Revolving, low-voltage contact device suitable for being orientated according to a plurality of space directions, in particular for lighting equipment

Abstract: Revolving, low-voltage contact device (10) suitable for being orientated according to a plurality of space directions, constituted by two elements (15,17), rotatable relatively to each other, around a fastening pin (25) and around a rigid conductor element (11), so as to form ribbing contacts, with a horizontal and vertical orientability of 360° being secured.

Description: The present invention relates to a revolving, low-voltage contact device, in particular for lighting equipment suitable for being orientated according to a plurality of space directions. The preamble of claim 1 is based on US-A-3 735 021. The problem arising with revolving lighting apparatuses, as regards their power feeding cables, is known. In fact, when the orientation of said lighting apparatuses has to be adjusted, said apparatuses have to be rotated together with their power feeding cables, which consequently limit the movements thereof, sometimes preventing them from performing some of said movements. Furthermore, in revolving lighting apparatuses provided with power feeding cables, such cables, subject to continuous torsions, may deteriorate, sometimes causing accidents. The object of the present invention is of overcoming the drawbacks inherent in the prior art, by proposing a novel contact device which is capable of showing a very wide range of orientation positions, is completely free from flexible power supply cables, and is equipped with a reliable contact system. The technical solution for the above object is characterised by the features indicated in the second part of claim 1. The subclaims define particular embodiments of the subject-matter defined in claim 1. The structural and functional characteristics and the advantages of this contact device according to the present invention will be better understood from the exemplifying, non-limitative disclosure thereof, made by referring to the hereto attached schematic drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a partially sectional view of the device according to the instant invention; Figure 2 shows a sectional view made along path line II-II of Figure 1; and Figure 3 shows a sectional view made along path line III-III of Figure 2. Referring to the figures, a device according to the instant invention is generally indicated by means of reference numeral 10. Such a device 10 comprises a first contact element 11 constituted by a hollow, cylindrical conductor 12 inside which an also hollow, insulating element 13 is coaxially inserted. Inside the interior of the insulating element 13 a second conductor element 14 is provided, which is so positioned that one of its ends protrudes outside the insulating element 13 which in its turn is slightly protruding outside said hollow, cylindrical conductor 12. The first contact element 11 can be inserted inside a first body 15 of cylindrical shape and with a hollow interior, made from a conductor material, so that only the hollow cylindrical conductor 12 is into contact with it; the body 15 is furthermore freely rotatable around the first contact element 11 and is equipped with a perimetrical seat 16. With the first body 15 a second insulating, hollow, cylindrical body is associated, as indicated by the reference numeral 17. Such a body 17 is provided with a base 18 through which a through-bore 19 runs, and with an annular, conductor plate 20 positioned externally to the body 17, in order to get engaged inside said perimetrical seat 16. Furthermore, from said second body 17, a first electrical terminal and a second electrical terminal extend; said electrical terminals are respectively indicated by the reference numerals 21 and 22. The electrical terminal 21 is connected, e.g., by means of a connection screw 23, with the annular conductor plate 20, and the electrical terminal 22, fastened to the body 17, e.g., by means of a second screw 24, ends inside the through-bore 19. In order to accomplish the rotatably articulated assembly of the contact device according to the present invention, a conductor pin 25 is provided. Said conductor pin 25 bears a bore 26 at one of its ends, and the other end thereof is equipped with a plate 27 which is suitable for being inserted inside the interior of the body 17. On the pin 25 a helical spring 28 is furthermore installed, which supplies the necessary force for the unit to be kept assembled as a whole with the possibility of revolutionary movements. In order to assemble the device 10, the first contact element 11 is inserted inside the first body 15, and the second, insulating body 17 is placed into contact with the first body 15, causing the annular plate 20 to come to be housed inside the purposely provided seat 16, precisely provided on the body 15 for this purpose. For the parts which compose the whole device to be stably assembled with one another, the pin 25, bearing the spring 28, has to be inserted through the through-bore 19 in such a way that its bore 26 gets engaged with the end of the second conductor 14 of the contact element 11. One can observe how in this way the electrical current conduction paths remain always separated, in that along one of them electrical current will flow through the conductor 12 reaching the body 15, and then the annular plate 20, in order to reach eventually the terminal 21, whilst along the other conduction path electrical current will flow through the conductor 14, reaching the pin 25 (by means of the through-bore 26), which pin 25 is into contact, inside the through-bore 19, with the terminal 22. Furthermore, the device according to the present invention, due to the total absence of conductor cables, makes it possible that the body 15 is rotated by 360° around the longitudinal axis of the contact element 11, and furthermore makes it possible that the insulating body 17 is rotated, also by 360°, around the pin 25 (and therefore around the body 15). All this, besides securing the reliability of the contacts, enables the device according to the instant invention to be practically boundlessly orientated in a tridimensional space, making it flexible and useable in most different application situations.

