FR2741481A1 - SOCKET FOR TUBULAR LAMP, PARTICULARLY FOR DISCHARGE LAMP FOR FITTING A LIGHT IN AN EXPLOSIVE ATMOSPHERE - Google Patents

Abstract

This is a sleeve of the type comprising an envelope (11), made of insulating material, and at least one stud (12), which, mounted movably in this envelope (11) against elastic means (13) , protrudes out of this envelope (11) through a window (14) thereof, and has at least one cell (15). According to the invention, the casing (11) is formed of two parts, one of which is a shell (30), generally in the form of a pocket, which comprises the window (14), while the other forms a drawer. (31), which is engaged in the shell (30) through the opening (32) thereof, and the bottom (33) of which is on the side opposite the window (14). Application, in particular, to discharge lamps with bipolar bases.

Description

"Socket for tubular lamp, in particular for discharge lamp

  intended to equip a luminaire in an explosive atmosphere "The present invention relates generally to sockets for tubular lamps of the kind comprising an envelope, made of insulating material, and a stud, which, mounted movably in the envelope against elastic means, protrudes out of this envelope through a window thereof,

and has at least one cell.

  It relates more particularly, but not necessarily exclusively, to the case where the tubular lamp to be mounted is a discharge lamp, and, for example, a fluorescent lamp, of which, on the one hand, the bases are bipolar bases with a view to possible preheating of its electrodes, and which, on the other hand, is intended to equip a luminaire in

explosive atmosphere.

  In such a case, the stud of the socket has two cells, one for each of the pins of the base

of such a lamp.

  However, having regard to the normative provisions governing operation in an explosive atmosphere, various requirements

are then to be satisfied.

  First of all, you have to take into account the vanishing lines. However, for its wiring, the socket is equipped, to

two screw terminals.

  It is therefore necessary, to date, after wiring, to have all the necessary insulation, not only proceed with the installation of a plate of insulating material on these terminals, but also cover this plate with a layer of hot-melt insulating material and completely seal with it the inevitable gap

on its outskirts.

  Similarly, the envelope being to date made up of two parts, one of which forms a base while the other forms a cover at the rear of this base, it is necessary, to ensure all the required insulation, to have a bead of this hot-melt insulating material at the junction between the

base and cover.

  The operations necessary for putting the socket into service are all the more complicated. In addition, when no preheating of the lamp electrodes is planned, the wiring of the socket must involve the installation of a shunt from one to the other of its terminals before covering them. by a plate of insulating material and by a layer of hot-melt insulating material, and, in practice, the establishment of this shunt is

  made on the outside of the envelope.

  The present invention generally relates to a provision for eliminating or simplifying these

various operations.

  More specifically, it relates to a socket for a tubular lamp of the kind comprising an envelope, made of insulating material, and at least one stud which, mounted movably in this envelope against elastic means, protrudes out of this envelope by a window thereof and has at least one cell, this sleeve being according to a first aspect generally characterized in that, the envelope being formed of two parts, one of these parts is a shell, generally in the form of a pocket, which has the window with which the stud intervenes, while the other forms a drawer, which is engaged in this shell by the opening of the latter, and the bottom of which intervenes on the side

opposite the window.

  Thus, the vanishing lines are advantageously respected by the envelope itself, without there being any need to add to it any wafer of insulating material and / or to apply any layer of material to it.

  insulating to close any gaps.

  In addition, and according to a second aspect, the socket according to the invention is also further characterized in general that, the stud having two cells, and a shunt being provided to put in electrical connection one with the other the two contacts underlying these cells, this shunt

  occurs inside the envelope itself.

  According to a preferred embodiment, it is, in practice, a metal plate, which is arranged in line with the window of the envelope, on the bottom of the drawer which the latter comprises, and which is equipped, preferably in one piece, at least one terminal specific to the wiring of the socket. The socket commissioning operations are

  find advantageously facilitated.

