Thermally responsive flash lamp sequencing apparatus

Claim 2

For use in or with a photographic camera, a flash lamp sequencing device for receiving a multilamp flash assembly and for successively advancing component lamps of the flash assembly into a predetermined firing position, comprising: socket means for receiving and retaining a multilamp flash assembly; and socket indexing means for advancing said socket means through a plurality of index positions effective to locate the component lamps of the flash assembly successively in said firing position, comprising: thermally responsive means including a sensing element of unitary mass and having a uniform coefficient of expansion disposed to receive a predetermined input of thermal energy from a lamp ignited in said firing position, said element increasing in length by a predetermined increment due to thermal expansion when said predetermined input of thermal energy is received, and means coupled to said socket means and responsive to said thermally responsive means for effecting movement of said socket means from one of said index positions to the next succeeding index position each time a lamp is ignited.

Claim 3

The apparatus defined by claim 1, wherein said element is an elongated metallic member.

Claim 4

The apparatus defined by claim 2, wherein said member comprises a thin, flat, darkened band.

Claim 5

For use in or with a photographic camera, a flash lamp sequencing device for receiving a multilamp flash assembly and for successively advancing component lamps of the flash assembly into a predetermined firing position, comprising: socket means for receiving and retaining a multilamp flash assembly; and socket indexing means for advancing said socket means through a plurality of index positions effective to locate the component lamps of the flash assembly successively in said firing position, comprising: thermal sensing means disposed to receive a predetermined input of thermal energy from a lamp ignited in said firing position, said sensing means increasing in physical size by a predetermined increment due to thermal expansion when said predetermined input of thermal energy is received, amplifying means for detecting said increment in size of said sensing means and amplifying it to produce in a control member a working displacement substantially greater than said increment, and means responsive to movement of said control member through said working displacement for effecting movement of said socket means from one of said index positions to a succeeding index position thereof each time a lamp is ignited.

Claim 6

For use in or with a photographic camera, a flash lamp sequencing device for receiving a multilamp flash assembly and for successively advancing component lamps of the flash assembly into a predetermined firing position, comprising: socket means for receiving and retaining a multilamp flash assembly; and socket indexing means for advancing said socket means through a plurality of index positions effective to locate the component lamps of the flash assembly successively in said firing position, comprising: thermal sensing means disposed to receive a predetermined input of thermal energy from a lamp ignited in said firing position, said sensing means increasing in physical size by a predetermined increment due to thermal expansion when said predetermined input of thermal energy is received, amplifying means for detecting said increment in size of said sensing means and amplifying it to produce in a control member a working displacement substantially greater than said increment, and means responsive to movement of said control member through said working displacement for effecting movement of said socket means from one of said index positions to a succeeding index position thereof each time a lamp is ignited.

Claim 7

The apparatus defined by claim 4, wherein said sensing means has a relatively high thermal conductance.

Claim 8

The apparatus defined by claim 5, wherein said sensing means comprises a thin, flexible metallic band.

Claim 9

The apparatus defined by claim 4, wherein said socket indexing means includes means for applying a tensive force on said sensing means.

Claim 10

The apparatus defined by claim 7, wherein said sensing means is an elongated flexible band and wherein said tensing means includes a fixed first spindle for holding one end of said band and a rotatably mounted second spindle for holding and winding the opposite end of said band, said control member being affixed to and extending radially from said second spindle for magnifying angular displacements of said second spindle, said tensing means further including spring means acting on said control member for exerting a predetermined tensile stress on said band, whereby upon ignition of a lamp said band expands lengthwise by said predetermined increment, thereby permitting said control member to be angularly displaced by said spring means to develop at its distal end said working displacement.

Claim 11

The apparatus defined by claim 8, wherein said sensing means comprises a thin, flat, blackened metallic band.

Claim 12

The apparatus defined by claim 4, wherein said socket indexing means includes mounting means mounting said socket means for rotation about a fixed axis, and wherein said indexing means further includes motive means coupled to said socket means for developing a driving torque on said socket means.

Claim 13

The apparatus defined by claim 8, wherein said socket indexing means includes mounting means mounting said socket means for rotation about a fixed axis, and wherein said indexing means further includes motive means coupled to said socket means for developing a driving torque on said socket means.

