US2799982A - Exhaust machine head assembly - Google Patents

Description

July 23, 1957 gj-LDODGE 2,799,982

EXHAUST MACHINE ASSEMBLY Filed Dan. 31, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENfR ERLE H. DODGE ATTORNEY July 23, 1957 EH DODGE 2,799,982

EXHAUST MACHINE HEAD ASSEMBLY Filed Dec. 31,, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 w 86' m0 156' w VENTOR DQDGE y 1957 E. H. DODGE 2,799,982

EXHAUST MACHINE HEAD ASSEMBLY Filed Dec. 31, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 I I INVENTOR ERLE H DODGE B a July 23, 1957 H DODGE 2,799,982

EXHAUST MACHINE HEAD ASSEMBLY Filed Dec. 31. 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 I m /92 w A96 I 30 '0 9.0 L5, B70 2 40 [(0 3 00 3.?!) 360 78a 754 a 72w I 30 6'0 .9 0 217 I /80 2 /0 240 300 3.?0 360 V I I I l l I Q? a 05 00 0%! m? INVENTOR ERLE H. mouse ATTORN Y Y 1957 E. H. DODGE 2,799,982

EXHAUST MACHINE HEAD ASSEMBLY Filed Dec. 31, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR ERLE H. DODGE ATTORNEY Unite States Patent EXHAUST MACHiNE HEAD ASSEMBLY Erle H. Dodge, Beverly, Mass assignor to Sylvania Electric Products Inc, Salem, Mass, a corporation of Massachusetts Application December 31, 1953, Serial No. 401,684)

3 Claims. (Cl. 53-88) This invention relates to the manufacture of electric discharge devices and more particularly to the exhausting operation performed on these devices during their manufacture.

An object of this invention is to provide a head assembly for electric discharge device exhaust machine.

Another object is to provide a head assembly for an electirc discharge device exhaust machine of the continuous motion type, i. e., a head assembly which makes it possible to load, process, and unload the electric discharge devices while the machine is in continuous motion.

A further object is to provide a head assembly for an electric discharge device exhaust machine with its own individual tipping torch for sealing off the tabulation, through which the device is exhausted and filled, after these operations have been performed.

A further object is to provide a head assembly for an electric discharge device exhaust machine with an automatic means for positioning the device with the applica- .tion of a minimum stress thereto.

A further object is to provide a head assembly for an electric discharge device exhaust machine with automatic means for compensating for variations in the length of the devices and the tabulations projecting therefrom.

A further object is to provide a head assembly for an electric discharge device exhaust machine with automatic means for applying a positive end-on force to the tubulation projecting from the device to effect an accurate positioning thereof and for relieving this force after the tubulation has been gripped by the head.

Th se and other objects, advantages and features of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from a study of a specific embodiment thereof shown in the accompanying drawings and described below.

In one embodiment of the invention, an electric gaseous discharge device, such as a fluorescent lamp for example, having a tabulation at each end thereof and in communication with the interior thereof, while disposed in a horizontal plane, is carried by a pair of heads through a pre-determined path, along which the exhausting and filling operations are performed. Each head comprises a head block which receives and grips the lamp tubulation and a tipping torch which seals off the tabulation from the lamp after the exhausting and filling operations have been performed thereon. Both the head block and the tipping torch are reciprocably mounted to permit them to move into and out of operative relationship with respect to the lamp tubulation.

In the specific embodiment of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a portion of a lamp exhaust machine showing an embodiment of the head assembly of this invention associated therewith.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional View of the head assembly.

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional detail of the tipping torch burner .01" the head assembly.

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Figure 4 is an end view of the head assembly of Figure 2 showing the contact fingers through which a source of electrical energy is connected to the lead wires of the lamp.

Figure 6 is a front elevational view of the head as sembly with the burner assembly removed to show the mechanism for opening and closing the head port.

Figure 7 is a longitudinal sectional view of the head block and burner assemblies.

Figure 8 is a developed schematic diagram of the cam which effects reciprocation of the head block assembly.

Figure 9 is a developed schematic diagram of the cam which effects reciprocation of the burner assembly.

Figures 10, 11 and 12 are enlarged fragmentary sectional views sequentially illustrating the operation of the tipping torch on a lamp tubulation.

