EP0125686B1 - Schnellstartende Leuchtstofflampe mit einem die Elektrode ausschaltenden Bimetallschalter - Google Patents

Schnellstartende Leuchtstofflampe mit einem die Elektrode ausschaltenden Bimetallschalter Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0125686B1
EP0125686B1 EP19840105489 EP84105489A EP0125686B1 EP 0125686 B1 EP0125686 B1 EP 0125686B1 EP 19840105489 EP19840105489 EP 19840105489 EP 84105489 A EP84105489 A EP 84105489A EP 0125686 B1 EP0125686 B1 EP 0125686B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
electrode
disconnect switch
rapid start
fluorescent lamp
switch
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired
Application number
EP19840105489
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0125686A2 (de
EP0125686A3 (en
Inventor
John W. Anderson
William J. Roche
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Osram Sylvania Inc
Original Assignee
GTE Products Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by GTE Products Corp filed Critical GTE Products Corp
Publication of EP0125686A2 publication Critical patent/EP0125686A2/de
Publication of EP0125686A3 publication Critical patent/EP0125686A3/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0125686B1 publication Critical patent/EP0125686B1/de
Expired legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01J—ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS
    • H01J61/00—Gas-discharge or vapour-discharge lamps
    • H01J61/02—Details
    • H01J61/54—Igniting arrangements, e.g. promoting ionisation for starting
    • H01J61/541—Igniting arrangements, e.g. promoting ionisation for starting using a bimetal switch

