US2232822A

US2232822A - Switch apparatus

Info

Publication number: US2232822A
Application number: US170108A
Authority: US
Inventors: Carl S Homsher
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1937-10-20
Filing date: 1937-10-20
Publication date: 1941-02-25
Anticipated expiration: 1958-02-25

Description

Feb. 25, 1941. c,v WSH ER 2,232,822

SWITCH APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 aaHama he INVENTOR ATTORNEYS 1941- c. s. HOMS-HER I 2,232,822

I SWITCH APPARATUS I 7 Filed ocx. 20,. 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 afiamaker INVENTOR @a'mf.

I ATTORNEYS 4-8 Patented Feb. 25, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE seam swrrcn srrmrus a cm 5. 11m, Denver, Colo.

App cation October a, 19:1. Serial No. 110,111: 1 Claim. (01. see-s9) This invention relates to switch apparatus and has for an object to provide a novel compact assembly of switches, telltale lamps and a flasher unit, which may be mounted within convenient reach of a driver and may be manipulated to flash a predetermined signal lamp, located preferably on the body of the motor vehicle near the roof, or on an airplane at the end of the wings, or on a boat or steamship, to indicate-an intended I. change of direction or an intended stop ,or

landing A further object is to provide apparatus of this character which will be formed of a few strong simple and durable parts. which will be l. inexpensive to manufacture, and which will not easily get out of order.

With the above and other obiects in view the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed, it being understood that various modifications may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claim without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In'thej drawings forming part of this j :is a front elevation of the switch apparatus showing the push buttons, telltale lamb and flasher indicating windows, and lamp for illuminating the front of the instrument casing.

Figure '2 is a rear elevation of the control instrument and showing the flasher unit mounted on the back of the rear cover, and showing the a rear ends of the telltale lamp sockets.

Figure 3 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 3-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a detail cross sectional view of the reduction gear mechanism taken on the line H o of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a detail longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 5-! of Figure 4 and showing the electric motor, the reduction gear mechanism, and the flasher switch mechanism.

a Figure 6 is a diagrammatic view showing the electrical connections of the signal lamps, telltale lamps, and flasher switch contacts.

Figure '1 is a fragmentary rear elevation showing direction arrows for the signal lamps located so near the roof of a motor vehicle.

Figure 8 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken on the line H of Figure 5 showing the flasher switch contacts in side elevation;

Referring now to the drawings in which like ll characters of reference designate similar parts in the various views, ll designates an instrument casing comprising a cylindrical wall II, a front wall l2, and a rear cover II which is removably secured in place by bolts II. The front wall is provided with a substantially triangular projec- 5 tion ll upon the front face of which is mounted a lamp bulb II for illuminating the push buttons of the hereinafter described switches. A slotted shade ll of conventional type is mounted over the bulb to conceal the bulb from the driver's 10 eyes. A push button switch II is mounted on the extension above the casing for controlling thelamp bulb circuit. Preferably four circular windows It, 2|, ii and 22 are formed in the front wall of the casing, 15 two of these windows, namely, II and II, being located on a vertical median line of the casing, the window It displaying the letter M indicative of a motor circuit hereinafter described. The windows 2| and 22 are located on a horisontal median line of the casing and display respectively an arrow pointing left, and an arrow pointing right. The window 2| displays an arrow pointing downward indicating a stop.

Mounted on the inner face of the back cover u l3, and in cylindrical casings I, are a plurality of lamp sockets 23, 24, II and II to receive respectively telltale lamps 11, 2|, 2! and II, best shown in Figure 6. The telltale lamps are mounted in respective circuits controlled by respective push button switches ll, 32, a and 3, best shown in Figures 1 and 3. The telltale lamps are located back of their respective windows I, 2|, II and 22 and illuminate these windows simultaneously with the energizing of selected ones of the signal lamps and since the signal lamps are connectedvin series with their respective telltale lamps should one of the latter fail to glow v the driver will know that the telltale lamp or respe'ctive signal lamp is not of good working order. The motor telltale lamp is connected in parallel with the motor so that it only acts as a pilot light and does not flash.

