US2243595A - Direction signal - Google Patents

Description

May 27, 1941 V BURST 2,243,595

' DIRECTION SIGNAL Filed March 24, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 59 I I w" v 26 33' 7 a0 1+ y 555 1 VENTOR I ATTOR EYS May 27, 1941. A. F. BURST DIRECTION SIGNAL Filed larch 24, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVEN OR ATTORNEYS May 27, 1941. A. F. BURST 2,243,595

DIRECTION SIGNAL Filed March 24, 1939 4' shagts sheet 3 a dmriz' 7 99 ATTORN EYS May 27, 1941.- A. F. BURST DIRECTION SIGNAL Filed March 24, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR 6 w 7 BY W ATTORNEYS Patented May 27, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DIRECTION SIGNAL August F. Burst, Cheektowaga, N. Y.

Application March I24, 1939, Serial No. 263,893

113 Claims.

This invention relates to a direction signal and more particularly to such a signal which is operatively connected with the steering mechanism of an automobile so that upon turning the steering mechanism a predetermined degree to the left or to the right a corresponding visual direction signal is indicated to the drivers of other vehicles and pedestrians, such signal being cancelled upon the return of the steering mechanism to its normal or straightaway driving position.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide such a signal mechanism in which all danger of public confusion is avoided, an inoperative straightaway zone being provided which permits minor steering movements without giving a signal indication and the movement of the steering mechanism beyond this zone insuring an automatic and correct signal of the direction of movement of the car, such signal being positively cancelled upon return of the steering mechanism to this neutral zone. By this means there is no danger of erroneous and confusing signals being'given.

Another object of the invention is to provide manual means for giving either a right or a left signal while the steering mechanism is in its neutral or straightaway zone. This permits the operator of the vehicle to signal his intended movement while standing still, as for a traflic signal, or in advance of the actual intended turn. An important feature of the invention is that the manually signalling means is only operative in the normal or straightaway zone of the steering mechanism and is rendered inl operative and locked against movement when the steering mechanism passes beyond this zone. By this means an erroneous manually given signal is cancelled upon turning the steering wheel beyond the normal or straightaway zone and a correct signalling indication is set up by the automatic signalling mechanism. This interaction of the manual and automatic signalling means therefore avoids the possibility of public confusion in the signalling.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a combined manual and automatic signalling mechanism in which the shift from the manually applied to the automatically applied signal is effected without a flicker, such flicker being confusing to other drivers who might be led to assume a change of intention.

Another aim of the invention is to provide such a signal mechanism which is applicable to a steering member, such as the steering wheel,

which requires a number of turns to swing the steering wheels from the normal straightaway position to the extreme right or left steering position. The signalling system of the present invention is particularly applicable to such steering mechanism and at the same time avoids delicate lost motion devices.

Another object is to provide such a signalling mechanism which can in no way interfere with the steering wheel of the car and hence cannot become a hazard.

Another aim of the invention is to provide such a signalling mechanism which is simple and compact in construction and is composed of few parts which are not liable to get out of order or require replacement; and in which the mechanism can be located immediately under the hub of the steering wheel where the manual control lever is directly accessible and where the casing is inconspicuous and does not interfere with the driving of the car.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a steering wheel having one form of signalling mechanism associated therewith.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary vertical enlarged section, through the steering column and steering wheel and the signalling mechanism arranged under the hub of the steering wheel.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section, taken on line 3-3, Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing the position of the parts after the steering wheel has been turned to the right beyond the normal or straightaway driving position.

Fig. 5 is a vertical section, partly in elevation, of the stationary hub forming part of the signal mechanism.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary horizontal section, taken on line 6-45, Fig. 2 and showing the contacts for effecting right and left turn signals.

Fig. 7 is a'fragmentary vertical section, taken on line 11, Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a small shoe forming a part of the signalling mechanism.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a locking shoe forming part of the signalling mechanism.

Fig. 10 is a top plan view of a steering wheel having a simplified form of signalling mechanism associated therewith.

Fig. 11 is a vertical section lengthwise of .the steering post and showing my assembled signalling mechanism in section.

