US1758078A

US1758078A - Device for placing and removing lamp bulbs

Info

Publication number: US1758078A
Application number: US329288A
Authority: US
Inventors: Harold D Grinnell
Original assignee: G C A Manufacturing Co
Current assignee: G C A MANUFACTURING Co
Priority date: 1928-12-29
Filing date: 1928-12-29
Publication date: 1930-05-13
Anticipated expiration: 1947-05-13

Description

H. D. GRINNELL m 6 w w 4 m a 6 w j T 61\ 8 I & a 6 M 4 Y 8 III 6 9 I Q a w a e 8% M a May 13, 1930.

DEVICE FOR PLACING AND REMOVING LAMP BULBS H. D. GRINNELL A A A A W CM .v 1 M M Z w M 8 waw 4 w-m 0 DEVICE FOR PLACING ANDREMOVING LAMP BULBS May 13, 1930.

Patented May 13, 1930 UNETE HAROLD D. GRINNELL, OF PITTSFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIG-NOR TO THE G. G. A. MANUFACTURING COMIANY, OF PITTSFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS DEVICE FOR PLACING AND REMOVING LAMP BULBS Application filed December 29, 1928. Serial No. 329,288.

This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for placing and removing detachable objects in elevated positions, such, for example, as incandescent lamp bulbs, and

aims to provide novel and improved means for accomplishing this operation. As explained in my copending application Serial No. 261,236, device for placing and removing lamp bulbs, of which the present device is a modification, this invention is designed more particularly, but not exclusively, for application to lamps mounted in elevated positions and which, by reason of'the size and shape of reflectors associated therewith, or other peculiarities in surroundings, can be conveniently removed and replaced only by being gripped laterally, and not endwise as is the usual practice.

The invention will best be understood. from a description of a specific useful embodiment thereof, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein,

Fig. 1 is a front elevation, partly in section, showing the device in the closed position and operatively applied to a lamp bulb;

Fig. 2, a similar view, showing the device in the open position;

Fig. 3, a side elevation on the vertical section line 33 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrow; and

Fig. 4, a sectional top view on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2, showing the belt guides and associated parts, the belt having been removed. a

In the present embodiment, a pair of clamping members in the form of arms 10, 11, each arm comprising apair of plates arranged in parallel are provided at their upper extremities with recessed or

concave jaws

13, 14, adapted to grip a lamp bulb 15 or other object having a convex surface, about its middle Suitable means are provided, hereinafter described in detail, to rotate the lamp bulb in either direction while thus engaged for mounting it in, or removing it from, its socket.

The clamping arms are each pivotally secured at their lower ends by suitable means, such as the cross pins 16, to a reciprocative support or carrier 17 mounted between the stationary frame plates 18 fixed to a swivel base member 19 carried on the upper extren1- ity of a portable rod 20 of indefinite length. Elevation of the clamping arm support or carrier 17, which permits spreading the

jaws

13, 14 to receive the lamp bulb, is accomplished by the operator by exerting a downward pull upon a belt 21 removably secured at its opposite end to a cross pin 22 constituting one of a pair of spacing members preferably employed to secure in fixe d relation the lower ends of the opposing plates or side portions of the carrier 17, the bight or intermediate portion of the belt being looped around a roller 23 rotatively mounted on a cross pin 24 secured between the frame plates 18. The lower or freeend of the belt 21 is preferably provided with an extension portion, such as the pull cord 12, extending downward into position to be conveniently grasped by the operator. Upward movement of the carrier 17 with the clamping arms 10, 11, is yieldingly opposed by suitable means such as the coil contraction spring 25 suspended within the frame or side plates 18 and removably secured at opposite ends to the

grooved pins

26, 27 which are in turn secured respectively between the upper ends of the carrier plates 17 and the lower ends of the frame plates 18, the pin 26, which also serves as a spacing member for the upper end of the carrier and consequently movable therewith, is preferably formed with reduced end extension portions 28 (see Fig. 3) extending freely into the longitudinal guide-slots 29 provided therefor in the frame plates 18. The remaining pin 27, being secured to the side plates of the frame, is stationary. The carrier 17 is also guided in its movements at its lower end preferably by a pair of guide studs 30 providedv on the carrier, one on each side thereof, and arranged to extend freely through longitudinal slots 31, similar to and in alignment with the slots 29, provided in the frame plates 18.