  It suffices, in fact, to ensure its wiring, by connecting, preferably by crimping, a section of electric cable to the lug of the metal plate forming the shunt, then, after placing it in the drawer, d '' engage this drawer, with the associated stud, in the hull,

  to its final position in the latter.

  These operations can be carried out in situ.

  However, as a variant, they can also be carried out in the workshop, the sleeve being thus equipped in advance.

  a section of electrical cable suitable for its connection.

  The characteristics and advantages of the invention

  will emerge from the description which follows,

  by way of example, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which: FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a socket according to the invention, shown in place, and seen from above; Figure 2 is another perspective view, in place, and seen from below; Figure 3 is, according to the orientation of Figure 2, an exploded perspective view of the sleeve according to the invention; Figure 4 is a larger scale, a partial view in cross section along the line IV-IV of Figure 3; Figure 5 is a perspective view of the metal plate used to form a shunt, shown crimped on a section of electric cable; Figure 6 is, on a larger scale, a partial sectional view of this plate, along the line VI-VI of Figure 5; Figure 7 is, on a larger scale, an elevational front view of the drawer that comprises the envelope of the socket according to the invention, shown in isolation; Figure 8 is, on a still larger scale, a partial sectional view of this drawer, along line VIII-VIII of

Figure 7.

  As illustrated in these figures, and in a manner known per se, the socket 10 according to the invention comprises, overall, an envelope 11, made of insulating material, and at least one stud 12, which, mounted movably in the envelope 11 against elastic means 13 explained later, protrudes from this envelope 11 through a window 14 thereof and

has at least one cell 15.

  In the embodiment shown, as

  for example, only a pad 12 is provided.

  In practice, the tubular lamp 16 to be received being, as shown diagrammatically in broken lines in FIG. 1, a lamp with bipolar bases 17, that is to say with bases 17 each equipped with two pins 18, as it is visible for one of them in FIG. 1, the stud 12 has, parallel to one another, at a distance from each other, two cells 15, and these each respectively give access to two contacts

19 underlying.

  In a manner known per se, the elastic means 13 associated with this stud 12 are formed by two metal springs, of the coil spring type, which, at their end, are shaped so as to constitute the contacts 19 by themselves. In practice , the stud 12, which is also made of insulating material, and which is around the window 14 of the envelope 11, has a general shape of bell, and it has, from place to place, projecting outwards , along the free edge of its lateral skirt 21, lugs 22 suitable for its retention on

envelope 11.

  In a manner also known per se, finally, the casing 11 forms, overall, on the one hand, at its base, an infrastructure 24, the outline of which, in plan, is generally quadrangular, and thanks to which, according to arrangements which will appear below, the electrical connection of the socket 10, and, on the other hand, projecting from this infrastructure 24, but recessed from it on at least three of its edges, a superstructure 25, by virtue of which the stud 12 intervenes, with, transversely, at the junction between the infrastructure 24 and

  the superstructure 25, a shoulder 26.

  In practice, and as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the sleeve 10 is engaged, by the superstructure 25 of its envelope 11, in a support 27, for example a simple plate, by means of a recess 28 of this support 27, until abutment of the shoulder 26 of this envelope 11 against this support 27, and, according to arrangements described in more detail later, it is duly secured to the latter. According to the invention, the casing 11 being formed of two parts, one of these parts is a shell 30, in the general shape of a pocket, which comprises the window 14 through which the stud 12 intervenes, while the 'another form a drawer 31, which is engaged in the shell 30 by the opening 32 thereof, and whose bottom 33 occurs on the side opposite to the

window 14.

  In the embodiment shown, the opening 32 of the shell 30 occurs at the foot of the socket 10, by affecting the infrastructure 24 at the lower surface of

this one.

  It extends in practice over the entire perimeter of

this infrastructure 24.

  The shell 30 therefore generally forms by itself as long

  infrastructure 24 than superstructure 25.

