US1910569A - Dimmer switch for motor cars, motorcycles, and bicycles - Google Patents

Description

May 23, 1933. G. STEINER 1,910,569

DIMMER SWITCH FDR MOTOR CARS, MOTORCYCLES, AND BICYCLES Filed Nov. 25, 1931 fiyfi )ZgzJ @9 IQ S /z e e a y 0 9 /r m jaw.

Patented May 23, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GOTTLIEB STEINER, OF SOLOTHURN', SWITZERLAND, ASSIGNQR TO SCINTILLA AKTIEN'GESELLSCHAFT, OF SOLOTHURN, SWITZERLAND DIMMER SWITCH FOR MOTOR CARS, MOTORCYCLES, AND BICYCLES Thisinvention relates to dimmer switches for motor-cars, motor-cycles and bicycles in which the dimming of the lamps is effected by switching in a dimming lamp and in which the switch drum is turned in the same direction of rotation, thereby switching in alternately the normal filaments and the dimming filaments. According to the invention, the switch drum is displaced aside by 110 a push member in a plane rectangular or nearly rectangular to the direction of movement of said push member and turned at the same time from one switching position to the next one.

In the accompanying drawing various constructional "forms of the invention are shown diagrammatically and will now be described in detail but without implication of limitation beyondthe scope of the invention as set forth in the claims:

Fig. 1 is a plan View of the switch.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section turned through 90 with regard to Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 shows in an enlarged scale the switch drum, the bracket for the switch drum and the push member.

Fig. 5 represents the bracket of the switch drum.

Figs. 6-7 and 8-9 are two more examples of the switch drum.

In the Figures 1 to 5 e is the switch drum with square cross-section. On both ends of this switch drum are mounted the U-shaped switch segments Z and Z the arms of which form the switch segments proper. These segments are displaced by 90 one in relation to the other in the direction of rotation. 40 These switch segments are in connection with the source of current by the two resilient arms of the bracket 9 which is fixed to the insulating plate on by means of rivets and of the current in-put terminal h. Between 5 the two arms of the bracket of the switch Application filed November 25, 1931, Serial No. 577,367, and in Germany January 2, 1931.

sulating plate m with the current out-put terminals 70.

a is the casing over the narrower part 7 of which the switch cover I) is slidably mounted. his cover is held in its upper position by means of the spring (Z. To the cover 6 is fixed a push member 0 with square cross-section held in its upper position by a pin 9 and guided in the casing.

In the Figures l and 5 n represents the bearing slots for the switch drum 0. Push ing the switch cover downwards the switch drum is turned around its axis and at the same time displaced aside thereby applying tension to the contact spring 2'. After the switch drum has turned through more than it snaps into the next switching position. After letting go the switch cover Z) it returns together with the push rod 0 into the upper position by means of the spring (Z.

Figures 67 and 89 represent two more examples of the switch drum. In both cases the spindle 7 of the switch drum 0 is firmly fixed to the bracket 9. In the first example the switch drum has a hole 0 the cross-section of which is a square, according to the latter case the hole 1? is round andiit is larger in diameter than the spindle Moving the push member 0 downward the switch drum 0 is again turned from one switch position to the next one displacing at the same time aside. After letting go the push member 0 it returns to the upper position by means of the spring d.

The switches as described above are operated by hand, by foot or electro-mechanically.

Owing to the new arrangement of the various switch members it is possible to simplify the design and thereby to reduce the cost of switches of this kind as compared with the known constructional forms.

hat I claim is:

1. Dimming switch for motor-cars, motorcycles and bicycles comprising a switch drum with two series of switch segments, arranged in the axis of the switch drum behind one anotherand displaced one in relation to the other in the direction of rotation and with which are connected the source of current as well as the head and dimming lamps by means of contact springs, said switch drum being supported in slots of a bracket which are arranged perpendicularl to the direction of movement of a u member, this push member turning said switch drum in the same direction of rotation from one switch position into the next one displacingat the same time the switch drum aside in a plane rectangular or nearly rectangular to the direction of movement of said push member.

2. Dimmer switch for motor-cars, motorcycles and bicycles comprising a switch drum with two series of switch se ents arranged in the axis of the switch d i' li m behind one another and displaced one in relation to the other in the direction of rotation and with which are connected the source of current as well as the head and dimming lamps by means of contact s rings, said switch drum having a round ho e in the direction of its axis and being supported by a spindle going ri ht through said. hole, the diameter of w ich is ater than the diameterof said spindle w ich is firmly fixed to the bracket of the switch drum, a push member arranged rectangularly to the axis of said switch drum, turning the latter in the same direction of rotation from one switching position into the next one, displacing at the same time the switch drum aside in a plane rectangular or nearly rectan lar to the girection 'of movement of sai push mem- 3. Dimmer switch for motor-cars, motorcycles and bicycles comprising a switch drum with two series of switch se ents arranged in the axis of the switch in behind one another and displaced one in relation to the other in the direction of rotation and with which are connected the source of current as well as the head and dimming lamps by means of contact springs, said switch drum having a hole, with square cross-section, in the direction of its axis and being supported by a spindle going right through said hole, the length of the side of which is greater than the diameter of said spindle which is firmly fixed to the bracket of the switch drum, a push member arranged rectangularly to the axis of said switch drum, turning the latter in the same direction of rotation from one switching position into the next one displacing at the same time the switch drum aside in a plane rectangular or nearly rectangular to the direction of movement of said push member.

4. Dimmer switch for motor-cars, motorcycles and bicycles comprising a switch drum with two series of U-shaped switch segments, the arms of which form the switch segments proper which are mounted on the ends of said switch drum which is made of insulating material and displaced by one in relation to the other in the direction of rotation and to which are connected the source of current by means of two arms of the bracket of the switch drum as well as the head and dimming lamps by means of contact springs, a push member arranged rectangularly to the axis of said switch drum turning the latter in the same direction of rotation from one switching positionhinto the next one, displacing at the same time the switch drum aside in a plane rectangular or nearly rectangular to the-direction of movement of said push member.

5. Dimmer switch for motor-cars, motorcycles and bicycles comprising a switch drum with two series of U -shaped switch segments, the arms of which form the switch segments proper, which are mounted on the ends of said switch drum which is made of insulating material, and displaced by 90 one in relation to the other in the direction of rotation and to which are connected the source of current by means of the two arms of the bracket of the switch drum as well as the head and dimming lamps by means of comtact springs arranged between the two arms of the bracket of said switch drum, resting on one side of this bracket against the switc drum, whilst they are fixed on the other side on the insulating plate with the current output terminals, a push member arranged rec tangularly to the axis of said switch drum turning the latter in the same direction 0! rotation from one switching position into the next one, displacing at the same time the switch drum aside in a plane rectangular or nearly rectangular to the direction of movement of said push member.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

GOTTLIEB STEINER.

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