US946892A - Cluster lamp-socket. - Google Patents

Description

R. B. BENJAMIN. CLUSTER LAMP SOCKET. APPLIOATION FILED Nov. 29, 1907.

946,892 Patented Jan 18,1910. 3 SHEETSTSHEET 1.

` .www Y .R. B.' BENJAMIN.

CLUSTER LAMP SOGKBT.

APPLICATION FILED Nov. 29, 1907.

945,892. Patented .131118, 1910.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

R. B. BENJAMIN.

CLUSTER LAMP SOCKET. APPLICATION FILED Nov. 29, 1907. I

Patented Jan. 18,1910.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

"entre s errar ore REUBEN B. BENJAMN, 0F CHICAGG, ILLNOIS, ASSIGNOR TOBENJAMIN ELECEPGY MANUFACTURING COMPANY, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CGRPORATION 0F ILLlINOIS.

CLUSTER- Lazer-sooner.

Patented Jan. 18, info.

Application le November 29, 1967. Serial No. 464,421.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, REUBEN B. BENJAMIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of -Cook and State ofl Illinois, have invented new and useful lmprovements in Cluster Lamp-Sockets, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in cluster lamp' sockets, and has special reference to switching means for controlling the lamps carried by the device.

rlhe prinbipal object of the invention is the provision of a device of this class having improved means carried by and formin a part of itself, and readily operated, for Fighting or extinguishing the lamps. ln the accomplishment of this object preferably locate the switch mechanism within the body of the device itself, and provide means whereby this switch mechanism may be operated by a pull imparted to a cord, chain or equivalent device. The cord, chain or the like may, and usually will, depend fromthe lower portion of the cluster so -that it may be readily grasped and pulled to switchthe lamps into orou'tpf circuit. d y T n t e accom an 1n rawings, li re 1 is a view of the Iaisselynblled device, partuf the casing being broken away to expose to view the switching mechanism, the latter being 1 shown in section; Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the hollow insulating base and the switching mechanism contained therein; Fig. 3 is' a cross sectional view of the same on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, in a plane at right angles with the plane of Fig. 1; Fig. 4. is 'a bottom plan view of the base; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a contact ring with which the center terminals ofthe lamps enwage when inserted into the sockets of the devioe; Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a portion of the upper edge of the hollow base, showing the means by whichl this base is supported in place; Fig. 6L is an elevational view of a supporting cap to which the bas/eis removably secured; Fig. 7 1s a det-ail sectional view showing the means whereby the contact ring shown 1n Fig. 5 is secured to the base, the section being taken on the line 47-7 of Fig. 2; Fig. 8 is a sectional view showing a portion of the switching mechanism, the section being taken onv the line 8-8 of Fig.- 1. Figs. 9 and 10 when placed together form a pulley to which is secured the actuating cord or chain; Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the frame which carries the moving parts of the switch; Fig. 12 is; a perspective view of a plate which carries one of the switch. contacts; Fig. 13 is a perspective view of an eccentric follower employed in the switching mechanism; and Fig. 14 is a perspective view of a portion' of a ring plate which occupies the upper portion of the casing and engages suitable means on the supporting cap, :whereby thecasing is sustained in place.

ln the several figures 'of the drawings, in which like reference numerals indicate the same parts throughout, 15 is a supporting cap which corresponds to the usual back plate in devices vof this class, and which is secured to the ceiling or to the lower end of a pipe or similar conduit and carries the other parts of the device. This cap has the general form of an inverted cup and is formed of sheet metal. The insulating base 16 is of general inverted-cone shape, its

upper and larger portion being inserted into ,the 4three lugs 17 passed up through the spaces between the inwardly projecting ribs. rlhese spaces are indicated 20 in Fig. 6a.

