IMPROVEMENTS IN FITTINGS FOR ELECTRIC LAMPS
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Coleman Defries, of the Firm of J. Defries & Sons, of
No 147 Houndsditch, in the City of London, Manufacturer, for an invention
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Coleman Defries at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 18th May 1882.
COLEMAN DEFRIES, of the Firm of J. Defries and Sons, of No 147 Houndsditch,
in the City of London, Manufacturer, "IMPROVEMENTS IN FITTINGS FOR ELECTRIC
LAMPS"
دو
My invention relates to a very simple construction of circuit controller for
Electric Lamps whereby I may establish and break electrical communication with
the greatest facility and certainty; also to an improved construction of Socket or
holder for the incandescent lamp affording (amongst other advantages) that of
preventing the breaking of the circuit by the accidental rising of the glass bulb
from its socket.
I propose to construct my improved apparatus of a piece or block of ivory or
any suitable insulating material, of a circular or other form, on the periphery or
other convenient part of which I fix, by screws or otherwise, several knuckle springs
upon the inside of which I attach other steel or elastic springs to firmly secure the
lamp in the holder; at some little distance above this insulating block I secure by
means of studs or otherwise, but so that they may move up and down, plates or
discs of Copper or other conductor of electricity resting upon spiral or other springs
two of which are carried by plates forming the top of metal rods or plates passing
through the insulating block and projecting beneath it; the other springs being
simply to keep the copper plates in a horizontal position. The aforesaid insulating
block rests by a flange upon a metal or other case into which it enters partly and
is secured so as to bring the lower end of the metal rods, which pass through it,
are in connection with the copper plates and are hereinafter termed the fixed
This case
contact pieces, down to the level of an axle passing through the case.

page_text: rests upon the flange of another insulating block which carries on the end within
the case two projections of metal or conducting material, hereinafter termed the
flexible or moveable contact pieces, and to which are attached the main conductors
from the source of electricity, these conducting wires passing through this insulating
block and through a screw-threaded or other tip by which the entire apparatus
may be set upon one of the arms or branches of an Electrolier or upon a support
of any kind. The axle which passes through the case I make of ivory or other
suitable insulating material and with pins or projections within the case, this axle
turning in suitable bearings on each side of the case, and having at one of its ends
a thumb or hand piece and a stop to regulate the extent of its revolution in either
direction.
When the two blocks of insulating material are fitted in the case the fixed or
non flexible contact pieces in connection with the copper plates or discs, and the
moveable or flexible contact pieces to which the conducting wires are connected,
partly overlap each other but at a slight distance apart.
Thus, the incandescent lamp being fitted into the socket of this apparatus with
its glass neck pressing upon the copper plates or discs, and the conductor from the
carbon touching them, a simple turn of the axle by the aid of the thumb piece,
brings its projecting studs or part against the moveable or flexible contact pieces
pressing or pushing them against the fixed contact pieces, whereby the circuit is at
once complete and the lamp lit, while by reversing the movement of the axle the
pressure is at once removed, the contact pieces come apart, the circuit is broken,
and the light is extinguished.
Should the glass bulb rise from the copper plates by vibration or otherwise the
plates will follow them as far as permitted by the play of the spring beneath them
and thus still maintain contact with the conductor from the carbon.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Coleman Defries in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
18th November 1882.
COLEMAN DEFRIES of the Firm of J Defries & Sons of No. 147 Houndsditch
in the City of London Manufacturer " IMPROVEMENTS IN FITTINGS FOR ELECTRIC
LAMPS
"
My Invention relates to a very simple construction of circuit controller for
electric lamps whereby I may establish and break electrical communication with
the greatest facility and certainty; also to an improved construction of socket or
holder for the incandescent lamp affording (amongst other advantages) that of
preventing the breaking of the circuit by the accidental rising of the glass bulb
from its socket.
I propose to construct my improved apparatus of a piece or block of ivory, or
any suitable insulating material, of a circular or other forin, on the periphery, or
other convenient part of which, I may fix by screws, or otherwise, several knuckle
springs upon the inside of which I attach other steel or elastic springs to firmly
secure the lamp in the holder; but upon which I prefer to fix a socket to receive
the stem of the lamp; this stem is provided with a similar socket upon which is a
pin arranged to enter within a bayonet catch in the first mentioned socket and has
also upon its underface a metal ring and tube; at some little distance above this
insulating block I may secure, by means of studs or otherwise, but so that they
may move up and down plates or discs of copper, or other conductor of electricity,
resting upon spiral or other springs, two of which are carried by plates forming
the top of metal rods or plates passing through the insulating block and projecting
beneath it, the other springs being simply to keep the copper plates in a horizontal
position. The aforesaid insulating block rests by a flange upon a metal or other
case into which it enters partly and is secured so as to bring the lower end of the
metal rods which pass through it, are in connection with the copper plates, and are
hereinafter terned the fixed contact pieces, down to the level of an axle passing
through the case; but I prefer to make my insulating block so as to bring the
lower end of a metal rod attached thereto down to the level of the axle passing
through the case; the upper end of this rod passing through the insulating block is
secured above to a spiral or other spring. The above mentioned case rests upon
the flange of another insulating block, which may carry on the end within the case
two projections of metal, or conducting material, hereinafter termed the flexible or
moveable contact pieces, and to which are attached the main conductors from the
source of electricity; these conducting wires passing through this insulating block
and through a screw threaded or other tip by which the entire apparatus may be
set upon one of the arms or branches of an Electrolier or upon a support of any
kind. But I now prefer to use in the lower insulating block a metal rod similar
to the one in the upper block, the lower end of which rod is so arranged as to be in
direct contact with one of the main conductors. The axle which passes through
the case I make of ivory, or other suitable insulating material, and with a pin,
pins or projections within the case, this axle turning in suitable bearings on each
side of the case and having at one of its ends a thumb or hand piece and a stop to
regulate the extent of its revolution in either direction. In the first mentioned
arrangement when the two blocks of insulating material are fitted in the case the
fixed or non flexible contact pieces in connection with the copper plates or discs,
and the movable or flexible contact pieces to which the conducting wires are
connected, partly overlap each other, but at a slight distance apart.

page_text: Upon reversing the motion of the axle D, the pin E leaves the rods F and G,
and the circuit is thereby broken, as shewn Figures 5 and 6. The spring L ensures
that the pin is thrown completely out of contact with the said rods F and G when
the circuit is to be broken.
Although I have shown my improved switch as applied to an incandescent
lamp it might be applied to arc or other electric lamps.
Having now described and ascertained the nature of my said invention and in
what manner the same is or may be performed
I Claim as secured to me by the herein before in part recited Letters Patent.
Firstly The use of a switch or circuit controller having an axle made of an
insulating material and carrying a pin, pins or projections which by the partial
revolution of the axle are brought into or out of contact with flexible pieces
whereby the electric circuit in an electric lamp is made or broken substantially as
hereinbefore described.
Secondly: In an electric lamp the use of a switch or circuit controller,
constructed combined, and arranged to operate substantially as herein before
described, or as shewn on the accompanying Sheet of Drawing.
In Witness whereof I the said Coleman Defries have hereunto set my hand
and seal this Seventeenth day of November in the year of Our Lord One
thousand Eight hundred and Eighty two.
COLEMAN DEFRIES
(L.S.)