US1698966A

US1698966A - Signaling system

Info

Publication number: US1698966A
Application number: US9761A
Authority: US
Inventors: John B Quick
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1925-02-17
Filing date: 1925-02-17
Publication date: 1929-01-15
Anticipated expiration: 1946-01-15

Description

Jan. 15, 1929.

J. B. QUICK SIGNALING SYSTEM Filed Feb. 1'7, 1925 AUDISL SIGNAL VISIBLE Sheets-Sheet l 1 f y f INVENTOR OHN B. QUICK.

ATTORNEY Jan. l5, 1929.

1,698,966 J. B. QulcK SIGNALING SYSTEM Filed Feb. 17, 1925 2 Sheets-Speet 2 INVENToR JOHN B.QUICK ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 15, 1929.

UNITED STATES JOHN IB. QUICK, 0F WASCO, CALIFORNIA.

SIGNALING SYSTEM.

Application led February 17, 1925. Serial No. 9,7612..

This invention relates in a general Way to signaling systems and particularly to automatic signaling systems for railway crossings and the like and comprises oppositely disposed sets of signals preferably positioned in the roadway, said sets each comprising audible and visible signals which are electrically and fluid pressure actuated by means of an electrically driven air pump connected in circuit with a block formed in a section of the railway track and automatically actuated by the passing of the train over this block as in ordinary block signal system.

The block system is a well known means for actuating signals and it is therefore thought unnecessary to go into detail in the operation of this system as applied to my invention.

The principal feature of this invention is the synchronous operation of the oppositely arranged sets of audible and visible signals; the audible signals being actuated by virtue of the making and breaking of the block circuit and the visible signals being actuated by means of air pressure kforced through pipes to the opposite visible signals by means of the electrically driven air compressor which is connected in and actuated by the block circuit.

The primary object of this invention is to produce a signaling system which is most adaptable for the protection of vehicular traffic. at railway crossings.

Another object of the invention is to produce a signaling system which comprises audible signals set at considerable distance from the visible signals and adapted to warn vehicular traiiic in advance of the visible signals, thereby providing a double warning of the approach of trains. y

Another object is to provide a signaling system which is simple in construction, positive in action and the visible signals of which disappear' below the level of the street when out of use.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear with reference to the subjoined specification and the accompanying two sheets of drawings, in which;

Figure 1 is a schematic view of a street railway crossing or the like and showing my signals in place in the roadway and the pipe connections connecting the several signals with the electrically driven air pump, the electric wiring circuits connecting the railway block and pump motor and the light circuits to the visible signals.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional detail of one of. the visible signals and stand pipe for receiving the same and taken at the line 2-2 of Figure 1, the signaling member proper being shown in operative or raised position.

`F ig. 3 is a sectional detail taken at the line 3-3 of Figure 2 and showing the signaling member proper in lowered or inoperative position within the stand pipe.

Fig. 4 is an elevation of 'the signaling member proper removed from the stand pipe. Referring more particularly to the drawings iny signaling system comprises in detail oppositely disposed sets of visible signals 1 and 1 set in the center of the roadway approaches 2y and 2 of the railway track 3. These signals are set at approximately four yardsffrom the track and at oppositersides thereof and connected together underground by a system of pipes 4, 4: and 5 through which lui d pressure is forced by means of a motor G and air pump 7.

- The audible signals 8 and V8. are set in the center of the roadway some thirty yards back of the visible signals 1 and 1 and comprises sirens or the like which are electrically connected by means of

conduits

9 and 9 to the

fittings

10 and 10 of the pipe system 4; and 4l and connected with the visible signal circuits 11 and 11 which in turn include the motor 6 and block actuating circuit 12. V

The visible signals 1 and 1 are duplicates and function simultaneously with the audible signals 8 and 8 and comprise stand-pipes 13 set into the concrete or like roadway as shown in Figure 2', 3 and 4, the said standpipes being preferably short pipe nipples adapted to be screw seated into elbows or like fittings 14 of the pipe systems 4 and 1. These stand-pipes 13 are provided with eX- pansible members 15 of cylindrical form and adapted to fit and hang loosely within said stand-pipes when deflated. The expansible members 15 are preferably constructed of any well known collapsible or eXpansible Inaterial in the form of colored fabric, preferably red, to attract attention in the day time. These members are capped at their upper ends by means of metal caps 16 secured to the upper edges thereof by rivets or like fastenings, the said caps being provided with flanged members 17 adapted to fit over the upper edges of the stand-pipes 13 and Within recesses formed in the roadway around the upper ends of said stand-pipe. Vhen the expansible members are deflated within the stand-pipes and in their inoperative positions, as shown in Figure 3.

The lower` edges of the eXpansible members 15 are provided with plungers 18 adapted to it within the stand-pipes and secured to the said eXpansible members by means of screws or like fastenings 19. These plungers act as weights to hold the eXpansible members suspended within the stand-pipes when in inoperative position and serveas stops tolimit the upward movement of said expansible members when moved to the limit or' their movementJ against the shoulders 2O formed in the upper ends of the stand-pipes as shown in Figure 2.

rlhe plungers are provided with openings 21 of considerably larger diameter than the conduits 22 which they embrace. These openings 21 also allow air pressure to enter the expansible members 15 when the pump is actuated and allow the compressed air to eX- haust when the air pressure is relieved to deflate the eXpansible members as hereinafter described. rllhe conduits 22 extend within the stand-pipes and are provided at their upper ends with light bulbs 23 adapted torreiiect light within the expansible members 15 and to illuminate the same when in the position shown in Figure 2. The word Stop is stenciledV or otherwise placed upon the expansible members 15 in such position as to be visible to anyone approaching the railway crossing from either direction.

The block 12 shown in the drawings is very short but in actual practice would extend some half mile or mile on opposite sides of the crossing and a train approaching from either direction would close the circuit in said block which would energize the motor circuit and motor 6, thereby causing the pump 7 to torce air through'the pipes 5, and 4 to the visible signals 1 and 11, which pressure enters the eXpansible members 15 and forces them to their upward limit as shown in Figure 2 thereby displaying the illuminated word Stop above the roadway. he visile signal circuits 11, 11 and the audible signal circuits are simultaneously energized, thereby causing said audible signals to produce an audible alarm at considerable distance from the visible signals. lll/'hen the train has passed out of the block the circuits are cle-energized and the air pressure released from the pipe lines and the visible signals deflated and dropped to the position shown in Figure 3.

Having thus described and illustrated my invention in its preferred form l wish it understood that the same may be modified as practice suggests without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, therefore,` what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is the following:

Claims:

1. A roadway signaling device, for automobiles including a stand-pipe sunk into the roadway, an expansible member carrying indicia in said stand-pipe, a plunger on said expansible member, normally maintaining the member within the stand-pipe, means introducing air pressure into the expansible member to move and expand said member from the stand-pipe, and means within the stand-pipe for limiting the movement of the member from the stand-pipe.

2. A roadway signaling device, for automobilesincluding a stand-pipe sunlr into the roadway, an expansible member carrying indicia in said stand-pipe, a plunger on said expansible member, normally maintaining the member within the stand-pipe, means introducing" air pressure into the expansible member to move and expand said member from the stand-pipe, and means within the stand-pipe co-operating with the plunger for limiting the movement of the member from the stand-pipe.

ln testimony that Iclaim the foregoing have hereto set my hand this 21st day et October,1924;.

JOHN B. QUICK