US2331254A - Indicating lamp - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 5, 1943. c. P. WEST INDICATING LAMP Filed Feb. 26, 1941 INVENTOR Patented Oct. 5, 1943 INDICATING LAMP Charles P. West, Forest Hills, Pa., assignor to Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company, East Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania.

Application February 26, 1941, Serial No. 380,680

Claims.

My invention relates, generally, to indicating lamps and it has reference, in particular, ,to a panel mounting indicating lamp unit.

Generally stated, it is an object of my invention to provide an indicating lamp unit for panel mounting which is of simple and rugged construction and which may be economically manu factured and .installed.

More specifically, it is an object of my invention to provide an indicating lamp and resistor unit of the panel mounting type which is so constructed that it may be readily mounted on panels of widely different thickness, including both metal and slate panels.

A further object of my invention is to provide a switchboard indicating lamp unit which may be mounted in an opening in the switchboard panel and which is readily adjustable to a relative variation in panel thickness.

Another object of my invention is to provide for detachably securing a lens to a lamp receptacle.

Yet another object of my invention is to provide for securing a lamp resistor about, or in end-to-end relation with, a lamp receptacle which projects through an opening in the panel to permit the use of one size of lamp receptacle with a wide range of panel thickness.

Still anotherobject of my invention is to provide for securing an indicating lamp resistor to an indicating lamp receptacle mounted in a panel opening so as to accommodate a relatively wide range of panel thickness and occupy only a minimum of space to the rear of the panel.

Other objects will, in part, be obvious and will, in part, appear hereinafter.

In accordance with my invention, the panel mounting indicating lamp unit may comprise a lamp receptacle comprising an elongated body portion disposed to project through a panel opening and having a flange at one end for positioning the body portion in the opening. The lamp resistor, which is used to reduce the voltage applied to the lamp, may be provided with an axial opening sufliciently large to receive the,

. dicating lamp unit is mounted on a relatively thick panel so that there is insufficient space on ,the body portion of the receptacle projecting therethrough to accommodate the resistor, it

maybe secured to the body portion of the renature and scope of my invention, reference may be had to the following detailed description, together with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a view, in section, of an indicating lamp unit embodying the principal features of my invention;

Fig. 2 is aside elevational view of the indicating lamp unit of Fig. 1 illustrating an alternate method of securing the lamp resistor to the receptacle; I

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view'taken along the line IIIIII of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view taken along the line IVIV of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view of the receptacle taken along the line V-V of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a cross sectionalview of the receptacle taken along the line VI-VI of Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged front elevational view of the lens unit.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged side elevational view partly in section, of the lens unit;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged rear elevational View,

partly in section, of the lens unit;

Fig. 10 is a rear elevational view of a resistor support member; and

reducing the voltage applied to the indicating lamp. As shown, the indicating lamp unit ID is disposed to be mounted on panels I6 and i! which are of greatly different thickness, and project through openings 18 and I9 therein, respectively.

Referring to Figs. 1, 3, 4, 5 and 6, it may be seen that the lamp receptacle l2 may, for example, comprise an elongated body member or portion 20 of a suitable insulating material, such as a phenolic resin, hard rubber or the like, having a recess or opening 22 therein from one end to receive the indicating lamp l3. Suitable means, such as the flanged face plate 24, may be provided about the opening to position the receptacle against the face of the panel IS. The face plate 24 may be secured to the body lamp having an opening therethrough to receive the body portion of the lamp, and means for positionin the resistor on the body member.

4. An indicating lamp unit comprising, a lamp receptacle of insulating material having a flanged end portion and an elongated body portion disposed to be inserted through an opening in a panel provided with a central recess therein. and longitudinal grooves on the outer surface connectin with the recess, resilient contact members to conduct current to the lamp recessed within the grooves, a resistor for reducing the voltage applied to the'lamp having an opening therethrough larger than the body portion of the receptacle to permit positioning the resistor about the body portion when the unit is used with a relatively thin panel, and means for mounting the resistor in end-to-end relation with the body member when the unit is used with a relatively thick panel.

5. A panel mounting indicating lamp unit comprising, a lamp receptacle having a body portion with a central opening at one end to receive a lamp and a flange about the opening to position i the receptacle in a panel opening, a pair of oppositely disposed longitudinal grooves on the outer surface of the body portion connecting with the central opening, a terminal member positioned at the other end of the body portion, an additional terminal member positioned in one of the grooves, resilient contact members connected to the terminal members recessed in the grooves and projecting into the central opening to contact with the lamp terminals, and a resistor disposed to be connected to one of the terminals having a central opening to receive the body portion of the receptacle, said resistor and body portion being arranged so that the resistor may be positioned about the body portion when the receptacle is used with a relatively thin panel and may be positioned in substantially end on relation with the body portion when the receptacle is used with a relativel thick panel.

6. An indicating lamp comprising, a body member of insulating material having an opening therein from one end for a lamp and a flange integral with said end of the body member, a terminal member at the other end, a pair of opposed longitudinal surface grooves on the body member connecting with the opening, an additional terminal member recessed within one of the grooves, contact members connected to the terminal members positioned within the grooves and extending into the opening, means to secure the body member to a panel positioned about the body member, a lamp resistor, and means for mounting the lamp resistor on the end terminal member in end-to-end relation with the body member.

'7. An indicating lamp receptacle comprising, an elongated body member having a substantially continuous threaded outer surface for receiving means whereby the receptacle may be mounted on a relatively thick panel or a thin one at one end to receive a lamp, a. flanged face plate integral with the body member at said one end, oppositely disposed longitudinal grooves on the outer surface of the body connecting with the said opening, a terminal member formed in the body member at the other end, an additional terminal member positioned in one of the grooves adjacent said other end, and resilient contact members connected to the terminal members recessed within the grooves and extending into the opening.

8. A universal indicating lamp for use with relatively thick or relatively thin panels having openings therein comprising, an elongated lamp receptacle positionable in the opening having a threaded body portion sufliciently long to project beyond a relatively thick panel with a flange at one end to position the receptacle relative to the front of the panel and a terminal member at the other end, a tubular resistor for connection to a lamp in the receptacle having an opening therethrough of sufiicient size to receive the body portion, means to support the resistor on the terminal member when the unit is used with a relatively thick panel, and means for mounting the resistor on the body member between the panel and the terminal member when the unit is used with a relatively thin panel.

9. An indicating lamp unit for mounting in an opening in a relatively thick or a relatively thin panel comprising, an elongated lamp receptacle of insulating material having a threaded body portion of suificient length to project through the opening in a relatively thick panel with means at one end to position the unit relative to the panel front, means positionable on the body portion intermediate the ends to secure the body portion in the panel opening, and a tubular resistor having an opening therethrough sufliciently large to receive the body portion, said body portion being arranged to support the resistor in substantially end to end relation at the rear of the panel when the body portion is mounted on a relatively thick panel and intermediate the ends of the body portion when it is mounted on a relatively thin panel.

10. An indicating lamp for use with relatively thick panels or relatively thin panels having openings therethrough comprising, an elongated lamp receptacle having a body portion of sumcient length to project through the opening in a relatively thick panel with means at one end to position the body portion relative to the front of the panel and a terminal member at the other end, means positionable on the body portion intermediate the ends to secure the body portion in the panel opening, and a resistor for connection in series with a lamp in the receptacle arranged to be mounted in substantially end to end relation with the body portion on the terminal member when the body portion is used with a relatively thick panel, said resistor having an opening therethrough for receiving the body portion and being of such a length as to be positionable on the body portion between the panel and the terminal member when the body portion is used with a relatively thin panel.

CHARLES P. WEST.

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