JP4174434B2 - Glow starter and manufacturing method thereof - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a glow starter to be operated at the time of preheating start of a fluorescent lamp and a manufacturing method thereof.

Conventionally, a glow starter has been used for starting a fluorescent lamp, but when this glow starter is exposed to high temperatures for a long time, impure gas is gradually released from each member of the discharge vessel, and the characteristics of the glow starter deteriorate. There was a problem to do. In order to solve this problem, it is well known that metal barium is deposited in a discharge vessel as a substance that absorbs impure gas (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In general, barium azide (BaN ₆ ) is used to deposit metal barium (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

In addition, in the conventional glow starter, in order to facilitate starting in a dark place, a radioactive substance is enclosed in a discharge vessel in order to secure initial electrons at the time of startup. For example, paste-like thorium 232 ( ²³² Th) is installed in the discharge vessel, or promesium 147 ( ¹⁴⁷ Pm) is contained in the lead wire, or gaseous krypton 85 ( ⁸⁵ Kr) is enclosed in the discharge vessel. (For example, refer to Patent Document 3). These radioactive materials have made a significant contribution to ionizing the discharge gas and avoiding the start delay of the glow starter in the dark.

  However, with the recent heightened awareness of environmental protection and safety after product disposal, there has been a demand for the development of products that do not impair the start-up characteristics of the glow starter without using radioactive materials.

Under such circumstances, a long afterglow phosphor and a glow starter are combined to take advantage of the photoelectron emission effect of afterglow to improve the dark start delay (see, for example, Patent Document 4). ), Efforts to improve the dark start delay using electrons emitted from exo-electron emitting materials (see, for example, Patent Document 5), or a glass containing BaO is brought into contact with a conductor connected to an electrode in the dark. Attempts have been made to improve the starting delay (for example, see Patent Document 6).
JP 59-2224044 A JP 58-216353 A US Pat. No. 4,646,049 JP-A-10-255724 JP 2001-345190 A Japanese National Patent Publication No. 11-514794

However, the aforementioned barium azide (BaN ₆ ) is thermally decomposed at about 219 ° C. in a vacuum, and it is necessary to discharge the decomposed nitrogen from the discharge vessel. This material has a high risk of explosion when it is ignited due to friction, static electricity, or the like, such as nitrogen (N ₂ ) mixed in argon (Ar) and lowering the inoperable limit voltage (Patent Document 1). In addition, glow starters using long afterglow phosphors have the problem that if they are started after being left in a dark place for a long time, the afterglow is already impaired and the start-up time is delayed. When a glow starter using an electron emitting material is started after flashing more than 6000 times, a spattered scattering material covers the exoelectron emitting material, and the start time of the dark place is gradually delayed. The glow starter in which a glass containing BaO is brought into contact with the electrode conductor uses Ba, which easily emits secondary electrons, and discharge is generated near the glass and the electrode. There is a problem that aging is difficult to be applied, or variations in pulse voltage increase, and the performance of the glow starter cannot be exhibited stably.

  The present invention is used in combination with a fluorescent lamp, and can eliminate radioactive materials without impairing the immediate lighting performance of the fluorescent lamp in the dark, and at the same time, stable operating voltage from the beginning of life to the end of life without impairing productivity. A glow starter that can be maintained in a safe, easy-to-handle manner.

The present invention is a glow starter comprising a discharge vessel, a pair of electrodes sealed in the discharge vessel that are displaced by contact with heat generated by glow discharge, and a discharge medium enclosed in the discharge vessel. And
The inner surface of the discharge vessel is provided with an adhesion layer containing an operating voltage rise suppressing substance,
The coating area of the adherent layer is 0.5 cm ² or more,
Wherein Ri 0.6 mg / cm ² or less der coating density of 0.1 mg / cm ² or more deposition layers,
The operating voltage rise suppression material, to provide a glow starter is at least one selected from aluminates and aluminum oxide, containing barium.

Further, the present invention is a method for manufacturing the glow starter,
(A) a step of producing a coating liquid by dispersing at least an operating voltage rise suppressing substance in a dispersion medium;
(B) after injecting the coating solution into the discharge vessel, discharging a certain amount of the coating solution;
(C) drying the discharge vessel in which the coating liquid remains, and forming an adhesion layer containing the operating voltage increase suppressing substance on the inner surface of the discharge vessel;
Only including,
There is provided a method for producing a glow starter, wherein the operating voltage rise suppressing substance is at least one selected from an aluminate containing barium and aluminum oxide .

