US3859646A

US3859646A - Inline continuity indicator device

Info

Publication number: US3859646A
Application number: US391835A
Authority: US
Inventors: Robert D Schwellenbach
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1971-08-27
Filing date: 1973-08-27
Publication date: 1975-01-07
Anticipated expiration: 1992-01-07

Abstract

An inline indicator device for use in indicating the presence of electrical current to an electrically operated apparatus such as incubators, animal brooders, inaccessible heaters and the like. The indicator device includes a small housing having an electrically operated signal mechanism, preferably a light, controlled by an electromagnetic switch which is energized as long as electrical current is being supplied to the apparatus. The indicator device may be plugged into the electrically operated apparatus as a permanent attachment so that it can be readily determined if the apparatus is operating properly.

Description

[lite States Patent 1191 1111 3,859,646 Schwellenbach 1 1 .Jan. 7, 1975 [5 INLINE CONTINUITY INDICATOR DEVICE 612,015 1/1961 Canada 340/252 P 1 memo Robert schwellenbachi 1202 132??? 111323 5.2111 .??3i

Sioux Ave., Pierre, s. Dak. 57501 22 F] d: A 27,1973 18 Primary Examiner-John W. Caldwell PP ,835 Assistant ExaminerDaniel Myer Related Application Data Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Williamson, Bains & Moore [63] Continuation of Ser. No. 175,645, Aug. 27, 1971,

abandoned.

[57] ABSTRACT [52] US. Cl. 340/253 R, 335/258, 340/252 P v [51]' Int. Cl. .t G08b /36 An lnline indicator device for use in indicating the [58] Field of Search 340/253, 248, 252; presence of electrical Current to an electrically 0per 335/131 258; 307/114 ated apparatus such as incubators, animal brooders, inaccessible heaters and the like. The indicator device [56] References C'ted includes a small housing having an electrically oper- UNITED STA S AT T ated signal mechanism, preferably a light, controlled 2,506,171 5/1950 Perillo 307/114 x by an el omagnetic switch which is energized as 2,563,066 8/1951 Procopio.... 307/1 14 UX long as'electrical current is being supplied to the appa- ,629 1/1956 Sidertnan 340/252 R ratus. The indicator device may be plugged into the 2,736,887 2/1956 HunSlcker-- 340/253 C X electrically operated apparatus as a permanent attach- 3,09l,725 5/1963 Huston 335/258 X mem so that it can be readily determined if the appa 3,312,967 4/1967 Levine 340/253 R rams is Operating properly 3,412,395 11/1968 Kiene, .lr 340/253 R FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 3 Cla'lms, 4 Drawing Figures 455,645 4/1949 Canada 335/258 21 l 111 18 llllllln... a i i 1: 16

"a I l 20 I 17 /t "11 E I lllllui I:

lllll 14 O Patented Jan. 7, 1975 3,859,646

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INLINE CONTINUITY INDICATOR DEVICE This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 175,645, filed Aug. 27, 1971, now abandoned.

SUMMARY OF THE INvENTIoN In many types of the electrically operated apparatus, it is desirable to know instantly or as quickly as possible, when operation of the aparatus is interrupted. This is especially true in such apparatus as incubators, ani mal brooders, various type of heaters including car heaters, vehicle signal lights and the like. In some of these devices, one cannot readily determine by mere visual inspection if the apparatus is properly functioning. In incubators, animal brooders and the like, prolonged interruption of the'apparatus will cause costly consequences.

It is therefore a general object of this invention to provide a small compact, inexpensive indicator device, which may be attached to an electrically operated apparatus, or interposed in the main circuit thereto for producing a signal when current is being supplied to the apparatus. This indicator device includes a small housing having an indicator light connected thereto and including an indicator light circuit which is energized when current is supplied to the electrically operated apparatus. In one embodiment of the device, the male and female electrical plugs are incorporated in the housing to permit ready connection of the indicator device to the electrical apparatus with which it is being used. The normally opened electomagnetic switch is disposed within the housing and is closed when current I is supplied to the electrical apparatus, thereby energizings wherein like reference characters refer to the same or similar parts throughout the several views.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of my apparatus;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view thereof illustrating the details of construction of the device and showing it embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring now to the drawings and more specifically to FIGS. 1 and 2, it will be seen that one embodiment of the indicator device, designated generally by the reference numeral 10, is there shown. The device includes a cylindrical housing 11 which is preferably formed of a suitable non-conductive material such as plastic or the like. One end of the cylindrical housing is open and the other end is closed by an end wall 12, as best seen in FIG. 2. The housing also has a female electrical coupling member 13 and a male electrical coupling member 14 integrally formed therewith and in the embodiment shown, these coupling members project radially outwardly from the cylindrical wall and are diametrically opposed with respect to each other.