These lugs having passed up between the 0 ribs 18,.the base will then be rotated to carry the lugs around over the ribs 18 into the position indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 6a, 1n which position these lugs will engage the u wardly extending stops 19 and the base will he held against further rotation in the ca c lphe base 16 is hollow, and locatedin the chambentherein is the switching mechanism to be hereinafter described. yThis base has an opening 21 in the bottom. thereof through which extends a cord, chain or the like for operating the switch.k The outer casing or body 22 consists of a substantially hemispherical shell and is provided with the bead 22'd1 in whichis disposed an annular plate 28 provided with three inwardly projecting lugs 24. As the ribs 18 in the cap 15 are formed by pressing the material of tliefap' inwardly, these ribs 18 appear upon the exterior of the cap as depressions or grooves, and into these depressions extend the lugs 24 on the ring 23 when the casing is in place. In securing the casing to the cap the casing is placed in such a position that the lugs 24 on the ring 23 may slip up into the downwardly extending and widened portion 25 which leads into the depression 18, and after the casing has be ^n thrust up asv far as possible it is then given a slight turn in a right hand direction, whereupon the lugs 24 pass around into the grooves 18. To prevent backward rotation of the casing and consequent detachment of the casing from the cap, each of the lugs 24 is provided with a leaf spring 26 which is secured in place on the ring 23 over the lug and bears against the upper edge of the groove. The casingv 22 carries the lamp-holding -sockets 27, these sockets being insulated from the casing by insulating rings 28 and connected with a metallic ring 29 which has a number of downwardly extending resilient lugs 30. When the casing is put up into place these lugs 30 engage a'dished plate 31 which is secured upon the lower side of the base by means of screws 32, 32 passing through inturned lugs 33, 33 on this dished plate. These screws and the plate 31 are electrically connected with one of the terminals of the switch, as hereinafter explained, the other terminal of the switch being connected to one of the leads so that when the switch blades are in the on position, electrical connection is made between this lead and the plate 31, and consequently between the lead and the sockets 27. To prevent the base 16 from sliding upward in the cap 15 `when the lcasing is put up into place the cap is provided with downwardly and inwardly extendin fingers 15a against which the upper si e ofthe base rests. Thes fingers may be formed of the sheet meta of the cap, as shown in Fig. 1.

The center terminals of the lamps engage a ring contact 34 which extends around the base 16 and is provided with a pair of lugs 35, 35 which extend inwardly and then upwardly through suitable openings in the base, as best shown in Fig. 7. The upper end of each lug 35 is then bent over so as to rest upon a suitable shoulder 36 on the base, whereby the ring contact 34- is securely held in place on the base without the use of screws, bolts or other separate fastening means. This ring 34 is also provided with an inwardly extending lug 37 carrying` a biiuling-screw 38. The base is formed with an opening 39 through which a lead may be l brought and secured to the binding screw 38, electrical connection being thus established between this lead and the center terminals of the lamps. 1t will be seen that the binding-screws-and switch mechanism are carried by the base, while the. lamp-holders are carried by the casing. When the casing is put up into' position one of the terminals of each of the lamps is brought into electrical communication with one of the leads and the other terminal of each lamp is electrically connected with one side of the switch. The other side of the switch being connected with the other lead, the circuit is completed through. thel switch and lamps when the switch is in the on position. A casing containing a different number of lamps may be readily substituted without disturbing the base or switch mechanism.

