초록 ▼

A chain saw hazard warning light and method for using same. A pair of oppositely-directed light sources emit light beams throughout a chain shot hazard warning zone through rectilinear, slotted openings at opposite ends of a housing. The light beams turn on, if and only if, the cutting chain is rota

A chain saw hazard warning light and method for using same. A pair of oppositely-directed light sources emit light beams throughout a chain shot hazard warning zone through rectilinear, slotted openings at opposite ends of a housing. The light beams turn on, if and only if, the cutting chain is rotating about the chain guide bar; alternatively, initiation of rotation of the cutting chain is delayed to permit the light beams to turn on some time prior thereto. The zone is defined by first and second pairs of planes that diverge in opposite directions from the chain guide bar, said planes being disposed at equal, acute angles (most preferably 15°) to, and on opposite sides of, a plane that includes the chain guide bar.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A warning light system for use with a chain saw having a cutting chain mounted for rotation about a chain guide bar, and providing a chain saw hazard warning light for generating a warning light throughout a chain shot warning zone whenever said cutting chain is in rotational motion about said ch

1. A warning light system for use with a chain saw having a cutting chain mounted for rotation about a chain guide bar, and providing a chain saw hazard warning light for generating a warning light throughout a chain shot warning zone whenever said cutting chain is in rotational motion about said chain guide bar, said system comprising: a first electric light source for emitting a first light beam in a first direction throughout, and limited to, said warning zone;a second electric light source for emitting a second light beam in a second, opposite direction throughout, and limited to, said warning zone;wherein the first and second electric light sources are energized to emit the first light beam and the second light beam if, and only if, said cutting chain is in rotational motion about said chain guide bar;wherein said warning zone is defined by first and second pairs of planes that diverge in opposite directions from said chain guide bar, said planes being disposed at equal, acute angles to, and on opposite sides of, a plane that includes said chain guide bar, andwherein said chain shot warning zone is configured as a danger zone where flying fragments of a broken cutting chain would go along said first and second directions if a chain shot situation were to occur. 2. The warning light system of claim 1, wherein said first and second electric light source for emitting said first and second light beams includes a housing that extends from a first end wall to a second, opposite, end wall, said first and second end walls each having a slotted opening to permit passage of said first and second light beams therethrough, respectively; said first electric light source means mounted within said housing adjacent to said first slotted opening and facing said first direction; andsaid second electric light source means mounted within said housing adjacent to said second slotted opening and facing said second direction. 3. The warning light system of claim 2, wherein each said slotted opening is rectilinear and is defined by a first, parallel pair of sides having height H joined by a second parallel pair of sides having width W;said first pair of sides is parallel to said plane that includes said chain guide bar; andH is greater than W. 4. The warning light system of claim 3, wherein a distance d from said first and second electric light source to said first and second slotted openings, respectively, and the width W are chosen such that said acute angles are each in the range 10 to 15 degrees. 5. The warning light system of claim 4, wherein said first and second electric light sources each include at least one light emitting diode. 6. The warning light system of claim 5, wherein said first and second light sources each include at least one light emitting diode strobe light. 7. The warning light system of claim 6, wherein said first and second light sources each include four light emitting diode strobe lights aligned parallel to first sides of said first and second slotted openings, respectively. 8. The warning light system of claim 4, wherein said chain saw is a harvester-mounted chain saw mounted within a hollow, interior portion of a chain box for pivotal movement of said chain guide bar between a retracted position within said chain box and an extended, cutting position outside of said chain box, said chain box having a pair of side walls joined by a rear wall and said chain box having an open front to permit rotation of said chain saw to said cutting position;said housing is attached to said interior portion of said chain box such that said first end of said housing faces toward said first direction and said second end faces toward said rear wall of said chain box; andsaid rear wall has a rectilinear, slotted opening in registry with said second slotted opening of said second end of said housing and dimensioned to permit passage of said second light beam therethrough. 9. The warning light system of claim 8, wherein said first and second light sources each include four light emitting diode strobe lights aligned parallel to first sides of said first and second slotted openings, respectively. 