EP1033524B1 - Signalling device - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a signaling device (1), in particular for industrial purposes, composed of several, at least two optical and/or acoustic signal transmitters, that are arranged essentially linearly next to each other and/or one above the other and connected to a power source via power lines, wherein the signal transmitters respectively have a case (3) in which power consumers (4) for generating an optical and/or acoustic signal are arranged, wherein adjacently arranged cases (3) are interconnected via a coupling member (27), and wherein the power consumers (4) can be connected to each other and/or to the power lines. A generic signaling device (1) of simple structure and that can be assembled essentially without bolt-on connections, wherein preferably simplified maintenance and expansion operations can be performed, in particular in view of replacing defective lighting means (43) and/or other electrical and/or electronic components, without requiring approximately complete disassembly, is provided in that the power consumers are arranged in mountings (42) and the mountings have a conductive device (37) detachably interconnecting the power consumers (4) of adjacent cases (3).

Description

The present invention relates to a signaling apparatus, in particular for industrial purposes, for example for the signaling of different states of service and / or disturbance, with electrical machines, preferably automatic machines, comprising several, at least two transmitters of optical and / or acoustic signal, which are arranged substantially linearly, juxtaposed and / or superimposed and are connected by power lines to a power source, the signal transmitters each having a housing in which are arranged the electrical receivers for generating an optical and / or acoustic signal, for example lamps, adjacent housings being interconnected by a coupling element, and electrical receivers connectable to one another and / or to the energy lines .

Signaling devices of this type are known in the current state of the art. For example, DE 90 10 187 U1 discloses an optical display device, particularly for industrial purposes, which has a hollow housing and stretched in length with at least two longitudinal strips or longitudinal portions, which are at least partially transparent. In this housing is inserted a lamp-carrying construction, which supports at least two lamps, which are assigned to corresponding positions in the housing strips and are electrically connected to connections. arranged in an end zone of the load-bearing construction. In addition, this already known display device has at least one electrical connector, which is connected to the cited end region of the lamp-carrying construction and is arranged to allow the electrical connection of lamps and switching devices. arranged outside the housing. The housing comprises a plurality of linearly arranged parts which are interposed therebetween. For the replacement of the lamps arranged in the constructions carrying lamps, it is therefore necessary that the housing is open at one end and that the lamp-carrying construction is output. The disadvantage of this device already known is that it is impossible to have a screen for the light between the different parts of the housing, so that we can not see, especially from a great distance, what lamp is lit inside the device. In addition, the entire lamp-bearing construction must be replaced in the event of failures in the lamp-bearing construction.

Also known from FR 2 517 021 is a signaling apparatus which comprises a plurality of linearly disposed superposed housing parts, in which conductive elements are arranged, so that the different lamps can be controlled in the different housing parts by means of a base that connects the device to a power source. This device has proven itself, but has screw connections by which the different parts of the housing are interconnected.

Another signaling apparatus is known from DE 22 11 801 B2. This signaling apparatus comprises several identical and superimposed luminous elements, each of which comprises a transparent cover, which is fixed on a transverse partition wall, on which is housed a bulb. Supply lines passing through the light elements are also provided, the ends of which are designed as contact systems for neighboring light elements. The partition wall has elastic coupling systems which, when the partition wall is rotated relative to the cylindrical hood, engage in a defined position between shoulders thereof. Outside the two lines supply for the lamps of a light element, there are other supply lines for light elements arranged above.

FR 1 526 306 discloses a signaling apparatus with several housing parts superimposed, in each of which is inserted a lamp. The superposed housing parts are arranged between a base and a cover, the base being connected to the cover by threaded rods and / or screws.

The documents DE 297 19 399 U1, JP 06 044 807 and JP 09 161 512 show, on the other hand, signaling devices of the type described in which the electrical receivers are arranged in supports which have a conductive system connecting them removably. the electrical receivers of neighboring housings. The assembly and interconnection of the housings of such devices can be improved.

From the state of the art, the invention aims to create a signaling device of the same type, which is simple in design and can be mounted essentially without screwed connections, while preferably allowing the execution of simplified tasks maintenance and extension, in particular with regard to the replacement of defective lamps and / or other electrical and / or electronic components, without the need for virtually complete dismantling and without the risk of damaging energy lines during maintenance and extension work.

