US1515939A - Traffic safety signal - Google Patents

Description

J; m-M@ I 1,515,939 c. E. EDWARDS TRAFFI G SAFETY S IGNAL Filed July 20, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet l awuewfoz i'azzaiflafde c. E. EDWARDS TRAFFIC SAFETY SIGNAL F l y 20. 1922 Z Sheets-Sheet 3 CHARLES EDWARISS, OF VILLISCA, IOWA. i

TRAFFIC SAFETY SIGNAL.

Application filed July 20, 1922. Serial No. 576,334).

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, CHARLES E. EDWARDS,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Villisca, in the county of Montgomery and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Trafiic Safety Signals; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to an improved signal or safety indicator which is primarily to'be installed on roads which intersect one,

stantial circular shape, these mirrors being convex and projecting beyond their mountings and serving to effectively receive reflections of objects and the like within a radius of more than 180 degrees, whereby to permit such reflections to be rendered clearly visible to drivers approaching the signal within such a radius.

It may be stated here that the present application is an improvement upon an applicationembodying a similar slgnal WlllCll was filed on the 27th of Feb, 1922, Serial No. 539,606, the improvement embodying all of the details of that case together with the unique convex circular mirrors which serve .more effectively for receiving reflections within an area greater than that above specifically mentioned.

It therefore follows that it is a further object of this invention to generally improve upon the original signal by providing an arrangement wherein the supporting arms can be detached and aportion' of the sectional hood removed to permit two of the reflectors to be used and to permit the others to be removed. Hence, the signal is rendered eifective for .use: at points where privateroads lead oif of the mainv road. In

fact, this arrangement permits the signalv Fig. 2.

to be employed effectively at practically all points where roads connect or cross one another, regardless-of the relative angles.

Other objects and'advantages of the invention will be apparent during. the course of the following description. i

In the accompanying drawings formin a part of this specification and'in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same Flgure 1 is an elevational view of a safety signal constructed in accordance with this invention showing two of the reflectors disposed in divergent relation.

Figure 2 is a horizontal section taken on the plane of the'line 22 of Fig. 1.

Figure 3 is a central vertical section, with partsin elevation, taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 4c is a diagrammatic or top plan view showing the device arranged at street intersections, the size of the device being considerably exaggerated for the purpose of illustration.

Coming now 'to the detailed description of the invention, it will be seen by referring to the drawings, that the numeral 1 designates a vertical standard or post which is designed t0,be anchored in the ground at the approximate place'shown in Fig. 4 when usedrat; road intersections. However, it is understood that according to the manner in which the roads are disposed withrespect to one another or according to various circum-v stance which arise, the positioning of the post will be different. Forinstance, where a highway crosses a railroad track, the signal will be conveniently located on one side of the track and at a convenient point on the highway to permit it to be readily seen by drivers of vehicles approaching the track.

In this way, if a train is approaching in' either direction, it will be shown by the mirrors and the driver of a vehicle will be enabled to govern himself accordin 1y. Continuing, it is to be stated that a p urality of upper and lower supporting arms 2 and 3 respectively are arranged at the upperend of the standard, these arms being detachably connected at their inner ends in any suitable fashion to the latter. It is obvious that the. arms are arranged one above the other and diverge in the approximate manner disclosed in the drawings. Although these supporting arms could be of some other construction, preferablyinclude centrallydisposed verticalflanges 4 which act in a manner to be hereinafter made clear. As seen, a plurality'of reflectors 5 are ar- 5 ranged loetween the supporting" arms and are disposed at approximate right angles to one. another but are capable of having their.

vangularity varied slightly by means tobe hereinafter described. When the device is installed for use at the street intersections,

the reflectorsdiverge in the relative. ositions. See the.

shown from a given point P. illustration in Fig. 4). Q It is desirableto so connect the reflectors to the supporting arms, as to permit the former to'have their angularities changed -;-with..r espect to each other and to permit theinto be. independently inclined to accommodate irregular road surfaces. suitr.able..n 1eans could of course be-employed for flobtaining this .result, but, the preferred. ,rneans vcomprises a plurality of links 6 having slotted portions7 at their inner ends cooperative with the retaining elements 8 arran ed on the base" ortions-of 'the arms on' op osite sides of thecentra'l vertical flange. -W1th this arrangement, it will be seen that the angularity of the link with respect to thevertical flanges may be varied to in turn 30 vary the respective .:angular positions of the" which'areriveted or otherwise secured to the outerv end portions of the links. .These semiesl liherical {portions are spaced apart and t e balls 12 car riedby the triangular plates 13 .are positioned between them.

