US1386412A - Socket for incandescent electric lamps - Google Patents

Description

0. KROEHLE.

SOCKET FOR INCANDESCENT ELECTRIC LAMPS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 17, I921.

Patented Aug. 2, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

0. KROEHLE.

SOCKET FOR I'NCANDESCENT ELECTRIC LAMPS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 17. 1921.

1 86,412, Patented Aug. 2, 1921.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

.Tnkenfor' um'rs u sures PATENT ()FFKIE.

OSCAR KROEHLE, 01' LAKEWOOD, OHIO.

SOGKET ron INCAnnEsCEN'r ELECTRIC LAMPS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 2, 1921.

Application filed February" 17, 1921. Serial No. 445,777.

wood, lathe countybf Cuy'ahoga and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Socket for incandescentElect ic Lamps, of

which the following is a specification;

This'inventio-n relatesto improvements in sockets for incandescent electric lamps,- and more especially to a socket of the character indicated which is adapted" to be rendered rigid with a casing adapted'to extend circumfere'ntially of an incandescent electric lamp applied to the socket for illuminating a signal lens or sign'with which said casing is provided after the application of said lamp to the socket.

One object of this" invention is-to so construct and apply the socket that not only is said casing adapted tobe applied to the rear portion of a rear fender of a motor-vehicle, but that an arrangement ofisaidcasing in desirable proximity to said fender is permitted.

Another object is to-ha-ve the contacts or terminals of the socket and the contacts or terminals of the baseof a lamp connected to th socket adequately protected against the weather and against injury, and to ex clude dust and dirt from said contacts or terminals.

Another object is-not only'to produce ashort socket ofthecharacter' indicated and to protect the contacts of the socket by a removable cap, but to'have the construction of the socket such that said" cap requires little room for 'det-achingit'from or applying it to the body; of the socket. I

Another object isto facilitate the assemblage of the component partsof the socket, and to render the socket simple'and durable in construction, reliable in theperformance of its functions, and not liable to get out of order.

lVith these objects 'in'vievv, and to attain any other object hereinafter appearing, this invention consists in'=certai n m'eritoriousfeatures' of construction, and combinations and relative arrange'mentsjof "parts, hereinafter" described in this'fsp'ecification', pointed out in the claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In said drawi'ngs, Figure" 1 is a vertical section taken through a portion of a rear fender of a motor-vehicle and shows said fender provided with a bracket from which is supported a lamp-socket embodying my inventIQIL Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken along the l1ne'2 2, Fig. 1. Fig. Sis a View which, 1n the maln, is a horizontal section taken along the line 38, Fig. 1. Fig. 4: is a vertical section, in detail, taken along the line f14l, Fig. Fig. 5 is a view correspondlng wlth F 1g. 4, except as to the position of the movable part illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5. F 1g. 6 1s a vertical section, in detail, taken along the line 6-6, Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is a sec tion taken along the line 77, Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is a section taken along the curved line 88, Fig. 6. Fig. 9 is a section taken centrally through my improved lamp-socket without the cap for the socket. Fig. 10 is a section taken along the line 10-10, Fig. 9. Fig. 11 is a section taken along the line 11-11, Fig. 10. Figs. 1, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9,10 and 11 are drawn on a larger scale than Figs. 1, 2 and 3.

Referring to F igs. 1 and 3 ofsaid drawlngs, 15 indicates-the rear'portion of a rear metal fender of, a motor-vehicle, and 16 (Fig. 1) indicates a metal bracket projecting rearwardly and upwardly in relation to and supported from said fender. A metal casing 17 is'supported from said bracket and extends farther from the bracket in the direction of the fender 15 than in the opposite direction. Said casing is considerably larger in diameter at its outer end than at its inner end and flares toward its diametrically larger or outer end. Said casing (See Fig. 1) is provided at its diametrically larger or outer end with a lens 18 which is rem'ovably secured in place in any approved manner. Said lens is arranged in a vertical position and faces rearwardly in relation to the vehicle, for the purpose of indicating or signaling, to drivers of following vehicles upon the required illumination of the lens at the inner side of the lens, that movement of the signaling vehicle is being slowed or about to be arrested. Obviously the lens,

