US1256692A - Electric switch. - Google Patents

Description

W. H. HONSBERGERU ELECTRIC SWITCH.

APPLICATION EI.LED JULY 30, 1911.

Patented Feb. 19, 1918.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM HENRY HONSBERGER, OF WELLAND, ONTARIO, CANADA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- THIRD TO GEORGE 0. BROWN, 0F WELLAND, ONTARIO, CANADA.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

Specification of Letters latent.

Patented Feb. 19, 1918.

Application filed July 80, 1917. Serial No. 183,609.

To all whom it may concern: H

Be it known that I, lVILLIAM HENRY HONSBERGER, of the town of Welland, in the county of Welland and Province of Ontario, Dominion of Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Switches; and I hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

This invention relates to a switch, which may be used in connection with an electric lighting apparatus for vehicles, to selec tively control the circuits for the illumina tion of the headlights and .the non-ill1nni11ation of the auxiliary light, the dimming of the headlights and the non-illumination of the auxiliary light, and the dimming of the headlights and the illumination of the auxiliary light, this electric lighting apparatus comprising a switch-controlled main lighting circuit, a shunt resistor circuit connected with the main lighting circuit, and a-switch-controlled auxiliary lighting circuit connected with the main lighting cir-- cuit, whereby the closin of the main lighting circuit for the brilliant illumination of the main lights will open the auxiliary lighting circuit, and the closing of the auxiliary lighting circuit for the brilliant illumination of the auxiliary light will open the main lighting circuit and shunt. part of the current through the resistor for the dimmin of the main lights, and the opening of the main. and auxiliary lighting circuits will shunt the current through the resistor.

for the dimming of the main lights and the non-illumination of the auxiliary light.

This invention relates more particularly to the specific construction of the switch, which is provided with a movable switch blade and two fixed contacts or poles, located at opposite extremities of the oscillation of the switch blade, so that the switch blade, when in contact with one of said poles, will close the circuit for the illumination of the headlights and the nonillumination of the auxiliary light, and when in contact with the other pole, will close the circuit for the illumination of the auxiliary lightand the dimming of the headlights,

and when in a neutral position between said poles, will open the auxiliary lighting circuit for the non-illumination of the auxiliary light and the dimming of the head the resistor.

lhe invention further relates to a coupling means forming part of the switch, by which it. can be secured to the steering post of the vehicle, as hereinafter set forth and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings: 7

Figure 1, is a diagrammatic View illustratmg the arrangement of circuits;

*ig. 2, is a front elevational view showing the switch secured to a steering post;

Fig; 3, is a side ele-vational view 01 the parts shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4, is a detail view of the switch, showing the switch blade and fixer. contacts;

Fig. 5, is a rear view of the parts shown inFig. l;

Fig. 6, is an end sectional detail view of the parts shown in Fig. 4, to show the fixed contacts and the insulator between them;

Fig. 7, is a cross-sectional view of the switch blade;

Fig. 8. is a detail view of one of the switch case parts;

Fig. 9, is a detail View of the other-of the switch case parts and one of the semi-cylindrical coupling members; and,

Fig. 10, is a detail view of the other semi-cylindrical coupling member.

Like characters of reference refer to like parts throughout thespecification and drawings.

a represents the source of current, which may consist of a storage or other batter 6 represents a conductor leading from-the source of current a to the contactc of the main switch 0. d represents a. conductor leading from the contact 0" of the main switch 0 to the contact eof the control switch. 9 represents a conductor leading from the contact h of the control switch to the lamps i of the headlights j. k represents the return conductor from the lamps i to the source of current a. Z represents a conductor leading from the contact m to the lamp 0 of the auxiliary light 10.. k represeats a return conductor leadiiig' from the lamp 0 of the auxiliary light to the return conductor is, and'r represents a resistor in shunt to the conductors (land -9-- For the operation of the lighting appara. tus, the main switch 0 is closed, so thatthe current may circuit from the-source a,

ductor 6, switch a, to the conductor Whenthe switch blade 7 is in a neutral position between the contacts h and m, the auxiliary light p is cut out and the current passes from the conductor cl, by means of the re sistor r, conductor 9, headlight lamps i, and return conductor k, to the source of current, the headlight lamps, during this circuit, being dimmed to the extent of the resistance ofiered by the resistor r.

