US2047037A - Direction indicator - Google Patents

Description

my 7, 1936u Aa.` SCHWARZ DIRECTION INDICATOR Filed May 31, 1928 Patented July 7, 1936 UNITED sTATEs PATENT OFFICEV DIRECTION INDICATOR Alfred Schwarz, Eisenach, Germany Application May 31, 1928, Serial No. 281,982 In Germany January 12, 1928 t somma. (ci. 17T- 323) This invention relates to direction indicators, in which the pulling element exerts the pull upon the indicator arm through the intermediary of intermediate elements.

.5 vAccording to the invention the pull element is hingedly connected through a link to an intermediate element which is connected by a pivot bolt with the indicator arm. This intermediate element serves to securely hold the indicator arm l in the inoperative position by bearing against a supportingy spring arranged on the wall of the casing of the indicator, the indicator arm being controlled by. a plate spring iixed to the intermediate element. This form of construction la presents the advantage that a less great pulling moment than hitherto is necessary for operating the indicator arm. The returning of the intermediate element designed to secure the indicator arm in its inoperative position is effected from the indicator arm through the intermediary of the plate spring. l

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated, by way of example, in the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 is an elevation of part of the indicator showing the same in the locked and inoperative position.

Fig. 2 is an elevation of part of the indicator in the inoperative position the locking device t being released.

Fig. 3 is an elevation of part ofv the indicator in the oscillated indicating position.

Fig. 4 is a diagram of forces; and Fig. 5 shows a modiiied form of construction. The pull element consists, according to the invention, of an electromagnet the core I of which is hingedly connected by a link 2 Ato an intermediate element 3 which, by a pivot pin 4, is connected to the indicator arm 3 oscllatably mounted in its turn on a bolt 9. A plate spring 6 is flxed to the intermediate element 3 which has a projecting nose 5.

This nose 5 serves after the removing of the locking means to strike against the indicator arm 8 or a part connected to the arm so that the pull element canV lift the indicator arm with the aid of the intermediate element 3. The nose 5 Is not absolutely necessary and might be omitted. The intermediate element 3 may also be constructed and arranged in a different manner without departing from the scope of the invention.

A supporting spring I I is fixed on the casing I0 and holds the member 3 so as to cause the line passing through its two pivot points to lie in a practically horizontal plane.

The operation is as fol1oWs:-. When the core I of the electromagnet is pulled the intermediate element 3 loses its supporting `5 point on spring II on the casing I0. The magnet core I pulls through the link 2 the intermediate element 3 in downward direction whereby the locking for the indicator arm 8 is released. The spring 6 is thereby put under tension until 10 the nose 5 bears against this spring (Fig. 2). The electromagnet working with a little pulling moment begins then to act upon the indicator arm 8, which is thus lifted into the indicating position (Fig. 3). As soon as the circuit is l5 opened, the arm 8 returns by gravity into the inoperative rposition in pulling up the amature I,

the link 2 and the intermediate element, whereby the plate spring 6 is put under tension, which bears against the pivot bolt 9. Through the ten- 20 sion of spring 6 the intermediate element is pulled into the position shown in Fig. 1 so that the mechanism is again ready for use.

The diagram of forces (Fig. 4) shows that the central axis of the core I is situated at the move- 25 ment of the indicator arm outside the curve described by the connection point between the intermediate element 3 and the link 2.

The intermediate element 3 might also bear directly or indirectly against the casing, In the 30 form of construction as shown in Fig. 5 a spring II is iixed on the casing and a set screw I2 is arranged on said spring for regulating the tension of the spring. The intermediate element 3 bears in this case, as shown in 1, against 35 the casing through the intermediary of the spring II. In the form of construction shown in Fig. 5, the intermediate piece is directly supported by the wall of the casing I0.

I claimz- 40 1. In a vehicle direction indicator, a support having an abutment, an elongated signal element, means pivoting said signal element on said lsupport at a point intermediate its ends to provide a shorter portion beyond the pivot and to .cause 45 the signal element to assume a normal position with respect to said support, a pull-member, means mounting said pull member for movement along a line parallel to the normal position of said signal, a link pivoted at one end to an end oi said 50 pull-member, an intermediate member pivoted to the shorter portion of the signal adjacent its pivot and to the other end of the link, and resilient means acting between the shorter signal portion and the intermediate member tending to hold the 55 .latter in such position that a line connecting its pivots will be substantially at right angles to the lergth of the signal and direction i' movement of he pull-member, said support including a portion forming an abutment for the end of the intermediate member connected to the link to prevent movement of the said end away from the signal element when the latter is in its normal position.

2. A signaling apparatus including an elongated casing having an open side, a signal arm, means pivoting said arm adjacent one end of said casing, said signal arm lying normally within said casing, the signal arm being provided with a crank portion extending in the direction of the length of the casing and on the opposite side of said pivoting means, a bell-crank lever pivoted on said extension with one portion extending generally in the direction of the length of the casing and toward said pivoting means when the signal arm is in its normal position and a second portion extending substantially at right angles. to said ilrst named portion, an operating member having a -pivotal connection with the second portion of said nal to lock the latter against abnormal movement.

3. A signaling apparatus including an elongated casing having an open side, a signal arm, means pivoting said arm adjacent one end of said casing, said signal arm lying normally within said casing, the signal arm being provided with a crank portion extending in the direction of the length of the casing and on the opposite side of said pivoting means, a bell-crank lever pivoted on said extension with one portion extending generally in the direction of the length of the casing and toward said pivoting means, and a second portion extending substantially at right angles to said first named portion, a solenoid extending substantially parallel to the length of the casing, a core in said solenoid pivotally connected to the second portion of the bell-crank lever, said bellcrank lever having a portion adapted to engage with a cooperating portion of the casing in the normal inoperative position of the signal to lock the latter against abnormal movement, spring means reacting between the signal arm and the rst named portion of the bell-crank lever to prevent jarring out of the arm when said solenoid is not energized.

4. In combination with the circuiarly moving arm of a directional signal, means for activating the arm comprising a bell-crank lever fulcrumed to the arm and circularly movable relative to the latter to a limited extent, means for holding the 2 bell-crank yieldingly in normal position, and means whereby the bell-crank'lever may be turned about its fulcrum to said limited extent and the arm may be then turned about its iulcrum by the bell-crank lever.

5. In combination with a directional signal, comprising a lever of the rst order having its fulcrum near one end, activating means for the signaling lever including a yieldingly operating bell-crank lever journaled to the shorter arm of 35 the signaling lever, and means for activating the bell-crank lever to causey it to drive the other lever but to give the bell-crank lever an initial independent movement.

ALFRED SCHWARZ.

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