Keyed Lamp Socket Preventing Thermal Damage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices for holding compact fluorescent lamps do not effectively prevent the insertion of lamps with excessive wattage or incompatible types, leading to potential thermal damage to the light fixture and its surroundings.
Innovation Solution
A device with a socket and lamp base that utilize key-coded systems, where the cylindrical projection of the lamp base has a central plug and the socket has a corresponding hole, ensuring only compatible wattage and type lamps can be inserted, using a combination of radial lugs and outwardly open cutouts to prevent overheating and type mismatches.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a standard lamp holder or socket is designed to accept any lamp type, then the ease of operation is improved, but the safety and reliability deteriorate due to potential thermal damage from excessive wattage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a key-coded system where the socket contains a key element (lug) and the lamp base contains a corresponding key recess (cutout). The key element is positioned in advance at specific angular offsets (e.g., 45° per wattage range) to pre-determine which lamps can be inserted. This preliminary coding prevents incompatible lamps from being inserted by making the key elements and key recesses geometrically incompatible, thus ensuring safety before the lamp is actually installed.
2Reliability
If a key-coded system is implemented to restrict lamp wattage, then the reliability is improved by preventing thermal damage, but the device complexity increases due to multiple key configurations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by making the key element (lug) and key recess (cutout) geometrically specific to particular wattage ranges. Each socket is configured with a lug at a specific angular position, and each lamp base has a corresponding cutout geometry. This localized geometric differentiation allows the system to encode multiple wattage restrictions within a single socket design without requiring entirely different socket structures for each wattage level.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses parameter changes by varying the angular position and geometry of the key element (lug) and key recess (cutout) to encode different wattage ranges. The lug can be positioned at different angular offsets (e.g., 0°, 45°, 90°, etc.), and the cutout can have different angular spans. These parameter variations allow a single socket design to accommodate multiple wattage restrictions through simple geometric modifications rather than complete redesigns.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the key recess is made wider to accommodate lower wattage lamps, then the adaptability is improved, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase to ensure proper alignment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs asymmetry by designing the key recess (cutout) with a specific angular span and orientation that is not symmetric. The cutout has a defined start and end angle, creating an asymmetric geometry that must align precisely with the lug's angular position. This asymmetric design ensures that only lamps with the correct angular orientation can be inserted, providing both adaptability for multiple wattage ranges and clear geometric constraints that guide proper alignment during insertion.
Data Source
AI summary
A lamp base has a projection that carries lamp contacts and has an outer surface formed with retaining formations arrayed with irregular spacing. A socket forms a recess into which the projection can be inserted with play and apertures provided with contacts engageable with the lamp contacts. Retaining formations in the socket fit with the lamp-base retaining formations in only one defined angular alignment of the lamp base and the socket. The projection has a central plug projecting toward the socket and forming a lamp key coded for a predetermined lamp wattage. The socket has a hole corresponding to the plug and itself forming a socket key coded for the maximally admissible lamp wattage for the socket. The lamp base only fits into the socket when the lamp wattage indicated by the lamp key does not exceed the maximally admissible lamp wattage defined by the socket key.