US1793416A - Gravity right-of-way traffic signal - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 17, 1931. H. J. was 1,79%416 GRAVITY RIGHT OF WAY TRAFFIC SIGNAL Filed March 3, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet l SAFETY INVENTOR WITNESS H V R ATTORNEY Feb. 17, 1931.

H. J. RIES GRAVITY RIGHT OF' WAY TRAFFIC SIGNAL F i l ed March 5, 1930 s Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR fit as,

* ATTORNEY Feb. 17, 1931. H. J. RiEs GRAVITY! RIGHT OF WAY TRAFFIC SIGNAL Filed March 5, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 NYNR IINIVENTPR';

Patented Feb. 17, 1931 use . HENRY J. urns, OF-

IOWA, CITY, IOWA i GRAVITY Brenner-WAY.reArrIcfsIGnAL Application filed March a,

My inventionrrelatesto signal means and more particularly to signal means for-use in the control of traflic, and .itconsists in the constructions, comblnatlons and arrangements 5 of parts herein shown and described:

'traffic atintersections, which is automatically issimple to manufacture, has few An object of my invention is to provide a signalling device for use in the control of operable upon the approach of vehicles to said intersection to signal suchapproach to on-c'oming vehicles inother directions and to signal such' approach topedestrians;

A' further object of my inventlon is to provide a device of the typedescribed which will giveboth a visual and audible signal to vehicles approaching 1n other directions and will further indicate to said: other vehicles a Other objects and advantages will appear as the specification proceeds and theinvention will be'more particularly defined in the appended claims. I

r The device is illustrated in the accompany-V Figure 1 is a top plan view of any ordinary intersection, generally indirated at l, between intersecting'streets 2 and At the center of this intersection '1 proing drawings forming a part of this application, in which: a g

of the signal system set up for operation;

Figure 2 is a sectional view on line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an elevational detail view of a portion of the device; I V

Figures 4 to 7, inclusive, are transverse sectional views on lines H to 7 -7, inclusive, of Figure 2; V

Figure 8 is a sectional view on line 88 of Figure 1; V p

Figure 9 is a sectional detail view. 0 tion of the device; 7 1

Figures 10 to 12, inclusive, are prospective detail views of portions of the device.

In carrying out my invention I make use if a porvide a signal tower 4 adapted for housing proaching the intersection.

1930. Serial no. 432,753;,

i It is obvious that the signal tower otherplace other than atinterseCtiOns of streets. This signal tower 4 isadapted and positioned 'to control' the vehicle traffic ap- Suitable signalmeans' indicated at 5areprovided forithe control of pedestrian traffic on the sidewalks 6 adjacent the street. A dewill beigiven hereinafter; V a v For warning visually' as well as audibly oncoming vehicles ofthe approach of a} vehicle, the to'wer isequipped with alamp 7 which maybe of any suitable construction tailed description ofthesesignalling devices and which' fmayfbe"mounted in anydesi'red manner in the tower but which is shown as mounted at the vertical as well as the =t'ransverse ce nte'r thereof and abell' 8 or other audible signal positioned as desired. but

substantially at. the transversecntenthereof. As appears most clearly in Figured this lamp is adapte'dto project its 'rays'in four directions through the tubes 9 which establish communication with the windows 10. It is obvious that'if the signal system' is'u'sed at an intersection consisting of more or less than two intersecting stre'ets'thatj more or less of the windows 10 and communicating tubes 9 couldbe; provided to fit this-situation. His only necessary that communication be had between the light and each of the streets approaching the; intersection. The bell as appears most clearly in Figures 2 and 3 is placed on top of the-main portion of the tower and is unobstructed by the walls thereofi 7 For coveringand uncovering thewindows 10 which communicates with the lamp 7 for rendering the light signal operative and inoperative and-for indicating the direction of approach oftheon-coming vehicle which is actuating the signal to otherapproaching vehicles, the lever 11 is provided. A similar le'ver ll is provided for each of the windows 10 and inasmuch as they are of identical con struction only one of them-need be described.

