US2238598A - Flexible mount incandescent electric lamp - Google Patents

Description

Ap 1941- A. L POWELL 2,238,598

FLEXIBLE MOUNT INCANDESCENT ELECTRIC LAMP Filed Dec. 1, 1939 INVENTOR A. 5. WW!

r/UJJ W W L ATTORNEY v Patented Apr. 15, .1941

FLEXIBLE MOUNT INCANDESCENT ELECTRIC LAMP Arthur Lester Powell, Prince Bay, Staten Island, N. Y., assignor to Westinghouse Electric 8; Manufacturing Company, East Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application December 1, 1939, Serial No. 307,036

14 Claims.

This invention relates to incandescent electric lamps, and more particularly to one small enough in size and having a mount sutllciently flexible, whereby it is especially adapted for use as a locomotive headlight, or for a similar rpose.

The principal object of my invention, generally considered, is to provide a rough service lamp having a flexible mount and with a light center length sufilcientlyshort to adapt it for use as a locomotive headlight.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a flexible mount lamp, in which the filament-supporting leads are elongated and bent back on themselves, whereby the desired flexibility is obtained without increase in bulb length, and the arbor end portion or insulatoris separated from the stem in order to allow the filament and associated parts to vibrate in unison.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a lamp in which all parts of the filament and those parts directly connected thereto, are adapted to vibrate in unison and thereby avoid any tearing or shaking action on the filament, making it possible to use the weaker nonsag wire for said filament, rather than the usual wire not immunized against sag.

A still further object of my invention is the provision of a flexible mount incandescent electric lamp in which varying vibrations, of separate but connected parts, are eliminated by connecting an insulator between supporting leads by wires inserted therein and wrapped around and/or spot-welded to said leads for supporting said insulator, whereby said filament vibrates in synchronism with its supporting means and the lead tips.

Other objects and advantages of the invention, relating to the particular arrangement 'and construction oi. the various parts, will become apparent as the description proceeds.

Referring to the drawing illustrating my invention:

Figure ,1 is an elevational view of a lamp embodying my invention, with part of the envelope broken away to more clearly illustrate the interior construction.

Figure 2 is an elevational view of the lamp of Figure 1, from the right.

Figure 3 is a detailed view of the supporting lead end portions and connected button or insulating member.

Figure 4 is a view corresponding to Figure 2, but showing only the press and mount of a modifled form of lamp embodying my invention.

Figure 5 is an elevational view of the mount of Figure 4, from the left.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary view corresponding to Figure 5, but showing another embodiment of my invention.

Figure 7 is a sectional view on the line VII- VII of Figure 6, in the direction of the arrows.

It has been the practice to make lamps suitable for locomotive headlights with the filament supported directly from the arbor button, and the leads extending from a press and with their end portions connected to the ends of the tungsten filament. With such a construction any shock or vibration of the lamp is transmitted directly to the filament. Such a filament having a natural period of vibration different from that of the rest of the mount, is whipped around considerably, making it necessary to use tungsten wire not treated against sag, as non-sag tungsten wire is not strong enough for such service. Because the wire used was of the sag type, the coiled turns opened up, causing distortion of the filament to the extent that the coils were apt to short circuit, on one another or the supports, causing burn-outs. Such distortion also caused a poor beam and poor lumen maintenance.

In accordance with my invention I propose a construction which eliminates varying vibrations of separate parts, and allows the filament, supports, and lead tips, to vibrate together in synchronism. The leads are shaped so as to act as a shock absorber, minimizin the vibration actually transmitted to the lead tips. The construction also reduces the vibration of the filament to such an extent that non-sag or 8 wire may be used for the filament, rather than B wire, or such that has not been treated against sag. In this way I am enabled to get a much better beam and lumen maintenance than when using sag wire.

Referring to the drawing in detail, and first considering the embodiment of my invention illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, there is shown a lamp Ii with a relatively short light center length, and comprising a bulb or envelope l2 having a flare tube l3' integral therewith and forming a re-entrant portion terminatin in a press I 4. The lamp of the present embodiment is shown provided with a medium screw base l5.

Extending through the press are leads l6 and I1, said leads being desirably of nickel, nickeliron alloy, or the like, elongated, to provide for a shockproof or flexible mount construction, and looped back on themselves, as indicated at l8, beyond the point of emergence from the press It,

in order to keep the length of the lamp short, and are then continued on to terminate in the angular end portions l9 and 2|.

. Instead of having the filament directly supported from an arbor, I provide what might be termed a "fioating glass insulator 22, which may be in the form of an arbor button or end portion, as illustrated. This insulator is shown anchored to the leads, between the looped portion 18 and the angular portions I9 and 2|, by means of wires 23, 24, 25, and 26, which are desirably formed of molybdenum or tungsten, each preferably having an end embedded in the insulator 22 extending generally transverse to the axis of the envelope, and with the other end wrapped around, and/or spotwelded to a lead I or H. In other words, the wires 23 and 25 are desirably secured to the lead It, and the wires 24 and 26 are desirably secured to the lead l1, thereby providing a strong brace or fourlegged connection between the insulator 22 and said leads.

The coiled tungsten filament 21 desirably has ends respectively connected to the free ends of the angular portions l3 and 2| of the leads, as by crimping or spot welding, and the intermediate portion is draped over preferably alternately long and short filament support wires 28, 29, 3|, 32 and 33, desirably formed of tungsten, and directed generally parallel to or along the axis of the envelope l2, as by extending back and forth through looped or hooked end portions of said wires, as illustrated. The support wires desirably having their lower or fixed ends embedded in the insulator 22. It will be seen that by virtue of this construction, the insulator 22, the connected portions of the leads l6 and I1, and the supporting filament, all vibrate as a unit and are emply protected from shocks on account of the flexibility provided by the unusual length of the leads l6 and I1, and the fact that there is no relatively rigid connection between the insulator 22 and the press l4.

In the embodiment of my invention illustrated in Figure 3, a construction similar to that of Figures 1 and 2, as illustrated, except that the braces between the glass insulator or arbor button member 22 and the preferably nickel leads i6 are in the form of relatively heavy wires 23 and 25' of nickel orthe like, the lead-adjacent ends of which are spot welded to the leads with the other ends united to molybdenum or tungsten spuds 34 and 35, extending from said insulator 22, as by being crimped over looped ends thereof, as illustrated. 7

Referring now to the the embodiment of my invention illustrated in Figures 4 and 5, a construction is there shown similar to that of Figures 1 and 2, except that the preferably nickel leads I6 and I'l after being looped to below the points 01'- emergence from the supporting press II, as indicated at I8", are bent back to directly overlie said press, as indicated at 36, and are there connected by an insulator 22'', desirably in the form of a short piece of cane glass, by means of spuds 31 and 38, desirably formed of molybdenum or tungsten, embedded in said insulator, and with their other ends spot-welded or otherwise secured to the leads l6 and II as shown most clearly in Figure 4.

The tungsten filament 21 in the present instance, is desirably formed as two rather than three loops, the ends thereof being desirably connected to the angular portions I! and 2| of the leads a s in F gures 1 and 2, a d

the intermediate portions draped over supportmost clearly in Figure 4,.

Referring now to the embodiment of my invention illustrated in Figures 6 and '7, there is shown a construction similar to that oflFigures 1 and 2, except that the insulator 22, formed of glass, lava, or the like, is shown in the form of a U with its ends directly connected to the preferably nickel leads l6 and II, as by fusing or clamping thereon, as illustrated. From said insulator 22" extend tungsten filament supports 28, 28*, 3, 32 and 33,as in Figures 1 and 2, the incandescible or tungsten filament 21 being draped thereover, and with its ends connected to the angular portions 2l of said leads.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that I have improved on the construction of lamps especially adapted for locomotive headlights by protecting the filament against shock, and making it so that said filament vibrates in unison with the connected parts, thereby avoiding whipping and tearing strains and making it possible to use a weaker non-sag or 5 wire, whereby the adber, and an incandescible filament with its ends connected to said leads and draped back and forth over said wires.

