US1409948A - Combined resistance element and regulator - Google Patents

Description

W. A. HARVEY.

COMBINED RESISTANCE ELEMENT AND REGULATOR. APPLICATION FILED MAR-1, I92I- 1,409,948. Patented Mar. 21,1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

Z6 William 4. fl 3y W. A. HARVEY.

COMBINED RESISTANCE ELEMENT AND REGULATOR.

APPLICAHON FILED MAR. 1, 1921.

1,409,948. Patenwd Mar. 21, 1922.

EE 5 [5 4 W W i i fifi N 5 Xi PATENT OFFICE.

W'ILLIAM A. HARVEY. SCBANTON, PENNSYLVANIA.

COMBINED RESISTANCE ELEMENT AND REGULATOR.

Application filed. March 1, 15521.

To ([ZZ w/mm it may concern:

' Be it known that I, lVInLLm; A. ILXRVEY, a citizen of the United States. and a resident of the city of f 'zcranton county of liackawanna; and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful int provements in Combined Resistance Elements and Regulators, of which the following is a'specification.

My invention relates to a combined resistance element and regulator and particularly to an arrangement of this type especially designed, for use in connection with electric light ':handelier fixtures.

In standard electric light equipment there is a type of fixture known as shower fixture which comprises a pan to which the lamp sockets are attached in various relations. lVhile this general type of fixture is standard and universally used, thepan is made'in various shapes and sizes according to the particular design of fixture.

In general, however, this pan tapers toward the bottom and is of varied depths in order to accomplish the proper portions of symmetry in design.

It is, therefore, the primary purpose of my invention to provide a resistance element and regulator of such shape and proportions as to enable it to be contained within the pan of standard light fixtures whereby it will be'coneealed from view but may be inserted in the lighting circuit so that the brilliancy or candle power of the electric bulbs can be regulated. The resistance element is constructed so that itforms a unit which may be inserted as a whole in to these fixture pans without defacing or mutilating the fixture; y

In constructing the resistance element the general contour effected is similar to that of the pan so that the resistance element may be conveniently housed therein. Where the contour of the pan varies greatly with the tapering of the resistance element, I have provided meansfor elongating the taper of the resistance element so that it can accommodate itself to the shape of the pan.

7 Inconnection with the resistance element, I provide a regulator or contact device which is formed permanently with the'resistance element or made a part thereof. This regulater is disposed so that it can be conveniently'o eratedfrom a point outside of the pan am/by means which will. not destroy Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 21, 1922.

Serial No. 448,783.

the symmetry or finished appearance of the Fixture.

The various features and advantages of my invention will be made more apparent n the accompanying specification and draw- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a representative type of fixture equipped with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view with certain parts broken away of the resistance element 3 is a transverse section of the body of the fixture,

Fig. 4- is a plan view of the pan with the top cover removed.

Fig. 5 is a similar view with certain parts omitted.

(i is a diagrammatic View of the device connected to a lighting circuit and Fig. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view showingthe connection between the base and resistance element platform.

Referring now 'm'ore particularly to the drawings wherein 10 indicates the body or pan of the fixture provided with a cover 11 and a finishing cap or member 12. Through a link 13 connection is made with the usual supporting chain 14. Secured t0 the pan 10 are arms 15 from which are suspended the electric lights 16.

As clearly illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3 the pan 1.0 is formed with an open top 17 and tapers in general contour to a bottom cone point 18. The pans in this general class of shower fixtures approximates the tapered contour illustrated in the drawings and it is within this pan that I intend housing the resistance element forming the subject matter of this invention. The construction of the resistance element is, therefore, particularly designed and comprises a base 19 which is substantially pen-shaped and provided with a narrow vertical side wall 20. Disposed within the base 19 is a plate 21 of any suitable insulating material adapted to support the regulator or contact device and to insulate it from the base.

The wall 20 of the base isv provided with radiall disposed projections or lugs 22 provided with threaded apertures. Spaced above the base 19 is a resistance unit supporting platform 23 which is in the form of a rinoand provided with radially disposed projections 24-. The platform 23 is spaced from. the base and rigidly secured thereto by means of washers 24' and bolts 25. The bolts 25 pass through the platform 23 and the Washers 24' and are screwed into the screw-threaded openings in the lugs 22. By varying the number of washers 24 and consequently the length of the bolt 25, the space between the platform 23 and the base 19 may be regulated, for a purpose to be more fully hereinafter described.

Three of the lugs 24 have secured thereto fiber plugs 26 suitably recessed on one of their faces to receive a circular resistance member or unit 27. These fiber plugs are secured to their respective lugs or projec tions by bolts'28 passing through them vertically and into the lug. In order to prevent rotation of the fiber plugs each of the three supporting lugs may be provided with an upstanding rib 29 which abuts the fiber plug and retains the same properly positioned for supporting the resistance unit. It is obvious that rotation of the fiber ugs may be prevented in various ways, such for instance, as dowel pins formed upon the plugs and projecting into the apertures in the supporting lugs. The other three sup porting lugs or projections 24 are provided with a sheet of fiber or other insulating material 30 upon which the resistance unit is adapted to lie.