Figs. 12 and 13 are fragmentary horizontal sections, taken on the correspondingly numbered lines of Fig. 11.

Fig. it is a horizontal fragmentary section, through the steering post and hub of the steering wheel, and illustrating the manner in which the manual steering arm is rendered operative and inoperative.

Fig. is a fragmentary vertical section, taken on line I5l5, Fig. 14.

Figs. 16 and 17 are fragmentary views similar to Fig. 14 showing different positions of the parts.

Fig. 18 is a fragmentary enlarged view similar to Fig. 11 showing the manner in which the electrical contact rings are automatically electrically connected to effect the desired signalling indication.

The signalling mechanism forming the subject of the invention is shown as being mounted on the steering post of an automobile and operated either manually or by the hub of the steering wheel under which the mechanism is located. It will be understood, however, that such an arrangement is arbitrary and that the invention could be applied to operate in conjunction with any part of the steering mechanism, especially if automatic signalling only is desired. In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1-9, the steering wheel 20 is rotatable on the usual stationary post 2| and drives a rotatable column (not shown) housed within the stationary post 2| in the usual manner. The steering mechanism driven by the steering wheel 28 can be of the type which requires several turns of the steering wheel to turn the front wheels of the automobile from their normal or straightaway position to their extreme steering position in either direction. The hub of the steering wheel 20 is shown as being provided in its underside with a radial slot 22, the purpose of which will presently appear.

Below the hub of the steering wheel is arranged a freely rotatable or floating ring 23 which can be made of Bakelite or other suitable insulating material, this ring being rotatably mounted on a stationary hub 24 which is likewise made of Bakelite or other suitable insulating material and is fixed to the stationary steering post 2! so as to be non-rotatable, a set screw 25 being shown. as provided for this purpose. The hub 26 is formed to provide an integral upwardly extending inner sleeve 26 which fits around the stationary steering post 2!, and an annular upwardly extending outer rim 2'! on which the floating ring 23 is rotatably mounted. For this purpose the lower end of the rotatable ring 23 is reduced to provide a groove 28 which receives the upper end of the outer rim 2'! of the stationary hub 24.

At its lower end the internal sleeve 2% of the stationary hub carries a wide collector contact ring which is connected by a wire 31 with the positive side of the automobile storage battery B, the other side of the battery being grounded. The outer rim 2'! of the stationary hub 2 1 carries, on its inner side, a pair of collector contact rings 32 and the upper one, 32, of which is connected to the grounded right turn light 3 1 by a wire 35 and the lower one, 33, of which is connected to the grounded left turn light 35 by a wire 31.

It will be understood that the right and left turn lights 3 can be arranged at the rear or at the front of the car or in both places to indicate to the drivers of other vehicles an intended right or left turn and it will also be understood that if desired dash lamps 38 and 38 can be provided in the lines 35 and 3?, these lamps being located where visible to the driver of the automobile and serving to indicate the signal actually being given by the right and left turn lights 3-! and 35 to other drivers. It will further be understood that the current from the battery B can be supplied through the usual ignition switch (not shown) of the automobile so that when the ignition is turned off the signal cannot be operated.

The rotatable ring is shown as carrying a vertical rock shaft to the upper end of which is secured a switch arm 46, this switch arm having an upward extension il fitting in the radial groove 22 of the steering wheel, and this switch arm also having a knob 58 for the manual operation thereof. The lower end of the rock shaft 45 carries a spring leaf which extends outwardly in opposite directions from the rock shaft One arm of the spring leaf 56 carries a high contact knob and the other arm of the spring leaf carries a low contact knob 52. The high. contact knob M can be swung into engagement with the upper or right turn collcctor ring 32 and the lower knob 21 can be swung into engagement with the lower or left turn collector ring 33. Under either of such conditions the other knob engages the wide central collector ring 39.

