We all use light bulbs, it's a simple fact that we would be in the dark (or semi dark) far more often was it not for this invention.
There is of course a wide variety of different lights and as such, light bulbs available.
The design in question here is the bayonet light bulb.
The history of the bayonet light bulb is, perhaps unsurprisingly, related to bulbs used by soldiers.
In military terms, a bayonet is a close quarter's combat adaptation for the rifle.
A large knife stuck on the end for when they are out of ammunition or unable to re load in time, something that was more pertinent a few hundred years ago when musket's were widely used.
So how does a knife that fits on the end of a piece of artillery relate to a light bulb? Well, the bayonet had to be attached to the rifle easily and quickly, but in a secure way.
This fitting mechanism needed to be extremely simple to execute as in a combat situation, seconds count and a moment can mean the difference between life and death on the battlefield or gun fight.
The mechanism used the well known male and female connections found today.
Within the part permanently fixed to the rifle lies a spring, and this acts in two ways, providing a guiding resistance as the knife, or in this case the light bulb, comes into contact with it.
The spring depresses as the male part of the connection is pressed in and with a twist the male part is locked in place using two small rods that slide into the female parts angled groove.
This keeps the bulb firmly fixed in to secure the connection and prevent it slipping out.
When it is required for the bulb to be removed a simple depression of the male part and twist to release the rods from the grooves allows for an easy parting.
As with the bayonet light bulb, the soldier's bayonet was quick and simple to fix on and remove as well as being fundamentally stable should it be needed in combat.
In fact many other applications of the connection found on the light bulb exist, photographers use this system for quickly changing lenses during a shoot or when capturing sport or wildlife, the benefits of this system of connection are plain to see in this area of work and despite the bulbs being common place in homes across the nation this belies its quality and scope of application.
Next time you come to change the bulbs in your home, remember of course to turn them off at the switch but further to that have a good look at the light bulb and its respective fitting.
It's the time spent on the little things that go a long way, and bayonet fittings really are amazing - they provide us with light, speed up a lens change in the studio or field, and in some cases save lives.
There is of course a wide variety of different lights and as such, light bulbs available.
The design in question here is the bayonet light bulb.
The history of the bayonet light bulb is, perhaps unsurprisingly, related to bulbs used by soldiers.
In military terms, a bayonet is a close quarter's combat adaptation for the rifle.
A large knife stuck on the end for when they are out of ammunition or unable to re load in time, something that was more pertinent a few hundred years ago when musket's were widely used.
So how does a knife that fits on the end of a piece of artillery relate to a light bulb? Well, the bayonet had to be attached to the rifle easily and quickly, but in a secure way.
This fitting mechanism needed to be extremely simple to execute as in a combat situation, seconds count and a moment can mean the difference between life and death on the battlefield or gun fight.
The mechanism used the well known male and female connections found today.
Within the part permanently fixed to the rifle lies a spring, and this acts in two ways, providing a guiding resistance as the knife, or in this case the light bulb, comes into contact with it.
The spring depresses as the male part of the connection is pressed in and with a twist the male part is locked in place using two small rods that slide into the female parts angled groove.
This keeps the bulb firmly fixed in to secure the connection and prevent it slipping out.
When it is required for the bulb to be removed a simple depression of the male part and twist to release the rods from the grooves allows for an easy parting.
As with the bayonet light bulb, the soldier's bayonet was quick and simple to fix on and remove as well as being fundamentally stable should it be needed in combat.
In fact many other applications of the connection found on the light bulb exist, photographers use this system for quickly changing lenses during a shoot or when capturing sport or wildlife, the benefits of this system of connection are plain to see in this area of work and despite the bulbs being common place in homes across the nation this belies its quality and scope of application.
Next time you come to change the bulbs in your home, remember of course to turn them off at the switch but further to that have a good look at the light bulb and its respective fitting.
It's the time spent on the little things that go a long way, and bayonet fittings really are amazing - they provide us with light, speed up a lens change in the studio or field, and in some cases save lives.
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