US1818333A - Socket - Google Patents

Description

'ug. 11, 1931. J, JUERGNS SOCKET Flled Deo' 26' 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1,

@Mrz 07@ Aug. 1'1, 1931. .l J. JUERGENS SOCKET Filed Dec 26 1925 2 vSheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 11, 1931 UNITED STATS asians PATems ,Meer

JOHN JUERGENS, F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNGR, BY IJESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TG

BENJAMIN ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, .A COR- PORATION OF ILLINOIS socxnr Application filed December 26, 1925. Serial No. 77,795.

The .present invention relates to devices, usually calledsockets, for holding a unit used extensively'in radio practice and in other applications and which is known as a the formv of an evacuated bulb containing such electrode elements as lament, plate and grid. These electrodes usually have four terminals in the form of pins extending in parallel arrangement and in spaced-apart relation from the bottom of the base of the tube. The-present mounting is illustrated as designed for a devicehaving four such' terminals. In any mountin for such an instrument means are require for makingcontact with these or such terminals respectively to complete circuits including themespective electrode elements of the tube.

Such instruments are of delicate construction and susceptible of injury througheven a moderate amount of shock or vibration. It has been demonstrated too thatv vibration communicated tothe electrode elements of the instrument causes modifications in its operation inimical to the desired results of an even and true performance under given electrical conditions in the circuit.

The chief objects of the present invention are to provide a mounting or socket for such tubes according to which the instrument is supported resiliently or spring-cushioned in such a way as .effectively to intercept shocks and vibrations arising extraneously to the instrument itself, .with special 'reference to those liner vibrationsmilitating lagainst the functional results of the tube in service; to provide such a shock-absorbing mounting or socket which may, according to particular spring members employed, provide an ex ceedingly delicate resilient connectionbetween the supporting unit and the instrument, or have such degrees of resiliency as a particular use may suggest; to provide such a mounting or socket in a form highly convenient for the ready insertion and removal of the tube; one also-which ma be manufactured cheaply andthus ma e available to the user at a reasonable price; and, further, one which is .of neat and attractive fom, durable, and notlkely to get out of or er.

Other objects and advantages will appear hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated two embodiments of this invention, of which the preferred form is illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, Figure 1 being atop plan of the device, Fig. 2 a bottom plan, Fig. 3 an elevation, Fig. 4 a medial vertical section, and Fig. 5 an enlarged perspective of one of the four spring conductors supporting the shell; Figs. 6 to 10 inclusive are corresponding views respectively of the other embodi ment mentioned, save that Fig. 7".,is a sectional view on the line 7-7 of Fig. 8.

.Referring to Figs. l to 5 the construction comprises a wiring base 10 of insulating material, four wiring terminals 11 in the form of binding posts mounted on the base at points defining substantially the corners of a rectangle, an insulating cylindrical tube-holding shell l2, and four radially-extendin shellsupporting springs and contact mem ers 13,

Fig. 5. Each of the springs 13 is shown as being held upon an under. surface of the base 10 by the heads of screws 15 passing upward through the base and secured by a clamping nut 16 and a bindin nut 17, while the knurled linger nut 18 provi es readily operable means for connecting a conductor electrically through'the binding post to the springs 13 respectively. p

Each of the .springs 13is formed of thin and springy sheet metal and extends radially inward from the connection to the base at the bolt head 15, passes normally upward on rounded lines through a notch or recess 19 large enough laterally toepermit the spring to movelexibly and free of the base under normal conditions of use, and then turns radially outward and upward'and then again radially inward to provide a compound bend or substantially S-shaped form of structure, with` a free end portion 13a extending substantially parallel with the general-planes of the base or perpendicular to the axis of the the shell. As shown in Figs. 4 and 5 the shell-supporting part of the spring is sub stantially U-sha ed and comprises an upper and a lower lea portion lying substantially in planes transverse of the axis of the shell. This results in a compact construction and provides a symmetrical yielding support for the shell. The shell rests upon the upper portion 13a of each of these springs and is secured thereto by headed pins 21 whereby the shell is permanently maintained in its desired relationship to the springs.

It will be noted that the base 10 has a cylindrical upstanding flange-like part 10a spaced from the shell 12, which part has the effect of limiting lateral movements of the shell to those well within such as. might be likely to deform the springs, and at the same time it protects the shell against shocks incident to wiring operations including those arising from the manipulation of the finger nut 18 by hand or by an instrument and :trom such shocks as might otherwise occur through other operations about the device as a whole.

From Figs. 2 and 4: it will be observed that the lower surface of the base 10 is provided with four radially-directed recesses 22 within which the lower extensons of the springs 13 are respectively positioned, thus providing lateral stops or abutments for the springs when turning or twisting strains are applied to the shell. These recesses 22 are of sufiicient width to permit the springs to play freely therein under normal conditions of use, the springs being thus free to4 provide their resilient shell-supporting and shock-absorbing functions under all such' normal conditions.

