JPS6046509B2 - How to seal the arc tube - Google Patents

Description

【発明の詳細な説明】 本発明はサファイア、アルミナセラミック等の耐熱、
耐アルカリ性を有する酸化物単結晶体または酸化物多結
晶体（以下酸化物結晶体と称する）を発光骨材として用
いる高圧金属蒸気放電灯の発光管の封着方法に関するも
のである。[Detailed description of the invention] The present invention utilizes heat-resistant materials such as sapphire and alumina ceramics,
The present invention relates to a method for sealing an arc tube of a high-pressure metal vapor discharge lamp using an oxide single crystal or oxide polycrystal (hereinafter referred to as oxide crystal) having alkali resistance as a luminescent aggregate.

第１図は高圧金属蒸気放電灯、例えは高圧ナトリウム
ランプの発光管の構造を示すもので、アルミナセラミッ
ク管１の両端に、電極７を溶接したＮｂ（ニオビウム）
、Ｔａ（タンタル）等の耐熱金属からなる排気管３及び
電極リード管４がそれぞれ封着剤（例えはＡｌ。Figure 1 shows the structure of the arc tube of a high-pressure metal vapor discharge lamp, for example a high-pressure sodium lamp, in which electrodes 7 are welded to both ends of an alumina ceramic tube 1 made of Nb (niobium).
The exhaust pipe 3 and electrode lead pipe 4 are made of a heat-resistant metal such as , Ta (tantalum), etc., and are each made of a sealant (for example, Al).

Ｏ。−ＣａＯ系ガラス）６によつて固着されたアルミナ
セラミック製のキャップ２を封着剤５によつて封着し、
Ｘｅガス、Ｎａ、Ｈｇ等の封入物を前記排気管３から封
入した排気管３をチップオフしている。 このように管
端の封着に封着剤を用いる場合には、（１）バインダー
を含む有機溶剤にてペースト状にした封着剤を筆等によ
り封着部に塗布した後高温で加熱処理を行い、これによ
つて封着剤を溶かして封着する方法（筆塗り法）、（２
）第２図Ａに示すようにリング状の封着剤８、９を発光
管の一方の封着部にそれぞれ載置嵌合し、第１回目の封
着工程て高温加熱処理を行つて上側（第２図Ａては排気
管側）を封着し、第２回目の封着工程て下側（電極リー
ド管側）を第２図Ｂに示すように封着治具１０にセット
して封着する方法、（３）第３図Ａに示すように上側は
上記（２）項と同様に各部材を配置し、かつ下側のリン
グ状の固形封着剤９を発光管内側のキャップ２の端面上
に載置し、これらを封着治具１０にセットして上下の封
着部の封着を１回で行う方法等が用いられる。O. -A cap 2 made of alumina ceramic fixed by CaO-based glass 6 is sealed with a sealing agent 5,
The exhaust pipe 3, in which a filler such as Xe gas, Na, Hg, etc. is filled from the exhaust pipe 3, is tipped off. When using a sealant to seal the end of the tube in this way, (1) the sealant made into a paste with an organic solvent containing a binder is applied to the sealing part with a brush, and then heated at a high temperature. (brush painting method), (2)
) As shown in FIG. 2A, ring-shaped sealants 8 and 9 are placed and fitted onto one sealing part of the arc tube, and a high temperature heat treatment is performed in the first sealing process to seal the upper side. (Exhaust pipe side in Figure 2A), and in the second sealing process, set the lower side (electrode lead pipe side) in the sealing jig 10 as shown in Figure 2B. (3) As shown in FIG. 3A, arrange each member on the upper side in the same way as in (2) above, and attach the ring-shaped solid sealant 9 on the lower side to the cap inside the arc tube. A method is used in which the upper and lower sealing portions are sealed in one step by placing them on the end faces of the sealing member 2 and setting them in the sealing jig 10.

