US1529849A - Signaling system - Google Patents

Description

March 17, 1925.

EJM. T. RYDER SIGNALING SYSTEM Filed Sept. 1922 2,Sheets-Sheet l SWITCH OPE/PATEL PARKING RIGHT ATTORNEYS Match 17, 1925. 1,529,849

5. M. "r. RYDER SIGNALING SYSTEM Filed Sept, '7, 1922 2 Sheets-She 2 m NEUTRAL g INVENTOR.

BY I J Mf W -Z4,Arrows/la s citizen of the United Patented Mar. 17, 1925.

my new. RYDE or vonxnns, NEW YORK.

SIGNALING SYSTEM.

Application filed September To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, EL-YM. T. RYDER, a States, residing at Yonkers, in the county of Westchester and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Signaling Systems, of which'the following is a specification.

One of the objects of my invention is the provision of a signal system in which a plurality of visible signals are used which are solectively operated in predetermined groups. Another object of my invention isthe 'provision of a novel form of switch'member which controls the visible signals through one kind of movement, and which preferably controls a signal unit of another character through a different kind of movement.

My invention consists of certain novel parts and combinations of parts particularly pointed out in the claims.

The following is a description of a signaling system embodying my invention in the form at present preferred by me, but it will be understood that various modifications and changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of myiinvention and without exceeding the scope of my claims.

My invention will best be understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a rear view of a vehicle showing two groups of lamps operated inv accordance with my invention; Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the switch member and showing the circuit connections; Fig. 3 illustrates diagrammatically the groups of visible signals which are given in difierent positions of the switch member and for parking; Fig. 4 is a horizontal section through the switch member; Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 55 of Fig. 4; Fig. 6 shows the contacts of one-half of the stationary part of the switch member developed, and Figs. 7 to 11 illustrate diagrammatically different arrangements for the various positions of the controller.

Like reference characters indicate like parts throughout the various views.

eferring, now, to the drawings in which I have shown one embodiment of my invention,' I have indicated, generally, at 10 in Figs. land 2 and at the rear of the vehicle,

1,1922. Serial No. mass.

a group of five visible signals which are here illustrated as lamps 10*, 10, 10, 10 and 10, which are preferably arranged side by side, and which are preferably of alternately different colors, thelamps 10, 10 and10 preferably being red, while the lamps 10 and' 10 are preferably which are here shown as connected in paral-' lel with the respective lamps of the rear group 10. so that the front lamps are operated in the same combinations as are the rear lamps. The lamps are mounted on a vehicle which I have indicated, generally, at A. the body of which is indicatedat 12, the wheels at 13, the rear axle at 14 and the rear mud guards at 15. 5

.The switch member or circuit controller which I have indicated, generally, at B, is preferably mounted on the steering post 16 of the vehicle. The switch member, which I have here illustrated. comprises a part 17 which is stationary with respect to the steering post 16, and a part 18 which is rotatable with respect thereto and which is also preferably movable axially thereof. The stationary part of the switch member preferably comprises a series of contacts indicated, generally, in Fig. 2 at 19, and preferably comprising three. spaced contacts 19, 19" and 19, the ontacts 19 and 19 preferably being of sufficient length to extend through two successive positions of the rotary part of the switch member, the intermediate conv switch member comprises a contact, arm, in-

dicated,.generally, at 22, which extends on opposite sides of the member on whichit is mounted, one end 23 of the contact arm beingdprovided with a contact member 24 engages stationary contact members 19,;19 and 19 when brought to a position ,oppositethe same. Theopposite end of the contact arm 22, cooperates. with a plurality of series of contact members-which are indicated, generally, at 26, 27, 28 and 29 and which are referably vertically spaced, as indicated in ig. 5. 26 preferably comprises three short spaced contact mem ers 26, 26 and 26", located at the back, ahead and stop positions of. the controller. The contact 27 comprises a short contact 27' located at the. back position, and-a contact piece 27", extending over the right and stop positions. .The contact 28 preferably-comprises a long contact member 28, extending over the back and left positions and a short contact member 28 located at the stop'position, The contact member 29 comprises a long contact member 29 extending over the back and left positions, an intermediate contact member 29 at the ahead position, and a contact member 29 at the stoppo s'ition. The contact members 26 are connected by a conductor 30 to one terminal of each of the middle red lamps 10 and 11 of the two groupsylO and 11, respectively, the opposite terminals of which'are connected througha.

