A Process for Clearing the Bulbs of Incandescence Osmium Lamps.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Dec., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 29th Sept., 1900-Accepted, 3rd Nov., 1900
A Process for Clearing the Bulbs of Incandescence Osmium Lamps.
I, Dr. CARL AUER VON WELSBACII, of IV., Wiedner Hauptstrasse No. 69,
Vienna, Austria, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
The bulb of an incandescence osmium lamp becomes after a time coated with
a fine brownish film which consists of reguline osmium, and which diminishes
the light given out by the lamp.
This invention relates to means of clearing the bulb by removing this deposit.
For this purpose the bulb is cautiously opened at its apex and pure air or
oxygen or other oxidising gas is allowed to enter.
After providing the bulb with a new stalk, the bulb is heated until the film
has almost disappeared, after which the bulb is rinsed with air or a gas that does
not reduce osmic acid.
If it is desired to remove the film entirely a little dilute acid such as nitric
acid is allowed to enter the bulb along with the air or oxygen, and the bulb is
slowly rotated with its axis horizontal while it is heated until the glass becomes
quite clear. The liquid is then removed and the interior is repeatedly washed
with pure water.
After the treatment above described either with or without acid the bulb is
repeatedly rinsed with pure air, and then exhausted in the usual way.
Dated this 20th day of December 1899.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A Process for Clearing the Bulbs of Incandescence Osmium Lamps.
I, Dr. CARL AUER VON WELSBACII, of IV., Wiedner Hauptstrasse No. 69,
Vienna, Austria, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to an improved process of regenerating incandescence
osmium lamps and has for its object the reinoval of dark films from the bulbs
of such lamps by oxidation and gasification-thus preserving the intensity of
the light emitted and prolonging the lifetime of the lamp.
It has been observed, that the dazzling white light emitted by an incandescence
osmium lamp requiring about 1 Watt per candle-the electric resistance wire
[Pd1

page_text: of this lamp consisting of osmium-does not inconsiderably decrease in intensity
after burning for a good length of time, which decrease has been found to be
due to the absorption of light by an exceedingly fine, brownish flush or film
deposited on the inner surface of the bulb. The substance of this film un-
doubtedly originates from the incandescent filament, which consists of reguline
osmium, but its quantity is so extremely minute, that the glowing filament,
whose appearance does not perceptibly change in burning, presents scarcely any
alteration whatever of its substance.
Thus the filament appears to remain intact in every respect.
To chemical reagents the substance of the said film behaves like very finely
divided amorphous osmium and probably consists of such osmium in so fine a
state of division as to be almost molecular.
This film may therefore be removed by all agents, which will dissolve or
gasify amorphous osmium. Since, however, the filament, as has been stated,
consists of reguline osmium, its chemical behaviour is different from that of the
film, thus enabling the removal of the latter, without attacking the filament
itself.
The following simple processes will answer this purpose. The lamp is
cautiously opened at the apex and pure air or oxygen or other oxidising gas
is allowed to enter. After providing the bulb with a new stalk, the bulb is
heated over a flame or preferably in a suitable bath until the film has almost
entirely disappeared, whereupon the bulb is rinsed with air or with gases which
will not reduce osmic acid.
If it be desired to totally remove the film, a few cubic centimetres of some
diluted acid, for instance nitric acid, are allowed to enter the bulb in addition to
the air as afore stated. The bulb is then placed almost horizontally and is
slowly rotated while being heated. After the bulb has become clear again, it is
placed upright and the liquid is removed: Subsequently the bulb is given a
repeated washing with pure water.
After either of the hereinbefore described treatments, the bulb while still warm
is repeatedly rinsed with pure dry air. When cool, the lamp is connected with
an air pump to be evacuated and closed in the usual manner, after which it will
be ready again for use.
This process of regeneration may be repeatedly applied to an osmium lamp, i.e.
an electric lamp having an osmium filament.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
1. A process of regenerating incandescence osmium lamps by removing the
dark films or deposits from the bulb of such lamps consisting in oxidising and
gasifying the said film by introducing oxidising gases or vapours into the bulb,
which is heated to a temperature insufficient for attacking the osmium filament
itself and subsequently rinsing the bulb with gases not capable of reducing osmic
acid, substantially as hereinbefore described.
2. A modification of the process mentioned in Claim 1 consisting in also
introducing into the warm bulb a small quantity of some diluted acid, for instance
nitric acid, and subsequently rinsing the bulb with water and drying it with
pure dry air substantially as herein before described.
D
COLL
Cantamba 1000
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.