US1756490A - Traffic signaling system - Google Patents

Description

April. 29, 1936. K. w. MACKALL TRAFFIC S IGNALING SYSTEM Filed Srepl.

, I N V ENTO,

A TTOR'S )"5 Amis 29, 1930.

K. W.' MACKALL TRAFFIC SIGNALING sYsTEn;

"9 Sheets-Sheet Filed Sept, l2, 1924 ATTORNEYS.

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pri 29, 1930. K; W MACKALL v SGIQ TRAFFIC SIGNALNG SYSTEM Filed Sept. Vl2., 1924 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 pril`29, 1936. K. W. MACKALL TRAFFIC SIGNALING SYSTEM Filed sept. '12 1924 sheets-sheet 1 INVENTOR.- l kmfz. m Q www.

ATTORNEYS pri 29, 1.930. K, W, MACKALL TRAFFIC SIGNALING SYSTEM 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Sept. 12, 1924 April 29, i930. K. W. MACKALL TRAFFIC SIGNALING SYSTEM Filed Sept. 12, 1924 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 l N V EN TOR.

ATTORNEYS.

PY 299 i939 I K. vv. MACKALL ,756,490

TRAFFI C S IGNALING SYS TEM Filed sept. 12, 1924 9 sheets-sheet B ATTORNEYS.

K. W. MACKALL LTSAQ TRAFFI C S IGNALING SYS TEM 9 Sheets-Sheet Filed Sept. l2,- 1924 fa u F I N VENTOR.

Patented Apr. 29,. -193() UNITEDI ySTATI-:s

KENNETH W. MACKALL, F SYRACUSE,

OF SYRACUSE, NEW YORK,

NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO CROUSELHINDS CO.,

A CORPORATION 0F NEW YORK TRAFFIC SIGNAL'ING SYSTEM Application filled September 12, 1924.4 Serial No.v 737,273.

This invention relates to traiiic signaling systems for controlling the traiiic at the inter'- sections of thoroughfares, right of ways,

` streets, etc., and has for its object a particua single station,

lairly simple, efficient combination and arrangement of the co-operating parts by which a plurality or groups of signals located at different street intersections are operated from and all the stop signals or other signals of like import may be set to stop all traflicfrom such central station, and also by which all the stop signals or other sign als of like import of the group of signals at one or each intersection may be set independently of the other groups other `objects appear throughout the specification.

The invention consists in the novel featur and in the combinations and constructions hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In describing this invention reference is had to the accompanying drawings in which like dharacters designate corresponding parts in" all the views.'

Figures l and 1a diagrammatically a system, sections.

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic view of the wiring and operating means for one group of sigtaken together illustrate including three nals, that is, a group at one intersection.

Figure '3 is an el-evation with the cover broken away of the local switch at one intersection.

Figure 4 is an en-d elevation partly in section of the switch shownin Figure 3.

l Figure 5 is a fragmentary Idetail view of a portion of the switch shown in Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a diagrammatic view of manual local control at one intersection. p

Figure 7 is a diagrammatic view of the master or remotely operated switch for the sections of the system, this switch being located at main station or tower.

Figure 8 is a diagrammatic view of the Wiring and switches located at one of the main subtowers.l V

Figure 9 is a diagrammatic view of the connect-ions and switches at the subtower.

Figure l0 is an elevation of the means for supporting the signals.

' tion, as

Figure l1 is a sectional view on line 11--1l,

' Figure 10.

' This traflic signaling system comprises in its entirety a plurality, that is, two or more sections, each section including groups of signals located atA different points, as street intersections, each group comprising a set stop and go signals presented in one direcfor instance north along one street, and stop an-d go signals presented in the opposite direction, as south along the same street, a second set of stop and go signals presented in one direction as east, along the intersecting street and stop and go signals presented west along the intersecting street, control means .located at the main station for controlling the operation of the signals of all the groups, and normally operating signals of like import of one set of each group of all the sections and the signals of the opposite import of the other set of each group, a suboperating station for each section, and means The invention further includes means by I which all the stop signals can be set from the control station and also local means by which alll-tlie stop signals can be set in one or-each intersection independently of the signals of the other intersections. A In this embodiment of my invention but one intersection is shown, as provided with a local means for setting all the stop signals.

M designates the main street, which for convenience is considered as running in a general direction north and south, and I the intersection streets, S1, S2 and S3 designate /the sections of the system, M T the main control tower, M S T the main subtower, and S T the subtower.

