JP5163520B2 - Fluorescent lamp and method of manufacturing the fluorescent lamp - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a fluorescent lamp in which a phosphor is provided on the inner surface of a discharge vessel and a method for manufacturing the fluorescent lamp.

As a configuration of the fluorescent lamp, one described in Patent Document 1 is known.
FIG. 12A is an explanatory diagram of the fluorescent lamp 91 described in Patent Document 1. FIG.
The fluorescent lamp 91 includes a discharge vessel 911 having a double tube structure, a phosphor 913 provided on the inner surface of the discharge vessel 911, and a pair of electrodes 912 provided on the outer surface of the discharge vessel 911.
The discharge vessel 911 has a double tube structure including a cylindrical outer tube 9112 and an inner tube 9111 arranged coaxially with the outer tube 9112 inside the outer tube 9112. Sealed with an annular end wall 9113. A member constituting the discharge vessel 911 is, for example, quartz glass.
For example, xenon gas is enclosed in the discharge vessel 911 as a luminescent gas.

In this fluorescent lamp 91, a pair of electrodes 912 are interposed in an inner tube 9111 and an outer tube 9112 of a discharge vessel 911, and a discharge space between the outer tube 9112 and the inner tube 9111 is also interposed.
The fluorescent lamp 91 generates excimer discharge when high frequency and high voltage are input to the pair of electrodes 912, and vacuum ultraviolet light of, for example, 200 nm or less is generated from the excimer discharge. The phosphor 913 is excited by being irradiated with the vacuum ultraviolet rays, and the excitation light is transmitted through the discharge vessel 911 and emitted.

  An excimer lamp is known as a lamp that generates such excimer discharge. Excimer lamps include Patent Documents 2 and 3.

FIG. 12B is an explanatory diagram of an excimer lamp 92 described in Patent Document 2.
The excimer lamp 92 in FIG. 12B has a point that the phosphor is not provided on the inner surface of the discharge vessel 921, the point that the electrode 922 provided on the inner surface of the inner tube 9211 is plate-like, and the end of the discharge vessel 921. This is different from the fluorescent lamp 91 of FIG. 12A in that the wall 9213 is provided with the remaining portion 924 of the fluid circulation pipe. As an explanation of the excimer lamp 92 in FIG. 12B, the remaining portion 924 of the fluid circulation pipe, which is different from the fluorescent lamp 91 in FIG.

In the manufacturing process of the excimer lamp 92, in order to clean the inner surface of the discharge vessel 921, a chemical cleaning process using an aqueous ammonium fluoride solution or the like as a cleaning liquid and a rinsing process using cleaning water are performed.
The end wall 9213 provided at both ends of the discharge vessel 921 is provided with a fluid circulation pipe, the cleaning liquid is introduced from one fluid circulation pipe, and the air in the discharge vessel 921 is discharged from the other fluid circulation pipe. The cleaning liquid that has flowed into the discharge vessel 921 is discharged from one fluid circulation tube, and air is introduced from the other fluid circulation tube. After this chemical cleaning process, a rinsing process is performed with cleaning water.
After the treatment, the discharge vessel 921 is subjected to a drying treatment and a sealing process is performed. In this sealing process, after one of the fluid circulation pipes is burned out by, for example, a burner, the air inside the discharge vessel 921 is discharged, filled with a luminescent gas such as xenon gas, and finally the other fluid circulation pipe is baked. Cut off. This burned-out fluid circulation pipe becomes the remaining portion 924 of the fluid circulation pipe.
In the case of Patent Document 2, since the xenon gas is filled as the luminescent gas, the ultraviolet rays obtained when the lamp is turned on are vacuum ultraviolet rays having a wavelength of 200 nm or less.

FIG. 12C is an explanatory diagram of the excimer lamp 93 described in Patent Document 3.
The excimer lamp 93 shown in FIG. 12C is different from the excimer lamp shown in FIG. 12B in that the shape of the discharge vessel 921 is not a double tube structure but a single tube shape and the tube shape is a rectangular parallelepiped. Different from the lamp 92. As an explanation of the excimer lamp 93 shown in FIG. 12C, differences from the excimer lamp 92 shown in FIG.

The discharge vessel has a rectangular parallelepiped shape as shown in FIG. 12C and FIG. 1 of Patent Document 3, and end walls 9213 are provided at both ends thereof, and tip tubes 924 are provided at the end walls 9213.
The tip tube 924 is filled with xenon gas as an exhaust of air inside the discharge vessel 921 and a luminescent gas into the discharge vessel 921.
In the case of Patent Document 3, since xenon gas is filled as the luminescent gas, the ultraviolet rays obtained when the lamp is turned on are vacuum ultraviolet rays having a wavelength of 200 nm or less.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 06-215736 JP 2001-023578 A JP 2004-111326 A

For example, in applications such as resin curing, sterilization, beauty, and medical use, light having a desired wavelength is used. However, as in the excimer lamps 92 and 93 of Patent Documents 2 and 3 described above, the wavelength obtained by discharge is It is determined and it is not easy to obtain a desired wavelength. Therefore, as disclosed in Patent Document 1, it is conceivable to use a wavelength obtained by providing a phosphor on the inner surface of the discharge vessel and exciting the phosphor.
Since the fluorescent lamp 91 described in Patent Document 1 is provided with the phosphor 913 on the inner surface of the discharge vessel 911, the inside of the discharge vessel is filled with the phosphor from the fluid circulation tube and the tip tube shown in Patent Literatures 2 and 3. Can be considered. However, such a manufacturing method has a problem that the phosphor provided on the end wall of the discharge vessel is peeled off. When the phosphor is peeled off, the peeled phosphor becomes an impurity inside the discharge vessel, obstructs the discharge, and the amount of light is reduced at that portion.

