EP0187493A2 - Dispositif de ballast toroidal pour éclairage - Google Patents

Dispositif de ballast toroidal pour éclairage Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0187493A2
EP0187493A2 EP85309050A EP85309050A EP0187493A2 EP 0187493 A2 EP0187493 A2 EP 0187493A2 EP 85309050 A EP85309050 A EP 85309050A EP 85309050 A EP85309050 A EP 85309050A EP 0187493 A2 EP0187493 A2 EP 0187493A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
recess
choke
core
electrical
socket
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.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP85309050A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0187493A3 (fr
Inventor
Joseph A. Venezia
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.)
EAST ROCK TECHNOLOGY Inc
Original Assignee
EAST ROCK TECHNOLOGY Inc
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 EAST ROCK TECHNOLOGY Inc filed Critical EAST ROCK TECHNOLOGY Inc
Publication of EP0187493A2 publication Critical patent/EP0187493A2/fr
Publication of EP0187493A3 publication Critical patent/EP0187493A3/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current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
    • H01J61/56—One or more circuit elements structurally associated with the lamp

Definitions

  • the present invention pertains generally to lighting fixtures, and pertains more particularly to fixtures for use with fluorescent and other bulbs.
  • lighting fixtures intended for use with fluorescent and other bulbs of types with which a ballast choke is used are typically larger than those for incandescent bulbs of comparable bulk. It is often desirable to reduce the size of such fluorescent and similar fixtures as much as possible, whether to save space, or for reasons of economy or esthetics.
  • U.S. Patent 3,551,736 shows a fluorescent lamp in which a fluorescent bulb rests on a ballast unit and has electrical connector pins which extend through passages provided for them in the ballast unit.
  • the ballast unit also receives electrical connector pins from a terminal contact base externally threaded to be screwed into a conventional incandescent lamp screw socket.
  • the ballast unit contains a toroidal ballast choke, with the connector pin passages extending through the hole of the torus.
  • the starter and the capacitor are located in the screw base unit.
  • Another object of the invention is to provide such a fixture that is easier and more economical to manufacture than such articles previously available.
  • Another object of the invention is to provide a toroidal ballast choke for use in such a fixture, which choke is easier and less expensive to manufacture than previously known toroidal chokes.
  • a one-piece lighting fixture which may be a socket adapter, comprising a one-piece housing having a recess formed therein for receiving substantially the entire base of a light bulb, electrical circuitry means including a ballast choke disposed in the housing, and electrical contact elements for connecting the electrical circuitry with an external power source. If the fixture is a socket adapter, it also has an external securing device for attaching it to a socket.
  • the circuit means at least partially surrounds the recess, preferably comprising an annular ballast choke ("annular”, and “annulus”, as used throughout the specification and claims hereof, are not limited to a toroidal shape but include arcuate, oval, polygonal and other shapes that can surround the recess at least partially), and most preferably comprises a toroidal ballast choke surrounding the recess.
  • annular ballast choke annular ballast choke
  • FIG. 1 shows in perspective a socket adaptor 10 according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, with a typical fluorescent bulb of one type, shown by way of example only, in place in the adapter to illustrate the use of the latter.
  • the adapter 10 has a one-piece housing 12, which in the embodiment shown has a cylindrical main portion 14 and depending therefrom a cylindrical base portion 16.
  • the housing is preferably made of a plastic material, ea., polycarbonate or Novel, which is available from General Electric Co.
  • a recess 18 formed in the top of the main portion 14 of the housing is shaped to detachably receive the base of the bulb 20.
  • the bulb 20 shown illustratively is a fluorescent unit having a U-shaped glass envelope 20a in which light is fluorescently generated.
  • Both ends of the envelope 20a are mounted on a base 20b which has the shape of a "T" as seen from the side, and from the arms of which extend downward two electrical connector pins 20c.
  • the recess 18 is shaped to receive substantially the entire base 20b of the type of bulb for which the adapter in question is designed.
  • a ballast choke is provided in the cylindrical portion 14 of housing 12, and in the embodiment of Figure 1 is manufactured in the shape of a torus surrounding the recess 18.
  • the starter and the capacitor which constitute part of the electrical circuitry of the bulb 20 are preferably housed in the base 20b of the bulb 20.
  • Cylindrical base 16 of housing 12 is provided with a cylindrical electrically conductive sleeve 22 fitted over, and secured in any suitable fashion to, the lower end of the cylindrical base 16.
  • the sleeve 22 has threads on its external surface to permit the adapter 10 to be screwed into a standard screw socket of the type used with incandescent lamps.
  • the sleeve 22 serves to achieve electrical contact with such a socket.
  • An additional electrical contact 24 is provided protruding through an aperture in the sleeve 22 and spaced from the conductive material of the latter at the lower tip of the cylindrical base 16 and, in use, is in electrical contact with the other contact of such a socket.
  • the recess 18 is formed with holes for receiving the connector pins 20c of the bulb 20, in which holes are provided contact pieces 21 to make electrical contact with the pins.
  • the electrical connections of the circuit elements described are well known to those skilled in the art.
