Method for producing a gas discharge lamp

Abstract

A method for producing containers for gas discharge lamps, which consists in melting glass by incident light radiation.

1 - 13 . (canceled)  
   
   
       14 . A method for producing a discharge lamp that has a flat radiator discharge vessel with a base plate, a frame having a sealing surface, a cover plate, and spacing elements, the method comprising: 
 positioning the spacing elements to hold the base and cover plates apart from one another so that an interspace is formed between the sealing surface of the frame and one of the plates, the spacing elements comprising a glass element and an intermediate element arranged between the glass element and one of the plates;    softening the intermediate element of the spacing elements in order to close the interspace; and    sealing the sealing surface in a region of the closed interspace by irradiation with light.    
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the intermediate element of the spacing elements is softened by irradiation with light.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the intermediate element of the spacing elements contains at least one ion from the group of Co, Cu, Cr, Ni, Ce, Nd, Pr, Cd, Ti, Mn, V, Pb, Zn, Bi and Fe.  
   
   
       17 . The method of claims  15  wherein the intermediate element of the spacing elements contains an additive selected from sulfides, tellurides or selenides of Zn, Sb, Pb, Mo, W, Ag, Co, Cu, Cr, Ni, Ce, Nd, Pr, Cd, Ti, Mn, V or Fe.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the discharge vessel is joined with a solder glass in a first continuous furnace before the intermediate element is softened, and the glass element and intermediate element are not softened during the joining with the solder glass.  
   
   
       19 . A method for producing a discharge lamp that has a flat radiator discharge vessel with a base plate, a frame having a support with a sealing surface, a cover plate, and spacing elements, the method comprising: 
 positioning the spacing elements to hold the base and cover plates apart from one another so that an interspace is formed between the sealing surface of the support and the cover plate, the spacing elements comprising a glass element in contact with the cover plate and an intermediate element arranged between the glass element and the base plate;    filling the discharge vessel with a filling gas;    softening the intermediate element of the spacing elements by irradiation with infrared light in order to close the interspace; and    sealing the sealing surface in a region of the closed interspace by irradiation of the support with infrared light.    
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the intermediate element of the spacing elements or the support contain at least one ion from the group of Co, Cu, Cr, Ni, Ce, Nd, Pr, Cd, Ti, Mn, V, Pb, Zn, Bi and Fe.  
   
   
       21 . The method of claims  19  wherein the intermediate element of the spacing elements or the support contain an additive selected from sulfides, tellurides or selenides of Zn, Sb, Pb, Mo, W, Ag, Co, Cu, Cr, Ni, Ce, Nd, Pr, Cd, Ti, Mn, V or Fe.  
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the discharge vessel is joined with a solder glass in a first continuous furnace before the discharge vessel is filled with the filling gas, and the glass element and intermediate element are not softened during the joining with the solder glass.  
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the discharge vessel is heated in a vacuum furnace during the filling, softening and sealing steps, and the discharge vessel is evacuated prior to filling.