It will therefore be seen that while the steering wheel is in. its normal position the switch mechanism can be manually operated. Thus, the operator can swing the knob 18 to the right, thereby moving the rock shaft :25 to partially rotate the floating ring and at the same time rotating the rock shaft G5 to swing the contact 5! into engagement with the upper collector ring 32 and the lower contact knob 52 into engagement with the central contact ring 36. In so moving the switch arm through the knob 18, the switch arm iulcrums in the radial slot 22 provided in the underside of the steering wheel hub. With such manual movement of the knob 58 to the right, a circuit will be established from the battery B, through wire 3 l, wide central contact ring lower contact knob 52, spring leaf 55!, upper contact knob 5i, upper collector ring (32 and through wire and right turn light 34 to ground. This position of the parts is illustrated in Fig. 6.

For autom tic operation it will be seen that turning the steering wheel beyond its neutral zone will effect the same result. Thus. on turning the steering wheel to the right the upward extension t? held in the radial slot 22 causes the switch arm to be thrown to the right and close the cir uit through the right turn signal light 3% in the manner just described. Means must, however, be provided for holding this right turn light on during continued movement of the steering wheel and insuring its cancellation when the steerin wheel is brought back to its neutral or straightaway zone, since oth rwise confustion would result, particularly if the left turn signal could be lighted at the start of the return movement of the steering wheel from its right turned position. Such means also look the arm 46 against manual operation so as to prevent any manual operation of the signals unless the steering wheel is in its neutral or straightaway zone of operation. For this purpose the inner sleeve .26 of the hub 2d is externally threaded, as indicated at this thread being provided with a flat 55 at its center so as to form,

in effect, a mutilated thread. A small grooved shoe 51 rides on the thread 55, this shoe also having a vertical tongue 58 at its outer side, this tongue riding in a vertical groove 59 in a locking shoe 60. This locking shoe 60 is mounted for radial movement in a recess 6| in the rotatable ring 23 and is yieldingly urged toward the steering post by a pair of helical compression springs 62. This locking shoe 60 carries a looking pin 63 which is moved into engagement with one of two locking recesses 64 and 65 provided in the rock shaft 45. In order to normally hold the switch arm 46 in its neutral position a spring loaded ball 10 is shown as provided in the rotatable ring 23, this spring loaded ball engaging a small recess in the outer side of the rock shaft 45 when the switch arm 46 is in a neutral position. This spring loaded ball 10 therefore prevents the switch arm 46 from accidentally moving from this neutral position due to the throw of the car or other factors.

It will be seen that the free movement of the switch arm 46 is determined by the length of the fiat 56 and that at no time can the floating ring 23 be rotated beyond the limit set by the flat 56 unless the switch has been thrown either automatically or by hand to open the circuit through the corresponding signal lamp 34 or 36. In the normal position of the steering wheel and switch arm, the small follower shoe 51 is in engagement with the flat 56 of the thread 55 and hence the compression springs 62 have pushed the locking shoe 60 and this small follower shoe 51 to their extreme inward positions. In such position the locking pin 63 is out of engagement with the rock shaft 45 and hence the switch arm 46 is free to be moved. In this position of the parts the switch arm 46 can therefore be moved either manually, or by turning the steering wheel, either to the right or to the left, this resulting in a corresponding right or left turn signal indication in the signal lights 34 or 36, as previously described. The turning of the steering wheel to, say, the right swings the switch arm 46 to the right, thereby rocking the rock shaft 45 and lighting the right turn signal 34, as previously described. This rotation of the rock shaft 45 moves its locking recess 65 in line with the locking pin 63 of the locking shoe 60.

The continued movement of the steering wheel to the right causes the rotatable ring 23 to rotate, this ring being rotated by the upward extension 41 of the switch arm 46 arranged in the radial groove 22. Since the rotatable ring 23 carries the locking shoe 60 and small follower shoe 51, this rotation of the ring 23 to the right causes the small follower shoe 51 to ride off the flat 56 in the thread 55 and onto the unmutilated portion of this thread. This riding of the small follower shoe 51 onto the unmutilated portion of the thread 55 forces the small follower shoe 51 radially outward and this movement of the small follower shoe 51 is transmitted, to the locking shoe 60 so as to force the locking pin 63 of this locking shoe into the registering recess 65 of the rock shaft 45, as best illustrated in Fig. 4.