were it composed of light-transmitting redglass, would indicate danger upon the required illumination. An incandescent electric lamp, having its glass bulb 19 arranged internally of the casing 17, is employed in illuminating the lens 18, and said lamp is applied at its base to the hereinafter described socket, and said base (see Fig. 3) comprises an outer circumferentially extending metal shell 20 forming one of the terminals of said base and embracing a body of insulating material 21 which insulates said shell from the other or central terminalforming contact 22 of said base, and the lastmentioned contact protrudes at the outer end of said base.

The casing 17 (see Figs. 1, 3 and 9) is provided at its diametrically smaller or inner end and internally with an annular flange 23 the internal diameter of which measures enough more than the external diameter of the hereinbefore mentioned lampbase to permit the application and removal of said base through the space surrounded by said flange.

My improved socket comprises an externally circular insulating body 25 arranged externally of the casing 17 at the outer side of and concentric in relation to the flange 23 and secured in place as will hereinafter appear. The insulating body 25 has a central opening 26 which registers with the space surrounded by the flange 23 and extends through said body endwise of the socket. Said opening has the dimensions and contour required to permit the hereinbefore mentioned lamp-base to extend end.- wise therethrough, and in Figs. 1 and 3 said base is shown extending through said openmg.

The insulating body 25 abuts at its inner end face against the flange 23, and a rigid tubular metal shell 27 is arranged at and preferably abuts against the opposite end face of said body. The shell 27 is diametrically smaller than the insulating body 25 and in line endwise with and concentric in relation to the opening 26, and has the dimensions, contour and arrangement required to receive the hereinbefore mentioned lampbase through said opening. The shell 27 forms one of the contacts of my improved socket, and a metal plate 28, which is applied as will hereinafter appear and insu lated from said shell, forms the other contact of said socket and has a resilient member 30 extending opposite and spaced from the outer end of said shell and yieldable endwise of the socket. Said resilient member 30 is arranged to be pressed or moved somewhat outwardly, against the action of its resilience, by the central contact 22 of the lamp-base during the insertion of said base into place within the socket comprising the insulating body 25 and the shell 27. In Figs. 1, 2 and 3 said base is shown inserted into place within said socket. Figs. 1 and 3 show the terminal-forming shell 20 of said base as having a snug sliding fit internally of the socket-member 27 and therefore in electrical,

engagement with said socket-member. Figs. 1 and 3 show the central contact 22 of said base in electrical engagement with the resilient member 30. It will be observed there fore that the metal shell or contact 27 of the socket is arranged to be electrically engaged by one of the terminals of the lamp-base, and is adapted to be electrically connected to one of the terminals of an electric battery (not shown) or other source of electrical energy through the medium of a current-conduct ing wire 31 applied as will hereinafter appear, and that the other contact (28 and 30) of the socket is arranged to be electrically engaged by the other terminal of the lampbase and adapted to be electrically connected, as will hereinafter appear,.with the flange 23 and consequently with the casing 17 which is adapted to be electrically connected in any approved manner, and preferably through the medium of an electrical'connection comprising the bracket 16 and fender 15, with the other terminal of the aforesaid electrical source. Obviously therefore the electric circuit including theincandescent electric lamp isbroken when said lamp is removed from the illustrated socket, and that when the base of said lamp is in place within said socket, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, said circuit is closed as required to light the bulb of the lampand thereby to illuminate the signaling or sign-forming lens 18.

