US1728687A - Traffic signal for highways - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 17, 1929. T. M. MATTHEWS TRAFFIC SIGNAL FOR HIGHWAYS v Filed April 26, 1928 2 Sneets-Sheet TMMaZZfie/w P 1929- IT. M. MATTHEWS 1,728,687

I TRAFFIC SiGNAL FOR HIGHWAYS I Filed April 26, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 M. W v 5 u .I, W// W W L y 3% I?! u fi mm a I W M 7 9 mm 0 w z m I i. m 7 .Iv u m 00 1 wo mm 1 y 1 1/ mm 7 f 9 r 6 m, A 7mm m u 3 u Patented Sept. 17, 1929 UNITED STATES,

PATENT 1 THoMAS M. MATTHEWS, or TALLAHASSEE, FLonInA, AsSIqiqoR To MATTHE S AUTO; A

MATIC TRAFFIC CONTROL 00., or TALLA A S E, F oRInA,,A,coRroR TIoNnoI' FLORIDA TRAFFIC SIGNAL Iron HIGHwAYsfI Application filed April 26, 1928. Serial 110,273,010, 1

The invention relates to means for signal ing traflic on highways and particularly to means for stopping or Slowing of vehlcular traflic at intersecting roads or crossroads,

and railroad crossings, and has for Its object the provision of a trailic signal that is operated by the approaching vehicle and comprising pivoted platforms mounted over a pit in the highway that are arranged for simultaneous actuation by means of arms secured to the platforms and pivotally connected together, the adjacent free ends of the platforms being spaced and providingha plate arranged between the free ends of t e platforms for pivotal movement and connected for movement with the platforms, the

plate when the platforms are in a depressed position forming a bridge connecting the platforms, and when in a non-bridging position inclined upwardly above the platform and serving as a signal. The plate is provided with a weighted arm that normally holds it in raised position, moving to such position when the platforms are relieved of the weight of the vehicle, the connection between the plate and the platforms also re turning the platforms to a normally upwardly and inwardly inclined position.

The invention will be described in detail hereinafter and will be found illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a central longitudinal sectional view of the improved trafiic signal showing it in signaling position.

Figure 2 is a top plan view showing the platforms and bridging plate in lowered positions,

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view on a plane indicated by the line 33 of Figure 1,

.Figure 4 is a fragmental detail view of the signal means on the bridging plate, and

Figure 5 is a sectional view on a plane indicated by the line 55 of Figure 1.

In the drawings similar reference characters are used to designate corresponding parts in all the views.

The traffic signal is designed to be installed .in a vehicular highway such as indicated at A and overa pit 13 formed in the highway, and has two oppositely arranged platforms 1 and 2 hinged "as shown at 3 and 4 respectively at the opposite ends of the pit B. Secured to the un erside of the platform 1 are arms 5 that areconnected to the platform 1 by means of struts 6. -88- cured to the under side of the platform 2 are arms 7' that are connected to and support the platform 2by means of struts '8;

Arms 5 are extended beyond thefree end of the platform 1 and when the platforms land 2 are in normal position as shown in full lines in'Figure 1 thefree ends of the arms 5 underliethe free ends ofthe arms 7;" Thefree ends of nected bylinks 9; A p c Ten' indicatesa roller-that is mounted in arms 5 and 7 are cona race 11 in'the upper side of each arm5l adjacent to its free end that engages a recess 12 in the'unde'r side of mating arms 7 and serves'as a bumper and bearing for said arms when engaged as shown in full lines in Figure 1. The rollerlO is held in posi-, tion by means of a'link 13J'14 indicates a" plate that is hingedly mounted as shown at 15 intermediate ofj-the free ends of the platforms 1 and 2 and" is connected for opera,

tion with the platforms by means of links 16 pivotallyengagingthe under side of the plate 14' as shown at17 and pivotally con nected with thearms 5 as shown at18. Se cured to the plate 14 is an arm 19" to which is secured the weight 20"andthat normally tends to hold the plate 14 and'the platforms 1 and Q'inthe position shown in Figure'lf in full'lines WVhen either of the platforms 1 or 2 is depressed by" the weight'of a vehicle, the platforms will be lowered into the position shown inf broken lines in Figure 1 and simultaneously therewith the plate 14 will be moved into the, position shown to traffic that there is a dangerous crossing ahead and to proceed slowly, the apparatus being adapted to be so placed as to give the required signal to traffic for instance at highway cross roads.

Secured to the rear, orunder side of the plate 14: is an inclined la te 23 on which is the directional signal top as indicatedat 24 and a plurality of bulls eyes 25, also made of reflecting material and suitably colored, it being apparent that where traific isto be stopped, as for instance at a railroad crossing or at a side road toa "thoroughfare; I

the apparatus will be placed that the traffic will be compelled to run on the platform 1 and brought to a standstill by the 2 1 and t l l la l l iin .3 1,11 I,combin'atior1with a roadway having a pit therein," platforms hingedly secured at opposite; nds of the pit and having their adjacent ends spaeed, arms secured to said platforms and having their adjacent ends oyfe'rlapping, links connecting the overlapping vends of said arms, a plate pivotally mounted between the free ends of the plat,

forms means connecting said plate and arms to move the plate simultaneously with the platforms, the platforms being depressibles bythe ,weight of vehiclesthereon and the plate movable to bridge thelspace between the platforms when depressed, and a weighted arm on the plate normally holding it in no bridging position and the platforms in upwardly inclined positions. 7

2 In combination with a ro-adwayhaving a pittlrerein, platforms piyotally supported atop posite "ends of said pit and having their free nds spaced, said platfonns being nor-,

mally upwardly inclined toward each other and adapted to be depressed by the weight ofa vehicle on eitherplatform, downwardly inclined arms on the platforms. and having thelr ends overlapping, links connecting the overlapped endsof the arms, aplate pivotally rnounted between the free ends of the arms; normally in an upwardly inclined position and movable with the platforms when to bridge the space between the platforms, Links connecting the platform to thearmsto actuate the platesimultaneously with the p l atforms and a weighted armvon the -plate and normally holding the plate and platforms raised'positions.

In testimony whereof I afhx my signature. V q w THOMAS M. MATTHEWS.

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