US1518678A - Traffic signal - Google Patents

Description

. Dec. 9, 1924- G. E. SQVEREIGN Filed April 16, 1921 Patented Dec. 9, 1924.

UNITED STATES GEORGE E. SOVEREIGN, OF PLAINFIELD, NEW ERSEY.

TRAFFIC SIGNAL.

Application filled April 16, 1921. Serial No. 461,771.

To ail whomit may concern: 1

Be it known that I, GEORGE E. SovnninoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Plainfield, in the county of Union and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and useful Traflic Signal, of which the following is a specification.

The device forming the subject matter of this application is a traffic signal, adapted to be placed on the surface of a roadway,

and to be moved readily from one location to another, as desired.

The invention aims to provide a signal, the casing portion of which will be effective in resisting shocks, deflecting vehicle wheels, and protecting the enclosed source of light.

The invention aims to provide a traflic signal, the casing of which will be adequately ventilated, and, at the same time, be practically weather proof.

It is within the province of the disclosure, to improve generally, and to enhance the utility of, devices of that type to which the invention appertains, divers points of novelty and utility being brought out, as the description proceeds.

lVithin the scope of what is claimed, a mechanic may make changes in the structure shown and described, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings :Figure 1 shows in elevation, a device constructed in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a bottom plan.

The casing portion of the signal. may be made out othany strong material, metal being preferredalthough, possibly, glass or some other substance may be used. The casing includes a conical body 1 including a base 2, which may be in the form of a spider, having openings 3. A stem 1 depends from the base 2, and is adapted to be mounted removably in a support 5,-of any desired sort. The support 5 may be the surface of a roadway. In the lower edge of the body 1 there are openings communicating, by way of the openings 3 in the base, with the interior of the body 1. T he openings 6 admit air, for ventilation, and permit the egress of water, although, as pointed out hereinafter, it is not likely that water will find its way within the body. There may be any desired number of the openings 6. As shown at 7, the lower surface of the base 2 is spaced slightly above the lower surface of the edge of the body 1. This construction facilitates drainage, and, also, aids in giving the body a firm seat, should the surface of the roadway or other support 5 be slightly irregular. It is to be observed that the body or dome 1 is made up of an upper portion 8 and a lower portion 9, the upper portion defining a less acute angle with respect to the vertical, than does the lower portion 9. There are two advantages, which may be attributed to this construction. First, the body is braced 0r trussed to withstand the shock of a blow from a vehicle wheel, an observation which will be appreciated readily, when the right hand side of Figure 1 is noted. Secondly, owing to the relative slants of the parts 9 and 8, as shown at the left hand side of Figure 1, a vehicle wheel will mount the casin readily, and pass thereover, or be deflecteiil therefrom, without exerting what might otherwise be a crushing force.

The casing of the signal includes a closure of any desired sort, such as a cap or closure 10 mounted on the body 1 and having a curved outer surface as indicated at 11, this surface serving to deflect vehicle wheels, and to facilitate the passage of wheels with respect to the casing. The cap 10 has adepending neck 12 which is disposed vertically, the neck being received in the upper end of the body 1, Because the neck 12 is disposed vertically, and at right angles to the directi on in which a blow is imparted by a vehicle wheel, it will be practically impossible for the cap 10 to be knocked off by the wheel axle, or any other part of a vehicle. The cap 10 has a central chamber 14, the cap being provided with any desired number of lateral openings 15. The openings 15 provide ventilation, and serve as an exit for the heated air or products of combustion. The openings 15 slant downwardly and outward- 1y, as shown at 16 in Figure 1 and, consequently, it will be exceedingly diflicult for rain or snow to drive inwardly through the openings 15, the openings being so located that they tend to shed the water outwardly.

The body 1 is provided with any desired number of apertures 18, in which lenses 19 may be placed. The lenses may be of any form and the word lens should be taken to mean any sort of a transparent or translucent closure placed in the aperture. The openings 18, of course, constitute bulls eyes for the passage of light.

The light for the silgnal may be supplied in any desired way. t may be expedient to use a lantern 20 insertable and removable when the cap 10 is displaced. Should it be considered expedient to light the signal electrically, conductors may be extended through the openings 3 in the base 2. Any ordinary lamp may be used in place of the lantern 20.

The casing may be moved readily from place to place. It affords an adequate protection to the lantern 20 or other source of light. The device, considered as an article of manufacture, may be turned out cheaply, and embodies no parts likely to get out of order.

I claim A. traflic signal comprising a casing including a tapered body having a base in the form of a spider provided with openings, the body being provided in its lower edge with openings communicating With the openings in the spider, and the spider being provided With 21. depending stem, the body being supplied with an opening for the passage of light; and a closure seated detachably o-nthe body, the closure having a? vent-ilaiting opening. I

' In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto :a'ffixed my signature.

GEORGE E. SOVEREIGN.

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