US2195374A

US2195374A - Signal device

Info

Publication number: US2195374A
Application number: US104182A
Authority: US
Inventors: Charles F Wallace; John R Mackay
Original assignee: Wallace and Tiernan Inc
Current assignee: US Filter Wallace and Tiernan Inc
Priority date: 1936-10-06
Filing date: 1936-10-06
Publication date: 1940-03-26
Anticipated expiration: 1957-03-26

Description

I March 26, 1940. c WALLACE ET AL 2,195,374

SIGNAL DEVICE I Filed Oct. 6, 1 936 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 I VENTOR MHCIM" A'i'TORNEY March 26, 1940. Q WALLAE I 2,195,374

S IGNAL DEVI CE Filed Oct. 6, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 TO INTEIZIZUPTER 22.; ATTORNEY March 26, 1940. I F, LLACE H 2,195,374

SIGNAL DEVICE Filed Oct. e, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet a INVENTCR fi f v MW 9'7 MATTORNEY C. F. WALLACE ET AL March 26, 1940.

SIGNAL DEVICE Filed Oct. 6

, 1936 4- Sheets- Sheet 4 To INTEItIzUPTEz 1 elm/2' wENToR a ATTORNEY Patented Mar. I

UNlTED STATES T T {OFFICE r I SIGNAL'DEVICE Charles 1F. Wallace, Westfi'eld, and John .R.

MacKay, West-Caldwell, N. J., .assignors to. Wallace &- Tiernan Products, Inc., Belleville,

N. J a corporation of New Jersey" Application October 6,1936, serially). 104,1 2

17 Claims, (01.; 177-329 This invention relates to apparatus for automatically replacing a lamp which has failed, or other electrical device orunit which indicates an improper operative condition by a reduction or cessation of the electric current normally consumed by it. The invention has been made e'specially with the idea of providing an improved lamp changing apparatus for signal devices which are required to operate for long periods of time with out attention. More particularly, the invention aims to provide alamp changing apparatus which maybe made to have a large reserve lamp capacity, and especially to have such capacity without involving any interference by unused or failed lamps with the beam of light from'the positioned lamp in a signal light of the 360 Fresnel type and without requiring the use of an uneconcmically large lens; which is suitable'for either fixed light or flashing light signal devices; which will rapidly move the new'lamp into place and accurately position it; and which is adapted to the use of multi-filament lamps, the shiftrfrom one set of filaments of the series-of lamps tojanother set being effected automatically. e 1 The reserve lamp capacity of lamp changing apparatus as heretofore made has been limited by the use of some form of carrier wheel or-table on'which the lamp sockets are arranged. This is especially true for signal lights of the360 Fresnel type. 'If too many lamps are mounted on'a 'carrier wheel, it is necessary to, use an uneconomical- 1y large lens, and in addition, unused and failed lamps adjacent to the positioned lamp will pro-- a relatively small rotary belt supporuand'the lamps mounted on the carrier belt are spaced apart sufficiently so that when one lamp is'in operative position, adjacent lamps on each side thereof will be entirely, outside of the path or zone of light radiated fromthe positioned lamp.

The carrier belt may be of any desired length for supporting any number of lamps within thespace limits of the apparatus, and is most desirably an endless belt extending between the lamp position:

ing belt-supporting wheel anda supporting Land driving'rotary member or wheel. Even withthis simple arrangement of the oarrier'loelt,"acompar In order to avoid these atively large number oflamps may becarried in a comparatively small space.

In a battery operated signal with lamp changing mechanism it is often desir able to operate the lamps with a higher voltage than that for which the filament of the lamp is intended. In this way improved operation of the signal is obtained with a reduction in operating cost, as is shown by the fact that by overvoltaging the commercial tungsten filament lamp 25%, a 100% increase in candle power may be obtained with less than increase in wattdevice provided H age and with only about 90% decrease in the life I of the lamp. The same increase inefficiency could be obtained by using a lamp designed to operate at an increased filament temperature, but such lamps are not at the present time generallyv available. So far as we are aware, little practical use has been made in the signalfield of over-voltaging filament lamps to obtain greatly increased light radiation with a relatively slight increase in power consumption, as' previous lamp changing mechanisms have lacked suflicient -'reserve capacity to compensate for the reduced life of the lamps in operating in this manner. ,Because'of the greatly increased reserve lamp capacity made possible by the present invention, and in addition, I because of the use-of multi-filamentlamps made possible by the present invention, full advantage may be takeniof'this over-voltaging method'of operation.

In lamp changing apparatus heretofore in use, 5

so far as we are aware, the lamp carrier has been moved either by a stepping magnet connected in parallelwith the positionedlamp and controlled by a relay inseries with the lamp, or by weight or spring-driven motor means controlled bysuch astepping magnet, or by a weight or spring-driven motor means controlled merely by a tripping device operated by a relay in series with the lamp.