  The present invention can eliminate radioactive materials without impairing the ability to immediately illuminate fluorescent lamps in the dark, and at the same time, without sacrificing productivity, can stably maintain the operating voltage from the beginning of life to the end of life, and is safe. A glow starter having an excellent effect of being easy to handle can be provided.

The glow starter of the present invention is provided with an adhesion layer containing an operating voltage rise suppressing substance on the inner surface of a discharge vessel, and the application area of the adhesion layer is 0.5 cm ² or more. The density is 0.1 mg / cm ² or more and 0.6 mg / cm ² or less. As a result, radioactive materials can be eliminated without impairing the immediate lighting performance of the fluorescent lamp in the dark, and at the same time, an increase in operating voltage in the latter half of the life can be suppressed.

Examples of the operating voltage rise suppressing substance include barium aluminate (BaAl ₁₂ O ₁₉ ), magnesium aluminate (MgAl ₂ O ₄ ), strontium aluminate (SrAl ₁₂ O ₁₉ ), calcium aluminate (CaAl ₁₂ O ₁₉ ) and the like. Aluminate, or alkaline earth aluminate containing at least one alkaline earth metal such as barium strontium aluminate (Ba, Sr) Al ₂ O ₄ , or γ group alumina, that is, highly active alumina, η− Activated alumina composed of alumina and θ-alumina can be used. Highly active alumina, by choosing whether to use the alcohol aqueous solution as a dispersion medium, or the deployment process, such as a dry coating properly, it is possible to ensure a very high BET value of about 120 m ² / g, the impure gas storage ability Are better. The operating voltage rise suppressing substance may be an aluminate-based phosphor containing barium (Ba) and an activator such as europium (Eu).

  The inner surface of the discharge vessel includes the inner surface of the glass vessel of the glow starter and the surface of the stem.

  In addition, the method for producing a glow starter according to the present invention uses a coating liquid in which at least an operating voltage rise suppression substance is dispersed in a dispersion medium containing water, so that the coating process is facilitated and harmful waste is not generated. Occurrence can be reduced and work environment can be maintained well.

  The application area of the adherent layer containing the above operating voltage rise suppressing substance can be adjusted by adjusting the application area of the application liquid, and the application density can be determined by the concentration of the application liquid, the discharge amount of the application liquid after application, Each adjustment can be controlled. The dispersion medium containing water includes water or an aqueous alcohol solution.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of the glow starter of the present invention. In FIG. 1, the starting voltage of the glow starter 1 is 147V, and the type is FG-5P. The glow starter 1 includes a cylindrical glass container 6 and a pair of electrodes 2 and 3 that are displaced in contact with heat generated by glow discharge in the glass container 6. This electrode is composed of a movable electrode 2 and a fixed electrode 3. The movable electrode 2 is made of a bimetal having a high expansion side formed of a Mn—Cu—Ni alloy and a low expansion side formed of a Fe—Ni alloy. The fixed electrode 3 is made of a Ni—Mn alloy. The movable electrode 2 and the fixed electrode 3 are each supported by a glass stem 4 through a metal wire 5, and a discharge vessel sealed with the stem 4 and the glass vessel 6 is filled with a neon-argon mixed gas. It is filled with a discharge medium consisting of gas 7 (neon filling amount: 99.5% by volume, gas pressure: 6.3 Pa).

The inner surface of the glass container 6 includes an aluminate (BaMgAl ₁₀ O ₁₇ : Eu, average particle diameter: about 1.0 μm, hereinafter referred to as BAM) 8a containing barium (Ba) and magnesium (Mg). A white deposition layer 8 made of a voltage rise inhibiting substance is provided. The coating area of the adherend layer 8 was 1.25 cm ² and the average coating density was 0.2 mg / cm ² . In the present embodiment, the deposition layer 8 is provided on the inner surface of the tip of the glass container 6 that is opposite to the stem 4.

