US2449394A - Holder for fluorescent lamps - Google Patents

Description

p 14, 1948- E. R. KULKA 2,449,394

HOLDER FOR FLUORESCENT LAMPS Filed March 17, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

Eugene R. Kulka,

ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 14:, 1948 U NI T ED *5 TAT ES PATENT OF FI' C- E 2,449,394 notions. FoinFLUoRnsoENr LAMPS Eugene R. Kulka, Mount Vernon, N. Y. Applicatio-n March 17, 1945;jSerial '-No.'583 ,221

1 Claim. 1

My invention relatesrto -a new and improved holder for fluorescent lampsa-nd their starters.

I provide a holder unit which comprises a holder casing which has two lamp-sockets, 'anda starter-casing socket. Each lamp-socket canreceive a pair of prongs of a lamp. The startercasing socket can receive the'two prongs'of a starter-casing. The front and rear walls of said holder-casing are perforated, so'that the two prongs f the starter-casing can vbe inserted through said front wall or through said rear wall.

Two'said holder-casings-can be fixed tothe wall or walls of a fixture, with the front walls of said holder-casings proximate to each other. The fixture wall or walls are: perforated, sothat the starter-casings can be insertedthrough the holes of said fixture walls, if the prongs of the starter-casings are to be inserted through the rear walls of the holder-casing.

.I thus provide an improved holder-casingwhich requires a minimum number of fastening devices and conducting parts. Two said holder-casings can hold two fluorescent lamps in absolute parallelism, and with their prongs making good electrical contact with said conductingparts of the holder-casings.

Numerous additional objects and advantages of my invention are stated in the annexed description and drawings, which illustrate an embodiment thereof.

Fig. 1 is a top plan view, whichshows a single holder-casing or unit-casing of one unit, assembled at its front face with two fiuorescent'lamps, parts of which are illustrated. This figure also shows the wall of a fixture. The starter-casing is assembled with the holder-casing or unit-casing atthe rear wall of said holder-casing, in the full line position of said starter-casing.

The broken-line position of the starter-casing shows itassembled with the unit-casing, at the front wall of said unit-casing.

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of a unit-casing, taken at its rear wall, with the insulating cover removed.

Fig. 3 is similar toFig. 2, on .a smaller scale than Fig. 2, showing the insulating coveringstrip in position.

Fig. 4 is a front elevation of a unit.

Fig. 5 is a circuit diagram.

Each unit comprises ailnit-casing i-which is made of insulating material. The general-construction of a holder for the prongs of a fluorescentlamp, and also for the starter-casing of such lamp, is shown. in U. S. Patent No. 2,319,693, dated May 18, 1943,.and U. S. Patent No. 2,363,734,

dated-November 28,1944. 'Hence well knoiw-nidetails are not. illustrated herein.

. .:Each unit-ca'sing-B'has end lamp- sockets 4 and 5, and an intermediate starter-casing-socket I4. These sockets 14,15 .an'ddd are often :designated asholders, since their springs 'conductively abut and 'releasably hold respective pair of prongs.

Each longitudinally-disposed fluorescent lamp land 2 has respective metal heads la and 2a, at each end of each said lamp. Each metalhead 2a has a pair of'longitudinal prongs 2p, and eachmetal head lahas-a pair of longitudinal prongs: lp. These prongs :are parallel to each other and to the parallel longitudinal axesof the lamps l and 2.

Socket '4 has :blade cont-act springs 6 and-1. Socket 5 has blade contactsprings H3 and I2.

1 Contact spring [2 has: an integral blade-spring leg or spring extension !2a, which is one of the two 'contact springs of the. starter-casing socket l4. Saidso'cket M has a," companion blade-spring l5.

Saidspringspincluding leg lZa,'are located between thezfront "and rear-walls orthe unit-casing 3.

These springs a're fixedto the walls of their respective sockets. Each "of the springs 6,1, I0 and :I2, is provided with a respective free end in its'respective socket.

