JP2011044260A - Luminous tube, and fluorescent lamp - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an easily manufacturable luminous tube having a compact size and a large luminous flux, and a fluorescent lamp including the luminous tube. <P>SOLUTION: This luminous tube 2 includes a plurality of U-shaped fluorescent tubes 2-1 to 2-5 connected so as to form a series of discharge paths by bridges 7-1 to 7-4. The U-shaped fluorescent tubes 2-1 to 2-5 are disposed in two layers by laying one on top of another, their straight line portions are parallel with each other, and the straight line portion of the U-shaped fluorescent tube in one layer and the straight line portion of the fluorescent tube in the other layer are disposed by being shifted from each other. The fluorescent lamp 1 includes an luminous tube 2, a base 3, an inverter circuit 4, a casing 5, and a cover 6. The luminous tube 2 is supported by the lower surface of the casing 5. The base 3 is provided on the outside of the casing 5, and mounted to a power supply socket. The inverter circuit 4 is provided in the inside of the casing 5, and impresses a high frequency voltage on the luminous tube 2 using commercial power supplied from a power supply through the base 3. The cover 6 is installed in the lower part of the casing 5 so as to cover the luminous tube 2. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an arc tube and a fluorescent lamp that have a larger luminous flux than size and high luminous efficiency.

  The GX53 type base is a thin fluorescent lamp base and is standardized by IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission) and JIS (Japanese Industrial Standards). This standard requires that the fluorescent lamp be contained in a cylindrical space having a thickness of about 15 mm and a diameter of about 75 mm.

  However, the fluorescent tube that can be accommodated in the space has a drawback that the size is small and the luminous flux is weak.

  Generally, in order to obtain a large luminous flux from a fluorescent tube, it is necessary to increase the discharge length. In order to satisfy this need, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for securing a relatively long discharge length with a limited occupation area by connecting a plurality of fluorescent tubes with a bridge. Specifically, an arc tube (hereinafter referred to as a 3U type fluorescent tube) in which three U-shaped fluorescent tubes are connected by a bridge is disclosed.

  Further, in order to increase the space utilization efficiency, it is conceivable to arrange the fluorescent tubes in a plurality of stages. However, in this case, since the lower fluorescent tube blocks light from the upper fluorescent tube, the luminous efficiency is not good. In order to improve this point, Patent Document 2 discloses an arc tube having a structure in which a single fluorescent tube is bent so as to have a plurality of alternately arranged legs on a plurality of surfaces. In the arc tube, straight portions arranged on a plurality of surfaces of the fluorescent tube are alternately arranged. Therefore, the fluorescent tube arranged on the lower surface does not block the light from the fluorescent tube arranged on the upper surface, and the irradiation efficiency is high.

JP 2008-140606 A Special table 2007-511868 gazette

  The conventional 3U type fluorescent tube described in Patent Document 1 normally consumes about 8 W of power. Recently, a brighter arc tube has been demanded. In order to meet this requirement, it is conceivable to simply connect four or more U-shaped fluorescent tubes, but it is difficult because the size allowed by the standard is limited. It is also conceivable to increase the power consumption by applying a high voltage to the 8 W 3U type fluorescent tube, but this only reduces the efficiency, and the resulting luminous flux does not increase much.

  It is also possible to lengthen the overall length of the 3U-type fluorescent tube and increase the outer diameter of the product accordingly. However, the outer diameter of the product exceeds the limit required by the JIS standard and is manufactured according to the JIS standard. There is a possibility that it cannot be attached to an instrument having a received GX53 money.

  Next, the arc tube described in Patent Document 2 is formed from a single glass tube and is difficult to manufacture. Specifically, when manufacturing this arc tube, it is necessary to bend a single glass tube many times to form a three-dimensional shape, which is difficult to manufacture. Moreover, although it is necessary to apply | coat a fluorescent substance inside an arc_tube | light_emitting_tube, if a fluorescent substance is apply | coated before a bending process, a fluorescent substance will peel at the part bent when bending a glass tube. On the other hand, when the phosphor is applied after the bending process, since there are many curved portions, the application can be uneven.

