US3872350A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Ballast having integral time delay relay
Assignee: General Electric Co
•
Filing: 1973-03-20
•
Granted: 1975-03-18
•
Expires: 1993-03-20
Abstract
Abstract A ballast for starting and operating gaseous discharge lamps having spaced apart electrodes. The ballast includes an elongated casing and a transformer received in the casing. The transformer has a primary winding and a secondary winding inductively coupled to the primary winding. There is input circuitry for connecting the primary winding to a source of electrical energy and output circuitry for connecting at least the secondary winding to the gaseous discharge lamps. The transformer also includes electrode heating windings electrically coupled to the primary winding. These windings provide heating power for the electrodes of the gaseous discharge lamps. A time delay relay also is received in the casing and includes a heater and a switch. The heater is electrically connected to one of the electrode heating windings for energization when the primary winding is energized. The switch is connected in the output circuit for energization of the gaseous discharge lamps. the heater causes the switch to close and energize the gaseous discharge lamps only after a predetermined time has elapsed to allow sufficient heating of the lamp electrodes for them to reach their thermionic emission temperature. The heater and switch are connected in a three terminal network and the time delay relay includes a housing which is partially constructed of electrically conductive material. The housing forms one of the terminals of the network. A capacitor may also be included in the ballast casing and interconnected with the transformer. A potting material is received in the casing and substantially encapsulates the transformer, the time delay relay and the capacitor.
Inventors
- 👤 Walter F Powell
- 👤 Charles Grimshaw
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 06:17
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01F; H01F38/00; H01F38/08; H01F38/10; H01F27/00; H01F27/40; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S174/00; Y10S174/02; Y10S315/00; Y10S315/05
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
145 words
A ballast comprising: a casing at least partially filled with a potting material; a transformer received in said casing, said transformer including at least one auxiliary winding for providing low voltage electrical energy; at least one capacitor received in said casing; a time delay relay received in said casing; said time delay relay being connected to said at least one auxiliary winding for low voltage energization of said time delay relay when said transformer is energized; said time delay relay including a housing at least partially constructed of electrically conductive material, said relay housing being electrically insulated from other components of said ballast; said time delay relay being of the three terminal network type; and said relay housing forming one of the terminals of the three terminal network; said potting material substantially encapsulating said transformer, said at least one capacitor and said time delay relay.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
145 words
A ballast comprising: a casing at least partially filled with a potting material; a transformer received in said casing, said transformer including at least one auxiliary winding for providing low voltage electrical energy; at least one capacitor received in said casing; a time delay relay received in said casing; said time delay relay being connected to said at least one auxiliary winding for low voltage energization of said time delay relay when said transformer is energized; said time delay relay including a housing at least partially constructed of electrically conductive material, said relay housing being electrically insulated from other components of said ballast; said time delay relay being of the three terminal network type; and said relay housing forming one of the terminals of the three terminal network; said potting material substantially encapsulating said transformer, said at least one capacitor and said time delay relay.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
113 words
A ballast comprising: a casing at least partially filled with a potting material; a transformer received in said casing; at least one capacitor received in said casing; and a time delay relay received in said casing; said time delay relay including a heater and a normally-open switch connected in a three terminal network; said heater being connected to said transformer for energization of said heater for effecting closing of said switch after a predetermined delay; said transformer, said at least one capacitor and said switch interconnected for starting and operating at least one gaseous discharge lamp; said potting material substantially encapsulating said transformer, said at least one capacitor and said time delay relay.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
113 words
A ballast comprising: a casing at least partially filled with a potting material; a transformer received in said casing; at least one capacitor received in said casing; and a time delay relay received in said casing; said time delay relay including a heater and a normally-open switch connected in a three terminal network; said heater being connected to said transformer for energization of said heater for effecting closing of said switch after a predetermined delay; said transformer, said at least one capacitor and said switch interconnected for starting and operating at least one gaseous discharge lamp; said potting material substantially encapsulating said transformer, said at least one capacitor and said time delay relay.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
A ballast as set forth in claim 2 wherein: said time delay relay includes a housing at least partially constructed of electrically conductive material and said housing forms one of the terminals of the three terminal network.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
158 words
A ballast for starting and operating at least one gaseous discharge lamp having spaced apart electrodes; said ballast comprising: an elongated casing at least partially filled with a potting material; a transformer received in sAid casing, said transformer including a primary winding and a secondary winding inductively coupled therewith; input circuit means for connecting said primary winding to a source of electric energy; output circuit means for connecting at least said secondary winding to the at least one gaseous discharge lamp; said transformer also including auxiliary windings inductively coupled to said primary winding for providing heating power for the electrodes; a time delay relay received in said casing; said time delay relay including a heater electrically connected to one of said auxiliary windings for energization therefrom; said time delay relay also including a switch connected in said output circuit means, said switch normally being open and moving to a closed condition upon a predetermined energization of said heater.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
158 words
A ballast for starting and operating at least one gaseous discharge lamp having spaced apart electrodes; said ballast comprising: an elongated casing at least partially filled with a potting material; a transformer received in sAid casing, said transformer including a primary winding and a secondary winding inductively coupled therewith; input circuit means for connecting said primary winding to a source of electric energy; output circuit means for connecting at least said secondary winding to the at least one gaseous discharge lamp; said transformer also including auxiliary windings inductively coupled to said primary winding for providing heating power for the electrodes; a time delay relay received in said casing; said time delay relay including a heater electrically connected to one of said auxiliary windings for energization therefrom; said time delay relay also including a switch connected in said output circuit means, said switch normally being open and moving to a closed condition upon a predetermined energization of said heater.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
A ballast as set forth in claim 4 wherein: said switch and said heater are interconnected in a three terminal network.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
A ballast as set forth in claim 5 wherein: said time delay relay includes a housing at least partially constructed of electrically conductive material, and forming one terminal of the three terminal network.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-03-17 | 1978-09-16 | 1979-03-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-03-17 | 1982-09-16 | 1983-03-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-03-17 | 1986-09-16 | 1987-03-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |