US1355077A - Vehicle rear-end signal - Google Patents

Description

SHIBATARO HARA, DECD.

MRS. SEI HARA, EXECUTRIX.

VEHPCLE REM? END SI GNAL. APPLICATION FILED NOV 21. 191R,

Patented Oct. 5, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l/VVENTO/i 5 Hann- ATTORNEYS un bbl/ WITNESSES SHIBATARO HARA, DECD.

MRS. an HARA. EXi-ICUTRIX.

VEHICLE REAR END SIGNAL.

APPLKCATIUN FILED NOV. 21,!9IR.

Patented Oct. 5, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

-IITHa INVENTOH ,4 TTQRNEYS WITNESSES UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SHIIBATARO HAM, OF MUZQUIZ. MEXICO; MRS. SEI HABA EXECUTRIX 0F SAID SHIBATABO HARA, DECEASED.

- VEHICLE REAR-END SIGNAL.

Application filed November 21, 1918.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SHIBATARO Hana, a subject of the Emperor of Ja an, and a resident of Muzquiz, Coahuila, Iv exico, have invented a new and Improved Vehicle Rear- End Signal, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

Among the principal objects which the present invention has in view are: to provide a signal apparatus which may be employed in daytime as well as nighttime without adjustment or alteration; to produce perfect signals located where the usual riding si al is displayed; to simplify the construction and operation of the signal; to reduce the cost of construction and installation of the signal mechanism; to audibly draw attention to the operating condition of the signal; and to provide operating mechanism for the signal, which has a simplified construction and is readily nianipulated.

Drawings.

Figure 1 is a side view of an automobile showin a signal apparatus mounted thereon, sai apparatus being constructed and arranged in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the same, the s' nal being disposed as in service;

ig. 3 is a vertical section of the controller mechanism for operating the signal, the section being taken as on the line 3-3 in Fig. 4;

Fig. 4 is a'longitudinal section of the same, the section being taken as on the line 4-4 in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal vertical section of the signal box and signal drum contained thereon, the section being taken as on the line 55 in Fig. 6;

Fig. 6 is a cross section of the same; the section being taken as on the line 6-6 in Fig 5;

ig. 7 is a similar section, the section being taken as on the line 7-7 in Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is a similar section, the section being taken as on the line 88 in Fig. 5;

Fig. 9 is a detail view on an enlar ed scale and in section, showing the metho of attaching the transmission cable to the operating chain sections with which the operating mechanism and the signal druin are both provided;

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 5, 1920.

Serial No. 263,554.

Fig. 10 is a detail view on an enlarged scale, showing schematically the manner of constructing and operating the audible sig- Description.

As seen in the drawings, the apparatus provides a hollow cylinder having heads 16. Theheads 16 are rigidly mounted on a supporting shaft 17. The ends of the shaft 17 are mounted in suitable bearings formed in the plates 18, which are made fast to the ends of the box casing 19.

To rotate the cylinder and heads 16 thereof in both directions, said heads are furnished at one end with a pulley 20, and at the other end with a coil spring 21. The inner end of the spring 21 is made fast to the shaft 17, while the opposite end thereof is permanently secured in the anchor block 22, which is permanently mounted on the plate 18 at one end of the casing 19.

Wound about a pulley 20, is a chain plate section 23, to the free end of which is made fast a pull cable or Wire 24. The wire 24 is housed in a flexible tubing 25, secured at the one end to the casing 19 and to the other to the controller box 26, whereon is mounted the signal operating mechanism.

The cylinder supported by the head 16 is formed from a sheet 27 whereon is imprinted the various signal indications 28 and a red belt 29. The material from which the sheet 27 is made may be glass or fabric, transparent or translucent, butis preferably translucent celluloid. The sheet may be colored to any suitable tint or shade. It is preferably white and the indications 28 are preferably red in corres ondence with the color of the plate 29. he indications 28 and the plate 29 are equally spaced and correspond with degrees of movement determined by the controlling apparatus as hereinafter set forth.

The service position of the said indications and plate is opposite the opening in the casing 19 ordinarily covered by clear glass 30. Through the glass 30 in the sides of the cylinder formed by the sheet 27, passes the rays from the electric light globes 31. As seen best in Fig. 5 of the drawings, the globes 31 are mounted in sockets supported in the ends of a yoke 32. The yoke 32 is pivotally mounted on a shaft 17, and is counterbalanced by a weight 33, which maintains substantially a vertical disposition of the yoke and the operative position of the globes 31. The yoke 32. shaft 17, and casing 19, constitute a portion of the ground leg of the lighting circuit for said globes. The opposite leg of said circuit incorporates a flexible wire lead 34. a wiping ring 35, a wiper 36. and wire lead 37, which is carried to a generator or battery as the case may be. A controlling switch is introduced on the wire 37, where; by the circuit may be introduced for illuminating the globes 31, or for discontinuing the illumination thereof.

The cylinder is normally held in its retracted position where the belt 29 is opposite the glass 30. The cylinder is retracted to this position by the operation of the spring 21. Ihe position of the cylinder is determined by the stop block 38, which engages a bracket 39. as seen best in Fig. 6 of the drawings. In daylight. the red colored belt 29 shows as a blank through the glass 30 At night when the globes 31 are illuminated. the light passing through the belt 29. gives the red glow of a Ruby or Tail light. This is the usual riding light of an automobile or other vehicle having such equipment. In this position. the audible signal with which the apparatus is provided, is discontinued by reason of the fact that the spring contact -10 of the electric circuit incorporating an audible signal. such as the bell 41. extends into a recess 42 in one of the heads 16, breaking the electric circuit by removing the contact 40 from the contact 43.

