US1829025A

US1829025A - Traffic signal

Info

Publication number: US1829025A
Application number: US486541A
Authority: US
Inventors: George C Walker
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1930-10-06
Filing date: 1930-10-06
Publication date: 1931-10-27
Anticipated expiration: 1948-10-27

Description

Oct. 27, 193k, G. c. WALKER 1,829,025

TRAFFIC SIGNAL Filed 001'.. 6, 1950 Groes C h/fn. KEA? Patented Oct. 27, 1931 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE 'f GEORGE C. WALKER, OF WAYNE MICHIGAN, ASVSIGNOR 0F ONE-HALF T0 THOMAS M. LUCXIN G, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN TRAFFIC SIG\NAL 'i- Applioation led October 6, 1930. Serial No. 486,541.

This invention relates to a traffic signal, and has to do particularly with novel means for indicating the approximate time before a change in signals.

In standard traffic signals now generally in use, the change from one signal to another is instantaneous so that unless the motorist is unusually familiar with each individual traffic light the change in traffic in very slow 1o and confusing. 'Attempts have beenmade to indicate time of change by passing various indica over the face ofthe signal and by varying the extent of closure of the signal opening, but such devices have usually been more or less complicated.

The primary object of the present invention .is to indicate the approximate duration of a certain signal, or, in other words, the time remaining before the change of the signal, by shaping the light indicating field itself so that its inherent shape passing by the signal opening serves as a timing means. In this case. the timing may be individually controlled at each traffic signal and is preferably obtained by a rotating indicating field', the light source remaining fixed.

Another feature of the invention resides in the provision of means for instantly changing the signal from one color to the next as the existent indicating field approaches the end of its movement past the signal opening. In this case. the blank spaces between adjacent rotating indicating fields are eliminated and a full indicating field covers the opening until the next indicating field reaches its effective position.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a vertical sectional View of a traffic signal embodying the features of the present kinvention and illustrating one means for raising and lowering the intermediate shutter structure.

Fig. 2 is a somewhat diagrammatic sectional view showing the shutter arrangement in neutral position with the light field uncovered.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing the green shut-ter in raised position to fill in the space between the red rotating field and the green rotating field.

Figs. 4 and 5 illustrate a similar development to Figs. 2 and 3, but with the shutter unit in neutral position with the green rotatingfield showing and in lowered position with the red shutter intervening between the two fields.

Fig. 6 is an elevation of a traffic signal embodying the present invention and showing the narrowing indicating field moving past the signal opening. The gist of the present invention resides 1n a moving indicating field the shape of which visibly indicates the approximate time such field will remain before a given opening. Various types of structure and various mechanical means may be utilized for rotating and controlling the operation of the predetermined shaped indicating fields and in Fig. l I have illustrated one form of device embodying the present invention.

Any sultable housing l may be provided with a plurality of apertures 2 which may be termed signal openings. A light source 3 may be stationarily supported from the top of the signal housing as best shown in Fig. l,

and a cylindrical rotatable drum 4 preferably surrounds this light source 3. The drum 4 may be rotated by any suitable means 5 which may consist of a motor or similar device the speed of which may be regulated at each particular traffic signal or controlled from a common remote point.

rIhe drum 4 is preferably provided with apertures 6, such apertures having a special shape, as best illustrated in Fig. l, and being backed by a transparent colored means 7 such as Celluloid or the like to form indicating fields. The length of each indicating field and the degree of taper may, of course, vary with different installations and particularly with the size of such installations. In the ordinary standard traffic signal it will be obvious that diametrically opposite indicating fields will be of similar colors.

If desired, the horizontally tapered indicating fields 6 may be rotated past the apertures 2 without the use of any intervening shutter or the like. As each indicating field narrows down towards a point, it will be obvious to any observer that a change of signals is about to take place. As a wide signal indicated b of different color starts across the signal opening this will indicate a change of signal.

To positively indicate the change in signals I prefer to use a shutter arrangement so that as the changing indicating fiel gradually comes down loward a point, indicating that the change is about to take placa-the shutter will immediately and quie ly cover the opening and such shutter will be of the same color as the oncoming indicating field with the result that when the oncoming indicating field assumes its position relative to the signal opening the shutter may be moved so as to allow the changing shape of the indicating field to indicate the approximate time of change of signals.

One form of shutter structure is illustrated in Fig. 1 and diametrically in Figs. 2 to 5. This shutter consists .of a vertically movable c linder 8, the vertical movement of said s utter being assisted by means of suitable grooves 9 formed in the housing l. Each cylindrical shutter unit may be cut-away to form three

apertures

10, 1l, and 12, the aperture 10 being covered with red transparent material corresponding to the material used in forming the indicating field 6, the aperture 11 bein open and the aperture 12 being covered wit green transparent material.

