US2142430A - Multiple filament lamp switch - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 3, 1939. F. A. WILKINS 2,142,430

MULTIPLE FILAMENT LAMP SWITCH Filed June 22, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 J 771/67? Zor F/e Zcherd h i/lr'ns,

imm flZZor'r/eys Patented Jan. 3, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 5Claims.

This invention relates to controlling means for a multiple filament lamp and has for a primary object the incorporation of the switching means within the standard size lamp base so that the lamp may be operated in any standard .socket.

A further primary object of the invention is to provide a switching mechanism in the position above indicated which may be operated by a flexible cord or chain so as to permit the lamp to be mounted in any position within shades and the like so that the fiexible member may be extended from the fixture for remote control if desired without interfering in any way with surrounding members such as the shade.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention. including the unique asembly of the various elements in the association as set forth by the appended claims, will become apparent to those versed in the art in the following description of one particular form of the invention as now best known to me. Referring to the accom panying drawings which illustrate the invention,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a lamp embodying the invention with parts in section;

Fig. 2, a detail in enlarged elevation and partial section;

Fig. 3, a base end plan view;

Fig. 4, a transverse section on the line 4-4 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 5, a wiring diagram;

Fig. 6, a detail in transverse section on the line 6-8 in Fig. 4;

Fig. 7, a detail in transverse section on the line 11 in Fig. 4;

Fig. 8 a detail on an enlarged scale on the line I 2-8 in Fig. 3;

Fig. 9, a section on the line 9-9 in Fig. 2; and

Fig. 10, a section on the line Ill-l in Fig. 2.

Like characters of reference indicate like parts throughout the several views in the drawings.

In the form of the invention herein shown, the lamp I is provided with a plurality of filaments, herein shown as two in number. As an example only and not as a limitation of the range of filament capacities, the lamp may have a filament I8 oi a 100 watt capacity and the other filament l1 of 50 watt capacity, whereby the lamp may be operated to have the 50 watt filament energized alone; the 100 watt filament alone; or both filaments simultaneously to give a 150 watts. In other words, three degrees of illumination may be secured from the two filaments.

These filaments l6 and I1 are supported in the usual and customary manner by a positioning post It and leads I! and run from the filament I! together with a third lead 2| from the filament l1 through the sealing tube 22 and out through the base end of the lamp. In this particular form, the lead I 9 is also interconnected with one terminal oi the filament 11, the lead 21 being carried from the other filament terminal. The lamp I5 is evacuated or gas filled in accordance with standard practice.

Secured to the base end of the lamp IS in any suitable manner, such as by a cement or plastic 23, is an insulating base 24 which is counterbored at its lamp end to receive the lamp base therewithin. This base 24 is provided with an external cylindrical surface on which screwthreads are formed to receive a. ferrule 25 screwthreadedly therearound. This ferrule 25 is provided with external threads standardized to fit the threads of the standard lamp receptacle. Likewise the length of the base 24 and the ferrule 25 therethrough is made to be such as to be practically fully received within the standard lamp receptacle as is the usual practice.

The base 24 is provided with a chamber 26 within which all of the switching mechanism is mounted The chamber 26 is preferably rectangular in shape and opens at its base end. A cover 21, made out of any suitable insulating material, is generaly circular in shape and has a central boss 28 extending rearwardly to protrude through a circular opening formed centrally within the base end of the ferrule 25, the ferrule being fianged over on its base end so as to draw the cover 21 compressively against the end of the base 24 when the ferrule 25 is screwed snugly into position on the base 24. The cover 21 is preferably pinned into position so as to prevent rotation. Dowel pins 29 and" extend from the rear end of the base 24 and fit into holes preferably spaced in the cover 21. A rivet or screw 2|, as herein shown, extends centrally through the boss 28 of the cover 21 to engage a conductor bar 32 on the inside of the cover 21. This bar 32 is drawn compressively against the cover 21 and is held against rotation by means of a pin 33 extending from the cover 21 and entering a hole in the bar. This bar 32 further carries a pair of spaced apart contact fingers 34 and 35 curving around from the bar and inwardly within the chamber 28.