  Next, a method for manufacturing the glow starter will be described with reference to FIG. First, 1 part by mass of the operating voltage rise suppressing substance 9 is dispersed in 10 parts by mass of water to prepare a coating solution 10 (FIG. 12A). At this time, the stirrer 11 is used in the container 12 to prevent precipitation of the operating voltage rise suppressing substance 9 and concentration deviation. The coating solution 10 thus produced is injected into the bottom of the glass container 6 through the nozzle 14 by a predetermined amount by the injection device 13 (FIG. 12A).

  Thereafter, the excessively injected coating solution 10 is sucked and discharged by the collecting device 15 (FIG. 12B). The coating liquid 10 collected in the collection device 15 can be returned to the container 12 and reused.

  Subsequently, the coating liquid 10 is dried by blowing hot air 17 introduced from the drying device 16 in a state where a certain amount of the coating liquid 10 remains, and the adherend layer 8 (8a) is formed on the inner surface of the glass container 6 (FIG. 12 (c)). Thereafter, the glow starter 1 shown in FIG. 1 is manufactured by a normal process.

  Next, the reason why the glow starter 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention is configured as described above will be described.

  FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of a conventional glow starter. The glow starter 1 of FIG. 2 has the same configuration as that of the embodiment of the present invention, except that the deposition layer 8 in FIG. 1 is not provided. Using 20 of these conventional glow starters, the touch time in the dark was measured at the beginning of flashing and after 6000 flashes, which is the durability test criteria defined in JIS C7622. Here, the touch time is a time from voltage application to contact between the movable electrode 2 and the fixed electrode 3. In addition, the allowable range of touch time is less than 5 seconds. The frequency distribution is shown in FIG. The JIS standard stipulates that it is 7 seconds or less (at 147 V), but here it is shorter than 5 seconds. As is apparent from FIG. 3, the touch time is within the allowable range even in the conventional glow starter at the beginning of flashing, but after 6000 flashes, the touch time exceeds the allowable range. This is presumably because the operating voltage increased until the movable electrode and the fixed electrode were displaced and contacted due to the influence of impure gas generated inside the glow starter during flashing aging.

  Further, the touch time was measured in the same manner as described above using 20 glow starters of the embodiment of the present invention. The frequency distribution is shown in FIG. As is apparent from FIG. 4, the touch start time of the glow starter of the present embodiment was within an allowable range both at the beginning of blinking and after blinking 6000 times. This is because, in this embodiment, since the deposition layer 8 made of BAM (8a) is provided, the deposition layer 8 absorbs the impure gas generated during the flashing aging, and the operating voltage does not increase. Inferred. For this reason, it is preferable that the deposition layer 8 is disposed in the vicinity of the electrode. Specifically, the shortest distance between the contact position of the movable electrode 2 and the fixed electrode 3 and the deposition layer 8 is 7.0 mm or less. Preferably, it is 3.5 mm or less. This is because the deposition layer 8 can absorb the impure gas generated from the electrode more effectively within this range. The application position of the adherent layer 8 may be any position that satisfies the range of 7.0 mm or less, which is the shortest distance between the contact point position and the adherend layer 8.

  Further, the effects of the present embodiment will be further described as follows.

  (i) Since an aqueous suspension (coating solution) is used in the manufacturing process, there is no risk of environmental pollution, the coating process is easy, and management of uniform coating density (film thickness) is facilitated. .

  (ii) Since the dispersion medium is water and does not contain an organic binder such as polyethylene oxide (PEO), new impure gas is not brought in.

  (iii) Since the coating density (film thickness) can be reduced, the adsorbed gas in the deposition layer can be easily discharged during exhaust from the discharge vessel.

Next, optimization of the coating area and coating density of the above-mentioned coating layer was examined. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the relationship between the coating density of the deposition layer of the glow starter of this embodiment and the touch time. In FIG. 5, using 20 glow starters with a coating area of 1.2 cm ^{2 for} the coating layer, the touch time in the dark place after flashing and after flashing 6000 times was measured, and the maximum value was plotted. As is apparent from FIG. 5, when the allowable time less than 5 seconds, the coating density should be 0.1 mg / cm ² or more 0.6 mg / cm ² or less, more preferably 0.2 mg / cm ² or more 0.4 mg / cm ² or less. Within this range, the ability of the adherent layer to adsorb the impure gas generated during flashing aging is not impaired, and the impure gas can be easily discharged during exhaust.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the relationship between the application area of the deposition layer of the glow starter of this embodiment and the touch time. In FIG. 6, using 20 glow starters with a coating density of the adherent layer 8 of 0.2 mg / cm ² , the touch time in the dark place after flashing and after flashing 6000 times was measured, and the maximum value was plotted. . As apparent from FIG. 6, when the allowable time less than 5 seconds, the coating area must be 0.5 cm ² or more, more preferably 1.0 cm ² or more. This is because within this range, the ability of the adherent layer to adsorb the impure gas generated during flashing aging can be sufficiently exerted. The upper limit of the application area is not particularly limited, but the application area is preferably 4.5 cm ² or less in consideration of the inner surface area of the discharge vessel and the suitability of the application process.

