Patent GB-1174806-A (GB)
Title: Flashing Device for Vechiles
Inventor: UBUKATA SUSUMU
IPC: H01H29/18
Filed: 1967-03-07
Abstract: 1,174,806. Road traffic signals on vehicles; lamp failure alarms. S. UBUKATA. 7 March, 1967 [10 March, 1966; 28 Dec., 1966 (3)], No. 10639/67. Headings G4Q and G4N. [Also in Division H1] In a flashing device for indicating lamps of a vehicle having a time delay relay D, E, which has its switch element E operated by an actuating component D to define the signalling period, an auxiliary relay C is provided having a pair of contacts 18 operated by an activating part 16, the contacts 18 are closed by current flowing through a correct number of lamps, e.g. L R , L F , R F , R R , via the switch S D  for a turn indication when the time delay relay switch element is closed, but the contacts 18 are open for an incorrect number of indicating lamps and the device is connected so that the actuating component D of the time delay relay is connected to a power source when the contacts of the auxiliary relay are closed, when the switch element E of the time delay relay is open by the actuating component of the time delay relay after the ON signalling period the current flow to the indicating lamp(s) through the activating part 16 of the auxiliary relay is switched off for the OFF time of the signalling period and means S8, 17 (Figs. 5 and 7) associated with a switch SE for emergency stop indication is provided to connect the pair of contacts 18 of the auxiliary relay C together. The emergency indication may be to indicate breakdown or an accident. The auxiliary relay coil 16 is constructed so that if one of the direction indicator bulbs L R , L F , R F , R R  becomes open circuit its contacts 18 do not close so that no flashing occurs to indicate the fault. In the case of an emergency, even if some of the lamp have become damaged, by operating switch S E  the contacts 18 of the auxiliary relay 16 are bypassed and the remaining direction indicator lamps are flashed. In a modified circuit (Fig. 7) the auxiliary relay has an additional series connected winding 17 which provides a magnetic force to combine with that provided by the other coil 16 of the auxiliary relay to close the contacts 18 and provide flashing of at least one of the indicating lamps when the emergency switch S E  is selected. When the coil 16 is energized on its own for direction indications by switch S1 it does not close contacts 18 if one of the lamps fails. The auxiliary relay may be a bimetal thermal type in which case the coil 16 and coil 17 would be replaced by heaters. In a further modification of Fig. 7 (Figs. 8 and 9, not shown), the movable contact 18 of the auxiliary relay C is connected to the terminal 22 or 21 instead of 19. Delay relay construction.-The delay relay D, E may have its normally closed contacts made via mercury (Figs. 1 and 2). When a coil 5 is energized, a tubular part 3a lifts the mercury about the contacts 2, 2a, the mercury then flows through a hole 3c in the bottom of the tubular part so that the contacts 2, 2a are broken after a delay period. The coil then is de-energized and the tubular part drops into the mercury and after a similar delay period the contacts 2, 2a are again made. In an alternative delay relay (Fig. 3, not shown), charging and discharging of a capacitor associated with two coils producing mutually opposite magnetic forces is used. Also a bimetal strip operated by a heater may be used (Fig. 4, not shown).