US1734431A - Traffic signal - Google Patents

Description

M. A. CASTRO TRAFFIC SIGNAL Nov. 5, 1929.

Filed Sept. 1926 ATTORNEY Patented Nov. I 5, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MANUEL A. CASTRO, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO BLAND BRODNAX, OF BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA TRAFFIC SIGNAL Application filed September 8, 1926. Serial No. 134,158.

This invention relates to improvements in traffic signals and more particularly to signals attached to automobiles and adapted to be operated by the driver, to display signals indicating right and left turns, stops, etc.

Among the objects of the invention are to provide a compact self contained easily attachable signal device that will present a visible semaphore on the outside of the car, operated by means from within the car within easy reach of the driver. A further object is to present a maximum amount of semaphore surface when exposed, that may be folded within the minimum of space when not presented in the signaling position. Other objects and advantages will appear as this description progresses.

In this specification and the annexed drawings, the invention is disclosed in the form considered thebest, but I do not wish to be understood aslimiting the invention to this form, as it may be embodied in other forms, and it is also to be understood that in and by the claim following the description, it is desired to cover the invention in whatsoever form it may be embodied.

In the accompanying one sheet of drawings, Figure 1 is a pictorial illustration of an automobile having this device applied thereto. Figure 2 is a vertical section on the line IIII, of asignaling device constructed,in accordance with thisinvcntion. Figure 3 is a fragmentary front elevation showing the semaphore lights and the super-posed relation of the leaves formingthe semaphore.

In detail the construction illustrated in the drawings comprises the enclosing casing preferably formed in dies from sheet metal in channel section, having the bottom 1 with parallel sides 2 rising therefrom and having the ends 3 and 4. About centrally of its length the enclosing casing is offset as at 5. The invention is designed to be attached to the front stile of the front door of enclosed models of automobiles, adjacent to the driver. The offset 5 being provided to expose the upper or semaphore half of the casing on the exterior of the car while the control half remains within the car.

The semaphore comprises a series of leaves super-posed one with the other, the lower- 1 most leaf 6 being provided with a flange 7 along its lower edge to cover the edges of the connected leaves 8, 9 and 10, when they are folded within the casing. These leaves are segmental, being wider at their outer ends and tapertowards their inner ends. These narrower ends or apices are all pivoted upon a common pin 11 transverselysecured across the casing, spaced away from the bottom flange and adjacent to the outer edges of the walls 2 at the offset 5. These leaves 6 to 10 are inserted over the pin 11 with an antifriction washer between to space the leaves apart to prevent them chafing one against the other. Near their outer or wider ends each of these leaves is provided with an arcuate slot 12. The are of the slot being struck on the radius from the pivotal center 11. Each of these slots 12 engage a pin 13 in the contiguous leaf. The pins 13 have heads wider than the slots 12 so that all of the leaves are inter-connected and are adapted to swing on the centerll in fan like formation, the slots and pins 12 and 13 limiting the spread of the semaphore.

Both sides of the semaphores are provided with any desirable legends such as, Right, Left, Stop, and the like, each of the leaves from 6 to 10 containing its portion of the characters forming the legends, so that the spread semaphores will display the complete legends. These semaphores should be painted distinctive colors suchas red for Stop, the word stop in white letters, the

semaphore indicating a Right turn being awhite ground with black letters, and the semaphore indicating a Left turn being yellow'with black letters, or any other combinations of colors that may be desired or prescribed by law. The topmost leaf 10 is provided with a jointed retaining arm consisting of two parts joined by a pivot at 14 and having its opposite ends pivoted to the upper edge of the leaf 10 and the side wall 2 or partition 27 of the casing respectively as at 15 and 16. The length of the retaining arm is intended to spread or fan out the semaphore as it drops. The respective leaves 8, 9 and 6 drop by gravity, assisted by momentum, to the limit of their respective slots 12 and pins 13. Any number of these semaphores may be assembled within the casing to indicate the intention of the driver to stop, make a right or left turn, or back, according to the number or semaphores assembled within the casing. semaphores are under remote control of in dividual handles within the reach of the driver of the vehicle.

The preferred type of control consists of a bell crank such as 17, pivoted as 18 on a transverse pin extending across the casing and fixed in the walls 22. The outer end of this bell crank is pivoted at 19 to the lower leaf 6 of the semaphore in front of the pivot 11, the inner end is pivoted as at 20 to the end of the connecting rod 21, that is pivoted at 22 on the lever 23, which in turn is pivoted on the pin 2 f extending transversely across the casing between the walls 22. The handle ends of the levers 23 protrude through operating slots in the bottom 4: of the casing and are provided with ornamental and convenient handles 25, within reach of the driver of the vehicle.