The solution to this problem provides that a support is designed substantially U-shaped and has two branches and a cross connecting the branches and that the electrical receiver is disposed in the cross between the two branches.

A signaling apparatus designed according to this principle has the particular advantage that the housings arranged superimposed can be easily separated on each transition between two housings by removing the coupling element, the conductive systems in the neighboring housings being separated into pulling on the neighboring housings detached this way. For this operation, it is not necessary to turn the two adjacent housings relative to each other or to loosen a screw connection. Then, the neighboring housings are separated from each other in the manner described above, so that, for example, the conductive system in the separate housing can be replaced or supplemented or modified with respect to its electrotechnical configuration.

As regards the configuration of the housings, it is provided according to another characteristic of the invention that each housing is in the form of a pot and comprises a portion of hollow cylindrical tube and delimited on one side by a cover. The tube portion and the lid are preferably made in one piece and made of plastic, preferably by the deep-drawing process. It is also expected that the cover is light-tight, so that the light energy is not emitted from a housing, in which a lamp is lit, to a neighboring housing, in which the lamp does not. is not powered with electrical energy. The tube portion is made of a light-permeable material, in particular tinted in color, preferably a semi-hard plastic.

It is also expected that the cover has openings for the passage of the conductive system or parts thereof, to provide a safe energy transmission from a housing to the adjacent housing, and that the carrier has at least one protrusion or recess which can be inserted into a recess or corresponding projection of the housing.

In order to prevent the penetration of dirt in the form of dust and in particular in the form of moisture, it is possible to place in the region of the recess a seal on the housing which hermetically closes the transition zone between adjacent housings in air and / or water. In this way, corrosion is also prevented on electrical and / or electronic components, in particular metal conductors.

According to another characteristic of the invention, it is provided that the housing can be connected to a housing base, which can be fixed directly or indirectly to the device to be controlled. It is also expected that the housing can be preferably connected in the area of the lid to a closure lid, which can be attached by means of a coupling element to the housing. In this way, a simple attachment of the closure lid to the upper housing is allowed. If the signaling apparatus according to the invention is to be extended, the closure cover can be removed after loosening of the coupling element and another housing can be placed on it, before the closure cover is placed on the housing is installed and secured to it by means of a coupling element. The coupling element previously disposed between the closure cover and the upper and loose housing can then be used to connect the two upper neighboring housings or to connect the closure cover to the upper housing. As a result, only a housing and a coupling element can be used in the form of spare parts or extension parts for the extension of a signaling apparatus according to the invention. It goes without saying that the electrical and / or electronic components disposed inside the housing form an integral part of such an extension module.

The conductor system preferably has on opposite ends at least one plug and at least one plug housing, which are electrically connected to each other. Such a design substantially simplifies the mounting of the signaling apparatus according to the invention, since, with the mounting of adjacent housings opposite each other, the conductive systems are connected together in the form of a connector. In the present case, it is possible to connect the conductive system in a fixed manner to the housing and to plug it in at the same time to plug the conductive system with its plug into the housing of the adjacent housing in a first step before the The housing is passed over the conductive system, so that the plug housing of this housing is re-prepared for housing the plug of the next driver system. In any case, a substantially simplified assembly is obtained in this way, since the assemblies screwed between the different housings can be dispensed with in particular.

The plug and the plug housing are preferably designed with several pins, so that the different lamps and sound signaling means in the different housings of the signaling apparatus according to the invention can be controlled by different configurations of the pins, without the need for extra power lines. In addition, the conductive systems and printed circuit boards can be equipped with electronic components, for example capacitive, inductive or ohmic resistors and transistors or the like, in order to realize certain switching circuits inside a housing.

Accordingly, it is possible with the signaling apparatus according to the invention to also use electrically-controlled signaling apparatus in addition to electrical signaling apparatus only, the electronics of these signaling apparatus being able to be accommodated. in the corresponding housing. It is therefore possible to combine electrical and electronically controlled signaling apparatus, while also having the possibility of subsequently housing electronic signaling devices in a signaling apparatus according to the invention and already existing, without it is necessary to carry out important interventions on the overall construction of this signaling device.

With the aforementioned form of the U-shaped bracket and crosspiece, the plug housing is provided on the free end of a branch of the support.

