US2323793A - Traffic signaling mechanism - Google Patents

Description

July 6, 1943. c. w. CLARK 2,323,793

I TRAFFIC SIGNALING MECHANISM I Filed April 16, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 1. 4

July 6 1943 I c. W. CLARK 2,323,793

TRAFFIC S IGNALING MECHANISM Filed April 16, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 22 FEEL-4s. ,2! 1/ FIG.5-

9 /3 17 14 I z? 3 1 5 14- I 12 x 13 t I 16 1 P l 6 10 :hvvvwbom 25 CHARLES W- CLARK Patented July 6, 1943 UNITED STATES QFFICE 3 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in illuminated traflic signaling and controlling apparatus. The usual trafiic signal involves a casing wherein one or more sides thereof is provided with a plurality of lenses. Through the provision of automatic circuit controllers, these lenses are alternately illuminated to produce the customary red and green signals. As these signals are now generally operated, sudden changes take place in energizing the red and green lenses. Assuming that the green lens is energized, the operators of approaching Vehicles are not informed as to when the green signal will be deenergized and the red signal or lens energized. Particularly is this true when the traffic signals do not employ a yellow or caution signal during the period between the deenergizing of the green lens and the energizing of the red lens.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a traflic signal of the character indicated wherein the green lens is surrounded by a plurality of segmental or arcuate lenses of distinctive coloration, the latter lenses being successively energized during the period of illumination of the green lens, so that vehicle operators approaching the green lens when it is energized will be able to determine the approximate time remaining in any given period when the green lens is energized.

Another object is to provide a traffic signal which will enable motorists to obtain a better understanding of the periods of illumination of particular lenses forming a part of the trafiic signal, to the end of lessening confusion, facilitating the movement of traffic and minimizing accidents and traffic ordinance violations by motorists.

For a further understanding of the invention, reference is to be had to the following description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a traflie signal formed in accordance with the present invention;

,Fig. 2 is an enlarged front elevation of the signal with the lenses removed to disclose internal structure;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken through the green lens of the traffic signal and associated housing structure;

Fig. 4 is a similar view on an enlarged scale, the plane of the figure being indicated by the line IVIV of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view on the line VV of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view taken through the switch housing, the switch drum and associated contacts being shown in end elevation;

Fig. 7 is a similar view, disclosing the drum in side elevation;

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic view of the circuits used in energizing the signaling lamps.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the numeral l designates the main box-like casing of my improved trafiic signal. In the-particular form of the invention illustrated, the casing is substantially rectangular in horizontal cross section, having four vertical walls. Each of these walls carries a red colored lens, as indicated at 2, and below the latter, a green lens 3. Any suitable means, such as the cables indicated at 4, may be used for suspending the casing in its operative position in the center of street or highway intersections. It will be understood, however, that the trafiic signal may be supported on the upper ends of standards, or in any other conventional manner.

A distinctive feature of the present invention resides in the mounting of the green lenses 3. To mount each of the lenses 3, the casing l is provided with an annular metallic housing 5, having a back wall 6, which closes an opening 1 formed in the side of the casing l. Surrounding the opening I is a seating ring 8, which is suitably secured to the side of the casing, and to which is attached, in any desired manner, the outwardly directed flanges 9 of the housing 5 and its back wall 6.

Secured to the axial portion of the wall 6, as shown more particularly in Fig. 4, is the smaller end of a conical reflector IE3. Also carried by the axial portion of the back wall 6, is a socketed fitting H, which carries an incandescent lamp 12, the latter being disposed in the principal axis of the reflector l0.

Disposed between the outer walls of the reflector l6 and the inner walls of the housing 5 is a plurality of radial partition walls I3, which divide the interior of the housing 5 into separate arcuate compartments It. Situated witlm n each of these compartments is an incandescent lamp l5, each of the lamps l5 being carried by a socketed fixture it supported by the back wall 6. While the open front of the reflector Ii! is covered by the green lens 3, the corresponding open fronts of the compartments I i are covered by means of flat, segmental or arcuate lenses l'l. When four compartments are used in connection with each of the green lenses (although any desired number may be employed), three of the lenses H, as indicated in Fig. 1, possess a yellow or amber coloration, while the fourth of the lenses I1 is preferably of red coloration.

To retain the lenses 3 and ll in their applied positions, the outer portion of the reflector I3 is provided with an out-turned flange I8, which carries a gasket 19, and the outer circumferential edge of the lens 3 is seated against this gasket; also, the inner curved edges of the lenses ll. Likewise, the housing 5 at its outer end is provided with an out-turned flange 20, which acts as a seat for an annular gasket 2|, and the outer curved edges of the lenses ll engage with the gasket 2|, as shown more particularly in Fig. 4. A metallic clamping ring 22 has seating engagement with the inner and outer gaskets l9 and 2| respectively, said clamping ring being united in connection with the flange of the housing 5 by means of the threaded securing devices indicated at 23. If desired, the ring 22 may carry the usual visors or hoods 24 in order to shield the lenses and to enable the same to be more readily viewed when energized.

