US2658787A - Tool for changing fluorescent lamp tubes - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 10, 1953 c. H. ZIESE 2,658,787

TOOL FOR CHANIGING FLUORESCENT LAMP TUBES Filed Sept. 9, 1952 2 Sheet s-Sheet l jii ii I INVENTOR.

CarlfiiZiese C. H. ZIESE TOOL FOR CHANGING FLUORESCENT LAMP TUBES Nqv. 10, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 9, 1952 INV NTOR. CarZJ'Z'. Ziese,

Patented Nov. 10, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TOOL FOR CHANGING FLUORESCENT LAMP TUBES Carl H: Ziese, Oklahoma City, Okla.

Application September 9, 1952, SerialNo. 308,612

4 Claims. 1

This invention relates to devices or tools for changing light tubes in fluorescent light fixtures and more particularly to a tool for changing tubes in a. ceiling mounted fixture by an operator standing on the floor below the fixture.

It is among the objects of the invention to provide an improved, light tube changing tool which can be held by ancperator standing on a floor and used to remove a light tube from or insert a light tube into a fixture mounted on a ceiling above the floor; which is of rigid and light weight construction, so that it is easy to handle and efiicient in removing or replacing the tubes; which is effective to impart rotational movement to a tube as the tube is removed from or inserted into the associated fixture: which firmly grasps the tube during the insertion or removal thereof and while the tube, is being moved into or away from thefixture; and which is simple and durable in construction, economical to manufacture, easy to use, and positive and efiective in operation.

Gther objects-andadvantages of the invention willbecome apparent from a consideration of the following description andthe appendedclaims in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a side orfrontelevational view of a light tube changing tool illustrative of the invention;

Figure 2 is aside elevational view of the tool with thetool-rotated through an angle of approximately ninety degrees from the position illustrated in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal cross sectional view onthe line 33' of Figure 1;

Figure i is a view similar toFigure 2, but with partsbrokenaway and shown in cross section to better illustrate the construction of the tool and with: the components of the tool in a difierent operative position from that illustrated inFiguse 2;

Figurefitis a transverse cross sectional view on the line 5,-5 ofl 'igure i;

Figure 6 isa fragmentary cross sectional view on an enlarged-scale on theline 6-B-of Figure Figure 7 is a fragmentary, cross sectional view on the line 1-'| of'Figure 6".

With continued reference to the drawings; the numeral Ill generally designates: an elongated, tubular handle the length of which is such as to enable an operator standing on a floor below a ceiiing supported fluorescent light fixture to hold the handle at one end of the tool and easily reach 2t with the other end of the tool a light tube mounted in a ceiling supported fixture above the operator. The handle includes tubular portions I! and I2 each of a length less than the total length of the handle disposed in longitudinal alignment with each other with one end of the portion I l telescopically received in the adjacent end of the portion 12; The handle portion l2 is cut away in its side at the end thereof receiving the associatedend of the portion l I-, as indicated at I3, and a lug 14 projects outwardly from the side of the portion H within the opening [3 provided in the adjacent part of the portion l2., A hand lever 15 is pivotally mounted on the lug I l and includes a U-shaped or hairpin shaped leg It closed at one end and having its'sides at the open end thereof disposed atrespectively opposite sides of the lug l4- and pivotally connected to the lug by a pivot pin ll. Longitudinallycurved legs [8 and I9 extend perpendicularly from the sides 20 and?! of the lever leg l6 part1y around the tubular handle and are pivotally connected at their outer ends to the handle portion 12 at respectively opposite sides of the open-- ing It in this portion by suitable pivot pins or rivets 22 and 23;

The lever leg It extends along the handleportion H in spaced relation to this handle portion and, when this leg It is moved toward the handle portion H the handle is elongated for a purpose to be presently disclosed, and-when the leg I6 is released to move away from thehandle portion ll, thehandle will be shortened.

A hollow housing 25'is provided on the handle portion H at the end of this handle portion remote from the portion [2 and extends symmetrically to opposite sides of the handle portion II. This housing has an open end of elongated, rectangular shape at the corresponding end of the handle, and bearing sleeves Z6: and 27 are mounted on one longitudinal edge of the housing at the open end thereof in spaced apart relationship and longitudinal alignment with each other. An outer shaft, generally indicated at 28, extends through andis rotatable in the sleeves26 and 2! andthis-shaft hasits ends substantially equally spaced from-the center of the open end of the housing 25.

The outer shaft 28 includes tubular members 29 and 30 rotatably receivedinthe bearingsleeves 26 and 2'! respectively, and disposed in longitudinal alignment with each other with the inner or adjacent ends spaced together anda U-sh-aped strut 3| extending acrossthe space between-the adjacent ends of thetubular members Mend-30 and joined at its opposite ends to these members adjacent the inner ends of the members to secure the tubular members 29 and 30 rigidly together for simultaneous and coextensive rotational movements.

