US1452392A - Auto signal - Google Patents

Description

F. J. RYAN AUTO SIGNAL Apr. 17, 1923.;

Filed March 18 I! I Illliill.

Patented Apr. 17, 1923.

r ori.

FREDERICKJ. RYAN, or 'rononro, ONTARIO, CANADA.

AUTO SIGNAL.

7 '0 all whom it mag concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK J. RYAN,

a subject of the-King'of Great Britain, re-

siding at Toronto, in the Province of On- 5 tario and Dominion of Canada, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in an Auto Signal, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to automobile sig- 10 nals and more particularly to brake actuated devices of this character.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple and eflicient signal of this character which is automatically displayed by the application of the brakes, and withdrawn on the release thereof. v

Another 1 object is to provide improved means for limiting the movement of the signal arm or semaphore member in both raised and lowered positions. i I 1 With these and other objects in view the invention consists of such novel features of construction as herein after shown and described, and then specifically pointed out in the claims, and in the drawings illustrative of the preferred embodiment of the inven tion. Y

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 represents aside elevation of a portion of an automobile in dotted lines with this improved signal shown applied;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the signal and its controlling mechanism shown partly in section and with parts broken out; and

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view through the signalling mechanism taken in a plane at right'angle to that shown in Fig. 2.

In the'embodiment illustrated the apparatus constituting this invention comprises an attaching blocker casting 1 designed to be screwed or otherwise fastened to the bottom of the carbody' as shown clearly in Fig. 1 and to which is pivotally connected at one end a bar 2 mounted to oscillate longitudinally of the car which is provided with a plurality of longitudinally spaced apertures 3 for the connection of a substantially shaped stirrup 'member'c, the ends of which straddle the lowerend-of'the bar 2 and are pivotally engaged with one of the apertures 3a plurality of which are provided to adapt'the apparatus for attachment to various makes of cars.

- of a coiled spring 11 mounted within a cas- 'is mounted outside the casing and adapted A Application filed. March 18, 1921. Serial No. $53,241.

one of them and being secured by a nut,

while engaged with the other end is a'cable 10 having aknot 9 on its inner end to prevent it slipping through the aperture in the end 8 of the bar 7 with which it is connected. The cable 19 is preferably constructed of twisted steel wire to adapt it to withstand the strain to which it will be subjected and it is connected at its other end with one end ing 12 attached to any suitable part of the car preferably at the rear thereof as is shown clearly in Fig. 1. This cable within the easing passes around pulleys13 and lfl'one of which is arranged at the upperend of-said casing and the other at the lower end thereof, as is shown clearly in Figs. 2 and 3, the pulley 1 1 opening through the bottom of the casing so that the cable 10 may pass around the grooved periphery thereof and be guided in its longitudinal movements for a purpose presently to be described.

The casing 12 -is provided at'its lower end with a detachable cap-like closure 15 which 'is'secur ed to the casing by the "pintle 16 of which the pulley 1 1 is mounted as is shown clearly in Figs. 2 and 3. This closure 15 has a laterally extended apertured arm in the form of a plate 17 which. is designed for attachlng the casing to a sup'porting structure which may be any part of the car body or frame. I j

The upper pulley 13 as shown has a hub 18 fixedly mounted to its pintle or shaft 19 by a screw or otherwise (see Fig. 2.), said sleeve; 18 operating as'a spacer bearing against the opposed inner faces of the casing 12 to prevent longitudinal movement of the pintle. 1 p A shaft 20 is rotatably mounted in the casing 12 ab ove the pulley 13 and has fixedly mounted thereon the hub 21 of a head 22 of a signal arm or semaphore 23 wliicharm m to swing into position at right'an'gles' to the casing when the signal is to be displayed and dropped down parallel with the casing when not in use. This arm 23 may have any desired indicia carried thereby such as the word Stop to indicate when it is swung into operative position that the vehicle upon which it is mounted is about to stop or may have the word Brake-on or any similar Word desired by the operator or owner of the car to be used, to indicate that he is applying his brake to stop the vehicle or to slow it down.

