WO1993024789A1 - Improvements in or relating to search lamps and torches - Google Patents
Improvements in or relating to search lamps and torches Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO1993024789A1 WO1993024789A1 PCT/GB1993/001144 GB9301144W WO9324789A1 WO 1993024789 A1 WO1993024789 A1 WO 1993024789A1 GB 9301144 W GB9301144 W GB 9301144W WO 9324789 A1 WO9324789 A1 WO 9324789A1
- Authority
- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- torch
- obscuring
- temperature
- lamp
- detecting
- Prior art date
Links
Classifications
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F21—LIGHTING
- F21V—FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F21V25/00—Safety devices structurally associated with lighting devices
- F21V25/02—Safety devices structurally associated with lighting devices coming into action when lighting device is disturbed, dismounted, or broken
- F21V25/04—Safety devices structurally associated with lighting devices coming into action when lighting device is disturbed, dismounted, or broken breaking the electric circuit
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F21—LIGHTING
- F21L—LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF, BEING PORTABLE OR SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR TRANSPORTATION
- F21L2/00—Systems of electric lighting devices
Definitions
- This invention relates to search lamps and torches, hereinafter referred to as torches.
- the invention relates to an improvement or modification in the torch described and claimed in our UK patent GB 2 222 449B the contents of which are hereby incorporated by way of reference.
- the torch in GB 2 222 449B is intended for use in situations where there are likely to be explosions due to for example leakages of gas or chemicals.
- the present invention seeks to overcome this problem by detecting when the light output from the torch is restricted, thus causing a rise in temperature.
- the present invention provides a torch having means for detecting any obscuring of the light output from the torch which could cause a temperature rise in the torch and having means for switching off the power supply to the lamp of the torch.
- the detecting means can take a number of forms eg an appropriate sensor detecting the rise of temperature caused by the heating effect of the obscured beam and when the temperature reaches a pre-deter ined value, switching off the bulb power supply until the torch is cooled sufficiently so that it can be used safely again.
- the heat detector or sensor can be mounted in a suitable position in a torch and can cause the lamp to be switched off at a pre-set temperature eg by using a thermistor, a thermocouple, a thermopile, passive infra-red sensors, a heat expansion switch eg. aluminium bar and micro switch, a switching thermometer or any other temperature monitor can be used to switch off the torch at a pre-set temperature so that it will only be allowed to come on again at a pre-set lower temperature.
- a pre-set temperature eg by using a thermistor, a thermocouple, a thermopile, passive infra-red sensors, a heat expansion switch eg. aluminium bar and micro switch, a switching thermometer or any other temperature monitor can be used to switch off the torch at a pre-set temperature so that it will only be allowed to come on again at a pre-set lower temperature.
- the presence of any obscuring material that would be sufficient to cause an undue temperature rise can be detected by measuring the presence of any obscuring substance that may be enough to cause the light to be obscured sufficiently so as to cause temperature rise above the pre-determined value. Once the pre-determined temperature value has been reached the lamp can be switched off.
- the torch can include a temperature sensor which can be arranged to switch off the power supply before the pre-determined temperature value is reached.
- the presence of any obscuring substance can also be determined by detecting the change in electrical capacity at the lens of the torch caused by the presence of obscuring substance eg capacitive detection.
- the change in reflective value of the lens can be detected by opto-electrical means or by measurement of the electro-static change caused by the obscuring substance, or by monitoring the actual light output and detecting any reduction caused by the obscuring material.
- opto-electrical means can be used to sense that the outer surface is clear of any obscuring material.
- the present invention may also use a time control so as not to allow the torch to be on sufficiently long for it to over heat
- Figure 1 shows diagram atically the lens end of one form of torch according to the present invention
- Figure 2 shows diagrammatically front end of a further torch according to the present invention
- Figure 3 shows diagrammatically the front end of a further form of torch according to the present invention
- Figure 4 shows a fourth form of torch according to the present invention
- Figure 5 shows a part sectioned side elevation of one form of torch according to the present invention
- Figure 6 shows a view on arrow A in figure 5.
- Figure 7 shows a circuit for the torch shown in figures 5 and 6.
- FIG. 1 there is shown part of a torch body (10) in which is located a sealed beam lamp unit (12) the end of the torch body being closed off by protective glass (14) .
