US1849393A - Traffic light - Google Patents

Description

TRAFFIC LIGHT c. G. wlLcox ET AL Filed Dec. 17, 1930 March 15, 1932.

TELL.

Patented Mar. 1932 UNITED 'STATES PATENT o1-Fics CLAYTON G. WILCOX AND JEREMIAH J'. SHOEMAKER, 0F GARRETTSVILLE, OHIO TRAFFIC LIGHT Application :Bled December 17, 1930. Serial No. 502,949.

This invention relates to trafic 'si nal devices, employed at the junction o streets where vehicles of diiferent kinds cross'each others path, and has for one of its objects to provide an electrically actuated., apparatus whereby signals may bedisplayed to the view of the drivers of vehicles approaching from a pluralityfof directions, and including light bulbs of dierent colors and means for chang- Lo ing the illuminating means at predetermined intervals.

A With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists substantially in the structure herein shown, described and de- [5 lined in the claims, and in the drawings illustrative ofthe preferred embodiment of the invention in which Figure 1 is a 'vertical section viewed from one side. Figure 2 is a vertical right angles to Fig. 1.

Figure 3 is a transverse section on the line 3--3 of Fig. 1.

Figure 4 is a diagram of the electric wiring. The improved apparatus includes an enclosing shell or casing preferably polygo- Bo section viewed at nal in cross section, and having openings 11 1n y one or more sides. lSupported within the openings are glass or transparent panels 12 through which the light imparting means is observable. Disposed within the shell 10 is a bracket or standard 13 having a lateral exten'- 27 sion 14 carrying'bearings 15 and 16 to support centrally thereof a vertical shaft 17. At

1ts upper end the shaft 17 is forme-d with a plurality of lateral branches 18 upturned at their outer'ends and each terminating in a bearing 19 carrying shaft 20, each of the stub shafts carrying a bevel gear 21. The shaft 17 also carries a bevel gear 22 meshing with all ofthe bevel gears 21 whereb motion is transmitted from the vertical shaft 17 simultaneously to all of the stub shafts through the ears 21.

Attached to the outer en 'of each of the a laterally directed stub:

stub shafts 20 and rotative therewith and within the casing, is a radially directed frame 24 which' may ywell be rectangular in outline and having a transparent member 25 of different colorj inserted therein. The frame 50 being closely adjacent the @nel 12, is rotatably movable in a plane parallel to such panel. Coupled, ixedlyto each of the stationary bearings 19 is a concave reflecting mirror 26, the same being spaced froml the v casing wall so that the frame 24 may move between the panel and mirror.

The source of light is within the mirror "and between the latter and frame, as will be later ,explainedf The main drive shaft is indicated at 27, and is adapted to be driven by a suitable motor (not shown) and carries a bevel gear 28 on the inner end in engagement with a bevel gear 29 on the shaft 17 The shaft 17 65 is supported by a stop colla 30, and continuing the shaftl 17 downwardly is a separate' section 31. The shaft 17 carries a clutch member 32, while the shaft section 31carries an opposing clutch member 33. Slidable on 7o the shaft section 31 between the clutch members 32 and 33 is a double-faced clutch memthe clutch members 32 and 33. v collar 35 encircles a sleeve 35 on the shaft section 31 75'.

and supports the inner end of the drive shaft Mounted to swingJat 36 to the standardl/B is a shipper, lever 37, the free end of the lever being coupled in the usual manner to o crate the double-faced clutch member 34. solenoid magnet, indicatedat 38, is coupled by its with which vspring contacts 45--46-47 are 90 adapted to be alternately engaged to make and break contacts as the drum is rotated. The shaft of the drum 41 carried a bevel wheel 48 engagingga bevel pinion 49 on the shaft section 31. y this means the rotation of the shaft 31 is communicated to the drum 41. 7

One or more light bulbs, indicated at 50, are fixedly disposed within each of the reflectors 26, and sufficiently spaced from the casing wall to be out of the path movement of the frame 24.

The shaft section 31 is,provided with a v bevel gear 51 engaging a smaller bevel gear 52 formed on the larger gear 28 by which motion is communicated to the shaft 31 vand its connections. l

Having now described our invention, that which we claim to be new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an apparatus of the class described, a stationary light transmitting medium, a stationary reflector associated -with said medium, a member movable transversely of said medium and about the aXis of said reflector, and having `a transparent portion through which the light rays from said medium and reflector pass. l

2. In an apparatus of the class described including an enclosing casing having a plu# r'ality of lateralopenings and a vertical shaft having a drive gear centrally mounted within said casing, a plurality of stub shafts associated with said Vertical shaft, directed toward the several openings and respectively carrying gears meshing with the gear of the vertical shaft, a member within said casing carried by each ofthe said stub shafts and rotative therewith, and each having a transparent portion, a light transmitting medium parent portions and lateral openings, and

from which light passes' through vsaid transmeansfor imparting motion 'to said drive shaft and the parts connected therewith.

3. In an apparatus of the class described,

transmitting medium fixed relative to each of said mirrors and mounted between the same and the openings, a member rotative with each of said stub shafts and having a transparent portion and having a path of movement in a plane between said opening and mirror and coaxial with the latter, and means) for actuating said vertical shaft.

In testimony whereof we affix our4 signatures.

CLAYTON G. WILCOX.

JEREMIAI-I J. SHOEMAKER.

an enclosing cas-ing having a lateral opening,

a-rotatable drive shaft mounted within said casing, a stub shaft, means for transmitting motion from the drive shaft to the stub shaft, a member rotative with said stub shaft and.

y having a transparent portion moving in a vwithin said casing and having a drive gear on its upper end, a plurality. of stub shafts directed toward the several openings and rey spectively carrying gejars vmeshing `with the gear of the vertical shaft, a stationary refleeting mirror adjacent each of -said o n- 05 ings and concentric with a stub shaft, s. light

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