JPH03252043A - Discharge lamp - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve the production yield and to reduce the manufacturing cost of a discharge lamp by inserting connecting end portions of bulbs in their respective tapered holes connected through to the lumen of a connecting member, and fixing them to each other airtightly. CONSTITUTION:Connecting end portions 11b, 12b of bulbs are inserted in their respective tapered holes 15d, 15e in a connecting member 15 and fixed airtightly. The lumens of connecting end portions 11b, 12b of bulbs are connected to each other through the lumen of the connecting member 15 to connect to the discharge channels constructed in the lumens of the bulbs. As the tapered holes 15d, 15e have their respective tapered inner surfaces, even when there is some difference in diameter between the connecting end portions 11b, 12b of the bulbs to be inserted in tapered holes 15d, 15e, the end portions 11b, 12b can be inserted in and fixed to the tapered holes 15d, 15e respectively. No high accuracy is required for the diameter of the bulbs. Thereby the production yield can be improved and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Objective of the Invention] (Industrial Application Field) The present invention is directed to a fluorescent lamp in which, for example, a plurality of small U-shaped bulbs are integrally connected via a metal cap as a connecting member. The present invention relates to a discharge lamp suitable for a lamp, and particularly to a discharge lamp with an improved connecting member.

(Prior Art) An example of a fluorescent lamp, which is a discharge lamp of this type, is shown in FIG.

This is to connect the connecting ends 1a, 2a of two small U-shaped fluorescent lamps 1.2 together through the inner cavity of a metal cap 3, which is a connecting member.

The U-shaped bulbs 1 and 2 are made by bending a small glass bulb with a circular, rectangular or flat cross section into a U-shape, and the inner wall of the tube is coated with a phosphor film 4 made of a fluorescent material over almost the entire length. , mercury and rare gas are sealed inside, and the connecting end 1a,
A pair of electrodes is sealed at each end (not shown) other than 2a.

On the other hand, the metal cap 3 is constructed as shown in the exploded perspective view of FIG. 7, and the upper end opening of the main body 3a, which is an elongated cylinder with a bottom, is hermetically sealed with an upper lid 3b.

The upper lid 3b is provided with through holes 3C23C that communicate with the connection ends 1a and 2a of the U-shaped valve 1.2 to be connected, and on the outer peripheral edge of each communication hole 3C23C,
Positioning cylindrical rising portions 3d and 3d that fit inside the connecting ends la and 2a of the valves 1 and 2 are provided in a protruding manner, respectively.

The solid frit glass 5 placed on the upper lid 3a is formed into an elongated disk shape by pre-sintering liquid or powdered frit glass, and is heated and melted to form a solid frit glass as shown in FIG. In this way, the connection ends 1a and 2a of the valves 1 and 2 are hermetically fixed on the top cover 3b.

(Problem to be Solved by the Invention) However, in a fluorescent lamp having such a configuration, the connection ends 1a, 2a of the bulbs 1, 2 are connected to the cylindrical rising portions 3d, 3.
These connecting ends 1 a +
High precision is required in the inner diameter of 2a and the dimensions and shapes of the cylindrical rising portions 3d, 3d.

Also, each connecting end 1a of these valves 1.2.

If there is little margin between the inner diameter of 2a and the outer diameter of the cylindrical rising parts 3d, 3d due to dimensional variations, these connecting ends 1a, 2a are fitted onto the respective cylindrical rising parts 3d, 3d. In this case, there is a possibility that cracks may occur in each of the connection ends 1a and 2a, resulting in a decrease in manufacturing yield.

In addition, as shown by the broken line in FIG. 6, the discharge passing through the bulb 1°2 is constricted by the cylindrical rising portions 3d, 3d of the metal cap 3, so the tube voltage becomes high (and the starting voltage is increased). At the same time, there is a problem that the discharge tends to become unstable.

Furthermore, the upper lid 3b requires processes such as drilling the pair of communication holes 3C93C and drawing the pair of cylindrical rising parts 3d, 3d, and the number of manufacturing steps is not necessarily small, which increases manufacturing costs. There is a problem.

The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a discharge lamp that is capable of improving manufacturing yields and reducing manufacturing costs.

[Structure of the invention]

(Means for solving problems) The present invention relates to each connection end 1a of the valves 1 and 2.

A margin is provided for positioning accuracy when fixing the metal cap 2a to the metal cap 3, and the structure is as follows.

In other words, the present invention provides a discharge lamp in which the connecting ends of a plurality of bulbs are airtightly connected to each other via a connecting member, and the discharge paths of these bulbs are integrally connected. The valve is characterized in that the connecting ends of the valve are respectively fitted into a plurality of tapered holes and fixed airtightly.

(Operation) The connecting ends of the plurality of valves are respectively fitted into the respective tapered holes of the connecting member and fixed airtightly.

Therefore, the lumens of the connecting ends of the respective bulbs are interconnected through the lumen of the connecting member, and the discharge paths formed in the lumens of the bulbs are interconnected, respectively.

Since each tapered hole forms a tapered surface from its large diameter end to its small diameter end, there was some variation in the diameter of the connection end of the valve inserted into this tapered hole. Even in this case, as long as the variation is within the range from the large diameter end to the small diameter end of each tapered hole, these connecting ends can be fitted into each tapered hole and fixed.

Therefore, according to the present invention, since high accuracy is not required for the diameters of the plurality of valves, it is possible to improve both the manufacturing yield and the workability accordingly.

(Example) Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described based on FIGS. 1 to 4.