The movable parts of the switch are supported by a frame 40, shown in perspective in Fig. 11, this frame being secured in place in'the chamber within the base by the screws 32, 32 andbeing thereby electrically connected with the plate. 31, which, as above explained, is in electrical communication with the outer contacts of the lamps when the casing is in place. This frame 40 has bearings 41 and 42 for the ends of the spindle or stem 455 of the rot-ary switch mechanism. Surrounding one end of this stem is a spring 44 secured at oneof its ends to the frame 4() in any convenient manner and having its opposite end secured to a pulley 45 loosely mounted on the shaft 43. This pulley 45 is conveniently formed of the two sheet metal members 46 and 47 shown in perspective in Figs. 9 and 10. The portion 46 consists of a disk while the portion 47 comprises a cupshaped shell having an annular fiange 48 and provided with a pair of projecting tongues 49, 49, entering corresponding apertures 50, 50 in the disk 46. These projections 49 may be bent over' upon the place 46 to secure the members 4G and 47 together. To the pulley 45 thus formed is secured one end of a cord 51, or, if ireferred, a chain, extending downwardly through the central opening in the bottom of the base and through a suitable opening 52 in the casing of the device. A ratchet connection is provided between the shaft 43 and pulley 45, whereby when the ulley is rotated in one direction under the Influence of the spring 44 the pulley may turn freely on the shaft, but when the pulley is rotated in the opposite direction by a aaneen said shaft and disposed so that it will'be engaged by these pawls. Nhcn the pulley is rotated in one direction by thespring it the pawls will pass over the teet-ho the disk; when the pulley is rotated in the 'opposite direction by the unwinding'of the cord when pulled upon these teeth will be engaged by the pawls and the shaft will turn with' the pulley. The method which I employ for securing'the disk 54 on the shaft 43 consists in flattening the shaft at the point where it is surrounded by the ydisk and slipping over this flattened portion a U-shaped clip 55, and providing the platev 54 with an opening of the same form as the outer contour of the 'clip so thatthe clip and the disk are (nmpelled to rotate together.

The switch mechanism which is mounted upon the shaft. 43 may be of any approved form, preferably of vthesnap type, and I have illustrated a well known and eXtensively used form of such switch. mechanism.

This mechanism comprises a pair of stationary'7 contacts and a rotary switch blade adapted to engage and bridge vthese contacts when in the on position and to beI turned out of engagement therewith when Athe circuit is to be breken. The stationary contact 56 is carried by the frame 40 of the switch mechanism, while the other stationary contact- 57 is insulated from the frame, being carried by a'plate 58 (shown inv per spective in Fig. 12). This platejis secured inA position by screws 59 and 60, the screw 60 extending into a plate 61 which is:l arranged upon the under-side of the base and carries a binding screw 62. An opening 63 in the base aiords a passage through. which a lead may be brought to' the binding screw. lVhen the blade 65 is in the f on -position current is conducted from the Contact 57 through the blade tothe contact 56, thence through the frame 40 and the screws 32, 32 to the plate 31 and the-outer contacts of the sockets. A

The blade 65 is secured to a barrel 66 which turns on the shaft. In the barrel 66 is arranged a spring 67 having one of .its ends secured to the shaft 43'and its 'opposite end secured to the barrel, whereby when the shaft 43 is revolved by pulling down the cord this spring 67 is placed under increased tension and, tends to revolve the switch blade. Secured to the shaft and revolving therewith is an eccentric 66 Surrounded by a plate (shown by itself in F ig. 13) comprising an annular portion 69 surrounding the eccentric and a projectlon 70 extending therefrom whichnormally engages one /ot four lugs 71 on the frame 40. Lying between the eccentric and the switch blade, and turning with the blade, is a plate 72 this plate being provided with a projection 73 which normally engages the 'projection 70 -the cord, the spring 67 is placed under increased strain and-at the same time the eccentric is turned in the ring 69. When the shfaft has made one-'fourth of a revolution,- the blade' is released by the projection 70 on the ring 69 being drawn -inwardly suiiiciently to permit it to pass under the lug 7l. When thus released the blade suddenly turns through one-fourth of a revolution. 'This revolution of the blade about the shaft carries the ring 69 around on the eccentric, thereby causing the projection 70 to move outwardly into engagement with the next succeeding lug 71. By this means the blade is held back while the shaftfis being turned through-a quarter of. a revolution and is then suddenly released, whereby-connection is quickly made or broken between this blade'. and the stationary contacts with which it coperates. YWhen the blade is in a horizontal position it electrically 'connects the stationary contacts with each other, and when it has turned to an upright position the connections are broken and the switch is in the oilE position.

l have illustrated my device -as being. provided with a well known fornr'of rotary snap switch mechanism, and for the purpose of making this specification clearer have-described such'a mechanism, but .desire it to be understood that my invention comprises the use of any form of switch meehanism .which may be adapted to be mounted within the body-portion of a plural lampholding device and to be actuated by pulloperated mechanism.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and, desire to secure lby Letters Patent is:

1. A cluster lamp socket, comprising in combination a hollow insulating member provided with an opening in its under side,

`switching means within said member, contacts without said member, means. inclosing said insulating member and provided with lamp-receiving openings,"means for sustain# ing lamps in said openings in position to engage said contacts. and flexible means extending outside said incl'osing means for operating said switching means by a pull exerted upon said switching means.

