US1205098A

US1205098A - Signal for automobiles.

Info

Publication number: US1205098A
Application number: US1868015A
Authority: US
Inventors: Harold B Mcguire
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1915-04-02
Filing date: 1915-04-02
Publication date: 1916-11-14
Anticipated expiration: 1933-11-14

Description

H. B. McGUIRE.

SIGNAL FOR AUTGMOBILES. APPLICATION men APR-2. 191s.

1,2Q5fl9w Patented Nov. 14, 1916.

2 SHEETSSHEET l- WITNESSES: INVENTOR.

A TTORNE Y H; B. McGUIRE. SIGNAL FOR AUTOMOBILES. APPLICATION FILED APR. 2. I915.

Patented Nov, 14, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- INVENTOR. WITNESSES: I A j V BY p I Q%% TORNEY.

HAROLD B. MoGUIRE, OF FORT WAYNE, INDIANA.

SIGNAL FOB AUTOMOBILES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

atented Nov. to, illi t Application filed April 2, 1915. Serial No. 18,680.

Signals for Automobiles, of which the fol-' lowing is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in signals for automobiles and is especially contrived to designate the intended course over which the automobile is to be driven, the signal being manipulated by the driver of the vehicle accordingly.

The object of the improvement is to provide a device that will operate effectively in daylight as well as at night. under control of the driver of the automobile. and indicate distinctly to persons approached and following, in what direction the driver intends to direct the automobile.

The object of the improvement is accomplished by the construction illustrated by the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the de- .vice: Fl 2 is a vertical section of Pi 1 in F) l a plane at right angles thereto. the indicat ing arrow being shown only partly in section: Fig. 3 is a rear view of the device showing the mechanism for actuating the indicating arrow: Fig. i is a diagram showing' the electrical connections between the magnets that actuate the indicating arrow, the side lamps, and the controlling switches: Fig. 5 is a diagram of the indicating arrow including the automatic switch and lamps contained therein. Fig. (3 is a verti *al cen tral section through the automatic switch while in upright position; and Fig. 7 is a similar View of the same in horizontal position. y

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views and referring now to the same 1 is a housing lined upon the back of a supportingplate (2). and 3) is a trans 'iarent lasing fixed upon the front of the supporting plate (2). Upon each side of the support ing-plate is mounted a reflector (l) in which is arranged a side lamp (5). These lamps and their reflectors are so disposed a to project light laterally.

Within the casing (3) is an indicating arrow ((3) fixed upon a hollow shaft (7) that extends loosely through the supportingplate Upon the inner end of the hollow shaft is a pinion (8) that meshes with a segmental gear (9-), the latter being pivotally mounted upon a screw (10) that extends into a boss 11) projecting from the'plate (2). The lower end of the segment (9) is flat horizontally, and a flat spring bears upwardly against the flat end'of the segment and the latter. due to the pressure of the spring against its flattened surface is normally held in central position. The spring (12) is held at its inner end in fixed relation with the boss (11) by means of a screw (13). To each side of'the segment (9) is attached a connect'ihg rod (14) that extends upwardly through a bracket (15) and has fixed thereon an armature (16).-

Over each of the armatures (16) is mounted in fixed relation with the plate (2) an electro-magnet (17) adapted, when excited, to attract the corresponding armature so that the segment will be actuated and the pinion (8) accordingly rotated. As the pinion is moved the arrow (6) is likewise turned with the shaft (7) which is fixed to the pinion. It is the intention that by exciting one or the other of the electro-mag nets. the arrow will be turned from its normal vertical position to a horizontal position pointing either to the right hand or left hand accordingly as one or the other of the electro-magnets is excited. And it is a further intent that when neither of the electro-magnets is in action, the arrow will be returned to its normal vertical position and this is accomplished by the spring (19) hearing against the flattened lower end of the segment.

The arrow ((3) is made with a transparent front (18), and has mounted therein two electric lamps (19) and (20), the bulb of the former being of red glass, while the latter is of clear glass.

Within the tail of the arrow is an automatic switch composed of a block (21) of insulating material having a pocket (22) in its lower end and divergent passageways (23) and (2 respectively leading up- 'ardly from the pocket. A quantity of mercury (25) is placed in the pocket ('22) and rests therein while the arrow is in vertical position and makes contact with the screws (26) and (:27), the inner (,ll(l of which project into said pocket. When the arrow is in horizontal position the mercury will gravitate from the porkct to the opposite end of one or the other of the passageways (23) or (24) accordingly as the arrow is turned to the right-hand or left-hand. When in'this position. the mercury will contact with the ends of the screws and (29), or (30) and (31), as the case may be.

