JPH07192689A - Mercury vapor discharge lamp, manufacturing method thereof, and lighting device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] An object of the present invention is to provide a low-pressure mercury vapor discharge lamp and a lighting device that can contain a fixed amount of mercury and can be easily manufactured without a problem of fixation. [Structure] A glass bulb 1, an electrode 4 provided directly on the glass bulb 1 or on a stem 2 sealed to the bulb 1, and enclosed in the glass bulb 1 and having a temperature equal to or higher than a bulb wall temperature when a lamp L is lit. Low-pressure mercury vapor discharge comprising a porous and polyhedral mercury-releasing metal substrate 7 that melts at 1, and does not substantially reabsorb mercury after it has been released, and a rare gas enclosed in the glass bulb 1. It is a lamp L and a lighting fixture D using this discharge lamp L. [Effect] It is easy to fill in a fixed amount of mercury, and the generation of impure gas is small and the lamp characteristics can be improved. Further, mercury is released at a relatively low temperature without requiring any special means, the surface area is large, and mercury can be released quickly and easily, and it can adhere to the inner surface of the glass wall with a large contact area and is unlikely to fall off.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a mercury vapor discharge lamp in which mercury is enclosed in a bulb.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A low-pressure mercury vapor discharge lamp, such as a fluorescent lamp, has a bulb filled with mercury and argon.
There is a light source that plays a major role of light emission by using 185 nm or the like as an excitation source of a fluorescent material, and there is a lamp in which only a rare gas is partially enclosed, but mercury is an essential lamp for obtaining high efficiency. It is well known that mercury is enclosed in fluorescent lamps for general lighting.

As a method of enclosing mercury in this fluorescent lamp, it is general to send liquid mercury through an exhaust pipe connected to the end of the bulb, but the encapsulation amount becomes insufficient or the dispersion becomes large. It was difficult to mount a fixed amount.

As a solution to this problem, a method of encapsulating mercury and an amalgam-forming metal such as indium as an amalgam, a method of alloying and encapsulating mercury and titanium and the like, mercury and alumina, etc. There is a method of impregnating and encapsulating a pellet made of, or a method of enclosing and encapsulating mercury in a glass capsule.

[0005]

However, when liquid mercury is sealed in, it is fed through an exhaust pipe connected to the end of the valve, but since it is liquid, mercury adheres to the sealing device or the wall of the sealing passage such as the exhaust pipe. In addition, it is difficult to quantitatively fill the container because the amount of filling is insufficient or the amount of variation is large due to evaporation from the valve inside the exhaust at high temperature. For this reason,
Although it was planned to supply excess mercury in anticipation of loss, it is preferable to minimize the amount of mercury necessary for environmental protection, and as a countermeasure, the surface of a predetermined amount of mercury is chemically stable. Although it was covered with powder and then enclosed, the problem could not be solved.

[0006] When enclosing as amalgam,
Even though the lamp is operating, the amalgam forming metal still contains a considerable amount of mercury, and when this amalgam contacts the phosphor film formed on the inner surface of the bulb, the mercury in the amalgam reacts with the phosphor. Then, there is a drawback that the phosphor film is likely to be blackened. Also, amalgam cannot be used for any lamp due to its temperature characteristics.

Further, the present applicant has previously developed a technique for quantitatively encapsulating mercury using a mercury-releasing metal of zinc-mercury. This is sealed in the form of a granular alloy in the lamp manufacturing process, and is heated from the outside to release mercury, and at the same time, the alloy is melted and welded to the inner surface of the glass bulb.

However, there is a difference in adhesion strength between the glass bulb and the glass bulb for each granular alloy, and there is a problem in that the particles cannot be firmly welded and fall off, and this drop off scratches the phosphor film. There was a case where it was damaged and the commercialability was impaired.

The present invention is a further improvement over the above-mentioned prior art, and it is possible to enclose a fixed amount of mercury even in a small amount, there is no problem of fixation, and it is easy to manufacture, and it is economical and suitable. It is an object to provide a wide range mercury vapor discharge lamp and a luminaire.

[0010]

A mercury vapor discharge lamp according to claim 1 of the present invention includes a glass bulb, an electrode directly or indirectly sealed to the glass bulb, and a glass bulb. It is a porous material that melts below the bulb wall temperature when the lamp is lit and below the softening temperature of the bulb glass, and does not substantially reabsorb mercury after the mercury is released.
The present invention is characterized by comprising a polyhedral mercury-releasing metal substrate, and mercury and a rare gas enclosed in the glass bulb.

A mercury vapor discharge lamp according to a second aspect of the present invention is provided with a glass bulb, an electrode directly or indirectly sealed to the glass bulb, and a glass bulb enclosed in the glass bulb. A porous and polyhedral mercury-releasing metal substrate that melts above the bulb wall temperature and below the softening temperature of the bulb glass and does not substantially reabsorb mercury after mercury release, and is enclosed in this glass bulb. And mercury and a rare gas, at least one of the glass bulb or stem is made of lead glass, and the mercury-releasing metal substrate is fixed to the lead glass portion.

A mercury vapor discharge lamp according to a third aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the mercury-releasing metal substrate is arranged in the vicinity of the sealing portion of the glass bulb.

A mercury vapor discharge lamp according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the mercury-releasing metal substrate is arranged in the exhaust pipe.

A mercury vapor discharge lamp according to a fifth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that it comprises a fluorescent lamp, a high pressure discharge lamp, or an ultraviolet radiation lamp.

A method of manufacturing a mercury vapor discharge lamp according to a sixth aspect of the present invention comprises a step of directly or indirectly sealing an electrode to a glass bulb having a film formed on its surface or having no film, After releasing mercury into the glass bulb, it is porous and has a property of not substantially reabsorbing mercury, and a step of enclosing a polyhedral mercury-releasing metal substrate containing mercury in advance, The method is characterized by including a step of filling a rare gas in the glass bulb and a step of heating the glass bulb to release mercury from the mercury-releasing metal substrate.

A lighting device according to a seventh aspect of the present invention is a lighting fixture main body, the mercury vapor discharge lamp according to any one of the first to sixth aspects mounted on the main body, the lamp and a power source. And a ballast that is connected between the two to stably turn on the lamp.

[0017]

The mercury-releasing metal structure made of the alloy enclosed in the bulb is fused at the glass wall portion where the heat heated in the evacuation process or the like remains, and the mercury Hg is evaporated from the surface of the metal wall. The amount of mercury is released into the bulb.
Further, the mercury that has not been vaporized at the bulb temperature is also vaporized by raising the temperature by turning on the lamp with an overvoltage.

The mercury-releasing metal structure has a porous polyhedron shape and a large surface area, and heat from the glass bulb is easily transferred to the mercury-releasing metal structure.
g can be evaporated. Then, the mercury-releasing metal substrate that has released mercury does not substantially reabsorb mercury after the mercury is released.

Further, since this mercury-releasing metal structure is in the shape of a polyhedron, the contact area with the glass wall portion having an irregular curved surface such as the bulb, the stem and the sealing portion of these can be increased, and therefore the heat conduction is increased. There is no lack of fixing strength due to insufficient melting.

[0020]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a low pressure mercury vapor discharge lamp, for example, an end portion of an annular fluorescent lamp L, and FIG.
It is a front view of the mercury discharge metal structure enclosed in.

In the figure, 1 is an annular valve made of lead glass, 2 is a stem made of lead glass, 3 is a sealing portion 3 between the valve 1 and the stem 2, and the sealing portion 3 has an annular recess. 3a is formed. Reference numeral 4 is an electrode provided on the stem 2 and reference numeral 5 is an exhaust pipe made of soda lime glass or lead glass. On the inner surface of the bulb 1, a phosphor film 6 coated with a three-wavelength type rare earth phosphor, a continuous-wavelength emission type halophosphate phosphor, or the like is formed. In addition, argon Ar, krypton Kr, and xenon Xe are contained in the valve 1.
Noble gas such as a single gas or a mixture thereof, and the sealing portion 3
A mercury-releasing metal structure 7 described later is enclosed in the inner space 3b of the annular recess 3a at the tip.

The mercury-releasing metal structure 7 is composed of mercury Hg, zinc Zn, bismuth Bi, lead Pb, tin Sn and antimony Sb.
An alloy mainly composed of, for example, Hg and zinc Zn. The shape is a polyhedron of a substantially regular polygonal shape as shown in FIG. 2, and a large amount of mercury 7a, 7a, ... Is present on the surface, and the surface of the structure 7 after the mercury 7a, 7a ,. Has a porous structure in which a large number of holes from which mercury 7a, 7a, ... Before the release of mercury, this metal structure 7 forms an alloy (with a mercury concentration of 50 to 60% by weight) with mercury at the maximum size of about 1,5 mm, but when it is heated, it releases mercury and zinc. Only Zn remains. (In the present invention, the mercury-releasing metal structure 7 is represented before mercury emission, and the mercury-releasing metal substrate 7 is represented after mercury emission.) A method of manufacturing this annular fluorescent lamp L will be described.
First, a fluorescent substance is applied to the straight tube type glass bulb 1 by a conventional method to form a fluorescent substance film 5. Next, the glass stems 2 and 2 provided with electrodes 4 at both ends of the bulb 1 are sealed. During this sealing, while the glass is in a softened state, this portion is put into a mold to pressurize the inside of the bulb 1 to form an annular recess 3a at the tip of the sealing portion 3. (It is needless to say that the sealing portions 3 are formed at both ends of the valve 1, which is not shown.) Then, the sealed valve 1 is heated and softened as a whole to The annular recess 3a of the sealing portion 3 is gripped by a jig and wound around a circular drum to form an annular shape. At this time, the inside of the valve 1 is pressurized so as not to be crushed. Then, the valve 1 is exhausted through the exhaust pipe 5 of the stem 2 while heating the valve 1, and then the mercury-releasing metal structure 7 containing the rare gas and mercury Hg is sealed through the exhaust pipe 5 at one end. 5 is closed.

The valve 1 for which the exhaust pipe 5 has been closed is rotated while the temperature of the valve 1 including the stem 2 is high, so that the mercury-releasing metal assembly 7 in the shape of a polyhedron is attached to the tip of the sealing portion 3. The protrusion 3a is moved to the innermost space 3b. There is no phosphor film 5 at the endmost position of the space 3b where the bulb 1 and the stem 2 are fused, and the mercury-releasing metal structure 7 is in contact with the position of the space 3b and heated by the residual heat so that the interior The mercury is released and melted, and the mercury-releasing metal substrate 7 is welded to the inner surface of the glass wall of the space 3b.

Incidentally, the mercury-releasing metal substrate 7 having the above composition is
Since zinc Zn, which has a low melting point, is used in the metal, its melting start temperature is about 350 ° C., and mercury in the structure 7 is about 10 ° C.
The substrate 7 is welded to the inner surface of the glass wall when the temperature lowers as it evaporates from the surface at about 0 ° C. The melting of the mercury-releasing metal structure 7 can be automatically performed by utilizing the residual heat of the exhaust process, but if the temperature of the inner surface of the glass wall of the inner space 3b is low, it is separately heated from the outside of the bulb 1. You may do it.

Further, this mercury-releasing metal structure 7 exceeds the wall temperature of the bulb 1 at the time of normal lighting after the completion of the lamp L, and
The mercury-releasing metal substrate 7 that has melted below the softening temperature of the glass bulb 1 and has released mercury does not substantially reabsorb mercury, and has a porous state. The term "substantially" means that it does not absorb mercury vapor so much that it affects the vapor pressure of mercury in the bulb 1 unlike amalgam.

