US2124715A

US2124715A - Combined flashlight and circuit tester

Info

Publication number: US2124715A
Application number: US22278A
Authority: US
Inventors: Scheerer Ernest Otto
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1935-05-18
Filing date: 1935-05-18
Publication date: 1938-07-26
Anticipated expiration: 1955-07-26

Description

July 26, 1938.

E. o. SCHEERER COMBINED FLASHLIQHT AND CIRCUIT TESTER Filed May 18, 1935 Patented July 26, 1938 PATENT OFFICE COMBINED FLASHLIGHT AND CIRCUIT TEST Ernest Otto Scheerer, Linden, N. J. Application May 18, 1935,Serial No. 22,278 6 Claims. ((ll.'175-?183) This invention relates to an improved device fortesting electrical-circuits, and one of its ob-' jects is to provide an attachment for flashlight cases, which can be operated to test the condition of an electrical circuit, the flashlight lamp serving as anindicator for showing the action of the current produced by the battery in flowing through the circuit.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an attachment for flashlight cases, which includes a windable conductor wire, and means whereby this wire can be extended from the end of the flashlight case and be connected to one terminal or portion of an electrical circuit, and the current of the flashlight battery used to operate the'circuit, if it is active, and the condition of the circuit observed through the operation of the flashlight bulb or lamp. Another object of the invention is the provision of an attachment for flashlight cases, including a self winding conductor wire or element, one end of which is electrically connected to one end of the flashlight battery, and the other endoi which is equipped with a metal connector or clip also normally connected electrically tothe flashlight case, but detachable therefrom to permit of distant connection to a portion of a circuit to be tested, whereby the dry cells of the flashlight case may be used, in combination with the self winding conductor to make working tests of motors, bells, lighting circuits, etc;

A still further object of the invention is the provision of an attachment of this kind, with means for operating a telephonic receiver from the dry cells, so that sensitive'workingtests may be made under conditions, ofiering higher. circuit resistance, which would not be very responsive to the flashlight bulb.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a combined flashlight and testing device, which will permit of the free use of the flashlight for all desired purposes, and permit of the use of the dry cells of the flashlight to test electrical circuits, either by using the flashlight lamp alone, or in conjunction with the telephonic receiver to show the activity or inactivity of the circuit subjected to test.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists in certain new and useful combinations, constructions, and arrangements of parts, clearly described in the following specification, and fully illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side view of the improved device.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view, through the rear end of the testing device.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view, taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view, taken on line arrows. 1 Fig. 5 is a detail showing the'relationship of 4-4 of Fig'. .1, looking in the direction of the the terminals of the cup. Fig. 6 is a detail showing the bulb endof the device.

Referring to the drawing 5 designates the cylindrical metal'shell of the flashlight case, on the forward end of which the reflector 6 is screw threaded or otherwise coupled. The usual incandescent lamp 1 is detachably threaded in this trical contact with the metal case or shell 5; and

its central electrode 8 may beelectrically conto engage the screw threads ll. This metalcase or cap 12 is equipped with a central flxed guide I 3, formed of fibre or other suitable insulating material, in which the metal pin II is arranged to slide. This. guide or post carries the metal spring E5, the inner end of which is extended through the wall of the tubular guide H .to have electrical contact with the metal pin II. A coil spring I6 is arranged on this pin,

case, so that its usualmetal shell will have elecone end of which engages the inner end of the guide l3, and the other end of which engages the head ll formed on the inner end of the pin. This head projects through a central opening formed in the flbre or insulating cup l8, so that electrical contact may be established with'the rear end of the adjacent dry cell.

A winding reel or spool i9 is arranged over the winding spring l5 and is connected to the outer end thereof. On this reel or. spool the flexible wire or conductor 2|! is wound, the inner end of this wire being connected to the spring l5 to conduct electricity from the dry cells, through the pin, and the spring, to the spring or other metal clip 2|, attached to the end of the wire 20. This wire is covered with rubber or other thin insulation, so that when the wire is pulled through the hole 22 in the case l2 the metal terminal clip or connector 2! will not be in circuit with the case l2.

The case I2 is equipped witha binding post 23, located adjacent to the hole 22. When the clip is pulled away from the flashlight case and placed in metallic contact with a portion of any electrical circuit, the binding post 23 may be connected to another portion or terminal of the circuit to be tested. With the manual switch of the flashlight oase in closed position, current will flow from the dry cells through the flexible wire, to the clip 2|, through the circuit to be tested, if the same is active or not broken, to the. post 23, to the case i2, to the case 5, to the lamp 1, back to the dry cells.

