US1267767A - Street-traffic-controlling apparatus. - Google Patents

Description

y B.M.HARR1S; STREET TRAFFTC CONTROLLING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION ElLED JAN.25| 1915- RENEWED OCT. T8. 19H54 l,267,767". Patented May 28, 191g 3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

B. M'. HARRIS.

STREET YRAFFIC CONTROLLING APPARATUS.

APPUcATmN msn 11111.25. 1915. `RENEWED 012118.15116. ,267,'?67.

Patented May 28, 1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 7 mVNTOR W 1% MW KVITN ESS ICS:

ATTORNEY B. M. HARRIS.

STREET 1IRAFFIC CONTROLLING APPARATUS.

APPL'ICATION4 m50 1AN.25.1915. RENEwED 00T. 18.1916.

Patented Muy 28, 1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1 l5 LSSI S ATEX@ BENJMUQ' M. HARRIS, OE' SAN FRANCISCO, CALIEOEBH.,

STREET-TRAFFIC-CGNTROLLING PPARATUS.

lLcntlniieticn in part of apnlictiqn Seria No.y $38,055, filed May 12, 191e. This application flied Jennery Specification of Letters etent.

Patented eit 25, 1915. SerialNo. ,198. Renewed OctoberA 123, 1916. Serial No. 126,425?,

'To all whom, 'it 'may concern.'

le it known that l, llnxJAniN M. Hnnnis,

.1i citizen of the United States. residing inY the city und county of San Francisco and Stute of California, have invented new and useful improvements in bitreet-Tleilic-Controlling Appnrzitusfof which thc-following is u specification. i

This in\'cntionrelates to apparatus tor controlling trn'iiic :it street intersections. I

lrniiic at congested streenintersections 1e generally controlled by ineens of e change- :ihle signal system, eitherl zuidible'or visible, or both, `signals ofone characteristic indicating one direction oftrailioand signals oi :i iliii'erent cl'niracteristic indicating another und different direction ot' travel.

My object is to provide e. inechnniczilly operated signal device capable of variation, whereby to give oli asignal of a different character upon successive actuations and of like churicter on alternate zctuations., the interval between the actuations being controlled ,by hund. and the variation in the churcter of the iSignnls being produced automatically.

street truiiic controlling apparatus embody-v fin, carrying ont this object, I provide a.

in@ :in .audible signal capable of sounding one und two blasts in regular succession when :i signal switch or controlling member is actuated :ind e visible signal operating in unison therewith :1nd actuated by the saine power device. The entire mechanism is contr 'led by n single switch mechanism, so thrt :ill the operator need do is to actunte this member in the sinne manner each time a. chiingein `the,direction of the traffic is deL sired, whereupon the proper signals will ocou'r vto indicate the particular direction in Which'tlie traine is free to move..

"lne form which my invention muy nssuine is exemplified in ythe following description and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which-- Figure l is ai, view of the apparetus es in stalled.

Fig. 2 is :t side elevation.

l* 3 is an end view.

Fig. 4 is a central vertical section.. .liigrf is u sectional plan of the actuating mechanism on line 5 5. Fig. 4.

Fig'. i? is u sectional detail of an intermittent clutch `for the shutter mechanism.

wvhich can be distinctly seen by day and night, and particularly which een be erranged or located so to be visible through the largest possibleengle from the desired station or point of crossing, and which wiil not occupyr any Sidewalk or street `eren its Support thereon,

To that end, my presentinvention cludes a simple casing er housing 2 towhieii may be connected any suitable aerial-suspension structure, as cables 3, which in turn may be fastened to any convenient supports,

wie, for instance, trolley guys, poles, building walls, etc. Turnebly mounted on the housing is a hollow, double-pointed direction indicator 4 with signs stop on opposite sides und inclosing an illuminating ineens, es electric lights` 5. A beacon 6 me] be provided if desired. The indicator l is secured to a tubular shaft 7 extending through e pendent bracket 2 of the housing 2; the shaft having e gear 8 engaged and driven by n reduction train 9. The letter is actiatefl by a suitable motor 10 in the housing.