The spring 25 is under constant tension, exerting a downward pull on the carrier, and serves to return the carrier to its lower limit of movement when no opposition is offered. This action of the spring and carrier tends to draw the clamping arms 10, 11 into the closed position, causing the aws to grip firmly the lamp bulb or other object interposed. The closing of the clamping arms during their downward movement is induced by the cooperative action of the carrier and the inward pressure exerted on the arms by their engagement with spacing pins 32 carried on the frame at an intermediate point in its length and extending between the side plates 18, the outward curvature of the arms, shown in Figs. 1 and 2, being designed to facilitate this closing movement.

hen the clamping mechanism as a w iole has been adjusted to the desired angle with respect to the rod 20 through the medium of the base 19, the application of the clamping arms to an object, such as a lamp bulb, is accomplished by first spreading; the arms through the medium of the pull cord 12 as above described. The

jaws

13, 14, while in the open position, are then presented to the object laterall so as to grip it firmly about the middle and in a plane transverse to its axis, the formation of the jaws bein designed to obviate contact with reflectors or other adjacent objects or attachments. In this posi tion the bulb is disposed within the concavity formed on the opposing faces of the jaws, as seen in Fig. 1, and seated at three points, namely the finger-like extremities of the jaws, which are inturned for the purpose, and the top of the frame plates 18, each of these supporting points being provided with a spool roller designated as 33, 33, 34, freely mounted on

pins

35, 36 carried on the frame. The flanges of these rollers prevent endwise displacement of the engaged object while in motion and also serve to true up its position after insertion, thus reducing any wobbling tendencies of the bulb when its axis is not disposed at a right angle to the plane of movement of the aws.

To rotate the lamp bulb or other object when in the gripped position for the purpose of screwing it into or unscrewing it from the lamp socket, I provide separate suitable means, such a circulatory belt 37, independently operated, composed preferably of woven fabric or other flexible material, and positioned and adapted to frictionally on page with the surface of the bulb. This belt is carried on the rollers 33 provided at the upper extremity of the clamping arms and extends downward on both sides of the device an indefinite leng th to points within convenient reach of the operator. After ing over the rollers 33 on both clamping arms, the bight of the belt is drawn clownward substantially in parallel lines under separate rollers 38, 39 on either side carried by the clamping arms at the lower ends of the jaws and again over the roller 34 which is provided at the top of the frame and serves as a supporting point for the bulb as best shown in Figs. 1 and 2. In this manner the belt circulates around the inner faces of the jaws of the clamping arms and in position to frictionally engage the surface of the bulb, movement of the belt in one direction or the other being adapted to rotate the bulb in the opposite direction while still supported by the jaws in the closed position. As shown, the rollers 38, 39, at the lower ends of the

jaws

13, 14 are so arranged with reference to the upper pair of rollers 33 that when the belt drawn taut it contacts with the lamp bulb at diametrically opposite points immediately below the upper pair of rollers.

The outer or depending portions of the belt 37 are preferably secured against outward displacement at their ends and below the rollers 33 by engagement with the spreader pins 40 provided thereat and securing the opposite side plates in each of the

jaws

13, 14, said pins being arranged to direct the belt slightly inward in. movable engagement with the respective rollers The ends of the belt are preferably given a quarter turn below the rollers 33 and held in parallel relation on opposite sides of the frame by suitable supporting journal members 41, which carry

rollers

42, 43 arranged in pairs and permitting free passa are of the belt therebetween, said journal members being detachably connected to each other by an axle 44 which also forms a pivot for the base member 19. This base member 19 is rotatably supported between parallel plates 45 fixed in upright position in the end of the rod 20 and adapted to grip opposite faces of the base member by appropriate adjustable clamping means, such as the screw and thumb nut 46, herein shown, and thereby to support the clamping mechanism at any desired angle with respect to the rod 20. The journal members 41 are adapted to automatically turn slightly on their common axis, assuming a position offerinnleast resistance to the free passage of the belt and yielding to its pressure when the clamping mechanism is shifted to assume an angular position on the rod.

