The Neon Bender's BBS!
The Archive no longer allows posting but search of hundreds of previous posts are available
If you have any questions please
contact us.
[Please Read]
| |
Re: mercury batcher
Posted By: neontek In Response To: Re: mercury batcher (SVP Neon Equipment)
Date: Wednesday, 19 May 2010, at 4:16 a.m.
> Okay, if you insist.
> Mercury Batcher: A very old idea that has
> been around for at least 50-60 years;
> certainly nothing new. This device consists
> of a glass reservoir that contains a large
> quantity of mercury positioned high above
> the pump table with little or no support
> other than the glass arm connecting it to
> the main manifold body: e.g, if it breaks
> there will be a large quantity of mercury
> splattered all over your pump table as well
> as the floor. (Read: If OSHA found out they
> would seal off your shop with a very large
> plastic bag and probably fine you a very
> large sum of money). There are different
> methods of "dispensing" the
> mercury into the tube, but most rely on a
> solenoid and steel plunger. The solenoid
> lifts the plunger thereby allowing an
> (uncontrolled) amount of mercury to drop
> into the tubulation leading to the unit
> being processed. When the fill gas is
> admitted, it is supposed to push the mercury
> in the tubulation into the just-processed
> unit. There is no aging of the unit before
> adding the mercury because the mercury is
> added before the tube is sealed off, and
> there is little control over the amount of
> mercury put into the unit (long tubes may
> only get a tiny drop and short tubes may get
> enough for 10 units). Any time saved by the
> "automatic dispensing" of mercury
> into the tube is more than off-set by the
> added time required to make the
> glass-to-glass seal of the tubulation rather
> than using the typical compression O-ring
> seal used in the U.S. And this is just
> scratching the surface...> As for increasing production, see above for
> time savings, or lack thereof. With the
> proper equipment and 1 helper, it is
> entirely possible to process to completion
> 14-15 mercury units per hour, pumping two at
> a time, using reusable mercury traps vs.
> what a "mercury batcher" is,
> without question, safely capable of.> Mark
*********
"Vazgen" apparently did not see that their video had already come to this sites attention. Although they apparently have internet access (to post a video on youtube), it appears they do not check internet sites that offer... "UP TO DATE" info. on NEON plants / NEON processing.
Yes, there are diagrams of a mercury injector "batcher" in Samuel Miller's book (1963), "Neon Signs and cold cathode lighting". I have the 1935 and 1963 editions... not sure if it is depicted in the 1952 edition.
Sorry to break the news to you Vazgen, but I have also seen old black and white photo's of manifolds from that era that also have you beat on organization, safety, technology, etc.
Regardless, although production speed is important, it was never my biggest worry. Quality is my main concern. I have continued to use a glass to glass seal when connecting my units (I know other ways work as well and are faster... compression o-rings, small vacuum lines,etc. I just feel more comfortable with a glass-glass seal).
With todays decline in business, I also only process one unit at a time. Yes, I can "crank it out" too, but I guess with more time on my hands, I am satisfied giving each unit more attention.Yes Mark, it's ironic, Vazgen preaches Mercury Safety for the replacement blowhose device, but sees no problem suspending a pound or more of mercury in mid air in a glass structure - lol.
Like I stated (with humor) earlier.... Where do you start.... and stop, with that video - lol.
Tony D.
| |
Neon Bender's BBS! is maintained by Kenny with WebBBS 5.12.
This page Copyright © 1996-2005 Krypton Neon