US1906587A - Bus plate - Google Patents

Description

ay 2, 1933- K. J. HELMHOLTZ 1,906,587

BUS PLATE Filed July 15, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l 1x20622257": 7 25am JHEZMOZJZ y 1933- K J. HELMHOLTZ BUS PLATE 2' Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 15, 1931 Patented -May 2, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE KARL J. HELMHOLTZ,

OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO ECONOMY ELECTRIC LAN- BUS PLATE Application filed July 15; 1931. Serial No. 550,909.

This invention relates to means for controlling the circuits of light bulbs in electric lanterns and analogous devices, and has to do more particularly with what I term a bus plate.

One of the main objects of my invention 1s to provide a device of simple and inexpenslve, but highly efficient construction for use in electric lanterns and devices of similar nature whereby the circuits of the light bulbs may be controlled with facility and the necessity of using wires and conductors of like nature is dispensed with. A further object is to provide a device ofthe character stated whereby the circuits of a plurality of light bulbs may be controlled selectively by movement of a single switch arm. Further objects and advantages of my invention will appear from the detailed descriptio nl.

In the drawings: V

Figure 1 is an underneath view of a bus plate structure in accordance with my invention;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the structure of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional View through an electric lantern, showing the bus plate structure of Figures 1 and 2 as applied, parts being broken away and parts beingishgven iii elevation;

.Figu 4 is a fragmentary sectional view ,taken substantially online 4-%1 of Figure 3 Figure 5 isa section taken substantially on line 5-5 of Figure 1; v 35 Figure 6 is a perspective detail view of the switch arm and the switch blade carried thereby;

Figure 7 is an underneath view of a modified form of bus plate in accordance with my invention; I 1

Figure 8 is a section taken substantially on line 8-8 of Figure 7, parts being shown in elevation;

Figure 9 is-an underneath view of a second modified form of bus plate in accordance with my invention; p Figure 10 is a'section taken substantially v on line 10--10 of Figure 9.

' I In the form of my invention illustrated in Figures 1 to 6, inclusive, I provide an insulating and. supporting plate comprising upper and lower discs 1 and 2, respectively, formed of a suitable electrical insulating material, such as a condensation product. An inner contact strip 3 in the form of a disc,,, conveniently formed of brass or any suitable sheet metal, is secured upon the upper face of disc 1 centrally thereof. An outer annular contact strip 4 is secured upon the upper face of disc 1 concentrically with strip 3, the

strip 4 being also conveniently formed from sheet brass or other suitable sheet metal. A

sheet metal switch arm 5 is disposed at the under face of disc 2 and is pivotally secured to the disc structure by a rivet 6, this rivet serving to alsosecure strip 3 in position and to establish electricalconnection between this strip and the arm. Two light contact members 7 also conveniently formed of brass, are disposed at the under face of disc 2 at opposite sides of the pivot 6. Each of these members is provided with an upwardly extending reduced neck 8 in the form of a hollow rivet, which passes through disc 2 and is beaded over at its upper edge so as to secure member 7 tightly to the disc. The upper disc '1 overlies element 8 and serves to electrically insulate member 7 from the strips 3 and 4. The member 7 is provided with a depending cylindrical body 9 through which extends a bore concentric with but of less diameter than the bore 10- which extends through the rivet ele- 4 ment 8 and downwardly into the body 9, as

in Figure 5. A short rod 11 is slidably mounted through the bore at the lower end of body 9 and is provided at its upper end with a head 12 limiting downward movement of the rod. This rod is urged downwardly by an expansion coil spring 13 confined between body 9 of member 7 and a contact head 14 at the lower end of the rod. This head 14 is adapted for contact with the central contact element of a light bulb, as will be more fully explained hereinafter. i Arm 5 is provided with a transversely extending and downwardly projecting channel element 15 in which. is mounted an arcuate switch blade 16, conveniently formed of suitable sheet metal, this blade being'electrically 1 insulated from the arm as shown in Figure 4. Blade 16 projects beyond both sides of the arm and is provided, at each end, with an upwardly offset terminal element 17. The elements 17 are disposed to contact under surfaces 18 of member 7, such surfaces being inclined downwardly and inwardly of member 7 as in Fi ure 5. Contact strip 4 is socured in pom by rivets 19 secured through this strip and through the discs 1 and 2. These rivets are provided, at their lower ends, with rounded heads 20. Two of these rivets are disposed in the path of movement of a blade 16 and are so spaced that, when either of the terminal elements 17 of this blade is in contact with the corresponding member 7, the other terminal element is in contact with head 20 of the rivet 19 remote from such terminal element, By moving the arm 5 in proper direction, the elements 7 may be selectively connected in serieswith the contact strips 3 and 4.

Arm 5 extends outwardly beyond thesupporting and insulating plate or disc strucr ture and is provided, at its outer end, with an upwardly projecting arcuate fiangei2l.

