Signalling device

• US 10,127,779 B2
• Filed: 01/12/2016
• Issued: 11/13/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Auer Signal GmbH
• Original Assignee: Auer Signal GmbH
• Inventors: Auer, Michael, Fehringer, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Wang, Jack K
• Application Number:
  US14/993,549
• Publication Number:
  US 20160203686A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,036 Days
• Field of Search: 3406911
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 10/023 by selectively switching fixed light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/00 Lighting devices intended for fixed installation F21S9/00, F21S10/00 take precedence; using a string or strip of light sources F21S4/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/06 the elements being coupling devices , e.g. connectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/403 for machines
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 7/06 using electric transmission , e.g. involving audible and visible signalling through the use of sound and light sources

Abstract

A signalling device, in particular for a signalling tower, for purposes of displaying operating states, with at least one signalling module, which has a circuit board element for at least one signalling element for purposes of outputting a signal, in particular for a lighting element for purposes of outputting a signal light, wherein the signalling module can be detachably connected with a further signalling module, and in the connected state the signalling modules are arranged one above another, wherein a connecting conductor, running through the signalling module, is provided for purposes of controlling a circuit board element of the further signalling module, wherein the circuit board element of the signalling module for purposes of forming the connecting conductor has a conducting track assigned to the signalling element of the further signalling module, which conducting track in the connected state of the signalling modules is connected via a contact element with a conducting track; on the circuit board element of the further signalling module, wherein the signalling module has a bayonet coupling element for purposes of connecting with a bayonet coupling element of the further signalling module, wherein in an interconnected, non-rotated state of the bayonet coupling elements the circuit board elements are arranged in a non-contact position, and in an interconnected, rotated state of the bayonet coupling elements the circuit board are arranged in a contact position with one another.

Claims

1. A signalling device, in particular for a signalling tower, for purposes of displaying operating states, with at least one signalling module, which has a circuit board element for at least one signalling element for purposes of outputting a signal, in particular for a lighting element for purposes of outputting a signal light,

wherein the signalling module can be detachably connected with a further signalling module, and the signalling modules in the connected state are arranged one above another,

wherein a connecting conductor running through the signalling module is provided for purposes of controlling a circuit board element of the further signalling module, wherein the signalling module has a bayonet coupling element for purposes of connecting with a bayonet coupling element of the further signalling module, wherein in an interconnected, non-rotated state of the bayonet coupling elements the circuit board elements are arranged in a non-contact position, and in an interconnected, rotated state of the bayonet coupling elements the circuit board elements are arranged in a contact position with one another,

wherein the circuit board element extends essentially over the whole height of the signalling module and the circuit board element of the signalling module for purposes of forming the connecting conductor has a conducting track assigned to the signalling element of the further signalling module, which conducting track in the connected state of the signalling modules is connected via a contact element with a conducting track on the circuit board element of the further signalling module,

wherein in the connected state of the signalling modules the contact element is arranged between an upper face contact point of the one circuit board element and a lower face contact point of the other circuit board element,

wherein the circuit board element had stud elements, having contact points and projecting from the upper and lower end faces of the circuit board elements, wherein the lower or upper face stud elements are connected with the contact elements, and the upper or lower face stud elements are respectively free of contact elements.

2. The signalling device in accordance with claim 1, wherein an elastically deflectable contact spring is provided as the contact element, which contact spring in the connected state of the signalling modules connects their circuit board elements with one another.

3. The signalling device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the signalling module has a capping element with a connecting element, the capping element being connected with the circuit board element, wherein the connecting element is accommodated via a detachable connection, in an outer housing.

4. The signalling device in accordance with claim 1, wherein for purposes of protecting the contact elements at least one protective element is provided, at least partially enclosing the contact elements.

5. The signalling device in accordance with claim 4, wherein the protective element has two rows of projections, between which the contact elements are arranged, wherein a first row has comparatively short projections and a second row has comparatively long projections.

6. The signalling device in accordance with claim 3, wherein a cover/floor element of the further signalling module or the capping element of a further circuit board element has at least one passage opening curved in the shape of an arc.

7. The signalling device in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least one optical element is connected with the circuit board element, which optical element has at least one optical lens.

8. The signalling device in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least one capping element is provided, comprising the connecting element, the protective element and the optical element.

9. The signalling device in accordance with claim 3, wherein the capping element has two half-shells, which are connected with one another via a detachable connection.

10. The signalling device in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least one circuit board element has more than three conducting tracks for the control of a corresponding number of signalling modules.

11. The signalling device in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least two signalling modules are provided, connected with one another, and in the connected state arranged one above another.

12. The signalling device in accordance with claim 3, wherein the detachable connection is a snap connection.

13. The signalling device in accordance with claim 3, wherein the outer housing has a cylindrical shell surface.

14. The signalling device in accordance with claim 3, wherein the detachable connection is a snap connection, and wherein the outer housing has a cylindrical shell surface.

15. The signalling device in accordance with claim 7, wherein the number of lenses corresponds essentially to a number of light-emitting diodes provided as a signalling element.

16. The signalling device in accordance with claim 9, wherein the detachable connection is a latching connection.

17. The signalling device in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least one circuit board element has at least five conducting tracks for the control of a corresponding number of signalling modules.

18. The signalling device in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least one circuit board element has eight conducting tracks for the control of a corresponding number of signalling modules.