US2939711A - Vehicle actuated controller for sound reproducer - Google Patents

Description

June 7, 1960 M. B. BEATTIE 2,939,711

VEHICLE ACTUATED CONTROLLER FOR SOUND REPRODUCER Filed June 24. 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR.

A T TORNE K5 June 7, 1960 M."B. BEATTIE 2,939,711

VEHICLE ACTUATED CONTROLLER FOR SOUND REPRODUCER Filed June 24. 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. BY NW` ATTURNEYJ This invention relates to United Se@ i0.

VEHrcLnAcrATED CONTROLLER non soUND 4REPRODUCER Malcolm B. Beattie, 166 Pearsall Drive, Mount Veuox1,'N'.Y. Filed June 24, .1953,Se`rt l`4.\.163,`897` 's claims (Cioni-1)" i controls for "sound reproducing apparatus. l

When persons are visiting national parks and other places of interest along a highway, the trip can be vmueh more enjoyable and educational if the tourists are accompanied by someone familiar with the scenery and the history of the places along the highway. In order to obtain this information in some parks and cities there Vare sight-seeing tours where visitors are herded into busses and make guided tours with an announcer pointing out the places ofinterestV and describing past events concerning them.

It is 'an object of this invention toprovide apparatus 'whereby la sound record, such as 'a reel of magnetic tape,

can be played in a private passenger car, using the audio stages of the car radio, "and the playing correlated 'with the distance traveled bythe vehicle, so 'as to describe "the places and sceneryalon'g aparticu'lar highway forwhich the record is intended. In order to have the descriptions coincide with the passing of places described, this invention controls the operation of the sound 'reproducer in accordance with the mileage traveled along the highway.

Since some motorists drive faster than others, it is not practical to make the duration of the descriptions dependent upon mileage. In its preferred construction,'the invention starts each discourse of the sound record in accordance with the mileage traveled by the vehicle along the highway, Avand stops the vsoundrecorder' 'at the end of the `discourse independently of the vehicle speed or mileage.

Another object of the invention is to control I4a sound reproducer `from the odometer of a rnotor `car or other vehicle; and to provide a timer, independent of theodometer, for stopping the sound reproducer. Other objects ofv the invention relate to the production of a control strip for the `apparatus and tothe structureof the 'control strip itself.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will appear or be pointed out as the 'description proceeds.

In the drawing, forming a part hereof, in which like reference characters 'indicate corresponding parts in all the views;

Fig. l is a view, partly in section, showing the 'location indicator and switch means of the invention, together 'with the driving mechanism for the v'location indicator;

Fig. 2 is atop plan view of a portion ofthe apparatus 'shown in Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the location indicator and switch means shown in Fig. AZ, the view being taken at the line 3-3 olf Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a plan view `ofone`of theV strips'ofsh'eetma'- terial used with the location indicator for opening and closing va control circuit;

Fig. 5 -is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional view taken on the 'line 5-5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view through the starting switch and timing mechanism of thewinvention;

2,939,711 Patented Junej7,

Fig.` 7 is- -a top" plan view of the'structure showniin Fiat;

Fig. 8 is an `enlarged `se'c'tional'vicw taken on the line S--S of Fig. 7; and

Fig. 9 isa wiring diagram for the invention.

Fig. `1 shows a speedometer 11 having an Vodometer F12 driven by ashaft y'13. At the bottom of the shaft 13 there is a coupling-i4 with a socket 15 for receiving a com plementaiy end iitting lo of a ilexible shaft such as cornh monly -used for driving a speedometer.`

The end iitting 16 and its liexible shaft maybe fconnected with'the transmission of a motor car, or with some other part of a vehicle whichoperates asa unitwit'h 'the road lwhe-els 'of the vehicle. The end fitting 16 is there fore, connected at least `indirectly to a `road, wheel.

