Abstract: A system for sealing a large diameter tube under vacuum including: a tube having a diameter greater than about 20 mm, a disk operatively positioned inside the tube and having a smaller diameter than the tube, a vacuum operatively connected to the tube, heating means, operatively positioned on the outside of the tube, for heating the tube to a temperature sufficient to collapse the tube onto the disk, means for positioning the disk inside the tube proximate the position of the heating means on the outside of the tube and means for cooling the tube proximate the disk sufficiently to formulate a seal between the tube and the disk where the disk collapsed onto the disk is disclosed.

Abstract: An arrangement for vacuum-tight sealing of electron tubes is provided with a vacuum pipe system which is connected to the electron tube by a tubularly-shaped connecting element. The connecting element is sealed in a vacuum-tight manner by a special thermal seal-off or melt-down unit after the electron tube has been evacuated. The thermal seal-off or melt-down unit is provided with a heating coil which is embraced by a component. The component is provided with an arresting element so that the component can be easily removed from the thermal seal-off or melt-down unit.

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.

Abstract: An evacuation apparatus is capable of evacuating an envelope to a high vacuum without evacuating a whole room or chamber to a high vacuum. An evacuation pipe is connected at a distal end thereof to an evacuation head and a vacuum pump is actuated to evacuate an evacuation chamber to a high vacuum, to thereby evacuate an envelope to a high vacuum. Then, a motor is driven to rotate ball screws, to thereby upwardly move the envelope mounted on the evacuation head. The evacuation pipe is fused at an intermediate portion thereof by a gas burner, to thereby be sealed. Then, the evacuation pipe is cut to disconnect the envelope from the evacuation head.

Abstract: An automation system for assembling photocathodes into vacuum tube housings is used to produce vacuum tube assemblies. Photocathodes are loaded and otherwise processed in a first evacuated chamber. Similarly, vacuum tube housings are loaded and otherwise processed in a second evacuated chamber. The first and second chambers are always interconnected as a common vessel, wherein the photocathodes from the first chamber are transferred into the second chamber by an automated transfer mechanism. Once in the second chamber, the photocathodes are joined to the vacuum tube houses in an automation process, creating the final product vacuum tube assemblies.

Abstract: A plurality of successive evacuating carts for carrying respective cathode-ray tube bulbs thereon are circulatingly fed along a looped feed path into and out of an evacuating furnace. While in the evacuating furnace, the cathode-ray tube bulb carried on each of the evacuating carts is evacuated, and the evacuating pipe thereof is sealed. An evacuating pipe detecting device is disposed at a position along the feed path for detecting whether the evacuating pipe of the cathode-ray tube bulb carried on each of the evacuating units is damaged or not. If the evacuating pipe of any cathode-ray tube bulb is detected as being damaged and remains on the evacuating cart, the evacuating cart is discharged out of the feed path, and a replacement evacuating cart is charged into the feed path.

Abstract: A dewar assembly is cleaned, baked out, assembled, and joined in a single vacuum system without exposing the components to ambient atmosphere. The vacuum system preferably has a first chamber with multiple subchambers that can be isolated from each other, and a second chamber that can be isolated from the first chamber. The multiple chambers and subchambers prevent cross contamination during the various process steps, and also permit multiple dewar assemblies to be batch processed at different stages simultaneously. The components of the dewar assembly are loaded into one subchamber and cleaned, and thereafter moved to another subchamber for bakeout. The dewar getter is heated in the second chamber and moved to one of the subchambers for assembly. The components of the dewar assembly are assembled and joined.

Abstract: A low pressure discharge lamp having a tubular discharge vessel (1). At each of its end portions (2, 3) the vessel (1) is fused to a respective metal tube (5) having an uncovered outer surface outside the vessel. A sealed glass tube (6) is fused to the metal tubes (5). Ignition aids (18, 28, 40) may also be present. The simple construction of the lamp permits manufacture and high lamp quality, even at long lengths and/or small diameters of the discharge vessel. The lamp may have an ionizable filling of rare gas or may also contain mercury. A fluorescent powder may also be present in the discharge vessel. The lamp (72) and a luminaire (70, 71) mounting the lamp may be used for display or signalling purposes.

Abstract: A CRT exhaust oven for heat-treating CRTs includes an oven housing, a baffle structure accommodated in the oven housing for circulation of atmosphere within the oven housing, and a plurality of exhaust carts capable of travelling below the oven housing. Each of the exhaust carts is provided with two exhaust heads having different heights aligned in the direction of travel of the exhaust carts so that there is no clearance, as viewed from above, between two adjoining CRTs mounted on respective exhaust heads of each exhaust cart. Each of the exhaust carts travels intermittently below the oven housing. The baffle structure has a large number of upper and lower holes formed on respective sides thereof in the direction of travel of the exhaust carts.