Therear wallrof such unit-casing 3.1 ver I1, which is ::made of insulating material. Cover l1 isfixed 'to'unit-casing 3, at its rear wall, by rivets or "other fasteners 18, which are located in bores or'recesseszlfl .of unit-casing 3.

Each unit=casing 3'has apair of transverse through 'andthrough "holes H, through which fasteners can be ihserted, in order'to fiX aunitcasing '3rto1thewa'1l of air-respective fixture F. .At theistarter-socket .l4, the casing '3 has a pair of transverse through-and-through openm szmnd 25;sothat these holes extend through the front-'andrearwalls of said casing 3. These holes 24 and25' register with corresponding holes in the insulating cover [1.

Each unit-casing 3 is associated with four leadwires 8, 9, l5 and l I. Each said Wire has the usual insulating covering. The rear wall of each unit-casing 3 has the usual recesses, through which the covered portions. of said wires can be respectivelyinserted. The inner end of each said lead-wire'8, 9, l6 and H is bare. Said hare ends are respectively conductively fixed to the springs 6, 1,15, and lil, atBa, "Tm/1 6a, and Illa. This tive unit-casing 3', at the rear wall of said unit- U casing 3. The two prongs of the starter-casing C are then inserted through the two holes of the cover II, which register with the rear ends of openings 24 and 25.

Said starter casing C can be assembled with the respective unit-casing 3, at the front wall of said unit-casing 3, as shown in broken lines in Fig. 1. In such position, the starter-casing C is located between the lamps I and 2. In such case, the two prongs of the starter-casing C are inserted into openings 24 and 25, through the front wall of the casing 3.

The two prongs of each lamp are conductively assembled with a respective pair of springs I5, I, or I0, I22, in the usual manner. For this purpose, each unit-casing 3 is provided with the usual inlet-recesses and 2 I, through each of which two respective associated lamp-prongs'can be passed. The front wall of each lamp-socket' l and 5 also has the usual openings 22 and 23, in which parts of the respective blade-springs are exposed.

When two unit-casings '3 are assembled in order to hold a pair of lamps, the lamp-socket 4 i of each unit-casing 3 is located diagonally relative to the lamp socket 4 of the other unit-casing 3, as shown in Fig. 5.

Each lamp of the pair of lamps I and 2, has

its respective starter-casing C. For example, the r starter-casing C which is assembled with the unit casing 3 which is shown in Fig. 1, is combined with the lamp 2. The other starter-casing C which is assembled with the other unit-casing 3, is combined with lamp I, because the socket 4 of the unit-casing 3 which is shown in Fig. I, will be longitudinally alined with the socket 5 of the companion unit-casing 3.

As disclosed in said U. S. Patent No. 2,363,834, the starter-casing C has a pair of prongs, which are inserted into openings 24 and 25, and the starter-casing 3 is then turned, so that its prongs are held releasably by the respective resilient leg IZa and the respective companion spring I5.'

Each opening 24 and 25 has a narrow portion and a wide portion. The two prongs of each starter-casing C are originally longitudinally inserted into said narrow portions. Thus, when the .prongs of a starter-casing O are originally longitudinally inserted into the openings 24 and 25, in the full-line position of said starter-casing C which is shown in Fig. 2, said starter-casing C is then turned clockwise, so that its prongs are yieldingl held by 1eg I2a. and spring I5.

I thus provide a unit-casing 3', which requires only four lead- wires 8, 9, I6, and 'I I, whereas if said three sockets 4, 5, and I4 were made as three separate parts, according to current practice, such lead wires would be required.

The improved unit-casing 3 requires only two attaching holes H, whereas six such holes would be necessary if said sockets 4, 5 and I 4 were made as separate pieces.

Likewise, the lamps I and 2 are held in absolute parallelism, thus ensuring good conductive contact between the four prongs of each lamp, and the respective springs 6, I and I0, I2.

