US1914583A - Electric light - Google Patents

Description

E. P. SEGHERS ELECTRIC LIGHT June 20, 1933.

Filed Aug. 19. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 20, 1933. E s s 1,914,583-

ELECTRIC LIGHT FiledAug. 19, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Aim;-

Patented June 20, 1933 UNITED STATES mum. r. momma, or cmcaeo, more ELECTRIC LIGHT Application m August 10, 1920. Serial 110. 180,158.

This invention relates to lighting apparatus, and has for its object the provision of means whereby a defective bulb in a series ma be conveniently detected. i

'6' 1 1 1 the invention is exemplified in the combination and arrangement of parts shown in the accompanylng drawings and described in the following specification, and it is more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view of a lighting system to which the present invention is applied.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of an electric light socket having a bulb in place therein and showing one form of mechanism for short-circuiting the bulb.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of a modified form of short-circuiting sockets.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary side elevation of the supporting hook shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing a different modification of the invention.

Fig. 6 is an elevation with parts in section of an electric light globe having means thereon for permitting the filament to be short-circuited.

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6 show ing a modified form of the invention.

Fig. 8 is a transverse section on line 8-8 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 6 showing another modified form of the invention.

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 6 showing a different modification.

In lighting circuits such as those employed for Christmas tree lighting and 40 other similar purposes it is common practice to operate a number of comparatively low voltage incandescent globes in series. Where such a system is used the entire series will be broken when any one of the bulbs of the series burns out. The present invention provides means for separately short-circuiting the various electric light globes so that the current in the circuit will be restored when the defective globe is shortcircuited. This makes a convenient means for detecting the burned out globe so that 1t may be replaced.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view of the arrangement of globes in series. As there shown a plug 10 is provided which may be screwed into the ordinary electric hght socket, the plug being provided with a male contact member 11 of well known construction. The contact member 11 is connected by wires 12 with a similar member 13, which may be plugged into a multiple block 14. The block 14 has a series circuit 15 permanently'connected thereto and attached to the contact members within the block 14 with which the plug 13 engages. Additional circuits may be connected to the block 14 by any desired number of male contact members 16 which may be plugged into the block 14 to make contact with the circuit 12. The various additional sets of lamps are thus arranged in parallel with each other, each parallel set having the usual number of eight bulbs 17 in series therein. Each of the bulbs 17 as shown in Fig. 2 is provided with a device to facilitate short-circuiting the filament for detecting a defective bulb. In the form shown in Fig. 2 the short-circuiting mechanism is provided in the socket for receiving the bulb. This socket is provided with the usual threaded terminal member 18 connected with one wire 19 of the circuit while the other wire 20 is. connected to a central contact 21. A strip of spring metal 22, which may be brass. is riveted or otherwise secured to the contact 21. The socket is provided with the usual insulating housing 23. which has a groove 24 cut at one side thereof for receiving the spring 22. The end of the spring is covered by an insulating button 25, which projects outside of the housing 23. When the button 25 is pressed inwardly it will engage the threaded socket member 18 and shortcircuit the globe 17.

The modification shown in Fig. 3 is similar to that shown in Fig. 2 except that the spring member 22 is terminated within the slot 24 and a pin 26 of insulating material extends through an opening in the housing member 23 having its inner end in contact with the spring 22. When the pin 26 is pressed inwardly the spring 22 will be moved to the broken line position, thus short-circuiting the socket. The socket may be provided with a spring bail 27 which engages openings 28 in opposite sides of the housing member 23, the bail 27 being provided with a hook 29 by means of which the bulb may be conveniently hung on a Christmas tree or other support.

The form of the invention shown in Fig. 5 is similar to those previously described except that the spring 22 is not bent into a slot in the housing member 23, but projects radially through an opening 30 in the side of the housing member. t will be apparent that a slight downward pressure on the insulating button 31 at the end of the spring member 22 will move the member against the threaded shell 18 at the point 32, thus short-circuiting the bulb.

The short-circuiting mechanism thus far described may be conveniently supplied with new Christmas tree outfits. It is sometimes desirable, however, to be able to equip an old circuit having the form of sockets pre viously used with means for thus detecting burned out globes. The modifications shown in Figs. 6 to 10, inclusive, illustrate electric light globes provided with means for !facilitating short-circuiting of their filaments. It will be apparent that an old circuit may be equipped with a set of globes of the kind shown in these forms, thus providing means for detecting defective globes with such a circuit. In the form shown in Fig. 6 the globe is provided with a male plug 33 for entering the socket members of the electric light circuit. A central contact 34 is also provided on the socket member which is separated from the threaded sheet metal portion 33 by an insulating disk 35. A fiber sleeve 36 is disposed within the end of the metal part and engages the end of the glass bulb 37. The interior of the plug is filled with an insulating cement 38 by means of which the plug is secured to the bulb 37 A lead wire 39 is connected with the filament 40 and has its outer end extended through the fiber sleeve 36 and the metal portion 33, the end of the wire being soldered to the metal portion to make contact therewith. The opposite lead wire 41 branches where it emerges from the bulb 37 and one branch 42 is connected to the contact 34 while the other branch is connected to a button 43 carried by the sleeve 36. When the plug is threaded into a socket the rim of the metal member 33 will project from the socket a sufiicicnt distance to permit a conductor of any kind to be moved into contact with the rim of the member 33 and the button 43, thus short-circuiting the filament. This short-circuiting may be effected by a piece of wire, a coin, the point of a lead pencil, or any other convenient conductor.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 7 and 8 a metal ring 44 is placed inside the sheet metal member 33 and separated from the member 33 by a fiber sleeve 45. One of the leads 46 emerges from the side of the base portion of the bulb 37 and contacts with the ring 44. The lead continues from the point of contact to the end contact member 34. The other lead 47 is carried through a hole in the sleeve and the member 33 and soldered to the outer surface of the member 33. A perforation 48 extends through the metal member 33 and the fiber sleeve 45 so that the bulb may be short-circuited by extending a pointed instrument such as a pin through the space 48 into contact with the ring 44. Another manner of short-circuiting the bulb is to move a conductor into contact with the edges 33 and 44.