One of the journal members 41 may also be made to serve as guide support for the pull cord 12, which is here shown extending downward in parallel relation at this point to the belt 37, being passed between a separate pair of rollers 47 see Fig. 4) separated from the main or belt rollers by a spacing mem ber 48 and journaled on the axles thereof. The cord 12, where it joins the spreader belt 21 may be connected thereto by any suitable means. such as the stirrup buckle 49.

It will be observed that the entire clamping mechanism may be turned and adjusted on the rod to assume any desired angle within an arc of at least semi-circular dimensions found necessary for convenient application to the lamp bulb or other object.

The invention is not restricted to the precise form of embodiment herein shown, and

is susceptible of any modifications in embodiment coming within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim 1. In a device of the class described, in combination, clamping members for gripping an object laterally and disposed in a plane transverse to the longitudinal axis of the object when applied thereto, means for spreading the clamping members, means for actuating the clamping members into the gripping position, and separate means for rotating the object when in the gripped position.

2. In a device of the class described, in combination, clamping members for gripping an object laterally and within the longitudinal limits of the object, said clamping members being applied thereto by movement toward the object in a plane transverse to the axis of the object, means for securing the clamping members in the gripping position, means in addition to said securing means and inclusive of parts thereof for releasing the clamping members, and independent means for rotating the object while in the gripped position.

3. In a device of the class described, in combination, clamping members adapted to grip a lamp bulb laterally and disposed in a plane wholly within the longitudinal limits of the bulb, clamping arm releasing means, means cooperating with and in addition to parts of said securing means for releasing the clamping members, and separate means for imparting to the lamp bulb a rotary movement in either of opposite directions.

4. In a device of the class described, incombination, clamping arms for gripping a lamp bulb laterally and disposed for application thereto in a plane transverse to the axis of the lamp bulb, releasing means for permitting the clamping arms to spread apart to receive the same, means cooperating with and in addition to said releasing means for actuating the clamping arms into the closed position, and means, independent of said releasing means and said securing means, for rotating the lamp bulb wh n in the gripped position.

5. In a device of the class described, in combination, a reciprocative carrier, clamping arms pivoted at one of their ends to the carrier and having jaws at their opposite ends adapted to be swung toward and away from each other for engaging and disengaging a lamp bulb, rigidly acting means for elevating the carrier to spread the jaws, spring means for reversing the movement of the carrier to close said jaws, and means independent of said elevating means for rotating the lamp bulb when engaged by the jaws.

6. In a device of the class'described, in combination, a rod, clamping mechanism pivoted to the rod at one end and adapted to be swung at its opposite end through an arc of at least 180, said clamping mechanism including clamping members for gripping a lamp bulb and adapted to be moved toward and away from each other in a plane transverse to the plane of movement of said clamping mechanism, means for actuating the clamping members, and means independent of said actuating means, for rotating the lamp bulb upon its axis in either direction when in the gripped position.

7. In a device of the class described, in combination, a rod, a support pivoted to swing in either of opposite directions on the rod, clamping mechanism carried on said support, including upright frame members secured in parallel relation on the support, a reciprocative carrier mounted on said frame members, clamping arms pivoted on the carrier and having free ends adapted to be moved toward and away from each other for gripping and releasing an object, roller members journaled on said clamping arms and said frame members transverse to the plane of movement of said clamping arms for engaging said object, means for actuating said carrier and clamping arms, and means for rotatively actuating said object when in the gripped position.

8. In a device of the class described, in combination, clamping arms, a reciprocative support or carrier for the clamping arms, said clamping arms being pivotally secured to said support or carrier and having jaws adapted to be swung toward and away from each other in a plane transverse to the longitudinal axis of a rotatable lamp bulb or other object for gripping and releasing the same laterally, means forelevating said support or carrier to spread the clamping arms, and

means in addition to and in cooperation with said elevating means for reversing the movement of said support or carrier to close the clamping arms.

9. In a device of the class described, in combination, clamping members, a reciprocative support or carrier for the clamping arms, said clamping arms being pivoted at one of their ends to the carrier and movable toward 7 and away from each other and having aws at HAROLD D. GRINNELL.