US3890531A - Low pressure mercury vapor discharge lamp with amalgam - Google Patents

Low pressure mercury vapor discharge lamp with amalgam Download PDF

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Publication number
US3890531A
US3890531A US476478A US47647874A US3890531A US 3890531 A US3890531 A US 3890531A US 476478 A US476478 A US 476478A US 47647874 A US47647874 A US 47647874A US 3890531 A US3890531 A US 3890531A
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United States
Prior art keywords
ductile
amalgam
lamp
metal
aluminum alloy
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Expired - Lifetime
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US476478A
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English (en)
Inventor
Ernst Panofski
Erhard Rasch
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PATENT TREUHAND GES fur ELEKST
PATENT-TREUHAND-GESELLSCHAFT fur ELEKSTRICHE GLUHLAMPEN MBH
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PATENT TREUHAND GES fur ELEKST
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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

  • the improvement comprises using as the amalgam-forming metal an admixture of a silicon-aluminum alloy or a berylliumaluminum alloy with said ductile metal.
  • the ductile metal is one with which the said aluminum alloy is not substantially in solid solution at the operating temperature of the lamp.
  • the preferered ductile metal is indium or a ductile indium alloy.
  • the location of the amalgamforming metal and of the amalgam within the lamp affects the functioning of the lamp insofar as it relates to the amalgam.
  • the composition of the amalgam both in relation to the selection of the amalgamforming metal and the relative quantitites of the amalgam-forming metal and the mercury affect the said function of the lamp.
  • the selection of the amalgam-forming metal or metals and the composition of the amalgam or amalgams are influenced by their respective locations.
  • the temperature prevailing during operation of the lamp at the location of the amalgam is of decisive importance.
  • the lamp may also contain several amalgams which have different functions.
  • the main amalgam determines the mercury vapor pressure during operation of the lamp.
  • One or more other amalgams may be utilized to shorten the run-up period of the lamp.
  • U.S. Pat. No. 3,574,033 discloses a specific process for positioning the amalgam wherein the amalgamforming metal is indium containing an addition of germanium and/or aluminum. This is used for the purpose of increasing the adhesion and the thermal stability within the lamp during operation.
  • the present invention provides improved low pressure mercury vapor discharge lamps of the fluorescent type which have a high electrical and/or thermal loading. These lamps utilize an amalgam which is formed from a ductile metal.
  • the improvement in the present lamps comprises using as the amalgam-forming metal a composition comprising the said ductile metal together with an addition of an aluminum alloy selected from silicon-aluminum and beryllium-aluminum.
  • the said aluminum alloy is present in said ductile metal as a distinct phase at the operating temperature of the lamp i.e., it is not primarily in solid solution in the duetile metal or in the amalgam formed by the mercury and the ductile metal composition.
  • the present invention also provides lamp components, i.e., electrode supports and the electrode housing containing the improved ductile metal composition.
  • ductile amalgam-forming metal refers to both elemental metals and alloys.
  • the preferred ductile metals are germanium and indium. These metals may contain alloying ele ments which result in the consequent amalgam having a lower vapor pressure.
  • the preferred alloying elements are thallium, zinc, bismuth and tin. lndium and its alloys with the aforesaid alloying elements are the preferred ductile amalgam-forming metal.
  • the aluminum-forming alloy which is the non-ductile substantially insoluble component of the ductile metal composition is preferably silicon-aluminum or beryllium-aluminum in amounts between 0.05% and 25% and preferably between 0.5 and 5% by weight of the ductile amalgam-forming metal.
  • the weight ratio of silicon to aluminum is from l:10 to l:5, i.e., the silicon is between about IO% and 20% of the said siliconaluminum.
  • the silicon-aluminum has the advantage of being particularly inexpensive.
  • the characteristics of the ductile amalgam-forming metals and the amalgams formed therefrom, including the soft and relatively pliable characteristics, are advantageously affected by the addition of the said aluminum alloys which are insoluble in the ductile metals.
  • the aluminum alloy additives are dispersed throughout the ductile metal composition and the consequent amalgam, and remain in a distinct phase, i.e., they are substantially insoluble in the ductile amalgam-forming metal and in the mercury at the operating temperature of the lamp.
  • the presence of the aluminum alloys as a phase dispersed throughout the ductile amalgamforming matrix results in the said ductile metal composition having a strengthened structure.
  • the aforesaid aluminum alloys were soluble to the extent of forming solid solutions with the ductile amalgam-forming metal and/or with the amalgam, they would not be useful for the purpose of the present invention. If they dissolved in mercury, the mixed phase equilibrium between the amalgam-forming metal and the mercury would be changed. This would change one of the fundamental characteristics of the lamp and would impair the desired functioning of the low pressure mercury vapor discharge lamp of the present invention.
  • the aluminum alloys of the present invention do not affect the mercury vapor pressure which is optimal for ope ration of the lamp because oftheir insolubility in mercury and the ductile metal.
