US3684345A - Method for making a tube - Google Patents

Method for making a tube Download PDF

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Publication number
US3684345A
US3684345A US57107A US3684345DA US3684345A US 3684345 A US3684345 A US 3684345A US 57107 A US57107 A US 57107A US 3684345D A US3684345D A US 3684345DA US 3684345 A US3684345 A US 3684345A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
envelope
ampul
infrared radiation
glass
mercury
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 - Lifetime
Application number
US57107A
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English (en)
Inventor
Manfred Schiekel
Hubert Reder
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Licentia Patent Verwaltungs GmbH
Original Assignee
Licentia Patent Verwaltungs GmbH
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from DE19691937189 external-priority patent/DE1937189C/de
Application filed by Licentia Patent Verwaltungs GmbH filed Critical Licentia Patent Verwaltungs GmbH
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3684345A publication Critical patent/US3684345A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01J—ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS
    • H01J9/00—Apparatus or processes specially adapted for the manufacture, installation, removal, maintenance of electric discharge tubes, discharge lamps, or parts thereof; Recovery of material from discharge tubes or lamps
    • H01J9/38—Exhausting, degassing, filling, or cleaning vessels
    • H01J9/395—Filling vessels

Definitions

  • ABSTRACT A gas-filled discharge tube is fabricated by mounting a plurality of electrodes in an envelope, inserting an ampul containing mercury and fabricated of a material which strongly absorbs infrared radiation and has a low melting point into the envelope, evacuating the envelope, filling the evacuated envelope with a filler gas, forming the electrodes to obtain uniform surfaces and a low work. function, vacuum filling the sealed envelope, and applying infrared radiation through the sealed envelope so that it is absorbed by the ampul and the mercury is released.
  • the envelope of the tube is preferably made of a glass having weak infrared absorbing properties.
  • the present invention relates to a method for applying mercury in an electronic, gas-filled discharge tube, particularly a number indicator tube operating on the glow principle as well as a tube manufactured according to this method.
  • a glass ampul containing the mercury is inserted into the tube and the mercury is released only after completion of the forming process and vacuum sealing of the tube by thermic deformation of the glass ampul.
  • the electrode which is at cathode potential with a thin layer, or coating, of mercury. Due to its high atomic weight, the mercury acts as an inhibitor for the ion dispersion. Since the mercury coating of the individual cathodes should be as uniform as possible, this covering can not be applied at arbitrary moment. Rather, the tube must first be pumped free of air, filled with a filler gas and then subjected to a forming process which is intended to obtain very uniform cathode surfaces and a work function as low as possible. The mercury coating must be done only after these process steps are completed. In order to accomplish this, it is known to initially insert the mercury into the envelope of the tube in an ampul and then, at the desired moment, to release the mercury by destroying or deforming the ampul.
  • Small glass ampuls are known for this purpose which are provided with an electric heating coil in addition to the mercury.
  • the heating coil is then heated by the passage of current and the glass ampul is thus softened and bursts.
  • This known method has the disadvantage that the heat of the heating coil releases easily vaporizable impurities which act on the cathode surface before the mercury is deposited thereon. As a consequence, there again appear zones with a higher work function on the cathode surfaces.
  • such ampuls require additional solder points and additional leads in the tube base.
  • a significant advantage of the present invention is that with the release of the mercury and change of form of the ampul, no additional metal parts need be heated inside the tube so that it is assured that no impurities are vaporized and deposited on the cathode surfaces.
  • a further advantage of the present invention is that a tube constructed according to the present invention can be manufactured in a simpler manner than previous tubes because additional melting and welding points are eliminated.
