US3781593A - Full range light dimmer adaptor - Google Patents
Full range light dimmer adaptor Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US3781593A US3781593A US00288503A US3781593DA US3781593A US 3781593 A US3781593 A US 3781593A US 00288503 A US00288503 A US 00288503A US 3781593D A US3781593D A US 3781593DA US 3781593 A US3781593 A US 3781593A
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- adaptor
- lamp
- shell
- variable resistor
- triac
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
Links
- 238000005286 illumination Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 9
- 230000001419 dependent effect Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 8
- 239000003990 capacitor Substances 0.000 claims description 16
- 239000004065 semiconductor Substances 0.000 claims description 13
- 230000001276 controlling effect Effects 0.000 claims description 2
- 230000001105 regulatory effect Effects 0.000 claims description 2
- 238000003780 insertion Methods 0.000 abstract description 2
- 230000037431 insertion Effects 0.000 abstract description 2
- 229910001369 Brass Inorganic materials 0.000 description 7
- 239000010951 brass Substances 0.000 description 7
- 230000001960 triggered effect Effects 0.000 description 5
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 4
- 239000000853 adhesive Substances 0.000 description 2
- 230000001070 adhesive effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 239000004020 conductor Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000009434 installation Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000010363 phase shift Effects 0.000 description 2
- 229920002994 synthetic fiber Polymers 0.000 description 2
- RYGMFSIKBFXOCR-UHFFFAOYSA-N Copper Chemical compound [Cu] RYGMFSIKBFXOCR-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- XUIMIQQOPSSXEZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N Silicon Chemical compound [Si] XUIMIQQOPSSXEZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 229920001807 Urea-formaldehyde Polymers 0.000 description 1
- GZCGUPFRVQAUEE-SLPGGIOYSA-N aldehydo-D-glucose Chemical compound OC[C@@H](O)[C@@H](O)[C@H](O)[C@@H](O)C=O GZCGUPFRVQAUEE-SLPGGIOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 230000004075 alteration Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000002146 bilateral effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000015556 catabolic process Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000010949 copper Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910052802 copper Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 238000010586 diagram Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000003822 epoxy resin Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000008018 melting Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000002844 melting Methods 0.000 description 1
- 229910052754 neon Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- GKAOGPIIYCISHV-UHFFFAOYSA-N neon atom Chemical compound [Ne] GKAOGPIIYCISHV-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 229920000647 polyepoxide Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 229920005989 resin Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 239000011347 resin Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910052710 silicon Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000010703 silicon Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910000679 solder Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 238000005476 soldering Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000012815 thermoplastic material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229920001187 thermosetting polymer Polymers 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
- H01R33/00—Coupling devices specially adapted for supporting apparatus and having one part acting as a holder providing support and electrical connection via a counterpart which is structurally associated with the apparatus, e.g. lamp holders; Separate parts thereof
- H01R33/94—Holders formed as intermediate parts for linking a counter-part to a coupling part
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- H05B—ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
- H05B39/00—Circuit arrangements or apparatus for operating incandescent light sources
Definitions
- the case of the triac is soldered to the shell to provide a thermal path for dissipation by the shell of heat generated in the triac.
- the body has a dependent collar which protrudes into the base and a recess in the collar receives the triac case whereby rotation of the base relative to the body is prevented.
- Above the base the body has an external flat face which is substantially covered by a large hollow knob housing the variable resistor which controls the level of illumination.
- This invention relates to controls for electric lamps. More particularly, the invention pertains to a socket insert for varying the intensity of a lamp of the type having a filament heated to incandescence by an electrical current.
- the principal objective of the invention is to provide a lamp dimmer which can be inserted in the ordinary lamp socket to convert the .on-off arrangement to an arrangement permitting the illumination level to be con trolled over a large range.
- the invention resides in a light dimmer adaptor containing within itself an electronic circuit that permits the luminous intensity of an incandescent lamp to be controlled over a range from full intensity to very dim or completely off.
- full range variable light dimmers have been employed for residential lighting, the use of such light dimmershave usually been confined to installations, such as wall installations, which afford considerable space for housing the electronic circuitry and where the electronic components are widely removed from the heat produced by the incan-' descent electric lamp which the dimmer controls.
- the conventional full range light dimmer employs a triac to regulate the current flow in the filament of the lamp. The triac is triggered by a triggering device controlled by a phase shift network.
