US1907295A - Signal light - Google Patents

Description

May 2, 1933.

T. W HILLIARD SIGNAL LIGHT Filed Aug. 2, 1928 2 Shee-izs-Iihezfiv l IN VENTGR. KW .10. WcTG/KXXMML N. HILLIARD SIGNAL LIGHT Filed 1928 2 Sheets-s 2 N V EN TOR Patented May 2, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE THOMAS w. NQIIILLIARI), 0F MERIDEN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE AssIGN- MENTS, T0 CONNECTICUT TELEPHONE & ELECTRIC CORPORATION, or MERIDEN, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION 0 DELAWARE SIGNAL LIGHT M Application filed August 2, 1928. Serial rim-296,874.

My invention relates to a signal device, and particularly to improvements 1n the lighting of a signal device.

Heretofore, so far as I am aware, as luminescent tubes have been built up speclally for any particular situation and have not been produced in commercial units suitable for general lighting, such as for use in connectlon with fire-alarm systems, police systems, trafiic control lights, and the like.

It is one of the objects of my invention to produce a gas luminescent lamp suitable for general use, and capable of convenient use like an ordinary electric lamp.

It is a further object to provide an improved gas luminescent tube light assembly which will reduce danger of accident due to the comparatively high tension line heretofore employed in connection with gas luminescent lights.

It is still a further object to provide a fire-alarm or other signal system including a signal light which may be controlled by the supervisory circuit of the fire-alarm or other signal system.

Other objects will be apparent as the specification proceeds.

In the drawings which show, for illustrative purposes only, one preferred form of the invention- Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view ofa firealarm system involving features of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view of a plurality of signal lights serving a fire-alarm or other system;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail'sectional view through an improved gas luminescent lamp and transformer assembly.

An improved form of gas luminescent tube as shown more particularly in Fig. 3 will first be described. I provide a base 5, which may be of any suitable construction and carries terminals or contacts 66 for engagement with the terminals of a socket or other supporting means. A gas luminescent tube is secured to the base 5 and the ends of the tube connected to the terminals 6-6. The' base 5 maybe made to fit standard types of sockets or other connecting devices suitable for use in connection with gas luminescent tubes. For use in connection with signal ably formed of one or more helical convolutions 7, and the end of the tube forming the last convolution preferably extends down through the center of the convolutions, as

indicated at 8. The lower ends 9 of the tube,

as heretofore indicated, are connected to the contacts or terminals 6-6, heretofore mentioned. A transparent protecting globe or I bulb 10 is preferably secured to the base 5.

The unit thus far described may be sold and handled as such, and the connections to a suitable source of current readily made. The use of my improved gas luminescent light unit obviates the difficulty heretofore encountered inmaking the wire connections to gas luminescent tubes as heretofore made.

In most situations, such as in connection with signal systems of various. kinds, it is not practical to run the comparatively high tension lines required for the operation of gas luminescent tubes between relatively remote units, and I therefore propose to provide a transformer in a housing to which my improved gas luminescent lamp maybe directly connected. Thus, the high tension lines for operation of the lamp are reduced to a negligible length, and the danger inconnecup by means of the transformer 11 to the extent sufiicient to operate the gas luminescent lamp. As shown the secondary or high tension lines 1414 are short and terminate in suitable terminals 15-15 secured preferably to an insulating plate 16 which may form a cover for the transformer housing. The insulating plate 16 in the form shown is provided with apertures for receiving the contacts or terminals 6-6 of the gas luminescent lamp.

If desired, the ring 17 which supports the plate 16 may be supported upon the housing 12 and provided with a screw socket for the reception of the threaded end of a protecting globe 18. The part 17 may also support any suitable type or protector or screen 19 for the protection of the globe 18 and gas luminescent lamp. The transformer housing 12 is preferably provided with a suitable con nection such as a threaded socket 20 to be received and supported by a nipple or pipe 21, indicated diagrammatically in Fig. 1.

When my improved lamp is to be used in connection with a signaling system as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the gas luminescent lamp may be supported on a pipe or tube 21 above the signal box 22, which is in turn supported from the usual base or pedestal 23, or which may be supported from overhead in any position. The low tension line 13 may be an ordinary lighting circuit, and is connected to the primary of the transformer, as will be plain. In some cases it will be desirable to have all of the gas luminescent signal lamps connected and controllable from a single point by a simple switch as would be possible in connection with the form shown in Fig. 2. It may also be desirable to have each lamp controlled by means such as a relay at each station in connection with signal systems. It is usual to have a supervisory circuit for the remote control of fire-alarm mechanism in a fire-alarm box at 22, and the gas luminescent lamp relay control may be actuated or controlled by such supervisory circuit.

In connection with such a system I employ a relay designated generally 24, which makes and breaks connection to the primary of the transformer. The relay 24 is controlled by the supervisory circuit designated generally 25, and which in the fire-alarm system controls fire-alarm mechanism form ng no part of the present invention and not disclosed.

The supervisory circuit includes a source of current 26, a switch 27. a switch 28. and a resistance 29. By closing the switch 27, the resistance 29 is short-circuited and the relay 24 closed so that the gas luminescent lamp will then be lighted. As soon as the relay has been closed, the swtich 27 mav be opened and with the switch 28 closed. the potential will be reduced, but not sufficiently to open the relay 24. In order to break the relay 24,

the switch 28 is o ened, thus further reducing the potential y putting more of the resistance 29 into the clrcuit, and the relay 24 is then broken. The fire-alarm devices controlled by the supervisory circuit are such that when the supervisory potential is reduced sufliciently to break the relay 24, the fire-alarm mechanism will not be affected. This is one means only and other systems of remote control will readily suggest themselves.

While the invention has been described in some detail and for illustration in connection with a fire-alarm system, it is to be observed that the invention is of broader application and the improved gas luminescent light and associated parts may be advantageously employed in other situations, for example, in connection with police re-call systems, trafiic light systems, landing fields, and similar places where the present type of light would be advantageous.

The particular gaseous agent in my improved tube may vary according to requirements. For example, I may employ neon, neon and argon, neon and mercury vapor, or in fact any gas which is capable of producing the desired lightin effect.

Various changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A luminescent gas lamp construction comprising a housing, an insulating support detachably mounted upon the housing and having passages extending therethrough, a step-up transformer suspended from said support within said housing, contacts secured to said support within said housing, a relatively irrefrangible detachable lamp base having a relatively fragile tube containing a luminescent gas and having rigid terminal prongs projecting from the base at fixed distances from each other so as to extend within said passages and be positioned by the walls thereof and to engage said contacts, said tube being entirely outside of said housing.

2. A luminescent gas lamp construction comprising a base ring having a globe seat, a housing secured to said base rin an insulating supporting member secure to said base ring and having passages for prongs, a transformer mounted within said housing, output contacting terminals connected therewith within said housing, and a relatively irrefrangible detachable lamp base having rigid terminal prongs insertable through said passages into engagement with said contacts and a tube containing luminescent gas with electrodes connected to said prongs.

3. A luminescent gas lamp construction comprising a housing, an insulating support, means for securing the periphery of said support to said housing, a transformer mounted in said housing, contacts carried by said support and directly connected to the output leads of the transformer, said support havmg passages leading to said contacts and a detachable lamp comprising a base with terminal prongs projecting therefrom and adapted toenter said passages in order to engage said contacts and a gas-filled tube carried by said base with its ends connected to said prongs.

4. In a luminescent gas lamp construction, the combination comprising a housing, an insulating top member, means for supporting said top member upon said housing, contacts carried by said top member, a step-up transformer having a frame suspending it from said insulating member and having its output terminals connected to said contacts, said insulating top member having passages for conductive prongs of a gas lamp base to enter therein.

5. A luminescent gas lamp construction including an inferior housing provided with an outwardly extending flange at its upper rim, an insulating member substantially covering said housing at its top, a superior ring fastened to said flange and supporting said insulating member, a voltage raising transformer iving potentials upwards of 1000 volts an mounted within said inferior housing dependent from said insulating member, current conductor leads to said transformer, contact members mounted upon said insulating member and connected to the high potential output of said transformer, and apertures in said insulating member for the passage therein of the conductive prongs of a luminescent gas lamp base.

THOMAS W. N. HILLIARD.

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