Claim 14

The apparatus defined by claim 11, wherein said socket indexing means includes an escapement mechanism comprising escape wheel means connected to said socket means, said control member comprising a pawl mounted to oscillate and having a pair of arms embracing said escape wheel means, said arms having at their respective distal ends a pair of pallets which alternately engage escape teeth which are positioned on said escape wheel means so as to establish said index positions of said socket assembly means, the thermal expansion and subsequent contraction of said band when a lamp is ignited causing said pawl to rock and free said escape wheel means to permit rotation of said socket means under the influence of said motive means toward said succeeding index position thereof.

Claim 15

The apparatus defined by claim 12, wherein alternate escape teeth on said escape wheel means are axially offset to effectively establish two angularly displaced, axially separated escape wheels, said arms of said pawl being offset one from the other for engaging said axially separated escape wheels, whereby in each oscillatory cycle of said pawl said escape wheel means, and thus said socket means, advances angularly the equivalent of two teeth.

Claim 16

The apparatus defined by claim 13, wherein a predetermined one of said arms engages escape teeth on a predetermined one of said axially separated escape wheels when said device is in its rest state, wherein said teeth on said predetermined one of said escape wheels each have an axial camming surface, and wherein said predetermined one of said arms is resilient and is deflected laterally by said camming surfaces on said teeth so as to clear said teeth when said socket assembly is counter-rotated against the bias provided by said motive means.

Claim 17

For use in or with a photographic camera, a flash lamp sequencing device for receiving a multilamp flash assembly and for successively advancing component lamps of the flash assembly into a predetermined firing position, comprising: socket means for receiving and retaining a multilamp flash assembly; means mounting said socket means for rotation; and socket indexing means for rotating said socket means through a plurality of index positions effective to locate the component lamps of the flash assembly successively in said firing position, comprising: thermal sensing means disposed to receive a predetermined input of thermal energy from a lamp ignited in said firing position, said sensing means increasing in length due to thermal expansion when said predetermined input of thermal energy is received, motive means for applying a driving torque on said socket means, and an escapement mechanism including escape wheel means coupled to said socket means and having escape teeth positioned on said escape wheel means so as to establish said index positions of said socket means, a pawl having a pair of arms embracing said escape wheel means, said arms having at their respective distal ends a pair of pallets which alternately engage said escape teeth on said escape wheel means, and pawl drive means responsive to expansion and subsequent contraction of said sensing means for oscillating said pawl each time a lamp is ignited to release said escape wheel means and thereby permit rotation of said socket means by said motive means to the next succeeding index position thereof.

Claim 18

For use in or with a photographic camera, a flash lamp sequencing device for receiving a multilamp flash assembly and for successively advancing component lamps of the flash assembly into a predetermined firing position, comprising: socket means for receiving and retaining a multilamp flash assembly; means mounting said socket means for rotation; and socket indexing means for rotating said socket means through a plurality of index positions effective to locate the component lamps of the flash assembly successively in said firing position, comprising: thermal sensing means disposed to receive a predetermined input of thermal energy from a lamp ignited in said firing position, said sensing means increasing in length due to thermal expansion when said predetermined input of thermal energy is received, motive means for applying a driving torque on said socket means, and an escapement mechanism including escape wheel means coupled to said socket means and having escape teeth positioned on said escape wheel means so as to establish said index positions of said socket means, a pawl having a pair of arms embracing said escape wheel means, said arms having at their respective distal ends a pair of pallets which alternately engage said escape teeth on said escape wheel means, and pawl drive means responsive to expansion and subsequent contraction of said sensing means for oscillating said pawl each time a lamp is ignited to release said escape wheel means and thereby permit rotation of said socket means by said motive means to the next succeeding index position thereof.

Claim 19

The apparatus defined by claim 15, wherein said pawl drive means includes tensing means for applying a tensive force on said sensing means.

Claim 20

The apparatus defined by claim 15, wherein alternate escape teeth on said escape wheel means are axially offset to effectively establish two angularly displaced, axially separated escape wheels, said arms of said pawl being offset one from the other in different planes for engaging said axially separated escape wheels, whereby in each oscillatory cycle of said pawl said escape wheel means, and thus said socket means, advances angularly the equivalent of two teeth.

Claim 21

The apparatus defined by claim 17, wherein said tensing means includes a fixed first spindle for holding one end of said sensing means and a rotatably mounted second spindle for holding and winding the opposite end of said sensing means, said pawl being affixed to and extending radially from said second spindle for magnifying any angulaR displacement of said second spindle, said tensing means further including spring means acting on said pawl for exerting a predetermined tensile stress on said sensing means, whereby upon ignition of a lamp said sensing means expands lengthwise, thereby permitting said pawl to be angularly displaced by said spring means.

Claim 22

For use in or with a photographic camera, flash apparatus for receiving and rotationally indexing a flash cube to successively locate component lamps in the flash cube in a predetermined firing position, comprising: socket means for receiving and retaining a flash cube; electrical contact means supported to engage electrical terminals of a component flash lamp located in said firing position; means mounting said socket means for rotation; and socket indexing means for rotating said socket means through four quadrature index positions effective to locate the four component lamps of the flash cube successively in said firing position, comprising: an elongated thermal sensing element disposed to receive a predetermined input of thermal energy from a lamp ignited in said firing position, said sensing element increasing in length due to thermal expansion by a predetermined increment when said predetermined input of thermal energy is received, motive means for applying a driving torque on said socket means, and an escapement mechanism including escape wheel means coupled to said socket means and having escape teeth positioned on said escape wheel means so as to establish said index positions of said socket means, a pawl having a pair of arms embracing said escape wheel means, said arms having at their respective distal ends a pair of pallets which alternately engage said escape teeth on said escape wheel means, and pawl drive means responsive to expansion and subsequent contraction of said sensing means for oscillating said pawl each time a lamp is ignited to release said escape wheel means and thereby permit rotation of said socket means by said motive means to the next succeeding index position thereof.

Claim 23

For use in or with a photographic camera, flash apparatus for receiving and rotationally indexing a flash cube to successively locate component lamps in the flash cube in a predetermined firing position, comprising: socket means for receiving and retaining a flash cube; electrical contact means supported to engage electrical terminals of a component flash lamp located in said firing position; means mounting said socket means for rotation; and socket indexing means for rotating said socket means through four quadrature index positions effective to locate the four component lamps of the flash cube successively in said firing position, comprising: an elongated thermal sensing element disposed to receive a predetermined input of thermal energy from a lamp ignited in said firing position, said sensing element increasing in length due to thermal expansion by a predetermined increment when said predetermined input of thermal energy is received, motive means for applying a driving torque on said socket means, and an escapement mechanism including escape wheel means coupled to said socket means and having escape teeth positioned on said escape wheel means so as to establish said index positions of said socket means, a pawl having a pair of arms embracing said escape wheel means, said arms having at their respective distal ends a pair of pallets which alternately engage said escape teeth on said escape wheel means, and pawl drive means responsive to expansion and subsequent contraction of said sensing means for oscillating said pawl each time a lamp is ignited to release said escape wheel means and thereby permit rotation of said socket means by said motive means to the next succeeding index position thereof.

Claim 24

The apparatus defined by claim 19, wherein said escape wheel means has eight spaced teeth, alternate escape teeth being axially offset to effectively establish two axially separated escape wheels which are angularly displaced by 45*, said arms of said pawl being offset one from the other in different planes for engaging said axially separated escape wheels, whereby in each oscillatory cycle of said pawl said escape wheel means, and thus said socket means, advances 90* .

Claim 25

The apparatus defined by claim 20, wherein a predetermined one of said arms engages escape teeth on a predetermined one of said axially separated escape wheels when said device is in its rest state, wherein said teeth on said predetermined one of said escape wheels each have an axial camming surface, and wherein said predetermined one of said arms is resilient and is deflected laterally by said camming surfaces on said teeth so as to clear said teeth when said socket means is counter-rotated against the bias provided by said motive means.

Claim 26

The apparatus defined by claim 19, wherein said pawl drive means includes tensing means for applying a tensive force on said sensing element.

Claim 27

The apparatus defined by claim 22, wherein said sensing element is an elongated flexible band and wherein said tensing means includes a fixed first spindle for holding one end of said band and a rotatably mounted second spindle for holding and winding the opposite end of said band, said pawl being affixed to and extending radially from said second spindle for magnifying angular displacements of said second spindle, said tensing means further including spring means acting on said pawl for exerting a predetermined tensile stress on said band.

Claim 28

The apparatus defined by claim 23, wherein said escape wheel means has eight equally spaced teeth, alternate escape teeth being axially offset to effectively establish two axially separated escape wheelS which are angularly displaced by 45*, said arms of said pawl being offset one from the other in different planes for engaging said axially separated escape wheels, wherein in each oscillatory cycle of said pawl said escape wheel means, and thus said socket means, advances 90* .

Claim 29

The apparatus defined by claim 24, wherein said sensing element comprises a thin metallic band.

Claim 30

For use with a photographic camera, a flash lamp sequencing device for successively advancing component lamps of a multilamp flash assembly into a predetermined firing position, comprising: socket means for receiving and retaining a multilamp flash assembly, said socket means defining a plurality of latch surfaces associated with a number of index positions of said socket means; means for mounting said socket means for rotation; motive means for applying a driving torque on said socket means; and socket indexing means for advancing said socket means through said index positions effective to locate the component lamps of the flash assembly successively in said firing position, comprising: a sensing element disposed adjacent said flash assembly so as to receive thermal energy from a lamp ignited in said firing position, said element having the characteristic that its physical size is altered by a predetermined increment due to thermal expansion when a lamp having a predetermined output of thermal energy is ignited in said firing position, amplifying means for detecting said predetermined size increment in said element and amplifying it to produce in a control member a working displacement substantially greater than said increment, said control member being mounted to move from a first limit of said working displacement wherein it is in retentive engagement with one of said latch surfaces on said socket means to an opposite limit of said working displacement wherein it is disengaged from said socket means, whereby said socket means is automatically released to move toward a next succeeding index position under the influence of said motive means when a lamp is fired, and means for stopping said socket means in said next succeeding index position.

Claim 31

For use with a photographic camera, a flash lamp sequencing device for successively advancing component lamps of a multilamp flash assembly into a predetermined firing position, comprising: socket means for receiving and retaining a multilamp flash assembly, said socket means defining a plurality of latch surfaces associated with a number of index positions of said socket means; means for mounting said socket means for rotation; motive means for applying a driving torque on said socket means; and socket indexing means for advancing said socket means through said index positions effective to locate the component lamps of the flash assembly successively in said firing position, comprising: a sensing element disposed adjacent said flash assembly so as to receive thermal energy from a lamp ignited in said firing position, said element having the characteristic that its physical size is altered by a predetermined increment due to thermal expansion when a lamp having a predetermined output of thermal energy is ignited in said firing position, amplifying means for detecting said predetermined size increment in said element and amplifying it to produce in a control member a working displacement substantially greater than said increment, said control member being mounted to move from a first limit of said working displacement wherein it is in retentive engagement with one of said latch surfaces on said socket means to an opposite limit of said working displacement wherein it is disengaged from said socket means, whereby said socket means is automatically released to move toward a next succeeding index position under the influence of said motive means when a lamp is fired, and means for stopping said socket means in said next succeeding index position.

Claim 32

The apparatus defined by claim 26, wherein said sensing element comprises a thin blackened metallic band.

Claim 33

Thermally responsive control apparatus, comprising: a thermal sensing element disposed to receive thermal energy from a thermal source to be monitored, said sensing element increasing in length by a predetermined increment due to thermal expansion when a predetermined input of thermal energy is received; tensing means for applying a tensive force on said sensing element, said tensing means including a fixed first spindle for holding one end of said element, a rotatably mounted second spindle for holding and winding the opposite end of said element, and spring means for exerting a torque on said second spindle to develop a predetermined tensile stress on said element whereby upon receipt of said predetermined input of thermal energy, said element expands lengthwise by said predetermined increment, thereby permitting said second spindle to be rotated through a predetermined angular displacement by said spring means; a control member affixed to and extending radially from said second spindle for magnifying angular displacements of said second spindle to develop at the distal end of said control member a working displacement useful for control purposes.

