DE20116815U1 - Energy saving lamp - Google Patents

Description

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DIPL.-ING. F. W. MOLL · DIPL.-ING. H.CH. BITTER ADMISSIONS BEFORE THE EUROPEAN PATENT OFFICE LANDAU/PALATINATE

17.10.01 B/Co.

7ton Holding AG, 3380 Wangen an der Aare, Switzerland

Energy saving lamp

CORRESPONDENCE OFFICE · BANK DETAILS

P.O. BOX 20 80 WESTRING 17 . PEUTSCHE BANK AG LANDAU

D-76810 LANDAU/PFALZ _#> .. D-76829 WNDAW/PFAL2·. .*. \ · J21S|00 (bank code 546 700 95)

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Description:

The invention relates to energy-saving lamps according to the preamble of claim 1.

An energy-saving lamp with an electronic ballast is known from WO 00/22651. The ballast is built on a printed circuit board that is housed in the screw base of the energy-saving lamp. The transistors, which are subject to high thermal loads, are arranged in such a way that they come into contact with the base stone of the lamp base, which is made of insulating material, over a large area. This enables optimal heat dissipation.

The mechanical connection between the screw base and the gas discharge tube is made by a two-part lamp attachment, the lower part of which is pushed onto the screw base from below and the upper part of which is pushed onto the gas discharge tube from above. Once the two parts of the lamp attachment have been glued or welded together, the energy-saving lamp is ready.

If the gas discharge tube of this energy-saving lamp is surrounded by an envelope, three parts are required. The lower part, which is pushed onto the screw base from below, is roughly the same. The upper part is formed by the lamp bulb, which is glued or welded to the lower part. A third part is required for the mechanical fastening of the gas discharge tube, which is clipped into the screw base from above. The third part has molded lamp holders on its upper side, which lie against the glass tubes of the gas discharge lamp and fix them in place by friction. The additional use of glue or lamp cement improves the fastening.

It is the aim of all manufacturers of energy-saving lamps with bulbs to achieve the shape, size, brightness and light colour of the familiar incandescent lamps. However, these efforts have so far always failed in terms of size and shape due to the lamp attachment, which creates the mechanical connection between the gas discharge tube and the base and which, in the case of commercially available energy-saving lamps, must also accommodate the electronic ballast in whole or in part.

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The present invention is based on the object of specifying an energy-saving lamp with an envelope bulb which can no longer be distinguished from a conventional incandescent lamp in terms of size and shape.

This object is achieved by an energy-saving lamp having the features of claim 1.

The lamp according to the invention also requires an element which creates the mechanical connection between the gas discharge tube and the lamp cap. In contrast to all known designs, the tube holder according to the invention is located completely inside the space defined by the lamp cap and the envelope bulb and is therefore not visible to the user, at least when using an opaque envelope bulb.

However, the tube holder according to the invention can be used in the same way if the energy-saving lamp is delivered without an envelope bulb. In this case, mechanical and electrical safety must be ensured by appropriate adaptation of the tube holder.

However, the tube holder according to the invention not only fixes the gas discharge tube, but also ensures that the printed circuit board of the electronic ballast is positioned in a way that is resistant to vibration and is permanent. The two-part design of the tube holder makes it easier to assemble all components. In particular, it also makes it easier to connect the connecting wires of the gas discharge tube to the electronic ballast. Finally, it makes it easier to complete the energy-saving lamp, since the tube holder with the fully assembled and wired components can be inserted into the lamp base in the simplest way. Once a permanent connection has been made between the lamp base and the tube holder or the lamp base and the bulb, the energy-saving lamp is ready.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the base pot is a screw base and the ring part of the tube holder has two molded-on strips that correspond to the thread of the screw base. This makes it possible to screw the screw base onto the

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completely assembled and wired unit consisting of tube holder, gas discharge tube and ballast. This further improves the mechanical connection.

Advantageously, the ring part of the tube holder has a concave section and the charging capacitor of the electronic ballast is positioned in this concave section. This provides additional support and insulation for the charging capacitor, which is a relatively large component.

