Westinghouse Electric Corporation

North American Philips Electric Corp.

Robert G Young

Henry Skwirut

Edward W Morton

Thomas E Dooley

John F Gilmore

Compact fluorescent lamp unit

A single-ended compact fluorescent lamp having an envelope that is partitioned or of multi-U-bent shape and defines a tortuous arc path is combined with a plug-in ballast module which is elongated in a lateral direction but has a low profile and a narrow width. The resulting decrease in the overall height dimension of the unit formed by the mated lamp and module, together with the narrow width of the module, permit the unit to fit within the harp component of a table lamp or similar lighting fixture and be used as a replacement for an incandescent lamp. The screw-in socket of the lamp fixture is provided with a threaded adapter plug which enables the lamp-ballast unit to be plugged into the adapter after it has been inserted between the spaced support rods of the harp component. Alternatively, the threaded plug is made a part of the module and constitutes an integral threaded base member which permits the lamp-ballast unit to be screwed directly into the fixture socket after the harp component has been temporarily removed.

Compact electric discharge lamp-and-ballast unit, and plug-in ballast

Compact fluorescent lamp or similar article for a lighting unit

For fluorescent lamps which use a double layer of phosphor with manganese-activated zinc silicate phosphor in the overlying layer, a small predetermined amount of finely-divided antimony oxide is added to the first phosphor layer coating paint which, after application, is lehred at a temperature which is sufficient to volatilize the organic binder but which is insufficient to volatilize more than a minor proportion of the antimony oxide. Thereafter, the second phosphor layer coating paint which includes the zinc silicate is applied over the first-applied layer and the applied second layer coating paint is then lehred at a temperature which is sufficient to volatilize an appreciable portion of the residual antimony oxide in the first-applied layer to cause the volatilized antimony oxide to contact the zinc silicate.

Method for effectively contacting manganese-activated zinc silicate

A fluorescent lamp of high brightness and compact size is provided by forming the envelope from vitreous tubing that is bent upon itself in such a manner that the envelope has either five or seven U-shaped sections which are disposed in tridimensional array and define a single convoluted discharge channel. The U-shaped sections are so oriented that the tubular legs of the U's are positioned in side-by-side columnar relationship with each other and the sealed ends of the tubing are located adjacent one another. The lamp thus has an arc length that is more than six or eight times as long as the overall height dimension of the convoluted envelope and generates light in a very efficient manner. The retrobent fluorescent lamps are combined with a protective housing, a base structure and operating circuits of various types to provide convection-cooled lamp units that are small enough to be used in table lamps and similar lighting fixtures but have light outputs in excess of 1,500 lumens and efficacies in the order of 60 lumens per watt. Various arrangements for including the ballast and other circuit components either as integral parts of the lamp unit or as separate components which are housed in the lighting fixture and thus permitting the lamp units to be used as direct replacements for incandescent type lamps are disclosed. Method of manufacturing the various multi-U-bent envelopes from a single piece of glass tubing employing arcuate molding components and sequential bending operations are also disclosed.

Compact fluorescent lamp having convoluted tubular envelope of

Fluorescent lamps have a predetermined correlated color temperature and a combined efficiency and good color rendition of illuminated objects. The lamps utilize a two-layer phosphor coating comprising a layer coated onto the envelope interior surface and formed of a very high performance three-component blend which includes a blue-emitting phosphor, a green-emitting manganese-activated zinc silicate phosphor, and a red-orange emitting phosphor, all mixed in predetermined amounts and relative proportions to provide an emission of approximate predetermined x-y coordinates. Under some conditions, the phosphor blend when used as a single layer is subject to depreciation of the light output of the green component, particularly in the vicinity of the lamp electrodes which results in color shifts which are objectionable from an aesthetic standpoint. To protect the green-emitting component of the high performance blend, there is provided over the phosphor blend layer a very thin layer of finely divided phosphor which is very stable and which has an emission of approximately the same x-y coordinates as the high performance phosphor blend layer. The resulting lamp has overall improved performance from an aesthetic standpoint.

Fluorescent lamp using high performance phosphor blend which is

A fluorescent lamp having a triple-U-bent tubular envelope is combined with circuit means, a translucent protective cover and a threaded base member to provide an efficient screw-in type lamp unit of high brightness and long life that is compact enough to be used as a direct replacement for incandescent type lamps in fixtures designed for residential and commercial lighting. Various structural arrangements for including the ballast and starter components of the energizing circuit as integral parts of the compact lamp unit, despite the stringent space limitations, and also venting the cover and base structures to provide convection cooling of the compacted electrical components are also disclosed. Additional cost-saving advantages are afforded by making the triple-U-bent fluorescent lamp a plug-in type component that can be readily removed from the lamp unit and replaced with a new fluorescent lamp, thus permitting the lamp unit to be retained as a permanent part of the lighting fixture and be periodically relamped at minimal expense as required to maintain the optimum amount of illumination from the electrical energy which is consumed.

Screw-in type lighting unit having a convoluted tridimensional

A compact fluorescent lamp of high brightness is provided by a partition structure within the lamp that divides the tubular envelope into a plurality of interconnected sectors and also defines a core chamber that is not traversed by the discharge and is of predetermined size relative to the envelope. The core chamber serves both as a conduit or passageway for the lead-in conductors of one of the electrodes and as a means for enhancing the efficacy of the lamp by displacing the discharge outwardly toward the envelope walls and thus minimizing the 'light entrapment' effect deep within the envelope and the corner portions of the partition structure. The use of the core chamber as a lead wire conduit permits the electrodes to be located at the same end or opposite ends of the envelope--thereby providing 'odd-pass' discharge lamps of single-ended construction or 'even-pass' discharge lamps of double-ended construction that can be readily fabricated.

