INTEGRAL MERCURY-VAPOR PRESSURE-REGULATING MEANS IN CONVOLUTED TRIDIMENSIONAL FLUORESCENT LAMP

摘要

41ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSUREA fluorescent lamp having a multi-U-bent tubularenvelope of convoluted configuration is combined withcircuit means, a translucent protective cover and a basemodule to provide an efficient lamp unit of high bright-ness and long life that is compact enough to be used as areplacement for incandescent lamps in fixtures designedfor residential and commercial lighting installations.Various spatial arrangements for including the ballast andstarter components of the energizing circuit as integralparts of the compact lamp unit, despite the stringentspace limitations, and also venting the cover and basemodule to provide convection cooling of the convolutedfluorescent lamp and the other electrical components arealso disclosed. Tubulations provided on U-bent portionsof the lamp envelope serve as phosphor-drainage meansduring lamp manufacture and are subsequently tipped off toform mercury-condensation chambers within the finishedlamp that regulate the mercury-vapor pressure during lampoperation. The vapor-pressure regulating tubulations areso located relative to the vent openings in the lamp unitthat they are exposed in the cool air which circulatesthrough the lamp unit when the latter is energized and inuse.