US1494743A - Traffic signal - Google Patents

Description

May zo, 1924. '1 ,494, 743 G. W. HORTON ET .AL`

TRAFFIC SIGNAL 192i 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Nov! 14,

May 20, 1924.

- 4 G., w.l HORTON ET AL.

TRAFFIC SIGNAL'V 2 Sheets-Shee L 2 Filed Nov. 14, 1921 Patented May 20, 1924.

UNITED STAT-Es PATENT .oF-E1 CE.

TEAEEIC SIGNAL.

Application filed November 14, 1921. Serial N o. 515,953.

T0 all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that we, GEORGE WV. HORTON and EDMUND L. PETERSON, said HoRToN a subject of the King of Great Britain, said PETERSON a citizen of the United States, both residing at Worcester, in the county of TWorcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Traiiio Signal, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a traflic signal for use in indicating the movements of an automobile or other vehicle.

It is the object of our invention toprovide a signal for ythis purpose comprising simple mechanism which may be easily manufactured, and which will be very reliable in operation.

With this general object in view, our` in` vention contemplates the provision of pivoted members which may be turned to difiere entV positions to form parts of different direction signals, said members being conveniently operated by magnetic means.

Our invention further relates to arrangements and combinations of parts, which will be hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

A preferred form of our invention is shown in the drawings in which Fig. 1 is a rear elevation of our improved trafc signal with the casing shown in sec tion on the line 1 -1 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 2 is a sectional plan view taken along the line 2 2 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail elevation taken along the line 3 3 in Fig. 2; y

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional elevation taken along the line 4-4 in Fig. 2, and

Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are diagrammatic views illustrating the formation of dierent signals.

Referring to the drawings, we have shown a traffic signal assembled within a casing comprising a back frame member 10, a front frame member 11 supporting a glass plate 12, and a face plate 13 upon which the signal mechanism is mounted. These parts may be held in assembled position by screws 14, or in any other convenient manner.

The movable parts of the different signals are formed by triangular signal elements or plates 15 and 16 mounted in pairs at opposite ends of the casing.; The plates 15 and 16 are rigidly secured to studs 17 rotatable in bearings 18 mounted on anglevplates 19 secured to the rear of theplate 13 by screws 20 or in any other suitable manner. The studs 17 are provided with arms 21 projecting laterally from the rear ends of the studs and having their'ends received in recesses 22, each recess 22 being formed in the side of a sliding rod 23 mounted in bearings 24 on the plate 19.

Y An armature 24a is secured to one end of each rod 23 and springs 25 hold each armature 24a yieldingly against one of the bearings Of its associated rod 23. Two pairs of magnets 27 and 28 are mounted adjacent the armatures 24a and are connected to push buttons 29 and 30 and to a battery 31, these parts being indicated diagrammatically in Fig. A1, and being placed in any convenient location in the automobile or other vehicle in which the signal is used. v

The normal position of the parts 15 'and 16 is indicated in Fig. 6, and is also indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1.

A. band of paint or other material 32, is applied to the front of the plate 13 to form the middle iXed elements or part of each signal between the two pairs of triangular members, as also clearly shown in Fig. 6.'

Having thus described the details of our improved mechanism, the operation ofthe device will be apparent. If it is desired to indicate a turn tothe left by the signal shown in Fig. 5, pressure is applied to the push button 30, closing the circuit through the magnet 28 and moving the triangular plates or elements 16 to closed position. The signal shown in Fig. 7 may be formed by pushing the button 29 to energize the magnet 27 and move the plates or elements 15. If both buttons are pushed simultaneously, both pairs of plates or elements will be moved to form a double headed arrow which may be utilized as a stop signal if desired.

Having thus described our invention, it will be seen that very few and simple parts are used, and that the range of movement of the parts is reducedto a minimum and comprises merely'the limited sliding movement of the bars 23 and the limited angular movement of the plates 15 or 16.

It will be further evident that changes and modifications can be made in our invention Within the spirit and scope thereof as set forth in the claims and we do not wish to be otherwise limited to the details herel in disclosed, but

What we claim is Y 1. A traio signal having, in combination, a fixed signal element, a pair of substantially triangular signal elements pivotally mounted at each eind of said iXed element,V

and means to selectively position each pair of said pivoted elements to form either a head or a tail portion of an arrow signal.`

2. In a traffic signal, a casing, signal ele# `ments mounted in pairs at each end of said casing, and means to move either Apair of said elements to form either end of an arrow symbol.

3. In a traie signal, a pair of triangular signal elements, pivots for said elements, arms on said pivots, a sliding har having recesses to receive the ends of said arms, and means to move said bar.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto aflixed our signatures.

GEORGE W. HORTON. EDMUND L. PETERSON.

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