The metal shell 27 of the socket (see Fig. 9) is provided at its inner end, and consequently adjacent the outer end face of the insulating body 25, with a circumferentially extending flange 32 abutting against said body. The insulating body 25 is provided at its outer end face with two integral tubular insulating projections 33 which are substantially parallel with the shell 27 and spaced circumferentially of said shell and extend through the flange 32 and beyond the outer side of said flange. The flange 32 closely embraces the projections 33 so that said projections prevent circumferential displacement of and support the shell 27 and positively maintain said shell in accurate alinement with the opening 26 in the insulating body 25. It will be observed therefore that the shell 27 has portions formed by the flange 32 and embracing the projections 33 at the inner extremities of said projections. Each projection 33 is closely embraced, at the outer side of said flange 32, by a rigid insulating washer 35 which abuts against said side of said flange and is thick enough to extend beyond the outer-end of said projection. Each projection 33 em-. braces the shank 36 of a bolt which is substantially parallel withv the socket and has a head 37 arranged internally of the casing 17 and abutting against the inner side of the flange 23 of said casing. Obviously therefore each bolt-shank 36 extends through the flange -23,throngh and from end-to end of the insulating bodyxand through the proj ection 33 embracing saidzshankand through the insulating washer 35 zembracing said projection, beyond the outer side of said w-asher.- Eachwasher 35 ('see'Figs. 2, .9

I and 11;) extends .to and embraces the adjacent portionof the'shell 27 which is there fore reinforced externally :by: said washer,

and said :shell prevents displacement of said Washer circumferentially of the bolt surrounded by said washers At the outer side oft-"he insulating washer 35 on the shank 36 of one bolt (see Figs. .1, 3 and 9) is a nut 38 which is threaded onto said shank, and obviously, upon manipulating said nut during the assemblage of the parts as required to tighten it in relation to said washer,said washer, the flange :32 of the shell-27, the insulating body :25, .and the flange 23 of the casing 17 arerclamped together by andbetween said nut and the head 37 of said bolt,

tioned bolt. Obviously, upon manipulatingthe nut 39 during the assemblage of the parts as required to tighten it in relation to the plate 28, said plate, the adjacent washer 35,

. j the flange 82, the insulating body 25 and the fiange23 are clamped together by and between said nut and the head 37 of the lastmentioned bolt. The plate 28 is provided,

between the nut 39 and the shell 27, with an integral wing, 29 which projects in the direction of and beyond the outer end of said shell and terminates in the "resilient'member 30 of the contact comprising said winged plate. The plate '28 (seeFigs. 9 and 11.) has a flange 40 overlapping the adjacent portion of an edge of the adjacent washer 35, and said edge and said flange are arranged to prevent displacement of said plate circumferentially of the bolt on which said plate is mounted. :By the construction hereinbefore described :it will be observed that the nut 38 onone bolt isi spaced from the 'the mediumof thenut 39 and engaging bolt,

to the casing 17,:1and that the projections 33 insulate thexshell27'zfromthebolts and consequently from said casing.

The hereinbeforewmentioned wire 31 (see Figs. land'2') extendsithrough athole 41 which is formed in: the insulating body 25 and extends from the outer circumference of said insulating body inwardly and toward the shell 27'and to the outer end face ofsaid body, and is in electrical engagement with the flange 32 of said shell and secured to said flange by a screw 42.

Accidental detachment of the lamp-base from the socket is prevented by the conventional bayonetfjoint formed between said base and the shell 27, andtherefore said base, to detach'it from the socket, has to be manipulated as required to give it a part of onecomplete rotation in the required direction as well as longitudinal movement; The formation of bayonet joints is too well understood to require description in detail in.thisspecilication. Suffice it to state (see Figs. 1 2, 6,7 and 8) that preferably the I contact-forming shell 20 of the lamp-base is provided externally with two metal pins or projections spaced circumferentially of said shell, and that said shell at each projection 43 has a slot .45 which extends cii'cumierentially of'said base in the re quireddirection'from said projection which abuts against the adjacent end wall of said slottand preferably alsoaagainst the outer side of the flange 32, and the. resilient mem ber 30 acts to maintain thelamp-base in position with said projection in contact with saidfiange and said wall, so that a very effective electrical connection between r the members 20 and 27 at one end of said slot is insured. Each slot 4C5 extends at its opposite'endto the inner'extremity of the shell 27 and registers at said end with a groove i6 formed in the surrounding wall of the opening 26" in the insulating body 25 and extending from end to end of said body, as shown in Fig. 7. Said groove also registers at the outer end face of said insulating body 25 with a slot- 47 formed in the flange'32 and forming an extension of the adjacent slot 4:5 in the shell 27, and said slot at? in said flange and said groove 46 have the dimensions and arrangement required to permit the adjacent projection 43 to pass through said flange and through said insulating body during the application and removalot the lamp-base from the'socket.

