US1620493A - Suction-operated circuit closer for motor vehicles - Google Patents

Description

March 8,1927.

P. SCHINDLER SUCTION OPERATED cmcurr CLOSER FOR mowon VEHICLES Filed April 9, 1926 IINVENTOR. @0/ J22; x707?!" ATTORNEYS.

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Patented Mar. 8, 1927. v

UNITED STATES PAUL SCHINDLER, OF BAYONNE, NEW JERSEY.

SUCTION-OPERATED CIRCUIT CLOSER FOR MOTOR VEHICLES.

Application filed April 9, 1926. Serial No. 100,807.

This invention is a device adapted to be em loyed on motor vehicles and to be inclu ed in one or more electric circuits thereof for the purpose of controlling the operation of such circuits. For example, the device of this invention, may to advantage be included in the ignition and horn circuits so that, when the motor is at rest, both the ignition and horn circuits will be rendered dead,'so that there may be no leakage of current from the ignition circuit nor can the horn be sounded. 1

It is well recognized that when a car is left standin unaccompanied, children find particular delight in sounding the horn, and it is also known by those skilled in' the art that even though a motor may be at rest, there may be a passage of electrical current through the ignition circuit if the ignition switch is turned onand the distributor is making contact, It is primarily to obviate the foregoing disadvantages of present practice that the invention is employed in practice. I

Devices have been heretofore employed for this general purpose, but for one reason or another have not met with favor. For example, many of the prior devices have been so constituted that as soon as the motor stops, the circuits which include the controlling device are inlmediatel de-energized. This is a disadvantage. S i1pp0se, for example, that the motor stalls in traflic or on a hill. It is desirable thatthe ignition circuit be turned on, so that the motor will start as soon as the starting motor is operated. Unless the igmtion circult is turned on, this will not be Thus, devices which actually render the ignition circuit dead, as soon as the motor stops are open to this disadvantage which is undesirable for obvious reasons. The present invention overcomes this disadvantage by the provision of means whereby the stopping of the motor will not immediately effect the breaking of the control circuits, but, in contradistinction, the circuits will be maintained energized for a predetermined period of sufficient duration to allow restarting of the car under ordinary circumstances if so desired. This is an important featureof the present invention and it has never before been employed in adevice of thecharacter under consideration.

In its preferred practical form, the device of the present invention embodies a suitable casing across which extends the diaphragm dividing the casing into two chamrs, one of which may be termed the suction chamber and the other the vent chamber. Carried b the wall of the casing and extending into the suction chamber are a plurality of spaced contacts which are adapted to'be included in the circuits to be controlled. Carried by the diaphragm is a bridge piece adapted, when suction is communicated to the suction chamber, to be drawn into engagement with the contacts to complete said circuits at this point.

Suction is communicated to the chamber by means of a conduit leading to the inlet manifold of the motor and it thus becomes apparent that so long as the motor is operating, the diaphragm will be drawn in the direction of the suction chamber to maintain engagement of the bridge piece with the contacts. Associated with the suction inlet of the suction chamber is a valve ada ted as soon as suction from the motor is iscontinued to close and thereby seal the suction chamber, so that even though the motor stops, the partial vacuum within this chamber will maintain the bridge piece in a position to bridge the contacts, so that the circuits are not broken immediately upon cessation of operation of the motor.

Associated. with the apparatus, however. is an air inlet preferably in the form of some porous material, through which air is adapted to sift or filter slowly and by the employment of this means, air is allowed to slowly enter the suction chamber after the motor has stopped for the purpose of releasing the bridge piece from engagement with the contacts after a predetermined interval of time, A

lVith this arrangement. suflicient time will be permitted to re-start the motor if desired and at the conclusion of the said predetermined interval, all circuits including the device will be rendered dead.

Features of the invention, other than those specified, will be apparent from the hereinafter detailed description and claims, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

The accompanying drawings illustrate one practical embodiment of the invention, but the construction therein shownis to be understood as-illustrative, only, and not as defining the limits of the invention.

Figure 1 shows the present invention associated with a motor vehicle.

a radial extending flanges 3 and 4. Both of a metal plate or bridge piece 15,-which is 'the sections 1 and 2 are dished so that when the flanges are secured to one another, a hollow closed casing will result. 5 designates v a diaphragm which, in practice, is preferably of rubber and is made in the form of a disk substantially equal in diameter to the overall diameter of the casing, whereby, when the sections of the casing are in assembled relation with the disk between them, the diskwill not only constitute a gasket and thus afford a tight joint between the parts but will also serve as a diaphragm to divide the interior of the casing into two chambers 6 and 7.

