US1976051A - Automatic code signaling device - Google Patents

Description

@$39, 2135.34. I A VGN HAASE .v9765 AUTOMATIC GODE SIGNALHIG DEVICE Filed Deo, 26, 1930 2 Shee'ks--Shee l /SZZZWZ 7/0737? 75562.

Patented @et 9, 19u34 UNITED `STATES AUTOMATIC CODE SIGNALIN G DEVICE Anthony Von Haase,

to Stewart-Warner Corporation,

Lakewood, Ohio, assigner Chicago, lll.,

a corporation of Virginia Application December 26, 1930, Serial No. 504,712

8 Claims. (Cl. 177-27) ments of the apparatus at the dash of the vehicle.'

Figure 2 is an elevation of the code-controlling i5 mechanism with diagrammatic showing of the circuit connections to the horn, circuit controlling dash button and ground.

Figure 3 is a detail elevation of the code-controlling mechanism showing the interrupter switch at a diierent position with respect to the interrupter cam from that shown in Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 showing a third position of the movable parts.

Figure 5 is a detail section at the line 5-5 on Figure 4 showing the switch which cooperates with the interrupter cam at a position midway in the active phase of the cam cycle.

Figure 6 is a section at the line 6-6 on Figure `4, showing the parts in the position indicated o in Figure 5.

The apparatus may iirst be described in general terms without reference to its mode of operation or details of construction.

The horn is connected in the usual manner by a circuit wire with a current source, and with a Wire running to ground, a push button switch being interposed in the ground line, so that it may be operated in the usual manner, the horn sounding when the push button is pressed and continuing without interruption or variation while the button 'is held.

With the horn and current source and circuit and push button switch thus arranged, there is associated a current-interrupting mechanism comprising an automatically operated switch interposed in the horn-energizing circuit having its movable member arranged to be actuated by a cam device for alternately closing and opening the circuit to cause the horn to sound interruptedly, with soundings and intervals varying in length according to the extent in the cam cycle of the cam elevations which close the circuit and the cam depressions which permit the circuit to be opened, the cooperating switch member being re- ;5 silient or resiliently mounted so that it reacts for opening the circuit when the cam recesses are passing the cooperating switch member.

Within the scope of the invention broadly considered the structure may be described as comprising cam member and cooperating switch member, one of which performs the cyclic movement indicated.

In the construction as shown the cam element is fixed and the cyclic movement is preformed by the switch element, and' said movement is o5 vibratory in an endless path, but the invention is not limited to the cyclic movement being performed by the switch member or to that movement being vibratory. Within the scope of the invention the entire cyclic movement may be produced by any type of motor mechanism. In the construction as shown, the motive mechanism is electric and operates through hal! the cycle of the vibratory movement, in that halfv storing up energy in a spring for reacting to produce the remaining half of the cyclic movement. But the invention is not limited to electrically operated mechanism, nor to positive operation in one direction and spring operation in the return direction.

Referring to the drawings:-A current source is indicated at A, the signal horn at '.B'. C is an electroma'gnet mounted in i'ixed position on a support indicated at D, which may be the instrument board, the magnet having an arma- 85. I vture lever, E, fulcrumed as seen atl 31, on the post,

e carried by the support and ground member, D. Mounted on the support, D, is a second electromagnet, F, having a concavely arcuate pole, F1, for cooperating with a convexly arcuate armature, G, pivoted eccentrically with respect't the concave pole on a pivot stud, H, mounted on the support, D, as seen at h, with a spring J, coiled about the pivot post stopped at one end by engagement with the support, D, as seen at J1, and at the other end reacting against the lever A arm, G1, of the armature, G, as seen at J, for

stressing the armature normally toward the position shown in full line in Figure i, with the convex armature face withdrawn from the concave pole face a distance due to the eccentricity of the pivot and path of the armature with respect to the concave face oi the magnet pole and the convex face of the amature, both said faces having the same center of curvature, which is slightly displaced from the axis of the pivot post as indicated in Figure 4.