This provision of the recesses 19 and 22, which effectively shortens the free portions of the springs when twisting stra-ins are applied to the shell, isl of utility in connection with such adaptations as include a bayonet slot 23 near the upper margin of the shell adapted to receive a laterally-extending pin on the base of the tube, in theuse of which adaptation the tube is first directed longitudinally into the shell and thenl given a turn on its axis to make the interlocking engagement desired for holding it firmly yet ,readily removably in the shell, and when the tube is removed the reverse turning movement likewise has some twisting effect upon the shell, at least as these operations are likely to be performed b careless or indilerent persons. This provision is therefore advantageous in preserving thenorm'al shape of the springs under suc conditions.

The tube holding shell 12 thus serves as a means for positioning the tube to cause its terminals to engage the contact portions of` the members 13 properly, and also'as a mea-ns for carrying the terminal engaging contacts and insulating them with respect to ,ea-ch other. It will be noted that the spring conductor members 13 are secured to the lwiring base 10 at oints spaced circumferentially about the axis of the tube in the holder 12, and laterally beyond the periphery ofthe tube holder, and lying in a general plane transverse to the axis of the shell whereby these spring conductor members may be readily secured to the base 10. This construction also facilitates the connection of the conductor springs with the readily accessible wiring terminals 1l. These spring conductor members 13 act as spring beams which substantially and yieldingly resist both lateral and axial movement of the tube holding shell.

The ordinary four-terminal electronic tube and the use of sockets having spring terminals therefor are so well known that from the above description and the arrangement of parts illustrated herein it is clear that when the tube is normallyinserted into the shell the four terminals of the tube will rest upon the four contacts 13a respectively, making the desired electrical connection therewith, which connection -is maintained and improved through the fact that when the interlocking engagement of the tube through the bayonet slot construction is had the contact members 13a are depressed. slightly and put underk spring tension.

The base 10 may be provided with a flanged extension 10b providing a continuous plane support and maintaining the conductors well spaced from the base-board or other object to which the unit may be secured. Several screw holes as 24, Fig. 1, may be formed in the base for holding it u on a base-board or the like.

Referring to igs. 6 to 10 inclusive the wir- .ing base 30 has an upstanding cylindrical and tubular art 30a in an arrangement in which a shelglike surface 32 extending outwardly fromv the cylinder 30a is formed. Four binding posts 33 include the bolts 34 having their heads in recesses in the bottom of the base, a clamping nut 35, a binding nut 36, and a terminal binding nut 37 for securing a lead wire in electrical communication withthe binding post as a Whole. As in the other figures these terminal posts or connections are arranged ninety degrees apart and at points defining. substantially the corners -of a-rectangular polygon. The shell 38 iS similarly carried resiliently by four radiallydirected spring members 39, the outer ends of which are secured to the base' by and in electrical communication. with the binding st through the clamping nut 3,5 on the sur ace 32, from which point of connection the springs respectively extend inward through Iopenings 40 in the base member. f

The base part 30 is recessed, as well shown Y in-Fig. 9, to provide ample space for 'the springs 39. These springs are similarly of thin and flexible sheet metal and are formed first, as stated, to extend inwardly from the i binding posts, then downwardly and inwardly on curved lines forming a festoon-like part 39a, thence outwardly and upwardly to form a substantially straight part 395, thence directly upward and back upon itself providing a double-thickness part 39C, and thence directly inward forming the contact member or part 39d. Each part 39c`is secured to the shell 38 by means of a rivet 40 passing through a hole 41, Fig. 10, in the part 390, the rivet and the part 390 being insulated from the shell 38 by a bushing type of insulation 42 surrounding the body of the rivet, extending between the inner head or the rivet and the shell and between the part 39e and the shell.

The shell 38, as increased in thickness at the connection. of the springs therewith, is

spaced from the tubular base member 30a sufiiciently to provide the desired freedom and, asshown, the springs 39 are also free of contact with any part of the device except where connected to the base and to the shell respectively, so that their springy and shock-absorbing functions will be developed under all normal conditions.

I have provided a collar 44 frictionally held upon the shell 38 having a recessed part 45 encompassing the upper end of the cylindrical base member 30a in spaced relation, which collar serves to limit lateral movements of the shell 38 such as may be occasioned by contact with the hands while working about the instrument or when a tube is being applied or removed. The collar has the further function of limiting the downward movement of the shell when pressure is applied on the axis of the tube toward the base, as in inserting a tube. In this device I have not Shown any special provision for limiting twisting movements of the shell to prevent distortion of the springs, as l contemplate that in the use of this device the operator will place one handupon the collar 44 and hold it against turning while the tube is being inserted yand removed, and, furthermore, where such devices are used with ordinary care, no special means are required to safeguard the springs against such turning operations.

1 have thus shown two embodiments of my invention in forms respectively well adapted to prevent vibration from injuring or intertering with the operation of the tube, which forms are simple in construction' and easily vto be used by the ordinary person.