Then, the sealing portions 3 and 3 at both ends of the valve 1 are provided.
A lamp L is completed with a base attached.

The mercury-releasing metal structure 7 forming a polyhedron of substantially regular polygonal shape is manufactured by fusion in a tank in about 50 times.
A liquid of mercury Hg and zinc Zn at about 0 ° C is dropped from the tip of the nozzle into silicon oil or the like, and the dropped liquid particles are cooled in air or in a non-oxidizing gas without rapid cooling. It will be done by Masu. The surface of the structure 7 has a crystalline structure in which mercury Hg having a large amount of mercury Hg and zinc Zn are finely dispersed on the surface side. When the temperature of the structure 7 rises, mercury Hg having a low melting point evaporates, and later, Only the zinc Zn portion 7b, which is porous and has a large number of holes, remains.

The size of the mercury-releasing metal structure 7 can be adjusted by changing the temperature of the melt and the inner diameter of the nozzle.

When the dripped liquid particles are rapidly cooled in water or the like, they are not polyhedral but spherical, and the crystal grains are very fine and almost amorphous. Emission of mercury is suppressed by the shape and fine crystal grains.

In the above-mentioned annular fluorescent lamp L, since the mercury-releasing metal structure 7 is solid, its handling is particularly easy to perform quantitative filling, and impurities are not attached or adsorbed so much that impurities are impaired after being filled in the lamp L. The occurrence of
The lamp characteristics can be improved. In addition, mercury is released at a relatively low temperature, no special means for releasing is required, and the polyhedron has a substantially regular polygonal shape, so that the surface area is large and mercury is released quickly and easily. Further, the mercury inside the structure 7 that could not be released during the welding of the mercury-releasing metal structure 7 gradually came out with the progress of lighting of the lamp, and the exhausted mercury was replenished to prevent the deterioration of the lamp characteristics. Have.

Further, in welding the mercury-releasing metal structure 7, since the structure 7 has a polyhedral shape, the sealing portion 3 and the like are not formed in the inner space 3b between the valve and the stem at the tip of the sealing portion 3. It comes into contact with the glass wall portion having a regular curved surface with a large contact area, so that the heat conduction becomes large and there is no lack of bonding strength due to insufficient melting, and strong bonding can be prevented from falling off.

Further, in this embodiment, the material of the bulb 1 and the stem 2 is lead glass, so that the lead component of this glass and the mercury-releasing metal structure 7 are well adhered and firmly fixed to each other.

3 to 5 show another embodiment of the present invention. In the drawings, the same parts as those in FIG. 1 are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted. FIG. 3 is a sectional view in which a part of the straight fluorescent lamp L is broken and an enlarged part thereof, FIG. 4 is a sectional view of an essential part of FIG. 3, and FIG. 5 is an essential part of another embodiment. FIG.

The valve 1 of this embodiment has a straight tubular shape made of soda lime glass, and stems 2 made of lead glass are sealed at both ends thereof so that the valve 1 is not bent in an annular shape. The lamp L is the same as the above lamp L except that the structure of the base 9 is different.

First, in the lamp L shown in FIG. 3, after the stems 2 and 2 are sealed at both ends of the bulb 1 as usual, the same exhaust work as in the above-mentioned embodiment is performed through the exhaust pipe 5, and then the exhaust gas is exhausted. The exhaust pipe 5 is closed by enclosing a mercury-releasing metal structure 7 having a substantially regular polyhedron shape from the pipe 5 into the bulb 1. Then, the bulb 1 is tilted or made upright as shown in FIG. 4 to move the mercury-releasing metal structure 7 on the phosphor film 6 to the position of the innermost end 3b of the sealing portion 3 as in the above embodiment. . Therefore, by heating the portion of the bulb 1 where the mercury-releasing metal structure 7 is located from the outside, the structure 7 is also heated, and the substrate 7 is welded and fixed as in the above embodiment, and mercury is discharged.