The stepping magnet requires an intermittent current and this arrangement can, therefore, be

used only with a flashing light, and in addition,

as the rapidity of lamp change depends on the:

periodicity of current impulse, when this device is used with a slowly flashing light the period ofchange during which no lamp is fiashingmay be sufilcientto cause trouble. The use of a spring or 0 weight drive for thelamp carrier is objectionable for the reason that only a limited number of I revolutions of the driven member can take place, so that, unless made unsuitably large, such a driving means has not sufficient'rotational reserve to assure the break-down by continued operation and repeated wiping of any high-resistindexing contacts of the lamp carrier, and, furthermore, jarring such as may happen in heavy weather to a signal apparatusmounted on a buoy -may cause the trip to be released, and such devices require manual rewinding with the risk of inattention.

The carrier driving means of the present in vention is adapted for both steadylight and flashing light signal devices, and when used with flashing light devices operates independently of the duration and periodicity of the impulses of the signal current, moves the carrier rapidly until a new lamp is positioned and. connected in, the

lighting circuit and'then stops with the new lamp accurately positioned, consumes comparatively little current, and will continue in operation to break down by repeated wiping any high resistance film from the indexing, or lamp-positioning,

invention Fig. 2 is a back view or view looking from the left of Fig. 1', partly brokenv away and with'parts omitted; l

Fig. 3 a side view looking from the right in Fig. 2 with the parts shown in section.

Fig. 4 is a front view, looking from the right [of Fig. .3, the cover of the box containing the driving motor being removed.

Fig. 4a is an enlarged detail sectional view of certain parts appearing in Fig. 4;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detailed sectional view of the mounting means for two'contact-carrying springs.

Fig. 6 is a schematic wiring diagram of the apparatus of Fig-s. 1 to 5.

"Figs. 7, 8 and 9 are, respectively, back, side and frontviews of apparatus according to the invent-ion designed for the use of multi-filament lamps.

Fig. "7c isa detail part-sectiona1 view of certain parts appearing in Fig. '7; v

Fig. 10 is the Wiring diagram of the apparatus "of Figs. 7, 8 and 9.

Fig. 11 is. the wiring diagram of a multi-filament' type lamp changer employing thermostatic means for changing from one set of filaments to another set.

Fig. '12 is the wiring diagram of a multi-iilament lamp changer employing electromagnetic means for effecting change from one set or fila ments to another set.

Fig. ,13 shows in elevation a modified form of reciprocatory driving motor. I

Referring to the drawings, and first to Figs.

1 .to 6, the marine beacon shown in Fig. 1- comprises a housing it closed at its lower end and supporting at its upper openend a lens support casting H on which is mounted a Fresnel lens l2 closed at the top. Mounted within the housing and lensisupport is the changing apparatus shownin Figs. 2 to 6.

The lamp changingmechanism comprises endless lamp-carrying belt formed of a plurality of flat plates 55 pivotally connected at their edges. The carrier belt is mounted on two rotary sup.- ports, It and ll, mounted on a vertical support l8. Theupper support It is formed of two spaced tween adjacent supporting rods.

strip or brush 35 on the axle 24.

ance film which may form on the positioning or v mounted one metal axle 24 extending from and insulated from the support l8, the threaded end of: the axle rod extending through insulating washers 25 and being secured by a nut 28. The

netal'disc 22 has a central opening of such size that it does not'make contact with the axle.

The carrier belt is supported on. the rods 23 and thesecarrie'r supporting rods are spaced ac-' cording to the length of the carrier plates so that the carrier belt will turn about the support with its plates successively bridging the space be- Each of the carrier plates carries a filament lamp 351, and as the carrier belt is moved and turns about the support 16 the lamps willbe successively positioned with their filaments at the focal point ofthe lens l2 at each successive quarter rotation of the support, ale-mp being so positioned in the apparatus shown when its plate I5 is horizontal and the lamp extends vertically upward therefrom. a

As shown, and most-desirably, the lamps are of thekind having ago-called prefocused base, and for such lamps each. carrier plate has anopening to receive th end of thelamp base and three headed studs 3! arranged about the opening, and the plate is. slotted from the openingto form three fingers 3'3 which are bent upward to serve as springs. The studs enter the slots in the focusing flange 33 of the lamp base and thespring fingers 32 press the flange against the stud heads and hold the lamp in position with relation to the plate. 7 For lamps of :other types other sockets 1 will, of course, be provided.

