US2144402A - Switch for alternating taillights and signals - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 17, 1939.

o. .J. CRAWFORD AL SWITCH FOR ALTERNATING TAILLIGHTS AND SIGNALS Original Filed Dec. 27, 1954 Patented Jan. 17, 1939 PATENT OFFICE SWITCH FOR ALTERNATING TAILLIGHTS AND SIGNALS Oscar J. Crawford and James W. Brown, Anderson, Ind., assignors of one-third to Ralph E.

White, Anderson, Ind.

Original application December 27, 1934, Serial No. 759,415, now Patent No. 2,032,472, dated March 3, 1936.

Divided and this application January 31, 1936, Serial No. 61,831

2 Claims.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in alternating tail lights and signals.

The primary object of the invention is to pro- Vide a signal light and operating means therefor especially designed for use in connection with motor vehicles to indicate proposed changes in direction of travel and the stopping of the motor vehicle, the signal embodying a pair of lights adapted to be alternately flashed for quickly attracting attention thereto, the two alternately flashing signal lights being in addition to the usual tail light and closely associated therewith as by being located in the same signal box.

This application is a division of application filed by Oscar J. Crawford and James W. Brown, for Alternating tail lights and signals, filed December 27, 1934, Serial Number 759,415, which became Patent No. 2,032,472 dated March 3, 1936.

With the above and other objects in view that will become apparent as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel form, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, shown in the accompanying drawing and claimed.

In the drawing:-

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a part of the apparatus for efiecting alternate illumination of two flashlight lamps;

Figure 2 is a vertical crosssectional view taken on line 2--2 of Figure 1, showing two solenoids alternately energizable with a single armature therebetween for efiecting closing movement of the contact elements for the alternate illumination of the lamp, the source of electrical energy, the lamps and the circuits therefor;

Figure 3 is a detail sectional view taken on line 33 of Figure 1, showing the spring device associated with the shaft carrying the balance wheel and armature for centering the armature and balance wheel when the current is off;

Figure 4 is a detail sectional view taken on line i4 of Figure 1, showing the two solenoids with the single intermediate armature and the balance wheel with the stops for limiting movements thereof;

Figure 5 is a front elevational view of the pivoted contact member adapted to be operated by the armature and the spring associated therewith for maintaining the contact member in an ofi-center position when the current is off;

Figure 6 is a side edge elevational view of the contact member; and

Figure '7 is a fragmentary elevational view, partly in section of one end of the pivoted contact member and the contact cooperating therewith.

Referring more in detail to the accompanying drawing, electrical devices mechanically controlled in their operation are illustrated to effect 5 the usual illumination of an automobile tail light and the alternate flashing or illumination of a pair of stop lights, the electrical devices and appurtenances including a mounting base plate |0 upon which a frame including end legs II and |2 and a top bar I3 is suitably mounted. A shaft I4 is rotatably supported in the end legs H and 2 by means of a point bearing l5 associated with the leg II and an adjustable bearing |6 associated with the 1eg'l2. 15

A bracket construction I1 is supported by and centrally depends from the top bar I3 of the frame and includes a pair of divergent downwardly extending legs |8 with a solenoid l9 carried by each leg H3 at the inner side thereof with the adjacent ends of the solenoids spaced from each other as clearly illustrated in Figures 2 and l. A single armature 20 is disposed between the cores 2| of the two solenoids l9 and is fixed as at 22 to the shaft l4.

When the solenoids I9 are de-energized, the armature 20 moves to and remains at a point midway the two armatures by means of devices shown more clearly in Figs. 1 and 3 and comprising a collar 23 fixed to the shaft l4 adjacent the solenoid and carrying a lateral lug 24 disposed between a pair of leaf springs 25 that are anchored at corresponding ends as at 26 to the top bar l3 of the frame.

The shaft is also provided with a balance wheel 21 that is secured thereto as at 28 at the side of the solenoids I9 opposite the collar 23 for limiting oscillatory movements of the shafts. As shown more clearly in Figure 4, a lug 29 projects peripherally of the balance wheel 21 and moves between a pair of cushioned stops 3|] carried by the base plate l0.