ran Y STATES PATENT I i and mountingthe' various signalsof my de could be placed' at any otherdesired point 'and'thatthe device could be utilized-at any shown as placed at the top of the tower and This lever as shownin Figure 3 may assume the form of a human hand and arm 12, on one of its lever arms 13 while the other lever arm projects substantially at right angles from the arm 13 making this lever 11 of substantially bell-crank formation. The arm 14 is adapted for an operation which will soon appear. .A stop 15 limits the movement of lever 11. I For ringing the bell a bell clapper or knocker 16 is provided on each of the sides of the tower facing one of the approaching streets for operation by a vehicle approaching from that street as will be hereinafter more fully described. These knockers or clappers 16 are of identical construction, and.

it is only necessary to describe one of them.

' As shown in Figure 2 they arexpiv'oted above the bell at 17 and have the pendulous portion 18 for engagement with the bell to give the audible signal. r I

For operating-thisbell clapper or knocker 16 into engagement with thefbell a lever 19 isprovided having-aportion 20 for engagement with the knocker 16 and an. enlarged portion 21 for engagement with. the arm 14 oflever 11, as appears most clearly in Fig ure "3. It can easily be seen that this lever 19 due to the heavyweighted arm 21 will normally assume the position shown in Figbeing in'an elevated osition. When the lever 19 is thus place it projects above the shoulder 22 onthe pendulous knocker 16 and in such position is adapted'to engage said shoulder to force the knocker 16 about the pivot 17 into engagement with the bell upon downward movement of'said arm 20. Suit- Y able brackets- 23 or other mounting means may be secured to the tower for mounting the levers 1,9, as well as the clappers 16o Each ofthe above described set of signal actuatingmeans is controlled by identical automatic operating structure-provided for actuation by approaching vehicles from each of the several streets leading to theintersection. a This actuating means for each of the .signal actuationsystems comprises a lever v24-integral with the spindle 25 upon which the lever arms 11 are mounted, an elongated rod 26 pivotally secured to said lever at one" end at 27 and to, a second lever 28 at its opposite end. The lever 11 may be adapted for turning movement by the rod 26 by a direct pivotal connection between said lever lland rod 26, the lever 24 being connected or disconnected to the spindle 25. The pivotal connection 25 interconnects thesememhers through an arcuate slot (not shown) in the wall of the tower, the arcuate formation providing for the movement of said pivot 25 about pivot25. If necessary the rod 26 may be cut away as shown at 29-for clearance of the tube or other portions of the lamp signal. The lever 28 maybe pivoted at is adapted a swivelly or hingedly mounted platform 31 is placed in the bed of the street. Theplatforms 31 may be positioned wherever desired or found necessary relative to the intersection when the preferred embodiment is placed'at a distance substantially twenty feet from said intersection. This hingedly mounted platform as appears most clearly in Figure 9' may consist ,merely of a surface: large enough to support an on-coming vehicle, and is supported itself upon a surface of the street, as shown at '32, and upon part of the ac-tuated mechanism 33 by means of a support 3 1. 'As'also appears most clearly .290 in Figure 9 this support 34 isada-pted toturn the member 33 about its pivot 35 upon the exertion on said platform 31 ofv a force which may becaused bygravity acting on the passingvehicle.

-ures,2 and 3, the actuating arm 21thereo'f T This member'33 transmits its movement to the lever 28 by means of the flexible connector 36 secured to the member 33'by the fastening hook 37 and connected to the lever 28 as shown at 38; A pipe or other conduit 1neans,-f-1o0 such asthat shown atj39 may be utilized to assure free movement of the flexible. connector '36. I

The stationarily positioned signalling arrows 40 are placed'adjacent each of the platforms31upon the sidewalks or in' any other positions as desired to indicate to on-coming vehicle operators the presence of said platform, This is to assure warning to'the driver a is provided. This signal means 5 is adapted for actuation by the platform 31 to assure operationthereo-f simultaneously with the actuation of the vehicleltraffic signal.

