AU2005256182A1 - Portable signalling lantern - Google Patents

Description

WO 2006/000061 PCT/AU2005/000956 -1 PORTABLE SIGNALLING LANTERN Area of the Invention S This invention relates to the area of portable signalling lanterns and in particular to such a lantern for use, by way of example, in railway operations. While for convenience sake the invention is discussed here in relation to railway operations it is not limited to this application. Background to the Invention a0 Conventional railway signalling lanterns typically have a battery operated lamp able to provide illumination in the vicinity of the person carrying the lantern, and a red and green filter moveable from a retracted position to an operative position in front of the lamp relative to an observer at a distance along the track. More elaborate lamps are provided with both red and green filters positionable to s15 provide either a red or green signal. Personnel in shunting yards use these lanterns to send stop or go signals to drivers aboard locomotives from positions where strings of cars are being backed and coupled to other cars. When used trackside, for example, to warn WO 2006/000061 PCT/AU2005/000956 -2 approaching locomotive drivers of the presence of a works team or other temporary hazard it is essential that the driver can see the signal at least 1 km away and preferably up to 2 km away. A known signalling torch has a conventional centre lamp comprising an 5 incandescent or halogen globe within a projecting reflector, with a ring of alternate red and green light emitting diodes about the reflector. This device reflects atrend to substitute or augment conventional incandescent and halogen lamps with arrays of high intensity light emitting diodes (LEDs). These have the advantage of long life and low power usage, but the disadvantages of relatively o10 limited intensity for illumination purposes. In addition the output beam has a relatively narrow convergence angle compared with the output of conventional incandescent and halogen globes. Outline of the Invention It is an object of this invention to provide an improved lamp employing solid state 15 lamp technology which has an increased visibility at distance when compared with previous such lamps. The invention provides a portable signalling lantern which includes a body provided with means for hand carrying and having a housing which defines a battery chamber; WO 2006/000061 PCT/AU2005/000956 -3 - lamp means on the housing actuable for illuminating a zone in the vicinity of the housing; at least two closed loop arrays of solid state lamp device disposed on said housing about said lamp means, which respective arrays 5 are arranged one inside the other, and when activated have collective colour outputs that are clearly visually distinguishable from a remote viewing position at a predetermined displacement from the arrays; and means on said body to selectively activate said lamp means or 10 either of said arrays of solid state lamp devices utilising one or more batteries in the chamber to power the lamp means or array. It is preferred that the solid state lamp devices be light emitting diodes (LEDs). In one application two closed loop arrays respectively comprise red and green solid state lamp devices whereby the lantern may be deployed to display a stop 15 or go signal to a remote viewer. Preferably the array of red lamp devices is inside the array of green lamp devices. In another application two closed loop arrays respectively comprise red and blue solid state lamp devices, and the activation means preferably flashes the two colours alternately. Such a lamp configuration has particular utility as a roadside WO 2006/000061 PCT/AU2005/000956 -4 or other incident signalling lantern e.g. to warn approaching drivers of an accident or other hazard. Again the red lamp devices may be inside the blue lamp devices. In a preferred arrangement the closed loop arrays are circular arrays and may S be concentric with said lamp means. The lamp means typically includes an incandescent lamp, e.g. a halogen lamp but may comprise one or more arrays of solid state lamp devices such as LEDs. The solid state lamp devices of the respective arrays are preferably mutually offset to define a compact geometric configuration. 10 Preferably the solid state lamp devices are surface mounted on an annular face generally in a plane normal to the axis of symmetry of the lantern with respect to a remote viewer. Advantageously the solid state lamp devices of each array are variably inclined so as to widen the effective divergence angle of the composite beam emitted by 15 the lamp devices of the respective arrays. More than two closed loop arrays may be provided. For example a third array may comprise amber LEDs.

