US3641545A - Device for indicating interrupted electric service - Google Patents

Device for indicating interrupted electric service Download PDF

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Publication number
US3641545A
US3641545A US881711A US3641545DA US3641545A US 3641545 A US3641545 A US 3641545A US 881711 A US881711 A US 881711A US 3641545D A US3641545D A US 3641545DA US 3641545 A US3641545 A US 3641545A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
discharge tube
photoconductive element
service
box
resistor
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Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US881711A
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English (en)
Inventor
Takaaki Okada
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Koparu KK
Nidec Precision Corp
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Nidec Copal Corp
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Publication date
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Publication of US3641545A publication Critical patent/US3641545A/en
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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G04—HOROLOGY
    • G04C—ELECTROMECHANICAL CLOCKS OR WATCHES
    • G04C10/00—Arrangements of electric power supplies in time pieces
    • G04C10/04—Arrangements of electric power supplies in time pieces with means for indicating the condition of the power supply
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01R—MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES
    • G01R31/00—Arrangements for testing electric properties; Arrangements for locating electric faults; Arrangements for electrical testing characterised by what is being tested not provided for elsewhere
    • G01R31/50—Testing of electric apparatus, lines, cables or components for short-circuits, continuity, leakage current or incorrect line connections
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01R—MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES
    • G01R31/00—Arrangements for testing electric properties; Arrangements for locating electric faults; Arrangements for electrical testing characterised by what is being tested not provided for elsewhere
    • G01R31/50—Testing of electric apparatus, lines, cables or components for short-circuits, continuity, leakage current or incorrect line connections
    • G01R31/52—Testing for short-circuits, leakage current or ground faults
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01R—MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES
    • G01R31/00—Arrangements for testing electric properties; Arrangements for locating electric faults; Arrangements for electrical testing characterised by what is being tested not provided for elsewhere
    • G01R31/50—Testing of electric apparatus, lines, cables or components for short-circuits, continuity, leakage current or incorrect line connections
    • G01R31/54—Testing for continuity
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G04—HOROLOGY
    • G04C—ELECTROMECHANICAL CLOCKS OR WATCHES
    • G04C15/00—Clocks driven by synchronous motors
    • G04C15/0009—Clocks driven by synchronous motors without power-reserve
    • G04C15/0036—Clocks driven by synchronous motors without power-reserve provided with means for indicating disturbance

