US1806126A - Safety traffic light - Google Patents

Description

May 1.9, 1931. c. F. sPRlNGFELs 1,806,126

SAFETY TRAFFIC LIGHT Filed Sept. 20, 1929 '2 Sheets-Sheet l g 'WHEN ROAD Gdza ls CLEAR May 19 1931. c. F. sPRlNGi-ELS l 1,806,126

SAFETY TRAFFIC LIGHT Filed Sept. 20. 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 19, 1931 arci Ori-ics CHARLES F. SPRINGFELS, WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA SAFETY 'I RAFFIG LIGHT Application led September 20, 1929. Serial No. 393,952.

rlhis invention relates to a safety traffic light and more particularly to such a safety traiiic light which is adapted for use at the intersections of through trafiic highways at which crossings the traffic on the through trafiic highway is given theright of way while vehicles crossing the highway are required to come to a complete stop before entering or crossing the through traffic high- 0` way. rlhe invention can, however, be emnal and the driver on the intersecting street.

given a warning to stop and then go when the through trafiic highway is clear.

@ne of the objects of the present invention is to provide a low cost and durable safety traiiic light of this character in which the being warning lenses and other signs mounted in 'the saine are adequately illuminated both at night and during the day.

A further purpose is to provide such a sigl nal which is light in weight and can be quickly assembled or dismantled and in which any of the parts, particularly the electric bulbs, glass lenses and sign panels can be quickly and easily removed and replaced or changed.

Another purpose isto provide such a safety traiiic light, the casing of which is formed of simple sheet metal stampings andthe stampings are formed to provide light baffles or guards which conceal the signalrlights at the sides from drivers approaching the signal from any direction, thereby preventing confusion from conflicting signalling indications.

Another purpose is to provide such afsafety traffic light which brilliantly illuminates the roadway under and around the signal thereby making the intersection more safe for pedestrians. This illumination of the roadway is effected without any glare which would he offending to the eyes of the motorists.

A further aim is to provide a. simple, strong and durable means for suspending the safety trafiic light from a cross wire, which means also serve as a conduit for the electric wires and also support the plug which carries the electric bulbs. i l j Another purpose is to provide such a mounting which permits the safety traffic light casing to be shifted relative to they mounting so the safety trafiic light can be hung in the most advantageous position at crossings which are not perpendicular to one another.

Another object is to provide a safety traflic light which has a number of illuminated panels which can bear any manner of infoimatory or directional printed matter desired, such as directions to particular places or the street being crossed.

Another object is to provide such translucent lettered panels for such a safety traflio light which are easily lettered and which are entirely weather proof so that the lettering is not impaired by the elements. i

Other objects are to provide such a safety traflic light which contains lno moving parts, which is made entirely of sheet metal stampings and standard parts,`is inexpensive'to construct and maintain and which will withstand storms, snow'and rain without getting out of order. y

In the accompanying drawings: y

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a safety traffic light embodying my invention viewed from one of the sides presented to the street crossing the through traic highway.

Figure 2 isa similar view of the signal viewed from the through traffic highway.

Figure 3 is a top plan view thereof. n

Figure 4t is a fragmentaryvertical section taken on line 4 4, Fig. v

(it)l Figure 5 is a fragmentary perspective view l of a part of the means forsuspending the signal from a cross wire.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of one of the translucent signs or glass panels showing the manner in which theV edges are sealed to prevent weathering of the lettering.

Figures 7 and 8 are vertical sections taken Fig. 3.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary section taken on line 99, Fig. 1 and showing a corner of the signal casing.

Similar reference numerals refer to like parts in each view.

The signal is shown as suspended from a cable 10 which extends diagonally across the street and is secured at its ends to posts or buildings in any suitable manner. It is apparent, however, that the light can be mounted in any one of a number of well known and usual ways, the invention not being confined to any particular kind of supporting member. y e