  • the external threaded sleeve 22 is connected to the winding of the choke, the other end of which is connected to a contact piece 21 that receives one of the connector pins 20c of the bulb 20.
  • the other connector pin 20c is received in engagement with a similar contact piece 21, which is connected to contact 24 on the exterior of the housing 12.
  • the remaining required circuitry is located in the base of bulb 20; however, the starter and capacitor could be provided in the adapter housing 12 or in a separate unit reinforcebly housed in the adapter 10, in a manner known to those skilled in the art.
  • the toroidal ballast choke 30 used in the socket adapter of Figure 1 is shown in Figures 2 through 4 and comprises conductive windings 32 on two magnetic cores 34, each of which in the embodiment shown defines approximately a hemi-torus.
  • Each winding 32 is insulated from its respective core 34 by a layer of insulative material 36, which, as can be seen from the figures, does not extend all the way to either free end of the core 34. The reason for this feature is explained below.
  • toroidal cores for ballast chokes in the past has been the difficulty of manufacturing toroidal chokes reliably and with reasonable economy.
  • the illustrated choke lends itself readily to simple, reliable and inexpensive manufacture (see Figures 6A through 10).
  • a toroidal core of a suitable known magnetic material is provided.
  • the tape-wound steel core shown is suitable.
  • the toroidal core is provided with a coating 36 of an electrically insulative material as shown in Figure 7, which covers the top, bottom, inner and outer surfaces of the torus. However, only one surface, for example the inner surface 38 or perhaps better, the outer surface, is completely covered by coating 36 around the entire circumference of the torus.
  • the other three surfaces are covered entirely except for two locations 40, preferably diametrically opposed, at which the core is left completely exposed except on the inner surface 38. If desired, the core can be left exposed at 40 on all surfaces.
  • the insulative layer 36 is preferably provided by means of injection molding, although any other suitable method can be substituted to convenience.
  • the toroidal core is then cut in two through the exposed locations 40, resulting in two hemi-toroidal cores 34 as shown in Figure 3.
  • a milling machine has been found to do the cutting efficiently and with relatively low heat production, but any suitable method can be used.
  • Each of the cores 34 is then separately provided with its respective winding 32. Because each of the cores 34 has the shape (as seen from above) of a circular arc, i.e., has a center line that defines a semi-circle or other circular arc, the windings can be applied in a very simple and economical fashion, as follows.
  • the arcuate core 34 While being gripped at one end for support, the arcuate core 34 is rotated in the plane of the arc about the axis defining the center the circle of of the arc, viz., along the length of the core itself. As this movement is carried out, a conductive wire is wrapped around the core, producing the desired winding 32. The ends of the wire are secured during the winding process in any suitable fashion within the ordinary skill in the art. After the windings 32 have been wrapped, the ends thereof are permanently secured in place by known expedients to provide two hemi-toroidal chokes, which can then be connected in series to yield a toroidal choke. In the preferred embodiment shown, the hemi-toroidal cores 34 are also mechanically joined at their ends to from a torus, by means of fish paper, or any other suitable known material.
  • the two hemi-toroidal chokes 34 are located in portion 14 of the housing 12 (see Figure 7).
  • the sleeve 22 is secured in place and the remaining electrical connections are made.
  • the interior of the housing 12 is filled with a suitable conventional potting compound such as epoxy resin in known fashion.
  • the illustrated adapter 10 is unusually compact, since the entire base of the bulb used therewith is received in the recess 18, surrounded by the electrical circuitry and in particular by the toroidal ballast choke 30. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, however, that the substantially radiallysymmetric design of the choke 30 and of the cylindrical portion 14 of the housing 12 are not essential to the invention, considered broadly. Less compact, but still practical, variations can be adopted depending upon design convenience and esthetic considerations. Nor is it is not essential that the two exposed portions 40 of the original toroidal core be diametrically opposite to each other, although that arrangement makes cutting the core into two pieces especially easy. Also, the winding process is simplified by making the two pieces of the original core substantially the same size and shape.
  • either or both of the two cores 34 into which the original core is cut may, if desired, define less than 180 degress of a circle, if the resulting manufacturing complexities are acceptable.
  • One core may be cut to less than 180 degrees while the other is cut to more than 180 degrees.
  • the present invention is applicable to many types of lamps and light bulbs, including high-pressure sodium, fluorescent, metal halide and quartz halogen devices.
  • a socket adapter can be constructed according to the principles of the present invention to permit use of a high pressure mercury vapor bulb in an incandescent fixture.
  • a high pressure sodium bulb can be used in such an adapter designed for a high pressure mercury vapor bulb of twice the wattage, with little difference in the quantity of light so produced.
  • the present invention can also be used either to adapt an incandescent lamp such as a table lamp for use with, e.g., a fluorescent bulb, or in manufacturing a table lamp intended for use with such a bulb, e.g. by replacing the illustrated male screw base 16 with a threaded female portion through which wires can pass.

