Compact fluorescent lamp fixture ventilation method and apparatus

A luminaire comprising:

• a housing, the housing containing compact fluorescent lamp ballasts;
• a ventilation passage formed in the housing;
• a compact fluorescent lamp chamber in communication with the ventilation passage, the lamp chamber connected to the housing and having a port in communication with the ventilation passage.

A compact fluorescent lamp luminaire having a housing and a compact fluorescent lamp chamber, the lamp chamber having a base end of first size and a light-emitting end of a second size larger than the first size with a center line extending from the center of the base end to the center of the light-emitting end of the lamp chamber, a lamp support located within the lamp chamber at the base end thereof for supporting a plurality of compact fluorescent lamps substantially equally angularly displaced about the center line within the lamp chamber between the base end and the light-emitting end thereof, the lamp support including at least two lamp support surfaces on the lamp support on opposite sides thereof and angled toward the base end of the lamp chamber for causing compact fluorescent lamps supported thereby to extend outwardly at an angle from the center line, the lighting apparatus further comprising:

• a ventilation passage extending from the lamp chamber to the housing, the ventilation passage originating at an aperture in the compact fluorescent lamp chamber and extending through an aperture in the housing.

The method of improving the efficiency of a compact fluorescent lamp luminaire wherein the luminaire includes a housing, a lamp support, and a lamp chamber comprising the acts of:

• providing a ventilation passage from the lamp support to the housing, the passage having a flow directing chimney defining a portion of the passage from the lamp support to the housing;
• providing a lamp chamber supported in place on the housing, the lamp chamber having a plurality of spaced apertures through the surface of the lamp chamber.

A compact fluorescent lamp fixture having multiple compact fluorescent lamps, the fixture comprising:

• a housing having a base and having an aperture in the base of the housing,
• a lamp chamber having a base end and a light emitting end,
• a ventilation passage extending from the base end of the lamp chamber to and through the aperture in the base of the housing.

A method of testing compact fluorescent lamp fixtures in a test room comprising the acts of:

• finding a location underneath the compact fluorescent fixture to measure light;
• marking the location;
• measuring light at the marked location.

A method of venting a lamp chamber of a compact fluorescent lamp fixture including the act of venting the lamp chamber through an aperture in a wall of the lamp chamber.

A method of venting a lamp chamber of a compact fluorescent lamp fixture, the lamp chamber having a top and the fixture including a ballast housing, including the act of providing an aperture in the top of the lamp chamber.