JP2008210759A - Compact fluorescent lamp - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a compact fluorescent lamp having eight or more tubes using liquid mercury, wherein a portion forming the coldest point reaching about 50°C when it is lighted is made at the tip part of the light emitting tube, and a temperature near the base can be lowered. <P>SOLUTION: In this compact fluorescent lamp having an arc tube composed of eight or more U-shaped tubes and performing no mercury vapor regulation, the cross section of the apex of at least one of the U-shaped tubes is formed into a shape having a wide part in the vicinity of the fork part of the U-shaped tube and tapering toward the tip part of the apex from the wide part, and the inner dimension L1 of the apex in the axial direction of the tube is set so as to satisfy (1) 11≤L1≤17 (unit is [mm]), and the dimension L2 between the wide part in the vicinity of the fork part of the U-shaped tube and the tip part of the apex in the axial direction of the tube is set so as to satisfy (2) L1-7≤L2≤L1-2 (unit is [mm]). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a compact fluorescent lamp having eight or more pillars.

Among the six-pillar compact fluorescent lamps, those having 70 W and a luminous flux of 5200 lm (lumen) have a length of 220 mm and are not suitable for narrow places in practical use. In other words, the height of the back of the ceiling is a problem with vertical recessed downlights, and if the lamp exceeds 210 mm, there is a problem that the lighting equipment designed for it may not be installed on the ceiling. Is considered an upper limit. For this reason, it has been studied to use eight pillars instead of six pillars to shorten the length.
JP 2005-209590 A

  Lamps with high power tend to rise in temperature, which causes the coldest spot temperature to rise and the mercury vapor pressure to be higher than the optimum value for light emission. In order to adjust the mercury vapor pressure to the optimum value for light emission, a method of providing a mercury amalgam at an appropriate position of the lamp is taken.

  For those using amalgam, the temperature of the lamp will not rise due to the effects of air conditioning or outside air, and the temperature may be considerably lower than the optimum value when amalgam is used (referred to as supercooling). Moreover, since the optimal value in amalgam is high, it takes time to reach the optimal temperature after lighting, and there is a problem that the rise of the luminous flux is slow.

  In the 8-column compact fluorescent lamp, the temperature of the lamp tends to be higher than that in the 6-column. This is because the volume density of the 8-column arc tube is larger than that of the 6-column.

  Therefore, in order to solve the two problems of the problem of supercooling and the problem that the rise of light flux immediately after lighting is slow, it is assumed that the liquid mercury with a high mercury vapor pressure is used instead of amalgam. Instead, in order to shift to the eight pillars where the lamp temperature becomes high, it is necessary to create a portion that becomes the coldest spot of the arc tube that does not exist in the amalgam type.

  Moreover, since the die is made of resin, there is a problem that the resin deteriorates when the temperature becomes high.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems. In a compact fluorescent lamp having eight pillars or more that uses liquid mercury, the light emitting portion emits light at the coldest spot at about 50 ° C. when turned on. An object of the present invention is to provide a compact fluorescent lamp which can be formed at the tip of a tube and which can lower the temperature near the base.

The compact fluorescent lamp according to the present invention is a compact fluorescent lamp having eight or more arc tubes composed of U-shaped tubes and does not regulate mercury vapor pressure. At least one top portion of the U-shaped tubes is provided. The cross section of the U-shaped tube has a wide portion in the vicinity of the crotch, and is tapered from the wide portion toward the tip of the top portion.
The inner dimension L1 in the tube axis direction of the top is
11 ≦ L1 ≦ 17 (unit: [mm]) (1)
The dimension L2 in the tube axis direction between the wide portion in the vicinity of the crotch portion of the U-shaped tube and the tip portion of the top portion,
L1-7 ≦ L2 ≦ L1-2 (unit: [mm]) (2)
It is characterized by.

  The compact fluorescent lamp according to the present invention is characterized in that all U-shaped tubes have substantially the same length in the tube axis direction.

  The compact fluorescent lamp according to the present invention is characterized in that the positions of the crotch portions of all the U-shaped tubes are substantially the same.

  Further, the compact fluorescent lamp according to the present invention is characterized in that the shapes of the opposing U-shaped tubes are the same.

