Patent GB-793046-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to apparatus for exhausting electric discharge devices
IPC: H01J9/38
Filed: 1954-12-14
Abstract: 793,046. Making electric discharge devices. SYLVANIA ELECTRIC PRODUCTS, Inc. Dec. 14, 1954 [Dec, 15, 1953], No. 36200/54. Class 39(2) Apparatus for exhausting electric discharge devices comprises a head 10, Fig. 1, containing a resilierit collar 20 for receiving the exhausting tubulation 54 of a discharge tube, and a pin 48,. shown also in Fig. 3, slidably disposed in a chamber 42 in the head and provided with end parts 50, 52 for establishing communication with the chamber, the pin being movable axially into the collar 20 which is associated with means for clamping it about the pin when the latter extends through it, thereby effecting a hermetic seal 'which closes the path through the pin to the chamber 42. Fig. 1 shows the pin 48 in the normal retracted and operative position within the chamber 42 and connecting the exhausting tube 54 of a discharge tube 55 to a tube 44 leading to an exhausting pump, the condition shown being that in which a burner 60 mounted on a plate 56 has just sealed off the exhausting tube from the discharge tube and been carried by a reciprocating rod 58 from the position shown in broken lines to that shown in full lines. As shown the resilient collar 20 is compressed by clamping it around the exhausting tube 54. After the compression of the collar has been released a blast of air is introduced through the tube 44 and drives the pin 48 Jorwardly in the chamber 42 until a flange on the inner end of the pin strikes a rigid collar 18 located beneath the resilient collar 20, during which movement the outer end of the pin pushes the freed length of exhausting tube out of a funnel guide 22. The clamping-device comprises a screwthreaded cap 16 on the end of the block 12 which is recessed to receive in succession the abutting collars 18 and 20, and a flange 26 on the funnel guide 22, with a ball-race 24 disposed between the outer face of flange 26 and inner face of cap 16. An - operating-lever 28 has its inner end formed to be adjustably secured around the periphery of the cap 16. The apparatus is described for use in an exhausting-machine adapted for the automatic operation of the clamping-device, by providing a lever 36 which is pivoted at 38 to a bracket 40 secured on the block 12 and is formed at its pivoted end with gear teeth 34, Fig. 4, which engage similar teeth 32 on the lever 28 and concentric with the axis of the latter. The levers 28 and 36 are so arranged that during clockwise indexing of the turret of the exhausting machine, Fig. 5, they encounter cam-followers 82, 74 respectively at two work-stations adjacent to the periphery of the turret. As shown the sealed off discharge tubes 55 roll down a delivery shoot 84 after which the grip on the severed length of exhausting tube is released by the lever 28 engaging the cam - follower roller 82 which lies in its path. A blast of air next removes the length of tube by blowing the pin 48 forwardly through the resilient collar 20, and the head 10, in a condition to receive another lamp 55 is advanced to a feeding cradle 86 and halted in axial alignment with a lamp thereon. A rod 14, Fig. 1, supporting the head 10 is then moved towards the lamp end-on, and the exhaust tube 54 of the lamp enters the funnel guide 22 and pushes the pin 48 rearwardly to the position shown in Fig. 1. The head 10 is again advanced with the turret and the lever 36 is rotated by a cam roller 74 lying in its path. whereupon the cap 16 is rotated through the gears 34 and 32 and tightened to deform the resilient collar 20 about the exhaust tube. If, for any reason, the head 10 fails to pick up a lamp from the feeding cradle 86, the pin 48 remains in its forward position, so that when the lever 36 is actuated by the cam roller 74 the resultant tightening of resilient collar 20 about the pin 48 effects a hermetic seal in the relative head 10 before it is connected by the tube 44 to the exhaust system, thus preventing impurities from entering the exhaust system therethrough.