US1482822A - Direction indicator for automobiles or other vehicles - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 5 1924.

D. U. STANAGE DIRECTION INDICATOR FOR AUTOMOBILES OR OTHER VEHICLES ull l l l I l I I! INVENTOR .fizurid ZLSimm .1,-

Original Filed May a, 1919 ATTORNEYS Patented Feb. 5, 1924.

DAVID U. STANAGE, or OAKLAND, oamronnia.

DIRECTION INDICATOR FOR AUTOIJIOBILES OR OTHER VEHICLES.

Application filed May 8, 1919, Serial No. 295,628.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, DAVID U. STANAGE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oakland, in the county of Alameda and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Direction Indicators for Automobiles or Other Vehicles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to direction indicators for automobiles.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a signal device whereby thedriver of an automobile may indicate at the rear of his machine the intended movement thereof. Further, in this connection, it is also an object of the invention that when the driver signals his intention of the intended movement of his machine, that there is also simultaneously an alarm given to attract the attention of the driver of an automobile or other vehicle following.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a direction indicator for automobiles which is certain in its operation and adapted to be applied to any type of ma chine.

It is a further object of the invention to provide such a direction indicating device which is simple in construction, artistic in design and cheap to manufacture.

With the above, and other objects in'view, the invention consists in the novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter more fully described, claimed, and illustrated. in the accompanying drawings in which- Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the casing in which the signaling mechanism is housed.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal, central, sectional view taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view showing the electrical connections for the operating m ech anism.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly to the Figs. 1 and 2, A indicates a casing which comprises the cylindrical por tions 10 and 11, the portion 10 being greater in diameter than the portion 11. In the end wall of the portion 10 or front end of easing there is provided a central horizontal slot 12. Above the 'slot 12 there is suitably mounted in the wall a pair of lenses indicated at 13 and 1A, and centrally above the lenses there is suitably mounted a gong 15. Bell magnets and armature are suitably secured to the inner side wall of the Renewed. Getober 21, 1926. Serial No. 418,505.

casing, as indicated at 15, the striker 17 thereof extending through a slot provided in the wall of the casing and adapted for striking .the gong 15.

A support member 16 is secured within. the walls of the casing and in its vertical portion 16 there is journaled one end of a shaft 17 the other end of the shaft being journaled in suitable supports or brackets extending from the side of the member 16.

This shaft 17 is in axial alignment with the cylindrical portion 10 of the casing and on said shaft there is mounted the enveloping sleeves 18, 19 and 20. each sleeve being adapted for separate rotative movement and near its rear end has secured a cog-wheel 21. Also, a cog-wheel 21 is likewise secured near the corresponding end of the shaft 17 The forward or other ends of the sleeves are in spaced relation and the corresponding end of the shaft slightly eX- tending beyond either of the sleeves. A rectangular strip 22 is secured to the forward end of each sleeve and also to the same end of the shaft, said strips being adapted for rotative movement, whereby each may be brought into registering position with the slot 12. These strips 22, or, as commonly called, vanes, are perforated and on their exterior sides have stamped or otherwise written longitudinally thereof, such words as Turn, Left, Right, etc.

Above the shaft 17 and in vertical alignment therewith, are suitably mounted and supported by the bracket 16, solenoids 23 which correspond in number to the vanes or signals 22. These solenoids are of the plunger type and each provided with a downwardly extending sleeve 25, said sleeve being closed at its lower end and between said end and solenoid provided with a vertical slot. To the lower end of each plunger there is secured a pin or rod 27 on which is secured a rack member 28 adapted to mesh with a cog-wheel 21. The rod or pin 27 extends through a central opening provided in the lower end of the sleeve 25 and is provided with the spaced collars 29 and .30, whereby the upward and downward movement of the plunger of solenoid or rack member 28 is limited.

Referring to Fig. 3 in which the electrical connections for the above-described mechanism is diagrammatically shown, a battery is indicated at 31, which may be either the generator or battery customarily used on automobiles for lighting or like purposes. The battery shown has its negative terminal extended and connected to one bus of the switches 32. The switches 32 are preferably mounted on the steering wheel convenient to the driver, and correspond in number to the number of solenoids 23 employed. Each switch has an individual lead 33 to one terminal of a solenoid 23, the other terminal at each solenoid being connected in common to the one wire or lead indicated at Ill. Between the positive side of the bat tery 31 and the lead 34 there is placed in multiple series with the solenoids the bell magnets and two lamps 36 and 37 which are in series with each other. The two lamps 36 and 37 are preferably mounted in the rear of the casing in order that they will illuminate the perforated strips or vanes 22 as well as the lenses 13v and 14. .thS is obvious, these lights would be unnecess sary during the day time, and, a switch may be provided to exclude the lights from the circuit any time desired, which would in no manner interfere with the operation of the device.

It can be readily seen from the diagrammatic view shown that by pressing a button 32, a solenoid 23 corresponding in number to the button pressed, the bell magnets 15 and lights 36 and 37 will be energized. The solenoid 23 ill raise its rack member 28 sutiiciently for turning a cog-Wheel 21 through approximately one quarter of a revolution, the upward movement of the rack being limited by the collar 30 on the rod 27. The turning of a cog 21 through one-quarter of a revolution will bring the vane 22 with which it is connected, into registering position with the slot 12. If at night, the bell or gong 15 and illuminated lenses 13 and 14 act as two agencies for attracting the attention of the driver of a following automobile or other vehicle. The perforated vane being also illuminated by the lights 36 and 37, permits the word dis played to be easily read. During the day the bell alone can act for attracting the attention of the driver of a following auto1no bile or vehicle to the signal given and the lights excluded from the circuit.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In an indicator of the class described, a cylindrical casing having an enlarged and a reduced portion, a substantially til-shaped support within the casing provided with an extension secured to the wall oi the enlarged portion of the casing, solenoids depending from the upper horizontal arm of the support, a shaft journaled in the vertical arms of the support and extending longitudinally of the casing, rotatable sleeves of increasing length on the shaft and carrying indicating vanes thereon within the said enlarged portion of the casing and means for selectively operating the solenoids to rotate the said sleeves.

2. In an indicator of the class described, a solenoid provided with a plunger having a rack bar thereon, a depending sleeve on the solenoid provided with an opening, a pin carried by the plunger and extending through the opening in the depending sleeve and provided with stops to limit the movement of the plunger, a horizontal shaft within the casing, a sleeve journalled on the shaft and provided with a gear meshing with the rack bar to rotate the sleeve when the solenoid is energized, and an indicating vane on the said sleeve.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

DAVID U. STANAGE.

Witnesses {l JOHN H. HERRING, W. W. HEALEY.

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