US662369A - Terminal connection for electric lamps. - Google Patents

Description

- No. 662,369. Patented Nov. 20, I900.

' A. J. WURTS.

TERMINAL CONNECTION FOR ELECTRIC LAMPS.

(Application filed Jan. 27, 1900.) (N 0 M 0 d a izzym WITNESSES WW BY w A TTOHNE).

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ALEXANDER JAY WURTS, OF PITTSBURG, *PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO GEORGE WESTINGHOUSE, OF SAME PLACE.

TERMINAL CONNECTION FOR ELECTRIC LAMPS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 662,369, dated November 20, 1900.

Application filed January 2'7, 1900. Serial No. 3,050. kllo model.)

To ctZZ whom it incl/y concern.-

Be it knownthat I, ALEXANDER J AY IVURTS, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Terminal Connections for Electric Lamps, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to electric lamps of the class in which the light-emitting bodies are conductive only when brought to a com paratively high temperature by means of heat applied from an external source.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a lamp of the characterindicated, in which the glowers and heaters and their immediate supporting means may be readily detached from the stationary portion of the lamp. 7

A further object of my invention is to provide a simple and efficient means for attaching terminal wires to suitable binding-posts, rods, or blocks.

With these ends in view I have devised the means shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a front elevation of the main Working parts of a lamp,and Fig. 2 is a plan view of the removable portion of the lamp. Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the removable portion of the lamp, parts of the terminal rods being broken away. Fig. 4 is an end elevation corresponding to Fig. 3, but showing the opposite end. Figs. 5, 6, '7, and 8 are detail views of different forms of plugs for attach ing terminal wires to terminal rods, posts, or blocks. Fig. 9 is a detail view of four portions of a terminal block, showing four different arrangements of means for attaching terminal wires thereto, parts being shown in section. Fig. 10 is a sectional detaihview of a plug, showing a modified form of connection between the same and a terminal wire.

In order that the heaters and glowers of lanips of the class above indicated maybe readily inserted in position, removed for inspection and repairs, or transferred from one lamp structure to another, it is desirable that some means he provided for easily and quickly attaching such parts to and detaching them from the supporting-body of the lamp structure. In order to meet these requirements, I have devised the means shown in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, of the drawings, in which the stationary portion of the lamp is represented by a plate 1, of non-conducting material, having the necessary number of terminal rods 2 projecting through and below the same and provided above with binding-nuts 3. Other auxiliary devices pertaining to the fixed or nonremovahle portion of the lamp are not shown, since they are not directly involved in my present invention.

The direct supporting means for the glow ers 4 and tubular heaters 5 consists of a plate 6, of non-conducting material, having lugs 7 on its lower side for supporting the heatertnbes and for partially supporting the terminal wires 42 of the glowers. The plate 6 is provided with suitable apertures, as indicated, for the passage therethrough of the glower and heater terminal wires and is supported by two rods or bars 8, which are provided with apertures and binding-plugs 8 for attachment of the heater terminal wires 5 thereto. Mounted upon the bars 8 and suitably spaced apart are two plates 9 and 9, which may be formed of pressed asbestos or other suitable non-conducting and heat-resisting material. Mounted in these plates 9 and 9 and extending above the upper plate 9 and below the lower plate 9 are glower terminal bars or rods 10, which are provided at their lower ends with suitable sockets and binding-plugs 11 for attaching the ends of the glower terminal wires 4 thereto. Each of the upper ends of these rods or bars is also provided with a suitable socket, into which projects a corresponding rod 2, binding-screws 12 being provided for fastening the rods 2 in their sockets in the ends of the bars 10. It willbe observed that the bars 10 are of different lengths, so that they project difierent distances above the plate 9, and thus permit of ready access to the binding-screws 12 when it is desired to manipulate them for the purpose of attaching the removable part or to detach the same therefrom.

It will be understood from the foregoing description that the glower and heater structure may be readily detached from the stationary portion of the lamp by merely loosenminal rods or bars.

i does not oxidize objectionably, and may have any one of a considerable variety of forms, and various forms of connection between the plugs, their sockets, and the terminal wire s may be adopted within the scope of my invention.

Prior to my invention considerable trouble was experienced in connection with the hinding-screws employed in connection with the glower and heater terminal wires of Nernst lamps both by reason of the small size and the structure of such devices and the high temperatures in which they were used. By employing contact plugs of aluminium or other soft metal that is substantially non-oxi dizable at the high temperature that obtains in the vicinity of the heaters and glowers of the Nernst lamp the difficulties heretofore experienced are avoided.

In Fig. 5. I have shown a split plug 11*, around one end of which the terminal wire 13 is wound., The wire is also passed one or more times through the slit in the plug, so that when the plug is pressed into its socket the wire will be pinched between the adjacent sides of the slit, thus insuring a good electrical contact as well as a firm mechanical support.

In Fig. 6 the plug 11 is in the form of a tube having a longitudinal slit from end to end. In this form the terminal wire is threaded through the tube and formed into aloop. The plug is resilient and of such size that when inserted into its socket the portion of the wire constituting the outer side of the loop will be pinched between the outer side of the plug and the adjacent wall of the socket.

In the form of device shown in Fig. 7 the plug 11 is split or bifurcated and the terminal wire 13 is twisted around one arm or fork, so as to be clamped between the other arm or fork and the side of the socket when the plug is inserted in such socket.

In Fig. 8 the plug 11 is in the form of a tube, in one end of which the end of the terminal wire 13 is inserted. The desired electrical joint between the plug and the wire may be secured by pinching the end of the tube only, or the two may be fused together. It will be understood that a terminal wire and a plug of any other suitable form may be squeezed or fused, or both squeezed and fused together, so as to provide a good electrical joint.

In three of the modifications shown in Fig. 9 the terminal wire is shown as extending into v the plug-socket through an aperture at right angles to the socket. The aperture for wire 13 extends .into and beyond the plug-socket at one side and the wire is wedged in position by a tapered plug 11. through its aperture into a hole in the plug 1 l in alinement therewith. The plug is then either turned on its axisor moved longitudinally to pinch the wire. The wire 13 is inserted, so that it projects more or less into the plug-socket, and then the insertion of the plug will bend the end of the Wire and pinch it between the plug and the wall of the socket. The Wire 4* is inserted with and alongside of the tapered plug 11 and is thus clamped securely in place.

In Fig. 10 the tapered plug 11 is provided with a hole extending inward longitudinally from its large end. A head 13 is formed on the end of terminal wire 13 and after the beaded end is inserted the end of the plug is squeezed closely around the wire,as indicated,

Other forms of plugs and sockets might be employed if desired, which would fall within the scope of my invention, and I therefore desire it to be understood that my invention is not limited either to specific forms and arran gements or to the use of my invention with any specific terminal wires or leads.

I claim as my invention 1. 'In an electric-lamp of the type described, the combination with glowers and heaters and a supporting structure therefor having terminal rods or bars that project above said structure to different heights and are provided with sockets and set-screws in their upper ends, and with laterallydisposed sockets in their lower ends, of a main support provided with depending rods' the lower ends of which are seated in the corresponding sockets in the upper ends of the terminal bars or rods, and aluminium plugs removably seated in the lower sockets and having the heater and glower terminal wires fastened thereto. w

2. In an electric lamp of the type described, the combination with one or more glowers and one or more heaters and a supporting structure having terminal rods or bars that project above said structure to different heights and also below said structure and are provided with sockets and fastening means in their upper ends and with sockets in their lower ends, of a main support provided with depending rods the lower ends of which are seated in the corresponding sockets in the upper ends of the terminal bars or rods, and aluminium plugs for removably fastening the glower and heater terminal wires to the lower ends of the rods. v

3. In an electric lamp of the type described, the combination with one or more glovfers and one or more heaters and a supporting structure therefor having terminal rods or bars that project above said structure and are provided with sockets and set-screws in their upper ends and with sockets and soft metal plugs in their lower ends, of a main The wire 13 projects support provided with depending rods the lower ends of which are seated in the corresponding sockets in the upper ends of the terminal bars or rods, the glower and heater terminal Wires beingfastened to the lower ends of said bars or rods by means of the said sockets and plugs.

4. In an electric lamp of the type described, a removable terminal Wire-binding device comprising a soft-metal plug to which the terminal'wire is connected and a terminal piece havinga socket with which the plug makes a sliding, frictional engagement.

5. Aseparahle terminal Wire-binding device comprising a rod or post having a hole or socket and an aluminium plug having the terminal Wire fastened thereto and removably fitting into said hole or socket.

6. In an electric lamp of the type described, the combination with one or more glowers and one or more heaters, of terminal blocks or rods having sockets that are subjected to high temperatures and substantially nonoxidizable, soft-metal terminal plugs removably seated in said sockets, said plugs having sockets or recesses in which the ends of the terminal Wires are rigidly seated.

7. In an electric lamp of the type described,

the combination with one or more glowers and one or more heaters, of terminal blocks or rods having sockets that are subjected to high temperatures and tapered aluminium terminal plugs removably seated in said sockets.

8. A terminal device comprising a terminal wire and a plug composed of soft, substantially non oxidizable metal and having a socketin which the end of said wire is clamped by compression so as to provide an enlarged extension of said wire adapted for making detachable circuit connection with a perforated terminal piece.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name this 24th day of January, A. D. 1900.

ALEXANDER JAY WURTS.

WVitnesses:

HENRY NOEL POTTER, HUGH ANDREW CROOKS.

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