US1674022A - Automobile signal device - Google Patents

Description

0. S. SCHAIRER AUTOMOBILE SIGNAL DEVICE June 19, 1928.

Filed Nov. 19, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet l F m H mm M $06M m. OY/ 1 o 2 5 4 w s g 2 m Offo S. Schairer Patented .lune 19, 1928.

' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

OTTO S. SCHAIRER, 0F PLUM TOWNSHIP, ALLEGHENY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA, AS-

SIGNOR, IBY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO EXCEL PRODUCTS CORPORATION, A COR- PORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

AU'roMomLE SIGNAL- nnvron.

Application filed November 19, 1923. Serial No. 675,484.

My invention relates to signals of the kind that are used on automobiles and other vehicles to indicate that the vehicle is to slow down or stop, or is to turn either to the right or left.

The object of my invention is to provide a device of this character that shall be very simple,.compact and economical in constructjion and neat and attractive in appearance,

byv reason of the arrangement and small number of its parts, and that shall give unmistakable and distinctive indications of the intentions of the driver, preferably visible from both the rear and the front of the vehicle. 4

In carrying outmy invention I employ a signal casinghaving-in either or both its front or rear faces three windows that are )rovided with distinctive cautionary, and directional indicators. The middle window is preferably red and is provided with the cautionary indicator-in the form of the letter S or the word Slowlor Stop. I The outer'windowsare preferably green and are provided with arrows or Vs respectively pointing to the right and. to" the left. \Vith- "in the casing is a small lamp for illuminating the windows or indicators and shutters for selectively controlling the illumination of the directional indicators, the shutters being actuated by electromagnets. By properly controlling the circuits thesmall lamp is used to illuminate the indicators to show whether the vehicle is to slow down, or' to turn to the right or to the left, and the signals are made more effective by their distinctive colors and their relative positions' In the drawings, I Figure 1 is a view, partly in side elevation and partly-in longitudinal vertical section, of a signal box embodying my invention,

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section therethrough taken on the line IIII of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a view, in lateral section therethrough, taken on the line III-I II of Fig. i l I Fig. 4 is a view, in vertical longitudinal section, through a signal box embodying a modified form of my invention,

Fig. 5 is a view, in side elevation thereof, Fig. 6 is a view, in vertical lateral section therethrough,

taken on the line VI-VI of Fig. 4,

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view, in plan, of an actuating device comprising a part ofthe signal box embodying my invention, and,

Fig. 8 is a schematic diagram of connecand inwardly extending side flange portions 15 upornwhich is mounted a base 16 for receiving a small incandescent lamp 17 that constitutes the single light source provided 2 in the signal box and that islocated substantially centrally of the casing cover.

The cover portion 13 is provided also with a plurality of upwardly and inwardly extending end flange members 18,=the side portions of which are adapted to receive screws 14 to secure them to the ends of the casing '13. The portions 18 are spaced a suitable distance apart and extend substantially one third of the length of the casing from each end thereof and are further adapted to support a portion of an operating mechanism to 'be hereinafter. described in detail.

.Eachof the side walls of the casing 13 is provided with a plurality of substantially rectangular openings 19 therein, three in -number. Each opening is covered by a transparent sheet 20 of celluloid or thin glass. each of the outer openings 19 there is located a sheet of translucent green celluloid 21,

I having a design 22 thereon in the form of a horizontally outwardly extending arrow of a deep black color. On the inner side of the sheet .20 on the intermediate opening 19 there is located a translucent sheet 23 of red celluloid having a design 23 thereon in the formof the letter S of a 'deepfblack color. When illuminated by the relatively high candle power source of light 17'', the outer or Onthe inner side of the sheet 20 on directional indicators will present a substantially black and horizontally-extending arrow against a green bac (ground, and the intermediate or cautionary indicator will present a substantially black 8 against a red background.

Frames 94-, of relatively thin sheet metal and of substantially rectangular contour. are provided to hold the pairs of transparent and of colored celluloid sheets against the inner surface of the side walls of the 'asing, rivets .25 being employed to hold the frames Q-t tightly against the celluloid sheets and against the casing.

Two vertically extending rods 26 are located within the casing 13 and are spaced substantially equi-distantly from each other and from the end walls of the casing. The upper end of each of the rods 26 is located in a suitable opening in the top portion of the casing 13 and the lower ends thereof are located in the end portions of the respcc tive flanged parts 18. A pair of relatively light metal shutter members 27 are pivotally mounted on each of the rods 26 and are each of such height as to extend from the top surface of the flange portion 18 to the top part of the casing 13. The free verti all edge of each of the shutters 27 is provided with a small integral laterally-extending flange portion '28 that normally engages a vertically extending stop member 29. of Z-shape. suitably secured to the inner surface of the side portions of the casing 12, substantially as illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawing. A small helical spring 31 is mounted on each of the rods 26 and is effective to yieldingly hold the two shutters in their normal alined positions substantially as illustrated in Fig. 2.