Claim 34

Thermally responsive control apparatus, comprising: a thermal sensing element disposed to receive thermal energy from a thermal source to be monitored, said sensing element increasing in length by a predetermined increment due to thermal expansion when a predetermined input of thermal energy is received; tensing means for applying a tensive force on said sensing element, said tensing means including a fixed first spindle for holding one end of said element, a rotatably mounted second spindle for holding and winding the opposite end of said element, and spring means for exerting a torque on said second spindle to develop a predetermined tensile stress on said element whereby upon receipt of said predetermined input of thermal energy, said element expands lengthwise by said predetermined increment, thereby permitting said second spindle to be rotated through a predetermined angular displacement by said spring means; a control member affixed to and extending radially from said second spindle for magnifying angular displacements of said second spindle to develop at the distal end of said control member a working displacement useful for control purposes.

Claim 35

The apparatus defined by claim 28, wherein said sensing means has a relatively high coefficient of expansion.

Claim 36

The apparatus defined by claim 29, wherein said sensing element comprises a thin, flexible metallic band.

Claim 37

Thermally responsive indexing apparatus, comprising: base means to be indexed; means mounting said base means for rotation; and base indexing means for advancing said base means through a plurality of angularly separated index positions, comprising: thermal sensing means disPosed to receive thermal energy from a thermal source to be monitored, said sensing means increasing in length by at least a predetermined increment due to thermal expansion when a pulse of thermal energy having at least a predetermined minimum energy value is received, motive means for applying a driving torque on said base means, and an escapement mechanism including escape wheel means coupled to said base means and having escape teeth positioned on said escape wheel means so as to establish said index positions of said base means, a pawl having a pair of arms embracing said escape wheel means, said arms having at their respective distal ends a pair of pallets which alternately engage said escape teeth on said escape wheel means, and pawl drive means responsive to expansion and subsequent contraction of said sensing means for oscillating said pawl each time said pulse of thermal energy is emitted by the source to release said escape wheel means and thereby permit rotation of said base means by said motive means to the next succeeding index position thereof.

Claim 38

Thermally responsive indexing apparatus, comprising: base means to be indexed; means mounting said base means for rotation; and base indexing means for advancing said base means through a plurality of angularly separated index positions, comprising: thermal sensing means disPosed to receive thermal energy from a thermal source to be monitored, said sensing means increasing in length by at least a predetermined increment due to thermal expansion when a pulse of thermal energy having at least a predetermined minimum energy value is received, motive means for applying a driving torque on said base means, and an escapement mechanism including escape wheel means coupled to said base means and having escape teeth positioned on said escape wheel means so as to establish said index positions of said base means, a pawl having a pair of arms embracing said escape wheel means, said arms having at their respective distal ends a pair of pallets which alternately engage said escape teeth on said escape wheel means, and pawl drive means responsive to expansion and subsequent contraction of said sensing means for oscillating said pawl each time said pulse of thermal energy is emitted by the source to release said escape wheel means and thereby permit rotation of said base means by said motive means to the next succeeding index position thereof.

Claim 39

The apparatus defined by claim 31, wherein said pawl drive means includes tensing means for applying a tensive force on said sensing means.

Claim 40

The apparatus defined by claim 31, wherein alternate escape teeth on said escape wheel means are axially offset to effectively establish two angularly displaced, axially separated escape wheels, said arms of said pawl being offset one from the other in different planes for engaging said axially separated escape wheels, whereby in each oscillatory cycle of said pawl said escape wheel means, and thus said base means, advances angularly the equivalent of two teeth.

Claim 41

The apparatus defined by claim 33, wherein a predetermined one of said arms engages escape teeth on a predetermined one of said axially separated escape wheels when said device is in its rest state, wherein said teeth on said predetermined one of said escape wheels each have an axial camming surface, and wherein said predetermined one of said arms is resilient and is deflected laterally by said camming surfaces on said teeth so as to clear said teeth when said socket assembly is counter-rotated against the bias provided by said motive means.

Claim 42

The apparatus defined by claim 33, wherein said tensing means includes a fixed first spindle for holding one end of said sensing means and a rotatably mounted second spindle for holding and winding the opposite end of said sensing means, said pawl being affixed to and extending radially from said second spindle for magnifying any angular displacement of said second spindle, said tensing means further including spring means acting on said pawl for exerting a predetermined tensile stress on said sensing means, whereby upon receipt of a thermal pulse said sensing means expands lengthwise, thereby permitting said pawl to be angularly displaced by said spring means.