- the phase shift network causes the triac to be triggered into conduction at a the remainder of the half cycle and reverts to its nonconductive state when the current drops to zero.
- the triac controls the flow of current to the filament of the lamp and thereby controls the luminous intensity of the incandescent filament.
- the adaptor must contain within itself all the electronic circuitry of a lamp dimmer and must be sufficiently small to permit the adaptor to be mounted in the socket of the conventional lamp fixture without increasing the height to the extent that an electric light bulb cannot be mounted in the adaptor without removing the lamp shade and its supporting stirrup. Further to facilitate mounting in the conventional lamp fixture, the adaptor,
- the triac tends to produce heat during the operation of the lamp dimmer and the electric light bulb itself produces heat from the incandescent filament.
- the heat from these sources must be dissipated before the temperature rises to a level that is damaging to the triac or the other components of the dimmer circuitry.
- the arrangement of the components of the adaptor to achieve the requisite heat transfer and the requisite small size is the essence of the invention.
- FIG. I shows an embodiment of the invention disposed in a conventional lamp fixture
- FIG. 2 schematically depicts a lamp dimmer circuit suitable for use in the invention
- FIG. 3 is an-exploded view of the preferred embodiment of the invention.
- FIG. 4 is a view of the assembled preferred embodi ment.
- FIG. 5 is a view of the body of the adaptor with a portion of the wall broken away.
- a conventional lamp fixture is partially depicted in FIG. 1 to show the body 1 of the fixture having affixed to it a conventional lamp socket 2 containing an on-off switch controlled by a rotary knob 3.
- a stirrup 4 is provided which is attached to the body I and forms a frame around the socket 2.
- the stirrup has a wide aperture to accommodate the electric light bulb and has a narrower lower portion which is closely spaced from the lamp socket.
- Atop the stirrup is a bracket 5 to which the frame 6 of the lamp shade is secured in the usual manner.
- the onoff switch of the conventional lamp socket permits the lamp 7 to be either at full intensity or fully extinguished.
- a variable lamp dimmer adaptor 8 constructed in accordance with the invention, is situated in the lamp socket 2.
- the contour of the adaptor is such that it can pass through the narrower portion of the stirrup.
- the height of the adaptor is kept as low as possible consistent with the need to provide a receptacle for the base of the light bulb.
- FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the preferred circuitry employed in the invention.
- the lamp 7 is in series with the main terminals Al, A2 of triac 9 across the A.C. supply voltage impressed at terminals 10.
- the gate of the triac is connected to a triggering device 1 I,
- variable resistor R1 and capacitor C1 are connected in series to fonn. a charging circuit across the A.C. supply.
- resistor R2 and capacitor C2 are in series across capacitor C1
- the configuration of R1, R2, Cl, and C2 forms a double time constant circuit.
- the rate at which capacitors CI and C2 charge is determined by their capacitance, and the resistance in series with those capacitors. Because capacitors C1, C2, and resistor R2 are fixed in value, the rate of charge is controlled by the setting of variable resistor R1.
- the double time constant circuit in conjunction with the triggering device effects phase control whereby the triac connects the lamp to the AC. supply for a controlled fraction of each cycle.
- Control is accomplished by causing the triac to be triggered into conduction at a phase angle of the A.C. wave which is selected by the setting of the variable resistor. Once the triac is triggered into conduction during a half cycle, it conducts for the remainder of that half cycle.
- the circuit depicted in FIG. 2 affords full-wave phase control inasmuch as the triac can be triggered to conduct in either direction.
- capacitor C1 is paralled by the series combination of capacitor C2 and resistor R2. The capacitor C2 acts to recharge capacitor C1 after triggering, thus reducing the snap-on effect.
- the snap-on see the SCR Manual, 4th edition, pp. 187-189, published by the General Electric Company.
- the triac In the operation of the lamp dimmer, the triac must dissipate heat without encountering a rise in temperature to a level that is unsafe for that semiconductor device.
- the triac is therefore held in thermal contact with a member of the adaptor which provides a large radiating surface for dissipating the heat transferred to it from the triac.
- the body of the adaptor 12 is molded of a synthetic material having the requisite electrical insulative properties.
- the body of the adaptor is molded from a thermosetting plastic or from a thermoplastic material having a high melting point.
- the adaptor body has an internal cylindrical opening 13 in which is disposed a thimble 14 of copper which is threaded to receive the base of a conventional light bulb.
