US1440393A

US1440393A - Traffic signal

Info

Publication number: US1440393A
Application number: US493827A
Authority: US
Inventors: John E Kennedy
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1921-08-20
Filing date: 1921-08-20
Publication date: 1923-01-02
Anticipated expiration: 1940-01-02

Description

Jamo' 2 lill Nim! 3 SHEETS-SHEET 2 J. E. KENNEDY. TRAFFlc SIGNAL. FILED Aue. 20. 1921 Jam 2, 31923,

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3 FILED Aue.

Nm am m A mm. E :mm i w IIN w @e J um mw dan Z? 1923 er une e Frs we en u e u L ss. as; L in n. mi Le) Application led August 20, 1921.

To l/ vri/71.0721. 'it may Concern llc it known that l, .loi-rn E. KENNEDY. a citizen oi the `United States. residing at vton. in the county ot li/lontge nery and tate et Chio., have invented certain nevv and usetul improvements in 'lratlic Signals. ot which the jollo'n'ing is a speciiication, Vreference being-z` had therein to the accomj anjf'ing drawing.

'.lhis invention relates to trattic signals tor automobiles and the like.

@ne object ot the invention is to provide a signal which will be concealed trom view when not in use.

.another ob'ect-oit the inventiffn is to provide a simple efficient operating mechanic-1m means ot which either or both ot tivo "ials mounted on opposite sides ot the automohile can be operated.

@ther objects ot the invention will appear as the mechanism is described in detail.

ln the accompanying drawings7 '.liig. 1 a side elevation ot a portion ot an antonio bile body partly broken away. show r the invention applied thereto; Fig. 9. is a transverse section taken on the line l- 2 ot' Fig. 1.; .ll is a vertical section ot the hou."- ing shovvin; the indicating device in eleva-l tion; .if Li is a horizontal section ot the housing showing the -incicatingc device in plan; Fig. 5 is a, plan view partly in section ot the controlling device.; lira'. 6 is a sectional detail `vie-vv ot one ot the locking pins; 'T is transversal sectional view ot the controlling device taken on the line ".-T or" Fig. 6; l? 3 is detail view ot' the double rock arm tor actuating the locking means; and Fig. 9 is a detail view ot the connection between the shaft carrying the double rock arm and the manually actuating device on the steering column.

ln these drawings l have illustrated one embodiment of my invention. and have shown same as applied to the body ot anv automobile which is provided in one or both sides, in the present instarne7 in both sides, with recesses or pockets to receive the signal. As here shown each Wall ot the body has tormed therein an openingQ and has mounted therein, in alinement with the opening, a housing, 3 anc 3, in each ot Which is mounted a signal and an extensible supporting device therefor. rlhe signal itself may be ot various kinds and the supporting device may be ot any Suitable char# Serial No. 493,827.

acter which Will support the signal normally Within the housing and Will project the saine beyond the side ot the automobile such a distance that it rwill be clearly visible to persons in either the trent or rear ot the automobile. As here shown, the signal connL "ises a hollow structure 4c, having its iront and rear sides of translucent material and having mounted therein an electric lamp 5 which may be` connected With any suitable source of electrical current, this eonnect-ion not being here shown. The signal proper is mounted on the outer end oit a lazy tongs.' the inner end ot which rigidly secured to the back Wall ot the housing 3, and the arrangement of the lazy tongs is such that when in its folded position it will support the signal Wholly Within the housing and in its extended position Will support the signal at a point considerably beyond the side ot' the automobile. any suitable operating mechanism may be provided for actuating the lazy tongs. As here shown the lazy tongs, or extensible support3 is connected by a link 7 With one arm of' a bell crank lever 8, which is pivotally mounted on a bracket 9 carried by the bottom Wall ot the housing 3. The other arm ot the bell' crank lever is connected with an actuating rod 10 which eX- tends through the bottom ot the housing and is connected with the operating devices.

