US2797365A - Circuit arrangement for starting and operating hot-cathode electric discharge lamp - Google Patents

Circuit arrangement for starting and operating hot-cathode electric discharge lamp Download PDF

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US2797365A
US2797365A US448279A US44827954A US2797365A US 2797365 A US2797365 A US 2797365A US 448279 A US448279 A US 448279A US 44827954 A US44827954 A US 44827954A US 2797365 A US2797365 A US 2797365A
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starting
autotransformer
circuit arrangement
electric discharge
lamp
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US448279A
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Harrison William
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Siemens Brothers and Co Ltd
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Siemens Brothers and Co Ltd
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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H05B—ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
    • H05B41/00—Circuit arrangements or apparatus for igniting or operating discharge lamps
    • H05B41/14—Circuit arrangements
    • H05B41/16—Circuit arrangements in which the lamp is fed by dc or by low-frequency ac, e.g. by 50 cycles/sec ac, or with network frequencies
    • H05B41/20—Circuit arrangements in which the lamp is fed by dc or by low-frequency ac, e.g. by 50 cycles/sec ac, or with network frequencies having no starting switch
    • H05B41/23—Circuit arrangements in which the lamp is fed by dc or by low-frequency ac, e.g. by 50 cycles/sec ac, or with network frequencies having no starting switch for lamps not having an auxiliary starting electrode
    • H05B41/232—Circuit arrangements in which the lamp is fed by dc or by low-frequency ac, e.g. by 50 cycles/sec ac, or with network frequencies having no starting switch for lamps not having an auxiliary starting electrode for low-pressure lamps
    • H05B41/2325—Circuit arrangements in which the lamp is fed by dc or by low-frequency ac, e.g. by 50 cycles/sec ac, or with network frequencies having no starting switch for lamps not having an auxiliary starting electrode for low-pressure lamps provided with pre-heating electrodes

Definitions

  • This invention relates to circuit arrangements for starting and operating hot-cathode electric discharge lamps, and has in view the provision of an improved circuit arrangement for the starting and operating, from an alternating current source such as ordinary alternating current supply mains, of a hot-cathode electric discharge lamp having filamentary heated electrodes.
  • a circuit arrangement for the starting and operating, from an alternating current source, of a hot-cathode electric discharge lamp having filamentary heated electrodes is such that as regards its energization from the alternating current source the lamp has in series with it the whole of the winding of a first autotransformer and has connected directly in parallel with it the primary winding of a second autotransformer, and such that the winding of the second autotransformer has at each end a secondary portion connected to supply heating current to the filament at the corresponding end of the lamp, and such that as regards its connection to the alternating current source a capacitor serving for power factor improvement has in series with it a primary portion of the winding of the first autotransformer, whereby a surge of current through the said capacitor which occurs upon switching on produces a voltage surge which is stepped up by the first autotransformer and applied to the lamp as a starting Voltage.
  • the first autotransformer serves as a ballast impedance, and the shunting of the second autotransformer by the discharge path through the lamp reduces the heating current supplied to the filaments.
  • Such a circuit arrangement enables fluorescent lamps without earthed stripes to be started in the so-called instant start manner.
  • Fig. 1 of the drawing illustrates one form of circuit arrangement according to the invention for the starting and operating of a hot-cathode fluorescent electric discharge lamp from an alternating current supply
  • Fig. 2 illustrates a slightly difli'erent form of such a circuit arrangement.
  • the circuit arrangement illustrated includes a first autotransformer 1, a second autotransformer 2, a capacitor 3, and a switch 4.
  • Terminals 5 are connected to the alternating current supply, and 6 is the fluorescent lamp concerned.
  • the lamp 6 has in series with it the whole of the winding of the first auto transformer 1 and has in parallel with it a major portion 7, constituting a primary portion, of the winding of the second autotransformer 2.
  • the last-mentioned winding has at each end a secondary portion 8 connected to supply heating current to the filament 9 at the corresponding end of the lamp 6.
  • the capacitor 3 serves for power factor improvement, and is connected to the alternating current supply terminals 5, when the switch 4 is closed, through a primary portion 10 of the winding of the first autotransformer 1.
  • the resulting surge of current through the capacitor produces a voltage surge which is stepped up by the first autotransformer 1 and applied to the lamp 6 as a starting voltage.
  • the first autotrans former it serves as a ballast impedance, and the shunting of the second autotransformer 2 by the discharge path through the lamp reduces the heating current supplied to the filaments 9.
  • the first autotransformer 1 may be constituted by a tapped choke with the tapping (connected to the capacitor) about one-sixth of the Winding away from the terminal connected to the supply, and the capacitor may have a value of 7.5 microfarads.
  • FIG. 2 the circuit arrangement illustrated in this figure is very similar to that of Fig. 1, the only difference being that the secondary portions 8 of the winding of the second autotransformer 2 are included in the effective primary winding of this transformer, instead of being outside the primary winding as is the case in the arrangement of Fig. 1.
  • the elements of Fig. 2 correspond to the correspondingly designated elements of Fig. 1.
  • a circuit arrangement for the starting and operating from an alternating current source of a hot cathode electric discharge lamp having filamentary heated electrodes comprising terminals for connection to the alternating current source, a first autotransformer, said first autotransformer and the lamp being connected in series across said terminals, a second autotransformer connected directly across the lamp, said second autotransformer having a primary portion and at each end a secondary portion, each secondary portion being connected across the filament at one end of the lamp, a tapping on said first autotransformer, and a capacitor between said tapping and the terminal of the source not connected to said first autotransformer.

