US3925752A

US3925752A - Automotive vehicle rotary display device

Info

Publication number: US3925752A
Application number: US384613A
Authority: US
Inventors: William K Jensen
Original assignee: Motors Liquidation Co
Current assignee: Motors Liquidation Co
Priority date: 1973-08-01
Filing date: 1973-08-01
Publication date: 1975-12-09
Anticipated expiration: 1992-12-09
Also published as: CA1008941A

Abstract

A rotatable transparent drum has a plurality of messages spaced therearound representing events which may occur at various remote points in a vehicle. An event sensor, a cam carried on an end surface of the drum, and a switch having a normally closed contact, a normally open contact, and a contact movable by the cam from engagement with the normally closed contact to engagement with the normally open contact are associated with a respective event and cooperate to control a drum drive motor and a lamp in response to the occurrence of the event to rotate the drum to position the message representing that event at a viewing window and to energize the lamp when that message is so positioned. An auxiliary cam and a switch having a normally closed contact and a contact movable out of engagement with the normally closed contact by the auxiliary cam cooperate with the vehicle starting switch and the drum drive motor to rotate the drum to a neutral position when the starting switch is positioned to start the vehicle engine.

Description

Jensen Dec.9,1975

[ AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLE ROTARY DISPLAY DEVICE William K. Jensen, Royal Oak, Mich.

[73] Assignee: General Motors Corporation,

Detroit, Mich.

22 Filed: Aug. 1, 1973 21 Appl. No.: 384,613

[75] Inventor:

[52] US. Cl. 340/52 F; 340/324 R; 340/373; 340/378; 340/412 [51] Int. Cl. G08h 19/00 [58] Field of Search 340/21, 52 R, 52 F, 27 R, 340/225, 324 R, 324 B, 325, 373, 378 R, 379, 412, 414, 415

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,965,727 12/1960 Passman 340/324 R 2,998,596 8/1961 Murphy... 340/324 R 3,329,805 7/1967 Wells 340/324 R 3,660,814 5/1972 Fales 340/52 F 3,835,450 9/1974 Reck 340/52 F 3,839,701 10/1974 Pomerantz 340/52 F BRAKES LOW o|| SEAT BELT Primary Examiner--John W. Caldwell Assistant ExaminerJoseph E. Nowicki Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Howard N. Conkey [5 7] ABSTRACT A rotatable transparent drum has a plurality of messages spaced therearound representing events which may occur at various remote points in a vehicle. An event sensor, a cam carried on an end surface of the drum, and a switch having a normally closed contact, a normally open contact, and a contact movable by the cam from engagement with the normally closed contact to engagement with the normally open contact are associated with a respective event and cooperate to control a drum drive motor and a lamp in response to the occurrence of the event to rotate the drum to position the message representing that event at a viewing window and to energize the lamp when that message is so positioned. An auxiliary cam and a switch having a normally closed contact and a contact movable out of engagement with the normally closed contact by the auxiliary cam cooperate with the vehicle starting switch and the drum drive motor to rotate the drum to a neutral position when the starting switch is positioned to start the vehicle engine.

3 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures US. Patent Dec. 9, 1975 SEAT BELT V VNC moi;

AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLE ROTARY DISPLAY DEVICE This invention relates to an automotive vehicle rotary display device which is responsive to the occurrence of an event for rotating said device to position a message indicating the occurrence of said event at a viewing window and for illuminating said message while at the window.

In the operation of automotive vehicles, increasing use is being made of warning indicating devices for indicating the occurrence of events at remote locations. For each event, there is provided a viewing window and a lamp therebehind which illuminates a message on the window upon the occurrence of the event associated therewith. Because of the increasing number of these warning devices, the space required for providing all the desired warning indications becomes increasingly greater. It is the general object of this invention to provide a rotary display device having a plurality of messages spaced therearound corresponding to preselected events, the device being rotated upon the occurrence of one of the events to position the message corresponding to said event at a display window.

It is another object of this invention to provide a rotary display device having a plurality of messages spaced therearound corresponding to events to be indicated, the device being rotated upon the occurrence of one of the events to position the corresponding message at the display window and to energize a lamp to illuminate the message.