In the operation of the signal, when one of the green lenses 3 is energized to permit of traffic movement in a given direction, the yellow or amber lens a is first energized, thereby notifying motorists that the period of traffic movement governed by the cooperative green lens is in its first stage of duration. After a given period of time, for example ten to fifteen seconds, the second of the lenses H, as indicated at b, is energized, this being followed by the energizing of the third of the lenses ll, to wit, the lens indicated at c. The fourth of the lenses ll, namely the lens d, which is preferably red in color, is energized following the illumination of the lenses a, b and c. When the lens d is illuminated, motorists are advised that the given period of illumination of the lens 3 is about to terminate, so that motorists approaching the signal should have their vehicles under control and ready to be stopped when the period of illumination of the green lens terminates and the red lens 2 energized.

A preferred sequence is for the green lens to be energized and after it has been energized for a period of time, for example ten to fifteen seconds, the lens a is energized, followed successively by the lenses b, c and d, all of said lenses remaining energized until the termination of a given illuminating period of the lens 3.

Any suitable switch mechanism may be used in obtaining this sequence of lens illumination. For instance, as illustrated in Figs. 6, 7 and 8, the casing l, or a remote control station, may be provided with a motor driven shaft 25 rotated at a timed rate of speed. The shaft 25 carries a drum 26 for rotation in unison therewith. The periphery of this drum is provided with a metallic conducting band 21, and contacting with the continuous portion of the band 21 is a finger or brush 28 with which is connected a lead-in wire 29, leading from any suitable source of electrical energy.

The band 21, as shown in Figs. '7 and 8, is provided with one or more stepped edges 30 producing regions indicated at 3, a, b, c' and d, which regions are disposed in registration with a series of brushes indicated at 3!, 32, 33, 34 and 35. A wire 36 extends from the brush 3i to the filament of the lamp l2, the latter being then connected to the return side of the current supply circuit. Similarly, wires 3'! lead from the brushes 32, 33, 34 and to the lamps indicated generally at l5 and more specifically by the cha acters a, b, c and 11. As the drum rotates, the conducting regions 3', a, b, c and d are successively presented into contacting engagement with the brushes indicated at 3! to 35, thereby successively energizing the lamps and simultaneously deenergizing the same when the brushes are removed from contact with the several regions of the band 21, as specified. It will be understood that other suitable automatic switch mechanism may be used, depending upon the wiring arrangements employed in various municipalities.

The lens mechanism grouped around each of the green lenses is such that it may be readily adapted to standard traflic signaling lamps now in general use, thereby lowering the costs of installation and avoiding the necessity of discarding useful equipment. The size of each of the arcuate lenses I l is such that these lenses may be observed from a considerable distance from the signal proper, permitting the signal to be used with. maximum effectiveness. The bulbs may be readily inserted and removed by the removal of the clamping ring 22, a feature which facilitates servicing of the signal. Also, the walls of the compartments l4 may be suitably polished or brightened to act as reflectors in projecting light through the lenses ll.

It will be understood that various changes may be made in the construction of the apparatus without departing from the scope of the invention as the latter has been defined in the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Attachment means for illuminated street intersection traflic signaling apparatus comprising a base ring adapted for attachment to a conventional traffic signal casing, housing means secured to said ring, said housing having a rear wall and an annular side wall projecting forwardly therefrom, a substantially conical reflector projecting forwardly from the central portion of said rear wall, the wall of said reflector being spaced from said annular side wall, circumferentially spaced partition means extending between said conical reflector and said annular wall to provide a plurality of chambers grouped around a central chamber formed by said reflector, lamp-receiving socket means carried by said rear wall in each of said chambers, and lens means removably supported at the forward ends of said reflector and side wall to close said chambers.

2. Attachment means for illuminated street intersection traffic signaling apparatus comprising a base ring adapted for ready attachment to an existing traffic signal casing, housing means carried by said ring, said housing having a rear wall and a frusto-conical side wall secured at its smaller end to and projecting forwardly from said rear wall, a frusto-conical reflector member secured at its smaller end to the central portion of said rear wall, said reflector being spaced from said side wall to provide an annular chamber around a central chamber within said reflector, partition means extending between said reflector and side wall to divide said annular chamber into a plurality of sections, lamp-receiving socket means provided on said rear wall within said central chamber and the sections of said annular chamber, a lens frame removably secured to the forward edge of said side wall, and lens means carried by said ring for closing the open front of said chambers.

3. Attachment means for illuminated street intersection traific signaling apparatus comprisgrouped around a central chamber formed by said reflector, lamp-receiving socket means carried by said rear wall in each of said chambers, resilient gasket means disposed at the forward edges of said side wall, reflector and partitions, a lens frame engaged with said gasket means and removably secured to said side wall, and lens means carried by said frame to close the open fronts of said chambers.

CHARLES W. CLARK.

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