U.S. patent number 3,618,078 [Application Number 04/726,752] was granted by the patent office on 1971-11-02 for annunciator.
Invention is credited to Marcell Wittman, Samuel Wittman.
United States Patent |
3,618,078 |
Wittman , et al. |
November 2, 1971 |
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.
Inventors: |
Wittman; Samuel (Bethlehem,
CT), Wittman; Marcell (Bethlehem, CT) |
Family
ID: |
24919861 |
Appl.
No.: |
04/726,752 |
Filed: |
May 6, 1968 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
340/815.52;
340/332; 40/573 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G08B
5/36 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
G08B
5/22 (20060101); G08B 5/36 (20060101); G08b
005/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;340/381,332,366
;40/132D |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Caldwell; John W.
Assistant Examiner: Slobasky; Michael
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.
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.
* * * * *