Patent ID: 7682547
Filing Date: 2010-03-23
Classification: B28B,B29C,B29K,H01J,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A method of making an arc tube comprising: a) providing a metal core pin wire having a first segment and a second segment, said first segment being located at a position along said core pin wire ahead of said second segment, said core pin wire having a plurality of bosses provided at spaced intervals along the length thereof, each of said first and second segments being defined respectively between adjacent ones of said bosses wherein said core pin wire extends beyond said bosses at each of said first and said second segment ends; b) conveying said core pin wire along a conveyance path such that said first segment is conveyed to a first, wax molding station; c) selectively tensioning said first segment of said core pin wire during molding of said first wax core at said wax molding station by applying a force to one or both of the adjacent bosses defining the first segment sufficient to produce a predetermined tension therein; d) at said wax molding station, molding a first wax core onto said core pin wire at said first segment thereof; e) thereafter advancing said core pin wire along said conveyance path to thereby convey said first segment to a second, arc tube molding station, and said second segment to said first, wax molding station; f) thereafter, at said wax molding station molding a second wax core onto said core pin wire at said second segment, and at said arc tube molding station molding a first arc tube over said first wax core at said first segment.