US3236962A - Carburetor control switch for vehicle signal lights - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 22, 1966 T. R. SCHLITZ 3,236,962

CARBURETOR CONTROL SWITCH FOR VEHICLE SIGNAL LIGHTS Filed Nov. 19, 1963 INVENTOR THOMAS H; SCHL/TZ United States Patent 3,236,962 CARBURETOR CONTROL SWITCH FOR VEHICLE SIGNAL LIGHTS Thomas R. Schlitz, 30 Mertz Ave., Hillside 5, NJ. Filed Nov. 19, 1963, Ser. No. 324,801 1 Claim. (Cl. ZOO-61.89)

This invention relates to a device for electrically completing the circuitry to vehicle brake lights, and more specifically relates to a switch for association with conventional carburetor controls.

The principal objective of this invention is to provide a means to actuate vehicle brake lights when the vehicle carburetor is at idling position or near idling position regardless of the positions of the brake and accelerator pedals.

Another important objective of this invention is to provide a switch which is adjustably mounted near the carburetor control arm such that it is easily adjusted as to its capability of light turn-on without interfering with the carburetor idling adjustment mechanism.

A still further objective of this invention is to provide a rugged, simplified, and uncomplicated switching device for the above described objectives.

These and other important objectives and advantages of the invention will be more fully understood upon a reading of the following specifications, taken in view of the attached drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a diagramatic-schematic view of the working elements of this invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged elevation view of the switching device with portions of its interior broken away to disclose the idling or lights-on position of the switching elements;

FIGURE 3 is similar to FIGURE 2, showing the switch elements when the braking lights are off; and

FIGURE 3a is a partial showing of a further embodi ment of the invention.

Referring now with more particularity to the drawings wherein like numerals indicate like parts, the numeral indicates a conventional carburetor having a throttle control arm 12 pivotally mounted thereto about a pin 14-. As is well known in the art, a throttle baffie 16, interiorally of the throttle, is secured to pin 14 for rotation therewith as determined by the angular disposition of the throttle control arm 12. This angular disposition is determined by the vehicle accelerator pedal 15 which is connected to the arm via a conventional linkage 18. As shown in FIGURE 1, a pedal normally maintains the accelerator pedal fully raised. When in this position the throttle control arm is generally vertical, and the bafile 14 is substantially blocking (idling position) the fuel path to the intake manifold. A linkage movement to the right in the direction indicated by arrow causes arm 12 to pivot counterclockwise adjustably opening the manifold fuel path controlled by the baffle 16. A series of stops and the like associated with the above, but not believed necessary to this description, limit the displacement of these members.

A bracket 22 is secured to the exterior of the carburetor in the vicinity of arm 1 and is formed with a threaded opening 24 having a central axis normal to arm 12 when the arm is in its idling position. Threadably received in bore 24 is a switch 26, a cross section of which is shown in FIGURE 2. The switch is of an off-on type and is in series with an ignition 28, warning lights 30 and the electric power supply 32. The network is electrically connected by the lines 31 and 33.

The switch is formed of a cylindrical housing 34 having a threaded extension 36 at one end thereof. The interior of the housing is formed with a passageway 40 ICC which slidably receives an operating shaft 42. The operating shaft is flanged at 44 at that end remote from extension 36. At its end 38, the housing 34 is formed with an annular groove 39. This end is closed by bottom member 46 which has a skirt section 41 press-fitted into groove 39. The member 46 forms a chamber 43 with end 38 into which a pin 48 extends. On opposite sides of pin 48 are spaced contact points 50 and 52 which have conducting lead pins 54 and 56 extending to the exterior of the switch housing.

A spring biasing member 58 surrounding the pin 48 normally maintains a discus shaped concave bridging member 60 out of engagement with the contact points 50 and 52 and into engagement with shaft end 44.

The operation of the inventive structure is not complicated. As the accelerator pedal is depressed arm 12 pivots in a counterclockwise direction away from engagement with the shaft 42. As the operator permits the accelerator pedal to assume its idling position, arm 12 contacts shaft 42 which consequently depresses spring 60 so that bridging member 58 will complete the circuit to the warning lights 3%. In other words, the warning lights will always be operating when the ignition is On and the throttle assembly is at its Idle or Near-Idle position.

FIGURE 3:: shows a further embodiment of the invention wherein the switch element is comprised of members 45' and 36' which are threadedly secured to the housing 34' at 55'. The pins 54 and 56 are supported in the non-conducting member 46' which is secured to member 45 by an adhesive or press-fit.

In a general manner, while there has been disclosed an effective and efficient embodiment of the invention, it should be well understood that the invention is not limited to such an embodiment, as there might be changes made in the arrangement, disposition and form of the parts without departing from the principle of the present invention as comprehended within the scope of the accompanying claim.

I claim:

A switching device for actuating the braking warning lights of a vehicle in response to carburetor valve arm positions, said valve arm being of a type movable in concert with the butterfiy plate of said carburetor between an idling position and an accelerating position, comprising in combination, a bracket having an opening therethrough,

- means removably attaching said bracket to said carbu retor, said opening having a central axis substantially perpendicular to said valve arm when said arm is in its idling position, a switch housing having an exterior receivable in said opening and a chamber defined therein having a closed end and a substantially disposed axial opening extending from said chamber toward said arm, said chamber being formed by a substantially cup-shaped closure member removably secured with respect to a section of the switch housing, said section having a cross-sectional area greater than said closure member and terminating in a substantially planar surfaced end wall, a groove in said planar surfaced end wall substantially of the same thickness as the walls of the closure for securely receiving the same, a pair of spaced contacts in said chamber at said closed end, a pair of conduction leads respectively connected to said contacts and extending to the exterior of said housing, a member for bridging said contacts, said contacts when bridged completing the electrical circuit to said lights, a spring normally biasing said member away from said contacts, said closed end being formed with an annular groove to position said spring, an elongated shaft slidably received by said chamber having an inner end in contact with said member and an outer end extending through said axial opening into engagement with said arm as said arm approaches its idling position and said shaft having a length causing said member to bridge said contacts against the bias of said spring when said arm assumes said idling position, said member being formed with a concave depression facing said closed end and said depression being circumscribed by a non-interrupted peripheral flange having a diameter the same as the distance between said contacts, and wherein the chamber of said housing being formed with an inner ledge intermediate its ends and said shaft being formed with an enlarged head at its inner end and said head being disposed between said closed end and said ledge.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Wolffsohn 200-465 Meuer 200--165 Markham 20059 Milster ZOO-61.89

Rosenberg ZOO-61.89 Chesler ZOO-61.89

10 BERNARD A. GILHEANY, Primary Examiner.

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