US2020886A - Lamp support - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 12, 1935.

HAMMAR LAMP SUPPORT Filed Jan 2 1934 .fiarberj- 5 5m 1 1 Y M Patented Nov. 12, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LAMP SUPPORT Herbert 6. Emma, Chicago, 111., assignor to Federal Electric Company, Chicago, 111., a cor- 12 Claims.

My invention relates in general to holders and has more particular reference to a receptacle for receiving and supporting luminescent discharge devices while connecting the same in an electrical circuit, the device of my present invention being especially adapted for supporting luminescent discharge tubes upon suitable support panels.

Discharge devices of this general character are usually made in tubular form of relatively fragile material and are mounted for display upon supporting panels, the ends of the tubular elements being 'bent and passed through openings in the panel to permit-attachment in an electrical circuit rearwardly of the panel, and it is an important object of my present invention to provide a support for carrying the end-of the discharge device at a point'where it extends through the panel including simple and inexpensive means for connecting the end of the device in an electrical circuit behind the panel.

Another important object is to provide a support of simple and inexpensive construction, easy to apply on a perforated panel and facilitatingthe connection of the supported device in an external electrical circuit.

Another important object is to provide a bushing for supporting a device extending through a panel, said bushing having an extension carrying a yielding contact in alignment with the bushing and in position to make yielding contact with a device inserted through said bushing, a further object being to form the yielding contact in an inexpensive manner whereby to reduce production costs.

Numerous other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description, which, taken-in connection with the accompanying drawing, discloses a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Referring to the drawing: I

Figure 1 is a sectional view taken through a panel carrying a luminescent discharge element supported in a receptacle or holder embodying my present invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 2--2 in Figure l; t

Figure 3 is a perspective view showing a part of my improved support;

Figure 4 isa perspective view of a resilient electrode mounting forming a part of the device shown in Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the device shown in Figure 1 viewed from the rear of the panel; and

REISSUED Figure 6 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 6-6 in Figure 5.

To illustrate my invention, I have shown on the drawing, a support for receiving and supporting the end ll of a luminescent discharge 5 tube I 3 mounted on a panel ii. The portion of the tube ii in front of the panel is carried on one or more supports II of suitable form adapted to be mounted on the panel and extend forwardly thereof to support the discharge element in 10 spaced position in front of the panel. The bent end of the discharge device extends through a suitable opening l9 formed in the panel in order to permit said end to be concealed behind the panel and there connected in an external electri- 15 cal circuit furnishing power for operating the device. a

In order to support the end of the tube in the opening i9, I have provided means comprising a bushing 2i having a central bore 23 adapted to 20 snugly receive the end ll of the discharge device I and having a flange 25 at the forward end of the bushing wide enough .to overlie andtclose the opening l9 around the tube end. The bushing 2i has an externally threaded cylindrical portion 25 21 extending rearwardly of the flange 25 through the opening IS in position to thread into an internally threaded perforation formed in 3. preferably plate-like portion 29 connected preferably at the base of a pedestal 3| in a preferably integral fash- 30 ion. When the bushing 2i is threaded into the plate-like portion 29, the pedestal 3| will be secured on the panel IS in position extending rearwardly thereof, the panel being clamped by and between the plate 29 and the flange 25 of the 35 bushing 2|.

In practice, it is difilcult to form the discharge element i3 with its bent end accurately aligned with the axis of the opening l9 and in order to afford substantial tolerance to accommodate for 40 the eccentricity of the bent end II with respect to the perforation IS, the cylindrical portion 21 of the bushing is preferably formed with an external diameter substantially less than the diameter of the perforation I9, while the flange 25 45 projects outwardly of the external surface of the cylindrical portion 21 a distance equal to at least twice the difference between the external diameter of the cylindrical portion 21 and the diameter of the perforation I! so that the flange will completely cover the perforation l9 no matter how great the eccentricity of the axis of the tube end with respect to the center of the perforation l9.

