JP5207639B2 - Lighting tube and manufacturing method thereof - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a lighting tube for starting a fluorescent lamp and a manufacturing method thereof.

  Conventionally, a lighting tube (glow starter) is used for starting a fluorescent lamp. In recent years, there has been an increasing demand for longer life of lighting tubes as a measure to increase the number of blinks due to the automatic on / off system of fluorescent lamps and to make maintenance free of fluorescent lamps installed at high places where maintenance is difficult. .

When this lighting tube is used for a long time by repeatedly blinking with glow discharge, there is a problem that impure gas is gradually released from each member of the discharge vessel, and the characteristics of the lighting tube are deteriorated. In particular, the influence of hydrogen as an impure gas is large, and by discharge of hydrogen, hydrogen and other impurities react to generate a discharge inhibiting substance, and this discharge inhibiting substance intervenes between the electrodes of the lighting tube. It is considered that the discharge start voltage increases during this period and the life characteristics of the lighting tube deteriorate. In order to solve this problem, it is well known that metal barium is deposited on the surface of the electrode of the lighting tube as a substance that absorbs impure gas (see, for example, Patent Document 1). It has also been proposed to arrange an alloy of palladium and zirconium inside the lighting tube as a substance that absorbs impure gas (see, for example, Patent Document 2).
JP-A-7-21974 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-105857

However, in the method described in Patent Document 1, productivity is poor because it is necessary to thermally decompose barium azide [Ba (N ₃ ) ₂ ] at about 210 ° C. and to discharge the decomposed nitrogen from the discharge vessel. If the discharge of nitrogen is insufficient, there is a problem that nitrogen is mixed into the argon of the sealed gas and the inoperable limit voltage is lowered.

  Further, the method described in Patent Document 2 has a problem that it is economically disadvantageous because expensive palladium or the like needs to be used.

  The present invention solves the above problems, and provides a long-life lighting tube that is highly productive and does not require expensive materials.

A lighting tube according to the present invention is a lighting tube including a pair of electrodes including a movable electrode including a thermally responsive element and a counter electrode of the movable electrode, and a discharge gas, in a sealed container, The hydrogen content in the metal material constituting the thermoresponsive element is not less than 0.1 ppm by weight and not more than 1.0 ppm by weight, and the inner surface of the sealed container is coated with aluminate. Features.

In addition, the method for manufacturing a lighting tube according to the present invention includes a lighting tube including a pair of electrodes each including a movable electrode including a thermal responsive element and a counter electrode of the movable electrode, and a discharge gas. The hydrogen content in the metal material constituting the thermoresponsive element by heating the metal constituting the thermoresponsive element at 125 ° C. or more and 300 ° C. or less for 1 hour or more and 5 hours or less And 0.1 wt ppm or more and 1.0 wt ppm or less, and at least one selected from aluminate and aluminum oxide is deposited on the inner surface of the sealed container. .

  The lighting tube of the present invention has high productivity and economy, and can achieve a long life. Moreover, the manufacturing method of the lighting tube of this invention can manufacture a long-life lighting tube reasonably.

(Embodiment 1)
First, an embodiment of a lighting tube of the present invention will be described. The lighting tube of the present invention is provided with a pair of electrodes including a movable pole including a thermally responsive element and a counter electrode of the movable pole, and a discharge gas inside the sealed container. Further, the hydrogen content in the metal material constituting the thermoresponsive element is set to 0.1 ppm by weight or more and 1.0 ppm by weight or less, more preferably 0.3 ppm by weight or more and 0.5 ppm by weight or less. .

  By setting the hydrogen content in the metal material composing the thermo-responsive element within the above range, even if the lighting tube is repeatedly flashed with glow discharge and used for a long period of time, hydrogen is released from the thermo-responsive element. And the life characteristics of the lighting tube are improved. That is, a bimetal or a trimetal in which two or more metal thin plates are laminated is usually used as a thermal responsive element, but impure gas such as hydrogen is occluded in the metal thin plate itself or its metal in the process of producing the thermal responsive element. Easily adsorbed on the inner surface of thin plates. For this reason, by removing hydrogen from the metal material constituting the thermal response element before incorporating the thermal response element into the lighting tube, the amount of hydrogen in the sealed container (valve) can be reduced as a result. As a result, the discharge inhibiting substance between the electrodes of the lighting tube is reduced, the rise of the discharge starting voltage between the electrodes is prevented, and the life reduction of the lighting tube can be suppressed.

  When the hydrogen content exceeds 1.0 ppm by weight, the amount of hydrogen released from the thermal actuator during use of the lighting tube increases, and the life of the lighting tube cannot be extended. On the other hand, when the hydrogen content is less than 0.1 ppm by weight, the strength of the metal material itself is lowered, and the bonding force between the metal thin plates is also lowered, so that there is a possibility that it does not function as a thermally responsive element.

  In addition, the hydrogen content in the metal material composing the counter electrode may be reduced in addition to the hydrogen in the metal material composing the thermoresponsive element. If at least the hydrogen content in the metal material constituting the thermal actuator is reduced, the life of the lighting tube can be extended.

  Alternatively, lanthanum can be deposited on the surface of the counter electrode. Lanthanum is an electron-emitting substance that has the effect of lowering the operating operating voltage of the lighting tube by being deposited on the surface of the counter electrode. This makes it possible to operate optimally according to the rated input voltage (100V, 200V, etc.) Can be set to voltage. The lanthanum may be applied by applying lanthanum to the surface of the counter electrode or welding lanthanum in the form of pellets to the counter electrode. The deposition amount of lanthanum may be 0.1 mg or more and 100 mg or less.

  Note that it is not preferable to apply lanthanum to the thermally responsive element because the lanthanum may be peeled off along with the opening / closing operation of the thermally responsive element.

  Alternatively, zinc can be deposited on the surface of at least one of the pair of electrodes. By depositing zinc on the surface of the electrode, the electron emission from the electrode can be improved, and the dark start delay time of the fluorescent lamp can be shortened. For the deposition of zinc, zinc may be plated on the surface of the electrode, or pellet-shaped zinc may be welded to the electrode. The amount of zinc deposited may be 0.005 mg or more and 1.0 mg or less.

In addition, at least one selected from aluminate and aluminum oxide can be deposited on the inner surface of the closed container (valve). Aluminate and aluminum oxide are substances that suppress the increase in operating voltage. By attaching them to the inner surface of a sealed container, the dark start delay time of fluorescent lamps can be shortened, and at the same time, the operating voltage can be increased in the latter half of the lifetime. Can be suppressed. The deposition amount of the aluminate or / and aluminum oxide may be 0.1 mg / cm ² or more and 0.6 mg / cm ² or less.

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 ), and calcium aluminate (CaAl ₁₂ O ₁₉ ). Or alkaline earth aluminates 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, Activated alumina composed of η-alumina and θ-alumina can be used. Highly active alumina can be used with an aqueous alcohol solution as a dispersion medium, or by selecting an introduction process such as dry coating appropriately, so that a very large BET value of about 120 m ² / g can be secured. Are better. The operating voltage rise suppressing substance may be an aluminate-based phosphor containing barium (Ba) and an activator such as europium (Eu).

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

  FIG. 1 is a partial sectional view showing an example of a lighting tube of the present invention. The lighting tube 1 of the present embodiment includes an electrode (movable electrode) 3, an electrode (counter electrode) 4 paired with the movable electrode 3, a discharge gas, and an inside of a sealed container 2 (container interior 8). It has.

  The container 2 is sealed by a valve 6, a flare stem 7 and an exhaust pipe 9. An exhaust pipe 9 used when the discharge gas is sealed in the container interior 8 is connected to the flare stem 7 through the exhaust hole 10 so as to communicate with the container interior 8. One end of the exhaust pipe 9 is bonded to the flare stem 7 through the exhaust hole 10 and the other end is closed. A base 5 is attached so as to cover the end of the container 2 on the side where the electrodes 3 and 4 are fixed, and is electrically connected to the electrodes 3 and 4.

  The movable pole 3 includes a bimetal element 14 that is a thermally responsive element and an internal lead wire 13. Further, a counter electrode (fixed pole) 4 formed by extending the internal lead wire 15 is opposed to the movable pole 3 in a state where it can be contacted / separated. Instead of the bimetal element 14, a trimetal element or a monometal element made of a shape memory alloy deformed by heating can be used.

  The hydrogen content in the metal material constituting the bimetal element 14 is set to 0.1 ppm by weight or more and 1.0 ppm by weight or less, more preferably 0.3 ppm by weight or more and 0.5 ppm by weight or less. Thereby, the amount of hydrogen released into the container interior 8 can be reduced, and the life of the lighting tube 1 can be extended.

  The aforementioned lanthanum can be deposited on the surface of the counter electrode 4, and the aforementioned zinc can be deposited on at least one of the movable electrode 3 and the counter electrode 4. Furthermore, the above-described aluminate and / or aluminum oxide can be deposited on the inner surface of the bulb 6.

  The material of the flare stem 7 is not limited, and glass, resin, or the like can be used. Further, the shape of the flare stem 7 is an umbrella-like shape, and its skirt is sealed to the end of the valve 6 on the open side, but is not particularly limited to this shape.

  The material of the bulb 6 is not particularly limited as long as it can withstand the above discharge and heating, but generally glass, resin, or the like may be used. The shape of the valve 6 is a substantially cylindrical shape with one end closed, but is not particularly limited to this shape.

  The discharge gas is not particularly limited as long as it is a gas suitable for discharge, but generally one gas selected from helium, neon, argon, and xenon, or a mixed gas thereof may be used. In particular, argon gas or a mixed gas of neon and argon is preferably used.

  The amount of discharge gas sealed is not particularly limited as long as discharge can be started and sustained, but the gas pressure inside the container 8 may be several kPa to several hundred kPa, more preferably 1 to 10 kPa.

  The material of the internal lead wires 13 and 15 is not particularly limited, and for example, a manganese / nickel alloy or the like can be used.

  Here, operation | movement of the lighting tube 1 at the time of making a fluorescent lamp (not shown) light using the lighting tube 1 is demonstrated.

  When a predetermined voltage is applied to the electrodes 3 and 4 of the lighting tube 1, glow discharge occurs between the electrodes. Since the hydrogen content in the metal material constituting the bimetal element 14 used in the lighting tube 1 of the present embodiment is reduced as described above, the amount of hydrogen released into the container interior 8 is also reduced as a result. Therefore, it is considered that glow discharge occurs smoothly.

  Due to the heat of the glow discharge, the bimetal element 14 is deformed, that is, the electrode 3 is moved and contacts the electrode 4. Thereby, a short circuit current flows and the filament electrode (not shown) of the fluorescent lamp is preheated. When the electrodes 3 and 4 are in contact with each other, a short-circuit current flows and glow discharge stops. When the glow discharge is stopped, the bimetal element 14 is gradually cooled, so that it is deformed to the original shape, that is, the electrode 3 moves, leaves the electrode 4, and the short-circuit current also stops. At that time, a pulse voltage is generated, a discharge is generated in the fluorescent lamp, and the fluorescent lamp is turned on.

  In the present embodiment, the fixed electrode is used as the counter electrode 4, but it may be a movable electrode. That is, one of the pair of electrodes may be a movable pole or both may be a movable pole.

(Embodiment 2)
Next, an embodiment of a method for manufacturing a lighting tube according to the present invention will be described. However, descriptions of matters that overlap with those of the first embodiment may be omitted.

  The manufacturing method of the lighting tube of the present invention is a method of manufacturing the lighting tube of Embodiment 1, and the metal constituting the thermally responsive element is 125 ° C. or more and 300 ° C. or less, more preferably 200 ° C. or more and 260 ° C. or less. 1 to 5 hours, more preferably 2 to 3 hours by heating, the hydrogen content in the metal material constituting the thermoresponsive element is 0.1 to 1.0 ppm by weight, More preferably, it includes a step of setting to 0.3 to 0.5 ppm by weight.

  By performing the above steps, even when the lighting tube is repeatedly flashed with glow discharge and used for a long period of time, the release of hydrogen from the thermally responsive element is reduced, and the life of the lighting tube can be extended. . Further, the above process can be performed without greatly changing the conventional manufacturing process of the lighting tube, and more expensive material is unnecessary, so that productivity and economy are high.

  When the heating temperature is less than 125 ° C, it is difficult to reduce the hydrogen content to 1.0 ppm by weight or less. When the heating temperature exceeds 300 ° C, peeling occurs between the high-expansion side metal and the low-expansion side metal of the bimetal element. Function may be degraded. Also, if the heating time is less than 1 hour, it is difficult to reduce the hydrogen content to 1.0 ppm by weight or less, and if it exceeds 5 hours, the hydrogen content of the bimetal element becomes too small and the strength of the bimetal element decreases. The function as a bimetal may be reduced.

  The atmosphere in the above step is not particularly limited and can be performed in the air.

  Further, not only the metal constituting the thermal responsive element but also the metal constituting the counter electrode may be heat-treated in the same manner as described above. However, since the amount of hydrogen released from the normal thermal responsive element is large, at least the thermal responsive element is used. If the hydrogen content in the metal material constituting the element is reduced, the life of the lighting tube can be extended.

  Further, a step of depositing lanthanum on the surface of the counter electrode may be further performed. Thereby, the operating operating voltage of the lighting tube can be lowered.

  Further, a step of depositing zinc on the surface of at least one of the pair of electrodes may be further performed. Thereby, the electron emission property from an electrode improves and the dark place start delay time of a fluorescent lamp can be shortened.

  Further, a step of depositing at least one selected from aluminate and aluminum oxide on the inner surface of the sealed container may be further performed. Thereby, it is possible to shorten the dark start delay time of the fluorescent lamp, and at the same time, it is possible to suppress an increase in the operating voltage in the latter half of the lifetime.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of a method for manufacturing a lighting tube according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description may be omitted.

  First, an example of the manufacturing method of the thermoresponsive element used by this invention is demonstrated. Here, the manufacturing method of the bimetal element which is an example of a thermally responsive element is demonstrated. Usually, the material of the bimetal element is supplied as a wire-like bimetal precursor in which two thin metal plates are joined in advance. The supplied wire-like bimetal precursor is cleaned and then heated in the atmosphere. The heating temperature may be 125 ° C. or higher and 300 ° C. or lower, more preferably 200 ° C. or higher and 260 ° C. or lower. The heating time may be 1 hour or more and 5 hours or less, more preferably 2 hours or more and 5 hours or less. Next, the wire-shaped bimetal precursor after the heat treatment is cut into a predetermined size to produce a bimetal element.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a method for manufacturing a stem portion of a lighting tube according to the present invention. In the lighting tube manufacturing method of the present embodiment, first, as shown in FIG. 2A, the internal lead wires 13 and 15 are inserted into the small opening 16a of the flare glass 16, and the narrow tube 17 is inserted into the opening 16b of the flare glass 16, respectively. To do. Next, as shown in FIG. 2B, the internal lead wires 13 and 15 and the thin tube 17 are fixed to the upper portion (the small opening 16 a side) of the flare glass 16 to obtain the stem portion 20.

  The flare glass 16 has a shape like an umbrella, for example, and may have an opening 16b corresponding to the hem of the umbrella and a small opening 16a on the top of the umbrella.

  External lead wires 11 and 12 are conductively connected to the internal lead wires 13 and 15. Further, the internal lead wire 15 is set longer than the internal lead wire 13.

  When the internal lead wires 13 and 15 are inserted into the small opening 16a, the external lead wires 11 and 12 may be arranged so as to go out from the inner surface side of the flare glass 16 through the opening 16b.

