US1092627A - Locking device for electric lamps, &c. - Google Patents

Description

A. D. BARTLETT.

LOOKING DEVIGB FOR ELECTRIC LAMPS, 6:6.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 9, 1913.

1,092,627. Patented Apr. 7, 191

Z5 .6 awuemtoz {7/ I K W ALBERT D. BARTLETT, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

LOCKING DEVICE FOR ELECTRIC LAMPS, &c.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 7, 1914? Application filed June 9, 1913. Serial No. 772,724.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ALBERT D. BARTLETT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Washington, in the District of Columbia,

'have invented new and useful )Improvements in Looking Devices for Electric Lamps, 0., of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved locking device for electric lamps, separable connectors, and the like.

It is a common experience in large establishments, where numerous incandescent lamps are used, and to which dishonest and irresponsible people have access, to have the lamps removed from their sockets by unauthorized persons, resulting in a pecuniary loss of considerable magnitude. It is also not unusual to have the parts of detachable connectors of various other types removed or tampered with, likewise resulting in loss of the parts and derangement of the elec tric system, inflicting further damage upon the owners or operators of the installation.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide simple means for normally preventing the separation of a lamp, or other removable connector, from its socket, except by authorized persons.

A further object is to provide means of this character which are electrically controlled.

A further object is to provide means which are also selectively controlled, whereby the means which will permitremoval of the lamps, or the like of one installation, will not operate in connection with those of another installation.

The invention will be hereinafter fully set forth and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing:Figures 1 and 2 are side views taken at right angles to each other. illustrating a lamp socketwith myinvention appliedthereto, the easing being shown in section. Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the socket. Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the screw shell removed from the socket. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view on the line 55, Fig.3. Fig. 6 is a similar view on the line 6-6, Fig. 3. Fig. 7 is a view illustrating the resistance key. Fig. 8 is a detail illustrating a slight modification. Fig. 9 is an enlarged detail view illustrating the solenoid.

Referring to the drawing, 10 designates a porcelain lamp socket which may be of any suitable or preferred type,t-he form illustrated being arbitrarily selected for illustrative purposes only. Said socket, as illustrated, is provided with a central chamber 11 in which is located the bearing member-12 in which is rotat-ablv mounted the. key shaft 13 provided with the usual key 14. Said bearing member is held in position by means of a screw 15 extending through a suitable bore 16 centrally located with respect to said block. Said bearing member 12 is also provided with an car 17 to which the terminal of one of the electric conductors or line wires 18 is connected in the usual manner. The porcelain block 10 is also provided with a second chamber 18 which intersects the chamber 11, and in which is located the bearing member 20 to which the screw shell 21 is swiveled by means of the rivet or pin 22, the latter also serving as the usual central contact for the lamp 23. The swivelbearing member 20 is secured in position by means of screws 24 extending through the block 10, and the same is provided with an upstanding lug 25 to which the end of the other conductor or line wire 26 is secured. in the usual manner. In the operation of the lamp, the circuit is closed by the key 14. one end of which contacts with the end wall of the shell 21. and the other end with a spring arm 27 secured to the bearing member 12. The construction above described is well known and I do not care to limit myself to its use.

Tn carrying out my invention I provide the block 10 with a bore near the perinhcrv thereof. and locate in said bore a small solnoid coil 30. the lower end of which is provided with a flange 31 which abuts against a complemental shoulder formed in the bore. One terminal of said solenoid is connected with the screw 15. bv a wire 39 thereby placing the solenoid in circuitwith the line wire 18. The other terminal of the solenoid is connected with a contact 33 embedded in the circular surface of the block 10. second contact 34 is similarlv embedded in the block 10 adiacent contact and is connected bv a-suitable wire 35 with one of the screws 94, whereby said contact 34 is placed in circuit with the line wire 26. The core 36 of the solenoid constitutes the locking member. and comprises a rod of magnetic material having a head at one end against which bears a retracting spring 37 which acts against a suitable abutment. The other end of said rod is provided with a short length of nonmagnetic material which is designed to enter complemental openings 38 in the end wall of shell 21 to prevent rotation of the latter on the swivel pin 22. In operation the spring normally holds the core 36 re tracted so that the shell 22 may freely turn on its swivel. When the circuit is closed across contacts 33 and 34 the solenoid coil is energized, moving the core against the action of the spring 37, causing the nonmagnetic end of the core to enter one of the openings 38, thereby locking the shell 21 against rotation. IVhile thus locked the lamp may be screwed into the shell or removed, as the case may be. As soon as the circuit is broken at the contacts 33, 34, the core 36 is again retracted, permitting the shell 21 to turn on its swivel, thereby frustrating any attempt to remove the lamp as the screw shell will turn therewith. The casing of the lamp socket covers'the shell 21 and thereby prevents access to the shell in any manner.

The circuit may be closed at the contacts 33, 34 in any suitable manner. I prefer, however, to employ a resistance key such as illustrated in Fig. 7. Said resistance key comprises a casing 40 in which is located a resistance coil 41 having terminals 42 which may be placed in engagement with contacts 33 and 34. The end of casing 40 from which the terminals 42 project, is preferably concaved, as indicated at 43, so as to form a seat for the convexed wall of the socket casing surrounding the block 10, thereby preventing wabbling of the key when it is desired to operate the solenoid.

