Differential pressure control system and switch means therefor

Claim 2

A vacuum operable switch assembly comprising a housing, switch means in said housing responsive to creation of a vacuum in said housing for changing the electrical condition of said switch means, said switch means including a switch element extending into said housing a short distance and terminating in a contact, another switch element extending transversely of said housing and terminating in a contact facing the contact of said first element to form a switch and establish an electrical condition of the same, and a movable weight bearing on said second switch element to change the condition of said switch to a normally maintained condition, whereby movement of said weight away from said engaged switch element will change the condition of said switch from its normally maintained condition, means for introducing air into said housing on the switch side of said weight, and means for use in establishing a vacuum condition in said housing to the other side of said weight, whereby to cause said weight to move away from its bearing engagement with said switch element.

Claim 3

A stop warning signal system adapted for an automotive vehicle powered by an internal combustion engine having an intake manifold and a gas feed pedal, comprising a vacuum operated switch assembly including a housing having an end wall with a passageway therethrough, normally open switch means in said housing, an electrically (stimulated) actuated signal means in an electrical circuit including said normally open switch means, means for coupling said vacuum operated switch assembly to said intake manifold by way of said passageway for vacuum operating said switch assembly, and means for rendering said normally open switch means nonresponsive to vacuum conditions in said intake manifold below a threshold value, which conditions represent nonemergency manipulations of said gas feed pedal, said last means comprising an associate housing enclosing said end wall of said first housing and having an exposed flow connection for connecting said vacuum operable switch assembly to said intake manifold, said end wall including a teat thereon through which said passageway extends, a leak diaphragm spanning said associate housing between said exposed flow connection and said passageway, in prestressed engagement with said teat, to create an outer and inner chamber and at the same time block said passageway, said prestressing of said diaphragm being such as to render said diaphragm nonresponsive to vacuum conditions in said intake manifold below said threshold value, but responsive to values above said threshold value to stretch said diaphragm away from said teat and expose said switch to the resulting vacuum condition created in said inner chamber.

Claim 4

A stop warning signal system adapted for an automotive vehicle powered by an internal combustion engine having an intake manifold and a gas feed pedal, comprising a vacuum operated switch assembly including a housing having an end wall with a passageway therethrough, normally open switch means in said housing, an electrically (stimulated) actuated signal means in an electrical circuit including said normally open switch means, means for coupling said vacuum operated switch assembly to said intake manifold by way of said passageway for vacuum operating said switch assembly, and means for rendering said normally open switch means nonresponsive to vacuum conditions in said intake manifold below a threshold value, which conditions represent nonemergency manipulations of said gas feed pedal, said last means comprising an associate housing enclosing said end wall of said first housing and having an exposed flow connection for connecting said vacuum operable switch assembly to said intake manifold, said end wall including a teat thereon through which said passageway extends, a leak diaphragm spanning said associate housing between said exposed flow connection and said passageway, in prestressed engagement with said teat, to create an outer and inner chamber and at the same time block said passageway, said prestressing of said diaphragm being such as to render said diaphragm nonresponsive to vacuum conditions in said intake manifold below said threshold value, but responsive to values above said threshold value to stretch said diaphragm away from said teat and expose said switch to the resulting vacuum condition created in said inner chamber.

Claim 5

A stop warning signal system in accordance with claim 2, characterized by said diaphragm being of silicone rubber.

Claim 6

A vacuum operable switch assembly adapted for use in a stop warning signal system, comprising a housing, switch means in said housing responsive to creation of a vacuum in said housing for changing the electrical condition of said switch means, said switch means including a switch element extending into said housing a short distance and terminating in a contact, another switch element extending transversely of said housing and terminating in a contact facing the contact of said first element and adapted to engage the same, and a movable weight normally bearing on said second element to normally maintain the contact of said second element in spaced relationship to that of said first element to create a normally open switch, whereby movement of said weight away from its bearing relationship against said second element, will cause said switch to close, and means adapted to be coupled to a source of vacuum for controlling vacuum conditions in said housing, said means being responsive to such a vacuum source above a threshold value of vacuum, to create a vacuum condition in said housing and cause change in the electrical condition of said switch means, but being nonresponsive to such source of vacuum at values below said threshold value.

Claim 7

A vacuum operable switch assembly adapted for use in a stop warning signal system, comprising a housing, switch means in said housing responsive to creation of a vacuum in said housing for changing the electrical condition of said switch means, said switch means including a switch element extending into said housing a short distance and terminating in a contact, another switch element extending transversely of said housing and terminating in a contact facing the contact of said first element and adapted to engage the same, and a movable weight normally bearing on said second element to normally maintain the contact of said second element in spaced relationship to that of said first element to create a normally open switch, whereby movement of said weight away from its bearing relationship against said second element, will cause said switch to close, and means adapted to be coupled to a source of vacuum for controlling vacuum conditions in said housing, said means being responsive to such a vacuum source above a threshold value of vacuum, to create a vacuum condition in said housing and cause change in the electrical condition of said switch means, but being nonresponsive to such source of vacuum at values below said threshold value.

Claim 8

A vacuum operable switch assembly in accordance with claim 4, characterized by said housing having a cylindrical interior wall, and said movable weight being a ball of a diameter approaching that of said cylindrical interior wall.

Claim 9

A vacuum operable switch assembly adapted for use in a stop warning signal system comprising a housing, switch means in said housing responsive to creation of a vacuum in said housing for changing the electrical condition of said switch means, and means adapted to be coupled to a source of vacuum for controlling vacuum conditions in said housing, said means being responsive to such a vacuum source above a threshold value of vacuum, to create a vacuum condition in said housing and cause change in the electrical condition of said switch means, but being nonresponsive to such source of said vacuum at values below said threshold value and including a passageway through a wall of said housing and a teat on said wall through which said passageway extends, an associate housing enclosing said teat and having an exposed flow connection for connecting said vacuum operable switch to a source of vacuum, a leak diaphragm spanning said associated housing between said exposed flow connection and said passageway, in prestressed engagement with said teat, to create an outer and inner chamber and at the same time block said passageway, said prestressing of said diaphragm being such as to render said diaphragm nonresponsive to vacuum conditions below a threshold value, but responsive to values above said threshold value to stretch said diaphragm away from said teat and expose said switch to the resulting vacuum condition created in said inner chamber.

Claim 10

A vacuum operable switch assembly adapted for use in a stop warning signal system comprising a housing, switch means in said housing responsive to creation of a vacuum in said housing for changing the electrical condition of said switch means, and means adapted to be coupled to a source of vacuum for controlling vacuum conditions in said housing, said means being responsive to such a vacuum source above a threshold value of vacuum, to create a vacuum condition in said housing and cause change in the electrical condition of said switch means, but being nonresponsive to such source of said vacuum at values below said threshold value and including a passageway through a wall of said housing and a teat on said wall through which said passageway extends, an associate housing enclosing said teat and having an exposed flow connection for connecting said vacuum operable switch to a source of vacuum, a leak diaphragm spanning said associated housing between said exposed flow connection and said passageway, in prestressed engagement with said teat, to create an outer and inner chamber and at the same time block said passageway, said prestressing of said diaphragm being such as to render said diaphragm nonresponsive to vacuum conditions below a threshold value, but responsive to values above said threshold value to stretch said diaphragm away from said teat and expose said switch to the resulting vacuum condition created in said inner chamber.