684 



Popular Science Monthly 



An Electric Signaling System for 

 the Automobile 



Each arrow is mounted on a 

 small cog-wheel which meshes 

 in a horizontal rack gear, the 

 ends of which act as arma- 

 tures in two solenoid coils 



ANEW type of automobile 

 signal designed to make 

 the course of the car perfectly 

 clear to the traffic officer or 

 following vehicle, employs fairly large 

 arrow dials at front and rear to indicate 

 turns, and a mechanically-operated hand at 

 the rear to indicate a stop. The device is 

 operated by electric current obtained from 

 the storage battery now usually fitted on 

 cars and is manipulated from a small 

 control-box mounted on the steering- 

 column directly below the driver's hand- 

 wheel. 



Each dial is glass-covered, like 

 a circular thermometer, to keep 

 out dust and dirt. Each is pro- 

 vided with a large black arrow, 

 which stands out against a 

 white background and is there- 

 fore discernible at a sufficient 

 distance to avoid collisions 

 at the rear. Similarly the 

 arrow on the front dial 

 suffices to signal to the 

 traffic officer the direction 

 in which it is desired to turn. 



Both dials are electrically 

 lighted at night by means of 

 three small bulbs. The front 

 dial is held in front of the 

 radiator by means of a clamp 

 around the filler-cap. The rear 

 dial is close to the license-plate, 

 the electric bulb illuminating it 

 also serving to light up the white 

 hand with the word "Stop" in 



large, black easily distinguished letters. 

 The front and rear dials are wired up on 

 the same circuit so that the 

 arrows in both always 

 point in the same direc- 

 tion. Normally each 

 arrow points verti- 

 cally upward; but 

 when it is desired 

 to turn, the driver 

 pushes a button 

 on the control- 

 board to turn them 

 to right or left so as 

 to indicate a turn in 

 either direction. This 

 is accomplished electri- 

 cally by mounting each 

 arrow on a small cog-wheel, 

 which meshes in a horizontal 

 rack-gear whose ends act as 

 armatures in two solenoid- 

 coils. Energizing either coil 

 draws the rack into that coil 

 and turns the arrow that way. 



CANVAS-- 



An Ingenious Cover and Press for 

 the Tennis Racket 



AFTER hard use a tennis racket warps. 

 . The gut becomes loose and saggy. To 

 preserve the shape of the frame a racket 

 press may be employed. But the press does 

 not prevent the gut from being affected by 

 atmospheric changes. Clearly, a moisture- 

 proof cover is necessary. 



Charles L. Bates, of Chi- 

 cago, 111., has invented a 

 combined press and covering 

 which seems to meet all re- 

 quirements. The clamping 

 devices on most rackets pre- 

 vent the use of any covering. . 

 But the inventor has de- 

 signed his cover so that it is 

 clamped securely over the 

 racket at the same time the 

 press is tightened. The cov- 

 ering protects the handle as 

 well as the face of the racket. 

 A pair of clamping frames 

 He on each side of the racket 

 frame. After they are tight- 

 ened by wing-bolts, as il- 

 lustrated, the cover is 

 fastened by means of eye- 

 lets. The clamping frames 

 are provided with bolts large 

 enough to fit any racket. 



A combined 

 press and 

 waterproof 

 covering for 

 the racket 