  It has, in one piece with the shoulder 26, on the one hand, for the definition of the infrastructure 24, a side wall 34, of quadrangular contour, and, on the other hand, for the definition of the superstructure 25, a front wall 35, which comprises the window 14, a side wall 36, which is generally in the shape of an arch, and a rear wall 37, which is in continuity with the corresponding portion of the side wall 34 of the infrastructure 24. In the embodiment shown, the side wall 34 of the infrastructure 24 has recessed, along each of its edges, over a portion of the height thereof, steps 38, which, projecting in his

  internal contour, ensure the stop of the drawer 31.

  This side wall 34 further comprises locally, projecting in its internal contour, ribs 39, to guide the drawer 31 taking into account the difference in cross-section thereof relative to

infrastructure 24.

  To facilitate the engagement of the drawer 31, these ribs 39, only one of which is visible in the figures, and, more precisely, in FIG. 3, are cut down by a chamfer

along their leading edge.

  The side wall 34 of the infrastructure 24 is also affected, on the facade, along its lower edge, by two notches 41, in the form of an arch, which both intervene from the opening. 32, and which are clean

  each passing a section of electric cable 42.

  In the embodiment shown, the shell 30 finally forms locally, for fixing the assembly to the support 27, a housing 43 suitable for the intervention of a means

mounting 45.

  In practice, this housing 43 intervenes on the infrastructure 24, and, more precisely, on the portion of

  facade of its side wall 34, in the middle zone thereof

  ci, by projecting into the internal volume of the infrastructure 24, and by opening through a bore 46 on

shoulder 26, Figure 4.

  In practice, too, the fixing means 45 is a simple self-tapping screw, which bites directly into the

internal surface of the housing 43.

  The drawer 31, meanwhile, has, on the outside, an overall volume which is generally complementary to that which forms

  internally the hull 30 at the level of the superstructure 25.

  In addition to its bottom 33, it has a rim 47 which, at its inner end, is in the shape of an arch, in the manner of the side wall 36 which the shell 30 has for the

  definition of the superstructure 25.

  The drawer 31 further comprises, at its outer end, a flange 48, which extends perpendicular to its bottom 33 and to the straight parts of its rim 47, and by

  which it obscures the opening 32 of the shell 30.

  The height of this flange 48 relative to the bottom 33 is

  therefore greater than that of ledge 47.

  For guiding the stud 12, the drawer 31 has, internally, set back relative to its rim 47, at

minus one wall 49.

  In practice, in the embodiment shown, three walls 49 are provided, namely two walls 49A

  lateral and a middle wall 49B.

  The lateral walls 49A, which are curved, being centered on the axis of the window 14, belong to bosses 50 that the flange 47 locally projects inwardly. The median wall 49B, which is planar, while having three ribs 51, one along each of its lateral edges and one in its median zone, to avoid blocking of the stud 12 in the depressed position, is insulated, and, for its holding, a stiffening rib 52 is attached thereto. For the channeling of at least one section of electric cable 42, and, in practice, for the possible channeling of two sections of electric cable 42, the drawer 31 has several internal partitions, according to arrangements which, in practice, are symmetrical to one another with respect to the

  median longitudinal plane of the assembly, Figure 7.

  There is first of all a partition 54, which extends substantially along this median longitudinal plane, and of which

split into partitions 55.

  This partition 54 is extended by a partition in

trapezoid 56.

  There are then partitions 57, which extend in split from the straight portions of the rim 47. Finally, there are partitions 58, which extend in split

from flange 48.

  In the embodiment shown, intervene, between the shell 30 and the drawer 31, means

latching 60, 61.

  In practice, these latching means 60, 61 comprise, on the one hand, on the shell 30, an elastically deformable tab 60, which, in one piece with the rear wall 37 of this shell 30, is formed at the favor of a local cutout 62 thereof, and which, elongated along the median longitudinal plane of the assembly, extends from its root to its free end, in the direction of engagement of the drawer 31, and, on the other hand, on the drawer 31, a notch 61, which projects transversely to the back of the bottom 33 of this drawer 31, being preceded therein by a chamfer 63, and under which the elastically deformable tab 60 of the

shell 30.

  Thus, the relative joining of the drawer 31 vis-à-vis

  screw of the shell 30 is advantageously done without any means of

auxiliary fixing.

