US953362A - Cluster-socket. - Google Patents

Description

J. 0. TOURNIBR.

. CLUSTER SOUKET.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 21, 1908'.

Patented Mar. 29,1910.

Fig. 1..

Inventor" Julius C. Togrnier,

Witnesses:

having certain details of construction by U ITED STATESEEQENT OFFICE.

JULIUS G; TOURNIER, OF SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR T0 GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YGRK.

CLUSTER-SOCKET.

Specification of Letters Patent.

To all whom it may concern; I

Be it known that I, JULIUS G. TOURNIER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Schenectady, in the county of Schenectady, State of New York, have invented certain newfiand useful Improvements in Cluster- Sockets, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relatesto electric lighting, and its object is to provide a cluster socket which reduced breakages and greater security of the parts are afforded.

In cluster sockets of the attachment plug type heretofore made, the body of the plug is made of molded porcelain, in which are recesses to contain sheet metal shells into which the lamps are screwed. The projecting ends of the shells are provided with an ornamental ring of molded porcelain having internal screw-threads which mesh with those on the shell. When such a ring is screwed against the body, the abutting surfaces do not always meet exactly, owing to slight irregularities in the molded porcelain, and there is danger of breaking the ring or chipping the body if the ring is screwed up too tight. Moreover, in such a construction, the vibration of the parts, due to vibrations in the building in which the attachment is used, tends to cause the ring to work loose and fall off.

My invention aims toremedy these troubles by providing between the ring and thebody a flexible and somewhat resilient annulus, in thenature of a gasket, which compensates for irregularities in the conformation of the parts, and also absorbs the vibrations and keeps the parts closely united. This will more clearly appear from the following detailed description and claims when read in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved cluster socket; Fig. 2 1s a longitudinal section thereof; Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the upper section, of the body, partly in section on a plane at right angles to Figs. 1 and 2; and Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the lower section of the body, viewed at right angles to Figs. 1 and 2.

The. body is preferably substantially spherical, with a neck projecting from the top. It is made in halves 1 and 2 meeting I on a plane preferably at right angles to the axis of the neck 3. Recesses 4 are formed in center of the body; a septum 5 being left he tween their inner ends," The flat under face of the upper half 1 is countersunk, and a diametrical recess 6 is sunk into it at the center, having a septum 7 dividing it into two chambers.

In each recess 1 is a screw-threaded, sheet-metal, cup-shaped socket or shell 8 to receive the neck of an incandescent lamp. Resting against the bottom of the shell is a ring 9 of heavier sheet-metal having a bent lug 10 extending through a slot in the shell and located in one of the chambers on one side of the septum 7. A long screw 11 runs down through one side of the neck 3 and is screwed into a tapped hole in the lug 10. The two screws 11 pass through a flange on a screw-threaded shell contact 12 which fits over the neck 3. Covering the heads of said screws is a washer 13 through which passes a central screw H whose head is sunk in a cupped metal washer l5, and whose lower end engages with a metal yoke 16 having bent ends lying adjacent to the bottoms of the shells 8 but insulated therefrom by mica or other insulating material 17. A screw 18 passes through the large hole in the ring 9 and a large hole in the bottom of the shell and into a tapped hole in the yoke, thus securing each shell to said yoke. Mica or other insulation 19 is placed between the ring 9 and the head of the screw 18 or its washer 20. The end of each shell 8 projects beyond the body and receives a finishing ring or nut 21 of molded porcelain, having internal screw-threads to mesh into those on the shell. In order to prevent this ring from coming into contact with the body a thin, sheet-metal collar 22 is placed around it, abutting against the body and against a shoulder 23 on the ring. This collar accommodates itself to any irregularities in the surface of the porcelain and enables the ring to be screwed up tight Patented Mar. 29, 1910..

without danger of breaking it, because there assists in centering the shell in itsrecess, and forms a neat and pleasing finlsh between the ring and the body. By removing the rings and collars, the lower half of the body is free to be removed, giving easy access to the shells and their fastenings.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. The combination of two insulating base portions, one of said portions having a pair of lamp contacts connected to one side thereof, the other of said portions having a U-shaped recess, an insulating ring engaging one or" the lamp contacts, and a metallic annulus interposed between said ring and said base.

2. The combination of two insulating base portions, one of said portions having one or more screw shell contacts connected to one side thereof, the other of said portions having one or more recesses corresponding to said contacts, a ring of insulat ing material screwed upon each shell contact, and a yielding annulus interposed between said ring and said base.

3. The combination of a spherical insulating base divided into portions, the upper portion having one or more screw shell contacts secured to its division surface, the lower portion having one or more recesses corresponding to said contacts, a ring of insulating material screwed upon each shell contact, and a yielding annulus interposed between said ring and said base.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 20th day of July, 1908.

JULIUS C. TOURNIER. Vitnesses:

BENJAMIN B. HULL, HELEN ORFORD.

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