Each group of signals, that is, the signals located at each intersection comprises stop and go signals, a stop and go signal being presentedfnorth on the main street, and a stop and go signal south on the main street, these constituting one set of signals, and a shading'the lens from sunlight in order to .'give greater Visibility stop and go signal presented east on the intersecting street, and a stop and go signal west on the intersecting street, these constituting a second set of signals.

The stop signals are designated R, and the go signals by the letter G. Also associated with each set of signals is -an intermediate or warning signal which shows in all d1rec tions preliminary to a change 1n thesignals, in order that the intersection or crossingmay have time to clear'preliminary to the stopping of the traicalong one street and the starting ofthe traffic on the other street. These preliminary or warning signals are usually amber or yellow lights and are designated Y. 'In addition to the preliminary or warning signal consisting of the yellow or amber lights', anauditory signal may be provided as one or. more electrically operated bells Thesignal lamps are R, Y, G and are supportedy in a suitable casing, theV lamps being preferably arrangedin a horizontal line with the yellow lamp Y between the red and green lamps R and G, 1l is the casing supportedby arms 12 extending from a post 13, thereusually'being a unit consisting of a post, casing "and lamps at each corner of the street intersection. Each signal comprises van electric bulb 13a located in the casing, a reflector 13b `and a diffusing lens 14. This lens is held in an annular frame 15 removably secured to the casing in anyv suitable manner, the annular frame being here shown as formed with slots .16 for receiving bolts on whichv turn nuts 18.

These lenses are red, yellow and green in color and give the color to the' signals, the lenses are also constructed to widely diuse the light. and to prevent bright sunlight from reflecting therefrom or therethrough from the rear side of the lens and giving the effect in daytime that the signal is illuminated when it is Inot intended to be illuminated. Also' Visors or hoods. 19 areV provided over each lens, these Visors beingcarried by the annular frame. VThe Visors are for the purpose of to the signals in the The lamps R, G and Y of the sets of each group are connected to operate so that when the red lamps presented north andsouth are illuminated, the green lamps presented east and west' will be illuminated and vice versa,

conductor 22 to a contact 23 thence through conductor 24, thence through leads 25fand 26 to the green signals G facing south and north, and also from a contact 21 through bridge wire 27 and conductor 28,l conductor 29, wire 30 and leads 3'1 and 32 therefrom to the red signals R facing west and east, all of these signals being connected to the return bus.

cable wire 1. y

v To illuminate the green signals facing east and west and the red signals facing north and south, the circuit is closed by a suitable switch through bus cable 4 to a conductor 33' and the currentflo'ws thence to contact 34, conductor 35, wire 36 and leads 37 and 38 therefrom to the red "signals R on the north and south street, also from-the conductor 33, to the contact 39, conductor 40, wire -41 toleads 42 and 43 therefrom to the green lamps G for the east and west traliic. y f

To illuminate lamps Y, the circuit is'closed by a suitable switch through the conductor 3, and the current flows through wires 44'andleads 45, 46, 47 and 48 to all theyellow lights and thence through the return wire 1. Also at the same time the circuit is closed by a suitable switch through the wire 5, thence through conductor 51 and leads 52 and 53 therefrom through the magnets which operate the bells X, these magnets being located in bo-Xes 54.

ln order to set all the signals at red and cut I kout all the green signals, so that the tr'aiiic is stopped in all directions, as in the casei tof emergency, a suitable emergency switch isA op-v erated to close the circuit through the bus wire 7, and the current then passes throughthe bus wire 7 to wire 7l connected-at 72 and 73 to the windings of solenoids 74, 75, the cores 76 and 7 7 of which act on armatures 7 8, 79 and these armatures lift switch arms 81 and 82 carrying v respectively the conductors 29 and 40 and the conductors 22 and 35, so that when the armaf ture is attracted and the switch arms 81 and 82 lifted, and the circuits connected to the busI wires 2 and 4 are broken at the contactsl 21 and 34 and 39 and 28, and the circuit made between contacts 61 and 62v and contacts 28 and 34,

so that the current passes from the mainconductor 6to the contact 6l, thence through conductor 29 and wire 30 and leads 31 and 32 for the red signals R for the west and east tralicl i 36 and leads 37 and 38 to the red signals have the north an'd south trailic.

. and from the Contact 61 through wires 63, the v contact 62 thence through conductor wire las.

The switch' or relay including the ' solemn'idfsx'v 74, 75 and switchv arms 81 and 82, maybe of any suitable form,` size and construction.

