US3292174A

US3292174A - Indicating arrangement

Info

Publication number: US3292174A
Application number: US344887A
Authority: US
Inventors: Toth Peter; Dorizzi Manfred
Original assignee: Oerlikon Contraves AG
Current assignee: Rheinmetall Air Defence AG
Priority date: 1963-02-15
Filing date: 1964-02-14
Publication date: 1966-12-13
Anticipated expiration: 1983-12-13
Also published as: BE643681A; NL6401250A; CH400845A; DE1948077U

Description

Dec. 13, 1966 P. TOTH ETAL INDICATING ARRANGEMENT Filed Feb. 14, 1964 INVENTORS:

PETER TOTH MANFRED DORIZZ1 BY flmkwg fnur THEIR ATTORNEY? United States Patent Ofiiice 3,292,174 Patented Dec. 13, 1966 3,292,174 INDICATING ARRANGEMENT Peter Tth, Kloten, Zurich, and Manfred Dorizzi, Zurich,

Switzerland, assignors to Contraves AG, Zurich, Switzerland Filed Feb. 14, 1964, Ser. No. 344.887 Claims priority, application Switzerland, Feb. 15, 1963, 1,956/ 63 13 Claims. (Cl. 340-381) The present invention relates to an indicating arrangement which allows for visual observation of the condition of various electronic apparatus, such as bistable switching elements including flip-flop stages, digital storage assemblies and others. It is also an object of the present invention to provide a novel receptacle for indicating lamps and similar optical indicators which may be utilized in an indicating arrangement of the above outlined characteristics.

It is an important object of the present invention to provide a very simple, inexpensive and lightweight indicating arrangement which may be utilized for visual observation of the condition of one or more electronic apparatus, which may be rapidly and conveniently converted to indicate the condition of one, two or more electronic apparatus, which can be manipulated by persons having little technical knowledge, and which occupies little room so that it may be mounted on the front wall, side wall or top wall of an instrument housing or the like.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a novel receptacle which may be utilized in an indicating arrangement of the above outlined characteristics, which may be installed or removed by hand and with exertion of small forces, which is of eye-pleasing appearance, which may be stacked with a series of similar receptacles to form a compact assembly which is easy to oversee, and which may be manufactured of readily available materials.

A further object of the invention is to provide a receptacle of the just outlined characteristics which is capable of exposing a large part of an indicator lamp without any danger that the lamp would become detached therefrom, which protects the lamp from glare, dust and/ or accidental breakage, and which may be constructed with a view to accommodate different types of indicating lamps.

An additional object of the instant invention is to provide a receptacle which, though readily detachable from a supporting panel, is held thereon without any play so that the panel may be shaken, vibrated or otherwise agitated without any danger that the receptacle would become accidentally separated therefrom.

With the above objects in view, one feature of our invention resides in the provision of an indicating arrangement which comprises a panel having a front side provided with a preferably horizontal aperture or cutout bounded by a pair of substantially parallel edge portions, and at least one one-piece receptacle which preferably consists of elastic synthetic plastic material and is detachably secured to the panel. Each receptacle comprises a plate-like carrier whose rear side is adjacent to the front side of the panel and extends vertically across the aperture to abut against the edge portions of the panel, an observation opening provided in the carrier in front of the aperture, a holder provided at the rear side of the carrier and defining a lamp-receiving socket which communicates with the opening of the carrier so that a lamp accommodated in the socket may be observed from the front side of the panel, and a pair of clamping devices at least one of which is elastic and each of which is provided at the rear side of the carrier to engage one edge portion of the panel and to thus provide a detachable connection between the receptacle and the panel.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic of the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The improved receptacle itself, however, both as to its construction and the method of mounting it on a panel, together with additional features and advantages thereof, will be best understood upon perusal of the following detailed description of a specific embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary front elevational view of an indicating arrangement comprising a panel and three receptacles each of which is constructed, assembled and mounted in accordance with our invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged transverse vertical section through one of the receptacles as seen in the direction of arrows from the line IIII of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a vertical section as seen in the direction of arrows from the line IIIIII of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a horizontal section as seen in the direction of arrows from the line IVIV of FIG. 2.

Referring to the drawing, and first to FIG. 1, there is shown an indicating arrangement which comprises a metallic or plastic panel 3 having a rectangular aperture or cutout 30 which is bounded by an upper horizontal edge portion 31 and a lower horizontal edge portion 32. The aperture 30 accommodates three one-

piece receptacles

1, 1a, 1b each of which is constructed and mounted in accordance with our invention and one of which, namely, the receptacle 1, is illustrated in FIGS. 2 to 4. Referring again to FIG. 1, it will be noted that each receptacle comprises a rectangular plate-like carrier 10 which is provided with an elongated centrally located rectangular observation opening 11 extending vertically at right angles to the

edge portions

31, 32 and allowing for observation of three indicator lamps 2 which are mounted behind the respective carriers. Each observation opening 11 regis ters with the aperture 30 and each carrier 10 comprises at its longitudinal ends a marginal portion which abuts against the front side of the panel 3. The manner in which the indicator lamps 2 may be inserted into and removed from their respective sockets, and the manner in which each carrier 10 may be detached from the

marginal portions

31, 32 of the panel-3 will be described in connection with FIGS. 2 to 4.

FIG. 2 shows that the receptacle 1 comprises a rectangular frame 12 which surrounds the observation opening 11 and extends beyond the front side (left-hand side) of the carrier 10. This frame 12 may accommodate a small pane of glass or transparent plastic and it also protects the lamp 2 from accidental breakage or from glare.

The rear side of the carrier 10 is integral with a substantially cylindrical holder 13 which is tangential thereto and defines a cylindrical lamp-receiving socket 131 whose axis is perpendicular to the

edge portions

31, 32 when the receptacle 1 is installed in the panel 3. The lower end of the holder 13 is open so that the lamp 2 may be inserted from below whereby its sealed neck portion 121 extends through a hole provided in a bracket 15 which is integral with the holder 13 and extends rearwardly from the rear side of the carrier 10. The front portion of the holder 13 is formed with an elongated cutout which constitutes the innermost zone of the observation opening 11 and communicates with the socket 131 so that a person standing in front of the panel 3 (i.e., at the front side of the carrier 10) may observe a large portion of the indicator lamp 2 when the latter is properly inserted in the socket 131 and when the carrier 10 of the receptacle 1 is properly attached to the panel 3 so that its holder 13 is adjacent to the rear side of the panel.

The receptacle 1 further comprises two clamping devices which serve to secure the carrier 10 to the

edge portions

31, 32. The upper clamping device comprises the aforementioned bracket 15 which carries an elastically deformable bifurcated arm 16 extending forwardly toward the carrier and having two nose-like end portions 161 each provided with a forwardly and downwardly inclined locking face 160 which may be moved into abutment with the rear side of the edge portion 31. The rear end of the arm 16 is connected to or is preferably integral with the bracket at a point which is spaced from the carrier 10 so that the end portions 161 may be moved in an arc in directions toward and away from the hole 130 in the front portion of the bracket 15. The end portions 161 may be moved in actual abutment with the bracket 15 to limit the extent to which the arm 16 may be deformed in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. '2.

The lower clamping device of each receptacle comprises a pair of spaced vertical ribs 14 which are integral with the rear side of the carrier 10 at the opposite sides of the holder 13 and whose lower end portions constitute a pair of prongs inclined downwardly and rearwardly so that they may be hooked onto the lower edge portion 32. in such a way that the front face of each prong 140 abuts against the rear side of the panel 3 or against the very edge at the lower inner end of the aperture 30.

The bracket 15 is integral with a vertical contact plate 17 which is perpendicular to the carrier 10 and which is bolted, riveted or otherwise secured to a contact board 18. This contact board 18 may carry a printed circuit or a number of contacts and/ or terminals which may be connected with the

terminals

21, 22 of the respective indicator lamp 2 and with the parts of the electronic apparatus, assembly or conductor whose operation and/or condition is to be indicated by the lamp 2.

' Each receptacle may be mounted in the panel 3 as follows:

The

terminals

21, 22 of the respective indicator lamp 2 are hooked on to the respective contact of the board 18 after the lamp is inserted in the socket 131 of the respective holder 13. The body of the lamp is then adjacent to the aperture 11. The operator then tilts the carrier 10 so as to hook the prongs 140 of the lower clamping device onto the lower edge portion 32 whereby the holder 13 (together with the

parts

15, 17, 18 and the rear portion of the arm 16) extends through and rearwardly beyond the aperture 30. In the final step, the operator applies some pressure against the upper marginal portion of the carrier 10 so that the arm 16 is deformed sufiiciently to allow passage of the end portions 161 through and beyond the aperture 30 and the rear side of the carrier 10 comes in abutment with the front side of the panel 3. The arm 16 is elastic and moves its stop faces 160 into abutment with the rear side of the edge portion 31 whereby the receptacle is automatically retained in requisite position and without any play because the partially deformed arm 16 continues to press the prongs 140 against the lower edge portion 32.

In order to withdraw the receptacle from the panel 3, the operator merely grasps the frame 12 and exerts a pull in a direction to the left, as viewed in FIG. 2, so as to overcome the bias of the arm 16 and to withdrawv the end portions 161 of this arm through and forwardly beyond the aperture 30. FIG. 1 shows that two, three or more receptacles may be arranged side-by-side whereby the operator can determine at a glance which of the lamps 2 produces a visible signal such as may be indicative of the condition of the respective assembly. The front side of each panel 10 is provided with a horizontal channel 100 adapted to receive a suitable label which identifies the respective receptacle so that the operator need not memorize the purpose of each lamp but is still in a position to associate each lamp with a given function, condition and/ or operation. If desired, the panel 3 may be provided with two or more apertures 30 each of which may receive one or more receptacles. This depends on the intended use of the panel, i.e., on the nature, dimensions and purpose of the electronic apparatus or system in which the panel is being put to use.

The

receptacles

1, 1a, 1b preferably consist of insulating thermoplastic material which is at least slightly elastic. For example, the receptacles may be made of acetal resins of the type known under the names Delrin and Hostaform C (both trademarks). Suchresins are stable as to form (in undeformed condition of the products) and may be shaped in simple machines of known construction. The stability and/or elasticity of such resins is comparable to that of spring bronze or spring steel.

Each lamp 2 may be built as a triode to indicate the condition of a bistable storage or switching assembly in an electronic apparatus. For example, such lamps may be provided with strip-shaped fluorescent anodes which light up in a stream of electrons when the circuit of the respective electronic unit is completed. The lamps may indicate the condition of electric conductors and may be provided in large numbers on the front panel or panels of complicated electronic apparatus.

It goes without saying that the arm 16 of each receptacle may consist of elastic spring steel or the like which is riveted or otherwise secured to the respective bracket 15. Also, the exact configuration of the sockets 131 will depend on the shape of the lamps 2. The

terminals

21, 22 of the lamps may be simply inserted into or soldered to the contacts on the respective boards 18. These boards may be omitted if the plates 17 are provided with means for connecting the lamps 2 into the circuits of the respective electronic apparatus.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features which fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic and specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. An indicating lamp holding module for removably mounting in an aperture in a supporting panel, said module comprising a plate-like carrier having a front face and a rear face and provided with a substantially rectangular observation window opening having opposite long side edges and opposite short side edges; lamp holding means on said plate-like carrier located in the region of said opposite long side edges of said observation window extending in a direction rearwardly from said rear face so as to provide a receptacle for a lamp in communication with and visible through said window opening; and two clamping means located also on said plate-like carrier in the region of said opposite short side edges, respectively, of said observation window opening and extending also rearwardly from said rear face, at least one of said clamping means being resilient so that said two clamping means are adapted to removably clamp said module in an aperture in a supporting panel.

2. An indicating lamp holding module according to claim 1, said plate-like carrier further comprising a frame surrounding said opening and extending beyond said front face of said carrier.

3. An indicating lamp holding module according to claim 1, said lamp holding means defining a cylindrical lamp receiving socket having an 'axis which is substantially perpendicular to said short side edges, said opposite short side edges being substantially parallel.

4. An indicating lamp holding module according to claim 1, further comprising a contact plate secured to the rear face of said plate-like carrier and extending rearwardly beyond said lamp holding means.

5. An indicating lamp holding module according to claim 1, wherein said module consists of one piece of elastically deformable synthetic plastic material.

6. An indicating lamp holding module according to claim 1, said lamp holding means defining a substantially cylindrical holder integral with said plate-like carrier at said rear face thereof and defining a substantially cylindrical lamp-receiving socket parallel to and communicating with said observation opening window, said two clamping means being integral with said plate-like carrier at said rear face thereof in the region, respectively, of said opposite short side edges.

7. An indicating lamp holding module according to claim 1, said lamp holding means comprising a substantially cylindrical holder integral with said rear face of said carrier and defining a substantially cylindrical lamp receiving socket parallel to said observation window opening, one of said clamping means comprising a bracket adjacent to one end of said socket and having a hole in registry with said socket which has a diameter less than the maximum diameter of a lamp to be received in said socket.

8. An indicating lamp holding module according to claim 7, further comprising a contact plate secured to said bracket and provided with means including a plurality of contacts arranged to be connected with the terminals of a lamp which is received in said socket.

