FR2783104A1 - Lamp holder for elongated straight fluorescent tube has overhead beam with downward-extending projections at ends with grooves to accommodate pins on ends of tube - Google Patents

Abstract

Each tube (T) has two pins (P1,2) on each end. The pins may be slid into L-shaped slots (1a) in the projections (1) at the ends of the overhead support beam (R). The pins slide into sockets (1b,c) to make electrical contact. The sockets consist of cutouts in the side of the groove, and there are springs connected to the electric circuit to spring-load the pins into the cutouts.

Description

ELECTRICAL SOCKET FOR MOUNTING A TUBE

  FLUORESCENT HAVING EACH END

  END CAP WITH TWO CONTACT PLUGS

  The invention relates to the technical sector of lighting devices, in particular fluorescent tubes, or other lamps, having, at each of its ends, contact pads intended to cooperate with

  arrangements of an electric socket.

  In a perfectly known manner, a fluorescent tube is mounted between two electrical sockets themselves mounted on a support strip having the necessary arrangements (connection terminal block, resistance

  Ballast, ...) for lighting the fluorescent tube as such.

  1 5 Note that this strip can, moreover, receive each of its

ends one or two sockets.

  The fluorescent tube has at each of its ends a tip fitted with two contact pads in the form of pins arranged in

  alignment according to the diameter of the nozzle considered.

  Whatever the type of socket used for mounting these fluorescent tubes, mounting the latter, to engage the studs with the contacts that the socket has, is carried out, since the creation, of this type of lighting , always the same way. The whole of the tube, after its introduction into fittings of the sleeve, is subjected to a

  manual and angular pivoting movement of about a quarter of a turn.

  For this purpose, the socket may have different arrangements, for example a so-called "bayonet" system consisting essentially of two holes

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  angularly offset and extended by opposite semicircular openings and in communication with the contacts of the socket. Or, the socket can have a through shape arranged essentially vertically for the engagement of the two studs of the tubefluorescent, which cooperate with a quarter-turn rotating part, and known by the name of "rotor". The studs can also cooperate directly with two openings offset by 90 and through which the

socket contacts.

  This obligation to subject the entire fluorescent tube, after its introduction into the arrangements of the socket, to an angular pivoting movement of a quarter turn poses, in practice, real problems, in particular in the case of large tubes. length or the same operator does not have the possibility, with two hands, to maintain the tube at i 5 level with each of its end fittings equipped with contact pads. In this case, the operator must grasp the tube substantially at the level of its middle part to subject it to the angular pivoting movement of a quarter turn in order to match the studs of the ends of the tube in connection with the electrical contacts of the socket. Indeed, this results in guidance problems, given the distance of the operator's hands from the ends of the tube, a lack of force to allow pivoting, especially in the case where the sockets are

equipped with a rotor.

  The object of the invention is to remedy this drawback of

  simple, safe, efficient and rational way.

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  The problem which the invention proposes to solve is to be able to relate the ends of the fluorescent tube to the contacts of the socket without being obliged to manually subject the tube to a voluntary rotational movement of about a quarter turn. To solve such a problem, an electrical socket has been designed and developed for mounting a fluorescent tube having at each end a tip fitted with two contact pads, remarkable in that it has a profiled slot for the 'engagement' of studs, said slot constituting a guide path capable of causing, as the tube is pushed in, under a pressure force, its automatic rotation and, concomitantly, that of the studs for position them in

  relationship with the original electrical contacts of the socket.

  Given these characteristics, the fluorescent tube is placed in the electrical contact position by exerting only a simple pressure force at the sockets without being obliged to submit

  manually the tube at a quarter turn rotation.

  These provisions also make it possible to eliminate the rotor element which now has most of the electrical sockets intended for

receive the fluorescent tubes.

  To resolve the problem posed of permitting the automatic placement of the studs on each of the ends of the fluorescent tubes, the slot has two rectilinear segments angularly offset one by

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  relative to the other by being connected by a curved segment, one of said segments emerging from the socket for the introduction of the contact pads of the tube, while the other segment is in communication with the contacts

socket.

  To solve the problem posed of ensuring the good behavior of the tube after its installation in the contact position, the two segments are

  offset by an angle of at least 90.

  À.I 1 0 Advantageously, the segment in communication with the electrical contacts of the socket is arranged substantially perpendicularly

to said contacts.

  To resolve the problem posed of improving the quality of the electrical contact, the segment in communication with the electrical contacts of the socket has two support cradles for housing the studs of the end piece of the tube, said cradles being formed in look of openings for

  to put said segment in communication with the contacts of the socket.

  From this basic design, either the segment for the introduction of the studs of the tube is oriented substantially parallel to the edges of the sleeve to be arranged in a vertical plane, or the segment for the introduction of the studs of the tube is inclined by relative to the edges of the socket. The invention is set out below in more detail with the aid of the figures of the appended drawings in which:

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  - Figure 1 is a perspective view before mounting of a fluorescent tube on a support strip equipped with electrical connection sockets according to the features of the invention; - Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of a socket according to the invention; - Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of Figure 2; - Figures 4, 5 and 6 are schematic front views showing the automatic positioning of the fluorescent tube relative to the socket; - Figure 7 is a partial view in longitudinal section showing the mounting of one end of a tube with the sleeve; Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the

line 8-8 of figure 7.

  1 5 Illustrated, Figure 1, by way of non-limiting indicative example, a support strip (R) equipped at each of its ends with a socket

  electric (1) for mounting, two by two, a fluorescent tube (T).