The support is made in particular in two parts, the two halves of the support being preferably nested by means of at least one latching assembly. It is advantageous with this design that it is possible to give up the two halves and that the division of the support into two halves allows a simple assembly of the conductive system in the support, the two halves being fitted under the intermediate layer of the conductive system, so that the conductive system is held mechanically or by adhesion between the two halves of the support.

According to another characteristic of the invention, it is provided that the two halves each have two stop hooks and two stop recesses. These fasteners act in a corresponding manner, which means that each stop hook of one half engages in a stop recess of the opposite half. In the present case, it is advantageous to arrange the locking hooks on diametrically opposite edges of the halves of the support.

With a signaling apparatus according to the invention, it is also envisaged that a substantially light-tight circular-shaped pact delimits with the housing a space in which the electrical receiver is arranged, preferably the lamp, the plate forming the crossbar that connects the branches. This design has the advantage that the housing is light-tight on the one hand thanks to the light-tight cover and on the other hand thanks to the light-tight plate in two axis directions with respect to neighboring housings , so that the light beams emitted by a lamp disposed in the housing can not penetrate into a neighboring housing. As a result, the light signals are clearly noticeable to a person who is observing.

With another design of the signaling apparatus according to the invention, it is provided that the conductive system has several, at least two, conductive tracks. These two conductive tracks separated from each other serve for the arrival of these signaling devices can be housed in the corresponding housing. It is therefore possible to combine electrical and electronically controlled signaling apparatus, while also having the possibility of subsequently housing electronic signaling devices in a signaling apparatus according to the invention and already existing, without it is necessary to carry out important interventions on the overall construction of this signaling device.

According to another characteristic of the invention, it is provided that the attachment is substantially U-shaped and has two branches and a cross connecting the branches. The electrical receiver is preferably fixed between the two branches. The plug housing is provided on the free end of a support leg.

The support is made in particular in two parts, the two halves of the support being preferably nested by means of at least one latching assembly. It is advantageous with this design that it is possible to give up the two halves and that the division of the support into two halves allows a simple assembly of the conductive system in the support, the two halves being fitted under the intermediate layer of the conductive system, so that the conductive system is held mechanically or by adhesion between the two halves of the support.

According to another characteristic of the invention, it is provided that the two halves each have two stop hooks and two stop recesses. These fasteners act in a corresponding manner, which means that each stop hook of one half engages in a stop recess of the opposite half. In the present case, it is advantageous to arrange the locking hooks on diametrically opposite edges of the halves of the support.

With a signaling apparatus according to the invention, it is also provided that a housing for a signal transmitter is arranged on the support and preferably has a substantially light-tight plate, which defines with the housing a space in which the signal transmitter is arranged, preferably the lamp. This design has the advantage that the housing is light-tight on the one hand thanks to the light-tight cover and on the other hand thanks to the light-tight plate in two axis directions with respect to neighboring housings , so that the light beams emitted by a lamp disposed in the housing can not penetrate into a neighboring housing. As a result, the light signals are clearly noticeable to a person who is observing.

The plate is preferably arranged on the crossbar of the support which connects the branches, and it has proved advantageous to make the plate with a circular shape.

With another design of the signaling apparatus according to the invention, it is provided that the conductive system has several, at least two conductive tracks. These two conductive tracks separated from each other serve for the arrival of the electrical energy necessary for the signaling apparatus. The two conductive tracks are integrated in the electrical receivers and generally embedded in plastic.

According to another characteristic of the invention, it is provided that the conductive system is made in two parts, at least a portion of the conductive system having several conductive tracks. With this design, it is possible advantageously to use the conductive tracks for the control of different electrical receivers in the different individual boxes superimposed or juxtaposed. Preferably, the conductive tracks are unwound in a single or double way in their plane of longitudinal stretching towards the normals on the surface of this plane and / or in their direction perpendicular to this plane.

It is also expected that the conductive tracks are formed on one end in the form of plug contacts and on the opposite end at least partially in the form of spring clip housings. The spring plug slots permit secure application of the plug housing contacts to the plug contacts of the adjacent driver system.

