US2673937A - Flasher device - Google Patents

Flasher device Download PDF

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Publication number
US2673937A
US2673937A US265657A US26565752A US2673937A US 2673937 A US2673937 A US 2673937A US 265657 A US265657 A US 265657A US 26565752 A US26565752 A US 26565752A US 2673937 A US2673937 A US 2673937A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
contact
resistance wire
armature
relay
circuit
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Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US265657A
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English (en)
Inventor
Jesse R Hollins
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Individual
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Individual
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Priority to US265657A priority Critical patent/US2673937A/en
Priority to FR1074745D priority patent/FR1074745A/fr
Priority to GB723/53A priority patent/GB729249A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US2673937A publication Critical patent/US2673937A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G08—SIGNALLING
    • G08B—SIGNALLING OR CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS
    • G08B5/00—Visible signalling systems, e.g. personal calling systems, remote indication of seats occupied
    • G08B5/22—Visible signalling systems, e.g. personal calling systems, remote indication of seats occupied using electric transmission; using electromagnetic transmission
    • G08B5/36—Visible signalling systems, e.g. personal calling systems, remote indication of seats occupied using electric transmission; using electromagnetic transmission using visible light sources
    • G08B5/38—Visible signalling systems, e.g. personal calling systems, remote indication of seats occupied using electric transmission; using electromagnetic transmission using visible light sources using flashing light
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H61/00—Electrothermal relays
    • H01H61/06—Self-interrupters, i.e. with periodic or other repetitive opening and closing of contacts
    • H01H61/066—Self-interrupters, i.e. with periodic or other repetitive opening and closing of contacts making use of an extensible wire, rod or strips