  As indicated, the strip (R) can receive at each of its ends two sockets (1) for the parallel mounting of two tubes (T). The strip (R) is of any suitable known type, as is the tube (T). The tube (T) has, at each of its ends, a tip (E) equipped with two electrical contact pads (P 1 and P2) arranged in alignment and according to the diameter of the tip considered (E). Such arrangements are not explained in detail since they are perfectly known to a person skilled in the art. Likewise, the invention applies to any type of fluorescent tube whatever its length and more generally to any type of tubular lamp having, at

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  each of its ends, contact pads (P1 and P2) in the form of pins. The sleeve (1) is made from a plastic body which has any type of arrangement to be fixed at the level of the strip (R). The body of the socket (1) is hollow and is designed for the mounting of two electrical contacts (2 and 3), in particular in the form of leaf springs made of electrically conductive material such as copper. The two contacts (2 and 3) cooperate, as indicated, with arrangements of the socket in order to be connected to the electrical supply wires (F1 F2) presented by the strip (R). According to a characteristic at the base of the invention, the body of the socket (1) has a profiled slot (la) for the engagement of the studs (P1 and P2) of the fluorescent tube (T). This slot (la) constitutes a guide path capable of causing, as it is pushed in under a pressure force of the entire tube, its automatic rotation and, concomitantly, the automatic rotation of the studs ( P1 and P2) in order to position them in relation to the contacts (2 and 3) of the socket (1). The profiled slot (la) consists of two rectilinear segments offset angularly with respect to each other (a and b) by being connected by a curved segment (c). Segment (a) opens from one end of the

  socket (1) for the introduction of the contact pads (Pl1 and P2) of the tube (T).

  The other segment (b) is in communication with the electrical contacts (2 and 3) of the socket. As indicated, the body of the sleeve (1) being hollow, the profiled slot (la) is established only from the internal face of the sleeve.

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  The two segments (a and b) are offset by an angle equal to at least. Note that the segment (a), from which the studs (P1 and P2) are introduced, can be oriented substantially parallel to the vertical edges of the sleeve so as to be arranged in a substantially vertical plane, or else this segment (a) can be inclined relative to the vertical edges of the sleeve, while being oriented in a convergent manner in

  direction of the interior of said socket.

  The segment (b) is arranged substantially perpendicular to the contacts (2 and 3) of the socket. To be in communication directly with a part (2a and 3a) of the contacts (2 and 3) via appropriate openings in the case where the socket is full. In addition, this segment (b) has two support cradles (lb - lc) for housing the 1 5 studs (P1 and P2) in the position of connection with the parts (2a and 3a) of the contacts (2 and 3) from the socket. In other words, the support cradles (lb and lc) are formed facing the parts (2a and 3a) of the contacts (2 and 3) opening out into

  the segment (b) of the profiled slot (la).

  In view of these characteristics, the positioning of the fluorescent tube in the position of connection with the contacts (2 and 3) of the socket is carried out in a fully automatic manner by simply exerting a pressure force at the level of the tube ( T). In this respect, we refer to

schematic figures (4, 5 and 6).

  After introduction of the pads (P1 and P2) in the segment (a) of the profiled slot (la) (Figure 4) and under a pressure force, the tube (T) is

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  pressed into the socket being guided by its studs (P1 and P2) while being automatically oriented at the level of the curved connection segment (c) (FIG. 5) to be angularly oriented by a quarter turn so that the studs (P1 and P2) are brought into contact with the parts s (2a and 3a) of the contacts (2 and 3) of the sleeve (FIG. 6). In view of these provisions, it therefore appears that the rotation of the fluorescent tube (T) which is necessary to connect the studs (P 1 and P2) with the zones (2a and 3a) of the contacts (2 and 3) of the socket, is fully automatic under a simple pressure effort

(P) exerted on the tube.

  The advantages are apparent from the description, in particular one

  underlines and recalls: - Suppression of the rotational movement to be exerted by the operator for the connection of the studs of the tube with the contacts of the socket; - Removal of the rotor presented by the sockets; - Ease of installation; - Effectiveness of the results obtained; - Reduction of the manufacturing costs of the socket;

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Claims (4)

  -1- Electric socket for mounting a fluorescent tube having at each end a tip fitted with two contact pads (Pl and P2) characterized in that it has a profiled slot (la) for engaging the pads ( Pl and P2), said slot (la) constituting a guide path capable of causing, as the tube is pushed in, under pressure, its automatic rotation and, concomitantly, that of 1 0 pads (Pl and P2) to position them in relation to the electrical contacts   (2 and 3) that the socket (1) presents from the outset.   -2- Electric socket according to claim 1, characterized in that the slot (la) has two straight segments (a and b) angularly offset 1 5 relative to each other by being connected by a curved segment (c ), one of said segments (a) emerging from the socket for the introduction of the contact pads of the tube, while the other segment (b) is in communication   with the electrical contacts (2 and 3) of the socket.   -3- Electric socket according to claim 2, characterized in that the   two segments (a and b) are offset by an angle equal to at least 90.   -4- Electric socket according to claim 2, characterized in that the segment (b) in communication with the electrical contacts (2 and 3) of the   socket is disposed substantially perpendicular to said contacts.   o 2783104 -5- Electric socket according to claim 2, characterized in that the segment (b) in communication with the electrical contacts (2 and 3) of the socket has two support cradles (lb and lc) for housing the studs (P1 and P2) of the end of the tube, said cradles being formed opposite openings to put said segment in communication with the contacts from the socket.   -6- Electric socket according to claim 2, characterized in that the segment (a) for the introduction of the studs of the tube is oriented substantially parallel to the edges of the socket to be arranged in a vertical plane. -7- Electric socket according to claim 2, characterized in that the segment (a) for the introduction of studs of the tube is inclined relative to the edges of the sleeve.