- a resilient spring 15 is secured at the bottom center of the floor of the cylindrical aperture to provide an electrical contact to the center electrode of the conventional light bulb.
- the upper portion of the adaptor body 12 has a flat face 16 in which a shallow circular depression 17 has been formed.
- the depression serves to locate the variable resistor R1 which has a flat circular body.
- Protruding from the variable resistor is a shaft 18 which can be turned to change the resistance of, the device.
- the variable resistor R1 may be a commercially available miniature potentiometer.
- Preferably the variable resistor is secured in the depression by an adhesive such as an epoxy resin.
- the adaptor body 13 has two holes 19, 20 in its front face through which electrical conductors pass.
- a hollow knob 21 fits over the body of the variable resistor and has a centralpost 22 which receives the shaft 18 of the variable resistor.
- the variable resistor is principally situated within the hollow knob 21 inasmuch as the depression 17 in the adaptor body 13 is quite shallow.
- the hollow knob preferably has a serrated edge to facilitate manual rotation.
- the knob is of an insulative material to isolate the user from the potential of the variable resistor.
- the knob completely covers the variable resistor and is closely spaced from the front face 16 whereby the variable resistor is encased between the body of the adaptor and the knob.
- the external diameter of the knob is equal to the width of the body and the knob covers a large area of the flat front face 16.
- the bottom portion of the flat front face is rounded to conform to the circular contour of the knob.
- a mechanically strong synthetic material such as a hard therrnosetting urea-formaldehyde resin, which permits the cylindrical wall of the adaptor body to be in the order of one-sixteenth inch thick.
- the triac shown in the exploded view of FIG. 3 has its case soldered to the base 25 of the adaptor.
- the base 25 is threaded to fit with the threads of the conventional lamp socket.
- the base preferably, is a brass shell having an insulated central electrode 26.
- the rim of the brass shell fits closely around the collar 23 when the adaptor is assembled.
- the rim of the brass shell is crimped or adhesively bonded to the collar 23 to secure the base to the body.
- the reception of the triac 9 within the recess 24 of the collar acts to prevent turning of the base 25 relative to the body 12 of the adaptor.
- the case of the triac is bonded to the wall of the recess by an adhesive such as an epozy resin to further insure that the base does not separate from the body.
- an insulative disc 27' having electrical conductors formed on one surface in the manner of a printed circuit board. Capacitors C1, C2, resistor R2 and the triggering device 11 are mounted on the disc 27. In the assembled light dimmer adaptor, the triggering device 11 has one terminal connected to the gate of the triac.
- the triac is of the type having one of itsmain terminals electrically connected to the case.
- the triggering device 11 is a bi-directional device such as a diac which becomes conductive whenever its breakover voltage is exceeded in either voltage polarity.
- the typical diac has a breakdown voltage in the range from 27 to 37 volts and is intended specifically for triggering diacs.
- neon bulbs can be employed as the triggering device but the breakover voltage for such bulbs range from 50 to volts and are consequently less desirable.
- the circuit of FIG. 2 can be arranged to cause the triac to be cut-off when the variable resistor is set for maximum resistance, it is preferable to select the values of the circuit components so that the filament of the lamp is faint but still visibly aglow at the maximum resistance of the variable resistor. By insuring that the triac is never completely cut-off when the AC. supply voltage is present in the circuit, problems arising from hysteresis and quick turn on are partially averted. Further, the faintly glowing filament is a reminder to the user that the on-off switch of the conventional socket is set at on.
- An adaptor constructed in accordance with the invention can be used without requiring disassembly or alteration of the wiring of the conventional lamp fixture.
- the adaptor is relatively inexpensive because it requires few parts and is easily assembled.
- a lamp dimmer adaptor for controlling the illumination provided by an electric lamp of the type having an incandescent filament
- the adaptor comprising a body having a cylindrical socket adapted to accept the base of the electric lamp, means in the socket for providing electrical connections to the filament of the lamp, the body having an external flat face, a variable resistor secured to the flat face, the variable resistor having a rotatable shaft for varying the resistance of the resistor, a hollow knob secured to the rotatable shaft and covering the variable resistor, the variable resistor being housed principally within the hollow knob, the body having a dependent cylindrical collar below the cylindrical socket, a hollow conductive shell having its rim engaging the dependent cylindrical collar, the hollow conductive shell forming the base of the adaptor and being threaded to be received by a conventional lamp socket, a semiconductor device for regulating current flow through the filament of the electric lamp, the semiconductor device being disposed within the shell, the semiconductor device having its case bonded to the shell whereby a thermal path is established to the shell for the dissipation
- a lamp dimmer adaptor according to claim I wherein the external flat face of the body has a shallow depression therein in which a portion of the variable resistor is situated.