Definitions

  • This invention relates to periodic circuit interrupters, commonly known as flashers, as used in signalling circuits to flash signal lamps. More particularly, the invention relates to an improved flasher having a novel self-cleaning contact arrangement.
  • Flashers of the type used in automotive vehicle signalling arrangements are generally of the thermal type, including a high resistance or"hot wire of Nichrome" or the like initially inthe signal circuit, so that, when the circuit control switch is closed, the resistance wire is included in the lamp circuit. Its resistance is sumciently high to prevent sufiicient current flow to the signal lamps to illuminate the latter.
  • the current flowing through the high resistance wire causes the latter to become hot and expand. This expansion allows a pair of contacts, in shunt relation to the hot wire, to close,
  • the present invention is directed to a novel "contact arrangement for flashers, in which arcing of the contacts is substantially reduced.
  • one of the contacts is ar- "ranged to wipe over'the other contact during separation, thereby efiecting automatically a cleaning or dressing of the contacts during each Consequently, the
  • a feature of the invention is that a relay armature is 'not connected to the hot wire, and is spring biased to the open position. When the relay is deenergized; the armature issnapped iii ya contact 34 back by the spring, effecting a quick breaking of the circuit to further reduce the contact aree.
  • Fig. 1 is an elevation view of the invention flasher in the inoperative or open position, and schematically illustrating a source of power and a signal circuit connected to the flasher, and
  • Fig. 2 is a view similar as to Fig. 1 illustrating the flasher in the closed position.
  • Flasher It! includes a dielectric base 6 on which is mounted a metal frame I! including a core l8 of a relay 22 mounted on frame
  • of frame I! carries an outwardly facing contact 22. Adjacent this arm is a flat'spring 23 carrying a contact 25, spring 23 normally tending to engage contact 25 with contact 22.
  • a high resistance wire 30 of "Nichrome or the like, is anchored at one end to the outer end of spring 23 and; at the other end, to a terminal 24 on base i6. Normally, wire 30 holds spring 23 away from frame arm 2
  • Contact 25 is of such length and so mounted that it projects at least slightly beyond'contact 22, extending sufiiciently inwardly to have adequate surface engagement with contact 22.
  • conductor 26 connects frame arm 2
  • Battery is connected by conductor 4
  • a conductor 43 connects the other end of coil 35 to terminal 44 connected by conductor 46 to switch l5.
  • Terminal 41 and conductor 43 connect arm 31 to pilot lamp l2.
  • Flasher l operates in the following manner. When switch is closed, current flows in a circuit from battery ll through core I8, frame 11, arm 21, conductor 26, terminal 24, resistance wire 30, spring 23, conductor 42, coil 35, conductor 43, terminal 44, conductor 46, control switch l5, and either set of signal lamps l3, l3 or l4, l4 to ground. Due to the high resistance of wire 30, the current flow is insuflicient either to operate relay or to effect sensible illumination of the signal lamps.
  • Armature 32 is now pulled toward the relay coil 35, as shown in Fig. 2, engaging contact 21 with contact 25 and contact 34 with contact 35. This lights pilot lamp I2. Armature 3
  • the shunted resistance wire 32 now cools and contracts, drawing spring 23 outwardly to disengage contact 25 from contact 22. Due to the last mentioned shunt circuit, however, there is substantially no load on contacts 22, 25 as they separate, and consequently no arcing. Also, the shunt circuit through armature 32 maintains the relay 20 energized and the signal lamps l3-l3' or l4-
  • the foregoing construction thus provides a durable flasher having low contact maintenance. Additionally, the pilot lamp circuit is independent of the relay coil circuit, and so arranged as to indicate when a signal lamp is defective.
  • a flasher comprising, in combination, a high resistance-wire, a fixed contact, a movable contact engageable with said fixed contact, said high resistance wire being connected at one end to said movable contact, and being in circuit with said fixed and movable contacts, said high resistance wire being adapted when shunted to contract and thereby disengage said movable contact from said fixed contact, means biasing said movable contact to engage said fixed contact to complete a first shunt circuit for said resistance wire, a relay including an operating coil connected in circuit with said movable contact and said resistance wire, and a movable armature included in a second shunt circuit'for said resistance wire, said relay coil being incuded in both shunt circuits, said armature carrying a third contact engageable with said movable contact when said coil is energized through said first shunt circuit closed by engagement of said movable contact with said fixed contact, said movable contact being disposed at an angle to said third contact and movable therealong when the shunted resistance
  • a flasher comprising, in combination, a fixed contact, a movable contact engageable with said fixed contact, a high resistance wire connected at one end to said movable contact for normally biasing said movable contact away from said fixed contact, means biasing said movable contact to engage said fixed contact, a relay including an operating coil and a movable armature, .a circuit, including said fixed contact, said resistance wire, said movable contact, and said coil in series relation, effective to heat said resistance wire to .ex- ,pand the latter, a first relay energizing circuit, in shunt with said resistance wire, and including said fixed contact and said movable contact, in engagement when theresistance wire expands, and said relay coil, said armature carrying a third contact engageable with said movable contact when said coil is energized, and a second relay energizing circuit, in shunt with said resistance wire, and including said third contact, said movable contact, and said relay coil, said movable contact being disposedat an
  • the fixed contact being disposed inwardly of the edge of said second contact nearest said first contact whereby said first contact, when said armature is operated, will engage only the outer edge 1 of said second contact, a circuit including said fixed contact, said resistance wire, said second contact, and said coil in series relation, eifective to heat said resistance wire to expand the latter, a first relay energizing circuit, in shunt with said i resistance wire, and including said fixed contact and said second contact, in engagement when the resistance wir expands, and said relay coil,
  • a second relay energizing circuit in shunt with said resistance wire, and including said first contact, said second contact, and said relay coil, said second contact moving along said first contact
  • said spring member having a second contact extending therealong in a direction substantially perpendicular to said first contact in the operated position of said armature, a high resistanc wire connected between the free end of said spring member and a terminal on said base, a fixed contact carried by said relay frame and engageable by said second contact under the bias influence of said spring member when said resistance wire, is heated and expands, the fixed contact being disposed inwardly of the edge of said second contact nearest said first contact whereby said first contact, when said armature is operated, will engage only the outer edge of said second contact,