Definitions

  • ABSTRACT A device having neon lamps for indicating an interruption of AC service.
  • One of the neon lamps remains to be dark for the initial service period prior to an interruption and also for the subsequent interruption period, but it automatically begins to flicker in a predetermined cycle upon the resumption of service following the interruption.
  • another neon lamp adapted to be lighted up only for the period of the initial service may be utilized as the pilot lamp for indicating the initial service period.
  • the distinguishment of the initial service period from the resumed service period is undertaken by an impedance-retaining circuit which utilizes a combination of a photoconductive element and a neon lamp.
  • FIG. 1 A first figure.
  • the present invention is concerned with an indicating device, and more particularly, it relates to a device for indicating an interrupted service, intended to inform its user of the last interruption of service by'the flickering neon lamp which is started upon the resumption of service following the interrupted service.
  • an accessory device which is adapted to indicate, by the difference in color of portions of an indicating member thereof, the last interruption of service, to enable the user to adjust or correct time of the clock.
  • a device comprises an electromagnet which is capable of only retaining an armature attracted thereto and an actuating member coupled to said armature which is normally urged, by a spring means, to the position in which the armature is out of contact with the electromagnet.
  • One end portion of said actuating member which is coupled to the annature for integral revolution therewith is of regions painted in a blue color and a red color.
  • Arrangement is provided so that, as the actuating member is rotated as a result of either the contacting or the noncontacting state of said armature with the electromagnet, either one of the colored end portions of the actuating member is adapted to be viewed through an indicator window provided in the panel face of the device. Therefore, by manually bringing the armature into contact with the electromagnet during the initial service period prior to an interrupted service, the electromagnet will continuously retain the armature in its state of being attracted to the electromagnet without the need of a further application of manual 'force thereto. During this state of the actuating member contacting the electromagnet, the blue-colored region of the end portion of the actuating member is adapted to be viewed through the indicator window.
  • the red-colored region of the actuating member can be viewed through the window.
  • a general object of the present invention is to provide a device for indicating an interrupted service which is capable of giving the user a most strong visual warning on the fact that there has occurred an interruption of service, as a neon l'amp starts to flicker upon the resumption of service following the last interruption.
  • An important object of the present invention is to provide an arrangement of electrical circuit which is operative in such a way that the neon lamp will not give out flickering signals for the initial service period prior to an interruption but will automatically begin to flicker with a predetermined cycle upon the resumption of service following the last interruption and which requires only a small operating current and accordingly will consume only a small amount of power.
  • Another object of the present invention is to provide an impedance retaining or changeover means containing a photoconductive element and neon lamps, which is capable of distinguishing the period of the initial service from the period of resumed service following an interruption.
  • Still another object of the present invention is to provide various modified arrangements of the aforesaid impedance retaining or changeover means.
  • FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention
  • FIGS. 2 and 3 are explanatory illustrations partly in section, showing modified examples, respectively, of the block labeled 12 which is given in FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram provided with a still another modified example of the block labeled 12 which is given in FIG. 1.
  • the block labeled 10 represents a rectifier circuit using a half-wave rectifier.
  • the block labeled 11 represents a flicker circuit using a neon lamp.
  • the block labeled 12, on the other hand, represents an impedance retaining or changeover network, and, stating in a more plain language, it shows a circuit provided between the points b and b for bypassing the AC current.
  • An input is adapted to be applied through the terminals a and a which are derived from the foregoing respective circuits.
  • the neon lamp Ll will continue to flicker with a cycle which is controlled by the timing resistor R1 and the capacitor C.
  • the neon lamp L1 will likewise flicker also when the terminals b and b are connected together and have therebetween an impedance of a very large value. This is because of the conception that an insertion of a very large resistance between the terminals b and b is substantially equal in function to the instance in which these terminals are open.
  • a switch 5 SW is connected in parallel with a photoconductive element Rx which, in turn, is connected in series with a neon lamp L2.
  • Both the photoconductive element Rx and the neon lamp L2 are enclosed in an opaque box 1 for keeping them shielded from the incidence of external light rays.
  • the outlet and la of the lead wires for the respective parts housed in said box I are provided with opaque members (not shown) for shielding the entry of external light rays therethrough.
  • the photoconductive element Rx which is disposed in optically opposing relation with the neon lamp L2 will have a resistance value which remains to be decreased up to a level (normally very low) corresponding to the quantity of light from the lamp L2 when lighted up. However, when the lamp is dark, said re sistance value will increase up to the level of dark resistance which is very great.
  • the setting switch SW is adapted to break after it has made temporarily. It is necessary that the lighting up of the neon lamp L in the present invention be such that the state of being lighted up is self-retained by means of the photoconductive element Rx, with the exception of the transitory period of lighting of the same by the making of said switch SW for the period of the initial service before an interruption.
  • the setting switch SW desirably is of the type which is operative in such a way that it is manually brought into the on state temporarily and which, upon the removal of the user's fingers therefrom, will instantly return to its off state. It should be noted also that during the initial service period before an interruption, the neon lamp L1 will not flicker.
  • the symbol R2 represents the steady resistance of the neon lamp L2.
  • an auxiliary resistor shown in a dotted line
  • said resistor R2 may be removed from the aforesaid opaque box I By doing so, the box I can have a more compact size.
  • this auxiliary resistor will control, with the cooperation of the resistor R1, the cycle of flickering of the lamp LI at such time in which the service is resumed following an interruption.
