US4377841A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
High intensity discharge lighting system
Assignee: Komatsu America International Co
•
Filing: 1979-12-11
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Granted: 1983-03-22
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Expires: 1999-12-11
Abstract
Abstract A mobile land vehicle having an engine arranged to provide motive power to the vehicle and to pump or pumps in a hydraulic work circuit; the engine governed to operate at a given speed. An alternator is also driven by the engine and connected to provide alternating current to high intensity discharge lamps which are capable of operation only between a relatively narrow range of current frequencies. The drive means to the alternator produces a frequency near the high end of said range when said engine is at or near its governed speed and the frequency approaches the lower end of said range as the engine speed is lugged down under full load.
Inventors
- 👤 Laurence J. Kukla
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 08:45
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R16/00; B60R16/02; B60R16/03; H; H05; H05B; H05B41/00; H05B41/14; H05B41/16; H05B41/20; H05B41/23; H05B41/231; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S362/00; Y10S362/802
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
147 words
In a self-propelled mobile land vehicle including a work implement carried on the vehicle, an engine having a substantial range of operating speeds, including high idle speed, rated speed and peak torque speed, in response to the load imposed thereon, a drive train for propelling the vehicle operatively associated with and driven by said engine, a hydraulic pump driven by said engine and operatively associated with said engine and operatively associated with said implement, an alternator driven by said engine for supplying alternating current at a frequency directly proportional to the speed of said engine, and a lighting system mounted on said vehicle and having lamps with ballasts electrically powered directly connected to by said alternator, the improvement wherein the lamps used in said lighting system comprised high intensity discharge lamps, said lamps being operable continuously throughout the entire range of the operating speeds of said engine.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
147 words
In a self-propelled mobile land vehicle including a work implement carried on the vehicle, an engine having a substantial range of operating speeds, including high idle speed, rated speed and peak torque speed, in response to the load imposed thereon, a drive train for propelling the vehicle operatively associated with and driven by said engine, a hydraulic pump driven by said engine and operatively associated with said engine and operatively associated with said implement, an alternator driven by said engine for supplying alternating current at a frequency directly proportional to the speed of said engine, and a lighting system mounted on said vehicle and having lamps with ballasts electrically powered directly connected to by said alternator, the improvement wherein the lamps used in said lighting system comprised high intensity discharge lamps, said lamps being operable continuously throughout the entire range of the operating speeds of said engine.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein said lamps comprise metal halide lamps.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
The invention in accordance with claim 1 or claim 2 and said lamps having a specified operating frequency, wherein the alternator output frequency at rated speed of said engine corresponds to said lamp specified operating frequency.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The invention in accordance with claim 3 and said engine speed being capable, upon release of said load, of momentarily exceeding said high idle speed.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1986-03-21 | 1986-09-20 | 1987-03-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-03-21 | 1990-09-20 | 1991-03-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-03-21 | 1994-09-20 | 1995-03-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |