US2056494A - Electric switch - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 6, 1936. W. TUCKER. JRv..vET AI. 2,056,494

ELECTRIC SWITCH FIG.

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Application June 8, 1934, Serial No. 729,576

1 Claim.

This invention relates to improvements in electric switches and more particularly to collision switches for automotive vehicles.

Among the objects of the invention is to provide means for shutting oi the motive power of any vehicle at the time of collision.

Another object is to reduce the fire hazard in automotive vehicles using highly volatile or explosive fuels.

Another object is to prevent hit and run driving after collisions.

A further object is to provide motor stopping means applicable to conventional motor vehicles.

Other objects and advantages will appear as the description progresses.

Modern motor cars propelled by internal combustion engines involve serious lire hazards if the motors continue to run after serious collisions.

Any highly volatile fuel splashed or leaking out is liable to be ignited either by the motor exhaust or by the electric current of the ignition system of the motor.

The driver of such a vehicle is prevented from driving away after a collision by the fact that the motor cannot be restarted until the collision switch is reset to restore the ignition circuit.

In this specication and the accompanying drawing the invention is disclosed in its preferred form.

In the one sheet of drawings:

Fig. l is a longitudinal section oi.' an electric switch constructed in accordance with this invention, showing the switch closed.

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the relative positions of the parts after the switch is opened by collision.

Fig. 3 is a wiring diagram representing the ignition circuit having this invention combined therewith.

In detail the construction illustrated in the drawing referring to Fig. 1, comprises the cylindrical housing I with the tapering bottom 2, the neck 3 and the attaching lugs 4.

'Ihe housing is closed at/the top by the cover 5 screwed thereto. The terminal 6. has the head 1 within the housing and is drawn tight by the nut 8 threaded on the terminal. The terminal 6 is insulated from the cover by the interposed flanged sleeve 9 with the washer I0 beneath the nut 8 and composed of any suitable dielectric. The line cable I I has the end I 2 encircling the terminal and held by the nut I3.

'Ihe opposed terminal I4 is reduced in diameter: to form the stem I5 and is guided in the dielectric base I6 having the sleeve I1 forced into and xed (Cl. 20D-52) within the neck 3 to insulate the terminal I4 from i the housing I.

The expansive spring I 8 encircles the stem I5 Within the sleeve I1 between the head of the terminal I4 and the base I6 and normally urges the terminal into the housing until stopped by the nut I9 threaded on the stem I5, see Fig. 2.

The circular conducting bridge 26 is iixed upon the stem I5 between the nuts I 9 and 2| threaded thereon. This bridge is'suitably insulated from the stem I5 by suitable interposed dielectric material 22.

The contacting brushes 23 and 24 are xed to the opposite sides of the insulating base I6 in opposed relation to make contact with the bridge 20 to close the electric circuit flowing over the wires 25 and 26 attached to their respective contacting brushes.

The battery cable 21 has the end 26 xed to the stem I5 between the nuts 29 and 33 thereon. The handle knob 3l is threaded on the end of the stem I5.

The opposed terminals 6 and I4 have concave seats in their ends to engage and retain the metal conducting ball 32 therebetween against the expansion of the spring I8. This ball closes the circuit between the cables I I and 21.

In automobiles it is desirable to open both the battery and generator circuits. If the motor is not stopped by the collision displacing the ball 32, the generator would continue to supply current to the ignition circuit; for that reason circuit breakers are interposed in both circuits in wiring the collision switch.

Referring to Fig. 3 the battery cable 21 is connected at 33 to the battery 34 which is grounded at 35. The battery current ilows over the conductor 21, terminal I4, ball 32, terminal 6, line Vcable II, across the manual switch 36, through the ramifications of the conventional ignition unit represented by the distributer 31, thence through the ground 38 back to the battery.

Current ows from the grounded generator 39, over the wire/25, the brush 23, the bridge 20, the opposed brush 24 to the wire 26, thence into the line II, previously traced. The generator current also flows through the ball 32 from the line I I, and the stem I5 to the battery line 21, so that the battery ioats in the'generator circuit in the usual manner.

The collision switch is preferably mounted under the hood of the vehicle in a position remote from the position of the operator so that resetting of the switch is delayed following a collision.

The invention operates substantially as follows: The impact of collision will displace the ball 32 from between the terminals 6 and I4, which permits the urge of the spring I8 to open the generator circuit switch 20-23-24.

Both circuits may be again closed by a downward pull upon the handle 3| which retracts the terminal I4 until the ball 32 rolling to the axis of the tapered bottom 2 rests in the socket in the top of the terminal I4: Gradually releasing the handle 3| will permit the spring I8 to lifnt the ball 32 into contact with the terminal 6 which restores both the battery and generator circuits to operative relation as previously traced. v y

To prevent tampering with the switch, the cover 5 can be officially sealed as at 40.

The same general construction and Inode of operation above described could be made to open or-close valves in steam or air lines, to control power, give alarms, etc.. following shocks suicient to displace the ball 32, without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

Having thus described this invention and its mode of operationfwhat is claimed and desired to secure by Letters Patent is:

A collision switch including a housing having a xed terminal; an insulated terminal slidable in said housing opposite said fixed terminal; a battery circuit including both of said terminals; an electro-conductive ball displaceably held between said terminals;l opposed contacts on said housing in a generator circuit; a conductive bridge on said slidable terminal closing the circuit between said contactors, all so combined and arranged that the displacement of said ball will open said battery and generator circuits.

EDWIN W. TUCKER, JR. BRUNO HEINRICH.

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