Improvements in or relating to Holders for Incandescent Electric Lamps by which they are made Applicable as Combined Holders and Circuit Closers and Breakers.
Year: 1888

page_text: Improvements in or relating to Holders for Incandescent Electric
Lamps by which they are made Applicable as Combined Holders
and Circuit Closers and Breakers.
119, Paris, in the Republic of France, Electrician.
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 & 323 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex Civil Engineer
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to a holder for incandescent lamps of a simple, solid and
cheap construction, and can be made so as to be adapted to any kind of incandescent
lamp now in use; it is, moreover, arranged so as to satisfy completely the various
conditions required to insure the perfect working of these lamps namely:
1. The proper working of the contacts by means of springs, which can be regulated
without taking the apparatus to pieces.
2. The springs not being used as conductors are not liable to get heated.
3. The manipulation of a lever or key brings the movable contacts a good way
apart; this being easily effected by hand or at a distance.
4. The taking to pieces of the apparatus, the renewal of any of the parts, and
the fixing of the conducting wires thereto are done with the greatest ease.
5. And lastly, the omission of the interrupting mechanism, if desired, admits of the
apparatus being utilized as an ordinary lamp holder.
In carrying out the invention, a metal seat or base is provided, into which a metal
socket or hollow plug is screwed; this socket or plug is secured in position by means
of a pressure screw.
The mechanism of the apparatus consists only of two parts, one of which is fixed
whilst the other is movable.

page_text: The fixed part is a disc made of non-conducting material provided with two metallic
studs, in which the binding screws of the conducting wires are screwed. One of
these studs projects above the washer, so as to form the pivot of the upper movable
part.
The lower part of the disc is pressed upwards by a spring, which presses against the
bottom of the seat, and is solely used to insure through its elasticity, the proper action
of the contacts.
Lastly, this disc is provided with a side groove which corresponds to a feather fixed
on the socket, and which prevents it from turning, but at the same time leaves it free
to follow the action of the aforesaid spring.
The movable part forming the interrupting device, consists also of a disc of non-
conducting material, provided with two metallic studs slightly projecting, their objects
being to establish the contacts with the ends of the conducting wires of the lamp; one
of these studs is hollow, and receives the upper part of one of the studs on the
non-rotating disc, and acts as a pivot. The movable disc has a periphery of oval shape,
thereby allowing it to turn about its pivot by an amount proportional to the fixed
distance between the contacts and the width of the said disc.
This disc is provided with a pin or projection passing through a slot in the socket,
and used to facilitate the turning of the said disc, so as to close or break the lamp
circuit.
When both the studs of the interrupting disc are in contact with the studs of the lower
disc, the circuit is closed and the passage of the current raises the filament of the
lamp to a white heat. When the interrupting disc, by means of the projection or
lever, is turned on its pivot, one of the studs is no longer in contact with the
corresponding stud of the lower disc, the circuit is broken, and the lamp is
extinguished.
It will be easily understood that in the apparatus constructed as described in the
foregoing, it is sufficient to regulate the tension of spring, to insure the proper
working of the contacts; this is effected simply by unscrewing the pressure screw, and
adjusting the socket in the seat, so as to increase or decrease the pressure of said spring.
The socket is preferably screwed to the seat, to facilitate this.
This application of a screw thread to the socket for the purpose of regulating the
tension of the spring, and insuring the proper working of the contacts without
removing any part of the mechanism, constitūtes one of the characteristic features of
the invention.
When the apparatus is to be used as an ordinary lamp holder, the interrupting disc
can be omitted, and the height of the socket is reduced in proportion. Both studs
of the other disc are then alike and slightly project. Efficient contacts can always be
obtained without taking the apparatus to pieces, by simply screwing the socket more
or less into the seat, so as to regulate the tension of the spring.
In another arrangement of the invention, one of the contacts is in the centre of the
apparatus, and the disc of the interrupting device can be made circular, if its pivot is
placed in the centre of the socket.
It must also be mentioned that in this arrangement, there are preferably two
springs properly bent and located symmetrically, one on each side of the centre of the
lower disc.
To attach the lamp to the bracket, a kind of socket made of non-conducting material.
is used. This socket is provided with two pins on opposite sides, which fix in tho
usual manner, the lamp in the aforesaid plug or socket. The lower part of the lamp is
introduced into this non-conducting socket, and kept in place therein, either by
friction, or by screw threads, according to the nature of the lamp to be fitted to the
holder.
For the purpose of establishing contact of the metal casing of the lower part of the
lamp (which casing constitutes here, one of the conductors of the lamp) with the
contact stud of the movable part of the mechanism, a thin metallic piece is placed
inside the non-conducting socket. This metal piece passes along or over the bottom
of the latter socket, so that both contacts of the lamp are in the same plane.

