Arc Tube Making, E.g., Fluorescent Lamp Patents (Class 445/26)
  • Publication number: 20010046827
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a multi-tube fluorescent discharge lamp which construct multiple glass tubes of different caliber in coaxial structure, the both sides of the inner most tube are connected to a cathode respectively, by isolating, perforating and blocking the discharge path, forming a successive discharge path, and coating phosphor on surface of the discharge tubes. The Invention can then have more fluorescent area than a conventional fluorescent lamp of the similar size and higher lumen as well as power transfer factor. Compared with the power consumption of a conventional fluorescent discharge lamp, the Invention therefore has higher luminous flux.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2001
    Publication date: November 29, 2001
    Inventor: Wen-Tsao Lee
  • Publication number: 20010041491
    Abstract: In an anode-side assembling process, a first end of a glass tube is fused to a rearward end of an electrode bar secured to an anode-side lead to produce a primary sealed product. In a cathode-side assembling process, a ring-shaped cathode is secured by caulking to a forward end portion of an electrode bar secured to a forward end of a cathode-side lead to produce a cathode member. In an assembling process, a second end of the glass tube of the primary sealed product is fused to a rearward end of the electrode bar secured to the cathode-side lead of the cathode member to produce a xenon discharge tube. A trigger electrode, which is composed of a transparent conductive film, is formed on a surface of the glass tube so that the light-transmissive sealed tube-coating ratio specified by the transparent conductive film is within a range of 5 to 30%.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2001
    Publication date: November 15, 2001
    Inventors: Shouji Nishida, Hideaki Takeuchi, Tsutomu Tobita, Tatuya Isomura
  • Publication number: 20010038267
    Abstract: A high pressure discharge lamp having a pair of electrodes with a space of 0.5 mm to 2.0 mm inclusive between them and disposed in an arc tube. An electrical discharge takes place between the electrodes. Each of the electrodes has an electrode rod and a head that is provided at the discharge side end of the electrode rod and having a larger diameter than the electrode rod. A surface of the head being opposite to the other electrode is convexly curved and a protruding part is formed in the vicinity of the center portion of the end of the head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2001
    Publication date: November 8, 2001
    Inventors: Shunsuke Ono, Yoshiki Kitahara, Haruo Nagai
  • Patent number: 6306002
    Abstract: A lamp made of a tube having a light emission portion glass and a side tube portion glass that extends in the light emission portion glass. The lamp has a sealed electrode assembly having an electrical current supply line with one end portion connected to a metal foil. A first portion of the side tube portion where an electrical current supply line is located is heated and this portion is compressed by a first pressure. A second portion of the side tube portion where a metal foil is located is heated and this portion is compressed by a second pressure. The second pressure is made larger than the first pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2001
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuriko Kaneko, Makoto Horiuchi, Mamoru Takeda, Masato Yoshida, Yoshitaka Kurimoto
  • Publication number: 20010030498
    Abstract: A high pressure discharge lamp which achieves a long life of at least 3000 hours and in which variations in lamp characteristics are suppressed is disclosed. In the high pressure discharge lamp of the present invention, during manufacturing of an electrode, a covering member 123 having a coil shape and being made of refractory metal is applied on a discharge side end of an electrode rod 122 made of refractory metal so as to cover a circumference of the electrode rod 122 in a vicinity of the discharge side end. The discharge side end 124 on which the covering member 123 is applied is fused into a semi-sphere by intermittently heat fusing the discharge side end according, for instance, to arc discharge or laser irradiation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2001
    Publication date: October 18, 2001
    Inventors: Takashi Tsutatani, Yoshiki Kitahara, Toshiyuki Shimizu
  • Publication number: 20010024089
    Abstract: A method of producing a metal halide arc tube is provided, in which four seals are made in the arc tube body. Electrode assemblies are inserted and the arc tube body is sealed at one end, blocking contamination from that end. A second seal encloses the electrode assembly nearer the first seal. Halide and mercury doses are introduced into the central arc chamber through the open end of the arc tube body. A third seal is made at the open end at a distance from the arc chamber, reducing vaporization of the doses and contamination of equipment. A fourth seal encloses the electrode assembly nearer the third seal. The electrode assemblies are thus protected and a reflective coating may be applied without electrode contamination. The ends of the arc tube body are then removed, exposing the electrodes. The arc tube is thus provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2001
    Publication date: September 27, 2001
    Inventors: Mark E. Duffy, Christina K. Clement, Eugene A. Smith