The lever arm, G1, comprises a terminal part, G2, offset toward the support, D, by a ilexibly resilient junction part of said lever arm, seen llo at GP, the coil spring, J, being stopped against this junction part of the lever arm.

0n the oilset terminal part, G1, of the armature lever arm, G1, there is carried a switch consisting of two members, M and N, having cooperating contacts m and n, and mounted upon each other by means of an interposed insulating block, 0, the member, M, being secured ilxedly to the lever arm, G1, by a bracket, m1, and the member, N, being mounted onthe insulating block, O, so as to be offset from the lever arm a distance to ensure against electrically conductive contact between said switch member and said lever arm, while it may be noted the` switch member, M, mounted on the lever arm is conductively adapted to constitute a ground connection of the circuit of which the switch is a Mounted on the support, D, at a position to present its arcuate cam edge, P1, proximate to the path of the free end f the switch member, N, as the switch is carried by the armature lever arm, G1, in the movement of the armature which may be caused by reaction of the spring, J, there is a cam member, P, of insulating material, and behind said insulating cam and parallel therewith is a similar insulating bar, Q, concavely arcuate at the edge corresponding to the cam edge of the member, P, but not required to be formed as a cam.

The two'bars, P and Q are mounted in inclined position on the support, D, by electrically conductive posts, pand q. The inner or under side of the bar, Q, is furnished witha conductive strip, R, which is held clamped against said bar, Q, by the means by which the bars, P and Q, are mounted on the conductive posts, said means being the screws, 11 and 12, set through the two bars, P and Q, with spacing washers, 13 and 14, interposed between the two bars; and the conductive strip, R, is thus conductively connected with the support, D, which may be regarded as ground'with reference to the energizing circuit hereinafter described.

At the end of the bar, Q, which by the inclined position' of the bar is spaced farther from the support, the conductive strip, R, is extended beyond the end of the bar, Q, and is reiiexed as seen at r to form a terminal, R1, which has its front or upper surface, seen at r1, substantially in the plane of the normal path of the terminal,

part, G1, of the lever arm, G1, swinging about the pivot without deiiection by the bar, Q, said reexed terminalrbeing extended in reilexed direction back far enough at least to afford lodgment for the end of the lever arm running oi the end of the bar, Q, and springing back to its normal plane for thus lodging on said refiexed end portion of the conductor, R, and far enough so that the lever arm thus lodged on said reilexed end will be still lapped thereon when in the return swing o! the lever it comes into contact with the inner or under side of the conductive strip, R, on the underside of the bar, Q.

'I'he lever, E, at the end of the arm, 30, carries a magnetic button, 32, cooperating as an armature with a magnetfc. A spring, 33, attached at one end to the support, D, and at the other end to the lever arm, 31B, reacts on the lever for holding the armature button, 32, retracted from the magnet pole. The lever arm, 31, extends alongside the lever arm, G1, of the armature, G, of the magnet, F, at the position of said lever arm, G1, seen in full line in Figure 2; and at the portion o! the lever arm, 31, adjacent the arm, G1, said lever arm, 31, is bent to form an upwardly projecting hook, 31h, and an overhanging part terminating in a downwardly projecting hook, 31; and the lever arm, G1, is furnished with a pin, 34, positioned for engagement by the hook, 311', at the position of the lever, E, and the position of the lever arm, G1, shown in Figure 2.

The electric circuit in which the apparatus described is energized comprises a wire, 2G, leading from the current source to the horn at which it is connected by the binding screw, 2l, and from binding screw, 22, circuit wire, 23, leads to the pushl button, 24, at the steering post and thence to ground as indicated at 25. The line, 23, has a branch-in-parallel with the portion which leads to the push button, 24, said branch-inparallel 27 leading from any convenient point in the line, 23,-as indicated at 26,-to the switch member, N, and the circuit as to said branch-inparallel is grounded through said switch member 05 which is mounted on the lever arm, G1, and thus conductively connected through the pivot post, H, to ground at the support, D, as indicated at 22.

