Indicator to show whether a switch has opened

• US 4,176,350 A
• Filed: 05/18/1977
• Issued: 11/27/1979
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/1977
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Billy J. Patterson
• Original Assignee: Billy J. Patterson
• Inventors: Patterson, Billy J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Caldwell, Sr., John W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Myer, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US05/798,108
• Time in Patent Office: 923 Days
• Field of Search: 340/250, 340/248 R, 340/282, 340/249, 340/253 E, 340/520, 340/652, 340/635, 340/638, 340/639, 340/644, 340/641, 340/648, 318/490, 361/26, 361/32, 361/74, 361/23, 73/363.5, 73/378.3, 337/79, 337/332, 116/221
• US Class Current: 340/644
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 29/00 Safety devices of escalators or moving walkways walkways of variable speed type B66B21/12; handrails of variable speed type B66B23/26

Abstract

An indicator is provided for use in a machine, such as an escalator, having a multiplicity of normally closed switches which act to turn off the machine in the event of a machine malfunction, unsafe condition or an inappropriate switch placement. The switches are capable of reclosing but not restarting the machine. The indicator shows which of the switches caused the machine to stop thereby performing a troubleshooting function to allow a repairman to determine immediately which of the various machine systems caused the malfunction or unsafe condition.

Claims

1. A machine comprising

an electric motor and a circuit for energizing the motor;

a multiplicity of normally closed switches in the circuit for monitoring the operation of the machine any one of which opens in response to the occurrence of an event to shut off the motor and which are capable of reclosing in response to the cessation of the event to place the motor in a condition to restart;

means enabling restarting of the motor upon reclosing of an opened switch; and

means for indicating which of the multiplicity of switches has opened regardless of whether the open switch has reclosed, including a multiplicity of indicators each of which comprises conductive means in circuit with an associated one of the switches in the switch open position which is rendered nonconductive upon opening of its associated switch and upon passage of a given electrical load therethrough and means rendered distinctly different in appearance upon passage of the given electrical load through the conductive means;

each associated switch being arranged in circuit with its associated conductive means for delivering the given electrical load therethrough upon switch opening.

2. The machine of claim 1 wherein the motor energizing circuit includes the conductive means associated with an opened switch.

3. The machine of claim 2 wherein each of the switches comprises a pair of normally closed normally energized contacts, a normally deenergized contact and means energizing the normally deenergized contact upon opening movement of the normally closed contacts, the conductive element being in circuit with the normally deenergized contact.

4. The machine of claim 3 wherein the conductive element is connected between the normally deenergized contact and ground.

5. The machine of claim 4 wherein the conductive means is a fuse.

6. The machine of claim 5 wherein the means rendered distinctly different in appearance of the fuse incorporates means other than the conducted means which change visual appearance upon interruption of the conductive means.

7. The machine of claim 4 wherein the conductive means is a bulb.

8. The machine of claim 7 wherein the means rendered distinctly different in appearance of the bulb incorporates means other than the conductive means which changes visual appearance upon interruption of the conductive means.

9. The machine of claim 7 wherein the bulb is of the inert gas filled type.

10. The machine of claim 2 wherein the conductive means is in parallel with its associated switch.

11. The machine of claim 10 wherein the conductive means is a fuse.

12. The machine of claim 11 wherein the means rendered distinctly different in appearance of the fuse incorporates means other than the conductive means which changes visual appearance upon interruption of the conductive means.

13. The machine of claim 11 wherein the means rendered distinctly different in appearance is the conductive means.

14. The machine of claim 10 wherein the responsive device is a bulb.

15. The machine of claim 14 wherein the means rendered distinctly different in appearance of the bulb incorporates means other than the conductive means which changes visual appearance upon interruption of the conductive means.

16. The machine of claim 2 wherein the machine is an escalator.

17. A machine comprising

an electric motor and a circuit for energizing the motor;

a multiplicity of normally closed switches in the circuit for monitoring the operation of the machine any one of which opens in response to the occurrence of an event to shut off the motor and which are capable of reclosing in response to the cessation of the event to place the motor in a condition to restart;

means enabling restarting of the motor upon reclosing of any opened switch; and

means for indicating which of the multiplicity of switches has opened regardless of whether the opened switch has reclosed, including a multiplicity of indicators each of which comprises a conductive element in circuit with an associated one of the switches in the switch open position which is rendered nonconductive upon opening of its associated switch and upon passage of a given electrical load therethrough, the conductive element having the characteristic of being rendered distinctly different in appearance upon passage of the given electrical load through the conductive element;

each switch being arranged in circuit with its associated conductive element for delivering the given electrical load therethrough upon the switch opening.

18. The machine of claim 17 wherein the motor energizing circuit includes the conductive element associated with an opened switch.