  • Publication number: 20010020820
    Abstract: A high-pressure discharge lamp includes a glass housing made of a high-melting vitreous material, a pair of sealing components made of the same high-melting vitreous material and extended from the glass housing. A rare gas and a material that is solid or liquid at room temperature is sealed inside the glass housing. Electrically conductive bars are embedded in the sealing components. The air-tight seals around the electrically conductive bars are formed such that at least one metal material selected from metals and oxides of said metals is provided near the regions lying between the high-melting vitreous material and the electrically conductive bar.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2001
    Publication date: September 13, 2001
    Inventors: Yuriko Kaneko, Makoto Horiuchi, Mamoru Takeda
  • Publication number: 20010020822
    Abstract: A high pressure discharge lamp includes a quartz glass bulb having a sealing portion; and a pair of electrodes. Each electrode of the pair of electrodes is disposed so as to be opposite the other in the quartz glass bulb. The quartz glass bulb of the high pressure discharge lamp contains at least mercury and a halogen gas. The partial pressure of oxygen (O) in the quartz glass bulb is about 2.5×10−3 Pa or less and the partial pressure of the halogen gas in the quartz glass bulb is in the range between about 1×10−8 &mgr;mol/mm3 and 1×10−7 &mgr;mol/mm3.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2001
    Publication date: September 13, 2001
    Inventor: Kazuhisa Nishida
  • Patent number: 6285131
    Abstract: A xenon arc lamp is provided with an improved cathode support. The improvements reduce the number of assembly procedures and parts needed to produce an arc lamp. Such reduces the overall cost of manufacturing. The cathode suspension system is made by starting with a single piece of sheet Kovar material that is formed into a cup. Pieces are cut from the bottom of the cup such that three webs connect the outside ring to the center. The three webs each have a flap that is then folded back 90° to form a rigid strut arm. A tungsten cathode electrode is brazed at the center and apex of the three struts with a sleeve that helps bridge the fillet area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2001
    Assignee: EG&G ILC Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: John Kiss, Daniel Joseph O'Hare, Roy D. Roberts
  • Patent number: 6285130
    Abstract: A metal halide lamp includes a pair of electrodes with a spacing of 0.5 to 1.5 mm therebetween, an envelope enclosing the pair of electrodes, and at least one metal halide, other than a mercury halide, that is encapsulated in the envelope in an amount of from 0.04 to 0.3 mg/cc, wherein the metal halide lamp operates in a power range from 75 to 270 watts per millimeter across the spacing between the pair of electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2001
    Assignee: Phoenix Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsuji Nakagawa, Toshitaka Fujii, Tetsuya Shirai, Tatsuo Yamamoto, Tomihiko Ikeda
  • Patent number: 6274982
    Abstract: A method of producing a ceramic-metal-halide (CMH) discharge lamp having a monolithic seal between a sapphire (single crystal alumina) arc tube and a polycrystalline alumina end cap. The method includes the steps of providing an arc tube of fully dense sapphire and providing an end cap made of unsintered compressed polycrystalline alumina powder. The end cap is heated until it is presintered to remove organic binder material at a low temperature relative to the sintering temperature. The presintered end cap is placed on an end portion of the arc tube to form an interface therebetween. The assembled presintered end cap and arc tube are then heated to the sintering temperature wherein the end cap is fully sintered onto the arc tube and the sapphire tube grows into the end cap. A monolithic seal is formed at the previous interface between the end cap and the arc tube as the sapphire tube grows into the polycrystalline alumina end cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2001
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Curtis E. Scott, Mary Sue Kaliszewski
  • Publication number: 20010011873
    Abstract: A neon lamp including a sealed glass bulb, electrodes and leads connected to the electrodes has a flat head whose center region descends into the interior of the sealed glass bulb. A method of producing the neon lamp includes steps of charging neon gas into a glass tube through a fine glass tube at the head of the glass tube, sealing the fine glass tube to obtain a sealed glass bulb having a projecting tip portion, removing excess glass of the projecting tip portion, and shaping the projecting tip portion into a substantially flat or lenticular head portion. A system for producing the neon lamp includes a shaping head for accommodating the sealed glass bulb with its projecting tip portion exposed outside the shaping head, heating means for melting the projecting tip portion, a projecting tip cutter for removing excess glass of the projecting tip portion, and a head presser for shaping the projecting tip portion into a substantially flat or lenticular shape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2001
    Publication date: August 9, 2001
    Inventor: Toru Kimura
  • Patent number: 6224449
