US1368185A - Traffic-director - Google Patents

Description

J. E. MILLER.

TRAFFIC DIRECTOR.

APPLICATION FILED MAY28 1920 1,368,1 5, PqtentedFeb. 8,1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

' Dzvei'zi or:

J. E. MILLER.

TRAFFIC DIRECTOR.

APPLICATION FILED MAY28. 1920.

[ 1,368,185. Patented Feb. 8,1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

- V JOSEPH IEJYULLEK" PATENT QFFICE.

JOSEPH E. MILLER, OF ROAN'OKE, VIRGINIA.

TRAFFIC-DIRECTOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 8, 1921.

Application filed May 28', 1820. Serial No. 385,004.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH E. MILLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Roanoke, in the county of Roanoke and State of Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tra'flic-Directors, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to traflic directors for use particularly at intersecting clty streets and has for its object to provide an improved device of this character. W1th this object in view, the invention consists of the formation, combination and arrangement of parts as will be herein described and particularly claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is an end elevational view of a preferred embodiment of the trafiic director of my in vention, the standard or supporting column being shown as broken in order to reduce the size of the drawing. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same device. Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view through the upper portion of the column, taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a similar view taken through the lower portion of the column on the line 44 of Fig. 1. Fig. '5 is a broken side elevational view of the device, similar to the view of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a view of a diagrammatic nature showing how the signals may be operated from a remote position. Fig. 7 is an irregular horizontal section taken through the upper portion of the column, this figure showingin a slightly enlarged scale some of the details of construction. Y

Referring to these drawings, the device consists of a central post or supporting column 10, of tubular form, to the upperportion of which are attached four screens or shieldsll, one of which extends radially from each quarter of the standard 10. The shields are made with an inner portion of arcuate form arranged to match with the outer periphery of the column and from this two plate portions 12 extend radially outward. These plates 12 of one shield are spaced slightly from each other so that there is provided between them a space 13 which accommodates a swinging signal, to be described later. i

Each of the plates 12 has vertical guides upon its inturned face and along the edges erator.

of the same. These are arranged to slidably accommodate the plates 14.

These latter plates constitute signals which will be displayed through sight apertures 15 in the plates 12 when the plates ll are lowered, and will be hidden behind solid portions 16 of the plates '12 when raised.

Positioned beneath the apertures 15 are slidable screens 17, these being formed of bent plates having arcuate central portions 18 with outstanding'wings 19 arranged at right angles with each other. The wings of one screen are arranged to overlie adjacent plates 12 of two shields 11.

The shields 11 are secured to the column 10 near their upper and lower edges by means of the rivets 20. At the central portion of these shields the metal is cut away to form a space 21 circumferentially of the column. Slidable within this space is a column encircling band 22 to which the screens 17 are attached, the space 21 being long enough to allow the wings 19 to be moved into positions to cover the sight apertures 15 or to be lowered to positions in front of the solid portions 23 of the plates 12. A rod 2% is attached to the band 22 and extends downward to the position of the op- By means of this rod the screens 17 may be moved to either position desired.

Hinged to the column above the shields 11 at 25 are four signal paddles 26. These are arranged to be swung from a depending position between the plates 12 and between the signal plates 14, where the signals 26 are obscured, to a horizontal outstanding position, radial to the column, where the signals are displayed. The four paddles 26 are disposed at right angles about the column in planes coinciding with the general planes of the shields 11. When the paddles 26 are dropped it will be seen that they fall within the intervals arranged for that purpose in the shields 11.

The signal plates 14 and 26 are arran ed with difl'erent traflic directions, such as o and Stop, and in general the device is arranged so that from opposite fields of vision such as north and south one set of paddles, or one traflic order will be visible while at the same time from two other fields ofvision such as east and west the opposite trafiic order will be visible.

The mechanism for operating the signals is so arranged that the signals for north and south traffic and for east and west traffic may be operated independently or interlocked to automatically .give the above described displa of signals for the two streams of tra ic. Stop or Go signals are displayed in all directions, there being four each of these legends for each of the two streams of traffic. From any single held of vision the Stop;.and Go signals are so coupled together that when the one is dis .playedtheother is hid. Also when the paddles 26 are loweredya'll legends may be hid by means of the screens 17. All four of the paddles 26' may be displayed at one time,

stopping all traffic.

