US1891098A - Device for operating rear curtains of cars - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 13, 1932. KURTH 1,891,098

DEVICE FOR OPERATING REAR CURTAINS OF CARS Filed Oct. 19, 1931 Fig.1. f

*12 1 H- R 2a 2s 50 i as z7 Patented Dec. 13, 1932 UNITED STATES A. KURTH, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS DEVICE FOR OPERATING REAR, CURTAINS OF CARS Application filed October 19, 1931. Serial No. 569,669.

This invention relates to devices for operating the rear curtains of automobiles and has for its object the production of a device of this character operable by suction which is simple to manufacture, is easily attached .to a car, and which maybe used in connection with the curtain installed on the car when purchased.

This object is attained by the mechanism illustrated :in the accompanying drawing.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, one preferred form thereof is illustrated in the drawing, this form having been found to give satisfactory andreliable results, although it is to be understood that the various ,instrumentalities of which the invention consists can be variously arranged and organized, and the invention is not limited to the precisearrangement and organization of these instrumentalities as herein shown .and described except as required by the scopeof the appended claims.

Of the drawing:

Figure l represents a front elevation of a device embodying the principles of the present invention.

Figure 2 represents a longitudinal section of one end of the suction cylinder.

Figure 3 represents a transverse sectionon line 3, 3, on 2.

Figured represents a transverse section on line 4,4, on Fig.1.

Figure 5 represents a transverse section on line 5, 5, on Fig. 2.

Figure 6 represents a side elevation of one end of the curtain roller.

Figure 7 represents an end elevation of the opposite end of said roller.

Figure 8 represents a longitudinal section on line-8, 8, on Fig. 7.

Figure 9 represents a longitudinal section of one end of the bar in the lower end of the curtain.

Figure 10 represents anelevation'of one endof a pulling cord with a cup-shaped member secured thereto.

Figure 11 representsva plan of the suctioncontrolling valve, and

Figure 12 represents a section of same on 111118 12, 12 on Fig. 11.

Similar characters indicate like parts throughout the several figures of the drawmg. 7

In the drawing, 10 is the frame of the rear window of an automobile and secured to the upper end thereof are brackets 11, 12, supporting a curtain roller 13.

The bracket 12 has the usual pintle 14 eX- tending into a bearing 15 in one end of the curtain roller 13.

Within the roller 13 is a shaft 16 surrounded by a helical spring 17 one end of which is secured to said shaft 16 while the opposite end thereof is secured to a partition 18 within the roller 13.

The outer end of the shaft 16 is flattened as at 19 and this flattened end 19 extends into a slot in the bracket 11.

This construction of curtain roller is well known and therefor no attempt is made to illustrate the details thereof in the drawing.

Such rollers, however, are usually provided with detents 20 which look the roller in adjusted position when the curtain 21 attached thereto is partially lowered.

In the p resent device, however, these detents 20 are unnecessary as the curtain 21 attached to the roller 13 should at all times be Wholly raised or wholly lowered.

Sometimesit is desired to retain the curtain in lowered position for a long time and this may be accomplished by manually actuated mechanism without using the suction mechanism.

Consequently, a sleeve 16% is placed around theshaft 16 beneath the detents 20 to place them out of commission at all times.

When the curtain 21' is pulled down the spring 17 will be wound up giving it increased tension to wind up the curtain when thecurtain is released.

The lower end of the curtain 21 has a, bar 22 confined therein extending transverselyof the curtain and in the opposite ends of the bar are screw eyes23.

On the lower part of frame 10 and extending transversely thereof is secured a cylin der or tube 24 having peripheral slots 25 in theopposite ends thereof in which are disposed sheaves 26 revoluble about pins 27 secured to said tube 24, as shown in Fig. 3.

Within the opposite ends of the tube or cylinder 24 are pistons consisting of a threaded member 28 having mounted thereon two guide disks 29, 30, considerably separated and fitting the bore of said tube.

To the outer face of each inner disk 30 is clamped a cup-shaped packing member 31 preventing leakage past the disk 30.