page_text: The metal piece being placed between the inside of the socket and the conducting
outer surface of the lower part of the lamp, a very efficient contact is secured at this
point.
In the said socket, two conducting wires may be placed, if desired, at its lower
part, so that in whatever position the socket may be introduced into the before
mentioned plug or socket, one of the conductors is always opposite the contact stud,
which breaks or closes the circuit.
For the purpose of simplifying the apparatus, the hollow stud of the interrupting disc
can be omitted in this arrangement, and the stud of the fixed disc, which has been
described as penetrating the said hollow stud, so as to form a pivot, made long enough
to reach the central conductor of the lamp.
It is also possible to omit altogether the pivot between the two discs, the interrupting
or movable disc, circular in shape, being then guided by the hollow plug or socket, its
motion being limited by the length of the slot made in the said socket for guiding the
motion of the lever or projection.
If it is wished to adapt the invention to hook lamps (lampes à crochets), the upper
part of the plug or socket may be provided with a special non-conducting plug,
provided with an arrangement of springs and hooks generally in use, and terminating
at its lower part in two conductors placed on the same plane, and similar for instance
to those of the first arrangement, described in the foregoing.
Dated this 20th day of March 1888

page_text: Improvements in or relating to Holders for Incandescent Electric
Lamps by which they are made Applicable as Combined Holders
and Circuit Closers and Breakers.
A communication from abroad by NAPOLÉON EUSEBE GARCZYNSKI, of 119, Avenue de
Clichy, Paris, in the Republic of France, Electrician
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 mannor
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement :-
This invention relates to a holder for incandescent lamps of a simple, solid and choap
construction, and which can be made so as to be adapted to any kind of indandescent
lamp now in use, it is moreover, arranged so as to satisfy completely the various con-
ditions required to insure the perfect working of these lamps, namely:
1. The proper working of the contacts by means of springs, which can be regulated
without taking the apparatus to pieces.
2. The springs not being used as conductors, are not liable to get heated.
3. The-manipulation of a lever or key brings the movable contacts a good way apart,
this being easily effected by hand or at a distance.
4. The taking to pieces of the apparatus, the renewal of any of the parts, and the
fixing of the conducting wires thereto, are done with the greatest ease.
5. And lastly, the omission of the interrupting mechanism, if desired, admits of the
apparatus being utilized as an ordinary lamp holder.
In the accompanying drawings different specimens of the apparatus are shown as
most suitable to the types of lamps in general use.
Figures 1 and 2 shown an elevation a vertical section of a kind of holder applicable
to lamps in which both contacts are situated underneath, as in the Swan, Woodhouse,
Khotinsky, etcetera, types.
Figures 3, 4, 5 and 6, are plan views of some of the details of the apparatus.
Figures 7 and 8 are respectively an elevation and a vertical section of the arrange-
ment of the holder for lamps in which one of the contacts is situated underneath, and
the other at the side, as in the Edison, etcetera.
In carrying out the invention as shown in Figures 1 and 2, a metal seat or base a
is provided, into which a metal socket or hollow plug b is screwed, this socket or plug
is secured in position by means of a pressure screw c or its equivalent.
The mechanism of the contact apparatus consists mainly of two parts, one of which
is non-rotatable whilst the other is movable.