Anysuitable means may be utilized for controlling the motor for moving the indcator at desired periods from punition to i'iosition, end, here shown, includes an insuflating arm 13 secured to shaft Y and cnr-r -rying a set or" brushes 14e- 14 engaging conergized by feed wires v-2l having a light controlling switch 22.

The motor 10 is connected tol the current ring 1G by a wire 23, the ring being cross connected by brush i6-416 to one 0 1' the inerme? Upon closing clown operation, efer cert-ain hours, lie oiiicer simply cloees'tlie switch 57 to magnetically release tlie sie v Tile. indicator #l indicates7 by is pnrellcl position wili n si/ieel exis, limi lmiiic is to more init mi); und is blocked by the sign reading stop in lfne cross street. As n signal for cliiinggc of direction of travel. :in ollicer l'ln'ows the conlrol switch and the inclor lerne the. indien lire desired angle, llilf'; syi'iclironou" die audible signal attention end signifies e change in direction of moven'ient.

in Flan Francisco, (nlii'ornia, tiiislepparesourcil eoirtinnouelfv lijy closing e switch 58 LBA for cross connecting lle motor circ-uil; wires so that when the control :nvileh is in conlnct wili either and the supplemental switch cloised, then the nxotor circuit will ne continuously close. This will cause ille motor to coninuoiealy run and'eo sweep tlm Signel inflicnlor and llie several brushes of 'lie eolleelor coninuously in a vcircle and canse the rapid sounnling of elle alarm.

epplicelion in sxibstiution and coiiinunien of my originel appliceiion No. 7l-83,056, filed ille? i2, 19M.

in lie. presen?, flei'ice Lilie lime of opera lion ie conirolleii by lninilQenil ellis is ac compiimeci lay the nienipulntionoi a switch gerne manner upon each nellaion. @nce line machine is pui.; in operation lie ieizisien in clierecter olf the signals given on?, ie miren cere o1, enonmtically and lie neeii png; no eiention to this i limi the tine variamails elimi- 'lferione in construction und 5 errnzigeinenil "the several. parle lierein snm/n described niej. ce employed Without (lepi'xrting from -lie spiil, of my invenpliore, and `which on August 4, 1915, was' formally abandoned in iwor of thepresent eppllcaion. Said prior application showed and lescmbeel a slreet trane controlling aipdifferent. directions on the succesisve ecunf tions.

Having time described my invention, wlmiA l claim und desire to. :secure by Leiters Patent, isfl. ln trui'lic signal nppnrntus,' :i signalingir device cnpulile of producing signnls'o varying charactei'istics,v ineens for operating the device to produce n Signal of e cerlziin clinreceristic, other ineens for opernb ing.: ille device to produce n signal of e difierent clizirecteristic, :and nlenns for operning the signaling device to produce a tliiril signnl embodying lie lirsl; two signals und to cliect n continuiil'ion of the production of sniil third signal.

ln n lrallic sip/mil apparatus, n signal- -ing device czipnlile of producing sign-ils of viiiying clmz'nclerislics., electrical :nenne for operating ille device to produce n signal of one clifiraieteristic, other electrical ineens for operating 'ille device to produce n signal ol' il (liiierent characteristic, and ineens for operating ilie device to produce und repent n signal combining the. iii-s, two signals, the lutter being produced alternately relutive to each other. l

ln :i trniic signal apparatus, ai signal, ineens for operning llie signal, n plurality oi means, eucli adapted for effecting inde,- pemlenl operai ion of the irsl ineens to cause the, production or" signals olf (lifi'ei'ent cliurectei'istics,` mul e single ineens for effecting en operation of ille iris meansv lo'prodnce n, continuous signal embodying' ille relying signals leil'eetcfl luy the specified plurality oi' ineens.'

