US1607591A

US1607591A - Electric-light switch

Info

Publication number: US1607591A
Application number: US85652A
Authority: US
Inventors: Eugene H Mcgee
Original assignee: FRED T BERTSCHE; LOUIS A CORDA
Current assignee: FRED T BERTSCHE; LOUIS A CORDA
Priority date: 1926-02-03
Filing date: 1926-02-03
Publication date: 1926-11-16
Anticipated expiration: 1943-11-16

Description

Nov. 16 1926.

1,607,591- E. H. MCGEE ELECTRIC LIGHT swnca Filed Feb. 3, 1926 "Ila mun i 1 $21-$07? fa Zzyaw taken on the line 77 Patented Nov. 16, 1926.

UITED STATES .P

EUGENE H. ItIcGEE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS,

ASSIGNGP, 0F ONE-THERD TO LOUIS A.

CORDA AND ONE-TI-ITBD TO FRED TJBEETSCI-IE, BOTEZOF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

ELECTRIC-LIGHT SWITCH.

Application filed February 3, 1926. Serial No. 85,6252.

This invention relates to electric light switches, and its principal object is to provide means whereby the intensity of light projectedfrom one or more electric lamps may be conveniently controlled and regulated. The invention has been designed especially for use in connection with the electric head lights of motor vehicles, but its use is not limited thereto. Another bject of this invention is to provide a sw tch which may be located at any convenient place, for controlling the electric current of the lighting system, and containing a regulatable resistance element, whereby the head lights may be caused to throw a powerful or intensely bright light, and they may be caused to throw a regulatable, dim light as is found necessary or desirable. Another object is to provide a switch, containing a resistance element which will'not become hot, whereby the switch may be placed on the steering wheel of a motor vehicle without any discomfort to the driver. Another object is to provide a non-heating resistance element in an electric light switch which may be easily regulated to increase or decrease the resistance, whereby the intensity of the light projected from the head lights (when operating on the dim light circuit) may be governed ,to suit the partlcular fancy of the driver. Other objects and advantages will appear in the course of this specification, and with all of said objects and advantages in view, this invention consists in the several novel features hereinafter fully set forth and claimed.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanyingdrawing, in which: i

Fig. 1 is a plan of a'fragment of the steer ing wheel of an automobile, equipped with an electric light switch embodying a simple form of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a vertical, cross section taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a central, horizontal section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a central, vertical section taken on the line 41-'i of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a vertical, cross section taken on the line 55 of Fig. 3; Fig. 6 is a vertical section taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 3; Fig. 7 is a vertical, cross section of Fig. 3; and Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic view of an electric head light current, of an automobile with my switch included therein.

such

readily accessible place adjacent the drivers station, and the steering wheel has, been found to possess advantages, since the drivers hands are practically always upon the wheel while driving the automobile, and the switch may be manipulated without taking the hand oil the steering wheel.

The switch comprises, in the simple form illustrated, a body 13 formed of non-conducting or insulating material, such as bakelite or fibre, which body is formed with a well or cavity 14 for containing powdered carbon 15, or other suitable powdered electric resistance material, which is interposed in and forms part of the light circuit. Contact making and breaking pieces are provided in the switch for passing the current around the resistance element 15, which is done when it is desirable to have the head lights project a bright light. By properly manipulating the switch, the current can be passed through the resistance element or around it, as desired. In the form of switch shown, the contact pieces comprise a stationary contact piece,

as a screw 16 threaded in an internally threaded hole 17 which extends lengthwise through the body 13. The other contact piece 18 is a movable one and as shown comprises a screw, threaded in the tapped hole 17 and extending into it from the other end of the body. A knob or handle 19 is provided upon the protruding end of the screw 18 whereby it may be readily turned to bring the screw 18 into contact withthe stationary contact piece 16 or withdraw 1t therefrom. .A very slight movement of the handle 19 is suflicient to makeor brea'k contact between the contact pieces '16, .18. In the drawing, the contact piecesare shown in contact; by moving the handle 19 in a contraclockwise direction, the contact is broken.

The electric connection between thecon- 395

tactpieces

16, 18 and other-elements ofthe switch. circuit will now be described. Secured in a'groove or slot 20 in one end .of

the plate 21, and

the body 18 is ametal plate 21, which for convenience, may be secured in place by a screw 22, the head of which bears against the stem of which extends through a hole, 23 formed in the body 13, and has a nut 24 on its other end bearing against the end of the body, opposite the one on which the plate 21 is secured. EX- tending into the well or cavity 14 from both ends of the body, 13, and forming electrical contact with the powdered resistance element 15, therein, are two terminals or

electrodes

25, 26, here shown in the form of screws threadedly secured in the cavity 1 L which in this instance, is internally threaded near its ends for the reception of the

screws

25, 26. The screw 26 extends through the metal plate 21, and the latter comprises a part of the dim li ht circuit, and part of the bright light circuit, as will presently appear.