. The contact terminal at the end of the base of the positioned lamp engages a flexible contact Connection to the side terminal of' the lamp is made from the disc 22 through the supporting rods 23 and carrier plate Hi." The disc 2 of insulating material has four indexing contacts 36 each formed by a short wire orother contact piece, most desirably of rare metal, set below the surface of the disc in a radial groove 37 in its outer face, the contact piece extendingthrough the disc and being conductivelyconnected to the metal disc 22, as shown best by'Figs. 4 and 4a. These contacts 3'6 are equallysnaced circumferentially of the disc. A contact '33 carried by a spring 39 bears against the disc 28 and is shaped and positioned so that when a lamp has been moved into position the contact 33 will enter one of the grooves 31 and engage the. contact 36 therein to close the lamp circuit. As the disc 2! begins to turnwhen the carrier moves to position a new lamp, the contact 2: 3 by its engagement with the side of the groove is immediately'pushed away from the contact 36 andoutof the groove and then rides on the face of the disc until another lamp has the carrier driving motor hereinafter described.

Thus ,w'vhen'ever a lamp is positioned in the lens i2, contact 33 will engage one of the contacts $6 to complete the circuit to the lamp, and dur-' ing the lamp-changing movement of the carrier a motor circuit will be completed between

contacts

38 and 40. l

The contact-carrying springs 39 and 4! are mounted on the support i8 by means of

bolts

42 and 43, the spring 39 being conductively conspring is held by the bolt 42 between the tioned lamp is operative and to permit the driv nected to the bolt 42 and insulated from bolt 43,

and spring 5! being conductively. connected to bolt 43 and insulated from bolt 4-2, and both bolts being insulated from the support it by ins'ulating washers M. The, spring 35! is-held by the bolt 43 between'a washer 45 and a bushing Q8 both of insulating material, and the spring M is held by this bolt between the washer wand a threaded metal washer 4'! through which it is conductively connected to thebolt; and the washer 44 and an insulating bushing id, while the spring 39 is held by the bolt 32 in electrical contact therewith between the head of the bolt and the bushing 48. The bolts are held fast in the support I8 by nuts M. The bolts l2 and 43, in addition to holding the contact springs 39 and 4 l serve as contact terminals for the springs to which conductors are connected as shown in Fig. 4. 1

The lower carrier support IT is of similar construction to the upper support it, being formed by two spaced discsiil and El and four equally spaced supporting rods 52,-and is mounted to turn on an axle 53 extending from the support !8. The discs and 5! are desirably, although not necessarily, of insulating material. The support ll serves as the drive wheel for the carrier belt, and is driven by a driving motor 55, the

drive shaft fifi of which-carries a pinion 5'! which drives a gear 58 attached to the disc 5| of the support.

The circuit to the driving motor is controlled when a lamp is in position by a quick acting relay connected in the lamp circuit. in series with the lamp, this relay acting to preventxoperation of the driving motor so long as the posiing motor to operate when there is no flow of current through the lamp circuit because of failure of the positioned lamp; This control by the quick acting relay is most desirably by opening the circuit to the driving motor, the driving motor being slower acting than the relay. The driving motor is, however, a motor which operates continuously so. long as, it is supplied with current, and it is desirable, therefore, that it should have a continuous current supply for effecting the movement ofthe lamp carrier and not be dependent on the. intermittent current. In the construction shown, whenthe lamp car- 'rier is first moved by the driving motor energized tween the springs 39 and H through contact 60 immediately establishes a circuit whereby current is continuously supplied tothe driving motor so that its operation then continues until a live lamp is again positioned by the carrier, the carrier belt being moved comparatively rap idly but steadily, its movement being independent of the duration-and periodicity of the current impulses of the intermittent signal current. I In u this lamp positioning movement ofthe carrier, when the indexing contact 38 enters any one of the grooves 31 of the disc 2| the supply-0i con tinuous current to the driving motor is inter rupted and the motor then operates on the inmovement to the 'carrierrequired for positioning the lamp; and in the eventthat the lamp'moved into position is a dead lamp, the motor will-oper- 1 ate on the intermittent current until the index ing'contact is forced out of the groove 31 and contact 46 is closed again for the supply of continuous current to the motor. l

In the apparatus shown, the driving motor is a vibratory motor consisting of an electromagnet tll having a vibratory armature 6i byiwhich the I tain the armature in operation so long as the magnet is connected in circuit to a source of current Most desirably and as shown, instead of providing for thispurpose a separateswitch in addition to the switch or contact device con-1 trolled by the quick actingrela'y for opening the circuit to the motor magnet whilethe current is flowing in the lamp circuit, oneswitch is operated by both magnets for serving both purposes.

As shown in Figs. 3 and l, the relay 55 connected in the lamp circuit in series with the lamp is mounted adjacent to the motor ma'gnet 60, and its armature 6 when retracted by its spring 67 closes the circuit to the motor magnet through a stationary contactfiB, and, when the relay isenergizecl by flow of current through the lamp .cir-

cult and its armature attracted, the circuit to the motor magnet is broken at the contact 68 and operation of the slower-acting motor magnet is prevented.