4. in a. trzillic signal apparatus, :in ululiole, signal n plnrnlit \v of electrical ineens for operating" the audible eigniil lo produce nuls, encli menne lacing independenily 'opclu nblc for producing;r a sig-mil luv/ing clim'- ecl'erifsice (lill'ering from lliose of n nignul produced liv zinotlier oll seid means, nml elecriciil ineens for operziing the nmliblo signal to profluce n, signnl consisting of n continuous; repeningf of ille combined mulilile signi-ills ni'oi'esniil.

5. ln irnliic signal apparatus, n visible, semaphore. mechanism for' operaiing The semaphore. en audible signal operable coinciilenl. will; the visible Senliipliore, n plurality of electrical ineens for operaiing the audible signal to produce signals, mieli means being independently operable for p'i'oducing :l signal inning clinrncteristics-(lili'ering from those ol l1 signal produced by nnother of snifl ineens. nndelectricnl menus for operating the :Hubble-'signal to produce A a signal consisting' of u continuous repenting of the combined audible signals aiorey the signal to render the saine invisible, and

electrical means Ior operatingr the shutter to uncover the signal.

8, ln a traine signal apparatus, a movaole semaphore, a Whistle, uirl supplying n'ieans for the Whistle, a valve for controlling the supply of iiuifl, means for moving the semaphore on operation of the yalVe, and a val-ve operating mechanism foropening the Valve to produce alternately a single and a double blastA 9. ln a traiic signal apparatus, a movable semaphore, a whistle, iairi supplyingr means for the whistle, a valve for controlling the supply of fluid, means for inovingthe semaphore on operation of the valve, and a valve operating mechanism including' a trip lever. to open the valve, and a rotatable .rnernher provided with a plurality orn irregularly spaced pins adapted to trip the lever for its eecting alternate single and douhlehlasts l0. ln a trac signal apparatus, a signal, a shutter movably mounted Yte corel:- the same, means to more the shutter including a shaft, a rotatable meroher loose thereon and provided with an aperture, a second. rotatable member fixed on the shaft, a spring actuated lool; pin carried by the second rotatable n'ieinoer and adapted to engage in the aperture of the iirst rotatable member to connect the two members, a sliflably mounted ejecting member on the vlirst rotatable member adapted to disengage the lock pin Jfrom-the second rotatable member, a cain to actaate the ejecting member, and means to hold the shaft in its rotated position subsequent to the unlocking or' the first and second rotatable members.

il. ln a traffic signal apparatus, a signal, a shutter n'iovaoly mounted to cover the saine, means to move the shutter including 'a shaft, a rotatable member loose thereon and provided with an aperture, secontlrotatable member fixed on the shaft, a spring actuated lor-lr pin carried bytlie second ro tataolc member and adapted to engage in the aperture or' the first rotatable member to connect the two members, a sliclahly mounted. ejer-ting nieniloer on the first rotatable nieniher adapted to olisengage the look pin freni the seeonfl rotatable niemeer, aoarn to actuate the ejecting member, and electrical releasalole' ineens to hold the shaft ,its rotate position. l

l2. ln tiaic signal apparatus, a signal, a hingedly Vinounteii shutter adapted to cover the signal, a slidalole rorl, a linlr conneoting the rod to the shutter to open the latter,

and an electric mechanism for controllingthe movements of the rofl'.

i3., ln a traic signal apparatus, a casing, a signal, a tubular shaft supporting the signal from the casing, a shatterfor the signal liingerlly niounterl on tlie latter, and ineens for operating the shutter including a reci extending from the signal through the tubular shaft to the casino". ,Y

isi. A semaphore for streetfcrossing trac, comprising a support, moi/'able semaphore carriecl thereby, a mechanism for moving said semaphore from one position to another, electrical ineens 'for operating the mechanism, means ior limiting the movenientyor the mechanism to stop the phore in its several positions, and an audible signal device carried. by said support, the operation of which is controlled oy said mechanism, sairl (levies including means for rendering audible signals of iill'erent sharaoteristics, upon Asaocessire' movements or the visual semaphore.

