US2216765A

US2216765A - Electrical lamp connection

Info

Publication number: US2216765A
Application number: US258227A
Authority: US
Inventors: Martin M Clayton
Original assignee: National Electric Products Corp
Current assignee: National Electric Products Corp
Priority date: 1939-02-24
Filing date: 1939-02-24
Publication date: 1940-10-08
Anticipated expiration: 1957-10-08

Description

Oct. 8, 1940. M. M. CLAYTON ELECTRICAL LAMP CONNECTION Filed Feb. 24, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet l I INVENTOR M 7%- 6%- M MW WWI/m O Um I M E 2 2 2 i. E Q S 3 M u m d d IE1 1W1 m w W W e W W E M m C n Y v Oct. 8, 1940. M. M. CLAYTON- ELECTRICAL LAMP commoner:

Filed Feb. 24, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet I JZE JZZI.

IN'VENTOR M W M M 4 7m 3 H mm H m m 6 1 6 n 2 Z fl 9 1 i 5 E Patented Oct. 8, 1940 PATENT OFFICE ELECTRICAL LAMP CONNECTION Martin M. Clayton, Pittsburgh, Pa., assignor to National Electric Products Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Application February 24, 1939, Serial No. 258,227

6 Claim.

This invention relates to the mounting and arrangement of elongate, single-filament, electrical lamps in association with a two-circuit, three-wire, electrical distribution system, such as 6 that disclosed in my co-pending application Serial No. 256,244, filed February 13, 1939, and the application herein forms in part a divisional continuation of my application Serial No. 184,183, filed January 10, 1938.

One object of my invention is by association of elongate single-filament, electrical lamps, such as those known as Lumiline lamps, with a twocircuit, three-wire, multiple outlet system to provide a double line of lamps mounted on a single duct structure in balanced position with respect thereto, and while utilizing simple and practical mounting elements for the lamps. Another ob-v Ject of the invention is by association of a double line of single-filament elongate electrical lamps with a two-circuit, three-wire, multiple outlet system so to mount the lamps that each of two lines of emitted light having its source in the lamps is controllable independently of the other line of illumination energized from the system. Another object of the invention is to mount two lines of elongate, single-filament, electrical lamps in a three-wire multiple outlet system that the two lines of light emission provided by the lamps are substantially uninterrupted throughout the length of the organization. Other objects of this invention will be clear to those skilled in the art to which the invention relates.

In the accompanying drawings Fig. I is a plan view of a fragmentary length of two-circuit threewire multiple outlet duct. Fig. II is a plan view showing two parallel lines of elongate singlefilament lamps mounted on a two-circuit threewire multiple outlet duct, such as the multiple outlet duct of Fig. I, to provide ina selected rem gion thereof two substantially continuous parallel lines of light emission. Fig. III is a diagrammatic view showing the connection of the elongate single-filament electrical lamps to the two circuits formed by the three wires of the multiple outlet duct, and showing independent switch control of these two lines of lamps. Fig. IV is a front elevation of a simple mounting structure for mounting two parallel lines of elongate sin-' gle-filament electrical lamps on, and in electrically connected relation with, the two circuits of a two-circuit, three-wire, outlet system; this form of mounting being appropriate to the mounting and energization of two individually energized electrical lamps of the specified sort, and to form the end brackets for parallel lines of light emission consisting each of a. plurality of the elongate electrical lamps. Fig, V is a cross-sectional view through a multiple outlet duct housing a twocircuit three-wire electrical system, with which duct I organize the elongate electrical lamps. Fig. VI is a side elevation of the mounting bracket shown in Fig. IV, looking from the right of that latter figure of the drawings' Fig. VII is a plan view of two of the brackets shown in Figs. IV and VI, arranged back-td-back. Fig. VIII is a central horizontal sectional view, on a smaller scale, showing two of the mounting brackets arranged back-to-back. Fig. IX is a central horizontal sectional view, on the scale of Fig. VIII, through a modified form of bracket consisting effectively of the double bracket arrangement of Fig. VIII but in which the structure of the bracket is fundamentally made in one piece.