This switch formed by the relay. armature 66 and the stationary contact 68 is'operated by the motor armature 6| through a connecting plate iii.

which extends between the two armatures. A. finger l' l on the armature-El extends through an opening in' th'e lower'end of thetplate l'fl, the dimension of which in the direction of the length of theplateis greater than the thickness of the finger; and-the end of therelay armature 65 extends through a similar opening near the other end of the plate 10 the dimension of which lengthwise of. the plate is greater than the thickness of the armature in the same direction. The plate ll! extends between twofriction washers 12 of felt'or other suitable material the'pressure of which on the strip maybe adjustedby means of a nut l3 on a stud extending from the end of the relay magnet core and acting through a coiled spring i l bearing against the outer washers The relay armature willthus be free to move up and down in its slot in the connecting plate or strip 10 tomake and breakpcontact with stationary contact 63 so long as the motor, magnet is not energized. .When, however, current flows to the motor magnet when: the switch 88 is closed, I

the connecting strip 10 will be drawn downward I toopen switch 68 as. themotor, armature ap-' proachesthe end of its movement toward'its magnet pole, thus breaking the motor circuit. The motor magnet being thus deenergized, its

armature is retracted by its spring, and,'as it approaches the end of its movement away. from the magnet pole, it permits the relay armature to close its contact 68 again.

Current for both the lamp and the driving motor is supplied from a battery. 80, and the battery ourrent'is converted into an intermittent described by reference to. Fig. 6. Assuming that a high spot of the program wheel 8i has closed the interrupter switch S2 and that the positioned lamp 3E inworking condition, intermittent current will flow to the lamp as follows: the positive side of the battery, through conductor (ll, interrupter switch conductor 17, and by contact to the lamp, and from the lamp through brush conductor 0, relay magnet coil and by conductor it back-to the negative pole of the battery. At each closing of the lamp cirbefore there is sufficient flow of current through the motor magnet coil to cause movement of its ainiature Bi. On failure of the filament of the positioned lamp, however, currentwill flow -at thenext closing of the interrupter switch 82,

from the, positive side of the battery through conductor a, switch and conductor b, to the motor magnet coil 8?}, and thence by conductor e to switch which, because of the lamp having failed, will be closed, and thence, through conductor d, back to the battery.

Immediately upon energization of the motor magnet, the ratchet wheel 63 is operated to cause movement of the carrier belt, thereby moving the discZl of the upper belt support and causing, .the contact 38 to be forced backout of the groove 3? in the disc iii to open the lamp circuit at this point and to make connection with the contact 28, thereby icy-passing the current inter- :upting switch by establishing a circuit as fol lows for supplying current continuously to the motor magnet: Fro n the positive side of the battery, through conductor f, contact ill, and condue-tor b, to motor magnet coil 69, and thence by conductor 6, switch 56- 58, and conductor d, back to the battery, the switch 56-68 being then operated by the motor armature 68 to maintain the armature in vibration. Movement of the carrier will then continue regardless of the operation of the interrupter 32 until a new lamp is brought into position, whereupon the contact 38 will move into a notch ill or the disc 25 to close the lamp circuit at this point, at the same time opening the circuit at contact 223 to stop the supply of continuous current to the driving motor. If the newly positioned lamp is in working condition, operation of the driving motor will immediately cease and flashing of the lamp will start and continue until the new lamp fails. If the newly positioned should not be a working, current-consuming lamp, the driving motor will again be operated by the intermittent current until the lamp carrier has moved sufficiently to cause the lamp circuit to be opened again at contact 33 and the continuous current circuit to filamentlamps.

paratus, because of the new belt carrier, may be given size fitted with multi-filament lamps willv obviously be double that of the same apparatus fitted with single filament lamps, provided each filament of double filament lamps givesthe same length of service as the filament of the single Obviously, the use of multifilament lamps in accordance with the invention i not limited to lamp changing apparatus having the new belt carrier;

1 Referring now to Figs. 7 to 10, the apparatus shownvby these figures is the same as that of Figs. 1 to 8 except for changes which adapt it to the use of inulti-nlarnent lamps and that the driving motor of the modified form shown in Fig. 13. The particular apparatus shown in these figures is for lamps having two filaments H38 and two contact terminals, one for each filaniert at the end of the base of the lamp, and a common terminal for both filaments formed by the side wall of the base. The axle Mo on which the belt support i5 is mounted in this apparatus is made hollow to accommodate insulated conductors it? and i 93 which lead from two brushes lt l and 9&5 mounted on the axle in position to en age the two end contact terminals of the positioned lamp. The brushes are insulated from the axle by being mounted on a sleeve tilt of insulated material, and as the carrier supporting rods of the rotary support it also are in.

sulated from the axle, it is not necessary that the axle be insulated fronithe support ill.