The emergency switch located at one. inte-ri y `3,4 and 5 to the section, by which l au ofcerat such intersection may cut out the signals at such intersec-v tion from the control of the tower, and operate the signal at such intersection manually is shown diagrammatically in Fig. 6, and also the manual switch for operating the signals l is shown, thc

ally operable switches 119,

9 mi 132, Fig. e.'

The cutout switch may be of any suitable` size and construction, switch arms 200, 300, 400,

forni,

latter .being similar to the manuiug. 7, 149, Fig.

and includes and 500, normally in closed position to connect the bus wires 2,

ing to the signals, nated 2S, 3S, 4E and 5S. operated in an suitable shaft 840 and andle 860, shaft 84, and

branches of these wires leadthese branches being desig- These switch arms are manner as by a rock similar to the rock handle 86 of the switch shown a in Figs. 3 and 4, normally when the switch at such intersection is in the control of one of the towers,

the current passes to illuminate the -green lamps north and south and the 'red lights east and west through bus arm 200 to the wires 2S.

wire 2, switch To illuminate the green signals .east and west and the red north and south, the current passes from bus wire 4,

switch arm 400 and wire 4S, to the signals.

illuminate the yellow signals the current passes from .bus wire 8, switch arm 300, bridge wire 301, to the wire 3E. cuit is open,

the current passes wire 5, switch `arm 500, 4to wire 5S.

And if the bell cir- 'throngh bus In each case the current returns through the wire 1 which may be considered as always negative.

The bus wire 5 which supplies the current for the bells is switch arm 500 .lamp circuit 3B,

also connected Vthrough the to a wire 501, to through switch arm 3011, so

the yellow that, when the switch is thrown to off position to connect in the manually operable switch,

the bell will ring,vwhen the yellow lights are energized in synchronism operated arms 600 and 3011.

with the operation switch and in synswitches. he

ated to open the circuit at the switch arms 200,

300,400 and 500, 'it closes the circuit through bus wire 6 and the yellow light circuit through bus wire 3S.

The wire 6 may be considered as a positive wire` live at all times as it is only effective to cut in all the red signals when bythe magnets 7 4, 75 or handle 86, and 4, is operated.

operated Figs. 2, 3

the relay switch pon the operation of the switch handle 860 to throw the arms off position and the arms position,

ticular intersection are as Assuming 300, 400 and 500 to 600 and 301 to on the operation of the signals at a parfollows.

that the officer at the particular corner is to set the green signals north and south and the red signals east and west; he

operates the switch arm 119v into engage through bridge whereupon through the yellow signals circuit 3s back tliiough the return wirev 1, and also from the wire 301L through wire* 501 to the bell Signal wire 5s thence through the return wire 1 The officer then shifts the arm 119X into enwith the switch contact 120, the current passes through the common live wire 6, contact 600, wire 601, to the central terminal 119X of the switch 118% thence through the switch arm 112VS to contact 120E. thence through -wire 605 to signal circuit wire ,46, thence through the common return wire 1.

If during the manual operation of the sign gagement nals at a particular intersection the tower-- man wishes to set all signals at red, includ ing those at the particular intersection, he either operates the handle 86, Fig. 2, 0r a switch in the bus wire 7 to energize the sole noids' 7 4, 75, so that, all the red lamps will cut in. y

Theemergency switch arms 81, 82 may be operated independently here shown means is provided at each intersection for operating the switch arms 81, 82

mechanically. This mechanical means consists of a shaft 84 having rocker arms or cams 85 thereon engaging with the arms 81, 82 so that when the shaft is rocked, the shaft arms Awill be operated to the same effect as if these were operated by the solenoids 74, 75.

rl`he shaft 84 is provided with a suitable handle 86. These switches are arranged vso that they open by gravity, that is the switch arms 81, 82- move downwardly'by gravity when the solenoids are de-energized or when the operator releases his hold on the handle 86. As seen in Figure 5 the-parts 81 or 82 are pivoted at 87, the conductors 29, 40, and 22 rising therefrom. The conductors 29 and 85 are normally engaged with the contacts 28 and 34 and when the parts 81 and 82 are rocked upwardly and shifted into engagement with the contacts 61, 62. The conductors and'35 normally engage the contacts 89, 21 and when the parts 81, 82 are rocked upwardly are shifted out of engagement therewith.

