WO2012072229A1 - Warning light and telescopic mast equipped with a warning light - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a warning light, which is designed in particular for attachment to the mast head of a mast which can be extended in the vertical direction, and which emits orthogonally to the vertical direction over a predetermined range (4a, 4b), in particular a range covering an angle of 360°, and having an integrated coupling device (10) for coupling an operative unit (20) by means of which the surroundings of the warning light can be acted upon and/or action upon the surroundings of the light can be detected.

Description

 Warning light and equipped with a warning light telescopic mast

The invention relates to a warning light, which is designed in particular for attachment to the mast head of a vertically extendable mast, and radiates orthogonal to the height direction over a predetermined, in particular an angle of 360 ° range, and equipped with such a warning light retractable mast (telescopic mast ).

In this context, the term "warning light" should be understood to mean, in particular, all-round beacons which, in addition to the "classic" beacon with a light signal (rotary mirror light) perceived as circulating, also comprise flashing or intermittently illuminated warning lights (flashing or flashing beacons).

Such warning lights have long been known in various embodiments and are used as warning and signaling devices in a variety of machines and vehicles to make people nearby in front of the machine itself or otherwise dangerous situations. A likewise known purpose of such warning lights is in their attachment to an extendable mast, which in turn to emergency vehicles of z. As fire or police may be appropriate. This arrangement has the advantage that in the case of, for example, a traffic accident on a highway or in a valley equipped with this warning light, arrived at the accident site emergency vehicle by extending the telescopic mast can place the warning light high above the scene of the accident, so that these in the vicinity of the accident site standing overcoming obstacles and remotely reveals the emitted warning light from her.

Often wear the telescopic masts used for this purpose below the warning light even more devices such. As transmitting or receiving systems and in particular adjustable headlights, with which the site of the accident can be illuminated, so that an emergency operation can be performed reliably even at night or limited daylight.

Despite these measures, aid operations are not always completely satisfactory. Thus it happens again and again that despite the accident spot marked by the warning light, subsequent vehicles no longer brake in time and cause further accidents near the scene of the accident.

The invention is therefore based on the object to provide a warning light, the warning function is improved and in particular more reliable to ensure improved auxiliary operations can.

This object is achieved by the invention by a development of the warning light of the type mentioned above, which is characterized essentially by an integrated coupling device for coupling an active unit, which can be acted upon by the environment of the warning light and / or exposure to the lighting environment is registered ,

Thus, according to the invention an active unit such as a headlamp can be coupled to the integrated coupling device, and no longer has to be mounted separately below the warning light on the telescopic mast. In particular, an improved cable routing is made possible by the integrative coupling of the active unit.

In the context of the invention, it has been recognized that there is a problem in the described auxiliary inserts that the previous type of separated provided warning lamp and the lighting technology used as a working unit and their separate power supplies and control lines harbored an increased risk that the warning light and / or the headlights are impaired in their functionality. This can happen, for example, that individual cables get caught in the operation, or get to hot parts of the headlights and thereby damaged, up to the malfunction of the warning light. The inventive coupling of the active unit to an integrated coupling device, the invention thus provides an improvement that allows the almost complete elimination of this source of danger.

Furthermore, there is the possibility of a space-saving compact design, which comes into play especially in the retracted state of a telescopic mast, as well as a simple attachability of the active unit. For example, it is possible to dispense with retractable active units by selecting close-coupled fixed attachments.