Secured at 32 to the outer end of each member 28 is a cord 33 which passes partially around each sheave 26 and through an eye 23 in the bar 22, the upper ends of the cords 33 being provided with cup-shaped heads 34 which prevent the ends of said cords being disengaged from said eyes 23.

When the pistons 30, 31 are moved inwart ly toward each other within the tube 24, the curtain will be pulled down evenly by means of the cords 33 secured to the opposite ends of the bar 22.

The tube 24 has secured thereto midway of its length a nipple 35 from the outer end of which extends a pipe 36.

The inner end 37 of the nipple 35 extends well into the tube 24 and serves as a stop for the pistons 29, 30 when moving inwardly toward each other.

The pipe 36 extends to the intake manifold of the engine of the automobile.

At some point in the pipe line 36, preferably on the instrument panel, is disposed a controlling valve 38, the casing of which is provided with passages 39, 40 and a vent 41.

The passages 39, 40 communicate with the pipe 36 from the tube 24 to the engine intake manifold and when the valve plug 42 is in the position shown in Fig. 12, the suction from the intake manifold will create a suction in the tube 24 between the pistons 29, 30 and cause them to move toward each other and lower the curtain.

As long as the valve plug remains in this position the curtain will be held in its lowered position.

As soon as the plug 42 is moved so that the passage 43 will communicate with passage 39 and passage 44 will communicate with the vent 41, air will be admitted to the tube 24 and the spring 17 will raise the curtain 21.

On each pin 27 is a stirrup 45 which may be moved over an eye 23 when the curtain 21 is lowered to retain it in lowered position for an indefinite period.

By the use of the sleeve 1600 the curtains installed upon the car purchased may be used in connection with the curtain operating mechanism, thus saving the expense of providing a curtain roller of special construction.

The cylinder or tube 24 maybe installed readily in any car at little cost.

As two pistons are used which move simultaneously a better operation of the curtain is assured.

The cylinder 24 may be secured to the car immediately above the rear seat or may be hidden behind the seat.

The entire device is inexpensive to construct, is easily installed and when once installed operates efliciently.

It is believed that the operation and many advantages of the invention will be understood without turther description.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a device of the class described, a spring controlled curtain roller; a curtain attached thereto and having a bar at its lower end; cords secured to the opposite ends of said bar; an enclosed reciprocating piston connected to each cord, said pistons being movable independently of each other; and

means for simultaneously moving both pistons in opposite directions relatively to each other to lower the curtain against the tension of said spring.

2. In a device 01" the class described, a spring controlled curtain roller; a curtain attached thereto and having a bar at its lower end; cords secured to the opposite ends of said bar; a horizontal cylinder parallel to said curtain; and independent reciprocating piston in said cylinder connected to each cord; and suction means communicating with said cylinder for simultaneously moving both pistons in opposite directions relatively to each other to lower the curtain against the tension of said spring.

3. In a device of the class described, a curtain roller; a curtain attached thereto; a spring always under tension secured to said roller and adapted to turn said roller in one direction to wind the curtain thereon; a horizontal cylinder beneath said roller; two pistons therein at opposite ends of said cylinder when the curtain is in raised position; sheaves at the opposite ends of said cylinder; cords attached to the opposite sides of the lower end of said curtain passing around said sheaves and each secured to a piston; and means for creating a suction in said cylinder between said pistons thereby effecting movement of said pistons toward each other.

4. In a device of the class described, a curtain roller; a curtain attached thereto; a spring always under tension secured to said roller and adapted to turn said roller in one direction to wind the curtain thereon; a horizontal cylinder beneath said roller; two pistons therein at opposite ends of said cylinder when the curtain is in raised position; sheaves at the opposite ends of said cylinder; cords attached to the opposite sides of the lower end of said curtain passing around said sheaves and each secured to a piston; a pipe extending from the middle of said cylinder to the suction side of an internal combustion engine and having an extension within said cylinder; and a valve in said pipe;

Signed by me at 294 Washington St., Bios- 5 ton, Massachusetts, this 14th day of October, 1931.

RICHARD A. KURTH.

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