For providing support for the resistance element at the top thereof, I secure to'the platform 23 a supporting spider 31. This spider is secured to the supporting platform by suitable bolts 32 and is formed with a screw threaded aperture at its center to receive a short piece of pipe The other end of this pipe is in screw threaded engagement with a hickey 34, which, in turn is screw threadedly connected to a pipe 35 whereby connection may be made with :the finishing cap 12 of the fixture. Wires from the lighting circuit pass out through the hickey 34 for connection with the electric light bulbs and the resistance unit.

Upon the fiber plate 21 I mount the regulator or contact pieces for controlling the amount of resistance interposedin the lightmg circuit. This regulator consists essentially of superposed contact members of which two are spring contact plates 36 and 37 arranged as clearly illustrated with their free ends in' substantial alignment. The spring contact plate 36 is arranged lowermost and secured immediately upon the plate 21 while the contact member 37 is spaced somewhat over the plate 21 by the intervention of a fiber washer or spacing element 38. The third contact member is in the form of a rigid strap or stop 39 secured at both ends to the plate 21 and spaced therefrom by the intervention of two fiber washers or spacing elements 40. Normally the. contact-s 36 37 and 39 do not touch one another and it is when they are brought into successive engagement that portions of the resistance is'cut out of the lighting circuit.

For effecting this engagement of the con- .tact faces I have provided a mechanism which is operable preferably from the lower end 18 of the pan. To accomplish this the plate 21 is apertured centrally as indicated at 41 to register with a suitable aperture 42 in the base 19. The aperture 42 in the base is formed with a shoulder 43 and the lower end of the aperture is screw threaded to provide for engagement of a short section of pipe 44. This section of pipe 44 extends a short distance beyond the end 18 of the pan and has screw threaded thereon a clam ing member 45. By the parts just descri ed the resistance element as a whole is secured firmly within the pan i and accidental. displacement of the same prevented. The lower end of the clamping member 45 is provided with internal screw threads which engage with the screw threads on an operating rod 46. This rod passes up through the pipe 44 and abuts against the lower end of a movable fiber plug 47. This fiber plug rests upon the shrmlders 4.3 of the base 19 and its upper end is immediately adjacent the lower spring contact member The lower end of the rod 46 is provided with a knob or end 48 which may be decorative so as to harmonize with the fixture. It is obvious, therefore, that by rotating the rod 46 in the proper direction it will move the plug 47 upwardly and cause the contact members to successively engage one another to cut out portions of the resistance from the lighting circuit.

By referring now more particularly to Fig. 6 I will describe the manner in which .he resistance unit interposed in the lighting circuit is controlled. The lamps 16 are illustrated diagrammatically in this figure and are shown as connected in parallel. The source of power is indicated by the numeral 49.

()ne wire, in this instance, the positive wire 50, is connected to the contact 36. A lead wire 51. connects the contact 36 to one end of the resistance unit 27. A second lead wire 52 is connected to the resistance unit intermediate its length to connect the unit to contact 37. A third lead wire 53 connects the other end of the resistance unit to the contact 39. A lead wire 54 connects the series of lamps 16 with the conta t 39.

When the contact are separated as iliwtrated in Fig. 3, current flowing from the. positive side of the circuit goes through Win- 50 to contact 36, thence through wire 51 to the resistance unit. It flows through the en tire resistance unit and thence through lead wire 53 to contact 39 and from contact 39 through wire 54 to the lamps which as hereinbefore stated, are connected in parallel. From the lamps it flows to the negative side the source of burn. at a somewhat greater brillance inas- .sequently causing the degree of brilliance is lowest inasmuch as the entireunit of resistance is interposed in the-circuit to the lamps.

If, now, the rodv l6 be rotated to move the plug -17 upwardly it will cause contact 36 to impinge contact 37 and the circuit will be as follows: From the positive side of the source o'tcurrent through wire 50, contact 36, contact 37, lead wire to that portion of the resistance unit which is disposed between the point of connection of the wire 52 and that of the wire 53. The current, therefore, flows through this portion of the resistance unit, through wire 53, contact 39, lead wire 54 to the lamps and thencefto the negative side of power. In this instance, lamps much as only a portion of the resistance unit is interposed in the lamp circuit.

It, now, the rod 46, be rotated further, it will cause contact 37 which is already impinged by contact 36 to impinge contact 39. Because of therigidity of contact, 39 liability of rotating the rod 46 too far and conthe contacts to, be unduly bent or to touch themetal spider, is eliminated. When the three contacts engage one another the circuit is as follows: From thepositive side of the sourceof current it flows through-lead wire 50, contacts 36, 37 and 39 through i to the negative side of the source of current.

lead wire 54L to thelamps and thence In this instance, the entire resistance unit is short circuited or practically cut out of the lighting circuit and the lamps burn at full brilliance.

