Sub-assembly for searchlight signal, and associated assembly

• US 9,622,311 B1
• Filed: 04/07/2016
• Issued: 04/11/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alstom Transport Technologies
• Original Assignee: Alstom Transport Technologies
• Inventors: Tiemann, Brian, Crawford, Charles, Fries, Jeffrey
• Primary Examiner(s): King, Monica C
• Application Number:
  US15/093,601
• Time in Patent Office: 369 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 2207/02 using light-emitting diodes [LEDs]
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 5/1827 using light sources of different colours and a common optical system
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 5/1881 Wiring diagrams for power supply, control or testing
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/30 Driver circuits

Abstract

The invention relates to a sub-assembly for a searchlight signal comprising three distinct light emitting diodes and an interface module for connecting the three diodes to a controller.

The interface module comprises:

a light input adapted to receive a signal for feeding a light emitting diode,

a first relay having an active position and an inactive position, and

a second relay having an active position and an inactive position,

such that:

when the second relay and the first relay are in the inactive position, the light input is fed to a first LED,

when the first relay is in the active position, the light input is fed to a second LED, and

when the second relay is in the active position, the light input is fed to a third LED.

Claims

1. A sub-assembly for a searchlight signal comprising:

three distinct light emitting diodes and

an interface module for connecting the three light emitting diodes to a controller, the controller being adapted to control one bulb and three filters,

the interface module comprising;

a light input adapted to receive a signal for feeding a light emitting diode,

a selecting circuitry interposed between the light input and the light emitting diodes,

the selecting circuitry being adapted to select one light emitting diodes to be fed by the signal received by the light input,

a first relay having an active position and an inactive position, and

a second relay having an active position and an inactive position,

the first relay and the second relay controlling the selecting circuitry, such that;

when the second relay and the first relay are in the inactive position, the light input is fed to a first LED,

when the first relay is in the active position, the light input is fed to a second LED, and

when the second relay is in the active position, the light input is fed to a third LED.

2. The sub-assembly according to claim 1, wherein the selecting circuitry comprises conducting lines with two-position switches.

3. The sub-assembly according to claim 2, wherein each two-position switch is commanded by the relays.

4. The sub-assembly according to claim 1, wherein the selecting circuitry consists of conducting lines with two two-position switches.

5. The sub-assembly according to claim 4, wherein each two-position switch is commanded by a respective relay.

6. The sub-assembly according to claim 1, wherein the first LED is a red LED.

7. The sub-assembly according to claim 1, wherein the interface module comprises a switching input and a switching output adapted to receive a voltage signal, the first relay and the second relay being connected between the switching input and the switching output in parallel, the first relay being in the active position when a signal having a first voltage is received, the second relay being in the active position when a signal having a second voltage is received.

8. The sub-assembly according to claim 1, wherein the first relay and the second relay are combined into a single relay, the inactive position of the first relay and the inactive position of the second relay being an inactive position of the single relay, the active position of the first relay being a first active position of the single relay, the active position of the second being a second active position of the single relay.

9. The sub-assembly according to claim 1, wherein the interface module comprises:

a first reference output,

a second reference output,

a third reference output and

a feedback input,

the first relay and the second relay being further adapted such that;

when the second relay and the first relay are in the inactive position, the first reference output and the feedback input are connected,

when the first relay is in the active position, the second reference output and the feedback input are connected, and

when the second relay is in the active position, the third reference output and the feedback input are connected.

10. An assembly comprising:

a sub-assembly according to claim 1,

a searchlight signal housing, the sub-assembly being fitted inside the housing, and

a controller adapted to control one bulb and three filters and having a power output adapted to feed a signal to the light input, the power output of the controller being connected to the light input of the interface module.

11. The assembly according to claim 10, wherein the interface module comprises a switching input and a switching output adapted to receive a voltage signal, the first relay and the second relay being connected to the switching input and output in parallel, the first relay being in the active position when a signal having a first voltage is received, the second relay being in the active position when a signal having a second voltage is received, terminals of the controller being connected to the switching input and output of the interface module, the controller being adapted to feed a voltage signal to the switching input and output.

12. The assembly according to claim 11, wherein the controller comprises:

a first reference input,

a second reference input and

a third reference input and

the interface module comprises;

a feedback input,

the first relay and the second relay being further adapted such that;

when the second relay and the first relay are in the inactive position, the first reference input and the feedback input are connected,

when the first relay is in the active position, the second reference input and the feedback input are connected, and

when the second relay is in the active position, the third reference input and the feedback input are connected,

a signal being fed by the controller to the light input when the reference input coupled to the feedback input is coherent with the voltage signal fed to the switching input.

13. Train infrastructure comprising an assembly according to claim 10.