Definitions

  • This invention relates to rapid start fluorescent lamps and more particularly to rapid start fluorescent lamps having a bimetal electrode disconnect switch affixed to one electrode for discontinuing heater current flow upon effecting conductivity of the lamp.
  • a bimetal switch means placed nearby an activated electrode within a discharge lamp may be deleteriously affected when protection is not provided such that the bimetal switch surfaces are not isolated from the electrode discharge area.
  • An object of the present invention is to provide an enhanced rapid start fluorescent with improved life span. Another object of the invention is to improve the operating efficiency of a rapid start fluorescent lamp. Still another object of the invention is to improve the capabilities for manufacture of the above-described enhanced rapid start fluorescent lamp. A further object of the invention is to reduce the energy requirements during operation use of a rapid start fluorescent lamp.
  • a rapid start fluorescent lamp suitable for processing includes an elongated glass envelope 5 having a coating 7 of phosphor on the inner wall surface of the envelope 5.
  • a glass stem member 9 is sealed into the end of the envelope 5 and includes a pair of electrical leads 11 and 13 sealed therein and passing therethrough.
  • An end cap 15 is telescoped over and attached to the end of the glass envelope 5 and includes a pair of pins 17 and 19 electrically connected to a portion of the electrical leads 11 and 13 and formed to provide electrical connection to an external potential source (not shown).
  • the envelope 5 has a gas fill therein selected from the group consisting of argon, xenen, krypton, neon, helium and combinations thereof.
  • an electrode 21 has one end thereof connected to one of the electrical leads 13 and a longitudinal axis which extends in a direction substantially normal to the direction of the electrical leads 11 and 13.
  • the electrode 21, which is often referred to as a heater or cathode, is of a well known type used in rapid start fluorescent lamps and includes a coating thereon which is usually in the form of alkaline earth oxides applied thereto in the form of carbonates which, upon processing, are converted to oxides.
  • the opposite end of the electrode 21 is connected to the other electrical lead 11 which is, in turn, connected to the pin 17 by way of an electrode disconnect switch 23.
  • the electrical disconnect switch 23 is preferably in the form of a glass bottle 25 having a pair of electrical conductors 27 and 29 sealed into one end.
  • a bimetal switch 31 is located within the glass bottle 25 and connected intermediate the electrical conductors 27 and 29.
  • a meltable bypass member 33 is affixed to the conductors 27 and 29 in shunting relationship to the bimetal switch 31.
  • a vacuum or a gas fill of noble gases or nitrogen or combination thereof is contained within the glass bottle 25.
  • the electrical disconnect switch 23 may be in the form of a bimetal switch 31 having either a substantially U-shaped or straight configuration which would be located within the lamp envelope.
  • the switch 31 may have an insulating cover or be disposed within a bottle merely shielding the switch 31 from the electrode 21.
  • the electrical disconnect switch 23 could be of a form wherein the electrical conductors 27 and 29 exit from opposite ends of the glass bottle 25.
  • the glass envelope 5 has the glass stem member 9 inserted therein and sealed thereto. Accordingly, it has been found most expedient to position the electrode disconnect switch 23 in a manner such that the switch 23 is located between and does not extend beyond a pair of substantially parallel planes extending in a direction normal to the longitudinal axis of the electrode 21 and intercepting the ends of the electrode 21. Thus, it has been found that the electrode disconnect switch 23 is not normally disturbed when the envelope 5 is telescoped over the electrode 21 since the disconnect switch 23 does not extend beyond the planes normal to the axis of the electrode 21 and passing at the ends of the electrode 21.
  • the previously-mentioned alkali earth oxides on the electrode 21 are derived from a coating of carbonates during the manufacturing process. Normally, this process is effected by applying current to the electrical leads 11 and 13 in an amount sufficient to raise the temperature of the electrode to about 1700°C.
  • the bimetal switch 31 which is normally closed at room temperatures in a 40- watt lamp, tends to operate or open at a temperature in the range of about 140 to 180°C.
  • the process temperatures employed to bake and seal the envelope 5 to the glass stem member 9 would tend to activate the bimetal switch 31.
  • current applied to the leads 11 and 13 would fail to effect the desired 1700°C. temperature of the electrode 21 for processing the carbonates thereon since the bimetal switch 31 is operational and would interrupt the process.
  • a bypass member 33 of a refractory material such as molybdenum or stainless steel, is connected across the electrical conductors 27 and 29 of the electrical disconnect switch 23.
  • This bypass member 33 is of a meltable material and in response to an electrical pulse potential, such as a pulse from a 270 microfarad capacitor charged to 300 V D.C., is removed or melted away after processing the carbonates to provide the desired electrode disconnect switch 23 capability.
  • the position of the electrode disconnect switch 23 with respect to the electrode 21 within the lamp envelope 5 is important. Since rapid start fluorescent lamps may be of different wattages and of a length of 91.44, 121.92, 182.88 or 243.84 cm (3, 4, 6 or 8- feet) for example, it has been found that the electrode disconnect switch 23 should be spaced at least one millimeter from the electrode 21. Also, the electrode disconnect switch 23 should be of a material and configuration to operate at temperatures in the range of about 75°C to 300°C depending upon the capacity of the lamp and the location of the disconnect switch 23 with respect to the electrode 21.
  • a normal 121.92 cm (4-foot), 40-watt fluorescent lamp preferably has an electrode disconnect switch 23 such that the average spacing, X of Fig. 2, between the switch 23 and the electrode 21 is not less than about 8.0 mm. and not more than about 14.0 mm.
  • the temperature necessary to operate the electrode disconnect switch 23 in the above-mentioned 40- watt lamp is in the range of about 140°C to about 180°C.
  • curve A of the comparison chart for a 40-watt rapid start fluorescent lamp of Fig. 3 provides a comparison of relative lamp life in percentages, with the average distance of the electrode disconnect switch 23 from the electrode 21.
  • the relative lamp life increases at a relatively rapid rate as the spacing between the disconnect switch 23 and electrode 21 increases.
  • this increased lamp life tends to level off at a spacing of about 8.0 mm.
  • tests indicate that a spacing between the switch 23 and electrode 21 of greater than about 14.0 mm. in a 40-watt rapid start fluorescent lamp creates problems in achieving the desired temperatures consistent with proper operation of the disconnect switch 23.
  • a rapid start fluorescent lamp which includes an electrode disconnect switch having a capability for effecting desired processing of an electrode as well as disconnection thereof during operational use of the lamp. Also, the electrode disconnect switch is positioned such that interference thereof with the joining of an envelope and stem member is not a problem and provision is made for removing the electrode heating capability during manufacture.

