US2385820A

US2385820A - Fluorescent maintenance apparatus

Info

Publication number: US2385820A
Application number: US462217A
Authority: US
Inventors: Leibow Saul
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1942-10-16
Filing date: 1942-10-16
Publication date: 1945-10-02
Anticipated expiration: 1962-10-02

Description

Oct. 2, 1945. 5. LEIBOW FjLUORESCENT MAINTENANCE APPARATUS Filed Oct. 16, 1942 vantageous features in view.

Patented Och 2, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,385,320 FLUORESCENT MAINTENANCE APPARATUS Saul Leibow, Providence, It. I.

Application center is, 1942, Serial No. 462,217

2 Claims. (01. 294-2.)

The invention relates to apparatus for facilitating the maintenance and repair of lighting fixtures, and has particular reference to apparatus designed for the maintenance of fluorescent lamps.

It is the principal object provide a repair tool for readily removing and replacing fluorescent bulbs and other lamp parts.

A further object of the invention is to reduce the time and eliminate the difllculty of removal and repair of parts of fluorescent lamps which are not readily accessible to the repair man,

With the above and other objects and adthe invention consists of a novel arrangement of parts more fully disclosed in the detailed description following, in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, and more specifically defined in the claims appended thereto.

In the drawing,

Fig. 1 is a view, partl broken away, of the upper portion of the novel maintenance tool, with a fluorescent bulb indicated in dotted lines;

Fig. 2 is a side view of Fig. l, with the alternative position of the tool head indicated in dotted lines;

Fig. 3 is a view, partly in section and partly broken away, of a standard type of fluorescent lamp;

Fig. 4 is a perspective, partly broken away, of a fluorescent bulb;

Fig. 5 is a side view of a rangement;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5, the starter housing having a novel guideway clamped thereto of the invention to standard starter ar- Fig. 'l is a perspective view of the novel guidey;

Fig. 8 is a plan ing removed;

Fig. 9 is a perspective of a standard starter; and

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of" the novel tool part for removal and replacement of the starter, the starter being indicated in dotted lines.

It has been found desirable to facilitate the maintenance of fluorescent lamps, which are usually mounted. at the ceiling or in other relatively inaccessible locations, by providing a tool with which the lamp parts may be quickly and easily removed and replaced. Such replacement is essential for proper maintenance, as a lamp which is nearing the end of its life. indicated by its flashing on and 01!, must be promptly review of Fig. 5, the starter bemoved in order not to damage the starter and other equipment.

The present type of fluorescent lamp, however, utilizes a turn terminal or socket, and the lamp is provided at each end with two pin contacts which are that inserted into a slide passage in the socket and are then turned a quarter turn to lock in the socket. Since the lamps may be of substantial length, up to at least five feet, the problem of replacement involves turning'a long lamp through a quarter turn, sliding the lamp out of its sockets, and then inserting a new lamp in the reverse manner.

I have devised a novel tool which simplifies the removal and the insertion of fluorescent lamps. To this end, I provide a swivel lamp grip ll, see Fig. 1, which has a base it of extended length, provided with two spring grip elements l2, which, as illustrated in Fig. 2. have spring flngers II for snapping around a lamp in gripping engagement therewith. The base II has a depending bracket it, which includes two spaced arms ll, pivotally mounted on a support I! by means of a pivot pin II. The support I8 is recessed to seat a leaf spring ll, mounted on the pin l1 and pressing against one arm is, and a snap washer is is secured to the other arm I! and cooperates with a second snap washer 2] secured to the support It, the end of the pin I! being threaded to receive a tightening nut 2|, whereb the spring I! is placed under pressure.

The two snap washers have their parts so arranged that the base ii may be snapped into either one of two selective positions, either upright, as shown in Fig. 1, or at right angles, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2. The support It may be secured to a long pole 22 in any suitable manner, as by nails or the like, and the repair man may then reach up and snap the fingers I! over thelamp. and then push the pole 22 up at a slight angle, whereupon the base ll snaps around and turns the lamp 23 in its sockets 24, see Fig. 3. The contact pins 25, see Fig. 4, may now be slid out of the passages 26 in the sockets, and the lamp removed. A new lamp is replaced in the reverse manner. The described parts thus function to selectively yieldingly lock in the necessary operative positions for fluorescent lamp maintenance.

To facilitate a quick, accurate insertion of the contact pins in the passages 26, guideways 21 may be used, see Figs. 6 and "I, each guideway having clamp on arms I! to snap over the sides of the sockets, and having flaring guide fingers 29 to guide the contact pins into the passages 20.

a, see ms sis and a As shown mugs. the starter has two contact pins 8i whichfit'in hayaseasao having an elongated base, lamp gripping fingers thereon,asupport,andmeanslockingsaidbase suitable manner, as by a bayonet 44 which cooperateswithanailinthepoleendtheother end of-the support having a plurality of spring 8119 sers ll to; grinning the starters, which 10 maytthen be turned for removal and for replacemen Y The novel tool thus provides a simple means for removing and inserting fluorescent lamps and starters, supplemental guideways for the lamp contact pins being utilized it desired. WhileI have described specific constructional emb'odiments or the parts of the maintenance tool, it is obvious that changes in the size. shape and arrangement of the parts may be made to suit different lamp designs, without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

to said support including mechanism for selectively release-bl! locking said base in alignment with and at right angles to said support, said mechanism including cooperating lock washers respectively secured to the base and the support.

2; A tool for fluorescent lamp maintenance, comprising an elongated support, an elongated base extending at right angles to saidsupport and having spaced spring finger elements adapted to snap around a lamp, and means attaching the base to one end of the support having resiliently interengaging parts for selectively snapping the base to a position in alignment with the support or to a position lateral to the support and at right angles to the first position.

sam- LEIBOW.