JP3389954B2 - Fluorescent lamp, its manufacturing method and lighting equipment - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a fluorescent lamp suitable for quantitatively encapsulating mercury, a method for manufacturing the same, and a lighting device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The most common method of enclosing mercury in a fluorescent lamp is to drop liquid mercury through a thin tube connected to the lamp, but it is difficult to enclose mercury in a fixed amount. To improve this, Japanese Patent Publication No. 58-1081
There is a method described in Japanese Patent No. 3 publication. In this method, the surface of mercury, which has been weighed to a predetermined amount with a single mercury weighing device, is coated with a chemically stable powder and then sealed.

[0003] As another method, for example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 54-118675 discloses that mercury is encapsulated into an amalgam. As shown in FIG. 5, when the amalgam forming metal 51 such as indium and mercury form an alloy to form a solid solution amalgam, and the amalgam is exposed to heat generated by electric discharge in the light transmissive encapsulant 52. Mercury vapor is released and arc discharge due to mercury vapor occurs. However, when the vapor pressure exceeds a certain level, excess mercury vapor forms an alloy of a solid solution with the amalgam forming metal again, so that the mercury vapor pressure is kept constant. Further, in the above publication, the amalgam forming metal is arranged so as to be movable in the transparent envelope without being held by a special holding structure in order to provide the fluorescent lamp at a low cost.

Further, the one disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1-169838 has a structure in which particles that are chemically stable and that are composed of a metal that forms an alloy with mercury are enclosed in a fluorescent lamp. Considering the kind of metal that forms an alloy with mercury, it is considered that the alloy is intended to be an amalgam as in the above-mentioned conventional technique. Further, in the description of the examples and the drawings, it is presumed that the alloy is amalgam because the reduced diameter portion is formed in the thin tube to prevent the alloy from falling into the fluorescent lamp. This is because if the amalgam is directly movably enclosed in the fluorescent lamp, the problem of blackening of the fluorescent light emitting layer is caused.

Further, it is also known that mercury is encapsulated in a glass capsule in advance and then introduced into a lamp to break the capsule and encapsulate mercury.

[0006]

In the first prior art, since it is preferable to minimize the amount of mercury required for environmental protection, theoretically calculate the enclosed amount required for discharge, and the minimum enclosed amount is required. However, since the amount of mercury may be extremely small, it may be difficult to enclose the entire amount of mercury because the mercury may dive into the powder.

In the second prior art, the amalgam-forming metal still contains a significant amount of mercury, even during operation of the discharge lamp. Therefore, the phosphor in the light-transmitting envelope and the amalgam-forming metal are always in contact with each other, and mercury and the phosphor react to cause blackening of the phosphor. Therefore, in this conventional technique, the spherical amalgam forming metal 51 is further porous to mercury vapor composed of titania or the like, and is chemically inert to the ionizable medium and other parts in the fluorescent lamp. Non-adhesive coating made of material 5
3 has been given. Therefore, the cost is inevitable and the sufficient effect of the non-adhesion coating 53 cannot be expected.

In the second conventional technique, amalgam cannot be used for any lamp because of its temperature characteristics.

Further, in the third prior art, it is necessary to form a reduced diameter portion in the thin tube, which is troublesome and expensive to manufacture.

Finally, in the fourth prior art, it is necessary to fix the glass capsule in the airtight container, which is technically or economically problematic.

The present invention is intended to further improve such a conventional technique, and enables a fixed amount of mercury to be enclosed even in a small amount, and is technically free from the problem of fixation as in the conventional technique. An object of the present invention is to provide a fluorescent lamp which is easy or economical to manufacture and has a wide range of conformity, a manufacturing method thereof, and a lighting fixture.

[0012]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a fluorescent lamp in which a translucent airtight container enclosing an ionizable medium containing mercury and a fluorescent light emitting layer formed directly or indirectly inside the container. And means for maintaining positive column discharge by the ionizable medium inside the translucent airtight container, and the size of the particles movably enclosed on the fluorescent emission layer in the translucent airtight container.
1.5mm and below the mercury emission body: If you are provided with a, water
Mercury release after silver release Bulk specific gravity, which is the specific gravity of the substrate, releases mercury
6.8 or less if the particle size of the substrate is 1 mm or less
If the child size is 1.2 mm or less, 4.7 or less.
If the size is 1.5 mm or less, it should be 1.2 or less.
It has a feature. Here, the bulk specific gravity is equal to or higher than the mercury emission temperature.
Mercury emission in a state where mercury is released by heating the container with
It means the specific gravity of the outgoing substrate. Relationship between particle size and bulk specific gravity
Is determined by the experiment based on the presence / absence of damage to the fluorescent layer and the degree of damage.
The above range was determined. Particle size is either spherical or non-spherical
In this case, it means the maximum diameter.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the fluorescent lamp according to the first aspect, the mercury-releasing substrate is in the form of a single particle or a plurality of particles. The shape of the particles may be spherical or non-spherical.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the fluorescent lamp according to the first or second aspect, the mercury-releasing substrate is in the form of porous particles.
In the case of a plurality of mercury-releasing substrates, if most of them can move in the airtight container, it does not matter if some of them are fixed to a part of the container.

