US1640794A - Automobile signal - Google Patents

Description

1 Aug 927 G. w. MICHAEL AUTOMOBILE SIGNAL 84 .1 62 d Attorny 4 Sheets-Sheet l J ilt Filed May- 22, 1925 G. W. MICHAEL AUTOMOBILE SIGNAL Aug. 30, 1927; 1,640,794

Filed May 22, 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 E, f m

lllll llllll IIIIIIII/IIIIIIIIIIIII/IIIIIIMI/m Tnvc who!" 1,640 794 1927' G. w. MICHAEL AUTOMOBILE SIGNAL Filed May 22, 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Inventor 2.6 Jae/40x AHuor-ne y 1927' s. w. MICHAEL AUTOMOBILE SIGNAL Filed May 22, 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Invcrvbo'n Patented Aug. 30, 1927.

UNITED STATES GEORGE W. MICHAEL, OF WILKES-BARBIE, PENNSYLVANIA.

AUTOMOBILE y SIGNAL.

Application filed May 22,

This invention relates to signal systems for automobiles, and has for its object to provide an improved apparatus for the purpose of indicating changes of direction or movement on the part of the automobile.

The signals include a swinging arm or semaphore operated by an electric motor which is controlled by switches conveniently mounted on the steering wheel. One of the arms may be placed at the front and rear ends respectively of the car; or only one can be used, at the rear end, if desired.

Associated with the arm is a lighting and bell system, the latter being automatically operated to sound the bell when a direction signal is given.

The motor is of the reversible type, and is so controlled that when a turn in one direction is intended, say to the right, it will swing the arm or arms to point to the right, and reversely with respect to the left. The arm may carry a light with a green lens, so that it can be readily. seen at night. When a stop is intended, the arm can be swung first one way and then the other, providing a waving effect. The device thus provides a very effective day and night signal apparatus.

The controlling switches are preferably mounted on the steering wheel in convenient position to be respectively operated by the hands of the driver, the button at one side being pressed for a right turn, at the other-side for a left turn and first one and then the other for a stop signal, the motor being correspondingly operated to swing the arm.

Various improvements in the details of the apparatus will be apparent from the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings in which-- Fig. 1 is a partial side elevation of an automobile with one ofthe signal devices at the rear and another at the front. Fig. 2

is an elevation of the semaphore or swinging arm, together with switches controlling the bell circuit. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the rear device. Fig. 4 is an enlarged vertical section of the same. Fig. 5 is a section on'the line 55 of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a diagram of the bell circuit. Fig. 7 is a diagram of the light circuit. Fig. 8 is a diagram of the motor circuit.

Referring specifically to the drawings, 6

I out.

rear end of shaft 1923. Serial No. 640,677.

indicates an automobile body. One of the devices may be placed at each end thereof, the rear device being conveniently attached to the rear and the other mounted in front of the windshield. The devices are similar, and the description of one will answer for both, the rear one being selected for this purpose. The rear plate of the body is indicated at 7, and has bolted thereto a plate 8 with a screw socket 9 which receives a screw plug 10 projecting from the back wall 11 of a casing 12 which supports the arm and\the operating mechanism. Within the casing is a motor 13 of the reversible type, the armature shaft 14 of which has a pulley 15 connected by a belt 16 to a pulley 17 mounted on a shaft 18 supported by a bracket 19 and the rear plate 20 on the casing. The shaft 18 carries a pulley 21 connected by a belt 22 to a pulley 23 which is loose on a shaft 24 suitably mounted in the casing. The front end of shaft 24 is squared as indicated at 25 and slidable thereon is a clutch sleeve 26 having a circular flange 27 with projections 28 which engage projections 29 on the wheel 23 when the clutch is thrown in. The clutch is shifted by a lever 30 which is pivoted at 31 and which has a fork 32 with pins 33 engaging in a groove 34 around the sleeve 26. This lever is provided at its lower end with an armature 35 in the field of an electromagnet 36 in the motor circuit to be described. A spring 37 opposes the pull of the magnet and normally holds the clutch A screw 38 forms a stop for the back movement'of the armature.

The shaft 24 carries a pinion 39 which meshes with a gear 40 on a main shaft 41 which is mounted in bearings in the front and rear plates of the casing and projects beyond the latter.

