GB2521439A

GB2521439A - Adapter

Info

Publication number: GB2521439A
Application number: GB1322646.9A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter James Andrew Diamond
Original assignee: Pudsey Diamond Engineering Ltd
Current assignee: Pudsey Diamond Engineering Ltd
Priority date: 2013-12-20
Filing date: 2013-12-20
Publication date: 2015-06-24
Anticipated expiration: 2033-12-20
Also published as: GB2521439B; GB201322646D0

Abstract

An adaptor 5 for fitting a relatively small tube 2 to a relatively large socket comprises a sleeve 11 sized to fit the socket, a tube locator 14, 15 carrying female 21 and male 24 threaded members and sized to receive the tube 2. The adaptor 5 is such that on fitting of the adaptor 5 to the tube2, in use, the male threaded member 24 can be tightened against the tube 2 with the female threaded member 21 being abutted directly or indirectly against the inside of the sleeve 11.

Description

ADAPtER The present invention relates to an adapter for fitting a relatively small tube to a relatively large socket, particularly though not exc1usivel for adapting a lamp s standard having a small diameter neck tube to receive a lamp having a larger diameter socket.

Adapters for reducing a large diameter neck tube to a small diameter socket are simple and. available. Fqual!y a solid metal casting *ith a small diameter socket 0 for rhe small diameter tube and an outside diameter of requisite size is simple to provide. but with the present cost of steel it is not ideal lhc object of the present nw ition is to provide an improved adapter ftr fitting a relatively small tube to a relatively large socket.

IS

According to the invention there is provided an adapter liar fitting a relatively small tube to a relatively large socket, the adapter coinpris ing: * a sleeve sized to lit the socket and having a clearance hole in it; * a ttibe locator sized to receive the tube and fit in sleeve: * a female threaded member carried by the tube locator in a receptacle in it such that it can radially outwardly abut the inside of the sleeve, possibly with the interposition of a portion of the locator; and * a mail thi-eaded member of a length to pass through the tube locator to both engage the tube and he received in the clearance hole.

the arrangement being such that on fitting ol the adapter to the tube. the mail threaded member can he tightened against the tube with he female threaded member being abutted directly or indirectly against the inside of the sleeve.

Normally the tube locator will be of plastics material whilst the other three components will be of metal, preferably galvanised mild steel in the ease of the sleeve and stainless steel in the case of the threaded members, whereby tightening establishes metal-to-metal contact between the tube received in the adapter and the adapter's sleeve (assuming the tube to he metallic). It can he envisaged that the Ibmale threaded niember could be reccivccl in the locator with a portion oldie latter hetwccn the former and the sleeve. whereby on tightening thc portion is sandwiched between the female threaded member and the sleeve for indirect abutment of them.

Preferably the locator has a bore which is smaller than the clearance size thy the male threaded member. whereby the threaded member is gripped by the locator.

[he tLihc locator could locate the tube centrally in the sleeve, with the tightening action urging the t ti be against a portion o I' the locator opposite from I he in threaded members. In this case. three pairs ofequi-angulai'lv spaced male and female threaded members could he used to provide metal-to-metal. Ijowever. it is prelerred for the tube to located eccentrically. [his has advantage ifthe centre of the sleeve is helo\\ the centre of the tube in that any tendency o[the adapter to rotate will result in a lilling of the sleeve and any load carried by the adapter.

It is further preferred that the locator is conligured to allow metal-to-metal contact of the sleeve and the tube. Such configuration implies a gap in the locator via which the tube is urged into contact with the sleeve.

Not withstandi ig the aperture. the locator prelbrahlv has an end flange which is continuous lou closure of the end of the sleek e around the tube.

Whilst the locator can be of the length of the sleeve, it is preferably of half or less than half its length, with a pair of locators being used in each adapter to close each end of' the adapter.

Whilst a single male threaded member, or grub screw as it will normally be.

mar he used, preferably two grub screws will provided in axial alignment along the sleeve. Normally the Iwo grub screws will be in two separate locators at the two ends of the sleeve.

the female threaded member can he envisaged to be a single strip of steel extending between the two locators. However it is preferred that each locator should have its own threaded rncni her. conveniently a conx entional hexagonal nut.

lo help understanding of the invention, a specilic embodiment thereof will flow he described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure is a perspective view ol a lamp standard and lamp shown exploded with an adapter of the invention: Figure 2 is a central longitudinal cross-section uI [lie adapter of Figure 1: Figure 3 is an end view ofthe adaip ter on the arrow Ill in Figure 2: Figure 4 is a cross-sectional end view of the adapter on the line [V-IV in In Figure 2.

