US2417934A

US2417934A - Oscillating light signal device

Info

Publication number: US2417934A
Application number: US570946A
Authority: US
Inventors: Jeremiah D Kennelly
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1945-01-01
Filing date: 1945-01-01
Publication date: 1947-03-25
Anticipated expiration: 1964-03-25

Description

J. D. KENNELLY 2,417,934

OSCILLATING LIGHT SIGNAL DEVICE March 25, 1947.

Filed Jan. 1, 1945 3 sneetsa-sneet 1 Mar-Ch 25, 1947- J. D. KENNELLY 2,417,934

OSCILLATING LIGHTk SIGNAL DEVICE FledJan. 1, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 March 25, 1947. J D, KENNELLY 2,417,934

OSCILLATING LIGHT SIGNAL DEVICE Filed Jan. l, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Mar. 25, l1947 i UNITEDSTATEs'PATENT o1=Flc'Eg Jeremiahn. Kenneuy, oak Park, n1.

Application January 1, 1945, Serial No. 570,946

This invention relates to signal devices andv more particularly to signal way cars. It has heretofore been proposed to provide a signal device for a railway locomotive or other railway cars in which two selectively operable light sources are provided. Normally one of the light sources is a White light utilized during running while the other is a red colored light which may be utilized to signal approaching trains or for other signal purpo-ses. Preferably the light sources are adapted to be moved to provide an oscillating beam which is more clearly visible than a stationary beam. One construction of this character is more particularly illustrated and described in my copending application, Serial No. 541,561 filed June 22, 1944.

It is one of the objects of the present invention to provide a signal device of the type referred to above which is relatively simple and inexpensive lights for use lon railto manufacture and yet which will perform the desired signalling operations.

Another object is to provide a signal device in which the normal running light of the railway loco-motive or car is interrupted when the colored beam of the signal device is operated.

The above and other objects and advantages of the invention will be more readily apparent from the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1 is an axial section thru a signal device embodying the invention with parts in elevation;

Figure 2 is a transverse section on the line 2 2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a partial section on the line 3 3 of Figure 2; and

Figure 4 is a wiring diagram.

The control device as illustrated comprises a main frame I which is generally U-shaped and which is connected at one end to a rin-g II supporting an annular reiiector I2 formed with a central opening thru which a beam of light may be projected. The main frame is preferably covered by a housing i3 tting against the ring II as shown and secured by a screw I4 to the rearward end of the main frame. The frame and cover are adapted to be xedly mounted in a railway car such as a locomotive. It will be understood that the reflector I2 may be covered by a suitable glazed cover or lens as desired.

A subframe I5 in the form of a strap bent aroundand with its ends connected together is pivotally mounted in the main frame on opposed 5 Claims. (Cl. 177-329)v A2 Y pivots I6 and I1 which -dene an axisl transverse to the length of the main frame. Within the subframe I5 a lamp support I8 is mounted on pivots I9 lying on an axis transverse to the axis of the pivots I6 and I 1. The subframe as shown, may be in the form of a cylindrical sheet metal member out away at one side and having a reinforcing strap 2l thereon to which the pivots I9 are connected.

A pair of electric lamps 22 and 23 are supported in the support I8 facing toward the opposite ends thereof and lying within reectors 24. The lamp 23 is adapted to project a beam having a distinctive color such as red and for this pur--y pose a tinted transparent cover 25 may be se cured over its reflector 24.

The position of the main frame and the support are controlled thru a mechanism which is car ried by a plate 25 secured to a shaft 21 which is coaxial with the pivot l1. A worm gear 2B is connected to the shaft 21 and meshes with awormv ,29 on a shaft 3| which is driven by a motor 32 gear box 38 from which two cranks 39'and 4I are operated. The crank 39 is connected thru a Alink 42 to a bracket 43 secured to subframe I5 so that as the crank 39 turns the subframe will be oscillated about the pivots I 5 and I 1. The crank 4I is 'similarly connected thru a link 44 to a bracket extension 45 on the support I 8 so that as the crank 4l turns the support will be oscillated about the pivots I9. By properly adjusting the throws of the cranks 39 and 4I any desired motion of the support can be produced such as the figure eight movement normally employed in signal devices of this character.

