US1236441A - Automatic traffic-signal. - Google Patents

Description

F. J. HUSBANDS.

Aurommc TRAFFIC SIGNAL.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 9. 19.16,.

fl ,236,44 1 Patented Aug. M 1917.

INVENTDR: Frank J. Husbands.

muren sTATns PATENT oratori. y

Hmmm. HusuANDS,.-.0;E LOSM ,Qemlile AUTOMATIC TRAFFIC-IGNAL.

,fspeciacatitii of Lettersratept. Patented Aug- 14, 191,7,

Applcatonlectqber S, 19116. Serial No. 124,669.

'.1 new and useful Automatic,Traieignahpt which the following is aspecication.

This invention. :relates tol an improved signal-systemfor the control of-tralicfat street intersections, wand the objects .-,of this improvement 'are to 'display=signa;ls whereby the trafiemay proceed 1for a limited period l oftime on' .one of two.interseeting.-.streets,

and alternately 2 :upon s .the iotherv .S-$6913, and to accomplish the cliengecof. Signals; m1150- matically.

Another lobject of thi-sf iimprovement=- islto provide means whereby' ithe v .itraiiic .Signals may be manually .-operated,fthe :devicebeipg arranged to automaticallyfresume:.the automatic operation of 'fthe signals Whlever the manual ycontrol.'therecf is discontinued Another' object is l'to provide means for varying the :regular 'sequence of theautomatic change of signals, so that trajiioiniay proceedupon onefstreet'longerthan on the other.

-The invention may be embodied :toiQOmprchend 1 mechanical land :eleotricah ielemets in 'combination whereby some of: the elements 'will -be #operativerrelatively to-the others' for regulating :and: centrollingtthe flow ofan electric current-to othersywhereby the others will loperate to :govern fthe display signals.

nthel drawings, Figure'l is asectional elevation of asignal idevicewincorporating the principles 'of this invention, thehousing being sectionedronfline ofF-ig-2, and all innerparts: iii-elevation. Fig-.f 2 is1-a similar View ofthe deviceztuzrned at `arraiigle of 90 degrees, the housing. being sectioned on the line Z-Z,fof- Fig. 1. Fig. 3.` is a diagram of the electrical elements and Wiring. Fig. L1 is an :elevation ot' one of thesignals and housing therefors- Fig. 5 is amodified form of signal.

Referring-to vthe drawin y' this traic signalv consists off-four housmgs,. of .which one i's'to be located. ateach cornenoLi-nte ysecting rstre'etsp-and of. iwhich one. hQllSng ,ing ,Wires BBLBZS,

11 ,i s provided With a control box 12 integral therewith. The electrical and mechanical elements referred to are :praii,iedy in' the housin withcontrolgbox.-

I'he onsing ,11 ihas an aaialbar I13 on Whlh pivotally monili-.Gd thhmOl/'l semaphore vanes 14, l' len'ib/,s'.16 @ennemi-the semephere-.Yeneaivit fapliigr lnmovablein a solenoid 18.' Whenthe solenoid is energieed,the plunger is ,pulled downward: thereby .Ieeng the .vene lff'ii lowering een@ lernst when the .Seeiid S deirwed the-ien@ le diepe bi strity, ls1mu aneouslyE .raising A rane 114 beinglsimply 'heavfyr temere] than Counterbelame ,the Aplunger .and .rane ,115i A spring 19 .sec`ureld the .housing cushions thevane'v 15, 'ther the upward .movement of Vane', andiassist's I whichtrotates independently hereprnf tue hub, lflofwthe Wheel 21, haying YXed.thereon a AdiumQ?) which rotates'rin iinisonfwith Wheel 21. Amotor QaactuatesL 'a Worm 'pinion- 25,.Which. inI turn actuantes,- Wheell. 'jl`liernotor is driven by 7an electric power circuit indicated in-Fig. 3, by irires26`, 27. Aqrheostat 28 .regulates 'the'y circiuit so that anyrequired speed ofthe motorvlmay'be maintained, or the .motormayfbec'ut out of circuit itdesired. A

The drum 23 has fixed on theperiphery I thereof, a cam .29. A similalcam 3Q 1S clamped to the opposite-edge o.theuperiph-` ery, the cam 30 beingl adjustable to different positions relative toiXed cam 29.. Carns't), 30, alternatelyactuate a three-point snap switch 31 which controlsl circuitsrep'resented -lay-,Wires 32, 33. VVhen'theJcircuit comprising-Wires k32, 34, 35, solenoids 18, 86, v and 4WireA 27, is closed by switchjl, the

stop signals 14, =o n diagonally opposite lstreet vcornersfwill, be raised tothe horizontal or display position. Then the circuit compris soienoids 39h10, and

,nals 41, on diagonally opposite street corners, will be raised to display position.

