US4261027A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Incandescent reflector lamp for railway warning-signal apparatus
Assignee: Philips North America LLC
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Filing: 1979-05-22
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Granted: 1981-04-07
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Expires: 1999-05-22
Abstract
Abstract The separate reflector and light bulb components presently used in flashing-light signal apparatus employed at railway crossings are replaced by a sealed-beam type incandescent reflector lamp having a window-aperture in the concave reflector portion of the lamp envelope which is adapted to be aligned with a side opening in the lamp-housing of the signaling apparatus and thus permits the operation of the light source inside the sealed-beam lamp to be checked visually by the engineer of an approaching train. Additional cost and functional advantages are obtained by also making the separate red-colored lens component of the signal apparatus an integral part of the sealed-beam warning lamp and by using a long-life halogen-cycle type lamp component as the light source within the sealed-beam reflector envelope.
Inventors
- 👤 Lloyd E. Chapman
- 👤 Dennis W. Pedley
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 10:29
CPC Classifications
B; B61; B61L; B61L5/00; B61L5/12; B61L5/18; B61L5/1809; B61L5/1845; F; F21; F21V; F21V5/00; F21V5/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
257 words
An electric lamp that is adapted for use as a readily replaceable light source in warning-signal apparatus of the type employed at railway crossings and the like, which apparatus includes a lamp-housing having a side-opening therein that is so oriented that it affords the engineer of an approaching train a direct view into the interior of the lamp-housing and thus provides means for visually determining whether the light source and the warning-signal apparatus are functioning properly, said electric lamp comprising; an envelope having a concave portion and a light-transmitting portion that extends across and closes said concave portion, means within said envelope for generating light when the electric lamp is energized, lead-in conductor means extending into said envelope and connected to the light-generating means, and integral reflector means associated with the concave portion of the lamp envelope comprising a material which provides a specular mirror-like surface that is disposed to intercept and reflect light rays that are produced by said light-generating means, a selected part of the concave portion of said lamp envelope being devoid of reflector material and also being light transmitting and thereby constituting a window-aperture that is adapted to be aligned with the side-opening in the lamp-housing of the warning-signal apparatus, when the electric lamp is in assembled relationship with said apparatus, so that said window-aperture by virtue of its location provides means for viewing the interior of the lamp envelope and thus visually determining the condition of the light-generating means therein when the electric lamp is in use within the energized warning-signal apparatus.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
257 words
An electric lamp that is adapted for use as a readily replaceable light source in warning-signal apparatus of the type employed at railway crossings and the like, which apparatus includes a lamp-housing having a side-opening therein that is so oriented that it affords the engineer of an approaching train a direct view into the interior of the lamp-housing and thus provides means for visually determining whether the light source and the warning-signal apparatus are functioning properly, said electric lamp comprising; an envelope having a concave portion and a light-transmitting portion that extends across and closes said concave portion, means within said envelope for generating light when the electric lamp is energized, lead-in conductor means extending into said envelope and connected to the light-generating means, and integral reflector means associated with the concave portion of the lamp envelope comprising a material which provides a specular mirror-like surface that is disposed to intercept and reflect light rays that are produced by said light-generating means, a selected part of the concave portion of said lamp envelope being devoid of reflector material and also being light transmitting and thereby constituting a window-aperture that is adapted to be aligned with the side-opening in the lamp-housing of the warning-signal apparatus, when the electric lamp is in assembled relationship with said apparatus, so that said window-aperture by virtue of its location provides means for viewing the interior of the lamp envelope and thus visually determining the condition of the light-generating means therein when the electric lamp is in use within the energized warning-signal apparatus.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The electric lamp of claim 1 wherein said integral reflector means comprises a layer of light-reflective metal carried by the concave portion of the lamp envelope.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The electric lamp of claim 2 wherein said reflective-metal layer is located on the inner surface of the concave portion of the lamp envelope.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The electric lamp of claim 2 wherein the concave portion of said lamp envelope is composed of vitreous material.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
The electric lamp of claim 4 wherein the light-transmitting closure portion of the lamp envelope is also composed of vitreous material and is hermetically joined to the concave portion and forms therewith an hermetically-sealed envelope.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
41 words
The electric lamp of claim 5 wherein the concave and closure portions of said envelope comprise a pair of vitreous components that are fused to one another along their peripheries and said electric lamp is thus of the sealed-beam reflector type.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The sealed-beam warning-signal reflector lamp of claim 6 wherein the concave vitreous component of the lamp envelope is of generally paraboloidal configuration.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The sealed-beam warning-signal reflector lamp of claim 6 wherein said light-generating means comprises a coiled filament of refractory metal wire.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
The sealed-beam warning-signal reflector lamp of claim 6 wherein said light-generating means comprises a compact halogen-cycle type incandescent lamp component.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
45 words
The warning-signal reflector lamp of claim 5 wherein the vitreous closure portion of the lamp envelope comprises a lens member that has integral light-bending elements which are oriented and contoured to concentrate the transmitted light rays into a beam pattern of predetermined configuration and intensity.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
36 words
The warning-signal reflector lamp of claim 10 wherein said lens member is composed of colored glass and said light-bending elements comprise flutes and prismatic elements that are defined by the inner face of the lens member.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1735572A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1984-04-06 | 1984-10-06 | 1985-04-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-04-06 | 1988-10-06 | 1989-04-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-04-06 | 1992-10-06 | 1993-04-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |