US3055997A

US3055997A - Turn signal controlling switch for vehicles

Info

Publication number: US3055997A
Application number: US802571A
Authority: US
Inventors: Swenson Charles
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1959-03-27
Filing date: 1959-03-27
Publication date: 1962-09-25
Anticipated expiration: 1979-09-25

Description

C. SWENSON Sept. 25, 1962 TURN SIGNAL CONTROLLING s WITCH FOR VEHICLES Filed. Mars? INVENTOR sadl Patented Sept.

ane

wcnson, i l). ll

New Filed Mar. 27, 1959, Ser. $02,5 7. 3 12 Claims. ill. Zlltl dlfi) vely vary the duration of display of the turn when he w for example ti i. t g the turn, the speed or" the vehicle, waitir periods at street intersections etc.

in the switch mentioned above and in other switches a of the kind, when the operating handle is displaced into the left or right turn signal flashing position, a current is passed through a resistor to heat and thereby bend a piece of bimetal after a certain time delay causing auto- It; in cancelling of the signals and resetting of the switch.

in my improved switch the handle may be displaced into one of several latched positions on either side of the normal off position, and a part of the resistor connected in the circuit to vary the time delay with the deflection of the handle. If the selected time delay should proved to be too long and the signals remain flashing after the t' 'n is completed, they may be cancelled and the switch reset manually by push button action.

"vi hen it is necessary so make many turns at frequent intervals, for example when driving in a city and in hot weather, residual heat may accumulate in the thermostat and surroundings and cause a too quick response of the bimetal, so that the signals are put out before the turn is completed. A driver using my switch will be able able to cope with this signation by choosing a more deflected posi-- tion of the handle.

A further object is so facilitate manufacture, assembly and connection of the switch by making it everywhere symmetrical with some of the main parts identical.

, Other objects and advantages of my improvements will appear as the specification proceeds and with use of the switch.

1. attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which FIG. 1 is a plan view of the switch with the covers removed; FIG. 2, a sectiona view on the plane 2-2 in FIG. 1; FIG. 3 is a plan view of the switch with the covers and a terminal board removed; FIG. 4 is an inside view of a cover, and HG. 5, an electrical circuit diagram.

Similar reference numerals refer so similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawing, the mechanism is enclosed in a center housing 1, to which identical covers 2 are fastened in assembled relation by means of a screw 3 and nut 4, the screw passing through inwardly extending bosses 5, which are integral with the covers and provided with bearings 6 for a pivot stud 7, the latter having a hole 3 for passage of the assembly screw 3. The pivot stud 7 is secured to an insert 9, which is in turn molded into a Bakelite contact block 10; a tubular handle 11 is screwed into a plate 12, which may be fastened by screws to the contact block 10. The handle is divided into two parts and screwed together to afford ready access to parts inside the handle. A pilot lamp l3, the bulb projecting outside the handle end, is rcmovably held in a bayonet socket 14, the latter fitting slidingly within the handle in 2 contact making relation with the handle wall; the is pressfitted on a magnetic plunger 15, which with a reduced diameter a solenoid l6 provided with a metal jacket, that tits closely within the handle and 'fi which one end of the solenoid coil is soldered, while the other end 37 is further insulated to be connected. as later described. By means of suitable brackets {not shown) the switch may be mounted in the traditional ner on parts of the vehicle, which are grounded or con nected to the negative side 18 of a vehicle battery The center contact point of the pilot lamp l3 contacts the resilient head 20 of a slender brass pin 2i, and the pin, insulated within a sleeve 22 in the plunger 15, passes cczr trally through the latter and into a cavity 23 in the contact block 10 to be connected to the positive side 24 of the battery it? as will be described. A coil spring 25 acting between solenoid and plunger biases a latch pin 26, passed transversely through the inner end of the plunger and. projecting outside the handle through slots 27 in the handle wall, to follow a cam 28, when the handle is displaced. The cam extends inwardly from the housing wall, which is here circular and concentric with the pivot stud "I, and on both sides of an oblong hole 29, the ends of the hole serving as extreme stops for the handle. At angular distances 15, 30 and 45 on either side of center the cam 23 is provided with notches 30 for the follower pin 26 to enter and latch the handle in these positions. Pressure on the pilot lamp releases the pin, and action by a coil spring 31, which is suspended between the insert 9 in the contact block and cars 32 in the housing wall will cause contact block and handle to return to the center position. if the solenoid is energized the plunger wil as drawn farther into it, and the switch will then take i. normal position automatically. The contact block lll carries resilient brass contacts, for which there are formed rectangular recesses 33 to contain contacts 34 and transverse rectangular holes 35 for contacts 36 and 37; each contact has two extrusions 38 designed to make electrical connection with contact surfaces 35 in two identical Bake lite terminal boards 40, one of which is placed on either side of the contact block. The bosses 5 in the covers 2 enter shallow holes 41 in. the terminal boards to hold them by means of the assembly screw 3 and nut 4 against the ears.32 and reinforced sides 42 of the housing wall, in which position there is a suitable pressure between contacts and contact surfaces. The contact surfaces 39 are disposed in the terminal boards on the circular arcs described by the contact points 38, and connections are made, when the handle is in a latched position. A contact 34 will bridge two contact surfaces in the same terminal board to connect a vehicle light either to an external flasher 43 or to an external switch 44 in accordance vith the circuit diagram FIG. 5 and with markings on the switch shown in FIG. 1, while a contact 36, 37 will connect a contact surface in one terminal board with a. contact surface in the other terminal board to function in the solenoid and pilot lamp circuits in a manner to be described. Rivets 45 are passed through the terminal boards, their heads or connecting lugs such as 46 serving as the contact surfaces 39, while other lugs, such as 47, are used on the outside of the terminal boards to connect some of the rivets and reduce wiring and soldering work. Connecting wires are soldered directly to the rivets, passed through openings 48 in the terminal boards and collected into a cable.

Two identical thermostats 49 are constructed by winding an insulated resistance wire 50 on a strip of bimetal 51;

contact clips

52, 53 are provided on the ends of the bimetal and one end 54 of the coil 50 is electrically connected to the bimetal, while the other coil end 55 is insulated from it and grounded to the cover; a thermostat is held securely in a pocket 56 formed inside each cover near the rim with the ends of the bimetal extending outside t e pocket. A leaf spring 57 with a contact point fill on extreme end is fastened betweer plate "ontact block ill to trace on e handle is displaced to either side a coil 50, where the insulation has been re- ;connect the coil to the ground a. to point nal board a leaf spring cont-ct member to a lug as and bent outward to malre bi metal at the clip 593, likewise a contact connected to a lug s2. on either terminal. ent outward without touching the bimetal, to make contact at the clip 53 with the bitends when reaching a certain item-- isolated wire 1'7 from the solenoid is led into the B in the contact block it and soldered to the c contact 3 d, while b as t lamp is ircuit diagram i parts they represent, the position of the contacts Si l, fill, 33 also indicates the position of the handle ill, which is resistance wire fill to the point of contact ill with the deal lest g 57. Heat will be generated at a time depending on the length ot the resistance wire in t. circuit and the bimetal will bend after correspond lag time delay, thereby energizing the solenoid through the bimetal at 33, a contact member all, a lug 62 and the transverse contact 36.

ln the circuit diagram in Fit 5 the vehicle lights are designated L or it according to their place on the left or right side of the vehicle; in the center or neutral position of the landle the lights are all controlled by the external switches 44, which are assumed to be already present in a vehicle.

When the handle is displaced into a latched position on either side of center, the lights on that side of the vehicle will flash, while the lights on the other side will remain under control of the switches td.

1f the driver desires to flash the turn signals for a relatively short time, for example in changing from one traffie lane to another, he will set the handle in a off center position, for a longer period he will choose the position, and with the handle in a off center position for example when a complete turn is to be made, there-will be a still longer delay before the signals are automatically deenergized.

The pilot light will be on, while the turn signals are flashing.