As a result of extensive studies by the present inventors on the peeling of the phosphor, it has been found that the phosphor is caused by the thickness of the phosphor and the difference in thermal expansion coefficient between the phosphor and the discharge vessel. This cause will be described below.
The thermal expansion coefficient of the phosphor is larger than the thermal expansion coefficient of the member that the discharge vessel constitutes. Since the phosphor provided on the side wall of the discharge vessel is formed extremely thin, even if the lamp is turned on and heated, the amount of expansion of the phosphor provided on the side wall is small and it is suppressed from peeling off from the side wall. . However, the phosphor slurry for applying the phosphor has a large viscosity, and in the step of applying the phosphor slurry to the inner surface of the discharge vessel, the phosphor slurry flows at the end wall compared to the speed at which it flows through the side wall. Therefore, the thickness of the phosphor provided on the end wall of the discharge vessel is condensed thicker than the thickness of the phosphor provided on the side wall. For this reason, when the lamp is turned on and heated, the amount of expansion of the phosphor condensed on the end wall is larger than that of a thin non-condensed state like the phosphor provided on the side wall. Larger than the amount of expansion. For this reason, it is estimated that the phosphor provided on the end wall was peeled off due to the difference in thermal expansion from the phosphor provided on the side wall and from the difference in thermal expansion from the end wall. The

Although it is conceivable that the phosphor provided on the end wall is peeled off in advance to prevent the phosphor provided on the end wall from peeling off, the end wall is directly irradiated with UV light of, for example, 200 nm or less. The glass constituting the end wall is distorted and damaged.
When the end wall transmits vacuum ultraviolet light having a wavelength of 200 nm or less, such as quartz glass, the vacuum ultraviolet light transmitted from the end wall is absorbed by oxygen and ozone is formed. Since ozone decomposes the resin and the like, it is necessary to take measures against ozone in devices around the fluorescent lamp, which complicates the device.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a fluorescent lamp that suppresses peeling of a phosphor provided on an end wall.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a fluorescent lamp comprising: a discharge vessel having a phosphor provided on an inner surface thereof; and an electrode facing the discharge vessel, the discharge vessel having at least one end portion. The remaining part of the pipe for the coating agent is provided on the end wall, the end wall is substantially funnel-shaped toward the remaining part of the discharge pipe for the coating agent, and the phosphor is also provided on the inner surface.
A fluorescent lamp according to a second invention is characterized in that, in the second invention, the discharge vessel is provided with the phosphor through a glass layer.
A fluorescent lamp according to a third invention is characterized in that, in the first or second aspect, the coating agent pipe remainder is provided at both ends.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a fluorescent lamp manufacturing method comprising: a discharge vessel having a phosphor on its inner surface; and an electrode opposed to the discharge vessel, the discharge vessel forming tube The end surface of at least one of the end portions of the discharge vessel is formed so as to be inclined with respect to the longitudinal direction of the discharge vessel forming tube, and one end wall forming plate is joined along the inclined end surface. The discharge pipe for the agent so that one end wall forming plate has a funnel shape toward the one discharge pipe for the coating agent, and the hollow of the discharge vessel forming pipe and the hollow of the discharge pipe for the coating agent communicate with each other And a step of forming a glass tube, and a step of filling the inside of the glass tube with the phosphor slurry and discharging it from one of the discharge pipes for the coating agent of the glass tube. Features.

Since the fluorescent lamp according to the first invention can suppress the thickness of the phosphor provided on the end wall of one end portion from becoming extremely thicker than the thickness of the phosphor provided on the side wall due to the above characteristics, The thermal expansion difference between the phosphor provided on the end wall of one end and the phosphor provided on the side wall can be reduced, and the phosphor provided on one end wall and the member constituting the end wall The difference in the amount of thermal expansion can be reduced, whereby the peeling of the phosphor provided on one end wall can be suppressed. Furthermore, since the phosphor is provided on the inner surface of the end wall, it is possible to suppress the ultraviolet light generated by excimer discharge from being directly irradiated to the end wall, thereby extending the life of the discharge vessel.
In the fluorescent lamp according to the second invention, a glass layer is formed between the discharge vessel and the phosphor due to the above characteristics, and the softening point of the glass constituting the glass layer is greater than the softening point of the member constituting the discharge vessel. Therefore, the glass layer is softened at the time of firing the phosphor, the bond between the discharge vessel and the phosphor can be strengthened by the glass layer, and the peeling of the phosphor can be suppressed. Furthermore, since the softening point of the glass layer is lower than the softening point of the member constituting the discharge vessel, the phosphor is not heated to a temperature of 1000 ° C. or higher, and can be fired without deterioration.
In the case of a long discharge vessel, when the phosphor slurry is applied to the inner surface of the discharge vessel and discharged, one discharge pipe for the coating agent cannot sufficiently discharge, so the other discharge pipe for the coating agent is also used. To discharge. For this reason, in the fluorescent lamp according to the third invention, due to the above characteristics, the shape of the other end wall is funnel-shaped, and the thickness of the phosphor provided on the other end wall is larger than the thickness of the phosphor provided on the side wall. Can be prevented from becoming extremely thick, so that the difference in thermal expansion between the phosphor provided on the other end wall and the phosphor provided on the side wall can be reduced, and the phosphor provided on the other end wall. And the member constituting the end wall can be made small in thermal expansion amount, thereby suppressing the peeling of the phosphor provided on the other end wall. Furthermore, since the phosphor is provided on the inner surface of the end wall, it is possible to suppress the ultraviolet light generated by excimer discharge from being directly irradiated to the end wall, thereby extending the life of the discharge vessel.
According to the fluorescent lamp manufacturing method of the fourth invention, the phosphor slurry smoothly flows on the inner surface of the funnel-shaped end wall and is smoothly discharged from one coating agent discharge pipe due to the above characteristics. Since it is possible to suppress the thickness of the phosphor provided on the end wall from being condensed to be extremely thicker than the thickness of the phosphor provided on the side wall, the phosphor provided on the other end wall and the phosphor provided on the side wall The difference in thermal expansion between the fluorescent material provided on the other end wall and the member constituting the end wall can be reduced, thereby reducing the difference in the other end wall. Peeling of the provided phosphor can be suppressed. Furthermore, since the phosphor is provided on the inner surface of the end wall, it is possible to suppress the ultraviolet light generated by excimer discharge from being directly irradiated to the end wall, thereby extending the life of the discharge vessel.

It is explanatory drawing of the fluorescent lamp which concerns on a 1st Example. It is explanatory drawing of the fluorescent lamp which concerns on a 1st Example. It is explanatory drawing of the manufacturing method of the fluorescent lamp which concerns on a 1st Example. It is explanatory drawing of the manufacturing method of the fluorescent lamp which concerns on a 1st Example. It is explanatory drawing of the manufacturing method of the fluorescent lamp which concerns on a 1st Example. It is explanatory drawing of the fluorescent lamp which concerns on a 2nd Example. It is explanatory drawing of the fluorescent lamp which concerns on a 3rd Example. It is explanatory drawing of the fluorescent lamp which concerns on a 4th Example. It is explanatory drawing of the fluorescent lamp which concerns on a 5th Example. It is explanatory drawing of the fluorescent lamp which concerns on a 6th Example. It is explanatory drawing of the fluorescent lamp which concerns on a 7th Example. It is conventional explanatory drawing. (A) It is explanatory drawing of the fluorescent lamp which concerns on the past. (B) It is explanatory drawing of the excimer lamp which concerns on the past. (C) It is explanatory drawing of the excimer lamp which concerns on the past.

1 and 2 are explanatory diagrams of a first embodiment according to the present invention.
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the fluorescent lamp 1 according to the first embodiment along the longitudinal direction.
2A is a perspective view of one end of the fluorescent lamp 1 in FIG. 1, and FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the fluorescent lamp in FIG. It is AA sectional drawing of Fig.2 (a).

  The fluorescent lamp 1 according to the first embodiment includes a rectangular parallelepiped discharge vessel 2, a glass layer 4 provided on the inner surface of the discharge vessel 2, a phosphor 5 provided on the inner surface of the glass layer 4, and a discharge vessel 2. A pair of electrodes 31 and 32 provided on the outer surface so as to be separated from each other.

  The discharge vessel 2 includes a rectangular parallelepiped side wall 23, funnel-shaped end walls 241 and 242 provided at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the side wall 23, and coating agent pipe remaining portions 251 and 252 provided on the end walls 241 and 242. It is comprised by. As a member constituting the discharge vessel 2, for example, quartz glass is used, and a member that transmits light emitted from the phosphor 5 described later is used.

As shown in FIG. 2, the side wall 23 is a rectangular parallelepiped that forms four surfaces (in FIG. 2A, the front surface of the paper, two of the side surfaces of the paper, and a surface not shown in the back of the paper). The width of the end portion of the front surface (the surface on which one electrode 31 is provided) and the unillustrated surface at the back of the paper face toward the coating agent pipe remainders 251 and 252. A linear inclination is provided so as to narrow sequentially.
The end walls 241 and 242 are configured in a funnel shape so that the diameters of the end walls 241 and 242 are gradually reduced toward the coating agent pipe remaining portions 251 and 252 along the inclination of the side wall 23. In the cross section shown in FIG. 1, the end walls 241 and 242 are configured in a funnel shape that gradually decreases in diameter from the left and right sides of the paper toward the coating agent pipe remaining portions 251 and 252 located at the center. The end walls 241 and 242 have an inclination angle R of, for example, 10 ° to 45 ° with respect to a perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the discharge vessel 2 in the cross section of FIG.
In the center of the funnel-shaped end walls 241 and 242, the coating agent pipe remaining portions 251 and 252 are provided so as to protrude outward. There is a hollow in the inside of the remaining pipes 251 and 252 for the coating agent, and a hole is provided in the center of the funnel-shaped end walls 241 and 242 for communicating the hollow and the inner hollow of the side wall 23.

  A sealed discharge space 26 is formed inside the discharge vessel 2, and, for example, xenon gas is enclosed in the discharge space 26 as a luminescent gas.

  As shown in FIG. 2, mesh-like electrodes 31 and 32 are provided on the outer surface of the side wall 23, respectively. As a result, the pair of electrodes 31 (the other electrode is not shown in FIG. 2A and shown in FIG. 2B) are arranged to face the discharge vessel 2 with the discharge space 26 therebetween.

On the inner surface of the discharge vessel 2, for example, glass made of borosilicate glass (Si—B—O glass, softening point: about 800 ° C.), aluminosilicate glass (Si—Al—O glass, softening point: 900 ° C.) Layer 4 is provided. As the glass layer 4, one having a softening point lower than at least the softening point of the member constituting the discharge vessel 2 (quartz glass softening point: 1600 ° C.) is used.
This glass layer 4 is provided in order to strengthen the bond between the phosphor 5 and the discharge vessel 2. For this reason, a glass layer is provided in the range in which the fluorescent substance 5 is provided at least. The range in which the phosphor 5 is provided is provided on the inner surface of the side wall 23 in order to efficiently receive the ultraviolet rays from the excimer discharge between the electrodes 31 and 32, and the end walls 241 and 242 are not irradiated with the ultraviolet rays from the excimer discharge. Are provided on the inner surfaces of the end walls 241 and 242. For this reason, the glass layer 4 is also provided on the inner surface of the side wall 23 and the inner surfaces of the end walls 241 and 242.

The phosphor 5 is provided on the inner surface of the discharge vessel 2 through the glass layer 4.
Examples of members constituting the phosphor 5 include europium activated strontium borate (Sr—B—O: Eu, center wavelength 368 nm) phosphor 5, cerium activated magnesium lanthanum aluminate (La—P—O: Gd, Pr, center wavelength 311 nm) phosphor 5 and the like. Each of these phosphors 5 absorbs ultraviolet rays having a wavelength of less than 250 nm, converts them into light having a central wavelength band, and emits them.

  In the fluorescent lamp 1 according to the first embodiment described above, the end walls 241 and 242 are formed in a funnel shape toward the coating agent pipe remaining portions 251 and 252, so that the phosphor 5 provided on the end walls 241 and 242 is provided. And the thickness provided on the side wall 23 are not extremely different. The reason why the thickness of the phosphor 5 provided on the end walls 241 and 242 is not extremely thicker than the thickness of the phosphor 5 provided on the side wall 23 will be described through a method for manufacturing the fluorescent lamp 1.