From the current source branching from the line, 20, circuit wire, 28, leads to the winding, 29, of the electromagnet, C, and thence by wire, 40, to connection with the wire, 27, and thereby to the switch member, N, through which the circuit comprising the energizing winding of the magnet, C, is completed to ground as above described. The circuit line, 28, leading, as described, to the winding of the magnet, C, is branched, as indicated at 41, a branch-in-parallel, 42, leading to' the winding, 43, oi.' the electromagnet, F, from the other end of which, circuit wire, 44, leads to the conductive strip, R, through which the circuit leads to ground at the support, D.

Upon considering the construction as above described, it may be understood that starting with the parts at the position shown in full line in Figure 1, being the position of the armature, G, and connected parts at which they are held locked against the reaction o! the spring, J, and the position of the other movable parts at which they are held by the reaction of the springs mentioned when the' energizing circuit is open-*upon the operator pressing the push button, 24, for closing the circuit,-the horn is energized through the lines 20, 23, push button switch, 24, and ground, 25; and at the same time the magnet, C, being energized as -above described, attracting the armature, 32, rocks the lever, E, releasing the pin, 34, from the hook, 3111, and permitting the lever, G1, under the reaction of the spring, J, to swing to the position shown in Figure 3, engaging the pin, 34, with the hook, 31% and carrying the switch member, N, against the end of the cam member, P, and thereby closing the circuit through the contacts, n n, of the switch device, M--N, which circuit is completed to ground through the lever arm, G1, and post, H; and upon the operator releasing the push button and interrupting the circuit to ground at 25 through which the horn was energized, the sounding of the horn would cease but for the fact that the magnet, C, being deenergized releasing its armature and the lever, E, the latter is returned by the spring, 33, to the position seen in Figure 2, releasing the pin, 34, from the hook, 21, and permitting the lever arm, G1, to continue its swing under the reaction of the spring, J, for carrying the switch, M--N, over its path of cooperation with the interrupter cam, upon the first encounter with which the switch member, N, as mentioned above the horn-energizing circuit is closed by the cooperation of the contacts, m and n, causing the horn to be energized and sounded while the new circuit through the horn completed to ground at the post, H, is thereafter alternately opened and closed as the switch member, N, passes the depressions and elevations of the cam while the lever arm, G1, completes its spring-enforced swing past the cam.

In this movement it will be noted that the yielding terminal, G2, of the lever arm, G1, which entered between the bars, P and Q, is deflected from its normal path by encounter with the upper or forward side o! the bar Q; and upon running oil that bar at the further end, reacts down or inwardly into contact with the reilexed terminal, R1, of the conductor, R, thereby establishing ground connection of the circuit which contains the winding of the electromagnet, F, for energizing that magnet. And thereupon the amature, G, is retracted along its arcuate track of approach to the magnet pole; and it will be noted that in this return movement the yielding terminal part, G2, of the armature lever arm, G1, in

running oil the terminal, R1, of the conductor, R,

runs onto and reacts resiliently for pressure against the under or inner side of the latter, and

thus continues to maintain the circuit closed until at the completion of said return movement, said lever terminal, G, running out from behind the bar, Q, and of! from the conductor, R, reacts upwardly or forwardly, completing the cam cycle and coming to rest at the initial position; and in the last mentioned movement of escape at the end of the bar, G, the pin, 34, is engaged behind the hook, 31h, of the armature carrying lever, 3l, 3l".

Upon considering this construction and noting that the operation in the active phase of the cam cycle in which the signal is sounded is effected under the reaction of the spring J, and that the frictional or other resistance to the movement oi the moving part is very limited, it may be recognized that in the absence of some alternating means, the entire movement may be completed as a single stroke in which the separate soundings would not be y l This consideration leads to the provision of the dash pot, Y, the plunger, y, of the dash pot being connected to the spring-actuated operating member, viz, the armature lever, G1, a regulable vent, w,`being provided at theend of the dash pot by whose adjustment the retardment effected by the dash pot may be regulated to any desired degree.