A semaphore or arm 42 is mounted on the 41 and swings therewith. This arm 42 has a counter-weight 43 which normally holds the arm in upright position, but it can swin either way when the motor is operated. T e upper or outer end of the arm may have clips 44 to hold the stick of a small flag 45 if desired. The arm is also provided with a green lamp 46. A red or tail li ht 47 is supported by a bracket 48 secure to'the casing 12. Suitable circuit connections are made to these lamps, including a pair of brushes 49 bearing against conthe weight 43 so that when ing attention.

"of the reversible type.

ductor rings 15 on the hub of the arm, so that the green lamp is in circuit in all positions of the arm. a I

Fig. 7 illustrates the lamp circuits indicated at 51, receiving current from a battery 52, the circuit including a push button switch 53 which may be located in any convenient position on the machine. The battery may be the ordinary storage battery of the automobile.

Associated with the arm, and controlled thereby, is a bell circuit indicated at 54 to a hell 55, and this circuit may be connected to a battery '52 orotherwise derived therefrom. It includes a pair of spring switches 56, see Figs. 4 and 6, located in the path of the arm is swung one way or the other it will strike the spring member of one of the switches and close the circuit to. sound the bell, thereby attractmounted on stop blocks 57 against one of which the weight strikes, after closing the switch, to limit the swing of the arm. Fig. 6 shows the arm in normal upright position in full lines and in the right and left po sitions in dotted lines.

The motor circuit is shown in. Fig. 8, and one of its branches includes the magnet 36 which operates the clutch. It may receive its current from a generator 60, and it embodies four branches indicated at a, b, c, and d connected in pairs (land a, and b and d to the brush and field terminals of the motor respectively, the motor as stated being These leads pass to or thru a box or block 61 conveniently mounted on the steering post and having brushes 62 which contact respectively with four'rings 1, 2, 3, and 4 mounted on the steering wheel 63. Each of these is connected by leads to the poles of a four-point push button switch 64 mounted on the right side of the wheel, the points being indicated at 1', 2 3 and 4 and to a similar push button switch 65 mounted on the left side of the steering wheel, the corresponding points being indicated at 1, 2, 8 and 4 These push buttons will be located in convenient positions on the wheel so that when turning to the right the right hand push button may be pressed by the right thumb and when turning to the left the left hand push button may be pushed by the left thumb. l/Vhen this is done, the current from the generator will operate the motor accordingly the respective movements driving the motor on way or the other according to the switch closed. 1

llhen the motor circuitis closed as stated the motor shaft will turn and the rotation stops against block- 57.

And these switches 56 are will be transmitted thru the reducing belt and pulley gearing to the clutch pulley 23, which as stated, is loose on the shaft 24. At the same time, the circuit of the magnet 36 will be closed and the magnet will attract the armature 35 thereby swinging the clutch lever 30 on its pivot 31 and shifting the clutch member 28 to engagement with the wheel 23. This picks up and rotates the shaft 24, pinion 39, gear 40, and shaft 41, and the weighted arm will swing to the right or left as thecase may be, thereby indicating the-direction of the intended turn. When the arm swfngs, it closes the bell circuit as above described and illustrated in Fig. 6, and sounds the bell. The swing of'the arm If the push button on the steering wheel is arm strikes the stop, the bolts 16 and 22 will slip to permit the excessive movement without wrecking the apparatus. WVhen the push button is released, the magnet circuit is opened and the'spring 37 throws the clutch out. The weight 43 then restores the arm to its normal upright position and the apparatus is ready for the next operation.

For a stop signal, first one push button then the other may be pressed. This drives the motor first one way and then the other, causing the semaphore to swing accordingly. For night use, the lamp circuit shown in Fig. 7 will be closed,.and the green light .carried by the arm will be swung therewith.

As stated, the above description refers to the rear system particularly, but a substantial d uplicate of the device may be placed on the front of the car and connected ina similar manner to the switches on the steering wheel, whereby both signals will be similarly and indications at both the of the car. The invention is not limited to the particular arrangement or construction shown, but various modifications thereof are possible within the, scope of the following claim.

I claim:

The combination of a rock shaft, an electric'motor, a gear on the rock shaft, a counter shaft, a pulley and a pinion attached to each other and loose on the counter shaft, driving means between the motor and the pulley, a friction clutch member slidable on the counter shaft to engage the side of the pulley and permit slip when the movement of the rock shaft is obstructed, and an electro-magnet in the motor circuit, controlling the action of the said clutch member.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature.

GEORGE WV. MICHAEL.

held down after the simultaneously operated to give rear and the front I

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