Abstract: An electron gun sealing apparatus comprises a bulb supporting means for supporting a bulb, a first up/down means for raising and lowering an electron gun, which is vertically positioned below the bulb, a heating means arranged around the neck of the bulb to heat the neck and the stem of an electron gun, a second up/down means for raising and lowering the heating means to a certain height in relation to the neck, and a revolving means for rotating the heating means with respect to the electron gun supporter. Since the sealing by the sealing apparatus is performed by rotating the heating means, the bulb is free from centrifugal force, preventing displaced sealing of the neck. Also, thinning and cracking at the seal is prevented by an accurate position control and a sealing flame adjustment. Further, this automatically performed sealing operation simplifies the sealing, reduces labor, and improves productivity.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a vaporized metal discharge lamp wherein a metal halide is attached to the tip of a metal rod, such as through vapor deposition or sputtering. The rod is then inserted into a light emission envelope of the lamp, and the metal halide attached to the metal rod tip is transferred to the inside of the envelope through high frequency induction heating.

Abstract: A CCD (12) or other photoelectronic device is bonded to an image tube housing (26) to provide a digital output from the image tube (19). The housing (26) and cathode (19) are degassed in chambers (44 and 42) at a high temperature and low pressure. A load lock chamber (46) is degassed and evacuated to remove contaminants. After cooling the chambers (42, 44 and 46) the CCD (12) is placed in the load lock chamber (46) which is then sealed and evacuated. After evacuation, a gate valve (54) is opened between the load lock chamber and the housing chamber (44) and the CCD is placed on a press station (63) of a metal bellow (64). The metal bellow (64) is extended to push the CCD (12) against an indium seal ring (36) on the housing (26), creating a seal between the CCD (12) and the housing (26).

Abstract: The invention relates to a process and apparatus for the manufacture of an aluminum discharge lamp for sodium vapor lamps, wherein all manufacturing steps are carried out within a glove box having a protective atmosphere in its interior and all components and apparatus required for the manufacture of the aluminum discharge tube are disposed within the glove box and the protective atmosphere within.

Abstract: For sure sealing of the evacuation tips of vacuum tubes, the electric power supplied to the heating resistor of the sealing furnace is regulated for each treatment stage, the set value is pre-selected and laid down by a computer for the corresponding power generator.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a miniature tipless halogen lamp having a diameter of 1.0 to 4.0 mm, in which an assembly of a pair of lead wires, a bead welded to the lead wires and a filament connected to the lead wires by pressing flat and crimping the inner ends of the lead wires, the assembly is put in a lamp bulb in place to form an unfinished assembly of the components of the miniature tipless halogen lamp, a plurality of such unfinished assemblies are placed in an apparatus including an integral and airtight combination of a holagen gas introducing sealed box and a heat-sealing box, the lamp bulbs of the unfinished assemblies are sealed by being heated with a heat-sealing carbon plate at a position corresponding to the bead, and then unnecessary portions of the lamp bulbs are cut off to complete the miniature tipless halogen lamps.

Abstract: In a method for manufacturing a cathode ray tube, a bulb is held by a first holding mechanism. An electron gun is inserted and held in a neck portion of the bulb by a second holding mechanism. Then, the neck portion and a stem of the electron gun are welded by a welding unit. The unit includes an annular burner having an inner surface with a plurality of burner holes formed in substantially the entire area along a circumferential direction thereof. The annular burner is constructed by two burner members which can be separated in a radial direction. The burner is positioned by an opening/closing mechanism and a reciprocating mechanism such that the inner peripheral surface of the burner is coaxially located outside the neck portion and opposes the stem of the electron gun. Thereafter, the neck portion is heated by flames injected from the burner holes, and then the burner is reciprocally rotated about its axis through a predetermined angle.

Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing bulbs comprises a mount holder having a hole through which an exhaust tube is passed loosely and holding a mount, a sealing burner arranged around the holder for fusing the contact portions of a stem and the opening edge of a bulb body, a butting plate arranged around the holder so as to be able to reciprocate along the axis of the holder, and capable of pressing on the fused contact portions, and two tipping-off burners for sealing off the exhaust tube. The holder includes two flame inlet ports opening in the outer surface of the holer and communicating with the hole. The burners are located outside the holder, and can move between a position where it can inject flames into the ports and a position where it does not prevent the movement of the abutting plate.

Abstract: An apparatus for sealing a lamp mount having a coil mounted thereon to an end of a lamp tube is provided with chuck means releasably holding a lamp tube; an evacuator body axially movable with respect to the lamp tube, the evacuator body having a vacuum chamber into which an end of an evacuator pipe on the lamp mount is inserted; and a burner device for heating the flare of the lamp mount and an end of the lamp tube provided between said evacuator body and the end of the lamp tube, said burner device having a burner body with a burner tank and a number of burner nozzles.