The foregoing-description oi the apparatus and its operation should be understood as indicating that if it is desired to precede the code sounding by a prolonging of the iirst note, this will result from the operator holding the push button as long as he wishes to prolong the first note. But unless he wishes toy .precede the code by a prolonged note, he will push the button and immediately release it, making the rst note staccato.

But it will be recognized that if the driver prefers to prolong the first note rather than make it staccato, he will get that effect by holding the manual switch, 24, closed as long as he wishes to thus prolong the opening note; and when the switch is released, the remainder of the code signal will follow; and if in any instance it is desired to give only prolonged sounding of the horn, this will be effected by closing the switch and releasing it, and immediately closing it again and holding it closed as long as it is desired to prolong the sounding, the second closing causing the horn to be continuously energized in the primary circuit, as well as interruptedly energized in the secondary branch circuit.

recognized as separate.'

I claim:

1. An electrically energized device, a circuit inv which it is energized comprising a current source, an electrically conductive connection to the device, conductive connection from the device, an element of a switch device to which the last mentioned conductive connection leads, a cooperating switch element insulated from the iirst mentioned conductive connection, and conductive connection .from said cooperating switch element back to the current'source; circuit-interrupting mechanism comprising a cam member with the camming features arranged for operating in a cycle, said cam member being operatively associated with one of the cooperating switch elements for interrupting said energizing circuit, one oi' said operatively associated elements being arranged for movement through the cam cycle, and mechanical means for so moving it through the able element against mechanical operation; electrically operable means for releasing said locking means; a circuit in which said releasing means is energized comprising a conductive connection from the current sourceto said releasing means and from said means to said first mentioned switch element and from the second mentioned switch element back to the current source, and a switch device operable at will for controlling simultaneously the iirst mentioned energizing circuit and the release-means-energizing circuit.

2. In combination, an electrically energized device; a primary circuit in which it is energized; a circuit-interrupting mechanism including a cam member with its camming means .arranged for interrupting the circuit to cause the device to operate interruptedly according to a predetermined code, and a switch in said energizing circuit cooperating with the cam member for so interrupting thecircuit; a spring-actuated switch-carrying member on which said switch member is mounted for movement over the camming course oi the cam member; means for locking the switch carrier at a normal rest position with the switch member out of switch-closing net, said armature carrying lever arm being ex-v tended adjacent to the switch carrier at said normal rest position of the latter, saidy amature carrier and switch carrier having cooperating abutments positioned for engagement locking the switch carrier against spring-caused switchcarrying movement when the armature carrier is positioned by the movement oi the armature due to the attraction of the electromagnet `and for disengagement releasing the switch carrier when the armature carrier is positioned by the reaction of its spring withdrawing the armature from the de-energized magnet; a circuit in which the electromagnet is energized and a normally open switch operable at will controlling said circuit, the armature-carrying lever having a second abutment positioned on the lever for being carried into the path of the switch carrier abutment by the switch-carrier-releasing movement of said lever arm due to the energizing of the switch, and thereby adapted to release the switch carrier upon the opposite movement oi the armature lever arm due to de-energizing of theelectromagnet; whereby the switch operable at will being closed and opened for first energizing vand then de-energizing the electromagnet causes the switch carrier to be alternately stopped and released andthe switch carried thereby to be moved into cooperation with the cam member for controlling the energizing of the device in accordance with the code.

3. An electrically energized device; a first circuit including a current source, said device, and a manually operating switch, in series in the order named; an electromagnet; a second circuit including said source, the electromagnet winding, and said switch, in series in the order named; a third circuit independent of said first mentioned switch including in series in the order named, the current source, said device and a code-controlled switch device; a codeedetermining member, the code-controlling switch and code-determining member being relatively movable for automatic cooperation to control the energizing of the energizing device-in accordance with the code; means normally locking the movable one of said relatively movable elements against automatic movement, andspring means for moving it when released from the locking means, said locking means being associated with the electro magnet for release of said automatically operating element from said locking means when the magnet is energized and then de-energized; whereby upon closure of the manually operable switch the electro magnet is energized, and the electrically energized device is operated automatically continuously in the first circuit during such closure, and upon opening of the manual switch the automatically operating element released by the energizing and de-energizing electromagnet, operates the switch for intermittently operating said electrically energized device in accordance with the predetermined code.

