Improvements in Manipulating Devices for Attaching and Removing Incandescent Lamps.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Mar., 1897-Accepted, 29th May, 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Manipulating Devices for Attaching and
Removing Incandescent Lamps.
I, JOSEPH JAMES DUNN, of 175 Huntington Avenue, Hyde Park, Norfolk
County, Massachusetts, in the United States of America, Electrical Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement :-
This invention relates to improvements in manipulating devices for incandescent
lamps and it has for its object to easily remove and attach the lamp from and to its
socket as will hereinafter be more fully shown and described, reference being had
to the accompanying drawings, where
Fig. 1 represents a longitudinal section of the invention showing it in position on
an electric incandescent lamp :
Fig. 2 represents a side elevation of the invention shown as applied to a lamp
located at an angle to the handle of the instrument.
Fig. 3 represents a side elevation of the upper portion of the device showing the
adjusting nuts for holding the jaws in inclined positions.
Fig. 4 represents a side elevation of the lower end of the rod, and ;
Fig. 5 represents a longitudinal section on the line 5-5 shown in Fig. 4.
Similar letters refer to similar parts wherever they occur on the different parts of
the drawings.
In the drawing A. represents an electric lamp socket and B represents the glass
bulb of the lamp with its head as usual.
The device for removing the lamp B from the socket, A and connecting it to the
latter is constructed as follows.
It consists of a pair of preferably perforated or ring shaped jaws C, C, provided
with internal soft linings or cushions C₁, C¹ as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.
The jaws C, C, are pivoted at C, C, to a shell or case D as shown.
Above the fulcra C, C are pivoted to the jaws C, C, at ee the links E E the
lower ends of which are pivoted at to a rod F, guided in the case or shell D, and
normally forced upwards by the influence of a spring G for the purpose of holding
the jaws C, C, expanded when not in use.
To the lower end of the shell or case D is attached the upper end of a preferably
duplex coiled spring H, the lower end of which is secured to a tube or pipe 1, which
may be made in one or more parts, connected together in a manner similar to that
of fishing rods so as to reach lamps at any desired distance from the place where
the operator is located.
To the spring pressed rod F is attached a cord K, the lower end of which is
preferably secured to a ratchet wheel L pivoted at the lower end of the rod I as
shown in Figs. 4 and 5; said ratchet wheel is provided with a handle or arm L' by
which it may be manipulated for the purpose of pulling the cord K downwards and
thereby causing the jaws C, C, to be brought in contact with the lamp B during
the operation of attaching or detaching the latter to and from its socket A.
In engagement with the ratchet wheel L is a spring pressed pawl M provided
with a handle or knob m which when pressed upwards releases the tension on the
ratchet wheel L, and thereby causes the expansion of the jaws C, C, by the agency
of the spring G as shown in Figs. 1, 4 and 5.
On the case or shell G is locsely journalled a ring N, to which is pivotted a
link O pivotally connected in its lower end to a ring P sliding on the spring H as
shown in Figs. 1. 2. and 3.

page_text: To the link O is pivotally connected a link Q, the lower end of which is pivotally
connected to a ring R, sliding on the upper end of the tube I as shown in Figs. 1
and 3.
To the upper end of link Ọ near the ring N is attached a cord or string S,
guided in an eye on the ring R by means of which the spring H may be bent so as
to cause the clamps C C to be held in an inclined position relative to the position or
inclination of the lamp B, that is to be attached to or removed from the socket A
as shown in Fig. 2.
Instead of bending the spring H by means of the string S, we prefer in practice
to make an external screw thread, i on the upper end of the pipe I on which are
adjustable a pair of nuts i one above and one below the ring R, as shown in
Figs. 1 and 3, by which arrangement the said ring may be adjusted up and down on
the pipe I so as to hold the sleeve D and its clamps CC in any desired position
relative to the position or inclination of the lamp D, and its socket A.
In using the device for attaching lamps to their sockets or removing them there-
from, the spring H is first bent to the proper angle for reaching the lamp and this
may be done either by pulling on the string S, or by adjusting the position of the
nuts on the screw threaded upper portion of the tube I after which the central
cord K is tightened by turning the ratchet L in the direction as shown by arrow in
Fig. 5 by which the clamps C C are caused to hold the lamp B firmly between
them, when by turning the tube I said lamp may be rotated for connection or
disconnection to and from its socket without the need of ladders or steps usually
employed for manipulating the lamps by hand.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what 1
claim is :-
1. The herein described incandescent lamp manipulating device consisting of
pivoted expansion jaws, pivoted to a case or shell, a flexible shaft or spring
attached to said shell, a spring pressed expander rod arranged within the latter
and links connecting said rod to the jaws and means substantially as described
for closing and adjusting the position of said jaws, as and for the purpose set
forth.
2. The herein described incandescent lamp manipulating device, consisting of a
pair of pivotal expansion jaws, a spring pressed expander rod, and links pivoted to
said rod and jaws, a tubular rod or stem and a flexible connection between said
stem and jaws, a take up ratchet wheel located at the lower end of said rod and a
cord or suitable flexible connection between said expander and ratchet wheel
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
3. The herein described incandescent lamp manipulating device, consisting of a
pair of pivotal expansion jaws, a tubular handle and intermediate flexible
connections a link О pivotally connected to the jaw holder and guided on the
flexible connection a link Q pivoted to the link O and pivotally connected
to a ring R adjustable on the handle substantially as and for the purpose set
forth.
4. In a manipulating device for incandescent lamps in combination a pair of
expansion jaws mounted upon a flexible shaft a rod or handle attached to the latter
and means for closing said jaws against the lamp, and holding them in proper
position relative to the lamp as herein set forth and described.
Dated this 19th day of March 1897.
HERBERT HADDAN & Co.,
18, Buckingham Street, Strand, London, Agents to Applicant.