Finally, it is provided according to another characteristic of the invention that at least a portion of the conductive tracks is distributed in several pins on at least one end. For this purpose, a conductive track may be designed for example in such a way that it has on the one hand a pin for the connection with a lampholder and one or more pins for connection with an electrical or electronic circuit. Finally, it is also possible to provide, in addition to these pins mentioned above, another pin which is also in the form of spring plug housing in the sense mentioned above.

• la figure 1 montre un appareil de signalisation dans une vue éclatée représentée en perspective,
• la figure 3 montre le récepteur électrique dans une vue en perspective ;
• la figure 4 montre un boîtier avec une bague d'accouplement de l'appareil de signalisation selon la figure 1 ;
• la figure 5 montre un boîtier avec un élément d'accouplement d'un deuxième mode de réalisation d'un appareil de signalisation dans une vue éclatée représentée en perspective ;
• la figure 6 montre un support pour un récepteur électrique dans une vue latérale représentée en coupe et une vue de dessus représentée en coupe le long du plan de coupe C-C ;
• la figure 7 montre un boîtier avec un élément d'accouplement et un transmetteur de signal sonore, pour un appareil de signalisation selon la figure 5 dans une vue éclatée représentée en perspective ;
• la figure 8 montre le boîtier avec le transmetteur de signal acoustique selon la figure 7 dans une vue latérale représentée en perspective ;
• la figure 10 montre un mode de réalisation d'un élément de fermeture et
• la figure 11 montre le support selon la figure 6 dans une vue éclatée représentée en perspective.

Other advantageous features of the invention follow from the description below of the corresponding drawing, on which are presented preferred embodiments of a signaling apparatus according to the invention. On the drawing,

• FIG. 1 shows a signaling apparatus in an exploded view represented in perspective,
• Fig. 3 shows the electric receiver in a perspective view;
• Figure 4 shows a housing with a coupling ring of the signaling apparatus according to Figure 1;
• Fig. 5 shows a housing with a coupling element of a second embodiment of a signaling apparatus in an exploded view shown in perspective;
• Fig. 6 shows a support for an electrical receiver in a side view shown in section and a top view shown in section along the section plane CC;
• FIG. 7 shows a housing with a coupling element and a sound signal transmitter, for a signaling apparatus according to Figure 5 in an exploded view shown in perspective;
• Fig. 8 shows the case with the acoustic signal transmitter according to Fig. 7 in a side view shown in perspective;
• FIG. 10 shows an embodiment of a closure element and
• Figure 11 shows the support according to Figure 6 in an exploded view shown in perspective.

A signaling apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 comprises a plurality of signal transmitters 2 arranged in a linear and superposed manner. Each signal transmitter 2 has a housing 3, in which is disposed an electrical receiver 4 for generating an optical and / or acoustic signal.

The signaling apparatus 1 also has a base 5, which can be fixed on a not shown electric machine, for example an automatic device. This base 5 has a foot 6 of circular shape, in which are arranged holes 7 at regular intervals, by which screws can be inserted, which connect the base 5 to the machine not shown.

The base 5 also has a housing body 8 designed substantially in the form of a pyramid, in which is disposed a central bore 9 for the housing of a base bar 10. In the housing body 8 is also disposed a bore 11 arranged to right angle relative to the bore 9 for the housing of a locking screw 12. As a result, the bore 11 has an internal thread which acts in conjunction with the external thread of the locking screw 12. With the locking screw 12, the base can be adhesively secured in the bore 9 of the housing body 8.

On the base bar 10, a housing base 13 is fixed opposite the base 5 with a base plate 14. The housing base 13 is screwed by means of screws 15 to the floor plate 14, a seal 16 being disposed between the casing base 13 and the base plate 14. For the housing of the seal 16, the base plate 14 has a recess 17 whose outside direct diameter coincides with the inside diameter of the seal 16 and the casing base 13, so that the housing base 13 can be fitted on the recess 17 of the floor plate 14.

The floor plate 14 also has an opening 18 of circular shape, which serves to accommodate the base bar 10. The opening 18 is disposed centrally in the floor plate 14. Between the recess 17 and the wall 19 of the opening 18 is arranged a receiving element 20 of substantially rectangular section. This receiving element 20 serves to house a plug housing 21, which is screwed to the floor plate and is connected to a power source by means of energy lines, which are not shown in more detail and are guided by the base bar 10 and the base 5.

The housing base 13 is designed in the form of a tube part, the housing base 13 having a recess 22, on which another gasket 16 can be fitted. In the zone of the recess 22, the housing base 13 presents several, at least two stop recesses 23, which can be connected by engagement with the projections disposed in the housing 3, so that the housing 2 adjacent to the base housing 13 can be accurately placed on the housing base 13.

Each housing 3 comprises a pot-shaped portion with a lid 24, which is disposed on one end of the pot-shaped housing 3 and forms a recess 25 in the zone of its shell, whose outer diameter is smaller than the outer diameter 3. On this recess 25, can be placed again a seal 16, which provides sealing between two adjacent housings 3, so that penetration of dust and / or moisture in the housing is avoided 3.

In the region of the transition of the recess 25 in the casing of the casing 3, the casing 3 has stop recesses 26, which are designed in the base casing 3 as a function of the stop recesses 23 and thus also act together with corresponding stop projections on the inner surface of the adjacent housing 3, so that when assembling the housings 3, they can not rotate relative to each other.

The connection of two adjacent housings 3 or a housing 3 with the housing base 13 is effected by coupling elements 27, which consist of two annular portions 28 that can be interconnected by form conjugation. For this purpose, each annular portion 28 has on its ends a stop projection 29 on the one hand and at least one corresponding recess 30. In addition, each annular portion 28 has on its ends a flattened surface of material 31, the surfaces flattened material 31 of each annular portion 28 being disposed in the region of one end on the outer surface 32 and in the region of the second end on the inner surface 33.

The stop projection 29 and the corresponding recess 30 are arranged in the present case in the area of the flattened surface of material 31, the stop projection 29 being at the same level as the free end of the annular portion 28.

The annular portions also have a protruding peripheral portion 34 in the area of the inner surface 33, which acts in conjunction with the recess 25 of the housing 3. This therefore results in a level application of the coupling elements 27 on neighboring housings 3 or on a housing 3 and on the adjacent housing base 13.

The annular portions 28 also have on their inner surface 33 bayonet guides 25, which can be nested with projections protruding from the casing of the casing 3, so that the neighboring casings 3 are fixedly connected to each other in the casing. axial direction.

Each case 3 designed in the form of a pot is based on a plastic impermeable to light, in particular tinted in color, semi-hard, the lid 24 being designed to be light-tight. On the cover 24, there is an opening 36 for the passage of a conductive system 37 of the electrical receiver 4. The precise design of the electric receiver 4 and the conductive system 37 is further described below with reference to FIGS. at 4.

The signaling apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 also has a closure cap 38, which is fitted on the casing 3 arranged at a distance from the base 5 under the support of another seal 16 and is connected to the casing 3. Indeed, it is also possible to use a coupling element 27 or a coupling ring. However, it is also conceivable that the closure cover 38, which does not have electrical conductive systems, is screwed on the last housing 3.

The electrical receiver 4 comprises the conductive system 37, which is designed as a printed circuit board 39. The printed circuit board is substantially L-shaped and has two branches 40 and 41. A support 42 for a lamp 43 is arranged in the transition of the two branches 40 and 41. In replacement, one can also provide an acoustic signal transmitter in this area. The support 42 is electrically connected to the printed circuit board 39.

In addition, a plug 44 with a large number of pins 45 is disposed in the transition zone of the two branches 40 and 41 of the printed circuit board 39. On these pins 45, at least two pins 45 are electrically connected to the support 42, the receptors 4 linearly arranged and superimposed in the housings 3 being controlled by the large number of pins 45.

The printed circuit board 39 also has on its end, opposite the plug 44, the branch 41 a plug housing 46, which has a number of housing orifices 52 corresponding to the number of pins 45. This plug housing 46 is disposed in the zone of the opening 36 in the cover 24 with the signaling device 1 mounted, so that the neighboring electrical receiver 4 can be plugged with its plug 44 in the housing 46 of the electrical receiver 4 located below and that It is thus possible to have a continuous electrical connection between the power source and the upper electrical receiver 4 in the upper housing 3. The printed circuit board 39 may be equipped for this purpose with electrical or electronic components to control certain functions of the electrical receiver 4. and / or influence it. For example, there can be provided here timing elements.

As can be seen in FIG. 4, the printed circuit board 39 may have a substantially light-tight plate 53 which delimits in a light-tight manner with the inner wall of the housing 3 a space in which the lamp 53 is disposed. The plate 53 is designed for this purpose with a circular shape, the support 42 being fitted into the central recess of the plate 53.

FIG. 5 shows a second embodiment of a signaling apparatus 1, which also has signal transmitters 2. Unlike the first embodiment described in detail in the signaling apparatus according to FIGS. 1 to 4, this second embodiment of the signaling apparatus 1 according to FIG. 5 has a one-piece coupling ring 54, which is formed on its inner surface 33 as a function of the two ring-shaped portions 28 according to Figures 1 to 4 and additionally has a receiving groove 55 disposed in the inner surface 33, which goes around the inner surface 33 of the coupling ring 54. With the coupling ring 54 mounted, an elastically elastically resilient washer 56 engages in this receiving groove 55 and has an interruption or an opening 57 in accordance with FIG. 5, in order to have the necessary elasticity in the radial direction. This elastic washer 56 also engages in a receiving groove 58, which is arranged peripherally in the casing 59 of the casing 3. In this case, the elastic washer 56 connects the casing 3 to the coupling ring 54 in such a way that the coupling ring 54 can not be removed from the housing 3 in the axial direction thereof. For this purpose, the elastic washer 56 protrudes from the casing 59 of the casing 3 when the coupling ring 54 is mounted, so that it engages on the one hand with its partial area of its radial stretch in the groove receiving 55 of the coupling ring 54 and secondly with the remaining radial zone in the receiving groove 58 of the housing 3.

When mounting the coupling ring 54 on the housing 3, the elastic washer 56 is thus inserted in a first step in the receiving groove 58 of the housing 3 and pressed into this receiving groove 58 under elastic pre-tension until that the elastic washer 56 closes at the same level as the casing 59 of the casing 3. In order to obtain the necessary elasticity and to push the elastic washer 56 in this way into the receiving groove 58, the opening 57 mentioned above of the elastic washer 56. Then, the coupling ring 54 is slid in the axial direction on the end of the housing 3 provided with the elastic washer 56, until the Elastic washer 56 engages in the receiving groove 55 on the inner surface 33 of the coupling ring 54, giving up its initial tension.

In Figure 5, it can also be seen that the housing 3 is designed as a tube portion into which a cover 60 can be inserted. The seal 16 is disposed between the outer wall of the cover 60 and the inner wall of the housing 3 which is shown in Figure 6 in the form of a recess. The cover 60 corresponds with this embodiment to the cover 24 according to FIGS. 1 and 4. Below the cover 60, there is provided a plate 61 for the equipment in electrical and electronic components, which is equipped according to the function of the signal transmitter 2. The plate 61 is here in electrical contact with the conductive system 37, which is an integral part of the electrical receiver 4.

In FIG. 4, it can also be seen that projecting portions 62 are provided on the casing 59 of the casing 3 which correspond to the bayonet guides 35 in the inner surface 33 of the coupling ring 54, so that the mounting of neighboring housings 3 is carried out in such a way that a housing 3 mounted with the coupling ring 54 is placed on the adjacent housing so that the projections 62 engage in the corresponding bayonet guides 35, after which the Coupling ring 54 is rotated relative to the two superposed housings 3 until projections 62 are wedged in the bayonet guides 35 in the manner of a bayonet. The relative displacement of the Coupling ring 54 relative to adjacent housings 3 is made possible here by the fact that the coupling ring 54 is arranged via the spring washer 56 on the housing 3 so as to be able to rotate freely.

It can be seen that on the housing 3, three projections 62 are distributed at the periphery of the housing 3 with a regular spacing. Similarly, the bayonet guides 35 are naturally arranged correspondingly on the inner surface 33 of the coupling ring 54.

Figures 7 and 8 show another design of the electrical receiver 4 in a signaling apparatus 1. In this case, it is a sound generator 63, which emits a sound signal accordingly. The sound generator 63 is designed substantially in the form of a flat cylinder and has in its center a bore 64, with which the sound generator 63 can be fitted on a stud 65 on a branch 66 of the electric receiver 4.

The sound generator 63 is arranged on the other hand in a support 67, which has for this purpose a bore 68 appropriate to the dimensions of the sound generator 63.

The support 67 and the sound generator 63 are arranged in the housing 3 so that the longitudinal axis of the sound generator 63 or the support 67 is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the housing 3. The housing 3 has in this respect in its envelope 59 openings 69, which allow free transmission of sound waves out of the housing 3, so that the acoustic signal generated by the sound generator 63 can be emitted by the signaling apparatus 1 virtually without attenuation. In this respect, it should be mentioned that this design of the housing 3 makes it possible to emit a very strong and very intense acoustic signal, even if the sound generator 64 has only a small power.

Between the internal surface of the housing 3 and the support 67 is disposed a vibration seal 79, which prevents the sound waves generated by the sound generator 63 transmitting vibrations to the housing 3, and that these vibrations cause damage, in particular to conductive systems 37 and electrical contacts. In FIG. 8, it can be seen that the vibration seal 70 is disposed inside the support 67, which holds the sound generator 63 on the branch 66 of the electric receiver 4.

Finally, there is shown in Fig. 10 a design alternative for closing a signaling apparatus 1, which may be installed in place of a closure cover 38 as shown in Fig. 1, or may be used replacing a signaling apparatus on machines.

A closing signal transmitter 71 shown in FIG. 10 essentially comprises a dome-shaped casing 72 having a cupola glass insert 73, which may also be made of plastic. The housing 72 is connected by the coupling ring 54 to a signal transmitter shown in FIG. 5 or FIG. 7 or to a base 74 in the manner previously described for connecting two 3. Consequently, the closing signal transmitter 71 also has the spring washer 56, with which the coupling ring 54 can be fixed to the housing 72, while the coupling ring 54 is fixed on the base 74 or on an adjacent housing 3 via bayonet guides 35 and corresponding projections 62. An electrical receiver 4 with a lamp 43 is disposed inside the housing 72. The lamp 43 is nested in the support 42 and connected thereto.

In Fig. 10 there is shown another design of a closing signal transmitter 71, which is designed as a flash. This closing signal transmitter 71 also has a housing 72, on which can be mounted a dome glass insert 73. The housing 72 has at its end a cover 79 with a slot 80 disposed in the central zone of the cover 79. The cover 79 is turned towards the dome glass insert 73, a plate 81 being disposed below the cover 79, that is to say opposite to the dome glass insertion 73, which plate has a flash 82 of substantially U-shaped design. The plate 81 is fixed on a fixing plate 83, which is held in turn in the housing 72 by means of screws 84.

The flash 82 in this case passes through the slot 80 so that it is disposed inside the dome glass insert 73.

FIG. 11 shows a support 42 with a portion 100 of the conductive system 37. The portion 100 of the conductive system 37 comprises an individual conducting track 101 and a conducting track unit 102 electrically separated from the conducting track 101, which has several tracks. conductive 103.

Each conductive track 101 or 103 has on one end a plug contact 105, which is designed pin-shaped and has relatively reduced cross section and width with respect to the conductive tracks 101 and 103. On the opposite end of the conductive tracks 101 and 103 are formed housing of resilient plugs 106, which are in a substantially V-shaped lateral view. These resilient plug housings serve to be brought into contact with the plug contacts 105 of a neighboring electrical receiver 4. For this purpose, the pin housings 106 are arranged in the housing in such a way that their pins are disconnected when the plug contacts 105 of the adjacent electrical receiver 4 are inserted and are supported because of their elasticity with a sufficient force against the plug contacts 105, so that there is no safe electrical connection between the plug contacts 105 of an electrical receiver 4 and the plug housing 106 of the conductive tracks 101 and 103 of the adjacent electrical receiver 4.

As can be seen in FIG. 11, the conductive track 101 has, next to the plug housing 106, a pin 107 in two parts and electrically connected to the conductive track 101, which acts in conjunction with a pin 108 in an equivalent configuration. pin 108 being disposed on a conductive track 103 of the conductive track unit 102. The two pins 107 and 108 are connected to an electrical receiver 4 in the holder 42 for the lamp 43, so that the pins 107 and 108 establish the electrical connection with the pins of the lamp 43.

