Abstract: A housing of electrical insulating material for a thermal protector used with an inductive device, such as a ballast transformer, in which the housing has an open portion through which the case of the thermal protector is accessible to be placed adjacent a part of the inductive device to sense its temperature. The housing also has an aperture through which a current carrying inductor device lead wire connected to the protector extends. An adhesive tape on the housing is used to fasten the housing to the inductor. An insulated part of the housing protects a junction of a current carrying wire connected to the protector and a wire of a coil of the inductive device.

Abstract: A ballast assembly for a fluorescent lighting fixture includes a magnetic core, a primary winding and a secondary winding, both windings mounted on a central leg of the core, with a shunt disposed between the windings to prevent a flux generated by the primary winding from coupling with a flux generated by the secondary winding. The ballast further includes means for securing the shunt comprising a wall placed between the windings, with the wall having one or more structures formed integrally on the wall for engaging the shunt. The wall may comprise a flange of a bobbin, or be free standing. Using formed structures eliminates the need for winding tape around the shunts to provide an air gap between the sunt and the core. This assures long-term stability and reduces the potential for nuisance humming.

Abstract: A wire bobbin (1) for use with inductive devices is disclosed having a central core (2) about which a wire is windable, with side walls (3) and (4) oppositely disposed about the core for retaining the wire thereon. A coil of wire, wound about the core, has a wire end (20) extending through at least one side wall. The side wall further includes a first channel (7) sized to retain a lead wire (21) therein, with the channel open at both ends. A second channel (13), which is preferably directly adjacent to the first channel, communicates through an open end (9) with the first channel. The lead wire is then inserted into the first channel, with a stripped end (22) extending into the second channel. The stripped end is combined with the magnet wire end, permanently joined, such as by dip soldering, and then bent into position within the second channel.

Abstract: Apparatus for winding coils of wire on a bobbin is disclosed. The coil winding apparatus comprises a support structure, a drive shaft arranged for axial rotation carried by the support structure, a carriage carried by the support structure, the carriage being arranged for movement in a plane parallel to the axis of rotation of the drive shaft, the carriage including a wire feed guide arranged to pivot about an axis perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the drive shaft and spring means connected to the guide for regulating the pivoting of the guide. A drive wheel coupled to the carriage is in rotational tangential contact with the drive shaft, with the rotational axes of the drive wheel and drive shaft being offset in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the drive shaft and drive wheel at their point of tangency, the axes of rotation of the drive wheel and the drive shaft forming an angle, whereby the rotation of the drive wheel causes the movement of the carriage.