Abstract
Description
Claims (2)
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US28850372A | 1972-09-13 | 1972-09-13 |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US3781593A true US3781593A (en) | 1973-12-25 |
Family
ID=23107394
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US00288503A Expired - Lifetime US3781593A (en) | 1972-09-13 | 1972-09-13 | Full range light dimmer adaptor |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US3781593A (en) |
Cited By (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4654541A (en) * | 1986-02-07 | 1987-03-31 | Clifford G. Dimmitt | Lamp dimmer casing |
US4723200A (en) * | 1986-10-30 | 1988-02-02 | Larslight Corporation | Electric light holder |
US4792726A (en) * | 1987-09-24 | 1988-12-20 | North American Philips Corporation | Fluorescent lamp unit with integral ballast housing |
US5962979A (en) * | 1998-08-24 | 1999-10-05 | Lutron Electronics Co., Inc. | Asymmetrical bus capacitors |
US6242872B1 (en) * | 2000-04-24 | 2001-06-05 | Nguyen Hu Ha | Programmable gradual illumination lighting device |
US20100102751A1 (en) * | 2008-10-28 | 2010-04-29 | Stacy Markel | Intelligent light fixture facilitating universal light bulb |
US8328582B1 (en) | 2009-02-01 | 2012-12-11 | MagicLux, LLC | Shortened adapter for light bulb sockets with miniature remote controller |
-
1972
- 1972-09-13 US US00288503A patent/US3781593A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Cited By (11)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4654541A (en) * | 1986-02-07 | 1987-03-31 | Clifford G. Dimmitt | Lamp dimmer casing |
US4723200A (en) * | 1986-10-30 | 1988-02-02 | Larslight Corporation | Electric light holder |
US4792726A (en) * | 1987-09-24 | 1988-12-20 | North American Philips Corporation | Fluorescent lamp unit with integral ballast housing |
US5962979A (en) * | 1998-08-24 | 1999-10-05 | Lutron Electronics Co., Inc. | Asymmetrical bus capacitors |
US6242872B1 (en) * | 2000-04-24 | 2001-06-05 | Nguyen Hu Ha | Programmable gradual illumination lighting device |
US20100102751A1 (en) * | 2008-10-28 | 2010-04-29 | Stacy Markel | Intelligent light fixture facilitating universal light bulb |
US8067893B2 (en) * | 2008-10-28 | 2011-11-29 | Stacy Markel | Intelligent light fixture facilitating universal light bulb |
US8328582B1 (en) | 2009-02-01 | 2012-12-11 | MagicLux, LLC | Shortened adapter for light bulb sockets with miniature remote controller |
US8508148B1 (en) | 2009-02-01 | 2013-08-13 | MagicLux, LLC | System for light and appliance remote control |
US9135812B1 (en) | 2009-02-01 | 2015-09-15 | MagicLux, LLC | Miniature remote controller |
US9202368B1 (en) | 2009-02-01 | 2015-12-01 | MagicLux, LLC | System for light and appliance remote control |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: FOXMAR INDUSTRIES INC.,NEW JERSEY Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:RODRIGUEZ EDWARD T.;REEL/FRAME:004267/0141 Effective date: 19810828 Owner name: FOXMAR INDUSTRIES INC., 177 WEST MAIN ST., WEST ST Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST.;ASSIGNOR:RODRIGUEZ EDWARD T.;REEL/FRAME:004267/0141 Effective date: 19810828 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: MORGAN GUARANTY TRUST COMPANY OF NEW YORK Free format text: SECURITY INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:BUTLER MANUFACTURING COMPANY;REEL/FRAME:005252/0023 Effective date: 19890824 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: BUTLER MANUFACTURING COMPANY, MISSOURI Free format text: SECURITY INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:CERTAIN BANKS AND MORGAN GUARANTY TRUST COMPANY;REEL/FRAME:007052/0953 Effective date: 19940624 |