In this position of the parts it will be seen that the switch arm 46 is locked against any independent movement and as, say, the right turn signal 34 has been lighted, this right turn signal will stay lit during the continued swinging of the steering wheel for any distance to the right and also during its return to its normal or straightaway position or zone. During such movement of the steering wheel to its extreme steering position and back to its neutral zone, the small follower shoe 51 merely rides along the thread '55, its tongue 58 likewise merely riding along the groove 59 in the locking shoe 60 so as to hold the locking pin 63 of this locking shoe 66 in locking engagement with the rock shaft 45. When the steering wheel is returned to its normal position, the small follower shoe 51 reengages the flat 56, which flat permits the small follower shoe 51 to move inwardly. When the small follower shoe 51 so engages the flat 56, the pair of compression springs 62 force the locking shoe 60 and the small follower shoe 51 inwardly so that the locking pin 63 on the locking shoe 60 is moved out of engagement with the recess 65 in the rock shaft 45. This leaves the rock shaft 45 unlocked and hence free to be rocked manually by manipulation of the knob 48 or by operation of the steering wheel as previously described. The continued movement of the steering wheel to its exact normal or straightaway position swings the unlocked switch arm 46 back to its neutral position in which position the contacts 5| and 52 are disengaged from the collector rings, this cancelling the signal previously given.

In the simplified form of the invention shown in Figs. 10-18, the hub of the steering wheel 20a is provided with a pair of small cylindrical holes 15 in its underside, these holes being located on diametrically opposite sides of the hub of the steering wheel. Below the hub of the steering wheel is arranged a rotating or floating ring 16 of Bakelite or other suitable material, this ring being rotatably mounted on a stationary hub 11 which is likewise made of Bakelite or other suitable material and is fixed to the stationary steering post 2|a by a set screw 18 or in any other suitable manner. The hub 11 has an integrally formed upwardly extending central sleeve 19 which fits around the steering post 2|a and the hub 11 also has an annular upwardly extending outer rim on which the rotatable ring 16 is rotatably mounted. For this purpose the ring 16 is grooved, as indicated at 8|, to receive the upper end of the outer sleeve 80. The central sleeve 19 of the hub 11 carries a metal sleeve 85, the major part of which is provided with an external thread 86 and this metal sleeve being provided at its upper end with a cam 81. The outer rim 86 of the hub 11 carries a pair of collector contact rings 88, 89 arranged one above the other and separated by a relatively thin ring 90 of insulating material. An internally threaded nut 9| of insulating material rides on the threads 86 of the metal sleeve 85, the outer peripheral face of this nut being spaced close to the internal faces of the rings 88, 89 and 90. This nut 9| is provided with one or more radial holes in each of which is disposed a small helical metal compression spring 96 which forces two small metal balls 91 and 98 outwardly. The ball 98 is thereby held in electrical contact with the thread 86 of the metal sleeve 85 and the ball 91 is held in contact with either the upper collector contact ring 68, the lower collector contact ring 89 or the intermediate ring 9|! of insulating material. The central metal sleeve 85 is connected by a wire 99 with the battery B; the upper collector contact ring 38 is connected by a wire I00 with the grounded left turn signal and the lower collector contact ring 89 is connected by a wire |6| with the grounded right turn signal lamp. all in the same manner as with the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1-9.

t will therefore be seen that as the nut 9| is moved to its extreme upward position a circuit will be established from the battery, through wire 99, threaded sleeve 85, ball 91, spring 96, ball 98, upper collector contact ring 88 and through the left turn signal lamp to ground. Similarly in the lowered position of the nut 9! a circuit is established from the threaded metal sleeve 85, through the balls 97 and 98 and intermediate spring 96 to the lower collector contact ring 89 to light the right turn signal lamp.

To rotate the nut 9| in response to the turning movement of the steering wheel Elia, the rotatable ring 16 is provided with a pair of upwardly extending studs 55 which fit into the pair of openings "55 in the underside of the hub of the steering wheel. This rotatable ring it likewise carries a pair of downwardly projecting posts Hit which fit in slideways Iii! provided in opposite sides of the nut 9!. It will therefore be seen that the turning of the steering wheel, through the studs )5, turns the rotatable ring '56 and that the turning of this rotatable ring It, through the depending posts 1%, turns the nut 3!, this nut thereby riding up and down the threaded metal sleeve 19 as the steering wheel is i turned. The threads of the metal sleeve 85 and the nut 9 l' are so arranged that turning the steering wheel to the left causes the nut 9! to move upwardly and establish a circuit through the upper collector contact ring 88. Turning the steer ing wheel to the right from its normal position therefore moves the nut 9| downwardly so as to establish an electrical circuit through the lower collector contact ring 35 It will therefore be seen that turning the steering wheel effects a corresponding signalling indication in the right and left turn signal lamps.

