US2487734A

US2487734A - Progressive illuminating means

Info

Publication number: US2487734A
Application number: US750352A
Authority: US
Inventors: Richard H Seaman
Original assignee: Mega Corp
Current assignee: Mega Corp
Priority date: 1947-05-24
Filing date: 1947-05-24
Publication date: 1949-11-08
Anticipated expiration: 1966-11-08

Description

2 487,73 &

Nov. 8, 1949 R. H. SEAMAN PROGRESSIVE ILLUMINATING MEANS Filed May 24, 1,94?

, I N VEN TOR. Hawaii/5642mm,

AW r 6 7%, 41%

Patented Nov. 8, 1949 2 487334 PROGRESSIVE 'ILLUMINATING Richard H. Seaman,

to Mega "Gorporation, corporation of California Application May 24, 1947, SerialNo."750;352

'7 Claims. 1 The present invention relates to improvements in progressive illuminating means.

More particularly, the present'invention relates to control means for one or a plurality of flucrescent tubes whereby the various portions of each or all of said tubes maybe activated progressively according to a predetermined program. Such devices are useful foradvertising and other purposes.

An object of the present invention is to provide progressive illuminating means involving one or more fluorescent tubes which illuminating means involve only simple and sturdy :parts which are not likely to get out of order.

A further object is to provide progressive illuminating means involving one or more fluomatically a preferred embodiment of'the present invention.

The numerals li)-l indicate fiuorescenttubes, each of which is provided with a cathode 'H and a plurality of anodes l2, l3, l4 and i5. Said tubes are preferably of the hot cathode type. The number of anodes may be chosen within a relatively wide range, the number and the spacing of the anodes depending upon the type of service in which the device is to be used. Any number of tubes may be used.

The numerals l6 and I1 indicate a supply circuit which may be connected to a source of alternating current. The circuit [5, I1 is provided with "the fuse l8 and the main switch 19. The circuit l6, l1 supplies the primary '20 of a transformer 2| and also supplies the primary 22 of the high reactance transformer 2 3. The transformer 23 is "provided with the secondary winding 25, the twoterminalsthereof being connected to the plates of the tubes -2626 of the full wave rectifier assembly or uni-directional power source "21. The transformer 21 is utilized for heating the cathodes H-ll of the tubes Ill-11] and the cathodes of the1tubes 2fi-45 and for this purpose is provided with the plurality of secondary windings 2.8-18connected to the L05 Angeles, Calif,,-assignor Los 'Angeles, Calif a corresponding cathodes in the tubes 10- M ;-and

with the secondary winding 29 connected :to the cathodes of the rectifying =tubes 26-46. The mid-point of the secondary winding 'is adapted to be connected by means of the conductor 30 to the cathode I I "of the firs't tube 10. The last anode, [5, of the first tube I0 is connected to the cathode I! of the next tube 10 by means :of the conductor 3i. The conductor 60 :has interposed therein *the time-delay switch 31a. This switch may be of either the thermal or magnetic "type and is illustrated as being operable in *response to a coil 3lb connected across :the terminals of the primary 2.2 of the transformer 28. The time-delay switch .3la will provide va delay in the operation of the uni-directional zpower source until the cathodes have beenheated.

The numerals '32, 33, 34 and 35 indicate relays adapted to complete circuit successively to the anodes, l2, l3, l4 and 15 of the first tube l0. The numerals 36, 131 and '38 indicate relays adapted to complete circuit successively 'to :the "anodes l2, l3, and '5 :of the second tube no. The'relays 32, 3'3, 34, 35, 36, 31 and 338 may :be :of known types readily purchasable in the market and need not be described in detail :herein. It will be sufiicient to state that each of said relays is of the time-delay type and will operate only after the lapse of a predetermined interval (which should preferably be variable at =the'wlll of the operator) after being energized.