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a glow tube according to the present invention with infrared radiation being applied to an ampul.
  • FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of an ampul according to the present invention which has a tab for mounting it to an electrode or electrode lead.
  • FIG. 1 of the drawings shows a number indicator tube operating on the glow principle having a plurality of known cathodes 3 which glow upon the application of a potential and an anode 4, both disposed in an envelope l.
  • the envelope 1 is filled with a protective gas. for example an inert gas such as neon and/or argon, at a pressure of approximately 35 torr.
  • the individual electrodes 3 and 4 are connected with respective electric leads 2 in the base 10 of the tube.
  • a closed ampul 5 in which a slight amount of mercury 6 is disposed is arranged in the envelope-l before it is sealed.
  • This ampul 5 is made of a glass which absorbs infrared radiation particularly strongly and which has a relatively low softening point.
  • a glass is, for example, the lead-free IR melting glass, type 8512.
  • This glass may be appropriately colored to increase the absorption capability, or absorptivity, for infrared radiation.
  • the vapor pressure of the glass of ampul 5 should be relatively low at its softening temperature in order to minimize the amount of vapor released in the envelope 1.
  • the oxygen partial pressure should be as low as possible.
  • the softening point of the IRmelting glass, type 8512 is about 660 Celsius. This glass has at its softening point a sufficiently low oxygen partial pressure to avoid an oxidizing of electrode materials.
  • the infrared radiation absorptivity of this glass is about to percent, for example about 95 percent at a wavelength of the radiation of 1.1
  • the envelope 1 of the tube advisably is of a glass that absorbs infrared radiation only to a relatively slight degree. Any type of glass conventionally used for electron tubes can be used for this purpose, since their absorption capability, or absorptivity, for infrared radiation is not very high.
  • the ampul 5 is advisably fastened to an electrode input lead as, e.g., by melting in. Alternatively, tabs or the like may be used to fasten the ampul 5 to an electrode or an electrode lead.
  • FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of an ampul 5 enclosing an amount of mercury'6, for example a drop of mercury, and which is fastened to an electrode lead 11 by means of a tab 12 which may be melted into the wall of the ampul 5.
  • the tab 12, which preferably consist of a metal wire, may be welded to the electrode lead 11.
  • the infrared radiation absorptivity of conventionally used glass for electrontubes is lower than 10 percent.
  • a suitable, known infrared radiator 8 directs a strongly bundled infrared radiation 7 from a suitable, known parabolic mirror 9 to the ampul built into the tube.
  • Radiator 8 may be, for example, a suitable, known lamp. This infrared radiation penetrates the wall of envelope 1, since the latter absorbs a relatively small amount of the infrared radiation, and reaches the ampul 5 and is strongly absorbed thereby.
  • the absorbed infrared radiation leads to rapid softening (for example, approximately 20 seconds) and deformation, or melting, of the ampul 5 so that it will burst and release the mercury, which due to the slight vacuum in the envelope, is deposited in the desired manner on the surfaces of the electrodes 3. Since, in this process, no other metal portions are heated to any significant degree, the danger of impure electrode surfaces is substantially reduced.
  • a method for fabricating a gas-filled discharged tube comprising the steps of:
  • a method as defined in claim 1 further comprising providing the ampul with an exposed outer surface free of surrounding metallic structure and members.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
  • Manufacture Of Electron Tubes, Discharge Lamp Vessels, Lead-In Wires, And The Like (AREA)
  • Joining Of Glass To Other Materials (AREA)
  • Gas-Filled Discharge Tubes (AREA)
  • Discharge Lamp (AREA)
US57107A 1969-07-22 1970-07-22 Method for making a tube Expired - Lifetime US3684345A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE19691937189 DE1937189C (de) 1969-07-22 Verfahren zum Einbringen von Quecksil ber in eine Gasentladungsrohre und nach diesem Verfahren hergestellte Rohre

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3684345A true US3684345A (en) 1972-08-15

Family

ID=5740534

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US57107A Expired - Lifetime US3684345A (en) 1969-07-22 1970-07-22 Method for making a tube

Country Status (4)

