Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 12th July, 1887.
Specification Accepted, 2nd Sept., 1887.
[Communicated from abroad by GEORGE WESTINGHOUSE, Junior, of Pittsburg,
County of Alleghany, State of Pennsylvania, United States of America, Engineer.]
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of the Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors, 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, and 6 Bank Street, Manchester, both in
the County of Lancaster, and 323 High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, Civil
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 :-
The invention relates to the construction of sockets for holding and supporting
incandescent electric lamps and the construction of certain mechanism, contained
within said socket for controlling the electric current for supplying such lamps.
The object of the invention is to provide a simple and efficient combination socket,
and circuit controller, one which is cheap to manufacture, which is not liable to get
out of order, and in which the parts are efficiently insulated.
In the accompanying drawings, figure 1 is an elevation of a lamp socket embodying
the invention and figure 2 is a plan of the same; (the cap being removed) figure 3
is an elevation, the outer casing being shown in section; figure 4 is an elevation
with the casing removed, figure 5 is a section in the plane of the line 5. 5. in
figure 2, and figure 6 represents certain details of the circuit controller.
Referring to the figures, A represents a block of insulating material upon which
the various parts are supported. One surface of this block is preferably covered by a
sheet of mica a to insure efficient insulation, and to prevent the possibility of the
formation of an arc. Upon one face of this block is secured a cylindrical cup B,
having flexible resilient arms b of well known construction.
The opposite face of the block A carries a metallic conducting bar D which is
sunk into a groove or recess in the block extending to its center. This bar carries a
double contact-spring formed in two resilient arms d¹ and d² (figure 5) which prefer-
ably incline inward toward their outer ends and then suddenly expand, as shown in
the drawings. The springs or arms are designed to receive the contact point of the

page_text: lamp, which may either be constructed with a narrow neck so as to extend between
the arms, or it may simply press against the ends, springing them slightly, and
causing them to separate. A contact spring e¹ extends from the plate D in a direction
opposite to the springs d¹, d². This is designed to be placed in electrical connection
with a similar spring e' by means of a contact piece e, when it is desired to complete
the circuit through the lamp for the purpose of lighting it. The spring e² is secured
to the insulating block A by a binding plate E¹ (figures 2 and 3) which is designed
to receive and clamp the terminal of one of the supply conductors. A similar
binding plate E³ (figure 2) receives the other supply conductor, and is electrically
connected by a screw b' with the cup B. When therefore, the contact piece is inserted
between the two_contact-springs and e, the circuit is complete between the two
terminals B and D. The binding plates E and E' are preferably constructed with
outwardly projecting flanges e between which are the heads of the clamping
screws e and e. These flanges serve to prevent the wires from slipping out.
The contact piece e consists of a metallic pin or screw extending through from one
face to the other of a movable plate K, but insulated therefrom. The plate K is
pivoted at to a standard K' which is secured to the insulating block A. This
same standard carries a crank axis k affording two bearings or journals k¹ and k² in
which said axis turns. The outer end of the crank axis is provided with a thumb
piece or key ³ by means of which it may be turned. The other end of the crank
axis passes through a slot n in the movable arm K (see figure 6). This permits the
plate to turn upon its fulcrum. The movement of the plate K is limited in one
direction by the crank-axis striking a shoulder upon the plate K and in the other
direction by the crank k striking the plate K and by the plate K striking the
standard k¹.
For the purpe of moving the plate K a spiral springs is attached at one end to the
elbow of the crank-axis ka groove prevents it from slipping on the crank. The other
end is attached to an arm & projecting from the plate K. By turning the crank-arm k,
the end of the spring s may be carried to one side or the other of the fulcrum of the
plate k, and thus tend to pull the latter in the corresponding direction, the instant it
has passed its center of motion. The movement of the crank-axis k is limited in one
direction by the bed-plate of the standard K, and a lug t upon the upper edge of the
plate K limits the movement in the opposite direction by stopping in the path of the
elbow. This lug may serve in some instances to assist the action of the spring s in
moving the plate K away from the contact springs e¹ and e².
A headed pin or screw t (figure 6) is passed through a slot t¹ in the plate K, the
office of which is to prevent the spring s from throwing the plate away from the
support.
For the purpose of efficiently insulating the conductig surfaces from each other, a
folded plate R (figure 2) of fiber or other insulating material is interposed between
the support K and the two binding plates E' and E³, separating them individually
from each other.
A band or tube R¹ (figures 2 and 3) of insulating material also surrounds the entire
circuit-controlling apparatus, electrically separating its mechanism from the enclosing
metallic case T. This prevents any accidental contact being made therewith.
The end of the metallic case Tis closed by a cap T¹ provided with any convenient
means of attachment to a fixture or support. This cap is preferably secured to the
case by two small set-screws o. o. (figure 2) entering bayonet joints n' on each side of
the cap as seen in figure 1. The openings are preferably somewhat inclined in order
to secure a tight coupling. The same set screws are employed to secure the cap when
brought to the desired position.
The cap when in position acts through the insulating shield R¹ to press the block A
firmly against an inwardly projecting ring a formed in the case.
A bushing V of insulating material is placed at the upper end of the case, to prevent
the arms from coming into contact with the case or shell. A lug y upon the outer
edge of this ring serves to prevent a shade holder from slipping off. This ring is
preferably secured in position by a bayonet-joint.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent I declare that what I claim is :
1. In a key socket for incandescent electric lamps, the combination of a supporting
block, a cylindrical holder for the lamp, a shaft carried by said block having its axis
at right angles to the axis of said holder, a pivoted lever, means for moving said lever
by the operation of said shaft, an insulated contact piece upon said lever and two
contact springs applied thereto, substantially as described.
'
2. In a key switch for electric light holders, the combination of two binding posts,
a connection from one to the lamp socket, a yielding contact with which the other is
connected, a second yielding contact, connected with the central contact of the holder,
a pivoted lever, a movable contact piece upon said lever, and a key and crank shaft
for moving said contact-piece between said yielding contacts and forming a sliding
contact therewith.
3. In a holder for an electric lamp, the combination, the combination of the binding
posts or plates, the block supporting the same, the shell surrounding the posts and
block, and insulating plates separating the several conducting parts from each other.
4. In a key socket for an electric lamp, the combination with the outer shell, of a
cap for closing the end of the same having inclined bayonet joints and set screws
upon said shell extending through said bayonet-joints.
5. The combination with a supporting block for the circuit controlling parts of an
incandescent electric lamp holder, of a shell surrounding the same, a cap applied to
the end of the shell by a bayonet joint and set screws working in said joints.
6. In a holder for incandescent electric lamps, an insulating ring separating the
flexible jaws from the surrounding case, which ring is fastened by a bayonet joint.
7. In a holder for an incandescent electric lamp, a ring of insulating material
separating the flexible jaws from the enclosing shell, a bayonet joint securing the ring
in position, and a lug upon the outer edge of said ring, substantially as set forth.
8. In a holder for an incandescent electric lamp, a central contact consisting of
flexible arms, which arms expand at their ends to admit the lamp terminal substan-
tially as and for the purpose set forth.
9. In an electric lamp holder, an outer contact shell having resilient arms, an
annular recess for receiving the lamp, and a central contact consisting of converging
arms combined with the outer shell, to hold the lamp in position, and to complete the
circuit connections.