In this circuit arrangement the lamp 1 will be r illuminated when the circuit tested is found alive. -When the circuit to be tested has a high resistance, an ear piece or telephonic receiver 24 may be used. This ear piece may be connected to the case l2'by means of the ring frame 25,- in such manner that it can be detached from the case II, or swung outwardly thereof. This 'ear piece is provided with a binding post '26 which is in circuit with one end of the enclosed wind-- ing of the receiver magnet, and is also provided with another binding post 21 which is in circuit with the other end 01' the receiver winding.

When the clip 2| is in metallic contacting engagement with the case l2, the'flashlight may be employed in the ordinary manner.

The ring frame 25 provides ground electrical connection between the receiver or ear piece and the case II, when the receiver is attached to the case l2.

The combined device is particularly useful for electricians and mechanics, who must inspect electrical circuits indifferent buildings and places, and who cannot carry around costly and heavy equipment for this purpose. The equipment is designed to provide a compact unit, which will serve to illuminate a field of work, or to test any circuit, either by using the lamp of the flashlight as an indicator, or by using the more sensitive telephonic ear piece or receiver.

The testing unit is so constructed that it may be mounted in place of the usual closure cap on the end of the flashlight case or barrel. It does not interfere with the operation of the flashlight, and provides means for making contact with portions of a circuit which are ,widely separated.

In Fig.- 5 I show an electrical lamp, consisting of an inner glass bulb 40, which is equipped with an incandescent filament II, and the usual terminal electrical connector cap 42 and the central electrode 43. An additional bulb I4 is arranged around the bulb l0, and sealed atits point of connection therewith at 45 to provide a space 46 between the two bulbs, which is exhausted to provide a vacuum between the two bulbs. This results in. reducing the radiation losses of heat from the illuminating filament I, so that with less consumption of current the filament can be properly energized to give maximum illumination, or with the same current supply increased illumination will be obtained. The eifect of this conservation of the heat energy produced by the .flow of the current, is to increase the life and efliciency of the dry battery used for operating the improved bulb.

Having described my-invention I claim: I 1. The, combination with a flashlight having a case, a lamp on one end of the'case, dry'cel'ls within the case, a metal cap mounted on the end of thecase, means carried by the cap to establish electrical connection with the dry cells, a selfwinding drum arranged in the cap, a flexible electrical conductor connected to the drum, a

clip on the-end of the flexible conductor, ,said

.drum-and the conductor being electrically connected to the means, and a switch for controlwhereby the electrical conductor may be employed for making tests of circuits portions of which are widely separated from each other.

2. A device of the character described adapted for use with a hand electricalflashlighthaving a casing and a lamp at one end of said'casing and dry batteries within the casing electrically connected to the lamp comprising in combination a cap detachable on the end of the case and provided with a spring pressed contact member engaging the dry cell adjacent thereto, a spring rotated winding drum having electrical connection with the spring pressed contact member, a flexible insulated conductor connected electrically to the drum and windable thereon, a terminal connector connected electrically to the conductor and adapted to be electrically connected with the cap when disposed against the same, and means for controlling the circuit through the lamp.

3. A hand electrical testing attachment for hand electrical flashlight cases, consisting of a metal case adapted to be coupled to the end of a standard flashlight case and provided with a spring pressed electrical contact member engageable with the adjacent dry cell of the flashlight case, a ring frame having electrical connection with the metal case, a telephonic receiver mounted on the ring frame for detachment from the metal case, and means for making connection between the telephonic receiver and. the flashlight case, whereby the receiver may be placed in electrical circuit with the flashlight and operated by the batteries thereof.

.4. An attachment for flashlights consisting of a casehaving a coupling'element to engage a flashlight case, a spring rotated drum within the first case, a flexible conductor cord connected with the drum and having a connecting element secured to one end thereof adapted to be normally held against said first case to permit of the ready extension of said conductor, means for supplying current from a dry battery of a flashlight case connected with the first case to said conductor, means for establishingelectrical contact between said first case and said flashlight case and an audible signal elementpivotally mounted on said first case and having terminal connections to permit circuit connection being established with the battery of the first case.

5. A device of the character described adapted for use with afiashlight containing a casing, \batteries and a bulb comprising in combination a cap of a diameter and shape to fit upon the end of the flashlight as a cap and having means for physical attachment to said cap, a contact within said cap adapted to engage one terminalof the battery, a spring reel mounted co-axially with said cap, a conductor mounted on said reel and in rotatable contact with said contact, said conductorv extending through an opening in said cap to the exterior and being provided with a terminal and a second terminal carried by said cap connected to said casing. h

6. A device in accordance with claim 5 and provided with a telephone receiver mounted on said cap having one end of its magnet connected to the terminal of the battery to which said flexible conductor is not connected and having its other end'provided with a terminal exterior 'to the-cap. Y a

- ERNEST SCHEERER.