According to a particularly preferred embodiment, the warning light has a base part serving for its attachment, and the active unit is movable relative to the base part via its coupling with at least one degree of freedom, preferably at least two independent degrees of freedom. In this way, for example, actives designed as a headlight remain adjustable and can specifically illuminate the site of the accident. For this purpose, provision is expediently made for a degree of freedom of movement to be a first pivotability of the active unit about a first axis extending in the vertical direction. This allows movement of the headlamps in the circumferential direction of the radiation area of the. Warning light.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the first pivotability is achieved by a rotatability of the coupling device about the first axis. This allows structurally lower demands on the active unit to be coupled, since it no longer has to provide a corresponding adjusting device itself. In this context, it is particularly provided that the warning light itself is rotatably mounted on its base part about the first axis. In this case, the effort is taken into account, mitzubewegen the warning light itself despite their already substantially symmetrical with respect to the axis of rotation Ab radiation. It has been recognized in the context of the invention that the effort which is therefore not considered to be necessary can be compensated for by the fact that separate rotation of the integrated coupling device is no longer necessary and yet a corresponding degree of freedom of movement can be provided for the active unit. Furthermore, it is preferably provided that a degree of freedom of movement is a second pivotability of the active unit about a second axis extending transversely, preferably orthogonal to the first axis. Thus, the flexibility of the trained as a headlight operating unit is further increased in terms of their emission direction, which is particularly advantageous for use as a searchlight. For this purpose, it is provided that the second pivotability is achieved by a rotatable mounting of at least a portion of the coupling device about the second axis. This allows structurally particularly simple to implement the active elements to be coupled, in particular it requires no adjustability of the headlight over his Ankoppelbereich for a headlight assembly to be coupled.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, a first and / or a second drive for the first / second pivotability are integrated into the warning light. For example, the drives are housed in the interior of a housing body of the warning light. This leads to a particularly compact design and reduces the installation space problems occurring in the height direction when using the warning light on telescopic masts.

In an expedient embodiment, the emission (the warning light) takes place in a first subregion of the emission region from a first center and in a second subregion from a separate second center, wherein the integration of the coupling device by at least partially recording in between the two sub-areas the separation created space takes place. The center here is to be regarded as the radial center which can be recognized according to the geometrical ray optics for a subregion of the emission area. It may or may not be the same as the radiation source. By exploiting the space between the two sub-areas further space in the height direction of the warning light is saved. For example, the warning light can be divided into two halves and the integrated coupling device can be arranged in the middle between the halves, in particular with the drive technology for the first / second pivotability. The space gain can then be used for a telescopic mast higher extendable so that the visibility of the rotating beacon and thus their warning effect can be improved.

Particularly suitably the Ankoppelbarkeit is designed by the coupling device such that the active unit is at least for the most part outside of a narrowest, can be applied to a the radiating area umrandendes housing the warning light curve. This ensures a combined good mobility of the coupled active unit with an unrestricted effective field of the same. With regard to the attachability of the warning light, a design is preferred according to which a maximum dimension of the warning light is orthogonal to its extension in the height direction of at most 70 cm, preferably at most 55 cm, in particular at most 40 cm provided and / or a ratio of this maximum dimension to the height dimension Is 2.0 or less, preferably 1, 6 or smaller, especially 1, 3 or smaller. In this way, on the one hand, the weight load as well as occurring during rotation about the first axis centrifugal forces is kept low. On the other hand, the character of the warning light remains at least in the long-range to be perceived as a single light, maintained.

For the preferred application, the applicability of the warning light is also designed so that a power supply and / or control line of at least 3 m, preferably at least 5 m, in particular at least 8 m in length is provided. This allows use on correspondingly highly extendable telescopic masts without additional measures with simple coupling of the lines to the power source or control.

Particularly preferred is a common for the warning light and the active unit supply of power and / or control information is provided. Thus, we effectively reduced the above-mentioned danger by a plurality of individual cables. Furthermore, acceleration of the vehicle integration is achieved for the above-described use in vehicles, since the distribution for the electronic control and the power supply for the active unit or the active units (headlights, antennas) is located inside the system. For example, the control can take place via a CAN bus and be supplied together with the power supply line in a cable harness. Alternatively, the control can be done via a secure radio connection (ζ, B. Bluetooth) - to the vehicle itself then only a two-wire line must be connected.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, such a supply of the active unit with power and / or control information serving line this is supplied via the coupling device and is in particular not exposed to the outside. This ensures effective protection of the cable line, especially in the area of greatest danger.

With regard to the second pivoting, an arrangement for limiting the pivoting angle achievable with the second pivotability can be provided. In particular, there should be no endless rotation in terms of the second pivotability Rather be provided direction of rotation, but rather the setting positions between two maximum stops be limited. In addition, a pivotability is provided by 360 °, preferably with a permitted overlap (pivoting about 380 °, even up to 400 °). In this context, a mechanical end stop can be provided for the limiting arrangement, in particular realized via a cam disc, which prevents further pivoting by mechanical contact with a stop element when the maximum pivot angle is reached. In order to reduce the resulting possible mechanical load, it is also possible to provide a safety mechanism in the form of a leading-off electrical cutoff, which interrupts the pivoting energy supply when the desired setting position is reached. For its realization, in turn, the cam can be used, so that can be dispensed with expensive sensors.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the coupling device is designed for coupling at least partially independent of each other movable action units. This is achieved, for example, in that a rotatable support for the second pivotability is formed separately for each active unit or for groups of active units. For example, two or more flange surfaces can be provided for coupling, which are each rotatably mounted. These flange surfaces can also be provided with central and / or lateral cable exits in order to realize the above-described cable guide.

