Patent GB-260072-A (GB)
Title: Apparatus for indicating excess speeds of automobile vehicles
IPC: B60Q1/54
Filed: 1925-08-18
Abstract: 260,072. Carrasco, M., and Rodero, F. Aug. 18, 1925. Centrifugal speed indicators; with signalling apparatus; with means for controlling motors; counting infractions of speed limit. - Means are provided for visually signalling excess speed of motor road vehicles, counting the infractions of the speed limit, and signalling whether the device is in operation, the apparatus being adapted for re-setting by an authorized person who can also adjust the limit speed; means also being provided to allow excess speed for a short time without signal or registration, to warn the driver when excess speed is attained and to break the ignition circuit when the limit is exceeded. The signals consist of a white and a red semi-circular panel 5<a>, 4<a>, Fig. 2a, respectively secured to drums 3<a> loose upon a. fixed axle 2<a> to which each is attached by a spring which tends to turn the shutter into a position visible through a semi-circular aperture in the enclosing cylindrical casing 1<a>. The signal discs and aperture are duplicated at the other face of the casing, each pair of red discs being connected for simultaneous operation by rods 6<a>, the white discs being similarly fitted. Instead of white a colour other than red may be employed. For visibility at night a lamp is fitted to a hinged member 11<a> on the casing and the discs 4a, 4b are fitted with red glass or celluloid circles; the whole casing being sealed by a cover 13b inaccessibly closed at 16<a>. The drums 3<a> have flexible connections 7<a>, 8<a> passing through a tube 9 attached to the signal casing and to the casing containing the centrifugal operating mechanism shown in Fig. 1. A road wheel drives through a flexible shaft t a shaft 1 which through a clutch 5 drives a screwed spindle T and a centrifugal member 8 controlling a plate 9. A sliding carriage 10 has a fixed nut 11 engaging a screw 12 with an external milled head 13, by turning which the position of the carriage can be set according to the reading of a scale 16 against a pointer 15 fixed to the carriage, thus allowing the apparatus to be set for any required limit speed. The carriage 10 carries in a bearing a screwed spindle 24 connected by a flexible shaft, to the spindle T, and also in brackets a sliding rod 19 in contact at one end with a spring-urged lever 17 and at the other having an abutment arm 14 which can, when the limit speed is reached, be engaged by the plate 9 moved by the centrifugal member. On such contact being made, the lever 17 thrusts a fork 20 so as to bring a threaded half nut 22, working on guides 21 on the fork, against the screw 24 which thus, while the excess speed is maintained, raises the nut 22, ultimately causing it to strike a detent lever 27 and release a catch 30 in the flexible connection 7a, whereupon the spring drum 3a brings the red panels 4<a>, 4b into visibility. A convenient time lag is thus allowed to cover short necessary speed increases. At the same time the nut 22 strikes a pawl lever to add one on a counter 32 for infractions of the speed limit. Prior to striking the arm 14 the plate 9 engages a spring contact 36 to complete the circuit of a lamp 37 and warn the driver of approximation to the limit speed. The red signal catch 30, and the counter 32 cannot be re-set until an outer cover pivoted at C and opening at P has been opened by an authorized person, who has access to a re-setting means for the catch 30, and counter 32 and to the limit adjusting head 13. A reduced end on the screw 24 allows the nut 22 to rest at the limit position, the nut being retracted to initial position by a spring 23 when the abutment 14 is released by the plate 9. In its position of rest, at no speed, the plate 9 engages a sliding rod 54 to retract a fork 55 carrying on guides a half-nut 57 so as to allow the half nut, which is attached to the flexible connection 8<a> to be drawn up by the spring drum 3<a> and thus expose the white signal denoting that the excess speed signal apparatus is not in operation. When running, the screw T works the nut down to the unthreaded lower end 58 holding the white disc out of sight to indicate that the driver is in operation. The forks 20, 55 may be mounted as sliding elements as shown in Fig. 1, or as rocking elements. Instead of rotary signal discs, sliding signal discs 4<a>, 5a, Fig. 2b, connected to spring drums 3<a> may be fitted. In order to allow the white panel to disappear at slow speeds and at the same time avoid undue wear of the parts a pair of centrifugal members may be employed as shown in Fig. 6, of which that shown at 3' corresponds with the centrifugal member 8 described above, while the second 9<1> driven initially by gearing 5<1>, 6<1>, 7<1> and a clutch 10<1> moves a plate 11<1> to hold the white signal disc operating nut 1<1> in action, this action being maintained by a stop 19<1> engaging the plate 11<1> to hold it under the action of a slide 16<1>, urged by a spring 15<1> so long as the speed is sufficient to keep the centrifugal member 3<1> clear of an arm 14<1> on the slide 16<1>. The ignition circuit may be interrupted by causing the nut 22 to engage a contact in circuit with the magneto. The arrangement of the parts of the apparatus is shown in Fig. 5, c' being the driver's warning lamp and D the lever for throwing out the clutch 5 when not required. A speedometer and distance counter is driven from the shaft 1, Fig. 1, by gearing through a a flexible shaft.