This is accomplished by mounting a lever 11 similar in form and operation-to the memher 33 for actuation by the downwardly projecting support 34,-as shown in Figure 8. Thismember 11 is adapted to actuate the pedestrian signal semaphore to operative po-' sitions as shown in Figure 8 and to inopera tive position, by means ofthe flexible con- 13o 'of the semaphore 42-connectsthe other end.

nection 43 interconnecting saidmember 11' and the actuating arm 44 of said signal-'42. A.

sw'ivelly mounted upon theactuating arm 14 of the flexible member-43m the signal 42.

housed by the tubing 46 which may be of a The fleXiblemembe-r 453 may be suitably form similar to the tubing 39. This signal "42may be mounted'on any desired means such as a post or'pillo-w 47 which may be positioned at any ClGSlIGClPOlIltto give the s gvnal to the 'best advantage and which is shown as positioned adjacent thetransverse cross walk which intersects the path ofthe approaching vehicle. When the semaphore 42 is thrown downwardly about its pivot 48 to the inoperative position it is housed or shieldec inthe pocket 49, which may be secured on the post -17 by any suitable fasteners 50. This semaphore signal may be provided With any desired signal such Stop. This actuat ing means is provided for each of the pcdes trian traffic signals 5 for connection with each of the platforms 31' as in the ease of the means for actuation of the vehicle traffic signals of the tower 4:. i

From the foregoing description. the use and operation ofmy device is easily under stood. Upon the approach of a vehicle to the intersection along any of the streets leading to said intersection, the operator ofisaid vehicle is apprised of the existence of the signal system by the arrow 40 provided ad jacent that particular street'at the approach to the corner. This enables him to drive his vehicle upon the platform 31 for purposes of actuating the signal. a

This action depresses the platform 31 7 under the force of gravity and rotates the members 33 and ll about their pivots.

In the case of the rotation'of the member 7 33 about its pivot the flexible member 36 is placed under tension and rotates the lever 28 about its pivot 30. This operation, by means of the interconnecting rod 26 rotates the lever 24 or pivot 25 about the spindle 25 and raising the semaphore signalling arm 11, to the a position shown in Figure 3.

When the semaphore signal arm is thus raised to the position shown in Figure 2 the hand 12 thereof will point in the direction of the vehicle operating the signal as shown most clearly in said fignreindicating to any vehicle which. may happen to be approaching from the right or left of the vehicle which is actuating the signal that said actuating vehicle is approaching the intersection from its specific direction. The elevation of the hand 12 of course uncovers the window 10 and thus permits visibility of the signal lamp 7 which may be colored red or in any other suitable warning color, tothe operator of any vehicle which may beapproaching and= forv which the signal isintended. v,

This actuation of the semaphoresignal 1ever 11 upwardlyalso elevates the endilt orle ver 11 actuating lever 19 and depressing the arm 20'thereof. This operation brings-about engagement of said arm 20 withfthe lHl'OClIGP' 16 at'the shoulder 22 thereof thusgforcing theknocker 16 inwardly and into engagement with the bell, to give anaudible signal to any on-coming vehicle. a

- In the case of the actuation of the lever 41 pedestrian traflic {semaphore signal member r 42 is raised from its pocket e9 to the position shown in Figure 2 and Figure 8 in a manner easily understood, thus warning pedestr ans of the approach of the actuating vehicle.

Upon the passage of the vehicle froin the platform 31' the pa-rticular signals'in the' to its elevatedpositioniunder the force ex .erted by. these members or the-force'exerted by its'po'rtion 31? which may be constructed 1 of spring material or the force of-fsprings (notishown) whichv may be; placedfitherebeneath or inieng'agement therewithfor pur poses of elevation of said platform. The :apv paratus is then in place for a" repetition of the operation.

