US1723845A - Switch for automobile signaling apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 6, 1929. c. J. DlEHL SWITCH FOR AUTOMOBILE SIGNALING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 15. 1927 INVENTOR Mar/e5 cl. fi/kfi/ ATTdRNEY Patented Aug. 6, 1929.

UNITED. STATES CHARLES J. DIEHL, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

SWITCH FOR AUTOMOBILE SIGNALING APPARATUS.

Application filed December 13, 1927. Serial No. 239,762.

This invention relates to an automobile signaling apparatus which enables a driver to signal to drivers of other automobiles to indicate to such drivers the change in course about to be pursued.

The principal object of the present invention is the provision of an apparatus of the indicated character which will be of simplified construction, which will be reliable in operation, which may be readily installed, and which will be inexpensive of manu facture.

The nature of the invention and its distinguishing features .and advantages will appear when the following specification is read in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a sectional view illustrating the control switch of the apparatus and the manner of mounting the same.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the rear signal lamp casing with a portion broken away and illustrating certain features thereof.

Fig. 4 is a wiring diagram of the apparatus.

Referring now more particularly to Fig. 4 of the drawing it will be apparent that the apparatus of the present invention will include two electric circuits 10 and 11. Each of the circuits 10 and 11 includes a rear signal electric lamp 12 and a front pilot electric lamp 13 connected in series with the lamp 12. A control switch 14 serves for selectively closing and opening the circuits 10 and 11 to light the lamps 12 and 13 in each circuit 10 and 1.1 and to put them out. Current is supplied to the circuits 10 and 11 by a battery 15.

The apparatus includes a casing 16 which will be made of metal. The casing 16 may be of any preferred size and shape and will be attached in any suitable manner at the rear of the car. The casing 16 has a central partition 17 which divides the easing into two separate compartments 18. The signal lamps 12 are arranged respectively in the compartments 18 and are supported from the rear wall, as shown most clearly in Fig. 3. The casing has a removable cover plate 19 which may be held in place in any suitable manner, such as by the use of screws 20 which are screwed into lugs on the main part of the casing. The cover plate 19 has colored translucent indicators 21 each consisting of a piece of glass or celluloid colored red arranged adjacent an arrow-shaped opening in the cover plate 19. The said indicators 21 indicate t-left and right turns. It will be apparent that the lamp 12 in one of the compartments 18, when lighted, will illuminate the indicator 21 to indicate a left turn, whereas, the other lamp 12 in the other com 'iartment 18. when lighted, will illuminate the other indicator 21 to indicate a right turn.

The apparatus also includes a casing 22, which in the present instance, is adapted to be attached to the steering column of the automobile, indicated at 23. The casing 22 will be made of metal, and is of two sub stantially similar parts 24and 25. Each of the parts 24 and 25 has a semicircular portion, and these semicircular portions embrace the column 23. The parts 24 and 25 are held together by suitable fastening elements such as the screw bolts 26. The pilot lamps 13 hereinbefore mentioned are secured to the part 24 of the casing. Each lamp 13 will include a red bulb. The control switch 14 hereinbefore referred to is positioned on the part 25 of the casing 22. The switch 14 includes an element 27 of in sulating material which is mounted for turning movement on on arbor 28 secured to the side wall, of the part 25. The said element 27 has a manipulating portion 29 which projects through a slot formed by cutting out the meeting portions of the parts 24 and 25. Contacts 30 and 31 are secured to the element 27 adjacent the circumferential edge thereof, there being a notch 32 in the circumferential. edge adjacent each of the contacts 30 and 31. The contacts 30 and 31 are respectively connected in series with the circuits 10 and 11. The switch 14 also includes a contact 33 which is formed on a spring member 34 projecting from an insulator 35 secured to the part 25 of the casing. The conductors leading respectively from the contacts 30 and 31 are connected with binding posts or the like on the base 35. These conductors are sufficiently flexible to allow the element 27 to have the proper turning movement. The conductors are also connected respectively with the lam s 13. as shown most clearly in Fig. 2. ese conductors or wires are indicated at 36. The circumferential edge of the element 27 has the notches 32 and a notch 37 between the notches 32. The contact 33 is adapted to enter the notch 37 to hold the element 27 in a neutral position in which both circuits 10 and 11 will be open.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that when the portion 29 is manipulated to the left the contact 30 will be brought into engagement with the contact 33, which will spring into the notch 32, and as a consequence the circuit 10 will be closed thereby lighting the lamps 12 and 13 in said circuit. The lamp 12 will illuminate the indicator 21 related thereto to indicate to drivers of automobiles at the rear that the signaling car is about to turn to the left. lVhen the manipulator 29 is moved to the right the circuit 10 will be opened thereby putting out the lamps 12 and 13 in the circuit 10. \Vhen the portion 29 is moved to the right with the element 27 in its neutral position the contact 31 will be brought into engagement with the contact 33, and as a consequence the circuit 11 will be closed, and the lamps 12 and 13 in the circuit 11 will be lighted. The lamp 12 of the circuit ll will illuminate its related indicator 21 indicatng that the automobile is about to be turned to the right. The pilot lamps 13 serve as telltales to indicate to the driver whether or not the rear lamps 12 are being lighted. The contact 33 as arranged on the spring member 34 serves with 37 toreleasably hold the element 27 in the different positions to vided with a contact, said rotatory member being provided with spaced contacts 011 a circular edge thereof, there being a notch i in each contact on said edge, the spring member being so positioned that its contact will be received in the notch in either onev of the other contacts by the rotatory movement of the rotatory member, for the pur pose of closing a circuit, and also to prevent unintentional movement of the rotatory member and consequent opening of-the C11- cuit, and said circular edge having anotch between the contacts on said edge which receives the contact on said spring member by the rotatory movement of the-rotatory member to releasably hold the rotatory member in a neutral circuit opening position.

Signed at New York in the county of New York, and State of New York, this 12th day of December, A, D. 1927.

CHARLES J. DIEHL.

Images