My improvedsocket also comprises a re.- movable protective cap 50 which (see Figs. 1, 2 and 3) has a snug sliding fit on and embraces the insulating body 25 and abuts at its inner end against the casing 17 which forms a stop for limiting movement of the cap in sliding the cap onto said body. Preferably the relative contour and dimensions of the diametrically smaller end of the casing 17 and the inner end of the cap 50 aresuch that said cap not onlynbuts against said casing butclosely embraces said end of said casing. and by this construction a desirable oint 1S termed between the cap and said casing, and the internal flange 23 of said end of sa1d casings arranged wholly lnternally of the inner end portion of said cap'as desired to elfect a simple and compact assemblage of the parts. Said cap has the dimensions required to be spaced at its outer end from the resilient member 30 and to form a' housing'in which parts to be protected such, for instance, as the shell 27 and its flange 32, the washers 85, the nuts 88 and 39 and adjacent portions ofthe engag ing bolts, the contact comprising the resil-- ient member 30, and the outer end portion of the lamp-base, are inclosed'and adequately protected by said cap against the weather and against accidental injury, and dust and dirt are excluded from said parts by said cap. Obviously by my improved construction little space is required between 20 the cap 50 and the fender 15 for the removal and application of the cap. Improved means for preventing accidental detachment of the cap 50 from the insulating body 25 are provided and illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 4 and 5, and comprise recesses 51 which are formed, at the outer circumference of the inner endface of said insulating body, in and spaced circumterentially of said body. Each recess 51 is enlarged'at one end endwise of the insulating body 25, as at 52, so that at said end said recess extends to the outer end face of said body, and said recess is spaced between its enlarged end 52 and its opposite end from said face. The recesses 51 extend from their enlarged ends 52 circumferentially of the insulating body 25 in the same direction, and'the bottoms 53 of said recesses extend from said ends of said recesses toward the outer circumference of said body in said direction and form inclines. The cap 50 is provided, internally and at each recess 51, with a'projection 55 formed'by an inwardly offset portion of the cap and tightly engaging the incline-torming bottom 58 of said recess. Fig. a shows the bottom 53 of a recess 51 tightly engaged by a projection 55, and Fig. 5 shows the cap as having been manipulated as required to loosen said projection in relation to said bottom. The relative arrangement or" the parts is such that the cap 50 is free to be removed from the insulating body 25 upon rotating the cap in the direction and the extent required to'bring its projections 55 into engagement with the hereinbeiore mentioned enlarged ends of the recesses 51, and said enlarged ends of said recesses are large enough in dimensions to permit said projections to pass therethrough during the re.-

moval or application of the cap. Said cap" has a slot 56 registering with the outerend of the hole 41 in the insulating body 25 and extending endwise of the cap and arranged to permit the extension of the wire 31 through said slot into said hole 521, and said slot'exten'ds to the inner- 'extremity of the cap to prevent interference by said wire With the removal of the cap.

l Vhat I claim;is'

l. A socket for an incandescent electric lamp comprising-an externally circular insulating body having an opening which extends through said body endwise of the socket andis adapted to receive the base of saidlamp, a metal shell Which is opposite ne end'face of said insulating body and arranged and adapted to receive sald base through said opening andforms one contact of the socket, a resilientmember lnsulated froni'said'shell and participating in tom whi h extends toward'said circumfer ence in the direction of the last-mentioned end of the recess, and the cap being provided internally with a projection engaging said bottom. r