  Next, the operating voltage and lighting time of the glow starter will be considered. Here, the operating voltage is a voltage required for the movable electrode 2 and the fixed electrode 3 of the glow starter to contact each other, and the lighting time is the time from when the voltage is applied to the glow starter until the fluorescent lamp is turned on. Say.

  FIG. 7 and Table 1 are diagrams and tables showing the relationship between the number of times the glow starter blinks and the operating voltage.

7 and Table 1, a sample of a glow starter containing about 10 kBq of promesium 147 per metal wire as a radioactive material in a metal wire in the discharge vessel without providing an adherence layer 8 made of an operating voltage rise suppression material. A, a glow starter produced in the same manner as sample A except that promesium 147 is not included is sample B, and a glow starter of this embodiment in which an adhesion layer is provided at a coating density of 0.2 mg / cm ² is applied to sample C. except that the density of 1.2 mg / cm ² was a glow starter of a comparative example was produced in the same manner as sample C and sample D. Twenty samples were prepared and blinked at a rated voltage of 147 V, and the time when half of the samples did not start within 10 seconds was defined as the life (indicated as END in FIG. 7). As is apparent from FIG. 7 and Table 1, if the coating density of the adherend layer 8 is limited to an appropriate value, the operating voltage can be obtained without using a radioactive substance at 6000 times of the durability test judgment standard in the aforementioned JIS standard. It can be seen that the rise of the can be suppressed.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the relationship between the coating density of the adherend layer 8 and the operating voltage in the embodiment of the present invention. In Figure 8, in which the application area of the deposited layer 8 and 2.0 cm ^2, were plotted samples 20 average operating voltage after blinking 20,000 times determined experimentally as a criterion. As can be seen from FIG. 8, the increase in operating voltage is suppressed when the coating density is in the range of 0.1 mg / cm ^{2 to} 0.6 mg / cm ² .

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the relationship between the application area of the deposition layer and the operating voltage in the embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 9, the coating density of the adherent layer 8 is 0.2 mg / cm ^2, and the average operating voltage of 20 samples after 20,000 blinks is plotted. As is apparent from FIG. 9, it can be seen that the increase in operating voltage is suppressed in the range where the coating area is 0.5 cm ² or more, more preferably 1.0 cm ² or more.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the relationship between the coating density of the deposition layer and the required lighting time in the embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 10, the application area of the adherent layer is set to 2.0 cm ^2, and the maximum lighting required time of 20 samples after 20,000 blinks is plotted. The allowable time was less than 10 seconds (the time required for lighting in the dark place of JIS C7622). As is apparent from FIG. 10, it can be seen that the startability is good when the coating density of the adherent layer is in the range of 0.1 mg / cm ^{2 to} 0.6 mg / cm ² .

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the relationship between the coating area of the deposition layer and the required lighting time in the embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 11, the coating density of the adherent layer is 0.2 mg / cm ^2, and the maximum value of the lighting required time of 20 samples after 20,000 blinks is plotted. As is apparent from FIG. 11, it can be seen that the startability is good when the coating area is 0.5 cm ² or more, more preferably 1.0 cm ² or more.

  In the present embodiment, the deposition layer is formed of an aluminate containing barium and magnesium. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the deposition layer may be formed using another operating voltage increase suppressing substance.

  Furthermore, in the glow starter of the present embodiment, neon-argon or neon-krypton mixed gas (neon filling amount: 99.5 vol%, gas pressure: 6.3 Pa) can be used as the filling gas. When the encapsulated amount is 95 volume% or more and less than 100 volume% of the entire discharge medium, the startability is good due to the Penning effect, and when the neon filled amount is less than 95 volume%, the startability tends to be impaired. It was.

