US3842343A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Remote press to test indicating light circuit
Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp
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Filing: 1973-09-26
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Granted: 1974-10-15
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Expires: 1993-09-26
Abstract
Abstract A circuit is provided for remotely testing indicator lights whereby multiple lights may be tested simultaneously by pressing a pushbutton and closing one set of normally opened contacts. In one embodiment of the invention, an indicator light is connected in series with a circuit component which can be switched on by applying a triggering signal. Each switchable circuit component is connected to an indicator circuit which can be activated from some external circuit device. A test circuit is connected to all switchable circuit components to activate them all when a test of the multiple indicator lights is desired. In another embodiment of the invention, a plurality of indicator lights are fed through individual indicator circuit connected through full wave rectifiers. A rectified test signal which is controlled by a single pushbutton can be fed through a test circuit to all the individual indicator lights for testing operability.
Inventors
- 👤 G Taylor
- 👤 W Kellogg
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 21:17
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01R; G01R31/00; G01R31/44; G08; G08B; G08B29/00; G08B29/12; G08B29/126
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
168 words
An indicator light circuit comprising: a plurality of indicator lights; terminal means connected to a power supply means for supplying power to each of said plurality of indicator lights; a plurality of switch means, one of said switch means disposed in series with each of said indicator lights, and each of said switch means being switchable from a non-conducting state preventing current flowing through said indicator light and a conductor state allowing current flow through said indicator light; a plurality of operating signal circuit means, each one connected to one of said plurality of switch means for switching said associated switch means to a conducting state in response to an external operating signal; test circuit means connected to all of said plurality of switch means for switching all of said switch means to a conducting state in response to a manually originated operability check of the indicator lights; and, isolating means for preventing current flow from any of said operating signal circuit means into said test circuit means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
168 words
An indicator light circuit comprising: a plurality of indicator lights; terminal means connected to a power supply means for supplying power to each of said plurality of indicator lights; a plurality of switch means, one of said switch means disposed in series with each of said indicator lights, and each of said switch means being switchable from a non-conducting state preventing current flowing through said indicator light and a conductor state allowing current flow through said indicator light; a plurality of operating signal circuit means, each one connected to one of said plurality of switch means for switching said associated switch means to a conducting state in response to an external operating signal; test circuit means connected to all of said plurality of switch means for switching all of said switch means to a conducting state in response to a manually originated operability check of the indicator lights; and, isolating means for preventing current flow from any of said operating signal circuit means into said test circuit means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
85 words
An indicator light circuit as claimed in claim 1 wherein each of said plurality of switch means comprises: a silicon controlled rectifier disposed in series with one of said plurality of indicator lights and having a gate through which current can pass to switch said silicon controlled rectifier from a non-conducting state to a conducting state; said signal circuit means is connected to the gate of said silicon controlled rectifier; and, said test circuit means is connected to the gate of said silicon controlled rectifier.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
An indicator light circuit as claimed in claim 2 wherein: said isolating means comprising a first diode associated with each of said plurality of indicator lights disposed in the connection of said test circuit means to the gate of said silicon controlled rectifier.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
An indicator light circuit as claimed in claim 3 including: a second diode associated with each silicon controlled rectifier and disposed in the connection of said signal circuit means to the gate of said silicon controlled rectifier.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
54 words
An indicator light circuit as claimed in claim 4 wherein: the output terminal of said first diode is connected to the output terminal of said second diode; and, a gate resistor is disposed in the connection of the gate of said silicon controlled rectifier to the output terminal of said first and second diode.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
66 words
An indicator light circuit as claimed in claim 4 including: a first resistor connected to one end to the output terminal of said first diode and at the other end to the gate of said silicon controlled rectifier; and, a second resistor connected at one end to the output of said second diode and at the other end to the gate of said silicon controlled rectifier.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
An indicator light circuit as claimed in claim 1 including a transformer disposed between said indicator light and said power supply means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
152 words