A small electro-magnet 32 is supported by each of the end walls of the casing 13 midway of its height. The electro-magnet 32 may be of any suitable or desired construction. but is here shown as substantially ironclad and held against the inner surface of the casing 123 by a small machine screw 33. Each electro-magnet 32 has a horizontally movable core member 34, the, outer end of which is connected to the adjacent respective shutters 27 by pairs of links 35. the ends of which are. respectively pivotally secured to a lag on one of the shutters 27 and to the end of the core 34. This construction provides in effect a toggle joint that is effective. upon energization of the electro-magnet; 32. to move the cooperating pair of shutters 27 from their alined positions as illustrated by the full lines in Fig. 2 to the position illustrated by the broken lines in the right hand side of the same figure.

If desired. the movement of the core member may be arrested by an integral portion of the electro-magnct structure or the outer ends of the shutters 27 may strike angularly disposed and vertically-extcnding reflector members $56 that have one edge secured to the end portions of the casing. The angular position of the members 36 is such that they are in substantial alincment with the shutters 27 when the two members are in operative engagement in substantially the positions illustrated in Fig. The inner surfaces of the shutters 27 may be polished and will provide reflecting surfaces for light produced by the light source 17 whereby the signal indirations of V-shape adjacent the ends of the casin will be illuminated when the light source it is energized and the shuttcrs .37 are in their normal operative positions indicated by the broken lines in Fig. 2.

Each of the electro-magncts 32 is provided with a laid wire 37. the outer end of which is secured to a terminal member 318 comprising a machine screw insulatcdly mounted in the flange portion 1H and a plurality of nuts mounted thereon.- The other end of the winding of the electro-magnct connected to the casing. prmiding a ground return.

Any suitable or desired terminal construction may be employed but I have illustrated a specific embodiment thereof t'l)lll])ll ll]g a longitudinally-cxtending grooved bar 2ft). of electriwinsulating matcriah located intermediate the side portions of the base 1:! and secured against the bottom thereof by screws ll. The grooved bar 35) provided with a plurality of terminal members. each comprising a short machine screw it! and a plurality of nuts 43 mounted thereon, together with a spring contact member if. one end of which is securely held by the nuts -13 against the upper surface of the bar 3t. The free ends of each of the spring contacts 44 are respectively adapted to engage one of the terminal structures 38 or the central terminal of the lamp socket 17.

A plurality of lead wires 45 are connected to the respective terminals 4; and may be combined into a unitary mulliple-conductor 46 outside of the casing 12). from which the condpctor 40 may extend to a suitable source of supply of electric energy 47 and suitable control devices 48. shown schematically only in Fig. 8 of the drawings.

Referring Inore particularly to the modified form of device as illustrated in Figs. 1 to 7 inclusive, substantially the same form of base portion 12, of casing 13. and of terminal structures supported thereby is en'iployed as was described for the device illustrated in Figs. 1 to 23 inclusive. A single light source 17 is provided. mounted in a base 16 substantially centrally of the casing 11 as was hcreinbefore described- Each of the side walls of the casing has a plurality of substantially rectangular openings 19 therein. There are preferably three openings 19, the twoouter ones being provided with directional indicators and the intermediate opening being provided with cautionary indicators to be hereinafter described. Relatively thin translucent sheets 21 of the translucent green celluloid are so perforations 22, adapted to act as directional indicators, are in the form of a horizontally and outwardly extending V and the intermediate perforation 23*, adapted toact as a cautionary indicator, the form of the letter S. The upper and the lower edges of each of the plates 49 are bent to channel form-with overhanging edges to constitute a supporting means and track for a movable shutter 51 located within the inturned edges of the member 49. The member 51 has the intermediate portion thereof cut out in substantially lozenge form, as illustrated more particularly in Fig. 4 of the drawings, the horizontal dimension of the portion cut out being slightly less than the distance between the perforations of V shape in the member 49 whereby they are normally covered. The edges of the members 49 adjacent to the 'ends of the casing 13 are held tightly against the side portions of the casing by rivets 52.

Electro-magnets 32 are secured against the inner surface of each of the end portions of the cover member 13 by small machine screws .33, the electromagnetsbeing mounted, (substantially midway) of the height of the casing. A movable core member 34 for each electro-magnet 32 has its outer end secured. against a laterally-extendin bent metal bar 53, the outer ends of whic *are secuiedin any suitable manner to the respective movable shutters 51. Ahelical spring 54 isprovided between each bar 53 and the outer end of the electro-magnet 32to return the core members 34 and the shutters 51 to their normal inoperative positions. .This position of each ofthe shutters is illustrated in Fig 4 of the drawing, in which position the two signal indications 22 are both covered and are therefore not visible. 1

Referring more particularly to the device illustrated in Figs. 1' to 3 inclusive, the operation thereof is substantially as follows; the respective parts of the device being illustrated in their normal inoperative positions by the full lines in Fig. 2 of the drawing. If the operator of a motor vehicle with which my signal device is associated desires to signal to the operator of a following vehicle that he intends to stop, he suitably actuates a switch that may be located closely adjacent to one of the foot pedals of the motor vehicle whereby a circuit is closed through the light source 17. This switch is preferably of the type disclosed and' claimed in a co-pending application, Serial No. 653,500, filed July 24, 1923, by Harry R. Van Deventer and Robert M. Varren. I have illustrated a plurality of switches 48 in Fig. 8 of the drawings that may be opel' ated as desired by an operator.