4. The construction denned in claim 3, the cooperating switch elements being arranged for encounter or one of them with the code-determining member to close the third circuit by the movement permitted by the release of the locking means due to the energizing of the electromagnet before the succeeding de-energization of the same, whereby in the interval between the energizing and de-energizing of the electromagnet the electrically energized device continues to be energized.

5. The construction defined in claim 3, the automatically operating element being furnished with a spring-actuated arm on which said element is mounted for movement relatively to the cooperating element, the locking called for in claim 3 being effected by locking said arm, the normally locking means comprising a member associated with the electromagnet armature ior unlocking movement by the armature movement when the electromagnet is energized, and arranged ior releasing the spring-actuated arm for limited movement of the latter by the armaturecaused movement of the locking means due to the energizing of the magnet, and for further releasing said arm for further movement by the return movement of the locking means to normal position upon de-energim'ng the electromagnet releasing the armature, the switch device being held by the spring-actuated arm, at the position at -which said arm is locked and the electromagnet is energized, out of position for switch-closing encounter with the code-controlling element, the

switch and the code-controlling element being positioned apart from each other at said locked position of the switch-carrying arm at less distance then the range of movement of the switchcarrying arm with respect to the locking device for releasing the switch-carrying arm; whereby the electrically energized device continuing to be energized in the third circuit when the rst circuit is opened and the electromagnet de-energized, is interruptedly energized in that circuit only'upon the opening of the first circuit by the release of the manual switch.

6. The construction defined in claim 3, the locking means being a carrier for the armature of the electromagnet and said carrier and the automatically operated element having cooperating abutments positioned on said parts respectively for normally engaging to lock the automatically operating part when the armature is at position due to non-energization of the electromagnet, and to release it by the movement of the armature due to subsequent energization of the magnet, whereby accordingly the movement oi said automatically operating element for cooperation of the third circit switch and the codedetermining member for causing the energization of the device according to code is dependent upon the de-energizing and subsequent energization of the electromagnet.

7. The construction dened in claim 3, the code-determining member being a cam device whose initial cam protrusion constitutes an abutment encountered in the automatic cooperation of the switch and code-determining member, the normally locking means being a carrier for the electromagnet armature, whereby it is operated for release of the locking means when the magnet is energized, said armature carrier having means for arresting the automatically operating element positioned on said armature carrier for being interposed in the path of said automatically operating element suitably for so arresting the latter by the releasing movement of said armature carrier and for encounter for said arrest simultaneously with the circuit-closing encounter of the switch and the code-determining member; whereby the further movement of said arrested part for cooperation of the switch and the codedetermining member is prevented until the armature is de-energizedfor releasing the armature to cause the armature carrier to release the armature-operating member, and whereby said last mentioned release causes the device to be energized in accordance with the code.

8. An apparatus for the purpose indicated comprising in combination, an electrically ener- `'gized device; a first circuit including a current source, said device, and a manually operable switch, in series in the order named, branch circuits-in-parallel with said rst circuit in which branch circuits said device is contained; means in one of said branch circuits for automatically interrupting the current to cause the device to be energized interruptedly according to a code, said branch circuits comprising a iirst branch-in parallel which includes the winding of an electromagnet, and a second branch-in-parallel which includes the device and a second switch normally open; means for causing the alternate opening and closing of said second switch, said means comprising a movably mounted part constituting part of said last mentioned branch circuit, spring means reacting on said movable part in the direction for moving the latter from a locked position; the electromagnet whose Winding loi) its mounting on scid sioingf-cctiictcfi mit ici' being carried by the spring-owned movement of said movable circuit peint into switch-cloning en= counter with c cem potrusion o? scid cedendo termining cam, whereby the release o the mentioned switch by interrupting the branch ciacuit in which the eicctromagnet is energized causes c, second switch to ne cim'ied by the spring-actuated circuit part over the course of the code-controlling cam and causen the device to be energized for cpemtine according tc the code.

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