An indicator light circuit comprising: a plurality of indicator lamps connected to a power supply; a plurality of silicon controlled rectifiers each being connected in series with one of said plurality of indicator lamps and having a gate connection for switching said silicon controlled rectifier from a non-conducting state to a conducting state; an operating signal circuit connected to the gate of each of said silicon controlled rectifiers; operating signal current means for energizing said operating signal circuit in response to an external operating signaL; a test circuit connected to the gates of all silicon controlled rectifiers; test current means connected to said test circuit for energizing said test circuit to check the operability of said lamps; and, a plurality of diodes each being disposed in the connection of said test circuit to the gate of said silicon controlled rectifier to prevent current flowing from the signal circuits into the test circuit.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
152 words
An indicator light circuit comprising: a plurality of indicator lamps connected to a power supply; a plurality of silicon controlled rectifiers each being connected in series with one of said plurality of indicator lamps and having a gate connection for switching said silicon controlled rectifier from a non-conducting state to a conducting state; an operating signal circuit connected to the gate of each of said silicon controlled rectifiers; operating signal current means for energizing said operating signal circuit in response to an external operating signaL; a test circuit connected to the gates of all silicon controlled rectifiers; test current means connected to said test circuit for energizing said test circuit to check the operability of said lamps; and, a plurality of diodes each being disposed in the connection of said test circuit to the gate of said silicon controlled rectifier to prevent current flowing from the signal circuits into the test circuit.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
An indicator light circuit as claimed in claim 8 including a diode disposed in said operating signal circuit to prevent current from flowing from said test circuit into said operating signal circuit.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
54 words
An indicator light circuit as claimed in claim 9 wherein: the output of said test circuit diode and the output of said signal circuit diode are connected; and, a resistor is inserted in the connection between the gate of said silicon controlled rectifier and the output of said test diode and said signal diode.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
59 words
An indicator light circuit as claimed in claim 9 wherein: a first resistor is disposed in the connection between the gate of said silicon controlled rectifier and the output of said test circuit diode; and, a second resistor is disposed in the connection between the output of said signal circuit diode and the gate of said silicon controlled rectifier.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
142 words
An indicator light circuit comprising; a plurality of indicator lamps; operating signal circuit means connected to each of said plurality of indicator lamps to supply current in response to the operation of a remote device; a first full wave rectifier bridge disposed in the connection of said operating signal circuit means to said associated indicator lamp so that said indicator lamp is supplied with full wave direct current when activated by said operating signal circuit means; test circuit means for supplying a test current to all of said plurality of indicator lamps when a test of the operability of said indicator lamps is desired; and, current rectifying means disposed in the connection of said test circuit means to each of said plurality of indicator lamps to restrict the flow of current from said operating signal circuit means into said test circuit means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
142 words
An indicator light circuit comprising; a plurality of indicator lamps; operating signal circuit means connected to each of said plurality of indicator lamps to supply current in response to the operation of a remote device; a first full wave rectifier bridge disposed in the connection of said operating signal circuit means to said associated indicator lamp so that said indicator lamp is supplied with full wave direct current when activated by said operating signal circuit means; test circuit means for supplying a test current to all of said plurality of indicator lamps when a test of the operability of said indicator lamps is desired; and, current rectifying means disposed in the connection of said test circuit means to each of said plurality of indicator lamps to restrict the flow of current from said operating signal circuit means into said test circuit means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
An indicator light circuit as claimed in claim 12 wherein said current rectifying means is a second diode.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
20 words
An indicator light circuit as claimed in claim 12 wherein said current limiting means is a full wave rectifier bridge.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
40 words
An indicator light circuit as claimed in claim 12 wherein said test current means comprises: a transformer; and, a pushbutton disposed on the primary side of said transformer for controlling current flow through said transformer and said test circuit means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
58 words
An indicator light circuit as claimed in claim 15 wherein said transformer is sized so that the test current supplied during testing is less than the current supplied from said operating signal means when activated so that the light intensity of said indicator lamp during test is less than the intensity when operated from said operating signal means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2839741A
Cited
US3040243A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-10-14 | 1978-04-15 | 1978-10-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-10-14 | 1982-04-15 | 1982-10-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-10-14 | 1986-04-15 | 1986-10-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |