Compact fluorescent lamp unit having segregated air-cooling means

• Main Author: BEDEL; DENIS E
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 05.03.1985
• Edition: 3
• Subjects: BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS; BLASTING; CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS,e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USERAPPLICATIONS; ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS; ELECTRICITY; FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMSTHEREOF; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; HEATING; LIGHTING; MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHERARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; SYSTEMS THEREOF; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS; TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINSTCLIMATE CHANGE; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLEEXTERIORS; WEAPONS

Convection air-cooling of a compact electric discharge lamp unit that is adapted for use as a screw-in energy-conserving substitute for an incandescent-type lamp bulb is enhanced by partitioning the lamp housing into two separate compartments and providing vents and connecting air passageways that direct ambient air through the respective housing compartments along two different paths-thereby cooling the compartments independently of one another. A light source (such as a convoluted low-pressure discharge lamp) is located within one of the compartments and an electrical circuit for energizing the lamp is located in the other compartment. The "segregated air-flow" mode of cooling prevents heat that is generated by the lamp from being introduced into the compartment that contains the electrical circuit and thus prevents the circuit components from becoming overheated and possibly damaged. This is an important advantage in the case of solid-state type electronic circuits that include components such as electrolytic capacitors and transistors or the like that are heat-sensitive and may fail if they become too hot. In a preferred embodiment the light source comprises a replaceable plug-in fluorescent lamp of triple-U-bent configuration that has a plastic base member with tongue-and-groove elements which permit the fluorescent lamp to be snap-locked into operative relationship with the partition and circuit components of the lamp housing.