3-5 is explanatory drawing which showed the manufacturing process of the fluorescent lamp 1 of the 1st Example shown in FIG.1 and FIG.2.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a process of forming the glass tube 6.
4 (i) and 4 (k) are explanatory diagrams of the process of forming the glass layer 4 on the inner surface of the glass tube 6 obtained in FIG. 4 (l), (m) and FIG. 5 (n) are explanatory diagrams of the process of forming the phosphor 5 on the inner surface of the glass layer 4 formed in FIG.
5 (o) to 5 (q) are explanatory views of a process for sealing the discharge vessel 2 obtained in FIG.

  First, the glass tube forming process will be described.

A rectangular parallelepiped discharge vessel forming tube 61 made of fused silica glass is prepared (FIG. 3 (a) is a partial perspective view of the end of the discharge vessel forming tube 61), and its end face in the longitudinal direction is outward of the end face. Cut in a slanted shape so that the diameter gradually decreases (FIG. 3B is an explanatory diagram in which the end of FIG. 3A is cut).
An end wall forming plate 62 made of fused silica glass is prepared by cutting out a length corresponding to the length of the end surface of the discharge vessel forming tube 61 (FIG. 3C is a perspective view of the end wall forming plate 62). 3 is in contact with the end surface of the vessel forming tube 61 (FIG. 3D is a side view in which the discharge vessel forming tube 61 and the end wall forming plate 62 are in contact). For this contact, the discharge vessel forming tube 61 is fixed to one chuck 811 of the glass lathe, and the end wall forming plate 62 is attached to the end surface of the discharge vessel forming tube 61 by a jig 813 fixed to the other chuck 812 of the glass lathe. This is realized by pressing toward (Fig. 3 (d)).
One chuck 811 and the other chuck 812 in this glass lathe have a mechanism capable of rotating in the same axis.

The inclined end portion of the discharge vessel forming tube 61 and the end wall forming plate 62 are welded by heating the abutted portion with a burner 82 while being repeatedly rotated and stopped by a glass lathe (FIG. 3 (e) is a partially enlarged view of the abutting portion of FIG. 3 (d) (note that the jig 813 shown in FIG. 3 (d) is omitted).
After the contact portion is welded, the end wall forming plate 62 is softened by being heated by the burner 82, bent along the inclined end surface, and is in contact with the inclined end surface. The newly contacted portion and the end wall forming plate 62 are welded by being heated by the burner 82 while being repeatedly rotated and stopped by the glass lathe (FIG. 3F).

After this welding, while the discharge vessel forming tube 61 is rotated C, the central portion of the welded end wall forming plate 62 is heated by the burner 82 (FIG. 3G). The inside of the discharge vessel forming tube 61 is in a pressurized state by nitrogen gas N, and the central portion of the end wall forming plate 62 is heated by the burner 82, so that this portion is softened and pressurized by the nitrogen gas N It swells and is finally blown away to form a hole 621 (FIG. 3 (h)).
In the hole 621, one cylindrical discharge pipe 631 for coating material made of fused silica glass is prepared, and its end is brought into contact with the hole 621 and heated by the burner 82 to be end wall forming plate. 62 and one discharge pipe 631 for coating agent are joined.

  Up to this point, one end portion of the discharge vessel forming tube 61 has been described. However, since the other end portion is also subjected to the same process as described above and one discharge pipe 632 for the coating agent is joined, description thereof is omitted. .

  As described above, the discharge vessel forming tube 61, the funnel-shaped end wall forming plates 62 provided at both ends thereof, and the pair of coating agent discharge pipes 631, 632 provided on the end wall forming plate, They are joined together. This integrated object is referred to as “glass tube 6”.

  Next, the process of forming the glass layer 4 on the inner surface of the glass tube 6 and the process of forming the phosphor 5 will be described.

1. A slurry in which glass powder for constituting the glass layer 4 is dispersed is manufactured (step 1).
The massive glass for constituting the glass layer 4 is finely crushed and applied to a ball mill. The particle size is classified by applying the pulverized glass powder to a mesh, and a glass powder having an average particle size of 0.5 to 10 μm (preferably 1 to 5 μm) is produced.
This glass powder is mixed with nitrocellulose and butyl acetate solution at a weight ratio of 1: 4. The mixed solution is ball milled with alumina balls and sufficiently milled to produce a slurry in which glass powder is dispersed. Hereinafter, the slurry in which the glass powder is dispersed is referred to as “glass slurry 71”.
The glass which comprises the glass layer 4 is a glass which has a softening point lower than the softening point (1600 degreeC) of the quartz glass used as the base material of the discharge vessel 2. FIG. Preferably, the glass has a softening point in the range of the firing temperature (400 to 900 ° C.) of the phosphor 5, and more preferably a hard glass having good thermal shock resistance.
Of these, borosilicate glass (Si—B—O-based glass, softening point: about 800 ° C.) and aluminosilicate glass (Si—Al—O-based glass, softening point: about 900 ° C.) are preferable, and such hard glass. May be used singly or as a mixture at an appropriate ratio.

2. Subsequently, the glass slurry 71 is applied to the inner surface of the glass tube 6 (step 2).
In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4 (i), the glass tube 6 is held vertically in its longitudinal direction, and one coating agent discharge pipe 631 is placed on the liquid surface of the container filled with the glass slurry 71. It is done. The glass tube 6 sucks air inside the glass tube 6 from the other coating agent discharge pipe 632, so that the glass slurry 71 is sucked up from the one coating agent discharge pipe 631, and the glass tube 6 is filled with glass. The slurry 71 is filled (FIG. 4 (k)), and then the glass slurry 71 is discharged from one coating agent discharge pipe 631. At this time, since the glass slurry 71 has viscosity, the inner surface of the discharge vessel forming tube 61, the inner surface of the other end wall forming plate 62 (upper side of the paper surface), and the inner surface of one end wall forming plate 62 (lower side of the paper surface). The glass slurry 71 is applied to the inner surface of one coating agent discharge pipe 632 and the inner surface of one coating agent discharge pipe 631. Here, the shape of the end wall forming plate 62 is a funnel shape that gradually decreases in diameter toward one coating agent discharge pipe 631, and glass slurry is smoothly transferred to one coating agent discharge pipe 631. 71 can be poured out and it can suppress that the accumulation | storage of a glass powder generate | occur | produces. At this time, it is preferable that the thickness of the glass slurry 71 is formed in the range of 1 to 30 μm. The thickness of the glass slurry 71 to be applied can be changed by adjusting the viscosity of the glass slurry 71 and the number of times of application.
In addition, when the phosphor 5 formed in the subsequent process emits ultraviolet light, if the glass layer 4 is thick, sufficient transmittance for transmitting ultraviolet light from the phosphor may not be obtained. For this reason, it is preferable that the thickness of the glass layer 4 is as small as possible as long as the phosphor 5 to be formed in a subsequent process can be held.