Means are also provided permitting the manual operation of the right and left turn signal lamps during the neutral zone of movement of the steering wheel, the ball 9? in this neutral zone being in contact with the central ring 90 of insulating material so that neither the right nor the left turn. signal is illuminated by the mechanism just described. These means also include a lock for preventing manually signalling after the steering wheel has been turned either to the right or to the left beyond this neutral or straightaway steering zone.

The rotatable ring 16 carries a rock shaft IIil to the upper end of which is secured an arm H l carrying a knob H2. The lower end N3 of the rock. shaft H is square in cross section and its a square opening provided in a rock sleeve IM carried by the nut 9!. The upper end of this rock sleeve 1 I4 carries an arm H5 which in turn carries a contact knob H6 adapted to be rotated into engagement with either the threaded metal sleeve or the upper collector contact ring 88. The lower end of the rock sleeve H4 carries an arm Hi, this arm in turn carrying a knob H8 which is arranged to engage either the central threaded sleeve 85 or the lower collector contact ring 89.

It will therefore be seen that when the arm IN is free to be manually swung from one side to the other, the swinging of this arm to the left will cause the upper knob M6 to engage the upper collector contact ring 88 and the lower knob H8 to engage the central threaded sleeve This will establish a circuit from battery, through the central threaded metal ring 85, contact knob H3, arm H'l, rock sleeve H4, arm H5, knob H6 and upper collector contact ring to the left turn signal lamp. Swinging the arm ill to the right will cause the upper contact knob H6 to engage the central threaded metal sleeve and the lower contact knob H8 to engage the lower collector contact ring 89 so as to illuminate the right turn signal, this position of the parts being illustrated in Fig. 12.

In order to prevent confusion of the public such manual operation of the signal mechanism is permitted only when the steering wheel is in its neutral or straightaway steering zone. When the steering wheel passes beyond this zone, either to the right or to the left, the manual signal arm ill is swung back to its neutral position and locked in this position until the steering wheel is returned to its normal or straightaway driving Zone. For this purpose the inner end of the manual signal arm I I is provided with a central rounding face i251 which, in the neutral position of the switch arm Ill illustrated by full lines in Fig. 14, is concentric with the axis of the steering column and closely fits the concentric face iii of the cam 81 when the steering wheel and ring '36 are moved beyond the neutral or straightaway zone of the steering wheel. From the central curving face I29 the edges E22 and I23 of the inner end of the switch arm III extend obliquely outwardly, as illustrated in Fig. 14. It will therefore be seen that regardless of the position of the arm III it will be swung to its inoperative radial position on encountering the cam 81. Thus, if the manual signal arm I I I has been swung to the right and the steering wheel is then swung to the left, the cam 81 first engages the projection formed by the meeting of the concentrio edge I 28 and the edge I23 of the arm, as best illustrated in Fig. 16, whereupon continued movement of the steering wheel to the left causes the arm I I l to be swung to an inoperative radial position with its curved edge I28 concentric with and following the salient face of the cam 81. If, on the other hand, the arm III has been swung to the right and the steering wheel is turned to the right the inner end of the arm III engages the salient portion of the cam 81, as illustrated in Fig. 17, and again causes the arm to be returned to its inoperative radial position on continued movement of the steering wheel to the right. The movement of the steering wheel beyond its normal straightaway driving zone therefore automatically cancels and renders inoperative the manual signalling mechanism, this movement, of course, also setting up the proper automatic signal circuit as previously described. The width of the central insulator ring 90 is preferably such that shifting from, say, a right manually set-up signal to the right automatically set-up signal is effected without a flicker.

