Manually operated deacceleration warning system with vacuum controlled override

Claim 1

A warning system for downshifting deacceleration of vehicles having an internal combustion type engine with an intake manifold vacuum responsive to acceleration and deacceleration, the warning system having a hand operated control loop which is automatically enabled and disabled in response to the manifold vacuum force, and a lamp operating loop which is separated from the control loop by an isolation relay therebetween, comprising: a control loop; a control power source means for providing control current to the control loop; vacuum operated mode controller means connected in the control loop and automatically responsive to variations in the manifold vacuum force for enabling the warning system by permitting control current to flow in the control loop, and for disabling the warning system to override the hand operation by preventing control current to flow in the control loop; a normally open, push-to-close, hand operated switching means mounted on the downshift control lever and connected in the control loop for initiating the flow of control current through the control loop during downshift deacceleration warning when the the warning system is enabled by the mode controller and the hand operated switching means is closed by the operator, and for terminating the flow of control current through the control loop when the hand operated switching means is released to open by the operator; an isolation relay coil connected in the control loop, and responsive to control current flowing through the control loop during downshift deacceleration warning for generating a magnetic field; an operating loop; an operating power source means for providing operating current to the operating loop; deacceleration warning lamp means connected in the operating loop for incandesing in response to operating current from the operating power source means when operating current flows through the operating loop; isolation relay contacts at least one of which is movable from an open position distant from the isolation relay coil to a closed position proximate to the isolation relay coil in response to the magnetic field for moving the movable contact into electrical engagement with the other contact to complete the operating loop permitting operating current to flow through the warning lamps, the movable contact returning to the open distant position in resonse to the termination of the magnetic field.