Description

June 25, 1957 W. HARRISON CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENT FOR STARTINGAND OPERATING HOT-CATHODE ELECTRIC DISCHARGE LAMP Filed Aug. 6. 1954 A Home y United States Patent CCUH ARRANGEMENT FOR STARTING AND OPERATING HOT-CATHODE ELECTRIC DIS- CHARGE LAMP William Harrison, Preston, England, assiguor, by mesne assignments, to Siemens Brothers & Co. Limited, Lon don, England, a British company Application August 6, 1954, Serial No. 448,279
1 Ciairn. (Cl. 315-98) This invention relates to circuit arrangements for starting and operating hot-cathode electric discharge lamps, and has in view the provision of an improved circuit arrangement for the starting and operating, from an alternating current source such as ordinary alternating current supply mains, of a hot-cathode electric discharge lamp having filamentary heated electrodes.
According to the invention, a circuit arrangement for the starting and operating, from an alternating current source, of a hot-cathode electric discharge lamp having filamentary heated electrodes is such that as regards its energization from the alternating current source the lamp has in series with it the whole of the winding of a first autotransformer and has connected directly in parallel with it the primary winding of a second autotransformer, and such that the winding of the second autotransformer has at each end a secondary portion connected to supply heating current to the filament at the corresponding end of the lamp, and such that as regards its connection to the alternating current source a capacitor serving for power factor improvement has in series with it a primary portion of the winding of the first autotransformer, whereby a surge of current through the said capacitor which occurs upon switching on produces a voltage surge which is stepped up by the first autotransformer and applied to the lamp as a starting Voltage. After starting, the first autotransformer serves as a ballast impedance, and the shunting of the second autotransformer by the discharge path through the lamp reduces the heating current supplied to the filaments. Such a circuit arrangement enables fluorescent lamps without earthed stripes to be started in the so-called instant start manner.
The nature of the invention will be better understood from the description of specific circuit arrangements in accordance with it which will now be given with reference to the accompanying drawing:
Fig. 1 of the drawing illustrates one form of circuit arrangement according to the invention for the starting and operating of a hot-cathode fluorescent electric discharge lamp from an alternating current supply, and Fig. 2 illustrates a slightly difli'erent form of such a circuit arrangement.
Referring firstly to Fig. 1, the circuit arrangement illustrated includes a first autotransformer 1, a second autotransformer 2, a capacitor 3, and a switch 4. Terminals 5 are connected to the alternating current supply, and 6 is the fluorescent lamp concerned. The lamp 6 has in series with it the whole of the winding of the first auto transformer 1 and has in parallel with it a major portion 7, constituting a primary portion, of the winding of the second autotransformer 2. The last-mentioned winding has at each end a secondary portion 8 connected to supply heating current to the filament 9 at the corresponding end of the lamp 6. The capacitor 3 serves for power factor improvement, and is connected to the alternating current supply terminals 5, when the switch 4 is closed, through a primary portion 10 of the winding of the first autotransformer 1. As a consequence of this manner of connection of the capacitor 3, upon switching on by closing the switch 4 the resulting surge of current through the capacitor produces a voltage surge which is stepped up by the first autotransformer 1 and applied to the lamp 6 as a starting voltage. After starting, the first autotrans former it serves as a ballast impedance, and the shunting of the second autotransformer 2 by the discharge path through the lamp reduces the heating current supplied to the filaments 9.
In the case where the lamp 6 is an 80-watt hot-cathode fluorescent electric discharge lamp and the alternating current supply is a 230-volt one, the first autotransformer 1 may be constituted by a tapped choke with the tapping (connected to the capacitor) about one-sixth of the Winding away from the terminal connected to the supply, and the capacitor may have a value of 7.5 microfarads.
Referring now to Fig. 2, the circuit arrangement illustrated in this figure is very similar to that of Fig. 1, the only difference being that the secondary portions 8 of the winding of the second autotransformer 2 are included in the effective primary winding of this transformer, instead of being outside the primary winding as is the case in the arrangement of Fig. 1. The elements of Fig. 2 correspond to the correspondingly designated elements of Fig. 1.
What is claimed is:
A circuit arrangement for the starting and operating from an alternating current source of a hot cathode electric discharge lamp having filamentary heated electrodes, comprising terminals for connection to the alternating current source, a first autotransformer, said first autotransformer and the lamp being connected in series across said terminals, a second autotransformer connected directly across the lamp, said second autotransformer having a primary portion and at each end a secondary portion, each secondary portion being connected across the filament at one end of the lamp, a tapping on said first autotransformer, and a capacitor between said tapping and the terminal of the source not connected to said first autotransformer.
References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,333,499 Warren Nov. 2, 1943 2,462,336 Ruff Feb. 22, 1949 2,565,234 Ilker Aug. 21, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 618,256 7 Great Britain Feb. 18, 1949
US448279A 1954-08-06 1954-08-06 Circuit arrangement for starting and operating hot-cathode electric discharge lamp Expired - Lifetime US2797365A (en)

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Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE1639133B1 (en) * 1967-02-22 1971-06-09 Thorn Lighting Ltd GAS DISCHARGE LAMP STARTING CIRCUIT

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2333499A (en) * 1940-10-30 1943-11-02 William A Warren Starting and operating circuit for hot cathode gaseous discharge lamps
GB618256A (en) * 1945-06-01 1949-02-18 Karl Frederick Kirchner Improvements in or relating to a circuit for a gaseous electric discharge device and a method for operating the same
US2462336A (en) * 1945-05-18 1949-02-22 Gen Electric Electric discharge device and method of operation
US2565234A (en) * 1948-10-15 1951-08-21 Essex Wire Corp Electrical apparatus

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2333499A (en) * 1940-10-30 1943-11-02 William A Warren Starting and operating circuit for hot cathode gaseous discharge lamps
US2462336A (en) * 1945-05-18 1949-02-22 Gen Electric Electric discharge device and method of operation
GB618256A (en) * 1945-06-01 1949-02-18 Karl Frederick Kirchner Improvements in or relating to a circuit for a gaseous electric discharge device and a method for operating the same
US2565234A (en) * 1948-10-15 1951-08-21 Essex Wire Corp Electrical apparatus

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE1639133B1 (en) * 1967-02-22 1971-06-09 Thorn Lighting Ltd GAS DISCHARGE LAMP STARTING CIRCUIT

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