Signal light assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11077872-B2
Application number	US-201817056955-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 18, 2018
Priority date	Jun 18, 2018
Publication date	Aug 3, 2021
Grant date	Aug 3, 2021

Abstract

A signal light assembly is provided that comprises a multi-position Fresnel lens having a circumference, a first side and a second side. The signal light assembly further comprises a main housing configured to attach to the multi-position Fresnel lens. The multi-position Fresnel lens includes a first plurality of pads and a second plurality of pads on the first side of the multi-position Fresnel lens such that the first plurality of pads and the second plurality of pads are different and alternatively disposed. The first plurality of pads corresponds to a first range operation related to a first focal length. The second plurality of pads corresponds to a second range operation related to a second focal length. The multi-position Fresnel lens is disposed in a first position corresponding to the first range operation or in a second position corresponding to the second range operation based on the use of either the first plurality of pads or the second plurality of pads for assembly between the main housing and the multi-position Fresnel lens.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A signal light assembly comprising:
a multi-position Fresnel lens having a circumference, a first side and a second side,
wherein the multi-position Fresnel lens includes a first plurality of pads and a second plurality of pads on the first side of the multi-position Fresnel lens such that the first plurality of pads and the second plurality of pads are different and alternatively disposed,
wherein the first plurality of pads corresponds to a first range operation related to a first focal length, and
wherein the second plurality of pads corresponds to a second range operation related to a second focal length; and
a main housing configured to attach to the multi-position Fresnel lens,
wherein the multi-position Fresnel lens is disposed in a first position corresponding to the first range operation or in a second position corresponding to the second range operation based on the use of either the first plurality of pads or the second plurality of pads for assembly between the main housing and the multi-position Fresnel lens.

2. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the second side of the multi-position Fresnel lens sits on the main housing such that the multi-position Fresnel lens is configured to move forward relative to the main housing by using the second plurality of pads.

3. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the multi-position Fresnel lens is configured to be rotated to 30 degrees which moves the multi-position Fresnel lens inward or outward while changing a focal length.

4. A wayside signal light comprising:
a signal light assembly including:
a multi-position Fresnel lens having a circumference, a first side and a second side,
wherein the multi-position Fresnel lens includes near the circumference a first plurality of flat pads and a second plurality of raised pads on the first side of the multi-position Fresnel lens such that a height differential between the first plurality of flat pads and the second plurality of raised pads corresponds to a first range operation related to a first focal length or to a second range operation related to a second focal length; and
a main housing having an inner surface, the main housing configured to attach to the multi-position Fresnel lens via the first plurality of flat pads or the second plurality of raised pads,
wherein the inner surface of the main housing includes a plurality of bosses configured to receive corresponding screws through either the first plurality of flat pads or the second plurality of raised pads such that the multi-position Fresnel lens is used in a first position corresponding to the first range operation or in a second position corresponding to the second range operation based on the use of either the first plurality of flat pads or the second plurality of raised pads for assembly between the main housing and the multi-position Fresnel lens.

5. The wayside signal light of claim 4 , wherein the second side of the multi-position Fresnel lens sits on the main housing such that the multi-position Fresnel lens is configured to move forward relative to the main housing by using the second plurality of raised pads.

6. The wayside signal light of claim 4 , wherein the multi-position Fresnel lens is configured to be rotated to 30 degrees which moves the multi-position Fresnel lens inward or outward while changing a focal length.

7. The wayside signal light of claim 4 , wherein the first plurality of flat pads corresponds to a long range sighting distance.

8. The wayside signal light of claim 4 , wherein the second plurality of raised pads corresponds to a mid range sighting distance.

9. The wayside signal light of claim 4 , wherein the first plurality of flat pads corresponds to the first focal length.

10. The wayside signal light of claim 4 , wherein the second plurality of raised pads corresponds to the second focal length.

11. The wayside signal light of claim 4 , wherein the first plurality of flat pads include first six standoffs protruding from a Fresnel side and are flat on a plane side.

12. The wayside signal light of claim 11 , wherein the second plurality of raised pads includes second six standoffs at a 30 degree offset to other side standoffs and protruding from a flat side.

13. The wayside signal light of claim 4 , wherein the multi-position Fresnel lens having a plurality of grooves which are configured to face outwardly away from a LED light source.

14. A method for configuring a signal light assembly, the method comprising:
providing a multi-position Fresnel lens having a circumference, a first side and a second side, wherein the multi-position Fresnel lens includes near the circumference a first plurality of flat pads and a second plurality of raised pads on the first side of the multi-position Fresnel lens such that a height differential between the first plurality of flat pads and the second plurality of raised pads corresponds to a first range operation related to a first focal length or to a second range operation related to a second focal length;
providing a main housing having an inner surface, the main housing configured to attach to the multi-position Fresnel lens via the first plurality of flat pads or the second plurality of raised pads, wherein the inner surface of the main housing includes a plurality of bosses configured to receive corresponding screws through either the first plurality of flat pads or the second plurality of raised pads such that the multi-position Fresnel lens is used in a first position corresponding to the first range operation or in a second position corresponding to the second range operation based on the use of either the first plurality of flat pads or the second plurality of raised pads for assembly between the main housing and the multi-position Fresnel lens; and
during assembly of the signal light assembly, providing the multi-position Fresnel lens as one common Fresnel lens for mid and long range units by rotating the multi-position Fresnel lens to rest in the main housing as a common housing either on the first plurality of flat pads that is short spacers or the second plurality of raised pads that is long spacers effectively changing a focal length being a distance between the multi-position Fresnel lens and a LED light source.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the second side of the multi-position Fresnel lens sits on the main housing such that the multi-position Fresnel lens is configured to move forward the multi-position Fresnel lens relative to the main housing by using the second plurality of raised pads.

16. The method of claim 14 , wherein the multi-position Fresnel lens is configured to be rotated to 30 degrees which moves the multi-position Fresnel lens inward or outward while changing a focal length.

17. The method of claim 14 , wherein the first plurality of flat pads corresponds to a long range sighting distance and wherein the second plurality of raised pads corresponds to a mid range sighting distance.

18. The method of claim 14 , wherein the first plurality of flat pads corresponds to the first focal length and wherein the second plurality of raised pads corresponds to the second focal length.

19. The method of claim 14 , wherein the first plurality of flat pads include first six standoffs protruding from a Fresnel side and are flat on a plane side and wherein the second plurality of raised pads includes second six standoffs at a 30 degree offset to other side standoffs and protruding from a flat side.

20. The method of claim 14 , wherein the multi-position Fresn

Assignees

• Siemens Mobility Inc

Inventors

• Bohme Richard C

Classifications

• G02B5/1876

  Diffractive Fresnel lenses; Zone plates; Kinoforms (G02B5/1842, G02B5/1847 take precedence; optical systems having diffractive correction means G02B27/0037; Fresnel lenses operating by refraction G02B3/08) · CPC title

• B61L5/18

  Light signals; Mechanisms associated therewith, e.g. blinders · CPC title

• B61L5/1854

  Mounting and focussing of the light source in a lamp, fixing means · CPC title

• F21V5/04

  of lens shape · CPC title

• F21V17/005

  with keying means, i.e. for enabling the assembling of component parts in distinctive positions, e.g. for preventing wrong mounting · CPC title