US2266201A

US2266201A - Signal

Info

Publication number: US2266201A
Application number: US312560A
Authority: US
Inventors: Wilbur A Heidel
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1940-01-05
Filing date: 1940-01-05
Publication date: 1941-12-16
Anticipated expiration: 1958-12-16

Description

Dec. 16, 1941. w A H v 2,266,201

- SIGNAL Filed Jan. 5, 1940 RNEY Patentecl Dec. 16, 1941 E'I'E* STATES 'N'l" orsici's.

10 Claims.

This application is a Substitute for and. substantial duplicate of applicant's application S. N. 590,124, filed February 1, 1932, and allowed May 28, 1936, which application is now abandoned.

An object of the invention is to provide a signal consisting of means, such as a lamp, from which rays` of light can' emanate, a housing or casing for said means or lamp having an open side, which will desirably be closed by a transparent or translucent cover such as glass, shutter means between the lighting means or lamp and open side for arresting the travel of light fromsaid lighting, means or lamp through or past the open side Of said housingor casing and means for actuating said shutter means to cause rays of light emanating from the lighting means or lamp to intermittently emanate from theopen side of said housing or casing, whereloy to provide intermittentilashes of' light for producing a Warning signal.

A. further object is to provide an autonmtive vehicle stop light signal consisting of means, such asa lamp, from which rays of light' can emanate; a housing or casing for said means or lamp having an open side, a pair of rotatable shutters or disks arranged adjacent each other and between ao the lighting means or lamp and open side' for arresting the travel of light from said. lighting means or lamp through" or past the open side of said housing or casing, each of said shutters or disks having spaced apart operiingstherethrough, ,5

and means for revolving Said shutters or disks in opposite directions to cause openings in thedifferentshutters or disks to aline and rays of light emana'ting from said lighting means or lamps to pass through said alining openings as said shut ters or disks revolve and tothus intermittently cmanate from the open side of said housing or casing, whereby to provide intermittent hashesof light for producing a warning signal. l

A further object is to provide a signal as stated, wherein a plurality oi" spacedapart opening's in a shutter or disk of the signal will each be pro- Vided with' a colored, translucent covering member and the covering member over one of said 1 shutter or disk openingS will have color different g t from that of the covering member over another of said shutter or disk openings, whereloy the .ii'ltermittent flashes of light provided can be any single color or any plurality of diiierent colors flashecl in a preferred sequence to produce a dei155,

sired elfect.

A further object is to provide a signal as stated, wherein the means for actuating or revliling the shutter means or disks will be an. ordinary type of electric motor. ,o 60,

Eulil A still further object is toprovide a signal as stated, wherein will be incorporated improved featuresand characteristics of construction novel both as. individual entitiesof'the signal and in combination with eachother, o

With the above objects in view, as' well as others which will appear as the specification pro'- ceeds, the, invention comprises the construction, arrangement and combination of parts as now' to be fully described and as hereinaiter to loespefically claimed, it being understood that' thedisclosure lierein is Inerelyiillustrative and intended in no way'in a limiting' sense, changes in details of construction and" arrangement of parts' being permlSsible so long as within the spirit of: the invention and the scope of the claims which follow.

In, the accompanyingelrawing forming apart of this specificatiorn i Fig. 1 is a fragmentarysectional view Of' a" signal made according to the invention;

- Fig. 2`is a sectional view, partially in elevation andon a reduced scale, of the' whole of the signal whichis disclosed in Fig.. 1;

Fig'; 3 is an elevational View of the signal as: seen from the front thereof; i Fig. 4 is a transverSe sectional View ta kenas on line l-4 in .Fig. 2;land

Fig. is a transverse sectional- View taken asonline 5-5 in li'ig. 2.1 l 7 v Wipth respect to the dratving and numterals Of" reference thereon,- ID denotes adesirable metallic casing housing a bull); or lamp ll` therein, said lamp' being monted in the casing as denoted' generally at IZ.. The casing lil includes an' open side 13" which is covered by an ordinaryens or pane I4 of transparent or translucent glass or other suitable material.

automotive vehicle, as at IG, but itis to be under-` stood that the present signal can be employed asa warning signal generally and need not neceslamp I-l.