The charging capacitor is advantageously placed flat against the inside of the base pot. This makes it possible to optimally dissipate the heat from the charging capacitor, which is subject to a high electrical load.

Advantageously, there is an insulating film between the charging capacitor and the base pot that conducts heat well. This increases electrical safety without compromising heat dissipation.

According to a further development of the invention, the upper part of the tube holder has a blind hole extending from its underside into which the lamp ballast is inserted. In this way, the lamp ballast, which is a relatively large component due to the desired lamp power, is optimally positioned both mechanically and magnetically, whereby the limited space available inside the lamp is used optimally.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the through holes in the upper part of the lamp holder have a depth stop at their ends adjacent to the lower part. This ensures that the ends of the gas discharge tube inserted into the through hole from above always have a defined end position. This means that the gas discharge tube is always correctly positioned.

As already mentioned, the connecting wires of the gas discharge tube can be soldered to the electronic ballast. However, these solder connections alone are not able to permanently fix the gas discharge tube mechanically. Therefore, the ends of the gas discharge tube must be welded into the

Through holes. In order to save this additional work step, according to a preferred development of the invention, spring clamps are positioned under the upper part of the lamp holder, which contact and fix the connecting wires of the gas discharge tube. Spring clamps of this type have proven to be extremely effective in electrical installation technology for many years. The use of lamp cement is no longer necessary.

If the gas discharge tube is surrounded by an envelope bulb, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention the lower end of the bulb dips into a gap provided between the lower part of the tube holder and the base pot. This creates a type of clamp connection that provides an initial hold. It is also possible to first place the envelope bulb on the lamp holder and only then place or screw the lamp base onto this complete unit.

In order to prevent a relative movement between the envelope bulb and the tube holder or screw base, according to a further development of the invention, a fixing lug is provided at the lower end of the envelope bulb, which engages in a recess on the lower part of the lamp holder, for example in the concave section.

The connection between the central contact of the lamp base and the actual light source is made in all lamps via a connecting wire. This is led out through a hole in the central contact and soldered. In order to save this soldering process on the one hand, but at the same time to close the hole required for the connecting wire on the other, a further development of the invention provides a clamping nail that is inserted into the opening in the central contact and thus fixes the connecting wire.

Since the mid-1980s, energy-saving lamps have been on the market that, thanks to the so-called amalgam technology, have a high light output over a wide temperature range. This amalgam is added in the form of a small ball that is housed in an amalgam nozzle branching off from the gas discharge tube. According to the invention, this amalgam nozzle is now attached in such a way that it is immersed in the lamp base, which means that the temperature of the amalgam ball on the

Temperature of the lamp base, which is made of metal and therefore conducts heat well, is maintained.

If the energy-saving lamp according to the invention is completed simply by screwing or plugging on the lamp base, a gap remains between the envelope bulb and the lamp base. Moisture can penetrate through this when the energy-saving lamp is used outdoors. To prevent this, according to one embodiment of the invention, a sealing ring is located between the lamp base and the envelope bulb, which preferably sits on or in the upper edge of the lamp base.

The invention will be explained in more detail in the form of exemplary embodiments with reference to the drawings. They show purely schematically

Fig.l partially broken open an energy saving lamp with envelope and electronic ballast integrated into the screw base,

Fig.2 the energy saving lamp of Fig. 1 as an exploded view,

Fig.3 shows a perspective view of the top of the upper part of a tube holder,

Fig.4 shows a perspective view of the underside of the upper part of the tube holder,

Fig.5 shows a perspective view of the top of the lower part of the tube holder and

Fig.6 shows a perspective view of the underside of the lower part of the tube holder.

Fig. 1 as a partially broken view and Fig. 2 as an exploded view show an energy saving lamp. This comprises a lamp base 10, consisting of a metal screw base 11, for example of size E 27, a central contact 12 and a base stone 13 made of insulating material arranged between them, a

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The lamp comprises an envelope bulb 20 consisting of half shells 21, 22, a gas discharge tube 30 consisting of a spirally bent glass tube 31 with a luminescent layer, melted-in connecting wires and a gas filling, and an electronic ballast 40 formed by a printed circuit board 41, a charging capacitor 43, transistors 42, further capacitors 43 (Fig. 2), electrical resistors, a transformer and a lamp ballast choke. Finally, a tube holder 50 is provided which consists of two parts 51, 52, dips into the screw base 11 and fixes the gas discharge tube 30. Details of the tube holder 50 will be explained with reference to Figs. 3 to 6.

