US1719288A - Radio tube socket - Google Patents

Description

July 2, 1929. l E, G, DANIELSQN 1,719,288

RADIO TUBE SOCKET Filed Nov. 25, 1925 FIE E line 1-1 of Fig. 2.

Patented July 2, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ERNEST G. DANIELsoN, OE sAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, AssIGNOR, RY mmm 5- sIGNMENTs, To GRAY a DANIELSON MFG. co., OE SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA A COPARTNERSIIIP ooNsIsriNe or THOMAS B. GRAY AND ERNEST e. DANIELSON RADIO TUBE SOCKET.

Application led November 23, 1925. Serial No. 70,741,

'lhe device of this invention is for the pur pose of providing a convenient mounting or socket for electron emission tubes which are commonly known as radio tubes. lt is especially adapted for radio tubes which are provided with projecting contact prongs which constitute the sole means for securing the tube to a socket.

lt is an object of this invention to devise a radio tube socket which is provided with full floating electrical contact elements for receiving the tube prongs so that the Contact members are free to align themselves to compensate for irregularities in the spacing of the prongs in order to insure making a perfeet and uniform electrical contact.

llt is a further object of this invention to construct a radio tube socket by adapting a base member to receive the prongs of a radio tube and to provide a plurality of slots in the base member for receiving the contact elements which contact with the prongs. lit is proposed to mount the contact elements within these slots so as to allow limited movement of the inner ends of the elements in any direction lateral to thetube prongs.

it is a further object of this invention to construct the individual contact means in the form of a plurality of strips adapted to be mounted within a slot in the base member and to engage opposed sides of tube prongs at their inner ends. 1t is proposed to curve the inner ends of the strips so as to contact with substantially the entire surface of the prongs,

and to extend at least one of these strips through the side of the base member to provide a terminal connector.

@ther objects of the invention will be ap parent from the following description in which l have set forth the preferred embodiment of my invention;

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a sectional elevational view of the socket of this invention talrenwalong the Fig. Q is a bottom view of the socket as shown in Fig. 1, certain parts being removed.

Fig. 3 is a detail view showing one of the electrical 'contact elements.

'llhe device comprises generally a base or body member which is adapted to receive the prongs of a radio tube. Thus, referring to the drawings, the base member is provided with a plurallty of apertures 11, 12. 13 and 1t which are adapted to receive the prongs 15, 16, 17 and 18 respectively of a radio tube 19. The two prongs 15 and 16 are usually largerrin. dlameter than the prongs 17 and 18 1n order to insure' bringing the correct prongs into contact with the several electrical contact elements to be later described. The base member 10 is preferably constructed of some sultable molded insulating compound, such as a phenolic condensate product and is hollowed out on its under side as at 21 to llghten and cheapen its construction. Spaced apertures 22 areprovided to receive screws or bolts to clamp the base member to a support or panel of a radio receiving set..

Below the apertures 11-11 the base member is provided with enlarged lower openings 23 to 26 inclusive for the reception of the Inner ends of electrical contact elements. 'lhe base member isalso provided with a plu rality of vertical slots 21' to 30 inclusive which communicate between these lower openings and the outer periphery 81 of the base.. Fo sitioned within each of the vertical slots al to inclusive there is an electrical contact element designated generally as 3521. 'llhese to align themselves to compensate for irregu-x larities in the tube prongs. 'llhat is, they are iioating contacts which have limited movement in any direction lateral to the tube prongs so as to automatically adjust them-l selves so as to always malte perfect contact with the tube prongs. 'llhe specihc construev tion of these contacts preferably comprises a plurality or pair of metallic strips 33 and 31.

lill

having their inner ends 35 and 36 curved to form substantially semi-cylindrical surfaces which are adapted to substantially surround the tube pi'ongs. vThese strips are adapted to be positionmlin one of the vertical slots, for example the slot 28 and lower opening 24. ln order to resiliently urge these strips together to effectively grip the sides of the tube prongs and still to allow both lateral and longitudinal sliding movement of the strips there are provided a pair of` bowed leaf springs 37 and 38 which are posltioncd between the side Walls of the slot 28 and the outer surfaces of the two strips 33 and 34. 'lhus the end portions 35 and 36 are resiliently urgedtogether to grip opposed sides of one of the tube prongs While at the same time these end portions are free to move a certain limited amount in a lateral direction and also in a longitudinal direction.' Thus, the electrical contact means are floating devices which can readily adapt themselves to irregularities in the positioning of thc tube prongs.

