JPH1074488A - Mercury discharge lamp device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a mercury discharge lamp device which is composed of a mercury discharge lamp having an superior rise characteristic, and requires no ballast. SOLUTION: In a mercury discharge lamp device, the amalgam support portion 2 of a mercury discharge lamp 1 and a current limiting element 3 having a large positive resistant temperature coefficient are thermally integrating provided, and the electrode 4 of the mercury discharge lamp 1 and the current limiting element 3 are provided in series connection. At the starting time of the mercury discharge lamp 1, the current limiting element 3 is heated so as to heat the amalgam support portion 2 to produce mercury vapor rapidly, and during the continuous lighting of the mercury discharge lamp 1, a lamp current is controlled by the increased resistant value of the current limiting element 3.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a mercury discharge lamp device which has excellent start-up characteristics and does not require a ballast.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a discharge lamp has been configured as a lighting fixture in combination with a ballast for limiting a current because a discharge has a negative characteristic with respect to temperature. Among them, mercury discharge lamps using mercury vapor include a fluorescent lamp of low-pressure vapor and a high-pressure mercury lamp having a double tube structure of high-pressure mercury vapor, and a ballast is provided in a fluorescent lamp fixture.

Recently, there is a ball bulb-type fluorescent lamp, and an electronic control circuit such as an inverter is provided in a base portion, which is put to practical use under the same use conditions as general bulbs.

A mercury discharge lamp uses mercury or amalgam as a mercury source, and amalgam is sealed in a double amalgam composed of a main amalgam and an auxiliary amalgam each having an appropriate composition. Although amalgam was inferior to Amalgam, relatively fast rising characteristics were obtained.

[0005]

However, it is better not to use a bulky ballast or an inverter circuit, and a more compact and lightweight fluorescent lamp without a ballast has been desired.

Further, the mercury discharge lamp has a problem that the luminous flux at the time of startup is lower than that of the conventional mercury since the amalgam is difficult to evaporate rapidly when it is turned on.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel mercury discharge lamp device comprising a mercury discharge lamp having excellent start-up characteristics and requiring no ballast.

[0008]

According to the present invention, there is provided a mercury discharge lamp comprising: an amalgam carrier and a current limiting element having a large positive temperature coefficient of resistance; And a mercury discharge lamp device provided with an electrode of the mercury discharge lamp and the current limiting element connected in series, wherein at the time of starting the mercury discharge lamp, the current limiting element generates heat and the amalgam supporting portion. Is heated to generate mercury vapor rapidly, and is configured by a mercury discharge lamp device in which the lamp current is controlled by the increased resistance value of the current limiting element during continuous operation of the mercury discharge lamp.

As a result, a novel mercury discharge lamp device comprising a mercury discharge lamp having excellent rising characteristics and requiring no ballast can be obtained.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a mercury discharge lamp in which a current limiting element having a large positive temperature coefficient of resistance, a heater for heating the amalgam carrier, and an electrode of a mercury discharge lamp are connected in series. A lamp device, wherein the heater generates mercury vapor rapidly when the heater is turned on, and the lamp current is controlled by the increased resistance value of the current limiting element during the operation of the mercury discharge lamp. Consists of a lamp device. As a result, a novel mercury discharge lamp device which does not require a ballast and is made of a mercury discharge lamp which also has excellent startup characteristics can be obtained.

[0011]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

(Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 shows an example of a mercury discharge lamp device of the present invention and a circuit diagram thereof.

In FIG. 1, the mercury discharge lamp device of the present invention is provided with an amalgam carrier 2 of a mercury discharge lamp 1 and a current limiting element 3 having a large positive temperature coefficient of resistance. A mercury discharge lamp device in which an electrode 4 of a mercury discharge lamp 1 and a current limiting element 3 are connected in series. When the mercury discharge lamp 1 starts, the current limiting element 3 generates heat and the amalgam carrier 2 Is heated to generate mercury vapor rapidly, and during continuous operation of the mercury discharge lamp 1, the lamp current is controlled by the increased resistance value of the current limiting element 3 so that the commercial power supply 6 can directly operate continuously. Have been. The mercury discharge lamp device configured as described above includes a commercial power source 6 together with a lighting tube 5 as shown in FIG.
Connected to.

A current limiting element having a large positive temperature coefficient of resistance (PTC) (hereinafter referred to as "PTC current limiting element")
Since the temperature is low and the resistance is low when the mercury discharge lamp is started, the heating of the electrode filament is fast, and a high voltage is applied between the discharge electrodes so that the start of the discharge is fast. In addition, since the PTC current limiting element rapidly generates heat and emits mercury vapor at the time of this lighting, the rise of the luminous flux can be made faster than before. Furthermore, since the PTC current limiting element detects the increase in the discharge current of the mercury discharge lamp as a temperature rise in the initial stage of lighting and can limit the discharge current, self-runaway can be stopped and a stable discharge can be sustained, so that the commercial power supply can be used directly. Can be lit continuously.

The PTC current limiting element has a feature that the self-control temperature can be selected arbitrarily according to the material characteristics, so that amalgam having a low melting point and a high melting point at room temperature can be freely used as a mercury source. Amalgam, which has a low vapor pressure at normal temperature and a small increase in vapor pressure in a high temperature region,
An amalgam useful for the present invention.

The material of the PTC current limiting element in the present invention may be a ceramic material made of a metal titanate containing at least one metal element selected from the group consisting of Ba, Sr and Pb, or conductive particles such as carbon black. A dispersed polymer composition or the like is suitable, and can be appropriately selected depending on the range of the control temperature.

The amalgam carrier of the present invention contains Hg, B
An amalgam material of any composition containing i, Sn, Pb, In, etc. is applicable. Some of these amalgams have a phase-separated structure and become smaller in a temperature range where the mercury vapor pressure increases with the temperature rise, and have a function of self-controlling the vapor pressure somewhat. Due to the control function, the vapor pressure of amalgam can be freely controlled, and a wide range of amalgam materials can be selected.

Next, a specific embodiment will be described.
As the PTC current limiting element 3, a titanate composite metal salt-based ceramic element whose resistance value rapidly increases from around 80 ° C. was selected in consideration of the temperature characteristics of the luminous flux of the fluorescent lamp 1.
As shown in FIG. 1, the PTC current limiting element 3 and the Bi-In-H
The amalgam supporting part 2 supporting the g-type amalgam was bonded and integrated. PTC current limiting element 3 and fluorescent lamp 1
Was connected in series with the electrode 4.

In the circuit configuration shown in FIG.
When the lamp was turned on with a commercial power supply of 00 [V], a fluorescent lamp having a bright initial state and a high initial illuminance was obtained from the start. In addition, even when the weather was cold and the outside was dark, comfortable indoor lighting with high initial illuminance was obtained.

This excellent behavior is achieved by the PTC current limiting element 3
Has a low resistance value before lighting, generates heat when lit, heats the amalgam carrier 2, gradually raises the temperature of the element, increases the series resistance, limits the current, and controls the voltage applied to the mercury discharge lamp 1. That is because Due to the rapid rise of the mercury vapor pressure, the disadvantage of the fluorescent lamp, which is dark at the time of lighting, could be improved with a simple configuration.

(Embodiment 2) FIG. 2 shows an example of a configuration in which a part of an electrode lead wire 7 of a mercury discharge lamp device according to the present invention is composed of a PTC current limiting element 3 having an amalgam carrier 2. When starting the lamp, the PTC current limiting element 3 acts as a heater for the amalgam carrier 2.

As described above, if at least a part of the electrode or the electrode lead wire is constituted by the PTC current limiting element and the auxiliary amalgam is heated, the structure having the fastest rise is obtained. Such a configuration is preferable in that it has high thermal efficiency and can form an energy-saving lamp. However, if the mercury vapor is excessive and the vapor pressure is too high, the luminous flux is reduced. Therefore, it is necessary to design the amalgam in consideration of the material composition and the self-control temperature of the PTC current limiting element.

Since the mercury discharge lamp device of the present invention includes a PTC current limiting element whose resistance value increases due to heat from the mercury discharge lamp, a ballast composed of a choke coil like a control circuit of a general fluorescent lamp. Is not always necessary, but a choke coil can be used supplementarily as a supplement to stable lighting.

Next, a specific embodiment will be described.
As the PTC current limiting element 3, a titanate composite metal salt-based ceramic element whose resistance value rapidly increases from around 80 ° C. was selected in consideration of the temperature characteristics of the luminous flux of the fluorescent lamp 1.
As shown in FIG. 2, a fluorescent lamp having a configuration in which a PTC current limiting element 3 in which an amalgam carrier 2 supporting a Bi-In-Hg-based amalgam was bonded and integrated was provided in a part of an electrode lead wire 7 was formed. .

When this was lit by a 100 V commercial power supply with the same circuit configuration as that shown in FIG.
Although there was no electronic lighting control circuit, a fluorescent lamp with extremely high initial illuminance, which was lit very brightly from the time of lighting than in Example 1, was obtained.

Even on a cold winter day, comfortable lighting with high initial illuminance was obtained. This excellent behavior is due to the fact that the PTC current limiting element 3 in the electrode lead wire portion shown in FIG. 2 has a low resistance value before lighting, generates heat immediately after lighting, heats the amalgam carrier 2, and increases the temperature of the element. This is because the resistance value increases, the current is limited, and the voltage applied to the mercury discharge lamp 1 is controlled. Due to the rapid rise of the mercury vapor pressure,
The disadvantage of fluorescent lamps, which are dark at startup, could be improved with a simple configuration.

