CA1207007A - Energy saving "u" shaped fluorescent lamp - Google Patents

Abstract

ENERGY SAVING "U" SHAPED FLUORESCENT LAMP

ABSTRACT

A "U" shaped fluorescent lamp including a housing extending between and affixed to the legs of the lamp. The housing contains means for reducing current flow in the lamp. Utilizing this approach, no changes are necessary in the lamp construction itself. The lamp easily retrofits into existing sockets and no dark space exists in the fixture.

Description

"` ~Z~1700~
, ~NERGY SAVING "U" SHAPED FLUORESCENT LAMP

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to fluorescent lamps and more particularly to energy saving lamps formed in the shape of a "U".

BACKGROUND AR~

In view of tne increasing costs of energy a dr-mand has arisen for lighting sources which use less power. In many areas, simply replacing incandescent light sources with fluorescent tubes can accomplish this result. However, in those places already employing fluorescent tubes, there still remains a need to reduce energy consuMption. This can sometimes be accomplished by removing some of the overhead lamps or by removing one lamp of a series pair and replacing it with a dummy lamp containing a capacitor. Such techniques usually affect the lighting distribution.
Another method which has been employed involves detaching some of the wires between a fluorescent lamp ballast and the lamp, and then conr,ecting in the circuit a transTormer-capacitor combination, as disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 3,9~4,316. This technique, of course, involves rewiring.
2G Still another approach, used with elongated fluorescent tubes, is to ernploy a larrlp which is shorter tnan tne dislarlce bet~een the socket in which the lamp is mounted. This distance is made up by attaching to one end of the lamp an extension base which contains power reducing circuitry. Such a device is shown in U.S. PatenL Nc.
4,l63,l76 and has enjoyed much success; however, the dark space 21 the end of the larnp is noticeable and occasionall~ Gbjectiorlable.
Also, the pressure of the starting gas in thr shorLer tube is increased over that of the standard bulb it repla~es.
Further, tnere has been no reasonable hay to ar!ply tnesc- er;ergy saving ideas to other configurations o~ fluorescen~ lamps.

J-~ ~, `t '~ i 1~70~

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to obviate the disadvantages o~ the prior art.
It is another object of the invention to enhance the energy saving potential of fluorescent bulbs having a configuration other than elongated.
These objects are accomplished, in one aspect of the invention, by the provision of a "U" shaped lamp which includes a housing extending between and affixed to the legs of the lamp. The housing 10 contains means for reducing current flow in the larnp. Utilizins this approach, no changes are necessary in the lamp construction itself. The lamp easily retrofits into existing sockets and no dark space exists in the fixture.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWI~GS

FIG. l is an elevational view of a "U" shaped fluorescent lamp ernbodying the invention;
FIG. 2 is a top view of the housing of the invention;
FIG. 3 is an enlarged, partial, sectional view of one embodirr~ent for making the appropriate electrical connections to einploy the 20 invention; and FIG. 4 is a circuit diaaram of one form of energ~ saving circuitry that can be used with tr~e inventior BEST MODE FOR CARRYIi~G OUT THE INVE~TION

