US2186098A

US2186098A - Automobile directional signal

Info

Publication number: US2186098A
Application number: US265360A
Authority: US
Inventors: Corpora Michael
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1939-03-31
Filing date: 1939-03-31
Publication date: 1940-01-09
Anticipated expiration: 1957-01-09

Description

Jan. 9, 1940. M. CORPORA v AUTOMOBILE DIRECTIONAL SIGNAL Filed March 31, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet l WER$NR ah R 1 H Q Q m9 o m 6 NW N m6 w W R W hmk WNIN BN2; \uHrN IAVE'NTOR a I A v-Tb IPA 5y Jan. 9, 1940. M. CORPORA ,186,

AUTOMOBILE DIRECTIONAL SIGNAL Filed March 31, 1939 v2 Sheets-Sheet 2 1- VENTOR WJM Patented Jan. 9, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

This application is a continuation in part of my application bearing Serial No. 169,842, filed Oct. 19, 1937.

The present invention relates particularly to that type of signaling devices mountable upon a motor vehicle and operated by the driver thereof to indicate a proposed action, that is, whether it is going to slow down or stop, or turn to the left, or turn to the right.

It is one object of the invention to provide a device of the character indicated that may be operated by a small amount of electrical current from the battery of the vehicle.

It is another object of the invention to provide a device of the character indicated that will be small and compact in form, economical to manufacture, of few parts, simple in construction, strong, durable, positive in operation, and highly efiicient in its practical application.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a device embodying my invention, with parts broken away.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same, with parts broken away.

Figure 3 is a sectional view through a pushbutton control box for the device.

Figure 4 is a diagrammatical illustration showing the wiring system embodied in the device.

Figure 5 is a section on line 5-5 of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a side elevation of another embodiment of the invention.

Figure 7 is a front elevation of the same.

figure 8 is a view on line 8-8 of Figure 6.

Figure 9 is a side elevation of a solenoid as used in this device, a part being broken away.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, I show at I a housing having a motor 2 mounted therein, the shaft of the motor operating an externally positioned pinion as 3. Rising above the center of the housing is a supporting block 4 in which is journaled a gear 5 as at 5. The gear 5 meshes with the pinion and is rotated thereby in the direction indicated by the arrow l.

Pivotally connected to gear 5 as at 8 is a rod 9, the other end of the rod being pivotally connected to the signal arm II) as at H. The arm H! is mounted on the vehicle I! as at I3, and the connection H is eccentric thereto.

Normally the arm HI hangs in a vertical position as indicated by the dotted line l4, but is moved into the slow, left or right positions by the forcible rotation of gear 5, the arm then taking the positions indicated at 14a, 14b,

(Crier-327) or No, and the pivotal mounting ll travels in the are shown in dotted line at I5.

The rotation of gear 5 is controlled by means of pins as I6 and I! on leaves land l9 pivotally mounted on the block 4 as at 28, these pins being urged into sliding engagement with the back of the gear 5 by a light spring 2| passing through the block 4.

Formed upon the back of the gear 5 are two bosses 22 and 23 disposed to engage the pins l6--l1 when the gear is rotated. The boss 22 is normally in the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 1, but when the gear 5 is rotated to move the arm l into position No the boss 22 engages pin l when. the arm reaches that position and prevents its further movement in that direction. The boss 23 is so positioned relative to boss 22 that when the pin I 6 is withdrawn as hereinafter described the gear is permitted. to rotate until the boss 23 contacts pin l1, this rotation being sufficient to move the arm I ll into the position Mb.

To permit movement of the arm l0 into position I40 both pins l6-ll are withdrawn, the gear 5 then rotating until the stop 24 on the arm contacts the arm supporting portion of the vehicle l2.

It is obvious that whenever the arm is to be swung into any one of the positions indicated the motor 2 must be set in motion, and either one or both of the pins must be withdrawn. The required selection and operation is accomplished by means of electrical circuits as shown in the diagram.