At this time, if this welding is carried out on the surface of the stem 2 made of lead glass, the lead components of the two components are made compatible with each other and can be firmly fixed.

In the case of this embodiment as well, the same operational effects as those of the above-mentioned embodiment are obtained, and therefore the description thereof is omitted.

In each of the above-described embodiments, the mercury-releasing metal substrate 7 is arranged in the bulb 1, but the substrate 7 may be arranged in the exhaust pipe 5.

This is because even if the mercury-releasing metal substrate 71 is welded and fixed to the inner surface of the exhaust pipe 5 as shown by the dotted line in FIG.
Alternatively, as shown by the dotted line, a recess 5a may be formed by denting a part of the inner surface of the exhaust pipe 5 so that the base 7 cannot move.

By disposing the mercury-releasing metal substrate 71 in the exhaust pipe 5 as described above, the appearance when the lamp L is lit is not considered.

In each of the above embodiments, the stem 2 is used for sealing the valve 1. However, the present invention does not use a stem such as a flare stem or a button stem, but the lead wires 8 and 8 as shown in FIG. The valve 1 may be directly sealed in the sealing portion 3 obtained by crushing the end portion of the valve 1. In this case, it is necessary to take measures so that the mercury-releasing metal substrate 7 does not short-circuit between the lead wires 8 and 8. For example, the exhaust pipe 5 may be projected between the lead wires 8 and 8 as shown by the dotted line. You can respond by leaving it.

FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram showing an example of an illuminating device using the fluorescent lamp L of the present invention. The illuminating device shown in the figure is a luminaire D, and D1 in the figure is a luminaire main body,
Fixture of equipment D to buildings, power supply connection mechanism and ballast D2
Etc. are housed, and lamp sockets D3, D3 are mounted below the main body D1, and a fluorescent lamp L is mounted between them.

The fluorescent lamp L is supported by the sockets D3 and D3, and is supplied with power through the power supply connection mechanism, the ballast D2 and the sockets D3 and D3, and can be stably lit.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. For example, the low-pressure mercury vapor discharge lamp is not limited to a general fluorescent lamp, and a protective film such as alumina may be provided between the glass bulb surface and the phosphor film. In addition to other fluorescent lamps having a transparent conductive film formed thereon, the present invention can be applied to other lamps in which mercury is enclosed in a glass bulb, such as an ultraviolet radiation lamp with or without a coating formed on the bulb surface. Further, the present invention can be applied to enclosing mercury in an arc tube such as a high pressure mercury vapor discharge lamp.

The shape of the glass bulb is not limited to the annular shape and the straight tube shape, but may be a so-called compact shape such as a U shape, a W shape, a WU shape, etc., in which the lamp and the ballast are integrated. May be Further, in the present invention, as described above, the mercury-releasing metal structure is enclosed in the valve, the part including the exhaust pipe is referred to as a valve, and the electrode is directly sealed to the valve as shown in FIG. Lamp of the
Indirect sealing means a lamp having a structure using a stem or the like as shown in FIGS.

Further, as the material of the mercury-releasing metal structure,
Of course, mercury Hg is necessary, but mercury Hg and zinc Zn
In addition to bismuth Bi, lead Pb, tin Sn, antimony Sb
It may be an alloy mainly composed of the like. The shape is not limited to a polyhedron having a substantially regular polygonal shape as shown in FIG. 2, but may be a polyhedron composed of an aggregate of circular portions or an indeterminate distorted polyhedron shape. Is preferably present in a large amount.

The size of the mercury-releasing metal structure is
It only needs to be large enough to pass through the inside of the exhaust pipe, and the amount to be enclosed may be appropriately determined according to the type of product, required characteristics, etc. The number of structures enclosed in one lamp is not limited to one, but multiple units. May be.

Further, the method of enclosing the mercury-releasing metal structure may be encapsulation separately, not simultaneously with the rare gas.

