Hubbell Limited

Isaac Lynnwood Flory, Iv

Joe A Nuckolls

Christopher Allen Hudson

Lewis W Kenyon

Joseph A Nuckolls

An apparatus and method for cycling power to a HID ballast and amp in order to reduce the possibility of arc tube rupture or non-passive end of life light source failure with a warning indicator indicating impending momentary power outage. The apparatus comprises a lamp, a ballast, and a microcontroller operable to generate a warning indicator after expiration of a pre-selected period of time. The warning indicator indicates termination of power to the lamp for a predetermined period of time, by alternatively dimming and increasing the light output of the lamp. After expiration of the pre-determined period of time, the microcontroller restores the power to the ballast. The above described process is repeated periodically in order to reduce the risk of arc tube rupture.

System and method for cycling a metal-halide lamp on and off at designated intervals to reduce risk of arc tube rupture

A lamp ignition circuit is provided which can initiate operation of a gas discharge lamp using a driving voltage which is similar in magnitude to the lamp operating voltage. The lamp ignition circuit is useful with a semi-resonant ballast and lamp circuit in which switching operations intrinsic to the lamp shock-excite a series-connected inductor and capacitor into semi-resonant operation corresponding to an energy exchange and transfer during each half-cycle of the alternating current source to drive the lamp to start and maintain operation of the lamp using line voltage. The ignitor circuit has a disabling function following ignition of the lamp which is operable when the operating voltage of the lamp is approximately the line voltage of the power source. The disabling function triggered by an increase in voltage across the ignition circuit following operation of the lamp.

Lamp ignition circuit for lamp driven voltage transformation and ballasting system

An ignitor disabling apparatus is provided to reliably and automatically disable a universal sodium ignitor with hot re-strike capability, or a 120 Hz pulse capability. The ignitor is configured to disable the ignitor portion of a HID lamp if the lamp fails to start. Timing operation of the disabling circuit is achieved using a power supply that ramps to a steady state to provide triggering of a timer circuit. A normally closed, solid state gating device is used for disabling the ignitor to minimize sparks. The disabling apparatus can be retrofit into an existing universal sodium ignitor.

Method and apparatus for disabling sodium ignitor upon failure of discharge lamp

A starter circuit is provided for starting an HID lamp. The circuit de-couples the high voltage starting pulse from the input lines (ballast output lines) so that the starter can function properly regardless of the distance between the ballast and the lamp.

Remote discharge lamp ignition circuitry

A gas discharge lamp assembly is provided wherein the regulator housing and the ballast housing are placed remote from each other. Further, an ignitor and a capacitor are added to the circuitry of the ballast housing to allow for the regulator's remote placement. Such gas discharge lamps are typically between 1000 Watts and 2000 Watts.

Lighting assembly having regulating transformer distally located from ballast

An ignitor monitoring device is provided which is enclosed within a housing to allow for portability while testing high intensity discharge (HID) luminaires. The device is placed in the lamp socket with the lamp removed, and measures the open circuit voltage across the ignitor, as well as the ignitor's ignition pulse. If the ignitor monitoring device detects adequate voltage to enable ignition of the lamp, the LED illuminates; otherwise, the LED fails to illuminate, and the operator can begin troubleshooting by replacing the ignitor and re-testing the luminaire, or testing the source, among other troubleshooting methods known in the art. A first housing employs a plunging mechanism that allows the operator to insert the monitoring device into the lamp socket with ample pressure to ensure electrical conduction between the device and the luminaire. A second housing employs a screw-in delivery system, similar to a conventional light bulb, to facilitate coupling and electrical conduction between the device and the luminaire.

System for testing the presence of an ignitor pulse within a high intensity discharge luminaire

An apparatus and method are provided for operating one of a plurality of lamps employed within a luminaire via a single ballast, thereby extending the operational life of the luminaire. The operating lamp disables the lamps downstream from itself by preventing current from conducting through lamps other than the operating lamp. The lamps upstream from the operating lamp typically lack a sufficient voltage for ignition and operation. However, if any of the upstream lamps begin to operate, the lamps operating downstream cease to operate. In the event that two lamps begin to operate in an asymmetric manner, a capacitor is preferably provided to maintain a reverse voltage with respect to the output of the ballast, thus ensuring reduced voltage across the rectified lamps until one lamp extinguishes and the second lamp begins to operate.

Apparatus for operating respective single lamps among multiple lamps coupled to the same ballast

An ignitor and ignitor monitoring device is provided which is externally and detachably mounted to a high intensity discharge (HID) luminaire. The ignitor monitoring device provides a visual indication of whether or not the ignitor of the lamp in the HID luminaire is functioning. If the lamp is not operating and the indicator is activated, sufficient open circuit voltage is present to operate the ignitor, the ballast in the luminaire is most likely functioning properly, and power is present to operate the luminaire. A service person can assume that the lamp is defective and can replace the lamp as a first attempt to correct the problem with the luminaire. If the lamp is off and the indicator is also not operating, the luminaire is not operating for any of a number of reasons such as a defective ignitor, a defective ballast capacitor, a defective lamp or loss of supply voltage from the power source. A service person can replace the ignitor in a first attempt to repair the luminaire. Replacing the ignitor is the simplest initial repair option since the ignitor is externally mounted on the luminaire.