It will also be noted that after the steering wheel has been turned beyond its normal straightaway zone the hand lever H I is rendered inoperative so that confusing signals cannot accidentally or otherwise be given. Thus, on first encountering the cam l5! this lever is brought to a neutral inoperative position. While during the continued turning of the wheel the lever Ill passes beyond this cam and hence could be me.- nipulated until reengaged by the cam on the continued turning of the wheel, such manipulation is ineffective to light the right or left turn signal lights inasmuch as at such time the nut 53! will have been moved either high enough or low enough so that one of the contact knobs H8 or I l 8 of the hand signalling mechanism necessarily engages the ring 99 of insulating material. Since neither knob H5 nor H8 can engage either the collector contact ring 88 or 89 under these circumstances it is apparent that a manual signal could not be given, this avoiding all possibility of a confusing or erroneous signal being given during the turning of the steering wheel beyond its normal or straightaway zone.

In order to prevent the hand lever l I I from vibrating or wobbling it is preferably held in its inoperative position by a spring loaded ball I25, which spring loaded ball is suitably mounted in the rotatable ring 16 and engages a shallow recess in the shaft H when the lever III is in its neutral or inoperative position.

From the foregoing it will be-seen that both forms of the invention provide a very simple, low cost and compact mechanism of inconspicuous external appearance which can be readily applied either as an accessory or as standard equipment to the steering mechanism of automobiles and is peculiarly adaptable to modern cars where the steering wheel is turned several revolutions in each direction to effect maximum turning to the right or to the left. It will further be noted that there is no danger of any confusion of the public in the giving of signals since the manual operation can only be effected within a comparatively small zone of movement of the steering wheel in its straightaway position, after which the effect of the manual signalling arm is completely cancelled and taken over by the automatic signalling mechanism. Further, upon turning the steering wheel a predetermined distance either to the left or to the right a corresponding signalling indication is given and this signalling indication is maintained until the steering wheel is brought back to its straightaway zone of operation. It will also be seen that the signalling mechanism in no way interferes with the free steering movement of the steering mechanism and cannot jam or otherwise disable the steering mechanism this being, of course, of primary importance in the prevention of accidents.

I claim as my invention:

1. A directional signal device for vehicles having a steering mechanism including a rotatable part and right and left turn signal lights, comprising a rotatable member separately mounted immediately adjacent said rotatable part and arranged concentric therewith, means interposed between said rotatable part and said rotatable member and compelling said rotatable member to rotate in response to the rotation of said rotatable part, and means actuated jointly by said rotatable member and said rotatable part for operating and maintaining either said right or left turn signal light in operation upon movement of said steering mechanism in a corresponding direction beyond a normal straightaway zone.

2. A directional signal device for vehicles having a steering mechanism including a rotatable part and right and left turn signal lights, comprising a rotatable member separately mounted immediately adjacent said rotatable part and arranged concentric therewith, means interposed between said rotatable part and said rotatable member and compelling said rotatable member to rotate in response to the rotation of said r0- tatable part, means actuated jointly by said rotatable member and rotatable part for operating either said right or left turn signal light upon movementof said steering mechanism in a corresponding direction beyond a normal straightaway zone, means movable axially of said rotatable part and rotatable member for maintaining either said right or left turn signal light in operation until the return of said steering mechanism to said normal straightaway zone and means for moving said axially movable means jointly in response to the rotation of said rotatable member and said rotatable part.

3. An electrical directional signal device for vehicles having a steering mechanism including a rotatable part and right and left turn signal lights, comprising a rotatable member separately mounted immediately adjacent said rotatable part and arranged concentric therewith, a manual switch connected with said rotatable member for selectively operating either said right or left turn signal light, means interposed between said rotatable part and said rotatable member and compelling said rotatable member to rotate in response to the rotation of said rotatable part, means actuated jointly by said rotatable member and said rotatable part for operating and maintaining either said right or left turn signal light in operation upon movement of said steering mechanism in a corresponding direction beyond a normal straightaway zone and means actuated by said rotatable part for correcting the effect of said manual switch in the event the setting of the manual switch is inconsistent with the direction of the turn made by said rotatable part.

