Electric lamp and discharge devices: systems – Special application
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-24
2001-07-24
Vu, David (Department: 2821)
Electric lamp and discharge devices: systems
Special application
C315S363000, C362S190000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06265828
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a hand lamp which is powered electrically by a low-voltage battery, such as a vehicle battery, and which is of the kind defined in the hand lamp powered by a low-voltage battery.
A hand lamp of this kind will include an electric cable that has a fluorescent tube fitting at one end thereof, a battery connector means connected to the other end thereof, the cable including two conductors which are each provided with connector means for detachable connection to a respective terminal of the battery, and further includes fluorescent tube lamp, and an electronic HF lamp ignition means.
A hand lamp of this kind has the advantage of providing a high light yield or luminous efficiency in relation to energy consumption.
It is important to be able to minimize the energy consumed by a lamp in relation to a given luminous flux, particularly in the case of water-going vessels, such as motorboats, yachts, and also with respect to cars and the like, which, in practice, carry only a single source of current in the form of a low voltage battery (12 volt accumulator). In order to enable the light sources to be used comfortably, it will preferably be connected to the battery by means of a long cable that will allow the light source to be moved to a position located at a relatively long distance, from the battery.
It is known to use to this end a hand lamp whose light source consists of a low-energy bulb, for instance a halogen bulb of good efficiency that can be operated on battery voltage. However, as a result of the requisite length of the hand lamp, the power losses in the cable become problematic.
These losses can be alleviated by using heavy gauge cable conductors, although this renders the cable expensive and difficult to handle. It is also known to use a light source in the form of a compact fluorescent tube and to energize the tube with the aid of an ignition means fitted at each end of the cable. If the converter is placed at the battery end of the cable, the cable conductors will transmit high frequency noise, owing to the fact that the ignition means, or igniter, includes a high frequency converter. This means that at latest the cable must be screened along the whole of its length, causing the cable to become relatively heavy, clumsy and expensive. If the HF device is, instead, place in the proximity of the light source, the power loss in the cable will become problematic unless the cable conductors are given a heavy gauge, although this will again result in a cable which is heavy, difficult to handle and above all, expensive. The HF device located in the proximity of the light source will, of course, also generate a high frequency disturbance.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the present invention is to provide a hand lamp that can be connected to a low voltage battery and with which the aforesaid drawbacks are limited.
This object is achieved with an inventive hand lamp having the features set forth in the hand lamp comprising a cable having at one end a fitting for a fluorescent bulb, and at its other end a battery connection device for connecting both conductors of the respective battery terminals. An electronic HF ignition means is adapted for AC and DC mains voltages and is connected directly to the bulb. The battery connecting device comprises a terminal clip that includes a converter which converts the battery low-voltage to DC mains voltages. The converter is encapsulated in a radiation-impervious housing which forms on the one hand a high-frequency transformer component of the converter and, on the other hand, a converter cooling means.
Further embodiments of the lamp are set forth in the converter is encapsulated in one arm of the terminal clip. The one arm of the clip has a tubular leg in which the converter is accomodated. Also, the outer wall of the housing is formed by the tubular leg of the clip.
The invention is based on the commnercial availability of energy-lean bulbs (for instance, bulb of the type Osram Dulox EL). Which include a compact fluorescent tube having connected directly thereto a HF ignition means which is powered by an AC or a DC mains voltage (110-230 volts). The energy-lean bulb has a conventional connection bass (E14) and can be connected to a rotatable bulb holder provided at one end of the cable. In accordance with the invention, a known converter is built into the battery connection means of the battery. The converter being designed to convert 12 volts DC to 110-230 volts DC, such as to supply the cable with 230 volts DC. This enables the cable to be made relatively slender and flexible and also relatively long (for example, given of ca 100 m) without the occurrence of problematic power losses in the cable. The converter is screened in the battery connection means so as to generate no disturbing HF transmission that might otherwise disturb radio equipment in the vehicle. This obviates the need of screening the lamp cable. A converter of the kind in question that can convert 12 volts DC to 110-230 volts AC will preferably operate at a relatively high frequency, so that it can be given small dimensions. By giving the converter, and also a subsequently coupled smoothing unit, small dimensions there is afforded the additional advantage of enabling the converter and the smoothing device to be accommodated in a tubular leg of a terminal connection clip, wherewith one tubular leg of the terminal connection clip forms the main part of a screen housing in which the converter and smoothing device are enclosed and HF sealed. The clip leg will therewith also form cooling means for conducting away heat generated by the converter. The clip leg also forms a protective converter housing.
In summary, there is obtained a hand lamp having a long, thin flexible cable with small energy losses and with which there can be used a commercially available fluorescent bulb with associated ignition means, wherewith the battery-connecting end of the cable may include a converter which is housed in a battery connector clip that also forms an HF sealed protective casing for the converter. Because of the high luminous efficency of the light source, the lamp can be powered for long periods of time by low capacity, low-voltage current sources, for instance lead batteries, solar cell panels and the like.
Further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2230458 (1941-02-01), Hummert
patent: 3851166 (1974-11-01), Kohler
patent: 5012394 (1991-04-01), Woodward
patent: 4227629 (1994-02-01), None
Holman PLLC Jacobson
Vu David
LandOfFree
Hand lamp does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Hand lamp, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Hand lamp will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2480593