- the torch includes a temperature sensor (16) which can be located in either one of three positions (a) , (b) or (c) .
- a temperature sensor (16) which can be located in either one of three positions (a) , (b) or (c) .
- the sensor In position (a) the sensor is located on the front face of sealed beam lamp (12) in position (b) the sensor is located on the inside of the protective glass (14) and in position (c) the sensor is located on the exterior of the protective glass (14) .
- the output of the sensor (16) is connected to a detect circuit.
- the temperature sensors will cause the power supply to the sealed beam lamp unit to be switched off via an output from the detect circuit.
- a detector (18) which can measure capacity or electro-static change can be located either at position (a) on the inside of the protective glass (14) or at position (b) on the exterior of the protective glass at (14) .
- the detector (18) is connected to a detect circuit.
- any change in capacity or electro-static voltage is detected due to anything which obscurs the light emitted from the torch then if the changing capacity or electro-static voltage is sufficient to indicate the potential overheating of the torch then the signals from the detectors will switch off the power supply to the sealed beam lamp unit (12) via the detect circuit.
- a photo electric reflective change detector (20) is located on the inside of the protective glass (14) and the detector (20) is connected to a detect circuit.
- any changes in the reflectivity of the protective glass due to obscuring of light emitted from the torch is detected and if the change is sufficient for the temperature of the torch to rise above the pre-determined level then the power supply to the torch is arranged to be switched off via an output from the detect circuit.
- an opto-electric sensor (22) is located on the exterior of the protected glass (14) in either one of positions (a) or (b) and is connected to a detect circuit.
- the photo-electric detector (22) will detect the presence of any obscuring substance to the light emitted from the torch and if that signal is sufficiently high for the temperature of the torch to rise above the pre-determined value then the power supply to the sealed beam bulb unit is arranged to be switched off via an output from a detect circuit.
- the torch circuit is modified so that an external voltage needs to be applied to the torch charging socket before any of the internal torch voltages are present at this socket.
- the torch is only allowed to be charged in a safe area away from any hazardous gasses and then if the safe area only, will have a voltage applied to the charging socket from an external charger. This will then cause the internal battery of the torch to be made available at the socket for charging.
- the charging socket is again isolated from any internal voltages.
- a means of achieving this is to have a relay coil connected internally across the charging socket which when energised by an external voltage switches the torch battery across the charging socket rendering the torch internal battery available for charging.
- the arrangement of the switching circuit and the values of the components in the switching circuit render the torch switching circuit intrinsically safe to BS 5501 standards.
- the material of which the torch body is made has been arranged so that it is non-electrostatic ie it will not hold a charge sufficient to generate a spark.
- a torch having sensing and detecting means according to the present invention is arranged to prevent a dangerous temperature rise occuring in the torch when it is switched on in conditions where the beam output can be obscured eg by coal dust, or when the torch is placed with its lens against a floor or wall or switched on whilst in a packing case.
- the present invention arranges that the torch is switched off when the temperature reaches a pre-determined value and if required the torch circuit can be arranged to give an alarm signal before the pre-determined temperature value is reached.
- the torch (118) comprises an integrally moulded body including a battery housing (120) and a lamp housing (124) .
- the battery housing (120) is rectangular in form as is also the lamp housing (124) there having radius corners.
- the base of the battery housing (120) is continuous with the base of the lamp housing (124) and since both the battery housing (120) and lamp housing (124) are rectangular in section there is not tendency for the torch to roll. Also the torch can be stood upright, on both ends or also on the handle (122) without tipping.
- the lamp housing (124) includes a cover (126) together with a circular translucent protective closure (128) which locates in a recess (130) in the lamp housing (124).
- the contacts (24) and (26) (figure 7) are located in the recess (130) as shown - lo ⁇
- the frangible conductive element (132) is arranged so that its ends contact the terminals (24) and (26) .
- the circuit (10) includes two thermistors (134) and (136) which are both secured to outer centre of the lamp (12) , resistor (138) , transistor (140), relays (142, 144), resistor (145), transistor (146), relay (148) contact (150), diodes (152, 154), resistor (156), transistor (158), thyristor (160) and resistor (162, 164).
