Abstract: A method of releasing mercury into an arc discharge lamp is disclosed. The method includes the step of disposing an insulating coating (e.g., zirconium dioxide) at the end of the lamp containing a mercury releasing target. The insulating coating is disposed over the lead-in wires, portions of one of the coil electrodes, and a portion of the mercury dispensing target. The main body portion of the target containing the mercury is devoid of the insulating coating. Thereafter, the mercury dispensing target is bombarded with a directed stream of electrons produced by the other coil electrode of sufficient energy to rupture the target causing the mercury to be released. The insulating coating focuses the directed stream of electrons directly on the target, thereby reducing the amount of time necessary to rupture the target.

Abstract: This invention relates to incandescent lamps and more particularly to the gettering of such lamps. In accordance with the present invention there is provided an improved method of gettering an incandescent lamp. The method comprises introducing a fill gas and a getter compound comprising a borane compound, or a partially halogenated derivative thereof, into an unsealed lamp envelope; sealing the lamp envelope; and heating the sealed envelope, for a sufficient period of time, and at a temperature sufficient to activate the getter to perform its desired gettering function prior to the thermal decomposition thereof.

Abstract: To be able to handle minute quantities of liquid mercury or liquid mercury lloy, for example to introduce said minute quantities into the discharge vessel of a discharge lamp, a retention body in form of a pill or pellet is formed which is a porous of a metal or mixture of metals or metal alloys which have a melting point above 250.degree. C., are not wetted by mercury, and do not form an alloy with mercury. To make such a body which, for example, is made of iron, iron and copper--to reduce oxidation, nickel and copper or iron, chromium and possibly also nickel, a metal salt of the respective metal is electrolytically enriched with mercury to form a mercury--metal suspension; in case of several metals, the suspensions are mixed, coated with aqueous-free glycerine, tempered, washed, dried, non-absorbed mercury is filtered off, and the resulting filter cake is pressed out at high pressure, of 5 to 60.multidot.10.sup.7 Pascal; the brittle pressed body is pulverized and pellets of dimensions of about 1.

Abstract: A mercury capsule for dispensing mercury into an arc discharge lamp comprises a tubular metal member having a main body portion, a sealed end portion immediately adjacent the main body portion and means for sealing the end portion. The sealing means includes a substantially undulating configuration containing a predetermined number of undulations to enable rupture of the mercury capsule at an elevated temperature in accordance with the number of undulations. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the mercury capsule is formed from a metal cup having a larger diameter skirted portion and a smaller diameter portion.

Abstract: A process for dispensing mercury into devices which requires mercury. Mercury is first electrolytically separated from either HgO or Hg.sub.2 Cl.sub.2 and plated onto a cathode wire. The cathode wire is then placed into a device requiring mercury.

Abstract: A metal halide lamp provides exceptional color rendition because of a high calcium iodide partial pressure. A long-arc ellipsoidal arc tube provides a high "cold spot" temperature.The method of manufacture of the lamp includes heating the arc tube tubulation while burning the lamp after dosing, and then an evacuation step to eliminate moisture due to the hygroscopic calcium iodide.

Abstract: A method of forming a sealed capsule containing a submilligram quantity of mercury or the like, the capsule being constructed from a hollow glass tube, by placing a globule or droplet of the mercury in the tube. The tube is then evacuated and sealed and is subsequently heated so as to vaporize the mercury and fill the tube therewith. The tube is then separated into separate sealed capsules by heating spaced locations along the tube with a coiled heating wire means to cause collapse spaced locations therealong and thus enable separation of the tube into said capsules.

Abstract: Mercury release into a sealed arc discharge lamp is accomplished by positioning a mercury containing target within the lamp and heating the same by electron bombardment derived from a D.C. power supply connected between an electrode of the lamp and the mercury target.

Abstract: A mercury dispenser for electric discharge lamps consists of welding a small metallic member (16) in the form of a "patch", to a portion of the surface of the cathode disintegration shield (10) and trapping a predetermined volume of mercury under the "patch". A dimple (17) may be formed in the shield (10) or in the member (16). The shield (10) may be formed from a continuous strip which is dimpled at a predetermined pitch, the dimples filled with mercury and the "patches" (16) welded over the dimples. The strip can then be cut into discrete "patched" sections to be bent into shields and assembled with the cathode structure. The mercury is liberated from under the "patch" by heating and vaporization, the vapor pressure forcing the "patch" open.

Abstract: A method of producing a low-pressure mercury vapor discharge lamp which includes positioning a container in the lamp vessel of the lamp between the electrodes. The container holds a quantity of mercury required for operation of the lamp and is attached to a supporting element (wire). The supporting element is connected to a lead-in wire of a first electrode by a metal connecting wire. A direct current discharge is generated between the container and the second electrode, the mercury escapes from the container, thereafter the connection between the supporting element and the lead-in wire is interrupted.

Abstract: A technique for opening an evacuated and sealed glass capsule containing a material that is to be dispensed which has a relatively high vapor pressure such as mercury. The capsule is typically disposed in a discharge tube envelope. The technique involves the use of a first light source imaged along the capsule and a second light source imaged across the capsule substantially transversely to the imaging of the first light source. Means are provided for constraining a segment of the capsule along its length with the constraining means being positioned to correspond with the imaging of the second light source. These light sources are preferably incandescent projection lamps. The constraining means is preferably a multiple looped wire support.

Abstract: This invention teaches a method of cutting a narrow slot in an extrusion die with an electrical discharge machine by first drilling spaced holes at the ends of where the slot will be, whereby the oil can flow through the holes and slot to flush the material eroded away as the slot is being cut. The invention further teaches a method of extruding a very thin ribbon of solid highly reactive material such as lithium or sodium through the die in an inert atmosphere of nitrogen, argon or the like as in a glovebox. The invention further teaches a method of stamping out sample discs from the ribbon and of packaging each disc by sandwiching it between two aluminum sheets and cold welding the sheets together along an annular seam beyond the outer periphery of the disc. This provides a sample of high purity reactive material that can have a long shelf life.

Abstract: A mercury-releasing assembly for dosing lamps, tubes, and the like with a charge of mercury, contains a mixture of an intermetallic compound of mercury and a metal. When the mixture is heated to a particular temperature the mixture reacts yielding a molten eutectic and mercury vapor. The mixture may be protected from contamination by a foil shield which ruptures under pressure of the released mercury.

Abstract: A mercury holder for electric discharge lamps, such as tubular fluorescent lamps, is mounted within the lamp envelope so as to serve as a target for bombardment by electrons and ions. The source of the bombardment may be the electrons emitted by one of the cathodes which impinge on the holder and which generate ions by collision with the gas fill in the lamp envelope. Alternatively, the source of the bombardment may be an arc discharge induced by a radio-frequency source across a gap between the holder and a lead-in conductor.

Abstract: A method is provided for making a lithium-sodium-antimony photocathode including the step of forming a base layer including antimony on a substrate. Sodium is then deposited onto the base layer at an elevated temperature to a first peak value of responsivity, thereby forming a sodium-antimony surface. Next, at room temperature, lithium is deposited onto the substrate containing the sodium-antimony surface until the lithium-sodium-antimony photocathode develops a hazy brown color. The photocathode is sensitized by heating the substrate to an elevated temperature until a second peak value of responsivity, greater than the first peak value, is obtained. Antimony, sodium and lithium are then alternately deposited on the photocathode in order to stabilize the second responsivity peak.