JP3372035B2 - Fluorescent lamp and method of manufacturing the same - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a fluorescent lamp and a method for manufacturing the same, and more particularly, to a fluorescent lamp provided with a reflecting member for improving light distribution characteristics, which is improved and improved in productivity. The present invention relates to a technique for maintaining light distribution characteristics for a long time.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, a fluorescent lamp has an advantage that a long discharge path can be formed in a small space when the discharge path is formed in a meandering shape, and can be made compact and compact. Then, conventionally, a plurality of U-shaped bulbs or straight tube bulbs are arranged in a substantially circumferential shape, and adjacent bulbs are connected to each other by a bridge joint to form one meandering discharge path in the bulb. There is known a bulb-type fluorescent lamp including a formed arc tube, a holder for holding the arc tube, and a base provided at one end of the holder.

On the other hand, the fluorescent lamp having the meandering discharge path as described above has a drawback that the horizontal light distribution characteristic is likely to be nonuniform. As an example of a technique for improving the horizontal light distribution characteristic, a light bulb shaped fluorescent lamp (hereinafter, simply referred to as “fluorescent lamp”) in which a rod-shaped reflecting member is installed in a space surrounded by a plurality of U-shaped bulbs is used. Proposed.

Hereinafter, the conventional fluorescent lamp will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10. FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining the configuration and manufacturing method of the fluorescent lamp. The fluorescent lamp shown in the figure includes an arc tube 901 and a holder 902, and a rod-shaped reflecting member 905 as shown in FIG. 10 is installed on the holder 902 to improve the light distribution characteristics. is there.

The arc tube 901 uses three U-shaped bulbs (hereinafter referred to as "U-shaped tubes") 901a, and adjacent Us are used.
It is configured by joining character tubes to each other with a bridge joining portion 901b, and is fixed on the holder 902 so that the discharge paths are arranged in a substantially circumferential shape. Also, the holder 90
When the reflection member 905 is installed on the reflection member 905, a locking claw 905a is provided at the end of the reflection member 905, and a holder 902 is provided.
By providing a locking portion 902a on the side of, the structure is locked between the two, and the locking claw 905a has a structure cut out in two limbs.

The reflecting member 905 utilizes the elasticity of the slit 905b formed between the locking claws 905a cut out at the two limbs to make the side of the arc tube 901 (hereinafter, "the arc tube side").
Say. ) Is inserted into the locking portion 902a, and the locking claw 90
5a and the locking portion 902a are locked by the holder 902.
Fixed to.

[0007]

However, the above fluorescent lamp has a problem that the light distribution characteristic may gradually deteriorate. In addition, the above-mentioned fluorescent lamp has a problem that productivity is difficult. That is, when the holder 902 is attached to the arc tube 901, it is common to fix the both with a silicone adhesive or the like, and prevent the influence of the adhesive being exposed to the outside on the appearance of the lamp. To this end, the side of the arc tube 901 on which the electrode lead wire is provided is directed upward, and the holder 902 is attached from above the lead wire.
While it is preferable to attach the reflecting member 905, it is preferable to insert the reflecting member 905 from the direction shown in FIG. 9 with the arc tube 901 and the holder 902 in opposite directions when the reflecting member 905 is attached. This is because a step of inverting the tube 901 and the like is required, which adversely affects productivity.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and a first object thereof is to provide a fluorescent lamp capable of improving productivity and a method of manufacturing the fluorescent lamp. is there. A second object is to provide a fluorescent lamp that can maintain stable light distribution characteristics for a long period of time.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, a fluorescent lamp according to the present invention comprises an arc tube forming a meandering discharge path therein, and a holder for holding the arc tube in a predetermined posture. A fluorescent lamp having a reflecting member that is fixed to the holder in a predetermined positional relationship with the arc tube and that reflects light from the arc tube, wherein the reflecting member reflects the light from the arc tube. And a fixed portion fixed to the holder, wherein the holder has an installation portion including a region that allows insertion of the reflective portion but blocks passage of the fixed portion. The member is characterized in that a positional relationship with respect to the holder is fixed by abutting and fixing the fixing portion to the installation portion in a state where the reflecting portion is inserted into the region.

