US743207A - Incandescent-electric-lamp socket. - Google Patents

Description

No. 743,207. PATENTE'E Nov. 3,1903

A. WEBER, SE, A. WEBER, JK- & J. WEBER. INCANDESGENT ELECTRIC LAMP SOCKET.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 13, 1903.

NO MODEL. 3 SHBETSSHEET 1.

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A. WEBER, $11., A. WEBER, JR. & .T. WEBER.

INGANDESGENT ELECTRIC LAMP SOCKET.

APPLICATION IILBD FEB. 13, 1903.

lSHEETS-SHEET 2.

N0 MODEL.

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\A/ITNESEEE No. 743,207. PATENTED NOV. 3, 1903. A. WEBER, 8a., A. WEBER, JR. & J. WEBER. INCANDESCENT ELECTRIC LAMP SOCKET.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 13, 1903.

N0 MODEL. 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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UNITED STATES Patented November 3, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

' AUGUST WEBER, SR, AUGUST WEBER, JR., AND JOHN WEBER, OF SOHEN- EOTADY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNORS TO SAID AUGUST VEBER, SR.

INCANDESCENT-ELECTRlC-LAMP SOCKET.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 743,207, dated November 3, 1903.

Application filed February 13, 1903. Serial No- 143,22 1. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, AUGUST WEBER, Sr., AUGUST WEBER, J r., and JOHN WEBER, citi-' zens of the United States, residing at Schenectady, county of Schenectady, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Incandescent-Electric-Lamp Sockets, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to such improvements; and it consists of the novel construction and combination of parts hereinafter de scribed and subsequently claimed.

Reference may be had to the accompanying drawings, and the reference characters marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Similar characters refer to similar parts in the several figures.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a view of an incandescent-electric-lamp socket embodying our inventiomshowing the case in central vertical section'and the insulating-base and parts mounted thereupon in side elevation. Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation of the base and parts mounted thereupon viewed from the side opposite that, shown in Fig. 1, the; switch-shaft being shown in cross-section. Fig. 3 is a similar view as seen from a posi-' tion at right angles to that of Fig. 2. Fig. 4' is a bottom plan view of the same. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the inner end of the inner base member or disk. Fig. 6 is a view of the same inverted. Fig. 7 is a plan view of the outer end of the outer base member or disk. Fig. 8 is a view of the same inverted. Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 4, part of the socketsleeve and bifurcated contact member being broken away to show the subjacent mechanism. Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 5,sl1owing portions of the switch mechanism in position upon the base member. Fig. 11 is a central vertical section taken on the broken line 11 11 in Fig. 4. with the socket-sleeve re-- moved. Fig. 12 is a vertical section taken on the brokenline 12 12 in Fig. 10. Fig. 13 is a section taken on the broken line 13 13 in Fig.- 4. Fig. 14. is a view in perspective of the bifurcated contact member. Fig. 15 is a view in perspective of the bearing-frame for one end of the switch-shaft before its bearing is closed upon the inserted shaft.

This invention relates to sockets for incandescent electric lamps and in certain of its features, more particularly to such sockets as are provided with circuit-controlling devices.

Among the objects of the invention are to reduce the number of parts, to render the device more efficient in operation, and to facilitate and reduce the cost of manufacture, particularly with reference to constructing the base portion of the socket of plastic insulating material, such as porcelain, molded to the desired form by means of dies.

Referring to the drawings, wherein the invention is illustrated in its preferred form, 1 represents a metal sleeve, and 2 a metal cap, both of the usual form, which may be secured together in any known manner to form the inclosure or casing for the socket, the sleeve being slotted to receive the switch shaft or key 4 in the usual manner. The casing thus formed incloses an insulating-base, whereupon are mounted the switch mechanism and a screw-threaded sleeve adapted to receive the screw-threaded shank of an incandescent electric lamp of the type now in vogue.

Important features of the presentinvention relate to the construction of the insulatingbase and the manner in which the switch mechanism is mounted upon or combined with said base.

