Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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CA 02439033 2003-08-20
L1EOSAVE GmbH
F500?4FCT(F)
,An apparatus for operating a fluoreacont lamp
The invention relates to fluorescent 'amps. Typical7.y, a f7.~.~orescent
lamp cons;sts of a housing, usually fixed to the ceiling and
provided with lamp sockets. These are adapted to take up a
=leerescent iamo comprising, as a ru'~~, a cylindrical discharge
vessel closed at the ends by caps which cart?' cont2ct pins. These
contact pins serve to regain the fluorescent lamp in the lamp
socket, and electric current is passed from the socket to an.
incandesr_ent filama_nt provided in the discharge vessel. As a rule,
an incandescent fi7.amen.'_ each is provided at the opposite end races
of the discharge vessel.. The fluores~eat lamp normally is operated
by an a.c. source.
i5 Ballast connected upstream has been used for a long t;~me to improve
the eff-.iciency of fluorescent lamps. It may be either in the form of
electronic control gear !EVG - electrical ballast) or magnetic
ballasr_.
H)here the fluorescent lamp i.s operated krith ba'_1a=t, e.g. electronic
2~ ballast, the latter has its input end connected tc the a.c. source
so as r_o b~ able, at its output end, to supply high frequency
rurx~rt to one of the two incandescent filaments.
A circuit arrangement for operating a fluorescent lamp in energy
saving fashion is known from DE 198 53 138. This known circuit
25 arrangement is connected between two contact pins of. the fluorescent
lamp, bI~ZlG1'1 are disposed at an end face of the discharge body, and
ccntact elements of the lamp socker_. These contact elemants of the
lamp bracket in turn are conrer_tEd in series urith an a.c. source, a
choke, and a starter. At its input end, the known cirouit
30 arrangemenr_ comprises a quadripole whose input r_erminals, together
with tha two cont:.ct e1e-nents of a lamp bracket, and the choice, form
a series connection which ~:.s connected in parallel with the a.c.
source. The output tern~ina.s of the qua.dripoie .are ele~otrically
_~-E38-W1~7~ 1~ ~ 1 ~ E' 3? : P. ~B
CA 02439033 2003-08-20
connected to the two contact elements a. the opposite side of the
lamp socket. The circuit arrangement known from this publ;~ca.t,~en is
arrangAd at an end face of the discharge tube between the r_ontact
pins cf the fluorescent lamp and the contar_t elements of r_;~.e scryet
f ana serves to op~axate a fluorescent lamp destined for the respectv_ve
socket, througr, the intermission of the ale~_trical ballast. In the
prier art, two cupola-shaped mutually insulated contact shells are
p_cnided between a rpspectiwe contact element and a contact pin, and
the current supplied to the discharge tube at the socket is tapped
1G ~~ia the contact shel':.s, =on»erted into high freguency current in the
ballast, and introduced into the fluorescent lamp at the cor-
responding contact pins. The mutually engagi~~g contact qhells and
the insulation material located between them must be thin-walled so
as to permit the fluorescent lamp still to be fitted into the lamp
1.5 socket provided for this purpose.
It is the cbject of the invention to provide ar. apparar_us for
eneray-saving operation of a fluorescent lamp.
To meet this object, the invent,;on suggests an apparatus for
operating a fluorescent lamp, comrrisinq the features recited in
20 ci=im 1.
An apparatus including fi=st ana second compensation adapr_ers is
proposed by the invention, The corepsnsation adapters each co:~.prise
fe.~..ale terminals to accommodate the contact pins of the fluorescent
lamp and further comprise plug pins to establish electrical and
25 mechanical connections at the contact elements of the opposed lamp
brackets. Ar. energy saving apparatus is connected between thn female
texmi.naJ.s and the plug ping of the first or the second compensation
adapter.
According to the in~rention, the compensation adapters are designed
3C such that their .female terminals can take up tine contact pins of a
T5 fluorescent lamp, whereas the plug ping are receivable in the
lamp brar_kets of a lamp socket for a cen~entional fluorescent lamp,
especially a TB fiuores~ent lamp. Conventional fluorescent lamps,
such as Tq .fluorescent l,a.mps comprise contact pins wh~.ch are spaced
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' CA 02439033 2003-08-20
- 3 -
apart transcsrsely of the longitudinal extension o.f the tubular
discharge vessel by a greater distance than the corresponding
spacir_a be_ween. the contact pans of T5 fluozescent lamps. The
compensation adapters thSss provide for adaptation of conventional
contact elements provided at tree lamp bracket to the contact pins of
the T5 fluorescent lamp. The spacing between the female terminals o.f.
tha_ r_ompa_n9ation adapters differs from that of the plug pins of the
respecti~.~e compensation adapter.
