US1631377A - Sealing-off device - Google Patents

Description

' 1,6 1, June 1927' WALTHER-WINFRIED LOEBE ET AL 3 377 SEALING OFF DEVI CE 5 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 figz 2/ 6L El 26 24 H r {WW/3 1 lnventorsz' Walther W Loebe, Mcix Gressmomn, by M W Their Attrneg 1927. J WALTHER-WINFRIED LOEBE E AL SEALING OFF DEVI CB Filed Feb. 20. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 '7 m 2 /5 Fig.6

25 I4 Ill! Hill 19 :91. 20 O /a a? a 7 Inventors: \A/OJ'bheT" \M Loebe.

Max Gvossmahn, 1%?

Their Attorney.

Patented June 7, 1927.

UNITED STATES i 1,631,377 PATENT OFFICE.-

WALTHEB-WINFRIED LOEBE AND MAX GROSSMANN, OI BERLIN, GERMANY, A8-

SIGNORS TO GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

SEALING-OFF DEVICE.

Application filed February 29, 1925,'Ser1a1 No. 10,552, and in GermanyHarch 14, 1924.

The invention relates to a device for the automatic sealing off and delivery of vacuum .and gas filled incandescent lamps and similar sealed glass vessels. Its principal ohject is to deliver the sealed off lamp, dropping it by its own weight into the conveying chute and without any turning or twisting movements which may easily cause breakage of the lamps. To this end and in 10 accordance with the invention the lamp is held, whilst being sealed ofi, in a slanting or horizontal osition by a clamplike holder which, after t clamp is drawn away from the fused exhaust tube, releases it into a conveying chute arranged between the hold ers. In order to hold the lamp securely during the sealing off-operation, there may be advantageously used a lamp holder comprising two movable holding fingers joined to each other by means of a pivotally mounted bar, one finger engaging the neck of the lamp and the other engaging its top, so that the lamp is clamped lengthwise between the two fingers. 'In order to obtain a simple mode of operation the lamp holder is so supported that at the moment of the softening of the small exhaust tube the holder is tipped, by the action of its own weight, only, the amount necessary for dropping the lamp and transferring it into the conveying chute. There is to advantage a sealing ofli' burner movably mounted on the lamp holder or bracket adjacent the finger which engages the neck of the lamp and during the upping of the lamp holder or bracket this burner is stopped earlier than the holder by a stop. so that the distance between the sealing ofi' burner and, the adjacent finger is increased at theend. ofthe sealing ofi? operation. In this way the sealing ofi' of the exhaust tube is facilitated and the newly formed tip is so far removed from the flame that it can be well rounded off. Then too the glass parts of the lamp resting on the adjacent finger cannot be so easily endangered by the action ofthe flame of the sealing oil' burner.

In the drawing there is shown one illustrative embodiment of the invention as one form of the sealing 0H and delivery device in combination with arotatable exhaust machine for electric incandescent lamps.

Figure 1 is a side view of the device at the moment of receiving the lamp to be sealed off; F igure2 is a partial plan .view

CAD

of the device of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 a partial front view ,of the sealing off burner with the adjacent finger of the lamp holder; and F1gures4, 5 and 6 are side views showing successive positions of the sealing 01f device 50 ta nd its parts during the sealing off opera- The valve 1 of the exhaust machine, which may be constructed in general as shown in U. S. ,patent to Massey 996,936, July 4, 1911 95 1S turned either step by step or slowly and continuously. The lamps 2 which are to be exhausted and in many cases subsequently filled with gas, are arranged in a circle on the valve, being held in a greatly inclined 7 position by their exhaust tubes 3 set into and held by heads or sockets 4 on the valve 1. These headsare usually made of thick walled rubber tubing "which grips the exhaust tube firmly enough' to support the tubulated lamp. As the valve rotates the lamps will be brought in the usual manner in succession into connection with a prelimi nary exhaust pump, then with a high vacuum pump, and finally. with a gas tank, if so the lamps are to be filled'with gas. There is shown in the drawing only that one of the lamps 2 on the valve which the rotation of the valve has brought to the point where it is to be sealed oil. The sealing and delivery device arranged at this point of the exhaustmachine comprises two relatively movable lamp holding fingers 5 and 6, which are combined into a lamp holderor bracket through a bar 7 which is pivotally mounted go on a pivot pin 8 in a support 9. The lamp is gripped or clamped lengthwise between the two fingers 5 and 6 after it has come into the sealing off position. The finger 5 which engages the neck of the lamp is, for this purpose, provided at the top with a plate 10, as best shown in Fig.3,- which has in it a slot 11 for the entrance of the exhaust tube 3. To the plate 10 there is further attached a pivoted cover 12 which isnormally overthe slot, but is forced aside as the exhaust tube 3 enters the slot, and then drops by its own weight over the exhaust tube as a protection. The finger 6 for supporting the top of the lamp is pivoted on the bar 7 and has a yieldingly supported cap 13 to engage the top of the bulb. The finger 6 is under the influence of a spring 14, which tends to pull it toward the other finger 5 by swinging the finger 6 toward the lamp about its pivot pin 15. On the support 9 of the lamp holder an arm 16, ,wh-ic carries at the top an an nular sealing off burner 17, is fiivotally mounted beside and to one side of t e fin er 5, so as to move independently of it. he lamp holder or bracket is furt ermore rovided with a tail or projection 18, whic in the sealing of position (Figs. 1 and 4) bears against an adjusting screw 19 in an elbow lever 21 pivotally supported on a stationary part of the .exhaust machine; The elbow lever 21 'has a roller 22 which rides on a notched cam 23 on the exhaust valve 1 as the valve rotates, and holds or locks the lamp holder or .bracket and the sealing ofi burner 17 stationary in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 4 as long as t e roller is not in a notch 24 of cam 23.

