US1138834A - Direction-indicator for vehicles. - Google Patents

Description

I W. W. BELL. L

DIRECTION LNDICATOR FOR VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 16, 1914.

1,18,834. Patented May11,1915.

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W. W. BELL.

DIRECTION INDICATOR FOR VEHICLES.

' APPLICATION FILED MAR. 16, I914.

Patent-ed May 11, 1915.

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WILLIAM W. BELL, F ALA'MEDLA, CALIFORNIA.

DIRECTION-INDIGATOR FOR VEHICLES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 11, 1915.

Application filed March 16, 1914. Serial No. 824,906.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM W. BELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Alameda, in the county of Alameda and State of California, have invented newand useful. Improvements r-in Direction- Indicators for Vehicles, of which the following is a specification. i I

This invention relates to improvements in direction indicators for vehicles and the like. The object of the invention is to provide simple, practicable and compact electrically operated mechanism of the character described -Wl1lCl1 is particularly adapted to be attached to the rear of an automobile.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mechanism which is automatic in operation, and by which the direction of the car will be indicated to another car following in the rear.

Another object is to provide means for automatically breaking the circuit to render the mechanism inoperative when the engine of the car is stopped.

Another object of the invention is genorally to improve this class of apparatus so as to reduce the number of accidents and generally decrease the difficulties of the traffic problem in crowded districts.

Further objects will hereinafter appear.

The invention consists of the parts and the construction and combination of parts as hereinafter more fully described and claimed, having reference to the accompanying drawing in which- Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of the electrical circuits and connections by which the electromagnets of the direction indicat- 40 ing mechanism are operated. Fig. 2 is a detail view of one of the electromagnets. Fig. 3- is a front view partly broken away showing the direction indicating device. Fig. 4 is a plan section on line X-X, Fig. 3.,

Referring to'the drawings, A indicates a rectangularly shaped casing which is divided into upper and lower compartments 2 and 3, in the upper compartment of which is formed a glass covered display opening 3 50 Suitably secured in the lower compartment of the casing is a plurality of angularly d-is posed solenoid magnets 4, 5 and'6, and pivotally mounted as at 7, 8 and 9 in juxtapositionwith relation to same are a plurality of 55 display plates 10, 11 and 12.

The several. signs shown are adapted t '6 as shown.

be elevated into the dotted line position shown at 13, or into register with display opening 3, and are provided for the purpose of displaying such words as Stop, Right and Left, or the like, which when raised into register with display opening 3 will immediately indicate to a car approachingfrom the man the intended direction or movement of the car displaying the sign.

' Each magnet is provided with a movable core, as indicated at 14, 15 and 16, and each core is in turn connected-through links 17, 18 and 19 with lever extensions 20, 21 and 22 formed on the respective plates 4, 5 and The weight of each display plate is just a little inexcess of, the combined weight of the core and'link to which it is attached, and the plates will thus act as a counterweight to normally retract the cores from their respective magnets as indicated in Fig. 3. Means have however been provided for the purpose of balancing the weight between the plates and the connected movable cores. This is accomplished by forming a pocket 23 in each core into which shot or like material indicated at 24 may be placed for the purpose of securing the desired balance. The upper end of the pocket is covered by a movable plate 25, and this prevents the counter-weighing material 24 p from being displaced or lost. A perfect adj ustment between the movable cores and the display plates may thus be secured, and also makes it possible to vary the size and weight of the several parts. The downward movement of the several cores, together with the elevated position of their connected signs is in each instance regulated and adjusted by a set-screw 26 with which the respective cores engage when attracted by the coils.

The several magnets here shown are automatically operated for the purpose of displaying the respective signs, and this is ac complished in the following manner: Referring to Fig. 1, B indicates the steering post of a car, and 27 a lever arm which is secured to and movable with same. Suitably secured within the arc of travel of arm 27 is a pair of flexible contact, members 28 and 29, and similarly positioned with rela-. tion to the brake lever. C of the car is another flexible contact memberBO. Magnet 4 is connected on .one side through wire 31 with contact 29, and magnet 6 is connected on one side through wire 32with contact 28.

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' The opposite terminals of the respective magnets are in turn connected through a wire 33. Magnet 5 is connected on one side through wire 34 with the positive side of a suitable form of battery, indicated at 35, and the opposite terminal of magnet 5 is connected through wire 36 with contact member 30. The steering post B, together with the brake lever C is connected through wires 37 and 38 respectively with one side of an automatic circuit-breaker 53, hereinafter to be described, and the other side of the circuit-breaker is connected through'wire 40 with the negative side of the battery.