It is another object of this invention to provide a rotary display device which is rotated to a predetermined angular position in response to the occurrence of an event by a drive means energized through a movable contact in engagement with a normally closed contact and a cam associated with said event for moving the movable contact out of engagement with the normally closed contact to deenergize the drive means and into engagement with a normally open contact for energizing a lamp when said rotary display device is at the predetermined angular position.

It is another object of this invention to provide a rotary display device which is rotated to a neutral angular position when the vehicle ignition switch is operated to start the vehicle engine.

These and other objects of this invention may be best understood by reference to the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention and the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an illustration of a viewing station where one of a plurality of messages representing monitored events is displayed upon the occurrence of the associated event;

FIG. 2 is a schematic illustrating the drive means for rotating the rotary display device of this invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates the rotary display device and the switching elements associated therewith for causing rotation thereof and the illumination of a lamp for illuminating the message displayed at the viewing station of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a schematic of the end of the rotary display device and the cam elements positioned thereon as viewed along lines 44 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a schematic of the circuit for controlling the energization of the drive means of FIG. 2 and the illumination of the lamp filament of FIG. 3.

Referring to FIG. 1, a viewing station is comprised of a display housing 10 having a viewing window 12 on the front surface thereof. The display housing 10 is mounted within the vehicle at a location readily observable by the vehicle operator.

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 3, a drum 14 including an insulating end plate 16 and an insulating end plate 18 is carried within the display housing 10 by a shaft 20 secured to the end plate 16 at the center of rotation of the drum 14 and a switch housing 22. The drum 14 may be comprised of a translucent material of a designated color, such as red, or may be comprised of a transparent material. The switch housing 22 is made stationary relative to the display housing 10 and includes a circular bearing surface 23 which engages the outer surface of the drum 14. The shaft 20 is rotatably supported by the display housing 10 such that the drum 14 is rotatable within the display housing 10. A ratchet wheel 24 is secured to the shaft 20 within the display housing 10.

A plurality of messages such as brakes, low oil, seat belt, etc., are spaced around the drum 14 and are sequentially positioned behind the viewing window 12 as the drum 14 is rotated. The messages on the drum 14 represent events which may occur at remote locations in the vehicle, the occurrence of which is to be indicated to the vehicle operator by positioning the message representing the occurred event behind the viewing window 12.

Referring to FIG. 2, the drum 14 is rotated within the display housing 10 by a reciprocating motor 25 so as to sequentially position the messages spaced on the surface thereof behind the veiwing window 12 of FIG. 1. The reciprocating motor 25 includes a coil winding 26 within which a movable armature 28 is positioned, the armature 28 being electrically insulated from the coil winding 26 by surrounding the coil winding 26 by an electrical insulator or by any other well known means. The armature 28 is movable laterally relative to the coil winding 26 and is biased rearwardly thereof by a compression spring 30. Energization of the coil winding 26 effects movement of the armature 28 forwardly into the coil winding 28 against the return force of the spring 30. A ratchet actuator 32 is secured to the end of the armature 28 and includes teeth which engage the teeth of the ratchet wheel 24. The ratchet actuator 32 and the ratchet wheel 24 cooperate to rotate the drum 14 when the ratchet actuator 32 is moved rearwardly, the ratchet actuator 32 sliding over the teeth of the ratchet wheel when moved forwardly.