Moreover, length compensation is offered by the compen~ar_ion
adapters of the apparatus according to the invention. The length of
modern "_'S fluorescent lamps dif'ers from chat of conventio::al
fluerascent lamps. Together, the first sad second compensation
adapters pr:vide respective adaptation in axial direction, based on
the lorgitudina'_ axis of the fluorescent lamp, so as to allow T5
1~ fluorescent lamps yet to be inserted in a lamp sacker made for a
conventional fluorescent lamp_
The ttao ccmpensaticn adapters of the appazatus according to the
invention th~a bring about an adaptation of the different spacings
of the centart elerr,ents at the socket end to the contact pins at the
c0 tube end for the electrical connection of the T5 fluorescent lamp to
be made to the convent~.o:~al lamp socket, as wAll as axial length
compensati on for the r~ec'~anical retention and connection of 'the TS
fluorescent lamp to be achieved in the lamp socket destined for
conventional fluorescent lamps.
25 Therefore, 'the apparatus a:cording to the invention permits T5
fluorescent lamps which axe more efxicient than conventional
fluorescent lamps to be operated in a conventional lamp socket_ An
energy saving means, in norm of ballast for instance. is connected
to at least one of the compensation adapters. Consequently, only the
3i7 compensation adapters need to be connected at r_hp end faces to the
commercially available TS fluorescent lamps, and the unit thus
obtained be installed in the lamp socket to replace a conventional
fluorescent lamp, such as a T5 fluorescent la:~,p. In view of such
little expenditure, all the widely used fluoresr_ent lamps with T8
35 fluorescent :ubes may be changed over in simple manner and at low
~~-slr~-?r3t~1? 1?: I~ 4' ~~ ; P. ~E7
CA 02439033 2003-08-20
4 -
cost_ It is not necessary to loosen the screws and open the housing
o.f t1-.e old lamp socket and remo~Je electrical parts. Noz is it
necFssary, fcr a changeover from a T8 to a T5 fluorescent tube, to
J.oosen the scr~wS and detach the who p las,p socket from the ceiling
in order to replace it by a. TSyfluorescent tube with a TSylamp
soc:ce .
After the ch.a.ngeover, a conventional lamp socker_ with a T5
flv ores,~ent lamp offers an esthetica'.:ly pleasant appearance if t'ae
compensation adapter is a substantially cylindrical member extending
in axial direction of the fluorescent lamp, in accordance with a
preferred further development cf the instant invention. Ldir_h this
preferred further development, the ballast may be designed as an
electrical ball..=_st incorporated in the cylindrical member.
With a view to modular expansion and adaptation to fluerestaut J.amps
of different light Afficiency it is to be preferred to position the
ballast cu the c=rcumferenti.~l surface cf the cylindrical member and
connect it by a plug connection to the female terminals and the plug
pins. With tt-.is preferred further development, identical
compensation .adapters may :,e used for a great variety of T5
fluorescenr_ lamps, while the ballast alone will be adapted ~o the
corresponding power characteristic of the fluorescent Lamp and
cennectc-d to at least one of the comp~rsar_ion adapters by a plug
connection.
Mounting ballast on a compensation .adapter of such design is
particu.la.rly easy if the ballast is detachably fixed on the first or
second compensation adapter. With this preferred modification even
faulty ballast, if any, can be exchanged readily without the need
for removing the fluorescent lamp jointly with the compensation
adapters from the lamp pocket.
The preferred further develcpm.ent presented ir. claim 5 provides an
apparatus for operating a T5 fluorescent lamp in a conventional lamp
socl~et in moist places or rooms with high .rates of contamination. As
a xule, lamp sockets intended for such usage are equipped with
am ular seals at the opposed lamp brackets, the seal engaging the
'.5-t3r~-,'-?~10=: 1?: i~ G' a~:; P. ~1
CA 02439033 2003-08-20
- S -
periphery of the eon~rentional fluorescent lamp. Hereby, the contact
area between the contact elements and the contact pins ber_omes
sealed. Such sealing may be obtained also in connection with the
compensar_icr. adapters if the first and second compensation adapters
are designed along the lines of the geometric dimensions of a TS
fluorescent lamp.
