JP2011238445A - Fluorescent lamp and lighting apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a fluorescent lamp capable of restraining a poor appearance due to exfoliation of a phosphor film caused by contact between a mercury alloy and a bulb inner wall, and a lighting apparatus with the fluorescent lamp.SOLUTION: Because a path of a thin pipe 2c, through which amalgam 3 passes due to a tare weight of the amalgam 3, is curved and an opening 2e is formed toward the inner wall of a bulb 1, the amalgam 3 splashes from the opening 2e with an increased volume due to the tare weight of the amalgam 3, and contacts the inner wall of the bulb 1. However, because the opening 2e is positioned in a direction, in which a pair of linear bulbs 1 are opposed to each other in a parallel direction, an exfoliated portion of a fluorescent layer 1e can be positioned at a portion not obstructing an appearance, so as to easily restrain the poor appearance.

Description

  The present invention relates to a fluorescent lamp in which a mercury alloy is disposed inside a glass bulb, and a lighting fixture including the lamp.

  Conventionally known are annular and straight tube fluorescent lamps in which a mercury alloy made of a zinc (Zn) -mercury (Hg) alloy sealed in a glass bulb is sealed and fixed to the end of the glass bulb. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).

Also known is a fluorescent lamp in which a mercury alloy made of a zinc (Zn) -tin (Sn) -mercury (Hg) alloy enclosed in a glass bulb is sealed so that it can move freely within the glass bulb. (For example, see Patent Document 2).
Furthermore, a fluorescent lamp in which a mercury alloy made of tin (Sn) -mercury (Hg) is enclosed in a glass bulb is also known (for example, Patent Document 3).

JP-A-8-17395 JP 2006-66369 A JP 2000-251836 A

  The prior art described in FIG. 1 of Patent Document 1 is a technique related to an annular fluorescent lamp, and has a configuration in which a recess is formed on the outer periphery of a sealing portion of a glass bulb. On the other hand, since a straight tube fluorescent lamp, a compact lamp, or the like has a configuration in which there is no recess on the outer periphery of the sealing portion, the fluorescent lamp or the like whose end is a straight tube is described in FIG. It is difficult to apply the prior art. Furthermore, the relatively light mercury alloy described in Patent Document 2 does not frequently cause problems such as the phosphor peeling off even if the glass bulb is sealed without being fixed. However, since the mercury alloy composed of tin-mercury described in Patent Document 3 is relatively heavy, there is a possibility that the phosphor may be peeled off by sealing without being fixed in the glass bulb.

  In addition, in the fluorescent lamps described in Patent Documents 1 to 3, in general, when amalgam is encapsulated, it is encapsulated in the bulb together with the encapsulated gas from a thin tube sealed at the end of the bulb. When the alloy particles are large or the mercury alloy is heavy, there is a risk that the phosphor will come into contact with the inner wall of the bulb coated with the phosphor and the phosphor will peel off, resulting in poor appearance.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a fluorescent lamp capable of suppressing an appearance defect caused by peeling of a phosphor film caused by contact of a mercury alloy with an inner wall of a bulb, and an illumination device including the fluorescent lamp.

In order to solve the above-described problem, the fluorescent lamp of the embodiment has at least a pair of linear portions, a bent bulb in which a discharge medium is sealed, and a phosphor layer is formed on the inner surface. In addition, the fluorescent lamp of the present embodiment has a mercury alloy sealed in a bent bulb. Furthermore, the fluorescent lamp of the present embodiment has a pair of lead wires connected to the filament electrode and a flare portion provided with a flare tube, and the opening that communicates from the flare tube into the bulb has a pair of straight portions facing each other. And a mount sealed to the end of the valve so as to be oriented.
Moreover, in the fluorescent lamp according to another embodiment, the mercury alloy is a tin-mercury alloy, and the weight of the tin is not less than the weight of the mercury.
Moreover, the lighting fixture in this embodiment is provided with the fixture main body with which the above-mentioned fluorescent lamp was mounted | worn.

