Abstract: A compact fluorescent lamp comprises a discharge tube arrangement with at least one discharge tube. The tube is formed of glass, encloses a discharge volume filled with a discharge gas and has a fluorescent phosphor coating disposed on the inner surface of the tube. The tube forms a continuous arc path and is provided with electrodes disposed at each end of the arc path. The lamp also comprises a ballast circuit connected to the electrodes by lead-in wires and to a supply voltage by lead-out wires for controlling the current in the tube. A bulb shaped outer envelope has a substantially spherical portion enclosing the tube arrangement and an elongated end portion enclosing the ballast circuit. The end portion of the outer envelope having an open end on a base side is closed and terminated by a closing means of the same material as the outer envelope. The closing means is provided with a tubular opening.

Abstract: This compact fluorescent lamp comprises a discharge tube arrangement with at least one discharge tube. The tube is formed of glass, encloses a discharge volume filled with a discharge gas and has a fluorescent phosphor coating disposed on the inner surface of the tube. The tube forms a continuous arc path and the tube is provided with electrodes disposed at each end of the arc path. The lamp also comprises a ballast circuit connected to the electrodes for controlling the current in the tube and a lamp base for connecting said lamp to a power supply through a socket. The lamp is enclosed in an outer envelope comprising a substantially spherical portion enclosing the tube arrangement and an elongated end portion enclosing the ballast circuit. The end portion of the outer envelope is closed and sealed by a sealing means of the same material as the material of the outer envelope. The sealing means is connected to the envelope in a hermetically sealing way.

Abstract: There is provided a low pressure discharge lamp, which comprises a discharge tube, a lamp base holding the discharge tube, and a base cap (6) for covering the lamp base. The base cap (6) also provides mechanical support to the discharge tube. The base cap (6) comprises tube openings (10) for receiving end parts of the discharge tube. The base cap (6) further comprises an adhesive space (14) adjacent to a tube opening (10), the adhesive space containing an amount of adhesive. The adhesive space (14) is open toward the discharge tube. The adhesive contained in the adhesive space (14) adheres to an end part of the discharge tube and thereby fixes the discharge tube to the base cap (6). The base cap comprises at least one upper transversal member (31) and at least one lower transversal member (32). The transversal members (31,32) extend substantially in a plane parallel to a plane of the tube opening (10) adjacent to the adhesive space (14).

Abstract: There is provided a low pressure discharge lamp, which comprises a discharge tube, a lamp base holding the discharge tube, and a base cap (6) for covering the lamp base. The base cap (6) also provides mechanical support to the discharge tube. The base cap (6) comprises tube openings (10) for receiving end parts of the discharge tube. The base cap (6) further comprises an adhesive space (14) adjacent to a tube opening (10), the adhesive space containing an amount of adhesive. The adhesive space (14) is open toward the discharge tube. The adhesive contained in the adhesive space (14) adheres to an end part of the discharge tube and thereby fixes the discharge tube to the base cap (6). The base cap comprises at least one upper transversal member (31) and at least one lower transversal member (32). The transversal members (31,32) extend substantially in a plane parallel to a plane of the tube opening (10) adjacent to the adhesive space (14).

Abstract: This invention concerns a compact fluorescent lamp with a double helix shaped discharge tube in which the two strands of the helix are constituted by two helix shaped tube portions. These tube portions define a central axis of the discharge tube. The double helix formed by the discharge tube has a central section and a first end section. These sections are defined along the central axis, and the lamp base for receiving ends of the tube portions is disposed at the first end section. An inner diameter of the central section of the helix is larger than an inner diameter of the first end section. The invention further relates to a method and apparatus for manufacturing coiled shaped discharge tubes, in particular the above described discharge tube of the discharge lamp. A radially segmented molding core is used for manufacturing the discharge tube.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a low-pressure discharge lamp (1) including a discharge tube (20) and a base (5) providing for mechanical and electrical connection of the discharge lamp (1). The discharge tube (20) sealed in a gas-tight manner at its both ends is bent substantially in one plane so that the discharge tube (20) has straight (2) and arc-shaped portions (3), and the base (5) connected to the ends of the discharge tube (20) includes at least cathode leads of the discharge tube (20) and electrical connectors (15) connected to said leads. At least one component ensuring mechanical connection to a lampholder is formed on the base (5). The components of the discharge lamp (1) ensuring mechanical connection to the lampholder (16) are placed in a space bordered by the discharge tube (20). A lampholder (16) of the discharge lamp (1) includes components ensuring electrical and mechanical connection to the discharge lamp (1).

Abstract: A low pressure arc discharge lamp with an end-of-life structure is described. The lamp has a discharge tube with sealed ends, and the sealed ends contain a filament for forming a discharge arc. The filament is supported by lead-in wires. The discharge lamp further comprises a connecting element made of an insulating material which transversely connects the lead-in wires within the discharge tube. The transverse dimension of the connecting element is chosen so as not to allow the discharge arc beyond the connecting element upon end-of-life of the discharge lamp.

Abstract: A fluorescent lamp comprises a discharge tube disposed substantially in a plane and shaped at least in part to define a substantial portion of the boundary of a zone in the plane. The part of the tube defining the boundary includes at least one straight portion. The discharge tube has a central axis and sealed ends provided with electrodes and at least two tube sections running substantially parallel to each other. Each tube section has at least one blind-sealed end and the tube sections are connected in series through bridges in the vicinity of the blind-sealed ends to define a single continuous discharge space to be excited by electrical power supplied to the electrodes. A lamp support housing is positioned within the zone and the ends of the discharge tube as well as the blind-sealed ends of the tube sections are re-entrant into the zone. The ends of the discharge tube are received in the lamp support housing.

Abstract: An electrode-to-ballast interconnect is provided in combination with a fluorescent lamp including a discharge tube bent substantially in a plane. The discharge tube is shaped at least in part to define a substantial portion of the boundary of a zone in the plane. The part of the tube defining the boundary includes at least one straight portion. The discharge tube has a symmetry axis in the plane and sealed tube ends provided with electrodes, and the tube ends re-enter said zone. A base housing is laid within said zone and receives the tube ends. The base housing includes a ballast circuit which is located at least partly on a circuit board positioned substantially parallel to the plane. The electrode-to-ballast interconnect comprises electrode-in-leads which are connected to each electrode and embedded in the tube ends. Terminals are anchored in and protruding from the circuit board. The electrode-in-leads are pre-formed to a shape suitable for connecting to the terminals.

Abstract: A low pressure arc discharge lamp with an end-of-life structure is disclosed. The lamp has a discharge tube with sealed ends, and the sealed ends contain a filament for forming a discharge arc. The filament is supported by lead-in wires. The discharge lamp further comprises a connecting element made of an insulating material which transversally connects the lead-in wires within the discharge tube. The transversal dimension of the connecting element is chosen so as not to allow the discharge arc beyond the connecting element upon end-of-life of the discharge lamp.

Abstract: This invention concerns a compact fluorescent lamp with a double helix shaped discharge tube in which the two strands of the helix are constituted by two helix shaped tube portions. These tube portions define a central axis of the discharge tube. The double helix formed by the discharge tube has a central section and a first end section. These sections are defined along the central axis, and the lamp base for receiving ends of the tube portions is disposed at the first end section. An inner diameter of the central section of the helix is larger than an inner diameter of the first end section. The invention further relates to a method and apparatus for manufacturing coiled shaped discharge tubes, in particular the above described discharge tube of the discharge lamp. A radially segmented molding core is used for manufacturing the discharge tube.

Abstract: A compact fluorescent lamp comprises at least one discharge tube (2) convoluted to have discharge tube legs substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis. At least two of the discharge tube legs include lead-in-wires (6). The lamp also comprises a plastic cap (4) which is a hollow body defined by a cover wall (42) receiving the discharge tube legs through holes (26) formed therein and a side wall (44). A bonding material is applied between the discharge tube legs and an inside portion of the cover wall (42) of the plastic cap (4). The bonding material requires a heat treatment for setting. A ballast circuitry is located at least partly on a circuit board (22). A plastic insert piece (12) is disposed in the plastic cap for holding the circuit board (22) substantially perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis at a distance from the discharge tube legs. The lamp further comprises a base housing (28) which includes a base shell (30) and connects to the side wall (44) of the plastic cap (4).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a low-pressure discharge lamp (1) including a discharge tube (20) and a base (5) providing for mechanical and electrical connection of the discharge lamp (1). The discharge tube (20) sealed in a gas-tight manner at its both ends is bent substantially in one plane so that the discharge tube (20) has straight (2) and arc-shaped portions (3), and the base (5) connected to the ends of the discharge tube (20) includes at least cathode leads of the discharge tube (20) and electrical connectors (15) connected to said leads. At least one component ensuring mechanical connection to a lampholder is formed on the base (5). The components of the discharge lamp (1) ensuring mechanical connection to the lampholder (16) are placed in a space bordered by the discharge tube (20).

