Abstract
A signalling device, in particular for a signalling tower, for purposes of displaying operating states, with at least one signalling module, which has a circuit board element for at least one signalling element for purposes of outputting a signal, in particular for a lighting element for purposes of outputting a signal light, wherein the signalling module can be detachably connected with a further signalling module, and in the connected state the signalling modules are arranged one above another, wherein a connecting conductor, running through the signalling module, is provided for purposes of controlling a circuit board element of the further signalling module, wherein the circuit board element of the signalling module for purposes of forming the connecting conductor has a conducting track assigned to the signalling element of the further signalling module, which conducting track in the connected state of the signalling modules is connected via a contact element with a conducting track; on the circuit board element of the further signalling module, wherein the signalling module has a bayonet coupling element for purposes of connecting with a bayonet coupling element of the further signalling module, wherein in an interconnected, non-rotated state of the bayonet coupling elements the circuit board elements are arranged in a non-contact position, and in an interconnected, rotated state of the bayonet coupling elements the circuit board are arranged in a contact position with one another.
Claims
1. A signalling device, in particular for a signalling tower, for purposes of displaying operating states, with at least one signalling module, which has a circuit board element for at least one signalling element for purposes of outputting a signal, in particular for a lighting element for purposes of outputting a signal light, wherein the signalling module can be detachably connected with a further signalling module, and the signalling modules in the connected state are arranged one above another, wherein a connecting conductor running through the signalling module is provided for purposes of controlling a circuit board element of the further signalling module, wherein the signalling module has a bayonet coupling element projected from a side of a surface for purposes of connecting with a bayonet coupling element of the further signalling module, wherein in an interconnected, rotated state of the bayonet coupling elements the circuit board elements are arranged in a contact position with one another, wherein the circuit board element extends essentially over the whole axial extent of the signalling module and the circuit board element of the signalling module for purposes of forming the connecting conductor has a conducting track assigned to the signalling element of the further signalling module, which conducting track is integrated into the circuit board element and connects a contact point of the upper face of the circuit board element with a contact point of the lower face of the circuit board element, which conducting track in the connected state of the signalling modules is connected via a contact element with a conducting track on the circuit board element of the further signalling module.
2. The signalling device in accordance with claim 1, wherein, in the connected state of the signalling modules, the contact element is arranged between an upper face contact point of the one circuit board element and a lower face contact point of the other circuit board element.
3. The signalling device in accordance with claim 1, wherein an elastically deflectable contact spring is provided as the contact element, which contact spring in the connected state of the signalling modules connects their circuit board elements with one another.
4. The signalling device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the circuit board element has stud elements, having contact points and projecting from the upper and lower end faces of the circuit board elements, wherein the lower or upper face stud elements are connected with the contact elements, and the upper or lower face stud elements are respectively free of contact elements.
5. The signalling device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the signalling module has a capping element with a connecting element, the capping element being connected with the circuit board element, wherein the connecting element is accommodated via a detachable connection, in an outer housing.
6. The signalling device in accordance with claim 1, wherein for purposes of protecting the contact elements at least one protective element is provided, at least partially enclosing the contact elements.
7. The signalling device in accordance with claim 6, wherein the protective element has two rows of projections, between which the contact elements are arranged, wherein a first row has comparatively short projections and a second row has comparatively long projections.
8. The signalling device in accordance with claim 5, wherein a cover/floor element of the further signalling module or the capping element of a further circuit board element has at least one passage opening curved in the shape of an arc.
9. The signalling device in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least one optical element is connected with the circuit board element, which optical element has at least one optical lens.
10. The signalling device in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least one capping element is provided, comprising the connecting element, the protective element and the optical element.
11. The signalling device in accordance with claim 5, wherein the capping element has two half-shells, which are connected with one another via a detachable connection.
12. The signalling device in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least one circuit board element has more than three conducting tracks for the control of a corresponding number of signalling modules.
13. The signalling device in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least two signalling modules are provided, connected with one another, and in the connected state arranged one above another.