As shown in Figure 4, the reversible motor 32 is controlled by a relay 46 which operates a plurality of switch blades 41, 48, 49 and 5I. The relay may be spring biased or otherwise normally urged to the position shown in Figure 4 and when energized will move the several switch blades to the right.

The switch blade 41 is adapted to engage a contact 52 -Which is connected thru the limit switch 34 to the motor 32 and a contact 53 which is connected to one side of either the armature or eld winding of the motor. The other side of the winding to which contact 53 is connected connects to a contact 54 adapted to be engaged by the switch blade 48 which connects it to a contact 55. The contact 55 is connected to the lamp 23 and thru a wire 56 to a switch segment 51 on a master control switch.

The switch blade 49 engages a contact 58 which is connected thru the limit switch'35 to the motor and a contact 59 which is cross connected to the contact 54 as shown. The switch blade 5I engages a contact 6l which is cross connected to n the contact 53 and a contact 62 which is connected thru a wire S3 to the lamp 22 and to a segment 64 on the main control switch. The relay 46 is connected to the wire 53 and to a common power lead 65 leading to any available source of direct current. The lead B5 is also connected thru a wire 66 to the motor 32 as shown and thru a. wire 61 to the motor 31. The other side-of motor 31 is connected thru awire 58 and a pair of control switches 53 and 15 to the other power lead 1l. One ofthe switches 65er 15 may be of the type which will remain closed when closed Ato provide continuous operation of the motor 31 while the other may be a push-button type-switch to provide for manual jogging operation of the motor to turn the support slowly to any desired position.

The power lead 1| is connected to a wiper arm 12 adapted to engage either the segment 51 or the segment 64. Preferably an additional seg-'- ment 13 lis provided connected thru a resistance 14 to the segment E4 to dim the lamp 22 when desired.

The normal running light for the railway cars such as the locomotive headlight is indicated at 15 supplied with current from a generator 15 driven by a motor 11. The motor11 is supplied with current thru a switch 18 and thru a dimming switch 19 having a resistance 8l in shunt therewith and a manual control switch 82. With all of the switches closed the motor 11 will operate at relatively high speed to supply maximum voltage to theheadlight 15 while with the dimming switch 19 opened the resistance 8l will be placed in cir cuit to cause the Imotor 11 to operate more slowly and deliver a smaller voltage to the vheadlight 15.

The switch 18 is normally closed and is adapted to be opened by a solenoid 83 connected across the wires 55 and 56. When the arm 12engages the segment 61 to energize the lamp 23 the solenoid 83 will simultaneously be energized to interrupt the headlight 15 so that the colored danger signal will be more readily visible.

In operation for normal running the switch arm 12 is moved into engagement with one ofthe contacts E4 or 13 to energize the lamp 22 and to turn the'motor 32 to bring the lamp 22 into register with the reflector I2. When the gear 28 reaches the proper position for registration of the lamp 22 with the reflector opening the limit switch 35 will be opened to interrupt operation ofthe motor 32. It will be understood that the motor 31 may be operated if desired to produce an oscillating light beam at this time.

In the event the train should become stopped on a track or it is desired to indicate a danger signal for some other reason, the arm 12 isvmoved into engagement with` the contact 51. The lamp 23 is energized at this time and the motor 32 is operated in the opposite direction due to reversal of current thru the contacts 53 and 54 caused bygoperationof. the.l switch contacts41 and 48.

4 It will be noted that when the wiper 12 is moved out of contact with both contacts 64 and 13 the relay 4B will be de-energized to allow the switch blades to move to the left into the position shown. At this time the motor 32 will operate in the reverse direction to turn the plate 2S thru 180.

Thru the connecting'links 42 and 44 this will turn the subframe l5 thru 180 to bring the lamp 23 into register with the opening in the reflector I2 to project a colored light beam therethru. When the gear 28 reaches a position in which the lamp 23 registers with the reflector opening the limit switch 34 will be opened to cie-energize the motor 32. The 'motor 31 may be operated as desired, at this time by closing one or the other of the switches 69 or 10 to cause the light beam to oscillate. At the same time the main headlight will be interrupted to make the danger signal more readily visible.

