An Improved Socket for Incandescent Electric Lamps.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Aug., 1891-Accepted, 19th Sept., 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Socket for Incandescent Electric Lamps.
We, JOHN CRIGGAL, Electrical Engineer of 29 Kearney Street Newark, JAMES
BERKLEY, Electrical Engineer of 10 Oak Street, Kearney, Newark, and CHARLES
FREDERICK WILLIAMSON, Cabinet Maker of 160 Scotland Street, Orange, in
the State of New Jersey, all in the United States of America 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 refers to an improved socket for incandescent electric lamps so
that the lamps can be used with any kind of holder whereby the interchanging of
the lamps of one system with those of another system may be readily accomplished
and the loss of the expensive sockets arising from the breaking of the lamp or the
destruction of its filament obviated.
The invention consists of an incandescent electric lamp provided with a base of
suitable non-conducting material said base having a screw threaded shank and
metallic eyes at the opposite points of said shank in combination with a socket
formed of spiral retaining wires that engage the threaded shank and the eyes of the
same so as to firmly interlock therewith and transmit the current to the filament
in the lamp as will be fully described hereinafter and finally pointed out in the
claims.
In the accompanying drawings
Figure 1 represents a side elevation of an incandescent electric lamp with our
improved base and socket.
Figure 2 is a vertical transverse section of the base and socket.
Figures 3 and 4 are a side view of the base of the lamp and a sectional side
elevation of the wire connection arranged in the socket adapted for one system of
holders.
Figures 5 and 6 are a side view of the base of the lamp and a sectional side
elevation of the socket used in another system of holders and,
Figures 7 and 8 are respectively a side view and a sectional elevation of a holder
of still another construction.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout.
Referring to the drawings A represents an incandescent electric lamp which is
connected with a base B made of suitable plastic material said base being provided
with a shank C having two spiral threads bb of quick pitch and eyes b' at
diametrically opposite points of the shank and advantageously at the upper ends
of said threads as shown clearly in Figures 2, 3, and 5.
The threaded shank C is made integral with the base B while the eyes b¹ are
connected with the platinum conducting wires that lead to the filament at the interior
of the lamp.
Every incandescent lamp whatever be its type or manufacture is intended to be
provided with a base B and a threaded shank C having metallic eyes b¹¹.
The shank C is connected with a socket D of any suitable type according to the
system of lamps employed the Edison Standard Lamp for instance having an
exterior threaded brass shell which fits into a corresponding holder of the bracket
or chandelier while in other systems of lamps the sockets are provided with radial
pins or other devices that make the connection with the corresponding holders as
the case may be.
The base of each socket D whatever be its construction is filled with non-
conducting material and into the same are inserted two spiral retaining wires d d of
the same pitch as the threads of the shank C which permit the easy and quick

page_text: screwing in of the threaded shank' into. said spiral wires unti the ends of the
spirals dd engage the eyes and form electric contact therewith.
The spiral wires d d are also connected with the metallic parts of the sockets said
metallic parts forming contact with similar parts of the holder so as to conduct the
current into the lamps.
Each socket D of whatever system of holders is provided with these spiral wires
having the same pitch so that the socket can be used in connection with a lamp
having a threaded shank whatever be its manufacture.
Consequently (for instance) an Edison lamp could be used with a Thompson-
Houston socket or Westinghouse socket or an Edison socket with a lamp of any
one of these types or with the socket and holder of the construction shown in
Figures 7 and 8 as by the shank and retaining wires employed a lamp of any system
can be used regardless of the special constructions of holders employed.
By this arrangement the use of electric incandescent lamps is greatly facilitated
and the introduction or interchange of any system rendered feasible provided that
the lamps are arranged with threaded shanks and the sockets made detachable and
provided with retaining spiral wires for the shanks.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is-
1. The combination of an incandescent electric lamp having a base with a double
threaded shank and metallic eyes at opposite points of the shank with a socket
provided with spiral wires of the same pitch as the threads of the shank and adapted
to engage the eyes on the shank substantially as set forth.
2. An incandescent electric lamp provided with a non-conducting base having
a double threaded shank and metallic eyes on said shank substantially as set forth.
3. A socket for incandescent electric lamps provided with a base or filling of
non-conducting material and two spiral conducting wires secured to said base
or filling and forming an interior socket for the shank of the lamp substantially as
set forth.
Dated this 4th day of August 1891.
TONGUE & BIRKBECK,
34, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Patentees.