US1604835A - Safety highway approach to railway crossings - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 26 1926. 1,604,835

I E. A. MACBETH SAFETY HIGHWAY APPROACH TO'RAIL WAY CROSSINGS Filed July 15, 1926 Patented Oct. 26, 1926.

, IT EE S TAT EDMOND A. MACBETH, 0F HOLLYWOOD, FLORIDA.

SAFETY HIGHWAY APPROACH TO RAILWAY CROSSINGS.

Application filed July 15,

This invention is .a novel improvement in safety highway approaches to railroad crossings, and the principal object of the invention is to provide means for preventing accidents to vehicles at railroad crossings, by compelling the operator to retard the speed of the vehicle before reaching such crossings, and to compel the driver to observe the crossing signal at a distance from the track .and hence realize the proximity of the crossing before it would be too late to slow down or stop.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for so positioning the vehicle on the highway that the driver in one position will get a clear view down the track, and inanother position a clear view up the track, thereby reducing the possibility of accident caused by the rapid approach of an unseen train.

Other minor objects of the invention will be hereinafter set forth.

It is generally conceded that a vast majority of grade crossing accidents are caused by the failure of the driver or a vehicle to think. Usually their minds are on subjects other than the railroad track or the danger of approaching trains. Signs placed :at the sides of the highway are constantly over looked or not read. The fact that my in vention not only displays warning to the driver but compels him to do a physical act aside from the regular routine of driving, 1. e., slow down and turn at an angle, before he reaches the track, is suflicient to forcibly remind the driver that he is about to cross a railroad and hence being forewarned he will instinctively look for approaching trains.

I will explain the invention with reference to the accompanying drawing which illustrates one practical embodiment thereof to enable others to adopt and use the same, and will summarize in the claims the novel features of construction, and the novel combination of parts, for which protection is desired.

In said drawings 1- Fig. 1 is a diagrammatical plan view of a railway crossing showing my novel safety crossing signals and obstructions applied to the highway.

Fig. 2 is an elevation of the signal.

As shown in the drawings, A designates a public highway of usual width, and B designates a railroad track, crossing said the obstructions 1 1926. Serial No. 122,609.

l, 1*, being preferably about four feet in length. Obstructions 1, 1, are preferably made of stone orconcrete, similar to the usual'curbing and are sufficiently high to compel vehicles to drive around same, the obstructions restricting the effective Width of the highway at such points.

Diverging from the inner members 1 of each pair of obstructions 1, 1? are symmetrically disposed lateral obstructions 2, extending from points substan-tialy opposite each end of obstructions 1 to the sides of the highway A, said obstructions 2 diverging towards the track B, as shown, and suflicient space being leftbetween the adjacent ends of obstructions 1 and the obstructions 2, to permit a single vehicle to pass therebetween on each side of the obstructions 1 towards and from the track B.

Hence, obstructions 1, 1 2, and 3 are so placed in the highway as to materially re duce the effective width of the highway at such points, compelling the vehicle to follow substantially semi-circular paths (indicated in Fig. 1 in dotted lines,,) on each side of .1, in passing towards or from the track In the center of each obstruction 1, 1 is mounted a visual signal, Jreferably comprising a metallic sign 4:, as shown in Fig. 2, said sign being preferably rectangular in shape and mounted on a suitable base embedded in the members 1, 1. Sign A is preferably enamel coated, and provided with a removable frame in which advertising matter may be inserted. Above the frame 4 are luminous signs r, i and 4, preferably rectangular in shape, placed one above the other. The top sign l preferably bears the legend D*A*N*G*E*R; the middle sign 4* bears the legend Railroad crossing and the lower sign 4, bears the legend S*T*O*P. Ihe printing on signs l 4 and 4 is pref erabl y made with luminous paints whereby at night the headlights of approaching ve-v hicles will properly illuminate the signs; also, suitable reflectors may be used to facilitate the illumination of said signs.

In operation, as a vehicle approaches the track B on the highway, the obstructionsB, 3, will narrow the effective width of the roadway A, compelling the driver to slow down to a sufficiently slow speed to pass in a semicircular path around the obstructions 1, 1 as shownin dotted lines in Fig. 1. At the same time, the headlights of the approaching vehicle will'illuminate the danger signs 4 4, and a and warn the operator to reduce the speed of the vehicle.

Members 1, 2, and 8 should be so positioned that vehicles must slow down to a speed of not more than ten miles an hour,

.so that after the obstructions are passed,

there is ample time for the driver to bring the vehicle to a stop before reaching the track.

While the vehicle is passing between obstructions 1 and 3, the vehicle will be turned on the road so that the driver will have a clear and unobstructed vision down the track in one direction, and when the vehicle passes between obstructions 1 and 2, the vehicle will be turned on the road in the opposite direction so that the driver will have a clear and unobstructed view down the track B in the opposite direction.

My signals and obstructions may be constructed at low cost, and may be readily erected by unskilled workmen. I do not consider my invention limited to the exact forms shown in the drawing, for obviously changes may be made therein within the scope of the claims.

I claim 1. A safety highway approach to railway crossings, comprising a transversely disposed obstruction in the highway restricting the normal width of the highway; apair of symmetrically disposed lateral obstructions in front of and converging towards said first mentioned obstruction from opposite sides of the highway; and a second pair of symmetrically disposed lateral obstructions behind and converging towards said first mentioned obstruction from opposite sides of the highway; the distance between said obstructions beingsufiicient to permit a single vehicle to pass around each side of the first mentioned obstruction.

2. A safety highway approach to railway crossings, comprising a pair of parallel transversely disposed obstructions in the highway restricting the normal width of the highway; a pair of symmetically disposed lateral obstructions in front of and converging towards said parallel obstructions from opposite sides of the highway; and a second pair of symmetrically disposed lateral obstructions behind and converging towards said parallel obstructions from opposite sides of the highway; the distance between said obstructions being sufficient to permit a single vehicle to pass around each sideof the parallel obstructions.

3. A safety highway approach to railway crossings, comprising a pair of parallel transversely disposed obstructions in the highway restricting the normal width of the highway, visual signals on each of said ohstructions; a pair of symmetrically disposed lateral obstruct-ions in front of and converging towards said parallel obstructions from opposite sides of the highway; and a second pair of symmetrically disposed lateral obstructions behind and converging towards said parallel obstructions from opposite sides of the highway; the distance between said obstructions being sufiicient to permit a single vehicle to pass around each side of the parallel obstructions.

4. A safety highway approach to railway crossings, comprising a pair of parallel transversely disposed obstructions in the highway on each side of the crossing, restricting the normal width of the highway, visual signals on each of said obstructions; pairs of symmetrically disposed lateral obstructions in front of and converging towards each pair of parallel obstructions, from opposite sides of the highway; and pairs of symmetrically disposed lateral obstructions behind and converging towards each pair of parallel obstructions from" opposite sides of the highway; the distance between said obstructions being sufiicient to permit a single vehicle to pass around the sides of each pair of parallel obstructions.

5. A safety highway approach to railway crossings, comprising a pair of parallel transversely disposed obstructions in the highway on each side of the crossing, restricting the normal width of the highway; visual signals on each of said obstructions; pairs of symmetrically disposed lateral obstructions in front of and converging to wards each pair of parallel obstructions, from opposite sides of the highway; and pairs of symmetrically disposed lateral 0bstructions behind and converging towards each pair of parallel obstructions, from opposite sides of the highway; the distance between adjacent ends of the said obstructions being suflicient to permit a single vehicle to pass in a semi-circular path around the sides of each pair of parallel. obstructions.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I aflix my signature.

EDMOND A. MAOBETI-I.

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