[0049]

Since the mercury-releasing metal structure of the present invention is solid, it is easy to enclose a fixed amount of mercury, and since mercury is released from the structure after it is enclosed in the bulb, the adhesion and adsorption of impurities is small and the inside of the lamp is small. The lamp characteristics can be improved without generation of an impure gas that adversely affects the characteristics after encapsulation.
Further, mercury is emitted at a relatively low temperature, no special means for emission is required, and since it has a polyhedral shape, the surface area is large and mercury emission is quick and easy, and the rise of the luminous flux is fast.

When the mercury-releasing metal structure (base) is welded, since the structure has a polyhedral shape, it adheres to the inner surface of the glass wall, which is the irregular curved surface of the bulb or stem or the sealing portion of these, with a large contact area. It is hard to fall off. In particular, if the glass and the base material have the same component, the mercury vapor discharge lamp has various advantages such that they are well-adhered to each other and can be firmly fixed, a manufacturing method of this lamp, and a lighting device using this lamp. Can be provided.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional front view showing an end portion of an annular fluorescent lamp of the present invention in a cutaway manner.

FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged sectional front view showing a process of enclosing a mercury-releasing metal structure in the process of manufacturing the straight tube fluorescent lamp of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a front view showing the lamp of FIG. 2 with a part thereof broken and a part thereof enlarged.

FIG. 4 is a sectional front view showing an end portion of a straight tube type fluorescent lamp of another embodiment of the present invention in a broken manner.

FIG. 5 is a sectional front view showing an end portion of a fluorescent lamp of another embodiment of the present invention in a cutaway manner.

FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram showing a lighting fixture according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 L: Lamp D: Lighting equipment 1: Glass bulb 2: Stem 3: Sealing part 3a: Annular recess 3b: Inner space part 4: Electrode 5: Exhaust pipe 7,71: Mercury-releasing metal structure (mercury-releasing metal substrate) 8: Lead wire

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A glass bulb; an electrode directly or indirectly sealed to the glass bulb; enclosed in the glass bulb, exceeding a bulb wall temperature when the lamp is lit, and softening the bulb glass. A porous and polyhedral mercury-releasing metal substrate that melts below the temperature and that does not substantially reabsorb mercury after mercury is released; mercury and a rare gas enclosed in the glass bulb; A mercury vapor discharge lamp characterized by. 2. A glass bulb; an electrode directly or indirectly sealed to the glass bulb; enclosed in the glass bulb, exceeding a bulb wall temperature when the lamp is lit, and softening the bulb glass. The above glass, which comprises a porous and polyhedral mercury-releasing metal substrate that melts below a temperature and does not substantially reabsorb mercury after mercury is released; and mercury and a rare gas enclosed in the glass bulb. At least one of a bulb and a stem is made of lead glass, and a mercury-releasing metal substrate is fixed to the lead glass portion. 3. The mercury-releasing metal substrate is arranged in the vicinity of the sealing portion of the glass bulb.
Alternatively, the mercury vapor discharge lamp according to claim 2. 4. The mercury vapor discharge lamp according to claim 1, wherein the mercury-releasing metal substrate is arranged in an exhaust pipe. 5. A fluorescent lamp, a high-pressure discharge lamp, or an ultraviolet radiation lamp.
5. The mercury vapor discharge lamp according to claim 4. 6. A step of directly or indirectly sealing an electrode to a glass bulb with or without a coating formed on its surface; porous after releasing mercury into the glass bulb, A step of enclosing a polyhedral mercury-releasing metal substrate having a property of not substantially reabsorbing mercury and containing mercury in advance; a step of enclosing a rare gas in the glass bulb; the glass bulb And a step of heating mercury to release mercury from the mercury-releasing metal substrate, and a method for manufacturing a mercury vapor discharge lamp. 7. A lighting fixture main body; a mercury vapor discharge lamp according to any one of claims 1 to 6 mounted on the main body; and a lamp which is connected between the lamp and a power source to stably turn on the lamp. And a ballast for controlling the lighting device.