  • both of the neon lamps L1 and L2 are not lighted as a matter of course.
  • the neon lamp Ll remains to be dark for the initial service period before an interruption and also for the subsequent period of interruption. However, this lamp Ll will continue to flicker for the period of resumption of service following this interruption.
  • the current which actuates the neon lamp, as an indicator lamp of the type described, is very small in magnitude. For example, it may be below 0.5 ma. Thus, there occurs very little consumption of power.
  • reference numeral 2 represents a box having a small indicator aperture 2b formed in one of the walls and also having a lead wire deriving port 2a.
  • Numerals 3 and 4 represent polarizing filters which are disposed in such a way that their optical faces are turned through relative to each other. Because of this arrangement, the light rays emitting from the neon lamp L2 pass through the polarizing plate 3 and exit outwardly of the box. At the same time, the light rays pass through the other polarizing plate 4 and enter into the photoconductive element Rx. However, external light rays, such as the solar rays and the light rays from electric bulbs, are unable to pass through the polarizing plate 4 after they have passed through the polarizing plate 3.
  • the opaque box 2 which contains two polarizing plates 3 and 4 that are both disposed so as to face the indicator aperture 2b will behave in the same way as does the opaque box 1 shown in Fig. l with respect to the external light rays,
  • the box 2 is arranged so that the light rays from the neon lamp L2 can be afiirmatively recognized visually from outside the box. Accordingly, the behavior which was described in connection with Fig. 1 is accomplished equally as well in this instance also.
  • the state in which the neon lamp L is dark while the neon lamp L2 is lighted up signifies the period of initial service before an interruption.
  • the state in which both of the neon lamps L1 and L2 are dark signifies that the service is suspended.
  • the state in which the neon lamp L1 is dark and the neon lamp L2 is lighted up means that the service has been resumed following the last interruption.
  • reference numeral 5 represents a light-shielding box having a small closable aperture So for introduction of external light rays thereinto.
  • Numeral 6 represents a movable cover disposed in the foreground of said small aperture 5a for free movement to cover and uncover said small aperture.
  • a photoconductive element Rx which is disposed at a position facing said small aperture 5a
  • a neon lamp L2 which is disposed at a position at which the lamp can irradiate the photoconductive element Rx.
  • the cover 6 for setting the lamp L2 to be retained in its lighted state will play role of an optical switch means in the same way as is done by the electrical setting or starting switch SW shown in Fig. 1. In case the device is used under the circumstance in which external light rays are always present therearound, this arrangement of the cover 6 is capable of giving a desirable means to provide a simplified optical switch structure.
  • Fig. 4 there is shown a circuit diagram having a neon lamp L3 which is provided externally of the closed box 1 and which is connected in parallel with the neon lamp L2 shown in Fig. 1.
  • This neon lamp L3 which is provided externally of the closed box 1 and which is connected in parallel with the neon lamp L2 shown in FIG. 1.
  • This neon lamp L3 is adapted to be lighted up only when the neon lamp L2 is lighted up.
  • the types of indication exerted by these lamps L1 and L3 are identical with those given by the lamps L1 and L2 that have been discussed in connection with Fig. 2.
  • the impedance changeover circuit in Fig. 4 contain two neon lamps.
  • the resistors R1 and R2 are those which can serve concurrently as the steady resistors that are used for compensating for the difference in the firing voltage between the neon lamps L2 and L3.
  • the electrical elements shown in Fig. 4 will be as follows in case the input AC voltage applied between the terminals a and a is AC 100 v. and in case the cycle of flickering of the neon lamp L1 is about 2.5 times per second:
  • a device for indicating interrupted AC service comprising a series circuit containing a rectifier, a timing resistor and a capacitor and connected between AC service terminals, a first discharge tube connected in parallel with said capacitor, a series circuit containing a photoconductive element and a second discharge tube and being connected in parallel with said first occurring series circuit containing the rectifier and the timing resistor, and a switch means connected in parallel with said photoconductive element, both of said photoconductive element and said second discharge tube arranged to face said photoconductive element being enclosed in a box made of an opaque material to thereby shield external light rays from being applied to said photoconductive element.
  • a device in which said opaque box is equipped with an indicator aperture, there being provided a first polarizing plate at a position at which this plate covers said aperture, there being provided within said box a second polarizing plate spaced from said first polarizing plate and arranged so that its optical face is turned through relative to the optical face of said first polarizing plate, said second discharge tube being arranged between said first and second polarizing plates, said photoconductive element being arranged to face said second discharge tube with said second polarizing plate interposed therebetween, whereby the light ductive element.
  • a device in WhlCh there IS provided an auxiliary resistor between a point of connection (d) of said capacitor with said first discharge tube, said point of connection being located on the side not connected with said timing resistor, and one (a') of said AC service terminals not connected with said resistor nor with said rectifier.
  • a device for indicating interrupted AC service comprising a series circuit containing a rectifier, a timing resistor and a capacitor and connected between AC service terminals, a first discharge tube connected in parallel with said capacitor, and a series circuit containing a photoconductive element and a second discharge tube and being connected in parallel with said first occurring series circuit containing the rectifier and the timing resistor, both of said photoconductive element and said second discharge tube being enclosed in an opaque box having an aperture for introducing external light rays thereinto, said aperture being covered by a movable opaque cover member to thereby pennit said photoconductive element to be temporarily subjected to external rays through said aperture.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Power Engineering (AREA)
  • Control Of Indicators Other Than Cathode Ray Tubes (AREA)
  • Emergency Alarm Devices (AREA)
  • Emergency Protection Circuit Devices (AREA)
  • Audible And Visible Signals (AREA)
  • Illuminated Signs And Luminous Advertising (AREA)
US881711A 1968-12-09 1969-12-03 Device for indicating interrupted electric service Expired - Lifetime US3641545A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP1968107246U JPS4815299Y1 (zh) 1968-12-09 1968-12-09

