US1400803A - Electrical apparatus - Google Patents

Description

D. CONLAN, JR. ELECTRICAL APPARATUS.

APPLICATION mio nzc. 24. 1920.

Patentedl Dec.. 20, E921.

UNITED STATES PATENT orifice.

:DAVID CGNLIN, JR., 0F BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

ELECTRICAL APPARATUS.

Monaca.

Application filed December 24, 1920. Serial No. 432,983.

To all whom z' may concern:

Be it known that I, DAVID CoNLAN, Jr., a citizen of the United States, and a. resident of Brooklyn, Kings county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electrical Apparatus, of which the following isa specification.

My present invention relates to current extension apparatus for marine and water tight uses.

fs The objects of the invention are to prvide commercially practicable and desirable apparatus of the character referred to, which will be useful for a great variety of purposes. l

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated different practical embodiments of the invention, but wish it understood that such villustration is primarily for purposes of disclosure and that various changes and modifications may be resorted to withoutv departure from the true spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter dened and claimed.

In the drawings referred to,`Figure l is a longitudinal sectional view of several of the different units connected inoperative relation, certain of the parts appearing in elevation. Fig. -la is a vfragmentary sectionall view illustrating a detail of construction.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan View of the second switch unit, which carries the through-circuit and also controls a cord outlet. i

Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross sectional view as taken en substantially the plane of line 3-3 of Fig. l.

Fig. 4 is a detail plan view ofthe detachable fuse disk. Fig.V 4a is a broken sectional view of the snap fastening for the fuse disk. v

In Fig. I -have illustrated a set of six ofthe units joined as detachable elements of a pair of extensible bus bars.

The first element, designated by the reference character A, serves simply as a current .outlet, being provided with contacts forv engagement by the projecting blades of the second element B which constitutes a throughswitch for controlling the Succeeding units. The third unit C carries the.

elements of the through-circuit and also a switch controlling a' cord circuit. The

fourth element D is a Athrough-circuit mem# ber having attached to its blades a fuse disk at E for the protection of the cord circuit extending therefrom. The neX't element F of the set is a fuse unit carrying cartridge fuses protecting the succeeding units. The next unit G' is a through-circuit unit provided with a current outlet to receive the plug of a cord circuit.

` The irst or primary outlet member cornprises a base l5 provided with wire termi nals 16 and having insulating sockets 17 in which are located spring terminal contacts :18. for engagement by the blades of the adjoining unit. n

This base, like the bases of the succeeding units, is supported in a water-tight casing, which consists in this particular instance of a surrounding sleeve or collar 19 provided at its lower end with an inturned flange 20 for the support of the base and having connected with its upper end a head or cover 2l provided with a screw threaded neck for engagement with the piping of a,

conduit system. The sleeve element 19 is shown as having a screw threaded lower end 22 to receive the coupling flange 23 of the adjoining unit. rllhis coupling flange or ring is shownV as held to the shell 19 of the adjoining 'unit by a ring 24.screwed onto the upper end of the shell soas to form a shoulder for the inturned flange 25 of the coupling, said ring 24 also having an inwardly extending llange 26 overlying the` switch structure having a movable contact 27 operated by push buttons 28' and arranged to bridge the relatively stationary contacts 29, 30, the first, of which is connected with one of the projecting'bladesjl at one endof the switch and the latter of which is connected with a contact 32 seated 'in an insulating pocket 33 in the opposite end of the switch and standing in position to be engaged by onel of the projecting blades 34 of the succeeding unit. The otherv projecting blade 35 of the-'through-circuit controlling switch is shown as directly connected by means of a screw-36 or the like with a terminal contact 37 seated in al recess 38 in the bottom of the switch in position to be engaged by the other projecting blade 39 of the succeeding unit. The push buttons or operating devices of the switch described arc shown as protected by suitable waterproof diaphragms 4() of rawhide. or the like. Y

The water-tight shell of the section described, and in fact the shells of all the sections may be provided with outstanding flanges such as I have shown at 4l above the threaded lower ends thereof to prevent injury to the screw threads yas for instance when the devices are knocked about the deck of a ship. The project-ing blades 3l. 39 by which the unit C is coupled in circuit, are both connected by through screws 42 with current extension terminals 43 seated in insulating sockets in the lower' end of this unit and arranged for engagement by the projecting blades 44 of the next unit D. As shown more clearly iii Fig. 2, one of the contact blades. 34, is provided with a binding post -15 to receive one wire of the cord circuit 46 and the other wire of the cord circuit is connected with a binding post 47 which is electrically` connected as by means of a screw 4S with the switch mechanism indicated generali)7 at it). the other side of said switch mechanism being connected as by means of the screw 50 with the base of the other contact blade 39.

In this manner a continuation circuit is pro-- vided through the unit and the switch which it carries controls a branch outlet or cord circuit'for an exploration lamp or the like. A gland or suitable water-tight packing is shown provided at 51 where the cord 16 leaves the water-tight casing.

The through-circuit unit D like the preceding unit has sockets in its lower end containmg terminal posts 52 connected with the pro- ,.'ecting blades 44 at the upper end thereof.

h1s unit also has a cord outlet, as I have' indicated at 53, and this cord circuit is protected by fuse links 54 (Fig. 4) carried by a i disk or concealed between disks of insulating material which haveeyelets 56 to lit over and make electrical. contact with the connecting-in blades 44 and elements'r similarto one of the members of a so-called snap fastener which engage corresponding intertitting elements 58 on the terminal plates. 59

A which are provided withbinding posts 60 for ing-in blades and replacing the same with a new fuse disk.

-Xt the extension unit I" the through-circuit is fused by means of cartridge fuses 61 seated in sockets in the insulating base of this member and' electrically connected at their upper ends with the connecting-in blades 62 and electrically connected at their lower ends with the circuit extension contacts G3 seated in the insulating sockets in the lower end of this unit. These fuses are shown as resting on springs G-l at their lower ends electrically connected with the extension terminals and as held in their sockets at the upper ends by the screw 65 in electrical connection with the bases of thc connecting-in blades 62.

The last ofthe through-circuit units shown in Fig. l has a pair of the connecting-in blades (5G atthe upper end thereof and is .provided as in the preceding cases'with current extension terminals 67 in insulating sockets in itslower end to enable the connection of other units in circuit. This member has a branch outlet consisting of a pair of plates 68. arranged to receive the projecting blades 69 of the attachmentplug T0 of the cord circuit and electricallyconnected with the through connectors 71 of this member. 'hen no more units are to be added, the sockets in the end of the last member may be protected by a water-tight cap 72 screwed onto the'lower threaded end ofthe last casing.

rThe example given is just one illustration of the way in which theunits may be coupled and it will be understood that these units may be connected in many different relations 'to meet various requirements. -The first "switch unit controls the through-circuit and hence controls the circuit of any and all succeeding units which may be coupled thereto. The second switch unit on the other hand merely controls the cord or branch circuit led off therefrom and provides through connections for the next member. The branch circuit member D provides a through connection and by reason of the detachable fuse disk and the special connections associated therewith protects the branch circuit. The unit F which is plugged into the unit D provides fuses in bothsides of the through-circuit so that the succeeding unit or units are coupled in o'n a fused line.. This is quite desirable where the units are extended beyond a certain point. The last unit shown (G) provides through-circuit connections (not utilized in this particular case) and a branch outlet receiving the blades of an attachment plu-g. This outlet may receive the blades of any of the other units illustrated and described. cord circuit at this point wereto control a soldering iron or the like, one of the throughcircuit controlling switches such as illustrated at B might be interposed at this point For instance, if the the tlnough-circuit or the branch circuits,

etc., and that as said units are readily interchangeable, various combinations can be easily effected to suit different requirements. rll`he marine fittings have the advantage that the units are mechanically coupled together so that any separa-ting strains will be taken care of by these mechanical connections, thereby relieving the electrical plug connections of all strain. I have not attempted to show all the uses to which the invention may be put or all the various ways in which it may be modified, and I therefore wish it understood that the terms which I have used. in disclosing and claiming this invention are used in a descriptive rather than in a limiting sense, except as may be required by the prior art. j

What I claim is: y

1. A continuous electrical outlet comprising a sectional tubular casing, of short casmg sections connected by means provlding' readily separable water-tight joints, insulating bases secured-in said casing sections With their opposite ends exposed at the oppositeends of the respective sections, circuitcontinuing connections extending through said bases and complementary connecting-in contacts and through-circuit terminals at the opposite exposed ends ofthe individual bases and inl circuit with said through-connections, the Water-tight connecting means of the casing sections being-constructed, to enable the j electrical engagement of the complementary contacts and terminals lwhen adjacent casing Sections are coupled together.