The drum 4 may be provided with a suitable cam groove 13 and the cylinder shutter member 8 provided with a suitable pin 14 adapted to be actuated by said cam groove. As the drum 4 is rotated at its regular speed it will be obvious that the cylindrical shutter unit will be moved up an down according to the particular part of the shutter which is to cover the signal opening. In ordinary practice the central horizontal part of the cam groove will cause the shutter to remain in neutral position, such as shown in Figs. 2 and 4, a relatively longI time, and in the top and bottom positions a relatively short time. The same light source 3 will provide sufficient light to illuminate the

portions

10 and 11 of the shutter when such portions cover the I signal opening.

The size of the signal opening 2 may vary considerably and is preferably smaller than the

apertures

10, 11, and 12 of the shutter. Whether a cam groove, or other means, is used to operate the shutter such shutter is preferablyactuated to cover the opening at a time when the passing indicating field narrows down to a point. The shutter drops across the opening between the time the end of the indicating field leaves the edge of the opening and the time it reaches the center of such opening, the preferred operation being at the very instant that the tail end of the indicating field reaches the first edge of the opening.

It will thus be seen that I have provided a traffic light the time of change of which is a predetermined permanently shaped indicating field movable relative to a stationary signal opening, The mechanism is very simple and lnexpensive and the timing of each signal may be regulated by merely increasing or decreasing the speed of movement of the Adrum carrying the indicating fields. The intermediate or yellow signal is dispensed with and but one light source is necessary.

It will be understood that a plurality of independent light sources may be embodied within the signal with the result that one or more of said light sources may fail without impairing the efficiency of the signal indicating means. Thus if my signal device is equipped with three sources of light as the ordinary traffic signal, it will be obvious that I obtain a safety factor three times aslg'reat as that of the usual trafiic signal.

What I claim is:

1. A traffic signal of the type described, comprising a movable indicatin field, certain sides of which are shaped to lndicate the rate of change of said indicating field.

2. A signal comprising a relatively movable signal o ening and indicating field, said indicating eid being shaped to change its visible contour and indicate the time of change during said relative movement.

3. A signal comprising a relatively movable signal opening and indicating field, one of said members being shaped to visibly indicate by a change in contour the approximate time of change during said relatlve movement.

4. A trafiic signal comprising a stationary light source, a fixed signal opening and a specially shaped indicating field positioned between the light source and said opening and movable relativeto the opening to visibly indicate by a changing contour the approximate time said field remains.

5. A traffic signal com rising movable indicating fields having gradually changing contours to visibly indicate the time le'ft before a change in signal and separate means for covering the space between the indicating fields.

6. A traiiic signal comprising a stationary light source and a housing having an opening and a plurality of indicating fields rotatable past said opening, said indicating fields being shaped to visibly indicate the approximate rate of change of a given indicating field, and signal means in the form of a shutter member over said opening during the change between one signal and another signal.

7. A traffic signal comprising a stationary light source and a housing having an opening and a plurality of indicating elds rotatable past said opening, said indicating fields being shaped to visibly indicate the approximate rate of change of a given indicating field, and signal means in the form of a shutter memindicate the approximate time said indicating field takes to pass said opening.

9. Signal means comprising a signal opening and an indicating field movable past said opening, said indicating field being shaped so as to gradualy merge towards a central point as it passes horizontally by said opening whereby to indicate the approximate time said indicating field takes to pass said opening.

10. A signal device comprising a light' source, a signal opening, an indicating field illuminated by said light source, said indicating field and said signal opening being relatively movable and shaped whereby said relative movement will cause a change in the shape of the visible part of lthe indicating field to indicate the approximate time of change.

11. A signal device comprising a light source, a signal opening, an indicating field illuminated by said light source, said indicatin field and said signal opening being relative y movable and shaped whereby said relative movement will cause a change in the shape of the visible part of the indicating field to indicate the approximate time of change, and a transparent shutter means for coverin said opening at a certain predetermined time during the relative movement between said indicating field and opening.

12. A signal device comprising a light source and a rotatable indicating field, said indicating field havin angularly positioned sides tapering towar s apoint whereby to indicate the approximate time of change between one indicating field and the next.

13. A signal device comprising a light source, a single visible signal openin for each particular direction, a colored in icating field having a predetermined shape, and means for cansino` relative movement between the indicating field and said single opening whereby the shape of said indicating field graduall changes to visibly indicate the time left before a change in si al.

14. A signal device comprising a ight source, a visible signa-l opening for each particular direction, an indicating field movable past said o ening,vand means formin a part of said in icating field for visibly indicatin the approximate rate of change and time le before a change in signal.

15. A signal device comprising a light source, a visible signal o ening for each particular direction, an indicating field movable` pastsaid o ening and means forming a part of said indicating field and gradually changing in dimensions for visibly indicatin the approximate rate of change and time le fore a change in signal.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

GEORGE C. WALKER.

Ilan