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US3641545A true US3641545A (en) 1972-02-08

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JP (1) JPS4815299Y1 (zh)

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4043112A (en) * 1975-01-29 1977-08-23 Kabushiki Kaisha Daini Seikosha Electronic timepiece having a battery voltage monitor
US4258968A (en) * 1979-04-13 1981-03-31 Holt Kenneth M Generator adaptor
US4566803A (en) * 1983-09-27 1986-01-28 Omron Tateisi Electronics Co. Power source off delay timer with liquid crystal display
US4607215A (en) * 1983-02-27 1986-08-19 Anritsu Electric Co., Ltd. Spectrum analyzer
US5239441A (en) * 1990-08-20 1993-08-24 Portland General Electric Corporation Underground power line fault locating system
US20090309746A1 (en) * 2008-06-13 2009-12-17 Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd. System and method for detecting power supply error of electronic device and electronic device

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1788111A (en) * 1928-08-22 1931-01-06 Westinghouse Electric & Mfg Co Street-lighting system
US2081450A (en) * 1934-12-28 1937-05-25 William P Elliot Distress signal for electricallyoperated clocks
US3311779A (en) * 1963-03-27 1967-03-28 Jr Heinrich Hartkorn Indicating lamp circuit for the failure of head lamp circuit

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1788111A (en) * 1928-08-22 1931-01-06 Westinghouse Electric & Mfg Co Street-lighting system
US2081450A (en) * 1934-12-28 1937-05-25 William P Elliot Distress signal for electricallyoperated clocks
US3311779A (en) * 1963-03-27 1967-03-28 Jr Heinrich Hartkorn Indicating lamp circuit for the failure of head lamp circuit

Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4043112A (en) * 1975-01-29 1977-08-23 Kabushiki Kaisha Daini Seikosha Electronic timepiece having a battery voltage monitor
US4258968A (en) * 1979-04-13 1981-03-31 Holt Kenneth M Generator adaptor
US4607215A (en) * 1983-02-27 1986-08-19 Anritsu Electric Co., Ltd. Spectrum analyzer
US4566803A (en) * 1983-09-27 1986-01-28 Omron Tateisi Electronics Co. Power source off delay timer with liquid crystal display
US5239441A (en) * 1990-08-20 1993-08-24 Portland General Electric Corporation Underground power line fault locating system
US20090309746A1 (en) * 2008-06-13 2009-12-17 Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd. System and method for detecting power supply error of electronic device and electronic device
US7990278B2 (en) * 2008-06-13 2011-08-02 Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd. System and method for detecting power supply error of electronic device and electronic device

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE1961410A1 (de) 1970-06-18
JPS4815299Y1 (zh) 1973-04-27
DE1961410B2 (de) 1972-10-05

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