    Abstract: A high pressure discharge lamp comprising a ceramic discharge tube having an inner space filled with an ionizable light-emitting material and a starting gas, plugging members each at least partially fixed to an inner side of respective one of end portions of the ceramic discharge tube and each having a through-hole provided therein, conductive members inserted into or through the through-holes of the plugging members, respectively, and electrode units provided in said inner space, wherein a material of the plugging members is the same as that of the ceramic discharge tube, and each of the plugging members is gas-tightly joined to the corresponding conductive member with a metallizing layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Norikazu Niimi, Michio Asai
  • Patent number: 6194827
    Abstract: A low pressure mercury vapor discharge lamp includes a bulb and a mercury-releasing metal substrate, in particular, an alloy of zinc and mercury in which the mercury-releasing metal substrate has an inside part crystallized in a plate form or in a granular form and a surface on which a mercury-rich layer is formed. The mercury-releasing metal substrate, in particular, the alloy of zinc and mercury, can be adhered firmly to the inside face of the bulb. Moreover, the low pressure mercury vapor discharge lamp can be made by putting a mercury-releasing metal substrate into a bulb; forming a mercury-rich layer on the surface of the mercury-releasing metal substrate while crystallizing the inside of the mercury-releasing metal substrate in a plate form or in a granular form by heating the bulb from the outside; and softening the mercury-releasing metal substrate to adhere it to the inside face of the bulb.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2001
    Assignee: Matsushita Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Toshikazu Atagi
  • Patent number: 6139386
    Abstract: The high pressure discharge lamp comprises a ceramic discharge tube containing an ionizable luminescent material and a starting gas filled in the inner space thereof, a clogging member having through-holes and at least a portion of which being fixed on the inner side of the end portion of the ceramic discharge tube, an electric conductor having an electrode system inserted in the through-holes of the clogging member, and a sealing material layer. Preferably, the sealing material layer 16A is made of a metallizing layer. In addition, the high pressure discharge-lamp comprises the ceramic discharge tube, the clogging member, the electric conductor inserted in the through-holes of the clogging member, and a metallizing layer for sealing provided so as to join to the clogging member and the electric conductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2000
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Go Suzuki, Norikazu Niimi, Tsutomu Kondo
  • Patent number: 6135840
    Abstract: A tipless discharge lamp of the short arc type in which on the outside surface of the arc tube there is no residual filling tube tip, and in which an exact distance between the electrodes is obtained is achieved in a metal halide lamp of the short arc type by a pair of electrodes being located in an arc tube, by the electrodes are parts of a one-piece electrode component that has been fracture-split so that, at least to some extent, fracture traces are present on the faces of these electrodes which have not undergone mechanical processing such as cutting, polishing, or the like, and elimination of the use of a filling tube, so that no residual filling tube tip projections remain on the outside surface of the arc tube. Furthermore, precise positioning of the pair of electrodes in the arc tube results from the hermetically sealed portion being drawn outwardly in the base area of at least one of the electrodes creating an area with a smaller diameter than the remainder of that hermetically sealed portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2000
    Assignee: Ushiodenki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshitaka Kanzaki
  • Patent number: 6132279
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a high-pressure discharge lamp of the double-ended type having excellent resistance to high-pressure and wherein the internal diameter of a portion of the high-pressure discharge lamp where a light-emitting section and a side tube are adjacent can be reduced without restricting the maximum diameter of an electrode on a side where it projects into the light-emitting section. An electrode assembly 105 is arranged within an evacuated glass bulb 2 such that an end of electrode 102 where a coil 102b is wound is positioned within the light-emitting section 3. In this condition, the portion where the light-emitting section 3 and the side tube 4a (4b) are adjacent is heated by a burner 300. The internal diameter of the side tube 4a (4b) can thereby be formed with a reduced-diameter section 7, whose diameter is smaller than that of the electrode rod 102a without restricting the diameter at the location of the coil 102b.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2000
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto Horiuchi, Yuriko Kaneko, Mamoru Takeda
  • Patent number: 6071164