Referring. to the drawings, the duct which houses the two-circuit system with which the lamps are organized is shown in Figs. I and V. This duct consists of a formed metallic channel, designated by reference numeral I, which is approximately rectangular in cross section and which is equipped with a cover 2 windowed at spaced intervals to expose a plurality of receptacles 3. Within the cavity of the metallic channel three longitudinally arranged conductors A, B, and C are associated withreceptacles 3, which latter are of insulating material and are shown as molded structures. At each-of the receptacles which insulate contact-making regions of the conductors from the channel, all three of the conductors A, B, and Care exposed for the making of electrical connection therewith.

'Each of the conductors thus installed carries a plurality of contact clips 4 which are arranged along the conductors in a spacing corresponding to the desired spacing of the receptacles in the channel and the spacing of the windows in the cover 2 which expose the receptacles. In the detail showing of Fig. V, one of the contact clips 3 is shown as attached to a bared region 5 of each of the duct conductors A, B, and C. Each receptacle has therein spaced openings a, b, and c, which give access to the contact clips 4, housed in recesses 6 of the receptacle; and as the receptacle lies in the channel of a duct, these openings form a transverse series, aligned with each other transversely of the duct, and spaced apart a distance equal to the standard spacing of theprongs of an attachment plug. Desirably, as shown, the prong-receiving opening 0 is made of somewhat greater length than the prong-receiving openings 0. and b. This is done primarily in order that the opening c may receive the broad prong of a polarized plug constructed with prongs of different width.

A consideration of Fig. V oi the drawings will make clear the use of the duct in its common function of providing two circuits for connection of electrical attachments thereto. Thus, it will be clear that the normally spaced prongs of a standard attachment plug may be inserted in the prong openings a. and c to enter the contact clips associated with the conductors A and C, or may be inserted in the prong-receiving openings b and c to enter the contact clips associated with the conductors B and C. In either position in which the prongs of an attachment plug are inserted connection is made to the common conductor C.

I have discovered that a duct of this sort is also peculiarly adapted to the mounting and energization of a double row of elongate, singlefilament, electrical lamps. The electrical connection is in such use somewhat diiferent to that described for connection of attachments in the usual manner, since the single-filament lamps may be energized by connection to the two conductors of the circuit by means of but one prong at each end of the lamp. That is, at one end of the lamp connection by a contact prong is made to one wire of the circuit, and at the other end of the lamp a single prong makes connection to the other wire of the circuit. I have provided means by which, in a two-circuit, three-wire system of the sort indicated, two rows of the singlefllament lamps may be mounted in balanced relation on a single duct containing the two-circuit, three-wire, system, and have so constructed and arranged the mounting means as to provide a minimum of interruption in the two lines of light emission from the lamps. Also I have discovered that in the connection of these two rows of lamps to a two-circuit, three-wire, system of this sort, each row of lamps may be controlled independently of the other, so that at will either or both the rows is energized.

Fig. 11 of the drawings illustrates the balanced mounting of four of the elongate electrical lamps Ia, lb, 10 and'ld of one row and four elongate electrical lamps Ba, 81), 8c and 8d of a second row on a two-circuit, three-wire, duct of the sort shown in Figs. I and V of the drawings. Fig. III illustrates the electrical connection and independent electrical control of the two rows of lamps. In this figure of the drawings the lamps 1a, 1b, 1c and 1d are shown as all having connection to the energized circuit wire A, and the lamps 8a, 8b, 8c, and 8d are shown as having connection to the energized circuit wire B. The lamp 8a has an independent connection to the neutral wire C, while the lamps 1a and 8b are shown as having common connection to the neutral wire C. Common connection to the neutral wire is also shown for the lamps 1b and 8c, and for the lamps To and 8d. A switch control 9 is shown as interposed in the conductor wire A and a switch control it) is shown as interposed in the conductor wire B. Since the connection common to any of the lamps in the two difierent rows is merely to the neutral wire 0, the energization .of each row of lamps as a whole is controllable tor, a burned out filament in any lamp does not cause the other lamps in its row to be de-energized.

Exemplary structure for efl'ecting the mounting of the lamps on the duct, and electrical connection to the duct conductors, is illustrated in the remaining figures of the drawings. Simple mounting structure for the lamps is shown in Figs. IV and VI of the drawings. This mounting structure is formed as a bracket ll of insulating material, and having therein two sockets l2 and I3 containing respectively conductive elements l4 and [5 from which conductors Ma and l5a lead respectively to contact prongs l6 and I1. Desirably as shown, the bracket is provided with a third prong l8 which has an unconnected setting in the body of the bracket and serves merely to provide balanced mounting of the bracket on the duct.