'The casing is composed of four sheet metal plates 11 and 12, the sides 11 being arranged to` face the through traflic highway while the sides 12 are arranged to face the intersecting street. These plates are identical in form and construction and hencea description of one will be deemed to apply to the others. Each of these sides 11 and 12 is composed of a'iiat sheet metal plate which is flanged inwardly at its upper and lower edges as indicated at 13 and 14 andat its side edges is flanged diagonally outward as indicated at 15. These diagonal flanges 15 extend outwardly a substantial distance from the side plate and are provided with openings which are adapted to receive bolts 16. 1n assembling the signal casings, the several side plates are arranged with their diagonal flanges 15 face to face so as to form a bon-like structure and the bolts 16 are then passed through the flanges 15 so as to unite the several plates securely together. In this position the flanges 13 of the several plates overlap one another at their ends and the flanges 14: at the lower edges'of the several plates also overlap at their ends for apurpose which Willpresently appear. v p i e lIn the central part of each side plate 11 or 12 a pair ofcircular openings 17 is provided behind which lenses 18 are mounted and above and below the lenses 18 a rectangular o}; enin ,r19v is provided in each side plate behind which rectangular openings translucent glass panels 20 are mounted. The lenses 18 and panels 2O are held in position in any suitable manner as by metal clips 21 which can be welded to the inner face ofV the side plates and embrace the edges of each lensor panel.

One of the lenscson each ofthe side plates 11 facing the through traffic highway is preferably of a green color and bears a suitable cautionary legend such as the word Slow and theother is preferably of a color contrasting with green such as white and can bear some information such asthe speed limit along the through traffic highway. By this means the traffic on the through traffic high- Way is given a go signal, the color green being universally recognized as a go indication, but its effect is modified by the presence of the white lens immediately adjacent thereto, thereby putting the traflic on guard that while it has the right of Way, cross traffic might enter or cross against the signal. lVith only a green lens through trallic drivers would be liable to assume that the signal is a stop and go signal by which cross traffic is definitely held up until the signal colors reverse and serious accidents might occur through this assumption. The presence of the white lens modifies this go indication, however, so that no confusion arises as tothe intent of the signal.

.ln a similar manner one of the'lenses iu each of the side lplates 12 facing the intersecting street is of a red color and preferably bears a warning indication such as the word tcp and the other is of a contrasting color such as white and can bear a warning legend such as Thru trafc. As with the green lens, tle white lenses in the side plates 12 modify the Stop effect of the red lens and indicate that only -a modified stop signal s intended andthat after the stop has been made and an opening found in the through trafii that the driver is free to proceed into the through traffic highway.

'lhe translucent glass panels 20 can bear any suitable information orvfarnings. As illustrated, the upper panels bear the names of the streets at which the safety traflic light located and the lower panels facing the Vthrough trafiic can bear a warning such as the word Caution and on the other sides the lower panels can bear the words Go when road is clear or like directions. To avoid weathering of the lettering, each of thesepanels is' composed. of a clear glass front or outer 'pane 22V and a milk white or opal rear orinner pane 23. 'The letters 24 are preferably lcut from tinfoil and are applied to the rear of the front pane 22 with any suitable adhesive. The two panes are thenplaced face to face with the letters bener will withstand exposure indefinitely and the edges of the twol lpanes are effectively sealed against the entrance of rain or dirt. The panels therefore remain in a clean opalescent condition and the letters are at 'all time clear cut and entirely legible. To increase the illumination of the sign the interior of the casing Walls are preferably coated -nsoegizc hood 27 which is spaced from the uppery open end of the casing and extends outwardly therefrom so that tlie'electric light within the casing, in addition to illuminating the lenses and panels and directly illuminating the roadway through thev open bottom of the casing, is reflected downwardly by the white or reflecting under surface-of the hood 27 and aroundthe sides of the casing as hereinafter described. The means for suspending the casing from the hood 27 include four rods 28 which are threaded at their opposite ends and pass through openings in the cor- 11ers of the hood and openings provided at the opposite ends of the inwardly projectingy flanges 13 and 14 at the places where the flanges 13 and 14 of the several side plates overlap. A pair of nuts 29 are arranged on opposite sides of the lower fianges 14 and securely unite each rod 28 to the lower part of the casing, a similar pair of nuts 30 secure each rod to the upper flanges 13 and a similar pair of nuts 8l secure the upper end of each rod 28 to the hood 27, each of these nuts being threaded on the rod 28. Bv this means the casing is suspended at itsV four corners from the hood 27 and the hood and casing are reliably held in fixed spaced relation'. rfhis construction is also very quickly assembled.