As shown in Fig. 1, the electrical connection between the central contact 12 and the electronic ballast 40 is effected by a connecting wire 44 which is led out through an opening in the central contact 12. The electrical and mechanical connection between the central contact 12 and the connecting wire 44 is made by means of a clamping nail 14 which is inserted into the opening in the central contact 12.

As can be seen from Fig. 1 and 2, the lower part 52 of the tube holder 50, which extends into the screw base 11, has molded-on strips 62 on the outside, which correspond to the thread of the screw base 11. This makes it possible to screw the lamp base 10 onto the tube holder, which is fully equipped and wired with the gas discharge tube 30 and electronic ballast 40. The screw base 11 also grips over the lower end 23 of the envelope bulb 20, whereupon the latter is clamped and fixed between the lamp holder 50 and the lamp base 10.

As can be seen from Fig. 1 and 2, a fixing lug 24 is provided on the lower edge 23 of the envelope bulb 20. This corresponds to a corresponding fixing groove on the lower part of the tube holder 50. Details are explained with reference to Fig. 5.

Fig. 2 shows a gas discharge tube 30, the glass tube 31 of which is provided with a so-called amalgam nozzle 33. This amalgam nozzle 33 extends through the tube holder 50 into the lamp base 10. This ensures that the end of the nozzle 33 containing the amalgam ball is above the metallic

Screw base 11 is optimally cooled, as is necessary for a high and constant light output of the gas discharge tube 30.

As already mentioned, the tube holder 50 consists of an upper part 51 and a lower part 52. A perspective view of the upper side of the upper part is shown in Fig. 3, a perspective view of the underside of the upper part 51 is shown in Fig. 4, a perspective view of the upper side of the lower part 52 is shown in Fig. 5, a perspective view of the underside of the lower part 52 is shown in Fig. 6.

The upper part 51 of the tube holder 50 has two through holes 53 extending from the top, matching the ends of the gas discharge tube 30. The through holes 53 have an annular depth stop 64 on their underside, which ensures that the ends of the gas discharge tube 30 are in a defined position.

A blind hole 54 can also be seen in the underside of the upper part 51. This accommodates the lamp ballast choke (not shown). In this way, the lamp ballast choke, which has a considerable volume and weight for a corresponding lamp power, finds a safe and space-saving place.

Finally, on the underside of the upper part 51 one can see adjusting pins 55 and adjusting openings 56, which are necessary for the precise connection with the lower part 52.

The lower part 52 of the tube holder 50 has adjusting pins 59 and adjusting openings 60 which correspond to the corresponding adjusting devices of the upper part 51.

In addition, the lower part 52 has a ring part 37. Guide grooves 58 for the printed circuit board 41 of the electronic ballast 40 are provided in this. In addition, the ring part 57 has a concave section 62 in which the charging capacitor C (Fig. 1 and 2) has its protected place. This supports the charging capacitor C from behind and can rest against the inside of the metal screw base 11. In this way, the metal screw base 11 can optimally dissipate the heat generated in the charging capacitor C, which is subject to high electrical loads. To increase the electrical

For safety reasons, an insulating foil (not shown) that conducts heat well can be placed between the charging capacitor C and the screw base 11.

Finally, in Fig. 5, on the upper side of the ring part 57, one can see a molded-in adjustment groove 65 which corresponds to the adjustment nose 24 on the lamp bulb 20 and reliably prevents the lamp bulb 20 from being twisted by the user of the energy-saving lamp.

If moisture is to be prevented from penetrating into the gap between the lamp bulb 20 and the screw base 11, a sealing ring (not shown) is attached to the edge of the screw base 11.