This structure is useful at the outer, ends of a double row of single-filament elongate electrical lamps, or to mount an individual assembly consisting of two parallel lamps of that sort on the duct, as well as in an intermediate position in a double row of elongate lamps. Matching Fig. IV of the drawings with the cross-sectional view through the duct shown in Fig. V, it will be seen that the contact prong l6 of the mounting structure can, by entering the opening a, make contact with an energized conductor A, while the prong I1 can, by entering the opening 0, make contact with the neutral conductor C. At the other end of the two lamps, the identical structure of Fig. IV is reversed in its position to present its sockets to the lamp terminals. At that end of the two lamps, therefore, the second bracket will have its prong I6 inserted through opening b to make contact with energized conductor B for the lamp which at its other end is electrically connected by a prong I! with neutral conductor C. Similarly, this second identical bracket will have its contact prong I! introduced through opening 0 to make neutral connection for the lamp which at its other end is connected to the energized conductor A by the mounting structure at that end of the lamp.

Figs. VII and VIII of the drawings show an arrangement of the mounting structure to give minimized interruption to the two lines of light emission provided by the rows of lamps in an electrical association such as that shown in Fig. III of the drawings. In this arrangement each of the brackets l I has its contact prong IS in, and occupying a portion of, either the contact opening a, or the contact opening b, of a receptacle. Each bracket also has its contact prong I! at the longitudinal center of the bracket, in the opening c in a receptacle giving access to the neutral conductor C. It will be seen that this mounting arrangement makes the electrical association of Fig. III, giving a lamp in one row a common neutral connection with a lamp in the other row mounted in an abutting bracket. The mounting structure is simple both mechanically and electrically and has the great advantage that it provides a minimum width of unilluminated structure between successive lamps in both rows. It is possible because the contact prongs ot the brackets are of such restricted width that they may preserve alignment in the back-to-back arrangement by each requiring but a portion of a receptacle opening for its accommodation.

Fig. IX of the drawings shows a modification which is effectively an integration of the two back-to-back brackets of Figs. VII and VIII into a single mounting structure. In this modificatlon, the bracket IQ of insulating material has wherein four sockets, corresponding to the four sockets provided by bringing two brackets back to back. It has three aligned contact prongs, all of which are efiectively connected to the bracket sockets. As shown, the contact prong 20, positioned to enter the opening a in a receptacle, is connected with socket 2|, being thus adapted, for example, to connect lamp 1b of Fig. III at its terminal which lies to the left in Fig. III to the conductor A. Contact prong 22, connected with socket is positioned to enter the opening b of a receptacle, and is thus adapted for example to connect that terminal of lamp 8a of Fig. HI, which lies to the right, to the conductor B. The intermediate contact prong 24 provides a common neutral connection to the conductor C for

sockets

25 and 26, and thus, referring to Fig. III, for the right hand terminal of the lamp Ia and the left hand terminal of the lamp 8b. Obviously, this electrical'connection is similar to that of the two back-to-back brack,-' ets shown in Figs. VII and VIII. 1/

The modified structure of Fig. IX is adapted to mounting in intermediate positions along the two rows. Since it is a double-faced structure, mounting structures such as the one shown in Figs. IV and VI, are more desirably used at the ends of the rows.

By a very simple modification of the mounting structure for single-filament lamps, it may be made suitable for the double mounting of twofllament lamps. Thus by making the dummy prong iii a live prong connected to its adjacent socket, by giving each socket connection to the prong which makes contact with the neutral conductor of the two-circuit duct, or system, and by making both sockets in the bracket screw sockets, the mounting structure of Figs. IV and VI may be adapted to the mounting of a double row of elongate, two-filament, electrical lamps. The feature in which such arrangement is less desirable than that provided by the single-filament lamps is that the depth of the screw sockets causes a greater interruption in the lines of light emission than is the case, when the single-filament lamps and mounting structures appropriate to them are used.