41 indicates in general a secondary circuitbreaker which consists of a magnet 42 and an armature 43. The armature here shown is slidably mounted on a pair of rods 44, and coil springs 45 surrounding the rods are interposed between the magnet and the armature for the purpose of normally holding this in engagement with a pair of contact members 46 and 47. Magnet 42 is connected on a shunt circuit through wires 48 and49 with magnet 5, and contact member 46 is connected through wire 50 with wire 33, while contact member 47 is connected through wire 51 with wire 34.

The function and operation of the secondary circuit-breaker just referred to will later be described. The main circuitbreaker indicated at 53 consists of a shaft 52 which may be direct connected with the engine of the car, indicated diagrammatically at D. Surrounding said shaft, and insulated from same is a cylindrically shaped.

casing 53, and pivotally secured to shaft 52 as at 54 is a weighted lever 55, which is adapted to be thrown outwardly into contact with the inner surface of the cylindrical casing when shaft 52is revolving to form a circuit between wires 39 and 40, and, which is also adapted to be retracted to open-the circuit between said wires when the engine is stopped. This is accomplished by a spring 56 which isadapted to normally retract the lever when the shaft is stationary. The circuit between the battery and the several parts of the mechanism will thus be' automatically opened the moment the engine of the car is stopped, thus rendering the mechanism inoperative and preventing any waste of current from battery 35. v

The operation of the device will be as follows: If the car istravelin straight ahead no circuit will be closed, and displayed. The moment the driver turns the wheel to the left, a circuit will immediately be'closed through post B, lever 27 contact 29, wire 31, magnet 4, wire 50, contact 46, armature 43, contact 47, wires 51 and 34 to the battery. From the battery the current will pass out through the negative side wire 40, casing 53, weighted lever 55, shaft 52 and wires 39 and 37 back tothe post. The circuit is thus closed through no sign will be magnet 4 which energizes same, causing core 14 to be retracted, thus transmitting motlon through link 17 and lever 20 to raise plate 10 into display position, or in register with opening 3. The sign, or plate displaying the word Left will remain in this posltion as long as the car is turning to the left, or as long as arm 27 is in engagement with contact 29. The circuit will, however, be open the moment arm 27 and contact 29 are separated, which takes place the moment the car straightens out. The circuit is thus automatically opened, causing magnet 4 to be deenergized. Core 14 is thus released and al- 'wire :40, casing 53, weighted lever 55, shaft 52, wire 39, wire 37, post B, arm 27, contact 28, wire 32, magnet 6, wire 33, wire 50, contact 46, armature 43, contact 47 wire 51 and wire 34, which in turn returns to the battery. The circuit through magnet 6 thus established will elevate the plate having Right printed thereon into register with display opening 3*, and the plate will be allowed to drop into the lower part of the casing the moment magnet 6 becomes deenergized. The circuit magnet 5 for the purpose of displaying the stop sign is closed the moment brake pedal C is depressed in the direction of arrow at. This circuit can be traced as follows: Commencing with the negative side of. the battery the current passes through wire40, casing 53, weighted lever 55, shaft 52, wire 39, wire 37 lever 0, contact 30, wire 36, magnet 5 and through wire 34 back tothe positive side of the battery. Magnet 5 is denergized, however, the moment the brake pedal is released, and the Stop sign is similarly allowed to drop into the lower compartment of the casing raising its'connected core into the position shown.

The circuit-breaking mechanism indicated at 41 is provided for the purpose of releasing either the left or right display sign when it is desired to stop the car while either. one. of these signs are being displayed, for instance, supposing the car is turned to the ioo left around the corner and an obstruction is met which makes it necessary to stop the car could-not be accomplished if the Left display plate was not released. The automatic release of same is accomplished in the folcircuit controlled by lever C and contact 80.