For insulating the lead wires 51, 52 and 53 tromthe' resistance element supporting platform suitable insulating sleeves 55 are provided through which these wires extend. Also it is desirable to house the portion of the device containing the spring contacts by insulation and in the drawings 1 have illustrated one way of accomplishing this. A collar or ring of insulating material 56 is disposed vertically between the periphery of the insulating plate 21 and the upstanding wall 20 of the base 19 as clearly illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3. This collar is suitably slotted at its upper edge for the arms of the spider and the insulating sleeves 55. A flat plate of insulating material 57 suitably apertured at its center is placed over the hickey 34: and sections of pipe 33 and 35 until it lies against the top face of the spider. In this position it will contact the upper edge of the insulating collar 56 and form therewith a housing for the regulating device. Forsecuring this plate 57 in position screws 58 may be provided in the arms of the spider to cooperate with bayonet slots 59 in the plate.

In inserting this device in the pan of a fixture the top cover 11 and finishing cap 12 will be disconnected and the device set in the pan. The section of pipe 44 will be caused to' project slightly beyond the bottom end of the pan and the clamping element 45 screwed thereon. This causes the element to repose snugly in the pan.

The clamping element 45 also provides means "for mounting the rod 46 which is used to operate the regulating device. The regulating device may be easily connected to the usual lighting circuit as illustrated diagrammatically in Figure 6. The fixture when the other parts have been assembled has the advantages of variable lighting but the parts which control this variable degree of brilliance ot the-lamps are-completely housed and hidden within the parts of fixture.

As stated hereinbei'ore, the universal type of shower fixtures all embody thetapering pans, these pans, however, varying in dimensions and exact contour to some degree. The arrangement of the parts of the resistance element is such that they accommodate themselves to the general contour of these pans. If, however, the contour of the pan were more elongated, for instance, from top to bottom, than that illustrated in Figure 3, it .would' be imperative that the resistance unit 27 be raised somewhat so as to space it from the walls otthe pan, it being assumed that because of the elongated shape of the pan that the walls would be disposed close to the resistance element. -VVith the structure described, this is compensated for by the interposition of removable washers 24' disposed between the base 19 and the supporting plat form of the resistance element. Conse quently the resistance platform and the resistance unit maybe elevatedas desired from the base 19 in order to space it from the tapering walls of the pan.

Various details of my invention may be altered in many respects without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. the essential :Feature of the invention residing in the entire construction which results in a separatable unit adaptedto be conveniently reposed in the pan of standard lightin fixtures. I particularly reserve the rig t to make the necessary and obvious modifications of the structure illustrated in the drawings.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

l. A resistance element for use in connection with a chandelier fixture provided with a tapered pan, comprising a base, a platform spaced from said base, a resistance unit supported by said platform, a regulating device mounted on said base, means for securing said base to said pan and means for operating the regulating device.

2. A separable resistance element adapted for use with an electrical fixture provided contact faces.

cular base, an insulating plate in said base,

asupporting platform, a resistance unit carried by said platform, means for spacing saidplatform from said base and for rigidly securing the same thereto, a multi plicity of superposed spring contact plates carried by said insulating plate, means for connecting said contact plates to said resistance unit, said unit and contact plates adapted to be interposed in the lighting circuit, means for removably securing said base to the pan, and means projecting through said securing means and operable from without said pan for controlllng the 4. A' resistance element adapted to be contained within the tapering pan of shower type electric light fixtures, comprising a circular base, a ring provided with radially disposed projections and forming a supporting platform, a resistance unit'carried by said platform, said supporting platform being of a larger diameter than said base, a

pipe screw threaded to said base and projecting through the lower end of said pan, a

clamping element secured thereto, a resistance regulating device carried by said base, means extending through said pipe and operable from Without the pan, for controlling the regulating device, said resistance unit and regulating device being interposed in the lighting circuit of the fixture.

5. The combination of a tapering pan of a shower type electric light fixture with a separable resistance element provided with a similar tapering contour, said resistance element comprising a base, a supporting platform of larger diameter than said base, a resistance unit carried by said platform, meansfor securing said platform upon said base at variable distances, an insulating plate carried by said base, said insulating plate being provided with a centrally disposed aperture, surperposed spring contacts carried by said plate, said base being provided with an aperture registering with the aperture of said plate, a pipe screw-threadedly connected to said base and projecting outside of said pan, a clamping member screw-threadedly engaging the projecting end of said pipe for securing said base to said pan, a plug disposed in the registering apertures of said plate and base, means extending through said pipe for moving said plug vertically to cause said contacts to engage one another, said contacts and said resistance unit being connected and interposed in the electric light circuit, an insulating collar surrounding said insulating plate and an insulating cover plate resting upon saidjcollar and forming an insulating housing, substantially as described.

WILLIAM A. HARVEY.

Images