  For possible disassembly, the rear wall 37 of the shell 30 forms, in line with its local cutout 62, a groove 64, which, acting from the opening 32, gives access

  with the elastically deformable tab 60.

  In a manner known per se, a shunt 65 is provided to establish an electrical connection between the two contacts 19

underlying the stud 12.

  According to the invention, this shunt 65 occurs at

  inside the envelope 11.

  In the embodiment shown, this shunt 65 is formed by a metal plate, which, placed in line with the window 14 of the envelope 11, rests on the bottom 33 of the

drawer 31 belonging to it.

  Thus, the metal springs 20 forming the contacts 19 bear directly on this metal plate, and they therefore directly establish by themselves an electrical connection between these contacts 19 and it. In the embodiment shown, the metal plate forming the shunt 65 comprises, for each of the metal springs 20, and as is better visible for one of them in FIG. 6, a boss 67, on which, for its centering, this metal spring 20 is engaged by its end

  opposite to that forming a contact 19.

  In practice, this boss 67 is hollow and tubular, and

  it is formed thanks to a puncture.

  In the embodiment shown, for the maintenance of the metal plate forming the shunt 65, the envelope 11 comprises, projecting, at least one pin 68 with which this metal plate is engaged by one of its

bosses 67.

  In practice, there are two pins 68, at the rate of one per boss 67, and these pins 68 protrude from the bottom 33 of the

drawer 31.

  In the embodiment shown, the pins 68 are blunted at their ends, to facilitate the implementation

  place of the metal plate forming the shunt 65.

  Finally, in the embodiment shown, this

  metal plate is equipped with at least one terminal 70.

  In practice, and if only for reasons of symmetry, it is equipped with two lugs 70, and these are

  both in one piece with it.

  During assembly, one of these lugs 70 is crimped onto the end, previously stripped, of the metal core of the section of electric cable 42, and the sub-assembly 71 thus formed is placed in the drawer 31, the metal plate forming the shunt 65 coming to wedge between the walls 49A, 49B thereof while fitting onto its pins 68, and the section of electric cable 42 coming between the partitions 55, 56, 57, 58 of this drawer 31 until leaning against its

  flange 48 and protrude beyond it.

  After the metal springs 20 constituting the elastic means 13 and that of the stud 12 have been put in place, and after these elastic means 13 have been stressed, the drawer 31 is engaged in the shell 30, along arrow F in FIG. 3, up to '' to be locked in this shell 30 by the

  latching means 60, 61 provided for this purpose.

  The electric cable section 42 then projects out of the assembly in favor of the corresponding notch 41

  of the infrastructure 24 of the hull 30.

  The socket 10 thus formed is therefore ready to

  be placed on the support 27.

  In the above, it has been assumed that the socket

had only one stud 12.

  But, for mounting in DUO, TRIO or other, it can comprise two or more studs 12, at a distance from each other. In such a case, there may be, for the same hull

, a drawer 31 per pad 12.

  As a variant, the same drawer 31 can relate to at least two studs 12, or even, there can be only one drawer

31 for all of the studs 12.

  At the same time, the metal plates forming the corresponding shunts 65 are preferably successively connected one after the other, for example by

narrower tabs.

  According to a development of this arrangement, these metal plates can in practice be connected to each other in a breakable manner, the corresponding tabs comprising for example transversely to this

  effect a line of least resistance.

  It is possible, in this case, to retain, from a strip having an alignment of metal plates, only the only metal plates necessary

to the studs 12 present.

  However, as a variant, it can also be used, for the connection of one metal plate to another, one of the lugs 70 that such a metal plate has in the embodiment shown. Thus, the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described and shown, but encompasses any variant.