The portion of the casing within the car is closed by the cover 26 covering the control mechanism. The upper portion of the casing is divided by partitions 27 to form compartments for the various semaphores and" also to provide wall to which the retaining arm can be pivoted as at 16. lVhen the various semaphores are collapsed within the upper portion of the casing the flanges 7 practically fill the spaces between the partitions 27, for the protection of the various elements of the semaphore. ther forms of remote control are available, it being understood that magnetic and electric means are the equivalent of the mechanical means shown. In the cheaper forms of the invention the lower portion of the casing and the control mechanisms may be omitted and the ends of the leaves 6 extended past the pivot 11, through the bottom 1 of the casing and terminate in handles, such as 25, for direct control of the semaphores.

This invention operates substantially as follows: The casing is attached to the front stile of the door, in front of the driver of the vehicle, by means of screws 28 and 29 passing through the casing and being screwed into the woodwork of the door stile. The offset portion 5 brings the lower portion of the casing within the confines of the vehicle and into easy reach of the hand of the operator;

he sliding glass in the door is not interfered with in any way, except at the top, where it can rise only to the ofiset portion 5, leaving about an inch or so at the top for ventilation, which is usual practice in closed cars, on the drivers side. However if it-is desired that the glass close the limit it is necessary to cut These various a notch X out of the corner of the glass to clear the odset portion 5. Then the glass is retracted within the door as is usual practice, this does in no way interfere with the general appearance or operation of the door. F or open cars the device may be attached to the edge of the windshield and the entire device exposed. In this case, the lower levers 25 will be reversed so that their handles project outwardly on the same side of the casing as the semaphores, the driver reaching forward to handle them in the same manner as previously described for closed cars, wherein the handles extend within the inclosure.

This invention operates substantially as follows allof the semaphores being normally retracted within the upper portion of the casing. hen the driver intends to make a right hand turn for instance, he reaches forward and lifts the right handle 25 which swinging on its pivot 24 lifts the rod 21, throwing the bell crank 17 upward on its pivot 18 which pulls the stem 19 downward which pulls the leaf 6 of the right semaphore downward until the restraining arm operates to stop the descent of the leaf 10, which causes the leaves 8 and 9 to progressively slide one upon the other until all the leaves, 6, 8, 9 and 10 are fully exposed showing the full reading of the legend Right on the semaphore, exposed from the upper portion of the casing at horizontal. After the turn is made the driver reaches forward, pulls [down upon the right handle 25 which reverses the motion causing the bell crank 17 to push the lower leaf 6 upward, progressively picking up the leaves-8, 9 and 10 and bending the retaining arm on its pivot at 14:, until the semaphore is againcompletely collapsed within its compartment in the upper portion of the casing, ready to repeat the operation.

To retain the semaphores in the inoperative position within the casing I have provided a soft spring detent 30 fastened at one end to the upper end 3 of the casing and having a notch like contour at 31, to engage the pointed ends 32 of the respective leaves forming the semaphore to frictional'ly retain the semaphore within the casing but with sufficient resilience to give way under the impulse of the control handles 25.

All the metal parts of the device, and it is all metal with the possible exception of the ornamental handles 25 are susceptible of nickel plating or other plating to match the trim of the car to which it may be applied, or for similar reasons, enameled in any desired color or contrast of colors. I

For night drivingt-he electric light globes 33 are provided on opposite sides of the casing adjacent to the pivot 11 of the semaphores. These lights are hooded 34, to protect the eyes of the driver and also to concentrate the light by reflection on the semaphores when they are thrown into the operative position. These lights are automatically turned on and off by means of the spring contact 35 arranged in the path of the levers 17 and connected with one contact 36 of the lamp 5 filament, the other contact of the lamp fila ment being on a grounded circuit 37 with the casing 1, that is in turn grounded through the chassis of the automobile, and the circuit 38 of the storage battery 39 of the automobile with appropriate intermediate switches.

These lights make very good parking lights when the car is standing at the curb at night, by merely dropping the semaphore with the legend Stop, it then remains illuminated and inthe operative position until retracted by the operator.

Having thus described this invention what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

A traffic signal comprising an elongated casing having an ofiset intermediate its length, a collapsible fan shape semaphore comprising a plurality of segmental slidably interconnected plates having their apices piv- 5 oted on a common pivot in said casing adjacent said. offset, a detent in said casing adapted to engage said semaphore, a bell crank pivoted. in said offset and to the lower leaf of said semaphore, a jointed arm attached to the topmost of said plates and to said casing above said pivoted point, and a remote control handle pivoted in said casing and linked to said bell crank.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto affixed my signature.

MANUEL A. CASTRO.

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