' The semaphore signal arm 11 on the tower is visible to all transverse traffic-as can easily be;seen from an examination of Figure 2 inasmuch as it extendsoutwardly' from the side ofthe signal-ling tower where'it may be seen by transversetraflic coming in either 1 direction, thus warning vehicles coming from either Way that'an approaching vehicle has the right of Way and will shortlycross their path.-- '2 It can thus-be easily seen that a vehicleupon approachingan intersection will delay' theactuation of his signal and its passage 3 into the intersection if semaphore signal arm 11 indicates an' approach of a vehicle froin either his right or his left.

Inasmuch as-the lawsthroughoutithe land are uniform in that the-vehicle approaching i from the right has the right of way, the sig nalling system provides for signalling to'the rightto forestall said. assumption'of the right:

of way by a vehicle approachingfrom the right if the vehicle'approaching "from the left actuates the signal first. It is in the scope of my invention, however, to-arrange the semaphorelevers 11 to point in any desired'direction; The pedestrian traiiic signals may be so placed relative to the platforms 31 that ample warning) is given pedestrians ap-- proaohingthe street. 7 If desired the platform 31. could be-placed in-a zone indicated-at 50 of a width. sufficient only to accommodate the passage of one car thercthrongh thereby assuring actuation of the pedestrian traffic signal in time to preven t entry-of said pe destria-n into said zone 50 .ihis will cause approaching automobiles to slow down at the intersection for passage therethrough, thereby adding to thesafety of said passage,

'It is thusseen that I have provided a tra'flic signalling system which 18 adaptea for simultaneously signalling transverse vehicles as Well as pedestrian traffic of, the approach or a vehicle and which by the use of restricted zonesentails upon the operator of the actuat ing vehicle procedure with caution through that intersection, thereby adding to the safety and comfort of trailic passing through and about said intersection.

Iolaim': 1

1. In a traffic signalling system, a separate pedestrain control signal, a separate vehicle control system, means interconnecting said control signal and control systemand means for automatically operating said signals upon the approach of a vehicle. i S

'2. In a trafiic signalling system, a' separate pedestrian control signal, a. separate vehicle control signal, and means for automatically operating said pedestrian signal and said vehicle control signal uponthe approach of a vehicle, comprising a platform positioned in the path of said-vehicle for movement by said tion ofsaid signal members said bell Will be struck; I u lv 6. A traffic signal comprising a hollow signal. post having-aplurality of signal winrality of signal-members sWingably mounted upon the exterior of said post, one of said sigi said signal members having an integral arm extended at right angles thereto, a bell mount- -ed within said post, a plurality of hell clappers rockably mounted upon saidpost and adapted to strike said bell, a rockable lever:

connected to respective bell clappers, and said levers projecting into the path of respective arms of said signal members, whereby operation of said signal members said signal windows will be displayed and said bell Will he struck.

HENRY J. miss.-

vehicle and means interconnecting said plat- 1 form and said pedestrian signal and said vehicle control signal for the transmission of said movement to said signals.

3. 'In a signalling system for directingtraffie and the like, a signalling tower adapted for positioning atthe intersection of streets to signal transverse traffic, a platform positioned in the path of an approaching vehicle and adapted for the actuation of the signals of said signal tower, and means positioned adjacent said platform for indicating the presence of said platform to the on-coming ve hicle' v 4, A traffic controllingsystem comprising in comblnation a separate pedestrian control signal, a separate vehlcle control system,

means connecting said pedestrian oontrol'signail and said vehicle control system :E or s1- multaneous operation upon actuation of said vehicle control system, and' means for sound- 'nal members being associated with each Windew and normally dlsposed thereover, each of,

dew-s, a-source of illumination interiorly o f *said post to illuminate said Windows, aplu-

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