JPH0443971Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Industrial application field] The present invention covers a bent fluorescent lamp with a translucent cover to form a double tube structure, and lights it up using a lighting circuit that has a DC component in its output. The present invention relates to a fluorescent lamp device that uses direct current (direct current that is rectified alternating current) and alternating current (AC) lighting that includes a direct current component.

[Conventional technology]

Recently, a screw-in base has been attached to one end of a case that houses lighting circuit components, and a translucent cover has been attached to the other end of the case, and a bent fluorescent lamp has been installed in the space surrounded by the case and the cover. So-called light bulb-shaped fluorescent lamp devices, which can be installed in a general incandescent bulb-shaped socket and are compatible with incandescent bulbs, are becoming popular.

It is known that in order to improve the luminous efficiency of such a fluorescent lamp device, it is good to light it using a lighting circuit having a DC component in its output.

[Problem that the invention attempts to solve]

However, when a fluorescent lamp is lit by a lighting circuit that outputs a DC component (including the case of rectified AC and the case of AC lighting that includes a DC component), mercury ions are attracted to the cathode, and the mercury ions are attracted to the cathode for a long time. During lighting, there is a shortage of mercury on the anode side and the anode side does not emit light, a phenomenon called cataphoresis. This results in a situation in which the optical output relative to the input is substantially reduced.

The present invention aims to provide a fluorescent lamp device that can prevent the occurrence of cataphoresis and maintain a high luminous efficiency.

[Means for solving problems]

The present invention is characterized in that the main parts of the fluorescent lamp and the cathode end are housed in a cover, and the anode end is housed in a case.

[Effect]

According to the configuration of the present invention, the temperature at the cathode side end of the fluorescent lamp is higher than the temperature at the anode side end, so the mercury partial pressure at the cathode side is large, and therefore mercury flows toward the cathode side. Movement is inhibited and cataphoresis phenomenon is prevented from occurring.

[Example of idea]

The present invention will be explained below based on an embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 3.

In the figure, 1 is a case, which is made of metal, synthetic resin, or the like. As shown in Figure 2, the case 1 houses a lighting circuit 2. Although not shown in detail, the lighting circuit 2 consists of a ballast, a lighting tube, a capacitor, and other parts, including semiconductors, etc. Electronic lighting circuitry may also be used.

A screw-in type (E type) cap 3 is attached to one end of the case 1.
is attached, and this base 3 can be attached to a well-known incandescent light bulb socket (not shown). The other end of the case 1 is closed by a partition plate 4, and a cover 5 made of glass, translucent synthetic resin, or the like is connected to this other end.

The cover 5 may be transparent, but is preferably semi-transparent, and has a spherical shape, for example. The inside of this cover 5 constitutes an airtight space 6 between it and the partition plate 4.

A bent fluorescent lamp 7 is housed in the airtight space 6 surrounded by the cover 5 and the partition plate 4. The bent fluorescent lamp 7 is constructed by bending an arc tube bulb into a saddle shape, for example, and has a fluorescent coating (not shown) provided on the inner surface, and mercury and a starting rare gas sealed inside. .

This fluorescent lamp 7 is powered by DC current, for example, by a lighting circuit shown in FIG. The lamp may be lit using a lighting circuit having a DC component.

This fluorescent lamp 7 has an anode 8 sealed at one end of the arc tube bulb and a cathode 9 sealed at the other end, and the main part that contributes to light emission and the end on the side of the cathode 9 are separated from the cover 5. The anode 8 is located in the airtight space 6 surrounded by the plate 4 and the anode 8.
The side end passes through the partition plate 4 and is housed in the case 1. The anode 8 and cathode 9 are connected to the lighting circuit component 2.

In addition, ventilation holes 10 are formed in the side wall of the case 1 as means for controlling the temperature of the end on the anode 8 side of the fluorescent lamp 7 housed in the case 1 and for cooling the lighting circuit components 2. It has been established.

In the embodiment with such a configuration, the inside of the airtight space 6 and the inside of the case 1 are thermally isolated by the partition plate 4, and the airtight space 6 which accommodates most of the fluorescent lamp 7 has a structure. Even if the temperature inside rises during lighting, the end of the fluorescent lamp 7 on the anode 8 side passes through the partition plate 4 and is housed in the case 1, so the end on the anode 8 side will not rise on the cathode 9 side. Temperature rise is suppressed more than at the ends. That is, during lighting, the temperature at the end of the cathode 9 is higher than that of the end of the anode 8, and the partial pressure of mercury on the cathode 9 becomes higher, which prevents mercury from moving toward the cathode 9. This prevents the occurrence of cataphoresis.

In addition, the coldest part of the fluorescent lamp 7 is definitely generated at the end of the anode 8 side, and as a result, the temperature difference between the anode 8 side and the cathode 9 side increases, and the movement of mercury is more reliably suppressed. This improves the effectiveness of preventing cataphoresis.

