Improvements in Means for Interrupting the Ignition Current of the Motors of Motor Cycles or the like.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 9th May, 1899-Accepted, 1st July, 1899
Improvements in Means for Interrupting the Ignition Current of the
Motors of Motor Cycles or the like.
I, PHILIPPE PICHARD, of 80, Rue d'Aunonay, St. Etienne, France, Engineer
and Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement; —
With most motor cycles as hitherto constructed, when it is desired to interrupt
or reconstitute the electric circuit which is excited in the induction bobbin and
passes to the igniting device of the motor, it is necessary to relinquish the steer-
ing handle of the motor in order to operate the switch which is generally placed
on the upper tube of the cycle frame. Having thus to temporarily remove the
hand from the steering handle or one of them, the steering cannot be done with
that security which is necessary for the direction of the vehicle, and this incon-
venience may result in grave accident more especially on the frequented roads
of towns.
To remove the cause of this inconvenience I have placed the switch in one of
the handles of the steering bar in such a way that it is only necessary to twist
the handle in order to open or close the electric circuit, without releasing the
handle from the grasp of the hand.
In the annexed drawing Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section of the improved
handle. Fig. 2 a plan view thereof. Fig. 3 a cross section on line 3-3 of Fig. 1,
and Fig. 4 is an end view.
The handle A, which may be of ebonite, is adapted to turn with slight friction
on the end of the handle bar or steering bar H. A stopper B, also of ebonite,
closes the extremity of the tube H and is fixed to it by means of screws or pins I.
The stopper B carries two elastic plates D D¹ diametrically opposite one another
and having soldered to them respectively the two wires F F of the electric circuit.
The button or stopper B is also traversed centrally from end to end by a rod C,
the "T" shaped head C₁ of which extends beyond the stopper. A nut J screwed
on the rod C prevents all lateral displacement of the rod. The rod has a prismatic
part on which is placed a disk E. The handle A is fastened to this disk by the
screws V, V, and it is also retained on the rod C by a sunken nut K screwed on
the screw threaded extremity of the rod.
The handle A can thus be turned on the tube H without displacement in the
direction of its axis. Near the inner end of the handle there is fixed on the
tube H a sleeve G hollowed out with a recess of convenient width between which
an index R is movable. This index consists of a metallic spring fixed in the
handle by means of screws as shown in Fig. 1 so that it moves with the handle
and may point to the one or other of two indications engraved on the sleeve near
the edges of the recess, for example on or off."
"
"
In the position of the parts as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 the springs D D¹
have no electric communication between them, and the circuit is open. The
current cannot therefore pass to the igniter and the motor is not operated. The
index R would point to the word off."
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page_text: 66
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To produce the spark which determines the exposion of the gas mixture in
the motor and put the latter in action, the handle A is turned so that the
index points to the word on. By this rotation the disk E and the rod C
turn with the handle, and the head C being somewhat wider than the space
between the springs D D', comes in contact with the latter which by virtue of
their elasticity press against the head and are thus put in electric communi-
cation. The circuit of the induction bobbin is thus closed and the spark can then
pass between the points of the igniter.
To stop the motor, it is sufficient to turn the handle so that the index R
points to "off." The head C is disengaged from the springs D D¹, the circuit is
opened, and, no spark being produced, the motor stops.
:
This handle may be applied to all kinds of motor cycles or automotive vehicles
to which it may be appropriate.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
A handle for interrupting or making contact in the electric circuit of the
motor igniter, adapted to be turned with slight friction on the extremity or one
of the extremities of the steering handle bar or tube and carrying with it on
rotation an insulated central rod, the "T" head of which may put in electric
communication or separate at will two elastic springs in communication respec-
tively with wires passing to the terminals of the inductor and of the igniter,
substantially as herein described with reference to the annexed drawing.
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1
£ 1800
HERBERT HADDAN & Co.,
18, Buckingham Street, Strand, W.C., London,
Agents to Applicant.