In this context, it can also be provided that the movable bearing of the two active units has a common counter bearing. This can be z. B. are formed by a between the two main shafts for the respective second pivoting effecting rotation arranged fixed sleeve. In this case, the sleeve can also be slotted in particular and form a cable transfer point in the interior of the housing of the warning light. As already explained, can be achieved with the explained measures from the common supply of lines that can be initiated, for example, in the base of the warning light, completely internal wiring not only the warning light, but also the active units.

The invention also provides a unit consisting of a warning light according to one or more of the embodiments described above together with such an active element or a combination of two or more active elements under protection. In terms of the importance of a single action unit, it may serve a function of one or more of illuminate, transmit / receive, measure, or capture. Preferably, an active unit is realized in the form of a plurality of headlight units.

Furthermore, the invention also provides an extendable mast (telescopic mast, such as a pneumatic mast) under protection, at the head portion of which a warning light according to one or more of the above embodiments is mounted, and a vehicle equipped with such a mast. Preference is given to the ratio of the maximum transverse dimension of the warning light (without attached active units) to the transverse dimension of the lowest stage of the mast 4 or smaller, preferably 3 or smaller.

Further details, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the more detailed description of a single embodiment of the invention with reference to the accompanying figures, of which

1 shows an embodiment of a warning light according to the invention, wherein also two attachable / mounted headlight units are shown,

FIG. 2 is another illustration of the warning light of FIG. 1, looking at the exposed interior of the warning light,

FIG. 3 schematically illustrates an emission plane orthogonal to the altitude axis, and FIG

Fig. 4 is an illustration of a pneumatic mast with the lamp of Fig. 1.

The warning light shown in Fig. 1 has a signal light body 3, which is divided into two halves. Belonging to the two halves, made of a transparent material housing parts 3a and 3b are formed by its outer contour forth in the form of a half-cylinder. Alternatively, other shapes of the outer contour of the housing 3a, 3b are conceivable, which (relative to a plane orthogonal to the height extent of the warning light) have a curved or polygonal contour.

As can be seen better from the schematic representation of FIG. 3, the emission area in such an orthogonal plane is subdivided into two areas 4a, 4b, to which a respective optical center Za, Zb can be assigned according to the geometrical beam optics. This will between the two Abstrahlbereichen 4a and 4b and two centers Zä and Zb, a free space R created in which (again with reference to FIG. 1), a central housing part 2 of the warning light is added. About the housing part 2, the warning light can be equipped with other equipment, such as lighting equipment, transmitting and receiving equipment, measuring equipment, cameras or the like. For their coupling is in the region of the housing part 2 at its not adjacent to the transparent housing 3a and 3b sides each have a flange 10, to which the accessories, in the case shown in Fig. 1 each have a headlamp unit 20 with two radiators, attachable , With regard to the concrete mounting several variants are conceivable, in the embodiment, the flange surfaces 10 are equipped with centering and Befestigungslöchem, can be inserted and screwed into the matching bolts of the headlamp unit 20. To attach the headlamp units, the housing cover can be removed.

The warning light also allows pivoting of the attached headlamp units 20 about two axes, which will be explained below. The limited by the housing parts 2, 3a, 3b main body of the warning light is compared to a base part 1 of the warning light, which is arranged seen in the vertical direction H below the housing part 2, rotatably supported about the height axis H. This is indicated in Fig. 1 by the double arrow A and allows a corresponding pivoting A of the mounted headlamp units 20. In this pivotal movement A not only the headlights 20 are thus pivoted, but it rotates, the housing part 20 and the signal light body 3 of the warning light. Since the latter radiates substantially symmetrically anyway in the orthogonal plane (shown in FIG. 3) to the elevation axis H, such a rotation reliably maintains the warning effect of the warning light.

