Abstract:
The lamp, which may be of the incandescent or photoflash-type, has an envelope composed of segments of light-transmitting and infrared-radiation absorbing glass tubing that are sealed together in abutting relationship. The infrared-radiation absorbing end portion of the composite envelope is hermetically sealed to the lead wires and the seal is formed by focusing a beam of infrared radiation on the seal assembly. The envelope is evacuated, and filled with gas if desired, through its opposite end which is then tipped off. Oxidation of the lead wires is reduced to a minimum by forming the seal inside a chamber that is evacuated, or filled with an inert gas, and has walls which transmit infrared radiation. In the case of chamber sealing, the free end of the light-transmitting portion of the envelope is sealed before the envelope-mount assembly is placed into the chamber so that the sealing and evacuation (or gas filling) operations are performed simultaneously.