US1597550A - Simplex automatic stop signal - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 24 1926. 1,597,550

w. -H. "SMITH'.'

SIMPLEX AUTOMATIC STOP SIGNAL Filed Dec. 15, 1925 WHSMJTH Hi5 ATTORNE Y.

Patented Aug. 24, 1926.

UNITED STATES WILLIAM HENRY SMITH, OF OTTAVTA, ONTARIO, CANADA.

SIMPLEX AUTOMATIC sTor SIGNAL. 7

Application filed December 15, 1925, serial narasse, and in Canada November 17, 1925.

This invention has relation to certain new and useful improvements in a simplex automatic stop signal for motor vehicles and has for its primary object the provision of a signal of the character stated which is extremely simple in construction and operation and which may be readily adapted to various automobiles, trucks and the like, without alterations in the same.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a stop signal of the character stated which is composed of the minimum number of parts and which includes a vertical shaft, rotatably mounted and carrying thereon a signal disc arranged in a vertical plane for rotation with said shaft in a horizontal plane and means for limiting rotation of said shaft and signal disc in either direction and also means for resilientlyretaining said shaft and disc in unoperated or normal position. I

The invention has for another object th provision of a stop signal of the character stated which is designed for connection with the clutch operating mechanism in such a manner that the signal will be automatically operated as the clutch is operated.

The invention hasfor a further object the provision of a. stop signal of the character stated including a special horizontal flat circular member adjustably secured to the vertical shaft and having connected thereto one end of the spring encircling the vertical shaft so that tension of the spring may be readily regulated to assure proper operation of the same in resiliently retaining the shaft and signal disc in normal or unoperated position and therefore, automatically returning said shaft and signal disc'to normal or unoperated position after each operation thereof.

With the foregoing and other objects in View as will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of co-operating elements as hereinafter more specifically set forth, claimed and shown in the accompanying drawings forming a part of the present application and in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a motor vehicle with the invention applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is an elevation of the signal on an enlarged scale and with the cover plate of the bearing casing broken away to show parts within the bearingcasing. I V

Fig, 8' is vertical section substantially an nate corresponding parts throughout the seV eral views, it is to be noted that the signal includes a signal disc l1 which is mounted in a vertical plane on the upper portion of the vertical rotary shaft 12, and which disc 11, has inscribed thereon in an appropriate manner the word stop as shown at 13, or

some other signalling word character or information, as may be preferred. The shaft 12 has its lower portion extended into and mounted for rotation the bearing casing 141, with the lower extremity of the shaft 12, turning in the bearing 15, carried on the bottom plate of the bearing casing 14, as shown clearly in Figs. 2 and 8. An appropriate spring 16, is extended around the lower portion of the shaft 12, with its lower extremity secured in the bearing 15, while its upper end is secured to the horizontal flat circular member 17, with the latter in turn adj-ustably mounted on the, shaft 12, by a set screw 18, or the like. By means offset screw 18, the horizontal flat circular member 17, may be secured in any adjusted posi tion on the shaft 12, and thus employed to tension the spring 16, as well as retain the member 17 in proper position. Rotation of the shaft12, and disc 11, in either direction is limited by the laterally extended pin 19, carried by the shaft 12,

within the upper portion of the bearing casing 14, and working between spaced depending stop pins 20, carried by the top of the casing 14:, as clearly shown in Figures 2 and 3.

Rotation of the shaft 1.2, and signal disc 11, to inoperated position is caused by the flexible'cable 21, working through the hearing casing 14, and having one end secured to the horizontal flat circular member 17, while its other end is connected in an appropriate manner to a portion of the clutchoperating mechanism, such as the clutch lever as apparent that the flexible cable 21, may have a resilient or spring portion, as desired,- as V will be readily understood by parties familiarwith flexible connections.

Attention is called to the fact that the signal, may be mounted readily at the of the vehicle by securing the .bearing casing 14 to the rear bumper 23, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4:, or otherwise mounting the signal so that the signal disc 11 may be readily seen by following vehicles and pedestrians.

It is believed the complete invention, the advantages and the operation thereof may be readily understood from the. foregoing paragraphs taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, without further detail description. It may be briefly stated, however, that the disc 11, is, normally turned so that only the edge thereof may be seen by any of the following operators of private vehicles and public conveyancers and pedestrians in the rear of the vehicle. As soon as the clutch is operated, however, the flexible cable 21 will actuate the shaft 12, and signal disc 11 so as to rotate the shaft 12 a quarter revolution and turn the signal disc 11, to operated position so that the word stop or other information.

appearing on the face thereof will be presented so that it maybe readily seen by all in the rear of the vehicle, as shown in Fig. 4, of the drawings. Then the clutch is released, the spring 16, will immediately acttoreturn the shaft 11, and signal disc to their unoperated or normal position as shown in Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive, in the drawings.

Rotation of the shaft 12 and turning of the disc 11, the proper distance in either direction is assured by the lateral pin 19,

working in the space between the stop pins ing a bearing casing mounted at the rear" of the vehlcle; a vertical shaft extending upwardly from said bearlng caslng; a S1g.'

nal disc mounted on, said shaft in a verti calplane in such a manner that the edge only of said disc is present to view rearwardly of the vehicle when signal disc and shaft are in normal or unoperated position; a horizontal flat circular member carried by said shaft within said bearing casing; a spring connected with said bearing casing and with said horizontal flat circular mem her to resiliently retain said shaft and sig-,

nal in unoperated position; flexible connections between said horizontal flat circular member and the'lever of the motor vehicle for causing rotation of said shaft and signal disc to operated position upon operation of the clutch lever; and means carried by said shaft and said bearing casing to limit the rotation of said disc and shaft in either direction.

Intestimony whereof Iaffii:

ture.

WILLIAM HENRY SMITH.

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