Compact fluorescent lamp having a partitioned envelope

The light output of a compact fluorescent lamp is enhanced by providing the envelope with a phosphor-coated partition assembly which has a plurality of panel segments that divide the envelope interior into a series of interconnected sectors and also define a centrally-located core chamber that is closed to the discharge. The size of the core chamber is correlated with the size of the envelope in such a manner that the discharge is displaced from the center of the envelope toward the phosphor-coated walls thereof, thus reducing losses due to the 'trapping' of light deep within the envelope interior and concurrently increasing the relative amount of ultraviolet radiation that reaches and excites the phosphor coating on the envelope wall. The efficacy of the partitioned fluorescent lamp is accordingly increased. The size-correlation is rather critical and must be such that the maximum cross-sectional dimension of the core chamber at a given location is from about 25% to about 85% of the maximum cross-sectional dimension of the envelope at the same location and optimum results are obtained when this parameter is around 50%. The improved fluorescent lamp is thus especially adapted for use as a substitute for incandescent lamps in various types of lighting fixtures where space is limited and a light source of high brightness is required.

The tubular envelope of a double-ended fluorescent lamp is provided with a partition assembly of sheet metal or other rigid material that is inserted into the envelope in the space between the electrodes and defines a single discharge channel which forces the arc to traverse the envelope an odd number of times in retroverted fashion, thus reducing the size of the lamp and providing a concentrated light source of high brightness. The partition assembly consists of a number of joined panels that radially extend from a common axis to the envelope walls and divide the interior of the envelope into an odd number of sectors that are interconnected and form a continuous discharge channel. Diaphragm components are fastened to each end of the partition assembly and laterally extend across the interior of the envelope to prevent the arc from bypassing the partition assembly or any of its planar segments.

Double-ended fluorescent lamp having a partitioned envelope

The envelope of a fluorescent lamp is provided with a partition assembly of sheet metal or other rigid material that is inserted into the envelope and forces the art discharge to follow a tortuous path which is longer than the envelope, thus reducing the size of the lamp and providing a concentrated light source. The inherent tendency of the arc to bypass the partition by seeking and passing through small gaps or crevices between the envelope wall and the mating edges of the partition assembly is prevented by providing the longitudinal edges of the partition assembly with short laterally-extending flanges that are seated against or closely overlie the envelope wall. The resulting lengthening of the arc-leakage paths through such gaps or crevices creates a 'barrier' along the envelope-partition interface which cannot be breached by the arc. Short-circuiting of the arc around the end portion of the partition assembly is prevented by a diaphragm component comprising a transverse panel member that is secured to the partition assembly and has a peripheral flange that makes a snug fit with the side walls of the envelope. The diaphragm component can also comprise a compliant pad-like gasket of porous material that is held in nested relationship with the end portion of the partition assembly by retaining means.

The envelope of a single-ended fluorescent lamp is provided with an inserted partition assembly that forces the arc discharge to follow a tortuous path which is longer than the envelope, thus reducing the size of the lamp and providing a concentrated light source which is suited for use in lighting fixtures that are designed for incandescent type lamps. The inherent tendency of the arc to bypass the partition is overcome by seating the end of the partition assembly against a soft gasket of porous material (preferably fibrous in structure) that is located at the sealed end of the envelope and constitutes a barrier to the discharge which blocks the direct arc-path between the adjacent electrodes. The porous gasket is part of a diaphragm assembly and, since it is permeable to gases and vapors, it does not interfere with the evacuation of gaseous impurities and water vapor from the envelope when the lamp is being manufactured. Potential arc-leakage paths along the envelope-partition interface are sealed by a filling of phosphor deposited along such regions during lamp manufacture. The porous gasket preferably comprises a pad of felt-like inert material that extends completely across the interior of the envelope, or one which has a central opening and is of annular shape and held in place by a pair of suitable planar members--one of which is seated against a flanged end of the partition assembly. The envelope, partition, diaphragm and electrode components are assembled in a manner which prevents oxidation of the tungsten wire electrodes and also permits the organic binder, solvent constituent, etc. to be removed from the phosphor coatings without contaminating the electrodes.

Compact fluorescent lamp having a partitioned envelope, and method of

A single-ended fluorescent lamp having a partitioned envelope is coupled to a threaded screw-in type base and a module that contains a miniaturized electronic circuit which permits the lamp to be started and operated on direct current from an AC power source. The resulting compact fluorescent lamp unit can thus be used as a direct replacement for incandescent lamps in fixtures that are designed for residential and commercial lighting. Cataphoretic pumping and accumulation of the mercury vapor in the vicinity of the cathode during DC operation and short-circuiting of the partition by the arc discharge are both prevented by a diaphragm assembly at the electrode-end of the envelope which includes a porous gasket of fibrous material that is permeable to mercury vapor but constitutes an impenetrable barrier to the arc. The porous gasket also provides a manufacturing advantage since it establishes a connecting passageway between the tubulated sealed end of the envelope and the envelope proper which permits vapor and gaseous impurities to be quickly evacuated from the envelope before it is charged with fill gas, dosed with mercury and tipped-off.

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Nutley, NJ, United States of America

Robert G Young