The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 24, 1981
Filed:
Jul. 30, 1979
Thomas A Jacobs, Cypress, TX (US);
Tideland Signal Corporation, Houston, TX (US);
Abstract
An alternating current lampchanger control circuit for driving a rotatable turret having a plurality of lamps, such as used in a navigational light. An input receives pulsed alternating current signals and is connected to a power circuit including fixed contacts for supplying the pulsed signals to one of the lamps in the turret. A lampout sensing circuit includes a transformer which has a primary in the lamp power circuit and has a rectifier connected to the transformer secondary. Switching means are connected to the rectifier and are actuated to an on position by a lamp failure. An alternating current turret motor is connected to the input or to a continuous source of alternating electrical current through the switching means for rotating the turret upon a lamp failure. The switching means may include a first triac controlling a second triac connected to the motor. Third switching means are included in a feedback loop to provide an alternating current drive for the motor in a continuous mode. A capacitor is connected to and actuated by a current flow to the motor with a fourth switch connected between the capacitor and the first switch which is actuated when a new lamp is rotated into position whereby the charged capacitor turns the power to the motor off. A fifth switch is connected in the motor circuit to stop the motor when all the lamps burn out. A test switch is connected between the lampout sensing circuit and ground causing the motor to run for testing. A peak suppression circuit prevents unwanted actuation of the switches.