JPH0729548A - Fluorescent lamp device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] (Modified) [Object] To provide a fluorescent lamp device in which the arc tube supporting portion of the arc tube supporting case is less likely to melt and the inner wall of the arc tube near the electrodes is less likely to be blackened. [Structure] A plurality of straight pipe valves 1a having a pipe inner diameter of 12 mm or less
The bulb ends 1d and 1e of the arc tube 1 in which a single curved discharge path is connected to the filament electrode 5 to have a distance of 20 mm or more so that the arc tube support case 3 and the electrode are separated from each other by 10 mm or more. The arc tube is lit at a high frequency of 18 W or higher. Further, at the time of starting, the arc tube is provided with circuit devices 2 and 7 for applying high-frequency power to the filament electrode without preheating. 2 with electrodes of arc tube
First fitting hole 6a for fixing one end with heat-resistant adhesive 7
Then, fix the two ends that do not have electrodes with heat resistant adhesive,
And a second fitting hole formed smaller than the first fitting hole.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

[Object of the Invention]

[0002]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an improved fluorescent lamp device having a curved discharge path.

[0003]

2. Description of the Related Art A plurality of straight tube bulbs are arranged in parallel, the inner spaces of the bulbs are connected to each other to form one bent discharge path as a whole, and filament electrodes are provided at both ends of the discharge path. There is known a fluorescent lamp device in which the formed arc tube is supported by a support case whose one end is fitted with a base and a circuit device for lighting the arc tube at a high frequency is built in the support case. The tube outer diameter of this fluorescent lamp device is 1
Two types are known, 7.5 mm and 12.5 mm, and the wattage is 27 W when the pipe outer diameter is 17.5 mm.
Hereinafter, when the outer diameter of the pipe is 12.5 mm, it is 17 W or less.

It has been found that when the diameter of the arc tube of such a fluorescent lamp device is made smaller and the wattage is increased, the surface temperature of the outer wall of the arc tube in the vicinity of the electrode becomes considerably high. In particular, at the end of the life of the arc tube, the high-frequency lighting circuit may run out of control, and since it is high-frequency lighting, the discharge continues even if the filament is broken. It was found to rise considerably from the conventional temperature of about 200 degrees Celsius. For example, the outer diameter of the pipe is 12.5 mm
Then, when the lamp power is 23 W, the surface temperature of the outer wall of the arc tube near the electrode rises to nearly 400 degrees Celsius, which causes a problem that the arc tube supporting portion of the arc tube supporting case is melted.

Further, a thermal fuse and the like are provided,
Even if it is possible to stop the operation when there is such a runaway of the lighting circuit, it may take some time before the operation stops, and the melting of the above cases may not always be completely eliminated. It was

Further, as a result of the thin tube diameter and large lamp input, the end glow generated by the preheating of the filament electrode at the time of start-up strongly blackens the inner wall of the arc tube in the vicinity of the electrode, resulting in a very poor appearance. Occurred.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A first object of the present invention is to provide a fluorescent lamp device in which the arc tube supporting portion of the arc tube supporting case is less likely to melt. A second object of the present invention is to provide a fluorescent lamp device which is less likely to cause blackening of the inner wall of the arc tube near the electrodes.

[0008]

For this reason, in the fluorescent lamp device according to the first aspect of the present invention, a plurality of straight tube bulbs having a tube inner diameter of 12 mm or less are arranged in parallel, and the internal spaces of the bulbs are connected at their ends. As a whole, one bent discharge path is formed and filament electrodes are formed at both ends of the discharge path, and the distance from the bulb end to the electrode is at least 20 m.
The arc tube exceeding m and the end portion where the electrode of the arc tube is arranged are supported at one end, and the distance from the boundary of the support portion to the electrode is at least 10 mm or more, and the other end is fitted into the socket. A support case having a base attached thereto, and a circuit device for turning on the arc tube at a high frequency of 18 W or more.

In the fluorescent lamp device according to the invention of claim 2, a plurality of straight tube bulbs having a tube inner diameter of 12 mm or less are arranged in parallel,
The inner space of the bulb is connected at each end to form a single bent discharge path as a whole, and an arc tube having filament electrodes formed at both ends of the discharge path and an electrode of this arc tube are arranged. The supporting case having one end supported at one end and the base fitted to the socket at the other end, and the arc tube is lit at a high frequency of 18 W or more, and at the time of starting, high frequency power is supplied to the arc tube to the filament electrode. And a circuit device for applying without preheating.