common conductor 31 to the ground 32. The contact members 27 areconnected by a conductor 33 to one of the terminals of each of'the lamps ,10 and 11, which are also connected by the conductor31 to the ground,

as at 32, it beingunderstood that one termied "by the foot brake and which has three nal of each of the lamps is grounded. The contact members 28 are connected by a conductor 34 to each ofjthe red lamps 10 and 11". The contacts 29 are connected by the conductor 35 to the green lamps 10" and 10 and to 11 and 11. The end 25 of the arm rovidedwith contact members 37, 38, 40, which engage the stationary contacts 26, 27, 28and 29, respectively, when brought opposite the same.- c ,1 p

The contacts 26,, 27 28- d 29 are preferably secured to a cylindrical insulating member 41 which is mounted within a cylindrical .part 42- extending upwardly .from the steering post. The rotary-part of the switch member preferably com prises-an inverted dished member 43 havmg a downwardly-extending, fiange- .43",

. -.m'en'1ber. 45, as by screws 47.

the top of the member preferablybein'g in i the form of a spider from which abOSs or lug' 44 extends .down'wardly.. shell or cylinder 45 issecured to'the flange 43, as indicated in: Fig. 5, and to the-loweren'd. of the shell 45 is secured a ring 46 having a horizontally-extending flange 46 which extends beneath the stationary part 17 of the switch member, as indicate in Fig. 15, to re tain the rotary part in position, the vertical flange being securedtothe c lindrica e top 0 a the switch member is closed by a cover plate The contact member 48,.which may conveniently be secured to the shell .45, ashy screws 49, so that byre moving the cover plate 48 access may. be had to the operating parts of the switch through the spider formed at the top of the member 43. gThe rotary switch arm 22, which is preferably of the form best shown in Fig. 4, is provided with a cylindrical part surrounding aninsulating sleeve 50 in turnsecured to the boss 44, and is secured to said sleeve, as-by screws 51. The rotary part of the switch member is normally raised to the position. indicated in Fig. 5 by a leaf spring '52, the ends of which engage the outwardlyextending flange at the top'of the steering post 16, as best shown in Fig. 5. A stem or plunger 53 is secured in'the lower end of the boss 44 and enga es at its lower end a movable switch mem er 54 which is 'nor-.

mally held in the open position indicated in Fig. 5 bya spring 55. 'By depressing the movable part of the .switch member and thereby moving it along its longitudinal axis,.the switch arm 54 is brought intoen gagement with a stationary contact 56 P closes a} circuit from a battery 57 teen electrically operated device for actuating an audible. signal 58 in awell understood manner. As is evident, the rotarypart of the switch may be depressed at the will of the 9 I operator togive an audible signal with the rotary member in any of its various positions.

A switch 59 see Fig. 2 which is o eras poles, is preferably provided, one terminal of the switch being connected by a .conductor 60 to one terminal of the battery20,

thethree arms of the switch member en-' gagingstationary contacts which are connected by conductors 61, 62 and 63, respectively, to. the red lamps 10, 10? and 10*. A

manually operated switch 64 is also preferably provided, the movable arm of which is connected by a conductor 65 ,to one, ter- 11o 'minal of the battery 20, the stationary contact being connected by a conductor 66 to one of the red lamps 10 which serves as a parking signal. "It isv evident that both The shell or cylindrical member 45, con-x sisting of a part of the rotary switch mem-I ber,-:is preferably' provided with a plurality Y of outwardly-extending beads 67 forming.

on the inner side of theshell notches which are adaptedto beengaged'by a detent m bar 68 secured .tofithe. fixed part. of the" switch member 17 and which is formed with .a detent" ortign' 68 adapted .to engage the notches 6 to retainv the rotary part of the a switch member-in the variousoperating po-- sitions. Sprin members 69, two being illustrated, are a so preferably secured to the fixed part 'of the switch member, the springs being bent outwardly, as indicated in'Fig. 5, and engaging the shell 45 to retain the rotary part of the switch member concentrio with the stationary part.