Before the lamp comes into the sealing oif device or lamp holder the finger 6 may, in order to open the holder, be to advanta e moved to the right against the action of t e spring 14 by-the drive of the exhaust machine. For separating the bulb. holding fingers to deliver the lamp from the holder, a

'means is provided for moving the finger 6 through a Bowden pull which comprises a tube or guide 25 in which a flexible wire 25' slides longitudinally, and is actuated by some means, such as a cam 25 which is driven in pro er time relation to the exhaust valve 21 y gearing of any well known kind, and therefore, not shown.

As soon as the valvehas carried the lamp into the holder, and theprotective shield or drop cover 12 has fallenover the exhaust tube 3, the action of the Bowden pull 25 stops, and the finger 6 is then pulled by the spring lettothe left and thereby drawn into holding position against the top of the lamp 2. At the same time, one of the recesses 24 of cam 23 has come under the roller 22 of the elbow lever 21. The lamp hglder is now free to ti about the. pivot 8 by its own weight so he elbow lever 21 rises somewhat, and the lamp holder tips a little to the right until sto ped by the plate 10 on finger 5 bearing rmly against the neck of the lamp,

as shown in Figure 4. The exhaust tube 3 is softened by the .flame of the sealing 01f burner 17, which, likewise tilts a little with the lamp holder about the ivot 8. As soon as'the exhaust tube issu ciently softened to become plastic the lamp holder tips over further by its own weight, as does also the sealing ofi' burner 17 and by this further movement, the plastic exhaust tube is closed and the lamp is pulled free from that portion of the exhaust tube which remains in the head 40f the exhaust valvel, as shown in Figure 5. The extent of the tipping movement of the lamp holder is limited by an adjustable stop 26', and that of the sealing off burner 17 by an adjustable" stop 27. As the stop 27 projects somewhat further to the left than the stop 26 the sealingofl burner is stopped somewhat sooner than the finger 5 as the bracket tips, so that when the-tipping is completed there is a greater relative separation between the sealing ofi" burner 17 and the plate 10 than when the tipping begins, By this arrangement the sealing off burner 17 plays along the softened point of the exhaust tube and thus insures a complete fusion. The tip formed on the exhaust tube of the lamp is moved somewhat further from the reach of the flame so that although it is still sufliciently fused, it never theless can at the same time be well rounded off by the action of the flame. The further effect is obtained that the lam which is protected against the efi'ect of t e flame by the plate 10 and cover 12 is still less endanholder bracket, the finger 6 is again drawn 'to the right by the Bowden pull (Fig. 6) whereby the lamp holder is opened and the lamp is released so it can drop-by its own wei ht into the chute 28 arranged to catch the lamp and convey it to a storage container not shown. In the further revolution of the exhaust valve 1 the elbow lever 21 is again depressed by the action of the cam 23, and thus the lamp holder bracket together with the sealin oil burner 17 is again brought into the initial position as in Fi e 1', whereupon the automaticsealing off and delivery of the next lamp is effected in'the same. manner.

. The operation of the device is as follows: Before the approaching lamp reaches the sealing off position the lamp holder is raised .into the position shown in Figure 1 by the vbell crank lever 21.. While it is in that position the exhaust tube 3 enters the slot 11 of the arm 5, lifting cover 12 as it enters, the cover falling back into the position shown in Figure 3 when the lamp finally arrives at sealing off position. At the same time the finger 6 swings toward the lamp under the influence of the, spring 14, and the lamp is gripped, firmly by the fingers 5 and b. The

parts are now in the position shown in Fig ure 4, with the flame of the sealing oif burner 17 playing upon the exhaust tube, and the pivoted lamp holder free to tilt about its pivot and thereby exert a pull upon the exhaust tube, As the exhaust tube softens the weight of the lamp holder is sufli 1w cient to swing it to the position shown in Fi re 5 thereb elongating and drawing out the sbftened part of the "exhaust tube. During this movement the sealing oil burner melts and completely seals up the exhaust tube and then also rounds oil the tip of the sealed exhaust tube as the lamp holder swings somewhat further into the position shown in Figure 6. After the lamp is sealed off the finger 6 is automatically swung away from the other finger to open the lamp holder and drop the lamp into the chute 28,.