2. A continuous electrical outlet comprising al sectional tubular casing, of short casing sections connected by means providing readily separable Water-tight joints, insulat-` ing bases secured in said casing sections with vtheir opposite ends exposed at the opposite ends of the respective sections, circuit-continuing connections extending through said bases and complementary connecting-in contacts and through-circuit terminals at the opposite exposed ends of the individual bases and incircuit with said through-connections, the water-tight connect-mg means of the cas'- 'ing sections being constructed to enable the electrical engagement of the complementary contacts and terminals When adjacent caslng sections are coupled together, one of said casing sections having means providing a Water-tight branch circuit out-let and one of the'insulating bases having branch terminals for said outlet.

3. A continuous electrical outlet comprising a sectional tubular casing of lshort casing Sections provided with shoulders and con- .nected by means providing readily separable Watertight joints, insulating bases supported on the shoulders within said casing sections with their opposite ends exposed at the opposite ends of the respective sections` circuitcontinuing connections extending through said bases, connecting-in blades and complementary through-circuitsocket ter- 'minals at the opposite exposed ends of the individual bases and in circuit with said through-connections, the water-tight connectlng means of the casing sections heilig constructed to enable the engagement ot' the complementary blades and socket. terminals when adjacent casing sections are coupled together.

4. A continuous electrical outlet comprising a sectional'tubular casing, ot' shortcasing sections, each oi said casing sections provided at its opposite ends with the complementary parts of a readily detachable watertight-coupling for mechanically securing `together.adjacent casing sections in V,'Water-tight relation, insulating bases secured'insaidc'asin` sections with their opposite ends expose at the opposite ends ot the respective sections, circuit-continuing connections extending' through said bases and ycomplementary connecting-in contacts and through-,circuit terminals at the opposite ends of the individual bases and in circuit with said through-connections, the complementary members of the Water-tight coupling means being constructed to enable electrical engagement of thel complementary contacts and terminals when adjacent casing sections are coupled together in their watertight relation.`

5. A continuous electrical outlet comprising a sectional tubular casing, of short casing sections, each of said casing sections provided at its opposite ends with the complementary vparts 0f a readily detachable Water-tight coupling for mechanically' securing togetherv adjacent casing sections in Water-tight relation, insulating bases secured o with said through-connections, the complementary members out the Water-tight coupling. means being constructed l. to enable electrlcal engagement of the complementary contacts and terminals when adjacent casing sections are coupled together, a primary outlet unit having a casing provided with a coupling member' complementary to the coupling members of the other casing units and containing terminals for a feed circuit with electrically connected through-circuit terminals complementary -to the connectingin contacts ot' other casing sections and a water-tight cover unit having a coupling member complementary to the coupling members ot other casing sections and the coupling member of the primary outlet casing section. whereby said cover may be applied as a water-tight closure either direct to the primary outlet casing or to the end of a casing section coupled to Vthe primary outlet casing.

G. A water-tight electrical connecting unit comprising a tubular casing section having the complementary members of a Watertight coupling at the opposite ends thereof, an insulating hase secured in said casing section with its opposite ends exposed at the opposite ends of said sectionfcircuit continuing connections extending through said base and complementary connecting-in contacts and through-circuit terminals on the opposite exposed ends of the base and in circuit with said through-connections, branch circuit terminals on the base, the casing section having anoutlet for said branch circuit terminals and a water-tight packing at said branch outlet.

7 A continuons electrical 'outlet comprising insulating bases in endto-end relation, means mounting the respective bases and connected in watertight inclosing relation thereto, complementary connecting-in contacts and through-circuit terminals at the opposite ends of the respective insulating bases and electrically connected to provide through-circuit connections when adjoining bases are coupled together in their watertight relation, a primary outlet unit provided with terminals for feed circuits, electricallyv connected tlnoughf-circuit terminals complementary to the connecting-in contacts of other units and water-tight coupling means complementary' to the coupling means of other units, to thereby enable the coupling of such other units to said primary outlet unit and a water-tight cover provided with coupling means complementary to the coupling means of said primary outlet unit and of the several sections aforesaich In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 22nd day of December, 1920.

DAVID CONLAN, JR.

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