Thepcdcstal II has an opening 33 adapted to 55 snugly receive a cable 3| forming a part of the external electrical circuit with which the end of the discharge device is connected. The upper end of the pedestal 3| contains a pair of spaced horns 31 projecting beyond the upper end of the pedestal. A preferably metallic conducting strip 39 is fastened across the upper end of the pedestal 3i between the horns 31, the opposite ends of the strip being bent downwardly along the opposed sides of the pedestal end. The end edges of the strip are curled as at 4! to crimpingly receive the bared end 43 of the cable 35 The strip 39 is or may be fastened to the end of the pedestal in any suitable fashion as by means of the fastening screw 45 and serves to support a contact member 41 yieldingly in co-axial alignment with the channel 23 of the device-supporting bushing. The contact 41 comprises a preferably circular dished plate of suitable conducting material .which is yieldably supported from the pedestal 3| and electrically connected with the conductor strip 39 preferably by means of a resilient mounting comprising a wire of resilient conducting material formed substantially as shown in Figure 4 of the drawing, the wire being bent at its midpoint to form a pair of substantially parallel arms 49, the ends 51 of which are bent to substantially semi-circular configuration and crimpingly received in the curled edge 53 of the plate 41. The central portions of the wire 49 are se-' cured electrically and mechanically to the strip 39, the strip being preferably crimped as at 55 onto the spaced arms 49 near the central portions of the wire. The arms 49 are also preferably bent as at 51 to improve the yielding character of the mounting. It will be obvious that the contact, the resilient mounting, and the strip 39 may be formed and assembled as a unit and mounted as such upon the pedestal 3| simply by applying the holding screw 45. It will be noted also that the arms 49 extend on opposite sides of the horns 31 of the pedestal and that the horns extend substantially above the resilient mounting wire in order to protect the same against mechanical damage. The resilient mounting is formed to normally support the contact 41 in the dotted position shown in Figure 1. when the end ll of the discharge device is inserted through thechannel 23 of the bushing 2|, its ferruled tip 59 will engage the contact 41 and force it to the full line position illustrated in Figure 1, thus forming an electrical connection between the ferrule 59 and the electrical conductor 43.

The bushing 2| and pedestal 3| may be formed of porcelain, lava, moldable materials such as the reaction product of phenol and formaldehyde, and other suitable non-conducting materials. The pedestal and bushin moreover, may be formed as cheap molded elements while the electrode 41, its resilient mounting, and the connector strip 39 are also inexpensive to make.

The device is rugged and may be assembled easily on a panel by unskilled operators, since it is necessary only to crimp one curled edge 4| 3 spect to the axis of the bushing, a contact and ment on a panel comprising a pair of co-operatthat numerous changes may be made in the form, construction, and of the several parts without departing from thespirit or scope of my invention, or sacrificing any of its attendant advantages; the form herein described being preferred embodiments for the purpose of illustrating my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim asnew and desire to secure by Letters Patent is as follows: 1

1. A mounting for supporting a disclnrge element on a perforated panel, a pedestal, means to support an element in and secure the pedestal on a panel, contact means carried by said pedestal in position to engage the supported 14 element, said contact means a plate,

a resilient mounting for said plate comprising a pair of electrical conducting members crimpingly secured to said plate, and a strip of electrical conducting material crimpingly secured to the 21 conducting members at a point remote from said plate, means to secure said strip pon said pedestal, said strip being formed with curled portions for receiving and forming electrical contact with a conductor of an external electrical circuit, said pedestal having an end projection extending between and beyond said conducting members to protect the same against damage.

2. A mounting for supporting a discharge element on a panel comprising a pair of eo-operating elements, means comprising interfltting parts whereby said elements may be connected together and mounted on a panel, one of said elements forming a bushing to receive and support a dis-. charge element and the other comprising a pedestal adapted for mounting on the panel in position to extend in ofiset relationship with remeans to mount the same on the pedestal in axial alignment with said bushing, and in pofltion to 4 engage and form electrical contact with a discharge element supported by said bushing when the co-operating, elements are in mounted position on the panel.

