JPS62103961A - Fluorescent lamp - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To smooth air flow about a glass tube for reducing the tube wall temperature rise of a fluorescent lamp by arranging the major axis in a section of a sectionally flat-shaped discharge path of each glass tube spirally to the center axis line of the lamp. CONSTITUTION:Since a discharge path 10 in a luminous tube 5a is sectionally flat-shaped such as in a flattened circle, an ellipse, a rectangle or a crescent, the tube wall of the glass tube surrounding the discharge path 10 is also flat- shaped in its sectional form. The respective glass tubes 5a-5d, when they are set up on a base board 3, are so arranged that the directions of the major axes X-X of the discharge pathes 10 being respectively flat-shaped may be spirally formed with respect to the center line of the base board 3, namely to the center axis line O-O of the lamp. Since, in this way, the discharge path is sectionally flat-shaped and the surface area is enlarged so as to increase the heat emitting area while being spirally arranged, emitted heat is spirally convected thus to promote emission of heat.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a bent fluorescent lamp used in a single-cap fluorescent lamp device or the like.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, lighting circuit components such as ballasts, lighting tubes, and capacitors were housed in the envelope along with U-shaped, W-shaped, and saddle-shaped bent fluorescent lamps. A fluorescent lamp device with a cap attached has been developed and is becoming popular as an energy-saving light source because it is compatible with incandescent light bulbs.

In this type of fluorescent lamp device, development is currently progressing in the direction of making it even more compact than A and increasing its output.

The means usually used for compactness are to make the glass tube thinner and to reduce the bending curvature. In other words, reducing the bending curvature means making the glass tubes as close to each other as possible to create a meandering discharge path. It is to form. In some cases, glass tubes are also glued together.

However, as the pipe diameter becomes smaller as mentioned above,
Even if the lamp input remains the same, the temperature of the glass tube wall increases.

Even if the lamp input, which determines the amount of heat generated by the lamp, is constant,
The surface area of the lamp, which determines the heat dissipation efficiency of the lamp, becomes smaller as the diameter of the glass tube becomes smaller, so the temperature of the wall of the glass tube increases.

Furthermore, when the bending curvature decreases, the glass tubes are placed close to each other, which is equivalent to having a heating element near the glass tube that requires heat radiation, and the heat radiation efficiency of each glass tube further decreases.

Therefore, the tube wall temperature of the glass tube increases, resulting in
The disadvantage is that the phosphor undergoes significant thermal deterioration.

Furthermore, the increase in concentration in the glass tube poses the problem that it becomes difficult to control the mercury vapor pressure in a fluorescent lamp.

These drawbacks become even more pronounced when the entire fluorescent lamp is covered with a glove.

(Problems to be solved by the invention) As one means to solve such problems,
It is possible to promote heat dissipation by smoothing the flow of air surrounding the glass tube.

However, in the conventional case, the air flow surrounding the glass tubes is not good, and especially in the space surrounded by the glass tubes, heated air stagnates due to turbulence, resulting in the disadvantage that effective heat dissipation is not carried out. there were.

Therefore, the present invention aims to suppress the increase in the temperature of the tube wall of a fluorescent lamp by smoothing the flow of air surrounding the glass tube.

[Means for solving problems]

In the fluorescent lamp of the present invention, a plurality of glass tubes each having a flat cross-sectional discharge path are arranged around the central axis of the lamp such that the straight portions of the discharge paths are approximately parallel to the central axis of the lamp. However, in a fluorescent lamp in which a single meandering discharge path is formed as a whole by connecting these glass tubes, each of the glass tubes has a flat cross-sectional discharge path whose long axis in the cross section is relative to the central axis of the lamp. It is characterized by being arranged in a spiral shape.

(Function) According to this configuration, since the cross-sectional shape of the discharge path is flat, the surface area of the glass tube can be increased without changing the cross-sectional area of the discharge path, that is, without changing the thinness of the tube. ,
Therefore, the heat dissipation area of the glass tube increases, making it possible to suppress a rise in temperature, and also making it possible to increase the area to which the phosphor is adhered, thereby increasing the light emitting area.

Moreover, each glass tube has a flat cross-section and the long axis of the discharge path is arranged in a spiral shape with respect to the central axis of the lamp, so it acts like a spiral vane, and the heat emitted from the surface of the glass tube is spirally arranged. The convection creates a laminar flow as a whole, which makes the air flow smoother and promotes heat dissipation.

[Embodiments of the invention]

The present invention will be described below based on embodiments shown in the drawings.

In the figure, 1 is a cover, which has a cap 2 at one end,
The other end is closed with a base 3 made of an insulating material such as ceramic.

Electronic lighting circuit components 9 are housed in a space surrounded by the cover 1 and the base 3. Further, a bent fluorescent lamp 4 is attached to the base plate 3.

The bent fluorescent lamp 4 is constructed as shown in FIG. 2 and the third factor. That is, 5a.

sb, sc and 5d are glass tubes each forming a substantially U-shaped discharge path, and each glass tube 5a, 5b,
5c and 5d are adjacent glass tubes 5a whose respective ends are bonded to the substrate 3 with a glass adhesive or the like.

5b, 5c, and 5d are each connected to a hollow intermediate connecting member 6 bonded to the back surface of the substrate 3 with a glass adhesive or the like.
・Conducted through. Due to this conduction, these glass tubes 5a, 5b, 5c and 5d constitute one meandering discharge path 7, and these glass tubes 5a, 5b,
5c and 5d and the intermediate connecting member 6... constitute an arc tube.

A fluorescent material (not shown) is attached to the inner surface of the discharge path 7, and electrodes 8.8 sealed to the substrate 3 are arranged at both ends of the discharge path 7.

Each of the above-mentioned arc tubes 5a, 5b, 5c and 5d is a third
It has a shape as shown in cross section in the figure.

That is, to describe one arc tube 5a, the discharge path 10 in the arc tube 5a has a cross section of a flat shape such as an ellipse, an ellipse, a rectangle, or a crescent shape.
Therefore, the tube wall of the glass tube surrounding the discharge path 10 also has a flat cross-sectional shape.

In addition, if the discharge paths 10.1 and 10.1 are continuous so as to form a substantially U-shape and are cut on the same plane, the discharge paths 10.1 adjacent to each other
0 means that the long axes X-X of the flat shapes are approximately the same as each other.
In this embodiment, it is formed to be located on a circular arc surface.

Note that the glass tube 5a, which is continuous so as to form a substantially U-shape, is
The straight portions are joined by a continuous wall 11 to the narrow tube wall portions of the discharge path 10 having a flat cross section.

And each of these glass tubes 5a, 5b, 5c and 5
d indicates that when installed on the base 3, the long axis XX direction of each of the flat discharge paths 10 is shown in FIG. They are arranged in a spiral shape.

In this case, the plurality of glass tubes 5a, 5b, 5c, and 5d each having a discharge path with a flat cross section and arranged in a spiral shape are such that one end of one of the adjacent glass tubes, for example 5a, is connected to the other glass tube 5b. With respect to the other end, they are arranged so as to overlap each other toward the normal direction 0-H to the central axis O of the lamp. In other words, the long axis XX direction of one adjacent glass tube, for example 5a, is arranged so as to face the wide light emitting surface of the other adjacent glass tube 5b.

Note that each glass tube 5a, 5b has the shape as described above.

5C and 5d can be integrally molded by heating and softening a large diameter glass tube and pressing it with a pair of molds.

Furthermore, a predetermined amount of mercury and a starting rare gas are sealed in the fluorescent lamp 4.

In the embodiment with such a configuration, since the discharge path 10 has a flat cross-sectional shape, the discharge path 10
The tube wall of the glass tube around the tube also has a flat cross-section, and if the cross-sectional area is the same as that of a circular tube, the surface area is larger than that of a circular tube, so the heat dissipation area increases.

In addition, since the cross section is flat, the narrow tube wall portion of the discharge path 10, which has a flat cross section, moves away from the tube axis and away from the solar column, so the temperature rise in this narrow tube wall portion is wide. It is lower than the pipe wall.

Therefore, the temperature rise of the fluorescent lamp 4 can be reduced.

In addition, the surface area is increased, so the area on which the phosphor is deposited can be increased, and the area of light emitted per unit can be increased.

And, while the lamp is lit, each glass tube 5a, 5b.

The heat radiated from the surfaces of 5C and 5d rises due to convection, but the long axis XX direction of each flat discharge furnace 10 is aligned with the central axis 0-0 of the lamp, as shown in FIG. On the other hand, since they are arranged in a spiral shape, convection occurs along the surface of each glass tube 5a, 5b, 5c and 5d, that is, each glass tube 5a, 5b, 50 and 5d
Since the surface of the air guides convection, the rising air becomes laminar rather than turbulent. In the case of laminar flow, compared to turbulent flow, the glass tube 5a,
The movement of air on the surfaces of glass tubes 5b, 5c and 5d is smoothed, and no stagnation occurs in the space surrounded by glass tubes 5a, 5b, 5c and 5d. For this reason, glass tubes sa, sb, 50 and 5a
Promotes surface air exchange and improves cooling effect.

Therefore, in addition to the lamp itself having good heat dissipation, convection from the outside is active, so the fluorescent lamp 4
It is possible to reduce the temperature rise of the glass tube, and it is also possible to increase the density of the glass tube, and it is also possible to increase the lamp input to increase the potential gradient and increase the amount of light emitted.

On the other hand, a plurality of glass tubes 5a, 5b, 5c, and 5d each having a discharge path with a flat cross section arranged in a spiral shape are
One end of one adjacent glass tube, for example 5a, is aligned with the other end of the other glass tube 5b toward the center axis O-
Since the glass tubes are arranged overlapping each other along the normal direction 0-H to 0, when the entire lamp is viewed from the side (normal direction 0-H), there is no gap between the glass tubes. When viewed from the side, since there are no non-light-emitting parts, the whole appears as a wide area light source, improving the appearance.

Furthermore, as can be understood from FIG. 3, the density of the light emitting surface in the vertical direction increases, which makes it possible to make the device more compact and also increases the so-called direct luminous intensity.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments.

That is, in the above embodiment, the long axes XX of the discharge channels 10 and 10 adjacent to each other are formed as arcuate surfaces when cut in the same plane by continuing to form a substantially U-shape. may be a flat surface or a curved surface.

Furthermore, each glass tube does not necessarily have a discharge path that is approximately U-shaped; for example, it may have a discharge path that is approximately W-shaped, or it may have a straight discharge path. There may be.

Furthermore, the lighting circuit components may be separate from the lamp device.

The number of glass tubes used is not limited to four, but may be three or more.

Further, in the above embodiment, a case has been described in which the fluorescent lamp 4 is exposed and lit. However, as shown by the imaginary line in FIG. may be covered. in this way,
When the lamp 4 is covered with the globe 20, the heat dissipation of the lamp is poor (although the aforementioned laminar flow improves the flow of air on the inner surface of the globe 20, so heat conduction to the outside through the globe 20 is improved. , heat dissipation is improved compared to the case where stagnation occurs.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, according to the present invention, since the cross-sectional shape of the discharge path is flat, the cross-sectional area of the discharge path remains unchanged.
In other words, the surface area of the glass tube can be increased without changing the tube's thinness, which increases the heat dissipation area of the glass tube, suppressing temperature rise, and increasing the area on which the phosphor is adhered. Therefore, the light emitting area can be increased. Moreover, each glass tube has a flat cross-section and the long axis of the discharge path is arranged in a spiral shape with respect to the central axis of the lamp, so it acts like a spiral vane, and the heat emitted from the surface of the glass tube is spirally arranged. The convection creates a laminar flow as a whole, which makes the air flow smoother and promotes heat dissipation. This suppresses the temperature rise of the entire arc tube, making it possible to make the glass tube more dense and compact, and it is also possible to increase the lamp input to increase the potential gradient and increase the amount of light emitted. There are advantages.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

The drawings show one embodiment of the present invention, in which Fig. 1 is a side view of the whole with a partial cross section, Fig. 2 is a developed view of the fluorescent lamp, and Fig. 3 is a cross section taken along the line ■-■ in Fig. 1. It is a diagram. 1...Cover, 2...Base, 3...Base, 9...
-Electronic lighting circuit components, 4...bent fluorescent lamps, 5a, 5b. 5c, 5d... Arc tube, 10... Discharge path, O-0
...Lamp center axis. O Figure 1

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) A plurality of glass tubes with discharge paths having a flat cross-sectional shape are arranged around the central axis of the lamp so that the straight portions of these discharge paths are approximately parallel to the central axis of the lamp. In a fluorescent lamp in which a single meandering discharge path is formed by connecting the glass tubes, each of the glass tubes has a flat cross-section, and the long axis in the cross section of the discharge path is arranged in a spiral shape with respect to the central axis of the lamp. A fluorescent lamp characterized by: (2) The plurality of glass tubes each having a discharge path with a flat cross section arranged in a spiral shape have one end of one adjacent glass tube with respect to the other end of the other glass tube with respect to the central axis of the lamp. The fluorescent lamp device according to claim 1, wherein the fluorescent lamp devices are arranged so as to overlap each other along the normal direction.