In orderto connect the apparatus of this inventiont the odometer and its driving mechanism, the end fitting 16 islowered enough to connect a power take-oit "18 Vto the -lower end of the speedometer. This `power take-off contains a shaft 2d with an upper end corresponding to the end ltting 16. This upper end of the shaft '20 tits into the socket 15 when the `housing of the power take-off 18 is connected to the lower 'end of the speedometer V11. At the lower end of the shaft 20 there is a socket 22 corresponding to the socket 1'5 of the speedometer, and into whichthe end fitting 16 extends,

A'lhou'sing 23 of the flexible cable is attached to the lower end of the power take-olf 18 in the same way as it was previously `attached 'to the lower end of the speedometer 1-1. The power takeoff contains bevel gearsyzfl which transmit rotation from the 'shaft 20 to a flexible drive :shaft 26. Y

The upper end of the flexible drive shaft 26 is con;- nected,`ithrou`gh a speed reducer, with a short shaft 27 whichiro't'ates in a bearing Z8 'attachedto a base plate 2'9. There are two other bearings 31 and '32 attached to the base plate 29, and there is a lead lscrew 33 which has smooth `end Vportions journalled in the bearings 31 and 32.

' The short shaft A27 is connected with the lead screw T33 by a coupling 35 made "of electrical insulating material. The `electric current is supplied tothe lead screw by a conductor3'6 attached tothe bearing 31.

A location indicator 38 extends around the lead screw 33 and is freely movable along 'the lead screw, the bearing surface of the location indicator having substantially the same diameteras the outside diameter of the lead screw threadsl 'In order to `shift the location indicator 3S along .the lead screw, there is `a threaded rider 40 with portions on both sides ofthe location Vindicator hub and adjacentto the lead screw 33. This threaded'rider 40 is'attached .to the Alocation indicator `38 Ilay pivot pins 42 so that the :rider can Vmove into .and out of engagement with the threads `of the lead screw without moving the location indicator 38.

The construction and 'operation of 'the irider 40 is best shown in Figure 5. In that `figure, the rider `40 `is shown, in full lines, 4in engagement with the lead 'screw 33. From this position the `rider'40 `can be swung Yinto the `dot-and-'dash -lineposition where `it is clear of the lead screw threads lso `that the location .indicator `38, 'and its :rider 40, 'can be shifted vas 'a Vunit along Vthe vl'ead screw '33. Y

The :rider `l0 yhas a spring '44 which holols the `rider 40 in'engagernent with the lead screw .33, or in its Sele vated, 'disengaged position. The spring 44 is'locate'd so that it `movesY beyond fa dead center positionto hold the rider at either end of .its range of movementaround the pivot `pins V42.

AReferring again to -Figure 42, there ris fa-conductor plate 47 lsecured to the base `plate .29, and lthercvis fa `movable contact or brush `48 projecting downwardly Afrom VtheY contacts withvthe conductor plate 47 to close an electric circuit to a starting switch.

In order to control the closing of this circuit, there is a highway control strip 50 placed on top of the conductor plate 47 and held in place by studs 51 which project Vupwardly from the conductor` strip 47. This highway control strip 50 is best shown in Fig. 4. It has legends 53 identifying towns on the particular highway on which it is to be used, and it has a scale 54 showing mileage alQIlgthe highway. This scale is used to set a location indicator 38 when starting along the highway or when ,a vehicle cornes on the highway from some junction which does not correspond with the beginning of the strip 50.

v The highway control strip 50 has holes 52 which have substantially the same diameter as the studs 51 so that the control strip is held by these studs in accurate relation to the lead `screw 33. This highway control strip 50 has openings 55 extending through it. These openings are large enough to permit the brush 48 (Fig. 2) to contact with the conductor plate 47; and the left hand end of each of the openings 55 is located along the mileage scale at a point corresponding with the arrival of the vehicle at some particular point of interest at which it is desirable to have the sound reproducer start a discourse. The stopping, of the sound reproducer is effected by switch means other than the brush 48, and the length of the openings 55 does not have to correspond to the length of the discourse. However, the openings 55 must be long enough to maintain a power supply to the apparatus while the reproducer is operating. Additional length of the openings 55 does no harm.

A conductor 57 connects one end of the conductor plate 47 to a starter switch 59 (Fig. 6). 'This starter switch 59 includes a hub 60 supported by a ball and socket bearing 61 on which the hub 60 is movable with both vertical and horizontal components. An arm 63 extends from the hub 60 and has an abutment 64 at its free end.

