US1240090A - Automatic traffic-regulator. - Google Patents

Description

E. A. POUND.

AUTOMATIC TRAFFIC REGULATOR.

APPLICATION FILED JULY {1,1916- 1,4,9U Patented Sept 11, 1917.

Elma fimmd ELMER A. POUND, OF VENICE, CALIFORNIA.

AUTOMATIC TRAFFIC-REGULATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. ii, an.

Application filed July 11, 1916. Serial No. 108,582.

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, ELMER A. POUND, a citizen of the United States, residing at Venice, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Automatic Traffic- Regulators,- of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a traiiic regulator and particularly pertains to automatic means for regulating the traflic at street crossings in large cities.

' It is an object of this invention to provide automatic means which will constantly o erate to alternately direct the movement '0 pedestrians and vehicles in crossing street intersections.

Another object is to providesimple timing mechanism which will act in a positive manner to actuate the regulator at given intervals to change the direction of trailic movement.

Fig. 2 is a view in vertical section as seen on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1 and as illustrating the arrangement of the semaphore block mounting within the base.

Fig. 3 is a "iew in vertical sectlonas seen on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2' and particularly discloses the timing mechanism" and its motor drive.

Fig. 4 is a View in horizontal section as seen on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3and illustrates the actuating mechanism by which the sema phore block is rotated.

Fig. 5 is a view in horizontal section as.

seen on the line 5 5 of Fig. 2 and illustrates the electrical contact rings by which the semaphore block is illuminated.

Fig. 6 is a view in horizontal section as seen on the line 6-6 of Fig. 2 and in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 7 is a view in vertical section as seen on the line 7-'7 of Fig. 3 and. illustrates the cam facearrangement by which the semaphore block is lifted out of contact with the electric illuminating circuit.

Fig. 8 is a view in plan illustrating the square plate used to rotate the semaphore by means of the semaphore actuating levers.

Referring to the drawings more particularly, 10 indicates a base which is preferably square inshape and which is adapted to rest upon the pavement at the center of street intersectiol-is. The base is hollow and contains actuating mechanism by which a semaphore block 11 is rotated and illuminated. The semaphore block is formed with a vertically extending frame which is rectangular in shape and has mounted within each of its sides. translucent plates upon which suitableindicia are inscribed. As shown in the drawings, diametrically opposite sides bear the 'word Stop aIE ranged rcrtically, one letter below the other. The two remaining plates have the word Open inscribed upon them. These inscriptions indicate when the traliic is to move and when to remain still.

The semaphore block is actuated by means of a motor 12 which is fitted with a worm gear 13 adapted to mesh with a worm wheel 14. The worm wheel has a suitable spur gear mounted upon it which engages one of a train of gears. In the drawings, the train consists of large diametered gears 15 and 16 and small gears 17 and 18. These gears move in svm-ln'onism and produce intermittent rotation of the semaphore block. This movement is produced bymeans of an engaging pin 19 which is secured upon the face of the gear 16 and is thus brought into engagement with the end of a rocker arm 20 once in each revolution of the gear 16. The rocker arm is pivoted upon the bottom of thevbase 10 by means of a pivot pin 21 and extends outwardly across the bottom of the base. The outer end of said rocker arm is connected by a pitman rod 22 to a vertically disposed shifting arm 23 which is suitably mounted for universal movement within a,

other coil spring 26 is secured to the shifting arm 23 and normally draws it in the direction indicated by the arrow b-.

The shifting arm is adapted to engage one of a series of notches 2T30 inclusive formed adjacent the corners of a square rotating plate 31 secured to .a vertically disposed semaphore shaft 32 upon which 1s mounted the semaphore block. The rocker arm 20 and the pitman rod 22 are so correlated that they swing the shifting lever the proper amount of movement to rotate the plate 31 one quarter of its revolution and thereby change the position of the semaphore block so that the indicia exposedto the traffic upon the various street corners will be reversed at each quarter turn of the semaphore block.

In order to attract the attention of the traveling public to the regulator the sema phore block is intermittentlyilluminated by suitable incandescent lamps 33 which are arranged within the semaphore block and which are supplied with an electric current which is delivered to conductor rin s 34 and 35 by electrical conductors 36 and 31. These rings are insulated from each other and lie concentric to each other upon a plate 38 mounted upon the base and around the semaphore shaft 32. A series of four rollers 39-42 inclusive are secured upon the under face of the semaphore block and are arranged in pairs diametrically opposite each other and upon circles whose diameters are similar to the diameters of the rings 3% and 35. These rollers are contact rollers and, when bearing upon the rings 3i and 35, complete circuits to the lights within the semaphore block. The intermittent illumination of these lights is effected by a face cam 43 which is formed within the bottom of a thrust bearing 44 adapted to receive the lower end of the semaphore shaft 32 and carry the complete weight of the semaphore block. The face cam is formed with four swells which are arranged at right angles to each other and which engage a similar face upon the end of the shaft 32. This'con1bination of cam faces acts to raise and lower the semaphore block at each quarter turn and thus relieves the rollers 3942 inclusive from contact with the conductor rings 34 and 35.

The entire device in operation is actuated by the electric motor 12 which is supplied with a constant flow of current which permits it to run continuously. The train of gears connecting with the motor is designed to reduce the speed of rotation of the gear 16 to suitably time it in its rotation of the semaphore block. Observation has proven that the movemeutof traflic in one direction requires approximately thirty seconds and the device here shown is timed to approximately that speed. However, individual traffic conditions will govern this matter. \Vhen the gear 16 isrotated, its pin 19 will engage the cngageable end of the rocker arm 20 and swing it in the direction indicated by i the arrow -c-. This movement will draw the pitman rod and consequently the shiftmg lever 23 so that the semaphore plate will be rotated a quarter of a revolution. Simultaneously, the semaphore will be vertically reciprocated upon the cam 43 and will, during the transition from one position to the other, discontinue the illumination. Within the semaphore block. However, the cam will permit the rollers to become seated upon the conductor rings at the time the semaphore block ceases tomove and will thus cause the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim: I

1. A tratlic regulator. comprising a vertically disposed semaphore block, indicia inscribed upon the sides of said semaphore block, means whereby said block may be intermittently and regularly rotated a given portion of a revolution. means for illuminating the semaphore block, and means whereby the semaphore block may be reciprotated while rotating to discontinue the illumination therein.

2. A traffic regulator comprising a supporting base, a rotatable vertical shaft mounted thereon, a semaphore block mounted fast to said shaft. timing gears constantly driven within said base, means operativelv connected to said gears for rotating said shaft a quarter revolution in the same direction at regular intervals, means for illuminating said block. and means whereby the illumination may be discontinued durin the rotation of said shaft, said means inclu din a contact point fast to said base and a con tact point fast to said block adapted to engage said first-named contact point when said block is at rest and to be disconnected When said block is rotated.

3. A traflic regulator comprising a supporting base, a rotatable vertical shaft supported thereby, a rectangular vertical sema- KIY pliore block fast to said shaft, trafiic regulating indicia carried by said block, means for imparting a quarter revolution to said shaft at regular intervals, said means including reducing gears operatively connected therewith, a toothed plate fast to said shaft, a pin on one of said gears, a lever intermittently operated by said pin, and operatively connected to said plate, and resilient means restoring said lever to its original position 10 after its engagement With said pin.

In testimony whereof I' have signed my name to this specification.

ELMER A. POUND.

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