The fluorescent lamp according to claim 4 is the fluorescent lamp according to claim 1 or
It is a mercury alloy - 2 mercury release substrate is zinc particulate
Is characterized by .

[0016]

[0017]

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a fluorescent lamp manufacturing method, wherein a step of directly or indirectly forming a fluorescent light emitting layer inside a transparent airtight container and a step of sealing an electrode inside the transparent airtight container. And a particle size of 1.5 mm or less containing mercury in advance.
The step of enclosing the lower mercury-releasing substrate inside the translucent airtight container so as to be movable over the fluorescent emission layer, the step of enclosing a rare gas inside the translucent airtight container, and heating the translucent airtight container A step of releasing mercury from the mercury-releasing substrate .
The bulk specific gravity, which is the specific gravity of the mercury-releasing substrate after mercury is released, is water.
6.8 or more when the particle size of the silver-releasing substrate is 1 mm or less
Below, when the particle size is 1.2 mm or less, 4.7 or less,
1.2 or less when the particle size is 1.5 mm or less
It is characterized by

An illumination device according to claim 6 includes an illumination device main body,
The fluorescent lamp according to any one of claims 1 to 4 mounted on the main body, and a ballast for electrically lighting the fluorescent lamp in a stable manner are provided between a power source and the fluorescent lamp.

[0020]

According to the invention of claim 1, since mercury is contained in the mercury-releasing substrate in advance and solidified to have a desired particle size, the mercury-releasing substrate can be easily sealed in a fixed amount, and the mercury-releasing substrate can be formed on the fluorescent emitting layer. There is no substantial adverse effect on the function of the fluorescent lamp when moved. In addition, the particle size of the mercury-releasing substrate
Depending on its volume specific gravity,
Even if it moves freely, the range of the predetermined relationship with the particle size
In the enclosure, the fluorescent layer is not damaged.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the mercury-releasing substrate is in the form of a single particle or a plurality of particles, it can be easily introduced into the light-transmitting airtight container from a thin tube in the manufacturing process. . If it is a single particle, it is easy to manufacture. Further, if a plurality of them are provided, even if they are inside the translucent airtight container, it is difficult for them to be noticed from the outside, and it is even more difficult to damage the fluorescence emitting layer.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the mercury-releasing substrate is porous and generally has a low bulk specific gravity. Therefore, even if the mercury-releasing substrate is freely moved in the airtight container, the fluorescence emitting layer is not easily damaged.

[0023]

[0024]

In the invention of claim 4, the material of the mercury-releasing substrate
Reveals that mercury alloys with specific properties are compatible
did.

In the invention of claim 5 , the bulk specific gravity after mercury release
Since a mercury-releasing substrate with a predetermined value is sealed in the tube and then the container is heated to release mercury, it is easy to quantitatively seal and manufacture.
Easy, and the mercury-releasing substrate moves over the fluorescent emitting layer
However, there is a substantial adverse effect on the function of the fluorescent lamp.
Absent.

According to the invention of claim 6 , since the fluorescent lamp according to any one of claims 1 to 4 is provided, there is no fear of blackening due to direct contact of the mercury particles with the fluorescent light emitting layer as an illuminating device. Moreover, the amount of mercury enclosed is minimized, which is extremely desirable for environmental protection.

[0028]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 1 is a front view showing an example of the fluorescent lamp of the present invention by a partially broken and partially enlarged cross section. In the figure, reference numeral 11 denotes a translucent airtight container, the main part of which is, for example, an elongated glass tube, and an ionizable medium containing a rare gas such as mercury and argon is sealed inside. Reference numeral 12 denotes a fluorescent light emitting layer formed on the inner side, for example, the inner surface of the translucent airtight container. Reference numeral 13 is a means for maintaining positive column discharge inside the airtight container, for example, an electrode. This electrode may be arranged outside the airtight container 11. Further, an electrodeless system using a high frequency induction coil may be used without using an electrode.

Reference numeral 14 denotes, for example, a plurality of mercury-releasing substrates, which are movably enclosed on the fluorescent light-emitting layer 12 in the translucent airtight container and do not substantially reabsorb the mercury after it has been released. , Allow to be porous. This mercury-releasing substrate has a bulk specific gravity of 6.8 or less when the particle size is 1 mm or less, 4.7 or less when the particle size is 1.2 mm or less, and when the particle size is 1.5 mm or less. The bulk specific gravity is 1.2 or less. The mercury content for a particle size of 1 mm is 7 to 8 mg. Further, particles having an arbitrary size in the range of 0.3 to 3 mm are used.

The mercury-releasing substrate 14 is made of a metal such as zinc Zn that does not substantially form an alloy of mercury and a solid solution. In this case, although it is porous after releasing mercury, it may be in a state in which a small amount of mercury is contained in the inner central portion depending on the degree of release.

Further, the mercury-releasing substrate may be made of glass or ceramics. When such a material is used, mercury can be forced to be occluded after placing the mercury-releasing substrate in a reduced pressure atmosphere in advance.

Reference numeral 15 is a stem, 16 is a conductive coating,
Reference numeral 17 is a base and 18 is a base pin.

In the case of the rapid type fluorescent lamp, the conductive coating 16 is formed between the fluorescent light emitting layer 12 and the translucent airtight container 11. In the case of the switch start type fluorescent lamp, the conductive coating 16 is formed. Does not have to be.

The fluorescent substance used in the fluorescent light emitting layer is 3
Any of various types of phosphors such as a wavelength-type phosphor and a continuous wavelength light-emitting halophosphate phosphor can be used.

As the rare gas, argon Ar, krypton Kr, xenon Xe or the like can be used alone or in combination.

Although the translucent airtight container 11 is a straight tube type fluorescent lamp in the case of FIG. 1, it is applicable to various low pressure mercury vapor fluorescent lamps such as a ring type fluorescent lamp and a so-called compact type fluorescent lamp bent into a saddle shape. However, the present invention is not limited to these.

Next, the manufacturing method will be described with reference to FIG. A transparent coating is formed by forming a conductive coating 16 and a fluorescent light emitting layer 12 on a glass tube forming a main part of the transparent airtight container 11 by a conventional method and sealing a stem 15 having electrodes 13 at both ends of the tube. Make up 11. After that, the glass tube is heated and evacuated, and is sealed via a thin tube 19 connected to one end of the glass tube showing an arbitrary number of mercury-releasing substrates 14 containing a rare gas and mercury. The glass tube is heated to a temperature higher than the mercury release temperature by the residual heat of the above heating or separate heating to release mercury. The released mercury is not substantially re-adsorbed on the mercury releasing substrate. The rare gas may be sealed after mercury is sealed by the mercury-releasing substrate and then exhausted.
While exhausting from one end of 1, mercury may be sealed from the other end by a mercury-releasing substrate.

When, for example, zinc is used as the mercury-releasing substrate, Zn-Hg is enclosed in a container as an alloy of, for example, 50% by weight. The specific gravity of the alloy before mercury release is 9.3, but when the container is heated above the mercury release temperature, mercury is released and porous zinc with a bulk specific gravity of 4.7 can move into the container. To remain. Similarly, Zn10
%, Hg 90% alloy has a specific gravity of 12.4 before mercury release.
However, it becomes 1.2 after the release.

Table 1 shows the results of vibration and packaging drop tests for the presence and degree of damage to the fluorescent emitting layer in relation to the particle size of the mercury-releasing substance and the bulk specific gravity after mercury release. .

[0041]

[Table 1] FIG. 3 shows another embodiment. In this embodiment, the mercury-releasing substrate 1 is used.
4 is a single particle and encapsulated. Usually, if the particle size is 3 mm or less, the particles can be easily introduced into the translucent airtight container 11 via a thin tube. The same parts as those in FIG. 1 are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram showing an example of an illuminating device using the fluorescent lamp of the present invention. The lighting device shown in the figure is a lighting fixture. In the figure, reference numeral 20 is a main body of a lighting fixture, which is equipped with a lamp socket, a mounting mechanism to a building, a power supply connecting mechanism, and the like. Reference numeral 21 denotes a ballast, which is electrically interposed between the power source and the fluorescent lamp 22 and acts so as to stably turn on the fluorescent lamp. Although not shown, the lighting device may be a bulb-type fluorescent lamp or the like.

[0043]

[Effect] The present invention has the following effects because of the structure and operation as described above in detail.

[0044] According to the invention of claims 1 to 4, predetermined
By encapsulating a mercury-releasing substrate of particle size and bulk specific gravity in a translucent airtight container so that it can move over the fluorescent light emitting layer, the fluorescent light emitting layer is less likely to be damaged and the appearance is good, and a fixed amount of mercury is enclosed. Further, it is possible to provide a fluorescent lamp that is easy to manufacture. In addition, since there is no special support structure for the mercury-emitting substrate, the lamp structure is simple, and thus the fluorescent lamp can be provided at a low cost. Moreover, since mercury is contained in the mercury-releasing substrate and sealed in the translucent airtight container, quantitative control during manufacturing becomes easy.

In particular, according to the second aspect of the invention, since the mercury-releasing substrate is in the form of particles, the fluorescent light emitting layer is less likely to be damaged.

In particular, according to the third aspect of the invention, since the mercury-releasing substrate is porous, the bulk specific gravity is small, so the weight is apparently reduced, and the fluorescent light emitting layer is less likely to be damaged.

Particularly, according to the invention of claim 4, the mercury-releasing group is
A fluorescent lamp having an optimized body composition can be provided.

[0048]

According to the invention of claim 5 , the predetermined particle size is
By encapsulating a mercury-releasing substrate having a bulk specific gravity in a light-transmitting airtight container so as to be movable over the fluorescent emission layer, a fluorescent lamp with a fixed amount of mercury can be easily manufactured.
Even if the output substrate moves on the fluorescent light emitting layer, it remains as a fluorescent lamp.
There is no inherent negative effect on function.

According to the invention of claim 6 , claims 1 to
Since it is the illuminating device having the fluorescent lamp according to any one of claims 4 , it is possible to provide the illuminating device having the effects of the fluorescent lamps according to claims 1 to 4 .

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing an embodiment of a fluorescent lamp of the present invention with a part broken and a part enlarged.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a manufacturing process of the fluorescent lamp of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view showing another embodiment of the fluorescent lamp of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram showing an example of a lighting fixture of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged partial sectional view showing a conventional fluorescent lamp.

[Explanation of symbols]

11 Translucent airtight container 12 Fluorescent layer 13 Means for maintaining positive column discharge 14 Mercury emitting substrate 20 Lighting fixture body 21 Ballast 22 Fluorescent lamp

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Naoya Oura 4-3-1, Higashishinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo Inside Toshiba Toshiba Lightec Co., Ltd. (72) Osamu Shirai 4-3-1, Higashishinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo Issue: Toshiba Lighting & Technology Co., Ltd. (56) Reference JP-A-6-283102 (JP, A) JP-A-54-118675 (JP, A) JP-A-6-260139 (JP, A) JP-A-60- 202652 (JP, A) JP-A-60-74337 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H01J 61/24 H01J 9/395

Claims (6)

(57) [Claims] 1. A translucent airtight container enclosing an ionizable medium containing mercury; a fluorescent light emitting layer formed directly or indirectly inside the container; and an ionizable property in the translucent airtight container. Means for maintaining positive column discharge by the medium; and a mercury-releasing substrate having a particle size of 1.5 mm or less movably encapsulated on the fluorescent emission layer in the translucent airtight container , Is the specific gravity of the mercury-releasing substrate after mercury release.
If the bulk specific gravity is less than 1 mm, the particle size of the mercury-releasing substrate is
If the particle size is 1.2 mm or less,
4.7 or less, and 1. when the particle size is 1.5 mm or less.
A fluorescent lamp characterized by being 2 or less . 2. The fluorescent lamp according to claim 1, wherein the mercury-releasing substrate is in the form of a single particle or a plurality of particles. 3. The fluorescent lamp according to claim 1, wherein the mercury-releasing substrate has a porous particle shape. 4. The mercury-releasing substrate is zinc-water in particulate form.
The fluorescent lamp according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the fluorescent lamp is a silver alloy . 5. A step of directly or indirectly forming a fluorescent light emitting layer inside a transparent airtight container; a step of sealing an electrode inside the transparent airtight container; particles containing mercury in advance. A step of enclosing a water-silver-emitting substrate having a size of 1.5 mm or less in a transparent airtight container so as to be movable on the fluorescent emission layer; and a step of enclosing a rare gas in the translucent airtight container. A step of heating the translucent airtight container to release mercury from the mercury-releasing substrate, and the specific gravity of the mercury-releasing substrate after mercury is released.
If the bulk specific gravity is less than 1 mm, the particle size of the mercury-releasing substrate is
If the particle size is 1.2 mm or less,
4.7 or less, and 1. when the particle size is 1.5 mm or less.
A method of manufacturing a fluorescent lamp, which is 2 or less . 6. A lighting device main body ; a fluorescent lamp according to any one of claims 1 to 4 , which is mounted on the main body; and a fluorescent lamp which is electrically interposed between a power source and the fluorescent lamp to stably turn on the fluorescent lamp. A lighting device, comprising: