WO1995020238A1

WO1995020238A1 - Compact lamp with adapter

Info

Publication number: WO1995020238A1
Application number: PCT/EP1994/000126
Authority: WO
Inventors: Walter Holzer
Original assignee: Walter Holzer
Priority date: 1992-12-08
Filing date: 1994-01-20
Publication date: 1995-07-27
Also published as: DE4241314A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a compact lamp with adapter consisting of a gas discharge vessel (1) with electrode terminals (2) and having a plug-in adapter with counter-contacts (3), in which there is an electronic ballast (4). The contacts (3) of the adapter take the form of flat springs electrically connected to the output terminals (2) of the ballast (4) which contact under spring pressure when the adapter and the gas discharge vessel (1) are plugged together. To improve insulation, the flat springs (3) are fitted in substantially axially extending chambers (13) in the adapter housing.

Description

Compact lamp with adapter

Gas discharge lamps require a ballast to limit the current and most of the compact lamps on the market have such a ballast integrated in a common housing with the gas discharge vessel.

Since the gas discharge vessel has a relatively short lifespan compared to the ballast, it is advisable to set up these two parts separately and to connect both parts with a plug connection.

Such a connector requires at least two, usually four electrical connections, which should be as small and inexpensive as possible.

The object of the invention is to describe a particularly simple embodiment which is suitable in the smallest space and at the lowest cost and, above all, is also suitable for fully automatic assembly.

To achieve the object, the invention is characterized by the technical teaching of claim 1.

An essential feature of the invention is that each flat spring is arranged in a chamber in the housing of the adapter that extends essentially in the axial direction and is therefore protected against unintentional electrical contacts on the part of the circuit board of the ballast. The chamber walls therefore protect the flat springs against the electronic components of the ballast.

The invention therefore proposes a pluggable adapter which contains the electronic ballast and has flat springs as mating contacts for the electrode connections of the gas discharge vessel, which has a connection both resiliently to the electrode connections of the gas discharge vessel, but also to the output connections of the ballast produce.

In addition, such flat springs can be designed in such a way that they snap in a form-fitting manner with the electrode connections of the gas discharge vessel.

A particular advantage of the inventive Ausge¬ staltung these leaf springs is that, as _/ 3 it can also be used after the insertion of the electronic ballast in the housing of the adapter.

A particularly simple contact between the connecting wires, the ballast and the flat spring is achieved in that the connecting wire projects into a chamber and that after the flat spring has been inserted into the chamber, electrical contact is made with this connecting wire.

There is therefore no need for a solder, plug or clamp connection in order to produce such a contact.

Of course, the invention also includes such soldering, clamping and plug connections and is not limited to the above embodiment.

Another essential feature of the invention is that a substantially flat circuit board is arranged in the axial direction in the housing and carries the components of the ballast. This achieves a very space-saving construction and the overall height of the adapter is significantly reduced. It is preferred here if the chambers for receiving the flat springs are arranged on both sides of the circuit board in the housing, because this results in the greatest possible distance between the chambers and thus good insulation distances.

Otherwise, it is preferred if the housing of the adapter is formed in two parts and consists of a lower housing part and an upper housing part detachably connected to it. This results in particularly simple manufacture and easy assembly.

It is preferred here to connect the upper housing part to the lower housing part, a snap connection between the two parts mentioned.

The subject matter of the present invention results not only from the subject matter of the individual patent applications.

εprüche, but also from the combination of the individual claims. All of the information and features disclosed in the documents, including the summary, in particular the spatial design shown in the drawings are claimed to be essential to the invention, insofar as they are new to the prior art, individually or in combination.

The invention is explained in more detail below with the aid of drawings which illustrate only one embodiment. Here go from the drawings and their description

Further features and advantages of the invention, which are essential to the invention, reveal features and advantages of the invention that are essential to the invention.

Show it:

Figure 1: schematically shows a section through an adapter;

Figure 2: in an exploded view, the adapter with upper and lower housing part;

Figure 3: a gas discharge vessel with electrode connections in side view;

Figure 4: the top view of the open lower housing part;

Figure 5: a modified embodiment of a

Adapters compared to Figure 4.

Figures 1 to 5 schematically show an example embodiment of the inventive concept.

