Patent GB-719031-A (GB)
Title: Control device for motor-car turn-indicators
IPC: B60Q1/42
Filed: 1953-01-22
Abstract: 719,031. Mechanical switches, without quickaction; switches held set and freed mechanically. BENQUET, F. Jan. 22, 1953, No. 1914/53. Class 38(5) [Also in Group XXXVIII] A control device for motor car turn indicators of the type including a control member rigid with the steering pillar of the car, comprises a rocking lever that is rocked in either direction by the said control member when the steering pillar is turned in said direction, said rocking lever being pivotally mounted inside a casing and included in the feed circuit of the turn indicators of the car to control same in selective co-operation with two plungers whenever the wheel is turned out of and back into the straight-ahead position. In the embodiment of Figs. 1 and 2 a casing 1 of insulating material is attached to the outer tube 2 of the steering column such that a lever 27, rigid with spindle 23 and rocking lever 25, may co-operate with a notch 20a in a control member in the form of an annulus 20 secured to the steering pillar 22, to tilt said rocking lever 25 whenever the steering pillar 22 is rotated. Two plungers 6a and 6b carry spring-loaded rods 17 and are slidingly carried in the casing 1 such that when rocking lever 25 is tilted one end or the other of it selectively contacts a rod 17 which, on continued turning of the steering pillar, is forced back into its plunger. The rocking lever 25 is connected to the source of current by means of a spring-loaded plunger 28, and plungers 6a and 6b are respectively connected to left and right signalling means by terminal eyes 14 and blade springs 9a, 9b which press on the grooved upper parts of the plungers. To enable a signal to be given before the steering gear is operated the plungers 6a and 6b are depressible (as shown at 6b in Fig. 2) such that a rod 17 contacts the lever 25 when in its neutral position; subsequent turning of the steering gear returns the plunger to its normal position but maintains contact (and the signal operated) until the steering (and hence lever 25) reverts to neutral. The blade springs 9a and 9b engage grooves 7 or 8 in the plungers to make electric contact and also to retain the latter in position until forcibly moved by the driver pressing downwards or the rocking lever 25 pressing upwards. In the modified embodiment of Figs. 9 and 10 the casing 1 extends transversely to the steering column and the plungers 6a and 6b are totally enclosed. A camshaped lever 47 is pivoted on a spindle 48 secured to the casing by a pin 50 which also locates a blade spring 60 tending to maintain the lever 47 in its neutral mid-position shown. A screw 51 in the spindle 48 serves to effect electrical connection to the supply. As in the first embodiment, plungers 6a and 6b may be depressed to give early indication of a turn, but in this case an arm 40, pivoted at 42 and having forked ends 44 adapted to co-operate with the tops of the plungers, may be tilted by means of a handle 41 to depress the selected plunger. Plungers 6a and 6b are located in their alternative positions by auxiliary plungers 35 engaging grooves 7 or 8 (Fig. 10). Screws 38 and springs 37 provide electrical connection from the plungers to respective signalling means. A boss 47a on the lever 47 engages a notch 53 in a collar 54 rigid with the steering pillar 22 such that rotation of the steering gear pivots lever 47 to contact one or other of the rods 17 in plungers 6a and 6b and operate the respective signalling means. Notch 53 is adjustable by rotation of an eccentric 56 in an adjacent recess 55 (see also Fig. 14, not shown). The arm 40 is slotted on its pivot 42 and a sliding plate 58 is provided to move under the action of the appropriate boss 47e on the lever 47 (when the latter is tilted by the steering pillar) and thereby raise arm 40 and ensure a positive return of the plungers 6a and 6b should the movement of the lever 47 not be sufficient to cause this.