US1656687A - Traffic signal - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 17, 1928.

I. D. WHITE TRAFFIC SIGNAL 2 Sheots-Sheei 1 Filed Sept. 25, 1925 Jan. 17, 1928. 1,656,687

l. D. WHITE TRAFFIC SIGNAL Filed Sept. 25. 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 k 5 f 1?.4? X ZZ 7/ l Z? l 53 53 35 547 z f7 f9 I D- White I (P mm Gramm Patented Jan. '17, 1 928. V

UNITED STATES 1,656,687 i PATENT OFFICE.

ISAAC 1). WHITE, OF CLINTON, INDIANA, ASSIGNOB-OF ONE-HALF TO CLYDE M. ZI'NK,

OI CLINTON, INDIANA. l

'IBL'FFIG SIGNAL.

Application filed September 25, 1925. Serial No. 58,591.

This invention relates to an improved trafiic signal for motor vehicles and seelis, among other objects, to provide a devlce which will eliminate confusion and accidents [both as to the automobile driver and the pedestrian and which will also, by reason of the certainty of recognition of the signals displayed, tend toward the acceleratlon of the movement of traffic.

The invention seeks, as a further object, to provide a device whereby a dr1ver may easily and quickly signal an intentlon to turn to the right, to the left, or to stop, and wherein a distinctive color for each signal different from the colors'of the other signals, will be employed so thatthe intention of the driver may, even though the si al characters employed are not discernible, be instantly determined by the particular color of the signal displayed.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a device employing a plurality of signal lamps in connection with each of the right and left turn signals, wherein the lamps of each signal will each be housed in a separate chamber, and wherein the lamps of each signal will be energized insuccession for thus progressively illuminating the signal characters and attracting a't/tentiontothe signal displayed.

A further object of the invention is to provide a casing and lamp mounting of simple and novel construction.

And the invention seeks, as a stillfurther object, to provide a novel switch for controlling the lamps.

Other objects of the inventionnot specifically mentioned will a the following descriptlon.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing my improved signal applied to a conventional motor vehicle.

Figure'2 is a detail elevation of the signal.

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view on the line 3-3 of Figure 2, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure 4 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view particularly showing the interior construction of the signal.

Fi re 5 is a schematic view showing the switc es and the circuit connectionsbetween the switches and the lamps employed. 56 Figure 6 is a detail sectional view through lamp chambers 17,..18-and"'19. below such v16, are the ri ht turn signal characters-em} ppear in the course of I are preferably colored one of the switches on the line 66 of Figure 5, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

In carrying the invention into effect, I employ :1 preferably elliptical casing 10 which may be of'sheet metal or other a proved material, and'extending horizonta y within the casing is a centrally disposed partition 1 1. As shown iii Figure 3, this.

partition is constructed of mating plate sections bent at their inner margins to define like opposed channels which are securedtogether-in mating relation to provide a centrally disposed conduit 12 extending along the major axis of the casing from end to end thereof. Extending in opposite directions from the partition '11 are pairs of alined' vertically disposed partitions 13 and, as will ,nowbe perceived, the partition lldivides the easing into upperand lower compartmeme-while the partitions 13 divide said compartments into a plurality of separate lamp chambers 14,15 and 16 above the parti-"' tion 11, and a plurality of like separate 8 partition. Closing the casing 10 at the open side thereof and accordingly closing all of the lamp chambers are like transparencies 20 which are preferably convex at their outer sides and, as shown in Figure 3, are removably secured to the casing by suitable resilient retaining rings 21. Suitably imposed upon said transparencies to extend across the ends of the chambers 14, 15 and ploged. As s own in the drawings, I-prefera ly employ the word Right upon each of said transparencies, followed by the indication of a hand. Imposed upon each of the transparencies to extend across the ends of the chambers17, 18 and 19, are the left turn signal-characters. As also shown in the drawings, the word Left is preferably employed upon each of said transparencies, followed by theindication of a hand. The letters of the word Right as well as the indication of the hand pointing to the right yellow while the letters of the word Left and the indication of the hand ointing toward the left are preferably co ored green. The transparencies 20, however, are of clear or transg lucent glass.

Formed on topof the casing 10 is an' external lamp chamber 22 closed at its sides by transparencies 23 which, as shown in Figure 3, are removably secured in position by resilient retaining rings 24. Each of these transparencies carries the word Stop and the letters of the words are colored red. The transparencies are clear or translucent.

Suitably fixed to one end of the casing 10 in alinement with the conduit 12, is a tubular bracket 25 which, as shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, is provided with a base flange 26 apertured toreceive screws or other suitable fastening devices n1ounting the signal. As brought out in Figure 1, the signal is preferably disposed at the forward portion of the vehicle to project laterally at the left side thereof and may be secured to the vehicle body adjacent the windshield. In thus locating the signal, said signal will be readily visible both at the front and rear of the vehicle while, also,

pedestrians may readily view the signal. Furthermore, in locating the signal near the forward portion of the vehicle, less dust will collect upon the signal than were the signal to be mounted near the rear end portion of the vehicle. Dust accumulating on the signal transparencies would, of course, tend to detract from the visibility of the signal lights. Fixed to the wall ot'the casing at its upper side is a lamp socket 27 upstanding within the chamber 22, and removably fixed in said socket is a lamp 28. Fixed to the conduit 12, at opposite sides thereof to extend within the several lamp chambers at opposite sides of the partition 11, are sockets 29 and removably fixed in said sockets are lamps such as the lamps 28. The lamps of the chambers 14, 15 and 16 are indicated at 30, 31 and 32, while the lamps of the chambers 17, 18 and 19 are indicated at 33, 34 and 35 respectively.