The conductorsv and i9 3 lead to a switch by which eitheroi the brusheslii l and Hit may be connected in the lamp circuit. The switch comprises two contacts Hi8 and mounted on a plate iii) of insulating material fixed to the support 98 and a pivoted switch arm ii i also mounteitherof the contacts with which it is engaged while permitting either contact to the other., arm engages contact itt, the lamp circuit will include the brush lot and the filament Hit or" each successively positioned lamp, and when the switch arm engages the other contact loathe lamp circuit will include the brush tile andthe other shifting the switch arnifrom contact N38 to contact lot, the arm has an operating arm or projection H2 which, when the switch arm is in engagement with contact m8 as shown in Fig. '7, extends into the path of upward movement of a pin lit} carried by one of the carrier plates I5 so to be moved. thereby to throw the switch arm awayfrom the contact 1% and into en agement with the contact N19. The part of the pin H3 which engages the arm H2 is of insulating material, and in order that it may be attached to any one of the carrier plates the pin is made as it to be moved at will from When the switch shown in Fig. 7a and each carrier plate has a hole II4 into which the reduced threaded end of the pinmay be placed and then secured by its cap or nut. 1 1

Assuming that the carrier has been supplied with a full complement of newlamps and that the switch arm II I is in the position to engage contact I08 as shown by full lines in Fig. '7, the switch actuating pin I I3 is attached to one of the carrier plates on the upwardly moving side or" the carrier to be located just above thearm I I2. arm will then remain'in engagement: with the contact I08 while the carrier makes one full revolution to position all of the lamps successively with the brush I05 in the lamp carrier. This movement of the carrier will bring the actuating pin H3 to a position just beneatlrthe arm H2.

Then during the next movement of the carrier,

' whereby the first lamp of the series is again moved into operating position, the actuating pin will strike the arm H2 and move-it upward, throwing the switch arm I I I away from the contact I08 and into engagement with the contact I as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 7 'so that when the first lamp of the series is moved into operating position for the second time the lamp circuit will be completed through the brush I and the second filament of the lamp. The switch will then remain in this position as the lamps are 1 again successively positioned for lighting from the second set of filaments.

Referring to Fig. which shows the wiring diagram for the apparatus of Figs. 7 to 9, current flows through the lamp filament 00 when the 1 switch Ii i is ,in its first position as shown in this figureand in Figs. '7, 8 and 9 as follows:

1 From the positive side of the battery 80 through conductor. a, interrupter switch 82, conductor b, and by contact 38 to the side terminal of the lamp and then through filament I00 to brush I04 and by conductor I02 to switch contact I08 and then from the switch through conductor 0, relay magnet coil 65, and conductor d, back to the negative side of the battery.' That isthe lamp circuit so longas the switch remains in its first position as shown, the circuit flowing at each current impulse through the filament I00 of the lamp: which is in operating position, and upon failure of the filament I00 of the positioned lamp, the lamp carrier" being shifted as described in connection with.

Fig. 6 to bring the next lamp into operative position. Then when the first filaments I00 of the series of lamps have been used, the actuating pin II3 on the next lamp changing movement of the carrier strikes the arm I I2 and throws the switch away iromthe contact I08 and into engagement with contact I09, and thereafter circuit is closed at each current impulse to the second filament I0-I of the successively positioned lamps, the circuit being as before, except that brush I05 and conductor I03 and contact I09 are included in the circuit in place of the brush I04 and conductor I02 and contact I08.

In Fig. 11 there is illustrated diagrammatically a two-filament lamp changing apparatus similar to the apparatus of Figs. '7 to 10 in the arrangement of the lamp carrier and the means for moving the carrier for positioning the lamps successively, but having a thermostatic means for efiecting'change over from one set of lamp filaments to the other. For the sake of simplicity, the apparatus is illustrated as a steady light apparatus, the current interrupter of the apparatusiofv Figs. 1 to 10 for producing a flashing light being omitted. Obviously, however, the ap- The switch s The change from one set of lamp filaments to the other in the apparatus of Fig. 11 is effected by means of a switch lever I50 carrying a contact which moves between two fixed contacts I52 and 453. shown in Fig. 11, the lamp circuit is through contact I 52, conductor I02 and brush 104 to the lamp filament I00 of the positionedlamp. The switch lever I50 is held in this position by means of a When the switch isin its first position as bi-metallic strip I54 mounted with one end secured and with its free end extending when the strip is not heated to engage the endof the switch lever I50 and hold it, against the tension of a spring I55, in position with its contact engaging the fixed contact I52; When the strip I55 is heated sufiiciently, its free end moves in the direction of the arrow far enough to release the switch lever which is then moved by spring I55 away from thecontact I52 and into engagement with contact I53. i

A resistance wire coil I50 is positioned to heat the bi-metallic strip I54 and connected across the battery in parallel with the motor "magnet coil 00, so that the flow of current through this heating coilis controlled the same as the flow of cur-.

rent through the motor magnet coil by the armature of the relay magnet 55.