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  • Discharge Lamps And Accessories Thereof (AREA)
  • Vessels And Coating Films For Discharge Lamps (AREA)

Claims (5)

1. Schnellstart-Leuchtstofflampe, deren Hülle (5) mit einer leuchtstoffüberzogenen Innenwandfläche (7), einem Niederdruck-Füllgas, einer Elektrode (21) in jedem Ende der Hülle (5), einem Paar elektrisch leitender Zuführungen (11, 13), die durch jedes Ende der Hülle (5) hindurchtreten, um jede der Elektroden (21) mit einer Energiequelle zu verbinden, und einem Elektroden-Trennschalter (23) versehen ist, der an zumindest einer Zuführung des Paars elektrischer Zuführungen (11, 13) befestigt ist, das zumindest einer der Elektroden (21) innerhalb der Hülle (5) zugeordnet ist, wobei der Elektroden-Trennschalter (23) einen Bimetallschalter (31) umfaßt, der normalerweise bei Raumtemperatur geschlossen und bei einer vorbestimmten Temperatur, die höher als die Raumtemperatur ist, offen ist, und der zumindest einen Millimeter von der zugehörigen Elektrode (21) in Abstand angeordnet ist, wobei ein Paar elektrischer Leiter (27, 29) an den Bimetallschalter (31) angeschlossen ist und einer dieser Leiter (27, 29) mit einer der elektrisch leitenden Zuführungen (11, 13) und der andere der elektrischen Leiter (27, 29) des Bimetallschalters (31) mit einem Ende der Elektrode (21) verbunden ist, wohingegen die andere der elektrisch leitenden Zuführungen (11, 13) das andere Ende der Elektrode (21) mit der Energiquelle verbindet, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß der Elektroden-Trennschalter (23) zwischen einem Paar paralleler Ebenen angeordnet ist und sich nicht über diese Ebenen hinauserstreckt, die sich in einer Richtung normal zur Längsachse der Elektrode (21) erstrecken und die Enden derselben schneiden, und daß die Lampe eine 40-Watt Lampe ist und der Elektroden-Trennschalter (23) einen durchschnittlichen Abstand von der Elektrode (21) von nicht weniger als etwa 8 mm aufweist.
2. Schnellstart-Leuchtstofflampe nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß der Elektroden-trennschalter (23) in einer bezüglich der Längsachse der Lampe geneigten Stellung angeordnet ist.
3. Schnellstart-Leuchtstofflampe nach Anspruch 1 oder 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß ein Bypasselement aus feuerfestem Material die elektrischen Leiter (27, 29) des Elektroden-Trennschalters (23) verbindet.
4. Schnellstart-Leuchtstofflampe nach Anspruch 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß der Elektroden-Trennschalter (23) einen durchschnittlichen Abstand von der Elektrode (21) von nicht mehr als etwa 14 mm aufweist.
5. Schnellstart-Leuchtstofflampe nach Anspruch 1 oder 2 mit einer abgedichteten Glasflasche (25), die den Bimetallschalter (31) einschließt, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Flasche ein Füllgas enthält, das aus der Gruppe ausgewählt ist, die aus Stickstoff und den Edelgasen besteht.
EP19840105489 1983-05-16 1984-05-15 Schnellstartende Leuchtstofflampe mit einem die Elektrode ausschaltenden Bimetallschalter Expired EP0125686B1 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US49484183A 1983-05-16 1983-05-16
US494841 1983-05-16
US54607283A 1983-10-27 1983-10-27
US546072 1983-10-27

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0125686A2 EP0125686A2 (de) 1984-11-21
EP0125686A3 EP0125686A3 (en) 1985-11-27
EP0125686B1 true EP0125686B1 (de) 1991-01-23

Family

ID=27051565

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP19840105489 Expired EP0125686B1 (de) 1983-05-16 1984-05-15 Schnellstartende Leuchtstofflampe mit einem die Elektrode ausschaltenden Bimetallschalter

Country Status (2)

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EP (1) EP0125686B1 (de)
DE (1) DE3483976D1 (de)

Family Cites Families (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4097779A (en) * 1976-04-05 1978-06-27 Gte Sylvania Incorporated Fluorescent lamp containing a cathode heater circuit disconnect device
US4156831A (en) * 1978-05-24 1979-05-29 Gte Sylvania Incorporated Fluorescent lamp having heater circuit disconnect device
JPS57158945A (en) * 1981-03-26 1982-09-30 Matsushita Electric Works Ltd Fluorescent lamp

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0125686A2 (de) 1984-11-21
DE3483976D1 (de) 1991-02-28
EP0125686A3 (en) 1985-11-27

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