US3526804A - Fluorescent lamp or similar device containing an amalgam of tin-indium-mercury which controls the mercury vapor pressure during operation - Google Patents

Fluorescent lamp or similar device containing an amalgam of tin-indium-mercury which controls the mercury vapor pressure during operation Download PDF

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Publication number
US3526804A
US3526804A US678702A US3526804DA US3526804A US 3526804 A US3526804 A US 3526804A US 678702 A US678702 A US 678702A US 3526804D A US3526804D A US 3526804DA US 3526804 A US3526804 A US 3526804A
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Prior art keywords
mercury
amalgam
lamp
indium
tin
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Expired - Lifetime
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US678702A
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English (en)
Inventor
George S Evans
Chalmers Morehead
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Philips North America LLC
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Westinghouse Electric Corp
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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01J—ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS
    • H01J61/00—Gas-discharge or vapour-discharge lamps
    • H01J61/70—Lamps with low-pressure unconstricted discharge having a cold pressure < 400 Torr
    • H01J61/72—Lamps with low-pressure unconstricted discharge having a cold pressure < 400 Torr having a main light-emitting filling of easily vaporisable metal vapour, e.g. mercury

Definitions

  • Application Ser. No. 524,898 discloses and claims a fluorescent lamp having a foraminous assembly which retains discrete segments of a suitable amalgam, such as a tin-indium-mercury amalgam, at a predetermined location within the lamp.
  • Application Ser. No. 381,503 discloses and claims a mercurydischarge lamp having an indium-mercury amalgam and various types of foraminous holders.
  • This invention relates to mercury vapor discharge lamps and has particular reference to an improved fluorescent lamp having a mercury-vapor pressure regulating means that permits the lamp to be operated efliciently at high power loadings or within a wide range of ambient temperatures, or a combination of these conditions.
  • the light output and efliciency of a fluorescent lamp reaches a maximum when the mercury vapor pressure within the lamp is maintained within the range of approximately 6 to 10 microns. This is due to the fact that the amount of 2537 a radiation produced by the discharge is at a maximum at such vapor pressures. Vapor pressures of from about 3 to 14 microns maintain the light output within 90% of peak output and are thus commercially acceptable.
  • the design parameters are so correlated that the required mercury vapor pressure is achieved under normal operating conditions.
  • the mercury vapor pressure increases and the light output drops off sharply.
  • Fluorescent lamps have been developed and are being marketed wherein the aforesaid problem is overcome by utilizing an amalgam of indium and mercury which, by virtue of its composition and strategic location within the lamp, regulates and maintains the mercury vapor pressure Within the proper limits over a wide range of lamp operating temperatures.
  • an amalgam of indium and mercury which, by virtue of its composition and strategic location within the lamp, regulates and maintains the mercury vapor pressure Within the proper limits over a wide range of lamp operating temperatures.
  • the amalgam contains (on an atom percent basis) from about 2% to 9% tin, from about 71 to 91% indium, and from about 7 to 20% mercury; and the amounts of the various constituents are so correlated that the amalgam is in a liquid solid (two phase) state at the temperatures which prevail within the lamp when the latter is operated at high power loadings or high ambient temperatures, or both.
  • Such amalgams have a more constant vapor pressure characteristic than does a two phase indium-mercury amalgam and thus provide a more stabilized light output over a wide range of operating temperatures.
  • the primary alloy of tin and indium used to form the amalgam in the finished lamp has a higher tensile strength than does pure indium. Ribbons of tin-indium alloy are thus easier to handle and facilitate the manufacture of the pressure-regulating components and lamps.
  • FIG. 1 is an elevational view, partly in section, of a fluorescent lamp embodying the novel mercury-vapor pressure regulating amalgam of the present invention
  • FIG. 2 is a graph comparing the pressure-temperature 3 characteristic of the triple-component amalgams of the present invention with pure mercury and a two phase indium-mercury amalgam;
  • FIGS. 3(a) to (d) are graphs in which the light output, wattage, voltage, and current characteristics of a 96 inch highly-loaded fluorescent lamp containing a twophase indium-mercury amalgam are compared with those of an identical lamp containing a two-phase tin-indiummercury amalgam according to the invention.
  • FIG. 1 there is shown a highly-loaded fluorescent lamp consisting of a tubular glass envelope 12 that is interiorly coated with a layer 14 of a suitable ultravioletresponsive phosphor and is hermetically sealed at each end by a glass stem 16.
  • a pair of lead wires 18 sealed through each of the stems 16 connect the cathodes 20 to pin contacts 22 that are anchored in suitable base members 24 attached to the respective ends of the envelope.
  • the cathodes 20 comprise tungsten wire coils that are coated with electron-emissive material and are disposed between enlarged metal anodes 26 fastened to the inner ends of the lead wires 18.
  • the mercury-vapor pressure control component 28 consists of a wire mesh collar 29 that contains a predetermined amount of amalgam and is held in encircling relationship with the stem tube 16 by a ring clip 30.