3. A mounting for supporting a discharge ele- 4 ment on a panel comprising a pair of co-operating elements, means comprising inter-fitting parts whereby said elements may be connected together and mounted on a panel, one of said elements forming a bushing to receive and support a dis- 5 charge element and the other comprising a pedestal adapted for mounting on the panel in position to. extend in ofiset relationship with respect to the axis of the bushing, said pedestal being provided with a channel for snugly receiv- 5 ing and supporting a cable conductor, a contact, and means to support the contact from said pedestal in axial alignment with said bushing and in position to engage and support an electrical contact with a discharge element'supported in said bushing when the parts aremounted on a panel, said means serving to provide electrical connection between said contact and a cable con ductor supported in said channel.

4. A mounting for supporting a discharge eleing elements, means comprising inter-fitting parts whereby said elements may be connected together and mounted on a panel, one of said elements forming a bushing to receive and support a discharge element and the other comprising a pedestal adapted for mounting on the panel in position to extend in ofiset relationship with respect to the axis of the bushing, said being 7| aosaaso I I 3 provided with a channel extending in a nonradial direction with respect to the axis of the bushing, said channel being adapted for the removable reception of a cable conductor, a contact, and means on said pedestal and operatively connected with said contact to support same in position and to provide electrical connection between said contact and a cable conductor supported in said channel.

5. A mounting for supporting a discharge element on a panel comprising a pair of co-operating elements, means comprising interfitting parts whereby said elements may be connected together and mounted on a panel, one of said elements forming a bushing to receive and support a discharge element and the other comprising a pedestal adapted for mounting on the panel in position to extend in offset relationship with respect to the axis of the bushing, said pedestal being provided with a channel for the reception of a cable conductor, a contact, and resilient means on said pedestal and operatively connected with the contact to yieldingly support the same.

from the pedestal in position. to make electrical contact with a discharge device mounted in the bushing, said resilient means also serving to provide electrical connection between said contact, and a cable conductor supported in said channel.

6. A mounting as set forth in claim 2 wherein the means to mount the contact on the pedestal comprises a resilient conductor element secured to the contact and extending substantially radially therefrom to the pedestal, said resilient conductor being secured to the pedestal whereby the flexibility of the radially extending conductor element provides for yieldingly supporting the contact from the pedestal.

7. A mounting as set forth in claim 2 wherein the means for mounting the contact on the pedestal comprises a resilient conductor element looped substantially at its mid portion and having spaced arms secured to the contact and extending therefrom to the pedestal and/the element being secured to the pedestal substantially at its looped portion.

8. A mounting as set forth in claim 2 wherein the means for mounting the contact on the pedestal comprises a resilient conductor element looped substantially at its mid-portion and having spaced arms secured to the contact and extending therefrom to the pedestal and the element being secured to the pedestal substantially at its looped portion, each arm of said resilient element being curled intermediate the looped portion and the contact to increase their yielding support action.

9. A mounting as set forth in claim 2, wherein 5 the end of the pedestal is provided with spaced upstanding horns and the means for mounting the contact on the pedestal comprises an element connected to the contact and extending to and secured to the pedestal between said upstanding 1 horns.

10. A mounting as set forth in claim 2, wherein I the end of the pedestal is provided with spaced upstanding horns and the means for mounting the contact on the pedestal comprises a connector secured to the contact and having a pair of arms extending on opposite sides of said horns and secured to the pedestal.

11. A mounting as set forth in claim 2, wherein the end of the pedestal is provided with spaced 2o upstanding horns and the means for mounting the contact on the pedestal comprises a connector secured to the contact and having a pair of arms extending on oppositesides of the horns and a portion interconnecting said arms and extending between said horns and secured to the pedestal.

12. A mounting for use in combination with a discharge device and a support panel on which it is mounted, comprising a pair of co-operating elements adapted for mounting on the panel, one of said elements forming a support comprising a flange-like base provided with a perforation and an oflset pedestal portion extending from the base adjacent the edge of said perforation, another of said elements forming a clamp comprising a support member provided with a channel and having portions arranged for detachable connection with co-operating portions of said base whereby to secure the parts together, said base having a flange whereby to clampingly receive the panel between said base and the flange in order to support the mounting on the panel, a contact, and means to yieldingly mount the contact on the pedestal in axial alignment with the channel of said support member when the co-operating elements are in mounted position 7 on the panel so that a discharge element inserted in the channel may be snugly supported by the clamp in position engaging the axially aligned so contact.

'1 G. HAMMAR.

Images