しかしながら、上記（１）項の方法は封着部に手作業て
封着剤を丹念に塗布するため多くの労力と長い時間が必
要となり、製造コストが高くなる。However, in the method (1) above, the sealing agent is carefully applied to the sealed portion by hand, which requires a lot of labor and a long time, resulting in high manufacturing costs.

（２）項の方法では上下それぞれ１回ずつ計２回の封着
工程となり、第１回目の封着部は１４００〜１５００℃
の高温にも２回もさらされるため、耐熱金属管（排気管
）３の脆弱化、電極７の損耗が激しく寿命等に悪影響を
及ぼすと同時に、２回の封着作業は工程的にも面倒であ
る。しかも、リング状の固形封着剤を用いており、これ
を封着時に溶融して第３図Ｂに示すようにキャップ２と
耐熱金属管（電極リード管）４との間隙に完全に充填さ
せるには、封着時の最高温度を高目に設定することによ
つて封着剤の溶融時の粘性を小さくするか、あるいは粘
性の小さい封着剤を用いる必要があるが、封着時の最高
温度を高くすることは封着炉のヒータの損耗が激化する
ばかりでなく、封着される発光管の電極の電極物質の飛
散を招いて寿命に悪影響を及ぼすので、好ましいことで
はなく、また粘性の小さい封着剤は一般的に溶融点も低
いため、耐熱性の面て問題かある。また、上記（３）項
の方法は２個所の封着部の封着を１回で行う点では上記
（２）項の方法の改良法といえるが、封着時の粘性を小
さくしなければならない点では（２）項の方法と同じ欠
点を有しており、しかも封着後の封着剤９が第３図Ｂに
示すように発光管内のキャップ２の端面上に流れるため
、点灯時にこの部分が高温になると封着剤９か飛散し、
不純物となつて発光管の特性に悪影響を及ぼすことがあ
る。この発明は上記の点に鑑みてなされたもので、外周
面にリング状の突起を有する耐熱金属管を排気管及び電
極リード管として用いることにより、発光管の特性を低
下させることなく、容易に、かつ確実に管端の封着を行
い得る発光管の封着方法．を提供することを目的とする
。In the method described in (2), the sealing process is performed twice, once for the upper and lower parts, and the first sealing part is heated to 1400 to 1500°C.
Because the tube is exposed to high temperatures twice, the heat-resistant metal pipe (exhaust pipe) 3 becomes brittle and the electrode 7 is severely worn, which has a negative impact on the lifespan, and at the same time, the process of sealing twice is troublesome. It is. Moreover, a ring-shaped solid sealant is used, which is melted during sealing and completely fills the gap between the cap 2 and the heat-resistant metal tube (electrode lead tube) 4, as shown in FIG. 3B. For this purpose, it is necessary to reduce the viscosity of the sealant when it melts by setting a high maximum temperature during sealing, or to use a sealant with low viscosity. Increasing the maximum temperature not only increases the wear and tear on the sealing furnace heater, but also causes the electrode material of the electrodes of the arc tube to be sealed to scatter, which has a negative impact on the life of the arc tube, so it is not desirable. Sealants with low viscosity generally have a low melting point, which poses a problem in terms of heat resistance. In addition, the method in item (3) above can be said to be an improvement over the method in item (2) above in that it seals two sealed parts at once, but the viscosity at the time of sealing must be reduced. This method has the same drawback as the method (2) in that it cannot be used, and in addition, the sealing agent 9 after sealing flows onto the end surface of the cap 2 inside the arc tube as shown in Figure 3B, so when lighting If this part becomes hot, the sealant 9 will scatter,
It may become an impurity and have an adverse effect on the characteristics of the arc tube. This invention has been made in view of the above points, and by using a heat-resistant metal tube having a ring-shaped protrusion on the outer circumferential surface as an exhaust pipe and an electrode lead pipe, it is possible to easily produce an arc tube without deteriorating its characteristics. , and a method for sealing an arc tube that can reliably seal the ends of the tube. The purpose is to provide

以下この発明を図示の実施例に基づいて詳細に説明する
。The present invention will be explained in detail below based on illustrated embodiments.