An axle 36 extends centrally, transversely across the chamber 26 to carry a drum 31 thereon. This drum 31 is provided with two annular tracks therearound having a central dividing rib or flange 38 with like end fianges 39 and 40. The drum 21 is preferably made out of some suitable insulating material to have the major portion of the contact members 43 and 44.

the track of an insulating character. On each track is provided a pair of spaced contact members. Referring to the wiring diagram, Fig. 5, these tracks are shown in developed relation where the left hand track carries the contact members 4| and 42. The right hand track carries The contact members 42 and 44 are mounted adjacent each other in the two tracks to have the same annular location about the drum. Further, these contact members 42 and 44 are of equal length. The other contact members 4| and 43 are of equal length, the member 4| being spaced around the track from the member 42 and the member 43 being spaced in its track an s-nnular distance away from the member 44 less than the distance of the member 4| from the member 42.

On the inner end or floor of the chamber 26 are mounted a pair of contact fingers 45 and 46. These fingers 45 and 46 are fixed in position by respective ends contacting the fioor of the chamber 26 and have free ends elastically bearing against the drum 31, one finger against each track so as to have the respective contact members 4|, 42 and 43, 44 come into wiping contact with these fingers 45 and 46 as the drum is turned. The

upper fingers 34 and 35 which are carried by the bar 32 likewise elastically bear against the respective drum tracks to be also subject to wiping contact with these respective contact members. The two' sides of the contact fingers, however, have their ends spaced apart so that circuits may be only opened and closed by means of the contact members passing between the fingers to close the circuit and then passing on to open it.

The filament l6 has its lead l9 carried up through the base 24 and brought out from a side thereof, Fig. 2,, to come into electrical contact with the ferrule 25. The lead 26 is brought up through the fioor of the base 24 to connect with the finger 46. The lead 2| of the filament I1 is brought up through the floor of the chamber 26 and is connected to the finger 45.

A spring latch finger 41 is secured to the floor of the chamber 26 by one end and has a free end compressively bearing against the center drum rib 38. This rib 38 is provided with a series of spaced notches 48 into which the end of the latch 41 will drop as the drum 31 is rotated. It is to be noted that these notches are so formed that the drum 31 may be rotated in a clockwise direction, Fig. 10, but held against rotation in the reversed direction by reason of the end of the latch 41 abutting a shoulder of the notch in each instance.

A flexible member, such as a cord or a chain 49 shown in the present form, enters through a side of the base 24 ahead of the ferrule 25 and is carried freely through a passageway into the chamber 26 to have its end secured to a rocker 56 which is essentially a U-shaped member in the nature of a yoke. This yoke 56 has its two legs turned to have the axle 36 pass therethrough in a manner which will permit the yoke 56 to rock freely around the drum 31, the cross-bar between the spring 5| is positioned and against a shoulder of which recess the pin 52 will strike to limit the movement oi the yoke under the influence of the spring 5| so that the cross-bar of the yoke is normally spaced away from the fingers 34 and 35.

On the outer end of the drum 31 adjacent the spring 5| are a series of teeth 53 formed outside of the flange 46 and circumferentially around the drum. The yoke 56 carries a pawl 54 which is normally spring pressed by its free end into the path of these teeth 53. The pawl 54 extends in an annular position in the direction of the pull of the chain 49 on the yoke 56 so that when the chain 49 is pulled, the pawl 54 will engage against one of the teeth 53 and thereby pull the drum 31 around a distance equal to the permissible travel of the yoke 56, the yoke 56 in this case being stopped by coming into contact with the sidewall of the chamber 26 as indicated by the dash line position in Fig. 8. When the yoke 56 is pulled to this extreme position, the latch 41 will drop into a notch 48 and retain the drum against reverse rotation when the chain 49 is released to allow the spring 5| to return the yoke '56 to its normal initial position.

In operation, it will be assumed that the drum 3! is in an initial position wherein neither filament |6 nor I1 is energized, that is, the circuits of both filaments are open. Then the chain 49 may be pulled and released. This action will rotate the drum 31 to a position wherein, Figs. 2, 5, 9 and 10, the segment 4| is between both fingers 34 and 45. The latch 41 retains the drum in this position upon the release of the chain 49 while the pawl 54 drags back over the teeth 53 as the yoke 56 returns to its normal position under the influence of the spring 5|. the drum, as will be noted in Fig; 5, a circuit is completed between the head of the screw 3|, the finger 34, the contact member 4|, the lower finger 45, the filament lead 2|, the filament H, the lead I 9, and the ferrule 25. This completes the circuit through the smaller or 50 watt filament alone. In this position of the drum, there is no contact member bridging the fingers and 46 so that the filament |6 remains in an open circuit.