In the system here illustrated, there are three sections along the main street, one section including the intersecting streets desig 602, and 603, throughv the switch arm 301D,

or locally, and as v land, North, Elm,

nated for convenience Plymouth, Fitzvhugh, Exchange, Front, Vater, St. Paul and Stone, another section designated Clinton, Cortand a third section comprises Franklin,

I'Stillson and streets intersecting Franklin Street as Stillson, Chestnut and Gibbs. All of these sections are normally controlled from the main tower M T. The first section may be controlled by the subtower S T independently of the main tower M Tand the third section may be controlled by themain subtower M S T and theoicer in the main subtower M S T may take control of the' entire system when the oflicer in the main tower is oli duty.

i Master switches operated automatically are located in the main tower M T and the main subtower vM S T and the subtower S T.

The master switch located in the main tower M Tv is shown diagrammatically in the` Figure7 and operates to lclose at intervals thel circuits through the main wires 2, 3 and 4 which arejconnected in circuit to the lamps In Figure 7, 100 'designates the master, automatic switch of the main tower M T, this switch being of any suitable form, size and construction, well known to electricians, and including contacts mounted on a movable member as a drum which is actuated from an electric motor 101-connected in the supply mains by a switch 102 operated by a suitable handle designated 103.

-Upon the closing of the switch .102, the current passes through the "motor 101, through wire 104, branch wire 105', switch arm 106, conductor 107, through motor and through wire 108, through switch arm 109, wire 110 to the main return wire 1.

y The switch arms 106 and 109 form part of a switch member operated by a suitable handle designated 111 for cutting outthe motor and the automatic switch at wthe main tower. The wire-104for convenience is in circuit with the wire 6.' by which all of the red lights are illuminated when the circuit is closed through the wire 7 by theoperation of the solenoid switches 74, 75. o

`For normal operation'for all three sections oi the system from the main tower -M T, the

' circuit through conductors G is vopened by a switch 112, Figure 7, having an operating handle designated 113. To close the circuit at the switch 112 for the purpose of illumi nating 'all the red signals R and cutting outthe green signals G, the handle 11,3 is operated to close the switch' 112 and also the handle 114 of the switch which closesthe circuit through the wires 7 operated so that the solenoids 74, are energized to operate the switch arms 81, 82.

Normally when the bells X are' used, a switch l115 in the main`tower M T is closed, in order that the bells mayoperate each time East, Stillson and Gibbs' A'the bus wire or cable the yellow lamps are illuminated, VIn- 'case the yellow lamps 'Y`are permanently set, when the systemis notbeing operated the switch 115 may be opened-in will not be sounded. Y

In order todiscontinue the automatic operation ofthe signals and to operate the sig: nals manually, the .main tower M T is provided with a double throw switch 116 normally closing the 'circuit through the conductors 2,13, 4 and .5 and operable .to break the circuit through the wires 2, 3, 4 and 5 and also operable to shift into connection with the conductors 117 of a manually operable'switchl 118 having amovable switch arm 119 o erated by a handle designated 119"L sh-iftable successively into engagement `with contacts' 120, 121 and '.122 for closing the circuit through the conductors 2, 3 and 4the con-y tact 121 which controlsthe amber light bus wires'3 also controlling the bell circuit 5 if the switch 115 is closed. If it were not for .the fact that the bell circuit 5 is at times cut out, the yellow lamps Y and bells X could be connected in the same circuit.

When the switch 116 is throwninto connection with the manual switch 11.8 the automatic order that the bells sov switchA 100 is disconnected. The switch 114 which sets all thered signals and can be connected in circuit to close .the circuit through 7 whenl the switch 116 is either connecting the automatic switch or the manual switch in the circuits 2, 3, 4 and 5. Usually the lines 2, 3, 4v and 5 are not conlnected directly toall of the lamps, but operate through relays 123 which are normally connected -in circuit by'double throw switches 124 operated by handles v125. These switches 124 may be shifted individually from the position shown in Figure 7 into engagement with terminals 126 having an extra or spare relay "127 therein. relays'123becomes inoperative, the operator at the main tower merely throws the correspending switch 124 to connect the eXtra relay 127 therein.

The main subtower shown'in Figure 8.

.Thus if any one of the lio M S Tconne'ctions are Normally, the section connectedl with the main subtower M S T and the subtower S T are operated from the mainy tower M T. The

sub-main subtower connections are similar to those of the main tower M T and 1n addition include switches by means of which the main subtower takesover the control of the entire system from the main tower and switches by which the main subtower can be cut out fromthe control of the, main tower` 131 and 132 designate switches similar to the emergency switches 112 and 114 in the main tower M T, and 133 designatesthe manual control for the-main subtower similar to the switch 118 of the main'tower M T.