Further, the compact fluorescent lamp according to the present invention is a compact fluorescent lamp in which the arc tube composed of U-shaped tubes has eight or more pillars and encloses liquid mercury.
If the distance between the filament and the base line is Lf, and the distance between the joint between the U-shaped tubes and the base line is La,
11 ≦ Lf ≦ 17 (unit: [mm]) (4)
Lf-19 ≦ La ≦ Lf-13 (unit: [mm]) (5)
It is characterized by satisfying.

  In the compact fluorescent lamp according to the present invention, the top part is formed in a wedge shape in cross section, and by satisfying (1) to (2), the portion that becomes the coldest point at about 50 ° C. at the time of lighting is the tip of the arc tube. Can be made.

  Further, the compact fluorescent lamp according to the present invention can secure the luminous flux by making the opposing U-shaped tubes the same shape.

  Moreover, the compact fluorescent lamp according to the present invention satisfies the formulas (4) and (5), so that the length of the discharge path is not shortened, and the coldest point is changed from the top of the U-shaped tube to the base side, In addition, the temperature near the die can be lowered without fear that the coldest spot temperature becomes less optimal.

Embodiment 1 FIG.
1 to 6 are diagrams showing the first embodiment. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of the compact fluorescent lamp 1 ((a) is a plan view, (b) is a front view), and FIG. 2 is a base case plan view. 3 is a partial longitudinal sectional view of the U-shaped tube 2, FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the U-shaped tube top 2 a of the U-shaped tube 2, and FIG. 5 is a combination of a U-shaped tube 20 and a U-shaped tube 21 having different shapes. The figure which shows a 1st modification, FIG. 6: is a figure which shows the 2nd modification which combines the U-shaped pipe 20 and the U-shaped pipe 22 from which shapes differ.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the compact fluorescent lamp 1 includes four U-shaped tubes 2 (glass bulbs) that are melt-bonded to each other at the end side walls (joint portion 2a) and are internally connected by eight glass bulbs. The arc tube 5 has a meandering discharge path formed as a whole, a flat portion 3b to which the arc tube 5 is fixed by adhesion or the like, and a side wall 3a having an octagonal cross section connected to the flat portion 3b. A base case 3 and a base 4 having a base pin 4 a that fits into the base case 3 and is electrically connected to a lead wire from the arc tube 5 are provided.

  Although not shown, the two U-shaped tubes 2 serving as both ends of the discharge path are provided with filaments. An electron emitting substance is applied to the filament. A discharge path is formed between the two filaments.

  The material of the base case 3 is PET (polyethylene terephthalate), LCP (liquid crystal polymer), PBT (polybutylene terephthalate), or the like.

As shown in FIG. 2, the base case 3 is provided with eight openings 3c for fixing the eight-tube arc tube 5 by bonding or the like to a flat portion 3b connected to one end of the side wall 3a. Yes.
The other end of the side wall 3a is open, and a base 4 having a base pin 4a is fitted therein.

  Here, the compact fluorescent lamp 1 having eight pillars will be described. However, the present invention is also applied to a lamp having eight pillars or more such as ten pillars and twelve pillars.

  The compact fluorescent lamp 1 of FIG. 1 is a type that does not use amalgam, and introduces liquid mercury into the arc tube. For those using amalgam, the temperature of the lamp will not rise due to the effects of air conditioning or outside air, and may remain in a state considerably lower than the optimum value when using amalgam (referred to as supercooling). . Moreover, since the optimal value in amalgam is high, it takes time to reach the optimal temperature after lighting, and there is a problem that the rise of the luminous flux is slow. This is to solve these problems.

As a method of introducing liquid mercury into the arc tube, there are the following methods, which means that mercury operates independently at least during operation.
(1) A method of adding high-purity liquid mercury as it is.
(2) A system in which Hg (mercury) is impregnated in TiZn or Fe so that it operates independently from the structure of Hg TiZn or Fe by lighting or heating.
In the present embodiment, the method (2) is adopted.

  In the method using amalgam, the mercury vapor pressure can be changed by adjusting the ratio of the elements constituting the amalgam in addition to the temperature of the amalgam. Further, the position of the amalgam can be fixed by fixing it to the tip tube or to the lead wire supporting the filament. This is called “mercury vapor pressure regulation”. On the other hand, when liquid mercury is introduced, the mercury vapor pressure is determined only by the temperature of the mercury remaining in the liquid during lighting, and the liquid mercury moves, so it moves freely to the lowest temperature position. It cannot be fixed. This is called "no mercury vapor pressure regulation".