Externally mountable discharge lamp ignition circuit having visual diagnostic indicator

An apparatus for providing auxiliary power to a lighting system for heavy equipment during interruptions of power from a 250 volt direct current (DC) power supply is provided. The DC power supply is the only power source available to discharge lamps provided on the heavy equipment. The energy storage banks are provided between the power supply and a ballast for operating a gas discharge lamp. The energy storage banks store energy and provide the reserved energy to the ballast when the supply voltage to the ballast decreases below a level necessary for sustaining operating of the discharge lamp. The energy storage banks can comprise capacitors arranged in various series and parallel circuits and a blocking rectifier to prevent non-lighting loads on the heavy equipment from draining the energy storage banks.

System for providing auxiliary power to lighting unit for heavy equipment having a direct current power supply and no uninterruptible power supply

A method and apparatus are provided to retrofit a gas discharge lamp ballast designed for use with a first lamp having a first power rating to be used with a second lamp having a second power rating. The ballast has a core, a coil and a serially-connected ballast capacitance device and is characterized by a first net impedance of the ballast reactance to allow operation of the first lamp in an operating range in which the first lamp is designed to operate. When the first lamp is replaced with a second lamp having a different lamp impedance than the first lamp, the capacitance of the ballast capacitance device is selected so as to change the first net impedance of the ballast to a second net impedance which allows the ballast to maintain proper operation of the second lamp in accordance with its specifications and rating.

Method and apparatus for retrofitting gas discharge lamp ballast for use with gas discharge lamp having different power rating

An ignitor and ignitor monitoring device is provided which is externally and detachably mounted to a high intensity discharge (HID) luminaire. The ignitor monitoring device provides a visual indication of whether or not the ignitor of the lamp in the HID luminaire is functioning. If the lamp is not on and the indicator is activated, sufficient open circuit voltage is present to operate the ignitor, the ballast in the luminaire is most likely functioning properly, and power is present to operate the luminaire. A service person can assume that the lamp is defective and can replace the lamp as a first attempt to correct the problem with the luminaire. If the lamp is off and the indicator is also not operating, the luminaire is not operating for any of a number of reasons such as a defective ignitor, a defective ballast capacitor, a defective lamp or loss of supply voltage from the power source. A service person can replace the ignitor in a first attempt to repair the luminaire. Replacing the ignitor is the simplest initial repair option since the ignitor is externally mounted on the luminaire.

Externally mountable discharge lamp ignition circuit having visual

A lighting control system for discharge lamps which comprises a ballast for supplying energy from a power source to a lamp. First and second capacitors and a first control relay and contact set control the supply of energy from the ballast to the lamp to switch the lamp between dimmed and normal wattage operational modes. A second control relay and contact set connects a single output control wire to neutral when a predetermined condition is sensed or a switch is thrown. The first control relay, which is connected at one end to the lamp ballast, is energized when the other end thereof is connected to neutral via the second control relay. The first control relay in turn closes the normally open contact set, which is connected to one of the capacitors, to increase the energy provided to the lamp. In accordance with one embodiment the first capacitor and the contact set of the first control relay are connected in series, and together are connected parallel to the second capacitor. In accordance with another embodiment, the first and second capacitors are connected in series, and the contact set of the first control relay is connected parallel to the first capacitor.

Lighting control system for discharge lamps

An ignitor is provided to predictably and reliably start a conventional HID lamp, or to start or restart an HID lamp having a hot strike capability such as a high pressure xenon HPS lamp or similar lamp. The ignitor is configured to prevent the premature triggering of a semiconductor switch in a hot restrike circuit due to unwanted high voltage pulses generated by a conventional HID lamp starter circuit in the ignitor. An ignitor is provided that can be used with lag-type ballasts. Another ignitor is provided that can be used with a lead-type ballast which generates a DC bias across the ballast capacitor.

Lamp ignitor for starting conventional hid lamps and for starting and

An apparatus and method for supplying emergency power to a lighting device, in particular, an HID lamp, when a failure occurs in a main power supply. The apparatus can include a rectifier circuit for converting an AC voltage signal provided by the main power supply to a DC voltage signal. A capacitive element can be coupled across the DC output terminals of the rectifier circuit and across a DC coil of a DC relay circuit. The amount of energy stored by the capacitor controls the DC relay to provide the voltage of the main power supply to the lamp circuit under normal conditions, and the voltage of an emergency power supply to the lamp circuit when the voltage of the main power supply falls below a predetermined level. Alternatively, an AC relay can be coupled directly to the main AC voltage power supply or emergency power supply and configured to perform a similar operation.

Relay circuit for providing power from a normal or emergency power

A reduced cycle ignitor circuit for a high intensity discharge lamp incorporating a thermally timed, cycled operation which provides intermittent starting pulses for the high intensity discharge lamp. The ignitor circuit comprises a capacitor and semiconductor connected in series with a ballast transformer. The ignitor circuit further comprises a series connected resistor and thermostat, having thermally operated, normally closed electrical contacts, through which current is conducted to charge the capacitor. The thermostat is thermally coupled to the resistor. During operation, current flows through the series connected resistor and thermostat and charges the capacitor to a breakover threshold voltage level of the semiconductor. At that point, the semiconductor conducts and the energy stored in the capacitor is discharged through the semiconductor and a winding of the ballast which, through auto-transformer action, generates a high voltage pulse to start the high intensity discharge lamp. The resistor heats the thermostat during the charging cycle which reaches a temperature at which the normally closed thermostat contacts open, which disables the ignitor circuit until the resistor and thermostat cool and the thermostat contacts close.

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Blacksburg, VA, United States of America

Isaac Lynnwood Flory, Iv