  As described above, the conventional arc tube for a lamp corresponding to the GX53 type cap has a small luminous flux because the outer diameter is compact. In addition, when a long arc tube is used, it is difficult to manufacture and non-uniform.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an arc tube that is compact and capable of emitting a large luminous flux and that is easy to manufacture, and a fluorescent lamp including the arc tube. It is.

  In the following text, regarding the shape of the arc tube, a U-shaped bent shape is referred to as a U shape, and a straight shape without bending is referred to as an I shape.

The arc tube according to the first aspect of the present invention is:
It is composed of a plurality of U-shaped fluorescent tubes connected to each other by bridges and arranged in a plurality of layers so as to form a series of discharge paths,
The plurality of U-type fluorescent tubes are arranged so that a straight portion of the U-type fluorescent tube in one layer is located between adjacent straight portions of the U-type fluorescent tube in the other layer.
It is characterized by that.

A fluorescent lamp according to the second aspect of the present invention is
The above arc tube;
A housing installed on top of the arc tube;
A base installed in the housing and attached to a power socket;
A lighting device that is installed inside the casing and that uses the power supplied from a power source through the base, to light the arc tube,
A cover installed at the bottom of the housing to cover the arc tube;
It is characterized by providing.

  According to the present invention, since the arc tube is arranged on a plurality of laminated surfaces, a compact and large luminous flux can be obtained. Moreover, the light from the arc tube is effectively irradiated. In addition, since the arc tube can be formed by connecting the fluorescent tubes, the manufacture is easy.

(A) It is a partially cutaway side view which shows the structure of the fluorescent lamp which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. (B) It is arrow sectional drawing in the II line | wire of FIG. 1 (A). (A) It is a partially cutaway side view which shows the structure of the fluorescent lamp which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. (B) It is an arrow directional cross-sectional view in the II-II line | wire of FIG. 2 (A). It is a bottom view of the fluorescent lamp which concerns on the modification of embodiment of this invention. It is a partially notched side view which shows the structure of the fluorescent lamp which concerns on the modification of embodiment of this invention.

  Hereinafter, an arc tube according to an embodiment of the present invention and a fluorescent lamp using the arc tube will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

(First embodiment)
As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the fluorescent lamp 1 according to the first embodiment includes an arc tube 2, a base 3, an inverter circuit 4, a casing 5, and a cover 6. .

  The arc tube 2 is composed of five U-type fluorescent tubes 2-1 to 2-5 connected to each other by bridges 7-1 to 7-4. Specifically, the five U-type fluorescent tubes 2-1 to 2-5 are connected by a bridge so as to form one discharge path as a whole. The U-type fluorescent tubes 2-1 to 2-3 are arranged on a virtual plane A (lower layer) that is a virtual horizontal plane, and 2-2 in the center and 2-1 and 2-3 on both sides are fluorescent lamps 1. Are arranged symmetrically with respect to the center line (not shown). On the other hand, the U-type fluorescent tubes 2-4 and 2-5 are arranged on the virtual plane B (upper layer) above the virtual plane A so as to be symmetrical with respect to the center line of the fluorescent lamp 1.

  The U-type fluorescent tubes 2-1 to 2-5 are each provided with a discharge electrode 8-1 at one end of the U-type fluorescent tube 2-4 so as to form a series of discharge paths as a whole. The other end of 2-4 and one end of the U-type fluorescent tube 2-1 are communicated with each other by a bridge 7-3, and the other end of the U-type fluorescent tube 2-1 and the U-type fluorescent tube 2-2 are connected to each other. One end portion is communicated with a bridge 7-1, the other end portion of the U-type fluorescent tube 2-2 and one end portion of the U-type fluorescent tube 2-3 are communicated with a bridge 7-2, and the U-type fluorescent tube The other end of 2-3 and one end of the U-type fluorescent tube 2-5 are communicated with each other by a bridge 7-4, and a discharge electrode 8-2 is disposed on the other end of the U-type fluorescent tube 2-5. Yes.

