US2445873A - Inertia-actuated switch - Google Patents

Description

July 27,1948. A. c. CHAMBERS INERTIA-ACTUATED swncn Original Filed Aug. 15, 1939 INVHVTOR ALLA/v CZ CHAMBERS l C-CL.7 (a:

Patented July 27, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE lNERTIA-AGTUATED SWITCH Allan 0. Chambers, South Bend, Ind., assignor to Bendix Aviation Corporation, South Bend, lnd., a corporation of Delaware 3 Claims. (Cl. 202-52) An object of my invention is to provide a simple and easily serviced spring and inertia operated switch operating mechanism, said mechanism being adapted for use as a part of means for controlling the operation of the brakes of a motor vehicle.

This invention relates to switch mechanism adapted for use in the power plant of an automotive vehicle, particularly a power plant including a brake controlling no-roll mechanism such as that disclosed in my Patent No. 2,391,129, dated December 18, 1945. The instant application is a division of the latter patent and said patent is a division of my Patent No. 2,297,692, dated October 6, 1942.

The most important object of my invention is to provide a simple, compact and easily serviced switch mechanism including inertia operated means for controlling the switch opening movement of a movable contact of the mechanism.

The above and other objects and features of the invention will appear more fully hereinafter from a consideration of the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein one embodiment of the invention is illustrated by way of example.

This drawing is a sectional view disclosing the details of a preferred embodiment of the inertia operated breaker switch mechanism constituting my invention.

Describing this switch mechanism it will be assumed that the same is incorporated in the brake controlling no-roll mechanism of an automotive vehicle and that said vehicle is headed to the left with respect to the figure of the drawing.

Referring now to the drawing a lever 220, weighted at one of its ends by a pendulum weight 22l, is pivotally mounted at its other end upon a pin 222, mounted in a casing 224. A multi-diametered pin 226, slidably mounted at one end in a boss 228 extending from the casing and extending through an opening in the shank of the lever 220, is urged to the right by a spring 229 to force an electrical contact 230 into engagement with an electrical contact 232 said contacts being secured respectively to the pin 225 and to a pin 2 extending through a bushing 236 mounted in the casing 224.

The contact 230 is preferably electrically grounded by the grounding of the casing 224. When the vehicle is at rest on level ground or on an incline the lever 220 is spaced from a portion '23. constituting a part of the pin 226; ac-

cordingly at this time the spring 22! serves to maintain the contacts 230 and 232 in engagement. Should the vehicle be decelerated at or above a predetermined rate or brought to a stop on a relatively steep decline the relative positions of the lever 220 and casing 224 are then such as to effect a compression of the spring 229 and a consequent separation of the contacts 230 and 232. A stop 240, adjustably mounted in the casing, serves to prevent the lever from contacting the portion 238 should the vehicle be jerked when starting the same in motion accordingly this stop serves to prevent the lever from damaging the contacts.

There is thus provided a relatively simple and compact switch mechanism well adapted for use in a no-roll brake mechanism of an automotive vehicle; for with the mechanism of my invention the switch 230, 232 is normally closed to render the no-roll mechanism operative; however said switch is automatically opened by the movement of the interior operated weight 22l when the vehicle is decelerated at or above a certain critical factor. Thus with the switch mechanism of my invention incorporated in a no-roll brake holding mechanism said mechanism is automatically disabled either when the car is positioned on a relatively steep decline or when the brakes are applied to effectall normal operations of decelerating the car to a stop. At all other times the switch 230, 232 is closed to render the no-roll mechanism operative.

However, it is apparent that the switch mechanism of my invention may be employed as a control means in any type of electrically controlled mechanism wherein an electrical circuit is to be broken with the operation of an inertia operated member.

I claim:

1. A switch and operating means therefor adapted for use on an automotive vehicle comprising a hollow casing securable to the chassis of the vehicle, a pin mounted in one of the side walls of said casing and extending therein, a lever pivotally mounted at one of its ends upon said pin, a weight secured to the other end of said lever,'a stop adjustably mounted in said casing and contactable by said weight, a pin slidably mounted in the casing, another pin, serving as an electrical conductor, fixedly mounted in said casing opposite said slidable pin, an electrical contact secured to one end of said latter pin, an electrical contact secured to the end of said fixed pin, and a spring housed within the casing, said spring serving to move said movable pin so as to normally bring said contacts into 3 engagement with each other. the parts of the switch mechanism being so constructed and arranged that the lever member contacts a portion of said movable pin to move the latter when the casing is being decelerated at a predetermined rate and thus separate the electrical contacts.

2. A switch and operating means therefor comprising an electrically grounded casing, a flxed contact mounted in said casing, a movable contact positioned opposite said fixed contact and also mounted in said casing. a switch operating lever member pivotally mounted within said casing said member being provided with an opening through which extends the movable switch member, a portion 0! the latter member being contactable by the lever member, a weight secured to one end of the lever member to make of said member a pendulum and a spring mounted within the casing and normally serving to force the aforementioned contacts into engagement with each other.

- 3. A switch and operating means therefor comprising an electrically grounded casing, a fixed contact mounted in said casing, a movable contact positioned opposite said fixed contact and also mounted in said casing, a switch operating lever member pivotally mounted within said casing, said member being provided with mentioned contacts into engagement with each other.

ALLAN c. CHAMBERS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,256,134 Joeck Feb. 12, 1918 2,035,087 Logan Mar. 24, 1936 2,048,866 Hunt July 28, 1936 2,391,129 Chambers Dec. 18, 1945

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