JPH0443378B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Technical Field) The present invention relates to a compact fluorescent lamp in which an inner tube is housed in an airtight space formed by an outer tube and a stem, and the inner tube serves as a discharge path.

(Background technology) In recent years, against the backdrop of energy conservation, in the field of light sources, the principle of fluorescent lamps, which have the great advantages of high efficiency and long life, has been used to replace the principle of fluorescent lamps, which have the fatal disadvantages of low efficiency and short life. A fluorescent lamp with a compact structure that can replace an incandescent light bulb is being actively studied.

In line with this trend, the present applicant has developed a plurality of curved inner surfaces in which a fluorescent material can be applied to the inner surface of the airtight space formed by the outer tube and the stem via a disc-shaped holder that is fixed to the stem. A fluorescent lamp has been proposed in which a series of discharge paths are formed by a tube and communication paths provided in the inner tubes and the holder, and a pair of electrodes are disposed at both ends of the discharge path.

Figures 1 and 2 show an example of the above-mentioned fluorescent lamp, and in the figures, 1 is an outer tube, 2 is a stem, 3a,
3b and 3c are inner tubes that can be bent into a U-shape, 4 is a holder, 5 is a phosphor, 6 is a communication path with an opening on the top surface, 7 is a communication path with an opening on the bottom surface, and 8 is a holder for the inner tubes 3a, 3b, and 3c. 4 is the adhesive for fixing, 9 is the electrode, 1
0 is an enclosing line for fixing the holder, and by bending the tip, the holder 4 is positioned and fixed on the upper surface of the stem 2. 11 is an exhaust pipe.

In such a fluorescent lamp, the stem 2 and the holder 4 do not necessarily need to be hermetically sealed, and a series of discharge paths can be formed by simply placing the holder 4 to which the inner tubes 3a, 3b, and 3c are fixed on the top surface of the stem 2. Therefore, although it is a compact fluorescent lamp with a double tube structure and high efficiency achieved by making the inside and outside of the tube equally airtight, it is easy to manufacture. However, there were the following problems with Holder 4.

Since one of the communication channels 6 is open at the top, the blue light emitted from the mercury leaking from the communication channel 6 can be seen in the white or bulb-colored light emitted by the phosphor 5 when the lamp is lit, giving an unfavorable visual impression. was.

When the holder 4 is molded from ceramic, the communication channels 6 and 7 are on the upper and lower surfaces of the holder 4, so
The shape was unbalanced on the upper and lower surfaces, resulting in large deformation distortion during molding, resulting in poor processing yields.

(Object of the Invention) The present invention was made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and its object is to provide a compact fluorescent lamp that is visually pleasing and highly efficient.

(Disclosure of the Invention) The present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. FIG. 3 is a plan view showing an embodiment of the holder according to the present invention. The disc-shaped holder 4 is molded from ceramic, and has a hole A in the center, and a hole A around the hole A. Six inner tube insertion holes B1 to B6 are provided at equal intervals, and step seats C are provided in each of the inner tube insertion holes B1 to B6 to facilitate fixing of the inner tubes 3a, 3b, and 3c. and
The inner tube insertion hole B2 and the inner tube insertion hole B3 are connected by a communication path D1 which is opened on the bottom surface, and the inner tube insertion hole B4 and the inner tube insertion hole B5 are connected by a communication path D2 which is opened on the bottom surface.
The inner tube insertion hole B3 and the hole A are connected by an open path F that is opened on the lower surface and opens on the inner side surface E of the holder that forms the hole A. Note that the size of the opening forming the open path F is preferably 6 mm square or more in view of exhaust efficiency, which will be described later. Further, G in the figure is a notch for engaging the enclosing wire.