The conductive track 101 also has another pin 109, which can be connected for example to lines which are arranged on a plate and connect the pin 109 to electrical components or electronics, for example resistors, transistors, diodes or the like.

In the same way, the conductive track 103 also has another pin 110 which is disposed in the region of the conductive track 103, which also has the pin 108. The pin 110 serves the same purpose as the pin 109 of the conductive track 101.

In FIG. 11, it can also be seen that the support 42 comprises two halves 111 and 112. The support 42 is made with a substantially U-shaped section and therefore has two branches and a crossbar connecting the pins, the branches having the numbers. 40 and 41 and the cross member being formed by the plate 53. The branches 40 and 41 have on their outer edges projections 113, which widen on a T-shaped end and can be inserted into recesses corresponding to the inside the housing 3, to fix the support inside the housing.

It can also be seen that the support has a housing 114 for the electrical receiver, namely the lamp 43. The housing 114 has for this purpose on its inner wall a bayonet-shaped opening 115, which is formed on its closed end in a undercut form.

The support 42 also has housings 116 for the conductive tracks 101 and 103. Crosspieces 117 are disposed between the housings 116, so that the conductive tracks 103 are completely electrically isolated from each other. We can see that the conductive tracks 103 are bent twice in their plane of longitudinal stretch in the direction of normal to the surface of this plane and in their direction perpendicular to this direction. The conductive tracks 103 therefore have a linear recess on the one hand with respect to the plane of the branch 40 and, on the other hand, parallel to the plane of the branch 40.

In FIG. 6, the embodiment according to FIG. 11 is shown in truncated form parallel to the branches 40 and 41 and in assembled form.

Claims (8)

1. A signaling device, in particular for industrial purposes, for instance for signaling various operating and/or malfunctioning conditions, for electrical machines, preferably automatic machines, composed of several, at least two optical and/or acoustic signal transmitters, that are arranged essentially linearly next to each other and/or one above the other and connected to a power source via power lines, the signal transmitters respectively having a case (3), in which a power consumer (4) for generating an optical and/or acoustic signal, e.g. a lighting means, is arranged, wherein adjacently arranged cases are interconnected via a coupling member (27; 54), and wherein the power consumers are connected to each other and/or to the power lines, and are arranged in mountings (42), which have a conductive device (37) detachably interconnecting the power consumers (4) of adjacent cases (3), characterized in that

   - each mounting (42) is designed to be essentially U-shaped and to have two legs (40, 41) and a leg-linking bar (53) connecting the legs (40, 41), and

   - the power consumer (4) is arranged in the leg-linking bar between the two legs (40, 41).
2. Signaling device according to claim 1, characterized in that each case (3) is pot-shaped and composed of a cylindrical hollow tube section in a translucent material, delimited on one side by a light-proof lid (24), which has openings (36) for routing the conductive device (37) or sections thereof, the conductive device (37) having at opposite ends at least one plug (44) and at least one socket (46), the mounting (42) having at least one projection (113) or one recess which can be inserted into a corresponding recess or projection of the case (3).
3. Signaling device according to claim 1, characterized in that each mounting (42) is made of two pieces (111, 112) and the two halves of the mounting (42) can be assembled preferably by means of at least one snap-in connection.
4. Signaling device according to claim 1, characterized in that an essentially light-proof circular board (53) delimits with the case (3) a space wherein the power consumer (4) is arranged, the board (53) forming the leg-linking bar which connects the legs (40, 41).
5. Signaling device according to claim 1, characterized in that the conductive device (37) has several conductor strips (101, 103, namely a conductor strip (101) and a conductor strip unit (102) arranged in housings (116) of the leg (40) and the leg (41) respectively of the mounting (42).
6. Signaling device according to claim 5, characterized in that the conductor strips (103) of the unit (102) are unwound once or twice in their longitudinally extending plane in the direction of the surface normal of this plane and/or in a direction extending perpendicularly thereto.
7. Signaling device according to claim 5, characterized in that the conductor strips (101, 103) are formed at one end as plugs (105) and at the opposite end at least partially as resilient sockets, and in that at least one part of the conductor strips (101, 103) is sub-divided into several poles (107, 108, 109, 110) at at least one end.
8. Signaling device according to claim 5, characterized in that each mounting (42) is divided in the plane of the conductor strips (101, 103) into two halves (111, 112).

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