Patents Examined by Daniel Meyer
  • Patent number: 3964040
    Abstract: A lamp out detection circuit is provided for a buoy lamp changer. The circuit includes an modified Hartley transistor oscillator which is tuned to operate at a preselected frequency. A typical lamp flasher applies power to the lamp and the lamp out circuit, simultaneously. If a normal lamp is in operation, a current pulse is inductively coupled to the oscillator in a manner suppressing sustained oscillation. Should the filament of an incircuit lamp fail or become electrically non conductive, the lack of inductive coupling to the oscillator would permit sustained oscillation which results in generation of a pulse signal. Time delay means are provided to ensure that the pulse signal is not intermittent. Further indexing through a time delay is provided to permit the lamp changer to rotate a new lamp into an operating position before further monitoring of faults occurs. Means are provided to prevent rotation of the turret after the last lamp has failed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1974
    Date of Patent: June 15, 1976
    Assignee: Vapor Corporation
    Inventor: Ravi Behl