Claims (23)

  1. Socket for tubular lamp, of the type comprising an envelope (11), made of insulating material, and at least one stud (12) which, mounted movably in the envelope (11) against elastic means (13), protrudes out of this envelope (11) through a window (14) thereof and has at least one cell (15), characterized in that, the envelope (11) being formed of two parts, one of these parts is a shell (30), generally in the form of a pocket, which comprises the window (14) with which the stud (12) intervenes, while the other forms a drawer (31), which is engaged in the shell (30) through the opening (32) thereof, and the bottom (33) of which intervenes   on the side opposite the window (14).   2. Socket according to claim 1, characterized in that, the envelope (11) forming an infrastructure (24), by means of which the electrical connection of the assembly is made, and a superstructure (25), to the favor of which intervenes the stud (12), the opening (32) of the hull (30) affects the infrastructure (24), on the lower surface of this one.   3. Socket according to claim 2, characterized in that the drawer (31) has, externally, an overall volume generally complementary to that formed internally   the shell (30) at the level of the superstructure (25).   4. Socket according to any one of the claims   2, 3, characterized in that the drawer (31) has, at its outer end, a flange (48) by which it obscures the opening (32) of the shell (30).   5. Socket according to any one of the claims   1 to 4, characterized in that, for guiding the stud (12), the drawer (31) has, set back relative to its rim (47), at least one wall (49).   6. Socket according to any one of the claims   1 to 5, characterized in that, for the channeling of at least one section of electric cable (42), the drawer (31) comprises   several internal partitions (54, 55, 56, 57, 58).   7. Socket according to any one of the claims   1 to 6, characterized in that, for fixing the assembly to a support (27), the shell (30) locally forms a housing   (43) suitable for the intervention of a fixing means (45).   8. Socket according to any one of claims   2 and 7, taken together, characterized in that the   housing (43) works on the infrastructure (24).   9. Socket according to any one of claims   7, 8, characterized in that, between the shell (30) and the drawer   (31), interlocking means (60, 61) intervene.   10. Socket according to any one of   Claims 1 to 9, characterized in that two studs (12)   at least being provided, at a distance from each other, there is a drawer (31) by stud (12).   11. Socket according to any one of   Claims 1 to 9, characterized in that two studs (12)   at least being provided, at a distance from each other, the same   drawer (31) relates to at least two studs (12).   12. Socket according to claim 11, characterized in that there is only one drawer (31) for all of the studs (12).   13. Socket according to any one of   Claims 1 to 9, characterized in that, the stud (12)   having two cells (15), and a shunt (65) being provided to put the two contacts (19) underlying these cells (15) in electrical connection with each other, said shunt   (65) intervenes inside the envelope (11).   14. Socket according to claim 13, characterized in that the shunt (65) is formed by a metal plate   disposed at the right of the window (14) of the envelope (11).   15. Bush according to claim 14, characterized in that, the elastic means (13) associated with the stud (12) being formed by two metal springs (20), of the coil spring type, which, at their end, are shaped so as to constitute by themselves the contacts (19), said metal springs (20) bear directly on the   metal plate forming the shunt (65).   16. Socket according to claim 15, characterized in that, for each of the metal springs (20), the metal plate forming the shunt (65) has a boss   (67) on which is engaged such a metal spring (20).   17. Socket according to claim 16, characterized in that, for maintaining the metal plate forming the shunt (65), the envelope (11) projecting at least one spike (68) with which said metal plate is   taken by one of the bosses (67) which it comprises.   18. Socket according to any one of   Claims 14 to 17, characterized in that the plate   metallic forming the shunt (65) rests on the bottom (33) of the drawer (31).   19. Socket according to any one of   Claims 14 to 18, characterized in that the plate   metallic forming the shunt (65) is equipped with at least one terminal (70).   20. Socket according to claim 19, characterized in that the lug (70) is in one piece with the plate metallic forming the shunt (65).   21. Socket according to any one of   Claims 19, 20, characterized in that the plate   metallic forming the shunt (65) is equipped with two lugs (70). 22. Socket according to any one of   Claims 14 to 21, characterized in that two studs (12)   at least being provided, at a distance from each other, the metal plates forming the corresponding shunts (65)   are connected one after the other.   23. Socket according to claim 22, characterized in that the metal plates forming the shunts (65) are connected in a breakable manner.