Emergency signalling transmitter with improved latch and lock

Claim 2

A remote electrical signalling system comprising an enclosure, a transmitter mounted within said enclosure, an electro-mechanical generator mounted within said enclosure and connected for energizing said transmitter, a unit for storing mechanical energy, said unit being mounted to deliver energy stored therein to drive said generator, a manually operable member movable from a first to a second position to deliver mechanical energy to said unit, and a lock assembly for preventing delivery of stored energy from said unit to said generator until said manually operable member is returned to its first position.

Claim 3

The system of claim 1 wherein said first position is the rest position of said member.

Claim 4

The system of claim 1 wherein said transmitter has a manually operable switch associated therewith and said member includes a wall which prevents access to said switch when said member is in its first position, and a latch assembly is mounted to latch said member to said enclosure in said first position while said storage unit is delivering energy to said generator.

Claim 5

The system of claim 3 further comprising a reset assembly for resetting said switch after its actuation, said reset assembly including an actuating member movable along an axis and a resulient exteNsion having a main portion connected to said actuating member and a leg remote from said actuating member and oblique to said main portion, and a pin linked to said manually operable member and arranged to slide past said leg in contact therewith as said manually operable member is moved from its first to its second position, said main portion being in the path of movement of said pin whereby upon return of said member from its second to its first position said pin moves said main portion and with it said actuating member to reset said switch.

Claim 6

The system of claim 1 wherein said unit includes a coiled strip spring wound on a reel, an end of said spring being connected to a take-up reel through a pivot pin having an axis parallel to that of said take-up reel.

Claim 7

The system of claim 1 wherein said member is linked to said generator and said storage unit through a gear train, said lock assembly includes a stop member connected to rotate in at least one direction with said gear train, and a link assembly having a first position engaged with said stop member to prevent said rotatiomn in said one direction to thereby immobilize said gear train, and a second position disengaged from said stop, and an element is linked to said manually operable member in position to move said link assembly from its first to its second position as said manually operable member is returned to its own first position, thereby allowing transfer of energy from said unit to said generator through a portion of said gear train.

Claim 8

A remote electrical signalling system comprising an enclosure, a transmitter mounted within said enclosure, an electro-mechanical generator mounted within said enclosure and connected for energizing said transmitter, a unit for storing mechanical energy, said unit being mounted to deliver energy stored therein to drive said generator, a manually operable member movable from a first to a second position to deliver mechanical energy to said unit, a manually operable switch associated with said transmitter, a wall forming a part of said member and preventing access to said switch when said member is in its first position, and a latch assembly mounted to latch said member to said enclosure in said first position while said storage unit is delivering energy to said generator.

Claim 9

A remote electrical signalling system comprising an enclosure, a transmitter mounted within said enclosure, an electro-mechanical generator mounted within said enclosure and connected for energizing said transmitter, a unit for storing mechanical energy, said unit being mounted to deliver energy stored therein to drive said generator, a manually operable member movable from a first to a second position to deliver mechanical energy to said unit, a manually operable switch associated with said transmitter, a wall forming a part of said member and preventing access to said switch when said member is in its first position, and a latch assembly mounted to latch said member to said enclosure in said first position while said storage unit is delivering energy to said generator.

Claim 10

The system of claim 7 wherein said latch assembly comprises a latch movable between open and closed positions with respect to said manually operable member, first spring means biasing said latch in its open position, a chain linked to said latch and said member and arranged to draw said latch to its closed position when said member moves to its second position, and means to prevent movement of said chain until said unit has discharged its energy to said generator.

Claim 11

The system of claim 8 wherein a gear train is provided for discharge of energy from said unit to said generator, and said chain is connected to a gear in said train operable by said member for rotation in one direction to draw said chain in the direction away from said latch.

Claim 12

The system of claim 9 wherein said manually operable member is mounted on a rotatable shaft, said gear is freely carried on said shaft, a block is fixed to said shaft, and a pin extends from said gear to overlap said block so that said gear will rotate with said shaft in said one direction only.