134 and 135 designate relays and switches similar to the relays 123 and switches 124 of the main tower. In short, the entire connections of the main subtower are similar to those in the main tower. The main subtower M S T also in addition includes a switch 136 operated by a handle designated 137 by means of which, when the switch 130 is in neutral, that is, not in connection with the automatic switch 123 or the manual switch 133, the section controlled by the main subtower is operated from the main tower. During such operation, the switch 138, which controls the flow of current through the automatic switch 137 is open. Also when the switch 136 is closed, the entire system` can be controlled from the main subtower by shifting the switch. 116 of the main tower into neutral position so as to open the circuits controlled by the automatic switch 100 and the manual switch 118.

By operating the switch 136 to open -position and closing the switch 130, the section of the system controlled by the main subtower will'be operated independently of the rest of-the system controlled by the main y tower M The section of thesystem controlled by the subtower S T has substantially the same complement of automatic and manually operable switches as'the main tower. However, it has no switch corresponding to the switch 136 of the main subtower M S T and hence the subtower can not take control of the entire system but can be operated independently of the rest of the system. This subtower S T, Figure 9 is provided with a double throw switch 140 similar to the switch 116 of the main tower and operating to connect in circuit with the automatic switch 141 or the manual switch 142 and is also provided with a double throw switch 143 operable to connect in circuit with the. main tower.

By throwing the double throw switch 140 to neutral position and throwing the switch ,i4-3 from the position shown in` Figure 9 to the reverse position in engagementwith the contacts 144, the section of the system connected to the subtower is, operated either from the main tower or the main subtower. But by throwing the switch 14:3 into the. position shown in Figure 9 and the switch 140 into either one of its operative positions in circuit withits automatic switch 141 or switch 142, the subtower or secton S T can be operated from the subtower either automatically or manually.

When the traiiic is normal, the entire system is controlled from the main tower M T and the control can be turned over from the `,the traiiic becomes heavy,

in circuit with manual oflicer at the main tower M T to the otticer in charge of the main subtower Ml S T. When the officer in the subtower S T can disconnect his section of the system from the control ofthe main towers M T or M S T and operate the signals in such section from the tower S T.

Vhat l claim is 1. Inl a traiiic signaling system, the combination of a group of `signals of the type operable by the making and breaking of electrical circuits, said gro-up including two sets of signals, one set including stop and go signals presented in one direction and stop and go signals presented inthe opposite direction, and the other set including stop and go'signals in another direction at an'angle to the iirst mentioned direction and stop and go signals presented in the opposite direction to the'last mentioned stop and go signals normallythe go signals of either set being active l while the stop signals of the other set are active, means for controlling the normal operation of the signals includinganormally closed switch member inthe circuits controlling the signals of the group, a normally idle electromagnet, an armature for the magnet carried by and movable with the switch member, means for controlling the iiow of current through the windings ofthe magnet and thereby the actuation of the armature and the throwing of the switch out of its normally closed position, contacts for engaging the switch member when it is thrown o-ut of its normal position, the contacts being connected the stop signals of both'sets, the switch member having a handle by which it may be operated manually to shift the armature when the magnet is de-energized and set the stop signals of both sets and break the circuit to the go signals.

2. Tn a traiiic signal system of the type operable by the making and breaking of electrical circuits, the combination of a plurality of groups of signals located at different street intersections, each group comprising a set including a pair of stop and gov signals presented in one direction along one street and stop and go signals presented in the opposite direction and the other set includingstop and go signals presented in one direction along an intersecting streetand stop and go signalspresented in the opposite direction along the intersecting street, electrical circuits including a timing switch for normally controlling the signals at all the intersections, a movable switch member for each group of signals normally closing the said circuit through the stop and go signals, means for setting all the stop signals of all the groups and breaking the circuit through the go signals, said means comprising a normally idle electromagnet for each group of signals, the magnet having an armature connected to said switch member to move the same and a remote switch for con- 6 i l i 1,756,490

trolling the 'flow of current through the Windings of all the magnets thereby actuating the armature and the switch member t0 break the f circuit through all the go signals and close the 5 circuit through al1 the stop signals, each switch member having a handle by Which it .may be manually operated independently of the electromagnet and of the switch members at other intersections.. A 10 In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name at Syracuse, in the county of lOnondaga and in the State .of New York, this 29th day of August, 1924.

KENNETH W. MACKALL.

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