When it is desired that the signals shall operate automatically, vthe current is turned on through rheostat 28, actuated by handle 42, and the motor 24, thus energized, will actuate the drum 23, hereinafter called a timer, and thereby throw the switch 31. The go signals will automatically assume the display position by gravity, when the circuits are broken.

A snap switch 42, actuated by a pull-chain 43, is arranged to place both -solenoid cir* cuits in contact with wire 26. This may be a double-pole switch as shown in Fig. 3, or

it may be simply a single pole switch to conneet the two solenoid circuits, so that, when closed, the switch 31 will connect both circuits in either position.

From the foregoing it may be seen that when, the current` is on and energizing the motor, the timer will in turn be actuated to automatically throw the switch 31. Thus either one or the other of the solenoid circuits will be in active operation to hold certain of the signal vanes in set position. The revolution of the timer will bring the cams thereon alternately into contact with switch 31. In. case there is more traiic on one of the intersecting streets than on the other,

the cams may bel unequally spaced upon the timer, in this case the cam 30 being clamped to the timer by a thumb screw 44, may be set to allow the three-point snap switch to remain in one position longer than in the other.y The intervals elapsing between change of signals may be varied by adjust` ing the rheostat, a knob 45, being provided for that purpose. A traiiic oiiicer may if necessary, cut out the motor, thereby leaving the signals set for traffic on one of the intervdrum 55.

sccting streets, or he may, by actuating pull switch 42, stop traiiic on both streets. The signal housings, of which one is constructed as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and three as shown in Fig. 4, are provided with brackets 46, whereby they may be attached preferably to street lamp posts. The wires may be arranged to pass out through the conduit 47, and thence overheador underground from one to another of the signal housings.

In the modified form shown in Fig. 5, the red, or stop signal 48 is hung to swing on axial pivot 49, and the white, or go signal is swung upon a separate pivot 50. Signal 48 is operated by a plunger 51, actuated by a solenoid 52. Signal 48 is provided with a drum 53, concentric with its pivotal axis, and signal 54 is provided with a similar A cord 56 is attached to both drums, on opposite sides relative to the axialccnters of the signal vanes, so that as one signal is swung to display position, the

While simple and eiiicient means are here-- in provided for accomplishing the objects vof the invention Vand the'elements shown and described are well adapted to scrve the purposes for which they are intended, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the precise construction exhibited in the drawings, but that changes, alterations, and modifications may be made within the scope 'of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A traffic signal comprising two sema phores hung upon a common pivot, a solenoid, a plunger working therein, means to` energize the solenoid, and link members pivoted to the semaphores on opposite sides with respect to the semaphore pivot centers whereby one of the semaphores is lowered as the other is raised to set position.

2. AA traiiic signal comprising two 'semaphores hung to `swing upon a common pivot, a solenoid,`g1 ,plunger working in the solenoid, link members pivoted to the plunger and pivoted to the semaphores on opposite.

sides relative to the semaphore pivot center whereby one of the semaphores is lowered as the other is raised to set position, and means to alternately energize and denergize the solenoid.

3. A traiiic signal comprising two semaphores hung to swing upon a common pivot, a plunger, link members pivoted to the plunger and to the semaphores on opposite sides relative to the semaphore pivot centers whereby one of the semaphores is lowered as the other is raised to set position, a solenoid to actuate the plunger, and means to alternately energize and denergize the solenoid, one of said semaphores being heavy relative to the other semaphore and plunger whereby the signals are changed by gravity when the solenoid is denergized.

4. -A traiiic signal comprising two semaphores hung to swing upon a common pivot, a plunger beneath the semaphores, link members connecting the plunger' and semaphores whereby7 one semaphore is lowered and the other is raised upon the movement of the plunger, a solenoid to actuate the plunger, and means to alternately energize and denergize the solenoid.