A; third group oflamps 70 are indicated in Fig. 1, which are mounted on the front mud guard and furnish a tell-tale indication to the driver of the car, and which may and the middle red this third group of lamps in of the be-connected with'respect to the lamps 10 and 11 in the same manner as are the lamps 11 with respect to the lamps 10. In order to avoid confusion, I have notillustrated Fig. 2. 'It will, of course, be understood that as many groups of indicating lamps may be used as desired, without departing from the spirit of my invention.

The 0 eration of the device illustrated will rea ily be understood from the foregoing description and is as follows:

When the rotar member occupies the neutral position in icated in Fig. 2, it will be evident that none of-the contacts of the rotary member are in engagement with the stationary contacts and no lamps are light ed. By moving the controller to the left to the position indicated Ahead, the mov able contact member 24 will engage the stationary contact member 19 and the movable contact members 37 and 40 will engage the stationary contact members 26 and 29, respectively, thereby closin a circuit from the ground 21 through the attery 20, through the contact members 19 and 24, and throughthe members 40 and29 to both green lamps 10 and 10, and also through the contact members 37 and 26 and through the middle red lamp 109 to the ground, thus lightin the two green lamps amp, thereby indicating by the osition of the red lamp with respect to t e two green lamps that the vehicle is intending to 'go straight ahead. Such a signal is particularly valuable as alfording an indication toa traflic ofiicer as to the direction that the=vehicle desires to proceed. By moving the controller to r the position Rlght, it will be evident that lparent t at the ve both green lamps and the red lamp right are lighted by circuits which will readily be traced. y movin the switch member still further to the ri t to the position fStop, the three red amps will be lighted. When the controller is moved to the left of neutral position to the position indicated Left, the two green lights and the red lamp at the left are lighted, and when it is moved still further to the left to. the osition indicated Back, all five of the ams are l i hted. It will thus be a lamps comprised within my invention are at. the

operated 1n predeterments 0 mined groups to afl'ord indications of the movement of the vehicle, and particularly afi'ord's an indication, bythe position of a single lamp of one color with respect to two lamps of another color, of the direction in which the vehicle is going to move. The order of the able part of the controller can be variously arranged, as indicated in- Figs. 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11.

When the movable switch controller is in the neutral position, it will be evident that the operation of the foot brake will give a stop signal and that the hand switch ma be operated to give a parking signal.

claim:

1. A vehicle signaling system comprising at least five lamps arranged substantially horizontally and in alinement and side by side and of alternately difi'erent colors, there being three lamps of one color and two lamps. of a second color, the end lamps being of the same color, and a switch and associated connections for simultaneously operating the two lamps of the second color and either of said end lamps to afiord an indication by the position of thesecond lamp with respect to the other two of the movements of a vehicle.

2. A vehicle signaling system comprising horizontally and in alinement and side and of alternately different colors, there being three lamps of one color and two lamps of a second color, the end lamps being of the same color, and a switch and associated connections for simultaneously operating the two lamps of the second color and either of said and lamps to afford an indication by the position of the second lamp with res ect to the other two of the movea vehicle and for simultaneously operating onlyto afford an indication of a change of speed of the vehicle.

3. A vehicle signaling system comprising, at least five lamps arranged substantially horizontally and in alinement and side by side and of alternately different colors, there being three lamps of one,color and two lam s'of'a second color, the end lamps being 0 the same color, and a switch and associated connections for simultaneously operating the two lamps of the second color and either of said end lamps and for simultaneously' operatin the two lamps of the second color and t e intermediate lamp of the first color to afford an indication by the. position of one of the second lamps with respect to the other two of the movements of a vehicle.

4. 'A vehicle signaling system comprising at least five lamps arranged substantially horizontally and in alinement and side by side and of alternately difi'erent colors, there positions occupied by the mov- I the three lamps of the first color being/three lamps of one color and two lamtgs of a second color, t he end lam s being ofe same color, and a. switch an j assoclated connections for simultaneously operating the two lamps of the second 'color and either of said end lamps to afiord an indication by the position of thesecond lamp 'of said vehicle.

with re ect to the other. two of the movements'o a vehicle, and for simultaneously operating all of the lamps to afiord an indl- 10 cation of a difierent character of movement I ELY M. T. RYDER.

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