US1623323A - Method of introducing volatile matter into lamps and the like - Google Patents

Description

.April '5. 1927.

c, c. VAN VooRl-ns Ms'friov 0F INTRODUCING voLATILE MATTER INT0 LAMPS AND\THE LIKE Filed'Aug. 18. 1923 Patented pr. .5, 1927.

. UNi'r-Ein STATES cLE'rUs CLINTON. VAN vooimis, or' PRINCETON, NEW JERSEY, AssIGNoaro wEsT- 1,623,323 PATE-Nr oi-Fica ING-HOUSE LAMP COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

METHOD OF INTRDUCING VOLATILE MATTER'INTO LAMPS ANDTHE LIKE.

iippiicaaon sied Aug-ust 1s, 1923. serial 'No'. 655097.

This invention relates to the manufacture of gaseous discharge lamps and more particularly .to a method of and means for the introduction of potassium or othersuitable vapor therein.

It is becoming well known that b y introducing the vapor of metallic potassium, so dium or the like into an electric lamp filled with a gas such as neon, certain-distmct advantages are obtained. D ue to some peculiar phenomenon, the introduction of a vapor of an element of the class of potassium, reduces the starting and operating voltages of gas glow lamps to a minimum and in addition functions as an eiiicient clean-up agent.

It isan object ofthe invention to devise a method whereby the introduction of such metallic va ors may be facilitated.

It is a f rther object to devise an appa ratus by which the method may be carried of apparatus by means of which the metallic vapors may beintroduced into the lamp;

Fig. 2 is a sectionV thereof taken on 'tlie line II-II of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of 'the arrows Fig. 3 is asectional view of one form 1n which the metal may be prepared for intro duction, and Fig. 4 is a view of another form in which v the metal may be prepared showing a mangenerally designated 16 and-adapted to slide therein on projections or guides 18, back and ner in which it may be so prepared.

Fig. 5 is a section on the line V Fig. 1.

In my Voi co ending a 'w'cation, 'Seri PP 569,861, file June 21,??1922, entitled Manufacture ofcelectric lamps and the like, and assigned to the Westinghouse Lamp I have disclosed a method of and an apparatus fbi' the, introduction of an unstable volatile andin certain respects, the method and ap'-y paratus of this application may be considered as modifications.

Numerous difficulties are encountered m introducing an alkali metal orits vapor into av lamp. These dilcultles are due almost entirely to ,the chemical activity of the metal which, in the case of potassium,

renders it almost impossible of inanil pj ilah haust.

material in an electric lamp'--- 20 .in any appropriate manner, but,

such metals volatilize at extremely low temperatures, it is not easy to maintain the metal in a non-volatilized or stable state While baking out the lamp during the ex- By myinvention I render it practical to bake out the lamp during the exhausting operation and at the. same time facilitate the' introduction of the alkalil metal vapor at the desiredlperiod.

In carrying out the operation, I so preparethe metal to be introduced, hereinafter specified as potassium, that itwill be relatively stable-under ordinary conditions and vso .dispose it with respect to the lamp that it may be readily positioned for volatilization into the lamp and where the hot 'exhaust from thelatter or from the baking out apparatus (not shown) willnot come into Contact with it.

In Fig. 1 I have showh one forml which` my invention embraces and therein have .diagrammatically illustrated a manner of hereinafter described. l

Within the tube 8 is positioned a carrier forth between the positions show n in full and dotted lines. The recess 14 permits the carrier 16 to p esition itself as shown'in the dotted lines. recessed cradle portion 20 of glass or like material and a portion 22 ofsoft iron orthe like attached thereto for cooperation with a magnet 24, whereby the carrier may be moved from end to end of the tube upon movementla'of -the'magnet. The cradle 20- f is provided wf'ith the'recess to carry a. pellet o`r other `forni of the material to be volatilizedfyintothe lamp.

Thefipellet of potassium, --generally desi he carrier may comprise a l ioo los

nated 26, may be displaced from the crad e preferlarge abiy, I make the't'ube 8 rgund and cross sectional area compared tothe same area of carrier 16so that by moving the magnet 24 to one side or cireumferentially of the tube 8 as shown "the arrow in Fig. 5, I roll or rock the cradle 16 sufficiently to displace the pellet therefrom. The projections 18, in addition to serving as guides, act to prevent premature rotation of the carrier.

In order to insure that'the potassium will be volatilized into the lamps and not into the main 6, I prevent the escape of any matter into the main, While the potassiumf is being volatilized, by a peculiar expedient. At the base of the main 6 and adjacent to the manifold connection, I form a recess 28 large enough to receive a stopper or plug 30, preferably comprising a glass capsule enclosing a soft iron rod, adapted to be lifted -from the recess and placed within a constricted portion 32of the main 6 by meansof an electro-magnet 34. The glass enclosed stopper maybe ground to fit the constricted portion 32 of the main 6 snugly and effectually closes the manifold 2 from the main 6 as shown in dotted lines. When it is desired to move the stopper 30 from within the recess`28 to the constriction 32 or vice versa, it is merely necessa/ryptoenergize the magnet 34, bring it into positign adacent the sto per andV vthen by an vupwar and Vcircumferential movement raise the stopper from the recess 28 and move it to a position over the constriction 32 into whichl it may then be readily deposited. Other magnetic or electrical means may be substituted for the electro-magnet as will be obvious.

