US3324349A - Device employing two gas- and/or vapour-discharge tubes - Google Patents

Device employing two gas- and/or vapour-discharge tubes Download PDF

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Publication number
US3324349A
US3324349A US358005A US35800564A US3324349A US 3324349 A US3324349 A US 3324349A US 358005 A US358005 A US 358005A US 35800564 A US35800564 A US 35800564A US 3324349 A US3324349 A US 3324349A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
tube
voltage
tubes
capacitor
capacitance
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Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US358005A
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English (en)
Inventor
Jozef Cornelis Moerkens
Hilbert Palmers
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US Philips Corp
North American Philips Co Inc
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US Philips Corp
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Publication of US3324349A publication Critical patent/US3324349A/en
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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
    • 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
    • H05B41/234—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 to eliminate stroboscopic effects, e.g. feeding two lamps with different phases
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10S315/00—Electric lamp and discharge devices: systems
    • Y10S315/02—High frequency starting operation for fluorescent lamp
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10S315/00—Electric lamp and discharge devices: systems
    • Y10S315/05—Starting and operating circuit for fluorescent lamp

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a device employing two gasand/or vapour-discharge tubes with activated thermionic electrodes which tubes are destined to be connected in series with one another and with a ballast impedance, to a source of alternating voltage one of the tubes being shunted by a capacitance.
  • the full noload voltage is supplied to the non-shunted tube through this shunting capacitance, which voltage causes its ignition, after which a voltage occurs across this capacitance which causes the shunted tube to ignite.
  • both tubes are shunted by unequal capacitances of such a value that across the tube shunted by the smaller capacitance a voltage is set up for ignition purposes which is smaller than its cold ignition voltage.
  • the voltage set up across this tube is reduced to such a value that the electrodes have sufiicient time to reach at least locally the emission temperature. This voltage will be termed the warm-ignition voltage.
  • the adjustment of the desired ignition voltage requires that a certain ratio be set up between the values of the shunting capacitances. Inside this ratio one of the capacitances may be freely chosen. In this case it should be observed that the capacitances discharge to produce current pulses across the tubes shunted by them. In order to render this as harmless as possible, it is normal to choose the impedance of the capacitance to be at least 28(l-fold of the operating impedance of the shunted tube.
  • the device is destined for an operating frequency in the order of 4060 c./ s. and the ballast impedance consists of the series arrangement of an inductance and a capacitance, the impedance of this capacitance being larger than that of the inductance, the smaller shunting capacitance is proportioned so that the impedance of the larger capacitance is 30- to 50-fold of the operating impedance of the tube shunted by it and the apparent power of the inductance is 0.45- to 0.6-fold of the total apparent Power of the two tubes.
  • the advantage of this measure consists in that the elements of the ballast impedance become smaller and consequently cheaper.
  • reference numerals 1 and 2 denote the connection terminals of the device which are connected to a source of alternating current, not shown, the voltage of which will generally deviate from the desired supply voltage.
  • the terminals 1 and 2 are connected to the ends of the primary of a supply transformer 3 to the secondary of which, in series with one another, are connected an inductor 4, a capacitor 5 and two gasand/or vapourdischarge tubes 6 and 7.
  • the tubes are shunted by ca pacitors 8 and 9 respectively and are provided with thermionic electrodes 61, 62 and 71, 72 respectively which are connected in normal manner to the auxiliary windings 10, 11, 12 of the supply transformer 3, the parallel arranged electrodes 62 and 71 being supplied by the winding 11.
  • the tube 7 (which is still considered not to be shunted by the capacitor 9) had a shorter life than the tube 6 and that this was due to the fact that an excessively high ignition voltage was set up across the tube 7 which ignites first. Too high a voltage has for its result that the tube ignites too soon, that is, at a time when the electrodes are still cold, which is harmful for its life.
  • this tube 7 is shunted by the capacitor 9.
  • the desired ignition voltage of the tube 7 which ignites first can be adjusted.
  • the delay caused by the ignition of the first tube 7 has experimentally appeared to be s-ufiicient to cause the second tube 6 to ignite always with warm electrodes.
  • the tubes 6 and 7 were low-pressure mercury vapour discharge tubes which, during normal operation, passed a discharge current of 455 ma. at a tube voltage of 103 volts. These tubes ignite with cold electrodes at volt-ages larger than approximately 275 volts. In the case where an ignition voltage larger than this value is employed, they show a shorter life than in the case where ignition voltages smaller than this value are employed.
  • a minimum supply voltage is required.
  • a net capacitive stabilizing impedance consisting of the elements 4 and 5 it is at least of the sum of the tube voltages.