  According to the present invention, since the opening formed in the flare portion is sealed to the bulb end so that the pair of straight pipes face each other, even if peeling occurs during encapsulation, the phosphor Since the peeled portion can be a portion that is difficult to see from the appearance, it is possible to suppress a lamp appearance defect.

It is a side view of the compact fluorescent lamp which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a partially expanded sectional view of FIG. It is a side view which shows the lighting fixture which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.

  The fluorescent lamp 10 is made of translucent soda lime glass, and has a total length of 90 to 1200 mm, here 560 mm, and an outer diameter of 11 to 25 mm, here about 18.5 mm. Further, the bulb 1 constituting the fluorescent lamp 10 has a pair of straight tubular bulbs 1 arranged in parallel, and a communicating portion for connecting and communicating the bulbs 1 with each other in the vicinity of the distal end side 1a of the bulbs 1. 1b, and is formed in an H shape by the pair of bulbs 1 and the communication portion 1b, and one continuous discharge path is formed.

  The mount 2 sealed at each end 1c of the glass bulb 1 has a flare tube 2a airtight with two lead wires 2b and a thin tube 2c made of soda lime glass having a length of 30 mm and an inner diameter of 2 to 4 mm. A crushing sealing portion 2d formed by sealing and an opening 2e communicating with the filler tube 2c in the vicinity of the sealing portion 2d are provided, and a leg at the end of the filament electrode 2f is provided between the two lead wires 2b. The section is connected. In the manufacture of the mount 2, a narrow tube 2c and a pair of lead wires 2b are disposed on both ends of the straight tube 2c through the center of the flare tube 2a. Then, the vicinity of the end portion of the flare tube 2a opposite to the flare portion 2g is heated and softened and crushed and sealed from the opposite direction to form a crushed sealing portion 2d and air blown from the tip side of the flare tube 2a. As a result, an opening 2e that is opened in communication with the narrow tube 2c by blowing through the side walls in the vicinity of both sides of the sealing portion 2d in the softened state is formed.

  A phosphor layer 1e is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the glass bulb 1 via a protective film layer 1d. The protective film layer 1 d is made of a thin film such as alumina, silica, titanium, or zinc, and is laminated on the inner peripheral surface of the valve 1. A phosphor layer 1e is laminated on the protective film layer 1d so as to be thicker than the protective film layer 1d. The phosphor layer 1e is made of, for example, a three-wavelength emission type rare earth oxide phosphor. Mount with protective film layer 1d and phosphor layer 1e formed in layers, fired and baked, heated central portion of glass tube, divided into two, sealed, and electrode 2f fixed to opposite end 1c 2 is sealed.

  Then, gas or glass generated when the bulb 1 is heated to about 400 degrees to decompose the electrode material and impure gas generated from the phosphor layer 1e are sufficiently supplied from the thin tube 2c of the mount 2 sealed at the bulb end 1c. Evacuate to reduce the pressure inside.

  Thereafter, the fluorescent tube amalgam 3 made of, for example, tin (Sn) -mercury (Hg) alloy, which is a mercury alloy, and a rare gas made of argon gas are sealed from the thin tube 2c of the bulb end 1c to seal the thin tube 2c. In addition, the amalgam 3 is formed in a substantially spherical shape before being enclosed in the glass bulb 1.

  The amalgam 3 has a substantially spherical shape, preferably has an average particle diameter of 1 to 2 mm, a weight of 10 to 18 mg, a mercury amount of 2 to 3.5 mg, and a tin: mercury ratio of 2: 8. In the form, the particle size is 1.5 mm, the weight is 15 mg, the mercury amount is 3 mg, and tin: mercury is 2: 8. Note that the tin-mercury amalga 3 um is configured so as not to substantially occlude the released mercury after the mercury is once released into the bulb 1 by heating. Thereby, the mercury vapor pressure in the bulb 1 can be kept constant.