The relays "-32, 33, '34, 35, 36, 31 and 38 may be of similar construction, each being provided with a core '39 "and operating coil M, a two-position switch arm '41 and a pair of relatively stationary contacts 42 and 43. One terminal of the coil of the relay 32 is "connected'to *the positive side o'fthe uni-directional power source 21 and the other terminal of said coil is connected to the switch arm '41 ofthatrelay. Each of the stationary contacts 12-42 of "the various relays connected to its individual anode 5H, 13 or H of the tubes I'll-11). The stationary contact l3 of the relay (l2 'is connected to one terminal of the operating coil 40 of the cnext .relay, 33. The other terminal of the operating coil of the relay 33 :isconnected to the-swltchiarm M of that relay. The relatively stationary contacts 43-43 of the relays I33 and Y34 are connected to the operating coils :of the next succeeding relays, respectively. 'Theastationary-contacts 43 oftherelayl35 isconnected .to one terminal of the operating coil on the relay 36 associated with .thesecond tube 10. The other terminal of this operating coil :is connected :to the switch :arm

'ator) said relay 33 will operate to cuit to the next succeeding anode, resulting in 4| of said relay 36. The stationary contacts 43-43 of the relays 36 and 31 are connected to the switch arm 4| of the relays 36 and 31, respectively. The relatively stationary contact 43 of the relay 38 is connected to the anode of the last of the tubes l0 through a conductor 44.

Interposed in the conductor 44 is a relay 45 which may be a relay of the thermal type or other delayed -action type which will have the function of extinguishing the illumination of the tubes |0||I after the lapse of a predetermined time interval following the completion'of the illumination of said tubes. A I

The drawing illustrates schematically a type of relay 45 which may be employed in connection with the conductor 44. Said relay includes a switch 46 biased to closedposition located inv the circuit connecting the rectifier assembly 21 with the operating coil 40 of the relay 32. cated in the conductor 44 is the operating coil 41 adapted after the lapse of a predetermined time interval (which should be variable at the choice of the operator) to open the switch 46. The opening of the switch 46 will break the circuit through both tubes |0|Ui, the switch 46 will return to its biased closed position and the progressive illumination of the tubes |0|t1 will start anew.

A preferred mode of operation of the above described embodiment of the present invention is substantially as follows:

With-the main switch I3 open, none of the operating coils of the relays 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 3?

and 38 will be energized and each of the switch arms 4| of said relays will be in its biased posi tion so that said'switch areas will engage the contacts 4242 which contacts are electrically connected to the anodes of the tubes Ill-l3. Upon closure 0f the main switch IS the transformer 2| will be energized whereb the secondary windings 28, 29 thereof will deliver heating current to the cathodes I of the tubes |0-|D and 26--26. After the lapse of a predetermined time interval, the time-delay switch 3|a will close and full wave impulses will be;

delivered from the positive side of the uni-directional power source 21 through the coil 4| of the relay 32, switch arm 4| and contact '42 to the anode |2 'of the first tube I0. Discharge will occur between the anode I2 and the cathode II, the current returning through the conductor 30 and switch 3| a to the midpoint of the secondary winding 28 of the high reactance transformer 23. That portion of the first tube it between 'theanode l2 and the cathode II will be illuminated.

After the lapse of a predetermined period of .time after the energization of the coil 40 of the relay 32, said relay 32 will draw the switch arm 4| into engagement with the contact 43 of the relay 32, thereby completing circuit from the rectifier assembly through the coil 4!], switch arm 4|; and contact 43 of the relay 32 to the coil '40 of the relay 33 through the switch arm of said relay to the anode l3 of the tube It]; .Discharge will occur in the first tube It! between the anode I3 and the cathode thereof, current returning through the conductor 3|] to the midpoint of the secondary winding 28 of the transformer 23.

After the lapse of a predetermined time interval (which should be variable at the will of the opercomplete cirthe progressive ionization of the first tube H).