  • the supply voltage must then be at least 200% of the sum of the tube voltages.
  • the capacitor 9 had a value of 18,000 pf. and the capacitor 8 a value of 0.4 ,uf. At these values of capacitance, an ignition voltage of only 270 volts was set up across the tube 7.
  • the life of the tube 7 was approximately 16,000 switches, whereas with the capacitor 9 in the circuit, the tube life was approximately 22,000 switches.
  • the tubes are connected into circuit each time for 20 seconds with time intervals of 40 seconds. It is noted that the life of the tube 6 was approximately 24,000 switches in both cases.
  • the shunting capacitors 8 and 9 form a potentiometer so that the voltage across capacitor 9 is equal to i arl- 9 times the voltage across the series combination thereof, wherein C and C are the capacitance values of capacitors 8 and 9, respectively.
  • the desired ignition voltage across the tube 7 can be achieved with an infinite number of capacitance ratios.
  • the impedance of the shunting capacitor may not be lower than a particular multiple of the impedance of the shunting tube, because otherwise the capacitor discharges across the tube with annoying current pulses.
  • the largest so far used capacitor 8 (without the use of the capacitor 9) was 50,000 pf., which means at 50 c./s. an impedance of approximately 64,000 ohms, which is approximately 280-fold of the impedance of the tube 6 which is approximately 225 ohms.
  • the shunting capacitor 9 of the first-igniting tube 7 is given a value of 18,000 pf. and the value of the shunting capacitor 8 of the other tube is then 0.4 ,uf.
  • the inductor 4 was given an abnormally low value so that during normal operation a voltage of only 100 volts was set up across it.
  • a voltage of 320 volts must be set up across the series capacitor 5, which means a capacitance of 4.5 f.
  • the ballast impedance consisting of the inductor and the capacitor in series, exhibits a net capacitive reactance
  • the apparent power of the series inductor is at least 0.7 fold of the apparent power of the two tubes. In this case at least the 0.7-fold of the sum of the tube voltages it set up across the inductor.
  • the operating voltages across the inductor 4 would have to be at least 145 volts and across the capacitor at least 355 volts.
  • the ballast impedances can now be manufactured considerably smaller and consequently cheaper.
  • inductor 4 is shown as a separate element. However, in most of the cases it will be combined with the transformer 3 to a leakage transformer.
  • a lighting system comprising first and second serially connected electric discharge tubes each of which includes activated thermionic electrodes, said tubes having a given value of cold ignition voltage, a source of alternating voltage, ballast impedance means, means connecting said voltage source, said ballast means and said first and second tubes in series circuit, means for electrically heating said tube electrodes, a first capacitor having a given capacitance value C connected in parallel with said first tube, said ballast means and voltage source in series normally producing a voltage across said second tube greater than the said cold ignition voltage, and means for reducing the ignition voltage across said second tube to a value less than the cold ignition voltage comprising a second capacitor connected in parallel with said second tube and having a given value of capacitance C the capacitance values of said capacitors being chosen so that combination of said first and second capacitors produces an ignition voltage across said second tube which is lower than said cold ignition voltage.
  • ballast impedance means comprising an inductance element and a capacitance element in series which exhibit a net capacitive reactance at the frequency of said voltage source, the capacitance of said second capacitor being chosen smaller than the capacitance of said first capacitor and of a value such that the impedance of said first capacitor is 30 to 50 times the operating impedance of the tube in shunt therewith, and wherein said inductance element is chosen so that the apparent power thereof is 45% to 60% of the total apparent power of the two tubes.
  • a lighting system comprising first and second serially connected electric discharge tubes each of which includes activated thermionic electrodes, said tubes having a given value of cold ignition voltage, a source of alternating voltage of a given frequency, resistance heating means for preheating said tube electrodes prior to tube ignition, ballast impedance means, means connecting said voltage source, said ballast means and said first and second tubes in series circuit, a first capacitor connected in parallel with said first tube and having a given value of capacitance C said ballast means and voltage source in series normally producing a voltage across said second tube greater than the said cold ignition voltage, and means for reducing the ignition voltage across said second tube to a value less than the cold ignition voltage comprising a second capacitor connected in parallel with said second tube and having a given value of capacitance C said first capacitor having a greater value of capacitance than said second capacitor, the capacitive ratio of said capacitors being chosen so that times the voltage across the series combination of said first and second capacitors produces an ignition voltage across the second tube which is limited in amplitude to a range of values
  • ballast impedance means comprises, in series, an inductance element and a capacitance element which together exhibit a net capacitive reactance at said given frequency, the capacitance value of said second capacitor being chosen so that the impedance of said first capacitor is to times the operating impedance of said first tube, and wherein said inductance element is chosen so that the apparent power thereof is 45% to of the total apparent power of the two tubes.