  Each U-shaped fluorescent tube 2-1 to 2-5 is composed of a U-shaped glass tube and a fluorescent layer formed on the inner surface of the glass tube. An airtight container forming a discharge path formed by the U-shaped fluorescent tubes 2-1 to 2-5 and the bridges 7-1 to 7-4 is filled with a discharge gas. With such a configuration, a discharge path length corresponding to the sum of the lengths of approximately five U-shaped fluorescent tubes is secured. Each U-shaped fluorescent tube 2-1 to 2-5 is formed in a size and a shape that avoids interference with the cover 6. Further, the linear portions of the fluorescent tubes 2-4 and 2-5 on the virtual plane B are positioned between the adjacent linear portions of the U-type fluorescent tubes 2-1 to 2-3 on the virtual plane A. Has been placed.

  The base 3 is of the GX53 type and conforms to IEC and JIS standards. When the base 3 is inserted into the GX53 type receiver, the inverter circuit 4 is connected to the commercial AC power source via the base 3. An on / off switch is provided between the power receiver and the AC power source, and the fluorescent lamp 1 can be turned on / off by turning on / off the switch.

  When the on / off switch is on, the inverter circuit 4 converts commercial power supplied via the base 3 into high frequency power and applies it between the discharge electrodes 8-1 and 8-2, Turn on the arc tube 2

  The housing 5 is composed of a metal frame or the like, houses an electronic circuit including the inverter circuit 4, and has the arc tube 2 on the lower surface and the base 3 on the upper surface.

  The cover 6 is made of a transparent resin or the like and is attached to the lower surface of the housing 5 to protect the side surface and the lower surface of the arc tube 2. The light emitted from the arc tube 2 is irradiated through an irradiation surface constituted by the lower surface of the cover 6.

  Next, the operation of the fluorescent lamp 1 having the above configuration will be described. When the base 3 is inserted into the receiver and the on / off switch is turned on, commercial power is supplied to the inverter circuit 4 through the base 3. The inverter circuit 4 generates a high frequency voltage and applies it between the discharge electrodes 8-1 and 8-2. Thereby, ultraviolet rays are generated inside the arc tube 2 along with the discharge. This ultraviolet light hits the phosphor and is converted into visible light, which is irradiated through the cover 6.

  Since the discharge path is substantially equal to the value obtained by adding the five U-shaped fluorescent tubes 2-1 to 2-5, it is sufficiently long to secure a large luminous flux. On the other hand, in the horizontal direction, since it is the size of three U-shaped fluorescent tubes, it can be accommodated in the outer diameter size defined by the standard of the GX53 type base. Furthermore, since the U-type fluorescent tube is arranged in two layers, the thickness is almost twice as large as that in the case of one layer. However, in the thickness direction, at least the power supply side of the housing 5 is within the specified space in the thickness direction. Therefore, even this configuration can satisfy the standard.

  As described above, in the first embodiment, the arc tube 2 of the fluorescent lamp 1 includes five U-shaped fluorescent tubes 2-1 to 2-5 connected by bridges 7-1 to 7-4. It is configured. Therefore, a long discharge length is ensured and a large luminous flux is obtained. In addition, since the configuration in which the five U-shaped fluorescent tubes 2-1 to 2-5 constituting the arc tube 2 are stacked in two layers (two steps: two surfaces) is adopted, the size of the luminous emitter 2 is set to GX53. It is possible to fit the size required by the die base standard. Further, the fluorescent tubes (lower fluorescent tubes) 2-1 to 2-3 on the virtual plane A and the fluorescent tubes (upper fluorescent tubes) 2 on the virtual plane B when viewed from the irradiation surface (the lower surface of the cover 6). The degree of overlap of −4, 2-5 is suppressed. Therefore, the light from the arc tubes 2-4 and 2-5 on the virtual plane B (upper layer) is also effectively irradiated without being blocked by the arc tubes 2-1 to 2-3 on the virtual plane A (lower layer). Is done.