In many cases, the fixture has a glass covering. According to current practice, it is necessary to locate the starter-casing inwardly of said glass cover, so that the cover must be removed and replaced, in order to replace a starter. This time and expense is eliminated, by locating the startercasing C as shown in full lines in Fig. 1.

In many cases, the fluorescent lamps are mounted in industrial fixtures, which are located back-to-back. In such case, the starter-casings C can be located as shown in broken lines in Fig. 1.

I thus greatly reduce the cost of making and using holders for fluorescent lamps and the like, which require starting switches.

Fig. 5 shows the circuit of the lamps I and 2.

In a lamp of this type, each end of the lamp is provided with a starting filament, whose ends are connected to the respective pair of prongs. When the lamp is connected and while it is cold, its two end filaments are temporarily connected by a starter switch to the respective terminals of the source of alternating current. The-starter switch is automatic and it is operated by a thermostat, to open the connection between the two resistances or coils, as soon as the lamp is sufilciently heated for the ionization discharge through itsfilling. The filaments then act as electrodes for the ionization discharge.

Fig. 5 shows the springs I0, I2, I, and Bof the holder Which is shown in Fig. 1, and the springs 5d, lcZ, IN, and 50d of the companion holder. Springs 6d and Id are identical with springs 6 and I, and springs I2d and Hid are identical with springs I2 and Ill. Spring I2d has an extension i219, which corresponds to extension I2a. Spring I503 corresponds to spring I5. Fig. 5 shows that the leg IZa of spring I2 forms one terminal of a starter switch 25, which is associated with the respective left lamp 2. The leg I2b forms one of the terminals of starter switch Is, which is associ ated with the right lamp I.

' Switch Is has a blade 53a, and switch 23 has a blade '53. Said blades are biased to close the respective starter switches Is and 2s. a

The four left lamp prongs 2p of lamp 2, respectively contact with the respective four springs 6d, Id, IE! and I2.

The four lamp prongs Ip of the right lamp I, contact respectively with the respective four springs IN, Hill, I, and 6.

The lamp 2 has the two filaments 2c, and the lamp I has the two filaments Ic. Each said filament closes the circuit between the respective pair of prongs.

One lead 5| of the alternatin current power line is connected to the usual ballast resistance 54, which has two equal legs.

Wire ll connects spring II] to one leg of said ballast resistance 54. Wire 8 connects spring 6 to the other leg of ballast resistance 54.

The other lead 50 of said alternating current power line is connected by wire M to spring 6d, and'by wire II (1 to spring IOd. Wires II and (Z correspond to each other, and Wires 8 and 8d correspond to each other.

Wire 9, which is connected to spring I, is spliced at 52 to the wire Ifid which is connected to spring I5d of starter switch Is. Wire I6, which is connected to the spring or blade I5, is spliced at 53 to wire M, which is connected to spring 1d] When lamp 2 is started, it is cold, and the starter blade 53 of its starter switch 2s, which is located in the respective starter casing C, closes 5 the circuit between spring or blade I5 and spring or blade 12a. The current passes, for example, from lead 50, through wire 811, spring 6d, the respective prong 2p, the respective filament 2c, the other respective prong 222, spring 1d, wires 9d and it to spring I5, through starter blade 53 and leg 12a to spring I2, through the respective prong 21 the respective filament 2c and the other respective prong 2p to sprin 10, wire ll, one leg of ballast resistance 54, and to the other lead When the lamp 2 is sufficiently heated, a thermal device automatically moves blade 53 to open the circuit between spring l5 and leg I212. The current is then conducted through lamp 2, by ionization through the gaseous and vapor filling between the filaments 20, which then act as e1ectrodes.

The blade 53a of the starter switch is, similarly automatically breaks the circuit between the filaments to of lamp I, when said lamp l is sufficiently heated for the ionization discharge through its filling.

