US2314233A - Fluorescent light socket - Google Patents

Description

March 16, 1943. w. E. MGSWEEN 2,314,233

FLUORESCENT LIGHT SOCKET Filed Maren 31, 1941v A11-annex.

Patented Mar. 16, '1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FLUORESCENT LIGHT SOCKET William E. McSween, Cleveland, OllioY Application March 31, 1941, Serial No. 386,088

This yinvention relates to electric light sockets and particularly to the type of socket used with a iiuorescent lamp.

As conducive to a clearer understanding of this invention, it may be well to point out that tubular fluorescent lamps have sets of cathode and anode terminals at each end thereof, and that it is necessary to make electric contact with each set of terminals before the lamp will light. Heretofore, the lamp sockets used for each set of terminals were mounted apart and facing each other on a single bracket which was a little longer than the lamp bulb itself. The socketsN were stationary and not movable with respectvto each other. This restriction Aoften limited the way the lamp could be mounted and it was never possible tol mount a lamp of this type so that even, direct, and unobstructed illumination could be had for the entire peripheral area around the lamp. The long bracket or connector which extended lengthwise of the lamp and from one end thereof to the other, always obstructed the light rays at that side. Also, by some reason of the old method of rigidly mounting the sockets, the lamp terminals had to be engaged with the electric contacts in each socket bya radial application. In other words the two corresponding sockets had to have. suitable aligned grooves which opened into their circumferential surfaces, and which could receive the sets of anode and cathode terminals simultaneously.

Itis therefore the primary object of this invention to provide lamp sockets which will support uorescent lamps of different lengths and which permits the mounting of such lamps in a manner which eliminates the necessity of intermediate adjacent parallel supports or direct and rigid connectors between vthe sockets at the ends of the lamps.

Another object is to provide a socket of the type mentioned which permits the lamp terminals to be engaged with or set longitudinally into the socket instead of laterally therewith.

Further object is to provide such socket with springs which engage the metal collars of ,the

lamp and hold it firmly therein.

. and wherein:

Figure 1 is a comprehensive view of a number of fluorescent light sockets of this invention suspended on chains and supporting a series of lamps;

r octagonal holding means.

Figure 2 is an enlarged view of one of the sockets withV a heater switch mounted thereon and also showinga part of a lamp;

Figure 3 is a View of the open end of thesocket into which the lamp member is inserted;

Figure 4 is a view of the oppositev end of the socket and which endreceives the heater switch; Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view of the socket takenI along the lines and in the direction of the arrows 5-5 of the Figure 3;

' Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view of the same socket taken along the lines 6 6 of the Figure 5;

ance with this invention and as they would ap pear suspended on chains and supporting a conventional tubular fluorescent light bulb. In this iigure, the character 2 indicates a socket of this invention one of which. has a special heater switch attached thereto. Character II indicates lthe loop on the socket which engages the chain I2. Theelectric wires or conductors are indicated by the character 3.

Referring particularly to the Figure 2, the socket shown consists of two semi-tubular metal shells 2l and 22 which are held together by means of the diametric screw 26 and which are referred to in the claim as, a split tubular shell member. The top shell' 2l is engaged with the bottom shell 22 at the separable joint 23.

The Figure 3 which is a right end view of the socket illustrated in the Figure 2 shows the top and bottom shells 2| and 22 joined together at 23. Just inside the end opening four small wire springs 40 are fastened to the two shells to form, when Vthev shells are in an assembled relation, an The wire springs lll are fastened to the' respective shells at the points ll by either a weld or solder. The intermediate portions are relativelyloose and are free to eni gage the small circumferential groove 42 on each end of 'the lamp member I5.

The Figure 4 is e ieft end view of the socket spring clamps 53 are eccentrically shaped pieces of spring metal which co-act and tightly engage the two grooved and aligned terminals 51 on the heater switch 20. Each clamp of the pair is so .shaped that it contacts the side surface of the terminal 51 when the heater switch 20 is inserted before the lamp I5 and the heater switch20 are engaged therewith. In that case the lamp Il is inserted longitudinally into the opening 43 so that the groove '42 engages the springs 40 and the electrical terminal I6 engaged the clips 34 simultaneously. When the socket is partly asvhole 24 which is threaded so as to engage the threaded end of the screw 26 which extends diametrically through the socket members and holds the top and bottom members together. It also has the springs 40 arranged to forman octagonal collar portion for retaining an end of the fluorescent lamp.