In the fluorescent lamp device of the third aspect of the present invention, four or more straight tube bulbs are arranged in parallel, and the internal spaces of the bulbs are connected at their ends to form a single bent discharge path as a whole. In addition, filament electrodes are formed at both ends of the discharge path, and two arc-shaped end portions having electrodes and two end portions having no electrodes are juxtaposed. A first fitting hole for fixing an end portion with a heat resistant adhesive and a second fitting hole for fixing two ends having no electrodes with a heat resistant adhesive are formed to be smaller than the first fitting hole. It is characterized by having a fitting case and a support case in which a mouthpiece fitted into the socket is mounted.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the fluorescent lamp device according to the third aspect, the inner diameter of the straight tube bulb of the arc tube is 12 mm.
The following is characterized in that the arc tube is lit at a high frequency of 18 W or more and at the time of starting, the arc tube has a circuit device for applying high frequency power to the filament electrode without preheating.

The fluorescent lamp device according to a fifth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in the first, second, and fourth aspects, the circuit device is built in the support case.

[0013]

According to the fluorescent lamp device of the first aspect of the invention, even if the surface temperature of the outer wall of the arc tube near the electrode rises to about 400 degrees Celsius, the distance between the electrode and the support case is maintained, so the circuit runs away. It is possible to prevent the support case from melting even in the case of doing so.

According to the fluorescent lamp device of the second aspect of the present invention, since the filament electrode is not preheated at the time of starting even if the tube diameter is small and the lamp input is large, end glow does not occur near the filament electrode. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the blackening of the inner wall of the arc tube near the electrode due to the occurrence of end glow, and to reduce the problem of impairing the appearance.

According to the fluorescent lamp device of the third aspect of the invention, the first fitting hole formed in the support case for supporting the end portion having the filament electrode having a large temperature rise has the electrode having a small temperature rise. Since the support case is formed larger than the second fitting hole for supporting the end portion, the risk that the support case directly contacts the high temperature valve end portion and melts can be reduced.

The fluorescent lamp device according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is the fluorescent lamp device according to the third aspect of the invention, in particular, the straight tube bulb of the arc tube has a tube inner diameter of 12 mm or less, and the arc tube has 18 W
With the above high-frequency lighting, a circuit device for applying high-frequency power to the filament electrode without preheating is provided in the arc tube at the time of starting, and in the case of such a fluorescent lamp device, especially the first fitting hole is provided. The effect of being formed larger than the second fitting hole is great.

The fluorescent lamp device according to a fifth aspect of the present invention is the fluorescent lamp device according to the first, second, and fourth aspects of the present invention, in particular, the circuit device is built in the support case. For the device, in particular, it is highly necessary to prevent the arc tube supporting portion of the arc tube supporting case from melting easily and to prevent blackening of the arc tube inner wall in the vicinity of the electrodes.

[0018]

1 is a front view of a fluorescent lamp device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view, and FIG. 3 is a plan view. The fluorescent lamp device includes an arc tube 1, a support case 3 that supports the arc tube 1 and houses a lighting circuit component 2, and a cap 4 provided at one end of the support case 3.

In the arc tube 1, four straight tube bulbs 1a are arranged in parallel, each end is connected by connecting portions 1b and 1c, and the inner space of the bulb forms a single bent discharge path as a whole. Are connected as follows. Filament electrodes 5 are provided at both ends of the discharge path. The two ends 1d having the filament electrode 5 and the two ends 1e having no electrode are juxtaposed. Further, there is one connection portion 1b near the end portion side where the filament electrode 5 is formed, whereas there are two connection portion 1c on the other end side where the filament electrode 5 is not formed. Connection part 1c is 1
It is obtained by bending a straight valve of a book into a U shape. Inside the arc tube 1, several milligrams of mercury and several torr of argon gas are enclosed. 4 straight pipe valves 1a
The pipe outer diameter is 12.5 mm, so the inner diameter is 10.
It is 5 mm. The length of each straight pipe valve 1a is 12
1 mm, the discharge path length is 445 mm, and the distance from the tube end portion 1d to the filament electrode 5 is 22 mm. The filament electrode 5 is implanted in a flare stem (not shown), and the distance from the flare stem top to the filament electrode 5 is 6 mm.

The arc tube 1 has one end inserted into a fitting hole 6 formed in the support case 3 and fixed with a heat-resistant silicone adhesive 7. The fitting hole is a first fitting hole 6a into which two ends 1d having a filament electrode are inserted and fixed.
And a second fitting hole 6b into which the two end portions 1e having no filament electrode are inserted and fixed. The first fitting hole 6a and the second fitting hole 6b each have a gourd shape as shown in FIG. 4, because the ends of two adjacent straight pipe valves are inserted therein. That is, FIG. 4 shows the support case 3
The flat portion 3a formed on the side of the arc tube 1 and the first fitting hole 6a and the second fitting hole 6b formed therein are shown. Both the first fitting hole 6a and the second fitting hole 6b are circular holes so that the ends of the two straight pipe valves can be inserted and fixed, but the two holes are close to each other. It is connected to one and has a gourd shape. The diameter of the circular portion of the first fitting hole 6a is about 15 mm, and the diameter of the circular portion of the second fitting hole 6b is about 13 mm. Outer diameter of straight pipe valve 12.5m
The gap of the first fitting hole 6a is considerably larger than m. Due to this gap, the influence of heat generation by the filament electrode 5 can be considerably reduced.