After the lamps have been connected lto the manifold, the ground glass stopper 12 is removed, a pellet or other form of the material to be volatilized is positioned in rial.

the carrier cradleV 20, which is inserted within the tube 8, the stopper greased with vaseline or the like and replaced. The lamps may now be exhausted as desired, preferably with bakin When the desired degree of exhaustion o the lamps is reached, the magnet 24 is energized and manipulated to precipitate the Apotassium lpellet into the main 6 and the magnet 34 is energized to lift the plug 30 from its recess 28 and to ppsition it in the eonstricted portion 32.

eat may` be applied, as shown at 36, to volatilize the potassium.

.As will be apparent, any desired gas may be put into the lamps before or after volatilization of the potassium or other mate- In this connection, however, I prefer to fill thelamps, to the desired pressure with neon gas, after the potassium has .beenl volatili'zed. as in this Way I am enabled to A vaporize the potassium inoreeasily.

In Figa3 I have illustrated a glass .encapsulated potassium pellet which is formed. as described 4in my copendingf;application:

1,ea3,sas

above referred to except that prior to the insertion o f the capsule within the cradle of the carrier, I break off the ends, of the to the Westinghouse Lamp Company. In.

this type, the potassium is covered with such a metal as lead in strip form -until ready'ifor use, whereupon vit is cutY 4into convenient lengths by dull shears as shown at 40 and 42. By cutting the strip with a dull instrument, the lead or other metal encasing the potassium'is drawn in as at 44 hermetically sealing both severed ends. When heated within the manifold, the potassium volatilizes at a lower temperature than the lead and, owing to its greater coeicient of expansio'n at that temperature, bursts from its -lead confines.

-While .I have illustrated and described what I may consider a preferred form of my invention, many modifications ther-ectl may be made within the spirit andscope of the appended/claims.

What is claiianed is:

1. rlhe combination with lan exhaust system for evacuated containers, of means for Vintroducing volatile substances into said system at a point remote from said containers and means for subsequently transferring said material in a solid condition to a position adjacent said containers.

2. The combination with an exhaust apparatus for evacuated containers adapted to .be baked out during evacuation, of means for introducing a volatile substance into said apparatus and maintaining it in a cooled portion thereof during the bakingoutfop'eration and means for subsequently transferrin'v said substance without vola-4 tilization t ereof to another part of.said` l apparatus.' y

3. The combination with an exhaust apparatus for evacuated containers adapted to be baked out during evacuation, of means for vintroducing a volatile substance into 'said apparatus and maintaining it in va cooled portion thereof while said containers are ",being baked out and means arranged exteriorly of Vsaid system for subsequently transferring said substance without volatilization thereof. to another part of said apparatus.

4. The combination with an exhaust apparatus for evacuated containers adapted to be baked out 'duringevaeuation and a pump connection therefor, of means for introducparatus and maintaining it in a cooled por-v tion thereof while said containers 'are being baked out, means for subsequently transferring said substance without volatihzation thereof to another part of said apparatus,v

means for sealing said materiai from the pump connection and means for volatilizing said material intosaid container.

G. The combination withan exhaust apparatus having an exhaust manifold and a pump connection, of" means for introducing a volatile substance into-said pump conneetion at a point remote from said manifold, and electromagnetic means for subsequently transferring said substance to said manifold.

7. The method of introducing a volatile substance into an evacuated device which consists in introducing said substance into an exhaust system communicating with said device, at a point remote therefrom, evacuating the device. transferring the substance in a solid condition to a point adjacent said device and volatilizing it into said device.

8. The method of introducing the vapor of a volatile substance Within an hermatically sealed vessel which comprises posi- .tioning said substance at an inactive posi-v tion Within a portion of said vessel, sealing said vessel hermetically, performing preliminary operations upon said vessel, bodily repositioning said substance to an active position while maintaining said seal and volatilizing said substance.

9. The method of introducing the vapor of a volatile substance within an hermctically sealed vessel which comprises positioning said substance at an inactive position within a portion of said vessel, sealing said vessel hermetically, evacuating said vessel, repositioning said substance Without volati.iza

tion thereof to an active`.posit'ion while' maintaining said seal and thereafter volatihzlng sald substance.

10. An exhaust system-for an evacuated .container having a pump connection, a valve located wholly Within said pump connection, a seat for said valve and means external to the system for raising said valve'from its seat and depositing itl at a point out of the path of communication and container. i

11. An exhaust system for an evacuated container having a pump connection. a valve located wholly within saidv pump. connection, a seat for said valve and electromagnetic means for lifting said valve from its seat and depositing it at a point in said pump connection out of the path of communication between the pump and container.

between the' pump In testimony whereof, I have hereunto A subscribed my name this sixteenth day of August, 1923.

citrus CuNToNvN voonms.

Images