Country Link
US (1) US3684345A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
JP (1) JPS4819508B1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
FR (1) FR2055409A5 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
GB (1) GB1319063A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)

Cited By (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3913999A (en) * 1972-08-11 1975-10-21 Thorn Electrical Ind Ltd Manufacturing electric devices having sealed envelopes
US3944869A (en) * 1973-04-27 1976-03-16 Burroughs Corporation Display panel with expansible, metallic capsule containing mercury and method of making said capsule
US4009407A (en) * 1974-07-30 1977-02-22 Panel Technology, Inc. Segmented electrode type gas discharge display panel with mercury giver means
US4119378A (en) * 1974-07-30 1978-10-10 Owens-Illinois, Inc. Segmented gas discharge display panel device and method of manufacturing same
FR2557726A1 (fr) * 1984-01-04 1985-07-05 Gte Prod Corp Procede et dispositif pour liberer de petites quantites de mercure a partir de capsules de verre scellees sous vide
EP0772219A1 (en) 1995-10-30 1997-05-07 Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. Method of manufacturing a low-pressure mercury discharge lamp, and low-pressure mercury discharge lamp which can be manufactured by said method
US6004650A (en) * 1996-12-31 1999-12-21 Owens Corning Fiberglas Technology, Inc. Fiber reinforced composite part and method of making same
US20060158121A1 (en) * 2003-07-08 2006-07-20 Neelen Marinus Cornelis M Low-pressure mercury vapor discharge lamp
US20070216282A1 (en) * 2006-03-16 2007-09-20 Kiermaier Ludwig P Lamp electrode and method for delivering mercury
US20070216308A1 (en) * 2006-03-16 2007-09-20 Kiermaier Ludwig P Lamp electrode and method for delivering mercury

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2016080613A (ja) * 2014-10-21 2016-05-16 セイコーエプソン株式会社 磁気計測装置、ガスセル、磁気計測装置の製造方法、およびガスセルの製造方法

Citations (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1841034A (en) * 1928-12-21 1932-01-12 Western Electric Co Electrooptical apparatus
US1934369A (en) * 1931-01-27 1933-11-07 Bell Telephone Labor Inc Electric discharge device
US2415895A (en) * 1944-06-17 1947-02-18 Gen Electric Manufacture of gaseous discharge tubes
US2733115A (en) * 1956-01-31 Apparatus for evaporating chemicals
US2744808A (en) * 1952-08-27 1956-05-08 Rca Corp Apparatus for evaporating chemicals
US2946642A (en) * 1959-02-13 1960-07-26 Burroughs Corp Method of making gaseous glow tubes
US2991386A (en) * 1958-12-06 1961-07-04 Egyesuelt Izzolampa Low-pressure mercury vapor discharge lamp
US3290110A (en) * 1962-12-26 1966-12-06 Rca Corp Processing metal vapor tubes
US3318649A (en) * 1963-10-11 1967-05-09 King Lab Inc Charging electronic tubes with mercury
US3551725A (en) * 1969-03-07 1970-12-29 Westinghouse Electric Corp Method of tipping-off the exhaust tube of an electric lamp,and a baseless single-ended incandescent lamp produced by such method

Patent Citations (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2733115A (en) * 1956-01-31 Apparatus for evaporating chemicals
US1841034A (en) * 1928-12-21 1932-01-12 Western Electric Co Electrooptical apparatus
US1934369A (en) * 1931-01-27 1933-11-07 Bell Telephone Labor Inc Electric discharge device
US2415895A (en) * 1944-06-17 1947-02-18 Gen Electric Manufacture of gaseous discharge tubes
US2744808A (en) * 1952-08-27 1956-05-08 Rca Corp Apparatus for evaporating chemicals
US2991386A (en) * 1958-12-06 1961-07-04 Egyesuelt Izzolampa Low-pressure mercury vapor discharge lamp
US2946642A (en) * 1959-02-13 1960-07-26 Burroughs Corp Method of making gaseous glow tubes
US3290110A (en) * 1962-12-26 1966-12-06 Rca Corp Processing metal vapor tubes
US3318649A (en) * 1963-10-11 1967-05-09 King Lab Inc Charging electronic tubes with mercury
US3551725A (en) * 1969-03-07 1970-12-29 Westinghouse Electric Corp Method of tipping-off the exhaust tube of an electric lamp,and a baseless single-ended incandescent lamp produced by such method