Landscapes

  • Non-Portable Lighting Devices Or Systems Thereof (AREA)
  • Arrangement Of Elements, Cooling, Sealing, Or The Like Of Lighting Devices (AREA)
  • Vessels And Coating Films For Discharge Lamps (AREA)
  • Common Detailed Techniques For Electron Tubes Or Discharge Tubes (AREA)
EP85309050A 1984-12-13 1985-12-12 Dispositif de ballast toroidal pour éclairage Withdrawn EP0187493A3 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US68100284A 1984-12-13 1984-12-13
US681002 1984-12-13

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0187493A2 true EP0187493A2 (fr) 1986-07-16
EP0187493A3 EP0187493A3 (fr) 1988-11-09

Family

ID=24733378

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP85309050A Withdrawn EP0187493A3 (fr) 1984-12-13 1985-12-12 Dispositif de ballast toroidal pour éclairage

Country Status (4)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0187493A3 (fr)
JP (1) JPS61185805A (fr)
CN (1) CN85109505A (fr)
AU (1) AU5121385A (fr)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2005078750A1 (fr) * 2004-02-12 2005-08-25 Eco-Electrics Á Íslandi Inducteur de noyau a optimisation optique utilise dans une configuration de circuit a triple racine pour des enceintes plasma et ballasts

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPH0677403B2 (ja) * 1988-05-17 1994-09-28 神保電器株式会社 放電灯用照明器具

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1979000490A1 (fr) * 1978-01-10 1979-07-26 Createc Sa Procede de fabrication d'un circuit magnetique bobine; circuit magnetique bobine resultant de ce procede; disposififs pour la mise en oeuvre du procede
GB2092831A (en) * 1981-02-06 1982-08-18 Egyesuelt Izzolampa Ballasts for Gas Discharge Lamps, and a Lighting Unit with a Ballast and at Least One High Pressure Gas Discharge Lamp
DE3312993A1 (de) * 1983-04-12 1984-10-25 Schwabe GmbH & Co KG Elektrotechnische Fabrik, 7067 Urbach Vorschaltdrosssel oder transformator, insbesondere vorschaltgeraet fuer gasentladungslampen

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1979000490A1 (fr) * 1978-01-10 1979-07-26 Createc Sa Procede de fabrication d'un circuit magnetique bobine; circuit magnetique bobine resultant de ce procede; disposififs pour la mise en oeuvre du procede
GB2092831A (en) * 1981-02-06 1982-08-18 Egyesuelt Izzolampa Ballasts for Gas Discharge Lamps, and a Lighting Unit with a Ballast and at Least One High Pressure Gas Discharge Lamp
DE3312993A1 (de) * 1983-04-12 1984-10-25 Schwabe GmbH & Co KG Elektrotechnische Fabrik, 7067 Urbach Vorschaltdrosssel oder transformator, insbesondere vorschaltgeraet fuer gasentladungslampen

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2005078750A1 (fr) * 2004-02-12 2005-08-25 Eco-Electrics Á Íslandi Inducteur de noyau a optimisation optique utilise dans une configuration de circuit a triple racine pour des enceintes plasma et ballasts

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CN85109505A (zh) 1986-09-03
EP0187493A3 (fr) 1988-11-09
AU5121385A (en) 1986-06-19
JPS61185805A (ja) 1986-08-19

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Inventor name: VENEZIA, JOSEPH A.