4. An electrical directional signal device for vehicles having a steering mechanism including a rotatable part and right and left turn signal lights, comprising a stationary member carrying three annular collector contact members, the first of said annular collector contact members being energized and each of the other two being respectively connected with a right or left turn signal light, means movable axially of said annular collector contact members for establishing an electrical connection between said first annular collector contact member and either of said other annular collector contact members and means for moving said last means in response to the movement of said rotatable part of the steering mechanism,

5. An electrical directional signal device for vehicles having a steering mechanism including a rotatable part and right and left turn signal lights, comprising a stationary member carrying three annular collector contact members, the first of said annular collector contact members being energized and each of the other two being respectively connected with a right and left turn signal light, a rotatable member separately mounted on said stationary member immediately adjacent said rotatable part and arranged concentric with said rotatable part and annular collector contact members, means actuated by said rotatable member for establishing an electrical connection between said first annular collector contact member and either of said other annular collector contact members upon movement of said steering mechanism in a corresponding direction beyond a normal straightaway zone, means movable axially of said rotatable member for maintaining said electrical connection until the return of said steering mechanism to said normal straightaway zone and means for moving said axially movable means in response to the rotation of said rotatable member.

6. An electrical directional signal device for vehicles having a steering mechanism including a rotatable part and right and left turn signal lights, comprising a stationary hub having a rigid inner sleeve and a rigid outer sleeve, one of said sleeves carrying an energized annular collector contact member and the other sleeve carrying a pair of annular collector contact members respectively connected with said right and left turn signal lights, means for electrically connecting said first annular collector contact member with either of said pair of annular collector contact members and means for moving said last means in response to the movement of said rotatable part of the steering mechanism.

'7. An electrical directional signal device for vehicles having a steering mechanism including a rotatable part and right and left turn signal lights, comprising a stationary hub having a rigid inner sleeve and a rigid outer sleeve, a hellcal thread provided on one of said sleeves, one of said sleeves being formed to provide an energized annular collector contact and the other sleeve being formed to provide a pair of annular collector contacts respectively connected with said right and left turn signal lights, a rotatable member mounted on one of said sleeves, a threaded member riding on said helical thread and arranged between said sleeves, means for rotating said threaded member concentric with said sleeves in response to the movement of said rotatable member, and means moved longitudinally by said threaded member for connecting said first annular collector contact with either of said pair of annular collector contacts.

8. An electrical directional signal device for vehicles having a steering mechanism including a rotatable part and right and left turn signal lights, comprising a stationary hub having a rigid inner sleeve and a rigid outer sleeve, one of said sleeves carrying an energized annular collector contact member and the other sleeve carrying a pair of annular collector contact members respectively connected with said right and left turn signal lights, a rotatable member carried by said stationary hub, a manually cperable switch carried by said rotatable member and interposed between said inner and outer sleeves and selectively connecting said first annular collector contact member with either of said pair of annular collector contact members,

and means actuated by said rotatable part for correcting the effect of said manually operable switch in the event the setting of said manually operable switch is inconsistent with the direction of the turn made by said rotatable part.

9. An electrical directional signal device for vehicles having a steering mechanism including a rotatable part and right and left turn signal lights, comprising a stationary hub having a rigid inner sleeve and a rigid outer sleeve, one of said sleeves carrying an energized annular collector contact member and the other sleeve carrying a pair of annular collector contact members respectively connected with said right and left turn signal lights, a rotatable member mounted at the ends or" said sleeves, means arranged between said sleeves and movable axially of said annular collector contact members for electrically connecting said first annular collector contact member with either of said pair of annular collector contact members, means for moving said last means in response to the movement of said rotatable member, means for moving said rotatable member in response to the movement of said rotatable part of the steering mechanism and a manual switch carried by said rotatable member for selectively connecting said first annular collector contact member with either of said pair of annular collector contact members.