The contacts 33, 34, may, if desired, be arranged flush with the surface of the block 10 as illustrated in Fig. 6, the socket casing being provided with insulated openings 44 through which the terminals 42 of the resistance key may project. Or, said block 10 may be provided with teats or protuberances 45 through which the contacts 33, 34, extend, the socket casing being slotted to permit the parts to be assembled. It is obvious that the windings of the solenoid 30 and those of the resistance key may be so rela tively varied that the solenoid will only respond to a circuit closed though a resistance key having a predetermined winding. In this manner each installation will be provided with a'key which will not operate in conjunction with any other installation, and said installation will not respond to any other key.

In order to prevent the inclosing casing surrounding shell 21 from being squeezed in 'sufiiciently to prevent rotation of said shell,

I provide a suitable reinforcement for said casing. .For instance, in the drawings I have shown said casing as provided with an offset annular portion 46 in which is secured a steel reinforcing band 47 of sufficient strength to resist any pressure tending to squeeze the casing against the shell for the purpose of preventing rotation of the latter. In this manner I guard against removal of the separable member except by one possessing-the proper resistance key.

Having thus explained the nature of my invention and described an operative man ner of constructing and using the same, although without attempting to set forth all of the forms in which it maybe made, or all of the forms of its use,-what I claim 1s 1. In a locking device for electric lamps, an insulating block, and an electric locking device carried thereby comprising a bolt, a spring coil for holding said bolt normally retracted, and a magnetic coil for projecting said bolt in opposition to said spring, in combination with a screw shell having one end wall swiveled to one end of said insu lating block, the end wall of said shell being provided with complemental means to be engaged by said bolt.

2. In a locking device for electric lamps, an insulating block, and an electric locking device embedded therein and comprising a reciprocable bolt, a spring coil for holding said bolt normally retracted, and a magnetic coil for projecting said boltv in opposition to said spring, in combination with a shell having one end wall swiveled to one end of said insulating block, the end wall of said shell being provided with complemental means spaced from the periphery thereof to be engaged by said bolt.

3. In a locking device for electric lamps, an insulating block, and an electrically operated bolt carried by said insulating block, in combination with a screw shell having one end swiveled to oneend of said insulating block, the end wall of said shell being provided With complement-a1 means to be engaged by said bolt.

4. In a locking device for electric lamps, an insulating block, and an electric locking device carried thereby comprising a bolt, a spring coil for holding said bolt normally retracted, and a magnetic coil for projecting said bolt in opposition to said spring, in combination with a screw shell having one end wall swiveled to one end of said insulating block, the end wall of said shell being provided with complemental means to be engaged by said bolt, and means independent of' the lamp for controlling the circuit to said coil,

5. A locking device of the character described comprising an insulating block, a shell swiveled thereto, and electrically operated means ,for preventing relative rotation of said block and shell, in combination with an electrical memberindependent of said lamp for controlling the circuit to said electrically operated 'means.

6. A locking device of the character described comprising an insulating block, a shell swiveled thereto, a solenoid located Within said block and provided with a core arranged to engage said shell, in combination with an electrical member independent of said lamp for controlling said solenoid.

7.. In a locking device for electric lamps, an insulating block, lamp contacts therein, line wires leading to said contacts, and an electric locking device .carried by said block and electrically connected with said line wires in combination with a screw shell hav ing one end wall swiveled to one end of said insulating block, the end wall of said shell being provided with complemental means to be engaged by said locking device.

8. In a locking device for electric lamps, an insulating block, lamp contacts therein, line wires leading to said contacts, a solenoid coil carried by said socket and connected with said line wires, and a bolt forming the core of said solenoid, in combination with a screw shell having one end wall swiveled to one end of said insulating block, the end wall of said shell being provided with complemental means to be engaged by said bolt.

-9. A locking device of the character described comprising an insulating block,' a shell swiveled thereto, electrically operated means for preventing relative rotation of said block and shell, and means normally detached from said block and said shell for closing the circuit to said electrically operated means.

10. A locking device of the character described comprising an insulating block provided with contacts, line Wires leading to said contacts, a shell swiveled to said block, electrically operated means for preventing relative rotation of said block and shell, and means normally detached from said block and said shell for closing the circuit from said line wires to said electrically operated means.

11. The combination with a key socket, and line wires leading thereinto, and a screw shell having one end swiveled to one end of said socket, of a bolt for preventing relative rotation of said key socket and said shell, means for holding said bolt normally retracted, and electrical means in circuit with said line wires for moving said bolt in opposition to its retracting means.

12. The combination with a key socket and a screw shell swiveled thereto, of a locl 3- ing member for preventing relative rotation of said socket and shell, a casing inclosing said parts, and a reinforcing ring engaging the inner wall of said casing and surrounding said shcll to prevent crushing of the latter.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses,

ALBERT D. BARTLETT.

In presence of- \VM. S. Honors, VVAL'rnn P. PLUMLEY.

(Jopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the (lemmissioner of ?atcnts, Washington, D. G.

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