As shown in its preferred form, the base is a two-part structure, the members thereof comprising a pair of circular blocks of substantially disk form adapted to be clamped one upon the other and provided in their inner contiguous faces with die-formed complementary recesses, forming within the base a V switch-chamber adapted to receive the switch mechanism and support the same by simple engagement of the Walls of said chamber with certain parts thereof when the base members are clamped together. The inner disk or base member 7 is formed with a T- shaped recess in that face thereof which is adapted to contact with the other base member, 8 being the body, and 9 the head, of said T-shaped recess. A bearing-frame 10, prothan said recess and terminating within the body portion thereof. Secured to the bearing-frame 10, as by rivet 13, is a spring-con-v tact 14, which extends beyond the bearingframe into the head 9 of the T-shaped recess and is provided thereat with a T-head-15, which is loosely contained and adapted to play therein. The outer disk or base member 16 is a die-formed porcelain structure complementary to the inner disk 7, whereupon it is adapted to be clamped, and is provided in its inner face, adapted to contact with the inner disk 7, with an inwardly-open bearing 17, adapted to receive and rotatively support an intermediate portion of the switch-shaft 4. Outside of said open bearing the switch-shaft is provided with an oblong switch-block l2, loosely mounted thereupon to be rotated thereby, with more or less lost motion, in substantially the same manner as similar structures now in use, said block being adapted to play in the head 9 of the T-shaped recess in the inner base member 7 in constant engagement with the T-head of the spring-contact 14. The parts are so proportioned and arranged that when the base members 7 and 16 are clamped together the spring-contact 14 is held under compression by the forcible contact therewith of the switch -block, induced by the engagement of the open bearing 17 of the base member 16 with the switchshaft.

vThe spring-contact 14, which has the ordinary function of one of the contacts between which the switch-block is adapted to play, in

the present construction has the important maintained in operative position by simple engagement with the walls of the base members when clamped together without the use of screws or other mechanism for connecting any of said elements with the insulating-base or anypart thereof. The severalelements of the switch mechanism being thus yieldingly held in position are permitted a certain degree of self-adjustment, which enables them to adapt themselves one to another and relieves them from binding friction in operation, such as is commonly induced by perma nent disalinement of parts more or less inaccurately formed when fixedly connected together.

The screw-threaded socket-sleeve 20,adapted to-receive the screw-threaded shank of an incandescent electric lamp,is fixedly mounted upon the outer face of the outer base member 16 by means of an introverted flange 21- on the inner end of said sleeve adapted to be clamped between said outer base member and the horseshoe-shaped washer 22, secured to the base.

The inner end of the socket-sleeve is cut away at 24 to prevent contact therewith of the bifurcate end of a spring contact-plate 25, having an offset shank 26 inserted between the base members and closely fitting the recess 27 in the inner base member 7, whereby said spring-plate is securely held in position when the base members are clamped together. One member, 28, of the bifurcate end of said spring contact-plate is projected interiorly of the screw-socket through its cut-away portion into position to be engaged by and form a yielding contact for a terminal on the inner end of the shank of the lamp inserted in the socket, and the other member, 29, is projected opposite the T-head 15 of the springcontact 14, forming a yielding contact adapted to be engaged by the switch-block at certain times to establish a circuit connection between said block-engaged contacts.

The washer 22 is provided with screwthreaded apertures adapted, respectively, to receive and lit the ends of screws 23, inserted through registering apertures in the respective base members. Two of said screws only will thus be found sufficientto securely clamp together in fixed relation to each other the two base members and the socket-sleeve 20 and to retain in operative relation to each other all the elements of the switch mechanism.

The outer base member 16 is preferably provided in its edge with a recess 30, corresponding in form and position, when the members are clamped together, with the head 9 of the T-shaped recess in the inner base member, and the outer wall at the head of the T- shaped recess in the inner base member is provided with an inwardly-open bearing 32 for the end of the switch-shaft.

The switch-block 12 is mounted upon that portion of the switch-shaft which extends between the open bearing 17 in the outer base member at the inner side of the head 9 of the T-shaped' recess and the open bearing 32 in the inner base member at the outer side of the head of said T-shaped recess. The outer wall of the head of the T-shaped recess and the inner wall of the edge recess in the outer base member occupy parallel planes a distance apart approximately equal to the width of the switch-block, which-is located and adapted to operate therebetween and which is adapted to engage and be guided by said walls disposed on opposite sides thereof. The switch-block being loosely mounted and capable of self-adjustment upon the switch-shaft is thus caused by confinement between said oppositely-disposed walls to operate in a plane parallel with said walls regardless of the angle formed by the switchshaft with said plane of movement of the block, the shaft and block being thus independently self-adj ustable without interfering with the operation of the switch. The contact inember29 of the bifurcate contact-plate overhangs the edge recess 30 in the outer base member in position to be engaged by the switch-block when rotated to bring its longitudinal axis at right angles to said contact.

It will be seen that the two spring-contacts 29 and 15 are mounted upon a surface formed by a single die member, whereby it is possible to secure a minimum variation or inaccuracy in said surface. The spring-contact parts being die-formed, substantial uniformity is secured in the distance between their respective contact-surfaces and their bases mounted upon the die-formed surface of the insulating-base. As thus constructed and assembled said spring-contacts are accurately spaced a definite distance apart, whereby substantial uniformity of action of the switchblock is secured and a definite distance of separation is maintain ed between the switchblock and the contact 29 when the circuit is broken, which is a feature of importance in electric-lamp sockets in meeting the requirements of the fire-insurance companies.

It is well understood by those skilled in the art of molding porcelain by means of dies that while substantial uniformity can be secured in different parts of the surface formed by a single die member such uniformity cannot be secured between surfaces formed by different die members, material variation being found in thickness of articles formed by the same dies, so that it is practically impossible to secure accurate spacing of parts mounted one upon one side and the other upon another side of the same piece of diemolded porcelain. To prevent arcing, it is desirable that when the circuit is broken a considerable space should intervene between the switch-block and the contact with which it alternately engages and disengages to make and break the circuit; but the limited dimensions of the prevalent style of socket render it difficult to secure a separation of said parts as great as desirable.

By having the bearingframe l0 limited in length to occupy only the body portion 8 of the T-shaped recess and extending the springcontact 14 beyond said frame into the head 9 of the recess the contact end of the springcontact can be depressed to the extreme bottom of the recess instead of being limited in such depression by an interposed bearingframe, such as has been heretofore commonly employed. It is thus possible to increase the length of the switch-block, and therefore to locate its axis of rotation at a greater distance from the spring-contact with which it intermittently engages, thus securing a greater distance of separation therefrom when the circuit is broken Without reducing the width of the block or increasing the dimensions of the socket.

The bearing-frame 10 is preferably made of malleable metal, as brass, and is provided in its offset 11 with an inclosed bearing-aperture of general circular form at one end, as at 35,

and at the other end in the form of a closed slot 36, ofiset from said circular portion, as shown in Fig. 15. The bearing thus formed is adapted to permit the insertion therethrough of the switch-shaft, having the offsets 37v permanently formed thereon in the usual manner, which ofisets serve to hold the shaft from longitudinal movement and to impart to the switch-block rotative movement when the shaft is rotated in the usual manner. After the offset portions of the shaft have been projected through said bearing-aperture the slotted portion of the bearing is compressed to close the same and to contract the circular portion of the bearing upon a cylindrical portion of the inserted shaft to support the same in its rotative movement. The bearing can thus be cheaply formed and fitted and in use has no tendency to open when the shaft is subjected to transverse strain, as by a side pull upon the handle 38, whereby said shaft is adapted to be rotated.

The inner base member is provided with grooves 39, adapted to receive the respective wires 40, which are connected in circuit with the spring-contacts 15 and 29 through the lamp inserted in the socket.

The socket-sleeve 20 is adapted to engage and make connection with one of the-terminals of the inserted lamp and is connected with one of the wires 40 through the washer 22, which has an offset arm or bracket 43, provided with a binding-screw 44,whereby the circuit-wire is connected therewith.

The inner base member is formed with an edge recess 49, extending from its inner side part way of its height, leaving on the outer side an overhanging wall 45, of porcelain. An aperture 46 is formed through this overhanging wall extending from the outer face of said base member into said recess 44, which aperture is adapted to receive and closely fit the arm or bracket 43, which extends from the washer 22 therethrough into said recess, within which its binding-screw is located. The end of the circuit-wire connected with said binding-screw is thus insulated and shut ofi from the outer part of the socket by the intervening overhanging wall 45, of porcelain. The other circuit-wire is connected with the contact 15 through the bearing-frame 10 by means of a binding-screw 47 on the arm or bracket 48, offset therefrom and occupying a recess in the peripheral portion of the insulating-base.

The shell or case may be lined with insulating material 50, if desired.

' What we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In an incandescent-electric-lamp socket and in combination, a pair of insulatingblocks clamped one upon the other and provided in their contiguous faces with dieformed complementary recesses forming therebetween a switch-chamber; and switch mechanism comprising a switch-block, contacts, and block-actuating mechanism, all removably supported within said chamber by simple engagement with the walls thereof, substantially as described.

2. In an incandescent-electric-lamp socket and in combination, a two-part insulatingbase chambered to receive switch mechanism; and switch mechanism mounted therein comprising in part a contact-spring adapted tobe confined under compression between the base members and thereby to retain said switch mechanism in place by simple engagement therewith of the chamber-walls of the base, substantially as described.

3. In an incandescent-electric-lamp socket and in combination, a two-part insulatingbase, one part provided with an inwardlyopen shaft-bearing and the other with a recess disposed opposite said bearing; switch mechanism comprising in part a switch-shaft adapted to rotate in said bearing; a switchblock mounted upon said shaft to be rotated thereby, a spring-contact mounted in said recess in the one base member and e'ngageable under compression with said switchblock and adapted to act therethrough to hold said shaft to its bearing in the other base member; and a contact disposed in opposition to said spring-contact and adapted to be connected therewith by said block at certain times, substantially as described.