Further, the distance from the flat portion 3a of the supporting case 3 supporting the arc tube 1 to the filament electrode 5 is 13.5 mm, which is 5 mm longer than the conventional one. As a result, the influence of heat generated by the filament electrode 5 is less likely to be transmitted to the flat portion 3a of the support case 3.

The lighting circuit component 2 in the support case 3 is mounted on the circuit board 7 of the support case 3, and the tallest circuit component, in this embodiment, a cylindrical aluminum electrolytic capacitor is placed in the base 4. A part thereof is inserted into the formed space. In this embodiment, the support case 3 is composed of a support cover 3a for supporting the arc tube and a cap side case 3b on which the cap 4 is mounted, and the circuit board 7 is fixed to the support cover 3a.

As shown in FIG. 5, the lighting circuit uses a well-known series inverter 9 including a resonance circuit in which an inductance L2 and a capacitor C10 are connected in series as a high frequency power supply circuit, and a capacitor C10 is connected in parallel to the arc tube 1 as a starting circuit. Furthermore, because of the simple starting method, both ends of each filament electrode 5 are connected to the power supply circuit side at the same potential.
Due to such a circuit, the preheating current does not flow through the filament electrode 5 even at the time of starting, and the arc tube 1 is started and lit. The input power to the arc tube 1 is 21 W, and the power consumption including circuit loss is 23 W.

One of the reasons why such a simple starting method has become possible is to devise the constant of the filament electrode 5.
That is, the filament electrode 5 is a triple coil, and its constants are as follows. Here, not only the value of the constant of the present embodiment but also the preferable range and the coil constant in the case of the conventional preheating method are described together.

[0025]

[Table 1] The start-up lighting of the above fluorescent lamp device is as follows. That is, when the power is turned on, the series inverter 9
Resonates and the high voltage generated on both sides of the capacitor C10 causes the arc tube 1 to start discharging. At this time, since the filament electrode 5 is not preheated, the end glow seen in the preheating start method hardly occurs. For this reason,
It is possible to prevent the scattering of the electron emitting substance due to the discharge between both ends of the filament due to the end glow, and as a result, it is possible to suppress the blackening of the arc tube 1 near the electrodes.

Such blackening occurs remarkably when the tube inner diameter is 12 mm or less and the input power to the arc tube 1 is 18 W or more, but when the tube inner diameter exceeds 12 mm, the electron emitting material scattered by the end glow. Is not concentrated in one place, and the end glow is not so strong when the input power to the arc tube 1 is less than 18 W, the non-preheating type simple starting method as in the above embodiment has a tube inner diameter of 12 mm or less. Moreover, when the input power to the arc tube 1 is 18 W or more, it is extremely effective.

In particular, the reason why such a non-preheating type simple starting system has become possible is one of the reasons for devising the constant of the filament electrode 5. That is, even if a high voltage is applied without preheating, a triple coil that does not easily scatter the electron emitting material is used.Because no preheating current flows, the main wire of the main wire, which has been limited by the preheating current, has been used. It is possible to make the wire diameter thicker than in the past, and therefore, it is difficult to break the wire. Further, since the number of turns of the tertiary coil is reduced, there is an effect that arc transfer is likely to occur without preheating.

Further, since the wire diameter of the main wire is thickened, the rigidity of the filament electrode 5 becomes strong, which makes it difficult for the electron emitting material to fall off due to vibration or the like.

The above-mentioned effects can be obtained within the preferable range shown in Table 1 above. Here, the sub wire wire diameter, the primary coil pitch, the secondary coil pitch, and the tertiary coil pitch can be designed relatively freely. The clamp width is determined by the inner diameter of the bulb of the arc tube 1.

Further, in the above fluorescent lamp device, while the surface temperature of the bulb outer wall near the electrode reaches 400 degrees Celsius during lighting, the distance between the filament electrode 5 and the flat portion 3a of the support case 3 is 10 mm or more. Therefore, the temperature drop is remarkable, and since the distance was 8.5 mm in the past, the temperature was over 200 degrees.
By setting it to 5 mm, it became possible to make it less than 200 degrees. This temperature is a temperature corresponding to the surface temperature of the outer wall of the valve near the electrode when the outer diameter of the conventional pipe is 15.5 mm.