A threaded pipe or conduit S2 extends centraliy through the hood 27, and is secured thereto by a pair of nuts which are tightened against the upper and under sides of the hood. To reinforce the hood around its connection to the pipe 32, a circular plate or washer 34 is preferably interposed between the lower nut 88 and the under side of the hood. At'the lower end of thevpipe -or con duit 32, an electricalsocket 35 is secured in any suitable manner and in this socket is screwed a four-way plug 36, this'plug and socket being of any well known form and the four-way plug being provided with four electric bulbs 37. The filaments of these bulbs are preferably arranged-,about on a level w'th the lenses i8 and are preferably arranged, as indicated in Fig. S, so that a bulb is directly behind each of the lenses.

A T-coupling 38 is screwed onto the end of the pipe 32 projecting upwardly from the hood 27, and in the arms of this'T-coupling,

branch pipes 39 are screwed, these branch pipes being closed at their ends by caps 40.

A hole is drilled'in oneof the caps 40 and the electric wire 41, which is suspended from the cable l0 by clips 42, passes through this hole, and through the corresponding arm or branch pipe 89, T-coupling 89, and pipe 32v to the socket 35 to which it connects.

To suspend the signal from the cable 10, au

which embraces the cable and one of the branch pipes or arms 39 and securely holds these parts together.` Each of these clamps consists of a U-shaped bail or yoke 42 which is threaded at its opposite ends and the legs of which are adapted to depend and straddle the cable 10 and one of the branch pipes 39. The legs of each of thesebails pass through holes provided in a cross plate 48 and this cross plate 43 is tightened against the under side of the corresponding branch pipe 39 by a pair of nuts 44 threaded on the endsof the bail. Upon tightening the nuts 44 the cable l0 and the branch pipes 39- are clamped between the bails and the cross plates and the signal is reliably suspended from the cable 10. f

It has been foundadvisable, to protect the signal during hurricanes and gaies, that additional reinforcing means be provided be tween the hood V27 andthe pipes which carry it. For this purpose a strap 45 isI provided which is secured at its ends to the top of the hood 27 by bolts 46 and extends over and embraces the T-coupling 38, as best shown in Fig. 5. Each of the bolts 46 passes through a slot 47 inthe corresponding end of the strap 45 and also through a registering slot 48 in the hood, and the nut of each bolt 46 bears against a reinforcing plate 49 on the under side of the hood. The slots 47 and 48 are arranged circumferentially to the pipe 32 and hence it isv apparent that a limited turning movement of the safety traflic light casing can be'obtained relative to the cable l() before the connections are tightened. ylhus assume that the signal is to be placed at a crossing where the streets are not perpendicular to one another and it is desirable to have the signal set at an angle to its supporting cable 10, before the upper nut 83 and the bolts 46 are tightened, the signal is turned to the desired angle, the bolts 46 riding along the slots 47 and 48. When the signal is set at the desired angle, the upper nut 33 is tightened against the upper side of the hood 27 and theY nuts 46 are tightened to secure the strap 45 rigidly in place.

From the foregoing it is apparent that this invention pro-vides'a safetytrafc light which is inexpensive to form and assemble and can be quickly and readily set up or any of they parts replaced. The signa-l is also durable in construction, has a low maintenance cost and will withstand windstorms, rain and snow without getting out of order or diminishing its effectiveness. rlhe signal also adequately illuminates the roadway under the same both through the direct light from the four bulbs and also through the reflected light from the hood around the outside of the casing. The'light casing is also so formedy that the signal lenses at the sid'eof the vcas'- ing are concealedfrom approaching traffic and the signal lenses and panels are so arsoV ranged as to indicate clearly what the driver is to do thereby avoiding confusion and possible accidents; f

I claim as my invention:

l. A safety traffic light including a casing having an open upper end, a hood arranged over said casing and spaced therefrom, illuminating means arranged in said casing, sig-v nailing means arranged in the walls of said casing and illuminated by said illuminating means, the edges of said hood extending laterally beyond said casing whereby the light from said casing passes from said illuminating means between said casing and hood and is reflected downwardly aroundl said casing by the marginal parts of said hood and means for suspending said casing from said hood comprising a plurality of rods depending from said hood and passing through openings provided in said hood and casingV and means for rigidly Vand independently connecting said rods to said hood and casing.