While I have described a specific embodiment of my invention, it is understood that changes and modifications may be made in the mechanism and wiring of the switch within the spirit of the invention and scope of the claims appended hereto.

I claim:

1. In a light controlling switch wherein an operating handle is displaced into contact making positions and automatically released and returned to a normal off position after a time delay, means to vary said delay in relation to the displacement of the handle, in combination with: an operating handle; handle latch. and release means operative the plurality of positions of the handle and including a latch and recessed means therefor, a spring acting in connection with said latch and recessed means to hold the handle in position and electromagnetic means to oppose said spring action and release the handle when energized; an electric resistor heater; a heat responsive element in close association therewith and adapted to connect said electromagnetic means in circuit when is ated to response temperature and to open circuit when orrnal condition; means operated by the handle and a member in continuous sliding contact with l resistor to connect a part thereof in circuit dependon the displacement of the handle and accordingly the rate of heat applied to said element.

T2. in a switch according to claim I manually operated auxiliary handle release means acting substantially in the line at effective relative movement of said latch and reed means.

:1. in a switch according to claim 1 a shape of said latch and recessed means cooperative to hold the handle unyieldingly to fOrCCs acting toward said off position.

A switch according to claim 1 wherein said electroactic means is a solenoid and plunger.

in switch according to claim 1 means including .a .lilld resistor to vary the rate of heat generated in 1'18 corresponding to the latched positions of the handle.

6. in a switch according to claim 5 manually operated auxiliary handle release means acting substantially in line of effective relative movement of said latch and recessed means.

'7. in a switch according to claim 5 a shape of said latch and recessed means cooperative to hold the handle unyieldingly to forces acting toward said oil position.

8. A switch according to claim 5 wherein said electro magnetic means is a solenoid and plunger.

in a light controlling switch for vehicles wherein an operating handle is displaced into a plurality of cont t making latched positions from a normal oil position: an operating handle; an electromagnet; a bimetallic thermostat including a resistor; 21 member movable with the handle and slidingly contacting said resistor to connect a part thereof in a vehicle battery circuit and thereby vary the rate of heat application to the bimetal and the delay in bending thereof with the position of the handle; means for applying the response of the bimetal to actuate said electromagnct and release the handle from its latched positions, and resilient means biasing the handle toward said normal position.

10. in a light controlling switch for vehicles wherein an operating handle is displaced into a plurality of con tact making latched positions from a normal 0ft position: an operating handle; an clectrornagnet; a bimetallic thermostat including a tapped resistor; means for connecting said resistor in a vehicle battery circuit to vary the rate of heat application to the bimetal and the delay in bending thereof with the position of the handle; means for applying the response of the bimetal to actuate said clectromagnet and release the handle from its latched positions, and resilient means biasing the handle toward said normal position.

11. In a light controlling switch for vehicles, wherein connections are made when an operating handle pivoted in the switch casing and extending outside thereof is displaced into latched positions from a normal position: a hollow operating handle; a spring biased sliding member therein; a latch projecting from said sliding member; means with recesses to receive the latch; a magnetic plunger; a coacting solenoid; a bimetallic thermostat including a variable resistance, said resistance and solenoid connected in a vehicle battery circuit to cause, when cnergised, action of the solenoid on said plunger after a time delay varying with the position of the handle; means for applying said magnetic action to release the handle from its latched positions, and resilient means biasing the handle toward said normal position.

12. in. a light controlling switch for vehicles wherein connections are made when an operating handle pivoted in the switch casing and extending outside thereof is displaced into latched positions from a normal position: an operating handle; a magnetic plunger; a coacting solenoid; a bimetallic thermostat including a variable resistance, said resistance and solenoid connected in a vehicle battery circuit to cause when energised action at the solenoid on said plunger after a time delay varying with the position of the handle; means for applying said mag netic action to release the handle from its latched positions, and resilient means biasing the handle toward said position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Kimble Nov. 12, Morse Jan. 11, Dibelka Oct. 20, Malone Aug. 31, Pearl June 7, Hollins Feb. 25, Markham Sept. 22,