One terminal of the coil winding 26 is coupled to the positive terminal of a DC battery 34, whose negative terminal is grounded, and theother terminal thereof is coupled to a movable contact 36 of a normally open switch 38. The normally open switch 38 also includes a stationary contact 40. The switch 38 is secured in any well known manner relative to the reciprocating motor 25 so that the movable contact 36 engages an insulating extension 42 of the armature 28. When the armature 28 is positioned rearwardly by the spring 30 as shown, the movable contact 36 is positioned thereby into engagement with the stationary contact 40. The stationary contact 40 is electrically coupled to a circuit to be described in the switch housing 22. If a ground signal is supplied to the stationary contact 40, a circuit is completed to energize the coil winding 26 from the DC battery 34 through the coil winding 26 and to ground through the normally open switch 38. Energization of the coil winding 26 moves the core 28 against the return force of the spring 30. The movement of the ratchet actuator 32 does not produce a rotational movement of the drum 14 as previously described. Upon movement of the core 28 into the coil winding 26 against the return force of the spring 30, the movable contact 36 of the normally open switch 38 moves out of engagement with the stationary contact 40. Consequently, the coil winding 26 is deenergized and the spring 30 returns the core 28 to the rearward position. Movement of the core 28 to the rearward position causes the ratchet actuator 32 to rotate the ratchet wheel 23 and the drum 14 to position a message on the drum 14 behind the viewing window 12 of FIG. 1. Upon the return of the core 28 to its rearward position, the movable contact 36 of the normally open switch 38 again engages the stationary contact 40 to effect energization of the coil winding 26. The cycle is continually repeated as long as the ground signal is supplied to the stationary contact 40 resulting in the rotation of the drum 14 to sequentially position the messages contained on the surface thereof behind the viewing window 12. Upon removal of the ground signal to the stationary contact 40, the drum 14 is no longer rotated and the message appearing behind the viewing window 12 at the time the ground signal was removed is continually positioned thereat. The stroke of the ratchet actuator 32 when the reciprocating motor 25 is energized is an exact distance such that the drum 14 is rotated to position each of the messages thereon in turn behind the viewing window 12.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, a circuit for controlling the energization of the reciprocating motor 25 is illustrated. A plurality of earns 44,, through 44, are positioned at respective unique radial positions on the end plate 18 of the drum 14. Each one of the cams 44,, through 44, is associated with a respective message on the surface of the drum l4 and a respective control switch, such as a control switch 46. The cam 44, is associated with a neutral angular position of the drum 14. For purposes of drawing clarity and simplicity, only one of the control switches such as the control switch 46 is illustrated in FIG. 3, it being understood that all of said control switches are constructed in identical manner. Each of the control switches includes a normally closed contact NC and a normally open contact NO and a movable contact, such as the movable contact 48 of the control switch 46, normally engaging the normally closed contact NC. Each of the control switches such as the control switch 46 is mounted in a position on the switch housing 22 so that the movable contact thereof is engaged by the cam associated with said control switch as the drum 14 is rotated so as to move the movable contact out of engagement with the normally closed contact NC and into engagement with the normally open contact NO. In addition, the relative positions of each of the cams 44,, through 44, and its associated control switch is such that the movable contact of said control switch is engaged by said cam when the message associated therewith is positioned behind the viewing window 12 of FIG. 1. For example, assuming the control switch 46 to be associated with the cam 44,, which in turn is associated with the message LOW OIL, the movable contact 48 is engaged by the cam 44,, and moved out of engagement with the normally closed contact NC and into engagement with the normally open contact NO when the drum 14 is rotated to position the message LOW OIL behind the viewing window 12.

The normally closed contacts NC of the control switches, such as the control switch 46, are all coupled to the stationary contact 40 of the normally open switch 38. The normally open contacts N0 of the control switches, such as the control switch 46, are all coupled to one side of a lamp filament 50 within a lamp 51 through a lamp socket 52. The lamp socket 52 is secured to the switch housing 22 and extends through an opening 53 in the end plate 18. The lamp filament 50, when energized, illuminates the message on the drum 14 which is behind the viewing window 12. The other side of the lamp filament 50 is coupled through the lamp socket 52 to the positive terminal of the DC battery 34.

A plurality of normally open event sensing switches, such as an event sensing switch 56 which monitors oil level, are positioned at remote locations in the automotive vehicle for sensing the occurrence of the events which are to be indicated by the messages on the drum 14. Each of the event sensing switches is associated with a respective one of the events and supplies a ground signal upon the occurrence of said event. Each movable contact of the control switches, such as the movable contact 48 of the control switch 46, is coupled to the event sensing switch which is responsive to the occurrence of the event represented by the message associated with said control switch. For example, the movable contact 48 of the control switch 46 is coupled to one side of the event sensing switch 56, the other side of which is grounded. The event sensing switch 56 may be one of a well known variety of fluid level sensors for sensing the oil level in the vehicle and which closes when the oil level decreases below a predetermined level. The event sensing switch 56 is responsive to oil level so as to close its contacts to thereby ground the movable contact 48 of the control switch 46. Only a single event sensing switch, such as the event sensing switch 56, is shown in FIG. 3 for simplicity of description, it being understood that a plurality of event sensing switches are provided, each being associated with a respective control switch such as the control switch 46 and having identical connections.

