The focus of this research is to evaluate impact pulse as it applies to the time relationship between energy application/deapplication and filament deformation in brake/signal light bulbs. The deformation characteristics of average tail light, brake/signal light, marker light, and halogen bulbs were also examined. The study records filament behaviour of these light bulbs during impacts produced by a pendulum impact apparatus. Results of the subject research indicate that filament deformation can be expected in a light bulb operating in flashing mode at the time it is impacted. Additionally, deformation characteristics of interchangeable light bulbs produced by different manufacturers showed widely varied results relative to filament deformation when subjected to similar impact pulses. (A)
Abstract