US1310696A - Rheostat - Google Patents

Description

B. F. GARDNER.

BHEOSTAT.

APPLICATION mu: SEPT. :9. ma.

1,310,696. Patented July 22, 1919.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BENJAMIN FULTON GARDNER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-HALF T0 SEYMOUR STEDMAN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

nHEosrA'r.

Application filed September 19, 1918.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN FULTON GARDNER, a citizen of the United States, residing at 160 North Wells street, Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Rheostats, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to im rovements 1n rheostats and particularly to t e class of socalled lamp dlmmers, and my object is to provide means by ,whilch incandescent lilment lamps of any make are operable at full candle power, or dimmed to a glow of any degree desired. The invention may also be used with an attachable plug and conductor cord, in circuit with small motors and other types of translating devices to regulate and control the current within the system.

The invention will be fully understood from the following specification taken in connection with the drawing which represents in section and in detail a device in accordance with the invention.

Referring to the drawing, Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of the invention and Figs. 2, 3, and 4 illustrate details of construction.

Like numerals in the specifications refer to like numerals in the drawing.

The numeral 6, designates the exterior part of a lamp receptacle, and the figure 7, indicates the flange part of the receptacle supporting the metal electrodes 8, and 11.

The screws 10, serve to unite the male metal electrode 9, to the female electrode 8, firmly fixing the upper electrode to the lower electrode mechanically and electrically. These electrodes are of the standard screwthreaded type.

The numeral 16 designates a cylindrical cup-like part of porcelain hollow within and screw-threaded upon its exterior, with a hole in the bottom. This part 16 is attached to the apparatus by screwing it into the screw-threaded electrode 9.

In Fig. 1, and Fig. 4, the numeral 16, designates washer-like rings of electric resistan'ce material. These rings are placed within the cup 16*- and superimposed one upon another.

The numeral 15,111 Fig. 1, and Fig. 3, in a Specification of Letters Patent.

ceptaele part of the plug.

Patented July 22, 1919.

Serial No. 254,837.

tube or sleeve of insulating materialglass preferable,which serves to insulate the resistor element 16, from the metal electrode 13.

The numerals 12, 13, and 14, in Fig. 1, and Fig. 2, designate the several parts of the plunger electrode which supports the resistor rings 16, and also serves as a shunting device when in contact with the fixed electrode 11. This plunger electrode consists of three distinct parts, all of which are integral and readily made of one piece of metal in a lathe or screw machine. The part 14., of this plunger electrode loosely extends through the hole in the bottom of the cup part 16*. Within the cup the part 12, of this electrode is fashioned like a rivet head, which forms a seat for the resistor rings, and keeps the plunger electrode from falling out ofthe cup 16 when the plu is not in service. The part 13, of the plunger electrode is utilized as a shunting device when full light of the lamp 's requlred.

In Fig. 1, the nume als 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 and 22, designate the details of a conventional socket and the numeral 23, designates an electric incandescent lamp of the standard type. As no claim is made for either lamp or socket further description is unnecessary. However, electrode 19 must be rigidly fixed in order to resist displacement under pressure.

In the explanatory matter regarding the operation of my invention and to make more clear the claims which follow, I shall use the term plug, to include the parts numbered, 6, s, 9, 10, 11, 12, 1s, 14, 15, 1 6, and 1:6. The term socket, will include the parts indicated by the numerals, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, and 22. While the device is not 0 erable unless attached to a conventional soc (ct, the plug, is manufactured and marketed as a complete article suitable for use in any standard receptacle or socket.