page_text: The non rotatable part (of which Figure 3 shows a plan view) is a disce made of
non-conducting material, and provided with two metallic studs and f¹, in which the
binding screws for the conducting wires are screwed. One of these stads / projects
above the disc e so as to form a pivot for the upper movable part.
The lower part of the disc e is pressed upwards by a spring 9, which presses against
the bottom of the seat a, and is solely used to ensure through its elasticity the proper
action of the contacts.
This disc e is provided with a side groove or notch h which corresponds to a feather
on the socket b, and which prevents it from turning, but at the same time leaves it
free to follow the action of the spring g.
The movable part forming the interrupting device (a plan view of which is shown
in Figure 4) consists also of a disc i, of non-conducting material, provided with two
metallic studs j, slightly projecting, their objects being to establish the contacts with
the ends of the conducting wires k of the lamp; one of these studs j is hollow, and
receives the upper part of the stud f on the non-rotating disc, and acts as a pivot.
The movable disc i has a periphery of oval shape, thereby allowing it to turn about its
pivot by an amount proportional to the fixed distance between the contacts f¹ and j'
above mentioned.
This disc is provided with a pin or projection / passing through a slot d in the
socket b, and used to facilitate the turning of the said disc, so as to close or break the
lamp circuit.
Figures 5 and 6 show a plan view of the two respective positions of the interrupting
device on the lower fixed disc e.
When both the studs jj₁ of the interrupting disc i are in contact, as in Figures
and 2 with the studs ff of the lower disc e, and consequently with the conductors k
of the lamp m, the circuit is closed, and the passage of the current raises the filament
of the lamp to a white heat.
When the interrupting disc i, by means of the projection or lever 1, is turned on its
pivot j, the stud 1 being no longer in contact with the corresponding stud f¹ of the
lower disc e, the circuit is broken, and the lamp is extinguished.
It will be easily understood that in the apparatus constructed as described in the
foregoing, it is sufficient to regulate the tension of spring g to insure the proper
working of the contacts; this is effected simply by unscrewing the pressure screw c,
and adjusting the socket 6 in the seat a so as to increase or decrease the pressure of
said spring. The socket is preferably screwed to the seat, to facilitate this."
This application of a screw thread to the socket b for the purpose of regulating the
tension of the springs, and insuring the proper working of the contacts without
removing any part of the mechanism, constitutes one of the characteristic features of
the invention.
When the apparatus is to be used as an ordinary lamp holder, the interrupting
disc i can be omitted, and the beight of the socket 6 reduced in proportion. The two
studs and f¹ of the other disc e are then alike and slightly project. Efficient
contacts can always be obtained without taking the apparatus to pieces, by simply
screwing the socket & more or less into the seat a so as to regulate the tension of the
spring g.
In the arrangement shown in Figures 7 and 8, which is more especially intended for
lamps in which one of the contacts is situated at the side, the mechanism is not
modified and the letters of. reference are the same as for Figures 1 and 2 above
described.
To attach the lamp to the bracket, a kind of socket n made of ebonite or other non-
conducting material is used. This socket is provided with two pins or screws on
opposite. sides, which fix, in the usual manner, the lamp in the aforesaid plug or
socket b.
The contacts o and p attached to this socket are formed of small bands of copper
suitably bent, as in Figure 8, and partially embedded in the mass at the time of
moulding the socket n, so that they will adhere firmly thereto.
The contact o curves in such manner that its inner extremity is situated at or near

page_text: the centre of the socket, while its outer extremity exactly corresponds with one of the
studs of the movable disc i. The other contact p corresponds with the other stud j',
and ends inside the socket by a tongue, preferably undulating, against which the
metallic periphery of the base of the lamps of the Edison and Gerard etcetera, types,
will press.
Further, the socket n has at its lower end two openings q opposite each other, these
openings have a double object. By this means, when the lamp is being placed in
position it can be seen whether it is resting exactly on the contact o above mentioned,
and further within the holder a circulation of air is established which prevents
undue heating of the contacts, an important point for the effective working of the
apparatus.
The holder shown in Figures 7 and 8 above described, may, as in the preceding
case be used as an ordinary lamp holder by omitting the interrupting device i as has
been above explained.
In these two types of holders shown in the drawing, the metallic body b has been
shown narrowed at the top (Figures 1 and 2), or widened (Figures 7 and 8) merely
for the sake of making it fit the bottom of the lamps which it is to receive, but it
is understood that it may also be cylindrical throughout if the dimensions of the lamp
allow of it.
Finally this new holder may easily be applied to hook lamps (lampes à crochet) by
providing the upper part of the socket b, Figures 1 and 2, with a special non-
conducting plug or stopper, provided with an arrangement of springs and hooks and
generally in use for lamps of this kind.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, 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 holders for incandescent lamps, the use (as interrupting device) of an oval
shaped non-conducting disc with suitable contacts, and capable of being moved to one
side between the bottom of the lamp and another non-conducting disc, which
receives the conducting wires and the spring; these two discs being connected by
means of a pivot which constitutes one of the contacts, substantially as above
described.
2. A holder for incandescent lamps having a seat a, a socket b, and a spring 9,
the tension of which is regulated by screwing or adjusting the relative positions of
the two former, a non-conducting disc e to receive the conducting wires, and
preferably another non-conducting disc i which can be moved with regard to the
former, and containing the contacts which establish connection with the lamp;
substantially as above described.
3. In a holder for an incandescent lamp the use of a non-conducting seat, for
supporting a lamp with a lateral contact, said holder being fitted with suitable conductors,
and furnished at the base with openings for facilitating the regulating of the
contacts and for preventing-the-heating_of_the_same, substantially as above
described.
Dated this 29th day of December 1888.
==
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.