As shown in Figure 4, the circuit wires which lead to the several lamp sockets are arranged to extend throughthe bracket 25 and through the conduit 12 and in Figures 5 and 6 of the drawings, I have shown the switches employed for controllin the lamps. As will be observed, I prefera 1y provide three separate switches which are mounted upon a switch plate 36. As su gested v in Figure 1, the switch plate may e secured to the instrument boarder other convenient part of the vehicle while, as brought out in Figure 5, the instrument board is slotted to accommodate the switches therethrough. For convenience, the switches are indicated at 37 38, and 39 respectivel The switches are all substantially identical and each includes a barrel 40 closed at one end and suitably secured at its opposite end to the switch plate 36. Set into the wall of the barrel at one side thereof is an insulating strip 41, and mounted within the barrel at its opposite side is a longitudinally extending spring 42 bowed toward the axis of the barrel. Slidable through the switch plate 36 to be freely received within the barrel is a contact plunger 43 provided at opposite sides thereof with longitudinally extending slots 44, and bent inwardly from the wall of the barrel to extend freely through said slots are oppositely disposed lugs 45 slidably connecting the plunger with the barrel as well as limiting the plunger against outward displacement. Disposed within the plunger to rest at one end upon the lugs 45 and hear at its other end against the outer end wall of the plunger is a spring 46 pressing the plunger outwardly. The insulating strip 41 of the switch 37 carries a single terminal 47. The insulating strip of the switch 38 carries three longitudinally spaced terminals 48, 49 and 56, and likewise, the insulating strip of the switch 39 carries three longitudinally spaced terminals 51, 52 and 53. Thus, when the plunger of the switch 37 is depressed, said plunger will be pressed against the terminal 47 by the spring 42 of said switch for closing a circuit through said terminal. Similarly, when the plunger of the switch 38 is depressed, said plunger will snccesively engage the tenni nals 48, 49 and 50 while, when the plunger of the switch 39 is depressed, the plunger will successively engage the terminals 51, 52 and 53 for closing a circuit thercthrough. Upon the release of the plungers, the springs 46 will, of course, immediately retract said plungers.

In Figure 5 of the drawings, I have illustrated the circuit connections employed. Leading from the battery or other suitable source of electrical energy upon the vehicle to the barrels 40 of the switches 37, 38 and 39, is a wire 54, and leading from the terminal 47 of the switch 37 to one side of the lamp 28 is a wire.55. Extending from the other side of said lamp is a wire 56 which is connected to a wire 57 leading back to the battery, the wire 57 forming a return not only for the lamp 28 but also for the lamps 30, 31 and 32 as well as the lamps 33, 34 and 35. Leading from the terminals 48, 49 and 50 of the switch 38 to the lamps 30, 31, and 32, are wires 58, 59 and 60, and leadin from the terminals 51, 52 and 53 of the switch 39 to the lamps 33, 34 and 35 are wires 61, 62 and 63 respectively.

As will now be seen, when the plunger 43 of theswitch 37 is depressed to enga e ,the terminal 47 current will flow from t e battery through the wire 54 and through said terminal and the wire to the lam 28, and thence through the wires 56 and 5 to return to the battery. The lamp will accordingly be energized for displaying the stop signal. Similarly, when the plunger 43 of the switch 38 is depressed, said plunger will first engage the terminal 48. Current will then flow from the battery Ill Ill

through the wire 54 and through said termithe lamp 30 to return to the battery through the wire 57. The lamp 30 will accordingly be energized. *lVhen the switch plunger is further depressed, said plunger will while maintaining contact with the terminal 48 next engage the terminal 49 of the switch, whencurrent will flow through the wire 54 and through said terminal and the wire 59 to the lamp 31 and thence through the lamp to return to the battery through the wire 57. The lamp 31 will accordingly be energized. As the plunger is still further depressed, said plunger will while maintaining contact with the terminals 48 and 49 finally engage the terminal 50. Current will then flow through the wire 54 and through said terminal to the wire 60, thence through said wire to the lamp 32 to return tothe battery through the wire 57. The lamp 32 will accordingly be energized. As the lamps 30. 31 and are thus successively energized, the chambers 14, 15 and 16 will, of course, be successively illuminated for progressively illuminating the right turn signal. The attention of traflic as well as the attention of pedestrians will thus be attracted to the signal displayed and even though it should be impossible to discern the letters of the signal 7 word, the signal may be determined by the color of the light displayed. Upon the depression of the plunger 43 of the switch 39, the lamps 33, 34 and 35 will, as will be readily appreciated in view of the foregoing, be successively energized for pro ressively illuminating the left turn signal. Thus, the attention of traflic as well as the attention of pedestrians will be attracted to the left turn signal when displayed and should it be impossible to recognize the letters of the signal word, the signal may be deter.

mined by the color of the signal light. I accordingly provide a particu arly effective device for the purpose set forth and, in this connection, it should be observed that colored signal lamps may be employed in lieu of colored signal characters.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is: I

1; A device of the character described comprising a casing open at one side, a transparency closing the open side of said casing, apartition in said casing forming separate compartments therein and consisting of companion plates having portions overlapped and bent in opposite directions to provide channel portions facing each other and registering to form a conduit extending longitudinally of the partition and at one end communicating with an opening formed in the casing, and lamp sockets in said compare ments carried by the channel portions of i said partition whereby conductors passed through the opening in the casing into the conduit may be connected with the sockets.

2. A device of the character described comprising a casing open at one side, a transparency closing the open side of said casing, a partition in said casing forming separate compartments therein and consisting of companion plates. having portions overlapped and bent in opposite directions to provide channel portions facing each other and registering to form a conduit extendin longitudinally of the partition and adapte to receive conductor wires, and lamp sockets in said compartments carried by the channel portions of said partition.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

ISAAC D. WHITE. [13.8.]

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