14. The signalling device in accordance with claim 5, wherein the detachable connection is a snap connection.
15. The signalling device in accordance with claim 5, wherein the outer housing has a cylindrical shell surface.
16. The signalling device in accordance with claim 5, wherein the detachable connection is a snap connection, and wherein the outer housing has a cylindrical shell surface.
17. The signalling device in accordance with claim 9, wherein the number of lenses corresponds essentially to a number of light-emitting diodes provided as a signalling element.
18. The signalling device in accordance with claim 11, wherein the detachable connection is a latching connection.
19. The signalling device in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least one circuit board element has at least five conducting tracks for the control of a corresponding number of signalling modules.
20. The signalling device in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least one circuit board element has eight conducting tracks for the control of a corresponding number of signalling modules.
Description
(1) In what follows the invention is described in more detail with the aid of preferred examples of embodiment; however, it is not to be limited to the latter. In the figures:
(2) FIG. 1 shows a view of an inventive signalling tower, which has a plurality of signalling modules, detachably connected with one another, for the optical and acoustic display of operating states of a machine;
(3) FIG. 2 shows a partially sectioned, diagrammatic view of a signalling module of the signalling tower as in FIG. 1, wherein the signalling module has a circuit board element with an LED lighting element;
(4) FIG. 3 shows a further partially sectioned diagrammatic view of the signalling module as in FIGS. 1, 2;
(5) FIGS. 4, 5 show further diagrammatic views of the signalling module as in FIGS. 1 to 3;
(6) FIGS. 6 and 7 show schematic views of the circuit board elements of signalling modules arranged one above another, the conducting tracks of which can be connected with each other via contact springs, by rotation between the inoperative position represented in FIG. 6 and the contact position represented in FIG. 7;
(7) FIG. 8 shows a diagrammatic view of a half-shell of a capping element with an inserted circuit board element; and
(8) FIG. 9 shows a further diagrammatic view of the half-shell of the capping element for the circuit board element;
(9) FIG. 10 shows a schematic view of four circuit board elements arranged one above another;
(10) FIG. 11 shows a diagrammatic view of a second example of embodiment of an inventive circuit board element with a capping element;
(11) FIG. 12 shows a diagrammatic view of the example of embodiment as in FIG. 11 with a half-shell of the capping element removed; and
(12) FIG. 13 shows a sectioned diagrammatic view of a second example of embodiment of an inventive signalling module.
(13) FIG. 1 shows a signalling device 1 for the display of operating states of a machine, or a plant component. The signalling device is designed as a signalling tower with a plurality of signalling modules 2, which, as will be explained in more detail in what follows, can be detachably connected with one another. In the connected state the individual signalling modules 2 are arranged one above another. In the form of embodiment shown three optical signalling modules 2 are provided for the output of lighting signals of different colours, and one acoustic signalling module 2 (sufficiently known in the prior art) is provided for the output of an acoustic signal. The signalling modules 2 have in each case an outer housing 3, which is designed with a cylindrical, partially transparent shell surface 4, in each case embodied in a different colour, and a cover 5 (cf. FIGS. 4, 5). The signalling modules 2 are arranged on a base element 6 in a manner of known art; the latter is connected via electrical connecting means (schematically indicated) with the machine (not shown). Accordingly, the control of all signalling modules 2 is undertaken via the common connecting means of the base element 6.
(14) As can be seen from FIGS. 2, 3, the signalling module 2 has a circuit board element 7 within the outer housing 3, on which circuit board element 7 is arranged, in a manner of known art, at least one signalling element 8 (schematically indicated in FIG. 8) for purposes of outputting a signal. Each of the optical signalling modules 2 has at least one lighting element on the circuit boards 7. At least one light-emitting diode (LED) is provided as the lighting element, wherein the signalling element 8 shown in FIG. 8 comprises a total of six LEDs (three on each face of the circuit board element). For purposes of controlling the circuit board elements 7 connecting conductors are provided, running through the signalling modules 2; which connecting conductors in the visible form of embodiment are integrated into the circuit board elements 7 as conducting tracks 10 shown in FIG. 8 schematically.