For a better understanding of the present invention, togetner 25 witn other and further objects, advantages and capaLiilities thereof, reference is made to the following disclosure ana prenried claims taken in conjunction with the above-oescribed ara~irlns.
Referring no~ to tne draw-ir)gs ~itr~ gr-ater Fiarticularit~, tnrre is shown in FI~. l a fluorescent lamp lO of "U" sha~ed configuration 30 havino a bight l2 and legs l4 and l~ nich lie in c bstarltiall~ the same plane. The legs tr-rr,liriate in b~ses l~ and 2Q. ~amp lO is D-2~,~47 12~70(~7 ,, conventional in construction and has the usual electrodes 21 (one of which is shown in FIG. 3) sealed in the ends thereof, has a phosphor coating 23 on the interior surface of its glass envelope 22; and contains within envelope 22 an arc generating and sustaining medium which includes mercury. Pins 24 and 26 project from base 18 and pins 28 and 30 project from base 20. Bases 18 and 20 are preferably forrned from an electrically insulating material, such as plastic;
however, the bases can be constructed of metal provided the projecting pins are electrically insulated therefron,.
A housing 32 spans the distançe between legs 14 and 16 at a position just above the bases 13 and 20. Housing 32 can be cylindrical and preferably has a maximum length substantially equal to the center to center distance between legs 14 and 16. The ends 34 and 36 of housing 32 are notched as at 38 and 40 to match the configuration of the legs 14 and 16 and rnate therewith. A suitable bonding cennent or epoxy is applied to these notched ends to affix the housing 32 to the legs 14 and 16.
Current reducing means 42 is con~ained within housing 32 and can comprise a transformer 44 and a capacitor 46. Capacitor 46 creates an impedance which reduces current flow through lamp 10 while consuming very little power; and transformer a4 maintains the proper electrode heater current through proxirr,ate electrode 21. The electrode lead-in wires 48 and 50 (see FIGS. 3 and 4) are connected to the secondary 52 of transformer 44 and the projecting base pins 28 and 30 are connected to the primary 54 of transformer 44. The capacitor 46 is connected across transforrier 44; that is io say one side of capacitor 46 is connected to the prirnary 54 of transformer 44 and the other side to secondary 52. This places capacitor 46 in series with larnp 10.
F~G. 3 illustrates generally how the physical connectiorls of the elernents of current reducing rneans 42 can De applied tD the appropriate electrical conrlections, e.g., by wires 56 fed through a suitable openirlg 58 in housing 32 and througn an oja_ning 60 in ~aSC
20.
i~hen this invention is employed with -instant sLart fluorescenl l,inps, the trarlsforlner 44 is omitted frorr, housino 32 ;nce ser;arate heater current is not provided for ~re electrodes of such lim?s ~ : - L -If desired, a bleeder resistor 62 (see FIG. 4) can be placed across capacitor 46 in order to bleed the charge off capacitor 4~
when the lamp is turned off. It may a1so be desirable to place a thermal breaker in series with capacitor 46 in order to protect the capacitor at the end o~ life.
There is thus provided an energy saving lamp having a configuration other than elongated. The concept does not require rewiring of existing ba71asts, nor does it require that the larnp be shortened to accornmodate tne requisite circuitry. Further, in use, the lamp presents a pleasing appearance with an even light distribution throughout the fi~ture with which it is employed.
Assembly of the new lamp is simple and economical and begins with a standard "U" shaped lamp without bases attached. The components making up the current reducing means 42 are inserted into housing 32. Next, the electrical connections are made to the lamp lead-in 48 and 50 and the base pins 28 and 30 (one end only), and then housing 32 is positioned between the legs 14 and 16 and cemented into place. Bases 18 and 20 are cemented, or othèrwise affixed, to complete the lamp.
~hile there have oeen shown and described wr,at are at present considered to be the preferred embodiments of tne invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and rnodifications can be made herein without aeparting from the scope OT
the invention as defined by the appended claims.

?~ INDUSTRIAL APPLICAB~LITY

Lamps ernploying the invention describeb above are intended to reduce energy consumption and er,ergy costs in installations ~Jhere lnwer ligh~ing levels can be tolerated. Such installations can include office areas now overlighted; non-tas~; al-eas of offices.
lobbies and waiting roorns; corridors; entrance ;ays and elevators, and storage areas and non-inerchandizins al-eas of retail stores.
~,agnitude of energy reduction can be selecteci by choos7ng a capacitor of electrical size consistel-l~ with tne ai-lount of curr.r, D-~3,447 ~ Z ~ 700 and power reduction desired. Lamps have been made with wattage reductions of 33% and 50%. This lamp is to be used with one standard lamp.

Claims (5)

1. In a "U" shaped fluorescent lamp having a pair of legs which lie substantially in the same plane, said legs terminating in lamp bases, a housing extending between said legs and affixed thereto, said housing containing means therein for reducing current flow in said lamp.

2. The lamp of Claim 1 wherein said housing is positioned above said bases.

3. The lamp of Claim 2 wherein said housing is substantially cyclindrical in shape.

4. The lamp of Claim 3 wherein the ends of said housing are notched to conform to the shape of said legs.

5. The lamp of Claim 4 wherein the longest dimension of said housing is substantially equal to the center to center distance between said legs.