15. A iralic signal apparatus comprising a support, a isnal semaphore niovabiy sap ported thereon, an aurliloie signal carried; loy

said support and capable oproducing eig nais of cliiierent characteristics, upon suc- (Lessive moi/onrein.,I of the semaphore, and means for moving the semaphore and pro iincing" the charaoteris'tic signal from the audible signal,

lo. ina signal apparatus, a movable vis ihle semaphore, an aurlileie signal operable with the semaphore, and means tor eecting the sounding oft' a single signal frein the audible signal on movement or the semaphore'ancl the sounding ci a ouhle signal rie' from the audible signal on a successive Y movement of the semaphore.

l?. ln a signal apparatus, a rotatably niounterl semaphore, means for partly rotating the semaphore, means for eecting a further' part rotation or the semaphore,

ineens for completely rotating the semaphore, an audible signal operable with the semaphore, anal means associable with vthe aforesaid nieansor ciecting a sounding oi n certain characteristic of the signal on izo operation of the semaphore by the first means, a sounding of a dierent characteristic' or the signal on operation lay the second means, and a repeating or", the combined sounilings of the signal on operation oy the third means.

i8. .ln a street traiiic signallingf apparatus, iso

an intermittently operating, audible signal device to automatically produce signals of different characteristics on successive actuations, and means for manually controlling the operation oi' said signal device.

19. ln a street traiiic signaling apparatus, an intermittently operating, audible signal device to automatically produce signals of different characteristics on successive actuations and of like lcharacteristics on alternate actuations, and means for manually controlling the operation of said signal device.

20. In a street trafiic signaling apparatus,

an audible signal device and meansr for actuating same at'any desired intervals to automatically 'produce signals of diil'erent characteristics on successive actuations and oflike characteristics on alternate actuations.

21. ln-a street trallic signaling apparatus, an audible signal device and electrically operated means `for actuating the saine at any desired intervals to automatically produce signals ot' diiierent characteristics on successive actuations and of like characteristics omalternate actuations.- i

22. In a street traliic signaling apparatus, I

an audible signal device, means for actuating the same intermittently to automatically produce signals of ditierent characteristics on successive actuations and means for manually controlling the operation of said actuating means.

23. In a street traliic signaling apparatus, an audible signal device, means for interi'iittently actuating the same to autoinatically produce signals of diierent characteristics upon successive actuations and unitary means for manually controlling the operation of said actuating means.

24. In a street travliic signaling apparatus, an audible signal device, an intermittently operating motorfor actuating same to automatically produce signals of different characteristics on successive actuations and means for manually controlling the operation of said motor.

25. ln a street traffic signaling apparatus, an audible signal device, an intermittently operating motor for actuating same to automaticallylproduce signals otx dii/ferent characteristics on successive actuations and a hand operated switch for controlling the op eration of said motor.

26. lri a street traflic controlling apparatus, an audible signal, lmeans for intermittently actuating said audible signal to automatically produce a ,single blast on one actuation, whereby to indicate one direction of trafiic, and a double blast on the succeed.-V

28. In a street traiic controlling apparatus, an audible and a. visible signal variable in character for indicating 'a change in the direction of trailic, intermittently operating means for actuating the said signals to automatically indicate different direclil() tions on successive actuations, and manually operated ymeans for controlling the operation of said actuating means. l

29. In a street traliic controlling apparatus, an audible signal, means for actuating the same andcontrolling means for =said actuating means, whereby to automatically produce intermittently one and two blasts in regular succession at any desired intervals to indicate different directions of .traflic, and controlling means for said actuating means, whereby to ,produce continu-- ously a succession of one and two blasts.

80. In a street traflic signaling apparatus, a whistle, a turnable indicator, actuating means for the same and controlling means for said actuating means,.whereby to ,automatically produce, at any desired interval,

Aone and two blastsbf the whistle on successive actuations and a change of direction of the indicator in accordance therewith and controlling means for said actuating means, whereby to produce continuously a succession of one and two blasts of the whistle and a continuous movement of the indicator.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

BENJAMIN M. HARRIS.

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