5. The combination with semaphore signals, one of which is lowered as the other is raised to set position, and one of which is heavier than the other whereby the signals tion, and cams on the timer switch, one of said cams being fixed in posi- -noid circuit will be in contact are operated by gravity to one position, and electrical means for operating the signals to the other position.

6. In combination with four signalsn'ormally operated by gravity to the go position, each one of which is located at a corner ofintersecting,streets, and a source of electric energy to throw the signals to stop position, of solenoid circuits arranged vto 'operate simultaneously the signals on diagonally opposite corners, switch means to alternately connect the solenoid circuits with a timer to acthe source of electric energy,

tuate said switch, and a motor also in circuit with the source of electric energy to constantly operate the timer.l

7 In a trafiic signal system, tion with a series of signals, one of which'` s located at each corner of intersecting streets,

of solenoid.

and a source of electric energy,

circuits, each of which operates the signals on two diagonally opposite street corners, a

switch to alternately connect the solenoid circuits with the source of electric energy,

a motor actuated timer in constantoperato actuate the tion, and the other cam being adjustable relative to the fixed cam whereby one solewith the source of electric energy for a longer interval than the other solenoid circuit.

8. In a traic signal system, the combina-l tion with four signals, one of which is located at each corner of intersecting streets, and a source of electric en i of ,JeIctric circuits arranged to opera:V 'signals on two v diagonally opposite corners, means for alternately placing said' electric circuits in contact with the source of electric energy,

means for varying theintervals of contact relative to one another, and means for lengthening and shortening the intervals of contact proportionally.

9. In a trafiic signal system/ having a signal at each corner of intersecting streets, means to operatetwo signals located on diagonally opposite cornersy to allow tra-flic to proceed on one street, simultaneously, means to alternately operate the signals for the opposite corners, relative to the firstnamed signals, means for varying the intervals elapsing between the change of signals, relative to one another, means for varying the intervals between change of signals, proportionally manually operated means to `keep the signals in' a set posi-tion indefinitely and manually operated means to set the sig'- nals all iii sto position. x

10. In a tra ic signal system, means'y to automatically operate simultaneously a pair of signals on diagonally oppositestreet corners,

means to automatically and simultaneously the combinaA .tuating the plunger and hold the counterelectric energy signals operated to maining street corners, means for alternately operating the different pairs of signais, means for'varying the intervals between change 'of signals'iproportionally, means for varying the intervals ybetween change of signals relatively, and means to hold all signals in stop position indefinitely, all operated from one source of electric energy. v

11.'In a traffic signal, two semaphores hung to swing upon a pivot, a plunger, link members connecting the plunger and semaphore signals whereby one semaphore will swing downward as the other assumes the horizontaldisplay position, one of said semaphores-.being counterweighted to normally swing downward, and electric means for acweighted semaphore 'in .display position.

12. In a traffic signal system, a source of two solenoid circuits, signals operated to stop vposition when the solenoid circuits are energized, a switch to throw either solenoid circuit in connection with the source of4 electric energy, a timer for 'throwing the switch, and means for'limiting the flow of current that operates the timer independent of the current flowing through the switch.

13. In a trafiic signal system, a source of electric `energy, two solenoid circuits, two stop .position 'when either circuit is energized, la three point snap switch arranged electrically actuated switch.

14j@ ,[na traffic signal system, adprimary electric circuit, two solenoid circuits, two

signals operated to stop position when one of the solenoid circuits is energized,two other signals, similarly operated when the other solenoid circuit is energized, electrical 4means for alternately energizing the solenoid circuits, and manually operated means for energizing both circuits simultaneously. c 15. In a trafiic signal system, four signalselectrically operated to stop positotliiow either solenoid circuit in connection with the source of to operate the snap and means to throw both solenoid circuits in connection with the source of electric energy independent of the tion when connection with a primary circuit is made, and returning by gravity to go position, electric motive and timing means to automatically operate said signals in pairs, alternately, and means for manually operating the signals in independent circuits or in unison.

16. Ina traffic signal system, Jfour signals operated by gravity to go position, and operated by electricity to stop position, electric solenoid circuits, each controlling los two signals, a. switch to throw either solenoid circuit into connection with a source of electric energy, a timer to actuaba the switch, und earns on the timer, one of which 5 is fixed in position and the other is adjustable in position.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto axed my signature this 11th day of September, 1916.

FRANK J. HUsBANDs.

In presence of JAMES W. MASTER, GLADYS M. HUNTER.

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