US1607272A - Statfs patfnt cifficf - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 16 1926. w I,607,272

R. B. BENJAMIN SWITCH Filed March 5. 1923 C5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 16,1926o 1,6o7,272

w R. B. BENJAMVIN SWITCH Filed March 5. 1923 25 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Nov. 16, 192725.`

Uni'rse' srars Hansen s. Banani/im, or CHICAGO, ILLntozs, Assrenoa ro BENJAMIVN ELECTRIC` Latam raTEN'r orrics..

MANUFACTURING C'SVPNY, OF CHICAGO, IL'TIS, A 'COBEORATON OF ILLINOIS.

SWITCH,

Application fiiearrar'cn 5, 1928, serial No, 822,759.

and inexpensive form of switch which is specially adapted for controlling the 'horn and lighting circuits on an automob1le.

A further object of the invention 1s to provlde an automobile llghting system sup-v plied with a particular form' of control V switch which isv readily associated with the horn Operating` switch. i V

Gther objects of the invention Will appear upon reference to following specification and claims taken together with the accompanymg drawings m which Figure 1 is an elevational view showing the exterior of a device embodylng vthe 1nvention; i

Fig. 2 is a Vertical sectional view taken along the line 2-2 on the device shown in Fig. 1, the supporting member .being removed;

3 is a. vertical sectional view taken at right angles to the view shown in Fig. 2 and along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; i

Fig. 4: is a sectional viewt-aken on the line of Fig. 2; a

Fig. 5 is a bottom view of the structure shown inv Fig. 2; v o

Figs 6 and 7 arev Vertical sectional views respectively taken alongthe lines 6-1-6 and 7-7 of Fignrt; :w o

Fig. 8 is a side elevation view of the insulation base member shown in section in Fi'g. 6; w

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken along line 9-9 of Fig. 2;

Fig. V10 is a. detail view of a contact member;

Fig. 11 is a detail view'of an insulating spacer member;

Fig. 12 is a sectional view ofa device similar to that shown in Fig. 1, but having a modified type of mounting especially adapted for use in connection with the spark lever of a motor vehicle;

Fig. 13 is a sectional view ltaken along the line 13-13` of F ig. 9;

` Figs. 16, 17 and 18 illustrate various circuit connections showing the manner in which the subject matter of the invention may be connected in' the signalling circuits of a vehicle. i t

In a general way the device of Fig. 1 comprises an insulating supporting member 20, an insulatingswitch Operating handle 21 Inounted coaXial-ly with the supporting member 'and a tiltable push button 22 surmounting the handle member 21.' The handle member 21 is adapted to be rotated or turned by the operator in orderto operate switching mechanisln for controlling a xlighting circuit for the vehicle. The push button 22'is adapted to be depressed by thel operator in order to operate switching mechanism for controlling a signa-lling circuit, such as that of the automobile horn. The push button 22 is of such design that it may be depressed or tilted in any downward direction `and thereby serveV to close an electricalA Circuit;

The structure of the tiltable push button 22 willfirst be described in detail. An insulating base vmember 23 is positioned within the supporting member 20 and the operatlng handle 21 and has mounted thereon various connectlng and Operating parts of both the push button switch and of theswitch' operated by the handle 21. The push button switch 22 comprises an insulation button or cap member 24! having on its under side a disc-shaped contact member 25 for contacting with an annular contact 26 positioned at side of the base post 27 and serves to retain the disc contact up against the button 24. The lower end ot the sleeve is providedwith a fiange 31 interposed between the iiared edges ot the post 27 and. the metal plate 28. The insulating` spacer 29 surrounds the flange 31.

A coi'led.compression spring 32 surrounds thefsleeve 30 and is interposed between the metallic plate 28 and the disc contact 25 and thus serves to normally retain the button 24 in an elevated horizontal-positiomsozthat the disc contact 25 is normally spaced at all points'iirorn'the annular contact 26. Howevenby depressing ortilting` the button 24 in any downward direction, the contacts 25 and 26 may be brought intoV contactingrelation against the effort of the spring 32. During this action the post 27 and the sleeve 30 w'll be lowered slightly through or tilted with. respect to, the .metallic plate 28.

VThe annular contact 26 may be retvained upon the base member 23 by means of a pair ot' lugs 33 and 34, which'extend downwardly and inwardly beneath the insulating spacer member 29. The insulating spacer thereby serV-es to insulate the plate 28 from contact with either of the lugs 33 or 34. The insulating'spacer 29 and the plate 28 are Vretained in position within the base member by means of'screws 35 and 36, which pass upwardly through the base member from the under side thereot. The screw 36 may serve the 'further purpose of electrically'connecting the wire 37 to the plate 28.

The annular contact 26 is provided with another lug38 (Figs. 7 and 10)v7 to which a connectingpiece 39 may be attached as by a rivet 40. Theconnecting piece 39 may be Vin turn attached to a ground connection 41 by a screw passingl through an opening 43 in the' supporting' member 20.

The screw 42 not only serves the purpose of attaching` the ground connection but also through themedium of the connecting piece 39 and the contact 26 provides a means for removably retaining the base member 23 in positionwithin the supporting member 20.

The circuit through the push button switch extends from the wire 37 up through the `screw 36, the plate 28, the post 27 and the sleeve 30, to the contact 25. From the con- 'tact 25 when the button 24 is tilted or dei .pressed7 the circuit continues through the series of fianges is to render the device substa-ntially waterproot and to add to the pleasingl appearance ot the assembled structurc.

The switching mechanism Controlled by the Operating handle 21 will now be described in detail. As shown in Figs. v2 and 9, an 'annular contact 48 in the Vform ot a continuous strip or band is embedded in the insulation handle 21.- The contact 48 serves to bridge at desired times thespring contacts 49 and 50, which extend longitudinally of the base member 23 within slots 51 and 52 provided therefor. The contacts 49 and are fixed at .their lower ends by means ot' binding scr'ewsv53 .and 54. The screws54 and 53v areV retained in the insulatingcbase member 23 by means of the threaded metallic insert-s 55 and 56, which may be molded within the base member. CircuitV lead wires 57 and`58 may be attached to the binding posts and'54, respectively.

The spring contacts 49 and 50 may be provided with rounded Vends which are adapted to make contact with and be retained in indentations shown at 59, 60 and 61 formed in the contact 48. A portion otithe contact 48 as illustrated is covered with insulation at 62. The insulation at 62 is also provided with an indentationat 63.'

vWhen Vit isl desired 1to complete the circuit through the switch, the handle member 21 is rotated to the position as shown at Fig. 9 whereby the spring contacts 49 and 50 may be received in the indentati'ons 60 and 61. The contact 48 then Velectrically connects the contacts 49 and50. `When it is desired to break the circuit through the switch, thev spring contacts 49 and 50 are turned to the indentations 59 and 63, ,respectivelyu the insulating portion 62 then servinc' to hold thecontact 50 out of contact relation with the contact 48. For limiting the angular movement of the handle member 211 the base member 23 may be provided with lugz 64a which is adapted to engage a slotted portion 65 within the handle. member 21 will readily beunderstood. `The electrical` connections through the switch controlled by the handle member 21 therefore .extend from the wire 57 through the binding screw 53, the spring contact 49. the contact 48. the 'spring' contact 50, the binding` .screw 54, to the wire 58 except that when-theswitch is iu its open circuit position the connectiontis broken between the contact 48 and spring contact 50 by the insulation 62.

In Fig. 12, the switch is shown in a modified type. of supporting' means comprising a spark lever 66'. Vith this modification, the spark lever being grounded no urther ground' connection'is necessaryand the screw 42 may thus serve to directly' groundlthe connecting piece 39 and 'to'retain theswitch parts within the spark lever 66. n'bth'er respects this modication is similar to that just described with the eXception that an insulation washer 6'? may be provided .beneath the base member 23 in order to prevent any possibility of contact between the various binding screws and the grounded spark lever 66.