Abstract: The present invention provides a plastic cap (10) for fixing a glass body of a discharge tube of a compact fluorescent lamp in prescribed position by an adhesive material. The plastic cap is suitable for being fixed firmly to a housing of a fluorescent lamp base, and has a front plate (12) closing the inner space of the hollow housing or a part of the hollow housing of the fluorescent lamp base towards the discharge tube. As surface portions positioning the tube ends (34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44) of the glass body of the discharge tube and fixing particular tube ends (38) firmly by an adhesive joint, seats (14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28) with closed walls at least partly without perforations are indented into the front plate (12) of the cap (10).

Abstract: The invention relates to a base for compact fluorescent lamp comprising a body and a cap which are fixed to each other along an outside connection surface, a discharge tube is fixed in the cap and metal pins ensuring a releasable electrical contact are fixed in the body Electrode inleads of the discharge tube are connected to the metal pins, and a connection hollow ensuring an also releasable mechanical joint is formed in the body Extensions as elongations of the wall of the connection hollow are formed inside the base where at least one opening is formed in the extensions and some of the electrode inleads are connected to the metal pins through the opening. Another aspect of the invention is that the extensions are formed inside the base as an elongation of the wall of the connection hollow, and some of the electrode inleads are passed through between the extensions and then are connected to the metal pins.

Abstract: The invention relates to a single-ended discharge lamp the light source of which is a discharge tube consisting of at least two tube legs, the said single-ended discharge lamp has a cap part for mechanical and electrical connection to a lampholder, the cap part is, on its side being closer to the discharge tubes, bordered by a separator wall separating it from the space of the light source. According to the invention, cavities (24) accepting the ends of the tube legs are formed in the separator wall (20), and openings (26) for passing inleads are formed at the bottom of the cavities (24) at the places of current feedthroughs.

Abstract: This invention relates to compact fluorescent lamps, and, more particularly, to the construction of connections inside the compact fluorescent lamp. The compact fluorescent lamp has a base (24), the base is connected to a housing (26) including a ballast circuit (18). The housing (26) is separated from the fluorescent tube (28) by a cap (20) on the side of the housing opposite to the base (24) and current feedthrough wires (2, 4) protrude from the fluorescent tube (28) inside the housing (26). The electrical connections between the current feedthrough wires (2, 4) and the lead-out wires (3, 5) of the ballast circuit and/or the junction lead-out wires of the base (24) are made by welding the corresponding wires together through metal connection elements (14).

Abstract: Plastic housing and screw base construction for compact fluorescent lamps and electrical operating units thereof comprising a base (2) including a metal screw base shell (20) with a thread-free opening portion (22) and a plastic housing (1). The plastic housing (1) has a neck part (10) which is a body of rotation with central axis (O). The neck part comprises a cylindrical or slightly conical mantle portion (12), which starts from a stop shoulder (11), and a shell (13) which connects to the mantle portion (12) and which has an open end and diameters decreasing in at least one step. The base (2) is pushed over and fixed to the neck part (10) of the plastic housing (1). A lead wire (3) is passed through from the inner space of the plastic housing (1) between the thread-free opening portion (22) of the base shell (20) and the mantle portion (12) of the neck part (10). A rib (14), which protrudes in and has a front surface (15) perpendicular to radial direction, is formed on the mantle portion (12).

Abstract: Lamp base contact plate for connecting a current lead-in wire of an electric lamp to a contact part of a lampholder, which contact plate being a pressed metal part of the lamp base and having a through bore for the lamp lead-in wire, is fixed firmly on an electrically insulating insert closing the end of a shell of the lamp base. The through bore for the lamp lead-in wire is formed as a first perforated bore (12) with torn skirt (20) protruding from the plane (L) of the contact plate (10) in a direction away from the insulator insert (30), and the contact plate (10), in addition to this first perforated bore (12), also includes at least two further perforated bores (14, 16, 18), each having a torn skirt (22, 24, 26) protruding from the plane (L) of the contact plate (10) in a direction opposite to the direction of the torn skirt (20) of the first perforated bore (12), towards the insulator insert (30).

Abstract: The invention relates to a single-ended discharge lamp comprising a discharge tube, inleads connected to the electrodes of the discharge tube and embedded in the sealed portions thereof, a connection member connected to the inleads directly or through an adapter circuit and suitable for connecting the discharge lamp to a power supply, and a housing having a shell supporting the discharge tube as well as a cap mounted on the connection member.At least one primary inlead support member (23) and at least one secondary inlead support member (24) is provided on the inner side of the shell (21), each of the inlead support members (23, 24) has at least one fixing member (23a, 24a) for clamping the inleads (16, 17, 18, 19) and at least some of the inleads are clamped in the fixing member(s) (23a) of the primary inlead support member(s) (23) and some but not all of the inleads are clamped in the fixing member(s) (24a) of the secondary inlead support member(s) (24).