Referring now to the drawings, particularly Figure 1 thereof, the specific embodiment of the head assembly of this invention is illustratively associated with the Apparatus for Exhausting Electric Discharge Devices shown and described in the application of Dodge et al., Serial No. 343,842 filed March 23, 1953, now U. S. Patout No. 2,726,799. The head assemblies 20 are mounted on a spider 22 keyed to a shaft 24 supported in bearing bracket 26 mounted on a table 28 on a base 30. Shaft 24 is driven by gear 32 mounted thereon, the gear being connected to a suitable drive mechanism not shown. Valves 34 and 36 disposed on the shaft 24 are connected to the head assemblies 20 by flexible tubing 33 and 40 respectively. Tubing 38 connects movable plate 42 of valve 34 to head block 44, the stationary plate 46 being connected to one or more vacum pumps and if desired to a source of flushing and/or filling gas (not shown). Tubing 40 connects the movable plate 48 of valve 36 to head burner 59, the stationary plate 52 being connected front elevational view of the head as to suitable gas sources (not shown) for feeding the head burner.

A stationary valve plate support 54 is attached by bolts 56 to frame 58 mounted on base 30. The plate 46 of valve 34 is held stationary and prevented from rotating by means of pin 60 which extends through support 54 and into plate 46. A gas-tight seal is effected and maintained between stationary plate 46 and movable plate 42, which is fixedly mounted on the hub of spider 22, by means of a pair of spring-loaded pads .62 (one of which is shown) mounted in the support 54. The plate 52 of valve 36 is prevented from rotating, held in frictional engagement, and maintained concentric with movable plate 48, which is fixedly mounted on shaft 24, .by means of a pair of spring-loaded shoulder pins 64 (one of which is shown) disposed within bosses .66 on support 68 which is attached to support 54. The tips of the pins 64 extend into apertures therefor in the plate 52 to prevent rotation and to maintain concentricity; and the shoulders of the pins 64 abut the outside face of the valve plate to effect and maintain frictional engagement of the plate 52 with the plate 48.

The frame 58 has a plurality of inwardly extending arms 70 (one of which is shown) attached thereto which support a pair of commutator tracks 72. The tracks 72 are engaged during a portion of the operating cycle of the machine by flexible metal fingers 74 and .75 which are a part of the head assembly 20. The frame 58 also has a plurality of inwardly extending arms 76 (one of which is shown) on which cam tracks 78 and 80, for actuating certain mechanisms of the head assembly 20', are mounted and which are concentric with shaft 24.

A developed schematic diagram of cams 78 and .80 is shown in Figures 8 and '9. In these diagrams, '0", which by a dwell 78a, a fall 78b, a dwell 780, a rise 78d, a

dwell 782, a rise 78f-and a dwell 78g, I 7

Referring now to Figure 2, the head assembly comprises a base" 82 which is attached to the spider'22 by bolts 84 and which serves as a support for the several components of the head assembly. A rod 86, supported in bearings in the base-82, has a burner plate 88 mounted on one end thereof and a block 90 mounted on the other end thereof. The block 90 has a laterally extending arm 92 in which cam follower 94 is supported and a bifurcated arm 96 depending therefrom. The arm 96 has a screw stop 98 extending therethrough and engagement with the base 82. The bifurcated portion of the arm 96 rides on a rod 100 mounted on the base 82. The rod 86 is loaded by spring 102 disposed thereon between a face of the base 82 and collar 104 mounted on the rod.

A sleeve 106, supported in bearings in the base 82, has an arm 108 mounted on one end thereof, and a cam follower 110 depending from and supported by the arm. The sleeve 106 is loaded by spring 112 disposed thereon between a face of the base 82 and collar 114 which is mounted and held rigidly on the sleeve 106 by set screw 107 (Fig. 2). The other end of sleeve 106 has a bifurcated arm 116 mounted thereon, the bifurcated portion thereof riding on a guide rod 118 mounted on the base 82. The arm 108, which is mounted on one end of the sleeve'106, has a sleeve portion 120 disposed within the sleeve 106 and rigidly fixed thereto. The sleeve portion 120 of arm 108 serves as a bearing for one end of rod 124. The sleeve portion 120 of arm 108 is provided with a bore 121 within which an end of rod 124 is slidably movable, and an orifice 123 to prevent air from being trapped in the bore 121. The rod 124 is supported near the other end thereof by bearing 126 in sleeve 106. A collar 128 is mounted on rod 124 substantially midway between the ends thereof. Springs 130 and 132 are disposed on rod 124 on opposite sides of collar 128. The head block 44, which is mounted on the right end-of rod 124, as seen in Fig. 2, has a bifurcated arm 136 mounted thereon, the bifurcated portion thereof riding on rod 118.