(15) FIG. 10 shows four circuit board elements 7 arranged one above another, together with a base section 9 integrated into the base element 6 with connecting clamps 9 (0 to 7). Accordingly, each circuit board element 7 has a 0-conducting track 10 leading to the next signalling module 2. Furthermore, in each case at least one conducting track 10 is provided, which makes a connection from the contact element 1 to the right of the 0-conducting track via the respective signalling element 8 to the 0-conducting track, together with further conducting tracks 10 passing through the circuit board element. With the application of voltage onto the 0-conducting track and one of the connecting clamps 9 1 to 7 a corresponding signalling module 2 can thus be activated. In the mechanically connected state of the signalling modules 2 the conducting tracks 10, 10 are electrically connected via contact elements 11 with the corresponding conducting tracks 10 on the circuit board element 7 of the signalling module 2 located above. If, therefore, voltage is applied to the connecting clamps 9 0 and 1, the signalling element 8 of the lowermost signalling module 2 lights up; if voltage is applied to the connecting clamp 9 0 and 2, the signalling element 8 of the second (as seen from below) signalling module 2 lights up, etc. As can also be seen from FIGS. 2, 3, the circuit board elements 7 extend essentially over the whole height, or axial extent, of the signalling modules 2. In the connected state of the signalling modules 2, the contact elements 11 are arranged between an upper face contact point 12 of the one (lower) circuit board element 7 and a lower face contact point 13 of the other (upper) circuit board element 7 (cf. FIG. 7). Elastically deflectable contact springs 11 are provided as contact elements 11, in the embodiment shown, which contact springs, in the connected state of the signalling modules 2, connect their circuit board elements 7; 7, 7 with one another (cf. FIG. 7).
(16) As can be seen from FIGS. 2 to 5, for purposes of their detachable connection the signalling modules 2 have bayonet coupling elements 14, which are formed by bayonet projections 15 on an upper edge region, displaced inwards, of the shell surface 4 of the outer housing 3, and corresponding bayonet openings 16 on the opposing lower edge region of the shell surface 4 of the outer housing 3. The bayonet coupling elements 14 of signalling modules 2, arranged one above another, can be connected with one another in a manner of known art via an insert-and-rotate form of connection. Here the bayonet projections 15 on the lower signalling module 2 are firstly guided into an entry region 16a of the bayonet opening 16 running in the axial direction. The signalling modules 2 are then rotated relative to one another, wherein the bayonet projections 15 are moved along horizontal securing sections 16b of the bayonet openings 16. In the interconnected, non-rotated state of the bayonet coupling elements 14 the contact elements 11 of the one (upper) signalling module 2 are arranged at a distance from the corresponding contact points of the other signalling module 2. By arrangement of the bayonet coupling elements 14 in the interconnected, rotated position as in FIG. 1, the contact points 12, 13 of signalling modules 2, arranged one above another, are brought into conducting contact. In this manner the signalling line between the successive signalling modules 2 can be enabled or interrupted via the bayonet connection.
(17) As can be seen in particular from FIGS. 6, 7, the circuit board elements 7 have stud elements 17 forming the contact points 12, 13; which stud elements 17 project upwards from the upper end faces of the circuit board elements 7, and downwards from the lower end faces of the circuit board elements 7. In the form of embodiment shown, the lower face stud elements 17 are in each case connected with the contact elements 11, whereas the upper face stud elements 17 are free of such contact elements 11.