WO 2006/000061 PCT/AU2005/000956 -5 Preferably for use in signalling operations such as railway operations the array of red lamp devices is visible 1 to 1.5 km away from the lantern. For particular applications such as for warning of an accident or hazard the activation means may flash one or more of the colours in any predetermined Pattern. For particular applications the lantern body may carry an arrow or other directional symbol visible to an approaching viewer. The arrow or other directional symbol may be reflective or able to be illuminated (and optionally flashing) or fluorescent to enhance its visibility. o10 In order that the invention may be more readily understood we will describe by way of non limiting example a specific embodiment of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings. Brief Description of the Drawing Figures Fig. 1 Is a front perspective view of a portable signalling lantern for use 15 in railway shunting and track works applications; Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional diagram depicting the benefit of the inner LED array being the red LED array; WO 2006/000061 PCT/AU2005/000956 -6 Fig. 3 is an optical diagram showing the variable inclination of the LED's of each circular array as seen in Figure 1 ; Description of Embodiments of the Invention The illustrated portable signalling lantern 10 is similar in its general physical 5 appearance to existing lanterns used as powerful illuminating flashlights. The lantern includes a moulded open ended body 12 of a plastics material chosen to render the body sturdy and shock resistant. Body 12 includes an upper projecting handle 15 but serves primarily to define a chamber (not shown) for one or more long life rechargeable batteries of suitable voltage. The body further 10 has a sub chamber to house two or more non-rechargeable batteries as a back up power supply in the event that the main rechargeable power supply runs low in the field. Afront closure cap 16 has atransparent cover 17 with a protective projecting rim 19 and is releasably engageable with the open end 13 of body 12 by way of any 15 variety of conventional fitting such as threaded, bayonet or snap engageable components and the like. Cap 16 retains a central illumination lamp 20 comprising a cooperative assembly of a halogen incandescent globe 22 and a conical reflector 24. In another embodiment of the invention however it is preferred that the halogen incandescent globe be replaced with a white LED 20 display.

WO 2006/000061 PCT/AU2005/000956 -7 Disposed about the rim 25 of reflector 24 is an annular baffle 26, which in turn concentrically mounts on its forwardly facing surface 27, a pair of closed loop arrays 30, 32 of solid state lamp devices 31,33. Surface or face 27 is substantially in a plane normal to the axis of symmetry 50 of the lantern with s respect to the remote viewer. Arrays 30,32 are circles or rings and the solid state lamp devices comprise an inner ring of green LEDs 31 and an outer ring of red LEDs 33. In a preferred arrangement baffle 26 is a segment of printed circuit board having power supply circuitry and contacts to which the LEDs are fixed. Especially in o10 this case it is preferred that the LEDs of the respective arrays to be mutually offset so as to provide a geometrically compact configuration. Appropriate internal contacts and wiring include a master on/off switch 40 and a three position toggle selector switch 42 by which a hand grasping the upper handle 15 of body 12 may finger select one of lamp 20 and LED arrays 30,32 for activation. 15 If lamp 20 is activated, globe 22 illuminates a zone in the vicinity of the lantern to an extent determined by the power of the lamp assembly and the power supply. If one of the LED arrays is selected the lantern projects a red or green (stop or go) signal as a composite light beam emitted forwardly through the transparent cover 17 of cap 16. 20 LEDs 31, 33 and their number are chosen so that, when activated, the arrays have collective colour outputs that are clearly visually distinguishable from a remote viewing position at a predetermined distance from the arrays being at WO 2006/000061 PCT/AU2005/000956 -8 least 1 km to 1.5 kms particularly where the lantern is a railway signalling lantern. It is found that the provision of respective discrete closed loop arrays of LED's is an effective means of optimising the clarity of the signal at distances greater than 1 km from the lantern. Preferably the inner array is a ring of radius in the 5 range 25-40mm at the centres of the LED devices, and there are about 15 to 25 LED devices in the ring. The outer array is then typically at a radius 5mm larger with one additional LED. It is found preferable to have the green ring on the inside of the red ring because in general the red signal will be the more critical and the wider diameter of this 10 beam is preferred. This is illustrated diagrammatically in Figure 2. To further widen the angle of divergence of the red inner ring, and hence enhance the visibility of the signal at a distance, the LED devices are alternately tilted slightly oppositely to the normal to the surface 27, i.e. inwardly and outwardly relative to the central axis of symmetry 50. This effect is illustrated with is some exaggeration for illustrative purposes in Figure 3, in which the respective diverging beams emitted by successively oppositely tilted LEDs is depicted at 48,49. In a second embodiment of the invention an inner circle of 20 green LEDs spaced 70mm apart is provided. In a second outer circle Amber LEDs spaced 20 85mm apart are provided and outside this a circle of red LEDs spaced 90mm apart is provided. The lantern has a switch which enables a user to push the WO 2006/000061 PCT/AU2005/000956 -9 switch forward for red, central for amber and back for green. The positioning of the coloured LEDs is such as to reduce a flaring effect of any particular LED and hence provide a portable signalling device which can be seen from a minimum distance of 1.5km. S While we have described herein one specific embodiment of the invention it is envisaged that other embodiments of the invention will exhibit any number of and any combination of the features of those previously described and it is to be understood that variations and modifications in this can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 10