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  • Circuit Arrangements For Discharge Lamps (AREA)
US358005A 1963-04-16 1964-04-07 Device employing two gas- and/or vapour-discharge tubes Expired - Lifetime US3324349A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
NL291585 1963-04-16

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3324349A true US3324349A (en) 1967-06-06

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Country Status (6)

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US (1) US3324349A (da)
AT (1) AT246282B (da)
CH (1) CH416829A (da)
DK (1) DK109574C (da)
GB (1) GB1014997A (da)
SE (1) SE220262C1 (da)

Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3878431A (en) * 1973-03-13 1975-04-15 Bruce Ind Inc Remotely controlled discharge lamp dimming module
US3975660A (en) * 1974-03-28 1976-08-17 F. Knobel Elektro-Apparatebau Ag Starterless low-voltage fluorescent-lamp circuit arrangements
US4145638A (en) * 1975-05-20 1979-03-20 Nec Sylvania Corporation Discharge lamp lighting system using series connected starters
US4443739A (en) * 1981-03-23 1984-04-17 U.S. Philips Corporation Electric device comprising at least one low-pressure mercury vapor discharge tube
US4534035A (en) * 1983-08-09 1985-08-06 Northrop Corporation Tandem electric discharges for exciting lasers
US4568860A (en) * 1983-08-17 1986-02-04 Advance Transformer Co. Rapid start fluorescent lamp circuits with disconnect sockets
US4899087A (en) * 1987-02-12 1990-02-06 Xerox Corporation Triggering circuit for series connected flash lamps
US5174478A (en) * 1986-02-07 1992-12-29 Reyman Mark E Device for the controlled measuring and dispensing of a fluid

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2252474A (en) * 1934-09-15 1941-08-12 Gen Electric Discharge device
US2418161A (en) * 1943-12-31 1947-04-01 Gen Electric Starting and controlling apparatus for electric discharge lamps

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2252474A (en) * 1934-09-15 1941-08-12 Gen Electric Discharge device
US2418161A (en) * 1943-12-31 1947-04-01 Gen Electric Starting and controlling apparatus for electric discharge lamps

Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3878431A (en) * 1973-03-13 1975-04-15 Bruce Ind Inc Remotely controlled discharge lamp dimming module
US3975660A (en) * 1974-03-28 1976-08-17 F. Knobel Elektro-Apparatebau Ag Starterless low-voltage fluorescent-lamp circuit arrangements
US4145638A (en) * 1975-05-20 1979-03-20 Nec Sylvania Corporation Discharge lamp lighting system using series connected starters
US4443739A (en) * 1981-03-23 1984-04-17 U.S. Philips Corporation Electric device comprising at least one low-pressure mercury vapor discharge tube
US4534035A (en) * 1983-08-09 1985-08-06 Northrop Corporation Tandem electric discharges for exciting lasers
US4568860A (en) * 1983-08-17 1986-02-04 Advance Transformer Co. Rapid start fluorescent lamp circuits with disconnect sockets
US5174478A (en) * 1986-02-07 1992-12-29 Reyman Mark E Device for the controlled measuring and dispensing of a fluid
US4899087A (en) * 1987-02-12 1990-02-06 Xerox Corporation Triggering circuit for series connected flash lamps

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AT246282B (de) 1966-04-12
CH416829A (de) 1966-07-15
DK109574C (da) 1968-05-13
GB1014997A (en) 1965-12-31
SE220262C1 (sv) 1968-04-30

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