Universal stem mold for manufacturing a molded glass stem

• US 4,813,991 A
• Filed: 05/20/1988
• Issued: 03/21/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: RCA Licensing Corporation
• Original Assignee: Thomson Consumer Electronics Incorporated (Vantiva SA)
• Inventors: Hale, John R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kellogg, Arthur
• Application Number:
  US07/196,595
• Time in Patent Office: 305 Days
• Field of Search: 65/138, 65/139, 65/59.7, 65/59.32, 65/59.31, 65/59.27, 65/59.26, 65/59.25, 65/155, 65/173, 65/59.28
• US Class Current: 65/139
• CPC Class Codes: C03B 11/14 Pressing laminated glass articles or glass with metal inserts or enclosures, e.g. wires, bubbles, coloured parts
• CPC Class Codes: H01J 9/30 Manufacture of bases
• CPC Class Codes: H01J 9/32 Sealing leading-in conductors

Abstract

An apparatus for manufacturing a glass stem for an electron tube has a plurality of lead-in conductors and a plurality of fillets with the lead-in conductors extending through the fillets. The apparatus comprises a first stem mold assembly and a second stem mold assembly for forming the stem therebetween. The first stem mold assembly comprises a universal stem mold having a plurality of longitudinal fillet-forming openings formed through a mold block. A plurality of inserts are replaceably disposed and retained within the openings in the mold block. Each of the inserts has a first end, an oppositely disposed second end, and a shank portion therebetween. Each of the inserts has a recess provided in the first end and a lead-accommodating opening extending from the recess into the shank portion of the insert. The mold block also accommodates one or more solid inserts in the openings to produce stems having dummy fillets, i.e., fillets without lead-in conductors therethrough.

Claims

1. In an apparatus for manufacturing a glass stem for an electron tube having a plurality of lead-in conductors and a plurality of fillets, said lead-in conductors extending through said fillets, said apparatus comprising a first stem mold assembly and a second stem mold assembly for forming said stem therebetween, said first stem mold assembly having fillet-forming means therein, the improvement wherein said first stem mold assembly comprises

a universal stem mold having a plurality of longitudinal fillet-forming openings formed through a mold block;

and

a plurality of inserts each being replaceably disposed and retained within a different one of said openings in said mold block, each of said inserts having a first end, an oppositely disposed second end and a shank portion therebetween, said inserts including a recess provided in said first end and a lead-accommodating opening extending from said recess into said shank portion of each insert.

2. In an apparatus for manufacturing a glass stem for an electron tube having a plurality of lead-in conductors of different internal lengths and a plurality of fillets, said lead-in conductors extending through said fillets, there being at least one dummy fillet without a lead-in conductor extending therethrough, said apparatus comprising a first stem mold assembly and a second stem mold assembly for forming said stem therebetween, said first stem mold assembly including retaining means and fillet forming means, the improvement wherein said first stem mold assembly comprises:

a universal stem mold having a plurality of longitudinal fillet-forming openings formed through a mold block; and

a plurality of inserts each being being replaceably disposed within a different one of said openings in said mold block, each of said inserts having a first end, and oppositely disposed second end and a shank portion therebetween, said inserts including recess provided in said first end and a lead-accommodating opening formed in said insert, said opening extending from said recess into said shank portion of said insert, termination means disposed within said insert, said termination means providing a stop for said leads, said second end of each of said inserts being in contact with said lead-weights to retain said inserts within said openings in said mold block.

3. The apparatus as described in claim 2, wherein at least one solid insert is replaceably disposed within said openings in said mold block to produce said dummy fillet.

5. The apparatus as described in claim 3, wherein said lead-stop comprises a pin secured within said insert.

6. The apparatus as described in claim 3, wherein said inserts are formed from a material different from that used to form said mold block.

4. In an apparatus for manufacturing a glass stem for an electron tube having a plurality of lead-in conductors of different internal lengths and a plurality of fillets, said lead-in conductors extending through said fillets, there being at least one dummy fillet without a lead-in conductor extending therethrough, said apparatus comprising a first stem mold assembly and a second stem mold assembly for forming said stem therebetween, said first mold assembly including a plurality of lead-weights and a mold block having a first surface and an oppositely disposed second surface with a cavity formed in said second surface of said mold block, said mold block having fillet forming means therein, a lead-weight translator disposed within said cavity, said translator having a first surface and a second surface with a translator recess formed in one of said surfaces and a plurality of lead-weight apertures extending from said translator recess through the other surface thereof, and holder means disposed within said translator recess, said holder means having a plurality of apertures therethrough, the improvement wherein said first stem mold assembly comprises:

a universal stem mold having a plurality of longitudinal fillet-forming openings formed through said mold block and aligned with said apertures in said holder means, and

a plurality of inserts, each of said inserts being replaceably disposed within a different one of said openings in said mold block and within said aligned apertures in said holder means, each of said inserts having a shank portion and a shoulder portion, said shank portion having a first end and said shoulder portion having an oppositely disposed second end, said first end of each of said inserts having a recess provided therein with a lead-accommodating opening extending through said inserts and terminating in a lead-stop, said shoulder having a diameter greater than that of said shank portion to prevent said inserts from passing through said apertures in said holder means, said second end of each of said inserts being in contact with a different one of said lead-weights to retain said inserts within said apertures in said holder means.

7. The apparatus as described in claim 4, wherein at least one solid insert is replaceably disposed within said openings in said mold block to produce said dummy fillets.