Furthermore, the headlight units 20 can also be pivoted independently of each other about an orthogonal to the height axis H extending central axis of the flange 10 due to a relative to the housing part 2 rotatable mounting of the flange 10, as indicated in Fig. 1 by the broken double arrow B. With respect to this second pivotability B, the two headlamp units 20 are decoupled, i. the drive technology for rotating the flange surfaces 10 provides for a respective independent drive. In this way, z. B. a headlamp unit 20 for the near field illumination and the other a remote illumination can be used.

The entire drive technology for the first pivotability A and the second pivotability B (in the case of two headlight units 20, three are mutually independent). provided dependent waves, of which the two for the pivoting B on an axis) are arranged within the housing part 2. In this way, an extremely compact design is achieved on the one hand, which additionally causes due to the coupled arrangement of the headlamp units 20 at the same height as that of the signal light body 3 of the warning light a space gain in the height direction. For the preferred use of the warning light, in which the base part 1 is connected to the tip of a telescopic mast (FIG. 4), the latter can be completely retracted even when the headlamps 20 are mounted. Assuming a set for emergency vehicles maximum height of the ready for use but still in the retracted position mast from conventional arrangements in which headlamp units are attached as separate units below the warning light on the mast, a corresponding height savings of about 50% is achieved in a telescopic mast a corresponding height gain in the extended state allows, which accounts for a multiple of the gain in height in the retracted state according to the number of provided mast stages of the telescopic mast. Thus, in addition to the compact design, which also leads to lower acquisition costs as well as maintenance costs, a significant gain in height for the extendable mast possible, with the associated safety advantages of a towering warning light.

With regard to the specific embodiments of the integrated into the housing part 2 drives for the pivotal movements A, B, several embodiments are conceivable. A preferred Auführungsvariante will be explained in more detail below with reference to FIG. 2. Therein, the housing part 3a of Fig. 1 is removed, so that a view of the housing interior of the housing part 2 is released. For the rotational movement A of the housing 2 about the height axis H, a motor unit 5 is provided, which causes this rotational movement via a pair of meshing gears 6. With regard to the second pivoting movement B, the toothed wheels 14 provided for rotation with the flange surfaces 10 on the respective side of the housing 2 can be driven independently of one another by further motor units accommodated in the interior of the housing but not shown in FIG. 2 for the sake of clarity. In this case, the respective rotary shafts are supported on a sleeve 15 arranged in a fixed space between the toothed wheels 14.

With regard to the second pivoting movement B, a maximum pivot angle is provided beyond which further pivoting movement is no longer possible. In the embodiment, a maximum swing range is set in the range of 380 ° to 400 °. This limitation is realized by a mechanical stop, in this embodiment, by a housing-fixed stop element to which a in a rotationally fixed the gear 14 connected cam disk shaped approach strikes. To avoid the resulting mechanical loads, a contact element 13 is still provided, via which a leading electrical shutdown of the further pivoting movement is achieved shortly before or when the mechanical stop is reached. For this purpose, the contact element 13 cooperates with the cam 12 contacting them.

The inventive design of the warning light also allows improved and safe cable management for the power supply of the drives, the signal light body 3 and the active units 20 (headlights) serving lines and the control lines required for these elements. Thus, it is provided that all lines can be introduced together via an opening 9 in the base part 1 in the warning light and are supplied to the individual components within the housing 2. Furthermore, the supply lines for the active units 20 (headlights) can be introduced through one or more slots 16 formed in the sleeve 15 (FIG. 2) in order to be supplied to the headlight 20 via cable outlet openings 11 formed on the flange surface 10. In this way, a completely concealed cable management is possible. Alternatively and / or additionally, a last cable section can also be guided laterally of the headlamp units 20, and for this purpose be led out of the cable exit hole exiting in the lateral surface of the flange surface 10. In any case, damage to the supply and / or control cables due to the hot areas of the headlamp can be avoided because the cables are routed outside their radiation range. Specifically, it is also thought to realize the cable connections to the base part and / or from the flange 10 to the active units 20 in the form of electrical connectors that are automatically closed when mechanically attaching the base part 1 on a mast top of a corresponding equipped with the mating plug telescopic mast , or in the mechanical attachment of the active units 20 to the flange surfaces 10.