A strap 24: of leather or other suitable strong material extends around the shaft 20 and is fixed intermediate its ends to said shaft by a screw or otherwise as shown clearly in Figure 2, and has its opposed ends extended downwardly into the casing 12 and secured one to the spring 11 andthe other to a similar spring 25', the lower ends of said springs being engaged with a cross-rod 26 mounted in the lower end of the casing 12.

The head 22 of the semaphore arm 28 has an inwardly and laterally extended pin or stud 27 which projects through an arcuate slot 28 in the adjacent side wall of the casing 12 (see Fig. 8). This arcuate slot 28 is so positioned relatively to the stud 27 as to limit the upward and downward swinging movement of the semaphore 23, said-stud engaging the upper end of said slot when the arm 23 is in vertical lowered position as shown in Fig. 8 and engaging the lower end thereof, when said arm is swung upwardly in a plane at right angles of the easmg.

A caplike closure 29 fits over the upper end of the casing 12 and is detachably secured thereto to afford access to the interior of the casing when desired.

In the use of this signal the casing 12 carrying the arm 23 is mounted at any suitable point on the car as above stated preferably at the rear thereof and the casting'or block 1 is secured to the bottom of the car so as to position the bar 2 in the path of a laterally extending finger or lugSO carried by the brake rod 31 as is shown-clearly in Figs. 1 and 2, so that when the brake is applied the forward movement of the rod will cause said finger 80 to engage bar 2 and swing it on its pivotal connection with the casting 1 thereby exerting a pull on cable 10 which operates through the springs and slot 24: to rotate the shaft 20 and swing the arm 23 into its extreme upward position. at right angles'to the'casing 1 thereby displaying the-signal. carried thereby and indicating to following vehicles that he is applying his brake to stop or slow down his car. Immediately thebrake is released the-stud or finger 30 will be moved away from the bar. 2 and permits said bar under the action ofthe spring 25 and't'he gravity ofarm 23 to: move" into vertical position'thus permitting said arm to drop into inoperative position with the signal withdrawn. From the above it will be seen that this signal is automatically operated on the application of the brake and similarly released when the brake is released so that after it is once applied it requires no further attention to ensure its operation.

The signal operating finger 30 which is carried by the brake rod obviously may be attached to said rodin any desired manner and as here shown is carried by a split clamping collar 82, detachably mounted on the brake rod. The collar carrying the finger of course forms a part of the signal equipment and is applied with the apparatus constituting the invention.

From the above description it will be obvious that this improved signalling apparatus may be readily applied to any car already in use by inexperienced workmen, all that is necessary being to properly position the block 1 relatively to the'brakerod under the car and to clamp; the actuating finger 30 on said rod at theproper position tocause it to come into action at the proper time to raise arm 23 when the brake is applied.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is disclosed in the drawings and set forth in the specifications, but it will be understood that any modifications within the scope of the claims-may be made in the construction without departing from the principle of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages.

What I claim is i 1. An apparatus for the purpose set forth comprising an attaching block adapted to be secured to a vehicle body, an oscillatory bar pivotally connected to one end and depending from said block, a. stirrup straddling and pivotally connected toithe lower end of the rod, a threaded bolt carried by and 'projectingifrom' said stirrup'andat an angle with respect to said rod, an adjusting member mounted on the bolt, means arranged within said member and adjustably mounted on the threaded portion of the bolt for adjusting said member relatively to the belt. a movable signal adapted to be supported from the vehicle body, and aflexible element attached to said member and signal for operating the latter whenthe. bar is shifted.

' 2. An apparatus for the purpose set forth comprising a casing, supporting means therefor, a rock shaft mounted in andhaving on end projecting from one, wall of said casing, a signal arm secured on the projecting end of said shaft and exterior of said casing and adapted to'be elevated and lowered when said shaft is. rocked in opposite directions, a pair of-coiledsprin'gs arranged within and having their lower 5 application of th braking element of a ends secured to the bottom of said casing, a upper end of one of said springs and the flexible strip secured at its ends to the upper brake element actuating means of a vehicle, ends of said springs and extended over and whereby the arm is raised on the application 10 secured to said shaft and actuated on the of the braking element of the vehicle.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature vehicle to shift said shaft to elevate said hereto.

signal arm, and a connection between the FREDERICK J. RYAN.

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