Release of LED Handlamp & Semaphore Battery Box
28th Jan 2009
The latest in the ever expanding line of LED products from Unipart Rail Ltd – Dorman to gain Network Rail Approval have recently been announced. The LED Handlamp and also the Semaphore Battery Box have achieved approval for unrestricted use on the UK rail network and considerable interest has already been shown by overseas customers.
The LED Handlamp is a direct replacement for the current Filament Handlamp, and as well as offering the widely recognised cost and reliability savings LED technology brings, it has been designed from the outset to be as user friendly as possible. The Handlamp was designed in close consultation with workplace user groups who were consulted about what they would like to see incorporated in the new lamp.
The main improvement requested was a reduction in weight, and the new lamp weighs nearly 50% less than the current Handlamp through the use of impact resistant polycarbonate for the body and lens. The huge improvement in using this material over metal was amply demonstrated when the design team where jokingly asked if the lamp could be used as a hammer, and tests have since proved that it is possible to drive nails into a piece of wood using both body and the lens as striking faces with only minor cosmetic damage. It should be noted though that it is certainly not a recommended use for the lamp!
Ergonomically the lamp has a less bulky handle and the switch is designed to be operated using one finger even when the operator is wearing bulky gloves using the left or right hand. Another innovation is an off position on the switch between each colour, making it impossible to show two colours simultaneously. A simple prism gives the user an indication of which colour aspect is illuminated, and a small blue battery status LED above the switch is used to give an indication that the battery has enough capacity left to last the duration of an eight hour shift.
Positioning the weight of the battery at the bottom of the lamp gives a very low centre of gravity to the lamp and this makes it far more stable when it is laid onto ballast or sleepers as an emergency signal. The battery is released with a single push button which is fitted under the handle to prevent inadvertent operation. Fitting a replacement battery is a simple push to fit action.
The lamp’s LED technology draws far less power from the battery and performance tests have shown an increase in the time before light starts to degrade from one hour in the filament based hand lamp, to twenty hours for the new LED Handlamp. The added bonus of using LED technology is the removal of the phenomena experienced by a white incandescent light going progressively more yellow as the battery life decreases creating the possibility of misread aspects.
Everybody knows that bulbs can, and very often do fail at the most inconvenient times and will not tolerate excessive shock loading, whereas LEDs are extremely robust and have a predicted life of in the region of 11 years continuous illumination before replacement needs to be considered.
Because the LED Handlamp uses signal colours as specified in the Group Standard, it has been accepted for use as an emergency marker light on the front and rear of trains, and is fitted with a Lamp Iron Mounting on the back of the lamp. The current Handlamp attachment point was susceptible to damage because of its exposed position, however the LED Handlamp fitting is an integral part of the polycarbonate moulding and will withstand far higher wear and tear forces including heavy side impacts with no appreciable effect.
The LED Handlamp has been subject to a trial process lasting over two years and has been very well received by the people who will use it most, all of whom have been extremely impressed by its versatility and robustness. One customer commented ‘It is great for all the signalling reasons and also makes a really good bright torch for working by ’
The second product to receive approval is the Semaphore Signal Battery Box. While not as glamorous or hi-tech as the LED Handlamp, it still represents a huge leap in maintainability and cost saving when used to power semaphore signals which have no electrical infrastructure support and importantly, contributes to a reduction of injuries caused by working at height.
It is essentially a box which contains four 6 Volt Air Alkaline Batteries. However the advantage such a simple concept demonstrates are very significant. Gone are the days when somebody had to climb to great height on a ladder carrying a can of paraffin and a host of tools often in atrocious weather, and at great personal risk, to keep the Semaphore Light working.
The cast aluminium casing is secured to the signal post using 2 Signfix type bands or it can also be bulkhead mounted, and when installed the box is padlocked to prevent unauthorised entry. Cable entry and exit is via cable glands at the bottom of the casing which maintains the weatherproofing of the box.
As the battery box can be mounted at ground level, gone are the days of needless working at height risks to replenish a paraffin lamp. So too are the storage hazards of fire and pollution associated with paraffin, and as one box can provide the power for two Semaphore Signals the risk to trackside workers is reduced as they spend less time on site.
Unipart Rail Ltd – Dorman continues to be at the forefront of technology in the field of LED railway signalling, but still recognises that the rail industry is run by people and strives to introduce groundbreaking yet simple and cost effective solutions to their everyday needs.