The burner plate 88, which is mounted on rod 86, has

a burner144 mounted thereon. An electrical contact ring 146, concentric with burner 144, is supported on metal legs 148 mounted on insulating buttons 150 and 152 on plate 88. Lead-wire 30f lamp 1 is electrically connected to the flexible metal finger 74, mounted on insulator 153 of bracket 154 on the base 82, through ring 146, one of the legs 148, screw 156 which extends through insulating button 152, bracket158 which is mounted on the screw 156, spring 160 which connects the bracket 158 to terminal post 162 mounted on base 82, and wire 164 which connects the insulated terminal post 162 to the finger 74.

Lead-Wire 5 of lamp 1 extends across the face of burner 144 and is grounded, through the several components of head assembly 20 to finger 75. A cradle 166, for receiving lamps at the loading end of the machine, and for momentarily supporting the lamps after tipping of the tubulations thereof, is attached to an arm 168 mounted on burner plate 88.

Referring now to Figure 7, the tubulation 7 which projectsfrom lamp 1 supports the lamp duringthe cycle of the, machine. The tubulation 7 extends through burner 144 on the burner plate 88, and a funnel guide 170 and resilient collar 172 seated in head block 44'mounted' on rod 124. The funnel guide 170 has a flange 176 which abuts a face of resilient collar 172. A ball-bearing race 178, concentric with the funnel guide 170, is disposed between the flange 176 of the funnel guide and'a cap 180 which is threaded on the block 44. A lever 182 clamped 4 to the cap 180 has a gear 184 mounted thereon. The gear 184 meshes with gear 186 (Fig. 6) of lever 188 which is pivotally mounted at 190 in bracket 192 on block 44.

As was mentioned above, the tubulation 7 projects through resilient collar 172 in block 44. The free end of the tubulation 7 lies within a collar 194 seated in block 44 and abuts the shank end of ejector pin 196 which is slidably disposed in chamber 198 in block 44. The ejector pin 196 is provided with-a port 200 at one end thereof and a port 202 at the other end thereof, each port being defined by a pair of connecting holes drilled in the pin at right angles to one another. Port 200 establishes communication between the lamp tubulation 7 and the chamber 198 in the block. Port 200 establishes communication between chamber 198 and bore 204, the bore 204 being in communication with tubing 38.

' Referring now to Figures 4 and 7, the burner 144, which is mounted on burner plate 88, is provided'with a centrally located aperture 208 through which tubulation 7 extends and a gas chamber 210 to which gas is supplied through tubing 40.

The operation of the head assembly of this invention will now be described. Since the head block 44 and the burner 144 are moved into and out of encompassing relationship with respect to tubulation 7 of lamp 1 by the travel of cam followers 110 and 94 over cam tracks 78 and respectively, the operation will be described in terms of the rises, dwells and falls of the cam tracks. As was pointed out above the description of the developed schematic diagram of cams 78 and 80 (Figs. 8 and 9), 0, which is taken as a reference point, is located directly beneath the shaft 24 (Fig. 1) and an imaginary circle is described about the shaft 24.

As each head assembly of a pair of head assemblies 20 located in axial alignment with one another on opposite ends of the machine moves from 0 to 30, the cradle 166 mounted on burner plate 88 receives a lamp 1 which is fed thereto either manually or mechanically. After the head assembly has rotated 30 the burner 144 and the head block 44 then move inwardly toward the end of the lamp to encompass the tubulation 7. The burner plate 88 is moved inwardly by the fall 80b of cam 80 (Fig. 9). As the cam follower 94 (Fig. 2) rides along the fall 80b of cam 80, the spring 102, which loads rod 86 on which} burner plate 88 is mounted, drives the burner plate inwardly. Head block 44 is moved inwardly to encompass tubulation 7 by the fall 78b (Fig. 8) of cam 78. As the cam follower rides along the fall 78b of cam 78, the spring 112 which loads sleeve 106 through collar 114 fixed tosleeve 106 drives sleeve 106 inwardly until collar 114 strikes base 82. As the sleeve 106 moves inwardly, the rod 124 which is disposed therein is carried inwardly by it. The inward movement of rod 124 on which the head block 44 is mounted moves the head block into eucompassing relationship with respect to tubulation 7. The tubulation 7 of the lamp is now disposed as in Fig. 7, i. e., it extends through aperture 208 in burner 144, funnel guide and resilient collar 172 in block 44, with the free end thereof lying within collar 194 and abutting the shank end of pin 196 which is in chamber 198. Since this condition occurs prior to the time that sleeve 106 has completed its inward travel, the remainder of the inward travel of sleeve 106 efiects a rearward displacement of the rod 124 within bore 121, places a load on spring 132 and thus, prevents excessive end pressure through the head block 44 on tubulation 7.

With each end of the lamp 1 now supported by its tubulation 7 within the resilient collar 172 of the head block 44, the lamp having been lifted from the cradle 166 by the inward movement of the head block 44 into encompassing relationship with respect to the tubulation 7, collar 172 is now clamped tightly to tubulation 7 by actuation of lever 188. This action occurs during dwell 78a of cam 78. Lever 188 is actuated by a spring-loaded cam follower 189 (Fig. 6) supported on a suitable fixed member (not shown) of the machine and lying in the path traversed by the lever 188. As the lever 188 moves into engagement with and rides past the spring loaded cam follower 189, it is displaced thereby. The rotational movement of lever 188 is translated through gear 186 of lever 188, gear 184 of lever 182, and lever 182 which is clamped to cap 180, into a tightening of cap 180 on block 44. Tightening of the cap 180 elfects a clamping of the resilient collar 172 tightly about the tubulation 7 through ball-bearing race 178 and flange 176 of funnel guide 170. The lamp 1 is now supported by the resilient collar 172 and an airtight seal about the tubulation 7 has been effected. The cam follower 110 then traverses rise 78d of cam 78 (Fig. 8) thereby retracting sleeve 106 and relieving the load which has been placed on rod 124 by spring 132 during the latter portion of the inward travel of sleeve 106. When this occurs there is no end pressure through the head block 44 on the tubulation.

Processing of the lamp on the exhausting and filling machine as it moves through its operating cycle is now effected. Evacuating, and/or flushing, and/or filling of the lamp may be accomplished through valve 34 (Fig. 1) which is connected to the lamp through tubing 38, bore 204 (Fig. 7), port 202, chamber 198, port 200, and tubulation 7. Conditioning of the electrodes of the lamp by the passage of current therethrough is accomplished by connecting the commutator tracks 72 (Figs. 1 and 3) to a source of electrical energy (not shown). The tracks 72 are engaged by flexible metal fingers '74 and 75 mounted on the insulator 153 of bracket 154 on head base 82. The finger 74 is electrically connected to lead-wire 3 of lamp 1 (Fig. 2) through wire 164, insulated terminal post 162, spring 160, bracket 158, screw 156, leg 148 of ring 146 and ring 146. As was mentioned above, lead-wire 5 of lamp 1 extends across the face of burner 144 and is grounded to finger 75 through the several head components.

When these processing operations have been completed, the tubulation 7 is tipped from the lamp 1. Tipping of the tubulation 7 is effected by burner 144, hereinafter referred to as the tipping torch. The tipping torch is lit by a pilot (not shown) suitably mounted on a fixed support such as a stationary member of the machine adjacent to the path traversed by the tipping torch and disposed at a point in the operating cycle where it is desired that tipping be performed. When the cam follower 94 (Fig. 2) traverses fall 800 (Fig. 9) of cam 80, the tipping torch 144 mounted on burner plate 88 is advanced toward the lamp 1 from the position shown in Figure 10 to the position shown in Figure 11, since the burner plate 88 is mounted on one end of rod 86 and cam follower 94 is mounted on arm 92 of block 90 which is mounted on the other end of rod 86. During the dwell Site of cam 80, the tipping torch 144 heats the tubulation 7 to a molten state (Fig. 11).