  • the ductile metal composition utilized as the amalgam-forming constituent of the lamps of the present invention are prepared by heating and admixture of the components of said composition until all of the components are molten and then when a homogenous mixture is attained, cooling to form the ductile metal composition containing the aluminum alloy as a dispersed phase.
  • the melting point of the said aluminum alloy non-ductile insoluble component of the said composition should not be too high because of the requirements of the aforesaid preferred process for preparing said composition.
  • the said ductile metal composition may be prepared in the form of wire or rod from the composition prepared as described in the preceding paragraph.
  • the mechanical properties of said ductile metal composition are noticeably improved when compared with the corresponding ductile metal amalgam-forming alloy which does not contain the said aluminum alloy component.
  • lndium compositions in wire form containing the silicon-aluminum additive of the Example herein have a tensile strength of about three times greater than that of the corresponding indium wire which does not contain the silicon-aluminum alloy.
  • the said alloyed wire also has a greatly decreased tendency to cold fuse.
  • the annealing and tempering temperatures of the said alloyed indium wire composition are also less critical than the corresponding temperatures of pure indium wire.
  • the cost of the said alloyed composition in wire form does not differ greatly from that of pure indium wire.
  • FIGURE of the drawing is a partial sectional view of the fluorescent lamp of the present invention.
  • the lamp comprises an elongated transparent envelope l.
  • the interior surface of said envelope 1 is coated with a phosphor coating 2.
  • An electrode foot (or sup port) 3 is sealed in each end of the lamp.
  • the electrode foot 3 consists essentially of a flare stem 4 and a stern press (or pinch) 5.
  • the lead-in wires 6 and 7 pass through said electrode foot.
  • the electrode coil 8 is attached to the inner ends of the lead-in wires 6 and 7.
  • the amalgam-forming ductile metal composition of the present invention is applied, preferably in the form of an annulus 9 on the portion of the flare stem 4 which approaches the stem press 5.
  • the ductile metalforming composition is one prepared from indium and a siliconaluminum solder which is 88.3% by weight of alumi num and 1 1.7% by weight ofsilicon. This is the eutectic composition which has a melting point of about 577C.
  • the ductile metal composition contains 2% by weight of this silicon-aluminum alloy resulting in a composition composed of 98% by weight of indium, l.77% by weight of aluminum, and 0.23% by weight of silicon.
  • the annulus 9 has a width of three mm.
  • the amount of ductile metal composition applied is 55 mg.
  • the ratio of indium to mercury in the amalgam in the lamp is 5.511.
  • the electrode coil 8 is surrounded by a sheet iron annular cap 10.
  • Cap 10 is supported by wire 11.
  • Cap 10 has positioned thereon an amalgam-forming metal 12 which forms an amalgam that facilitates run-up (starting time) of the lamp.
  • Another amalgamforming metal l3 and consequent amalgam which also facilitates runup of the lamp is provided on stem press 5.
  • Both of the said amalgam-forming metals l2 and 13 are the same indium composition containing the said aluminum alloy as the main amalgam-forming metal composition 9 which is coated on the flare stem 4.
  • a mercury vapor discharge lamp of the fluorescent type comprising an elongated transparent envelope having electrodes sealed into its ends, at least one of said electrodes being connected to an electrode positioning means, said electrode positioning means containing on its surface at least one ductile metal composition as the amalgam-forming metal, the improvement comprising utilizing as said ductile metal composition, a ductile amalgam-forming metal and at least one aluminum alloy selected from the group consisting of silicon-aluminum and beryllium-aluminum, said aluminum alloy being a separate solid phase dispersed throughout said ductile amalgam-forming metal at the operating temperature.
  • said ductile metal composition contains between about 0.05% and 25% by weight of said aluminum alloy based on the weight of said ductile amalgam-forming metal.
  • said ductile amalgam-forming metal is selected from the group consisting of indium and gallium and alloys thereof and wherein when said ductile amalgam-forming metal is an alloy of indium or gallium, the alloying metal or metals form solid solutions with said indium or gallium; and wherein said aluminum alloy is a silicon-aluminum alloy.
  • said ductile amalgam-forming metal is indium or an alloy of indium with at least one metal selected from the group consisting of thallium, zinc, bismuth and tin.
  • said ductile metal composition contains between about 0.5% and 5% by weight of said silicon-aluminum based on the ductile amalgam-forming metal.
  • said aluminum alloy is a silicon-aluminum alloy containing between 10% and 20% of silicon.
  • said ductile metal composition contains between about 0.5% and 5% of a silicon-aluminum alloy based on the ductile amalgamforming metal.
  • An electrode support for fluorescent lamps comprising a flare stern and a stern press and containing on at least one portion of its surface a ductile metal composition comprising at least one ductile amalgamforming metal and at least one aluminum alloy selected from the group consisting of silicon-aluminum and beryllium-aluminum, said aluminum alloy comprising between about 0.05% and 25% by weight of said ductile amalgam-forming metal.
  • the electrode support of claim 11, wherein said ductile metal composition comprises about 98% indium, l.77% aluminum and 0.23% silicon.