Specifically, this fluorescent lamp is, for example,
A holder mounting step of mounting a holder having a region that allows insertion of the reflecting portion of the reflecting member into the arc tube forming the meandering discharge path, but blocks passage of the fixing portion of the reflecting member, and the reflecting portion. , The holder is inserted into the region from the side opposite to the arc tube of the holder, and the fixing unit and the holder are fixed in contact with each other in a state where the reflecting unit passes through the region. The method of manufacturing a fluorescent lamp according to claim 1, further comprising:

According to the fluorescent lamp and the method for manufacturing the fluorescent lamp described above, the step of inverting the arc tube is not necessary, so that the productivity can be improved. The fluorescent lamp having the above configuration can also achieve the second object. The reason why the second object can be achieved will be described below. As a result of intensive studies on the cause of deterioration of the light distribution characteristic in the fluorescent lamp, the inventors of the present application may gradually deform the locking claws 905a part cut out in two limbs due to heat generated during lighting of the lamp. I found the fact that there is. In this case, since the width of the slit 905b between the two limbs is deformed in the direction in which the width is reduced, the locking structure between the locking claw 905a and the locking portion 902a is gradually changed, and thus the reflection member 905 is changed. The position becomes unstable, which causes deterioration of light distribution characteristics.

That is, in the above-described fluorescent lamp of the present invention, it is considered that the diameter of the fixed portion is often larger than the diameter of the reflective portion, and the heat capacity of the fixed portion depends on the shape and structure of the fixed portion. It is possible to easily prevent heat deformation between the reflection member and the holder by increasing the size of the lamp, dissipating heat when the lamp is lit, and further providing a slit with both ends connected. It is also possible to easily achieve the purpose of item 2.

[0013]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, an example of an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway perspective view showing the structure of the fluorescent lamp of the present embodiment. In the fluorescent lamp 100 of the present embodiment, since the arc tube 101 having the meandering discharge path, the holder 102 holding the arc tube 101, and the space formed between the holder 102 and the arc tube 101 are lit, the arc tube 101 is lit. A resin case 103 capable of housing a lighting circuit (not shown) and a metal base 104 installed at one end of the resin case 103.

The arc tube 101 uses three U-shaped tubes 101a, and adjacent U-shaped tubes are joined together by a bridge joining portion 101b. The three U-shaped tubes 101a are substantially circular on a holder 102. They are arranged in a circle. A phosphor is attached to the inner surface of the U-shaped tube 101a, and the connected U is connected.
Electrodes 101c and 101d (not shown in FIG. 1) are provided at both ends of the character tube. That is, in the arc tube 101, one meandering discharge path is formed between the electrodes 101c and 101d provided at both ends.

In this embodiment, a white resin reflecting member 105 having a base end fixed to the holder 102 is provided in the space surrounded by the holder 102 and the three U-shaped tubes 101a. Fluorescent lamp 1 by reflecting member 105
00 light distribution characteristics are improved. Hereinafter, details of the reflecting member 105 of the present embodiment will be described. 2 and 3
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the shape of a reflecting member 105. Figure 2
3 is a perspective view of the reflection member 105, and FIG. 3 is a sectional view. The reflecting member 105 is a rod-shaped reflecting portion 105 having a conical portion at its tip and a columnar portion other than that.
a and the fixed portion 1 formed at the end of the reflecting portion 105a.
05b, and both are integrally formed of white resin in the present embodiment. In the vicinity of the boundary between the fixed portion 105b and the reflecting portion 105a, the locking claws 105c,
And a slit 105d having a connecting portion 105e at the end is provided. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the fixing portion 105b has a hollow inside, so that the slit 105d
By d, elasticity is applied to the vicinity of the fixed portion 105b and the locking claw 105c in the direction in which the horizontal cross section of the reflection member 105 is reduced.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the shape of the holder 102. FIG. 4A is a perspective view of the holder 102 viewed from diagonally above the side facing the resin case 103 (hereinafter referred to as the “case side”) after the fluorescent lamp 100 is assembled, and is indicated by a dotted line in the figure. The arc tube 101 is fixed to the open position. Further, FIG. 4B is a sectional view of the holder 102.

