A portable warning - and flashing signal device

摘要

A portable warning and blinking signal device comprises one or more electroluminescent panels, a support, a luminescent surround to the panels and a battery-operated power supply giving an intermittently-generated A.C. output so that the panels "flash." The device may be mounted to form a flashing barricade, a 360 degree flashing lamp, a rope of spaced flashing elements, or a flashing garment. The electroluminescent panels comprise a phosphor between a transparent plastic electrode and a flexible metal foil electrode, e.g. aluminium, and may be encapsulated in polyethylene terephthalate. The electrical supply described comprises a 12-volt battery (20, Fig. 7) connected to a transformer (22), transistor (26) and condenser (30) to give a flash rate of 60 cycles per minute, with a duty cycle of 20-30%, each flask being at 500 c.p.s., 200 volts. The luminescent or phosphorescent material may be painted on a support, e.g. transparent polyvinyl chloride 0.04 inch thick, leaving windows for the electroluminescent panels, and the support then fixed to the panels using a contact adhesive, to give a water-tight assembly. Electroluminescent phosphors mentioned are copper-activated zinc-cadmium sulphide, cadmium sulphide, cadmium tungstate, zinc silicate or zinc sulphide, with or without metal activators. Various coloured plastic overlays may be mounted in front of the electroluminescent panels. The device may incorporate a photo-switch to activate the electroluminescent panels only at night.