F The relays will be energized in succession. When l v be energized in succession, completing circuit 4 relay 35 has been energized and has moved its switch arm 4| into engagement with its contact 43, circuit will be completed through the operating coils of the relays 32, 33, 34, 35 and 36 to the anode 2 of the second tube, whence circuit may be traced to the cathode of the second tube through the conductor 3|, through the first tube l0, through the conductor 30 to the negative side of the rectifier assembly 21. The relays associated with the second tube ID will through the time-delay relay 45 to the anode l5 of the last tube l0 and from tube to tube back through the conductor 30 to the rectifier assembly 21. After the lapse of a predetermined time interval, the relay 45 will become operative to break circuit between uni-directional power 'sourc'e'21 and the tubes Ill-I0, discontinuing the illumination of said tubes and allowing each of the relays to return to biased position wherein the switch arms 4| thereof engage their respective contacts 42. After the lapse of a predetermined time interval determined by the setting of the relay 32, the tubes Ill-l3 will go through another cycle of progressive illumination, these cycles being repeated until the main switch 9 is opened.

Though a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail, many modifications will occur to those skilled in the art. It is intended to cover all such modifications that fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In progressive illuminating means, a gase ous tube of the hot cathode type having a cathode and a plurality of anodes, each of said anodes having connected thereto a time-responsive relay, each of said relays having a switch contact biased toward electrical connection with its individual anode and adapted after a lapse of a predetermined time interval to pass current to the next succeeding anode in said tube.

2. In progressive illumination means, in combination, a gaseous tube of the hot cathode type having a cathode and a plurality of spaced anodes, each of said anodes having a relay connected thereto, each of said relays including a switch member normally connecting it with its corresponding anode and adapted alternatively to be connected through the next succeeding relay to the anode associated with said next succeeding relay. 3. In combination, a plurality of gaseous tubes, each provided with a cathode and each provided with a plurality of anodes, said tubes being connected in series, a plurality of relays associated with said anodes, each of said relays being normally biased to a position in which the operat-- ing coil thereof is in electrical connection with its corresponding anode but adapted upon energization to have electrical contact through the operating coil of the next succeeding relay to the anode associated with said next succeeding relay.

4. In combination, a plurality of gaseous tubes, each provided with a cathode and each provided with a plurality of anodes, said tubes being con nected in series, a plurality of relays associated with said anodes, each of said relays being normally biased to a position in which the operating coil thereof is in electrical connection with its corresponding anode but adapted upon energization to have electrical contact through the operating coil of the next succeeding relay to the anode associated with said next succeeding relay, and time-responsive circuit control means for interrupting circuit through said tubes.

5. In progressive illuminating means, a gaseous tube having a cathode and a plurality of anodes, a plurality of time-responsive relays, each having an operating coil, a movable switch element and a pair of contacts, each of said anodes being directly connected to a corresponding contact of said pairs of contacts, the other of said contacts being connected through the operating coil of the next succeeding relay to the movable switch element of said next succeeding relay.

6. In progressive illuminating means, a plurality of gaseous tubes, each having a cathode and a plurality of anodes, said tubes being connected in series, a plurality of time-responsive relays, each having an operating coil, a movable element and a pair of contacts, one of the contacts of each relay being electrically connected to a corresponding anode in said tubes, each of said relays being adapted upon energization to complete a circuit from the operating coil thereof, the movable switch element thereof through the operating coil and the movable switch element of the next succeeding relay to the next succeeding anode.

7. In progressive illuminating means, a. plurality of gaseous tubes, each having a cathode and a plurality of anodes, said tubes being connected in series, a plurality of time-responsive relays, each having an operating coil, a movable element and a pair of contacts, one of the contacts of each relay being electrically connected to a corresponding anode in said tubes, each of said relays being adapted upon energization to complete a circuit from the operating coil thereof, the movable switch element thereof through the operating ml and the movable switch element of the next succeeding relay to the next succeeding anode, and means responsive to the flow of current to the last of said anodes for interrupting the flow of current through said tubes.

RICHARD H. SEAMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,217,715 Crane Feb. 27, 1917 2,056,619 Reger et al Oct. 6, 1936 2,150,902 Van Bain Mar. 21, 1939