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a high-pressure discharge mp, there being provided in the course of the production method a prefabricated discharge vessel (1) in which there is an enclosed ionizable filling, and in which electrodes (E1, E2) are arranged, and which has at least one sealed end (1b) and at least one supply lead (3b) projecting from said sealed end (1b), the at least one sealed end (1b) of the discharge vessel (1) having a tubular extension (1c) in which the at least one supply lead (3b) runs. According to the invention, the production method has the fabrication steps of filling glass shot (6) into the tubular extension (1c), so that the interspace between the at least one supply lead (3b) and the tubular extension (1c) is filled up with glass shot (6), and sealing the tubular extension (1c) by supplying heat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2000
    Assignee: Patent-Truehand-Gesellschaft fuer Electrische Gluelampen mbH
    Inventor: Lothar Vollmer
  • Patent number: 6027389
    Abstract: A process to produce a ceramic tube for a metallic halide lamp, comprising the steps of forming an integrally molded body composed of an electrode member-inserting portion and an annular portion located around an outer periphery of the electrode member-inserting portion, inserting the annular portion of the integrally molded body into an open end portion of a molded cylindrical tubular body in a state that each of the integrally molded body and the molded tubular body is used as molded or after being calcined, thereby forming an assembled body, and firing the assembled body, thereby forming an integrally fired body composed of the electrode member-inserting portion and the annular portion, whereas the annular portion and the tubular body are sintered to each other by firing in a state that radial press fitting forces act between the annular portion and the tubular body, the ceramic tube being constituted by the cylindrical tubular body containing a discharging space with open end portions at both ends thereof
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2000
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Sugio Miyazawa, Michio Asai
  • Patent number: 6007398
    Abstract: Variable backspace in electrode assemblies for high pressure sodium lamps is achieved by employing a hollow electrode base which has one end formed to frictionally engage an electrode, which electrode includes a solid core having a coil about one end thereof. The solid core is inserted into the electrode base a given distance and is maintained in this position by friction until welding is accomplished. The electrode base is provided with a positioning ring which is formed at the time the base is first formed. The electrode assemblies can be utilized with lamps having different arc lengths while using arc tubes having the same size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1999
    Assignee: Osram Sylvania Inc.
    Inventors: Huiling Zhu, Paul H. Ingalls, Robert B. Dolan
  • Patent number: 6004503
    Abstract: A method of making a ceramic arc tube for a metal halide lamp comprises the steps of forming as an integral unit a hollow body having one open end and a substantially closed end. The substantially closed end includes an outwardly extending capillary tube having an electrode receiving aperture therein that communicates with the hollow body. An end cap is then formed for closing the open end. The end cap comprises an annular portion and an extending capillary tube, The end cap is fitted into the open end of the hollow body to form a pre-assembly. The pre-assembly is then fired to seal the end cap to the hollow body to form an assembly and the assembly is subsequently fired to sinter the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1999
    Assignee: Osram Sylvania Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey T. Neil
  • Patent number: 6000982
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a cold-cathode for a discharging device by forming a film containing a rare earth element on a base plate; and oxidizing said rare earth element of said film. The oxidizing step can be accomplished by heating the rare earth element of said film in a gas atmosphere containing oxygen and/or oxygen-containing substance in a concentration of 1% or less by volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1999
    Assignees: Casio Computer Co., Ltd., Stanley Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Osamu Nakamura, Shigemi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 5993278
    Abstract: Lifetime of halogen containing VUV, UV, visible or IR light sources can be extended by passivating the quartz or glass gas containers with halogens prior to filling the quartz with the halogen and rare gas mixtures used to produce the light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventor: Zoran Falkenstein
  • Patent number: 5993279
    Abstract: A discharge lamp arc tube comprises: a glass tube having a linear extension portion, a closed glass bulb, and pinch seal portions at both sides of the closed glass bulb; and electrode assemblies, each having an electrode rod, a molybdenum foil and a lead wire integrally series-connected, the molybdenum foil having oxide films thereon, wherein the electrode assemblies are inserted into the glass tube and pinch-sealed such that the molybdenum foils are positioned at the respective pinch seal portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Fukuyo, Shinichi Irisawa, Nobuo Ohkawai
  • Patent number: 5986403
    Abstract: A quartz glass vessel having mutually opposed first and second neck-shaped portions is heated over the first neck-shaped portion while flushing the vessel with gas, then pinched over an external current wire and collapsed over a metal foil by means of reduced pressure to form a seal. The second neck-shaped portion may also be collapsed over a metal foil by reduced pressure in the lamp vessel to form a seal. The seals are preferably shaped to form flat external surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventors: Henricus P. J. Jansen, Ulrich J. Morschel