ln the present construction, in which l employ two signals, the actuating rods 10 and 10a are connected with a single controlling mechanism which comprises a shaft 11 extending transversely tothe trame 12 of the automobile, having mountedl thereon a forwardly extending` crank arm 13 with which the lower end ot the actuating rod .1.0a is connected. Rigidly secured to the shaft 11 near one end thereof is a downwardly extending arm 14, the arrangement ot arms 13 and 14. being such as to constitute in effect a bell crank lever. Loosely mounted on the shatt 11 adjacent to the arm 14 is a bell crank lever 15 having its forwardly extending arm connected With the actuating arm 10 ot the signalling device in the housing 3, and having its other arm arranged substantially parallel with the arm 11i. The arms 11i and 15 of the two bell crank levers are acted upon by springs 16 and 17' which tend to move the same in a direction to torce the actuating rods upwardly and extend the lazy tongs. As here shown these springs are coil springs and are connected at one end With the respective arms 16 and 17 and at the other end with fixed pins or brackets 18 carried by the frame l2.

Suitable controlling mechanism is provided to retain the signals in their retracted posit-ions and the springs 1G andi? under tension, and to release either or both signals tov permit them to be projected by the springs. To this endl` have in the present construction provided tivo plungers 20 and 2l: which are connected by

links

22 and 23 with theiarms ld and .l of the respective bell crank levers. These plung'ers are slidably mounted in guide Ways 2e and 2.5 formed ina housing or guide block 26 which is-mounted in the trame Each plungera and 2l, is provided'u'fith a recess or shoulder 27, toengage a stop or locking pin 28 which isheld normally' in a positionfto engage the recessor shoulder when ythe signal with which that plunger is connected is on its retracted position, thus holding the spring under tension. ln the present instance the locking pinsare carried by bell crank` levers 29,- pivotally mounted on the guide block 26,- each having one end connected with, a locking pin andl itsl other end connected with an actuating rod '30 extending forwardly therefroinr rllhe two actuating rods 30v are so connecte-d with a single operating number that either ot them may be operated independently oft the otl-1er,'and as here shown, each rod is pro-4 videdat its forward end With a longitudinal slot 31 toreceive a pin or stud 32.projecting 'from one end ot' a double crank arm The crank arm` 33 is mountedon a vertical shaft 34` and the two end portions t-hcreoit project on the opposite sides ot that sha'ft so that the rota-tion ofi. the` shaft in one direction Will impart forward movement to one end ofthe crank arinthus actuating one of the rods 30 while the pin at the other end'` oi the crank arm will move rearwardly in the slot PE1.. of the other rod 30 Without et- 'footing the position ot' that rod. The rotation of the shaft 30 is preferably effected by an operating member mounted adjacent to tbesteering'Wheel'and ashere show-n shaft ,is arranged }.)arallel.\vith the steering column 3 6 and is providedat its upper endarljacent to the steeringivheel with afhandle. 37 byrneans, of which it may be moved in either direction.I The shaft may. be connected with theshaft 34.- in any suitable 1nanner,` but as-y here shown the shaft 35 has asyfinge'r- 3,8 rigidlysecured thereto.; and extendingrbetween the. armsfot a bifurcated plate'il rigidly secured to theshaft 3e. lt Willbe apparent therefore that. when both signalsare in, their retracted, positions thel movinentbof. thev operating handle 37 in one.

direction will retract one of the pins 28 thereby releasing the corresponding plunger and permitting that signal to be projected by its spring and thatthe movement of the operating` handle in the opposite direction will release the other plunger thereby permitting .the other signal to be projected. ln thisV manner either signal may be projected independently ot the other by movlng the handle lst in onerdirecion and then the othert or bot-h signals may be proe jected. ln order that the plungers 2O and 2]. may be returned to their normal positions thus retracting the signals and again placing the springs under tension. l have in the present construction provided the guide block or housing 26 in that end opposite the guide Ways 2e and 25 with a guide Way i0 which overlaps both the guide Ways 2e; and 25 and has slidably mounted therein a plunger el. arranged to engage either or both ot the plungers 2O and 2l and force the same to their normal positions. The plunger el is connected by connecting rod 42 with. a crank. arm e3 mounted on a shaft 4H; d

on the 'trame l2 and having connected there with a foot lever a spring Li6 tending to hold the toot lever normally in its retracted position.