In the form of the invention shown in Fig. 5) the leads 49 and 50 are brought out from the filaments in the usual manner and are carried to the contact members 33 and 44. The contact member 33 is made slightly longer than usual and a gap 51 is formed in the member 33 adjacent its edge to leave a ring 52 insulated from the main portion of the member A lead 53 is brought back from the contact 34 to the ring 52. The bulb may be short-circuited by bridging the gap 51 with any conductor.

The form shown in Fig. 10 is similar to that of Fig. 9, except that the lead wire 50 is provided'with a branch 54 which leaves wire 50 from a point within the glass p0rtion of the bulb and extends through the side of the base of the bulb to the ring 52. It will be noted in Fig. 10 that the electric light bulb is provided with a bulge shown at 55. which will assist in retaining a shade or other decoration indicated at 56.

The arrangement shown in the various forms of the invention for short-circuiting the separate bulbs may also be used for detecting the presence of voltage in the circuit by making contact with the two exposed terminals at opposite sides of the filament.

In the form of the invention shown in Fig. 2 the bulb may be shorted by placing a coin or other conductor in contact with the projecting portion of the spring 22 with the edge of the coin engaging the threaded sleeve of the bulb. The light may also be short-circuited by inserting a small instrument such as a pin through the opening and the opening 61 into contact with the threaded terminal member 18. the pin engaging the side of the opening 61.

I claim: 1. A socket for an electric light comprismg a dielectric housing, a sheet metal shell disposed within said housing, an end contact member disposed within said housing, a spring tongue connected with said end contact member and normally out of engagement with said shell, and a finger-piece on said spring tongue and projecting to the outside of said housing to facilitate movement of said tongue into engagement with said shell.

2. An electric light socket comprising a housing of dielectric material, a conductor shell disposed within said housing, a cen-' trally disposed contact member insulated from said shell, a spring tongue connected with said contact member and extending to a position adjacent to but spaced from said shell, said housing member having a recess in the wall thereof for receiving said tongue, and means for pressing said tongue inwardly to engage said shell.

3. An electric light socket comprising a dielectric housing having a central recess therein, a conductor shell disposed within said housing, a central contact member secured to said shell at the inner central portion thereof but insulated from said shell, a spring tongue secured to said contact memher and disposed adjacent said shell but spaced therefrom, said housing having a slot in the inner side of the wall thereof for receiving said spring tongue, and an insulated fingenpiece secured to said spring tongue and extending through an opening in said housing to facilitate closing said spring tongue against said shell. I

4. A socket for an electric lamp having, in combination, a metal lamp receiving shell, a casing of insulating material therefor, a terminal on said shell insulated therefrom, and a spring connected to said terminal and normally out of contact with said shell, a. lead wire connected to said terminal and another lead wire connected to said shell, and means whereby said spring may be pressed into contact with said shell, thus completing the circuit between said lead wires.

5. A socket for an electric lamp having, in combination, a metal lamp receiving shell, a casing of insulating material therefor, a terminal on said shell insulated therefrom, and a metal right angle spring normally out of contact with said shell and connected at one end thereof to said terminal, and a finger piece on its other end projecting through said casing whereby the spring may be pressed into contact'with the shell, a lead wire connected to said terminal, and another lead wire connected to said shell.

6. In an electric light socket, the combination with a threaded contact member of a second contact member, an insulating housing for said contact members, aspring finger secured to said second contact member and held out of engagement with said threaded contact member when said socket is empty, and means for moving said second contact member into engagement with said threaded contact member when desired. 7

7. A socket for an electric lamp having, in combination, a metal lamp receiving shell, a casing of insulating material therefor, a terminal carried by said shell and insulated therefrom, a spring connected to said terminal and normally out of contact with said shell, a lead wire connected to said terminal and another lead wire connected to said shell, and means whereby said spring may be pressed into contact with said shell comprising a member passing through an opening in the body of said shell and independent of said spring.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification on this 17th day of August, AD. 1926.

EMIEL P. SEGHERS.

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