  • Patent number: 5984750
    Abstract: A method of sealing a halogen lamp including: providing a lamp envelop having an envelop body, an open end portion and a closed end portion: inserting a mount including a filament into the lamp envelop through the open end portion thereof; heating the closed end portion of the lamp envelop to soften and shrink thereby sealingly embedding one end of the mount in the closed end portion of the lamp envelop, while providing a reduced pressure in the lamp envelop; filling the lamp envelop with a required gas; and heating the open end portion of the lamp envelop to soften and shrink thereby sealingly embedding the other end of the mount in the closed end portion of the lamp envelop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Inventors: Yumiko Nishibori, Mari Nishibori
  • Patent number: 5984749
    Abstract: A method of sealing a lamp includes: providing a lamp envelop having an envelop body, and first and second end portions which are open; inserting a mount including a filament and a resilient retainer into the lamp envelop through one of the open end portions until the mount is retained within the lamp envelop by the resilient retainer; heating the first open end portion of the lamp envelop to soften and shrink and then optionally pinching the heated portion thereby sealing the first open end portion with one end of the mount embedded therein; and heating the second open end portion of the lamp envelop to soften and shrink and then optionally pinching the heated portion thereby sealing the second open end portion with an opposite end of the mount embedded therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Inventors: Yumiko Nishibori, Mari Nishibori
  • Patent number: 5980349
    Abstract: A process is disclosed for anodically bonding an array of spacer columns to one of the inner major faces on one of the generally planar plates of an evacuated, flat-panel video display. The process includes the steps of: providing a generally planar plate having a plurality of spacer column attachment sites; providing electrical interconnection between all attachment sites; coating each attachment site with a patch of oxidizable material; providing an array of unattached permanent glass spacer columns, each unattached permanent spacer columns being of uniform length and being positioned longitudinally perpendicular to a single plane, with the plane intersecting the midpoint of each unattached spacer column; positioning the array such that an end of one permanent spacer column is in contact with the oxidizable material patch at each attachment site; and anodically bonding the contacting end of each permanent spacer column to the oxidizable material layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: James J. Hofmann, Jason B. Elledge, Zhong-Yi Xia, David A. Cathey
  • Patent number: 5979187
    Abstract: In a method of forming a glass to metal seal between one end of a glass lamp tube (for, for example, a flash lamp or laser lamp), a metal rod which is terminated by the electrode is heated, and has molten glass sealing material applied thereto to form a beaded sleeve. The tube to which the electrode is to be attached is heated, and further sealing material is applied to the end of the tube so as to create a dome of material which closes off that end. Excess sealing material is then removed from the dome so as to leave an annulus of sealing material around the end wall of the, now open, tube. The electrode and rod can then be inserted into the tube until the bead on the rod is near the annulus at the end of the tube, and the tube can be worked, while being rotated, down to form a frusto-conical end such that movement of the bead relative to the annulus then brings the two into contact while a positive gas pressure is maintained within the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Inventors: Martin Ross Churchley, Janusz Karol Lewandowski
  • Patent number: 5944572
    Abstract: A low pressure mercury vapor discharge lamp is provided, having a non-straight glass envelope and a plurality of rare earth phosphor layers coated inside the glass envelope. The lamp is made by coating a plurality of rare earth phosphor layers inside a straight glass tube. The tube is then formed into a non-straight configuration, each layer being sufficiently thin so that the phosphor coating does not flake off in sections where the tube is bent around a radius of curvature. A plurality of thin rare earth phosphor layers will not flake off in the bent section whereas a single thick rare earth phosphor layer will flake off. The invention is particularly useful in the manufacture of helical compact fluorescent lamps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Thomas F. Soules, Pamela K. Whitman, Daniel R. Chirayath
  • Patent number: 5932970
    Abstract: There is provided a preform for a fluorescent lamp comprising a bulb and a stem provided with a filament and a discharge electrode and a fluorescent lamp prepared by the preform without an exhaust pipe for use as an indicating lamp, the fluorescent lamp being sealed after exhausting inside air and charging inert gas and mercury through an appropriate space formed between the bulb and the stem inserted into the bulb. Thus, even when liquefied mercury is present in the discharge chamber, it receives a large amount of heat from the filament applied voltage and is easily and quickly evaporated, whereby the characteristics of the lamp become stable quickly after turning on the lamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1999
