GB1455242A - Electric direction indicator switch assembly for a vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

1455242 Road vehicle signalling apparatus BONNELLA SWITCHES Ltd 5 Nov 1973 [4 Aug 1972 6 Dec 1972 21 Dec 1972] 36437/72 56230/72 and 59078/72 Heading G4Q [Also in Division H1] Relates to a direction-indicator switch assembly of the type comprising a manually operable rotor mounted in a body for movement from a neutral to first and second operative positions of opposite senses, switch contacts closed when the rotor is in either operative position, an indexing mechanism arranged to retain the rotor in either operative position, and a cancelling mechanism operated by a cancelling member moving as the steering wheel is moved to its central position to return the rotor towards its neutral position. According to the invention the cancelling mechanism comprises a pair of rotatable devices which are independent of the indexing mechanism and which are arranged to be engaged by the rotor on its movement to an operative position to bring at least one of the pair into the path of travel of the cancelling member, the rotor carries a pair of resilient arms each arranged to engage the corresponding rotatable device when the rotor is turned to an operative position to cause the respective rotatable device to be brought into the above path of travel. In the embodiment rotor 20 is of nylon with integral arcuate arms 25 each terminating in a ball 25A; turning of manually operable arm 26 rotates the rotor by a lever 27 engaging the sides of a slot 29. Nylon cranks 31 are spring-biased and are moved by the appropriate balls. The indexing mechanism consists of plungers 40A, 40B carried by the rotor and spring-loaded and co-operating with the faces of nylon cam inserts 41A, 41B, see also Figs. 6, 7 (neither shown), located in openings in a cover-plate 14. For self-cancelling after executing a turn arm 34 of crank 31 is pushed by a lug 38 and the rotor is driven to its neutral position by member 40A being brought out of an appropriate recess (42, 44, Fig. 6). Switch contacts 70 for head-lamp energization are actuated by a slider 60, Fig. 3, indexing being effected by a spring-biased plunger 61. When that plunger is in recess 64 high-beam illumination is afforded and when in recess 63 dipped-beam illumination ensues. Fixed contacts (73, Fig. 8, not shown) are carried by a resin (e.g. melamine) insert (72) secured in base 12; silver inlays are utilized for some of them. Contacts in a handle at the free end of arm 26 are closed when the arm is moved inwardly for energizing a horn. The contacts for the directionindicators are not particularly described.