2. A socket for an incandescent electric lamp comprising an externally circular insulating body having aniopening which extends through said body endwiseof the socket and is adapted to receive the base of said lamp, a metal shell which is contiguous at one-end to one end face of said insulating body and arranged and adapted to receive said base through said opening and forms one contact'of the socket, a resilient member participating in the formation o1 the other contact otthe socket, and a removable cap housing and spaced from said shell and saidresilient member and embracing the aforesaidinsulating body, said body being provided at its outer circumference 'with circumferentially spaced recesses having enlarged ends extending to the aforesaid face, said recesses extending from their enlarged ends circumferentially of the last-mentioned face in the same direction, the bottoms of said recesses extending toward the outer circumference of said insulating body in said direction, and the cap being provided internally with projections engaging said bottoms.

3. A socket for an incandescent electric lamp comprising an insulating body having. an opening which extends through said body endwise of the socket and is adapted to receive thebase of s'aid'lamp', a metal shell arranged and adapted to receive said base through said opening and forming one contact of the socket, and a resilient member participating in the formation of the other contact of the socket and insulated from said shell and adapted to be electrically connected to one of the terminals of a source of electrical energy, anda removable cap surrounding-and spaced from and housing said shell and said resilient member and embracing the aforesaid insulating body, said body having a hole extending from the outer circumference of said body inwardly and toward said shell to receive a current-conducting wire adapted to be employed in electrically connecting said shell with the other terminal of said electrical source,said cap having a slot which extends endwise of and to the inner extremity of the cap and is arranged to permit the extension of the aforesaid wire into the aforesaid hole from the exterior of the cap.

4. A socket for an incandescent electric lamp comprising an insulating body having a central opening which extends through said body endwise of the socket and is adapted to receive the base of said lamp, a metal shell which is arranged in line endwise with and concentric in relation to said opening and smaller diametrically than and held to said insulating body and arranged and adapted to receive the aforesaid base through said opening and forms one contact of the socket, and a resilient member insulated from said shell and participating in the formation of the other contact of the socket, said shell being provided at the adjacentend face of the aforesaid insulating body with an external circumferentially extending flange abutting against said face, and'said body having projections which are spaced circumferentially of said shell and project into and are embraced by-said flange.

5. In combination, an insulating body having an opening adapted to receive the base of an incandescent lamp, a metal shell which is in line endwise with said opening and adapted to receive said base through said opening and forms one contact of the socket,

said insulating body having projections which are substantially parallel with and spaced circumferentially of said shell, and said shell having portions embracing the inner end portions and said projections, of rigid insulating members embracing the outer end portions of said projections and extending to and embracing the adjacent portions of said shell.

6. In combination, a casing adapted to extend circumferentially of an incandescent electric lamp and considerably larger in diameter at one end than at its other end and having an internal annular flange at its diametrically smaller end, an insulating body arranged at the outer side of said flange and having an opening adapted to receive the base of said lamp, a metal shell at the outer end face of said insulating body and insulated from the aforesaid casing and adapted to receive said base through said opening and forming a contact adapted to be engaged by one terminal of said base, a resilient member insulated from said shell and forming a contact adapted to be engaged by the other terminal of said 'base, and means whereby said resilient member, said shell, the aforesaid insulating body and the aforesaid flange are secured together. I

7. In combination, a casing adapted to extend circumferentially of an incandescent electric lamp and considerably larger in diameter at one end than at the other end and having an internal annular flange at its diametrically smaller end, an insulating body arranged at the outer side of said flange and having an opening adapted to receive the base of said lamp, a metal shell at the outer end face of said insulating body and insulated from the aforesaid casing and adapted to receive said base through said opening and forming a contact adapted to be engaged by one terminal of said base, a resilient member insulated from said shell and forming a contact adapted to be engaged by the other terminal of said base, means whereby said resilient member, said shell, the aforesaid insulating body and the aforesaid flange are secured together, and a removable cap housing said shell HIId'SiLlClIGSIllBIIt member and embracing said insulatingbody and the diametrically smaller end of the aforesaid casing.

