to hermetically seal the lamp envelope. As soon as it is not necessary to hermetically seal the lamp envelope, it becomes acceptable that the envelope material will not completely adhere to the lead-in wire(s).
- the requirement of complete adherence can be dispensed with, it becomes feasible to use a coating between the wire, and the envelope material even in a mass production environment. If the lead-in wires can be provided with a coating, to insulate them from each other, it is feasible to use twisted wires, which leads to a very sturdy construction for the igniting means for its size.
- a method for making a miniature, electrically- activated photoflash lamp comprising: providing a tubular, light-transmitting member having first and second open ends, positioning a pair of conductive lead-in wires within said first of said open ends and sealing said first open end with said wires therein such that an end portion of each of said wires extends within said tubular member, positioning a quantity of flash-producing material within said second open end of said tubular member and in operative engagement with said extending end of said lead-in wires, and sealing said second open end of said tubular member to define a light-transmitting envelope, said envelope having an internal volume equal to or less than about one cubic centimetre.
- the flash lamps made by this method are ones having a pressurized, combustion-supporting atmosphere.
- This prior art method is according to the invention characterized in that an insulative coating is provided on said lead-in wires, and said wires are twisted about each other, both prior to sealing said wires within said first of said open ends of said light-transmitting member, and that said flash-producing material includes a predetermined quantity of a powdered metal material and a powdered oxidizer material for burning in a substantially localized manner to provide a flash of light upon ignition thereof, said powdered metal material having a particle size within the range of 10 microns to 150 microns, and that said flash-producing material is positioned in contact with said extending end of said lead-in wires.
- a miniature photoflash lamp 10 is shown as including a light-transmitting envelope 13, a flash-producing composition 15 within envelope 13 for providing the light output for lamp 10 upon ignition thereof, and ignition means 17 for igniting composition 15 to provide said output.
- miniature is meant a lamp having an envelope with an internal volume no greater than about 1.0 cubic centimeter.
- Envelope 13 is preferably cylindrical (tubular), and in one embodiment of the invention possessed an internal diameter of about 0.343 centimeters, an internal length of about 10.00 centimeters, and a wall thickness of about 0.127 centimeters.
- the preferred material for envelope 13 is plastic (polypropylene) which, having the above dimensions, results in the envelope being translucent. It is understood, of course, that other plastic materials and dimensional variations are possible, including those which provide a transparent vessel. It is also possible to use glass as the envelope material.
- Flash-producing composition 15 comprises a predetermined quantity of a powdered metal (serving as the fuel) and a predetermined quantity of oxidizer (serving as the oxygen supplier).
- the preferred powdered metal material is zirconium while the preferred oxidizer material is potassium chlorate.
- Other acceptable oxidizers include potassium perchlorate and sodium chlorate while another acceptable metal is hafnium.
- one of the primary features of the instant invention is the use of a relatively large particle size metal powder as a key ingredient of the powdered flash-producing composition (15). It was found that zirconium powders having particle sizes ranging from about 10 to about 150 microns could be successfully used to provide desired light outputs without sacrificing containment of the finished product's envelope. Improvements in color temperature were also attained using these particles, and it was possible to readily adjust flash duration times.
- an oxidizer having a particle size within the range of about 70 to about 150 microns. It is understood, however, that smaller sizes (e.g., 10 microns) could be used without adversely affecting the benefits derived from the present invention.
- envelope 13 contains an atmosphere of air which in effect serves to support combustion. Permitting air to remain in the envelope during formation thereof eliminates the costly procedures of either extracting such atmosphere (e.g., to form a vacuum) or injecting same at high pressures, as typically required in known miniature lamps.
- the aforedefined fuels when used in plastic vessel lamps, should radiate at color temperatures of at least 4000 degrees K.
- the finished lamps of the instant invention were all capable of attaining these desired levels. It was also possible to obtain light outputs approaching 500 lumen seconds and, by varying the fuel-oxidizer ratios, to vary the pulse (flash) duration of the output from about 5 to 30 milliseconds. Specifically, increasing the oxidizer content resulted in flash durations approaching the higher time values while excess fuel material produced short durations.