As shown in FIGS. 4 (a) and 4 (b), the holder 102 has such a size that the reflecting portion 105a can pass but the fixing portion 105b cannot pass. The insertion hole 102a is provided, and the edge portion 102b of the insertion hole 102a is fixed to the fixing portion 1 of the reflecting member 105.
05b and the locking claw 105c are engaged with each other. That is, as shown in FIG. 5, when the reflection part 105a is inserted into the insertion hole 102a from the case side of the holder 102, the reflection part 105a finally penetrates from the case side to the arc tube side, and the fixed part 105b is inserted into the holder. The tubular portion 10 of 102
By being pressed and fixed in a state of being in surface contact with the inner surface of 2c, the locking claw 105c locks with the edge portion 102b,
The position of the reflection member 105 is configured to be more stable.

Next, a method of manufacturing the fluorescent lamp 100 of this embodiment will be described. FIG. 6 shows a fluorescent lamp 100.
FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining a manufacturing method of. When manufacturing the fluorescent lamp 100, as shown in FIG. 6A, the arc tube 101 is placed on, for example, a belt with the lead wires 101e and 101f connected to the electrodes 101c and 101d facing upward. Be transported. Arc tube 10
1 has a position on the belt fixed by, for example, a clamp (not shown), and a holder 102 is attached thereto from above as shown in FIG. 6 (b), and light is emitted using, for example, a silicon adhesive. The tube 101 and the holder 102 are fixed to each other.

Further, as shown in FIG. 6C, the reflection member 105 is inserted into the insertion hole 102a of the holder 102 from above.
Is inserted and fixed, and then a lighting circuit (not shown), a resin case 103, and a base 104 are similarly mounted from above to manufacture the fluorescent lamp 100. As described above, when manufacturing the fluorescent lamp of the present embodiment, the arc tube 101
Since it is possible to mount the holder 102 and the reflection member 105 to the same direction from the same direction, the manufacturing process is simplified as compared with the conventional case where the reflection member is mounted from the arc tube side. . That is, the electrodes 101c and 101d
To connect between the lighting circuit and the lighting circuit, it is preferable that at least the lead wires of each electrode face upward.
In order to mount the reflecting member from the side of the arc tube, it was considered that it was preferable to carry out with the lead wire of the electrode facing downward. Therefore, it is possible to emit light between the mounting of the reflecting member and the installation of the lighting circuit. A step of inverting the tube 101 is required, which reduces productivity. On the other hand, in the manufacturing method of the present embodiment, the step of reversing the arc tube 101 is not necessary, and the holder 102, the electrode side of the arc tube 101 is positioned above.
Since it is possible to sequentially mount the reflecting member 105, the lighting circuit, etc., it is possible to improve productivity. Further, it is not necessary to insert the reflecting member 105 into the narrow gap surrounded by the arc tube 101, which also improves the productivity.

<Modifications> The present invention has been described above based on the embodiments. However, the contents of the present invention are not limited to the specific examples described above. For example, the following modifications are possible. I can think. (1) In the above embodiment, the reflection member 105 and the holder 1
02, the inner surface of the cylindrical portion 102c and the fixed portion 105b are pressed and fixed together with the reflective member 105.
A locking claw 105c is provided on the to provide a locking structure. However, the fixing method of both is not limited to this.
For example, the fixing portion 105b and the holder 1 do not have to be pressed and fixed.
No. 02 may be fixed with an adhesive agent, and the locking claw 105c is not necessarily provided.