The casing sections may be secured together in any suitable manner, such, for example, as by the rivets 8. Mounted on the section 1 are two contacts 9 and 10, spaced apart from one another and insulated from Y the casing by means of an insulating plate 11 and insulating bushings 12'. Exteriorly of the casing, these contacts carry binding posts 13 and 14 by means of which they may be included in an electric circuit; -()n the contact side of the diaphragm 5 is secured preferably backed up by a spider shaped leaf pring 16 positioned at the opposite side of e diaphragm and a bolt 17 is passed throughthese parts and through the diaphragm to firmly bind the parts together.

Associated with the section 1 is a valve casing 18, the interior of which is formed as shown in Figure 5. From here, it will be noted that the valve casing is screwed'into a tapped hole in the section 1 and is in the form of a shell at the inner end of which is provided a valve: seat 1 9 with-which cooperates a ball valve 20. Into the outer end of the shell is screwed the threaded plug 21' of a nipple 22 and onthe interior of the plug is formed a skirt 23 across which a partition 24 is placed. A spring 25 is introduced between the partition 24jand the ball valve and serves to normally seat the latter. Beyond the partition, the skirt is perforated as at 26, so that air can be drawn through the valve casing around the exterior of the skirt and through the perforations 26. into the passage 27 through the nipples. With the nipple is associated a tube or conduit 28 which connects with the intake manifold of the engine in any suitable manner. As shown, however, the tube 28 is secured to a T union 29 positioned in the vacuum line 30 of the vacuum feed system. From Figure 1, wherein a general as sembly is illustrated, it will be noted that the vacuum line 30 extends from the intake manifold 31 of the motor as usual.

It will appear from the ,foregoing detailed description of the parts, as thus far described, that as long as the motor is operating, suction will be communicated to the suction chamber 6, through the valve casing and such suction will serve to unseat the valve 20 against. the pressure ,of spring 25. It will be noted that the particular formation of the valve is such as to render the slightest removal of the valve from its seat sufiicient to permit the exhaust ofair from the chamber 6, so that when the motor stops and a partial vacuum in the pipe .30 is discontinued, the valve 20 will immediately close and its extent of travel is so minute that during the closing operation practically no airis permitted to enter the chamber 6. This is an important feature from a practical standpoint, since if the valve were moved a considerable distance from its seat, suflicient air might creep in during the closing operation of the valve to permit the withdrawal of the bridge piece from the contacts 9 and 10. As shown, however, the structure operates \with high efficiency.

When suction is communicated to the chamber 6, thediaphragm is drawn toward the contacts Qand' 10 and they are bridged by the bridge piece 15 against the tension;

of the'diaphragm and thespring 16. When the motor stops, it leaves the parts in this condition'with the chamber 6 sealed by the valve 20. It will be noted, however, that the bolt 17 which holds the bridge piece to the diaphragm is provided through its center with a passage 32 which is stepped intermediate'itsends and one end is interiorly threaded to receive a tubular plug 33. The

plug bears against a small filtering device 34 positioned in the passage and so constituted as to permit air to slowly filter therethrough. A small piece of wood positioned with the grain running parallel to the passage is found, in' practice to give highly satisfactory results. structure of the wood will allow air to slowly 'pass' therethrough for the purpose of relieving the suction in the chamber 6 after a predetermined interval. The chamber 7 is vented as shown at 35 for obvious reasons.

It therefore follows that after the motor stops, the bridge piece will be held against the contacts 9 and 10 until suficient air is seeped through the filter 34: to break the vacuum and'thereupon the diaphragm will withdraw into its normal neutral position,

The cellular hers, one of which plurality of spaced the cated to the suction chamber, valvular means carrying withit the bridge piece and breaking the circuits in which the device is included.

In practice, the filtering medium is so constituted as to delay the breaking of the circuits for a sutiicient interval to permit the re-starting of the motor with the ignition circuit on it so desired. This is an important consideration and obviates a marked drawback in all prior constructions of this general character.

The drawing shows the invention in its preferred practical form, but inasmuch as slight details of construction may be changed without departing from the invention, the invention is to be understood as fully commensurate with the appended claims.