第４図〜第８図はこの発明の一実施例を示すもので、１
はアルミナセラミック管、２はアルミナ・セラミック製
のキャップ、７は電極、８，９はリング状の固形封着剤
、１０は封着治具、１３は排気管、１４は電極リード管
である。Figures 4 to 8 show an embodiment of the present invention.
1 is an alumina ceramic tube, 2 is an alumina ceramic cap, 7 is an electrode, 8 and 9 are ring-shaped solid sealants, 10 is a sealing jig, 13 is an exhaust pipe, and 14 is an electrode lead tube.

前記排気管１３，電極リード管１４としては外周面にリ
ング状の突起１３ａ，１４ａを有する耐熱金属管を用い
る。リング状の突起１４ａは第６図Ａに示すように金属
管１４をその軸方向に押し潰して形成するとか、あるい
は第６図Ｂに示すように耐熱金属製のリング１４ａ″を
金属管１４に溶接することによつて形成する。これはリ
ング状の突起１３ａについても同様である。次に封着部
の各部材の組立て、封着処理について説明する。As the exhaust pipe 13 and the electrode lead pipe 14, heat-resistant metal pipes having ring-shaped protrusions 13a and 14a on the outer peripheral surface are used. The ring-shaped protrusion 14a is formed by crushing the metal tube 14 in the axial direction as shown in FIG. 6A, or by attaching a heat-resistant metal ring 14a'' to the metal tube 14 as shown in FIG. 6B. It is formed by welding.The same applies to the ring-shaped projection 13a.Next, the assembly of each member of the sealing portion and the sealing process will be explained.

まず、外周面にリング状の突起１４ａを有する電極リー
ド管１４（あるいは排気管１３）に第５図Ａに示すよう
にリング状の固形封着剤９を電極取着端側からはめ込み
、続いて第５図Ｂに示すようにセラミックキャップ２を
嵌着する。この後、第５図Ｃに示すように電極リード管
１４に電極７を溶接する。このようなアッセンブリーを
キャップ集合体と称し、電極リード管１４側を集合体Ｂ
とする。同様に排気管１３側の組合せを行つてキャップ
集合体Ａとする。固形封着剤９の内径は突起１３ａ，１
４ａの外径より小さい。集合体Ａ，Ｂの形成後キャップ
集合体Ｂを封着治具１０上に載置し、この上にリング状
の固形封着剤８，アルミナセラミック管１の順にセット
し、セラミック管１の上端にリング状の固形封着剤８を
介してキャップ集合体Ａをセットして組立を完了する。First, as shown in FIG. 5A, a ring-shaped solid sealant 9 is fitted into the electrode lead pipe 14 (or exhaust pipe 13) having a ring-shaped protrusion 14a on the outer peripheral surface from the electrode attachment end, and then The ceramic cap 2 is fitted as shown in FIG. 5B. Thereafter, the electrode 7 is welded to the electrode lead tube 14 as shown in FIG. 5C. Such an assembly is called a cap assembly, and the electrode lead tube 14 side is called assembly B.
shall be. Similarly, the exhaust pipe 13 side is assembled to form a cap assembly A. The inner diameter of the solid sealant 9 is the protrusion 13a, 1
It is smaller than the outer diameter of 4a. After forming the assemblies A and B, place the cap assembly B on the sealing jig 10, set the ring-shaped solid sealant 8 and the alumina ceramic tube 1 thereon in this order, and attach the upper end of the ceramic tube 1. The cap assembly A is set through the ring-shaped solid sealant 8 to complete the assembly.

組立完了後封着処理を開始する。After assembly is completed, the sealing process begins.

