|
|
 |
 |
The Buzz, a
technical newsletter from Mallory Sonalert Products,
Inc. is published and e-mailed approximately 4-5 times
per year. In each issue, Mallory engineers address
specific technical issues, answer technical questions,
and communicate useful information regarding the
application of Sonalert audible signals and other
board-level audible devices such as transducers,
indicators and sirens.
This issue of The Buzz is
dedicated to the use of audible signals in the
transportation industry. The transportation market is a
broad, diverse and fast growing market. In it's broadest
definition, it includes applications ranging from golf
carts to automobiles to railroad cars to 747s - and
everything in between. And they all use audible signals. |
| |
"Planes Trains & Automobiles" |
 |
 Yes,
it's the title of Steve Martin's 1987 hit movie, but it
could also describe the range of applications for
Mallory Sonalert® audible signals used in the
transportation industry. As the title suggests, let's
start with the aircraft industry. In commercial
helicopters, Sonalert audible signals are used as "door
open" alarms and for various engine function/malfunction
signals, such as low oil pressure and high temperature
warnings. In 747 "jumbo jets" there are no fewer than 13
separate applications for Sonalert audible signals.
These include signals for "wheels down and locked", fire
alarms, hydraulic pressure warnings, engine over-
temperature alerts, crew cabin wake-up signals, and "overspeed"
alarms. Overspeed
alarms are activated when the aircraft exceeds a
predetermined maximum speed. (Because of these alarms,
continually pushing the overspeed limit is known in
pilot jargon as "riding the horn".)
Moving from the world of
jumbo jets to the world of land-based vehicles, here are
some other interesting applications for Mallory's
audible signal products: |
 |
 Railroad
Cars -
Sonalert audible signals are used to annunciate the
opening and closing of the doors on passenger cars
throughout the nation's railway industry. It is, in
fact, a requirement of the ADA (Americans with
Disabilities Act) that every door opening/closing be
announced with an audible signal. |
 Golf
Carts -
Surprisingly, golf cart back-up signals turned out to be
one of the more challenging applications for Mallory
engineers. The signal needs to be loud enough to warn a
person standing behind a backing cart, but quiet enough
not to bother a putter on a nearby green. Also, because
golf carts are typically hosed down at night, the unit
needs to be waterproof and needs to resist corrosion
from sulfuric acid fumes emanating from the nearby
battery. When presented with these challenges, Mallory
engineers developed a completely new design that met
these requirements. |
| |
 Agricultural
Vehicles -
Several years ago, a leading agricultural tractor
manufacturer asked Mallory to develop a signal with a
special delay circuit and pulsing sequence that would
initially sound an alarm when the driver got off the
seat, pulse for 10 seconds, then shut off. This Sonalert
model also features a "pigtail" wiring harness
connector. |
| |
Long-Haul Trucks -
Excessive engine temperature
and low oil pressure can be critical - and expensive -
problems for the diesel engines of long-haul trucks.
Sonalert audible signals are used in the cabs of these
trucks to warn drivers of the impending shutdown of
their engines for either of these conditions.
|
| |
Mallory's Dan O'Brien to Speak at IUV
Technology Conference |
|
 |
Mallory
Sonalert Products Sales Engineer Dan O'Brien will
deliver a presentation on the use of audible signals in
industrial vehicles at the Industrial & Utility
Vehicle Technology Conference, to be held October
6-7 at the Marriott Denver Tech Center in Denver,
Colorado. If you are interested in attending this event,
please click on the Conference Registration link on this
page.
|
|
This
e-mail was sent by Mallory Sonalert Products, Inc. ·
4411 S. High School Road · Indianapolis, Indiana 46241
This technical newsletter is being sent to people who
have either used, purchased, or at some time, expressed
an interest in information about audible signals. If you
would like to be dropped from this mailing list, please
click on REPLY and type "UNSUBSCRIBE" in the subject
line - you will not receive any further issues of The
Buzz from Mallory Sonalert Products. |
|
|