3. The glass slurry 71 is dried (step 3).
By flowing dry nitrogen gas from the other coating agent discharge pipe 632 of the glass tube 6 to one coating agent discharge pipe 631, butyl acetate contained in the glass slurry 71 is evaporated. Also here, the shape of the end wall forming plate 62 is a funnel shape that gradually decreases in diameter toward one coating agent discharge pipe 631, so that the glass powder is smoothly transferred to one coating agent discharge pipe 631. It can flow out and it can suppress that the accumulation of glass powder generate | occur | produces. As a result, a layer in which glass powder having a thickness of 1 to 30 μm is deposited on the inner surface of the glass tube 6 is formed.

4). The glass tube 6 is heated and the glass powder layer is fired (step 4).
Firing conditions are in the atmosphere, about 500 to 1000 ° C., and the time is 0.2 to 1 hour in terms of holding time at the maximum temperature. When the above-described borosilicate glass or aluminosilicate glass is used, it is preferably performed at 600 to 900 ° C. The particles are bonded to each other by this baking process, and are fused to the glass tube 6 so that the glass layer 4 is strongly bonded to the base material.
The glass layer 4 is normally maintained in a powdery form because it does not rise to the melting temperature, but it may be melted at a higher temperature.

5. The glass tube 6 is cooled to room temperature (step 5), and the prepared slurry of the phosphor 5 is applied into the arc tube by a suction method (step 6).
The method for applying phosphor 5 is described in 2. The procedure is the same as the procedure described above, and one of the discharge pipes 631 for the coating agent is placed on the liquid surface of the container filled with the phosphor slurry 72 while holding the glass tube for arc tube construction vertically. In the glass tube 6, the phosphor slurry 72 is sucked up from one coating agent discharge pipe 631 by sucking the air inside the glass tube 6 from the other coating agent discharge pipe 632, and the inside of the glass tube 6. The phosphor slurry 72 is filled (FIG. 4 (m)), and then the phosphor slurry 72 is discharged from one coating agent discharge pipe 631. At this time, since the phosphor slurry 72 has viscosity, the inner surface of the discharge vessel forming tube 61, the inner surface of the other end wall forming plate 62 (upper side of the paper surface), and the one end wall forming plate 62 (lower side of the paper surface). The phosphor slurry 72 is applied to the inner surface, the inner surface of one coating agent discharge pipe 632 and the inner surface of one coating agent discharge pipe 631. Here, the shape of the end wall forming plate 62 is a funnel shape that gradually decreases in diameter toward one coating agent discharge pipe 631, and allows the phosphor powder to smoothly flow into one coating agent discharge pipe 631. It can suppress and it can suppress that the accumulation | storage (condensation) of fluorescent substance powder generate | occur | produces.
The phosphor that can be suitably used in the fluorescent lamp 1 according to the present invention is, for example, a europium-activated strontium borate (Sr—B—O: Eu (hereinafter referred to as SBE), center wavelength 368 nm) phosphor. Cerium-activated magnesium lanthanum aluminate (La-Mg-Al-O: Ce (hereinafter referred to as LAM), center wavelength 338 nm (but broad)) phosphor, gadolinium, praseodymium-activated lanthanum phosphate (La-P) -O: Gd, Pr (hereinafter referred to as LAP: Pr, Gd, center wavelength: 311 nm) phosphors, etc. Each of these phosphors absorbs ultraviolet light in a region with a wavelength of less than 250 nm and has each. It is converted to ultraviolet rays in the central wavelength band and emitted.

6). The butyl acetate contained in the phosphor slurry 72 is evaporated by flowing dry nitrogen gas from the other coating agent discharge pipe 632 of the glass tube 6 to one coating agent discharge pipe 631. Also here, the shape of the end wall 241, 242 part forming plate is a funnel shape that gradually reduces the diameter toward one coating agent discharge pipe 631. It is possible to smoothly flow out to 631 (FIG. 5 (n)), and it is possible to suppress the accumulation (condensation) of the phosphor powder.

7). The phosphor is fired (step 8).
The glass tube 6 is put into a furnace and fired. Firing conditions are about 500 to 800 ° C. in the atmosphere, and heating is performed for 0.2 to 1 hour as a holding time at the maximum temperature. In this firing step, the softening of the glass occurs at the interface between the phosphor 5 layer and the glass layer 4, and the phosphor 5 is bound to the glass layer 4, and as a result, a strong bonded state is obtained.
As a result, a state is obtained in which the glass layer 4 made of the low softening point glass powder and the phosphor 5 layer are laminated in this order on the inner surface of the glass tube 6 made of quartz glass.
In the case of the phosphor 5 that is severely deteriorated in the air, the temperature is raised to a temperature at which nitrocellulose is burned out in the air, and then heated to about 800 ° C. by making the atmosphere non-oxidizing or reducing. Is possible.

  Finally, the sealing process of the glass tube 6 will be described.

8). The glass tube 6 is cooled to room temperature (step 9), and a rare gas is sealed inside the glass tube 6 to be hermetically sealed (step 10).
More specifically, after removing the phosphor 5 layer and the glass layer 4 adhering to the inner surfaces of the pair of coating agent discharge pipes 631 and 632, one coating agent discharge pipe 631 is heated by the burner 82 (FIG. 5 (o)), one coating agent pipe remaining portion 251 is formed by sealing (FIG. 5 (p)). Thereafter, one coating agent discharge pipe 632 is airtightly connected to the exhaust device 83, and after the gas inside the glass tube 6 is exhausted by the exhaust device 83, the emission gas is, for example, xenon (Xe). Lipton (Kr), Argon (Ar), and Neon (Ne) may be encapsulated alone or mixed and encapsulated in an appropriate combination. The wavelengths obtained by discharging these rare gases are xenon 160-190 nm, krypton 124, 140-160 nm, argon 107-165 nm, and neon 80-90 nm.
After the luminescent gas is sealed, one discharge pipe 632 for the coating agent is heated and sealed (chip off) by the burner 82, thereby completing the discharge vessel 2 in which the phosphor 5 and the glass layer 4 are provided. The
Thereafter, a pair of electrodes 31 and 32 are provided on the outer surface of the discharge vessel 2, whereby the fluorescent lamp 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is obtained.