この封着工程では第７図Ａに示す組立品が高温の熱処理
により封着剤８，９が溶融して第７図Ｂに示すように毛
細管現象によりキャップ２とアルミナセラミック管１，
耐熱金属管１３，１４との間隙に充填される。毛細管現
象て封着剤が充填されることは第２図，第３図のような
従来方法でも同様である。この場合、下側のキャップ２
は電極リード管１４に対して第８図に示すキャップ２の
内端面と電極リード管１４の端面との差ｄ（リング状の
固形封着剤９の厚みに相当する）だけ下方に移動するの
で、溶融した封着剤９は毛細管現象による充填に加えて
、キャップ２の移動とともにキャップ２と電極リード管
１４の間隙に入り込み、充填度の高い封着部が得られる
。同様に排気管１３側についても全く同じ理由で充填度
の高い封着部が得られる。なお、内径８φの発光管に厚
さ３＝，内径３．３？のキャップ２と外径３．２鵡，突
起部外径３．４順の耐熱金属管１４を内径８φの封着剤
８，および内径３．３ｗｔ，厚さ１．５ＴｆｒＩｎの封
着剤９（したがつてｄ＝１．５Ｔ！＄Ｌ）によつて第７
図，第８図のように、セットして１００本を封着した結
果、特にキャップ２と耐熱金属管１４との間隙の封着剤
充填不足の不良は１本もなかつた。In this sealing process, the assembly shown in FIG. 7A is heated through high-temperature heat treatment to melt the sealants 8 and 9, and as shown in FIG.
The gap between the heat-resistant metal tubes 13 and 14 is filled. The sealing agent is filled by capillary action in the conventional method as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 as well. In this case, the lower cap 2
moves downward relative to the electrode lead tube 14 by the difference d (corresponding to the thickness of the ring-shaped solid sealant 9) between the inner end surface of the cap 2 and the end surface of the electrode lead tube 14 shown in FIG. In addition to being filled by capillary action, the molten sealing agent 9 enters the gap between the cap 2 and the electrode lead tube 14 as the cap 2 moves, resulting in a highly filled sealed portion. Similarly, on the exhaust pipe 13 side, a sealed portion with a high degree of filling can be obtained for exactly the same reason. In addition, for an arc tube with an inner diameter of 8φ, the thickness is 3=, and the inner diameter is 3.3? A heat-resistant metal tube 14 with an outer diameter of 3.2 mm and a protrusion outer diameter of 3.4 mm is attached to a sealing agent 8 with an inner diameter of 8φ, and a sealing agent 9 with an inner diameter of 3.3 wt and a thickness of 1.5 TfrIn ( Therefore, by d=1.5T!$L), the seventh
As shown in FIGS. 8 and 8, after setting and sealing 100 tubes, there was not a single defective tube due to insufficient sealing agent filling in the gap between the cap 2 and the heat-resistant metal tube 14.

また、発光管内に封着剤が飛散することもなかつた。以
上のようにこの発明によれば、封着時に固形封着剤を溶
融して、この溶融した封着剤をキャップと耐熱金属管と
の間に流入させることにより耐熱金属管とキャップとの
相対位置を変化して封着剤の充填度を高めているので、
封着処理が容易であるとともに、耐熱度の高い封着剤を
充分に封着間隙に充填することができ、信頼性が著しく
向上する。Further, the sealant was not scattered inside the arc tube. As described above, according to the present invention, the solid sealant is melted during sealing, and the melted sealant is allowed to flow between the cap and the heat-resistant metal tube, thereby making the heat-resistant metal tube and the cap relative to each other. Since the position is changed to increase the degree of filling of the sealant,
The sealing process is easy, and the sealing gap can be sufficiently filled with a sealing agent having high heat resistance, thereby significantly improving reliability.

