GB2181223A

GB2181223A - Emergency light for motor vehicles

Info

Publication number: GB2181223A
Application number: GB08622871A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alberto Garnerone
Original assignee: Sirena SpA
Current assignee: Sirena SpA
Priority date: 1985-10-04
Filing date: 1986-09-23
Publication date: 1987-04-15
Also published as: IT8553904V0; FR2588223A3; ES1000375Y; FR2588223B3; BE905512A; GB8622871D0; GB2181223B; ES1000375U; IT206718Z2

Abstract

In an emergency light for motor vehicles, of the type comprising a substantially cylindrical base (11) for fixing to a support with conventional retaining means for the base, the base (11) has first and second attachment systems (26;28,29) usable selectively to fix the light (10) to retaining means of different types. The first system comprises a plurality of screw holes (26) located close to the periphery of the base (11) and having axes substantially parallel to the axis of the base, and the second system comprises a seat (28) into which a central electrical connecting pin (30) projects and which is arranged to receive and grip a tubular support member carrying a central electrical supply socket in correspondence with the central pin (30). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Emergency light for motor vehicles The present invention relates to an emergency light, particularly for motor vehicles such as motorcars, lorries, buses, tractors and agricultural machines in general, comprising a substantially cylindrical base for fixing to a support provided with conventional retaining meansforthe base.

The bases of lights have attachment systems formed in accordance with precise regulations which define their characteristics and dimensions. These regulations obviously also relate to the meansforretaining the bases of the lights: thus, on a vehicle having retaining means formed in accordance with a particular regulation, a light may be installed whose base has been formed in accordance with the same regulation. Moreover, there are different versions within the scope of a given regulation, whereby itis often difficult to find lights with bases corresponding to particular retaining means. Moreover, the dealers are forced to keep lights with bases of different types in stock, thus complicating the problem of stocking.

The object of the present invention is to provide a light which does not have these disadvantages and which is also simple and cheap to manufacture.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by virtue ofthefactthatthe base ofthe light hasfirst and second attachment systems usable selectively for fixing the lightto retaining means of different types.

Preferably, the base includes, in combination, a plurality of holes located close to the peripheral edge ofthe base, the holes having axes substantially parallel to the axis of the cylindrical base and being arranged to receive screw members for connection to the support, and a seat into which a central electrical connecting pin projects, the seat being adapted to receive and grip a tubularsupport member carrying a central socket in correspondence with the central pin forthe electrical supply of the light.

By virtue of this characteristic, the light according to the invention may be installed equally well in vehicles having retaining means in accordance with version A ofthe standards DIN 14620 and ISO 4148 and in accordance with version B1 of the same standards.

Further advantages and characteristics of the light according to the present invention will become appa rent from the detailed description which follows, purely byway of non-limiting example, with re ferenceto the appended drawings, in which: Figure lisa plan view ofthe light, Figure2 is a sectional view taken on the line ll-ll of Figure 1, Figure3 is a sectional view taken on the line Ill-Ill of Figure 1, Figure 4 is a plan view ofthe lightfrom below, Figure5is an enlarged detail of Figure 2 in the installed configuration usingthefirsttypeofretaining means, and Figure 6is an enlarged detail of Figure 3, with the light in the installed condition according to a second type of retaining means.

With reference to the drawings, an emergency light is generally indicated 10 and comprises a base 11, a cap 12 oftransparent plastics material, and an incandescent light source 13. The base 11 supports centrally and rotatably,through a rolling bearing 14, a shaped disc 15 to which is fixed a circular concave mirror 16. The base 11 also supports centrally a retaining bush 17forthe light source 13, which isdisposed substantially in correspondence with the focus of the mirror 16. Agearwheel 18 is fixed coaxially to the shaped disc 15 and cooperates with a corresponding pinion 19 rotatable by a d.c. electric motor20 supported in itsturn by the base 1 1.

The latter has two different attachment systems; a first attachment system is formed in accordance with version A of the standards DIN 14620 and ISO 4148, while a second attachment system is formed in ac cordance with version B1 ofthe same standards. The characteristics of the base 11, as well as the operation of the light 10, will be described briefly below, but for further and more detailed characteristics reference should be madeto the aforesaid standards.

The base 11,formed,forexample, by injection moulding from plastics material, has an annular peripheral portion 1 1a having an upperannularshoulder 22 in which the lower circular edge of the transparent cap 12 is housed with the interposition of a sealing washer 23. Self-tapping screws 25 are used to fixthe cap 12 to the base 11. Threethrough-holes 26 are formed in the annular portion 1 a at 120 from each other.

Adjacent the annular portion 1 lea, the base 11 has a circular-sectioned seat 28 with a clamping device operated in known manner by a winged screw 29. The seat 28 has a central pin 30 electrically connected through an electronic control unit 32 to the electric motor 20 of the lightsource 13.

A protective cover 35 is fixed to the base 11 by selftapping screws 34.

If it is wished to install the emergency light 10 on a vehicle provided with version A of the aforesaid standards, the lower cover 35 is removed from the base 11 and stud bolts 37 are introduced into the holes26with their heads in contactwith theannular sealing washer 23. Subsequently, the threaded ends of the bolts 37 are passed through holes 38 provided, for example, in the roof 39 of a motorvehicle. Between the base 11 and the roof39 is an annularsealing washer 40 which, together with the washer 23, ensures perfect sealing ofthe light 10from moisture and dust. The clamping of the light 10own the roof 39 is completed by screwing hexagonal nuts 41 onto the bolts 37.

Figure 6 illustrates the fixing of the light 10to a veh- iclehaving atubularretaining member42according to version B1 of the aforesaid standards. In this latter case, it suffices to make the seat 28 correspond with the end of the tubular support member 42, in orderto connect the pin 30 electrically with a corresponding socket 43 electrically connected to a conductor 44 located within the tubular member 42. Subsequently, the screw 29 is turned to clamp the seat 28 aroundthe tubular member 42 so as to fixthe light 10 to the tubular member.

In the operating condition, the electric motor 20 rotates the shaped disc 15 and the mirror 16 by meansofthe pinion 19 and the gearwheel 18, the light source 13 remaining fixed to the bush 17 supported centrally bythe base 11.

It is understood that the scope of the present invention extends to models which achieve equal utility by using the same innovative concept.

Claims

1. Emergency light, particularlyformotor vehicles, comprising a substantially cylindrical base (11) forfixing to a support (39) provided with conventional retaining means (37,42) for the base, characterised in that the base (11) hasfirstand second attachment systems (26,37,28,29) usable selectively to fix the light (10) to retaining means (37,42) of differenttypes.

2. Light according to Claim 1, characterised in thatthe base (11) includes, in combination: - a plurality of holes (26) located close to the per- ipheral edge of the base (11), the holes having axes substantially parallel to the axis ofthe cylindrical base and being adapted to receive screw members (37) forconnection to the support (39), and -a seat (28) into which a central electrical connecting pin (30) projects,the seat (28) being arranged to receive and grip a tubular support member (42) carrying a central socket (43) in correspondence with the central pin (30) for the electrical supply ofthe light(10).

3. Light substantially as described and illustrated in the drawings.