- thyristor (160) When thyristor (160) is switched on it diverts the base drive which is supplied through the resistor (138) from the transistor (140) so allowing relays (142) and (144) to de- energise. At the same time when thyristor (160) is switched on it diverts the base drive which is supplied through resistor (145) from transistor (146) , so allowing relay (148) to de- energise thus removing the power supply to the lamp (12) , the lamp being supplied through contact (150) .
- the thyristor (160) is switched on when sufficient gate current flows through diodes (152) and (154) which are supplied through resistor (156) . During normal working this gate current is diverted through thermistors (134) and (136) and transistor (158) .
- the thyristor (160) gate current can be allowed to flow into the gate of thyristor (160) if transistor (158) is switched off. This occurs when the battery voltage is low causing the voltage at resistors (162) and (164) junction to be low so there is insufficient base drive to transistor (158) causing it to switch off.
- the thyristor (160) gate current is also allowed to flow into the gate when the thermistors (134) , (136) which are both in one unit across the front of the lamp reach a high pre-set temperature.
- the thermistors (134) , (136) which are both in one unit across the front of the lamp reach a high pre-set temperature.
- This change in resistance causes a high impedance path through transistor (158) so allowing the current to be diverted through the lower impedance path to the thyrister (134) gate, thus turning the thyristor (160) on.
- ever thyristor (160) is switched on the lamp supply is switched off.
- component (160) is a thyristor it will remain switched on until the supply is removed by operating the torch on/off switch (22) so that even after the lamp cools down the reduction of the thermistors (134) , (136) resistance will not cause the lamp to switch on again until the switch (22) has been operated. This gives the user a chance to remove any obstruction that may have caused overheating eg. by the covering the lens cap.
Abstract
Description
Claims
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
EP93913251A EP0642644A1 (en) | 1992-05-30 | 1993-05-28 | Improvements in or relating to search lamps and torches |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GB9211479.2 | 1992-05-30 | ||
GB929211479A GB9211479D0 (en) | 1992-05-30 | 1992-05-30 | Improvements in or relating to search lamps and torches |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
WO1993024789A1 true WO1993024789A1 (en) | 1993-12-09 |
Family
ID=10716266
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/GB1993/001144 WO1993024789A1 (en) | 1992-05-30 | 1993-05-28 | Improvements in or relating to search lamps and torches |
Country Status (4)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP0642644A1 (en) |
AU (1) | AU4337993A (en) |
GB (1) | GB9211479D0 (en) |
WO (1) | WO1993024789A1 (en) |
Cited By (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO2008036250A1 (en) | 2006-09-19 | 2008-03-27 | Eveready Battery Company, Inc. | Intrinsically safe flashlight |
EP1945998A2 (en) * | 2005-09-15 | 2008-07-23 | Mag Instrument Inc. | Specification improved led module |
US7550943B2 (en) | 2006-09-19 | 2009-06-23 | Eveready Battery Company, Inc. | Intrinsically safe battery-powered device |
Citations (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4216411A (en) * | 1978-08-08 | 1980-08-05 | Wylain, Inc. | Underwater light assembly with low-water cut-off |
DE4105426A1 (en) * | 1991-02-21 | 1992-08-27 | Poellet Wilfried | LV halogen lamp with safety cut=out control - is switched off by pref. three detectors of reflection from surface in hazardous proximity to lamp |
-
1992
- 1992-05-30 GB GB929211479A patent/GB9211479D0/en active Pending
-
1993
- 1993-05-28 WO PCT/GB1993/001144 patent/WO1993024789A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 1993-05-28 EP EP93913251A patent/EP0642644A1/en not_active Withdrawn
- 1993-05-28 AU AU43379/93A patent/AU4337993A/en not_active Abandoned
Patent Citations (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4216411A (en) * | 1978-08-08 | 1980-08-05 | Wylain, Inc. | Underwater light assembly with low-water cut-off |
DE4105426A1 (en) * | 1991-02-21 | 1992-08-27 | Poellet Wilfried | LV halogen lamp with safety cut=out control - is switched off by pref. three detectors of reflection from surface in hazardous proximity to lamp |