また、封着剤９は上下ともキャップの外側に位置させる
ので、発光管内のキャップ端面に流れることが極力防止
されるようになり、封着剤の飛散による発光管の特性低
下が大幅に軽減される等の利点がある。In addition, since the sealant 9 is located on the outside of the cap on both the top and bottom, it is prevented as much as possible from flowing to the end face of the cap inside the arc tube, and the deterioration of the characteristics of the arc tube due to the scattering of the sealant is greatly reduced. There are advantages such as:

【図面の簡単な説明】[Brief explanation of drawings]

第１図は従来の高圧ナトリウムランプの発光管の一例を
示す一部破断状態の側面図、第２図Ａ，Ｂｌ第３図Ａ，
Ｂは従来の発光管の封着部の構造を説明するための断面
図、第４図はこの発明に係る発光管の一実施例を示す封
着前の断面図、第５図Ａ，Ｂ，Ｃは封着部の組立て工程
を説明するための断面図、第６図Ａ，Ｂは排気管、電極
リード管として用いる耐熱金属管の側面図、第７図Ａ，
Ｂは封着時のキャップと耐熱金属管の位置関係を説明す
るための断面図、第８図は封着前の電極リード管側の拡
大断面図である。 １・・・・・・アルミナセラミック管、２・・・・・・
キャップ、７・・・・・・電極、８，９・・・・・・リ
ング状の固形封着剤、１３・・・・・・排気管、１３ａ
・・・・・・リング状の突起、１４・・・・・電極リー
ド管、１４ａ・・・・・・リング状の突起。Fig. 1 is a partially broken side view showing an example of the arc tube of a conventional high-pressure sodium lamp; Fig. 2 A, B; Fig. 3 A;
B is a cross-sectional view for explaining the structure of the sealed portion of a conventional arc tube, FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the arc tube according to the present invention before sealing, and FIGS. C is a cross-sectional view for explaining the assembly process of the sealing part, FIGS. 6A and B are side views of a heat-resistant metal tube used as an exhaust pipe and an electrode lead pipe, and FIGS. 7A,
B is a sectional view for explaining the positional relationship between the cap and the heat-resistant metal tube during sealing, and FIG. 8 is an enlarged sectional view of the electrode lead tube side before sealing. 1...Alumina ceramic tube, 2...
Cap, 7... Electrode, 8, 9... Ring-shaped solid sealant, 13... Exhaust pipe, 13a
...Ring-shaped protrusion, 14... Electrode lead tube, 14a... Ring-shaped protrusion.

Claims (1)

【特許請求の範囲】[Claims] １ 耐熱、耐アルカリ性の酸化物単結晶体または多結晶
体を発光管材として用いる高圧金属蒸気放電灯の発光管
の封着方法において、外周面にリング状の突起を有する
耐熱金属管に該突起の外径より内径が小さいリング状の
固形封着剤９を介して酸化物結晶体のキャップ２を嵌合
するとともに電極７を溶接してキャップ集合体を構成し
、このキャップ集合体をリング状の固形封着剤８を介し
て管体１の両端にそれぞれ嵌合し、高温加熱処理によつ
て上記それぞれの固形封着剤８、９を溶融して、管体１
とキャップ２とを封着するとともに、溶融した封着剤９
をキャップ２と上記耐熱金属管との間に流入させること
により上記耐熱金属管とキャップ２との相対的位置を変
化しキャップ２と耐熱金属管を封着することを特徴とす
る発光管の封着方法。1. In a method for sealing an arc tube of a high-pressure metal vapor discharge lamp using a heat-resistant, alkali-resistant oxide single crystal or polycrystalline material as an arc tube material, a heat-resistant metal tube having a ring-shaped protrusion on the outer peripheral surface is coated with the protrusion. An oxide crystal cap 2 is fitted via a ring-shaped solid sealant 9 with an inner diameter smaller than the outer diameter, and an electrode 7 is welded to form a cap assembly. The solid sealants 8 and 9 are respectively fitted to both ends of the tube body 1 via a solid sealant 8, and the solid sealants 8 and 9 are melted by high temperature heat treatment to form the tube body 1.
and the cap 2, and the melted sealant 9
Flowing between the cap 2 and the heat-resistant metal tube, the relative position of the heat-resistant metal tube and the cap 2 is changed to seal the cap 2 and the heat-resistant metal tube. How to wear it.