\Vhen the switch blade'f closes the circuit fromthe contact a to the contact h, the currentpasses from the conductor cl, by means of the switch 7", conductor 9, lamps i of the headlights j, and return conductor 1:, to the source of current, this being the direct circuit from the source of current a to the lamps z of the headlights j, and which, when closed, renders the resistor inoperative and cuts out the auxiliary lighting circuit, so thatthe full strength of'the current may be utilized for the brilliant illumination of the headlight lamps.

\Vhen the switch blade f is moved to close the circuit from the contact e to the contact m, part of the current is shunted from the conductor d through the resistor to the conductor g, and the remainder of the current passes from the conductor cl, by means of the switch blade I, cont-act m, and conductor Z, to the lamp 0 of the auxiliary light p, returning from the lamp by means of the conductor 7a, to the return conductor is, this circuit brilliantly illuminating the auxiliary lamp and dimly illuminating the headlights.

To provide for the necessity of rapidly changing these circuits, during the travel .of the vehicle, to either brilliantly illuminate the headlight lamps or to dim the headlight lamps without illuminatin the aux iliary light, or to dim the headlight lamps and brilliantly illuminate the auxiliary .light, I have so constructed the control filii switch that a single movement of the switch blade will effect the desired change in the circuits, and I have particularly desi ned this control switch so that it can be ad ustably connected to the steering post of amot or vehicle to' enable the driver to manipulate the switch blade without removing hisv hands from the steering wheel. Vith this purpose in view, the control switch consists of an insulated base 7", in

which the contacts 0, it and m are set, and provided with the usual binding posts e, h and m", respectively, for, the conductors (5, lg and Z; On the contact c, is oscillatingl mounted the switch blade f, this switc blade being provided with an insulated ham jllej 1 extending beyond the insulated twase f".- i l, -(l'vierhan;'[ ing 'laachbf the contacts k and 311m, is a spring loaf hf and m, respectively,

to engage the switch blade f anclpress it against the contacts 72. and m when in encontacts a substantially V-shaped recess f, to i receive a corresponding proJection f on the switch blade f, the purpose of the recess i and the projection f being to prevent 'the ipadvertent movement of the switch blade when in a neutral POSltlOIl, the necessity of this prevention arising from the jarring and jolting of the car tending to cause the movement of the switch blade.

In closing the switch, is a switch case, comprising two separable members 9, g. The member g, to which the switch is appropriately secured by bolts 2, consists of a plate of shape and dimensions corresponding. to the back of the insulated base f, and along each side edge of the switch case member 9 are inturned flanges r partly overlying its front surface. The switch case member q is of corresponding shape and dimensions to the insulated base 1, and the edges 9' of its sides q are outwardly flared to engage under the inturned flanges r of the switch case member 9, to maintain the assembly of these parts.

As shown in Fig. 3, the top of the switch case is open, and when. the switch is inclosed within the switch case, an unoccupied space is provided between the front of the tween the row 8 and the switch case member 9, the opposite meeting edge 8 being flanged and provided with holes for the clamping bolts 8 v Cooperating with the coupling member s, is a corresponding coupling member t, having at one of its meeting edges, hook-shaped lugs t to engage through the slots of any row in the coupling member s and separably connect the two coupling members.

By means of the several rows of slots 8', 8", s, the coupling, consisting of the two coupling members 8 and t, can be increased or reduced in diameter to the approximate I diameter of the steering post, or, in other words, the diameter of'the coupling is readadjustable to permit of the attachment il o; the switch to any of the standard sizes of steering posts.

The edge 23" of the coupling member t is flanged and rovided with holes t, corresponding wit the holes a, to receive the c amping bolts 6" by which the flanged edges of the coupling members are secured to- ;ether.

ity of rows of slots parallel with its meeting edges, and the otherof which is proti'ded with hook-shaped lugs along one meetin edge to engage in the slots of any of sai 2.'In an electric switch to be attached to the steering post of a vehicle, comprising fixed and movable contacts, and a case therefor consisting of a case member having a body part with inturned flanges along its side edges, and a case member having a body part with outwardly flaring sides to be engaged by the inturned flanges of the other case member, and an adjust/a le coupling consisting of two semi-cyllndrical members one of which is provided with a plurality of rows of slots parallel with its meeting edges, and the other of which is provided with hookshaped lugs along one meeting edgeto engage in the slots of any of said rows.

\Velland, July, 1917.

WILLIAM HENRY HONSBEBGER, Signed in the 'resence of-- LYNN B. mucus, ESTELLE PHILLIPS.

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