Claims: Revolving, low-voltage contact device (10), orientatable in different space directions, having a contact element (11) constituted by a first, rigid, hollow conductor (12), inside which a hollow, insulating element (13) is inserted, wherein inside said hollow, insulating element (13) a second conductor (14) is coaxially inserted, and said insulating element (13) protrudes beyond the end of said first conductor (12), and said second conductor (14) protrudes beyond the end of said insulating element (13), said contact element (11) being removably inserted into a hollow body (15) rotatable relatively to a longitudinal axis of said contact element (11), characterized in that said hollow body (15) is a conductor body, and a second, hollow insulating body (17) is rotatably associated with said conductor body (15) and is equipped with a conductor plate (20) provided between a surface of a base (18) of said insulating body (17) and an internal side surface of said hollow conductor body (15), said second insulating body (17) being further equipped with two conductor terminals (21, 22) extending from a portion of one of its side surfaces, wherein one (21) of said terminals (21, 22) is connected with said conductor plate (20), said contact device (10) being further provided with electrical conducting means (25, 26, 27, 28), constituted by a pin (25) having a perforation (26) at one of its ends and bearing a plate (27) at its other end, said plate (27) being inserted inside said second hollow insulating body (17), said pin (25) running through a through-bore (19) inside said base (18) of said insulating body (17), said perforated end of said pin (25) receiving the end of said second conductor element (14) protruding beyond the end of said insulating element (13), and further constituted by a resilient means (28) engaged between said plate (27) and said base (18) of said insulating body (17), wherein said electrical conducting means (25, 26, 27, 28) link said conductor body (15) and said second, insulating body (17), so that these bodies (15, 17) are as a whole integrally rotatable relatively to said longitudinal axis of said contact element (11), and link said conductor body (15) to said second body (17), so that said second body (17) is rotatable relatively to a revolution axis perpendicular to said longitudinal axis. Contact device according to claim 1, characterized in that said hollow conductor body (15) is a cylindrical body having an open base provided with a perimetrical seat (16) for housing said conductor plate (20). Contact device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said second insulating body (17) is a cylindrical body. Contact device according to one of claims 1-3, characterized in that said conductor plate (20) is an annular plate. Contact device according to one of claims 1-4, characterized in that the other one (22) of said two conductor terminals (21, 22) has an end ending inside said through-bore (19). Contact device according to claim 2, characterized in that said conductor plate (20) is rotatably engaged inside said perimetrical seat (16) provided in said conductor body (15). Contact device according to one of claims 1-6, characterized in that said conductor body (15) is rotatable by 360° on said contact element (11), and said second, insulating body (17) is rotatable by 360° around said pin (25).

Inventors: AJELLO PASQUALE, AJELLO, PASQUALE
Applicants: IGUZZINI ILLUMINAZIONE, IGUZZINI ILLUMINAZIONE S.R.L.
Application year: 1989
Main classification: H01R35
IPC codes: H01R35