As shown best in Fig. 10 of the drawings, the contacts 40 and 43 are electrically incorporated with the leads 4-1 of an electric source. such as the battery 45. It is obvious that when the contacts 40 and 43 are engaged. the circuit in which the bell 41 is incorporated. is energized. This is the con dition of the circuit whenever the apparatus is operated to dispose one of the indications 29 opposite the clear glass 30. The audible signal thus incorporated directs the attention of the driver of a following vehicle to the visible signal imparted by the indications 28.

The cylinder having the heads 16 and sheet 27. is rotated from the retracted position showing the plate 29. to positions showing the indications Stop, Left, and "Right" successively. by means of the operating mechanism mounted on the controller box 26. The controlling mechanism employs a winding drum 46, which is fixed to a shaft 4.7, provided with a. yoke-shaped operating handle 48. The handle 48 has mounted thereon a detent bolt 49, which bolt is provided with a grip 50, and is seated by 21.

spiral spring 51 in holes 52 formed in the flexible detcnt strap 55 on the edge of the controller box 26. as seen best in Fig. 4 of the drawings.

Anchored by means of a pin 53, is a chain section 54. to which is operatively connected the wire 24. The wire 24.- is held by the connecting block 56, a series of connecting screws 57 being provided therein for this purpose. By means of these screws, any slack in the wire 2-1 may be taken up by inserting the end of the wire farther into the block 56. The strap is held on the controller box 26 by clamp bolts 58. which extend through slots 59 in the said strap to provide a lineal adjustment of the strap. 'hen the strap 55 is shifted, the working positions of the cylinder and the service positions of the indications 28 on the sheet 27 are correspondingly shifted.

Having an apparatus such as shown in the drawings and as above described, the operation is as follows: The driver of the automobile or other vehicle grasps the grip 50 and lifts the bolt 49 to permit shifting the handle 48 for rotating the drum 46. The drum 46 is moved to the full forward position and the bolt 49 is permitted to engage the extreme forward hole 52. This permits the spring 21 to retract rotatively the cylinder formed by the sheet 27, until the stop block 38 engages the bracket 39. In this position, the belt 29 is opposite the clear glass 30. If the time be night, the illuminating circuit is completed to illuminate the globes 31, with the result that the vehicle has a ruby or red light showing from the rear thereof, conformable to the trafiic laws.

If. now. the driver contemplates making a turn to the right or left, he grasps the grip 50 and lifts the bolt 49 from engagement with the strap 55, and shifts the handle 48 to the position corresponding with the movement necessary to dispose the indication 28 he desires in front of the clear glass 30. The bolt 49 thereafter holds the signal apparatus in signaling condition though the place for making the turn may be some distance ahead. At the same time an audible signal bell 41 is sounded, owing to the fact that the spring contact 40 has been lifted by the head 16 with which it is associated, to engage the contact 43, with the result that the electric signal for operating said bell 41 is completed.

\Vhen the contemplated turn has been made, the continued ringing of the bell 41 reminds the driver to release his signal, which is accomplished by engaging the grip 50, lifting the bolt 49, and moving the handle 48 and parts connected therewith to the initial or normal position where the belt 29 is opposite the clear glass 30. When the belt 29 is in service position, the contact 40 passes into the recess 42, breaking the operating circuit for the bell 41, thus discontinuing the audible signal.

Having thus described my invention, 1 claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A traffic signaling device of the class described and comprising a casing having a window in one side, a metallic axle revolubly mounted in bearings at opposite ends of said casing, a signal drum including a translucent cylindrical body, and heads, rigidly secured to said metal shaft, visual signals on said cylindrical body, cooperating stop means carried by the casing and said cylinder heads and spring means cooperating with said stop means to maintain the said body in normal position, electric lamps mounted on a yoke within said body, said yoke pendulously mounted on said shaft, an electric lighting circuit including said lamps, yoke, metal shaft and conducting areas of said heads, an audible signal circuit held normally open by a cylinder head, and means carried by a cylinder head for closing said audible signal circuit, when said cylindrical body is positioned to display visual signals.

2. In a signal device of the class described, the combination of a translucent visual signal bearing drum, a shaft upon which said drum is rigidly mounted, a wiping ring carried by one head of said drum, a wiper adapted to contact therewith, an electric lamp pendulously mounted on said shaft and within the drum, an electric lighting circuit, including a switch and said lamp, wiping ring, and shaft, said circuit open when the signal bearing drum is in normal position, an audible signal circuit normally open, and means associated with the said drum to close said audible signal circuit upon movement of the drum to visual si naling position, and maintain such closure (uring entire period of visual signaling.

3. A signal as characterized, comprising a rotary cylindrical member provided with a series of transverse circumfcrentially spaced trafiic indications :thereon, and a translucent belt area on said cylinder spaced from the said traffic indications, said belt area constituting a riding light for use when the vehicle is standing, means for rotating said cylinder to the various signal positions provided therefor, electric lamp means pendulously mounted within the cylinder, an electric circuit including said ridin light and lamp means, and an audible signa included within said circuit and operated by said rotary cylinder when the same is moved from the position showing said riding light.

4. A signal device of the class described, comprising a casing having a view opening, a metallic shaft rotatably mounted in said casing a translucent drum rigidly secured to said shaft within said casing, a lamp holder pendulously mounted on. said shaft, said holder comprising a pair of spaced apart socket members, contacting with said shaft and a pendant yoke connecting the same, a counterweight carried by said yoke, and a lighting circuit including said shaft socket members and the yoke.

SHIBATARO HARA.

Images