The abutment 64 is located above the orbit of another abutment 66 secured to a timing gear 67 at a xed location on the timing gear. A spring 68 urges the hub 60 clockwise about a horizontal axis to normally maintain the abutment 64 in an elevated position above the orbit traveled by the timing gear abutment 66.

, The starting switch 59 includes a fixed contact 71, best shown in Fig. 7; and a movable contact 72 which is fixed to the arm 63. The spring 68 slopes at an angle so as to urge the hub 60 and arm 63 to move clockwise above a vertical axis. This bias holds the contact 72 against the ilxed contact 71 of the starting switch.

The xed contact 71 is carried by a stud 74 supported by a bushing 75 made of insulating material and mounted in a top wall 76 of a controller cabinet 77, which is preferably of non-magnetizable material. The lower end of the stud 74 is connected with a conductor 78. The xed contact 71, at the upper end of the stud 74, is connected to the conductor 57 by another conductor 79, through a terminal block 80. The movable contact 72* of the starting switch is connected by a conductor 81 to a terminal of the timer motor 82.

The 'conductor 78 leads to a magnetizing coil 86 surrounding a shaft 87 which is the axle of the timing gear 67. The other end' of the magnetizing coil 86 is connected with a source of power through a conductor 89.

The armature shaft 90 of the motor 82 has a pinion 91 which meshes with teeth on the periphery of the timing gear 67. The diameter'of-the timing gear` 67 is several times larger than that of the pinion 91 so that the motor 82 makes a number of revolutions for each revolution of the timer gear 67." VThe pinion 91 driving the larger gear .67 is merely representative of speed reducing mechanism for moving the abutment 66 around its orbit at a substantially slower speed than the motor 82.

t The lower end of the armature shaft extends through preferably one having magnetic tape records, with synchronized marks on them corresponding with the mileage indications on the control strip 50. It will be understood that there is a separate sound record corresponding to each highway control strip though some of the records may be on the same'magnetic tape. In order to make the sound reproducer less expensive, it can be connected with the audio stages of the radioV in the car; but the construction of the sound reproducer and the amplifier for it form no part of the present invention.

Figure 9 is a wiring diagram for the invention. A battery 96, preferably the starter battery of the car, has one terminal connected with the conductor 36. The other terminal of the battery 96 is connected with the conductor 89 leading from the magnetic coil 86, and is also connected to one terminal of the motor 82 which is in a parallel circuit with the magnetizing coil 86. TheV sound reproducer 94 is supplied with power, to operate its reproducing head, by conductors 98 andv 99, connected in the circuit across the motor 82 so that power is supplied to the sound reproducer only when the power is supplied to the motor 82. Figure 9 shows the sound reproducer 94 connected with a radio 100 which is preferably the radio of the car in which the invention is used.

When the circuits, shown in Figure 9, are in their normal condition, the supply of power from the battery 96 is interrupted at the location indicator 38 by the presence of a control strip 50 between the location indicator 38 and the contact plate 47. The starting switch 59 is closed but it receives no power from the conductor 57.

Whenever the location indicator 38 reaches one of the openings through the control strip S0, and brush 48 makes contact through this opening with this conductor plate y47, a circuit is established from the battery 96, through the conductor 36, lead screw 33, location inn dicator 38, brush 48, contact plate 47, conductor 57, ter minal block 80, and conductors 79 and 78 to themagnetizing coil 86, which is connected at its other side to the battery 96 by the conductor 89. Since'the starting switch 59 is normally closed, another circuit is established from the conductor 79 through the contracts 71 and 72 of the starting switch, land conductor 81, to the motor 82. This same conductor 81 also supplies power through the conductor `98 to the sound reproducer 94.

. The energizing of these circuits causes the coil 86 to magnetize the axle 87 so that the arm 63 (Fig. 6) is drawn down to bring its abutment 64 into the orbit ofthe timer abutment 66, 4as previouslycexplained. The motor 82 runs and operates both the sound reproducer and the timinggear 67. The discourse on the magnetic tape, corresponding to the particular opening on the control strip, is brought to the occupants of the car. After the discourse `is completed, the time depending upon the length of [the discourse, the timer gear 67 brings the abutment 66 into contact with the abutment 64 of the arm 63 and opens the starting switch 59. lt will be understood that the length of the discourse must not be longer than the time required for the timing gear 67 to make one revolution.