In Fig. 4 is still a telescopic mast 100 shown at. whose mast top of the signal light body 3 is mounted. The mounting parts 50/60 are used to attach the telescopic mast (pneumatic mast) z. B. on the rear wall of an emergency vehicle, such as the fire department.

The invention is not limited to the features described in detail in the embodiment shown. Rather, the invention in its various embodiments by the specified in the description and claims Characteristics may be essential to various embodiments individually or in combination for carrying out the invention.

Claims

Claims : 1. warning light, which is designed in particular for attachment to the mast head of a height direction (H) extendable mast, and orthogonal to the height direction over a predetermined, in particular an angle of 360 ° comprehensive range (4a, 4b) radiates, characterized by an integrated coupling device (10) for coupling an active unit (20) via which the environment of the warning light can be acted upon and / or an effect of the lighting environment can be registered. 2. Warning light according to claim 1, wherein the warning light has a base serving for its attachment (1) and the active unit is movable via its coupling with at least one degree of freedom, preferably at least two independent degrees of freedom relative to the base part. 3. A warning lamp according to claim 2, wherein a movement degree of freedom is a first pivotability (A) of the active unit about a first axis extending in the height direction. 4. Warning light according to claim 3, wherein the first pivotability is achieved by a rotatability of the coupling device (10) about the first axis (H). 5. Warning light according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the warning light is rotatably mounted on its base part (1) about the first axis (H). 6. Warning light according to one of claims 2 to 5, wherein a movement degree of freedom is a second pivotability (B) of the active unit (20) about a transversely, preferably orthogonal to the first axis extending second axis. 7. Warning light according to claim 6, wherein the second pivotability (B) is achieved by a rotatable mounting of at least a portion of the coupling device (10) about the second axis. 8. Warning light according to one of claims 3 to 7, wherein a first (15) and / or a second drive for the first / second pivotability is integrated in the warning light / are. 9. A warning lamp according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the radiation in a first portion (4a) of the Abstrahlbereiches from a first center (Za) and in a second portion (4b) from a separate second center (Zb) takes place, wherein the Integration of the coupling device by at least partially recording in a created between the two sections by the separation space (R) takes place. 10. Warning light according to one of the preceding claims, in which the Ankoppelbar- speed by the coupling device (10) is such that the active unit (20) at least for the most part outside of a narrowest, can be applied to a radiation area of the housing surrounding the warning light curve ( C) is located. 11. Warning light according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the design for attachability of the warning lamp includes a maximum dimension of the warning light orthogonal to its extension in the height direction of at most 70 cm, preferably at most 55 cm, in particular at most 40 cm and / or a ratio of these maximum Dimension to the height dimension 2.0 or smaller, preferably 1, 6 or smaller, in particular 1, 3 or smaller. 12. Warning light according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the design for attachability of the warning light comprises a power supply and / or control line of at least 3 m, preferably at least 5 m, in particular at least 8 m in length. 13. Warning light according to one of the preceding claims, in which a common for the warning light and the active unit supply of power and / or control information is provided. 14. Warning light according to one of the preceding claims, wherein one of the supply of the active unit with power and / or control information serving line this is supplied via the coupling device and in particular not exposed to the outside. 15. Warning light according to one of claims 6 to 14, wherein an arrangement for limiting the achievable at the second pivoting pivot angle is provided. 16. Warning lamp according to claim 15, wherein the limiting arrangement has a mechanical end stop, in particular realized by a cam disc (12), as well as in particular, a cam mechanism having safety mechanism (12, 13) in the form of a leading electrical shutdown of the pivoting of the second pivoting permitting energy supply. 17. Warning light according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the coupling device is designed for coupling at least partially independent of each other movable active units. 18. Warning lamp according to claim 17, wherein a movable bearing of the two active units has a common counter bearing (15). 19. Warning light according to one of the preceding claims, with at least one such active unit. 20. Warning light according to claim 19, wherein the active unit is associated with a functional arrangement whose function comprises one or more of illuminating, transmitting / receiving, measuring, image acquisition, and the active unit consists in particular of one or more headlamps. 21. Retractable mast, at the head portion of a warning lamp is mounted according to one of the preceding claims. 22 vehicle, which is equipped with an extendable mast according to claim 21.