The top inner portion of the socket 2 is made of a fibre block or other dielectric material and is herein referred to as a case member 29. This block 29 has a curved surface to correspond with and to' neatly iit the inner wall of the top shell 2 I. It also has a flat surface, a portion of which is cut away to provide room for the bushing 28. The opening through which the electric wire I3 pass is indicated by the character 45 and is-radially aligned with the opening 21 in the top shell portion. The clip members 34 which are made of metal are fastened to the case member 29 on each side of the opening 45 by means of the screws 35. Each of the clip members 34 have bifurcated `ends 36 which are tensioned so as to grip the electrical terminals I6 o1 the lamp members I5. The fibre disk or washer 38 which is mounted in front of the clips 34 and slightly to the rear of the springs 40 has two openings or parallel Aslotted channels'39 which provide entrance means or passage waysl for the .electrical terminal I6.

The opposite end of the socketis similarly provided with a pair of clamp members I which are attached to the dielectric case member- 29 by means of the screws 52. Each of the clamp members 5I are provided with an eccentric arm 53 which is tensioned and shaped to engage the grcoved terminals I51 of the heater switch 20 when they are' properly inserted and turned slightly in the opening 44.

The bottom case member 30 is shaped very much like the upper case member 2'9. It is also provided with a diametric hoie 32 for the screw and in addition has portions cut away at 54 and 55 to provide for the extensionof the bifurcated clips 3B, which are engageable withthe lamp terminals and with the eccentric arms or` clamps 53 which are engageablewith the heater switch terminals. The top and bottom. case members 29 and 30 are also referred to as a split dielectric body portion. y

In order to complete the electric circuit for the lamps I5 when the heater switch 20 is used, there must b e a connection between one of the clip members 34 and one of the clamp members 5I. This is provided for by the insertion of a small bridge or connector 6I which is held in place by the screws 35 and 52 respectively.

In use, the socket may be assembled completely sembled the lamp can be made to engage the socket in a lateral fashion. 'Ihat is, the electrical terminals are passed through the grooves 39 and engaged with the clips '39 at the openings 91. The shell member 22 together with the lower spring members 40 are then applied and fastened in place by the screw 26. The electric connections, of course, are easily made when the lower shell isloosened and separated from the top portions. The openings 33 and 45 provide ample' space for the necessary wires. If the socket 2 is to be used asv the second of the pair, that is without the heater switch 20, then the opening 44 provided for the heater switch is simply plugged up with a piece of dielectric material or is left open as desired. Inasmuch as there are many different ways in which this socket and the fixture may be wired, the details of the wiring plan are not shown herein. However, for the sake of clarity, it may be mentioned that the conventional transformer which is generally used Ain connection with tubular fluorescent lamps,

may be concealed in the ceiling canopy of the fixture, which incidentally is not shown herein because it constitutes no part of the instant invention and its use is well known to the art.

It is now clear that the sockets described accomplish the objects originally set forth and further have advantages which are n'ot obtainable in any of the prior art sockets of this type.

' While thel invention has been disclosed in its preferred form, it is to be understood that' the embodiment of the invention as described and illustrated herein is not to be considered in a limiting electric conductors, the said shell member also.

having resilient collar portions mounted thereon adjacent to one end of the body portion and engageable with the fluorescent lam`p, a pair of bifurcated clip members electrically engageable with the 'said lamp terminals and mounted on the said body portion adjacent tothe' said collar portions and facing one of the aforesaid openings, and a pair of co-acting clamp members mounted 'on the opposite end of the body portion and adjacent to the other one of the said'openings and aligned with the aforesaid pair of clip members, the said clamp members being engageable with the said heater switch terminals, one of the said clamp members having means thereon extending 4through the body member making electrical connection with the bifurcated clip member opposite thereto.

WILLIAM E. McSWEEN.

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