".lfhe outer ends of the housings 3 and 3a are preferably arranged sulfistantially flush with the outer Walls ot the automobile body and each housing is provided with a door 47 to close the saine when the signal is in its retracted position. This door is jifireferably hinged on a vertical anis at one side oi the opening and is acted upon by a spring 48 which tends to move itl into its open position. y The movement oit the door is controlled by abell crank lever e9 pivotally mounted on the bottom wall of the housing and having an cultivar-illy extending arm provided with a longitudinal. slot 59 to receivc a laterally extending projection or pin 50 carried by a toggle one end of which is pivotally mourned Within thehousing and thc opposite end olf which is pivotally con nected to the door at 52. lheother7 or upuf'ardly entendingn arm o'i the bell crank lever 4S is connected with the lazy tongsand in order that the lazy tongs and bell crank lever may have relative movement. 'l1 have formed this connection by means oit a short length oi chain 53.. it is apparent theref fore, that when the signal is released the door Will be tree to open upon the first 'forward movement of the signal7 the opening of the doorbeing accomplished by the spring 48. `When` thevsignal is retracted the bell cranklever will not bel operated until the signal has been moved into the housing far enough to clear the door. As here shown, the upwardly extending arm of the b ellcrank lies in the path of a pin 54. carried by the lazy tongs and so arranged that invention 1 wish it to be desir-1. to be limited as various modificaperson skilled in the understood tl1a i to the details thereoi t s may occur to a Saving fully described my invention what l claim nev.v and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. ln a device ot the character :ilescribed7 movable indicator adaiited to be mounted on the side olf an automobile, a. spring adapted to move said indicator in one direction, a plunger adapted to move the salve in the cher direction, locking and releL n sans adaotcd to lic-ld said spring under tension and means tor actuating said plunger.

2. 1n a device oi the clniracter described, movable indicator adapted to be mounted on each side ot an automobile, individual sl :ings adapted to move said indicators in one direction, individual plungers adapted to move the same in the other direction, loclring and releasing means adapted to hold said springs under tension, and means for actuating said plungers.

3. ln a device of the character described, a movable indicator adapted to be mounted on each side of an automobile, indivdual springs adapted to move said indicators in one direction, individual plungers adapted to move the same in the other` direction, locking and releasingmeans adapted to hold said springs under tension and to release said springs individually. and means 'tor actuating said plungers.

4.. ln device ot' the (':haracter described, a movable indicator adaijited to be mounted on each side ot :in automobile, iinlii'idual springs adapted to move said indicators in one direction, individual plungers adapted to move the saine in the other direction, locking and releasing means adapted to hold said springs under tension and to release said springs individually, means tor actuating said plungers, and common actuating means tor said locking and releasing means.

5. 1n a device of the character described, a movable indicator adapted to be mounted on each side oit an automobile, springs adapted to move said indicators in one direction, individual plungers adapted to move the same in the opposite direction against the tension of said springs, al common plunger adapted to actuate either oi said individuel plungers, and releasing means :for said plungers.

6. ln a device 01"* the character described, a movable indicator adapted to be mounted on each side of an automobile, springs adapted to move said indicators in one direction, and

tl S

individual plungers adapted to move the same in the opposite direction against the tension oit said springs, a common plunger adapted to actnate either oi said individual plungers, releasing means Yfor said plungers, and a common guide 'for all oli' said plungers also acting as a support for said releasing means.

in a device ot the character descril'ied, a housing to be mounted on vehicle body, a signal, an extensible support to support said signal normally within said housing, an actuating rod connected with said extensible support and extending through the -vali of said housing, a spring acting on said rod to move the same in a direction to project said signal, 'a lockingdevice to hold said rod against movement by said spring, and means for actuating said locking device to release said rod.

8. 1n a device ot the character described, a housing to be mounted on a. vehicle body, a signal, an extensible support to support said signal normally within said housing, an operating rod connected with said extensible support, a spring acting on said rod to proliect said signal, a struct-ure having a guide Way, a plunger' slidably mounted in said guide Way and connected with saidoperating rod, a locking member carried by said structure and adapted to engage said plunger to hold said operating rod against movement by said spring, and means to actuate said locking member to release said plunger.