In accordance with a prezerred further development, and eQpecially
for use of the apparatus in centamina:ed or h~.:mid rooms, it is
suggested that the first ar.d second compensation adapters each
?D comprise a receptacle surrounding the peripheral end of the T5
fluo=esr_ent lamp. This receptacle serves to provide seaJ.ing between
the end zone of the circum.ferential surface of the T5 fJ.uorescent
lamp and the compensatier, adapter. Preferably, a seal may be
arranged between the inner circum-ferential surface of the
1F re~reptacle and the circumferential surface of the fluores~sent lamp.
the seal preferably being connected to the compensation adapter.
Zt proved to be advantageous, when starting the fluorescent lamp, to
ser_ an operating temperature as quickly as possible at the two
filaments disposed at the face ends. On the one hand, r_h3t i.nczeases
20 the lifetime of the fluorescent lamp. And, on the other hand,
interference currents can be prevented which would be transmitted to
the electric circuit and so-netimes may lead to disturbances of
sensitive ~lectrioal equipment. Furthermore, a starter may be
dispensed with in consideration of this hot M art of the fJ.uorescent
25 lamp with simultaneous heating of the filaments at both ends. In
this respect, the apparatus according to the invention preferably is
deveJ.oped further in that one of the compensation ad.apte.rs comprises
a sicnal transmitter and the other compensation adapter comprises an
associated signal receiver. Thus the pulses needed for heating the
30 filament at the other end can be transmitted via the signal
transmitter and receiver, bypassing the fluorescent lamp. In other
words, it is possible to send a signal from the input end to the
output end, and this signal will lead r_o direct seating of the
fiJ.a.ment at tl~e output end without the need for opera:ing the
35 fluorescent lamp.
1; 05-?~t7, 1?:1~ 9l:::
G7 P . J?
CA 02439033 2003-08-20
_ 6 _
Zn the case cf an alternative embodiment it is suggested to
intez:connect r_he compensation adapters in ele~strically conductive
manner. Such a connection, preferabJ.y, is obtained by way of a
eflector disposed between the first and second compensation
adapters se as to align the light radiation emitted from the
fluorescent lamp in a preFerred way and make the electrical
connec'.ion betTaeen t'.~.e two compensation adapters.
Further details, advantages, and features of the instant inirention
will become apparent from the description below of an ar~bodi?nent in
conjunction with the drawing, in which:
Fig. 1 is a top plan view, partly in section, of a fluorescent
lamp retained in a lamp bracket, with a compensation
adapter according to a first embodiment connected in
between:
Fig. 2 is a tee plan «iew, partly in section, of a fluorescent
lamp retained in a lamp bracket, with a compensation
adapter according to a Second embcdiment connected in
between;
Fig. 3 is a top plan view, partly in section, of a fluorescent
lamp rer_ained in first and second compensation adapters
according tc another embodiment;
Fie. 4 is a top plan view, partly in section, of a fluorescent
lamp re=ained it first and second compensation .adapters
according to another embodiment; and
Fig. 5 is an illustration, partly in section, of another
embodiment of a. compensation adapter, including pos-
sibilities of sealing the contact zones.
Fig. 1 is a daagramrnatic presentation of a lateral portion of a
modern T5 fluorescent lamp 1 (page 9, last paragraph) at which r_her~
are two contact pi;~s 2, 3. Likewise shown is a compensation adapter
9 as well as a lamp bracket 5 The contact pins 2, 3 are partJ.y
received in respective female terminals 6, 7. ThP contact pins 2, 3
are arranged in the female terminals 5 and 7, respectively, in such
a way that a respecti~re electrical contact is made between the
contact pit, aru the female terminal.
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CA 02439033 2003-08-20
Plug pins 8, 9 preferably made of solid material are provided at a
side of the compensation .adapter remote from the fluorescent lamp 1.
Fortions of the p':.ug pins 9, ° protruding from the firsr_
compensation adapter 9 are disposed in respective contact elements
10, 11 of the lamp bracket 5. The p'~ug pins ~, 9 are inserted in the
ccntact elements i0, 11 in, such manner that an electrical contact is
made between the respective plug pins B and ~ and the associated
contact elements 10 and 11 respectively.
The arrangement shown in fig. 1, with the separation in space of the
female terminals 5, 7 and the plug pins 8, 9 at opposite ends of the
compensation, adapte:, has the advantage that this embodiment can be
manvfacturad easily and at low cost. Depending on the specific
application and in respect of its extension in length, r_he
compensation adapter S, moreover, can sae designed so as to balance
d~.f'erent spaces between the end of the fluorescent lamp 1 and the
lamp bracket 5.
p.ccording to fig. 1, the plug pins &, ° each are connected to a
contact 12, 13 of an energy saving means 14. The energy saving means
14 may be any embodiment of electrical ballast (EVG) of known type.