  • the core of amalgamating material and the overlying strips of wire mesh are assembled in the form of a collar which is then slipped over the stem 16 in accordance with the teachings of the aforementioned copending Evans application Ser. No. 381,503.
  • the collar 29 contains the primary amalgamating alloy only. This alloy subsequently combines with the mercury vapor within the finished lamp, when the latter is first lighted and de-energized, and forms the amalgam which thereafter controls the mercury-vapor pressure in the lamp when it is operating.
  • the primary amalgamating material comprises an alloy of indium and tin in amounts such that the amalgam ultimately formed with the mercury within the finished lamp contains predetermined amounts of these three metals.
  • the proportions of the constituents comprising the amalgam are quite critical and it has been discovered that tin *must be present in only a minor amount if proper regulation is to be achieved.
  • the permissible and preferred ranges of the various constituents in both atomic and weight percentages are given in Table I below.
  • Amalgams containing the preferred amount of tin, from 7 to 20 atom percent mercury, and the balance indium will be in a two phase state when the lamp operating temperature is within the aforesaid range of from about 45 C. to 130 C.
  • Amalgams containing the preferred ranges of tin, indium and mercury set forth in Table I will, accordingly, provide optimum mercury-vapor pressure control at such operating temperatures.
  • a twophase indium-mercury amalgam of the proper composition provides the desired mercury-vapor pressure regulation at the higher range of temperatures which prevai within highly-loaded fluorescent lamps, and is most effective at operating temperatures of from 70 C. to 90 C.
  • a triple-component amal gam embodying the present invention and containing 20 atom percent tin, 65 atom percent indium and 15 atom percent mercury provides a mercury vapor pressure that is closer to the optimum range of 6 to 10 microns at lower operating temperature than does the indium-mercury amalgam.
  • the mercury vapor pressure in a lamp containing such a triple-component amalgam will be higher at amalgamoperating temperatures of from 60 to 80 C. than in the case of an identical lamp containing a two-phase indium-mercury amalgam.
  • the lamp containing this particular triple-component amalgam will have a proportionately higher light output than an In-Hg amalgam lamp in the aforesaid operating temperature range of 60 C. to 80 C.
  • a triple component amalgam consisting of 5 atom percent tin, 75 atom percent indium and 20 atom percent mercury provides mercury-vapor pressure regulation that is more favorable than the regulation provided by either the two phase In-Hg amalgam or the 20 Sn-65 In-15 Hg amalgam.
  • curve 35 which shows that with a tin content of 5 atom percent the vapor pressure increases from about 2.3 microns at 55 C. to approximately 4.5 microns at 62 C., and then increases at much slower rate to about 10 microns at approximately 88 C. That is, the curve has approximately the same slope as that of the indiummercury system up to about 62, at which point a sharp break occurs and the slope of the curve decreases.
  • this particular triple-component amalgam not only has a pressure-temperature characteristic which is tailored to the operating temperature requirements of highlyloaded fluorescent lamps but has, in addition, a mercury vapor pressue characteristic that is less responsive or sensitive to changes in operating temperature.
  • the mercury vapor pressure and the light output of a lamp containing this type amalgam will remain more constant as the ambient and operating temperatures change in comparison to an identical lamp having an amalgamating material consisting of indium.
  • the light output versus ambient temperature curve will be flatter in the case of a two-phase Sn-In-Hg amalgam lamp than for a two-phase .ln-Hg amalgam lamp, other factors being equal.
  • a two-phase Sn-In-Hg amalgam suitable for a 48 inch T12 1500 ma. fluorescent lamp can be obtained by placing 115 milligrams of a primary Sn-In alloy (5% by weight Sn and 95% by weight In) in the wire mesh collar, and then dosing the lamp with about 50 milligrams of mercury in the usual fashion.
  • a fluorescent lamp which contains an amalgam consisting of preselected amounts of tin, indium and mercury which not only enhances the performance of the lamp but makes it easier to manufacture.
  • an amalgam consisting of preselected amounts of tin, indium and mercury which not only enhances the performance of the lamp but makes it easier to manufacture.
  • the amalgam can be retained in the desired position within the lamp by means other than a wire mesh collar, as by attaching a body of the amalgam to the bulb wall, lead wires or stem tube with a suitable holder, etc.
  • the invention is not limited to fluorescent lamps but may be used in various types of mercury-vapor discharge devices, such as ultraviolet-generating lamps for example, which will exhibit an enhanced output if the mercury vapor pressure is properly controlled.
  • means for controlling the mercury-vapor pressure within said lamp during the operation thereof comprising a predetermined amount of a tin-indium alloy located in a region within said lamp such that said alloy combines with substantially all of the mercury when the lamp is de-energized and forms a tinindium-mercury amalgam that contains from about 5 to 30 atom percent mercury, from about 45 to 93 atom percent indium, and from about 2 to 25 atom percent tin.
  • amalgam contains about 15 atom percent mercury, about 20 atom percent tin and about atom percent indium.
  • said lamp comprises a fluorescent lamp and said amalgam contains from about 7 atom percent to about 20 atom percent mercury, from about 2 atom percent to about 9 atom percent tin, and from about 71 atom percent to about 91 atom percent indium.
  • amalgam contains about 20 atom percent mercury, about 5 atom percent tin, and about 75 atom percent indium.
  • amalgam contains about 13 atom percent mercury, about 4 atom percent tin, and about 83 atom percent indium.