9. ln a device of the character described, a housing to be mounted on a vehicle body, a signal, an extensible support to support said signal normally Within said housing, an operating rod connected with said extensible support, a spring acting on said rod to pro- -iect said signal, a structure having a guide Way, a plunger slidably mounted in said guide Way and connected With said operating rod, a locking member carried by said structure and adapted to engage said plunger to hold Said operating rod against movement by said spring, means to actuate said locking member, a second plunger slidably mounted in said structure and arranged to engage the first mentioned plunger when the latter has been moved from its normal position, and means for actuating said second plungert l0. 1n a device ot the character described, housings adapted to be mounted on the opposite sides of a. vehicle body, a signal mounted in each of said housings, an eXtensible support mounted in each of said housings and adapted to support said signals normally in tbe respective housings, an operating rod connected With the extensible support ot each signal, bell crank lever connected With the respective opera-ting rods, springs acting on the respective bell crank levers to cause the sionals to be projected, independently controlled means tor holding the .respective operatingi'ods against movement by said springs, and ineans for actuating); said rods to retract said signals..V

ll. ln a device of the character described, housings adapted to be mounted on the opposite sides or a vehicle body, a signal mounted in each` oi said housings, an extensible support mounted in each of said' housings and adapted to support said signals normally in the respective housings, an. operating; rod connected with the extensible support of each signal, a bell crank lever` connected with the irespectivev operating; rods, springs acting; on the respective bell crank levers to cause the signals to beprojected, a guide blocl; having' `guide Ways therein, a plunger mounted in Yeach guide Way` and operatively; connected with one of said bellcranlr levers. ,loclrinn device. carried by said ,guide block and arranged tonengage the respective planners in theirnormal position and hold saidbell crank levers against movenient 'by said springs, means for inf dependently7 actuating,- said Melting' devices.

, and means 'for restoringv said plungerr-s to their norinal. positions..

12.111 ay device ofthe character described,- housings adapted tobe-inountedon the opf posite sides of a vehicle body, ,a sig-nal mountedinreach of said housings, an e3:-

tensible support mounted in each of said housings and, adapted to support said signals normally in the respective, housings, an

oirierating rod connected Withtlie extensible.

Ysupport of each signal, belLcrank lever connected with the respective` operating rods. springs acting; on the respective bell crank levers to cause the signalsk to bek projected, a: guidev block having parallel guide Ways at one end thereof, anda single` ggnide wayA at the other end thereof, plunger-s slidably mounted in said parallelV guideways and operatively connected with the respective bell crank levers,.each of said plungers havingy ayshoulder, locking members Inovablv mounted on said guide block and adapted to engage the shoulders ot the respective plunger-s, a single operating device for independently controlling said locking members, aplunger slidably mounted in the last mentioned guide Way in said guide block and arranged to engage either or both of the irst mentioned plungers, and :means ilo'r actuating said last mentioned plunger. l` 13, in a de 7ice of the character described, a movable signal, a spring to project said signal, a retracting device connected with said signal toinove the saine against the action et said sprinq, a detent acting on said retracting device vto hold said spring,` under tension, means to actuate said detent to release said retractinp; device, and ineans for actuating said retracting device to` again place said spring' under tension andretract said signal.

14. ln a device of the character described, a plurality of signals, springs to project said sigjfnalaindividual devices to retract said signals against 'the actionlot the respective spriinrs.v and single device to actuate either or both ot said individual devices.

ln a device ot thecharacter described, a plurality of signals, springs to project said signals, means toindividually control the action ot said springs on said signals, retractino; devices tor the respective signals, and a common actuating device for said retracting devices. l V` 16. ln a device ot the character described, a plurality ot signals, springs to project said signals, individual devices to retract said signals against thev action. oiethe respective detents cooperating With. said redevices to reta` in the signals in their retrac.-

detents tol release said devices, and a coininon. actuating device `for said retracting de-k JOHN n. ilrnnnnnr.

ed positions., ineans to actuate said'