A pair of rotatable sliutters Or disks, repre sented I8 and IS respectively, are 'arrange'd ad- .jacent each otherand between the lighting means orlamp ll and the open sideofthecas V ing to arrest the travel oflight from said lighting means or lamp through or past theopen side- IS ofthe casing lil and each of the shutters or disks 48 and l 9 has spaced apart openings, indicated 20 and 2! respectively, therethrough, VA'SJ' disclosed, each. shutter or disk has four openitigs .oi-

The lens or pane- I'4-is mounted in the caSing as derloted generally at l-5'.` 7 A A `s disclosed,the c asiiig l'with lamp or bulb I l and' transparent ortranslucent cover I 'l con stitutesan autornotivevehicle stop light' or signal" a'clapted to be supported upon therear of an" about the shutter or disk. The pane 14 is solid glass which completely covers the open side 13 of the casing 10.

The

disks

18 and 19 are adapted to be revolved in opposite directions to cause the

openings

20 and 21 in the different shutters or disks to aline to thus allow rays Of light emanating from the lighting means or lamp to pass through alining openings as the shutters or disks revolve, whereby said rays of light will intermittently emanate from the open side of the housing or casing and through the pane 14 to provide intermittent iiashes Of light for producing a warning signal. A stationary axle or shaft for the shutters or disks [8 and 19 is denoted at 22. Said shaft 22 is .supported at its outer end upon the pane 14 and at its inner end fixedly carries a member 23 which provides the field, of the permanent magnet type, of an ordinary electric motor far actu ating the shutters or

disks

18 and 19.

As disclosed, the outer end of the stationary shaft 22 has 'a reduced threaded extension 24 which passes through a threaded opening in an taxternally threaded fitting 25. A thumb nut 26 upon the threaded extension 24 and turned down against the tting rigidly fastens the axle or shaft 22 to said fitting. 'The fitting 25 freely passes through an opening 26111 arranged ccntrallyof the pane 14 and is held in stationary relation to said pane by means of annular, internally threaded washers 27 which are screwed on member 25 and engage the inner and outer surfaces of the pane 14. The member 23 providing the field of the electric motor has a central threaded opening 28 arranged upon an inner reduced threaded extension 23 of the axle or shaft 22 and. a thumb nut 30 upon said threaded extension 29 and turned down against the member 23 rigidly fastens said member to the axle or shaft 22. 7

The shutters or

disks

18 and 19 may be of any. preferred material suitable to their purpose. Said shutters or disks are spaced apart slightly and are mounted upon the stationary axle or shaft 22 to be perpendicular thereto and parallel with the pane 14. As discloSed, the shutter or disk. 18 includes a hub 31 which is perpendioular to the body of the shutter or disk and extends inwardly therefrom, said hub 31 being rotatably mounted upon the axle or shaft 22 between the member 23 and an inner shoulder 32 upon said axle or shaft. The shutter or disk 19 includes a hub -33 which is perpendicular to the body ofthe shutter or disk and. extends outwardly therefrom, said hub 33 being rotatably mounted upon the axle or shaft 22 between the iitting 25 and an outer shoulder 34 upon said axle or shaft.

. The-member or field 23 includes an annular flange 35 which concentrically surrounds the hub 31 in spaced relation thereto, and the externally threaded portion of the fitting 25 which is carried by the annular threaded members 27 is in spaced relation to the hub 33 'as will be moreclear from Fig. 1.

The stationary axle or shaft 22 can be carried solely by the pane 14 as disclosed and in turn stationarily carry the member 23 or an additional support (not shown) for said member 23 can-be provided.

- The electric motor including the field 23 may also include an ordinary type of armature 36 with insulated windings 37, commutator 38 and being designated and 41. The armature is a three-pole ai'mature and the commutator is a three-segment commutator, although the structure can be varied in this regard. The armature 36 and the corrimutator 38 are fixed to rotate with the hub 31 but separated therefrom by insulation 42 and said armature and commutator are themselves separated by insulabody of the shutter or disk 10 with the hub 33,

tion 43. The brushes 39 are insulatively inounted in the member 23, as at 44, to engage the commutator in ordinary fashion and the armature issurrouncled by the annular flange 35 of said member 23.

The lead wires 40 and 41 extend from a source of electric current supply which may be the same source as that for lighting the lamp 11. When the electric circuit including said lead wires 40 and. 41 is closed, the electric motor will, obviously, be energized and the armature 36 will thus be caused to rotate to in turn rotate the hub 31 and with it the shutter or disk 18, upon the stationary axle or shaft 22.