Conductor wires

27, 28, lead from the

screws

22, 25 and run to the main conductor Z), of the light circuit. The

screws

16, 25 are connected by a piece of wire 29 or otherwise so as to establish electrical connection between them. The two circuits through the switch may be traced from the wire 27, through the screw 22, plate 21, contact screw 18, screw 16, wire 29, screw 25, and wire 28. When contact between the

screws

16, 18 is broken, the circuit through the. switch may be traced from wire 27 through screw 22, plate 21, screw 18, plate 21, screw 26, resistance element 15, screw 25, and wire 28. Cover plates 80, 81 are secured on the ends of the body 13 by screws 32 to furnisha finished appearance to the body, and one of said plates is formed with holes for the passage of the

conductor cords

27, 28, and the other with holes for the contact screw 18 and screw, 26.

The switch may be installed as a per manent part of the original equipment of an automobile, or it may be quickly attached to automobiles unprovided with such a device. In the circuit illustrated in Fig. 8, the switch 11 is shown as installed in a bright light circuit of an automobile lightingsystcm of conventional form. In this lighting system wires, a, 6 run from light lamps A, A, through the switch, 11, on the steering wheel to the battery 13. The usual lighting switch C, and resistance coil 0, are interposed in the lighting circuit whereby the circuit may be closed through the regular bright light circuit or the regular dim light circuit of the system, or entirely shut off. Ordinarily the wires 0, b are joined at the point marked X, but when the present switch is installed in the lighting system the wiretb is cut at X and the

wires

27, 28 of the dimming switch joined to the two ends 5, b. The bright light circuit. thereupon passes through the dimming switch; 11, whereby the intensity of the head lights may be controlled from a place on the steering wheel or other convenient and easily accessible place close to the drivers hands.

I have found that the intensity of the dim lights may be governed or controlled with the use of a powdered resistance element, such as powdered carbon, by rendering the carbon more or less compact. WVhen left in a more or less loose state the resistance is made greater and caused to project a very dim light. When the resistance element is compacted more or less, the resistance become less and the lamps are thereby caused to project a brighter light. The degree of density ofthe powdered carbon may be governed by the screw 26. By turning up the screw 26 and thereby forcing it against the powdered carbon, the latter is compacted, and by turning the screw back the density is lowered. Some drivers prefer to drive with fairly bright driving lights, while others prefer to drive with very dim lights. The arrangement described furnishes means whereby the desired brilliancy of the lights (when dimmed) may be governed to suit the fancy of the driver.

The device is especially advantageous, because it can be placed in any convenient position, conveniently accessible to the driver at all times. This is an important factor when driving at night on country roads or other dark places, because the bright lights can be quickly and readily dimmed when approaching another vehicle coming from the opposite direction, as is required by the laws of many States. Moreover the driver may control the lights without taking either hand off the steering wheel, which is a great advantage. Furthermore, the switch does not become hot, as is the case of ordinary resistance coils, and for this reason it may be placed on the steering wheel or other convenient place adjacent the driver.

I claim as new and Letters Patent:

1. In headlight dimming means for automobiles, a circuit controller, means for mounting said circuit controller on the steerdesire to secure by ing wheel assembly of an automobile, said I circuit controller having a body of non-conducting material, a stationary contact piece and a movable contact piece interposed in the electric circuit of the automobile headlights, the stationary contact piece being secured in said body, and the movable contact piece being threadedly secured in said body in alignment with said stationary contact piece and capable of being screwed up against'said stationary contact piece to close the circuit through said controller and arranged to be backed away from said contact piece to break thecircuit, and a resistance element electrically connected with one of said contact pieces.

the lamps are therefore 7 with the use ice 2. In an electric light switch, a casing having an insulated Well therein, a powdered carbon resistance element contained in said Well, a stationary electrode at one end of said well in electrical contact with said resistance element, a screw, threadedly mounted in the other end of said well and in electrical contact with said resistance element, and forming an electrode therefor, a stal0 tionary contact member secured in said casing, a threaded contact making and breaking member, threadedly secured in said casing and arranged to make and break contact with said stationary contact member, said stationary and movable contact making and breaking members being electrically connected with said stationary and threaded electrodes for the resistance element.

EUGENE H. MoGEE.