Longitudinally curved fingers 32 and 33 project perpendicularly from the outer shaft 28, one at each end of this outer shaft. These fingers 32 and 33 are curved to fit arounda fluorescent light tube 34 and are covered with a resilient material, such as rubber, so that they can firmly engage the tube without causing any damage thereto.

An inner shaft 35 extends through and is rotatable in the tubular members 29 and 30 of the outer shaft 28 and projects at its ends from the corresponding ends of the outer shaft. Longitudinally curved fingers 3E and 31 project perpendicularly from the inner shaft 35, one at each also concavely opposed to each other to firmly Y grasp a fluorescent light tube between the opposed fingers, as illustrated in Figure 3.

A torsion spring 38 surrounds the inner shaft 35 between the adjacent ends of the outer shaft portions 29 and 30 and is connected at one end to the inner shaft and at its outer end to the outer shaft to resiliently urge the inner and outer shafts to rotate relative to each other in a manner to move the fingers on either of these shafts away from the fingers on the other shaft, and cable sheaves 4i) and H are also mounted on the inner shaft 35 between the adjacent ends of the outer shaft portions 29 and 30. The cable sheave til is the common axis of the inner and outer shafts 35 assays? and 29 and cable sheaves 43 and 44 are mounted on this axle within the handle portion I2.

A cable. 65 is secured at one end to the cable sheave 40 and extends through the handle it and is secured at its other end to the cable sheave 43. A similar cable 46 is secured at one end to the cable sheave 4| and also extends through the handle I0 substantially parallel to the cable 45. The cable 46 is secured at its other end to the cable sheave 44 on the axle 42 and the cables and 46 extend around the corresponding sheaves 40 and 4| at respectively opposite sides of the inner shaft 35 and around the cable sheaves 42 and 44 at respectively opposite sides of the axle 42.

In the arrangement illustrated, the cable 45 extends around the sheaves 4t and 42 at one side of the common plane of the axes of the axle t2 and shafts 25 and 35 and the portion of this cable between the sheaves 4D and 42 is disposed at the same side of the plane, while the cable it extends around the sides of the sheaves 4! and 44 at the opposite side of the common plane of the axes of the axle 42 and shafts 29 and 35 and the portion .4 of this cable is spaced from the side of this plane opposite that from which the cable 45 is spaced. The cables 45 and 46 extend around the sheaves 20 and 4| in directions such that when the handle i0 is elongated by forcing the leg it of the lever [5 toward the handle, the shafts 29 and 35 are rotated relative to each other in a manner to move the fingers on one of the shafts toward the fingers on the other shaft to firmly grasp a fluorescent light tube 34 between the opposed fingers. A selected light tube can thus be firmly grasped by the tool by first positioning the tool so that the light tube is disposed between the oprposed fingers and then manually forcing the leg E6 of the lever I5 toward the handle of the tool.

A handwheel 48 is secured on the axle 62 at one end of the axle and outside of the handle portion l2. When the axle 32 is manually rotated by the handwheel 48, one of the cables 5 or 46 will be tensioned and the other slackened, causing the shafts 29 and 35 to rotate in one direction or the other.

After a light tube has been grasped between the opposed fingers in the manner indicated above, with the tube in position to enter or leave the associated sockets at the opposite ends of the tube upon rotation of the tube through a predetermined angle, the handwheel 48 is turned in the proper direction and the tool raised to cause the shafts 2t and 35 to follow the rotational movement imparted to the tube. In removing a tube from the associated fixture, after the tube has been rotated to the proper extent, a downward pull on the handle while holding the handwheel 48 against movement, will pull the tube out of the associated sockets and, in inserting a tube, after the tube has been inserted in the sockets, a rotational movement of the handwheel 53 will rotate the tube sufficiently to lock it in the sockets whereupon the lever I5 is moved to release the tube grasping fingers from the tube and the tool is removed from the tube.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms Without departing from the spring or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiment is, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come withirf the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are, therefore, intended to be embraced therein. s '1 What is claimed is:

14A tool for changing light tubes in ceiling mounted fixtures by an operator standing on a floor below a ceiling mounted fixture comprisingan enlongated tubular handle including longitu-i dinally extending portions telescopically asso ciated with each other intermediate the length of the handle, a hollow housing extending to opposite sides of the handle at one end of the latter and having an open outer end, spaced apart bearing sleeves mounted on said housing and extending longitudinally of the outer end thereof, an outer shaft extending through and rotatable in said bearing sleeves and including tubular members disposed in end to end relationship and longitudinal alignment with each other with their adjacent ends spaced apart and a U-shaped strut rigidly connecting said tubular, members together at their adjacent inner ends, longitudinally curved fingers projecting perpen dicularly from said outer shaft one at each end thereof, an inner shaft extending through said outer shaft and rotatable therein, longitudinally curved fingers projecting perpendicularly from said inner shaft one at each end of the latter and operatively opposed to the corresponding fingers on said outer shaft for grasping a light tube between the fingers on said outer shaft and the fingers on said inner shaft, a spring connected between said inner and outer shafts resiliently urging the fingers on one of said shafts away from the corresponding fingers on the other of said shafts, cable sheaves mounted on said inner shaft between the adjacent ends of the tubular portions of said outer shaft and connected one to said inner shaft and one to said outer shaft, a sheave axle extending transversely through and journaled in said handle at the end of the latter remote from said housing, cable sheaves mounted on said axle and disposed within said tubular handle, a first cable connected at one end to one of said sheaves on said inner shaft and at its other end to one of the sheaves on said axle, a second cable connected at one end to the other sheave on said inner shaft and at its other end to the other sheave on said axle, said inner and outer shafts and said axle having their rotational axes substantially in a common plane and said cables extending around the sides of the corresponding sheaves at respectively opposite sides of said plane and having their portions between the associated sheaves disposed entirely at the corresponding opposite sides of said plane and extending around the sheaves on said inner shaft in a manner such as to move the fingers on either of said shafts toward the fingers on the other of said shafts when said cables are subjected to tension by elongation of said handle, a hand lever pivotally mounted intermediate its length on one of the tubular portions of said sandle at the end of said one portion intermediate the length of said handle and connected at one end to the other tubular portion of said handle for elongating said handle when subjected to manual pressure, and a handwheel on said axle outside of said handle for simultaneously rotating said axle and both of said shafts to impart rotational movements to a light tube grasped by said fingers.

2. A tool for changing fluorescent light tubes comprising an elongated adjustable length handle, manually operated means mounted on and connected to said handle for elongating the latter, coaxial inner and outer shafts extending transversely of said handle at one end thereof, means supporting said shafts on said handle for rotational movements of the shafts relative to the handle and relative to each other, tube grasping fingers projecting substantially perpendicularly from said shafts one at each end of each shaft with the fingers on one shaft operatively opposed to the corresponding fingers on the other shaft to grasp a light tube therebetween, a. manually rotatable axle extending transversely of and journaled in said handle at a location spaced from said shafts, sheaves mounted one on each of said shafts, sheaves mounted on said axle, and means extending along said handle between said axle and said shafts and connecting each shaft carried sheave to a corresponding axle carried sheave in a manner to oppositely rotate said shafts upon elongation of said handle and move the fingers on one shaft toward the fingers on the other shaft to grasp a light tube 6 between the opposed fingers, said shafts being movable in the same rotational direction by rotational movement of said axle to turn a light tube grasped by said fingers.

3. A tool for changing fluorescent light tubes comprising an elongated adjustable length handle, manually operated means mounted on and connected to said handle for elongating the latter, coaxial inner and outer shafts extending transversely of said handle at one end thereof, means supporting said shafts on said handle for rotational movements of the shafts relative to the handle and relative to each other, tube grasping fingers projecting substantially perpendicularly from said shafts one at each end of each shaft with the fingers on one shaft operatively opposed to the corresponding fingers on the other shaft to grasp a light tube therebetween, a manually rotatable axle extending transversely of and journaled in said handle at a location spaced from said shafts, sheaves mounted one on each of said shafts, sheaves mounted on said axle, means extending along said handle between said axle and said shafts and connecting each shaft carried sheave to a corresponding axle carried sheave in a manner to oppositely rotate said shafts upon elongation of said handle and move the fingers on one shaft toward the fingers on the other shaft to grasp a light tube between the opposed fingers, said shafts being movable in the same rotational direction by rotational movement of said axle to turn a light tube grasped by said fingers, and spring means connected between said shafts resiliently urging said shafts to rotate in opposite directions to move the fingers on one shaft away from the fingers on the other shaft.

4. A tool for changing fluorescent light tubes comprising an elongated adjustable length handle, manually operated means mounted on and connected to said handle for elongating the latter, coaxial inner and outer shafts extending transversely of said handle at one end thereof, means supporting said'shafts on said handle for rotational movements of the shafts relative to the handle and relative to each other, tube grasping fingers projecting substantially perpendicularly from said shafts one at each end i of each shaft with the fingers on one shaft operatively opposed to the corresponding fingers on the other shaft to grasp a light tube therebetween, a manually rotatable axle extending transversely of and journaled in said handle at a location spaced from said shafts, sheaves mounted one on each of said shafts, sheaves mounted on said axle, means extending along said handle between said axle and said shafts and connecting each shaft carried sheave to a corresponding axle carried sheave in a manner to oppositely rotate said shafts upon elongation of said handle and move the fingers on one shaft toward the fingers on the other shaft to grasp a light tube between the opposed fingers, said shafts being movable in the same rotational direction by rotational movement of said axle to turn a light tube grasped by said fingers, and said handle comprising elongated tubular members telescopically associated intermediate the length of the handle and a hollow housing formed on one of said members at the end thereof remote from the other member.

CARL H. ZIESE.

No references cited.

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