' Hence, 'a unique universal-connection is providedwhichpermits theresults sought to "f be efiectively accomplished,

Special emphasis is to'be laid on the. particular construction of the aforesaid reflec-. tors 5. Each reflectorpreferably comprisesa plate 14; against the outer face-of. which;

. -gbncavo convex 'mirro'rs 15 are held by felamping, rims 16.' It is to bestated here '.that after; considerable experience with de- .5 y iees; of'this class, reflectors having flat mir- ;:-rors fhave' been abandoned and supplanted .1 fj by fthe circular"concavo-convex mirrors @tyh'ichserve to more efiectively-receive the;

reflections ofthe objects within a radiusof lconsiderablymore than 180 degrees. That is, a-painof mirrors on any two given d1- H v ergent mounting plates 14 will serve to per-' r nit.-a'driver at'a I fingFig. A, to. review the objects shown in @"these two mirrors.

given point, such, as shown Hence,a driver of amachine being at the point P (see Fig. 4) will be. able to effectively review objects appearlng' in either of the convex mirrors in front of him, thus enabling him to determine whether or not vehicles are approaching the signal in either direction on the street runningat right angles to the street which he is on.

Although, it is not essential, it is desired tor or shield 17 which is arranged over the several reflectors. This shield is preferably composed of half-sections 18 so as to permit one of the sections and the reflectors beneath in practice to make use of a suitable protec- 1 it to be removed when it is not desired to use the whole assembly. This. is advantageous in that it permits effective use of the device. I at points where private roads lead off of. the mam road. At such points, the complete assembly of four mirrors is not necessary.

In order to render the device extremely strong and durable, a plurality of inclined braces 19 may be used. Furthermore,vertical. brace rods 20 are also preferably used and are connected with the half-sections of the shield at their upper ends and are suitably connected at their lower ends with the lowermost horizontal supporting arms.

As before indicated, the device 'is primarily designed for use at street intersections and at railroad crossings and the like. However, it can be used at many other points on highways where accidents are liable to occur. Assuming that the improved signal is installed at street intersections as shown in Fig. 4, it will be seen that views of objects will be reflected onto the two diverging mirrors from the given point P. In cases where the. road surfaces are inclined, the desired mirrors can be inclined accordin ly. Hence,

aforesaid connecting means. -The universal connections are especially adaptable for permitting the desired adjustments of the mirrors.-

Although it has not been heretofore men- 'tioned, it is to-be understood that the signal is ,adapted for, use at night as well as in day time because the headlightson trains and vehicles will serve to illuminate the mirrors'sufliciently. to show reflections received thereon. Y

. By carefully considering the description in connection with the drawings, persons familiar with devices of this class will doubtless beable to obtain a clear understanding of the invention. Therefore, a more. lengthy and detailed description is deemed unnecessary. l

araeee Since probably the best results may be obtained with the construction and arrangement herein shown and described, this is taken as the preferred embodiment of the invention. However, I wish it to be understood that minor changes'coming within the scope of the invention as claimed may be resorted to, if desired.

I claim:

1. A safety signal for use at street intersections, railroad crossings and the like comprising a supportingstandard, a plurality of vertically spaced horizontally disposed supporting arms radiatting from the upper portion of said standard, a plurality of reflectors including mirrors arranged between said arms, a plurality of connections between said reflectors and supporting arms, said connections being detac ably and adjustably connected with said arms and having pivotal connection with said reflectors, and a sectional hood arranged on the upper portion of the standard and disposed over said reflectors. Q

2. A safety indicator for road intersections comprising a support, and a box-like structure mounted thereon, said structure including pairs of spaced approximately arallel reflectors having their ends disposed in close relation and each reflector being disposed approximately at right angles to an adjacent reflector and being capable of having its angularity varied with respect thereto and also being capable of tilting from a vertical plane, whereby to permlt adjustments of the reflectors for receiving reflections of objects, lights, and the like from road surfaces of varying inclinations and from roads disposed at varying angles with respect to each other.

3. A device constructed as specified in claim 2, wherein the reflectors are equipped with substantially circular concavo-convex mirrors 'for the purpose set forth.

4. A safety indicator for road intersections comprising a support including a plurality of horizontal arms radiating there rality of upper and lower spaced supporting arms radiating from the said post, mirrors arranged between the outer ends of said upper and lower arms and disposed at substantiall right angles to one another, a plurality o slotted links, means for ad'ustably connecting ,the slotted ends of said links with said arms, said links being equipped at their outer ends with spaced seml-spherical heads, and balls carried by said mirrors and positioned between said heads for rovidin universal connections, and a weat er shiel or protector arranged on the upper end of said post and disposed over and extending beyond said mirrors.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature.

CHARLES E. nnwanns.

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