Ballast apparatus for starting and operating arc lamps

Claim 2

A ballast apparatus for starting and operating at least one arc lamp from an alternating current source, said ballast apparatus including: a. a full wave rectifying means having an alternating current input and a direct current output; b. a reactive ballasting device; a power supply circuit for connecting said alternating current input of said rectifying means and said reactive ballasting device in series circuit relation across an alternating current source; c. an alternating current filter circuit connected across said direct current output of said rectifying means; d. a lamp supply circuit for connecting said rectifying means and filter circuit to lamp connection terminals for at least one arc lamp, said lamp supply circuit including direct current choke means for limiting current flow from said filter circuit to said lamp connection terminals upon the striking of an arc in the at least one arc lamp; e. an intermediate circuit connected to said lamp supply circuit, said intermediate circuit providing a high voltage, low electric energy level as compared with the output of said rectifying means and filter circuit; and f. a lamp starting circuit coupled with the lamp supply circuit for introducing an electric energy pulse to strike an arc in the at least one arc lamp.

Claim 3

A ballast apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said intermediate circuit includes an autotransformer; the primary of said autotransformer being connected in series with said reactive ballasting device; the secondary of said autotransformer being connected to a low capacitive value capacitance.

Claim 4

A ballast apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said lamp starting circuit includes an autotransformer having a primary and a secondary, connected in said lamp operating circuit, and a start capacitance and switch means connected in a loop with said primary of said autotransformer for providing a pulse of electric energy to said primary of said autotransformer.

Claim 5

A ballast apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein said switch means completes the said loop through said start capacitance and said autotransformer primary upon the charge on said start capacitance reaching a predetermined level and interrupts said loop upon substantial dissipation of energy from said start capacitance.

Claim 6

A ballast apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein said switch means is a spark gap device.

Claim 7

A ballast apparatus for starting and operating at least one direct current arc lamp from a source of alternating current electric energy, comprising: a. main input terminals for connection to a source of alternating current electric energy; b. full wave rectifying means having a pair of rectifier input terminals and a pair of rectifier output terminals; c. a ballasting reactor, said rectifier input terminals and said ballasting reactor being connected in series across said main input terminals; d. an alternating current filter circuit connected across said rectifier output terminals sO that a filtered, direct current signal will appear at said rectifier output terminals; e. a pair of lamp supply terminals for connection to at least one direct current arc lamp; f. a lamp supply circuit including a choke coil and a first autotransformer connected in series relationship between one of said rectifier output terminals and one of said lamp supply terminals, the other of said rectifier output terminals and the other of said lamp terminals being electrically connected; g. a second autotransformer; the primary of said second autotransformer being connected in series relationship with said ballasting reactor across said main input terminals; the secondary of said second autotransformer being connected to said lamp supply circuit between said choke coil and said first autotransformer; a low capacitive value capacitance connected in said lamp supply circuit on one side between said choke coil and said first autotransformer and on the other side to said other lamp supply terminal to provide a low energy signal having a voltage substantially in excess of that of the signal appearing at said rectifier output terminals; and h. a start capacitance and switch means connected in a loop with said primary of said first autotransformer for providing a pulse of electric energy to said primary of said first autotransformer to strike an arc in the at least one direct current arc lamp.

Claim 8

A ballast apparatus for starting and operating at least one direct current arc lamp from a source of alternating current electric energy, comprising: a. main input terminals for connection to a source of alternating current electric energy; b. full wave rectifying means having a pair of rectifier input terminals and a pair of rectifier output terminals; c. a ballasting reactor, said rectifier input terminals and said ballasting reactor being connected in series across said main input terminals; d. an alternating current filter circuit connected across said rectifier output terminals sO that a filtered, direct current signal will appear at said rectifier output terminals; e. a pair of lamp supply terminals for connection to at least one direct current arc lamp; f. a lamp supply circuit including a choke coil and a first autotransformer connected in series relationship between one of said rectifier output terminals and one of said lamp supply terminals, the other of said rectifier output terminals and the other of said lamp terminals being electrically connected; g. a second autotransformer; the primary of said second autotransformer being connected in series relationship with said ballasting reactor across said main input terminals; the secondary of said second autotransformer being connected to said lamp supply circuit between said choke coil and said first autotransformer; a low capacitive value capacitance connected in said lamp supply circuit on one side between said choke coil and said first autotransformer and on the other side to said other lamp supply terminal to provide a low energy signal having a voltage substantially in excess of that of the signal appearing at said rectifier output terminals; and h. a start capacitance and switch means connected in a loop with said primary of said first autotransformer for providing a pulse of electric energy to said primary of said first autotransformer to strike an arc in the at least one direct current arc lamp.

Claim 9

A ballast apparatus as set foth in claim 6 wherein said switch means completes said loop through said start capacitance and said first autotransformer primary upon the charge on said start capacitance reaching a predetermined level and interrupts said loop substantial dissipation of energy from said start capacitance.

Claim 10

A ballast apparatus as set forth in claim 7 wherein said switch means is a spark gap device.

Claim 11

A ballast apparatus for starting and operating at least one arc lamp from an alternating current source, said ballast apparatus including: a. main input terminals for connection to a source of alternating current electric energy; b. full wave rectifying means having a pair of rectifier input terminals and a pair of rectifier output terminals; c. first inductive means coupling said rectifier input terminals to said main supply terminals; d. an alternating current filter means connected across said rectifier output terminals; e. a pair of lamp supply terminals for connection to at least one arc lamp; f. a lamp supply connecting said rectifier output terminals to said lamp supply terminals; g. a low capacitive value capacitance connected in said lamp supply circuit; circuit means, including second inductive means, coupling said capacitance to said main supply terminals for charging said capacitance to a voltage level in excess of that appearing at said rectifier output terminals; and h. a lamp starting circuit coupled with the lamp supply circuit for introducing an electric energy pulse to strike an arc in the at least one arc lamp.

Claim 12

A ballast apparatus for starting and operating at least one arc lamp from an alternating current source, said ballast apparatus including: a. main input terminals for connection to a source of alternating current electric energy; b. full wave rectifying means having a pair of rectifier input terminals and a pair of rectifier output terminals; c. first inductive means coupling said rectifier input terminals to said main supply terminals; d. an alternating current filter means connected across said rectifier output terminals; e. a pair of lamp supply terminals for connection to at least one arc lamp; f. a lamp supply connecting said rectifier output terminals to said lamp supply terminals; g. a low capacitive value capacitance connected in said lamp supply circuit; circuit means, including second inductive means, coupling said capacitance to said main supply terminals for charging said capacitance to a voltage level in excess of that appearing at said rectifier output terminals; and h. a lamp starting circuit coupled with the lamp supply circuit for introducing an electric energy pulse to strike an arc in the at least one arc lamp.