Cited By (10)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP1945998A2 (en) * | 2005-09-15 | 2008-07-23 | Mag Instrument Inc. | Specification improved led module |
EP1945998A4 (en) * | 2005-09-15 | 2013-04-24 | Mag Instr Inc | Specification improved led module |
US8847520B2 (en) | 2005-09-15 | 2014-09-30 | Stacey H. West | Thermally self-stabilizing LED module |
WO2008036250A1 (en) | 2006-09-19 | 2008-03-27 | Eveready Battery Company, Inc. | Intrinsically safe flashlight |
US7550943B2 (en) | 2006-09-19 | 2009-06-23 | Eveready Battery Company, Inc. | Intrinsically safe battery-powered device |
US7651239B2 (en) | 2006-09-19 | 2010-01-26 | Eveready Battery Co., Inc. | Intrinsically safe flashlight |
US7723950B2 (en) | 2006-09-19 | 2010-05-25 | Eveready Battery Company, Inc. | Electrical device having a boost converter and an energy limiter |
US7950820B2 (en) | 2006-09-19 | 2011-05-31 | Eveready Battery Company, Inc. | Intrinsically safe flashlight |
US7952321B2 (en) | 2006-09-19 | 2011-05-31 | Eveready Battery Company, Inc. | Device having an energy converter and an energy limiter to limit supplied electrical energy |
EP2405180A3 (en) * | 2006-09-19 | 2013-11-20 | Eveready Battery Company, Inc. | Intrinsically safe flashlight |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
EP0642644A1 (en) | 1995-03-15 |
AU4337993A (en) | 1993-12-30 |
GB9211479D0 (en) | 1992-07-15 |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
JP4624463B2 (en) | Battery pack protection device and protection method | |
US4929930A (en) | Liquid level controller utilizing the rate of change of a thermocouple | |
US6885298B2 (en) | Fuel cell system with a detection system for fire or elevated temperatures | |
EP0085224B1 (en) | Combustion monitoring with an oxygen shortage sensor | |
EP0642644A1 (en) | Improvements in or relating to search lamps and torches | |
US6218951B1 (en) | Safety circuit | |
NO860209L (en) | OVER HEATING ALARM. | |
US3343154A (en) | Ground indicator | |
US5027035A (en) | Search lamps and torches | |
US4363556A (en) | Continuous strip cold detector | |
US3733595A (en) | Condition responsive switching circuit | |
US3943499A (en) | Portable fire detector | |
US4173140A (en) | Trigger device for explosion barrier | |
GB1562578A (en) | Electrical circuit test devices | |
US3188617A (en) | Condition responsive system with prevention of false indication | |
US3673381A (en) | Thermostatless blanket control circuit | |
US4187723A (en) | Liquid nitrogen level indicator | |
US4021702A (en) | Arrangement for detecting deficient operational capability of vacuum switching vessels | |
US3742476A (en) | Fluid flow indicating system | |
US3394334A (en) | Fusible load device with indicating means | |
KR830001886Y1 (en) | Explosion proof gas detection alarm | |
JPS6477887A (en) | Heater control device | |
GB2082752A (en) | Burner Igniter/Detector | |
JP2007123172A (en) | Heating device for water tank or the like | |
US6444986B1 (en) | Method and apparatus for detecting an object within a heating sources's radiating beam |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
AK | Designated states |
Kind code of ref document: A1 Designated state(s): AT AU BB BG BR CA CH CZ DE DK ES FI GB HU JP KP KR LK LU MG MN MW NL NO NZ PL PT RO RU SD SE SK UA US |
|
AL | Designated countries for regional patents |
Kind code of ref document: A1 Designated state(s): AT BE CH DE DK ES FR GB GR IE IT LU MC NL PT SE BF BJ CF CG CI CM GA GN ML MR NE SN TD TG |
|
DFPE | Request for preliminary examination filed prior to expiration of 19th month from priority date (pct application filed before 20040101) | ||
121 | Ep: the epo has been informed by wipo that ep was designated in this application | ||
WWE | Wipo information: entry into national phase |
Ref document number: 1993913251 Country of ref document: EP |
|
ENP | Entry into the national phase |
Ref country code: US Ref document number: 1994 343501 Date of ref document: 19941230 Kind code of ref document: A Format of ref document f/p: F |
|
WWP | Wipo information: published in national office |
Ref document number: 1993913251 Country of ref document: EP |
|
REG | Reference to national code |
Ref country code: DE Ref legal event code: 8642 |
|
WWW | Wipo information: withdrawn in national office |
Ref document number: 1993913251 Country of ref document: EP |
|
NENP | Non-entry into the national phase |
Ref country code: CA |