    Assignee: Stanley Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masatosi Chiba, Ryuichi Suzuki, Akihiko Tsurumaru, Koji Kikuchihara
  • Patent number: 5911613
    Abstract: The invention provides a means by which a gas discharge lighting display can be made of virtually any material which can withstand temperatures over 110.degree. F. This display uses a bypass tube to isolate heat and contamination from the main channel of a gas discharge lighting display during its manufacture. The bypass tube is then removed to force the luminous discharge to pass through the main channel, providing a lighting or advertising display of high quality and reliability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 15, 1999
    Inventors: Bernard W. Byrum, Tracy W. Bradford
  • Patent number: 5896003
    Abstract: The present invention provides a compact fluorescent lamp which includes a number of glass tubes in which fluorescent material is applied on the inner surface, and in which mercury steam and noble gas is injected. Also, the glass tubes are connected so that they are communicable with each other, and electrodes are inserted and sealed in one side of the glass tubes. In the end portions of the glass tubes where electrodes are not inserted, sealing is accomplished through heat from burners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1999
    Assignee: Samsung Display Devices Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Gotthold R. Gehring
  • Patent number: 5877591
    Abstract: An arc tube for a discharge lamp device comprises: a cylindrical glass tube made of glass, having linear extension portions, each having an opening portion at an end, and a spherically swollen portion formed between the linear extension portions; and electrode assemblies inserted in the respective linear extension portions, wherein neck portions are formed in boundaries between the spherically swollen portion and the linear extension portions so that the glass in each of the linear extension portions side is prevented from flowing into the inside of the spherically swollen portion when the linear extension portions are pinch-sealed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1999
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akihiro Nagata, Shinichi Irisawa
  • Patent number: 5833506
    Abstract: Two arc tubes which are to be connected are held at different levels. Predetermined portions in the vicinity of an end of each arc tube are evenly heated and softened by a flame of a burner from the side. An air flow is supplied to blowing up the softened portion to form a semi-junction bridge having a circular cross-section and a flat connecting face. The thickness of the wall of the semi-junction bridge is even. The arc tubes having the semi-junction bridges are disposed on the same plane and one arc tube is moved to the other to connect the semi-junction bridges while the connecting faces are softened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1998
    Assignee: Matsushita Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiyoshi Oga, Masaru Saitoh, Nobuyuki Tsubakihara, Ikuhiro Okuno
  • Patent number: 5825129
    Abstract: The high pressure discharge lamp has a quartz glass lamp vessel having two opposite pinch seals. The pinch seals have major faces which are tapering from an end face towards the discharge space and have raised ridges along their axial edges. The height of the ridges diminishes towards the end faces. The lamp vessel can be obtained from a cylindrical tube by pinching without prior processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1998
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventors: Bart Van der Leeuw, Joseph E. Canale, Thomas W. Morris
  • Patent number: 5810635
    Abstract: A ceramic discharge vessel (8) for a high-pressure discharge lamp has a pin-like feedthrough (10) inserted in a plug (11) made from a composite material. The feedthrough (10) has been sintered directly into the plug (11) and is additionally sealed by covering the area, surrounding the feedthrough, of the plug's surface facing away from the discharge volume with a ceramic sealing material (7a).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1998
    Assignees: Patent-Treuhand-Gesellschaft Fuer Elektrische Gluehlampen mbH, NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Juergen Heider, Stefan Juengst, Koichiro Maekawa, Osamu Asano
  • Patent number: 5772487
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a metal halide lamp is disclosed. According to the method, an internal lead wire of an arc tube can be electrically connected to an external lead wire for applying current thereto by sealing a surrounding case thereby omitting a process of welding a metal lamina affixed to the external lead wire to the internal lead wire of the arc tube. Thus, productivity can be enhanced and it is easy to handle and preserve components for manufacturing the metal halide lamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1998
    Assignee: Samsung Display Devices Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Seong-ho Lee
  • Patent number: 5709578