Electrical contacts controlled in their operation by oscillatory movements of the shaft l4 influenced by the armature 29 and the solenoids 33, include a pivotally supported contact bar 3| having a spear-head contact 32 on each end thereof with the bar 3| notched at its underside midway its ends as at 33 for the pivotal mounting and support on the upper end of an angle bracket 34 carried by the base plate I0. A frame 35 rises above the contact bar 3| and a coil spring 36 attached to the upper end of the frame and to the contact bar is 50- mounted thereon as to cause the contact bar 3| to assume a tilted position at either side of the pivot when the solenoids I9 are de-energized. Tilting movement of the contact bar 3| is effected by means'of the arm 37 fixed as at 38 to the shaft M with the lower end of the arm 31 bifurcated to'provide a pair of spaced lugs 39 between which a pin 40 carried by the contact bar 3| extends. A pair of terminals posts 4| and 42 are mounted on the base plate It respectively adjacent the ends of' the contact bar SI and carry spring clip contacts 48 and 44 respectively disposed above the contacts 32 on the contact bar 3|- The signal embodies a lamp casing 45 carrying the usual tail light 46 grounded as at 41 and having a wire connection 48 with the source of energy or battery 49 and controlled by the usual manual switch. The lamp casing 45 also contains a pair of stop lights 50 and fii that are adapted to be alternately illuminated or flashed by the mechanism hereinbefore described. The battery 4% is grounded as at 52 and the conductor 53 from the other terminal of the battery has a switch 54 set therein and in communication with the angle bracket 34 that is in electrical contact with the contact bar 3| upon which the latter is pivotally supported. The lamp 5! is grounded as at 55 and has a conductor 55 extending to the terminal post 42, a wire 51 from the terminal @2 being in communication with the adjacent solenoid it. The other stop light 5|] is grounded as at 58 and has a wire connection 59 with the terminal 4! and said terminal has a wire connection 56 with the adjacent solenoid I9. The two solenoids Is are grounded as at 6|.

The tail light 46 is of the standard type being in communication with the battery 49 and switch controlled in the usual manner. The switch 54 in the conductor 53 is mechanically connected to the brake mechanism of the motor vehicle and upon application of the brake the switch 54 is closed for completing the circuit from the battery 48 to the pivotal contact bar 3| and when the latter is in the tilted position shown in Figure 2, under influence of the spring 36, the contact at the end of the contact bar 3| engages the contact 44, the current flowing over the wire 55 to the stop light 5| and to ground for return to the battery. Current also flows through the wire 51 to energize the adjacent solenoid IQ for the attraction to the core thereof of the armature 25; Such movement of the armature 25 effects rotation of the shaft M which is rotated against the tension of the spring and lug device 24 and 25 and are balanced by the wheel 21, the shaft M swinging the arm 3? to cause one of the lugs 39 to engage the pin 40 for moving the contact bar 3| on its pivotal support for separating one contact 32 from the contact 44 and causing engagement of the other contact 32 with the contact 43. Such movement de-energizes the previously active solenoid I9 and effects energization of the other solenoid, and the illumination of the lamp 5%) and the circuit to the lamp 5| is broken. As long as the mechanism remains in applied position, current continues to alternately flow to the lamps 50 and 5| for alternate flashing thereof, under control of the mechanism described. When the brake mechanism is released, both solenoids l9 are vie-energized, the shaft I4 centered and the contact bar 3| assumes a tilted position by the spring 36 with oneof the contacts 43 or 44 engaged with a contact 32.

From the above detailed description of the invention, it is believed that the construction and operation thereof will at once be apparent and while there is herein shown and described the preferred embodiment of the invention, it is nevertheless to be understood that minor changes may be made therein without departing from the two solenoids to be alternately attracted'by the solenoids to effect oscillation of the shaft, a contact bar pivotally supported intermediate its ends below the shaft and independently of the shaft and having a contact at each end, a separate contact for each bar contact, a pin projecting laterally of the contact bar, and an arm depending from the shaft and forked at its lower end to straddle said pin and movable into ene gagement therewith for operation of the contact bar.

2. Means for effecting alternate flashing of lamps comprising a rotatable shaft, a balance wheel on the shaft for limiting oscillatory movements of the shaft, a solenoid at each side of the shaft, an armature carried by the shaft between the two solenoids to be alternately attracted thereby to effect oscillation of the shaft, a contact bar pivotally supported intermediate its ends below the shaft and independently of the shaft and having a contact at each end, a separate contact for each bar contact, a pin projecting laterally of the contact ba'r, an arm depending from the shaft and forked at its lower end to straddle said pin and movable into engagement therewith for operationof the contact bar, and means associated with the shaft for holding the arm on the shaft that effects pivotal movement of the contact bar out of engagement with said pin when the solenoids are de-energized.

' OSCAR J. CRAWFORD.

JAMES W. BROWN.

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