masses 'gagement with contact 29 and that the cir cuit is closed through magnet 4 which holds the display plate having Left marked thereon in the elevated position. An obstruction is met which necessitates the stopping of the car. The brake-pedal C is consequently depressed in the direction of arrow a, and the will thus immediately be closed. Magnet 5 being on this circuit is energized by the passage of current through same, and magnet 42 being shunted on said circuit through wires-48 and 49 will also be energized. The core of magnet 42 will conse uently attract armature 43, thus opening t e circuit betweem- contacts 46 and 47. The circuit through magnet 4.can only be closed when armature 43 is in engagement with contacts 46 and 47. It can thus be seen that the moment armature 43 is attracted by the core of magnet 42 the circuit through magnet 4 will immediately be opened and this will consequentlybecome denergized, and permit the sign having Left displayed thereon to he released and dropped into the lower compartment of the casing. The action is similar when magnet 6 controlling the dis play sign having Right marked thereon is energized. If the car is turning to the right and the connected sign is displayed, and it is necessary or desirable to stop the car, it is immediately accomplished by the closing of the circuit through magnet 5 through the medium of brake lever C and contact 30. The circuit through magnet, 6 is broken through circuitsbreaker 41 by the opening of the circuit through contacts 46 and 47.

It is thus impossible to display more than one sign at one time, and it is furthermore impossible to apply the brake lever and stop the car whether traveling on the right-handcurve or the left-hand curve without displaying the stop sign. The vehicle fol1owing in the rear is thus given a warning, and collisions of any kind will be prevented.

The mechanism constructed as here shown is absolutely automatic in operation; as the direction of the car actuates the sign-displaying mechanism, no thought or care on the part of the driver is necessary," and the most positive result is secured.

The centrifugally actuated circuit-break ing mechanism, indicated at 53 being directly connected to the engine, or operated or driven by same, will keep the circuits closed as long as the engine is running, but will immediately open the circuit to the battery the moment the en he is stopped, as

spring 56 will immediate y attract the lever and break the circuit between shaft 52 and casing 53. I This will render the mechanism inoperative and prevent any unnecessary waste of current. It can easily be understood that if a circuit-breaker or similar means is not provided it would'be possible that the driver might leave the car with the front wheels slightly turned or the brake set. This would in either instance, close the c rcuit through the battery and leave some sign in the display position which is absolutely unnecessary, and might cause the battery to run down in a short time.

The pivotal mounting of the display signs, together with the weight of same eliminates the use of extra counterweights or retracting springs, thus simplifying the construction and reducing the cost of manufacture.

The materials and finish of the several parts of the mechanism may otherwise be such as the experience and judgment of the manufacturer may dictate, and I wish it understood that various changes in form, proportions and minor details of construction may be. resorted to within the scope of the appended claims, and that I do not wish to limit myself to the specific design and construction here shown.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: p

1. The combination with a car, of a casing secured to the rear end of same, a .plurality of signs pivotally mounted in said casing, a solenoid magnet connected to each sign, a source of current supply means automatically controlled by the steering and braking mechanism of the car for closing a circuit through one or another of said magnets to raise the connectedsign into display position, said means operating to prevent the display of more than one sign at the time, and comprising a core magnet connected in shunt circuit with one of the solenoid magnets, an armature actuated by the core magnet, and a pair of contact members with which the armature is adapted to engage to open or close the current through the other solenoid magnets.

2. The. combination with a car, of a oasing secured to the rear end ofsame, a plurality of signs pivotally mounted in said casing, a solenoid magnet connected to each sign, a source of current supply means auto- -matically controlled by the steering and braking mechanism of the car for closing a circuit through one or another of said magnets to raise the connected sign into display position, said means operating to prevent the display of more than one s1gn at the time, and means for opening the circuit %III brake, and a single electrically energizable means common to and independent of and for controlling each of the direction signals whereby upon each operation of the stop signal said single means will be actuated to open the circuit through either of said direction signals.

4. In combination with a car and a series of signs, a solenoid magnet for operating each sign, and means controlled by the steering and braking mechanism for closing a circuit through said magnets to move the sign thereof to display position and to prevent the display of more than one sign at a time including ,a core magnet connected in shunt circuit with one of the solenoid magnets, an armature actuated by the core magnet, and a pair of contacts with which the armature isadapted to engage to open or close the circuit through the solenoid magnets. 1

" signals, solenoid magnets for actuating said signals by movement of the steering mechanism, a stop signal, a solenoid magnet for actuating the stop signal by movement of the car brake mechanism, and electrically energizable means common to and independent of the direction signal magnets and operated upon energization of the stop signal magnet to open the circuit through both of said direction signal magnets, said circuit breaker being independent of the circuit closing means.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand-in the presence of two subscribing witnesses. V

WILLIAM W. BELL.

Witnesses JOHN H. HERRING, W. W. HEALEY.'

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