When the intermediate switch 48 is closed a circuit is established through the lamp 17 only, and an observer will see a black 8 against a red background, thus providing a visual cautionary indicator. A resistor 55 substantially the sameresistivity as one of the electro-magnets 32, thereby ensuring substantially the same' brilliancy of the lamp when it is energized in conjunction with one of the electro-magnets 32 or when it is energized alone. V

In case the operator wishes to'signaltothe operator of a following vehicle that he intends to make a right hand turn, he actuates the right hand switch-48 or a suitable switch box to energize not only the light source 17 but also the right hand electromagnet 32. Upon energization of this elec tro -magnet it attracts its armature core, causing it to move inwardly and to move the shutters from their'normal alined positions to the positions illustrated by the may be connected in this circuit and have broken. lines in Fig. 2. In this position the inner surfaces of the shutters 27 and of the members 36 act as reflecting surfaces for the rays of light from the light source 17 and the two outer openings in the front and the rear walls bfthe casing adjacent to the right hand 'endyof the casing arethereby illuminated, and observers at the front and at theback of the vehicle will see a black .8 against a red background and a black arrowagainst a green background.

the latter pointing in the direction of the intended turnof the vehicle.

In case the operator desires to signal that he intends to make a left-hand, turn, the left hand switch is actuated to energizethe light source 17 and the left hand electromagnet, thereby causing not only the central compartment, but also the left hand compartment to be illuminated An observer will see a black S against a red background and a black arrow pointingto the left against a green background,.thereby giving a composite visual indication comprising a cautionary and a' signal or directional indicator.

Hence when the operator of a vehicle carrying a signal device embodying my in- .vention signals his intention to make a right hand or a left hand. turn he does so by a visual two part signal comprising two distinct elements: first, by two signal indicators differing in color, second. by a directional indicator whose position relatively to a cantionary indicator indicates the direction of an intended turn of the vehicle.

Referring more particularly to the modification illustrated in Figs. -L to (i inclusive, the same type of switch is employed to control the energization of the respective signal indications as has hcreinbefore been described. If the ope 'ator energizes the single light source only, a single cautionary signal indication, comprising a red 3, is given to an observer standing either in front of or behind the motor vehicle with which the signal device is operatively associated.

In case the operator desires to signal his intention of making a right hand turn he actuates one of the switches -18, or a switch box, to energize not only the single light,

source but also the right hand elcctro-magnet 312. The movable core of the electromagnet is attracted and moves the two shutters 51 toward the ight by means of the bar 513. The right hand signal indication of V-shape, is thereby uncovered and the light from the single light source shines through the directional indicator of V'-shape and through the celluloid of green color at. the end of the casing as well as through the indicator of S-shape and the red celluloid. In this case we obtain the illumination of two signal indications, a cautionary one a red 8 and a directional one comprising comprising a green V. In case of a lett hand turn, the single light source and the left hand electro-magnet 32 are simultaneously energized whereby the shutters 51 are moved to the left uncovering the left hand V and again producing two distinctive indicators o't' dill'ercnt colors.

My invention thus provides a relatively simple devi e, of compact structure. coinprising a single light source. only that is eti'ective to illuminate either one or a plurality of distinctive signal indications to indicate intended movements of the vehicle. My device comprises also a plurality of electa'oauagnets selectively energized to render visible signal indications illuminated by a. single light source centrally located relatively to the signal iudi ations that are of ditl'e-rent colors and that are spe ifically positioned relatively to intended turns of the vehicle.

Various modifications may be made herein without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention. and I desire that only such limitations shall be placed thereon as are imposed by the prio' art.

I claim as my invention:

A. signal box comprising a casing having trout and rear walls. a plurality of syn] metrically spaced visual indicators in each of said walls. a single light source lo ated substantially centrally in said casing. a plurality of movable shutters in said ca ing. having reflecting surfaces. a combined shut.- ter-stop and reflector member for each of said shutters. and means for moving said shutters against said stops to permit said light source to render visible a plurality of indicators. said shutters serving also as reflectors when so moved.

In testimony whereof. I have, hereunto subscribed my name this 13th day of November, 1923.

()"TO S. SCHAlRlCR.

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