(2) In the above embodiment, the fixed portion 105
The outer surface b and the inner surface of the cylindrical portion 102c are entirely in surface contact with each other as shown in FIG. Surface contact between the two is effective in diffusing the heat generated when the lamp is lit, and this makes it possible to prevent thermal deformation in the vicinity of the fixed part, but it is not limited to the method of surface contact over the entire surface. .
For example, as shown in FIG. 7, a part of the fixing portion may be brought into surface contact with each other so that the locking claw 105c and the edge portion 102b are locked and fixed.

(3) In the above embodiment, the fixed portion 105b
Has a tapered shape in which the diameter gradually becomes smaller toward the reflecting portion 105a. This is the fixed part 105
It is considered that the shape is effective when the b is inserted into the cylindrical portion 102c and pressure-fixed, but the shape is not limited to this, and another shape such as a pyramid shape or a cylindrical shape can be used.
In particular, in the case where the fixing portion 105b and the holder 102 are fixed with an adhesive, if there is at least a portion that cannot pass through the insertion hole 102a, such as a plate shape, a dice shape, or a rectangular parallelepiped. It can have any shape. In these cases, it is not necessary to give elasticity to the fixing portion 105b, so that it is not necessary to provide the slit 105d in the fixing portion 105b, and the fixing portion 105b is not entirely hollow, and has a lump shape. The fixed portion 105b may be provided.

(4) In the present embodiment, the reflecting member 105
By providing the slit 105d having the connection portion 105e on the fixing portion 105b, elasticity is imparted to the fixing portion 105b and the vicinity of the locking claw 105c, and the mounting on the holder 102 is facilitated. As for the slit 105d, it is effective to have the connecting portion 105e as in the above-described embodiment, in order to more reliably prevent thermal deformation of the fixed portion 105b, but the size of the fixed portion 105b. Depending on the circumstances, the slit may have an open end even without the connecting portion 105e. Further, the shape of the slit 105d is not limited to the elongated shape, and can be various shapes such as a shape close to a circle depending on elasticity to be imparted. Furthermore, regarding the position of the connecting portion 105e,
It does not necessarily have to exist at the end of the fixed portion 105b,
The position may be as shown in FIG.

(5) In the above embodiment, the reflecting member 10
As a reference numeral 5, a reflecting portion 105a and a fixed portion 105 are made of white resin.
Although a member integrally formed with b is used, as the reflecting member 105, a member in which the reflecting portion 105a and the fixing portion 105b are formed as separate parts and then integrated may be used.
Here, when both are formed as separate parts, the same material may be used for the reflection part 105a and the fixed part 105b, or different materials may be used.

As a concrete material, the reflecting portion 10 is used.
As the material of 5a, other than white resin, other resin, glass, metal, a material coated with a reflective film, or the like can be used as long as it has a reflection effect, and various fixing portions 105b can be used. It is possible to use the above material, and this is the same when both are integrally molded. Further, as the white resin, specifically, a resin such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) may be used as the fixing portion 105b.
It is preferable from the viewpoint of imparting elasticity to. Further, the surface of the reflecting member 105 or the like may be coated with a heat deterioration preventing film or an ultraviolet ray deterioration preventing film.

(6) In the above-described embodiment, the arc tube 1 in which three U-shaped tubes 101a are connected by the bridge joint portion 101b.
No. 01 has been used to describe the fluorescent lamp 100 in which each U-shaped tube is arranged on the holder 102 in a substantially circumferential shape. However, the present invention has a structure in which an arc tube having a meandering discharge path is fixed on the holder. Can be applied if
Therefore, the number of U-shaped pipes 101a is not limited to three, and can be applied even when four U-shaped pipes 101a are used (arranged in a substantially square shape) and the gap between the valves can be reduced. There is no particular limitation on the size. Also, the shape of the bulb is not limited to a U-shaped tube, and a plurality of straight tube-shaped bulbs may be used to bridge the ends to form a meandering discharge path, or the number of bulbs may be plural. The present invention is not limited to this, and can also be applied to a device in which a meandering discharge path is formed using a single bulb.