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  • Vessels And Coating Films For Discharge Lamps (AREA)
  • Discharge Lamp (AREA)
US476478A 1973-06-14 1974-06-05 Low pressure mercury vapor discharge lamp with amalgam Expired - Lifetime US3890531A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE2330391A DE2330391A1 (de) 1973-06-14 1973-06-14 Quecksilberdampfniederdruckentladungslampe mit amalgam

Publications (1)

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US3890531A true US3890531A (en) 1975-06-17

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Country Status (4)

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US (1) US3890531A (de)
DE (1) DE2330391A1 (de)
FR (1) FR2233707B1 (de)
GB (1) GB1455470A (de)

Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4157485A (en) * 1975-06-20 1979-06-05 U.S. Philips Corporation Low-pressure mercury vapor discharge lamp with indium-bismuth-mercury amalgam
US4615846A (en) * 1983-09-30 1986-10-07 Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba Method of manufacturing a low-melting point alloy for sealing in a fluorescent lamp
US4924142A (en) * 1987-09-08 1990-05-08 U.S. Philips Corporation Low pressure mercury vapor discharge lamp
US5237240A (en) * 1991-12-04 1993-08-17 Gte Products Corporation Mercury vapor discharge lamp containing device for heating amalgam-forming material
US6310437B1 (en) 2000-06-01 2001-10-30 General Electric Company Fluorescent lamp extension tube amalgam holder
US20100019651A1 (en) * 2006-07-27 2010-01-28 Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. Low-pressure mercury vapor discharge lamp
US20190244802A1 (en) * 2016-07-08 2019-08-08 Xylem Ip Management S.À R.L. Uv mercury low-pressure lamp with amalgam deposit

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5412289A (en) * 1993-12-15 1995-05-02 General Electric Company Using a magnetic field to locate an amalgam in an electrodeless fluorescent lamp

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3007071A (en) * 1958-04-29 1961-10-31 Patent Treuhand Ges Fuer Elektrische Gluehlampen Mbh Low-pressure mercury vapor discharge lamp
US3152278A (en) * 1959-06-12 1964-10-06 Patent Treuhand Ges Fuer Elektrische Gluehlampen Mbh Fluorescent lamp with low melting amalgam filling
US3574033A (en) * 1967-02-11 1971-04-06 Philips Corp Method of applying a quantity of indium to the inner wall of a lamp bulb
US3629641A (en) * 1969-07-25 1971-12-21 Patent Treuhand Ges Fuer Elektrische Gluehlampen Mbh Low-pressure mercury vapor discharge lamp containing amalgam

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3007071A (en) * 1958-04-29 1961-10-31 Patent Treuhand Ges Fuer Elektrische Gluehlampen Mbh Low-pressure mercury vapor discharge lamp
US3152278A (en) * 1959-06-12 1964-10-06 Patent Treuhand Ges Fuer Elektrische Gluehlampen Mbh Fluorescent lamp with low melting amalgam filling
US3574033A (en) * 1967-02-11 1971-04-06 Philips Corp Method of applying a quantity of indium to the inner wall of a lamp bulb
US3629641A (en) * 1969-07-25 1971-12-21 Patent Treuhand Ges Fuer Elektrische Gluehlampen Mbh Low-pressure mercury vapor discharge lamp containing amalgam

Cited By (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4157485A (en) * 1975-06-20 1979-06-05 U.S. Philips Corporation Low-pressure mercury vapor discharge lamp with indium-bismuth-mercury amalgam
US4615846A (en) * 1983-09-30 1986-10-07 Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba Method of manufacturing a low-melting point alloy for sealing in a fluorescent lamp
US4924142A (en) * 1987-09-08 1990-05-08 U.S. Philips Corporation Low pressure mercury vapor discharge lamp
US5237240A (en) * 1991-12-04 1993-08-17 Gte Products Corporation Mercury vapor discharge lamp containing device for heating amalgam-forming material
US6310437B1 (en) 2000-06-01 2001-10-30 General Electric Company Fluorescent lamp extension tube amalgam holder
US20100019651A1 (en) * 2006-07-27 2010-01-28 Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. Low-pressure mercury vapor discharge lamp
US7977858B2 (en) * 2006-07-27 2011-07-12 Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. Low-pressure mercury vapor discharge lamp
US20190244802A1 (en) * 2016-07-08 2019-08-08 Xylem Ip Management S.À R.L. Uv mercury low-pressure lamp with amalgam deposit
US10593536B2 (en) * 2016-07-08 2020-03-17 Xylem Ip Management S.À R.L. UV mercury low-pressure lamp with amalgam deposit

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB1455470A (en) 1976-11-10
DE2330391A1 (de) 1975-01-09
FR2233707B1 (de) 1977-10-07
FR2233707A1 (de) 1975-01-10

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