In the mounting of a double row of single-filament lamps in two-circuit, three-wire system it is noteworthy that I minimize interruption in the lines of light emission, by connecting opposite ends of longitudinally adjacent lamps in the same receptacle, and thus avoidwidening the gap between longitudinally adjacent lamps by placing two receptacles in contact with each other. It is also noteworthy that I employ in organizing a double row of lamps, preferably of the single-filament sort, in a three-wire, two-circuit system, capable of providing two independently controllable circuits for use with attachment plugs of standard form and arrangement; and do this without change in the electrical arrangement of the system, or in the housingand insulating elements therefor.

- I claim as my invention:

1. An electrical two-circuit three wire lighting system composed of two energized electrical conductors, a neutral conductor cooperative with both said energized conductors to form completed electrical circuits therewith, a plurality of elongate electrical lamps arranged in two parallel rows in which the lamps of one row are connected to one energized conductor of the system,

in which the lamps of the other of the two rows are connected to. the other of the two energized conductors, and in which the lamps of both'rows are connected to the neutral conductor, and .control switches arranged independently to energize or de-energize the two rows of lamps by com- 5 pleting or interrupting the two energized conductors of the two-circuit system.

2. Anelectrical two-circuit three wire lighting system composed of two energized electrical conductors, a neutral conductor cooperative with both said energized conductors to form completed electrical circuits therewith, a plurality of elongate electrical lamps arranged in'two parallel rows in which the lamps of one row are connected to one energized conductor of the system, in which the lamps of the other of the two rows are connected to the other of the two energizedconductors and in which the lamps of both rows are 7 connected to the neutral conductor, control switches arranged independentlyto energizeordeenergize the two rows of lamps by completing or interrupting the two energized conductors of the two-circuit system, an elongate housing structure for the conductors 'of the two-circuit threewire system, contact-presenting receptacles in said housing, and mounting structure adapted physically to mount the elongate electrical lamps on the housing at the receptacles in electrical connection with the two circuits of the housed system thereat.

3. An electrical two-circuit three wire lighting system composed of two energized electrical conductors, .a neutral conductorcooperative with 'both said energized conductors to form completed electrical circuits therewith, a pair of elongate single-filament electrical lamps in physically pare allel arrangement, and contact-making mounting for the two lamps arranged to connect the two parallel lamps at one end thereof one to the neutral conductor and the other to one of the en- 40 ergized conductors and at the other end thereof respectively to the other of the said energized conductors and tothe neutral conductor.

4. An electrical two-circuit three wire lighting, system composed of two energized electrical conductors, a neutral conductor cooperative with both said energized conductors toform completed electrical circuits therewith, a pair of elongate single-filament electrical lamps in physically parallel arrangement, contact-making mounting for the two lamps arranged to connect the two parallel lamps at one end thereof one to the neutral conductor and the other to one of the energized conductors and at the other end thereof respectively to the other of the said energized conduc-, tors and to the neutral conductor, and control switches arranged independently to energize or de-energize the We said elongate single-filament lamps by completing or interrupting the two energized conductors of the two-circuit system.

5. An electrical two-circuit three wirelighting system composed of two energized electrical conductors, a neutral conductor cooperative with both said energized conductors to form completed electrical circuitstherewith, a housing for the three conductors of the system constructed to provide contact-making access thereto, a lamp assembly organized of two insulated brackets arranged to receive each two elongate single-filament lamps, two such lamps mounted in physical parallelism between the two brackets, and contacts carried by the two brackets and connected with the ends of the two lamps arranged at each bracket electrically to connect one of the lamps to the neutral conductor of the two-circuit system and the other 01' the lamps to one of the energized conductors thereof, the contacts of the two brackets being inversely arranged so that each lamp has connection to one only of the said energized conductors and toy the neutral conductor.

6. An electrical two-circuit three wire lighting system composed of two energized electrical conductors, a neutral conductor cooperative with both said energized conductors to form completed electrical circuits therewith, a housing for the three conductors of the system constructed to provide contact-making access thereto, a lamp assembly organized of two insulated brackets arranged to receive each two elongate single-filament lamps, two such lamps mounted in physical ductor, and control switches arranged independently to energize or de-energize the two said single fi1ament lamps by completing or interrupting the two energized conductors oi the system.

MARTIN M. CLAYTON.