US1445181A

US1445181A - Automobile

Info

Publication number: US1445181A
Application number: US379351A
Authority: US
Inventors: Sizaire Maurice Hippolyt Louis
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1920-05-06
Filing date: 1920-05-06
Publication date: 1923-02-13
Anticipated expiration: 1940-02-13

Description

Feb. 13, 1923.

M. H. L. SIZAIRE.

AUTOMOBILE.

FILED MAY 6,1920.

ESHEETS-SHEET 1.

Feb. 13, 1923. 1,445,181.

hwy/Way; 7

AUTOMOBILE.

FILED MAY 6,1920. a SHEETSVSHEET3 Feb. 13, 1923.

M. H. L. SIZAIRE.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

Feb. 13, 1923.

M. H. L. SIZAIRE.

AUTOMOBILE.

FILED MAY 6.1920.

6 SHE 'SSHEET 5.

Feb. 13, 1923.

M. H. L. SIZAIRE.

"AuToMomLE.

FILED MAY 5.1920.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 6 Patented Feb. 13,1923.

uurrao STATES 1,445,181 PATENT OFFICE.

MAURICE HIPPOLYTE LOUIS SIZAIRE, OF LONDON, ENGLANDi AUTOMOBILE.

Application filed Kay 6, 1920. Serial No. 379,851.

To all whom it may camera: I

Be it known that I, MAURICE HIPPOLYTE LoUIs Suzanne, a citizen of the French Republic, residing at Park Royal, London N. W. 10, England, have invented new and useful Improvements in Connection with Automobiles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in connection with automobile vehicles and has reference to the arrangement and construction of the dash boards thereof.

The main object of the invention is to render electrical switch and distribution boards together with receptacles for tools, accessories and spare parts more readily accessible than is usually the case, especially at night. For this purpose the dashboard is formedin two arts, an instrument board carrying the dia s of the-various instruments and switches employed and a second portion sloping forwardly from the base of the instrument board and consisting of one or more hinged members or plates one of which carries the terminals, switches and fuses, for

example, of the various electrical circuits employed. Another hinged plate would carry pockets adapted to contain tools. accessories or spare parts whilst all these hinged plates together with the controlling switches on the dashboard may be illuminated by the means described in my prior British specification No. 22160/19.

. The arrangements above described possess the advantages that the switches controlling the electrical circuits can be operated with ease and precision by day or night enabling a diversity of circuits to be employed with safety, whilst in the case of a breakdown the required tool or accessory can be found' quickly. Further the arrangement of the hinged electrical distribution board enables faults, breakages or blow-outs to be located immediately thus increasing the facilities for quick and easy rectification.

The invention will be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a sectional side elevation showing the invention applied to an automobile.

Fig. 2 is a general elevation of the improved dashboard.

Fig. 3 is a lan of the hinged plate forming the distri ution board.

Figs. 4 and 4' are side elevations partly in section OfiFig. 3 and Fig. 5 is an elevation showing the central portion of Fig. 2 on an enlarged scale.

In the drawings, 1 is an instrument formed with the dashboard roper, on which are disposed the dials of the various instruments. employed and on which is mounted a facia or switch plate 2 forming part of the sloping hinged plate 3 hinged, as shown at 4 at the end remote from the switch plate 2.

Projecting through the switch plate 2 are a'series of switch handles or milled knobs 5 adapted to operate insulated rotatable drums 6 mounted in bearings formed on the

brackets

7 and 8. Although only three .such switch handles are shown on the drawings any number may be employed to suit varying circumstances.

The drums 6 are mounted on spindles9 having at one end the milled knob 5, whilst the other end is squared as at 10 and accommodated in the spring clip 11 to maintain the drum in one of its four defined positions. Any other suitable arrangement may be employed to maintain the spindle in position such for instance as a steel ball urged by a spring into any one of four concavi ties formed in the end of the spindle.-

Mounted in the switch plate are the dials of an ammeter, volt meter and the like indicating instruments provision also being made for a spring urged press button 22 adapted to actuate an electrically operated self starter as hereinafter described.

A bracket or bridge 12 mounted on the hinged plate 3 carries one end of a fuse 13 of suitable type in a'spring clip 14. This spring clip 14 is in metallic contact with the terminal lug 15 but insulated by suitable material from the bridge 12.

The other end of the fuse 13 is carried in a similar spring clip 16 mounted .on and insulated from the bracket 7. Contacting with the spring clip 16 and a spring urged contact 17 is a small plate or bar 18, formed to any suitable shape to suit its particular position on the distribution board as illus trated in Fig. 3. The invention is not limited to the precise number or selection of the terminal lugs 15, variations being made in practice to meet special circumstances.

Spring urged contacts 19 are in circuit with a bar 20 which in this particular selection is connected to a fuse and terminal lug 15 of the dynamo, thus forming a connection common to all. the three rotatable drums 6.-

The various connections are looped over the point of hinge and brought up through a clip or bridge 21 and led away to their respective terminal lugs in the usual manner.

