GB2126318A - Emergency signal devices - Google Patents

Abstract

An emergency signal device for a vehicle comprises telescopic first and second tubes 1 and 2. The first tube is normally fixed to a vehicle and means such as compression spring 9 are provided for telescopically opening the first and second tubes upon actuation of electrical means, such as a solenoid acting on a trigger 7. An electrically ignitable signal rod 3, such as a signal flare, is disposed in the second tube and provided with an electrical circuit 28 27 26 20 16 which ignites the signal rod when the first and second tubes are telescopically opened. Actuation of a further solenoid releases hooks 8 to cause ejection of the signal rod 3 from the device. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to emergency signal devices The present invention relates to emergency signal devices which may, for instance, be used in vehicles.

According to the invention, there is provided an emergency signal device for a vehicle, comprising a firsttube forfixing to the vehicle, a second tube telescoped in the first tube, means for telescopically opening the first and second tubes, electrical means for actuating the opening means, an electrically ignitable signal rod in the second tube, and an electrical circuit arranged to ignite the signal rod when the first and second tubes are telescopically opened.

Preferably, the device includes further electrical means for releasing the signal rod from the second tube after ignition of the rod.

Such a device may be fixed in an appropriate position to the interior ofthe car so that, when actuated, the signal rod, for instance in the form of a safety flare for producing strong red light and heavy smoke, projects out ofthe car and is electrically ignited. It is thus possible to warn other vehicles of a break-down or accident so as to assist in preventing accidents and "PILE-UPS".

For instance, if a control system ofthe car malfunctions or a tyre blows outwhen the vehicle is being driven along the road, the driver actuates the device, for instance by pressing an electrical button, so that the signal rod is automatically ignited and is projected outofthe carto drop onthe rodto providea warning for other road users.

In many countries, it is a legal requirementforeach carto carry safety flares or other signal rods for warning road users of an accident. With known systems of this type, the signal rod is ignited manually, for instance by the action of friction, and is then manuallythrown out of the car. However, there is rarelytimeforan occupant of a car in difficulties to light and eject manually such a rod, and a break-down in the road can thus lead to a chain crash or accident.

Further, if a car is involved in an accident or goes out of control and skids off the road, the car or other vehicle may be hidden from view, for instance in a deep valiey orthe like, so that assistance to the occupants may not be given for some considerable time. By providing the automatic ejection and ignition facilities, these disadvantages can be overcome or at least substantially reduced. For instance, when a vehicle goes out of control, it is merely necessaryforthe driver or other occu pant to eject the ignited signal rod on to the road so as to attract attention.

The invention will be further described, byway of example, with reference to the accompanying draw- ings in which: Fig. 1 shows an emergency signal device constitut- ing a preferred embodiment of the invention and telescopically closed for installation in a vehicle; Fig. 2 shows the device of Fig. 1 when telescopically extended after actuation; and Fig. 3 is an exploded view ofthe device of Fig. 1.

The device comprises an outertube 1 for fixing to a car body in any convenient position which permits the deviceto be operated.An innertube2 is arranged telescopically with the fixed tube 1 and contains a signal rod 3 in the form of an emergency flare.

The fixed tube 1 contains a compression spring 9 which acts, via a pressure disc 10, on the tube body 17.

The spring is normally maintained in a compressed state, with the tube body 17 within the tube body 6, by means of a trigger 7 which is pivoted to the fixed tube 1 at11 by means of an axle 12. The trigger body 13 has an angled portion which passes through a hole in the tube 1 so asto engage overthe disc lOto hold the spring 9 compressed. Atension spring 14 biases the trigger body 13 for rotation so as to release the disc 10, but the trigger body is maintained in engagement with the disc 10 buy means of an actuating rod 4 of an electromagnetic solenoid (not shown) arranged to releasethetrigger, and hence the spring 9 and disc 10, when actuated.

The tube body 17 is provided with a pair of diametrically opposite holes through which spring loaded pins projectand run in a pairoflongitudinally extending grooves 15 in the fixed body 6. Each of the spring loaded pins 18 comprises a pin 23, a compression spring 24 disposed between a head of the pin and the external surface of thetube body 17, and a circlip 25withinthetube body 17 and clipped overthetail of the pin 23 so asto make it captive.

The tube body 17 contains a pair of electrodes or conductors 20 which extend longitudinally of the tube body 17 on the exteriorthereof in longitudinally extending grooves. The lower ends ofthe electrodes 20 are turned outwardly and pass through diametrically opposite openings 22, which extend longitudinally of the tube body 17 and whose longitudinal ends limit sliding ofthe electrodes 20. The lower ends ofthe electrodes are arranged to contact inwardly projecting electrode portions 17 disposed at the upper end of the tube body6, so thatthe electrodes are connected thereto when the tube 1 and 2 are telescopically opened.

Apairofbutton hooks8 is provided at diametrically opposite sides ofthe upper end of the tube body 6. The button hooks 8 are operated by actuating rods 5 of a further electromagnetic solenoid (not shown). Thus, the button hooks 8 normally engage the electrodes 20 to slide them to a lowermost position within the tube body 17 when the tubes 1 and 2 are teiescopically opened. However, actuation of the solenoid causes the actuating rods 5 to release the button hooks so that the electrodes 20 are not restrained but outwardly directed portions 21 engage the inwardly projecting portions 16so asto preventthetube 2from becoming separated fromthetube 1.