2. A flexible mount lamp comprising a vitreous envelope provided with a press, a pair of leads elongated for flexibility, extending from said press and looped back on themselves to avoid unnecessary lengthening of the bulb, an insulating member mounted between end portions of said leads, a plurality of wires extending from said member, and an incandescible filament with its ends connected to said leads-and draped over said wires.

3. A flexible mount lamp comprising a glass envelope provided with a press, a pair of supporting leads extending from said press, said leads being elongated, and looped back on themselves to beyond their point of emergence from said press, in order to increase the flexibility thereof, and'provide for all parts of the filament and associated members vibrating in unison, to

'relieve said filament of any tearing or shaking pair of bracing wires extending generally transverse to the axis of said envelope from said member to each lead for holding it in position with respect thereto, a plurality of wires with j their ends embedded in said member and extending generally axial to said envelope,- and a tungsten filament extending from the end of one of said spuds, a plurality of wires with their ends embedded in said member and extending generally axial to said envelope, and a tungsten filament extending from the end of one lead to that of the other and draped over said wires.

6. A flexible mount lamp comprising a vitreous envelope providedwith a press, a pair of sup-- porting leads extending from said press, an insulator separated from said press, disposed between said leads and having spuds extending from opposite ends and each connected to a lead, a plurality of wires extending from said member at an angle to said spuds. and a tungsten fllament draped thereover and with its ends conneeted to said leads.

7. A flexible mount lamp comprising a vitreous envelope provided with a press, a pair of supporting leads extending from said press, an insulating U -shaped member with its ends secured to said leads and having wires extending at an angle to its plane from an intermediate portion thereof, and a tungsten filament extending between said leads and with intermediate portions supported by said wires.

8. A flexible mount comprising a press, a pair of supporting leads extending from said press, an insulating member separated from said press and braced to said leads. a plurality of alternately long and short wires extending from said member, and an incandescible filament with its ends connected to said leads and draped back and forth over looped end portions of said wires.

9. A flexible mount comprising a press, a pair of supporting leads extending from said press, said leads being elongated, and looped back on themselves to beyond their point of emergence from said press, in order to increase the flexibility thereof, and provide for all parts of the filament and associated members vibrating in unison, to relieve said filament of any tearing or shaking action, an insulating member mounted between the free endportions of said leads, a plurality of wires extending from said member, and a tungsten filament draped over said wires and with its ends connected to said leads.

10. A flexible mount comprising a press, a pair of supporting elongated leads extending from said press and looped back on themselves, an insulating member, a pair of bracing wires extending from said member generally transverse to each lead for holding it in position with respect thereto, a plurality of wires with their ends embedded in said member and extending longitudinally of said leads, and a tungsten filament extending from the end of one lead to that of the other and draped over said wires.

11. A flexible mount comprising a press, a pair of elongated supporting leads extending from said press and looped back on themselves, an insulating member having spuds with looped free end portions extending towards said leads, and bracing wires welded to said leads and with their free ends crimped to the looped end portions of said spuds.

12. A flexible mount comprising a press, a pair of supporting leads extending from said press and looped back on themselves, an insulator disposed between said leads and having spuds extending from opposite ends and each connected to a lead, a plurality of wires extending from said member at an angle to said spuds, and a tungsten filament draped thereover and with its ends connected to said leads.

13. A flexible mount comprising a-press, a pair of supporting leads extending from said press,

an insulating U-shaped member with its ends secured to said leads and having wires extending at an angle to its plane from an intermediate portion thereof, and a tungsten filament extending between said leads and with intermediate portions supported by said wires.

14. A flexible mount lamp comprising a vitreous envelope provided with a pair 01' leads elongated for flexibflity and looped back on themselves, an insulating member mounted between portions of said leads, supporting means extending from said member, and an imandesciblo filament with its ends connected to said leads, and an intermediate portion held on said supporting means.

' ARTHUR LESTER POWELL.

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