  In the present embodiment, the case where FG-5P (starting voltage: 147 V) is used as the type of glow starter has been described, but other types such as FG-4P can also be widely used.

  As described above, the glow starter according to the present embodiment does not hinder the discharge of impure gas when exhausting from the discharge vessel. Therefore, even if the radioactive material is excluded, the dark start delay time is still kept at the minimum level and flashes. Glow which has an excellent effect that the start time in the dark place is not delayed compared to the initial stage even in the latter half of the flashing aging because the deposition layer made of a substance that suppresses the increase in operating voltage absorbs the impure gas generated during aging. You can get a starter.

  As described above, the present invention is used in combination with a fluorescent lamp, and can eliminate radioactive materials without impairing the immediate lighting in a dark place of the fluorescent lamp. At the same time, the operating voltage is reduced to the initial life without impairing productivity. Can be stably maintained from the end of life to the end of life, and a safe and easy-to-handle glow starter can be provided, and its industrial value is great.

It is sectional drawing which shows an example of the glow starter of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows an example of the conventional glow starter. It is the frequency distribution diagram which compared the touch time after the flashing initial stage of the conventional glow starter and 6000 times flashing. It is the frequency distribution figure which compared the touch time after the flashing initial stage and the flashing after 6000 times in the glow starter of the embodiment of the present invention. It is the figure which showed the relationship between the coating density of the adhesion layer in the glow starter of embodiment of this invention, and touch time. It is the figure which showed the relationship between the application area of the coating layer in the glow starter of embodiment of this invention, and touch time. It is the figure which showed the relationship between the frequency | count of blinking in various glow starters, and an operating voltage. It is the figure which showed the relationship between the coating density of the coating layer in the glow starter of embodiment of this invention, and an operating voltage. It is the figure which showed the relationship between the application area of the deposit layer and operating voltage in the glow starter of embodiment of this invention. It is the figure which showed the relationship between the coating density of the coating layer in the glow starter of embodiment of this invention, and lighting required time. It is the figure which showed the relationship between the application area of the coating layer in the glow starter of embodiment of this invention, and lighting required time. It is principal part sectional drawing which shows the manufacturing method of the glow starter of embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Glow starter 2 Movable electrode 3 Fixed electrode 4 Stem 5 Metal wire 6 Glass container 7 Filled gas 8 Adhesion layer 8a BAM
9 Operating voltage rise suppressing substance 10 Coating liquid 11 Stirrer 12 Container 13 Injection device 14 Nozzle 15 Recovery device 16 Drying device 17 Hot air

Claims (5)

A glow starter comprising: a discharge vessel; a pair of electrodes sealed in the discharge vessel that are displaced by contact due to heat generated by glow discharge; and a discharge medium sealed in the discharge vessel,
The inner surface of the discharge vessel is provided with an adhesion layer containing an operating voltage rise suppressing substance,
The application area of the deposition layer has a 0.5 cm ² or more,
Wherein Ri 0.6 mg / cm ² or less der coating density of 0.1 mg / cm ² or more deposition layers,
The glow starter characterized in that the operating voltage rise suppressing substance is at least one selected from an aluminate containing barium and aluminum oxide . The glow starter according to claim 1, wherein the pair of electrodes is a movable electrode and a fixed electrode. The glow starter according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein a shortest distance between a contact position between the movable electrode and the fixed electrode and the deposition layer is 7.0 mm or less. The glow starter according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein the discharge medium includes neon, and an amount of the neon enclosed is 95% by volume or more and less than 100% by volume of the entire discharge medium. A method for producing a glow starter according to any one of claims 1 to 4 ,
(A) a step of producing a coating liquid by dispersing at least an operating voltage rise suppressing substance in a dispersion medium;
(B) after injecting the coating solution into the discharge vessel, discharging a certain amount of the coating solution;
(C) drying the discharge vessel in which the coating liquid remains, and forming an adhesion layer containing the operating voltage increase suppressing substance on the inner surface of the discharge vessel;
Only including,
The operating voltage rise suppression material, method of manufacturing a glow starter, characterized in that at least one selected from aluminates and aluminum oxide, containing barium.

Images