So long as current f y can flow through the lamp circuit, therefore, the heating coil does not'become heated, and it is so proportioned that the time required for heating the oi-metallic strinsufficiently to cause it to move its' free end'from under the end of'theu switch lever I50 is greater than the time normally a Y required for moving a lamp having a burned out filament out of. the operative position and bringing a new lamp into operative position. If, for example, it takes ten seconds for the lamp changing mechanism to remove a. lamp and position another, the thermostatic device should be designed to release the switch lever after the heatg ing coil has had the current flowing through it for a period greater thanten seconds.

In the normal operation of the apparatus of Fig. 11, therefore, when a filament of a positioned of the first set of filaments of thelamps have I burned out and the carrier is moved after failure of the last lamp in series, the lamp circuit will not be re-established by the next lamp that is moved into position and the movement of the carrier will be continued, and because of the longer flow of current through the heating coil, the bi-metallic strip will be heated. sufiiciently to" cause it to release the switch lever I and permit it under the pull of the spring I to move into engagement with the contact I53. 'Connection is then established from the conductor etc the brush I05, so that'when the next lamp is positioned circuit will be completed through its second filament IOI. The operation of the apparatus will then continue, the second filament of the lamps being used as the lamps are again. successively positioned.

Fig. 12 shows diagrammatically an apparatus similar to that of Fig. 11, except that in place and when the switch is in engagement with contact 293, the lamp circuitis closed through the conductor Hi3 and brush 35 to the other filament 805 of the positioned lamp. A spring 2% tends to hold the switch in engagement with the contact 2%, and when the switch been moved into engagement with contact 2% it is held in such engagement by a latch 255.

The switch lever ismoved from contact 2632' to contact 2&3 by means of a magnet of which the coil is connected across the battery terminals in parallel with the motor magnet coil 56. Thismagnet 2% is a slow acting magnet which will not be energized to shift the switch lever during the normal period required for operation-of the lamp changing mechanism to remove a failed lamp and position a. new one. In the construction shown, in order to get the required delay in operation of this magnet, a resistance 26,? is connected in series with the magnet coil and a condenser 26% is shunted across the coil.

When the normal lamp changing operation takes about ten seconds, the values of resistance and capacity are desirably so proportioned that there will be a delay oi substantially more than ten seconds before sufficient voltage will build up across the windings of the coil 2% i to cause the magnet to shift the switch lever.

- When the switch lever is in its first position, as shown in Fig. 12, for causing the lighting current to flow through the filament lite of the positioned lamps, in normal lamp changing operations the current limiting resistance 28? will preventthe condenser 2% from being charged sufficiently to permit suificient current to flow through the coil 2% to cause shifting of the switch lever, but after the last of the first set of lamp filaments have failed the lamp changing motor will continue in operation and the condenser will become fully char ed and the voltage across the windings of the coil will build up to a value sufficient to shift the switch lever against the pull of spring 2813 into engagement with the'ccntact 263, in which position it will be held by the latch Then when the next lamp is moved into operative position, the lamp circuit will be. completed through its unused filament l6! and the operation of the lamp changing motor will be stopped, and the apparatus will continue as before, the filaments it! of the successively positioned lamps being used.

The modified form of reciprocatory driving motor shown in Fig. 13 diliers from that of Figs. 3 and 4 principally in the means whereby the armature of the quicbacting relay, which serves to out off flow of current to the -motor magnet when current flows through the lamp circuit, is operated by themotor magnet armature to make and break circuit for maintaining the motor in operation. Instead of having a lost motion connection between the armatures of the motor magnet and of the quick-acting relay by means of a connecting. member movable against restraining friction as in the motor of 3 and 4 and as indicated in the wiring diagrams, theme.-

tor magnet 69c and the relay magnet 85a are mounted at right angles to each other, and the free end of the armature 61a of the motor magnet is shaped to act as a cam against an abutment or finger an on the armature and movable switch member 66a, to move this armature and switch member to carry its contact end away from the fixed contact 880, as the armature tla makes its inward movement under the pull of the motor magnet, and to permit the armature and switch member 66a to return under the pull of its spring tla to its circuit closing. position engaging the contact tlia, as the armature 61a makes its return movement. The inductance of the motor magnet and its mechanical inertia are made sufficiently high to obtain complete and relatively slow movements of the armature cm, the inertia of the armature 610, being suificient so that it makes the necessary full movements in each direction even though the motor magnet circuit is opened and closed by the switch Gila-453a before the armature reaches the end of its movement in the respective directions.

