US2182816A - Pneumatic direction signal light - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 12, 1939.

J. F. MOFFETT l 2,182,816

PNEUMATIC DIRECTION SIGNAL LIGHT Filed Dec. 3, 1936.

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Patented Dec. 12, 1939 UNITED STATES PNEUMATIC DIRECTON SIGNAL' John F. Moffett,

half to Willa Mae LIGHT Decatur, Ill., assigner of one- Moffett, Decatur, Ill.

Application December 3, 1936, Serial No; 114,048

2 Claims.

This invention relates to a direction signal light and it aims to provide a novel construction operable by the vacuum created within an internal combustion engine or by compressed air, or the equivalent.

It is further aimed to provide such a structure wherein signals are operated one to indicate an intended turn to the right and one to indicate an intended turn to the left, each being under control of a manually operable valve and an associated time delay or dashpot controller including an electric switch for the illuminating means of the signals.

Various additional objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the description following taken in connection with accompanying drawing illustrating an operative embodiment.

In said drawing:

Figure 1 is a view illustrating the improvements in diagram;

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view through one of the control devices and its switch, and a control valve, and

Figure 3 is a detail illustrating the valve connection between the vacuum reservoir and the intake manifold.

Referring specifically to the drawing, a fragment of an intake manifold of an internal combustion engine is suggested at ID and a pipe II in communication therewith leads to a vacuum reservoir I2. Installed in pipe Il adjacent to the reservoir, is a valve I3 illustrated in Fig. 3 of the conventional type used in inner tubes for the tires of vehicle wheels, which valve serves to permit air to be taken from the reservoir.

Pipes I4 lead from the reservoir I2, adjacent the top thereof, and are detachably coupled as at I5 to tubes I6, rising from cylinders I1 of control devices. Operable in each cylinder I1 is a piston I8 having a stem I9 surrounded by a coil spring 20 of the expansive type, engaging the piston I8 and a part of the cylinder at opposite ends, normally urging the piston downwardly as shown in Figure 2. The interior of the cylinders I1 are in communication with the tubes I6 and the latter accommodate movement of the stems I9 when the pistons move upwardly.

Detachably screw threaded to the lower ends of the cylinders are caps or plates 2I, the screw threads being shown at 22. The cap 2| has a normally closed valve 23 adapted to open when the piston I8 is raised, through the suction created by such raising. Each cap 2l has a contact 24 thereon. Each cap 2l also has a second (Cl. ZOO- 82) contact 25 fastened thereto, being of resilient metal and inherently urged into contact with that at 24. The contacts 24 and 25 are insulated from cap 2l as shown and normally are disengaged since the latter is held depressed by a projection 2t on the piston I8, one of these parts preferably being insulated at the Zone of contact with the other. Conductors 21 lead from the contacts 2E to signal lamps 28.

Said signal lamps 28 are preferably mounted within cells or compartments of a suitable casing 29. A panel 3S is disposed over the casing 29 having portions preferably red as at 3l and 32, behind which stop lights and tail lights may be arranged and having arrow shaped portions 33 and 34 over the respective bulbs 28, the former preferably being green so as to indicate a turn to the right while the latter is of a different color, preferably red, orange or amber to indicate a turn to the left. The portion 35 about the arrows 33 and 34 is preferably opaque. It will also be understood that the panel portions 3| and 32 are partitioned off from the cells or compartments containing the bulbs 28. A suitable needle valve device 36 forms part of the end plate or cap 2l, and it is adjustable to control the outlet of air. Normally the pipes I4 are closed against the action of vacuum by valve devices as at 31 and 38. Such devices are similar and include casings 39 in which plugs 40 are vertically movable and normally urged upwardly by expansive coil springs at 4I. The plugs contain passages 42 therethrough so that when depressed the passages 42 will align with the bore of the pipes I4.

With the improvements installed on an automobile, when a turn is contemplated, the valve device 31 or 38 according to the direction of the turn to be made, is depressed thereby arranging the passage 42 of the depressed valve in alignment with the bore of the associated pipe I4, thus subjecting the control device communicating therewith to the action of the vacuum created by the engine in manifold I0 The vacuum created by the intake manifold moves the air from the associated cylinder I1 and the normal pressure of the air will then cause the piston I8 therein to raise compressing the coil spring 20 which will allow the contact 25 to spring up into engagement with the contact 24 to close an electric circuit from the battery, through the ground connections with the framework of the automobile and signal lamp 23 in circuit therewith. When the piston I8 reaches its highest position, the valve 31 or 38 associated therewith may then be released whereupon the piston I8 by gravity and aided by the spring 240 will slowly descend in the cylinder forcing the air in the cylinder out through the needle valve 36, the adjustment of which governs the length of time necessary for the descent of the piston. At the lowermost position of the piston, projection 26 engages contact 25 and moves and maintains it out of engagement with the contact 24, breaking the circuit through the electric lamp in question at 28. Valve 23 is in the nature of a poppet valve and its function is to permit a large volume of air to enter cylinder Il quickly and then close.

It will be realized that the invention provides a plain, simple, durable and effective means of signalling the direction of a contemplated turn, without the necessity of opening the Window of the automobile or the like and it provides a construction Which after manual operation of the valve 3'5 or 3G, is automatic in its action.

Various changes may be resorted to provided they fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.

It will be pointed out that the reservoir I2 insures a constant vacuum on the pistons I8 when the valves 3'! and 38 are operated.

I claim as my invention:

1. A device of the class described for vacuum or pressure operation comprising a cylinder, a tube to conduct the operating media extending from the cylinder, a piston in the cylinder to be operated by the vacuum or pressure, a stem on the piston extending into the end wall of the cylinder remote to the piston, said tube being alined with said stem to accommodate the movement of the stem, a spring engaging the piston and compressible through its movement, contacts carried by and located Within the cylinder, means on the piston on the opposite side to the spring to disengage one contact from the other at one limit of movement of the piston, said contacts being adapted for connection in an electric circuit.

2. A device of the class described for vacuum or pressure operation comprising a cylinder, a. tube to conduct the operating media extending from the cylinder, a piston in the cylinder to be operated by the vacuum or pressure, a stem on the piston extending into the end Wall of the cylinder remote to the piston, said tube being alined with said stem to accommodate the movement of the stem, a spring engaging the piston and compressible through its movement, contacts carried by the cylinder, means on the piston to disengage one contact from the other at one limit of movement of the piston, said contacts being adapted for connection in an electric circuit, a valve to permit entry of a large volume of air to the cylinder, a valve carried by the cylinder to control the outlet of the air, a plate on the cylinder carrying said contacts and said valves, said con"f"l^ts extending through the plate into the interior thereof, and a projection on the opposite side of the piston to the spring engageable with one contact one extreme ci movement to separate it from its companion.

JOI-IN F. MOFFEI'I'.

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