10. An electrical directional signal device for vehicles having a steering mechanism including a rotatable part and right and left turn signal lights, comprising a stationary hub having a rigid inner sleeve and a rigid outer sleeve, one of said sleeves carrying an energized annular collector contact member and the other sleeve carrying a pair of annular collector contact members respectively connected with said right and left turn signal lights, a rotatable member mounted at the ends of said sleeves, means arranged be tween said sleeves and movable axially of said annular collector contact members for electrically connecting said first annular collector contact member with either of said pair of annular collector contact members, means for moving said last means in response to the movement of said rotatable member, means for moving said rotatable member in response to the movement of said rotatable part of the steering mechanism and a manual switch carried by said rotatable member for selectively connecting said first annular collector contact member with either of said pair of annular collector contact members, comprising a rock shaft carried by said rotatable member and arranged parallel with the axes of said sleeves, an external arm fixed to said rock shaft and electrically connected contacts operated by said rock shaft and engageable alternately with said first annular collector contact member and either of said pair of annular collector contact members.

11. An electrical directional signal device for vehicles having a steering mechanism. including a rotatable part and right and left turn signal lights, comprising a stationary hub having a rigid inner sleeve and a rigid outer sleeve, an energized threaded metal sleeve fast to one of said sleeves, a pair of spaced annular collector contact members carried by the other sleeve and connected, respectively, with said right and left turn signal lights, a ring of insulating mate rial between said pair of annular collector contact members, a nut of insulating material carried by said threaded metal sleeve, a pair of electrically connected contacts carried by said nut, one of which contacts permanently engages said threaded metal sleeves and the other of which alternately engages said pair of annular collector contact members and said intermediate ring of insulating material, and means for turning said nut in response to the movement of said rotatable part.

12. An electrical directional signal device for vehicles having a steering mechanism including a rotatable part and right and left turn signal lights, comprising a stationary hub having a rigid inner sleeve and a rigid concentric outer sleeve, an energized threaded metal sleeve fast to one of said sleeves, a pair of spaced annular collector contact members carried by the other sleeve and respectively connected with said right and left turn signal lights, a ring of insulating material between said pair of annular collector contact members, a nut of insulating material carried by said threaded metal sleeve, a pair of electrically connected contacts carried by said nut, one of which contacts permanently engages said threaded metal sleeve and the other of which alternately engages said pair of annular collector contact members and said intermediate ring of insulating material, a ring rotatably fitting the ends of said inner and outer sleeves, means compelling said nut to rotate with said last ring but permitting axial movement relative thereto, means for rotating said last ring in response to the movement of said rotatable part and a manual switch for selectively connecting said threaded metal sleeve with either of said pair of annular collector contact members, comprising a rock sleeve carried by said nut and having an out of round opening therethrough, a rock shaft carried by said last ring and having an out of round extension fitting said rock sleeve, an external arm for rocking said rock shaft and a pair of electrically connected contacts carried by said rock sleeve and engageable alternately with said threaded metal sleeve and either of said pair of annular collector contact members.

13. A directional signal device for vehicles having a steering mechanism including a rotatable part and right and left turn signal lights, comprising a stationary hub having a rigid inner sleeve and a rigid outer sleeve, one of said sleeves carrying an energized annular collector contact member and the other sleeve carrying a pair of annular collector contact members respectively connected with said right and left turn signal lights, a helical thread provided on one of said sleeves, a rotatable ring mounted at the ends of said sleeves, means for rotating said ring through motion derived from said steering mechanism, a rock shaft carried by said ring and arranged parallel with said sleeves, an external manually operable arm fast to said rock shaft, said rock shaft being provided with a pair of circumferentially spaced openings, a radially movable locking shoe carried by said rotatable ring and having a pin arranged to enter either of said openings in said rock shaft, electrically connected contacts carried by said rock shaft and connecting said first collector contact member with one of said pair of collector contact members when said locking pin is in register with one of said openings and connecting said first collector contact member with the other of said pair of collector contact members when said pin is in engagement with the other of said openings, a grooved shoe riding along said thread and having a tongue fitting in a longitudinal groove provided in said locking shoe, said grooved shoe when on said thread holding the locking pin of said locking shoe in looking engagement with one of said openings and said thread being provided at its center with a flat permitting inward movement of said grooved shoe and locking shoe to release said locking pin from either of said holes in said rock shaft and spring means yieldingly urging said locking shoe inwardly.

AUGUST F. BURST.

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