(18) As can be seen from FIG. 8, 9, cf. also FIGS. 2, 3, each of the signalling modules 2 has a capping element 18 for the related circuit board element 7, wherein in a first example of embodiment the related circuit board element 7 is accommodated essentially completely within the capping element 18. In a lower section the capping element 18 has a protective element 25, with two rows of projections 19, wherein one row is provided with longer projections 19, and one row with shorter projections 19. The contact elements 11 are in each case arranged between the projections 19, 19 serving to provide contact protection. The longer projections 19 cover, essentially completely, the contact elements 11 on that face on which no contacts are made. The shorter projections 19, in contrast, leave an end section of the contact elements 11 free for purposes of forming contacts. When guiding together two signalling modules 2, the contact elements 11, as well as the projections 19, 19, are accommodated in corresponding passage openings 20 on the upper face of the capping element 18 of the adjacent signalling module 2. For purposes of matching the rotational movement during the closure of the bayonet coupling the passage openings 20 of the capping element 18 are curved in the shape of an arc. When rotating the signalling modules 2 so as to make the bayonet coupling, the pin-shaped projections 19 of the one (upper) signalling module 2 are therefore moved into the passage openings 20 curved in the shape of an arc of the other (lower) signalling module 2. The same procedure occurs for the respective number of signalling modules 2.
(19) The arrangement of the longer 19 and shorter projections 19 is reversed on the opposing radial sections of the capping element 18. Thus, with the arrival at a stop position defined by the bayonet coupling, contact is reliably made between adjacent circuit board elements 7. Here the configuration of the shorter projections 19 at the same time ensures that the contacts between the circuit board elements 7 are not impaired when the signalling modules 2 are connected.
(20) As can also be seen from FIGS. 8, 9, cf. also FIGS. 2, 3, the capping element 18 has two half-shells 22, which are connected with one another via a latching connection 23. In the connected state of the half-shells 22 the capping element 18 has a connecting element 24, in which the passage openings 20 are provided, a protective element 25 with projections 19, 19, and an optical element 26. The optical element 26 has a number of lenses 27, with which the light beams, outputted from the respective LED of the signalling element 8 in each case, are distributed and directed in an appropriate manner. The capping element 18 is itself mounted via a snap connection 29 in the outer housing 3.
(21) In FIGS. 11 to 13, a further example of embodiment can be seen, in which the capping element 18 is significantly reduced compared with that in the first example of embodiment. That is to say, this capping element 18 does not enclose the circuit board element 7, in the form of a protective housing; instead, a circuit board element 7 with an essentially constant width is provided, which extends significantly beyond the capping element 18, in particular in the region of the optical element 26 and the connecting element 24. As a matter of fact, the capping element 18 as described in connection with the first example of embodiment, has a connecting element 24 with latching projections 24 for purposes of attachment onto the housing 3, or onto a cover 5 that is separately formed from, or integrally formed with, the housing 3.
(22) In the second example of embodiment, as in FIGS. 11 to 13, the passage openings 20, moreover, are also formed in the cover 5 and not in the capping element 18.
(23) The circuit board element 7, which is securely connected with the capping element 18, can thus be connected in the housing 3 in a simple manner by means of a snap connection, via the latching catches 24, in particular with a central bar 30 of the cover 5.
(24) However, in the capping element 18 of the second example of embodiment the protective element 25, in particular for purposes of protecting contact elements 11 surrounds as before a lower end section of the circuit board element 7, whereinas described already in detail in connection with the first example of embodimentthe contact elements 11 are accommodated between a row of short projections 19 and long projections 19 of the protective element 25.
(25) In FIGS. 12 and 13 it can, in particular, be seen that also the capping element 18 in accordance with the second example of embodiment is essentially composed of two half-shells 22, wherein for purposes of a simple design of connection between the two half-shells 22 of the capping element 18 and the circuit board element 7, the circuit board element 7 has openings 31, 32, through which connecting elements of the respective half-shell, in particular latching hooks 34 or connecting pins 35 can be fed through for purposes of making a plug-in connection with the opposing half-shell of the capping element 18. What is essential in both examples of embodiment, however, is simply the fact that in the connection of two signalling modules 2 via a bayonet coupling in the rotated state, an electrical connection is made at the same time between circuit board elements arranged one above another.
