Compact fluorescent lamp unit for three-way fluorescent lamp fixture

• US 4,348,612 A
• Filed: 02/06/1981
• Issued: 09/07/1982
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/1981
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Philips Electronicsnorth America Corporation (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Company LLC (Brookfield Asset Management Incorporated)
• Inventors: Morton, Edward W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dixon, Harold A.
• Application Number:
  US06/232,286
• Time in Patent Office: 578 Days
• Field of Search: 315/362, 315/58, 315/71, 315/72
• US Class Current: 315/58
• CPC Class Codes: H01J 61/56 One or more circuit elements structurally associated with the lamp
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 41/40 discontinuously
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/00 Energy efficient lighting technologies, e.g. halogen lamps or gas discharge lamps

Abstract

A compact fluorescent lamp unit for use with a three-way incandescent-type lamp fixture. The compact fluorescent lamp unit includes a compact fluorescent discharge device of predetermined configuration, a ballast inductor and two capacitors, and housing and support means for supporting the discharge device and housing the ballast inductor. When the switch of the incandescent-type lamp fixture is switched the compact fluorescent discharge device is switched, successively, from a deenergized state; to a low-light output state; to a medium-light output state; and, finally, to a high-light output state.

Claims

1. A compact fluorescent lamp unit for use with a three-way incandescent-lamp fixture, said fixture including an incandescent-lamp type socket comprising a generally cylindrical metallic screw-type socket member which forms a first metallic conductive member, second and third metallic conductive members mounted in the bottom portion of said socket, and a four-position switching means including first and second contacts, said switching means has a first open position, a second position in which potential is applied between said first and second metallic conductive members, a third position in which potential is applied between said first and third metallic conductive members and a fourth position in which potential is applied between said first and second metallic conductive members and said first and third metallic conductive members, and electrical conductor means adapted to connect said socket to a source of energizing potential, said compact fluorescent lamp unit comprising:

a compact fluorescent discharge device comprising an elongated vitreous bulb of predetermined configuration defining an elongated circuitous discharge path and enclosing a discharge-sustaining filling comprising mercury and inert gas and having electrodes operatively disposed proximate the ends of said defined discharge path, end cap means hermetically sealed to the ends of said bulb, each of said electrodes having lead-in members affixed to the ends thereof and sealed through said end cap means, housing and support means having an upper and a lower portion, the upper portion of said housing and support means supporting said bulb in a rigidly fixed position, the lower portion of said housing and support means having affixed thereto a screw-type base comprising a metallic shell, a glass plug affixed to the bottom portion of said metallic shell, said glass plug securing a portion of a conductive center eyelet member to fix said center eyelet member in predetermined position such that when said lamp unit is screwed into said socket, said eyelet electrically contacts said third metallic conductive member, a conductive ring member affixed to said glass plug in predetermined position and encircling said conductive center eyelet member in electrical isolation from it, said conductive ring member positioned such that when said lamp unit is screwed into said socket said ring member electrically contacts said second metallic conductive member, a ballast inductor having at least a portion thereof supported by said housing and support means, one end of said ballast inductor connected in circuit with a common electrical point and the other end of said ballast inductor connected in circuit with one of said lead-in members of a first of said electrodes, capacitive energy storage means comprising two individual capacitors, the first of said capacitors connected in circuit between said common electrical point and said second metallic conductive member, the second of said capacitors connected in circuit between said common electrical point and said third metallic conductive member, one of said lead-in members of a second of said electrodes connected in circuit with said metallic shell, the other of the lead-in members of said first and second electrodes connected in circuit with a starting means, whereby in said first switch position said ballast inductor is deenergized and said lamp unit is off;

in said second switch position said first capacitor and said ballast inductor are energized and said lamp unit is in a low-light output state;

in said third switch position said second capacitor and said ballast inductor are energized and said lamp unit is in a medium-light output state; and

, in said fourth switch position both said first and second capacitors and said ballast conductor are energized and said lamp unit is in a high-light output state.