This application is a continuation of the copending joint application of the undersigned John Juergens and one Reuben B. Benjamin, Serial No. 663,031 filed September 17,1923, as to all of the claims herein.

I contemplate as being included in this invention such changes, variations anddepartures from what is herein specically illustratedandl described as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim: f 1. A shock absorbing socket construction for thermionic repeaters, comprising a wiring base, a receptacle member for receiving a repeater, and means for supplying current from said wiring base to said repeater' and for yieldingly supporting saidl receptacle member on said Wiring base comprising, a plurality of sheet metal members, each sheet metal member having an intermediate portion secured adjacent the periphery of said receptacle member and an inwardly extending portion forming a -contact for engaging an electrode of the repeater and a cantilever spring portion extending from said interme- 'giate portion and secured to said wiring ase.

2. A socket forl the reception of'an electrical device comprising a base, a shell member for the reception of said device, and shock absorbing means comprising a plurality of :dat spring members for supportin and attaching said shell member to said ase, said spring members being integrally extended for contacting with and conducting current to the device received in said shell member.

3. In a device of the type described, a hollow substantially cylindrical open ended shell for the reception of an electrica-l device, a plurality of flat spring contacts extending transversely of said shellI at one endthereof, and-integrally formed extensions to said contacts comprising electrical connecting and sglclk absorbing supporting means for said s 4. An electrical socket comprising a base, a shell member for the -receptionof-an electrical device, and spring shock absorbing means comprising a plurality of fiat angularly extending spring members one side of the angle supporting and attaching said shell Ymember to said base and the other side of the angle contacting with and conducting current to the device received in said shell member. s

5. AnJ electrical socket comprising a base, a plurality of wiring terminals at the periphery thereof, a receptacle member positioned between said terminals for the reception of an electrical device, and a plurality of lat .spring contact members for cooperation with members each having one end secured to the wiring base and the other end integrally extended for direct contact engagement with the bulb.

7 An electron tube socket comprising in combination, a shell, and a plurality of resilient contact members carried by said shell, each of said resilient contact members eX- tending from points of support exterior of said shell and radially to points Within said shell, each of said resilient contact members being arranged to be placed under tension upon insertion of an electron tube in said socket for resiliently suspending said electron tube socket.

8. A mounting for an electron tube socket and resiliently supporting the said socket in said aperture, said cont-act members constituting both a yielding support for said socket and electrical connections for the prongs of an associated electron tube.

14. In combination, a tube socket, a base for said socket, a plurality of springs, each of said springs having one end secured to said base and the other end to said socket, Whereby said socket is yieldingly supported to move in any direction, and a spring contact arm carried by each of said springs arranged to engage a contact pin of a tube placed in said socket.

comprising in combination a shellpa Yplural-.fflf'ln combination, a tube socket, a base ity of contacts carried by the lo/wer portion of said shell, said contacts extending from points of support exterior of said shell to points radially Within said shell, each of said contacts comprising flexible and bent metallic strips and having means whereby said strips may be placed under tension upon insertion of an electron tube in said electron tube socket for resiliently supporting said electron tube socket.

9. The combination of an electron tube socket structure, a plurality of resilient metal contact members secured intermediate their length to said socket structure and extending radially from a point Without said socket structure to points within said socket struc- V ture for establishing connection with the pin terminals of an electron tube, the length of said contact members outside of said socket structure being greater than the length of said Contact members inside of said socket structure.

1D. In an electron tube socket construction, the combination with means for supporting an electron tube socket, and a plurality of opposed flexible metallic conduotors secured to sides of said means and providing Contact surfaces for thepins of an electron tube, said conductors being bent. and serving as resilient supports for said electron tube socket.

11. A universal tube socket of the class de scribedcomprising a tube holding member, and a base member secured together by resilient means to form a cushion for the tube, said resilient means comprising combination terminals and contacts, each having one end secured to the base member to forma terminal and the other end secured to the tube holdingmeans to form a contact with the prong of the tube. y. y

12. A resilient support for an electron tube comprising in combination' an electron tube socket, an apertured base member, and a plurality of contact members secured to the base and resiliently supporting the said socket in said aperture.

13. A resilient su port oran electron tube comprising in com. ination an electron tube socket, an apertured base member, and a lurahty `of contact members secured to the ase for said socket, a plurality of springs, each of said springs having one end secured to said base and the other end to said socket whereby said socket is supported from said base and free to move in various directions, and a spring contact arm integral with each of said springs arranged to engage a contact pin of a tube placed in said socket.

16. In a vacuum tube receptacle, a socket, a base, and a spring supporting means on said base for said socket, said spring means forming resilient contact clips for engaging the prongs of a vacuum tube.

17. In an audion lamp receptacle, a base having a central opening therein, a socket in said opening, and resilient supports for maintaining said socket in said opening.

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