(7) The shape of the reflecting portion 105a is not limited to the one having a conical portion at the tip portion and the other cylindrical portion, but a polygonal pyramidal portion such as a hexagonal pyramid, It may be composed of a hexagonal prism or other polygonal columnar portion. Further, the thickness of the columnar portion does not necessarily have to be constant, and may be gradually reduced from the portion near the upper surface of the holder 102 toward the tip portion.
However, as in the above embodiment, a plurality of U-shaped tubes 10 are provided.
In order to improve the light distribution characteristics above the fluorescent lamp in which the arc tube 101 joined to 1a is arranged in a substantially circumferential shape, the height of the columnar portion is preferably lower than the height of the U-shaped tube 101a.

(8) On the other hand, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the columnar reflecting member is provided in the substantially central portion of the fluorescent lamp in which a plurality of U-shaped tubes are arranged in a substantially circumferential shape has been described. However, the shape of the reflecting member is not limited to the columnar member as described above, and can be various shapes according to the shape of the arc tube, the installation state, and the like. For example, it can be applied to a member such as a reflector installed between two limbs of a U-shaped tube. That is, the insertion hole provided in the holder does not have to be circular, and the reflecting member 105, particularly the reflecting portion 105, may be used.
The shape may be arbitrary according to the shape of a, and the insertion hole does not have to be a complete hole, and may have a notch or the like as long as it forms a region through which the fixing portion cannot pass. .

(9) In the above embodiment, the fluorescent lamp of the present invention includes the holder 102 and the metal base 104 at one end.
The case where the present invention is applied to a light bulb type fluorescent lamp of a type attached to a resin case 103 provided with is described, but the scope of application of the present invention is not limited to the light bulb type fluorescent lamp. Embodiments are also possible in which it is attached directly to the.

[0030]

As described above, in the fluorescent lamp according to the present invention, the holder includes the installation portion including the region (for example, the insertion hole 102a) that allows the reflection portion of the reflection member to be inserted but prevents the fixed portion from passing. Since the fixed portion is fixed in contact with the installation portion while the reflective portion is inserted into the area, the holder is attached to the arc tube and the reflective member is attached from the same direction. Therefore, there is no need for the step of inverting the arc tube, so that the productivity can be improved. Further, by adopting a configuration that suppresses thermal deformation of the fixed portion and the like, it is possible to easily maintain stable light distribution characteristics for a long time.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway perspective view showing a configuration of a fluorescent lamp according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an example of the shape of a reflecting member 105.

3 is a cross-sectional view of a reflecting member 105 shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the shape of a holder 102.

FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view of the fluorescent lamp 100 for explaining the structure for fixing the reflecting member 105 and the holder 102.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining a manufacturing method of the fluorescent lamp 100.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view for describing a modification of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a reflecting member 105 for explaining another modification of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a partially cutaway perspective view showing a configuration of a conventional fluorescent lamp.

FIG. 10 is a reflection member 90 installed in a conventional fluorescent lamp.
5 is a perspective view showing an example of the shape of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

100 fluorescent lamp 101 arc tube 101a U-shaped tube 101b bridge joint 101c, 101d electrodes 101e, 101f Lead wire 102 holder 102a insertion hole 102b edge 102c tubular part 103 resin case 104 mouthpiece 105 Reflective member 105a reflector 105b fixed part 105c locking claw 105d slit 105e connection part

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI H01J 61/32 F21S 5/00 B // F21Y 103: 025 F21V 7/14 Z (56) Reference JP 2000-251837 (JP , A) JP-A-3-102759 (JP, A) JP-A-61-225708 (JP, A) JP-A-55-109304 (JP, A) Actual development S62-4010 (JP, U) Actual development A 61-6209 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) F21S 2/00 F21V 7/00 F21V 17/00 H01J 61/32

Claims (21)