FIG. 1 first shows an adapter which can be screwed into a normal, conventional socket E 27, for example for connection to the lighting network, with a screw thread (7) in order to establish the connection to the lighting network. The thread (7) is connected to an upper housing part (9) which can be connected to a lower housing part (10). This housing made of insulating material contains an electronic ballast (4), which is constructed, for example, for easier assembly on a printed circuit board (8). FIG. 3 shows schematically a gas discharge vessel (1) with its electrode connections (2) in a base (11).

According to the invention, the flat springs (3) are now arranged in the lower housing part (10) in such a way that on the one hand they establish an electrical connection to the output connections (5) and (6) of the electronic ballast, but on the other hand when the gas discharge vessel (1 ) rest resiliently on the electrode connections (2) and thus establish the electrical connection. In FIG. 1, the position of an electrode connection (2) is shown on the right-hand side after being plugged on and is designated by (12).

FIG. 4 shows the still open lower housing part (10) with inserted ballast (4) and the output connections (5) and (6). In this example, the output connections (5) and (6) are shown as wires which extend into the chambers (13). The flat springs (3) have not yet been inserted in FIG. 4, so that one can still see the slots (14) into which the electrode connections (2) can later be inserted.

FIG. 2 shows how the upper housing part (9) is not yet seated on the lower housing part (10), but the printed circuit board (8) with the electronic ballast (4) is already inserted in the lower housing part (10). Only after the flat springs (3) in the

Chambers (13) are used, the upper housing part (9) is placed, as shown in Figure 1.

The chambers (4) also have the advantage that electrical components of the ballast (4) are electrically separated from the spring contacts (3).

The embodiment can of course be varied in many ways. FIG. 5 shows, for example, an embodiment of a round adapter in a symmetrical embodiment, but of course an unsymmetrical arrangement of the contacts or the slots (14) can also be provided, for example to avoid confusion when the gas discharge vessel is inserted.

FIG. 1 also shows hold-down devices (15) which have the task of preventing the flat springs (3) used in the lower housing part (10) from being pushed up.

The example given shows the extreme simplification of the flat spring contacts, which do not require a complicated punching shape, nor a soldered or welded connection. The flat springs (3) can also be inserted during automatic assembly using a simple robot arrangement.

The exemplary embodiment mentioned is in no way to be interpreted as restrictive. It merely serves to explain the inventive idea in a simpler manner and the shape can be adapted to the spatial and functional requirements as desired. DRAWING LEGEND

1 gas discharge tube

2 electrode connections

3 flat springs

4 ballast 5 output connections

6 output connections

7 threads

8 circuit board

9 upper housing part 10 lower housing part

11 bases

12 position

13 chamber

14 slots 15 hold-down devices

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS

1. Compact lamp with adapter, consisting of a gas discharge vessel (1) with electrode connections (2) and with a pluggable adapter with mating contacts, which contains an electronic ballast, the mating contacts of the adapter being designed as flat springs (3) which are electrically conductive are connected to the output connections (5, 6) of the ballast, and which otherwise rest resiliently when the adapter and gas discharge vessel are put together with the electrode connections, characterized in that the flat springs (3) are each in an essentially axial direction extending chamber (13) are arranged in the housing (10) of the adapter, the chamber walls of which isolate the flat springs from the electronic components of the ballast.

2. Compact lamp according to claim l d a d u r c h g e ¬ k e n n z e i c h n e t that at least one connecting wire (5,6) protrudes into the chamber (13), which after inserting the flat spring into the chamber (13) gives this contact.

3. Compact fluorescent lamp according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that in the housing (10) a substantially flat circuit board (8) is arranged in the axial direction and carries the components of the ballast (4), and that the chambers (13) on both sides the printed circuit board (8) are arranged in the housing (10).

4. Compact fluorescent lamp according to any one of claims l - 3 d a d u r c h g e k e n n z e i c h n e t that the housing of the adapter is formed in two parts and consists of a lower housing part (10) and a detachably connected upper housing part (9).

5. compact fluorescent lamp according to claim 4, d a d u r c h g e k e n n z e i c h n e t that hold-down devices (15) are arranged on the upper housing part (9), which prevent displacement movements of the flat springs (13) when the housing (9, 10) is plugged together.