An annular L-shape web 45, which connects the body of the shutter or disk 18 with the hub 31, is constructed to provide a bevel gear 46 which meshes with a pinion 47 fixed upon a .pin 48 carried by the stationary axle or shaft 22. An annular L-shape web49, which connects the is constructed to provide a bevel gear 50 with which the pinion 47 meshes. The L-shape web is disposed inwardly from the body of the shutter or disk 18 and, the L-shape web 49 is disposed outwardly from the body of the shutter or disk 13 to space the bevel gears 46 and 50 apart in order that these may properly engage the pinion 47. The

shoulders

32 and 34 cooperate with the member 23 and the hub 31 and the fitting 25 and the hub 33, respectively, to maintain the bevel gear and the pinion in the desired relation as will be understood.

It will be evident that upon rotation of the shutter ordisk 18 by energization of the electric motor in the manner as set forth, to revolve the shutter or disk 18, the hub 31 and the bevel gear 46, said bevel gear 46 will act upon the pinion 47 to cause this to be revolved and said pinion will in turn act upon the bevel gear 50 to revolve the shutter or disk 19 and the hub 'said shutters or disks in opposite directions,

the openings in the different shutters or disks will successively aline, `as will be apparent and. allow rays of light emanating from the lighting .means or lamp 11 to pass through the alining ti' openings as the shutters or disks relatively re- Gif" duc1ng at warning signalvolve to thus intermittently emanate from the open side of the casing 10, throughthe transparent or translucent pane 14 as shown, whereby to provide intermittent flashes of light for pro- As shown, each of the spaced apart openings 20 in the inner shutter or disk 18 is provided 'sirably being of Celluloid and attached against with a colored, translucent covering member, represented 51, said covering members 51 dethe inner surface of the shutter or disk 18 by means of rivets 52- ..Each of the covering members 5l may be a different color, or all of said covering members may be the same color, or

brushes 39, ordinary lead Wires to said brushes one or a plurality may be the same color while others are of variantcolor. SIt has been found green, one yellow and one blue.

-In Fig. the arrows indicate that the shutters or disks ia and li are travelling in opposite directions. The rays of light shine through the openings in both shutters or disks and through the colored covering members when said :shutter -or disk openings totally:or partially aline. The Shutters `Or disks 'iS and is are of course composed of opaque material, metal or fibre, ,for instance, and the effect of relative rotation of the shutters or "disks in the arrangement :as disolosed is the production of eight flashes of four different colors in four different positions for each complete revolution of the shutters or disks. Other eects too innumerable to be mentioned can evidentlybe produced, as, for example, an optical eiiect of rotation, the dead portions travelling one way and the colors travelling the opposite way, etc.

-In cases where all of the coveringmembers -5i are the Same color, the intermittent flashes of light will also be a single color. By theemployment of covering members Ell having several different colors, a plurality of different colors can be flashed through the pane Hi to produce any desired and predeterminedeffect.

It will be apparent that by varying the color scheme of the covering members EI, warning signals of a variety of different colors and combinations of colors can be produce. Also, the signalling effect can be varied by altering the relative rates of speed of rotation of the shutters or disks IB and IS. As disclosed, said shutters or disks travel at equal speed in opposite directions. Obviously, the arrangement could be such that the shutters or disks will rotate at unequal rates of speed either in opposite direction or in the same direction.

In practice, when the signal is employed as an automotive vehicle stop light signal, it may be that the lamp II is normally dark, but becomes energized, together with the electric motor of the signal, when the vehicle operator depresses his brake lever to close an electric circuit, or Circuits, including the lamp li, as well as the lead wires it and 4!. Immediately upon energization of the electric motor, the shutters or disks IB and 19 commence to revolve and upon de-energization of said electric motor, said shutters or disks immediately come to rest.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangement and proportions of the parts, without departing from the cope of applicant's invention, which generally stated, consists in a device capable of carrying out the objects above set forth, in the parts combinations of parts disclosed and defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A signal device having in combination, a housing having an open front side and being substantiaily circular in vertical cross section, a lens covering said open side, a lamp disposed axially of said housing in its rear portion, shutter means between said lamp and said lens for intermittingly arresting the travel of light from said lamp through said lens and means between said lamp and lens supported by said lens and spaced from said housing for rotating said shutter means to 'l `aicause flashes :of light to pass J'froin tsaid lainp pair" o f oppositely rotating shutter members each llaving openings therethrough between said lamp and said open- 'side, :actuating means for otating said sh ut ter members in opposite directions to interrupt the light from said lamp and cause zii ashe o'flig'ht to pass through said lensgancl :means-carriet l --by said lens for supportingsaid :Shutter members and actuating means, said 'shutter members and actuating means bein :.space frornsaid housing.

