Mercury vapor discharge lamp containing means for reducing mercury leaching
US5229686A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 9, 1991 |
| Grant date | Jul 20, 1993 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 9, 2011 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02W30/82
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A mercury vapor discharge lamp (e.g., a fluorescent lamp) having an envelope containing an inert starting gas and a quantity of elemental mercury at least partially convertible to soluble mercury. Enclosed within the lamp is an amount of chemical agent suitable for chemically combining a substantial portion of the soluble mercury as a sparingly soluble salt when the lamp is pulverized as a result of disposal. In one embodiment, the chemical agent is potassium periodate which is sealed within a enclosure which is rupturable upon pulverization of the lamp. The sealed enclosure may be disposed within the envelope or external to the envelope, such as within a cavity defined by a lamp base. In another embodiment, the chemical agent is mixed with the basing cement used to secure one or more of the the lamp bases to the envelope.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.