9. An indicating lamp holding module according to claim 8, said contact plate having a length in longitudinal direction which is less than the length of said plate-like carrier in said direction.

10. An indicating arrangement, comprising a panel having a front side provided with an aperture bounded by a pair of substantially parallel edge portions; and a receptacle including a plate-like carrier having a front side, a rear side adjacent to the front side of said panel and extending across said aperture into abutment with said edge portions, and an observation opening located in front of said aperture, a holder secured to the rear side of said carrier and defining a lamp-receiving socket in communication with said opening so that a lamp accommodated in said socket may be observed from the front side of said carrier, and a pair of clamping devices secured to the rear side of said carrier and each releasably engaging one of said edge portions to retain said receptacle in said panel, one of said clamping devices comprising a bracket extending from the rear side of said carrier adjacent to one of said edge portions and an elastic arm secured to said bracket at a point spaced from said carrier and having an end portion engaging said one edge portion at the rear side of said panel.

11. An indicating arrangement as set forth in claim 10, wherein the other clamping device comprises at least one prong engaging the other edge portion at the rear side of said panel.

12. A receptacle for indicator lamps, comprising a substantially plate-like rectangular panel provided with a rectangular observation opening; a rectangular frame integral with one side of said carrier and surrounding said observation opening; a substantially cylindrical holder integral with the other side of said carrier and defining a substantially cylindrical lamp-receiving socket parallel to and communicating with said observation opening so that a lamp accommodated in said socket may be observed from said one side of the carrier; a first clamping device provided at said other side and integral with one longitudinal end portion of said carrier, said clamping device comprising a bracket integral with said other side and extending substantially at right angles to said carrier at one end of said holder, an elastically deformable bifurcated arm integral with said bracket at a point distant from said carrier and comprising a pair of nose-like end portions adjacent to said other side and located at the opposite sides of said holder, and a locking face provided on each of said end portions; and a second clamping device provided at said other side and integral with the other longitudinal end portion of said carrier.

13. A receptacle for indicator lamps, comprising a substantially plate-like rectangular panel provided with a rectangular observation opening; a rectangular frame integral with one side of said carrier and surrounding said observation opening; a substantially cylindrical holder integral with the other side of said carrier and defining a substantially cylindrical lamp-receiving socket parallel to and communicating with said observation opening so that a lamp accommodated in said socket may be observed from said one side of the carrier; a first clamping device provided at said other side and integral with one longitudinal end portion of said carrier; and a second clamping device provided at said other side and integral with the other longitudinal end portion of said carrier, said second clamping device comprising a pair of ribs integral with said carrier References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,251,723 8/ 1941 Tinnerman. 2,959,668 11/1960 Andrews 340381 X 3,005,089 10/ 1961 Robbins 240151 X NEIL C. READ, Primary Examiner.

I. I. LEVIN, Assistant Examiner.

Claims

1. AN INDICATING LAMP HOLDING MODULE FOR REMOVABLY MOUNTING IN AN APERTURE IN A SUPPORTING PANEL, SAID MODULE COMPRISING A PLATE-LIKE CARRIER HAVING A FRONT FACE AND A REAR FACE AND PROVIDED WITH A SUBSTANTIALLY RECTANGULAR OBSERVATION WINDOW OPENING HAVING OPPOSITE LONG SIDE EDGES AND OPPOSITE SHORT SIDE EDGES; LAMP HOLDING MEANS ON SAID PLATE-LIKE CARRIER LOCATED IN THE REGION OF SAID OPPOSITE LONG SIDE EDGES OF SAID OBSERVATION WINDOW EXTENDING IN A DIRECTION REARWARDLY FROM SAID REAR FACE SO AS TO PROVIDE A RECEPTACLE FOR A LAMP IN COMMUNICATION WITH AND VISIBLE THROUGH SIAD WINDOW OPENING; AND TWO CLAMPING MEANS LOCATED ALSO ON SAID PLATE-LIKE CARRIER IN THE REGION OF SAID OPPOSITE SHORT SIDE EDGES, RESPECTIVELY, OF SAID OBSERVATION WINDOW OPENING AND EXTENDING ALSO REARWARDLY FROM SAID REAR FACE, AT LEAST ONE OF SAID CLAMPING MEANS BEING RESILIENT SO THAT SAID TWO CLAMPING MEANS ARE ADAPTED TO REMOVABLY CLAMP SAID MODULE IN AN APERTURE IN A SUPPORTING PANEL.