Mounted on the rear face of the back cover I! a is an electric motor 35 which is secured to a base it sufllcient in length to mount a reduction gear mechanism 31 and a flasher switch 38.

By referring to Figures 5, 6 and 8 it. will be seen that the flasher switch comprises a pair of arms 38' which are fixed to the shaft ll extending from a step-down gear mechanism designated in general by the numeral 4| which mechanism is connected with the motor shaft 42. A roller 48 is mounted on a shaft 44 secured to the II by screws I, concentric with the shaft ll. Inthe present embodiment of the inventionthere are six stationary contacts arranged in pairs, each pair being connected in a respective lamp circuit and the pairs being designated respectively by the numerals ll, 41 and II.

The insulating block ll is provided with a cover M which is held in place by a spring arm II, as

best shown in Figure 5. The cover preferably is formed of insulating material.

During rotation of the arm II the roller 43 will bridge the pairs of stationary switch contacts successively and when the circuit of one pair of the switch contacts is closed by the driver pushing in the respective push button. the roller will close said circuit at the respective pair of switch contacts during each revolution and flash the signal lamps and the pilot lamps of that circuit once during each revolution.

The signal lamps are preferably arranged on the body of the vehicle near the roof, both at the front and the rear to indicate the driver: intention to approaching traillc as well as to following tramc. The siflnal lamps designated by the numerals 5|, '2 and 53 and indicative "Right turn," "Stop and "Left turn," shine through respective windows il, l and I0, best shown in Figure 7. These windows display arrows indicating the direction of the turn,- one of the arrows pointing directly downwardand being indicative of the driver's intention to stop when illuminated.

The stem of'each push button, as best shown in Figure 3, confronts one end of a respective knife switch II which is pivoted centraily as shown at 58 on an ear 5! that projects from the inner face of the front wall I! of the casing. The opposite end of the knife switch is provided with a roller OI which is selectively receivable in spaced notches 8i and I2 formed in a lever I that is pivoted as shown at G4 at one end, on the rear face of the front wall of the casing.

A helical spring '5 is hooked at the end over hooks it and 81 formed rcspectivelyon the lever 68 and on the ear ll to hold the roller yieldably in either one of the notches. The stationary contact Ci of the knife switch is mounted on the rear wall of the casing and is of such length as to be engaged by the knife switch when the reward the knife switches and dislodge any switch which has been previously set by the driver, irrcluding the motor switch. 1

' In operation the driver first pushes the push button 3! to start the motor and insure the selected lamp circuit being alternately opened and closed at the flasher switch. He then presses the push button which corresponds to the turn in-' tended to be madewhereupon the respective turn signal lamps and the respecti'. epilot lamp will be flashed. The drivermay however push in both the motor-switch and the desired signal switch simultaneously by using two lingers of the hand.

In case the driver intends tomake a stop the 7 same procedure. is followed except that the stop indicating push button is pushed-in. After the turn has been completed the driver pushes in the central push'button I and'as previously stated the knife switch which has been set is dislodged to open the circuit-at thispoint.

From the above description it is thought that the construction and operation of the invention is fully understood without further explanation.

What is, claimed is: a

, i 3! In switch apparatus, a casing, a push button secured to the casing having a stem projecting from one wall of the casing, an car on said wall terminating in a book, a switch, blade pivoted centrally on the ear and extending across the push button stem, a lever pivoted on the casing having spaced notches and terminating. in a hook, a helical spring secured at theendstothe hooksof-the ear-and of the lever andholdlnlthe "switch blade in open circuit position, a stationary switch contact extending from said wall of such length as to be engaged by one end ofthe switch blade when the push button is actuated, a roller on the other end of the switch blade'engaged in one of the'notches in the lever when the switch blade is in open circuit position and engaged in the other notch when the. switch blade is in closed circuit position, a second push-button secured to the casing having a stem projecting from said wall underneath that end of the switch blade engageable with the switch contact and adapted to dislodge the"switch b1ade from said contact and dispose the switch blade in open circuit position.

g CARL S. HOMSHER.