The tube 2 contains a compression spring 19 which acts between the disc 10 and a contact sheet 26. The contactsheet26 is attached to the signal rod 3 and has conducted tracks which a connected to terminals 27 ofthe rod 3. Conductors from the terminals 27 pass through the rod to the outer end thereof and to a heating coil 28 for igniting the rod. The tracks on the disc26 arse arranged so asto contactthe inwardly turned upper ends of the electrodes 20 which project inwardlyfor selectively retaining the disc 26 and hence the rod 3, within the tube 2.

When it is desired to actuate the device without ejecting the signal rod, a first electrical button is pressed so as to actuate the solenoid whose actuator rod 4 releases the trigger 7. The solenoid including the actuator rods 5 is not actuated. Thetrigger7thus releases the disc 10 which, together with thetube portion 17, is urged by the compression spring 9 telescopically out ofthe tube 1. During the initial sliding movement ofthe tube 2, the pins 23 slide in the groove 15 and their inner ends are disposed over the disc 26, which thus retains the signal rod 3 within the tube 2 and maintains the compression spring 19 in a compressed state.When the tube 2 has moved sufficientlyfar out of the tube 1 for the pins 23 to be released bythe grooves 15, the plate 26 is released and the signal rod 3 extends out ofthe tube 2 underthe influence of the spring 19.

Telescopic opening of the tubes 1 and 2 is finally restrained by engagement ofthe button hooks 8 over the low ends of the electrodes 20 and thus over the portions 21 at the lower end of the tube 2. In particular, the lower ends ofthe electrodes 20 are retained adjacent the portions 21 and the length ofthe electrodes is such that the inwardly turned upper ends thereof hold the disc or plate 26 and the bottom end of the signal rod 3 within the upper end ofthe tube 2.

When the disc 26 comes into contact with the upper ends ofthe electrodes 20, an electrical circuit is completed across, for instance, the battery ofthe vehicle in which the device is installed and the outer end ofthe signal rod 3 is ignited by the heating coil 28.

When it is desired to ejectthe ignited rod 3from the vehicie, another button is pressed so as to actuate the solenoid whose rod4 releasesthetrigger7 as described above. However, the solenoid including the rods 5 is also actuated so as to release the button hooks 8 whose upper inwardly turned ends are thus drawn back from the upper end of the tube 1. The tubes 1 and 2 thus open telescopically until the portions 21 engage underthe portions 16. However, because the button hooks 8 are drawn back, the lower ends of the electrodes 20 are not restrained and merely make passing contact with the portions 16so as to ignite the signal rod 3. The electrodes 20 thus slide in the grooves in the tube portion 17 until their out-turned ends abut against the upper ends of the longitudinal opening 22 in the tube 2. The length of the electrodes 20 is such that the upper inwardly turned ends then project out ofthe tube 2 so that the disc 26 and the signal rod 3 attached thereto then fall out of the device and onto the road.

Claims (9)

1. An emergency signal device for a vehicle, comprising a first tube forfixing to the vehicle, a second tube telescoped in the first tube, means for telescopically opening the first and second tubes, electrical means for actuating the opening means, an electrically ignitable signal rod in the second tube, and an electrical circuit arranged to ignite the signal rod whenthefirst and second tubes aretelescopically opened.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, in which the opening means comprises a first compression spring disposed within the first tube and acting between the first and second tubes.

3. A device as claimed in claim 2, in which the electrical actuating means comprises a solenoid arranged to release a trigger which normally restrains the first spring in a compressed state.

4. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, including further electrical means for releasing the signal rod from the second tube after ignition of the rod.

5. A device as claimed in claim 4, in which the further electrical means comprises a pair of solenoidreleased button hooks disposed diametrically opposite each other at one end ofthe first tube, the second tube containing a second compression spring acting between the signal rod and the second tube and provided with release means for allowing the signal rod to be ejected upon operation ofthe solenoid released button hooks.

6. A device as claimed in claim S, in which the release means comprises a retaining plate between the signal rod and the second spring and a pair of outwardly biased pins projecting through the second tube diametrically opposite each other into longitu dinal grooves in the first tube, the pins being arranged to maintain the second spring compressed by means ofthe retaining plate while the pins run in the grooves and to release the retaining plate when the pins leave the grooves.

7. A device as claimed in claim 6, in which the electrical circuit includes two conductors on the retaining plate contacting a pair of terminals on the signal rod, a pair of electrodes extending longitudinally ofthe second tube on the inside thereof and having first inwardly projecting ends extending overthe retaining plate for contacting the conductors thereon when the plate is released and second outwardly turned ends passing through openings in the second tube and arranged to contact a pair of electrical contacts on thefirst tube when the first and second tubes are telescopically opened.

8. A device as claimed in claim 7, in which the signal rod is attached to the retaining plate, the openings extend longitudinally ofthe second tube, and the electrodes are slidable axially in grooves extending along the interior of the second tube with the sliding movement ofthe electrodes being limited byabuttmentofthesecond ends thereof against the longitudinal ends ofthe openings, the solenoidreleased button hooks being arranged,when not actuated,to restrain sliding of the electrodes so as to hold the retaining plate within the second tube and, when actuated, to release the retaining plate so as to allow the signal rod to be ejected.

9. An emergency signal deviceforavehicle, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.