Amalgam retainer
View Patent ↗An arc discharge lamp has an arc chamber with an amalgam tip attached to and communicating with the arc chamber through a constricted area. An amalgam retainer is positioned in the arc chamber and is abutted against the constricted area. The amalgam retainer is vibration-insensitive, solid and liquid amalgam impervious and mercury vapor pervious. An amalgam is contained within the amalgam tip.
1. An arc discharge lamp comprising:
an arc chamber;
an amalgam tip attached to and communicating with said arc chamber through a constricted area;
an amalgam retainer of ceramic felt in said arc chamber abutted against said constricted area, said amalgam retainer being vibration-insensitive, solid and liquid amalgam impervious and mercury vapor pervious; and
an amalgam contained within said amalgam tip.
2. The arc discharge lamp of claim 1 wherein said ceramic felt is comprised of fibers of mixed aluminum and silicon oxides.
3. The arc discharge lamp of claim 2 wherein said fibers have a diameter of <10 microns.
4. The arc discharge lamp of claim 3 wherein said lamp is a low pressure discharge lamp.
5. The arc discharge lamp of claim 4 wherein said amalgam includes bismuth and indium.
6. The arc discharge lamp of claim 4 wherein said amalgam tip has a given diameter and said amalgam retainer, prior to insertion, has a larger diameter.