Assuming that an event such as low oil level occurs, and further assuming that the low oil message on the drum 14 is other than behind the viewing window 12, the movable contact 48 is in engagement with the normally closed contact NC of the control switch 46. The event sensing switch 56 is responsive to the oil level condition to close its contacts and supply a ground signal to the movable contact 48 of the control switch 46. This ground signal is coupled to the stationary contact 40 of the switch 38 through the normally closed contact NC of the switch 46. This ground signal completes a circuit from the DC battery 34 through the coil winding 26 of the motor 25 of FIG. 2 to effect rotation of the drum 14 as described with reference to FIG. 2. This rotation continues as long as the ground signal is applied to the stationary contact 40 of the switch 38 as previously described. When the message representing low oil is positioned behind the viewing window 12, the cam 44,, associated therewith engages the movable contact 48 which is moved out of engagement with the normally closed contact NC of the control switch 46 and into engagement with the normally open contact NO thereof. The ground signal supplied to the stationary contact 40 of the switch 38 is removed to deenergize the motor 25 and is applied to the lamp filament 50 through the normally open contact N0 of the switch 46 to complete a circuit from the DC battery 34 through the lamp filament 50 which is energized to illuminate the message LOW OIL positioned behind the viewing window 12. It is understood that in like manner, when any of the remaining event sensing switches, such as the event sensing switch 56, is closed in response to the occurrence of the event being monitored, the drum 14 is rotated until the movable contact member such as the movable contact 48 of the control switch 46 is engaged by the cam associated with the message representing the occurrenceof that event to deenergi'ze the motor and to illuminate the lamp to provide an indication of the occurrence of that event.

In order to position the drum 14 in a neutral position and to maintain the lamp 51 deenergized when none of the event sensing switches such as the event sensing switch 56 monitors the occurrence of an event, an auxiliary control switch 58 is provided which is associated with the cam 44,- on the drum 14. The control switch 58 is similar to the control switch 46 but does not include a normally open contact. The control switch 58 includes a normally closed contact NC and a movable contact 60 and is secured to the switch housing 22 such that the relative position of the movable contact 60 and the cam 44, is such that the cam 44,.engages the movable contact 60 when the drum 14 is in the neutral angular position to move the movable contact 60 out of engagement with the normally closed contact NC. The' normally closed contact NC of the switch 58 is coupled to the stationary contact 40 of the switch 38 and the movable contact 60 thereof is coupled to a contact 62 of a switch 64 having a second contact 66 grounded. The switch 64 is a normally open switch operated by the vehicle ignition switch such that the contacts 62 and 66 are closed when the ignition switch is operated to start the vehicle engine. In response to the vehicle operator starting the vehicle engine, the closure of the contacts 62 and 66 operate to supply a ground signal through the movable contact 60 and the normally closed contact NC of the control switch 58 to the stationary contact 40 of the switch 38. Consequently, the motor 25 of FIG. 2 is operative to rotate the drum 14 until the cam 44, engages and moves the contact 60 out of engagement with the normally closed contact NC of the control switch 58. At this time, the motor 24 is deenergized and the drum 14 is maintained in the neutral position until an event sensor, such as the event sensor 56 senses the occurrence of an event to rotate the drum as'previously described and to energize the lamp 54 when said drum is rotated to position the message corresponding thereto behind the viewing window 12. When the drum 14 is in the neutral position, the movable contact such as the movable contact 48 of each of the control switches such as the control switch 46 is positioned out of engagement with the normally open contact NO and into engagement with the respective normally closed contact NC. Consequently, the lamp filament 50 is maintained deenergized.