4:. In an incandescent-electric-lamp socket and in combination, a pair of insulatingblocks clamped one upon the other, one provided in its inner face with a T-shaped recess and in the wall at the head thereof with an inwardly-open bearing and the other in its edge with a recess corresponding with the head of said T-shaped recess, and in its inner face with an inwardly-open bearing; a springcontact mounted in said T-shaped recess and projecting into the head thereof; a switchshaft having one end rotatively confined in said respective open bearings; a bearing for the other end of said shaft; a contact supported in opposition to said spring-contact; means for connecting said contacts respectively in circuit with the terminals of an incandescent electric lamp; and aswitch-block operated by said shaft in said edge recess and head of said T-shaped recess between said contacts to make and break the circuit, substantially as described.

5. In an incandescent-electric-lamp socket and in combination, an insulating-block having an elongated recess; a switch-shaft; a bearing-frame shorter than said recess seated in one end thereof; a spring-contact mounted upon said bearing-frame and projecting therefrom beyond the same into the other end of said recess; an offset on the outer end of said bearing-frame containing a bearing for one end of the switch-shaft; a bearing separate from said bearing-frame for the other end of the switch-shaft; a contact supported in opposition'to said spring-contact; means for connecting said contacts respectively in circuit with the terminals of an incandescent electric lamp; and a switch-block operated by said shaft between said contacts to make and break the circuit, substantially as described.

6. Inan incandescent-electric-lamp socket and in combination, a switch-shaft; a switchblock loosely mounted upon said shaft to be rotated thereby and capable of self-adjustment thereupon; an insulating base provided with bearings for said shaft and with a chamber adapted to closely confine said switch block having oppositely disposed walls adapted to engage and guide the selfadjustable block in its rotary movements, and oppositely-disposed contacts adapted to be connected at certain times by said switchblock, substantially as described.

7. In an incandescent-electric-lamp socket and in combination, a pair of die-formed insulating-blocks; a pair of contact-springs separately mounted upon the same die-formed face of one of said blocks whereby they are definitely spaced apart, one of said springs being extended outwardly from between said blocks and offset around and overhanging a portion of the other of said blocks; contacts respectively in circuit with said springs and adapted to connect with the terminals of an incandescent electriclamp; an oblongswitchblock adapted to be operated between said springs to make and break said circuit; and means for operating the switch-block, substantially as described.

8. In an incandescent-electric-lamp socket and in combination, an insulating-base; a switch-shaft having offset portions; and a malleable-metal bearing-frame mounted on said base having an inclosed bearing-aperture of general circular form at one end and at the other end in the form of a closed slot ofiset from said circular portion, the bearing being adapted to receive the offset portion of said shaft in assembling the parts of the socket, and to have its slotted portion compressed to close the slot after the shaft has been inserted, substantially as described.

9. In an incandescent-electric-lamp socket and in combination, a two-part insulatingbase; and a spring contact-plate having at one end an offset shank clamped between the base members, and having its other end bifurcated and the members thereof projected one into the path of one of the terminals of an incandescent electric lamp mounted in the socket and the other into the path of a switch-block mounted on said base, substantially as described.

10. In an incandescent-electric-lamp socket and in combination, an insulating-base; a lamp-receiving socket-sleeve mounted upon the outer end of said base and having a cutaway portion adjacent thereto; a switch-shaft rotatively mounted upon said base; a switchblock mounted upon said shaft to be rotated thereby; a spring-plate mounted upon said base having a yielding bifurcated end; one arm whereof projects through the cut-away portion of the socket-sleeve into the path of one of the terminals of the inserted lamp, and the other into the path of said switch-block between the same and said sleeve; and a spring-contact on the opposite side of said block engageable therewith, substantially as described.

11. In an incandescent-electric-lamp socket and in combination a die-formed insulatingbase; a lampreceiving socket-sleeve mounted thereupon having a cut-away portion adjacent thereto; a switch-block; means for operating said block; and a spring-contact and spring-plate separately mounted upon the same die-formed surface of said base, said plate having a pair of integral resilient arms projected one through the cut-away portion of said sleeve into the path of one of the terminals of the inserted lamp, and the other into the path of said block between the same and said sleeve, said spring-con tact being ongageable with said block on its opposite side, substantially as described.

12. In an incandescent-electric-lamp socket and in combination, a pair of die-formed insulating base members secured together; a

lamp-receiving socket-sleeve mounted upon the outer end of the outer base member and having adjacent thereto a cut-away portion; a switch-block; means for operating said block; a spring-contact mounted upon the end of the inner base member adjacent to the outer base member and engageable with said block on one side thereof; a spring-plate mounted upon said inner end of the inner base member offset from between the base members around and overhanging the outer base member and having its outer end bifurcated, one arm thereof projecting through the out-away portion of the socket-sleeve into the path of one of the terminals of an inserted lamp, and the other arm into the path of said switch-block on the other side thereof, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands this 28th day of January, 1903.

A. WEBER, SR. AUGUST WEBER, JR. JOHN WEBER.

Witnesses:

WALTER BRIGGS, S. H. VISSOHER.

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