In the use of my bus plate structure, it is disposed within a metal casing 22, conveniently of cylindrical shape, of an electric lantern 23. A sheet metal guard and reflector member 24 is disposed below the supporting and insulating disc structure, this member being provided with an outer flange 25 which is clamped between the disc structure and a flange 26 extending inwardly from the casing 22 at the bottom thereof. Screws 27 pass through the flanges 25 and 26 and thread into the disc structure for securing the parts together. The arm 5 is of such length that, when the bus plate structure is disposed within casing 22 in the manner set forth, flange 21 contacts the inner surface of the surrounding wall of the casing so that contact strip 3 is grounded to the casing through the arm. Conveniently, a knob 28 is secured to flange 21 in a suitable manner, as by means of a screw 29, this knob having a reduced element operating in a suitable slot in casing 22. The arm is thus operable exteriorly of the casing for including either of the light contact members 7 in circuit with knownmanner. Insulating thimbles 33, of suitable electrical insulating material, seat in the upper ends of members 30 and contact, at their upper ends, with the lower ends of members 7, these thimbles extending about rods 11 and the parts carried thereby. When bulbs 31 are screwed into the socket members 30, terminal elements 32 thereof contact with the heads 14 atthe lower ends of'the rods 11' in a manner well known in the art. The casing 32 receives an electric battery 34 of known type provided with a central contact member 35 and an outer contact member 36. The contact strips 3 and 4 are so disposed that,

when the battery 34 is disposed within casing 1 22 in inverted position, the contact or terminal elements 35 and 36 thereofrest upon the strips 3 and 4, respectively. Upon movement of arm 5 into osition to bring either of the terminal eleme s 1 7 thereof into contact with the adjacent member 7, the circuit of the associated bulb 31 is closed through strip 4, member 7 and associated parts, socket member 30, member 34, casin 22, flange 21 and arm 5 to contact strip 3. he arm 5 and associated parts thus provide simple and highly efiicient means for selectively controlling the circuit of either of the light bulbs and if either of these bulbs is disabled, the other bulb is immediately available for use. The construction and operation of the lantern itself, is fully disclosed in my copending application for electric lantern, Serial No. 585,916, filed January 1-1, 1932, and need not be illustrated nor described here in greater detail.

In the modified form illustrated in Figures 7 and 8, the light contact members are of approximately spool shape and eachis provided with a circumferential groove 76 of ap; proximately V-shape in cross section. Switch blade 16a is provided with terminal elements 17a which are downwardly ofl'set and are adapted to engage into the grooves 7 b of members 7 a in contact with the walls thereof. A bowed and resilient contact member 40 is secured in position by one of the rivets 19, the arms of this member bearing against the upper faceof switch blade 1611 so as to establish electrical connection between this blade and low neck 43 which projects through disc 41 I and inner contact strip 3 at the center of this disc, the upper edge of neck 43 being beaded down over strip 3 as shown in Figure 10. A short rod 44 is slidably mounted through rod, and confined between head 44 and memher 42. v A flanged thimble 45 of electrical insulating m' 1 is disposed above contact member 42 and about the neck thereof and switch arm 5a is pivoted upon member 42 for movement about the latter, but is electrically insulated from this member by the thimble 45. Arm 5a is provided with an upwardly" projecting element 5?) disposed to contact the head of an adjacent one of the rivets 19 upon movement of the arm 5/; into circuit closing position. In the use of this form of bus plate structure, the member 24 of Figure 3 is provided with but one socket member 30 disposed centrally thereof, and a light bulb 31 is mounted in such member so as to contact head 14 of rod 44. Upon movement of arm 59 into circuit closing position, the circuit of the light bulb is closed through member 42, the bulb filament, the socket member in which the bulb is mounted, the member 24, the casing 22 and flange 21 to arm 5a and thence to contact strip 4 by means of contact elcn'ient 5/1 of the arm and the rivet 1'9 with the head of which such elementcontacts. The use of the form of my invention illustrated in Figures 9 and 10 is thought to be obvious from the above brief description thereof, and a more detailed descrlptlon of such use is not thought to be necessary.

As'above indicated, and as will be apparent -to those skilled in the art; changes in construction and arrangement of parts of my invention may be resorted to withoutdeparting from the field and scope of the same, and I intend to include all such variations, as

fall within the scope of the appended claims,

in this application in which the preferred forms only of my invention are disclosed.

What I claim is:

1. In a structure of the character stated, a supporting and insulating plate, concentric contact strips mounted upon one face of said plate, two contact members on the other face of the plate and connected to the respective strips, and a switch arm connected to one of said members for movement concentrically with the strips, said arm being provided with A member disposed to contact the other contact member in the movement of the arm.

2. In a structure of the character stated, a supporting and insulating plate, concentric contact strips mounted upon one face of said plate, two contact members on the other face of the plate and connected to the respective strips, and a switch arm connected to one of said members for movement concentrically with the strips, said arm extending outwardly beyond the edge of the plate andbeing provided with a member disposed to contact the other contact member in the movement of the arm.

i 3. In a structure of the character stated, a supporting and insulating plate, concentric contact strips mounted upon one face of said plate, two contact members on the other face of the plate and connected to the respective strips, and a switch arm connected to one of said members for movement concentrically with the strips, said arm extending outwardly beyond the edge of the plate and being provided with a member disposed to contact the other contact member in the movement of the arm, the arm also being provided with an angnlarly disposed contact clement at its outer end.

