US1543539A - Danger-indicating device for highways - Google Patents

Description

` June 2s, 1925. 1,543,539

E. M. WRIGHTSON DANGER INDICATING DEVICE FOR HIGHWAYS Filedllanl 5, 1925 gmmwco@ 557mm vjury to the same,

PatentedJune 23, 1925. .y

ELSIE M. WRIGHTSON,

or Momma, ALABAMA.

DANGEBf-INDICATING DEVICE FOR HIGHWAYS.

Application led January 3, 1925. Serial No. 398.

To all whom t may con/cem:

Be it known that I, ELsIn M. WRIGH'rsoN, a citizen of the'United States, 'residing at' Mobile, in the county of Mobile and State of Alabama, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Danger-Indicating `Device for Highways, of which the following is'a specification. The present invention relates to an indicatingmeans and and improved structure positioned on highways for warning vehicles approaching dangerous points, such as railroad crossings, sharp turns, vor like places that should be approached with caution, the indicating means comprising a series of graduated ridges constructed and suiciently spaced to rst warn the occupants of a vehicle by imparting avery slight shock, suiici'ently easy to slow down a vehicle without doing insaid first shock being followed by a series of shocks, each of which is timed to permit the operator of the vehicle to slow down before reaching the next,

each successive shock being a little'more effective in slowing down the vehicle, all of which yare given in ample time to permit the4 operator to slow down or stop before reaching the point of danger. V Itis also an object of the invention to provide an indicating means of the kind above referred to, which is simple and silbstantial in construction, which can be constructed economically, and which will be thoroughly eiicient and practical in use.

With the foregoing and other objects in View, which will be apparent as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the construction and arrangement of parts, y.as

- hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes can be .madewithin he scope of -what is claimed, without de- 1 parting from the spirit of the inyention.

The inventionis illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein: l

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing my improved indicating means arranged on a highway adjacent a railroad crossing.

Figure 2 is a vertical section taken longitudinally of the highway, and

Figure 3 is a similar fragmentary view.

in carrying out the invention as illustrated in ,the drawing, the letter H desigt nates a highway crossed by railroad tracks T, both being on the same level and comprising what is commonly termed as a grade aims to provide a novell crossing. The railroad tracks are illustrated as an example of a point offdanger along a highway, although it is'to be understood that my improved indicating means may be placed at any point on the highway where the same becomes treacherous or dangerous.

On each side of the tracks T the highway is concreted or built of a, like material, as indicated by the letter C, a sufficient distance to permit the placing of a series of ridges or what might be' termed speed brakes R,

terial and placed on roads now in use. The

4which may be built in the road while the ridges or brakes R are spaced fromeach other a suiicient distance to permit an operator to slow down his vehicle before approaching the neXt ridge, said ridges being graduated in height so as to impart more severe shocks to the vehicle as it approaches the point of danger... Thus it can be seen that a means is provided for easily and graldually slowing down the speed of a ve- 1c e.. I

The first ridge l approached by a vehicle I is a very easy one which imparts a very slight shock to the vehicle, sufficient enough,

however,.to cause the driver thereof to check up the speed thereof' and remind him to look ahead and proceed cautiously. The second ridge 2is so spaced from ridge 1 that the same will be readily observed by the operator, his complete attention having been directed to the road by the ridge 1` said second ridge being of higherconstruction than the first ridge 1 the same will compel the. operator to proceed even more slowly. After passing ridge 2 another ridge of,still higher/construction will be observed by the operator, forcing him to slow ldown still more, reducing the speed of the vehicle to almost a complete stop in order to cross the same without doing injury to his vehicle; At this point the operator can observe in either direction whether or not a train is approaching and determine if it -is safe to cross the track.

rThe ridges R `extend across the entire widthof the highway in order to prevent the operators of vehicles from running on the wrong side of the highway in order to dodge passing over said ridges or speed brakes.

\Should it be desired, the rid es or brakes may be painted attractive co ors, making them more noticeable to approaching vehicles. For example, ridge l could be painted yellow, ridge 2 green, and ridge 3 red, or Whatever colors would be the most ei?- 5 ective for slowing down vehicles.

it can he seen that my improved danger indicating means will gradually Warn the operator of a vehicle that he is approaching a point of danger, Without unbalancing or unnerving the operator Which might canse him to lose control of the vehicle.

Having thus described my invention, what l claim as new is:

l. ln combination with a vehicle high- Way having a point of danger thereon, of means arranged on the highway adjacent said point of danger for imparting Ya series of shocks to a vehicle approaching said point of danger, said means being gradu- 2@ ated te cause greater shock .as the vehicle u approaches nearer the point oijdanger.

2. In combination with a vehicle highway having a. point of danger thereon, of means arranged on the highway adjacent said point of danger for imparting a series of shocks tev a vehicle approaching said point or' danger, j said means being so arranged that the shocks Will be imparted at spaced intervals sufficient to permit the operator of a vehicle to slow down the vehicle after each shock before the saine is given another shock.

3. ln combination` with a vehicle high- Way having a point of danger thereon, of

neaaeee ,a series of ridges arranged en the highway adjacent the point of danger :for parting shocks to a vehicle passing thereover, said ridges being arranged so that the shocks will he imparted at spaced intervals suiicient to permit the operator of avehiele L to slow down the same after each shock before another shock is given.

4. In combination With a 'vehicle highway having a point of danger thereon, a

series of ridges arranged on the highway` ,as it approaches nearer the peint of .(langer,

said ridges being so spaced apartes to permit the operator'to slow down the vehicle before the same engages another ridge.

ln testimony whereof, I have aliixediny signature inthe presence of two Witnesses.

ELSE M. WRlGHTSN. Witnesses: y

, M. CARPENTER,

U. L. BRIGHT.

Images