  • a conductor connnecting said fixed contact to said terminal a circuit including said fixed contact, said conductor, said resistance wire,said second contact, and said coil in series relation, effective to heat said resistance wire to expand the latter, a first relay energizing circuit, in shunt with said resistance wire, and includingrsaid fixed contact and said second contact, in engagement when the resistance wire expands, and said relay coil, and a second relay energizing circuit, in wire, and including said first contact, said second contact, and said reay coil, said second contactmoving along said first contact, when said resistance wire contracts, and disengaging said'first contact, in the fully contracted condition of said resistance wire, to break th relay energizing circuit.
  • a fiasher comprising, in combination, .a dielectric base, an upright U-shape metal frame mounted on said base, a relay coil mounted in said frame, a metal armature pivotally mounted, in conductive relation therewith, on one arm of the frame and extending toward and beyond the other arm, a first contact extending along the inner surface of the outer end of saidarmature, a fixed contact extending along the outer surface of the outer end of said-other arm, a spring member mounted on said base and extending in parallel spaced relation to such other arm and biased toward the same, a second contact extending along the inner surface of the outer end of said spring member and arranged to engage said fixed contact, said second contact extending outwardly beyond said fixed contact whereby said first contact, when said armature is operated, will engage only the outer edge of said second contact, a high resistance wire connected between the free end of said spring member and a terminal on said base, a conductor connecting said fixed contact to said terminal, a circuit including said fixed contact,
  • a first relay energizing circuit in shunt with said resistance wire, and including said fixed contact and said second contact, in engagement when the resistance wire expands, and said relay coil
  • a second relay energizin circuit in shunt with said resistance wire, and including said first contact, said second contact, and said relay coil, said second contact moving along said first contact
  • said spring member having a second contact extending therealong in a direction substantially perpendicular to said first contact in the operated position of said armature, a
  • a flasher comprising, in combination, a dielectric base, a metal relay frame mounted on said base, a relay coil mounted in said frame, a metal armature hingedly mounted on said frame in conductive relation therewith and carrying a first contact extending therealong, a metal spring member mounted on said base and extending toward said armature, said spring member having a second contact extending therealong in a direction substantially perpendicular to said first con- ,tact in the operated position of said armature, a
  • said relay coil said armature having a second arm extending from said pivotal mounting on said first frame arm, a third contact carried by said second armature arm, and a second fixed contact mounted on saidbase and engageableby said third contact, when said armature is operated, to close an auxiliary circuit including said armature.
  • a flasher comprising, in combination, a high resistance wire, a fixed contact, a movable contact engageable with said fixed contact, said high resistance wire being connected at one end to said movable contact, and being in circuit with said fixed and movable contacts, said high resistance wire being adapted when shunted to contract and thereby disengage said movable contact from said fixed contact, means biasing said movable contact to engage said fixed contact to complete a first shunt circuit for said resistance wire, a relay including an operating coil connected in circuit with said movable contact and said resistance wire, and a movable armature included in a second shunt circuit for said resistance wire, said relay coil being included in both shunt circuits, said armature carrying a third contact engageable with said movable contact when said coil is energized through said first shunt circuit closed by engagement of said movable contact with said fixed contact, spring means biasing Said armature to the contact open position, said movable contact being disposed at an angle to said third contact and movable there
  • a flasher comprising, in combination, a dielectric base, a metal relay frame mounted on said base, a relay coil mounted in said Irame, a
  • metal armature hingedly mounted on said frame in conductive relation therewith and carrying a first contact extending therealong, spring means biasing said armature to the contact openposition, a metal spring member mounted on said base and extending toward said armature, said spring member having a second contact extending therealong in a direction substantially perpendicular to said first contact in the operated position of said armature, a high resistance wire connected to said spring member and normally biasing said spring member to a position retaining said second contact out of the line of movement of said first contact, a fixed contact carried by said relay frame and engageable by said second contact under the bias influence or said spring member when said resistance wire is heated and expands, the fixed contact being disposed inwardly of the edge of said second contact nearest said first contact whereby said first contact, when said armature is operated, will engage only the outer edge of said second contact, a circuit including said fixed contact.
  • said resistance wire, said second contact, and said coil in series relation, efiective to heat said resistance wire to expand the latter, a first relay energizing circuit, in shunt with said resistance wire, and including said fixed contact and said second contact, in engagement when the resistance wire expands, and said relay coil, and a second relay energizing circuit, in shunt with said resistance wire, and including said first contact, said second contact, and said relay coil, said sec? ond contact moving along said first contact, when said resistance wire contracts, and disengaging said first contact, in the fully contracted condi tion of said resistance wire, to break the relay energizing circuit, said spring means effecting fast disengagement of said first contact and said movable contact to reduce arcing thereacross.
  • a flasher comprising, in combination, a dielectric base, an upright U-shape metal frame mounted on said base, a relay coil mounted in said frame, a metal armature pivotally mounted, in conductive relation therewith, on one arm of the frame and extending toward and beyond the other arm, a first contact extending along the inner surface of the outer end of said armature, spring means biasing said armature to the contact open position, a fixed contact extending along the outer surface of the outer end of said other arm, a spring member mounted on said base and extending in parallel spaced relation to such other arm and biased toward the same, a second contact extending along the inner surface of the outer end of said spring member and arranged to engage said fixed contact, said second contact extending outwardly beyond said fixed contact whereby said first contact, when said armature is operated, will engage only the outer edge of said second contact, a high resistance wire connected between the free end of said spring member and a terminal on said base, a conductor connecting said fixed contact to said terminal, a circuit including said fixed