  Since the amalgam 3 is introduced from the narrow tube 2c in an upright state with the narrow tube 2c sealed to the valve end 1c facing upward, the introduced amalgam 3 passes through the narrow tube 2c and opens the flare tube 2a. It passes through the portion 2e, contacts the inner wall of the valve 1 in the vicinity of the opening 2e, and drops vigorously to the tip side 1a due to its own weight. Since the flare tube 2a is crushed and sealed, the opening 2e of the flare tube 2a cannot be formed immediately below the narrow tube 2c. Therefore, the shape of the narrow tube 2c through which the amalgam 3 passes as shown in FIG. A curve is formed in the crushing sealing portion 2d. Therefore, the amalgam 3 jumps out from the flare tube 2a opening 2e toward the inner wall of the valve 1, contacts the inner wall of the valve 1, and reaches the valve tip side 1a.

Thereafter, in order to fix the amalgam 3 to the valve tip side 1a, the amalgam 3 is heated at 200 degrees above the melting point of the amalgam 3. As a result, at least a part of the amalgam 3 is in a molten state, and the amalgam 3 is welded to the inner surface of the valve 1 and at the same time, a predetermined amount of mercury is released and diffuses into the valve 1 as it is.
Then, the base 4 is attached to the bulb end 1c side sealed by the mount 2 to complete the lamp.

  The narrow tube 2c path through which the amalgam 3 passes is curved by the dead weight of the amalgam 3, and the opening 2e is formed toward the inner wall of the valve 1, so that the momentum of the amalgam 3 increases and jumps out of the opening 2e. Contact the inner wall. However, since the opening 2e is located in a direction in which the pair of linear bulbs 1 are opposed to each other in the parallel direction, the peeled portion of the phosphor layer 1e can be located at a site that does not hinder the appearance. It can be easily suppressed.

  Further, by fixing the amalgam 3 to the bulb tip 1a, the movement of the amalgam 3 in the tube during lamp transportation or the like can be prevented, so that the peeling of the phosphor layer 1e can be suppressed. Further, even when the amalgam 3 having a small amount of mercury enclosed is used, mercury vapor can be uniformly diffused from the front end portion 1c, which is substantially the middle portion of the discharge path, toward both end portions 1c. The light / dark difference of the bulb 1 can be suppressed. Furthermore, since the bulb tip 1a is separated from the electrode 2f, which is a heat source during lighting, and is a region that is out of the discharge path, it tends to be the coldest part during lighting. The amalgam 3 having a high mercury vapor pressure can be used by fixing the amalgam 3 to the coldest part.

  In the case of adopting a tin-mercury amalgam formed such that the weight of tin is larger than the weight of mercury so that tin is the main component, for a fluorescent lamp made of a zinc (Zn) -mercury (Hg) alloy. This is preferable in that the melting point can be lowered as compared with amalgam. The melting point of a zinc-mercury alloy having a mercury weight of 50 wt% and a zinc weight of 50 wt% is about 300 ° C., but the melting point of a mercury-metal alloy having a mercury weight of 20 wt% and a tin weight of 80 wt%. Is as low as about 200 ° C. Therefore, the temperature at which the tin-mercury amalgam 3 is fused and fixed to the tip side 1a of the glass bulb 1 may be low, which is advantageous in manufacturing a lamp.

  Further, the melting point of a mercury alloy made of tin-mercury is lower than the melting point of a mercury alloy made of zinc-mercury alloy. For this reason, the initial lighting mercury can be released quickly, and there is also an advantage that the light beam rise characteristic can be improved. Furthermore, when a mercury alloy made of a tin-mercury alloy is fixed to a glass bulb, the temperature is low and the workability is improved.

  In order to securely fix the amalgam 3 to the valve tip side 1a, the amalgam 3 is securely fixed by bulging the inner surface shape of the tip side 1a so as to have substantially the same curvature as the surface of the amalgam 3. Is possible. On the other hand, since the valve tip 1a bulges inside the valve 1, the amalgam 3 can be sandwiched in the acute angle inner space between the bulge on the tip side 1a and the straight pipe, so that they are also fixed to each other. Can be sure.

