Annunciator

Abstract

A multiple-signal annunciator which is compact in size and light in weight, comprising a relatively shallow, multiple-compartmented case having a printed circuit base, and a plurality of individually removable and replaceable lamp blocks pivotally mounted in said case and mechanically and electrically engaging said printed circuit.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

Multiple-signal annunciators of the type to which this invention relates are used on the instrument panels of jet aircraft and spaceships to monitor the functioning of their various control and operating systems and components. They may be used in other monitoring and signalling applications, especially where volume and weight considerations and requirements are critical.

2. Description of the Prior Art

The closest patents known to applicants are: Noyes U.S. Pat. No. 2,925,592 issued Feb. 16, 1960 and Harrington U.S. Pat. No. 3,241,136 issued Mar. 15, 1966. These patents show multiple-unit annunciators of the general type covered by the present application. However, they do not show the inventive features of the present device from which its compact proportions and lightweight characteristics are derived.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention comprises an annunciator having an "egg crate" core mounted on a printed circuit base, a plurality of lamp blocks removably and pivotally mounted within the "egg crate" structure, nameplates removably placed on said "egg crate" structure in registration with said lamp blocks, and retaining frames for said nameplates. Spring contacts on the lamp blocks mechanically and electrically engage the printed circuit. A relatively flat, compact, lightweight structure is thereby provided.

It should be noted than a major advantage of the present invention is the front access. Thus, lamp blocks may be serviced and removed from the front of the instrument-mounting panel rather than from the usually inaccessible back thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a plan view, partly broken away, of a multiple-signal annunciator made in accordance with this invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view thereof.

FIG. 3 is a plan view with the top retaining frame removed.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged longitudinal section on the line 4--4 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross section on the line 5--5 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing only the printed circuit base, the outer enclosure, and the inner "egg crate" structure.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of one of the removable translucent nameplates of the annunciator.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged perspective view of one of the removable lamp blocks of the annunciator.

FIG. 9 is an end view of said lamp block.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged, fragmentary, perspective view of the "egg crate" structure.

FIG. 11 is an exploded, perspective view of a modified form of nameplates, together with their retaining frames.

FIG. 12 is a transverse section on the line 12--12 of FIG. 11.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED FORMS OF THE INVENTION

The first form of this invention, shown in FIGS. 1-10 of the drawing, comprises a printed circuit base or board 10, an outer enclosure 12, an inner "egg crate " structure 14 having a plurality of spaced, parallel, longitudinal partitions 16 and a plurality of spaced, parallel, transverse partitions 18 defining a plurality of rectangular compartments 20 between them, a plurality of individually removable lamp blocks 22 mounted within said compartments, a lower nameplate retaining frame 24 mounted on said outer enclosure 12 and on said "egg crate" structure 14, an upper nameplate retaining frame 26, and a plurality of translucent nameplates 28 sandwiched between said lower and upper retaining frames.

In the illustrated form of the invention, the "egg crate" structure 14 is provided with seven longitudinally extending partitions 16 and six transversely extending partitions 18, defining 33 compartments 20 between them. This is best shown in FIG. 6. Other partition arrangements with greater or smaller numbers of compartments are, of course, contemplated. The longitudinal and transverse partitions may be complementarily notched at 17 and 19 for rabbetted or interlocking engagement with each other. Alternatively, the "egg crate" structure may be molded in one piece.

In the illustrated form of the invention, the printed circuit provides a pair of strips 30 in each compartment 20. These strips serve as conductors and contact members relative to the lamp blocks. More particularly, each lamp block is provided with a pair of spring contact elements 32 which register with, and are adapted to engage, strips 30. Within each lamp block is a single lamp or a plurality of lamps, as desired or required. They are connected to spring contacts 32 and through them to the printed conductors of the printed circuit and the connector block 34.

"Egg crate" structure 14 is provided with opposed bayonet slot 236 which receive trunnions 38 of the lamp blocks. The lamp blocks are thereby insertable into and removable from the individual compartments 20, and they are pivotable therein as shown in FIG. 4. The spring tension in contact elements 32 biases the lamp blocks away from the printed circuit base, and causes them to pivot about the axis of the trunnions when the nameplates are removed. This raises the lamp blocks into accessible position for removal or replacement or the like.

The most satisfactory orientation of the lamp blocks has been found to be as shown in FIG. 4 for a given longitudinal sequence of compartments and the reverse for adjacent longitudinal sequences, as may be seen from the location of the bayonet slots in FIG. 10 which alternate from longitudinal sequence to longitudinal sequence.

FIGS. 11 and 12 depict another form of this invention in which lower nameplate-retaining frame 24a is adapted to receive a plurality of transversely extending translucent nameplates 28a slidably secured by an upper nameplate-retaining frame 26a. Each nameplate 28a contains a plurality of information indicia corresponding in number and location to the compartments covered by that nameplate.

While the foregoing is illustrative of preferred forms of the invention, it is to be noted that other forms and modifications are contemplated within the broad teaching of the disclosure and the broad scope of the claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A multiple-signal annunciator, comprising:

a. a multiple-compartmented case;

b. a printed circuit base for said multiple-compartmented case;

c. a plurality of individually removable lamp blocks mounted in said case, one lamp block within each said compartment and in mechanical and electrical contact with said printed circuit base;

d. said lamp blocks being pivotally mounted in their individual compartments for movement toward and away from said printed circuit base;

e. said lamp blocks having spring contact members which engage the printed circuit base;

f. thereby providing electrical contact between the lamp blocks and the printed circuit on the base;

g. said spring contact members being biased between the printed circuit base and the lamp blocks to urge the lamp blocks away from the printed circuit base; and

h. a plurality of removable nameplates mounted on said case in registration with said lamp blocks;

i. said nameplates being secured to the case to confine the lamp blocks to their respective compartments against the spring action of the spring contact members.

2. A multiple-signal annunciator in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

a. the multiple-compartmented case is of egg crate construction;

b. consisting of a plurality of spaced, parallel, longitudinal partitions; and

c. a plurality of spaced, parallel, transverse partitions;

d. said longitudinal and transverse partitions being interlocked with each other and being mounted on the printed circuit base

e. to form a plurality of compartments defined by the printed circuit base, the longitudinal partitions and the transverse partitions as the bottom, side and end walls thereof.

3. A multiple-signal annunciator, comprising:

a. a multiple-compartmented case;

b. said multiple-compartmented case being of egg crate construction,

c. consisting of a plurality of spaced, parallel, longitudinal partitions, and

d. a plurality of spaced, parallel, transverse partitions;

e. a printed circuit base for said multiple-compartmented case;

f. said longitudinal and transverse partitions being interlocked with each other and being mounted on the printed circuit base

g. to form a plurality of compartments defined by the printed circuit base, the longitudinal partitions and the transverse partitions as the bottom, side and end walls thereof;

h. a plurality of individually removable lamp blocks mounted in said case, one lamp block within each said compartment and in mechanical and electrical contact with said printed circuit base;

i. a plurality of removable nameplates mounted on said case in registration with said lamp blocks;

j. complementary bayonet slots being formed on facing sides of some of said partitions,

k. two such complementary bayonet slots in each compartment; and

l. complementary trunnions being formed on opposite sides of each lamp block for engagement with said bayonet slots

m. whereby the lamp blocks are pivotally mounted in said compartments for pivotal movement relative to the printed circuit base.

4. A multiple-signal annunciator in accordance with claim 3, wherein:

a. a first retaining frame is removably mounted on said case;

b. a plurality of light-transmitting nameplates are removably mounted on said first retaining frame; and

c. a second retaining frame is removably mounted on said first retaining frame;

d. both retaining frames being removably secured to the case and holding the nameplates between them;

e. said retaining frames being formed with a plurality of windows which register with each other and with the compartments in the case to expose the nameplates to outside view and to inside light from the lamp blocks.