  The four U-shaped tubes 2 constituting the arc tube 5 have the same shape. The outer diameter of the U-shaped tube 2 is 10 to 15 mm, and the length L of the compact fluorescent lamp 1 (the distance between the base of the cap pin 4a and the tip of the arc tube 5 (see FIG. 1)) is 150 to 210 mm. , 180 mm as an example.

  If the length L of the compact fluorescent lamp 1 is long, there is a possibility that it interferes with the back of the ceiling in a vertical ceiling-mounted downlight. Therefore, the upper limit is 210 mm. On the other hand, if the length is short, the luminous efficiency becomes small. Accordingly, the lower limit is 150 mm.

  If the tube outer diameter of the U-shaped tube 2 is thin, the efficiency becomes small, the discharge voltage becomes too high, and the design of the inverter becomes large. Therefore, the lower limit is 10 mm. Moreover, if it is thick, the radial size of the arc tube 5 becomes large, and the design of the instrument becomes difficult. The current becomes too large, and the cost of the inverter becomes a problem. Therefore, the upper limit is 15 mm.

  As described above, since the length of the 70 W six-column compact fluorescent lamp is 220 mm, it is shortened by about 40 mm.

  When the arc tube 5 has eight pillars, the temperature of the arc tube 5 is higher than that of the six pillars having the same wattage. In one example, the difference is about 5K (Kelvin).

  If eight pillars are used, the temperature of the arc tube 5 will be higher than that of the six pillars, and liquid mercury will be used. Therefore, if the shape of the U-tube 2 remains six columns (the top section of the U-tube 2 is circular) The coldest spot for controlling the mercury vapor pressure to an appropriate value is not formed, and a desired light flux cannot be obtained.

  Therefore, the shape of the top of the U-shaped tube 2 is examined so that the coldest spot is formed at the top of the U-shaped tube 2. The top of the U-shaped tube 2 also becomes a part of the discharge path. The temperature of the discharge path is higher than that of the portion that does not become the discharge path. Therefore, for example, as shown in FIG. 4, the cross-sectional shape of the U-shaped tube top 2 a has a wide portion 2 b in the vicinity of the crotch portion of the U-shaped tube 2, and extends from the wide portion 2 b to the tip of the U-shaped tube top 2 a. Use a tapered shape. In other words, the tip becomes thinner and the vicinity of the crotch portion of the U-shaped tube 2 becomes thicker. Thereby, the wide part 2b near the crotch part of the U-shaped tube 2 becomes a discharge path. Since the vicinity of the tip does not serve as a discharge path, the temperature is lower than that of the wide portion 2b near the crotch.

The shape of the U-shaped tube top 2a is shown by specific numerical values. As shown in FIG. 3, the tube axis direction inner dimension L1 of the U-shaped tube top 2a is:
11 ≦ L1 ≦ 17 (unit: [mm]) (1)
And
As shown in FIG. 4, when the dimension in the tube axis direction between the wide portion 2b in the vicinity of the crotch portion of the U-shaped tube 2 and the tip portion of the U-shaped tube top portion 2a is L2,
L1-7 ≦ L2 ≦ L1-2 (unit: [mm]) (2)
To satisfy.
As shown in FIG. 4, when the dimension in the tube axis direction between the wide portion 2b near the crotch portion of the U-shaped tube 2 and the crotch portion of the U-shaped tube 2 is L3,
2 ≦ L3 ≦ 7 (unit: [mm]) (3)
It becomes.

  By making the U-shaped tube top 2a as described above, the vicinity of the wide portion 2b near the crotch portion of the U-shaped tube 2 becomes a discharge path. Since the tip end portion of the U-shaped tube top portion 2a does not serve as a discharge path, the temperature is lower than that of the wide portion 2b near the crotch portion of the U-shaped tube 2, and the coldest spot is formed here. The optimum cold spot temperature at lighting when the ambient temperature is 25 ° C. is 50 ° C. By making the U-shaped tube top 2 a as described above, the tip of the U-shaped tube top 2 a is set to that temperature. Can be controlled.