(57) [Claims] 1. An arc tube forming a meandering discharge path therein, a holder for holding the arc tube in a predetermined posture, and a holder fixed to the holder in a predetermined positional relationship with the arc tube. In a fluorescent lamp having a reflecting member that reflects light from an arc tube, the reflecting member includes a reflecting section that reflects light from the arc tube, and a fixing section fixed to the holder, wherein the holder Has an installation portion including a region that allows insertion of the reflection portion but blocks passage of the fixed portion, and the reflection member has the fixed portion with the reflection portion inserted in the region. A fluorescent lamp characterized in that the positional relationship with respect to the holder is fixed by abutting and fixing it on the installation portion. 2. The fluorescent lamp according to claim 1, wherein the arc tube has a structure in which a plurality of bulbs are connected in series, and the discharge path is formed by connecting the plurality of bulbs. lamp. 3. The fluorescent lamp according to claim 1, wherein the reflecting member is integrally molded of white resin. 4. The reflecting portion is provided so as to project in a substantially central portion on the holder, and the arc tube is arranged in a state of surrounding the reflecting portion along an outer peripheral edge of the holder. Claim 1
4. The fluorescent lamp according to any one of 3 to 3. 5. The region is an insertion hole that allows the reflection part to be inserted therethrough, and the installation part includes a tubular part at least a portion of which abuts on the fixing part when the fixing part is fixed. The fluorescent lamp according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein: 6. The fluorescent lamp according to claim 5, wherein the fixing portion and the tubular portion have a region that makes surface contact with each other when the installation portion and the fixing portion are fixed. 7. The fluorescent lamp according to claim 5, wherein an outer surface of the fixing portion has a tubular shape and has elasticity in a direction of reducing a diameter thereof. 8. The fluorescent lamp according to claim 7, wherein the fixing portion is provided with a slit, and the fixing portion has elasticity due to the slit. 9. The fluorescent lamp according to claim 8, wherein the slit has a connecting portion on a side opposite to the reflecting portion. 10. The fluorescent lamp according to claim 5, wherein the fixing portion is fixed in pressure contact with the tubular portion. 11. The fluorescent lamp according to claim 5, wherein the reflecting member is provided with a locking claw and is locked with the insertion hole. 12. The fluorescent member according to claim 11, wherein the reflection member has elasticity in a direction in which a cross section of the reflection member is reduced in a portion where the locking claw is provided. lamp. 13. The fluorescent lamp according to claim 1, wherein the reflecting portion has a columnar portion. 14. The fluorescent lamp according to claim 13, wherein the columnar portion has a cylindrical outer surface, and the fixing portion has a cylindrical portion having a diameter larger than that of the columnar portion. . 15. The fluorescent lamp according to claim 14, wherein the cylindrical portion has a tapered shape in which a diameter thereof becomes smaller toward a reflecting portion. 16. The fixing structure is fixed between the fixing portion and the installation portion by a locking structure between a locking claw provided in the fixing portion and a locking portion provided in the installation portion. The fluorescent lamp according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that: 17. The fluorescent lamp according to claim 16, wherein the locking claw has elasticity. 18. An arc tube forming a meandering discharge path,
A holder mounting step of mounting a holder having a region that allows insertion of the reflecting portion of the reflecting member, but blocks passage of the fixing portion of the reflecting member; and the reflecting portion on the opposite side of the holder from the arc tube. Through the above area, and a reflective member mounting step of mounting the reflective member to the holder by abutting and fixing the fixing portion and the holder in a state where the reflective portion passes through the area. And a method for manufacturing a fluorescent lamp. 19. In the holder mounting step, the holder is mounted from above with the two electrodes provided at both ends of the arc tube facing upward, and in the reflecting member mounting step, the reflector is attached. The method of manufacturing a fluorescent lamp according to claim 18, wherein the region is inserted from above the holder. 20. The method of manufacturing a fluorescent lamp according to claim 18, wherein, in the holder mounting step, an adhesive is used to fix the arc tube and the holder together. 21. In the step of mounting the reflection member, the holder and the reflection member are fixed by press-contacting and fixing between the fixing portion and a tubular portion provided on the holder. 21. The method of manufacturing a fluorescent lamp according to claim 18, wherein the fluorescent lamp is manufactured.