For making electrical connections with the socket at least one of the strips 34 or 35 is extended out beyond the outer periphery 31 of the base member to provide a terminal connector. In the particular construction illustrated, both of the stripsl have been extended, one forming a terminal connector to which wires may be soldered, While the other forms a detachable terminal connector. Thus, the stripl 34 has a laterally bent portion 39 which is threaded to receive a screw 40 While the strip 33 is extended to form the terminal tab ward movement of the strip 33. The basemember is preferably apertured as at 44 to allow the screws to extend therethrough. Thus, the conductor Wires may be connected directly to the contact strip which makes electrical contact with the tube prongs.

In order to Vmore securely vgrip the tube prongs to the electrical contact elements the curved portions 35 and 36 are also preferably knurled along their inner surfaces as at 45 to increase the. friction between the contacts and the two prongs and to exert a wiping action upon the prongs. This wiping action tends to remove any drops of solder that may be present upon the tube prongs. The upper edges 46 of the curved portions 35 and 36 are also flared outwardly so as to more effectively guide the electrical Contact means into engagement with the tube prongs. To retain the electrical contact means 32 Within the slots 2T to 30 inclusive, a retaining member or plate 48 is provided which is secured to the under side of the lbase member l0 by suitable means, such as a pin 49.- This retaining plate is preferably perforated as at 50 to allow the tube prongs to extend therethrough.

A socket such as described will always exert a uniform gripping action on the tube prongs as the self aligning feature permitsthe contact surface to bear evenly upo'n substantially the ent-ire surface of the tube prongs. There can be no possibility of loose contacts because the connector terminals are an integral part of the contact elements.

I'claim: i.

l. In a tube socket, a base member adapted at its upper face to receive the downwardly projecting prongs of a radio tube wardly projecting prongs of a radio tube and having a plurality of slots extending from the base to the sides thereof, and electrical contact means disposed in veach of said slots, each of said contact means being slidable relative to the base in the direction of the extension of its associated slot, each of said contact means comprising'a plurality of metallic strips formed at their inner ends to receive a tube prong, and resilient means' for urging'said strips to grip opposite sides of a tube prong.

3. In a tube socket, a base member adapted at its upper face to receive the downwardly projecting prongs of a radio tube, electrical Contact elements formed to grip the sides of each of said prongs, said base member having a plurality of slots extending from Within the base laterally to its outer periphery, and means for mounting each ot said contact means in one of said slots, said means permitting sliding movement with respect to the base member in the direction of extension of its associated slot.

4. In a tube socket, a base member adapted at its upper face to receive the prongs of a radio tube, electrical contact elements each comprising a pair of juxtaposed metallic strips formed to grip a tube prong at their inner ends, said base member having a plurality of slots extending laterally to the periphery of the same, and means for mounting each of said contact elements in one of said slots for limited sliding movement in tpe direction of extension of its associated s ot.

5. In a tube socket, a base member adapted at its upper face to receive the prongs of a radio tube, electrical contact elements each comprising a pair of juxtaposed metallic strips adapted to grip a tube prong at their inner ends, said base member having a plurality of slots extending laterally to the periphery of the same, and means for mounting each of said contact elements in one of said slots, said means permitting limitedy sliding movement laterally with respect to said prongs and in the direction of the length of said strips.

6. In a tube socket, a base member adapted at its upper face to receive the prongs of a radio tube, electrical contact elements each comprising a pair of juxtaposed metallic strips shaped at their inner ends to receive a vertical prong, said base member having a plurality of slots extending outwardly to the sides of the same, the Contact elements extending inwardly from the sides of the base, and means including leaf springs for mounting each of said contact elements in one of said slots for limited lateral and longitudinal movement.

7. In a socket adapted to support and make connection with a radio tube having terminal prongs, a base member having a pluralityof slots, and an electrical contact element disposed in each slot and formed at its inner end to engage a tube prong, each of said elements comprising a pair of metallic strips, said strips being slidable relative t0 the base in the direction of their len th, the combined thickness of said strips bemg substantially less than the Width of a slot, and resilient means for normally retaining said strips substantially centrally of said slots.

8. In a socket adapted to support and make electrical connection with a radio tube having terminal prongs, a base member having at least three slots extending laterally to the outer periphery of the same, and an .electrical contact element disposed in each slot, each element comprising a pair of flat metallic strips in juxtaposition, such strips having their inner ends curved transversely to engage opposite sides of a tube prong and having a combined thickness substantially less than the Width of said slot, resilient means for centering the element with respect to the slot, said strips being slidable in the irection of their length relative to said ase.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set m hand.

y ERNEST G. DANIELSON.

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