As in the case of the motor of Figs. 3 and 4, the lighting current normally flows to the lamp through the winding of the relay 65a causing its armature 66a to open the circuit to the motor magnet at contact 8864 before there has been any flow of current through the winding of the motor magnet sufiicient to cause any appreciable movement of its armature. When, however, the positioned lamp fails, or, if the motor is used otherwise than in apparatus such as shown, if for any reason current does not fiow through the circuit in which the relay magnet is connected in series with suihcient force to energize the relay magnet, then the relay magnet will not open the motor magnet circuit and the motor will operate to position a new lamp, or, when used otherwise than in apparatus such as shown, to re-establish a condition in which current fiows through the circuit in which the relay magnet is connected in series with sufficient force to energize the relay magnet.

It is to be understood that the invention is 1 not to be limited to the exact constructions, ar-

rangements and combinations 'of parts shown, but that it includes changes and modifications -thereof within the claims, and that features of the invention as claimed may be used independently of and apart from other features with which they are combined in the illustrated apparatus.

With regard to the driving motor, while the vibratory motors described embody features of the invention and are especially adapted for use in lamp changing apparatus embodying other features of the invention, it is obvious that the apparatus does not require the use of this particular kind of vibratory motor or of a vibratory motor of any kind, but that motors of other types might be used.

Fresnel lens, of a rotary support, acarrier belt mounted on and turnedabout said support, a

plurality of lamps mounted onthe carrier belt spaced longitudinally thereof and extending at right angles thereto,said support being so'positioned with relation to the lens that by rotation 'of the support and movement of the carrier belt the lamps may successively be positioned to extend radially of the axis of the supp-ort'with their filaments at the focal point of the lens, means for connecting the positioned lamp in the lamp circuit, and means Operative: on failure of the positioned lamp to move the carrier belt to position a succeeding lamp.

v 3. A signal device, comprising a carrier belt for a plurality of lamps movable for positioning thelamps successively formed by a plurality of plates pivotally connected edgetoedge and each a plurality of lamps thereon spaced longitudinally thereof, the belt being, movable for positioning the lamps successively and being formed by a plurality of plates pivotally connected'edge to edge, a rotary support about which, the carrier,

belt turns, means for connecting the positioned lamp in the lamp circuit, and means operative on failure of the positioned lamp to move the carrier belt to position a succeeding lamp.

5. A signal device, comprising a carrier belt for a plurality of lamps movable for positioning the lamps successively, said belt being formed by a plurality of plates pivotally connected edge to edge and each having a lamp socket, a rotary belt positioned that the positioned lamp extends radially of the support axis, lamp circuit contact terminals one of which is in position to be 'engaged by the end terminalgof the positioned lamp and the other of which is in' position to-be engaged by a contact carried by said belt support when a lamp is in position, the belt support having one such contact for each peripheral por-v tion thereof on which one of the plates of the carrier belt can rest, and said contacts being conductively connected with the side terminals of lamps carried by the belt plates resting on the support, and means operative on failure of the positioned lamp to move the carrier belt to posi-" tion a succeeding lamp.

6. A signal device, comprising a carrier belt having a plurality of lamp sockets for mounting a plurality of lamps thereon spaced longitudinally thereof, the-beltbeing movable for positioning the lamps successively and being formed by a plurality of plates pivotally connected edge to edge, a' rotary belt support about which the carrier belt turns so; positioned that the positioned lamp extends'radially of the support, lamp circuit contact terminals one of which is in position to be engaged by the end terminal of the positioned lamp and the other of which is in position to be engaged by a contact carried 7 by said belt support when a lamp is in position, the belt support having one such contact for each peripheral portion thereof: on which a lamp-carrying plate of the carrier belt canrest,

and said contacts being ccnductively connected operative on failure of the positioned lamp to move thercarrier belt to position a succeeding lamp.

"'7. A signal device, comprising a carrier for a plurality of lamps movable for positioning the lamps successively, a plurality of multi-fila'ment lamps mounted: on the carrier, means for connecting a single filament of the positioned lamp in a lamp circuit including a source of energy, means operative on failureof the circuit-connected filamentof the positioned lamp to move the carrier to position a succeeding lamp, a selective switch, for-determining which filament of a 1 positioned lamp is connected in the lamp circuit,

and means for automatically operating said switch after anumber of the lamps have been lamps successively, a plurality of multi-filament lamps mounted. on ;the carrier, means for connecting a single filament of the positioned lamp in a lamp circuit including a source of energy,

.means operative on failure of the circuit-connected filament of the positioned lamp'to move the carrier "to position a succeeding lamp, aselectivc switch for transposing said circuit to include an alternative filament of the positioned lamps,*ancl means on the carrier for controlling 'theoperation'of. said switch.

9. A signal device, comprising a carrier for a plurality of lamps movable for positioning the lamps sucwssively, a plurality of multi-filament lamps mounted on the carrier, means for connecting a single filament of the positioned lamp in a lamp circuit including a source of energy,

support about. which the carrier belt turns so la p Changing means Operative 0T1 fa ureof the circuit-connected filament of the positioned lamp to move the carrier until a live lamp has been positioned, a selective switch for transposing said circuit to include an alternative filament of the positioned lamps, and delayed action means for causing operation of said switch only after. the lamp changing means has operated for a time greater than that required for movin one new lamp into position.