10. The warning light system of claim 9, wherein said chain saw includes a hydraulic motor for rotating said cutting chain around said chain guide bar;wherein said chain saw is mounted to a forest harvester carrier, said carrier including: an electric battery; andchain saw switch means wired to said battery for activating and deactivating said hydraulic motor; andwherein said chain saw switch means for energizing said first and second electric light sources for emitting said first and second light beams if, and only if, said cutting chain is in rotational motion about said chain guide bar includes a wire tap that connects said chain saw switch means to said first and second light sources. 11. The warning light system of claim 10, further including electro-acoustic warning means wired to said first and second electric light sources for providing a sound alert to accompany said first and second electric light sources, wherein said first and second electric light sources for emitting said first and second light beam if, and only if, said cutting chain is rotating about said chain guide bar. 12. A method for use with a chain saw having a cutting chain mounted for rotation about a chain guide bar and with a switch means circuit operably connected to said chain saw for starting and stopping said rotation by energizing and deenergizing a chain drive thereof, respectively, and generating a warning light throughout a chain shot hazard warning zone if and only if, said rotation is, or will be within T seconds, occurring, comprising the steps of: attaching to said chain saw or to a device to which said chain saw is attached, incorporated into, or suspended from, a chain saw hazard warning light,wherein said chain saw hazard warning light includes a housing that extends from a first end wall to an opposite second end wall, said first and second end walls each having first and second, rectilinear, slotted openings, respectively, said openings each having height H and width W;a first electrical light source mounted within said housing a distance d from said rectilinear, slotted opening of said first end wall and disposed for projecting a first light beam through said first slotted opening in a first direction throughout, and limited to, said warning zone, said first electric light source having a first pair of electrical wire leads;a second electrical light source mounted within said housing a distance d from said rectilinear, slotted opening of said second end wall, and disposed for projecting a second light beam through said second slotted opening in a second, opposite direction throughout, and limited to, said warning zone, said second electric light source having a second pair of electrical wire leads;a first wire tap attached to a first wire lead of each said pairs of wire leads; and a second wire tap attached to said second wire leads of each of said second pairs of wire leads;wiring said first and second wire taps into said switch means circuit such that electrical current will flow through said first and second electrical light sources to cause them to emit light whenever said switch means circuit is in a closed condition; andwherein said warning zone is defined by first and second pairs of planes that diverge in opposite directions from said chain guide bar, said planes being disposed at equal, acute angles to, and on opposite sides of, a plane that includes said chain guide bar, said acute angles are in the range 10 to 20 degrees, and T is greater than or equal to zero; andwherein said chain shot warning zone is configured as a danger zone where flying fragments of a broken cutting chain would go along said first and second directions if a chain shot situation were to occur. 13. The method of claim 12, wherein W and d are chosen such that arctangent (W/2d) is in the range Π/18 to Π/9 radians, corresponding to 10 to 20 degrees. 14. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of creating a rectilinear, slotted opening in any portion of said chain saw or in said device that interferes with the projection of light from said first and/or second light sources into said warning zone in order to permit light to project from said sources throughout said warning zone whenever said rotation is occurring or will be occurring within T seconds. 15. The method of claim 14, wherein said chain saw is a harvester-mounted chain saw and said device is a chain box comprising a left wall, a right wall and a rear wall that joins said left and right walls thereby defining a hollow interior space within said chain box that is open at the front thereof, said housing of said chain saw hazard warning light is mounted to one of said left and right walls, and said slotted opening is created in said rear wall adjacent to, and in registry with, said rectilinear, slotted opening of said second end wall of said housing. 16. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of interposing time delay means between said switch means circuit and said chain drive, said time delay means delaying by T seconds the energizing of the chain drive of said chain saw after each closing of said switch means circuit, wherein T is greater than zero. 17. The method of claim 16, wherein said first and second electric light sources are each a light bar comprising at least one LED light. 18. The method of claim 17, wherein said first and second electric light sources are each a light bar comprising a linear array of four strobe LEDs aligned and in registry with said first and second slotted openings, respectively. 19. The method of claim 18, wherein T is in the range of one to six seconds. 20. The method of claim 12, further including wiring electro-acoustical warning means into said switch means circuit such that said electro-acoustical means will emit a warning sound into said warning zone if, and only if, said chain saw hazard warning light is emitting light.