M 4. In a structure of the character stated, a supporting and insulating disc, an inner contact strip mougtqlthupon the upper face of the disc centrally ereof, an outer contact strip mounted upon the upper face of the disc concentrically,with the inner strip, a switch arm of electrical conducting material beneath the 'disc and electrically'connected'to the inner strip and movable on the axis thereof. a light contact member at the under face of the disc and insulated'from both of the strips, a switch contact member at the under face'of the disc and electrically connected to the outer contact strip, and a blade member carried by and electrically in sulated from the arm, said blade being mov her in the movement of the arm and while in contact with the switch contact member.

5. In a structure of the character stated, a supporting and insulating disc, an inner contact strip mounted upon the upperface of the disc centrally thereof, an outer contact strip mounted upon the upper face of the disc concentrically with the inner strip, a switch arm of electrical conducting material beneath the disc and electrically connected to the inner strip and movable on the axis thereof, two light contact members spaced apart at the under face of the disc and electrically insulated from the strips, two switch contact members spaced apart at the under face of the disc and electrically connected to the outer strip, and a switch blade carried bv and electrically insulat d from the arm, said blade being movable 'ith the arm into position to contact either tif the light contact members selectively while also contaeting oneof the switch contact members.

6. In a structure of the character stated,

a supporting and insulating disc. two spaced I electrically insulated from the arm and eleccontact strips upon theupper face of the disc, two spaced light contact members at the under face of the disc and insulated from the strips, a switch arm operating between the contact members, and means including the arm for selectively connecting said members in series with the strips in the movement of said arm.

8. In a structure of the character stated,

- a supporting and insulating disc, two spaced inner contact strip upon the upper face of contact strips upon the upper face of the disc, two spaced light contact members at the-under face of the disc and insulated from the strips, a switch arm, and means including the arm for selectively connecting said members in series with the strips in the movement of said arm.

9. In a structure of the character stated, a supporting andinsulating disc structure comprising two superposed discs, two contact strips upon the upper face of the upper disc, a switch arm at the under face of the lower disc, a contact member secured through the lower disc and projecting from the under face thereof, a switch lade carried by and electrically insulated rom the arm, and means for securing the discs together and for securing the contact strips upon the upper disc, the arm having an element cooperating with said means for connecting the contact member in series with the strips upon" movement of the arm into switch closing positlon. Y

10. In a structure of the character described, a supporting and insulating disc, an inner contact strip upon the upper face of the disc, an outer contact strip upon the upper face of the disc and concentric with the inner strip, a switch arm at the under face of the disc and pivoted to-turn on an axis concident with the axis of the inner strip, light contact members on the under face of the (1150 at opposite sides of the pivot of the arm,

the arm being electrically connected to the inner strip, a switch blade carried by the arm and electrically insulated therefrom, said blade projecting beyond the sides of the arm, the under faces of the light contact members being inclined downwardly and inwardly thereof and the blade having upwardly offset elements disposed to contact the inclined surfaces of said members in the movement of the arm, and means electrically connecting the switch blade to the outer contact strip in the movement of the arm.

11. In a structure of the character described, asupporting and insulating disc, an

the disc, an outer contact strip upon the upper face of the disc and concentric with the inner strip, a switch arm at the under face of the disc and pivoted to turn on an axis coincident with the axis of the inner strip, light contact members on the under face of the disc at opposite sides of the pivot of 'the arm, the arm being electrically con nected to the inner strip, a switch blade carried by the arm and electrically insulated therefrom, said blade projecting beyond the sides of the arm, the light contact members being provided with circumferential grooves of substantially V-shape and the blade having downwardly offset elements disposed to engage into said grooves in contact with the walls thereof in the movement of the arm, and means electrically connecting the switch blade to the outer contact strip in the move ment of the arm.

' 12. In a structure of the character described, a supporting and insulating disc, an inner contact strip upon the upper face of the disc, and outer contact strip upon the upper face .of the disc, and concentric with the inner strip, a light contact member at the under face of the disc disposed coaxially with and electrically connected to the inner strip, a switch arm pivoted upon but electrically insulated from said member, and a switch contact member at the under face of the disc electrically connected to the outer strip, said arm being of electrical conducting material and h ving an element disposed to contact said swiich contact memher when the arm is moved into circuit closing position.

13. In a structure of the character stated, a supporting and insulating plate, two closed concentric contact strips mounted upon one side of said plate, and means mounted on the plate at the other side thereof and comprising a switch arm and a contact member connected to the respective strips for'connecting said strips in series.

14. In a structure of the character stated, a supporting and insulating plate, two closed concentric contact strips mounted upon one the inricr contact strip for movement con-.

centric therewith.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 8th day of Jul 1931.

KARL J. H LMHOLTZ.

Images