- Use of large particle fuels in an air-containing plastic envelope further permitted employment of large quantities of composition 15, in comparison to existing miniature lamps. For example, it was possible to successfully utilize flash-producing compositions weighing from about ' 25 to about 35 milligrams in a 1.0 cubic centimeter envelope. Higher ratios (composition: envelope volume) are attainable when using smaller sized envelopes.
- Ignition means 17 is shown in Fig. 1 as including a pair of conductive lead-in wires 19 and 21 each having an 0.03 centimeters diameter copper wire cover by a .005 centimeters insulative coating. Wires 19 and 21 are twisted about each other (about 4 turns per centimeter) into the configuration shown and sealed within a bottom (end) portion of envelope 13. Understandably, it is also possible to secure these members within one of the envelope's side walls or within the opposing, upper end. Exposed ends 23 of wires 19 and 21 extend within envelope 13 approximately 0.318 centimeters and include thereon a quantity of primer material 25. As shown, ends 23 are spacedly oriented with portions of primer 25 located therebetween.
- a suitable power source e.g., a piezoelectric element
- a typical ignition voltage is about 3000 volts.
- the deflagrating primer 25 in turn ignites powdered composition 15. It is preferred that primer 25 be located within composition 15 or protrude slightly therefrom as illustrated in Fig. 1. It is possible to eliminate primer 25 in the present invention and directly ignite composition 15 using the spark generated between ends 23 of wires 19 and 21. In such an arrangement, ends 23 are thus defined as being in operative engagement with composition 15 (e.g., by being inserted therein).
- primer 25 it is preferred, however, to utilize primer 25 in that less energy will be required to achieve ignition of lamp 10.
- a primer material successfully used included about 78 percent zirconium powder, 16 percent potassium perchlorate, 4 percent Alon C, and 2 percent nitrocellulose.
- Another suitable example included 50 percent zirconium, 30 percent potassium perchlorate, 10 percent tungstic oxide, 4 percent Alon C, 4 percent glass beads, and 2 percent nitrocellulose. All of the above percentages are by weight of the mixture.
- Methyl cellulose acetate was used as a solvent in preparation of both of the defined primers.
- Application of primer to the ends 23 of wires 19 and 21 was achieved by dipping these ends into the liquid suspension and withdrawing slowly (e.g., 0.635 centimeters per second). The coated ends were than sealed within the end of envelope 13 as illustrated. Approximately 0.5 to 1.0 milligram of primer was utilized in lamp 10.
- composition 15 electrically, it is also within the scope of the invention to utilize percussively actuated means for this purpose.
- a metal primer tube such as described in US-A-3,535,063 (Anderson et al) could be employed and project from the bottom end of envelope 13. Deformation of the tube would result in deflagration of the fulminating material therein up through the tube and ignition of composition 15 located within the envelope 13 in a similar manner to that depicted in Fig. 1.
- US-A-3,535,063 are thus incorporated herein by reference.
- the upper portion (approximately 9 centimeters of the envelope's length) of envelope 13 was optically darkened (masked) and the defined light output readings were taken from only the remaining "active" light-transmitting region of the envelope. It is understood from the above that composition 15 occupies this region and that the optically darkened portion thus represents an expansion chamber for gases generated during ignition.
- the "active" region emits a relatively large proportion of the lamp's total output due primarily to the beneficial results of using large grain size fuels which assure localized burning. Accordingly, the total light output of the invention will be greater than that indicated below wherein optical masking was used on envelope 13.
- Flash-producing composition 15.9 milligrams zirconium powder (particle size: 15-20 microns) and 14.1 milligrams potassium chlorate powder (particle size: less than 74 microns)
- Flash-producing composition 15.9 milligrams zirconium powder (particle size: 15-20 microns) and 14.1 milligrams potassium chlorate powder (particle size: 74-149 microns).
- Flash-producing composition 15.9 milligrams zirconium powder (particle size: 44-74 microns) and 14.1 milligrams potassium chlorate powder (particle size: 74-149 microns).