  In addition, since the amalgam 3 made of tin-mercury has a relatively low mercury content, for example, if the same amount of mercury as the amalgam 3 made of zinc-mercury is to be enclosed, the mercury particles must be heavier. Thus, since tin-mercury is relatively heavy, when encapsulating the amalgam 3 in the bulb 1 through the thin tube 2c, the impact of coming into contact with the inner wall of the bulb 1 tends to be strong, so that the phosphor can be further layered. There is a risk of peeling.

  As described above, when the amount of mercury enclosed is increased and the weight of the amalgam 3 is increased or the diameter of the amalgam 3 is increased, three amalgams are not one but a small amalgam 3 is included in the plurality of bulbs 1. It is also possible to encapsulate.

  The bent valve 1 having at least a pair of straight portions is not limited in its shape and the like as long as it has at least two straight portions. For example, if two linear portions are close to each other so as to be communicated by the communicating portion and the discharge path is folded back, the communicating portion of the two linear portions is a so-called H-shape, U-shape, U-shape, etc. It does not matter. Further, the shape of the cross section inside the communication portion is not limited, such as a circle or an ellipse.

  In the present invention, as the amalgam 3 as a mercury alloy, a mercury alloy for a fluorescent lamp made of a tin (Sn) -mercury (Hg) alloy can be suitably used. It is also possible to use a mercury alloy made of a mercury (Hg) alloy.

  The bent bulb 1 and the stem 2 are sealed with mounts having electrodes at the ends of a pair of linear portions located at both ends of the discharge path to form an airtight container. Generally, soft glass such as soda lime glass is used for reasons such as environment, economy, and workability, but the material is not limited.

  A rare gas as a discharge medium is enclosed in the glass bulb 1. As the rare gas, for example, argon gas alone, a mixed gas of argon and neon, or a mixed gas obtained by mixing these gases with another rare gas such as krypton gas or xenon gas as necessary can be used.

  FIG. 3 illustrates a lighting fixture 5 including the fluorescent lamp of FIG. The lighting fixture 5 includes a fixture body 5a that is installed directly on the ceiling of a building, for example. A lighting device 5b having a built-in electronic ballast, a power supply terminal block for power supply connection, and the like is attached to the appliance body 5a. Further, lamp sockets are attached to both ends in the longitudinal direction of the lower surface of the fixture body 5a that forms the reflecting surface 5c, and a fluorescent lamp is detachably supported between the lamp sockets. In this luminaire, power can be supplied to the fluorescent lamp 10 via the lighting device 5b and the lamp socket, whereby the fluorescent lamp 10 can be turned on.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Fluorescent lamp, 1 ... Bulb, 1a ... Tip part, 1c ... Bulb end part, 2 ... Mount, 2a ... Flare tube, 2c ... Thin tube, 2d ... Crush sealing part, 2e ... Opening part, 2g ... Flare part, 3 ... Amalgam, 4 ... Base, 5 ... Lighting equipment

Claims (3)

A bent bulb having at least a pair of straight portions, in which a discharge medium is sealed, and a phosphor layer is formed on the inner surface;
A mercury alloy enclosed in a bending valve;
It has a pair of lead wires connected to the filament electrode and a flare portion provided with a flare tube, and the opening communicating from the flare tube into the valve is sealed at the valve end so that the pair of linear portions face each other. A mount to be worn;
A fluorescent lamp characterized by comprising:   2. The fluorescent lamp according to claim 1, wherein the mercury alloy is a tin-mercury alloy and a mercury alloy in which a weight of the tin is equal to or more than a weight of the mercury. A fluorescent lamp according to claim 1 or 2;
An instrument body equipped with this fluorescent lamp;
The lighting fixture characterized by comprising.