Heat transfer assembly for a fluorescent lamp and fixture
AssigneeThe Regents of the University of California
InventorsMichael J. Siminovitch, Francis M. Rubenstein, Richard E. Whitman
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Abstract
In a lighting fixture including a lamp and a housing, a heat transfer structure is disclosed for reducing the minimum lamp wall temperature of a fluorescent light bulb. The heat transfer structure, constructed of thermally conductive material, extends from inside the housing to outside the housing, transferring heat energy generated from a fluorescent light bulb to outside the housing where the heat energy is dissipated to the ambient air outside the housing. Also disclosed is a method for reducing minimum lamp wall temperatures. Further disclosed is an improved lighting fixture including a lamp, a housing and the aforementioned heat transfer structure.
Claims21
An apparatus for improving the light output and efficiency of a fluorescent light bulb housed within a housing having a light opening comprising:
- a heat transfer structure independent of said housing, for transferring heat energy generated from said fluorescent light bulb through said heat transfer structure to outside said housing where said heat energy is dissipated into the surrounds.
In a compact fluorescent light fixture including a compact fluorescent light bulb housed within a housing, an improvement for maintaining a lower minimum lamp wall temperature of said compact fluorescent light fixture, wherein the improvement comprises:
- a heat transfer structure independent of said housing, for transferring heat energy generated from said fluorescent light bulb through said heat transfer structure to outside said housing where said heat energy is dissipated into the surrounds.
In a tube fluorescent light fixture including a tube fluorescent light bulb housed within a housing, an improvement for maintaining a lower minimum lamp wall temperature of said tube fluorescent light fixture, wherein the improvement comprises:
- a heat transfer structure extending from inside said housing to outside said housing;
- and
- heat transfer means, independent of said housing, for transferring heat energy generated from said fluorescent light bulb through said heat transfer structure to outside said housing where said heat energy is dissipated into ambient air outside said housing.
A method for improving the light output and efficacy of a fluorescent light bulb housed within a housing having a light opening comprising:
- transferring heat energy generated by said compact fluorescent light bulb primarily by conduction from a surface area of said bulb to outside said housing;
- and thereafter
- dissipating said transferred heat energy to the surrounds from a larger surface area.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.