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
Gettering by Laser Induced Evaporation by Winters in Vol. 9 No. 10 March 1967 of IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin. pp. 1365 *

Cited By (18)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3913999A (en) * 1972-08-11 1975-10-21 Thorn Electrical Ind Ltd Manufacturing electric devices having sealed envelopes
US3944869A (en) * 1973-04-27 1976-03-16 Burroughs Corporation Display panel with expansible, metallic capsule containing mercury and method of making said capsule
US4009407A (en) * 1974-07-30 1977-02-22 Panel Technology, Inc. Segmented electrode type gas discharge display panel with mercury giver means
US4119378A (en) * 1974-07-30 1978-10-10 Owens-Illinois, Inc. Segmented gas discharge display panel device and method of manufacturing same
FR2557726A1 (fr) * 1984-01-04 1985-07-05 Gte Prod Corp Procede et dispositif pour liberer de petites quantites de mercure a partir de capsules de verre scellees sous vide
DE3500030A1 (de) * 1984-01-04 1985-07-18 Gte Products Corp., Wilmington, Del. Verfahren und vorrichtung zum abgeben kleiner mengen quecksilber aus evakuierten und versiegelten glaskapseln
US4534742A (en) * 1984-01-04 1985-08-13 Gte Products Corporation Method and apparatus for dispensing small quantities of mercury from evacuated and sealed glass capsules
BE1009761A3 (nl) * 1995-10-30 1997-08-05 Philips Electronics Nv Werkwijze voor het vervaardigen van een lagedrukkwikontladingslamp en lagedrukkwikontladingslamp die met een dergelijke werkwijze is te vervaardigen.
EP0772219A1 (en) 1995-10-30 1997-05-07 Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. Method of manufacturing a low-pressure mercury discharge lamp, and low-pressure mercury discharge lamp which can be manufactured by said method
US5917276A (en) * 1995-10-30 1999-06-29 U.S. Philips Corporation Low-pressure mercury discharge lamp having mercury capsule with a convex-shape
US6048241A (en) * 1995-10-30 2000-04-11 U.S. Philips Corporation Method of manufacturing a low-pressure mercury discharge lamp
CN1090804C (zh) * 1995-10-30 2002-09-11 皇家菲利浦电子有限公司 制造低压汞放电灯的方法及所制得的低压汞放电灯
US6004650A (en) * 1996-12-31 1999-12-21 Owens Corning Fiberglas Technology, Inc. Fiber reinforced composite part and method of making same
US20060158121A1 (en) * 2003-07-08 2006-07-20 Neelen Marinus Cornelis M Low-pressure mercury vapor discharge lamp
WO2005004192A3 (en) * 2003-07-08 2006-08-24 Koninkl Philips Electronics Nv Low-pressure mercury vapor discharge lamp
US20070216282A1 (en) * 2006-03-16 2007-09-20 Kiermaier Ludwig P Lamp electrode and method for delivering mercury
US20070216308A1 (en) * 2006-03-16 2007-09-20 Kiermaier Ludwig P Lamp electrode and method for delivering mercury
US7288882B1 (en) 2006-03-16 2007-10-30 E.G.L. Company Inc. Lamp electrode and method for delivering mercury

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB1319063A (en) 1973-05-31
FR2055409A5 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1971-05-07
DE1937189A1 (de) 1971-02-04
DE1937189B2 (de) 1971-11-25
JPS4819508B1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1973-06-14

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