In addition, when the ventilation holes 10 are opened in the side wall of the case 1, the air inside the case 1 is exchanged with the outside air by natural convection, so the temperature inside the case 1 can be brought closer to the outside air temperature, and the above effects are further enhanced. become noticeable.

Note that when mercury is sealed in the form of amalgam, it is preferable to store the amalgam at the end on the anode 8 side where the temperature is lower. Thereby, the cataphoresis phenomenon can be more effectively prevented.

4 and 5 show another embodiment of the present invention, in which terminal pins 20 are provided protruding from the case 1 which functions as a base, and a fluorescent lamp 7 is provided.
uses a U-shaped curve.

The cover 5 that covers the fluorescent lamp 7 has its side parts frosted 21 or colored black to prevent light from exiting to the sides, and has a lens on the top facing the U-shaped curved part of the lamp 7. 22 so that light is emitted only toward the top.

The end of the fluorescent lamp 7 on the cathode 9 side is located in a space 23 surrounded by the cover 5 and the partition plate 4, while the end on the anode 8 side loosely passes through the partition plate 4. It is housed in case 1. In other words,
The insertion hole 24 formed in the partition plate 4 is formed larger than the tube diameter of the valve, and a gap is ensured between the insertion hole 24 and the outer surface of the valve.

Further, a ventilation hole 25 shown in FIG. 5 is opened in the bottom surface of the case 1. Note that the lighting circuit is installed externally.

Furthermore, another ventilation hole 26 is opened in the wall of the cover 5 at a position close to the straight leg portion following the end on the anode 8 side.

Even with this configuration, when the temperature of the fluorescent lamp 7 rises while it is lit, the air in the space 23 flows out through the vent hole 26 as shown by the arrow, and cold outside air replaces it. It is introduced into the case 1 through the ventilation hole 25 and into the space 23 through the gap between the insertion hole 24 formed in the partition plate 4 and the outer surface of the valve. That is, since the air in the space 23 is constantly exchanged by convection, the overall temperature of the fluorescent lamp 7 is prevented from rising and excessive mercury vapor pressure is not generated.

Moreover, the anode 8 side end is not only introduced into the case 1 but also faces the introduction passage for cold air flowing in from the outside.
The temperature of the side edge of the cathode 9 is definitely lower than that of the cathode 9 side edge, and as the cathode 9 side edge becomes relatively hot, the mercury partial pressure on the cathode 9 side becomes high.
The movement of mercury from the side to the cathode 9 side is suppressed, thereby preventing the occurrence of cataphoresis.

Furthermore, the coldest part of the fluorescent lamp 7 is reliably generated at the end on the side of the anode 8, so that the cataphoresis phenomenon can be effectively prevented.

In the above embodiment, the case 1 has ventilation holes 10,
25 to forcibly cool the anode 8 side end. However, if the inside of the space and the inside of the case 1 are thermally isolated by the partition plate 4, the anode 8 side end can be forcibly cooled. Since a temperature difference can be created between the side edge and the cathode 9 side edge, the ventilation hole 10,
25.

[Effect of idea]

As explained above, according to the present invention, the main part and the cathode side end of the fluorescent lamp are housed in the cover, and the anode side end is housed in the case. temperature becomes higher than the temperature at the anode side end, and the partial pressure of mercury on the cathode side becomes higher, so the movement of mercury from the anode side to the cathode side is suppressed, thereby preventing the occurrence of the cataphoresis phenomenon.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Figures 1 to 3 show an embodiment of the present invention, in which Figure 1 is a partially cutaway perspective view, Figure 2 is a schematic diagram, Figure 3 is a diagram of its lighting circuit, and Figure 4 is a diagram of its lighting circuit. and FIG. 5 show another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG.
The figure is a partially cutaway perspective view, and FIG. 5 is a bottom view. 1... Case, 2... Lighting circuit, 3... Screw-in base, 4... Partition plate, 5... Cover, 6...
...Airtight space, 7... Fluorescent lamp, 8... Anode,
9...Cathode, 10...Vent hole, 20...Terminal pin, 23...Space, 24...Through hole, 25, 26
...Vent.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claim for Utility Model Registration] (1) A case equipped with a cap at one end, a cover attached to the other end of this case that transmits light in whole or in part, and a case surrounded by the above-mentioned case and cover. In a fluorescent lamp device comprising a bent fluorescent lamp housed in a space and lit by a lighting circuit having a DC component in its output, the main part and the cathode side end of the fluorescent lamp are housed in the cover. Further, a fluorescent lamp device characterized in that an anode side end portion is housed in the case. (2) The fluorescent lamp device according to claim 1, which is a registered utility model, further comprising means for controlling the temperature of the anode side end portion housed in the case. (3) The fluorescent lamp device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the lighting circuit is housed in the case.