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  • Vessels And Coating Films For Discharge Lamps (AREA)
  • Discharge Lamp (AREA)
  • Discharge Lamps And Accessories Thereof (AREA)
US678702A 1967-10-27 1967-10-27 Fluorescent lamp or similar device containing an amalgam of tin-indium-mercury which controls the mercury vapor pressure during operation Expired - Lifetime US3526804A (en)

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US67870267A 1967-10-27 1967-10-27

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US (1) US3526804A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
BE (1) BE722837A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
DE (1) DE1804545A1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
FR (1) FR1588055A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
GB (1) GB1171738A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
NL (1) NL6815202A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)

Cited By (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3683227A (en) * 1970-05-25 1972-08-08 Jury Iosifovich Shindelman Low-pressure mercury-vapor gas-discharge fluorescent lamp with amalgam
US4157485A (en) * 1975-06-20 1979-06-05 U.S. Philips Corporation Low-pressure mercury vapor discharge lamp with indium-bismuth-mercury amalgam
WO1994018692A1 (en) * 1993-02-12 1994-08-18 Apl Engineered Materials, Inc. A fluorescent lamp containing a mercury zinc amalgam and a method of manufacture
US6310437B1 (en) 2000-06-01 2001-10-30 General Electric Company Fluorescent lamp extension tube amalgam holder
US20020180340A1 (en) * 2001-05-25 2002-12-05 Hansen Steven C. Materials and methods for mercury vapor pressure control in discharge devices
US20030151351A1 (en) * 1994-09-01 2003-08-14 Advanced Lighting Technologies, Inc. Fluorescent lamp containing a mercury zinc amalgam and a method of manufacture
WO2003085695A3 (en) * 2002-04-11 2005-05-06 Koninkl Philips Electronics Nv Low-pressure mercury vapor discharge lamp
US20050126274A1 (en) * 2002-04-17 2005-06-16 Martin Griesser Method for identifying tire characteristics
WO2004032180A3 (en) * 2002-10-04 2005-08-25 Koninkl Philips Electronics Nv Low-pressure mercury vapour discharge lamp
US20070103080A1 (en) * 2005-11-09 2007-05-10 Zoltan Bako Glass sealing and electric lamps with such sealing
US7276853B2 (en) 2002-04-11 2007-10-02 Koninklijke Philips Electronics, N.V. Low-pressure mercury vapor discharge lamp