The opened end of the cylindrical housing has an inner diameter which is slightly larger than the remaining inner diameter of the housing so that an annular shoulder 15 is defined adjacent this opened end. A cover 16 is positioned against this shoulder and closes the opened end as best seen in FIG. 2. An externally threaded annular securing ring 17 threadedly engages internal threads at the open end and secures the cover 16 in place. An annular gasket formed of a suitable yieldable material is interposed between the securing ring 17 and the cover 16 to seal the interior ofthe housing from the exterior.

The cover 16 has a centrally located opening therein for accommodating a small indicator light 19 therein. Although other signal producing mechanisms may be used, the preferred embodiment of the signal producing mechanism is an indicator light, as shown. As pointed out above, the indicator device is adapted to be connected directly in line with an electrically operated apparatus and the male plug 14 is therefore adapted to be connected to a source of electrical current and the female plug 13 is adapted for connection directly to the male inlet plug of the apparatus. Thus, the primary circuit for the electrically operated apparatus includes

electrical conductors

20, 21 and 22, and in the embodiment shown, the

conductors

21 and 22 comprise a single line interconnected by a conventional coupling cap 23. Referring now to FIG. 4, the conductor 20 constitutes a grounding line extending between the grounding elements of the receptacles l3 and 14, and conductor 36, coil 35, and conductor 35 conduct current flow between the receptacles and through the coil 25 which is electrically connected in series with the receptacles l3 and 14. When current flows through the coil 25, the movable switch element 29 (FIG. 4) moves from an open position 40 to a closed position 41 shown in phantom.

However, the circuit for the indicator light 19 includes an electromagnetic switch 24 which is comprised of a coil 25 wound about a suitable nonconductive hollow cylindrical core element 26, preferably formed of a suitable plastic or the like. The core element has outturned radial end flanges 27, one of which has an axial flange 28 integrally formed therewith and projecting axially therefrom. The hollow core element 26 accommodates an elongate armature 29 therein which constitutes the movable switch element of the switch. The armature 29 has a head 30 thereon for limiting axial movement of the armature when the coil 25 is energized. A generally flat leaf spring member 31 is secured to the head 30 and the legs of the spring member 31 are positioned against the end flanges 27 for urging the armature outwardly or in a direction towards the indicator light as viewed in FIG. 2.

An internally threaded sleeve 32 is pressed into the other end of a core element 26 and this sleeve 32 has an outturned radial flange 33 integrally formed therewith and positioned against theadjacent end flange of the core element 26. An elongate stationary switch element 34 extends through the sleeve 32 and into the core element 26 and a portion of the shank of this switch element is threaded for threaded engagement with the threaded sleeve 32. With this arrangement, the position of the stationary switch element may be readily adjusted with respect to the armature 29. When the coil is not energized the spring member 31 urges the armature 29 out of contact with the stationary switch element 34. When the coil is energized, the armature will be urged into engaging relation with the stationary switch element as shown in FIG. 2. The current source and the electrically operated apparatus whose performance is monitored by the device 10 have been omitted from FIG. 2 for simplification.

An electrical conductor 35 interconnects the coil 25 with the female electric coupling member 13. Similarly, the male coupling element 14 is connected by an electrical conductor 36 to the sleeve 32 of the stationary switch contact and to the coil 25. An electrical conductor 37 interconnects one contact of the light 19 with the spring member 31 and another electrical conductor 38 interconnects the other lead or contact of the light 19 with the electrical conductors 21-22. A resistor 39 is interposed in the line 38 for the purpose of reducing the voltage to the indicator light 19.

It will be readily seen from the indicator light circuit that when current is supplied to the electrically oper ated apparatus, the electromagnetic switch will be energized to energize the indicator lightcircuit. It will also be noted that the end wall 12 has a threaded opening 41 therein for accommodating the threaded closure plug 40 as best seen in FIG. 2. With this arrangement, the stationary switch element 34 is readily accessible to permit adjustment of the switch element with respect to the armature. M

In use, the indicator device will be plugged directly into the electrically operated apparatus, such as an incubator, animal brooder or the like. It will be seen that this is a permanent inline installation so that when the primary circuit ofthe electrically operated apparatus is energized, the indicator light circuit will also be energized so that a perceptible signal is produced. This arrangement is extremely important since it is difficult to determine if certain types of electrically operated apparatus are functioning by mere visual inspection. This is true; especially with heating systems, such as those used in incubators, animalbrooders andsimilar apparatus. However, the present indicator device readily per: mits'a user to be apprised of the fact that the apparatus with whichit is associated is functioning-properly.

in the embodiment'shown, the armature 29 is urged toa normally opened position by the'use of resilient means such as the leaf spring member 31. It is also pointed out that the indicator device could be installed so that the armature 29 is normally urged to the opened position by the action of gravity and this would require that the housing ll be oriented to dispose the armature in a vertical position. Thus the housing 11 could be marked with suitable indicia (e.g. this end up) to vertically orient the armature to normally producedownwardly movement of the armature to the normal opened condition by action of gravity. Although an indicator light is desirable, as pointed out above, other suitable signal producing mechanisms may also be used.