(Second Embodiment)
In the first embodiment, the light emitter 2 is manufactured by connecting five U-shaped fluorescent tubes. However, the structure of the light emitting tube 2 itself is arbitrary as long as it is compact and high illumination efficiency can be obtained. It is. As an example, an example in which the arc tube 2 includes five U-type fluorescent tubes 2-1 to 2-5 and one I-type fluorescent tube 2-6 will be described as a second embodiment.

  In the second embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the arc tube 2 includes five U-type fluorescent tubes 2-1 to 2-1 connected to each other by bridges 7-1 to 7-5. 2-5 and one type I fluorescent tube 2-6. Specifically, the fluorescent tubes 2-1 to 2-6 are connected by bridges 7-1 to 7-5 so as to form one discharge path as a whole. The U-type fluorescent tubes 2-1 to 2-3 are arranged on a virtual plane A (lower layer), which is a virtual horizontal plane, and a U-type fluorescent tube 2-2 at the center and U-type fluorescent tubes 2-1 and 2 on both sides. -3 are arranged symmetrically with respect to the center line (not shown) of the fluorescent lamp 1. On the other hand, the U-type fluorescent tubes 2-4 and 2-5, and the I-type fluorescent tube 2-6 are arranged on the virtual plane B stacked above the virtual plane A, and the I-type fluorescent tube 2-6 is the center. On the line, the U-type fluorescent tubes 2-4 and 2-5 are arranged symmetrically with respect to the center line. In the fluorescent tubes 2-1 to 2-6, a discharge electrode 8-1 is disposed at one end of the I-type fluorescent tube 2-6 so as to form a series of discharge paths. The end portion and one end portion of the U-type fluorescent tube 2-4 are communicated with each other by a bridge 7-5, and the other end portion of the U-type fluorescent tube 2-4 and one end portion of the U-type fluorescent tube 2-1 are connected to the bridge 7. -3, and the other end of the U-type fluorescent tube 2-1 and one end of the U-type fluorescent tube 2-2 are connected by a bridge 7-1. The end portion and one end portion of the U-type fluorescent tube 2-3 are communicated with each other by a bridge 7-2, and the other end portion of the U-type fluorescent tube 2-3 and one end portion of the U-type fluorescent tube 2-5 are connected to the bridge 7-. 4, a discharge electrode 8-2 is disposed at the other end of the U-type fluorescent tube 2-5.

  Each U-type fluorescent tube and I-type fluorescent tube are composed of a glass tube and a fluorescent layer formed on the inner surface thereof. An airtight container forming a discharge path formed by the U-shaped fluorescent tubes 2-1 to 2-6 and the bridges 7-1 to 7-5 is filled with a discharge gas. With such a configuration, a discharge path length substantially corresponding to the sum of the lengths of five U-type fluorescent tubes and one I-type fluorescent tube is secured.

  Each fluorescent tube 2-1 to 2-6 is formed in a size and shape that avoids interference with the cover 6. Further, the straight portions of the U-type fluorescent tubes 2-4 and 2-5 on the virtual plane B and the I-type fluorescent tube 2-6 are adjacent to the U-type fluorescent tubes 2-1 to 2-3 on the virtual plane A. It arrange | positions so that it may be located between linear parts.

  Other configurations are the same as the configuration of the fluorescent lamp 1 in the first embodiment.

In the case of this configuration, the discharge path of the arc tube 2 is substantially equal to a value obtained by adding the lengths of five U-type fluorescent tubes, one I-type fluorescent tube and a bridge, and is sufficiently long. Therefore, a large luminous flux can be secured.
Since the luminous body 2 has a width corresponding to three U-shaped fluorescent tubes in the horizontal direction, it can be accommodated in the outer diameter size defined by the standard of the GX53 type base.