FIG. 4 shows a holder 4 having such a structure assembled in the same manner as the conventional example, and this figure is a cross-sectional view developed along the discharge path, and the enclosed wire for fixing the holder is shown as in the conventional example. When the holder 4 is positioned and fixed on the upper surface of the stem 2 by bending the tip of the stem 2, a discharge path is formed by the communication paths D1 and D2 of the lower opening and the upper surface of the stem 2, and the discharge is caused by the fourth
As shown by the arrow line in the figure, the electrode 9 inserted into the inner tube insertion hole B1 connects the inner tube 3a to the inner tube insertion hole B.
2. Electrode 9 inserted into inner tube insertion hole B6 via communication path D1, inner tube insertion hole B3, inner tube 3b, inner tube insertion hole B4, communication path D2, inner tube insertion hole B5, and inner tube 3c.
leading to.

The same applies to the conventional example, but
A part of the discharge path is opened to the airtight space formed by the outer tube 1 and the stem 2 through an open path F (in the conventional example, the communication path 6 having an opening on the top surface) is formed by the outer tube 1 and the stem 2. Exhaust pipe 1
When exhausting from 1, the inner pipes 3a, 3b, 3c are simultaneously
This is to efficiently exhaust the inside of the pipes, and if there is no such open path F, each of the inner pipes 3a, 3b, 3c
The exhaust inside the lamp is carried out through a small gap created between the upper surface of the stem 2 and the lower surface of the holder 4, and sufficient exhaust and degassing cannot be expected due to conductance. Therefore, it is necessary to ensure normal lamp characteristics. become unable to do so. Further, although the same applies to the conventional example, the fluorescent lamp according to the present invention has a stem 2
Through the slight gap created between the upper surface and the lower surface of the holder 4, the inside and outside of the inner tubes 3a, 3b, and 3c are made airtight, allowing mercury vapor to freely enter and exit the inner tube 3, and the vapor pressure is lower than that of the discharge section. Since it is determined by the coldest temperature of the wall of the outer tube 1 which is far from the inner tube 3, close to optimal ultraviolet radiation can be achieved, and therefore high efficiency can be achieved despite the compact size. By providing F, it is easy to control the coldest temperature in the initial stage of lighting, which also contributes to high efficiency in the early stage of lighting.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments. For example, the communication paths D1, D2 and the open path F formed in the holder 4 do not have to be in the shape of a groove with an open bottom surface, but may be in the shape of a tunnel. In general, the inner tube 3 is not limited to a U-shape, but may just be a bent tube with both open ends substantially on the same plane, and it goes without saying that it may have two or more tubes. .

(Effects of the Invention) As described above, the present invention provides a plurality of tubes in which a fluorescent substance is applied to the inner surface of the airtight space formed by the outer tube and the stem via a disc-shaped holder fixed to the stem. In a fluorescent lamp, a fluorescent lamp is provided with a bent inner tube, a series of discharge paths are formed by communication paths provided in the inner tubes and the holder, and a pair of electrodes are provided at both ends of the discharge path, The holder is characterized in that a hole is provided in the center thereof, and an open path is provided that opens only on the inner surface forming the hole and connects to the discharge path, and the open path does not open on the top surface. Since the opening is on the inner surface, the leakage of mercury emission is reduced to the extent that it does not pose a visual problem, making it possible to provide a highly efficient and compact fluorescent lamp with improved commercial value. In addition, if the two communication channels molded from ceramic are formed at the bottom openings as in the above embodiment, the shape of the holder will become more symmetrical, which will improve the molding yield and reduce costs. There are also some additional effects.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the conventional example, Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same as above, Fig. 3 is a plan view showing an embodiment of the holder according to the present invention, and Fig. 4 is the present invention constructed using the above holder. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the fluorescent lamp developed along a discharge path. 1... Outer tube, 2... Stem, 3... Inner tube, 4... Holder, 5... Fluorescent material, 9... Electrode, A... Hole, D... Communication path, F... Open path.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. In the airtight space formed by the outer tube and the stem, a plurality of bent inner tubes whose inner surfaces are coated with a phosphor are arranged via a disk-shaped holder fixed to the stem, and each of the inner tubes is In a fluorescent lamp, a series of discharge paths are formed by a communication path provided in a tube and a holder, and a pair of electrodes are arranged at both ends of the discharge path. 1. A fluorescent lamp characterized in that an open path is provided only on the inner surface forming the discharge path and connected to the discharge path.