The invention is not limited to the details illustrated. -The tipping movement of the lamp holder bracket, instead of being produced by its own weight, may, for example, be produced by a lever or arm controlled by a' cam disc to positively depress the lamp holder bracket in the sealing ofi' operation. Then too the sealing oil burner can be separately supported and the finger 6 be controlled by a lever system in' place of the Bowden pull. For carrying out the automatic sealing OE and delivery it is not necessary that the lamps be fixed in an inclined position on the rotatable exhaust valve; they may be also arranged in a horizontal position with a suitable support of the holders. Then too every lamp can, when the exhaust tube does not, as shown in the drawings, extend into the interior of the stem of the lamp, but is applied outside to the tip, be reversely fastened to the rotatable exhaust valve, in which case, the finger 5 must bear against the top and the finger 6 against the neck of the lamp. The new sealing oil and delivery device may be used for sealed vessels other than electric lamps, for example, gas discharge tubes, Roentgen tubes,

rectifiers and similar evacuated vessels.

What we claim ashew and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is, 1. In a device of the character described, the combination with a head for holding a tubulated vessel by the end of the exhaust tube, of a holder bodily movable away from said head to elongate said tubulature and comprising relatively movable fingers for gripping said vessel, a burner mounted to direct the flame upon the exhaust tube adjacent said holder, and means actuated subsequent to said bodily movement of said holder to separate said fingers and deliver the vessel from said holder.

2. In a. device of the character described, the combination with a head for holding a tubulated lamp b the end of the exhaust tube, of a lamp l iolder comprising relatively movable grippingfingers to engage the bulb of the lamp and a supporting bar for said fingers movably mounted to permit said holder to move bodily lengthwise of said exhaust tube and a heater for heating the exhaust tube adjacent said holder.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination with a head for holding a holder toward said head, and a tubulated vessel by the exhaust tube ofa holder comprising relatively movable gripping fingers mountedon a'supporting' bar pivoted to permit said holder to move bodiliy alongthe exhaust tube held in said hea and a sealing .ofi' burner mounted in posi-' tion to direct a flame upon said exhaust tube and to travel along it with said holder.

4. In a.device of the character described,-

the combination with a head for holding a tubulated vessel by the end of the exhaust tube, of a holder for the vessel pivotally mounted to swing away from said head byits own weight, and means for heating the exhaust tube. while said holder is restrained by the exhaust tube only whereby the tipping of the holder by its own weight sepas rates and seals off sald heated exhaust tube.

5. In a device of the character described. the combination with. a head for holding a' tubulated lampbulb'by the end of the ex haust tube, a heater for heating said exhaust tube adjacent the bulb, a lamp holder pivoted to swingv away from said. head by gravity and having a tail adjacent its pivot, a lever for engaging said tail to swing said cam movable with said head to actuate said lever to raise said holder into proximity to said head and then to release it to permit it to swin away from said head by gravity.

6. In a device of the character described, the combination with a head for holding a tubulated lamp by the end of the exhaust tube, of a pivoted holder and a pivoted sealing ofi burner mounted toswing about the same. pivot, an adjustable "holder stop and an adjustable burner stop for limiting the to the holder so as to increase the separation of said holder and said sealing oil burner atthe termination of the movement ofsaid holder.

7. In a devicepf the character described, the combination with a head for holding a tubulated lamp by the end of the exhaust tube, of a sealin ofl? burner and a lamp holding finger or gripping the lamp, mOHnted ad aeent said burner, said finger being provided with a protective shield adj acent said burner comprising a pivoted cover movable to one side by the exhaust tube and shaped to drop into normal position to protect the neck of the lamp from said burner when the lamp is in engagement with said finger.

8. In a device of the character described, the combination with a .head for holding a tubulated lamp bulb by the end of-the exhaust tube, of a heater for heatingsaid exhaust tube adjacent the bulb, a lamp holder comprising relatively movable gripping fingers, said holder being mounted to swing bodily away from said head, a flexible actuating connection to one of said fingers, and

means actuated by the driving mechanism of said head for operating said connection to positively move said finger to release the lamp.

9. In a device of the character described, the combination ofan exhaust head, an exhaust tube heater mounted to heat an exhaust tube in said head, a lamp holder adjacent said heater and mounted to move bodily tive movable bulb" gripping fingers, and driving mechanism for moving said holder bodily away from said exhaust head along an exhaust tube in said head and for controlling said gripping fingers to open them while said holder is remote from said head. In Witness whereof, We have hereunto set our hands this 5th day. of February, 1925.

' Dr. -WALTHER-WINFRIED LOEBE.

MAX GROSSMANN.

awa from said headand com-prising rela-

Images