Referring to FIG. 5, there is shown a schematic of a circuit including three event sensing switches, it being understood that an additional number of event sensing switches may be included corresponding to the number of messages on the drum 14. The event sensing switch 56 monitoring oil level is shown in addition to an event sensing switch 67 monitoring the vehicle seat belt and an event sensing switch 68 monitoring the vehicle brakes. As previously described, the event sensing switch 56 has one terminal grounded and another terminal coupled to the movable contact 48 of the control switch 46. In like manner, the event sensing switch 67 has one terminal grounded and its other terminal coupled to the movable contact 69 of a control switch 70 and the event sensing switch 68 has one terminal grounded and its other terminal coupled to the movable contact 71 of a control switch 72, the control switches 70 and 72 being identical to the switch 46 as previously described. Also as described with reference to FIG. 3, the normally open switch 64 responsive to the ignition switch has its contact 66 grounded and its contact 62 coupled to the movable contact 60 of the control switch 58. All of the normally closed contacts of the control switches 46, 70, 72, and 58 are coupled to the stationary contact 40 of the switch 38. All of the normally open contacts of the control switches 46, 70, and 72 are coupled to one side of the lamp filament 50, the other side of which is coupled to the positive terminal of the DC battery 34, the positive terminal of the battery 34 also being coupledthrough the coil winding 26 of the motor 25 to the movable contact 36 of the switch 38. As can be seen, upon the occurrence of an event being monitored by the event sensing switches 56, 67, or 68 or upon the closure of the contacts 62 and 66, a ground signal is supplied to the coil winding 26 to effect rotation of the drum 14 until the

movable contact

48, 69, 71, or 60 having the ground signal supplied thereto is opened by the respective cam on the end plate 18 of the drum 14. In addition, the lamp 51 is energized if the rotation of the drum 14 resulted from the sensing of an event by one of the event sensing switches 56, 67, or 68 to illuminate the message behind the viewing window 12.

The detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention for the purpose of explaining the principles thereof is not to be considered as limiting or restricting the invention, since many modifications may be made by the exercise of skill in the art without departing from the scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. An automotive vehicle rotary display apparatus for providing an indication of the occurrence of events at remote locations in the vehicle, comprising: a plurality of event sensors positioned at remote locations in the vehicle, each of said event sensors sensing the occurrence of a respective event for generating a signal upon said occurrence; a viewing window; a drum rotatably supported adjacent the viewing window; a plurality of messages spaced around the drum so as to be sequentially positioned adjacent the viewing window as the drum is rotated, each of said'messages representing the occurrence of a respective one of the events; drive means for rotating the drum while said drive means is energized; a plurality of switch means, each of said switch means being associated with a respective one of the events and having a normally closed contact, a normally open contact, and a movable contact normally engaging the normally closed contact; means responsive to the angular position of the drum for shifting the movable contact of the switch means associated with the event represented by the message adjacent the viewing window from engagement with the normally closed contact of said switch means to engagement with the normally open contactof said switch means; means for energizing the drive means, said means for energizing the drive means including a plurality of series circuits coupled to the drive means, each of the series circuits being comprised of a respective one of the event sensors, the movable contact of the switch means associated with the event sensed by said event sensor and the normally closed contact of said switch means, the drive means being energized by the signal generated by an event sensor while the movable contact of the switch means associated with said event engages the normally closed contact thereof; a lamp carried internal of the drum; and means for energizing the lamp, said means for energizing the lamp including a plurality of lamp energizing circuits coupled to the lamp, each of said circuits being comprised of the series combination of a respective one of the event sensors, the movable contact of the switch means associated with the event sensed by said event sensor and the normally open contact of said switch means, the lamp being energized by the signal generated by an event sensor while the movable contact of the switch means associated with said event engages the normally open contact thereof, whereby the drive means is energized in response to the occurrence of one of the events to rotate the drum to position the message representing said event adjacent the viewing window and the lamp is energized to illuminate said message to provide an indication of the occurrence of said event.