2. ln a cluster lamp socket, a supporting cap, an insulating base detachably secured to said cap and fornied with a chamber and having' an opening into said chainl'ier in the under side thcreogtl/l a body detachably cured to said cap and carrying the lamps and inclt'ising said base, switch mechanism in the `chamber of said base, pull-operated means extending through said opening for actuating said switch mechanism, and means for making electrical connection between the lamps and said switch mechanism when the body is .put' into position.

3. In a cluster lamp socket, a supporting cap, an insulating base detahably carried? thereby, a -body detachably secured tosaid cap and carrying the lamps, switch m'echan. ism supported by said base, means for connecting the lamps with said switch mechanism when the body is in position, and means extending to the exterior of said body for operating said switch mechanism.

l.. Ina cluster lamp socket, a supporting member, an insulating baset carried by saidl member, a body supported by said member and removable independently of said base, said body being arranged to carry the lamps, switch mechanism supported bypsaid base, means for inakingelectrical connection between the lamps and said switch mechanism when the body is in position, and means extending to the exterior of said body for operating said switch mechanism.

5. In a cluster lamp socket, an insulating member having a chamber therein and carrying lamp-engaging contacts, rotary snap switchmechanism disposed in said chamber and having the axis of its rotary part extending across said chamber, andipull actuated means extending to the exterior of the device for operating said switching mechanisin.

6. In a cluster lamp socket, an insulating base, a body surrounding said base, means for sustaining said body and base and permitting the removal of either of said parts independently of the other, switch mechanism carried by said base, lamp-holders carried by said body, and vmeans extending to the exterior of said body .for operating said switch mechanism.

7. A cluster lamp socket comprising a circular body formed with openings for the reception of lamps, means for supporting a plurality of lamps in Said openings, Acontacts Within said body for engaging the tei'-,

minals of said lamps, switching mechanism within said body for controlling said lamps,

said switching mechanism comprising a circuit-completing member arranged to revolve on an axis perpendicular to the axis of said body, and'means extending outside said body for actuating said switching mechanism.

8. In an incandescent lamp cluster, in combination, a block' having a central contact chamber, asocket frame mounted on said block and having a plurality of sockets for lamps, a' key rotatably mounted in said chamber,contact s projecting into said chamber and leading current to the lamps, said key having a segment with notches lin the periphery thereof, and a spring engaging said segment and holding said key in ditferent positions.

'9. In a cluster lamp socket, an insulating base having a chamber therein, switch mechanism within said chamber, a body surrounding said base and arranged to carry the lamps, snap switch mechanism within said chamber, flexible means extending from said chamber for operating said switch mechanism,l and means for making electrical connection between said switch mechanism and the lamps when the body is iii position.

l0. In a cluster socket, the combination of a body arranged to carry the lamps, a hollow base insert'ible thereinto and provided with an aperture, binding terminals carried by said base for the attachment of leads, switch mechanism within said base, means for making electrical connection between said switch mechanism, and said lamps when said base is iii-position in said body, said body having an opening opposite the aperture of the base, and means extending through said opening and aperture into the chamber in said base, for operating said switch mechanism.

l1. In a cluster lamp socket, a body varranged to carry the lamps, a base removable from said body, switch mechanism carried by said base, means for operating said switch mechanism, said body having an opening for the passage of said switch-operating means,

and intereiigaging means for electrically connecting the lamps with said switchl mechanism ,when the base is body.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two witnesses.

REUBEN B. BENJAMIN. Witnesses:

M. L. FARRAR', C. L. HOPKINS.

placed within said

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