Electrical current is introduced to the lamps and switch within the arrow through the leads (32) that enter through the opening (33) that extends through the shaft. One of the leads (34) is connected with each of the lamps (l9) and The other lead (35) has connection with the screws (27), (28) and (30). The red lamp (19) has connection with each of the screws (29) and (31) and the lamp (20) has connection with the screw (2(5). The diagram, Fig. 4., shows each of the electro-magnets (17) with one of their terminals connected with one of the main leads (36) which is intended to be connected with one of the terminals of a source of electrical energy. The other main lead (37) has connection with the other terminal of the source of energy and also with each of the puslnbuttons (38) and (39), and each of said puslrbuttons has also connection with one terminal of the corresponding electro-mag'net by means of connecting wires (40) and (4 1) respectively. The side lamps have connection between one of their terminals and the corresponding connecting wires (l0) and (41) and their opposite terminals are connected by means of wires (42) and (43) respectively with a. switch (4 2), and the switch has also connection with the main lead (36) so that when the switch is turned on both lamps will have connection with said lead One of the leads (34:) also has connection with the switch (ii) in a'manner well known to electricians so that when the switch is turned on the lead (34) will have connection with the main lead (36). The other lead (35) is connected directly to the other main lead (37). In this manner when the switch (at) is turned. on the electrical circuit through the white lamp (20) in the arrow will be completed when the arrow is in vertitical position. In the operation one of the devices is placed at each end of the automobile in a cons 'iiiaious place so that it may readily be observed and the push-buttons and switches are located cmivcnicntly within the reach of the driver. and the electrical connections are made accordingly as set forth. During day time the switch (H) is turned oil so that the circuit through all the lamps is broken. 'hen the driver dcsires to change his course toward the right hand, he may indicate his intention by operating the push-button (39) which will close the electrical circuit through the right hand magnet (12'), the cil'cct of which causes the arrow to-swinr; and point horizontally toward the right hand. The corresponding armature (16) being attracted by the mageashes net has the effect of turning; the segment (9) that actuates the pinion (8), causing the shaft (7) to which the arrow is fixed to turn. When it is the intention to change the course toward the left hand, the push-button (38) is pressed completing the circuit through the left hand magnet (17) which causes the arrow to turnv and point toward the left hand. Those persons approaching or'iol lowing may ascertain the intention of the driver. During night time the switch ie?) is turned on so that one terminal of each of the lamps is connected with the main lead (36). The other terminal of the white lamp (20) in the arrow having connection through the mercury 25) in the pocket with the other main lead (37 will show light. When the pnslnbutton (39) is closed the corresponding magnet and side lamp will be thrown into circuit and consequently the arrow will be turned so as to point toward the lighted side-lamp, and the mercury thereupon will :liow from the pocket (22) to the low end of the passage-way (24c) and form a connection between the screws (28) and (29), so that the redlight (19) in the arrow will show while the white light (29) becomes extinguished. When the push-hiltton (38) is closed the left hand magnet and side-lamps are thrown into circuit, and the arrow will he turned so as to point toward till the li hted side lamp and the mercury will. I again leave the pocket and flow down the passageway (23) and .connect the screws (80) and (31), so that again the white lamp 20 is extin 'uished and the red lame,

caused to glow. Thus, there appears to theobserver a red arrow pointing toward a side lamp that projects its light in the direction the driver intends to steer. W hen the intention is to drive straight ahead the arrow is left in vertical or normal position, and at night shows constantly a white light, signifying straight ahead. By arranging the side lamps and their reflectors angularly outward from the sides of the case, as appears in Fig. 1, the lights as projected from them, being at an angle toward the intended direction of travel is inherently significant of its meaning.

That I claim is:,

in apparatus of the class described, a supporting plate, a housing fixed upon the hack thereof, a transparent casing fixed upon the Front of the plate; an oscillating hollow shaft mounted cent ally in the plate and having a pinion fixed upon its rear end; a hollow arrow ha ring a translucent front face and being mounted fixedly upon the shaltwii'hin the casing; a pivoted segment within the housing engaging the pinion and having a iiat face; a flat spring bearing against the ,iace and adapted to hold the segment normally in central position; two connecting rods .in connection with the nent, one upon each side of its pivotal point, and each having an armature fixed upon its upper end; a corresponding pair of electroinagnets positioned respectively above the armatures; a series of electric lamps mounted. within the arrow and distinguished from each other in color; conductors extending through the shaft for conveying current to the lamps within the arrow; a switch within 10 the arrow in connection with the conductors and lamps for completing the various circults leadlng to the several lamps accordingly as the arrow is turned; and means for selectively exciting the eleotro-magnets.

In testimony whereof'I affix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

HAROLD B. MCGUIRE. Viitnesses:

MATHILDA Mnrrnnn, WV. G. BURNS.