2. An automotive vehicle rotary display apparatus for providing an indication of the occurrence of events at remote locations in the vehicle, comprising: a plurality of event sensors positioned at remote locations in the vehicle, each of said event sensors sensing the occurrence of a respective event for generating a signal upon said occurrence; a viewing window; a drum rotatably supported adjacent the viewing window; a plurality of messages spaced around the drum so as to be sequentially positioned adjacent the viewing window as the drum is rotated, each of said messages representing the occurrence of a respective one of the events; drive means for rotating the drum while said drive means is energized; a plurality of switch means, each of said switch means being associated with a respective one of the events and having a normally closed contact, a normally open contact, and a movable contact normally engaging the normally closed contact, means responsive to the angular position of the drum for shifting the movable contact of the switch means associated with the event represented by the message adjacent the viewing window from engagement with the normally closed contact of said switch means to engagement with the normally open contact of said switch means, said means responsive to the angular position of the drum including a plurality of cam means carried by the drum, each of said cam means being operative to move the movable contact of a respective one of the plurality of switch means from the normally closed contact thereof to the normally open contact thereof when the message representing the occurrence of the event with which said switch means is associated is adjacent the viewing window; means for energizing the drive means, said means for energizing the drive means including a plurality of series circuits coupled to the drive means, each of the series circuits being comprised of a respective one of the event sensors, the movable contact of the switch means associated with the event sensed by the event sensor and the normally closed contact of said switch means, the drive means being energized by the signal generated by an event sensor while the movable contact of the switch means associated with said event engages the normally closed contact thereof; a lamp carried internal of the drum; and means for energizing the lamp, said means for energizing the lamp including a plurality of lamp energizing circuits coupled to the lamp, each of said circuits being comprised of the series combination of a respective one of the event sensors, the movable contact of the switch means associated with the event sensed by said event sensor and the normally open contact of said switch means, the lamp being energized by the signal generated by an event sensor while the movable contact of the switch means associated with said event engages the normally open contact thereof, whereby the drive means is energized in response to the occurrence of one of the events to rotate the drum to position the message representing said event adjacent the viewing window and the lamp is energized to illuminate said message to provide an indication of the occurrence of said event.

3. An automotive vehicle rotary display apparatus for providing an indication of the occurrence of events at remote locations in a vehicle, comprising: a plurality of event sensors positioned at remote locations in the vehicle, each of said event sensors sensing the occurrence of a respective event for generating a signal upon said occurrence; a viewing window; a drum rotatably supported adjacent the viewing window; a plurality of messages spaced around the drum so as to be sequentially positioned adjacent the viewing window as the drum is rotated, each of said messages representing the occurrence of a respective one of the events; drive means for rotating the drum while said drive means is energized; a plurality of switch means, each of said switch means being associated with a respective one of the events and having a normally closed contact, a normally open contact, and a movable contact normally engaging the normally closed contact; means responsive to the angular position of the drum for shifting the movable contact of the switch means associated with the event represented by the message adjacent the viewing window from engagement with the normally closed contact of said switch means to engagement with the normallyopen contact of said switch means; means for energizing the drive means, said means for energizing the drive means including a plurality of series circuits coupled to the drive means, each of the series circuits being comprised of a respective one of the event sensors, the movable contact of the switch means associated with the event sensed by said event sensor and the normally closed contact of said switch means, the drive means being energized by the signal generated by an event sensor while the movable contact of the switch means associated with said event engages the normally closed contact thereof; a lamp carried internal of the drum; means for energizing the lamp, said means for energizing the lamp including a plurality of lamp energizing circuits coupled to the lamp, each of said circuits being comprised of the series combination of a respective one of the event sensors, the movable contact of the switch means associated with the event sensed by said event sensor and the normally open contact of said switch means, the lamp being energized by the signal generated by an event sensor while the movable contact of the switch means associated with said event engages the normally open contact thereof; a vehicle ignition switch operable to initiate operation of the vehicle; a neutral position switch having a stationary contact and a movable contact normally engaging the stationary contact; means responsive to a neutral angular position of the drum for moving the movable contact of the neutral position switch out of engagement with the station- 10 position the message representing said event adjacent the viewing window and the lamp is energized to illuminate said message to provide an indication of the occurrence of said event and the drive means is energized by the neutral drive signal upon the operation of the vehicle ignition switch to position the drum in the neutral position.

