Patent GB-609590-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in signalling systems for motor road vehicles
IPC: B60Q1/44
Filed: 1946-03-18
Abstract: 609,590. Road-traffic signals on vehicles; electric selective signalling. BATES, T. H., FOSTER, F. A., and STRINGER, F. March 18, 1946, No..8330. [Classes 40 (i) and 118 (ii)] [Also in Group XXXVII] An electrically-actuated rotary drum indicator for motor road vehicles comprises at least Stop, Slowing, Left turn, and Right turn signs and control switches by means of which the signs are selectively displayed and illuminated, the showing sign being illuminated when the accelerator pedal is raised. A rotatable drum 15, Fig. 2, driven by solenoids 17, 17a and gearing 19, or by a step-by-step electric motor, bears legends adapted to be selectively displayed through a window in the rear panel of the vehicle. Switches P, RT and LT, Fig. 10, are manually-operable to display and illuminate the word PASS or a right or left turn arrow respectively. Switch S, operated by depression of the brake pedal, and switch R, operated by movement of the gear-change lever, serve to display and illuminate the words STOP and REVERSING respectively. The switch ST, operated by each upward movement of the accelerator pedal causes the word SLOWING to be illuminated, this word being displayed automatically by spring biassing of the drum 15 when solenoids 17, 17a are not energized. Closure of any of the switches P, R or S energizes a corresponding electromagnet 24, whose armature 23, Fig. 7, is attracted and by linkage 23a, 23b turns a plate member 25 clockwise about a pivot 21 mounted in a fixed frame 22. The pressure of a spring tongue 25b mounted on the plate 25 tilts a pivoted contact arm 25a to press a contact L against a corresponding circular rib 26 mounted on a plate 20 on the drum-shaft 12, Fig. 2. The continued tilting of the plate 25 overcomes the pressure between the tongue 25b and the arm 25a, which is held stationary by contact with the rib 26, and therefore closes contacts C, C<SP>1</SP> to energize the driving solenoids 17, 17a, Fig. 10, and rotate the drum 15. The rib 26 rotates with the drum until a gap 26a in the rib allows the contact L to rise under the pressure from the spring tongue 25b and press against a fixed contact L<SP>1</SP> mounted on the plate 20, and so illuminate a pair of lamps LP, LR or LS respectively, Fig. 10. This tilting of the arm 25a also opens contacts C, C<SP>1</SP> to de-energize the driving solenoids 17, 17a, and the drum is retained in its correct position by the latching action of the arm 25a and the gap 26a in its associated rib 26. Actuation of the switcharm of the manual switch T, Fig. 10, to left or right, similarly brings the turning arrows to the display position and the. simultaneous bridging of contacts LT or RT respectively illuminates the appropriate arrow. The operation of the " slowing " switch ST, which merely lights the lamps LA, is accomplished as follows : Depression of the vehicle accelerator pedal moves a rod 30, Fig. 9, and insulated piston 28 to the right, also moving a second insulated piston 29 by means of a flexible linkage 35. Upward movement of the pedal moves the piston 28 to the left, while the piston 29 is held stationary by the spring 36, thus closing a circuit between strips 31, 32, mounted diametrically opposite each other in the cylinder 27, via spring-loaded balls 33, 34, metallic piston-segments 28a, 29a and a contact tongue 37 to light the " slowing " lamps LA, Fig. 10. The ball 34 does not contact the strip 32 unless the accelerator pedal has been depressed a certain distance, thus preventing operation of the slowing indication during " idling ". In series with each of the drum illuminating lamps is an indicator lamp I mounted in a control panel near the driver. Instead of the plate 20, Fig. 2, having four concentric ribs 26, each co-operating with a corresponding magnet 24, a cylinder may be provided into which the four armatures 23 project axially for different distances, the cylinder being suitably gapped to allow the contacts L, L<SP>1</SP> to close at the right moments. The Provisional Specification states that the " slowing " switch ST may position the drum 15 as well as illuminate the slowing " legend.