2~~ The female termir_a1s 6, 7 both are connected Le another contact of
the energy savinc means. The contacts 12, 13, 15 are con7.ected to
electriclelectronic components which are ind;cated schematically by
blocks 15a, 16b, and 15c ~~;~ fig. 1. During operation of the
fluorescent lamp 1, the energy saving means 14 is supplied with
current from an a.c. source (not shown) through contacts 12, 13 and
it. in turn, supplies high freguency current to the female terminals
F. ? thro~~g5 the further contact 15, As regards the elec-
tric/~lectroni~ components used, the energy saving means may be
adapted individually, depending en the electric power of the
fluorescent lamp 1. This means that, for example, a modern T5
fJ.uorescent lamp of 54 w or 80 w may be used.
An embodiment according to fig. 2 provides for the compensation
adapter 4 to be formed with three plug pin receptacles 20, 21, 22
which are connected to the plug pir_s 10, 1' a.nd the female terminals
6, 7, respectively, se as to allow the co~.p~nsation adapter. 4 t o be
_~-t~tP-~t3t7~ 1~~ 13 E' 3?:~: P.?
CA 02439033 2003-08-20
g _
operated in combination T,~ith different energy saving means 19. Three
plug pins ~~, 24. 25 of the energy saving means 14 are inserted in
the plug pin receptacles 20, 21, 22. The plug connection formed by
the plug pin receptacles 20, i1, 22 and the plug ping 23, 24, c5
ber_ween the compensation adapter 4 and r_he Energy saving mear:s 19
preferably is designed such that the arrangeaent shown i.n fig. 2 is
suitable for use in a humid space environmenr_. To this en.d, suita:cle
plug pin receptacles must be provided and requisite sealing measures
taken. The component parts (Electric/electror.ic co_nponents,
~cnna_a ring members, plug connection elementsi o.f the energy saving
means 14 may be cast tctally or in part i:, sheathing material, such
as resin, in order to meet the requirements of humid space
environments.
An esseatiaJ. advantage of the ?rranaement according to fig. 2
i5 resides in the fact that different energy saving means may be
plugged into o built-in compensation adapter, depending on the
electric power of the fluorescent lamp I. The TS fluorescent lamps
have 3 uniform outward configuration, especially as regards the
length and diameter of the discharge tube, yet they may differ as to
their eJ.ectric power. The embodiment according to fig. 2 offers the
oppcrtunity to mounr_ the various TS lamps, irrespective of their
particular electric power, in a lamp bracket of con~~entional design
by meana of a star:dardized compensation adapter. In accordance with
the electric power which, fox instance, may be 35 W, 54 w, or BO W,
an energy saving module tuned to the particular electric power is
plugged on subsequently.
When a modern T5 fluorescent lamp is utilized by means of an
arrangement as shown in fig. 2 in a conventional lamp bracket it is
advantageous to switch on the fluorescent lamp 1 upon ignition by a
hot start. In the i.J.lustration of fig. 3 a first compensation
adapter 4 is provided su~~h as represented in figs. 2 and 3. A second
compensation adapter 30 is provided at the other end face of the
fluorescent lamp. It is designed like the first cor.:pensation adapter
4, including female term.i.naJ.s 31, 32 to acr_ommodate the contact reins
33, 34 ~9isposed at the other end o.f the ~luor2scent lamp 1 and plug
1.-_~~_=~D3 .?: 1~ D 9~ .. P. ~5
CA 02439033 2003-08-20
pins 36, 37 for mechanical and electrical connec:ion in cont,ct
ele_nerts 37, 3p of the second lamp bracket 39 belonging to the
con~.,ention3l lamp socket and located opposite the lamp bracket 5.
As shourn in fig. 3, the plug pins 2, 3 and 33, 34, respectively, a.ce
co:~nect~d to a respective incandescent filament 40, 41. The
incandescent filaments 91, 42 are used for preheating the gas/gas
min;~ure inside the discharge space 42 of the fluorescent lamp 1
prior to st.arr_ing the fluorescent lamp 1. when ,p=eheating should
bAgin a light emitting m ans 93 emits a light signal to make sure
1G the gas is preheated simultaneously at both ends_ To emit the light
signal., the light emitting means 43 receives a pulse which may be
generated by the components of the energy saving means 19. The light
signal emitted is received by a photosensitive means 44. As a con-
sequence of the receipt of the light signal, preheating of the
incandescent filament 40 is carried out simultaneously with that of
the incand~soent filament 41. The light signals transmitted make
sure that preheating of the gas is effected simultaneously at bor_h
incandescent filaments 40, 41 prior to the start of the fluorescent
lam: 1.