While one embodiment of the invention has been shown and described in detail herein, it will be understood that. this is illustrative only and is not intended as a definition of the scope of the inventiony reference being had for this purpose to the appended claims.

What is claimed is: y

l. A signal device comprising a casing adapted to be mounted on a car or the like and formed with an opening thru which a light beam may project, a subframe pivoted 0n the casing, an elongated support pivoted on the subframe on an axis transverse to the pivotal axis' of the subrame, a. pair of light Sources for projecting visibly diierent rays of light carried by the support at opposite ends thereof respectively, a plate mounted for pivotal movement about an axis coincident with the axis of the subframe, means to turn the plate about its axis, a pair of cranks carried by the plate, means on the plate to turn the cranks, andmeans connecting the cranks respectively to the subframe and the .support to oscillate them about their axes.

2` A signal device comprising a casing adapted to be mounted on a car or` the like and formed with an opening thru which a light beam may project, a subframe pivoted on the casing, an elongated support pivoted on the subframe on an axis transverse to the pivotal axis of the subframe, a, pair of light sources for projecting visibly'diderent rays of light carried by the support at opposite ends thereof respectively, a plate mounted for pivotal movement about an .axis coincident with the axis of the subirame, means to turn the plate about its axis, a motor carried by the plate, a pair ci cranks driven by the motor, and links connecting the cranks respectively to the subframe and the support to rock them about their axes.

3. A signal device comprising a casing adapted to be mounted on a car or the like and formed with an opening thru which a light beam may project a subfrarne pivoted on the casing, an elongated support pivoted o-n the subframe on an axis transverse to the pivotal axis of the subframe, a pair of light sources for projecting visibly diierent rays of light carried by the support at opposite ends thereof respectively, a plate mounted for pivotal movement about an axis coincident with the axis of the subframe, means to turn the plate about its axis, a pair ofcranks carried by the plate, means on the plate to turn the cranks, means connecting the cranks respectively to the subframe and the support to oscillate them about their axes, and control means simultaneously to operate the means to turn the plate about its axis and to energize the light source which is in register With the opening in the casing.

4. A signal device comprising a casing adapted to be mounted on a car or the like and formed at one end with an opening thru which a light beam may project, a hollow subframe rotatably mounted on the casing o-n an axis transverse to the length of the main frame, a support pivoted on the subframe on an axis transverse to the subframe axis, a pair of light; sources for projecting visibly dierent rays of light carried by the support at its opposite ends, a plate rotatably mounted on the main frame on an axis coincident with the subframe axis, a pair of cranks driven by the motor, means connecting the cranks respectively to the sub-frame and the support to rook them about their axes, and means to turn the plate about its axis to reverse the subframe and sup-port whereby a selected one of the sources will register with the opening in the casing.

5. A signal device comprising a casing adapted to be mounted on a car or the like and formed at one end with an opening thru which alight beam may project, a hollow subframe rotatably mounted on the casing on an axis transverse to the length of the main frame, a support pivoted on the subfrarne on an axis transverse to the subframe axis, a pair of light sources for projecting visibly differentrays of light carried by the support at its opposite ends, a plate rotatably mounted on the casing on an axis coincident with the subframe axis, a motor carried by the plate, a pair of cranks driven by the motor, lmeans con necting the cranks respectively to the subframe and the support to rock them about their axes, a gear connected to the plate, a Worm meshing with the gear, a reversible motor for driving the worm, limit switches connected to the motor to interrupt operation thereof, means movable with the gear to control the limit switches, and control means for controlling the motor to turn the plate in one direction or the other.

J EREMIAH D. KENNELLY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,845,399 Cleninger Feb. 16, 1932 2,123,435 Peill et a1 July 12, 1938 2,221,483 Kennelly Nov. 12, 1940 2,262,239 Kennelly Nov. 11, 1941 1,283,933 Udell Nov. 5, 1918