Patent · US Expired

Method and apparatus for dispensing small quantities of mercury from evacuated and sealed glass capsules

US4534742A · kind A · utility

4Cited by
3References
14Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJan 4, 1984
Grant dateAug 13, 1985
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 4, 2004

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01J9/395
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A technique for opening an evacuated and sealed glass capsule containing a material that is to be dispensed which has a relatively high vapor pressure such as mercury. The capsule is typically disposed in a discharge tube envelope. The technique involves the use of a first light source imaged along the capsule and a second light source imaged across the capsule substantially transversely to the imaging of the first light source. Means are provided for constraining a segment of the capsule along its length with the constraining means being positioned to correspond with the imaging of the second light source. These light sources are preferably incandescent projection lamps. The constraining means is preferably a multiple looped wire support.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.