Reibrring to drawings. a lamp standard I has a relativek small diameter neck tube 2 tor supporting a lamp 3 having a relatively large diameter socket 4. An adapter S of tIme invention is received on the support tube and in the socket. Securing of the IS adapter to the tube -as described below -and the lamp to the adapter in conventional manner as if the support tube were of the diameter of the adapter secures the lamp to the lamp standard.

the adapter has a sleeve II of a length of galvanised mild steel. It has two drill ings 12 radial of its centre line and space a quarter and three quarters along its length. The sleeve is ofan outside diameter to ht the socket in the lamp.

Two plastics injection moulded locators 14.15 are provided one in one end of the sleeve and the other in the other. Each has an end tlange 16 abutting the end of the sleeve for avoiding ingress of foreign objects. The flange has an eccentric aperture 17 sized to receive the lamp standard tube 2 at a radial position such that the tube can abut the inside surihce of the sleeve. For this internally of the lange. the locator is discontinuous with a gap 18 allowing this abutment. Aside horn the gap the locator is of tuhttlar extent 19 internally of the sleeve. On the otiter tubular surface.

the locator carries ridges 20 tor positively locating it radially inside the sleeve.

Opposite the gap, the locator is locally thickened to receive a stainless steel hexagonal nut 21 in a radially open socket 22. A bore 23 is provided towards gap 18.

A grub screw 24 is provided in the nut with an inter li.rence lit in the bore. the grub screw is of a length to extend through the locator to engage the lube and he received in one of the drillings 12.

For use, the locators arc inserted into opposite ends ol' the sleeve, with their nuts in their sockets. They are turned lhr alignment of the clearance bores with the nuts. [lie grub screws are threaded into the nuts, engaging in the clearance bores and the bores 23 in the locators with an interference fit.

C) The adapter is place on the tube of the lamp standard, with the tube passing through both eccentric aperture. the centre of gravity of the adapter will act to turn it to hang down from the tube, with the sleeve resting on the top of the sleeve. In Ibis position, the grub screw are lowermost. They are wound up and tightened against the underside of the tube. l'his uction Threes the nuts against the sleeve and pulls the sleeve clown into firm metal-tometal contact with the tube.

The lamp can then he fitted with its socket lilting over the sleeve of the adapter. Where the centre of gravity of the lamp is below its socket, its weight is reacted directly as a down force on the top of the tube. Where centre of gravity is forwards of the socket, tendency of the sleeve to about the forwards end of the sleeve will he resisted by the opposite grub screw pushing the sleeve down onto the u he.

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. An adapter for fitting a relatively small tube to a relative'y large socket, the adapter comprising: * a s'eeve sized to fit the socket and having a clearance hole in it; S * a. tube locator sized to ieee ive the tube and fit in s]eeve; * a female threaded member carried by the tube locator in a receptacle in it such that it can radially outwardly abut the inside of the sleeve, possibly with the interposition of a portion of the locator; and * a male threaded member of a length to pass through the tube locator to both engage the tube and be received in the clearance hole, the arrangement being such that on fitting of the adapter to the tube, the mate threaded member can be tightened against the tube with the female threaded member being abutted directly or indirectly against the inside of the sleeve.
2. An adapter as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tube locator is fonned of plastic and the sleeve and threaded members are formed of metal.
3. An adapter as claimed in claim 2, wherein the metal is galvanised mild steel.
4. An adapter as claimed in claim I or claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the female (0 threaded member is received in the locator with a portion of the locator between the r female threaded member and the sleeve, whereby on tightening the portion is sandwiched between the female threaded member and the sleeve for indirect abutment of them.
5. An adapter as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the locator has a bore which is smaller than the clearance size for the male threaded member, whereby the threaded member is gripped by the locator.
6. An adapter as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the tube locator locates the tube either eentraJly or eccentrically in the sleeve.
7. An adapter as claimed in claim 6, wherein three pairs of equi-angularly spaced male and female threaded members arc provided wheti the tube locator locates the tube centrally.
8. An adapter as claimed in in any preceding claim, wherein a gap is provided in the locator via which the tube is urged into contact with the sleeve.
9. An adapter as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the locator has an end flange which is continuous [or closure of the end of the sleeve around the tube.
10. A.n adapter as claimed iii any preceding claim, wherein the single male threaded menTher is a grub screw.
11. An adapter as claimed th any preceding claim, whcr&n the female threaded member is a hexagonal nut.
12. An adapter as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the locator is half or less than half the length of the sleeve, with at least two locators being used in the adapter to close each end of the adapter.
13. An adapter as claimed in claim 12, wherein the female threaded member is a single strip of steel extending between the two locators.io
14. An adaptor substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. (4 r (0 r