Claims (14)

1. Energy saving lamp, essentially comprising - a lamp base ( 10 ) consisting of - a base pot ( 11 ) made of metal, - a central contact ( 12 ) - and a base stone ( 13 ) made of insulating material arranged therebetween, - a gas discharge tube ( 30 ) consisting of at least one glass tube ( 31 ) with - a luminescent layer, - melted connecting wires ( 32 ) - and a gas filling, - an electronic ballast ( 40 ) which generates from the mains voltage the alternating voltage required to operate the gas discharge tube ( 30 ), consisting of a printed circuit board ( 41 ), - which carries transistors ( 42 ), resistors, capacitors (C, 43 ), a transformer, a lamp ballast, a connecting wire ( 44 ) to the central contact ( 12 ) and, if necessary, a rectifier, a temperature-dependent resistor and/or an interference suppressor, - and in the lamp base ( 10 ), - and a tube holder ( 50 ) which fixes the ends of the gas discharge tube ( 30 ), characterized by the features: - the tube holder ( 50 ) consists of - a top ( 51 ) - and a lower part ( 52 ), - the upper part ( 51 ) has - two through holes ( 53 ), - Adjusting pin ( 55 ) - and adjustment holes ( 56 ), - the lower part ( 52 ) has - a ring part ( 37 ) - therein guides ( 58 ) for the printed circuit board ( 41 ), - adjusting pins ( 59 ) and adjusting holes ( 60 ) which correspond to the corresponding elements on the upper part ( 51 ), - and openings ( 61 ) for passing through the connecting wires, - the tube holder ( 50 ) sits in the lamp base ( 10 ). 2. Energy saving lamp according to claim 1, characterized by the features: - the base pot ( 11 ) is a screw base, - the ring part ( 57 ) of the tube holder ( 50 ) has outer strips ( 62 ) which correspond to the thread of the screw base. 3. Energy saving lamp according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by the features: - the ring part ( 57 ) has a concave section ( 62 ), - the charging capacitor (C) is positioned in the concave section ( 62 ). 4. Energy saving lamp according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by the feature: - the charging capacitor (C) lies flat on the inside of the base pot ( 11 ). 5. Energy saving lamp according to claim 14, characterized by the feature: - There is a heat-conducting insulating foil between the charging capacitor (C) and the base pot ( 11 ). 6. Energy saving lamp according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by the features: - the upper part ( 51 ) of the tube holder ( 50 ) has a blind hole ( 54 ) in the underside, - the lamp ballast choke is inserted into the blind bore ( 54 ). 7. Energy saving lamp according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized by the feature: - the through holes ( 53 ) of the upper part ( 51 ) have a depth stop ( 64 ) at their ends adjacent to the lower part ( 52 ). 8. Energy saving lamp according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized by the feature: - Spring clamps are positioned under the upper part ( 51 ) which contact and fix the connecting wires ( 32 ) of the gas discharge tube ( 30 ). 9. Energy saving lamp according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized by the features: - the gas discharge tube ( 30 ) is surrounded by an envelope bulb ( 20 ), the lower end ( 23 ) of the bulb ( 20 ) dips into a gap between the lower part ( 52 ) and the base pot ( 11 ). 10. Energy saving lamp according to claim 9, characterized by the features: - a fixing lug ( 24 ) is provided at the lower end ( 23 ) of the envelope piston ( 20 ), - the fixing lug ( 24 ) engages in a recess ( 65 ) on the lower part ( 52 ), e.g. in the concave section ( 63 ). 11. Energy saving lamp according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized by the feature: - a clamping nail ( 14 ) fixes the connecting wire ( 44 ) to the central contact ( 12 ). 12. Energy saving lamp according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized by the features: - the gas discharge tube ( 30 ) has an amalgam nozzle ( 33 ), - the amalgam nozzle ( 33 ) is immersed in the lamp base ( 10 ). 13. Energy saving lamp according to one of claims 9 to 12, characterized by the feature: - There is a sealing ring between the lamp base ( 10 ) and the bulb ( 20 ). 14. Energy saving lamp according to claim 13, characterized by the feature: - the sealing ring sits on or in the edge of the lamp base ( 10 ).