In this diagram the battery is indicated at 25 and grounded at 26. The motor 2 is connected to the battery at 21, and a wire 28a leading therefrom has three terminals as 28, 29 and 30. Pushbutton switches 3|, 32, 33 grounded at 34, 35, 36, are disposed to close the circuits when desired thereby setting the motor in motion and swinging the arm l0 upwardly as described.

Mounted on either side of the block 4 is a magnet as at 31 and 38, these magnets being disposed adjacent the leaves l8-l9 so that when energized they will withdraw the pins l6l I from the path of travel of the bosses 22-43 and permit the gear 5 to rotate as described.

The magnet 31 is connected to the battery by wire 39, the other wire leading therefrom at having a terminal 4| in operative relation to switch 32. The switch is grounded at 42, the two grounds or contact points of the switch being separated by insulation at 43.

The magnet 38 is connected to the battery by wire 44, the other wire leading therefrom'at 45 having a terminal 46 in operative relation to switch 33. The switch is grounded at 41' and the two sides of the switch are separated by insulation at 48.

A wire 49 connects the wire 40 with the terminal 50, the terminal 50 cooperating with the switch 33 through the ground 41.

By means of this arrangement, when the switch 3! is closed the motor 2 operates to rotate the gear 5 until boss 22 contacts pin l6 and the arm Ill is swung upwardly to the position I4a. When switch 32 is closed the magnet 31 is energized to withdraw pin Hi from an operative position and at the same time motor 2 operates to-rotate the gear 5 until boss 23 contacts pin l'l and the arm Ill is swung upwardly to the position Mb.

When switch 33 is closed bothjmagnetsare energized to withdraw both pins and at the same time motor 2 operates to rotate the gear 5 until the arm is swung upwardly to a point. where the stop 24 contacts the vehicle I2, that is to point or position He.

The switches SI, 32, 33 are so constructed that theyremain closed until released by the opera-, tion of another push-button 5i whereupon the circuits are broken and the arm if! returns to its original position by gravity.

, To effect the securing and releasing of the switches 3!,32, 33, the following mechanism is provided, it being understood that the said switches are normally held in an open position by means of springs as at 52, 54 respectively, and that the several switches are mounted in a suitable switch-box 55. i Y

The push-button 5! is urged outwardly by a spring 58 and engages one arm of a bell-crank 51 pivoted at 58. The other arm of the bellcrank is pivotally connected to a rod 59 passing along the sides of the three switches and seated in a guide Gil. The rod is provided with three spurs as at 6!, 62, 63, extending laterallytherefrom adjacent the upper sides of the three horizontally disposed switches. At 64, 65, 66, are three detents pivotally mounted on case 55 as at 61, BB, 69, adjacent their respective switches and arranged to fall in back of the switch heads when the switches are pushed inwardly. When any detent is holding a switch closed it may be released by pressing button M, which action shoves the detent clear of the switch head.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 6, '7, 8 and 9, the housing is shown at T0 and the motor at H, the motor shaft 1-2 operating a pinion 13. The pinion T3 meshes with a segmental gear M journaled on the housing as at '55 to rotate the same in the direction indicated by the arrow H5. The signal arm T7 is mounted as an integral part of the shaft and gear 14 to rotate as a unit therewith.

.On the back of gear Hiarestops la-19 disposed to engage the pins 88-8! of solenoids 82-- 83 to position the arm H at Ila or 'i'lo as described in connection with the positioning of arm to in the first described embodiment. In the present instance, however, the segmental gear 14 has a tangentially directed finger 84 mounted on its edge and one end of the toothed portion of the gear as shown so that when the gear has rotated far enough to swing the signal arm into the uppermost position We the finger 84 will engage the pinion l3 and prevent further rotation of the gear. The pinion 13 has the finger 84 and so limit rotation of the ar, being disposed to lie in the path of travel of the finger 84 for that purpose. In this, as in the former case, the dropping of the arm 11 back to its original pendant position will reset the gear 14.

In this embodiment the solenoids 82-83 are operated in the same manner as indicated by the first described embodiment, being connected in the circuits including the wires 3940 and 4 ld'. The stop engaging pins 8fl8l in the solenoids are urged outwardly in stop engaging position by light springs as 85 in solenoid 82, the pins being withdrawn against the outward urgeof'the'springs by the selective energization of the solenoids in the manner hereinbefore described.

This last described embodiment provides a more compact device, and one that is simpler in form'and construction, and more economical to manufacture and maintainthan the first described embodiment. 7

Although certain specific embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described,

it will. be understood that various alterations in trically connecting the gear and arm to swing I the arm upon rotation of the gear, an electric mot or ..mounted in the supporting means, a moxtOl operatedpiniondrivingly connected to the gear, spaced stop means disposed on the face of the gear directed toward the supporting means and on opposite sides of its axis of rotation, a pair of detents resiliently mounted on the supporting means on opposite sides of the axis of rotation of the gear to normally lie in the path of travel of the stops, electro-magnets mounted on the supporting means in operative relationship .to said detents to withdraw the same from the path of travel of the stop means when energized, means for simultaneously energizing either one magnet or both magnets, and the motor, orthe motor independently of the magnets, and stop means inserted between the arm and vehicle body to limit movement of the arm when the motor and both magnets are energized.

.2. In combination with a vehicle body, a signal arm pivotally mounted on the body for movement in a .vertical plane, a housing having a bearing block thereon, a gear journaled in the blockto rotate in parallel relation to one face thereof, an electric motor disposed in the housing, a motor operated pinion drivingly connected to the gear, spaced stops disposed on the face of the gear adjacent the block and on opposite sides of its axis of rotation, a link eccentrically connecting the gear and signal arm to swing,

the arm on rotation of the gear, electro-magnets mounted on opposite sides of the block adjacent the gear, detents resiliently mounted on the block between the magnets and the gear and normally disposed to lie in the path of travel of the stops-but withdrawable therefrom by the magnets'when energized, means for energizing the motor independently of the magnets to move one gear stop into engagement with one detent, means forenergizing the motor and one magnet to withdraw the last named detent from the path of travel of the stops and move the other gear step into engagement with the other detent, means for energizing the motor and both magnets to withdraw both detents from the path of travel of the stops and rotate the gear, means operative to simultaneously deenergize the motor and magnets, and stop means inserted between the arm and vehicle body to limit movement of the arm when the motor and both magnets are energized.

3. A device of the character indicated comprising, an electric motor, supporting means, a gear rotatably mounted on the support, a motor operated pinion drivingly connected to the gear, signal means operatively associated with the gear to be actuated by rotation thereof, and means for controlling rotation of the gear comprising, spaced stop means disposed on the gear on opposite sides of its axis of rotation, a pair of resiliently supported detents operatively mounted to normally lie in the path of travel of the stops and disposed to cooperate with the stops to effect certain signals, electro-rnagnets operativcl r mounted relative to said detents to withdraw the same fro a the path of travel of the stops when energized, means for energizing the motor independently of the magnets to move one gear step into engagement with one detent, means for energizing the motor and one magnet to withdraw the last named detent from the path of travel of the stops and move the other gear stop into engagement with the other detent, means for energizing the motor and both magnets to Withdraw both detents from the path of travel of the stops and rotate the gear, means operative to simultaneously deenergize the motor and mag nets, and means operative to limit rotation of the gear when the motor and both magnets are energized.

4. A device of the character indicated comprising, an electric motor, supporting means, a gear rotatablymounted on the support, a motor operated pinion drivingly connected to the gear, signal means operatively associated with the gear to be actuated by rotation thereof, and gear control means comprising, spaced stop means disposed on the gear on opposite sides of its axis of rotation and a third stop means disposed on the gear, a pair of resiliently supported detents operatively mounted to normally lie in the path of travel of the first mentioned stops and disposed to cooperate with the stops to effect certain signals, electro-nagnets mounted on the supporting means in operative relationship to said detents to withdraw the same from the path of travel of the said first-mentioned stop means when energized, means for simultaneously energizing either one magnet or both magnets, and the motor, or the motor independently of the magnets, the third stop means being disposed to engage the motor operated pinion to limit rotation of the gear when the motor and both magnets are energized.

MICHAEL CORPORA.