* 10. 'A signal device, comprising a carrier for a plurality of lamps movable for positioning the lamps successively, a plurality of multi-filament lamps mounted on the carrier, means for connecting a single filament on the positioned lamp in a lamp circuit including a'sou'rce of energy, lamp changing means operative on failure of the circuit-connected filament of the positioned lamp to move the carrier until a live lamp has been positioned, a selective switch for transposing said circuit to include an alternative filameans for operating said switch only after the lamp changing means has operated for -a time greater than that required for moving one new ina lamp circuit including a source of energy,

lamp changing means operative on failure of the circuit-connected filament of the positioned lamp to move the carrier until a live lamp has been positioned, a selective switchfor transpos- 60 ment of the positioned lamps, and thermoelectric ing said circuit to include an alternative filament of the positioned lamps, and electromagnetic means for operating said switch only after the lamp changing means has operated for a time greater than that required for .moving one new lamp inte position.

12. In a signal device, in combination, a lamp carrier for a plurality of lamps movable for posi tioning the lamps successively, a lamp circuit having terminals for connecting the positioned lamp in the circuit, and lamp. changing means operative on failure of thepositioned lamp to move the carrier to position another'larnp, said lamp changing means including an electric driving motor adapted to operate so long as cur,- rent is supplied thereto, circuit connectionsfor supplying current to said motor, and means aCtuated byflow of current in the lamp circuit to prevent supply of current to said motor.

13. In a signal device, in combination, a lamp carrier for a plurality of lamps movable for positioning. the lamps successively, a lamp circuit having terminals for connecting the positioned lamps in the circuit, and lamp changing means operative on failure of the positioned lamp to move the carrier to position another lamp, said lamp changing means including a vibratoryarmature electromagnetic driving motor adapted to operate so long as current is supplied thereto, circuit connections for supplying current to said motor, and means actuated by flow of current in the lamp circuit to prevent supply of current to said motor.

14. In a flashing light signal device, in combination, a lamp carrier for. a plurality of lamps movable for positioning the lamps successively,

a lamp circuit having terminals for connecting the positioned lamp in the circuit, a source of intermittent current for supplying the lamp circuit, and means operative on failure of the posi: tioned lamp to move the carrier to position a succeeding lamp, said means including an electromagnetic driving motor adapted to operate so long as current is supplied thereto'in a shunt circuit across said source of intermittent current, means actuated by fiow oi current in the lamp circuit to prevent supply of current to said motor, and means operated by said motor to cause cur.- rent to be supplied to saidrnotor continuously until the lamp circuit is again completed through a positioned lamp. I

15. In a flashing light signal device, in combination, a lamp carrier for a plurality of lamps movable for ositioning the lamps successively, a lamp circuit having terminals for connecting the positioned lamp in the circuit, a source of current for supplying the lamp circuit, a current inmrrupter for intermittently interrupting the current inthe lamp circuit, and means oper ative on failure of the positioned lamp to move the carrier to position a succeeding lamp, said means including an electromagnetic driving motor connected in parallel withthe lamp across said source, or current in series with said interrupter, means actuated by flow of current in the lamp circuit to prevent supply of current to said motor, and a switch operated by the lamp carrier to shunt said interrupter and to open the shunt when the circuit is again. completed through a positioned lamp.

l6. Afiashing light signal device, comprising a lamp carrier for a plurality of lamps movable for pcsitioning'th lamps successively, a plurality of contacts set in recesses in a plate of insulating material movable with the carrier, a lamp circuit including va'spring contact in position to engage one of contacts movable with the carrier when a lamp is in position to close the circuit the positioned lamp, a source of intermittent current for supplying the lamp circuit, and means operative on failure of the positioned lamp to move the carrier to position a succeeding lamp, said'means including an electromagnetic driving motor in a shunt circuit across said source or intermittent current, means actuated by flow of current in the lamp circuit to pre vent supply 2 of current to said motor, and a contact positioned to be engaged by said spring contact Whenb-y movement of the carrier the spring contact is moved out of one of said contact recesses, whereby a circuit is closed to supply current continuously to said motor until the lamp circuit is aga'n completed through a positioned lamp. 1 q 1 17. A signal device, comprising a lamp carrier for a plurality of lamps movable for positioning the lamps successively, a lamp circuit including means for connecting the positioned lamp in the circuit, and means operative on failure of the positioned lamp to move the carrier to position another lamp, said means including an electrothe lamp circuit in series with the lamp for operating switch to cut cif the supply of current to the motor when current flows in the lamp circuit.

CHARLES F. WALLACE.

JOHN R. MACKAY.