The next pull on the chain 49 will rotate the drum 31 to the next notch 48 whereby the drum is then held in a position where there are no contact members bridging either pair of contact fingers. Consequently both filaments l6 and I! are then in open circuits and not energized. Another pull on the chain 49 will rotate the drum 31 one more step to bring the contact member 43 into position to bridge the fingers 35 and 46. This position of the drum-then closes a circuit to include the filament IE only to leave the filament H in an open circuit.

A subsequent pull on the chain 49 will rotate the drum 31 again to the next notch 48 engagement with the latch 45 to carry the contact member 43 on around and leave an open circuit between both sets of fingers again so as to provide another 0 position for both filaments l6 and I1.

Again pulling the chain 49 will rotate the drum 31 to bring both contact members 42 and 44 to bridge the respective fingers 34, 45 and 35, 46. In this position of the drum, circuits are closed through both filaments I6 and H to give the full I56 watt illumination. The next pull on the chain 49 will rotate the drum 31 to remove all contact members from between both sets of fingers so as to leave both filaments again in open In this position of circuits. Subsequent pulls on the chain 49 will repeat the above indicated actions.

It is to be noted that arcing is reduced to a minimum by notching out the periphery of the drum in the tracks wherein the various fingers ride so as to have the fingers snap oil of the ends of the contact members on the drum to give a quick, wiping break.

While I have herein shown and described my invention in the one particular form, it is obvious that structural details may be changed without departing from the spirit of the invention, and I, therefore, do not desire to be limited to that precise form beyond the limitations as may be imposed by the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a multiple filament lamp having a base of insulation with a cavity therein, an insulating cover closing said cavity, an axial terminal extending through the cover, a metallic sleeve ferrule for socket attachment fitting over and secured to said base around that portion thereof including said cavity, a drum rotatably positioned within said cavity on a transverse shaft, a plurality of electrical contacts spaced one from the other on said drum, upper contact fingers carried by said cover and each connected with said ter-v minal to extend yieldingly against said drum in the paths of said contacts, lower contact fingers fixed in said cavity to be pressed yieldingly against said drum, whereby said drum contacts selectively bridge said upper and lower fingers electrically with said terminal upon suitable rotation of said drum, a ratchet mechanism for rotating the drum, a ratchet operating member extending from said base below said ferrule, a separate filament being provided in said lamp for and in electrical connecnection with each of said lower fingers, and all of said filaments being electrically connected with said ferrule, said ratchet operating member consisting of a mem r within said cavity and rockable on said drum shaft, spring means normally holding the member in an initial position, a plurality of teeth spaced circumferentially apart r' around a part of said drum, and a pawl carried by the rockable member in the path of said teeth and spring pressed thereagainst, and said ratchet operating member consisting of a flexible pull line fixed to said rockable member and guided 50 through the base toward the lamp and then carried outwardly externally of the base.

2. A multiple filament lamp as defined by claim 1, said rockable member being U-shaped to straddle said drum and engage the drum shaft on each end of the drum, said pawl being mounted between one leg of the rockable member and the drum.

3. A multiple filament lamp as defined by claim 1, said drum being provided with a plurality of laterally spaced tracks in which said electrical contacts are placed, ribs projecting from the drum defining annular walk along the tracks, a plurality of notches in one of said ribs corresponding in number to the total number of on and oiT positions of the drum, and a latch member mounted in the cavity yieldingly bearing against said rib to engage in said notches and retain the drum in a rotated position while said rockable member returns to its said initial position.

4. A multiple filament lamp as defined by claim 1, said drum being provided with a plurality of laterally spaced tracks in which said electrical contacts are placed, ribs projecting from the drum defining annular walk along the tracks, a plurality of notches in one of said ribs corresponding in number to the total number of on" and oil" positions of the drum, and a latch member mounted in the cavity yieldingly bearing against said rib to engage in said notches and retain the drum in a rotated position while said rockable member returns to its said initial position, and a stop in said cavity limiting rocking of said member when rocked by said line.

5. A multiple filament lamp as defined by claim 1, said drum being provided with a plurality of laterally spaced tracks in which said electrical contacts are placed, ribs projecting from the drum defining annular wall: along the tracks, a plurality of notches in one of said ribs corresponding in number to the total number of on" and positions of the drum, and a latch member mounted in the cavity yieldingly bearing against said rib to engage in said notches and retain the drum in a rotated position while said rockable member returns to its said initial position, and a stop in said cavity limiting rocking of said member when rocked by said line, said contacts being insulated one from the other and positioned around said tracks to provide open circuits between upper and lower pairs of fingers following each closed circuit position.

FIEI'CHER A. WILKINS.

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