Referring now to FIG. 3, it will be seen that a slightly modified form of the embodiment is there shown and this device is identical in construction to that shown in FIG. 1 except the housing 11a does not have the male and female plugs integrally formed therewith as a part thereof. The female plug 13a is connected to the housing by suitable electrical conductors in the form of flexible cable 13b. Similarly, the male coupling member 14a is connected by the main circuit electric conductors in the form of a cable 14b. The light 19a is also connected by its electrical conductors in the form of a cable 19b to the housing. Using this arrangement, the indicator light may be positioned in a convenient location, even though the electrically oriented apparatus is located in a more inaccessible remote location.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that l have provided a novel inline indicator device which is especially adapted for permanent use with an electrically operated apparatus to indicate that current is being supplied to the apparatus. The indicator device is of inexpensive construction and serves to instantly apprise a user that the associated apparatus is being provided with current so that it is functioning properly. As pointed out above, the indicator device may also be used on vehicles to indicate the proper functioning of signal lights or to indicate the proper operation of accessible heaters or the like.

Thus it will be seen that l have provided a novel and improved indicator device which is not only of simple and inexpensive construction but one which functions in a more efficient manner than any heretofore known comparable device.

What is claimed is:

1. A small, compact inline indicator device adapted to be connected .to the'main circuit of an electrically operated apparatus for indicating alternating current flow from a source of alternating currentthrough the apparatus, comprising:

a housing;

a female electrical coupling member mounted on said housing to electrically connect to the source of alternating electrical current, said male and female members being electrically connected to one another to permit current flow between the source of alternating current and the electrical apparatus;

an electromagnetic switch in said housingincluding a coil, an adjustable stationary switch element'projecting interiorlyof said c.oil, an armature in said coil and defininga movable switch element, said armature being in continuous steady contact with said stationary switch elementwhen said coil is energized and being normally urged out of contact with the stationary switch element when said coil is de-energized, said coil'being operatively connected in series between said male and female coupling members to be energized by alternating current flow to the electrical apparatus and being responsive to alternating current flow between said coupling members to immediately close said movable switch element in response to such alternating current flow and to reopen said movable switch element immediately whenalternating current flow between said coupling members ceases;-

an electrically operated signal mechanism producing switch element comprises an elongate threaded switch element threadedly connected with said core element for movement relative thereto to permit the gap between switch elements to be varied.

3. The indicator device as defined in claim 2 wherein 5 ment.

said circuit for energizing said signal mechanism in-

Claims

1. A small, compact inline indicator device adapted to be connected to the main circuit of an electrically operated apparatus for indicating alternating current flow from a source of alternating current through the apparatus, comprising: a housing; a female electrical coupling member mounted on said housing to electrically connect to the source of alternating electrical current, said male and female members being electrically connected to one another to permit current flow between the source of alternating current and the electrical apparatus; an electromagnetic switch in said housing including a coil, an adjustable stationary switch element projecting interiorly of said coil, an armature in said coil and defining a movable switch element, said armature being in continuous steady contact with said stationary switch element when said coil is energized and being normally urged out of contact with the stationary switch element when said coil is de-energized, said coil being operatively connected in series between said male and female coupling members to be energized by alternating current flow to the electrical apparatus and being responsive to alternating current flow between said coupling members to immediately close said movable switch element in response to such alternating current flow and to reopen said movable switch element immediately when alternating current flow between said coupling members ceases; an electrically operated signal mechanism producing a perceptable signal when energized; a circuit for energizing said signal mechanism including said stationary and movable switch elements, said signal mechanism circuit being constructed and arranged to conduct current therethrough only when current flows through the electrically operated apparatus, thereby energizing said signal mechanism only when current flows through the electrically operated apparatus.

2. The indicator device as defined in claim 1 wherein said coil includes a core element, and said stationary switch element comprises an elongate threaded switch element threadedly connected with said core element for movement relative thereto to permit the gap between switch elements to be varied.

3. The indicator device as defined in claim 2 wherein said circuit for energizing said signal mechanism includes an elongate leaf spring member secured between said armature and said core element and projecting outwardly from said armature for normally urging said armature away from said stationary switch element.