Claims (15)

1. A portable signalling lantern which includes a body provided with means for hand carrying and having a housing which defines a battery chamber; S- lamp means on a face of the housing actuable for illuminating a zone in the vicinity of the housing; at least two closed loop arrays of solid state lamp devices disposed on the face of said housing about said lamp means, which respective arrays are arranged one inside the other, and 10 when activated have collective colour outputs that are clearly visually distinguishable from a remote viewing position at a predetermined displacement from the arrays; and means on said body to selectively activate said lamp means or either of said arrays of solid state lamp devices utilising one or 15is more batteries in the chamber to power the lamp means or array.

2. A portable signalling lantern as claimed in claim 1 wherein the solid state lamp devices are light emitting diodes (LEDs).

3. A portable signalling lantern as claimed in claim 2 wherein two closed loop arrays respectively comprise red and green solid state lamp arrays WO 2006/000061 PCT/AU2005/000956 -11 such that the lantern may be deployed to display a stop or go signal to a remote viewer.

4. A portable signalling lantern as claimed in claim 3 wherein the array of green lamp devices is inside the array of red lamp devices.

5. A portable signalling lantern as claimed in claim 4 wherein the red lamp devices are alternately tilted slightly oppositely to the normal to the housing face, i.e. inwardly and outwardly relative to a central axis of symmetry through the face.

6. A portable signalling lantern as claimed in claim 5 which, when the red 10 lamp devices are activated, provides a signal visible at a distance greater than 1 km from the lantern.

7. A portable signalling lantern as claimed in claim 6 wherein the lamp means is an incandescent light.

8. A portable signalling lantern as claimed in claim 7 wherein the lamp 15 means is an LED display.

9. A portable signalling lantern as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein the closed loop arrays are circular arrays and are generally concentric with the lamp means. WO 2006/000061 PCT/AU2005/000956 -12

10. A portable signalling lantern as claimed in claim 9 wherein the solid state lamp devices of the respective arrays are mutually offset to define a compact geometric configuration.

11. A portable signalling lantern as claimed in claim 9 wherein the solid state 5 lamp devices of each array are variably inclined so as to widen the effective divergence angle of the composite beam emitted by the lamp devices of the respective arrays.

12. A portable signalling lantern as claimed in claim 9 wherein more than two closed loop arrays are provided such that further colours may be o10 displayed.

13. A portable signalling lantern as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 12 in which the lantern displays a particular warning symbol.

14. A portable signalling lantern as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 12 in which the activation means may flash one or more of the colours in any 15 predetermined pattern.

15. A portable signalling lantern as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 14 in which the signal can be seen at a distance greater than 1.5km from the lantern.