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Electromagnetism (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Lighting Device Outwards From Vehicle And Optical Signal (AREA)
  • Thermally Actuated Switches (AREA)
US265657A 1952-01-09 1952-01-09 Flasher device Expired - Lifetime US2673937A (en)

Priority Applications (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US265657A US2673937A (en) 1952-01-09 1952-01-09 Flasher device
FR1074745D FR1074745A (fr) 1952-01-09 1953-01-08 Dispositif de clignotement pour la commande des lampes de signalisation des véhicules automobiles
GB723/53A GB729249A (en) 1952-01-09 1953-01-09 Improvements in electric flasher device

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US265657A US2673937A (en) 1952-01-09 1952-01-09 Flasher device

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US2673937A true US2673937A (en) 1954-03-30

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US265657A Expired - Lifetime US2673937A (en) 1952-01-09 1952-01-09 Flasher device

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US (1) US2673937A (fr)
FR (1) FR1074745A (fr)
GB (1) GB729249A (fr)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2842642A (en) * 1956-06-13 1958-07-08 Hoda Corp Time delay devices
US2968024A (en) * 1956-05-22 1961-01-10 Joel G Pearsall Sr Signaling means for vehicles and the like
US3593230A (en) * 1969-10-27 1971-07-13 Wagner Electric Corp Load independent thermo-magnetic flasher

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2160017B (en) * 1984-06-05 1988-07-27 Inertia Switch Ltd Electrical switches responsive to two stimuli

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2103277A (en) * 1936-03-25 1937-12-28 Schmidinger Joseph Flasher device
US2103276A (en) * 1936-03-03 1937-12-28 Schmidinger Joseph Flasher device
US2497542A (en) * 1947-06-27 1950-02-14 Gen Electric Time delay magnetic starter
US2503303A (en) * 1945-06-26 1950-04-11 Tung Sol Lamp Works Inc Electric flasher

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2103276A (en) * 1936-03-03 1937-12-28 Schmidinger Joseph Flasher device
US2103277A (en) * 1936-03-25 1937-12-28 Schmidinger Joseph Flasher device
US2503303A (en) * 1945-06-26 1950-04-11 Tung Sol Lamp Works Inc Electric flasher
US2497542A (en) * 1947-06-27 1950-02-14 Gen Electric Time delay magnetic starter

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2968024A (en) * 1956-05-22 1961-01-10 Joel G Pearsall Sr Signaling means for vehicles and the like
US2842642A (en) * 1956-06-13 1958-07-08 Hoda Corp Time delay devices
US3593230A (en) * 1969-10-27 1971-07-13 Wagner Electric Corp Load independent thermo-magnetic flasher

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
FR1074745A (fr) 1954-10-07
GB729249A (en) 1955-05-04

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