US1013542A

US1013542A - Lamp.

Info

Publication number: US1013542A
Application number: US50979609A
Authority: US
Inventors: Edwin H Ford
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1909-07-09
Filing date: 1909-07-09
Publication date: 1912-01-02
Anticipated expiration: 1929-01-02

Description

E. H. FORD.

LAMP.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 9, 1909.

Batented Jan. 2, 1912.

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EDWIN H. FORD, OF HARTFORD CITY, INDIANA..

LAMP.

Laissez.

Specification of Letters Patent.

' Patented aan. a, rara.

Application filed July 9, 1909. Serial No. 506,796.

' in northern countries where low temperaf tures prevail the meters are placed at from six to seven feet-below the surface of the ground. At these depths the reading of the meters is seriously interfered with on account of darkness, caused by the small dimensions of the meter boxes. This invention relates to a lamp, adapted to be used in reading meters located within water and gas boxes; and the object of the invention is to provide a lamp which may be readily suspended from the 4tops of the boxes and maybe extended `to accommodate boxes of different lengths.

A further object of the invention is to provide a lamp which may be adjusted so as to direct the rays of light upon the dials of the meters, and a still further objectis to provide means for enlarging the dials so that the readings can be easily taken bythe attendant from the surface of the ground.

1 accomplish the objects of the invention by means of the lamp illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof, in which f Figure 1 is a vertical section through a meter box located in the ground, and showing the lamp in operating position therein. Figs. 2, 3 and 4, are enlarged sectional, detail views of the lamp. Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail sectional view of a portion of a lamp frame showing the manner in which the electrical connections between the extensible parts are made Fig. 6 is a detail longitudinal sectional view of the construction shown in Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a side elevation ofthe construction shown in Fig. 4.

F ig. 8 is a fragmentary detail plan View in Fig. 2.

The lamp consists of a frame or handle comprising twol hollow tubes 1 and 2, which are telescoped together, so that the handle may be extended or contracted in meter boxes of dierent lengths. The member 2 of the handle, which is the larger and outer of the lower end of the battery box shown permit the ears 5 to pass, and the'plate is lthen given a partial turn so as to remove the notches 7 from the said ears. A springl 10 is interposed between the end plate 6 and the battery 4f, and the,| purpose of this spring is to keep the said bl'attery in contact with the post-,11. and also ,toprevent vibration and rattling of said battery within .the box. The post 11 is mounted in an insulated plate A1,2 so as to prevent the handle and box 3 from becoming charged with electricity. Located within the member 2 of the handle is the longitudinal rod 15 adapted to' convey the electricity from the battery to theelectric bulb. The rod 15 is insulated from the tube 2, at one end by means of the insulated plate 12 and the other end by means of the insulation 16, -(see Fig. l5) the insulation 16 being in the form of a cylinder which is rigidly held within the end of the tube 1 by means of the pin or screw 17. See Fig. 6. The rod 15 throughout the tube 2, provides the `means for conveying the current through said tube.

The handle is capable of being extended in the following manner without breaking the electric circuit. I provide a U-shaped wire 20 which passes through the insulation 16, and the closed end of the wire is bent to form a recess to partially embrace the rod 15 (see Fig. 5), so that a continued sliding Contact between the wire 20 and the rod 15 is maintained. The two ends of the wire 2O are enlarged by the formation of eyes to prevent accidental displacement of said wire from the insulation 16. Connected to one end of thewire 2O is the wire 22 which extends through the tube 1 and connects with a small lamp socket 26a, which is insulated from the tube 1 by means of in-v sulation 26", adapted to receive a small incandescent globe or bulb, of well known construction. The lamp socket 26a is adjustably mounted on the tube 1 by means of the side bars 26 and the thumb nuts 27.

This construction, as clearly shown in Fig.

1 of the drawings, permits the lamp to setA electric bulb is inclosed by means of the re- Hector 25 which is provided with the inagi-` .nifying lens 29, the two adapted to intensify `the light. The reflector 25 terminates in a'- sleeve 25 which slips over the lamp socket 26, andsaid sleeve is provided at diametrically opposite sides with the slots 25 which permity the 'end of the sleeve 25- to pass under the thumb nuts 27. `This con` struction will admit off-the sleeve 25 being clamped fast to the lamp socket 26 when Athe thumb nuts 27 are' turned to lock the socket 26 beween the side bars 26, heretofore mentioned. Mounted immediately vabove the reflector and u on the `tube lv -is the collar 30 adapted to orm a bearing for the magnifying Aglass 31. The collar 30 25'4 is adjustable on said tube, so as to properly focus vthe glass 31 upon the dials- 'of the meters,land the said collar may besecured at the desired position on said tube l byl means of the set screw 32. i

ln order to close the circuit, l provide the lever 35 which is secured' to the rod 15,

the latter being made of spring materialv so that said 'lever stands normally outl of 'engagement with the post 11. Contact of the 35lever 35' and post'ls'made by' forcing, the

former into contact with the latter. As soon as the hand is removed the leveiwz will move away from the post 11 to break the electrical connection sothat the life'of both 40 the' battery land electric bulb is materially extended. The electric circuit throughout -thelamp may be traced substantially as fol-- glows: When the lever 35 is moved into contact with the postyll the current passes from lthe cellllthrough the post 11 and lever 35,

-thence along the rod 15,

wires

20 and 22 and then through the bulb from whence it 4passes to the telescoped tubesfl and 2, battery box 3, and thence'throu'gh the spring -10V back to the cell 4:.' I also -provide'the lamp with a rest post or pin 36 which is mounted in the insulated plate 12 and adjacent to the lever 35. This post prevents the lever 35 from l being pressed into engageinent with the post 11 in case theY operator, for any reason, should rest this end of the lamp on the ground.

Having thus fullydescribed my said in-l vention, what I' desire to secure by Letters Patent, is y 1.- A lamp of the above specified class including a handle composed of a plurality of hollow members telescoped together, a metallicrod rigidly arranged within and eX- -tendingthe length of the outer member of the handle, saidrod -being insulated from said handle, means arranged withinpthe second member of the handle to take over and insulate said rod from the said lastmentioned member, insulated wires extending through said second member of the handle and connecting with the lamp socket, an electric'bulb, a flexible means adapted to permit of a sliding contact between said' metallic rod and said wires, abattery, and means adapted to open and close the electric circuit between said battery and `electric bulb. I

2. A lamp of the above specified class including a handle composed of-a plurality of .hollow members telescoped together, a metallic rod rigidly arranged withinand extending the' length of the outer member of the handle, said rod being insulated from said handle, means arranged within the second member of the handle to take over and in- .sulate said rod from the saidlast mentioned member, means on said rod to prevent accidental separation between the handle members, insulated wires extending'through said second handle member iand connecting with the lamp socket, an electric bulb, a iexible means adapted to permit of a sliding contact with said metallic rod and said wires, a battery, and means adapted to open and close the electric circuit between said battery and electric bulb. In witness whereof, l, havehereunto set my hand and seal at Indianapolis, indiana, lthis 14th day of June, A. D. one thousand 100 nine hundred and nine.

EDWIN H. FORD. [1.. s.)