  An 8-pillar compact fluorescent lamp 1 includes four U-shaped tubes 2. Although all the U-shaped tubes 2 may have a shape that satisfies the expressions (1) to (3), some of the U-shaped tubes 2 may have a shape that satisfies the expressions (1) to (3). The efficiency is better when one or two U-shaped tubes 2 satisfy the formulas (1) to (3) and the other U-shaped tube 2 has a short inner axial dimension L1 at the top. Become. Hereinafter, the modification is demonstrated.

  The first modification shown in FIG. 5 includes a U-shaped tube 20 whose top portion satisfies the expressions (1) to (3), and a U-shaped tube whose inner dimension L1 in the tube axis direction of the top portion is shorter than that of the U-shaped tube 20. 21 is combined. The U-shaped tube 20 and the U-shaped tube 21 have the same length in the tube axis direction. At least one of the four U-shaped tubes may be a U-shaped tube 20 and the other may be a U-shaped tube 21. When two of the four U-shaped tubes are used as the U-shaped tube 20, it is preferable that the U-shaped tubes 20 are arranged so as to face each other. This shape is suitable when the compact fluorescent lamp 1 is used horizontally. This is because the temperature of the coldest spot is less changed depending on how the compact fluorescent lamp 1 is attached.

Here, an example is shown of how the discharge length and the efficiency change depending on the combination of the U-shaped tube 20 having a long inner dimension L1 of the U-shaped tube top 2a and the short U-shaped tube 21.
(1) The U-shaped tube 20 has L1 = 14 mm and L2 = 8 mm.
(2) The U-shaped tube 21 has L1 = 9 mm and L2 = 4 mm.

(1) The compact fluorescent lamp 1 including one U-shaped tube 20 and three U-shaped tubes 21 has a longer discharge length than the compact fluorescent lamp 1 including four U-shaped tubes 20. Became longer than 24 mm, and the luminous efficiency increased by 2%.
(2) The compact fluorescent lamp 1 including two U-shaped tubes 20 and two U-shaped tubes 21 has a longer discharge length than the compact fluorescent lamp 1 including four U-shaped tubes 20. Became longer than 16 mm, and the luminous efficiency increased by 1.5%.
The compact fluorescent lamp 1 composed of three U-tubes 20 and one U-tube 21 has a smaller discharge length and light emission efficiency than the above (1) and (2). it is obvious.

  As described above, the compact fluorescent lamp 1 using one U-shaped tube 20 and the other three using the U-shaped tube 21 is most preferable in terms of characteristics.

  6 also includes a U-shaped tube 20 whose top portion satisfies the formulas (1) to (3), and a U-shaped tube 22 whose inner axial dimension L1 of the top portion is shorter than that of the U-shaped tube 20. It is a combination. The difference from FIG. 5 is that the U-shaped tube 20 and the U-shaped tube 22 have different lengths in the tube axis direction, and the positions of the crotch portions of the U-shaped tube 20 are substantially the same. In the case of FIG. 6, at least one of the four U-shaped tubes may be the U-shaped tube 20 and the other may be the U-shaped tube 22. When two of the four U-shaped tubes are the U-shaped tube 20, it is preferable that the U-shaped tubes 20 are disposed so as to face each other. This shape is suitable when the compact fluorescent lamp 1 is used horizontally. This is because the temperature of the coldest spot does not change depending on how the compact fluorescent lamp 1 is attached.

Embodiment 2. FIG.
FIG. 7 is a view showing the second embodiment, and is a view showing the vicinity of the base line of the compact fluorescent lamp 1.

  When the arc tube 5 has eight pillars, the temperature of the arc tube 5 is higher than that of the six pillars having the same wattage. Accordingly, the temperature of the base 4 also increases. Since the material of the base case 3 is PET or the like, there is a risk of deterioration when the temperature of the base 4 becomes high. Therefore, in the present embodiment, it is considered to lower the temperature of the base 4.

  The portion related to the temperature of the base 4 is a filament 6 (FIG. 7) and a joint 2 c (FIG. 7) between the U-shaped tubes 2. Both the filament 6 serving as the starting point of the discharge and the joint 2c between the U-shaped tubes 2 serving as the discharge path become high temperature. In order to lower the temperature of the base 4, it is effective to separate the joint 2 c between the filament 6 and the U-shaped tube 2 from the base 4. However, if the distance is too far, the length of the entire discharge path is shortened, so that the efficiency is lowered, and the coldest point is changed from the U-tube top 2a to the base 4 side, and the coldest point temperature may not be optimum. Naturally, there is a limit. The first reason for providing the coldest spot not on the base side but on the tip side is that the temperature tends to lower at the tip side and the cold spot on the tip side as a whole is the discharge path. By being able to be long. The second reason is that when attached to a lighting fixture, the temperature change is larger on the base side, and the light flux etc. changes greatly due to the difference in lighting fixture and atmosphere, but this change is reduced. Because.

As shown in FIG. 7, when the distance between the filament 6 and the base line is Lf, and the distance between the joint 2c and the base line is La, the temperature of the base 4 is lowered and the length of the discharge path is shortened. Lf and La that the coldest point changes from the U-shaped tube top 2a to the base 4 side and the coldest point temperature is not optimal are
11 ≦ Lf ≦ 17 (unit: [mm]) (4)
Lf-19 ≦ La ≦ Lf-13 (unit: [mm]) (5)
It becomes.

  If the position of the joint 2c between the filament 6 and the U-shaped tube 2 is set to satisfy the expressions (4) and (5), the temperature of the base 4 is lowered and the length of the discharge path is not shortened, Further, the coldest spot changes from the U-shaped tube top 2a to the base 4 side, and there is no fear that the coldest spot temperature is not optimal.

  In the second embodiment, the tip side is the same as that of the first embodiment. By making this tip side the same as in the first embodiment, the coldest spot is surely provided on the tip side under the conditions of the second embodiment, and the coldest spot temperature on the tip side becomes the optimum condition. Moreover, the length of the discharge path becomes sufficiently long. However, if an appropriate condition that makes the tip portion different from that of the first embodiment can be created, it is effective to satisfy the condition of the second embodiment on the base side.

FIG. 3 shows the first embodiment, and shows the overall configuration of a compact fluorescent lamp 1. FIG. 3 shows the first embodiment and is a plan view of a cap case 3. FIG. 3 shows the first embodiment, and is a partial longitudinal sectional view of a U-shaped tube 2. FIG. 5 shows the first embodiment and is a cross-sectional view of a U-shaped tube top portion 2a of the U-shaped tube 2; The figure which shows Embodiment 1 and is a figure which shows the 1st modification which combines the U-shaped pipe 20 and the U-shaped pipe 21 from which shapes differ. The figure which shows Embodiment 1 and is a figure which shows the 2nd modification which combines the U-shaped pipe 20 and the U-shaped pipe 22 from which shapes differ. FIG. 6 shows the second embodiment and shows the vicinity of the base line of the compact fluorescent lamp 1.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Compact fluorescent lamp, 2 U-shaped tube, 2a U-shaped tube top part, 2b Wide part, 2c Joint part, 3 base case, 3a side wall, 3b Flat part, 3c opening part, 4 base, 4a base pin, 5 Light emitting tube 6 Filament.

Claims (5)

In a compact fluorescent lamp with 8 or more U-tubes and no mercury vapor pressure regulation,
A cross-section of at least one top portion of the U-shaped tube has a wide portion near the crotch portion of the U-shaped tube, and has a tapered shape from the wide portion toward the tip of the top portion;
The inner dimension L1 of the top portion in the tube axis direction is
11 ≦ L1 ≦ 17 (unit: [mm]) (1)
Dimension L2 in the tube axis direction between the wide portion near the crotch portion of the U-shaped tube and the tip portion of the top portion,
L1-7 ≦ L2 ≦ L1-2 (unit: [mm]) (2)
A compact fluorescent lamp characterized by   2. A compact fluorescent lamp according to claim 1, wherein all the U-shaped tubes have substantially the same length in the tube axis direction.   2. The compact fluorescent lamp according to claim 1, wherein the positions of the crotch portions of all the U-shaped tubes are substantially the same.   4. The compact fluorescent lamp according to claim 2, wherein the U-shaped tubes facing each other have the same shape. In a compact fluorescent lamp with eight or more arc tubes composed of U-shaped tubes and containing liquid mercury,
When the distance between the filament and the base line is Lf, and the distance between the joint between the U-shaped tubes and the base line is La,
11 ≦ Lf ≦ 17 (unit: [mm]) (4)
Lf-19 ≦ La ≦ Lf-13 (unit: [mm]) (5)
A compact fluorescent lamp characterized by satisfying