The operation of my invention is exceedingly simple. Insert the lamp into the re- Insert the plug into a h wall -socket or other receptacle. When the central electrodes of the plug and socket are in contact if the current is on the lam will glow dim. A further half turn of t e plug will cause the lam "to glow at full candle power. When the limp is firmly seated it can be used as a handle to oper ate the plai er, grasp the lamp recap tacle parl of the plug and a partial turn in or out will effect the object desired. When the electrodes of plug and socket are in contact, the central plunger electrode may be regarded as stationary. Not so with the plug 710/ 80, for it can move to the limit of its screw thread. The resistor rings are mounted upon the plunger electrode, and in contact with the upper electrode 11, which is immovable and fixed in the part (3. The action is similar to that of a vise, in which the resistor rings are held and compressed. Suflicient compression effected by the further screwin of the plug into the socket causes the plunger electrode to make contact with the upper electrode 11. When thus adjusted the electric current has two paths, 2'. 0., through the resistor rings and through the plunger electrode which may be regarded as a shunt; in this state the resistance is nil and the lamp will be at full glow. Relieve the compression of the re sister, the shunt contact is broken, and the lamp will glow dim. A partial reversing turn of the plug will leave the artificial re sistance in circuit and disrupt the shunt contact. The degree of compression of the resistor rings changes the conductivity of the system and several degrees of luminosity mziy be obtained.

t should be understood that the structure described by this specification is illustrative only and for the purpose of making my invention more clear, and that I do not re gard the invention as limited to any of the particularities of construction chosen for the purposes of illustration, except in so far as I have included such limitations Within the terms of the following claims.

What I claim is: 1. In a rheostat of the class described, a combined socket, plug and receptacle comprising the female threaded electrode of the socket part directly connected to the male threaded electrode of the plug part and a cylindrical insulating part screwed into the electrode of said plug part, and means with in said cylindrical insulating part of said plug part operable by said combined socket plug and receptacle to regulate and control an electric current for the purpose specified and substantially as described.

2. In a rheostat of the class described, a combined socket plug and receptacle, comprising the male and female threaded elec trodes of said socket and plug parts directly connected, a cylindrical insulating part sup ported by the screw-threaded electrode oat said plug part and an electric resistor element within the cylindrical insulating part of said lug part and means operable by said com ined socket, plug and receptacle to regulate and control an electric current for the purpose specified and substantially as described.

3. In a rheostat of the class described a combined socket, plug and receptacle, the male and female electrodes of said socket and plug parts directly connected, an insulating cup within the electrode of said plug part, an electric resistor element within the insulating cup of said plug part and a metal plunger within the insulating cup of said plug part and operable by the reciprocating movement of the several parts of the said combined socket, plug and receptacle, whereby an electric current is regulated and controlled.

4. a rheostat of the class described, a cylindrical cup-like insulator containing a three part plunger, said three part plunger operable as an electrode to conduct electric current, to shunt electric current, and compress resistance material within said cylindrical cup-like insulator.

In a rheostat of the class described, an electric resistance element comprising multiple parts mounted upon a plunger, and means operable by the several parts of said rheostat, whereby said resistance element is compressed and the ends of said plunger are forced to make direct contact with the central electrodes of the socket part and the receptacle part of said rheostat.

6. In a rheostat of the class described a combined socket and plug, the socket part of said combination comprising an exterior insulating part and an interior screwthreaded electrode, mechanically and electrically united to the exterior screw-threaded electrode of the plug part of said combination, a fixed electrode centrally located in the bottom of said socket part and a cylindrical insulating part inserted in and supported by the screw-threaded metal electrode of said plug part, a resistance element within said cylindrical insulating part, a plunger electrode one end of which extends through a hole in the bottom of said cylindrical insulation and is free to move therein, said resistance element threaded upon the stem of said plunger electrode and seated upon the enlar ed section of said plunger electrode and an insulating sleeve mounted upon the stem of said plunger electrode and a receptacle with a rigidly fixed central electrode all for the purposespecified and substantially as described.

In witness whereof I hereunto subscribe my name this 12th day of September, A. D. 1918.

BENJAMIN FULTON GARDNER. Witnesses:

E. J. BOILEAU,

FRANK E. STEDMAN.

emu arm Intent-1min nlmtmlror ave -mt: am, Minimums: the *"Gmmlsmw a: mum.

Washington, D. 0-

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