Further, in the above fluorescent lamp device, the first fitting hole 6a for supporting the end portion 1d of the straight tube bulb 1a having the filament electrode 5 is larger than the second fitting hole 6b, and the support case 3 is provided. Since the distance between the supporting portion of the valve and the outer wall of the valve is set and fixed between them by a heat-resistant silicone adhesive, the heat of the outer wall of the valve is sufficiently dissipated by the heat-resistant silicone adhesive, which adversely affects the supporting portion of the support case 3. May affect
That is, specifically, the risk that the support case 3 is melted is extremely small. The first fitting hole 6a is the second fitting hole 6
As in the case of b, when the size is very small, the heat of the valve outer wall may not be sufficiently dissipated, and the valve outer wall may come into direct contact with the support case 3. Is extremely unlikely to melt. Although the thermal fuse TF is provided in the above-described embodiment, it is necessary because it is the non-preheating start method, but it is not necessary in the case of the preheating start method. This is because in the case of the preheat starting method, if the filament electrode 5 is broken, the preheating current does not flow and the discharge can be stopped. On the contrary, in the case of the non-preheating starting method, the discharge can be performed without preheating originally. From the thermal fuse TF,
It is necessary to stop the circuit.

The connecting portion is not limited to a U-shaped connecting portion, but may be an H-shaped connecting portion connecting two straight pipe type valves. The arc tube is not limited to one in which four straight tube bulbs are connected, and may have another shape such as a series of six bulbs. Further, both the first fitting hole 6a and the second fitting hole 6b are gourd-shaped, but if the straight pipe valves 1a have a wide interval, each straight pipe valve 1a has a fitting hole. It may be provided independently.

[0033]

As described above, according to the fluorescent lamp device of the first aspect of the present invention, since the distance between the electrode and the support case is set, it is possible to prevent the support case from melting even if the circuit runs away.

According to the fluorescent lamp device of the second aspect of the present invention, the blackening of the inner wall of the arc tube in the vicinity of the electrode due to the end glow can be suppressed, and the problem of impairing the appearance can be reduced.

According to the fluorescent lamp device of the third or fourth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to reduce the risk that the support case directly contacts the high temperature bulb end and is melted.

According to the fluorescent lamp device of the fifth aspect of the present invention, the above effect is remarkable.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a fluorescent lamp device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view of a fluorescent lamp device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a fluorescent lamp device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a layout view of a first fitting hole and a second fitting hole of the fluorescent lamp device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a lighting circuit diagram of the fluorescent lamp device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Arc tube, 1a ... Straight tube valve, 1b, 1c
・ Connecting parts 1d, 1e ・ ・ Ends, 2 ・ ・ Lighting circuit parts, 3 ・ ・
Support case 4 ... Base, 5 ... Filament electrode, 6a ... First fitting hole, 6b ... Second fitting hole 9 ... Series inverter

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of straight tube bulbs having a tube inner diameter of 12 mm or less are arranged in parallel, the internal spaces of the bulbs are connected to each other to form one bent discharge path as a whole, and the discharge path is formed. An arc tube having filament electrodes formed on both ends of the arc tube, and the distance from the bulb end to the electrode exceeds at least 20 mm; and the end of the arc tube on which the electrode is disposed is supported at one end and from the support boundary to the electrode. A support case which is supported at a distance of at least 10 mm or more and has a base fitted to a socket at the other end; and a circuit device which turns on the arc tube at a high frequency of 18 W or more; Fluorescent lamp device. 2. A plurality of straight tube bulbs having a tube inner diameter of 12 mm or less are arranged in parallel, the internal spaces of the bulbs are connected at their ends to form a single bent discharge path as a whole, and a discharge path. An arc tube having filament electrodes formed on both ends of the arc tube; and a support case having one end supporting the end portion of the arc tube on which the electrodes are arranged and having a cap fitted to a socket at the other end; And a circuit device for applying high-frequency power to the arc tube without preheating at the time of starting and high-frequency lighting at 18 W or more. 3. Four or more straight tube bulbs are arranged in parallel, the internal spaces of the bulbs are connected at each end to form one bent discharge path as a whole, and filaments are provided at both ends of the discharge path. An arc tube in which electrodes are formed, and two ends having a filament electrode and two ends having no filament electrode are juxtaposed; a heat-resistant adhesive for the two ends of the arc tube having the filament electrode A first fitting hole to be fixed with, and two end portions having no filament electrode, which are fixed with a heat-resistant adhesive, and a second fitting hole formed smaller than the first fitting hole, A fluorescent lamp device, comprising: a support case having a base fitted to a socket; 4. The straight tube bulb of the arc tube has a tube inner diameter of 12 m.
4. The fluorescent lamp according to claim 3, further comprising: a circuit device for lighting the arc tube at a high frequency of 18 W or higher and applying high-frequency power to the filament tube without preheating the filament electrode at the time of starting. apparatus. 5. The fluorescent lamp device according to claim 1, wherein the circuit device is incorporated in a support case.