When -the starting switch 59 is opened, the supply of power to the motor 82 and sound reproducer 94V is shut oli but the supply of current to the magnetizing coil is not interrupted until the lead screw 33 has moved the location indicator 38 beyond the end of the opening in the highway control strip.

'This interruption of the circuit of the magnetizing coil 86 permits the spring 68 (Figs. 6 and 7) toY pull the arm 63 upward into its normalY raised position. As Vsoon as the abutment 64 is high enough to clear the timer gear abutment 66, the spring 68 pulls the arm 63 clockwise `and brings the movable contact 72 against the fixed contact 71 to again close the starting switch 59. VThis movement of the arm 63 carries the abutment 64 across the top of the timer gear abutment 66 so that the next time the timer gear is magnetzed the abutment 64 isv drawn downwardly behind the abutment 66. The timer gear 67 can then make substantially a full revolution before its abutment 66 will again open the starting switch 59.

The preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described. Terms of orientation are, of course, relative; and much of the illustration is diagrammatic. Changes `and modifications can be made without departing from the invention as defined in the claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. Controller means for a sound reproducer carried by a vehicle, including a location indicator in the vehicle and moved along a course by mechanism operated from a wheel of the vehicle, a location control card of insulating material with legends thereon indicating locations along a route to be traveled and with openings therethrough at selected places along the route, means for holding said card in a predetermined fixed location with respect to said mechanism that moves the location indioator, an electrical conductor under the card, and extending for substantially the full length of the card, another condnctor carried by the location indicator in position to touch the conductor under the card whenever the indicator reaches one of the openings in the card, a control circuit for the sound reproducer, opened and closed by contact of the location indicator conductor with the conductor below the card, an electric switch having a bias toward closed position and located in the sound reproducer circuit, and operating means for opening said switch after the end of a discourse by the sound reproducer, said operating means including a timer and an abutment actuated by the timer, and means energized by the control circuit for making said abutment effective to open said switch and thereby stop the sound reproducer.

2. The controller means described in claim 1 and in which the device actuated by the timer includes an abutment which moves in an orbit that passes another abutment connected to the switch, and there is a spring urging one of the abutments into position to pass the other abutment, and the means energized by the control circuit is a magnet that pulls the abutment which is urged by the spring into position to strike the other abutment at the end of a cycle of operation of the timer, and conduc- 6 tors which supply power to the magnet from said control circuit when the conductor on the location indicator is in contact with the conductor located under the card.

3. Apparatus for controlling the operation of a sound reproducer at predetermined locations along a road, said apparatus including a support, a mileage card secured to the support in a fixed position thereon and having openings therein and areas of the card separating the dilerent openings from one another, the openings being disposed in a row extending lengthwise 'of the card and the beginning of each opening corresponding to a particular location along the road to which the card corresponds, a traveller movable along a course parallel to the length of the mileage card, mechanism for operation from a wheel of a vehicle in which the sound reproducer is installed, said mechanism including motion transmitting connections that move the traveller along the card in proportion to the distance travelled by the vehicle, a sound reproducer having a motor for operating it, electric switch means that are advanced along the row of mileage card openings by the traveller, part of the switch means being in position to be operated by the engagement in said openings to supply power to start the operation of the sound reproducer, an automatic stop for stopping the sound reproducer at the end of a predetermined period of operation of the sound reproducer, and an abutment movable in response to passage of the traveller, along the parts of its course corresponding to the areas between card openings, for conditioning the sound reproducer to start its next discourse when said switch means engagesthe next opening in the mileage card.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,168,053 Boyden Jan. 1l, 1916 1,411,472 Bovie Apr. 4, 1922 1,553,194 Slowey Sept. 8, 1925 1,906,943 Fisher et al May 3, 1933 2,422,887 Beunte et al June 8, 1948 2,639,924 Bush May 26, 1953 2,669,457 Culbertson Feb. 16, 1954 2,714,010 Gruber et al July 26, 1955

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