As described above, the fluorescent lamp 1 according to the second embodiment secures a longer discharge length than the fluorescent lamp 1 of the first embodiment, and the size in the horizontal direction of the first embodiment. The size of the fluorescent lamp can be reduced.
Further, similarly to the first embodiment, since the linear portion of the upper fluorescent tube and the linear portion of the lower fluorescent tube do not overlap, the light from the upper fluorescent tube receives light from the lower fluorescent tube. The ratio of shielding is small, and the illumination efficiency is high.

(Modification of the embodiment)
Although the first and second embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications and applications are possible.
For example, in the first and second embodiments, three U-type fluorescent tubes are arranged on the virtual plane A (lower layer), and two U-type fluorescent tubes (or the virtual plane B (upper layer) are arranged). In addition, one I-type fluorescent tube) is arranged, but the arrangement of the U-type fluorescent tube on the virtual plane A and the arrangement of the U-type / I-type fluorescent tube on the virtual plane B are interchanged between the virtual planes to replace the arc tube. It may be formed.

  1 and 2, the thicknesses of the U-type and I-type fluorescent tubes forming the arc tube 2 are drawn equally, but the thickness and length of the fluorescent tubes may be the same or different from each other.

  In the first and second embodiments, among the U-type and I-type fluorescent tubes constituting the arc tube, the same virtual fluorescent tubes are sequentially arranged along one direction on the virtual plane. Instead of this arrangement, as shown in FIG. 3, a plurality of U-type fluorescent tubes with gradually decreasing outer diameters are prepared, and on the virtual planes A and B, outside the U-type fluorescent tubes with larger outer diameters, You may arrange | position so that a U-shaped fluorescent tube with a small diameter may be located. According to this structure, it becomes possible to use space efficiently.

  In the above embodiment, the virtual surfaces A and B have been described as horizontal planes, but may be curved surfaces as illustrated in FIG.

  In addition, the present invention is not limited to the above-described example, and various modifications and applications are possible.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Fluorescent lamp 2 Light-emitting tube 2-1 to 2-5 U type fluorescent tube 2-6 I type fluorescent tube 3 Base 4 Inverter circuit 5 Case 6 Cover 7 Bridge 7-1 to 7-5 Bridge 8-1, 8- 2 Discharge electrode A, B Virtual surface A ', B' Virtual curved surface

Claims (6)

It is composed of a plurality of U-shaped fluorescent tubes connected to each other by bridges and arranged in a plurality of layers so as to form a series of discharge paths,
The plurality of U-type fluorescent tubes are arranged so that a straight portion of the U-type fluorescent tube in one layer is located between adjacent straight portions of the U-type fluorescent tube in the other layer.
An arc tube characterized by that. The arc tube further comprises one or more type I fluorescent tubes connected by a bridge;
The I-type fluorescent tube forms a series of discharge paths with the arc tube,
The type I fluorescent tube in one layer is disposed between the straight portions of the type I fluorescent tube or the U type fluorescent tube in the other layer,
The arc tube according to claim 1.   3. The arc tube is composed of three U-shaped fluorescent tubes arranged in one layer and two U-shaped fluorescent tubes arranged in the other layer. The arc tube described in 1.   The arc tube is composed of three U-type fluorescent tubes arranged in one layer, two U-type fluorescent tubes arranged in the other layer, and one I-type fluorescent tube. The arc tube according to claim 2, characterized in that The arc tube according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
A housing installed on top of the arc tube;
A base installed in the housing and attached to a power socket;
A lighting device that is installed inside the casing and that uses the power supplied from a power source through the base, to light the arc tube,
A cover installed at the bottom of the housing to cover the arc tube;
A fluorescent lamp comprising:   The fluorescent lamp according to claim 5, wherein the base is a GX53 type base.

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