In practice, each starter switch and its thermostat is located in a respective casing C,

For convenience, each end 4 and 5 of the casing 3, in which a pair of springs 6, l, or l0, ii! are located, is designated as a lamp-prong-socket. The intermediate part [4 of the casing 3 is designated as the starter-casing-prong-socket.

The lamp-prong-socket contact 1d of holder casing 3, which is connected to a contact of the starter-casing-prong-socket of the other holder casing 3, is unconnected to the contacts of the starter-casing-prong-socket of the respective holder casing 3.

For convenience, the members [0, l2, 1 and 6 are designated as one series of terminal members, and the members 601, 1d, i2d and Hid are designated as another series of terminal members. Each said series has two outer terminal members, as the members It] and 6, and two intermediate inner terminal members, as the members l2 and I.

The outer terminal members I0 and 6 of one series are connected to a respective power-main 5|, and the outer terminal members 611 and 10d of the other series are connected to another respective power-main 50. The inner terminal member [2 of one series is diagonally opposed to the inner terminal member [2d of the other series. These diagonally opposed inner terminal members 12 and 1242 have respective terminal extensions [2a and I212.

Each lamp has an associated thermal starter switch. One starter switch, which has the thermally controlled switch blade 53, has one end thereof contacting the external starter-switch contact-member 2;!) of the respective lamp, and said switch-blade 53 normally contacts the associated terminal extension lZa of the same lamp, when said lamp is cold. The other starter switch, which has the movable switch blade 53a, is similarly associated with the other lamp.

The outer contact members 2p are designated as power-main contact-members.

I have disclosed a preferred embodiment of my invention, but it is clear that numerous changes and omissions and additions can be made without departing from its scope.

I claim:

In combination, a pair of parallel holder casings, each holder casing having a pair of lamp sockets and a starter-casing-socket which is located between said lamp sockets, said holder casings being spaced longitudinally from each other along a longitudinal axis which extends through said starter-casing-sockets and being perpendicular to said longitudinal axis, each lamp socket of one holder casing being longitudinally alined with a lamp socket of the other holder casing to provide a respective longitudinally alined pair of lamp sockets, each lamp socket having an outer contact blade and an inner contact blade, only one inner contact blade of each lamp socket being an extended blade which is laterally extended towards the other inner contact blade of the respective holder casing into said starter-casing-socket to provide an additional contact blade in said starter-.casin-g-socket, each said startercasing-socket having a supplemental contact blade, said laterally extended inner blades being on opposite sides of said longitudinal axis, the two outer contact blades of one holder casing being connected to one power main of a source of alternating current, the two outer contact blades of the other holder casing being connected to the other power main of said source or alternating cur-rent, a starter-casing located in each said starter-casing-socket and having respective contacts which respectively contact with the respective additional con-tact blade and the respective supplemental contact blade, each said starter-casing having a movable and thermally controlled starter switch-blade which is permanently connected to the respective supplemental contact blade and which is biased to normally contact with the respective additional contact blade, the other and non-extended inner blade of each said holder casing being connected to the supplemental blade of the starter-casing socket of the other holder casing, two longitudinal ionic discharge lamps, each discharge lamp having a pair of external contact prongs at each end thereof and a filament connected between each said pair of con-tact prongs, each said lamp having a pair of said contact prongs located and held in a respective pair of longitudinally alined lamp sockets with each pair of external prongs contacting with a respective outer contact blade and an irmer contact blade, said switch blades being movable to break the circuit between said additional contact blades and said supplemental contact blades when said lamps are sufiiciently heated for dire-ct discharge between their respective filaments.

EUGENE R. KULKA.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,241,261 Horn May 6, 1941 2,279,913 Cavanagh Apr. 14, 1942 2,288,939 Curtis July 7, 1942 2,288,940 Curtis July 7, 1942 2,298,824 Darley Oct. 13, 1942 2,298,935 Freeman Oct. 13, 1942 2,345,414 Mueller Mar. 28, 1944 2,403,130 Smith July 2, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 550,640 France Mar, 14, 1923

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