  As described in the above manufacturing method, one end wall 241 provided at one end of the discharge vessel 2 is formed in a funnel shape toward one coating agent pipe remaining portion 251, so that the phosphor 5 It is possible to suppress the accumulation (condensation) of the phosphor powder on the inner surface of one end wall 241 at the time of discharging or drying the slurry, so that the thickness of the five phosphor layers provided on the end walls 241 and 242 and the side wall It can suppress that the thickness provided in 23 differs extremely. Thereby, the phosphor 5 provided on the end walls 241 and 242 is not extremely different from the thickness of the phosphor 5 provided on the side wall 23, so that the difference in thermal expansion is small and the phosphor 5 provided on the end walls 241 and 242 is provided. Since the phosphor 5 is extremely thin like the phosphor 5 provided on the side wall 23, the difference in thermal expansion from the member formed by the end walls 241 and 242 is reduced, so that the phosphor 5 is peeled off from the end walls 241 and 242. Can be suppressed.

When the lamp is lit, a vacuum ultraviolet ray of 200 nm or less is generated from the luminescent gas sealed inside the discharge vessel 2, and the phosphor 5 is excited by the vacuum ultraviolet ray. When the excitation light is, for example, an ultraviolet ray of 250 nm to 380 nm, if the member constituting the discharge vessel 2 is quartz glass, the ultraviolet ray is transmitted and can be suitably irradiated to the outside. At this time, since the phosphors 5 are provided on the end walls 241 and 242 of the discharge vessel 2, it is possible to prevent the vacuum ultraviolet rays generated inside the discharge vessel 2 from being directly irradiated onto the end walls 241 and 242. Since the breakage of the discharge vessel 2 can be suppressed, the life of the discharge vessel 2 can be extended.
Furthermore, in the case of vacuum ultraviolet rays of 200 nm or less, if it flows out of the discharge vessel 2, it is absorbed by external oxygen to generate ozone, which causes the disadvantage of decomposing the resin contained in the apparatus. Since the fluorescent lamp 1 according to the above is provided with the phosphor 5 on the inner surfaces of the end walls 241 and 242, it is possible to prevent the vacuum ultraviolet rays from flowing out from the end walls 241 and 242. In addition, since the apparatus does not have to take measures against ozone, the apparatus is not complicated.

In the first embodiment, the member constituting the discharge vessel 2 is quartz glass, and since the softening point of this quartz glass is around 1600 ° C., even if the phosphor 5 is provided directly on the inner surface of the discharge vessel 2, When the phosphor 5 is heated to a high temperature region of around 1600 ° C., the phosphor 5 deteriorates and predetermined light cannot be obtained. On the other hand, even if the phosphor 5 is avoided at a temperature lower than 1600 ° C. by avoiding the deterioration of the phosphor 5, the discharge vessel 2 is not sufficiently softened, and the bonding with the phosphor 5 is insufficient. This causes a problem that the phosphor 5 is peeled off. For this reason, in the first embodiment, the phosphor 5 is provided on the inner surface of the discharge vessel 2 through the glass layer 4 having a softening point lower than that of quartz glass, so that peeling and deterioration of the phosphor 5 can be suppressed.
When the discharge vessel 2 is made of hard glass, the softening point thereof is lower than that of quartz glass, so that the phosphor 5 can be provided directly on the discharge vessel 2. As an example in which the phosphor layer 5 is provided directly on the discharge vessel 2 without providing the glass layer 4, a second embodiment will be described.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a second embodiment according to the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view along the longitudinal direction of the fluorescent lamp 1 according to the second embodiment.
In FIG. 6, the same components as those shown in FIG.

The second embodiment of FIG. 6 is different from the first embodiment of FIG. 1 in that the members constituting the discharge vessel 2 are different and the glass layer 4 is not provided.
As a description of the second embodiment of FIG. 6, the parts that are the same as those in FIG. 1 are omitted, and the parts that are different are described.

  The member which comprises the discharge vessel 2 is hard glass, The softening point is 780 degreeC. Since this temperature is the same as the softening point of the glass layer 4 shown in the first embodiment, when the phosphor slurry 72 is applied to the inner surface of the discharge vessel 2 and baked, the phosphor layer 5 and the discharge vessel 2 The softening of the glass occurs at the boundary surface, and the phosphor 5 is bound to the discharge vessel 2, and a strong bonded state is obtained between the discharge vessel 2 and the phosphor 5.

  Thus, when the member which comprises the discharge vessel 2 is hard glass, the fluorescent substance 5 can be directly provided on the inner surface of the discharge vessel 2. Even if comprised in this way, since the shape of the discharge vessel 2 is the same as that of the first embodiment, the fluorescent lamp 1 according to the second embodiment can obtain the same effects as those of the first embodiment. it can.

  As an example other than the shapes of the funnel-shaped end walls 241 and 242 shown in the first and second embodiments, a third embodiment will be described.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of a third embodiment according to the present invention.
FIG. 7A is a cross-sectional view along the longitudinal direction of the fluorescent lamp 1 according to the third embodiment. FIG. 7B is a perspective view of one end portion of the fluorescent lamp 1 of FIG.
In FIG. 7, the same components as those shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

The third embodiment of FIG. 7 differs from the first embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2 in that the funnel-shaped shapes of the end walls 241 and 242 are arcuate.
As an explanation of the third embodiment of FIG. 7, the parts that are the same as those in FIGS. 1 and 2 are omitted, and the parts that are different are described.

As shown in FIG. 7 (b), the end walls 241 and 242 have widths at the ends of the front surface (the surface on which one electrode 31 is provided) and the surface (not shown) at the back of the paper. Is inclined in a circular shape of a logarithmic function so as to gradually narrow toward the remaining pipes 251 and 252 for the coating agent.
The end walls 241 and 242 are configured in a funnel shape so that the diameters of the end walls 241 and 242 are gradually reduced toward the coating agent pipe remaining portions 251 and 252 along the inclination of the side wall 23. In the cross section shown in FIG. 7A, the end walls 241 and 242 are formed in a funnel shape so as to form logarithmic arcs from the left and right sides of the paper toward the coating agent pipe remaining portions 251 and 252 located in the center. Is done.

Even if the shape of the end walls 241 and 242 is the circular arc funnel shape shown in FIG. 7, the phosphor powder filled in the glass tube 6 can be smoothly discharged in the phosphor coating step, and the end walls It is possible to suppress the accumulation (condensation) of the phosphor powder in the 241 and 242.
For this reason, the fluorescent lamp 1 according to the third embodiment can obtain the same effects as the fluorescent lamp 1 according to the first embodiment.

  In the first to third embodiments, the position where the coating agent pipe remaining portions 251 and 252 are provided is the center of the end walls 241 and 242, but other examples are shown as a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of the fourth embodiment according to the present invention.
Fig.8 (a) is sectional drawing along the longitudinal direction of the fluorescent lamp 1 which concerns on a 4th Example. FIG. 8B is a perspective view of one end portion of the fluorescent lamp 1 of FIG.
In FIG. 8, the same components as those shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

The fourth embodiment of FIG. 8 is different from the first embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2 in that the remaining pipe portions 251 and 252 for the coating agent are provided at the positions of the side edges of the end walls 241 and 242.
As an explanation of the fourth embodiment of FIG. 8, the common parts of FIGS. 1 and 2 are omitted, and the different parts are described.

As shown in FIG. 8B, the coating agent pipe remaining portions 251 and 252 are provided at the positions of the side edges of the end walls 241 and 242.
As shown in FIG. 8 (b), the side wall 23 has an end portion between a front surface (surface on which one electrode 31, 32 is provided) and an unillustrated surface at the back of the paper surface. A linear inclination is provided so as to narrow toward the coating agent pipe remainders 251 and 252 sequentially.
The end walls 241 and 242 are configured in a funnel shape that is inclined toward the coating agent pipe remaining portions 251 and 252 along the inclination of the side wall 23. In the cross section shown in FIG. 8A, the end walls 241 and 242 are formed in a funnel shape inclined to the left side of the paper toward the coating agent pipe remaining portions 251 and 252 located on the right side of the paper.

Even if the shape of the end walls 241 and 242 is a funnel shape as shown in FIG. 8, the phosphor powder filled in the glass tube 6 can be smoothly discharged in the phosphor coating step, It is possible to suppress the accumulation (condensation) of the phosphor powder in the 241 and 242.
For this reason, the fluorescent lamp 1 according to the fourth embodiment can obtain the same effects as the fluorescent lamp 1 according to the first embodiment.

  In the first to fourth embodiments, the positions where the end walls 241 and 242 are provided are provided on the end surface of the end portion of the side wall 23, but other examples are shown as the fifth embodiment.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of the fifth embodiment according to the present invention.
FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view along the longitudinal direction of the fluorescent lamp 1 according to the fifth embodiment.
In FIG. 9, the same components as those shown in FIG.

In the fifth embodiment shown in FIG. 9, the positions where the end walls 241 and 242 are provided are provided in a region inside the end face of the side wall 23, and outward from the outer peripheral edges of the end walls 241 and 242. The second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the discharge vessel forming tube remaining portion 231 protrudes.
As an explanation of the fifth embodiment of FIG. 9, the parts that are the same as those in FIG.

  The end walls 241 and 242 are provided at positions inside the end surface of the side wall 23 at the end of the discharge vessel 2. As a result, a discharge vessel forming tube remaining portion 231 that protrudes from the outer peripheral edge of the end walls 241 and 242 toward the longitudinal direction of the discharge vessel 2 is provided.

As shown in FIG. 9, even when the end walls 241 and 242 are provided at positions inside the end surfaces of the end walls 241 and 242, the shape of the end walls 241 and 242 is changed to the coating pipe remaining portions 251 and 252. If it is funnel-shaped toward the front, the phosphor powder filled in the glass tube 6 can be discharged smoothly in the phosphor coating step, and the phosphor powder is accumulated (condensed) on the end walls 241 and 242. Occurrence can be suppressed.
For this reason, the fluorescent lamp 1 according to the fifth embodiment can obtain the same effects as the fluorescent lamp 1 according to the first embodiment.

  In the 1st-5th Example, although the shape of the discharge vessel 2 was comprised by the rectangular parallelepiped single tube, the example other than that is shown as a 6th Example.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of a sixth embodiment according to the present invention.
FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view along the longitudinal direction of the fluorescent lamp 1 according to the sixth embodiment.
In FIG. 10, the same components as those shown in FIG. 8 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

In the sixth embodiment of FIG. 10, the discharge vessel 2 is constituted by a cylindrical double tube, and the other electrode 32 is provided on the inner surface of the inner tube 22 of the discharge vessel 2, Different from the embodiment.
As an explanation of the sixth embodiment of FIG. 10, the parts that are the same as those in FIG.

  The fluorescent lamp 1 according to the sixth embodiment includes a cylindrical double tube discharge vessel 2, a glass layer 4 provided on the inner surface of the discharge vessel 2, a phosphor 5 provided on the inner surface of the glass layer 4, and a discharge vessel. And a pair of electrodes 31 and 32 provided on the outer surface of the two at a distance from each other.

  The discharge vessel 2 includes a cylindrical outer tube 21 and an inner tube 22 arranged coaxially with the outer tube 21 inside the outer tube 21, and a side wall 23 having a double tube structure, and both ends in the longitudinal direction of the side wall 23. Are formed by funnel-shaped end walls 241 and 242 provided on the end walls 241 and 242 and pipe remaining portions 251 and 252 for coating agent provided on the end walls 241 and 242. Examples of the member constituting the discharge vessel 2 include quartz glass, and a member that transmits excitation light from the phosphor 5 is used.