Before the cam follower 94 completes its traversal of dwell 80e, cam follower 110 starts to traverse rise 78] (Fig. 8) of cam 78. When the cam follower 110 rides along rise 78; it retracts sleeve 106 (Fig. 2), to which it is connected by arm 188. Retraction of sleeve 106 loads spring 138 which is disposed therein concentric with rod 124 on which head block 44 is mounted, since bearing 126 is fixedly attached to sleeve 106 and one end of spring 130 is in abutting relationship with respect thereto. Rod 124, loaded by spring 138, retracts the head block 44 and thereby effects a stretching and eventual severing of the molten tubulation 7. After the head block 44 has retracted sufficiently to effect a severing of the tubulation 7, the cam follower 94 then traverses rise 80f (Fig. 8) to effect retraction of the tipping torch 144. The cam follower 94 and the cam follower 110 then continue to traverse rises 80 and 78 until dwells 80g and 78g respectively are reached. At this time, the tipping torch 144 and the head block 44 have reached their fully 6 retracted positions. Since the tubulations 7 at each end of the lamp supported it during the operating cycle of the machine, tipping of the tubulations 7 therefrom frees the lamp from the head blocks 44 and permits it to rest in the cradles 166 momentarily until it is removed from the machine.

Although the completed lamp has been delivered from the machine, the heads which carried it must be prepared to receive another lamp. More particularly, the tubulations 7 must be removed. Before this can be done, however, the gripping force exerted thereon by the resilient collar 172 in head 44 must be relieved. This occurs when the lever 182 (Fig. 6) moves into engagement with and rides past spring-loaded cam follower 183 which lies in its path, the cam follower 183 being supported on a suitable fixed member (not shown) of the machine. Rotation of the lever 182 effects rotation of threaded cap 180 on which it is mounted. Rotation of cap 180 loosens it and relieves the force which had been previously applied through ball-bearing race 178 and flange 176 of funnel guide to resilient collar 172. Since lever 182 is connected to lever 188 through gears 184 and 186, the lever 188 is also displaced by the rotation of lever 182 (Fig. 6).

The tubulation 7 is now free to be ejected from the head block 44. This is accomplished by connecting the valve 34 (Fig. 1) to a source of compressed air (not shown). This blast of air into the head block 44 through tubing 38 and bore 204 (Fig. 7) drives the ejector pin 196 forward within the chamber 198 until the head thereof hits the collar 194. This stroke of ejector pin 196 pushes the tubulation 7 out of the resilient collar 172 and the funnel guide 170. The return stroke of the ejector pin 196 within its chamber 198 is efiected by the tubulation 7 of the next lamp when the head assembly 20 moves into encompassing relationship therewith.

What I claim is:

1. In apparatus for exhausting electric discharge devices and the like having a tubulation projecting therefrom, the combination of a head assembly comprising: a base member; a head block reciprocably mounted on said base member, said head block having an opening therein for receiving the tubulation of the device, means for effecting a hermetic seal about the tubulation, and means through which said head block is connected to exhausting means; means for advancing said head block to move it into encompassing relationship with respect to the tubulation of the device and to apply a force thereto end-on to insure proper positioning of the tubulation in the head block; and means for removing this force after positioning of the tubulation has been eifected.

2. In apparatus for exhausting electric discharge devices and the like having a tubulation projecting therefrom, the combination of a head assembly comprising: a base member; a head block reciprocably mounted on said base member, said head block having an opening therein for receiving the tubulation of the device, means for effecting a hermetic seal about the tubulation, and means through which said head block is connected to exhausting means; means for advancing said head block to move it into encompassing relationship with respect to the tubulation of the device and to apply a force thereto end-on to insure proper positioning of the tubulation in the head block; means for removing this force after positioning of the tubulation has been effected; and a tipping torch disposed in operative relationship with respect to the tubulation extending into said head block to effect a sealing thereof after the exhausting operation has been effected.

3. In apparatus for exhausting electric discharge devices and the like having a tubulation projecting therefrom, the combination of a head assembly comprising: a base member; a head block reciprocably mounted on said base member, said head block having an opening therein for receiving the tubulationof the device, means for effecting a hermetic seal about the tubulation, 'and means through which said head block is connected to exhausting means; means for advancing said head block to move it into eucompassing relationship with respect to the tiihu lation of the device and to apply a force theretoend-on to insure "proper positioning of the tub'ulation' in the head block; means for removing this force after positioning of the tubulation has been effected; a tipping torch reciprocably mounted on said base member, said tipping torch having an aperture therein in axial alignment with the opening in said head block which receives the tubulation of the device and through which the tubulation extends; and means for reciprocating said tipping torch axially With respect to the tubulation to move said tipping'torch into and out of operative relationship with respect thereto to eifect a sealing thereof after the exhausting operatic has been effected.

'References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

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