A motor self starting switch comprising a spring urged button or the like 22 is preferably arranged in the switch plate 2 and functions to close the generator-motor circuit.

Mounted on the drum spindles 9 are translucent dials 23 which carry suitable wording to indicate the position of the switches. These dials may be made of porcelain, muranesc glass celluloid or the like and are illuminated from behind as described in the specification forming part of my application Serial No. 353,189. for Letters Patent of the United States filed January 22, 1920, allowed January 8, 1921. They are so arranged that only one portion, preferably a quarter of the circumference, is visible through a slot 24 according to the position of the switch handle. Any number of dials may be employed and the lettering altered to suit va'rying conditions without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The following is an example of the kind of control which may be effected by the improved construction. One dial may indicate in one position that tail and head lights are in circuit, in another position that tail lights only are in circuit, in a third position that headlights are dimmed and in a fourth position that all lights in the circuit are off. Other switches would control the right and left side lights and tail lights separately whilst a third switch would control the charging circuit and the dashboard lights.

2 is unlocked and lowered together with thehinged plate 3 to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1 when the fuses and other electrical subsidiary accessories are exposed to view, the whole being illuminated by small electric lamps 27 or the like disposed immediately above or within the interior of the dashboard facing, for example as shown in Fig. 1 and in the manner described in my prior specification above referred to.

Provision is also made on the dashboard for tools, spare parts, sparking plugs and the like in two hinged

receptacles

25 and 26 which when lowered into operative positions are also illuminated by lights disposed within the interior of the dashboard facing.

It will be seen that according to the present invention the hinged plate 3 forming the distribution board as well as the hinged

plates

25 and 26 forming receptacles are rendered very accessible at night, the whole of the interiorbeing illuminated as hereinbefore mentioned.

I claim 1. In an automobile vehicle, a dashboard, an instrument board, hinged plates below said instrument board, said plates be ng hinged to the vehicle body, and an electrical switch and distribution board and a tool receptacle carried by said hinged plates.

2. In an automobile vehicle, a dashboard, an instrument board, lates below said instrument board, hinged connections between said plates and the vehicle body, an electrical switch and distribution board, and a tool receptacle carried by said plates, means for securing said plates in closed position, and means carrried by one of said hinged plates adapted to give visual indications on the dashboard face of, the positions of the electrical switches and conditions of the circuits.

3. In an automobile vehicle, a dashboard,

an instrument board, a plurality of plates hingedly secured to the vehicle body, a

switch and distribution board carried by one of said plates, a face plate carrying switch operating means and means indicating switch and circuit conditions and means for securing saidface plate detachably to said instrument board.

4. In an automobile vehicle, a dashboard, an instrument board, a plate below said instrument board, and secured to the vehicle body and a plurality of rotary switch devices mounted on said plate and controllingall the electrically operated devices of the vehicle.

5. In an automobile vehicle, a dashboard, an instrument board, a plate below said instrument board, and secured to the vehicle body, a plurality of rotary switch devices mounted on said plate and controlling all of the electrically operated devices of the vehicle, and additional hinged plates disposed at either side of said first named plate to form receptacles for tools.

6. In an automobile vehicle, a dashboard, an instrument board, a plate below said instrument board, and secured to the vehicle body, a plurality of rotaryswitch devices mounted on said plate and controlling all the electrically operated devices of the vehicle, a face plate integral with said hinged plate and means for detachably securlng said face plate flush with said instrument board.

7 In an automobile vehicle, a dashboard, an instrument board, a plate below said instrument board, and secured to the vehicle body, a plurality of terminals mounted upon said plate, means connecting said terminals with the electrically operated deswitch devices cooperating With said terminals and means for detachably securing said plate to said instrument board.

8. In an automobile vehicle, a dashboard, an instrument board, a plate below said instrument board, and secured to the vehicle body, a plurality of terminals mounted upon said plate, means connecting said terminals with the electrically operated devices of the vehicle, a plurality of rotary switch devices cooperating with said terminals, a face plate integral with said hinged plate, means carried by said face plate to operate said rotary switch devices and to indicate the positions thereof and conditions of the circuits and means for securing said face plate to said instrument board.

9. In an automobile vehicle. a dashboard, an instrument board, a plate below said instrument board, and secured to the vehicle body, a, plurality of terminals mounted upon said plate, means connectingsaid terminals with the electrically operated devices of the vehicle, means for connecting said terminals in variable combinations With a source of electrical energy, and means for detachably securing said hinged plate to said instrument board.

10. In an automobile vehicle, a dashboard, an instrument board, a forwardly inclined plate below said instrument board, and secured to the vehicle body, a plurality of terminals mounted upon said plate, means connecting said terminals with the electrically operated devices of the vehicle, means for connecting said terminals in variable combinations with a source of electrical energy, a pair of hinged plates forming tool receptacles disposed one on either side of said inclined plate, and detachably secured to said instrument board.

In Witnesses whereof I aflix my signature.

MAURICE HIPPOLYTE LOUIS SlZAlRE.