.The operating mechanism extends upward within theicavity of the column 10 which is r-formed ofa piece of pipe with suitable slots in-the walls thereof. Near thebottom of the eolumnand :pivotedat 27 within the cavity thereof-aretwo operating levers 28 and29. These are positioned side by side and the portions thereof exterior of the column are operatively connected by means of the :handle '30. This handle is formed asa tube V whichfits over the ends of the two levers.

site ifrom that. of Fig. '1. operates the signals visible in Fig. 1 and FEhe-lever 28 being oiigreaterlengththan'the lever .29, the tubular handle 30 maybe withdrawnto a position to release lever 28 and the :twolevers may then be operated inc ependently. With :the handle 30 in position embracing both levers the two are operated as a-unit. The lever 28 has a .stop shoulder 31 which isenga-ged by an inwardly extendingsetscrew 32in the handle'to prevent its complete removal from the lever 28 unless desired. r

The lever 2-8 isarranged tooperate one set ofsignals, such as north and south, and the lever 29 to operatethe other set, such as east and west. "Each lever is providedwith a positioning spring 33"inside the column.

Thesesprings are pivoted at their lower endsat-ifle, andrcooperate at their upper ends with arms from the levers to hold the entire mechanism in either of their positions. 7

In :Fig. l the levers 28 and29 are shown as interlocked. In Fig. 5 the lever 29 is indicated in dotted lines as in position oppo- The lever 28 lever29 those visible in Fig. '5. Lever 28 is of the first class and lever 29 o'fthethird class, hence whenboth'levers are interlocked and moved in one direction asa unit it will be seen that one set ofsignals will be raised and another set lowered. Operating rods extend inside 'the column '10 from the points 37 and 38 on the levers 28 and 29 respectively to nearthe top of the column. Here each ofthe rods is bifurcated with arms 39 and lO to which are attachedat 41 and short lever like extensions 43- which are secured to each of the paddles '26. When the rods 36 are lowered the attached paddles 26 are raised or displayed. A link 1st extends from the pivot point 45 on each paddle 26, to the top of the cooperating 7 plate 14, hence movement of the paddles 26 about their pivots 25 will cause a cone sponding sliding movement of the attached plates 14. Dropping of the signals 26 moves the signals 14 into view and raislng of them raises the signals 14 to position behind the plate portions 16.

A dome 51 may'surmount the column for weather protection and appearance. 7

. In Fig. 6 is shown how the signals may be remotely controlled. A column or standard 46 is locatedat the point of control and levers 4:7 and 48, are applied in a similar manner as heretofore described except that cables 19 are carried downward andthrough a conduit and then upward through acolnmn'50, to which the signals maybe applied as before. v

Thus hasibeen described a preferred embodiment of the invention. Other embodiments are contemplated, withinthe scope of the appendedmlaims, without departing from the spirit of the same.

whereby movementol? one of the same will produce simultaneous '-movement of the other.

2. In a trafiic director, a support, a'signal pivotally connected thereto, a secondsignal slidably mounted thereupon, and interlocking means connecting the signals forthe alternate display and obsourement' of the two signals.

3. -Ina traflic director,a signal for indieating a certain movement of tratfic, a second signal for indicating a difl'erent movement oftra'fiic, means'for operating the signals, thesame being so arranged that when one signal is 'displayedthe'other willbe hid,

and independent means for hiding the other signal. I I

L-In a traffic director, a set of signals faced in one directionand a second set faced in a direction at an angle thereto, meansfor operating the first set of signals, and independent means for operating thesecond set, and means for mterlocking the two said operating means .in-such manner-that both sets of signals maybe operated by oneof the saidoperating means.

5.'In a traffic director, a set of signals efaced in one direction and a-secondset faced in a direction at an angle thereto, independ ent means for operating the tWo sets of signals, and interlocking means for operating the two sets of signals as a unit, the same being so arranged that when one set is displayed the other will be hid.

6. In a trafiic director, a signal bearing a certain traflic order, a second signal bearing a different traflic order, means for displaying one signal and at the same time obscur- 10 ing the other, and a slidable shield arranged to be moved into and out of position in front of one of the signals when in its displayed position.

In testimony whereof I afiix my si ature. l5

JOSEPH E. MIL ER.

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