US RE31,987 EGranted

Automatic lamp bulb changer for signal lamps

AssigneeGeneral Signal Corporation

InventorsRussell M. Hartung, Larry Appleman, Warren R. Alexander

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Abstract

In order to provide for automatic replacement of lamp bulbs (lamps) when they fail to illuminate and to enhance the reliability of signal lamps, such as those which signal oncoming trains as they move along railway tracks, a plurality of lamps are disposed angularly spaced from each other on one side of a turntable which is rotatable under spring bias to bring the lamps successively into positions in alignment with the lens of the signal lamp. A latching mechanism having a latch member incorporated into the turntable and a detent member operated by a solenoid provides for releasable engagement of the turntable so as to enable it to move between the successive positions. The primary one of the lamps is wired directly into the signaling system while the secondary lamp or lamps is wired to be operated by a circuit responsive to the illumination of the lamp which is in alignment with the lens and which controls actuation of the solenoid and release of the turntable as well as switching of power to the secondary lamp or lamps.

Claims11

Dependent claims

In a signal lamp having a housing with the lens in one side, an automatic lamp changer which comprises a turntable having an axis about which it rotates, means rotatably mounting said turntable in said housing with one side of said turntable [parallel to] extending in the direction of and spaced from the axis of said lens, at least the pair of sockets for receiving lamps which when disposed in said sockets reach the optical axis of said lens, said sockets being disposed along different angularly spaced radii extending from the axis of said turntable, spring means for biasing said turntable to rotate about its axis, a latching mechanism for releasably positioning said turntable for movement between different positions having the same angular spacing as said radii and in which different ones of said lamps are aligned with said lens, said latching mechanism including at least two latch means angularly spaced from each other by said angular spacing on said turntable and defining said different angular positions, detent means releasably engagable with said latch means, and means for actuating said detent means upon failure of a lamp in at least one of said sockets which is in one of said different angular positions in which said last named lamp is positioned in alignment with said lens, and switch means operated by said turntable for making electrical connection to the other of said pair of sockets to illuminate the lamp therein upon movement of said turntable to the next of said angular positions when said lamp in said other of said sockets moves into alignment with said lens.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.