  When the internal lead wires 13 and 15 and the thin tube 17 are fixed to the flare glass 16, the upper portion (the small opening 16a side) of the flare glass 16 is crushed while being heated from the outside, for example, so that the internal lead wires 13 and 15 are crushed. The narrow tube 17 may be sealed on the flare glass 16. By crushing the upper part of the flare glass 16 from the outside, the internal lead wires 13 and 15 and the thin tube 17 can be adhered to the flare glass 16. When crushing, air is blown from the end of the thin tube 17 outside the flare glass 16 into the inner end of the flare glass 16, and a part of the side surface of the flare glass 16 is softened. The exhaust hole 10 may be formed by blowing off with air. By the exhaust hole 10, the thin tube 17 can be adhered to the flare glass 16 without closing the tube port.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 1, the bimetal element 14 manufactured as described above is connected to the end portion of the internal lead wire 13. Further, the stem portion 20 (FIG. 2) and the valve 6 are hermetically adhered, and the flare stem 7 (flare glass 16 in FIG. 2), the exhaust pipe 9 (narrow tube 17 in FIG. 2), and the valve 6 are formed. A container 2 is formed. The air inside the container 2 is exhausted from the exhaust pipe 9, a discharge gas is blown in, the end of the exhaust pipe 9 is sealed, and the container 2 is sealed. Next, the base 5 to which the electrode (movable electrode) 3 composed of the internal lead wire 13 and the bimetal element 14 and the electrode (counter electrode) 4 composed of the internal lead wire 15 are electrically connected is connected to the container 2. Install. Thereby, the lighting tube 1 is completed.

  In the airtight contact between the stem portion 20 and the bulb 6, for example, the bottomed substantially cylindrical edge portion of the bulb 6 and the opening 16b of the flare glass 16 may be heated and brought into close contact. The electrodes 3 and 4 are electrically connected to the outside of the container 2 by connecting the base 5 and the external lead wires 11 and 12.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described more specifically with reference to examples. In addition, this invention is not limited to a following example.

Example 1
First, as a flare glass, lead glass (K ₂ O: 4.7 wt%, SiO ₂ : 57.5 wt%, PbO: 29.0 wt%, Al ₂ O ₃ : 1.0 wt%, Na ₂ O) : 7.8 wt%) was formed in a flare shape having an opening at the top. Two internal lead wires (nickel: 96.4% by weight, manganese: 3% by weight, iron 0.6% by weight) to which a jumet wire was connected as an external lead wire and a thin tube made of glass were prepared. Next, as shown in FIG. 2, the internal lead wire and the thin tube were fixed to the flare glass by being crushed while being heated.

  Next, a wire-like bimetallic precursor having a width of 2 mm and a thickness of 0.2 mm (composition of high expansion side: copper 16.5% by weight-nickel 10.5% by weight-manganese 73% by weight, low expansion side composition: iron 64 % By weight-36% by weight of nickel), and the bimetal precursor was heated in the atmosphere at 200 ° C. for 3 hours. Then, this wire-like bimetal precursor was cut into a length of 8 mm to obtain a bimetal element. It was 0.3 weight ppm when the hydrogen content of this bimetal element was measured with the temperature-programmed desorption analyzer (quadrupole type | mold mass spectrometer) by an electronic chemical company.

  Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 1, the bimetal element was connected to the end of one of the internal lead wires. And the said flare glass and glass-made valve | bulb were airtight_contact | adhered.

  In this manner, a container including a pair of electrodes, each composed of a movable electrode and a fixed electrode, was formed, which was composed of a flare stem (the above-described flare glass), an exhaust pipe (the above-mentioned thin tube), and a valve. Next, using the exhaust pipe, the air inside the container was exhausted, and discharge gas (neon: 94% by volume, xenon: 6% by volume) was blown in. At this time, the gas pressure inside the container was 3.7 kPa. The end of the exhaust pipe not connected to the flare stem was sealed to seal the container. Finally, two external lead wires were electrically connected to the base, respectively, and then the base was attached to the container to obtain the lighting tube of this example.

(Example 2)
A lighting tube was produced in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the bimetal precursor was heated at 200 ° C. for 1 hour. When the hydrogen content of the used bimetal element was measured in the same manner as in Example 1, it was 1.00 ppm by weight.

