US2013251A - Safety switch - Google Patents

Description

H. C. PIERSON I SAFETY SWITCH 4 Sept. 3, 1935.

Filed Nov. 16, 1955 Inventor C Pierson flllomey Patented Sept. 3, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE third to Reginald Wayne Lockiin, River Junction, Fla and one-third to Henry Earl Pierson, Quincy Fla.

Application November 16, 1933, Serial No. 698,833

lclaim.

' 'This invention relates to safety switches of the kind used on automobiles for automatically interrupting the ignition circuit in the event the automobile is turned over and thereby eliminate the danger ofinJury by fire.

The object of the invention is to provide a switch of this character for grounding the ignition circuit upon the happening of the above contingency; and further to simplify the construction of, and render more positive the operation of such safety devices.

In the drawing:

Figure l is an elevational view of the switch.

Figure 2 is a sectional view therethrough.

Figure 3 is a horizontal section taken on line 3-4 of Figure 2. -Figure4isaviewoftheswitchinaninclined or canted position, with parts broken away to illustrate the operation and Figure 5 is a wiring diagram.

Referring to the drawing by numerals the invention, in the illustrated embodiment thereof. comprises a substantially sealed casing ll of conductive material, having a cap ll, of di-electric material secured on the top thereof by suitable fastening elements It.

A metallic socket II is embedded centrally within the cap II, and has a retaining flange ll integral therewith to firmly secure the socket.

A pendulum i5 is provided with a ball-head l6 engaged in the socket as shown to suspend the pendulum in the casing for universal movement. Integral with socket It is a binding post ll that projects through the top of the cap and to which the wire it is secured by the nut II in the conventional manner.

To protect the above electrical connection an elastic cap or sleeve 20 is provided as shown clearly in Figure 2.

For mounting the device in a vertical position on a suitable part 2! of the automobile, as for example, the instrument board, vertically spaced bolts 22 are provided on the casing II.

In Figure 2 the device is shown mounted, and in Figure 5, B indicates the battery, 23 the ignition switch, it the wire leading from one side of the switch to the coil 2!, while 2 indicates the distributor, all of which is conventional and is embodied in automobile ignition systems.

Normally the pendulum I5 is perpendicular. Should however, as for example, in the event of an accident, the automobile turn over, and the ignition switch 23 is closed a grounding of the circuit will automatically take place, since the pendulum will swing into engagement with the wall of easing It as shown in Figure 4 thus grounding the circuit, as is thought apparent. The circuit being grounded in this manner the 5 motor will stop and the danger of fire thus overcome.

The frictional engagement between ball I and socket I! will be such as to restrain material swinging movement of the pendulum, as might l0 otherwise result from vibration. Also the socket I3 is provided with an internal conical formation 26, the point of which is slightly spaced from the ball l6 and slightly to one side of the vertical diameter of the ball. Thus if the vehicle 15 should turn completely upside down, the ball, resting on this point, would rotate under the action of the weight l5 and thus the weight would strike the casing and thus ground the circuit and the purpose of same is to guard against 20 the pendulum remaining vertical should the automobile turn completely up-side-down, and, under such circumstances to insure a swinging of the pendulum through an arc sufllcient to engage the wall of casing Ill for grounding 5 the circuit.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

A safety switch comprising a casing of conducting material having its upper end open, a 30 cap closing the open end of the casing and formed of non-conducting material, a centrally arranged socket member having its upper portion embedded in the cap with its upper end spaced from the top surface of the cap, the 35 socketed part of the member depending into the casing, a ball fitting in the socket and the end wall of the socket being pressed inwardly into engagement with the ball to hold the ball in place and to prevent too free movement of the ball, a stem connected with the ball and depending therefrom into the casing, a weight connected with the lower end of the stem, said weight engagin the casing when the casing is tilted, a binding post connected with the upper end of 5 the socket member and passing through the upper surface of the cap, and a conical projection on the socket member and depending into the socket thereof and forming a pointed seat for the ball when the casing is inverted whereby the ball will rotate and the weight will engage the casing.

HENRY C. PIERSON.

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