As shown in FIG. 10, the end surface of the side wall 23 is inclined.
The end walls 241 and 242 are configured in a funnel shape that is inclined toward the coating agent pipe remaining portions 251 and 252 along the inclination of the side wall 23. In the cross section shown in FIG. 10, the end walls 241 and 242 are configured in a funnel shape inclined from the left side of the paper toward the remaining part of the coating agent pipe located on the right side of the paper.

On the side wall 23 of the double tube structure, one net-like electrode 31 is provided on the outer peripheral surface on the outer tube 21 side, and the other cylindrical plate-like electrode 32 on the outer peripheral surface of the inner tube 22 is provided.
Accordingly, the pair of electrodes 31 and 32 are interposed in the inner tube 22 and the outer tube 21 of the discharge vessel 2, and are also interposed in the discharge space 26 between the outer tube 21 and the inner tube 22.

Even if the shape of the discharge vessel 2 is a double tube structure as shown in FIG. 10, if the shape of the end walls 241 and 242 is funnel-shaped toward the coating agent remaining pipe portions 251 and 252, the phosphor coating step The phosphor powder filled in the glass tube 6 can be discharged smoothly, and the accumulation (condensation) of the phosphor powder on the end walls 241 and 242 can be suppressed.
For this reason, the fluorescent lamp 1 according to the sixth embodiment can obtain the same effects as the fluorescent lamp 1 according to the fourth embodiment.

  In the first to sixth embodiments, the coating agent pipe remaining portions 251 and 252 are provided on the end walls 241 and 242, but other examples are shown as a seventh embodiment.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of a seventh embodiment according to the present invention.
FIG. 11A is a perspective view showing one end of the fluorescent lamp 1 according to the seventh embodiment. FIG.11 (b) is sectional drawing which showed one edge part of the fluorescent lamp 1 of Fig.11 (a).
In FIG. 11, the same components as those shown in FIG. 8 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

The seventh embodiment shown in FIG. 11 is different from the fourth embodiment shown in FIG. 8 in that the coating agent pipe remaining portions 251 and 252 are provided on the side wall 23.
As an explanation of the seventh embodiment of FIG. 11, the parts that are the same as those in FIG.

One coating agent pipe remainder 251 is provided in the vicinity of the end face of the side wall 23. One coating agent pipe remainder 251 is configured in an L shape so that its shape extends from the side wall 23 in the vertical direction from the longitudinal direction of the discharge vessel 2, and then bends in the longitudinal direction of the discharge vessel 2. The
The inner surface of one coating agent pipe remainder 251 is continuous with the inner surface of the inclined end wall 241, thereby discharging the phosphor powder filled in the glass tube 6 in the phosphor coating step. In this case, the phosphor powder that has flowed through the inclined end wall 241 can be smoothly flowed to and discharged from the inner surface of the coating material discharge pipe that is continuous with the inner surface of the inclined end wall 241. Generation | occurrence | production of the accumulation (condensation) of body powder can be suppressed.
For this reason, the fluorescent lamp 1 according to the sixth embodiment can obtain the same effects as the fluorescent lamp 1 according to the fourth embodiment.

  The provision of one coating agent pipe remainder 251 in the vicinity of the end face of the side wall 23 can be applied even to a double pipe structure as shown in FIG.

In the above-described first to seventh embodiments, the end wall 241 of at least one of the pair of end walls 241 and 242 is funnel-shaped toward the coating agent remaining pipe portion 251, thereby applying phosphor. In the process, the phosphor powder filled in the glass tube 6 can be discharged smoothly.
However, when the irradiated object irradiated with the light from the fluorescent lamp 1 of the present invention is large, the fluorescent lamp 1 may be manufactured as long as 2 m or more, for example. At this time, since the phosphor slurry 72 has a viscosity, when the phosphor powder is discharged, there is a case where sufficient discharge cannot be performed only by discharging from the one coating agent discharge pipe 631. For this reason, when the fluorescent lamp 1 is long, as shown in FIG. 1, the other end wall 242 is also formed in a funnel shape toward the other coating agent discharge pipe. It is possible to suppress the accumulation (condensation) of the phosphor powder in 242, and to suppress the peeling of the phosphor 5 provided on the other end wall 242.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Fluorescent lamp 2 Discharge vessel 21 Outer tube 22 Inner tube 23 Side wall 231 Discharge vessel formation tube remainder 241 One end wall 242 The other end wall 251 One coating agent pipe remainder 252 The other coating agent pipe remainder 26 Discharge space 31 One electrode 32 The other electrode 4 Glass layer 5 Phosphor 6 Glass tube 61 Discharge vessel forming tube 62 End wall forming plate 621 Hole 631 One coating agent discharge pipe 632 The other coating agent discharge pipe 71 Glass slurry 72 Fluorescence Body slurry 811 One chuck 812 The other chuck 813 Jig 82 Burner 83 Exhaust device C Rotation N Nitrogen gas R Inclination angle

Claims (4)

A discharge vessel having a phosphor on its inner surface;
Electrodes facing each other with a discharge vessel interposed therebetween;
In the fluorescent lamp consisting of
The discharge vessel is provided with a coating pipe remainder at at least one end,
This end wall is substantially funnel-shaped toward the remainder of the coating agent discharge pipe, and a fluorescent material is also provided on the inner surface of the fluorescent lamp. The fluorescent lamp according to claim 1, wherein the discharge vessel is provided with the phosphor via a glass layer. The fluorescent lamp according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the remaining pipe for coating agent is provided at both ends. In a method of manufacturing a fluorescent lamp comprising a discharge vessel provided with a phosphor on the inner surface, and an electrode opposed to the discharge vessel,
The end surface of at least one end of the discharge vessel forming tube is formed to be inclined with respect to the longitudinal direction of the discharge vessel forming tube, and one end wall forming plate is joined along the inclined end surface. The discharge pipe for one coating agent has a funnel-shaped one end wall forming plate toward the discharge pipe for one coating agent, and the hollow of the discharge container forming pipe and the hollow of the discharge pipe for coating agent Are joined so as to communicate with each other, thereby forming a glass tube;
The phosphor slurry is filled inside the glass tube, and discharged from one coating agent discharge pipe of the glass tube;
A method for manufacturing a fluorescent lamp, comprising:

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