The light emitting means 43, for instance, is a pl~.otodiode,
especially .~.n infrared photodiode. The light emitting means 44
should emit light of a wavelength which differs from the wavelength
of the light cahi~:h is radiated .after ignition of the gas in the
discharge space 36. As regards sensititrity, the photosensitive means
39 is tuned r_o the Light radiated by the light emitting means.
Fig. 4 shows another embodiment. In this embodiment a reflector 95
extends between the t:ao compensation adapters 4, 30. The reflector
45 hire is connected at the ends to the respective r_ompensation
adapters 9. 30 and, in the embodiment shown, it comprises an
electric linQ 96 at its rear remote from the fluorescent lamp 1 to
effect signal transmission from the first conpensa.tion adapter 4 to
the second compensation adapter 30. This is to be seen as an
alnerna~ive embodiment to the light ~mittina and photosensitive
means 33, 34 illustrated in fig. 3. Contrary to the embodiment shown
in fig. 3, the embodiment according to fig. 4 is to be preferred
_.,-~1F-,'-?~ll~= 1?:1~ ~' P~. P. arm
CA 02439033 2003-08-20
- 10 -
when the fluorescent la.m.p is operated in an en~rircnment where
particles, such as dust or drops of moisture are contained in. the
air that render the optical transmission oz signals difficult and
affect light ~=ransmitting surfaces.
Fig. 5, finally, illustrates an embodiment of a compensation adapter
30 which comprises suitable sealing measures to guarantee trouble-
yree operation in a humid space environment. This embodiment,
comprises a receptacle 47 surreun~ding the fluorescent lamp 1 and a
seal,;ng ring 48 which is pasiticned bet~~reen the latter and the inner
i3 circumferential surface cf the receptacle 47, In this manner moist
air is prevented from entering the c~ntac~t zoZe between the ccntact
pins _'~3, 34 and the ~emale terminals 3i, 32. A sealing sleeve 49
cooperating with the outer circumferential surface oz the
compensation adapter 30 seals the contact zone between the contact
15 elements 3~, 3B and the plug pins 35, 36 from ambient air. This
sealing sleeve 49 is ma~;able in axial direction, based on the longi-
tudinal axis of the fluorescent lamp 1, and may be displaced in per
se known manner along the letup bracket 39. Once the fluorescent lamp
1 ~.aith '.he two compensation adapters 4, 30 has been introduced into
20 the respecti~.re lamp brackets 5, 39 the sealing s"peeves 49 are pushed
toward each ether from the ends. hereby, the front end of tha
respecti~fe sealing sleetes 49 comes to abut against the cuter
circum~exantial surface of the ccmpensation adapters 4, 30. Finally
the s~.3ling sleeve 49 is fi;;ed with respect tc the lamp brar_ket 4,
25 39.
The Features of the invention disclosed in the specification above
and in the drawings m.ay be of significance for implementing the
invention in its various embodiments, both individually aa~d in any
combination.
1..-08-?~t3~ I?: I3 D ~~?'; P.3~
CA 02439033 2003-08-20
Fluorronic GmbH
F6CQ34FCT (P)
List o~ reference numerals
1 ~-uorES~-enr lamp
J z COnt?Ct pin
3 cor,r.act pin
4 Fist CCmpenSatiOn adapter
ia.mp bracket
6 female termina'_
7.0 7 f~=~nal.e term-aal
pl,~g pin
9 plug gin
contact ~lem.ent
?7. co~,tact element
1J 17 C~nt~rt
~3 contact
7.z ener3y sa~fi.ng means
i5 contzct
i6~ bn~~r.
i6b b~.or_1C
16c block
pJ.ug pin recrptac7.e
2i plug pin r~~earaCl~
plug pin re~entacle
i5 2. plug pin
plug pin
p_ug pin
second r_ampensatior. adapt=
?1 female ~_ex'minal
3G ~C female terminal
1J-DB-?~3t7~ 1?~1~ t7 91'; P.~i47
CA 02439033 2003-08-20
-
3' tOril:a~~~. yin
~4 C7nr?=t D1n
35 plwg din
~6 plug pin
.7 cc:utar_r_ element
36 ccntar_t element
?. lar,p hracY.et
4C incano=scenC fi.J.ument
41 ir.can~iesCent
filament
~,2 dis=harge space
u3 light ~mitr_ing
means
44 nhctesens~.ti~~e
means
45 refie:tor
45 electric 1? r.e
1S 4~ receptacle
43 sea
43 sealinc sled.;~
=~-G1B-2~7t'1? 12~ 1~ ~ ~?':: P.41