(Comparative Example 1)
A lighting tube was produced in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the bimetal precursor was not heat-treated. When the hydrogen content of the used bimetal element was measured in the same manner as in Example 1, it was 1.40 ppm by weight.

(Comparative Example 2)
A lighting tube was produced in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the bimetal precursor was not heat-treated. The hydrogen content of the used bimetal element was measured in the same manner as in Example 1 and found to be 3.00 ppm by weight.

(Comparative Example 3)
A lighting tube in the same manner as in Example 1 except that a high-expansion side metal and a low-expansion side metal were joined in a hydrogen atmosphere to produce a bimetal precursor, and the produced bimetal precursor was not heat-treated. Was made. When the hydrogen content of the used bimetal element was measured in the same manner as in Example 1, it was 4.40 ppm by weight.

(Comparative Example 4)
A lighting tube was produced in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the bimetal precursor was heated at 200 ° C. for 10 hours. It was 0.05 weight ppm when the hydrogen content of the used bimetal element was measured like Example 1. FIG.

<Life characteristics test>
Five lighting tubes were prepared for each of Examples 1 and 2 and Comparative Examples 1 to 4, and a life characteristic test was performed as follows. The test temperature was room temperature (25 ° C.).

  First, connect each lighting tube whose number of blinks is zero to a fluorescent lamp (power: 40 W), and turn on the fluorescent lamp after it has been energized. The time until lighting (time required for lighting) was measured. And even at least one of the lighting tubes in each group, when the dark place discharge delay time is 1 second or more at the rated voltage (200V) or the light place lighting required time is 8 seconds or more at the lower limit voltage (180V). The number of flashes was defined as the number of flashes of the lamps in the group. The results are shown in FIG. In FIG. 3 and Table 1, weight ppm is expressed as wtppm, and the same applies to the following.

  From FIG. 3 and Table 1, by setting the hydrogen content of the bimetal element to 1.00 ppm by weight or less, it is possible to make the life blinking number 18000 times or more, and in particular, the hydrogen content of the bimetal element is 0.50 ppm by weight. The life blinking frequency can be set to 20000 times or more by the following. On the other hand, it can be seen that the number of flashing lifetimes decreases as the hydrogen content of the bimetal element increases beyond 1.00 ppm by weight.

  In the lighting tube of Comparative Example 4, the hydrogen content of the bimetal element is too low, so that the strength of the bimetal element is reduced, and one lighting tube in which the bimetal element has malfunctioned immediately after the start of the life characteristic test is performed. As a result, all subsequent life characteristics tests were discontinued.

  From the above, the hydrogen content of the bimetal element is preferably 0.1 ppm to 1.0 ppm by weight, and more preferably 0.3 ppm to 0.5 ppm by weight.

  In addition, since the life blinking frequency of the lighting tube is set to 6000 times according to the endurance test judgment standard stipulated in JIS standard C7622, the lighting tube of this embodiment is a conventional lighting tube. It can be said that it is a long-life lighting tube.

<Optimization of heat treatment time>
Next, the heating temperature of the bimetal precursor was fixed at 200 ° C., the heat treatment time was changed, and the relationship between the heat treatment time and the hydrogen content of the bimetal element was examined. The hydrogen content of the bimetal element of Comparative Example 2 is adopted as the bimetal element with the heat treatment time of 0 hour, the hydrogen content of the bimetal element of Example 2 is adopted as the bimetal element with the heat treatment time of 1 hour, and the heat treatment time is 3 The hydrogen content of the bimetallic element of Example 1 was employed as the time bimetallic element. Moreover, the heating time of the bimetallic precursor of Example 1 was set to 2 hours and 5 hours, and the hydrogen content of each bimetallic element was measured in the same manner as in Example 1. The result is shown in FIG.

  FIG. 4 shows that when the heating temperature of the bimetallic precursor is 200 ° C., the hydrogen content of the bimetallic element can be reduced to 1.0 ppm by weight or less by heating for 1 hour or more. Moreover, when the result of the above-mentioned comparative example 4 is considered, it is understood that the heating time is preferably 1 hour or more and 5 hours or less, and more preferably 2 hours or more and 3 hours or less.