- Flash-producing composition 15.9 milligrams zirconium powder (particle size: 44-74 microns) and 14.1 milligrams potassium chlorate powder (particle size: less than 74 microns).
- Flash-producing composition 15.9 milligrams zirconium power (particle size: 74-149 microns) and 14.1 milligrams potassium chlorate powder (particle size: less than 74 microns).
- the aforedescribed dual wire electrical ignition means (including primer) was used to ignite the described flash-producing compositions.
- a piezoelectric element served as the requisite voltage source.
- zirconium powder had a particle size less than 10 microns (e.g., 3 microns). Ignition of the lamps resulted in rupture of the plastic envelope.
- the above lamps were each produced by initially providing a piece of elongated, polypropylene tubing having opposed (first and second) open ends and the described internal diameter (0.343 centimeters).
- Wires 19 and 21 were oriented within the block's aperture to extend within the recessed portion whereupon the polypropylene tubing was lowered about the wiring until engagement was effected between the recess and the tube's first open end.
- composition 15 was then dropped (using a funnel) into the upright tubing through the second open end.
- the composition fell to the bottom (first end) to surround the extending ends of wires 19 and 21 in the manner shown in Fig. 1.
- Positioning of composition 15 can be facilitated by moisture-dampening (e.g., using water) the composition prior to insertion.
- dampening resulted in a more homogeneous mixture (less particle segregation) than a simple dry (loose) mixture of the same material, particularly when using the larger, coarser grains.
- the tubular members were located in an oven and dried (100 degrees C for about 10 minutes) prior to subsequent processing.
- the next step in producing lamps 10 involved sealing the remaining (or second) open end. This process simply involved inserting the second end within the recess of the aforedescribed, heated aluminum block until closure was accomplished and a completed envelope was defined.
- envelope 13 needn't be completely (hermetically) sealed at either end as is required in the above, combustible-type lamps containing a pressurized, oxygen atmosphere therein.
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Vessels And Coating Films For Discharge Lamps (AREA)
- Luminescent Compositions (AREA)
Claims (12)
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US9660679A | 1979-11-21 | 1979-11-21 | |
US96606 | 1979-11-21 |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP0029523A1 EP0029523A1 (fr) | 1981-06-03 |
EP0029523B1 true EP0029523B1 (fr) | 1983-10-05 |
Family
ID=22258178
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP19800106716 Expired EP0029523B1 (fr) | 1979-11-21 | 1980-10-31 | Lampe-éclair photographique miniature et procédé de fabrication |
Country Status (4)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP0029523B1 (fr) |
JP (1) | JPS5686401A (fr) |
CA (1) | CA1139578A (fr) |
DE (1) | DE3065193D1 (fr) |
Family Cites Families (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2277482A (en) * | 1940-01-26 | 1942-03-24 | Westinghouse Electric & Mfg Co | Photoflash lamp |
US3220224A (en) * | 1962-05-25 | 1965-11-30 | Westinghouse Electric Corp | Photoflash lamp |
US3751656A (en) * | 1972-01-10 | 1973-08-07 | Polaroid Corp | Flexible plastic flash illumination devices with solid pyrotechnic material |
US3889347A (en) * | 1972-08-07 | 1975-06-17 | Norton Co | Method of making combustible metal flashlamp charges |
FR2216248A1 (en) * | 1973-02-06 | 1974-08-30 | Poudres & Explosifs Ste Nale | Pyrotechnic gas-free compsn - comprising cupric oxide and zirconium provides rapid ignition of propergol |
-
1980
- 1980-10-31 DE DE8080106716T patent/DE3065193D1/de not_active Expired
- 1980-10-31 EP EP19800106716 patent/EP0029523B1/fr not_active Expired
- 1980-11-19 CA CA000365055A patent/CA1139578A/fr not_active Expired
- 1980-11-20 JP JP16273080A patent/JPS5686401A/ja active Pending
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
JPS5686401A (en) | 1981-07-14 |
DE3065193D1 (en) | 1983-11-10 |
CA1139578A (fr) | 1983-01-18 |
EP0029523A1 (fr) | 1981-06-03 |
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