    Abstract: A cold cathode fluorescent discharge tube is provided having, as an anode standing for one of discharge electrodes, a mercury discharge structure comprising a metal sintered body formed by sintering powder of a high melting point metal such as titanium, with mercury combined with the metal sintered body. The mercury discharge structure is so formed as to contain a large amount of mercury and is therefore permitted to have a compact shape in order to obtain a requisite amount of mercury. The cold cathode fluorescent discharge tube permits a sufficient amount of mercury to be sealingly incorporated in the interior of the tube without decreasing the ratio of the effective luminescent length to the total length, having suitability to diameter reduction, and can be produced at low cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 20, 1998
    Assignee: West Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masao Hatsutori, Masaharu Nishida
  • Patent number: 5690531
    Abstract: A lamp including an elongate tube with a septum extending longitudinally therethrough to near the distal end of the tube. A pair of assembled leads and electrodes are positioned in the tube through the terminal end and the tube sealed. With an end cap on the distal end of the tube, an elongate cavity is formed extending along either side of the septum and joined at the distal end. A bend is made in the tube such that the ends of the electrodes extend into areas within the elongate cavity between the bend and the distal end of the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 25, 1997
    Assignee: UVP, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert A. Foss, Patrick M. Lewis, Michael P. Duffey
  • Patent number: 5620349
    Abstract: An arc discharge tube has electrodes supported by hollow electrode support tubes at each end. A slot is formed in the electrode support tube. One edge of the slot is depressed inwardly to form a concave surface. The slot is located adjacent to the end cap of the arc tube and provides access to the interior of the electrode support tube. After the electrode assembly is sealed into one end of the arc tube, amalgam particles are dispensed into the arc tube. The arc tube is agitated rapidly, causing the amalgam particles to pass through the slot and drop into the interior of the electrode support tube. The amalgam particles are isolated from heat during sealing of the other end of the arc tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 15, 1997
    Assignee: Osram Sylvania Inc.
    Inventor: John A. Scholz
  • Patent number: 5567192
    Abstract: The present invention includes a method and apparatus for processing gas discharge tubing. The apparatus includes a manifold pumping station, a fill and evacuation station and a data acquisition station. The data acquisition station enables the processor of the tubing to input, record and archive manufacturing data such as the identity of the electrode manufacturer, the tube length and diameter, the date of processing the serial number of the tube, the fill gas, the temperature of the glass during processing, the vacuum pressure inside the tube, the current used to bombard the tube, and other variables.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 22, 1996
    Assignee: Cummings Incorporated
    Inventors: Timothy Cummings, Mark Walker
  • Patent number: 5557170
    Abstract: An electric lamp has a tubular discharge vessel or a lamp envelope with an optically active layer of a material at an inner surface. The optically active layer has window in which the layer is absent. The material of the optically active layer adjacent both to the window and to the wall of the discharge vessel has a form different from that of portions of the optically active layer not adjoining the window as a result of fusion. The lamp may be readily manufactured by a method according to the invention whereby the material situated within the window to be formed is removed by intensive electromagnetic radiation which is directed through the wall of the discharge vessel at the material to be removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1996
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventor: Pieter C. Ooms
  • Patent number: 5552670
    Abstract: A vacuum-tight seal, particularly for an arc tube or discharge vessel for a metal halide or sodium high-pressure discharge lamp, is made by forming the arc tube of transparent ceramic, typically Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, having two open ends, into which connecting plugs (3), with central openings, are sealed. Open metal tubes (4) fitting into the openings of the plugs (3) are then vacuum-tightly sintered therein. An electrode system (5, 10, 10'), forming a subassembly with a current supply lead or lead-through (6, 11, 14, 15, 20, 24) is provided, having an outer diameter fitting into the metal tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 3, 1996
    Assignee: Patent-Treuhand-Gesellschaft F. Elektrische Gluehlampen mbH
    Inventors: Juergen Heider, Stefan Juengst, Roland Huettinger
  • Patent number: 5549496
    Abstract: A low-pressure mercury vapour discharge lamp comprises two or more glass discharge tubes disposed in side-by-side relationship. The tubes are joined by a tapered joint region defining a generally U-shaped connection between the tubes. The joint between the tubes is produced by heating the open ends of the tubes, butt-joining the thus-softened ends, and then tapering the joint by stretching same and bending it until the tubes reach their required disposition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 27, 1996
    Assignee: Mass Technology (H.K.) Ltd.