8. The combination, with a'casing adapted 'to'extend circumferentiallyof an incandescent electric lamp, an insulating body arranged externally of and abutting against said casing andhaving an opening adapted to permit the base of said lamp to extend therethrough, a metal shell arranged and adapted to receive "said base through said opening arid forming one contact of the socket, and bolts spaced circumferentially of said shell and connected to the aforesaid casing and extending endwise of the socket and through said insulating body, said body being provided at each bolt with a tubular in sulating projection which embraces said bolt and is embraced by a portion of said shell, and said bolt extending beyond the outer end of said projection, of an insulating washer mounted on said projection at the outer side of the last-mentioned portion of said shell and thick enough to extend beyond the outer end of said projection, a nut threaded onto said bolt adjacent the outer side of said insulating washer, and a member forming the other contact of the socket and interposed between the nut on one bolt and the adjacent insulating washer and spaced from the aforesaid shell.

9. The combination, with a metal casing adapted to extend circumferentially of an incandescent electric lamp and having an internal flange atone end, an insulating body arranged at the outer side of said casingflange and having an opening adapted to receive the base of said lamp, a contact-forming'metal shell at the outer end face of said insulating body and arranged and adapted to receive said base through said opening, and spaced bolts connected to the aforesaid flange and extending endwise of the socket and through said insulating body, said body being provided, at its outer end face adjacent each bolt, with an integral tubular projection embracing said bolt, the aforesaid shell having a portion embracing said projection at said face, and said bolt extending beyond the outer end of said projection, of an insulating washer mounted on said projection at the outer side of said portion of said shell, a nut threaded onto said bolt adjacent the outer side of said washer and spaced from said projection, and a contactforming member interposed between the nut on one bolt and the adjacent insulating Washer and spaced from the aforesaid shell.

10. The combination, with a metal casing adapted to extend circumferentially of an incandescent electric lamp, an insulating body externally of and rigid with said casing and having an opening to receive the base of said lamp, a metal shell at the outer end face of said insulating body and arranged and adapted to receive said base through said opening and forming a contact arranged to be electrically engaged by one terminal of said base, and spaced bolts connected to the aforesaid casing and extending endwise of the socket and through said insulating body, said body being provided, at its outer end .face adjacent each bolt, with an insulating tubular projection embracing said bolt and embraced at said face by a portion of said shell, and said bolt extending beyond the outer end of said projection, of an insulating Washer mounted on said projection at the outer side of said portion of said shell, a nut threaded onto said bolt adjacent the outer side of said washer, and a metal plate between the nut on one bolt and the adjacent washer and spaced from the aforesaid shell and having an integral wing which is arranged between said nut and said shell and terminates in a member engageable by the other terminal of the aforesaid base.

11. The combination, with a casing adapted to extend circumferentially of an incandescent electric lamp, an insulating body externally of and rigid with said casing and having an opening adapted to receive the base of said lamp, a metalshell adapted to receive said base through said opening and forming a contact for one terminal of said base, and spaced bolts connected to the aforesaid casing and extending endwise of the socket, the aforesaid insulating body being provided, at the inner end of said shell adjacent each bolt, with an integral tubular projection which embraces said bolt and is embraced by a portion of said shell, of a rigid insulating washer mounted on said projection at the outer side of said portion of said shell, a nut threaded onto said bolt adjacent the outer side of said washer, and a metal plate between the nut on one bolt and the adjacent washer and having a member engageable by the other terminal of the aforesaid base, the last-mentioned washer having an edge embracing the aforesaid shell, said plate having a flange overlapping another edge of said last-mentioned washer, and the last-mentioned edge and said flange being arranged to prevent displacement of said plate circumferentially of the last-mentioned bolt. 7

In testimony whereof, I sign the foregoing specification, this 15th day of February, 1921.

OSCAR KROEHLE.

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