Claims

1. An automotive vehicle rotary display apparatus for providing an indication of the occurrence of events at remote locations in the vehicle, comprising: a plurality of event sensors positioned at remote locations in the vehicle, each of said event sensors sensing the occurrence of a respective event for generating a signal upon said occurrence; a viewing window; a drum rotatably supported adjacent the viewing window; a plurality of messages spaced around the drum so as to be sequentially positioned adjacent the viewing window as the drum is rotated, each of said messages representing the occurrence of a respective one of the events; drive means for rotating the drum while said drive means is energized; a plurality of switch means, each of said switch means being associated with a respective one of the events and having a normally closed contact, a normally open contact, and a movable contact normally engaging the normally closed contact; means responsive to the angular position of the drum for shifting the movable contact of the switch means associated with the event represented by the message adjacent the viewing window from engagement with the normally closed contact of said switch means to engagement with the normally open contact of said switch means; means for energizing the drive means, said means for energizing the drive means including a plurality of series circuits coupled to the drive means, each of the series circuits being comprised of a respective one of the event sensors, the movable contact of the switch means associated with the event sensed by said event sensor and the normally closed contact of said switch means, the drive means being energized by the signal generated by an event sensor while the movable contact of the switch means associated with said event engages the normally closed contact thereof; a lamp carried internal of the drum; and means for energizing the lamp, said means for energizing the lamp including a plurality of lamp energizing circuits coupled to the lamp, each of said circuits being comprised of the series combination of a respective one of the event sensors, the movable contact of the switch means associated with the event sensed by said event sensor and the normally open contact of said switch means, the lamp being energized by the signal generated by an event sensor while the movable contact of the switch means associated with said event engages the normally open contact thereof, whereby the drive means is energized in response to the occurrence Of one of the events to rotate the drum to position the message representing said event adjacent the viewing window and the lamp is energized to illuminate said message to provide an indication of the occurrence of said event.

3. An automotive vehicle rotary display apparatus for providing an indication of the occurrence of events at remote locations in a vehicle, comprising: a plurality of event sensors positioned at remote locations in the vehicle, each of said event sensors sensing the occurrence of a respective event for generating a signal upon said occurrence; a viewing window; a drum rotatably supported adjacent the viewing window; a plurality of messages spaced around the drum so as to be sequentially positioned adjacent the viewing window as the drum is rotated, each of said messages representing the occurrence of a rEspective one of the events; drive means for rotating the drum while said drive means is energized; a plurality of switch means, each of said switch means being associated with a respective one of the events and having a normally closed contact, a normally open contact, and a movable contact normally engaging the normally closed contact; means responsive to the angular position of the drum for shifting the movable contact of the switch means associated with the event represented by the message adjacent the viewing window from engagement with the normally closed contact of said switch means to engagement with the normally open contact of said switch means; means for energizing the drive means, said means for energizing the drive means including a plurality of series circuits coupled to the drive means, each of the series circuits being comprised of a respective one of the event sensors, the movable contact of the switch means associated with the event sensed by said event sensor and the normally closed contact of said switch means, the drive means being energized by the signal generated by an event sensor while the movable contact of the switch means associated with said event engages the normally closed contact thereof; a lamp carried internal of the drum; means for energizing the lamp, said means for energizing the lamp including a plurality of lamp energizing circuits coupled to the lamp, each of said circuits being comprised of the series combination of a respective one of the event sensors, the movable contact of the switch means associated with the event sensed by said event sensor and the normally open contact of said switch means, the lamp being energized by the signal generated by an event sensor while the movable contact of the switch means associated with said event engages the normally open contact thereof; a vehicle ignition switch operable to initiate operation of the vehicle; a neutral position switch having a stationary contact and a movable contact normally engaging the stationary contact; means responsive to a neutral angular position of the drum for moving the movable contact of the neutral position switch out of engagement with the stationary contact; means responsive to the operation of the vehicle ignition switch to generate a neutral drive signal for energizing the drive means; and means series coupling the last mentioned means, the stationary contact of the neutral position switch and the movable contact of the neutral position switch with the drive means, whereby the drive means is energized in response to the occurrence of one of the events to rotate the drum to position the message representing said event adjacent the viewing window and the lamp is energized to illuminate said message to provide an indication of the occurrence of said event and the drive means is energized by the neutral drive signal upon the operation of the vehicle ignition switch to position the drum in the neutral position.