2. A safety traflic light including a casing composed of sheet metal sections having overlapping parts, a hood arranged over said Y casing, illuminating means arranged in said casino signalling means arranged in the D, C b b walls of said casing and illuminated by. said illuminating means, and means for suspending saidV casing from said hood comprising rods passing through the overlapping parts of said casing and secured thereto and means for connecting said rods to said hood.

3. A safety traffic light including a. casing composed of sheet vmetal side sections having inwardly projectinghorizontal flanges, the flanges of said sections being adapted to overlapone another at their ends, a hood arranged over said casing and spaced therefrom, illuminating means arranged in said casing, signalling means arranged in the walls of said casing and illuminated by said illuminating means, and means for suspending said. casing from said hood and in fixed relation thereto, comprising threaded rods passing vthrough the overlapping parts of said flanges and through said hood and nuts screwed on said rods and engaging the over! lapping Vparts of'said flanges `and said hood.

4. A safety traffic light including a casing composed of sheet metal side sections, means for securing said sections together, at least two of said sections being formed to provide vertical diagonally outwardV projecting flanges at the vertical corners of said casing, illuminating means arranged in said casing, translucent signalling means in said sections, said translucent signalling means being adapted to give different signalling indications on different sides of said casing, said diagonal flanges extending a suflicient distance to conceal the right and left sides of the casing from one approachinglthe safety traflic light from any side of the same.

5. A safetytraliic light including a casing` agonally outward projecting flanges at the corners. of said casing, fastenings extending through and uniting the flanges of the several sections, illiuninating means arranged in said casing, translucent signalling means in said sections, said translucent signalling means being'adapted to give different signallingl indications on different sides of said casing, Lsaid diagonal flanges extending a suficient distance'to conceal the right and left sides of the casing from one approach-` ing the safety traffic light from any side of the same. I

6. A safety traffic light including` a casing composed of -four sheet metal side sections each having inwardly projecting flanges at its upper and lower edges and diagonally outward projecting flanges at its opposite vertical edges, the horizontal flanges ofthe several sections being adapted to overlap one another at their ends and said diagonal flanges being adapted to be arranged faceto-face anc forming diagonally outward projecting flanges at the corners of said casing, fastenings extending through and uniting the diagonal flanges of the several sections, hood arranged over said casing and spaced therefrom, illuminating means arranged in said casing, signalling means in the walls of said casingand illuminated by said illuminating means and means foi` suspending said casingl from said hood iu fixed relation thereto, comprising threaded rods passing through the overlapping parts of said horizontal vflanges and through said hood and nuts screwed on said rods and engaging thc overlapping parts of said flanges and 'said hood.

7. A safety traffic light adapted to be suspended. from a fixed support comprising a vertical pipe threaded at its upper end, a T-fitting screwed on the upper end'of said pipe. branch pip-es screwed into said T-fitting, means for securing said branch pipes to said support, a hood secured to said pipe, said pipe passingA centrally through said hood and said hood being'held between twe nuts l on said pipe, a casing suspended yfrom said hood, translucent signalling means in the walls of said casing/,an electric light bulb at the lower end of said pipe within said casing and illuminating said signalling means,

and a strap securedat its Vopposite ends to pipe passing centrally through said hood and said hood being held between two nuts on said pipe, a strap extending over said T-itting and provided with transverse slots at its opposite ends, said hood being provided with similar slots adapted to register with the slots in said strap, bolts arranged in said slots and securing the ends of said strap to said hood but permitting said hood to be moved adjustably relative to said branch pipes, a casing suspended from said hood, translucent signalling means in the walls of said Casing and an electric light bulb at the lower end of said pipe within said casingl and illuminating said signalling means.

9. A safety trac light including a casing having an open upper end, a hood arranged over said casing and spaced therefrom, illuminating means arranged in said Casing, signalling means arranged in the walls of said casing and illuminated by said illuminating means, and means for suspending said casing from said hood comprising a plurality of rods depending from said hood and passing through openings provided in said hood and casing and means for rigidly and independently connecting said rods to said hood and easing.

In testimony whereof I hereby aiix my y signature.

CHARLES F. SPRINGFELS.

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