Having thus fully described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A circuit closer embodying a casing, an elastic diaphragm extending across the casing and dividing said casing into two chambers, one of which is a suction chamher, a plurality of spaced contacts mounted in the suction chamber and carried by the casing and insulated from the casing and from each other, a metallic bridge piece mounted on and carried by the diaphragm, a suction passage leading from the suction chamber, means cooperating with the suction passage to communicate suction to the suction chamber, whereb the diaphragm is warped to bring the bridge piece into engagement with the contacts so long as suction is communicated to the suction chamber, valvular means associated with the suction passage for sealing the passage as soon as the associated motor stops to thereafter maintain the bridge piece in engagement with the contacts, and means for permitting air to slowly enter the suction chamber to break the vacuum therein after a predetermined interval.

2. A circuit closer embodfing a casing, an elastic diaphragm extending across the casing and dividing said casing into two chamis a suction chamber, a contacts mounted in the suction chamber and carried by the casing and insulated from the casing and from each other, a metallic bridge piece mounted on and carried by the diaphragm, a suction passage leading from the suction chamber, means cooperating with the suction passage to communicate suction to the suction chamber, whereby the diaphragm is warped to bring the bridge pieceinto engagement with contacts so long as suction is communiassociated with the suction passage for seal ing the passage as soon as the associated motor stops to thereafter maintain the bridge piece in engagement with the contacts, and filtering means adapted to permit the slow seepage of air into the suction chamber to break the vacuum therein after a predetermined interval.

3. A circuit closer embodying a chamber one side of which is closed by an elastic diaphragm, contacts spaced apart and mounted on the opposite side of the chamber and insulated from one another, a metal bridge piece carried by the diaphragm, a valve controlled suction inlet to the chamber and through which adapted .to be exhausted to draw the diaphragm into a position wherein the bridge piece will bridge the contacts, said valve controlled suction inlet being adapted to automatically seal the chamber when the suction ceases, and means to permit slow seepage of air into the suction chamber to break the vacuum therein after a predetermined interval. a

4. A circuit closer embodying a chamber, one side of which is closed by an elastic diaphragm, contacts spaced apart from one air in the chamber is' another and carried on the opposite side of i the chamber, a bridge piece carried by the diaphragm, a suction inlet leading from the chamber, a valve casing suction inlet and provided therein with a valve seat, a spring pressed valve normally seated to preclude retrograde passage of air through the valve casing, whereby the chamber may be exhausted to draw the bridge piece into a position to bridge the contacts, the valve thereupon seating to preclude the admission of air into the chamber, and means for slowly venting the chamber to break the vacuum therein after a predetermined interval.

5. A circuit closer embodying a chamber, one side of which is closed by an elastic diaphragm, contacts spaced apart from one another and carried on the opposite side of the chamber, a bridge piece carried by the ber may be exhausted to draw the bridgepiece into a position to bridge the contacts, the valve thereupon seating to preclude the admission of air into the chamber, a vent passage leading from the chamber, and a filtering medium positioned in said passage and through which air is adapted to slowly pass, to break the vacuum in the chamber after a predetermined interval.

6. A circuit closer embodying a casing, an elastic diaphragm extending across the casingand dividing it into two chambers, one of which is a suction chamber, a plurality of spaced contacts mounteddn the suction chamber and insulated from one another, a metallic bridge piece mounted on forming part of the r and carried by the diaphragm, a suction passage leading from the suction chamber and including a check valve, means cooperating with the suction passage to communicate suction to the suction chamber whereby the diaphragm is warped to bring the .bridge piece into engagement with the contacts, said check valve serving to preclude the entrance of air into the chamber and to seal the chamber at this point when suction ceases, a vent passage leading from the interior of the suction chamber to the exterior thereof, and a orous medium contained in the passage and through whichair is adapted to slowly pass for the purpose of breaking the vacuum-1n the suction chamber after a predetermined interval.

2?. A circuit closer embodying a casing comprising two cupped sections secured together, a rubber diaphragm positioned betweenthe adjacent edges of the sections to form a leak proof gasket therefor, said diaphragm extending across the interior of said casing to partition or divide the interior thereof into two chambers, one of which is vented to the atmosphere and the other of which constitutes a suction chamber, the diaphragm being normally maintained in a flat, plane condition by its own inherent resiliency, a metal bridge piece positioned in the suction chamber and mounted on and carried by the diaphragm, a plurality of spaced relatively insulated contacts carried by the casing within the suction chamber in juxtaposition with the bridge piece and normally free from engagement therewith, and a suction conduit leading from the suction chamber to permit the communication of suction to said chamber for the purpose of drawing the diaphragm into position to engage the bridge piece with the contacts to close electric circuits adapted to be associated with said contacts.

In testimony whereof I have signed the foregoing specification.

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