    Inventor: Onn Fah Foo
  • Patent number: 5509841
    Abstract: A planar fluorescent lamp lamp includes a first transparent cover bonded atop a metal body with a serpentine channel therein. The lamp body is coated with an insulative coating and the glass solder bead bonds the cover to the lamp at its perimeter and along the ridges defining the serpentine channel. An alternative embodiment of the lamp includes a second transparent cover bonded above the first transparent cover enabling the fluorescent material to be contained in a second enclosure, isolated from the source of light energy. A second alternative embodiment conceals the electrodes of the lamp beneath the lamp body and provides plasma slots to allow the concealed electrodes to energize the lamp. Another alternative embodiment utilizes a conductive transparent coating on the lamp cover to allow the lamp cover to supplement the lamp body as a cold cathode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 23, 1996
    Assignee: Winsor Corporation
    Inventor: Mark D. Winsor
  • Patent number: 5505648
    Abstract: In the manufacture of arc tubes for use as light sources of vehicle headlamps, there is first prepared a semifinished arc tube by inserting one electrode assembly into a tubular glass envelope through one end thereof and by sealing this end. The semifinished arc tube is then placed in communication with a hermetically enclosed space filled with argon under pressure, with the consequent introduction of the inert gas into the glass envelope through a second end thereof. Another electrode assembly and chemicals such as a metal halide and mercury are then introduced from the enclosed space into the semifinished arc tube through the second end, totally without contact with the atmospheric air. Then, with the glass envelope placed out of communication with the enclosed space, the argon is exhausted from within the envelope, and xenon is charged instead into the envelope through the second end, which is closed subsequently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 9, 1996
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masakazu Nagasawa, Kunio Fukai, Shinichi Irisawa
  • Patent number: 5490326
    Abstract: So-called "retrofitting" of old style fluorescent lighting fixtures is carried out in a punch and die press provided with a special punch and die assembly having guide blocks positioned laterally of the punch and die for receiving pre-existing notches flanking the unnotched portion of the notched edge margin of a so-called "trougher raceway" strip portion of the old fluorescent lighting feature to be retrofitted, the punch of which assembly has cutting edges configurated for piercing the metal work strip backwardly of the notched edge thereof and at the ends of a longitudinal cut to be made and at the back ends of mutually spaced lateral end cuts to be made and for executing severing stokes along such cutting edges and thereby cutting out and removing a slug of metal exactly conforming in shape and dimension to the pre-existing guide notches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 13, 1996
    Inventor: Lyman O. Nielson
  • Patent number: 5484315
    Abstract: A method for producing a metal-halide discharge lamp with a ceramic dische vessel is distinguished in that first both ends (6a, 6b) are equipped with electrode systems and sealed off, but a filling bore (15) remains in the vicinity of the pump end (6a) and is not closed until after the filling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 16, 1996
    Assignee: Patent-Treuhand-Gesellschaft F. Elektrische Gluehlampen mbH
    Inventors: Stefan Juengst, Stefan Kotter, Hartmuth Bastian, Roland Huettinger, Juergen Heider
  • Patent number: RE36055
    Abstract: An improved design and method and of manufacturing a luminous tube electrode comprises the steps of placing an electrode shell in an outer tube and allowing conductors connected to the electrode shell to emanate from an open end of the outer tube. A tubulation with a flared end is then butted up against the end of the outer tube, thereby sandwiching the conductors between the flared end of the tubulation and the outer tube. The flared end of the tubulation are then fused to one another forming a hermetic seal between each other and the conductors, resulting in the finished electrode. A further provision is made to blow a bubble in the tubulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1999
    Inventor: Daniel Preston