(Embodiment 3) In this embodiment, a PTC current limiting element 3, a heater (not shown) for heating the amalgam carrier 2, and an electrode 4 of a mercury discharge lamp 1 are provided in series. When the mercury discharge lamp 1 is started, the heater generates heat to heat the amalgam carrier 2 to rapidly generate mercury vapor. During continuous operation of the mercury discharge lamp 1, the PTC current limiting element 3 increases. The lamp current is controlled by the obtained resistance value.

This structure can be made of each material similarly to the other embodiments described above, and has the same function. In particular, since a general heater such as a metal wire that is not a PTC material is used for heating the amalgam carrier 2, the heater can be configured with a considerably free shape, so that the amalgam carrier of various shapes can be heated.

Next, a specific embodiment will be described.
A heater made of a metal wire was wound around the amalgam-carrying portion carrying the Bi-In-Hg-based amalgam, which protruded from the end of the fluorescent lamp tube, to be thermally integrated. On the other hand, as the current limiting element 3 having a large positive temperature coefficient of resistance, a titanate composite metal salt-based ceramic element whose resistance value rises rapidly from around 35 [° C.] in consideration of the temperature characteristics of the luminous flux of the fluorescent lamp 1 is considered. I chose. The mercury discharge lamp device was constructed by connecting the PTC current limiting element, the heater and the electrodes of the mercury discharge lamp in series.

With the circuit configuration shown in FIG.
When the lamp was turned on with a commercial power supply of 100 [V], a fluorescent lamp having a high initial illuminance and brightly lit from the start was obtained.
Since the heater for heating the amalgam carrier was made of a metal wire, it was easy to make and compact.

This excellent behavior is that when the lamp starts, P
The heater connected in series with the TC current limiting element generates heat and quickly heats the amalgam carrier, while the temperature of the PTC current limiting element rises, the resistance increases, and the current is limited to control the voltage applied to the mercury discharge lamp. That is because
Due to the rapid rise of the mercury vapor pressure, the disadvantage of the fluorescent lamp, which is dark at the time of starting, could be improved with a simple configuration.

In each of the above embodiments, the amalgam carrier is provided at any one of the electrode lead portion, the protruding portion of the glass bulb, and the end of the glass bulb to efficiently evaporate mercury vapor. Can be. As the specific shape of the amalgam carrying portion, an extremely large number of devised shapes are disclosed in patent publications and the like, and the present invention can be applied to these shapes.

Further, in the present invention, the current limiting element or the heater provided thermally integrated with the amalgam carrier is
It may be either inside or outside the glass bulb.

The shape of the mercury discharge lamp of the mercury discharge lamp device of the present invention can be any shape such as a straight tube, a round tube, a thin tube, a bent type, a so-called twin type, a spiral type and a ball bulb type. Can also be applied.

[0034]

As described above, according to the present invention, an electrode of a mercury discharge lamp and a current limiting element having a large positive temperature coefficient of resistance or a heater connected in series with the electrode are provided in series. The heater and the amalgam carrier are thermally integrated and provided with a mercury discharge lamp device, which is characterized in that a novel mercury discharge lamp device having a simple structure without a ballast can be obtained. ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the advantageous effect that the mercury discharge lamp apparatus excellent in a rising characteristic is obtained is acquired.

Further, in the mercury discharge lamp device of the present invention,
Since the amalgam carrier is self-temperature controlled by a current limiting element having a large positive temperature coefficient of resistance, the self-control temperature of the current limiting element and the vapor pressure temperature characteristics of the amalgam material are combined to select from a wide range of amalgam materials. There is an advantage that you can.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing one embodiment of a mercury discharge lamp device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing another embodiment of the mercury discharge lamp device of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Mercury discharge lamp 2 Amalgam carrying part 3 Current limiting element 4 Electrode 5 Lighting tube 6 Commercial power supply 7 Electrode lead wire

Claims (3)

[Claims] An amalgam carrier of a mercury discharge lamp and a current limiting element having a large positive temperature coefficient of resistance are provided thermally integrated with each other, and the electrode of the mercury discharge lamp and the current limiting element are connected to each other. A mercury discharge lamp device provided in series, wherein at the time of starting the mercury discharge lamp, the current limiting element generates heat, heats the amalgam carrier and rapidly generates mercury vapor, and The lamp current is controlled by the increased resistance value of the current limiting element during continuous lighting of the mercury discharge lamp device. 2. A mercury discharge lamp device comprising: a current limiting element having a large positive temperature coefficient of resistance; a heater for heating an amalgam carrier; and an electrode of a mercury discharge lamp connected in series. At the time of starting the mercury discharge lamp, the heater generates heat and heats the mercury carrier to rapidly generate mercury vapor. During continuous operation of the mercury discharge lamp, the lamp is increased by the increased resistance value of the current limiting element. A mercury discharge lamp device characterized by controlling an electric current. 3. The mercury discharge lamp device according to claim 1, wherein the amalgam carrier is provided at any one of an electrode lead, a protrusion of a glass bulb, and an end of the glass bulb.