3. A-sign'al device having in combination, a housing having an open 'front side, a transparent cover for said side, "a lamp disposed centrally of said housing and about the same horizontal axis as saiii hous;ing;rotatable shutter members havin'g openings "ther-ethroug'h between said lamp and cover and. an electric motor betweensaid. lamp an-'d cover having an armature shaft Coaxial V/ th. saifi iamp and Shutter members for rotating said 'Shutter inembersin opposite directions -to cause iiashes of light to pass from said lamp -throu`g'h" said cover,said motor being spaced from said hotising.

r i. Ji. signal device having in combination, a

hous'ing 'llavin'g a Cylindrical front portion and.

'liavi ng an open front side, a transparent -or -translucent cover closing: said side, alamp-mountod in said. housing, rotatzible shutter members between said lamp and said cover and spaced from the wall of. said housing, and means spaced from aid housing for rotating said shutter members, said lamp, shutter members in opposite directions and last mentioned means being coaxial with said housing, said shutter members acting to cause intermittent flashes of light to be transmitted through said cover.

5. A signal device having in combination, a housing having an open front side, a transparent cover for said open side, a lamp disposed in the rear portion of said housing, a member supported by and centrally of said cover, a shaft secured in said member, a pair of rotatable disks mounted on said shaft in front of said lamp for rotation thereon, said disks forming shutters and. having circumferentially spaced openings therein disposed between said shaft and the edges of said disks, said openings in one disk registering with the openings in said other disk, a motor mounted on said shaft, and means driven by said motor for revolving said disks in opposite directions, vvhereby intermittent iiashes are transmitted from said lamp through said cover, said lamp and shaft being arranged coaxially, with said housing.

6. A signal device having in combination, a housing having a central horizontal axis, a, lamp mounted in the rear of said housing coaxially therewith, said housing having an open front side, a transparent cover for said side, a member mounted in said cover coaxially With said housing, disk members journaled on said member for rotation about the axis thereof and between said spaced from said housing, said disks respectively having circumferentially spaced openings therethrough which register in the rotation of said Vi disks whereby fiashes of light are intermittently transmitted through said cover.

7. A signal device having in combination, a housing formed about a horizontal central axis, a lamp mounted in said housing, said housing having an open front side, a transparent cover closing said side, a shaft carried by said cover and. projecting rearwardly into said housing, a pair of disks each having a portion journaled on said shaft for rotation thereori and disposed. between said lamp and cover, a motor mounted on said Shaft spaced from said housing and having a rotatable portion Secured to one of said disks, said disks having adjacent portions formed as gears and a pinion carried by said Shaft between and meshing with said gears, whereb,v both disks are driven in opposite directions 10-3 said motor, said disks having respectiveiy circumferentially spaced openings adapted to register, said disks thus forming shutters whereby flashes of light are transmitted through saideover, said' lamp and shaft being arranged coaxially with said housing. o

8. A signal device having in combination, a housing having B. central axis and an open front end, a lens closing said front end, a lamp mounted in the rear of said housing and coaxial therewith, B. bearing supported by and centrally of said lens, a shaft carried in said bearing coaxial with said housing and projecting rearvvardls thereinto, a pair of disks each having a portion journaled on said shaft for rotation thereon, a motor mounted on said shaft and having a rotatable portion connected to one of said disks and gearing between said disks whereby both disks are driven by said motor in opposite directions, said disks each having circumferentially spaced openings therethrough between said shaft and the edges of said disks, said openings registering in the respective disks, said disks thus forming shutters whereby flashes of light are transmitted through said lens.

9. A signal device having in combination, av housing having an open front side, B. lens closing said front side, a lamp mounted in said housing, a member mounted and carried in said lens, rotatable disks between said lamp and lens mounted on said member, said disks having openings therethrough between said member and their edges, said openings in one disk registering with those in another and an actuating means mounted on said member independently of said housing for rotating said disks in opposite directions so as to cause registration of said opening at very small intervals.

10. A signal device having in combination, a housing having an open front side, a lens closing said side, a lamp in the rear of said housing, a member supported by said lens in front of said lamp, rotatable disks mounted on said member having circumferentially spaced openings therein between said member and their edges, the openings in one disk registering with those in another and an actuating means for said disks also mounted on said member and disposed in front of said lamp for rotating said disks in opposite directions, said rotating disks causing ilashes of light to be transmitted through said lens.

, WILBUR, A. I-IEIDEL.