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3152278A (en) * 1959-06-12 1964-10-06 Patent Treuhand Ges Fuer Elektrische Gluehlampen Mbh Fluorescent lamp with low melting amalgam filling
US3263111A (en) * 1962-08-02 1966-07-26 Ulrich W Doering Fluorescent tube with mercury amalgam on tube wall
US3392298A (en) * 1962-08-31 1968-07-09 Sylvania Electric Prod Fluorescent lamp using an indiummercury amalgam band for pressure control

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3152278A (en) * 1959-06-12 1964-10-06 Patent Treuhand Ges Fuer Elektrische Gluehlampen Mbh Fluorescent lamp with low melting amalgam filling
US3263111A (en) * 1962-08-02 1966-07-26 Ulrich W Doering Fluorescent tube with mercury amalgam on tube wall
US3392298A (en) * 1962-08-31 1968-07-09 Sylvania Electric Prod Fluorescent lamp using an indiummercury amalgam band for pressure control

Cited By (14)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3683227A (en) * 1970-05-25 1972-08-08 Jury Iosifovich Shindelman Low-pressure mercury-vapor gas-discharge fluorescent lamp with amalgam
US4157485A (en) * 1975-06-20 1979-06-05 U.S. Philips Corporation Low-pressure mercury vapor discharge lamp with indium-bismuth-mercury amalgam
WO1994018692A1 (en) * 1993-02-12 1994-08-18 Apl Engineered Materials, Inc. A fluorescent lamp containing a mercury zinc amalgam and a method of manufacture
US6339287B1 (en) * 1993-02-12 2002-01-15 Advanced Lighting Technologies, Inc. Fluorescent lamp containing a mercury zinc amalgam and a method of manufacture
US20030151351A1 (en) * 1994-09-01 2003-08-14 Advanced Lighting Technologies, Inc. Fluorescent lamp containing a mercury zinc amalgam and a method of manufacture
US6791254B2 (en) * 1994-09-01 2004-09-14 Advanced Lighting Technologies, Inc. Fluorescent lamp containing a mercury zinc amalgam and a method of manufacture
US6310437B1 (en) 2000-06-01 2001-10-30 General Electric Company Fluorescent lamp extension tube amalgam holder
US20020180340A1 (en) * 2001-05-25 2002-12-05 Hansen Steven C. Materials and methods for mercury vapor pressure control in discharge devices
WO2003085695A3 (en) * 2002-04-11 2005-05-06 Koninkl Philips Electronics Nv Low-pressure mercury vapor discharge lamp
US7276853B2 (en) 2002-04-11 2007-10-02 Koninklijke Philips Electronics, N.V. Low-pressure mercury vapor discharge lamp
US20050126274A1 (en) * 2002-04-17 2005-06-16 Martin Griesser Method for identifying tire characteristics
US7263878B2 (en) 2002-04-17 2007-09-04 Continental Teves Ag & Co. Ohg Method for identifying tire characteristics
WO2004032180A3 (en) * 2002-10-04 2005-08-25 Koninkl Philips Electronics Nv Low-pressure mercury vapour discharge lamp
US20070103080A1 (en) * 2005-11-09 2007-05-10 Zoltan Bako Glass sealing and electric lamps with such sealing

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB1171738A (en) 1969-11-26
DE1804545A1 (de) 1969-05-29
NL6815202A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1969-04-29
FR1588055A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1970-04-03
BE722837A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1969-04-01

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Owner name: NORTH AMERICAN PHILIPS ELECTRIC CORP.

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST.;ASSIGNOR:WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC CORPORATION;REEL/FRAME:004113/0393

Effective date: 19830316