<Optimization of heat treatment temperature>
Furthermore, the relationship between the heat treatment temperature and the hydrogen content of the bimetal element was examined by changing the heat treatment temperature while fixing the heating time of the bimetal precursor to 3 hours. The hydrogen content of the bimetallic element of Comparative Example 2 was adopted as the bimetallic element having a heat treatment temperature of 25 ° C. (room temperature). Moreover, the heating temperature of the bimetal precursor of Example 1 was changed from 100 ° C. to 320 ° C., and the hydrogen content of each bimetal element was measured in the same manner as in Example 1. The result is shown in FIG.

  FIG. 5 shows that when the heating time of the bimetallic precursor is 3 hours, the hydrogen content of the bimetallic element can be reduced to 1.0 ppm by weight or less by heating at 125 ° C. or higher. Moreover, when the heating temperature exceeds 300 ° C., it is understood that the bimetal function is deteriorated, and the heating temperature is preferably 125 ° C. or more and 300 ° C. or less, and more preferably 200 ° C. or more and 260 ° C. or less. In FIG. 5, the hydrogen content at 200 ° C. is 0.3 mass ppm, and the hydrogen content at 260 ° C. is 0.2 mass ppm.

  In the above embodiment, the deposition of lanthanum on the surface of the counter electrode, the deposition of zinc on the surface of at least one of the pair of electrodes, and the aluminate and / or aluminum oxide on the inner surface of the container Although the deposition is not performed, the same life characteristics can be realized even if these are performed.

  As described above, the present invention is highly productive and economical, can provide a long-life lighting tube, and has great industrial utility value.

It is a fragmentary sectional view which shows an example of the lighting tube of this invention. It is a figure explaining an example of the manufacturing method of the stem part of the lighting tube of this invention. It is a figure which shows the relationship between hydrogen content and lifetime blink frequency | count. It is a figure which shows the relationship between heat processing time and hydrogen content. It is a figure which shows the relationship between heat processing temperature and hydrogen content.

Explanation of symbols

1 lighting tube 2 container 3 electrode (movable electrode)
4 electrodes (fixed electrode)
5 Base 6 Valve 7 Flare Stem 8 Inside Container 9 Exhaust Pipe 10 Exhaust Hole 11, 12 External Lead Wire 13, 15 Internal Lead Wire 14 Bimetal Element 16 Flare Glass 16a Small Opening 16b Opening 17 Narrow Pipe 20 Stem Part

Claims (6)

A lighting tube comprising a movable electrode including a thermoresponsive element and a pair of electrodes composed of a counter electrode of the movable electrode, and a discharge gas, inside the sealed container,
The hydrogen content in the metal material constituting the thermoresponsive element is 0.1 wtppm or more and 1.0 wtppm or less,
A lighting tube, wherein an aluminate is deposited on an inner surface of the sealed container.   The lighting tube according to claim 1, wherein lanthanum is deposited on a surface of the counter electrode.   The lighting tube according to claim 1, wherein zinc is deposited on a surface of at least one of the pair of electrodes. A method of manufacturing a lighting tube comprising a movable electrode including a thermoresponsive element and a pair of electrodes composed of a counter electrode of the movable electrode, and a discharge gas inside a sealed container,
By heating the metal constituting the thermoresponsive element at 125 ° C. or more and 300 ° C. or less for 1 hour or more and 5 hours or less, the hydrogen content in the metal material constituting the thermoresponsive element is 0.1 wt ppm or more. A step of 1.0 ppm by weight or less,
The manufacturing method of the lighting tube characterized by including the process of attaching at least 1 chosen from an aluminate and aluminum oxide to the inner surface of the said airtight container.   The manufacturing method of the lighting tube of Claim 4 which further includes the process of depositing a lanthanum on the surface of the said counter electrode.   The method for manufacturing a lighting tube according to claim 4, further comprising a step of depositing zinc on a surface of at least one electrode of the pair of electrodes.

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