FIG. 5 is a front view partially showing the overall configuration of an embodiment of the present invention in longitudinal section. .12 - stems 14a, 1 in which the open ends 11a, 12a are implanted with a pair of electrodes 13a, 13b, respectively;
4b, and a pair of electrodes 13a and 13b are enclosed within the bulbs 11 and 12.

The valve 11.12 has the other end, the connecting end 11b,
12b are respectively fixed to a hollow metal cap 15 which is a connecting member, and the respective lumens of these connecting ends 11° and 12 are connected to each other via the lumen in this metal cap 15,
The discharge paths of the bulbs 11 and 12 are integrally connected.

In addition, the valves 11 and 12 drain the air inside them to the exhaust pipe 16.
After exhausting, mercury and a rare gas are sealed inside the bulb through the exhaust pipe 16, and a phosphor film 17 is coated on almost the entire inner peripheral surface of the bulb 11, 12 over almost the entire length. I'm wearing it.

The metal cap 15 is shown in FIGS. 2 to 4 (A),
The main body 15a is configured as shown in FIG.
An upper flange 15b that stands up in an annular shape upwards in the figure is formed, and an elongated disc-shaped upper lid plate (15c) made of the same metal is fitted and fixed into the upper flange 15b to close the upper end of the opening. There is.

At least the entire inner surface of the main body 15a and the upper lid plate 15c of the metal cap 15 is coated with an electrically insulating coating such as a glass coating (not shown) to provide electrical insulation.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG.
Two tapered holes 15d and 15e are formed corresponding to the holes 2b, respectively.

The upper lid plate 15c has its respective tapered holes 15d.

Tapered walls 15f and 15g protruding vertically downward from the upper surface of 15e in a coaxial and conical manner are integrally formed by drawing or the like.

The outer peripheral portions of each of the tapered walls 15f and 15g are in close contact with the inclined inner peripheral surface of the main body 15a of the metal cap 15, as shown in FIG.

Each of the tapered holes 15d and 15e has its upper end in the drawing formed into a large diameter opening end that is slightly larger than the diameter of each connecting end 11b and 12b of the valve 11.12, while its lower opening end in the drawing is formed at each connecting end. The opening end is formed with a small diameter slightly smaller than the diameter of the portions 11b and 12b.

Therefore, as shown in FIG.
The opening ends of the holes b and 12b abut against the inner circumferential surfaces of the tapered holes 15d and 15e at their axial intermediate portions.

Therefore, if there is slight variation in the diameter dimensions of the connection ends 11b and 12b, each connection end 11111b and 12b will be adjusted to each tapered hole 1 according to the degree of the variation.
Since the adjustment is made by slightly moving up and down within 5d and 15e, high dimensional accuracy of each connection end 11b and 12b is not required.

Next, the state in which each of the connecting ends 11b and 12b is fitted into each of the tapered holes 15d and 15e is held by a jig (not shown), and each of the connecting ends 11b is held.

Upper lid plate 1 of metal cap 15 around 12b
A frit glass 18 is added on top of the upper cover plate 15C, and these connecting ends 11b and 12b are erected on the upper cover plate 15C and fixed hermetically.

To this end, the lumen in each connecting end 11b, 12b communicates with the lumen in main body 15a through each tapered hole 15d, 15e of metal cap 15. 1 valve for each valve
1.12 discharge paths are integrally connected through the inner cavity of the metal cap 15.

Therefore, according to this embodiment, high accuracy is not required for the diameter dimension of each connecting end of the valves 11 and 12, and accordingly, it is possible to improve both the manufacturing yield and the work efficiency. This makes it possible to reduce manufacturing costs.

In addition, each connection end 11b of the valve 11.12.

The outer circumferential surface of the opening end portion of the opening 12b may be chamfered at the taper angle of the tapered holes 15d and 15e. According to this, the connecting ends 11a and 12a and the tapered hole 15d.

Since the contact area of each inner circumferential surface of 15e increases, its fixing strength can be enhanced.

[Effect 3 of the Invention As explained above, in the present invention, the connecting ends of a plurality of valves are respectively fitted into the tapered holes of the connecting member and fixed in an airtight manner. Even if there are variations in the thickness, these can be fitted into the tapered hole and fixed.

Therefore, according to the present invention, high dimensional accuracy of the connection end of the valve is not required, so that it is possible to both reduce dripping in manufacturing and improve workability.

, 15a...Main body, 15c.=Upper lid plate, 1
5d.

15e...Tapered hole, 15f, 15g...Tapered wall.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a main part of an embodiment in which the discharge lamp according to the present invention is applied to a fluorescent lamp, Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the metal cap shown in Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 (A). is a plan view of the upper cover plate shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and Fig. 3 (B
) is a cross-sectional view taken along the line ■B-mB of the same figure (A), FIG. 4 (A) is a plan view of the metal cap main body shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and 4rI! J(B) is a front view of the same figure (A), FIG. 5 is a front view partially showing the overall configuration of an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a fluorescent lamp, and FIG. 6 is a front view of the conventional structure. FIG. 7 is a partial vertical sectional view of the fluorescent lamp, and is an exploded perspective view of the conventional metal cap shown in FIG. 6. 10... Fluorescent lamp (discharge lamp), 11.12...
- Valve, llb, 12b... connection end, 13a.

Claims (1)

[Claims] In a discharge lamp in which the connecting ends of a plurality of bulbs are airtightly connected to each other via a connecting member and the discharge paths of these bulbs are integrally connected, the connecting member has a plurality of tapered holes communicating with the inner cavity thereof. A discharge lamp characterized in that the connection end portions of the bulb are respectively fitted and fixed airtightly.