In Fig. 14:, a further moditication is shownmaking use of an Operating handle 68 of the type which may be stamped, or cut from sheet fibre or similar insulation material and thereby the use of molded insulation for this part is avoided.A In this modification, a contact 69 corresponds to the above described contact Li8 and is provided with flanges 70 and 71, which are bent over and upon the handle member 68 and thereby serve to clamp the contact in position thereon. rEhe contact 69 may be provided with indentations 72, 73 and 74, having a purpose similar to the indentations 59,' 60 and 61, as above described, but' the former also serve the additional purpose of preventing relative rotation of the contact 59 with the handlemember 68. An-indentation 75 is pi'ovideddirectly in the handle member 68 and for a purpose similar to the indentation 63, above described.

The handle member 68 maybe provided with a slotted portion 76 for accomplishing` the purposeiof the slotted portion 65 above described. A pair of insulating annular washers 77 and 78 serveto space the handle member 68 and the contact 69 from the contact 26 and from the grounded spark lever 68, respectively. The handle member 68 may be conveniently formed with a niurled periphery, as illustrated, in order that the handle may be more securely grasped by the operator,

rhe diagram of Fig. 16 illustrates a method ofconnect'ng the switch with a battery 79, horn- 80, a pair of headlights 81, and a resistance element 82 used foi` dimming the headlights. With the connections as shown in this diagram, a switch'83 may be thrown to the on position whereupon the headlights 81 will be (limly lighted since the current will not'mally pas through the resistance 82. However, the operator may short-circuit the i'es' ince 82 by the switch mechanism above described'which serves to electrically connect the binding screws 53 and 5d. Under this latter condition, the headlights will be fully lighted. The horn may be operated by the actuation of the push button 22, which serves to electrically connect the screw 36 to the ground connection.

ln the diagram shown in Fig. 17, headlights 84tare shown-for use independently of a pair of dimming lights 85. By throwing the switch 86, the *cliiiiniing lights may be continually illuminated and by also turning I desire that only such Vli'mitatioA the Operating handle 21 Vthe headlights may be lighted since the binding screws and 54: may be thereby electrically connected.

In the diagram shown in Fig. 18,*a relay 8? may be used for the alternative iilumination of either the dimming lights 85 or the headlights 84. At such times as a' switch 88 is thrown to the on position, a spring` 89 normally retains an arm 90 in contact with a-terminal 91 associated with the circuit of the^aimming lights 85. A Circuit to thefdimming lights 'is thus attained. However, when the handle' 21 rotated in the position to velectrically connect the binding screws 53 and 54, a magnet 92 is energized whereby the arm 90 is thrown into contact with' a terminal 93 associated with the circuit of the headlights 84. In this nian-v nerV the' dimming lights may be extinguished and the headlights may be i-llumi- 11.1

nated when desired.

The above described diagrams serve to illustrate various alternative methods of using the switch embodying` this invention in connection with a horn circuit and in connection with both dim and bright headlights. rr`he diagram of Fig. 16 is especially adapted for use wherel but one pair of lamps is desired. The diagram of Fig. 17 illustrates simple method of ,Operating separate dim lights andheadlights by means of the switch abovedescribed, but in certain instances thisI Circuit may be undesirable because of the factlthat the'dim lights are constantly connected. In cases where it is desired to switch off the dimlights when the bright head-V lights are llghted, the dlagram ofV Fig. 18v lllustratcs a method of uslng a relay for this purpose in connection with the above described switch.

`While I have described severalembodiments of my invention, 'wish itV to be understood that further modifications may bc made therein without departing from the spiri and scope of the appended claims and shai b imposed upon iy invention as J-ecifically pointed out in the ciaims and such are required by the prior art.

Having thus described my inrention, what I claim new and desire to seciiire by United States Letters ,Fat-ent, is: i

1. A switch for controlling the signalling Vand lighting devices of an antomobile, comprising a tiltable push button for controlling the signalling, and a rotatable annnlar handle coaXial with the push button and'surrounded thcreby for controllingI the licl'iI-i'i 2, A switch for controlling the' signalling and lighting' devices of an automobi'lei com' prising 'an insulating` base, wiring terminals and contacts for the signalling` and lightingV devices on said insulating base, push button for controlling the signalling mounted on said lnsulatlng base, and an annular handle for controlling the lighting,` siviveled on said insulating base, a contact controlled by said push button, and circuit connections for sait contact extending through the opening,` in said annular handle.

3. A switch for controlling thesignalling and lighting devices of an automobile, comprising an insulating base, wiring terminala and contacts for the signalling and lighting` devices on said insulating base, a tiltable push button for controlling` the signalling mounted on, said insulatingbase, and an annular handle for controlling` the lighting svviveled on said insulatinf` base.

4. A svitch for controlling` the sirnallin,r and lighting devices of an automobile, comprising an insulating; base, wiring terminals on one face of said base for the signalling` and lighting` devices, an annular contact for the signalling device, on the other face of said insulating` base, a tiltable push button on said insulating base having a contact cooperating With said. annular contact for controlling the signalling, .contact for the lighting devices on the .side of said'insulating base, and an annular handle for controlling` the lighting swiveled on said i'nsulating" base, and having a contact cooperating1 With said side contact. i

5 A switch for controling the signalling and li,:,'hting` devices of an automobile, comprisinp; an insulating,` base, a pushbutton for controlling the signallin: mounted at one end of said insulating base, a supporting member for said insulatino; base, and anV annular handle for controlling the lighting 'swiveled on said insulating base between said push button and supporting member, a contact Controlled by said push button, and circuit connections for said contact extending through the opening in said annular handle.

6. In a switching device, a supportin` member, a rotatable annular switch handle mounted on said supporting member, a Vtiltabl'y operable push button forming 'a cap surmounting 'said handle, and switching,` means positioned beneath said push 'button `Within said ,handle. v

7. A switch comprising; a substantially cylindrical base member, iviring` terminals and contacts on said base member, an annular -rotatable handle member surrounding said cylindrical base member and having a contact for coacting With one of said contacts on said base member, a push button forming a cap surmounting,` said base and handle members, and a contact on said push button for coacting with another of said contacts on said base member, a contact controlled by said push button, and circuit connections' for said contact lextending through the opening in said annular handle.

8. In a svvitching device, a support, an annular rotatable handle member thereon having an upstan'ding` annular flange thereon, a. tiltable push button forming a cap with edges overhanging said upstanding fiange, and switching means operable by said handle member.

9.V In a switching device, a supporting member having. an upstandingl annular flange, a rotatable handle member mounted on `said supporting member vand having an ann-ular peripheral flange overhanging said fiange von 'said supporting.member, a push buttonforming,I a cap surmount-ing` said handle member, and switching' contacts and terminals positioned beneath said push button and substantially Within said handle member. I

10.In aswtching device, a supporting member .having an upstandingg,` annular flange, a rotatable handle member mounted on said supporting member' and having an annular peripheral flange overhanging said fiange'on saidhsupporting member, an upstanding annular fiange on said handle member,.=a push button forming a cap With dges oi/*erhanging said upstanding flange on said handle inember, and switching means operable by said handle 11. In aswitching device, a supporting member, a rotatable annular switch handle .m'ountedron said supporting member, a tiltably operable push button forming a cap surmounting said. handle, and switching means operable by saidhandle.

12. In a switching device, a supporting member, a rotartable annular switch handle mountedon said supporting member, a tiltably operable push button forming a cap surmounting said handle, and switching` means associated-With said push button and with said handle positioned beneath said push Vbutton and substa-ntially within said handle. w

13. A switch for controlling the signalling andlighting devices of an automobile comprising` a support, a push buttoi'i for controlling the signalling`` mounted on said support, an annular handle adjacent and coaxial Witl respect to said push button for controlling vthe lighting devices, said handle being swivelled on said support, a contact controlled byV said push button, and Circuit connections for said contact extending through the openingin said annular handle.

InV witness whereof,-I have hereunto subscribed my name.

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