US1866899A - Traffic signal - Google Patents

Description

July 12, 1932. MI ER 1,866,899

TRAFFI C S IGNAL Filed March 15. 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet l awn-for Patented July 12, 1932 4 UNITED STATES WILLIAM H. MINIER, F TOLEDO, OHIO TRAFFIC SIGNAL Application filed March 15, 1929. Serial No. 347,400.

My invention has for its object to provide a means for indicating progressively the elapse of the time interval between the changes of traflic signals, whereby individuals may know Whether to start to cross streets or to wait for the subsequent period for crossing and thus avoid the danger of being in the street when the traflic signals change. The invention is also advantageous in that it pro- 33 vides a means for indicating the length of the expired part of the intermission to operators of automobiles approaching a crossing to enable them to regulate the speed of the automobile they are driving to avoid sudden stopping or to enable crossing within the period and thus eliminate undue speeding at the end of the crossing period. a

The invention, preferably, provides a plurality of auxiliary signal lamps located intermediate the main signal lamps and a mechanism'for maintaining one of the main signal lamps lighted while the auxiliary signal lamps are progressively operated during sub- W divisions of the intermissions allowed for the crossing of the traiiic, whereby indication is given to the traflic of the length of the period yet to expire during which the crossingmay be accomplished.

The invention may be contained in struc- 33 tures of different forms and, to illustrate a practical application of the invention, I have selected one of the trafiic signals embodying the invention and a modification of one of its parts, and shall describe it hereinafter. ;The

panying drawings.

Fig. 1illustrates a front view of the traflic signal referred to. Fig. 2 is a view of a sectidn taken on the plane of the line 22 indicated in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a View of a section taken on the plane of the line 3-3 indicated'in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of a section of a ciocuit controller. 'Fig. 5 is a diagram of the connections of parts illustrated in Figs. 1, Q, 3. and 4. Fig. 6 is a diagram of the connections of a modification of the circuit controller. Fig. 7 illustrates a. face view of a contact supporting disc. Fig. 8 illustrates a contact arm that coacts with the disc, shown in Fig. 7, for contratlic signal selected is shown in the accomtrolling the circuit. Fig. 9 is a top view of the arm shown in Fig. 8. Fig. 10 is a rear view of the disc shown in Fig. 7. Fig. 11

illustrates a contact supporting plate of the modified form of electric controller. Fig. 12 illustrates the rear of the plate shown in Fig. 11. Fig. 13 is a view ofa section taken on the plane of the line 1313 indicated in Fig. 11.

Trafiic signals, commonly used to: indicate traflic movements at street crossings, are enclosed, in metal casings and mounted on poles in position so that they can be readily .observed by the public in the vicinity of the crossings. As shown in Fig. 1, the trafiic signal 1 is supported on the pole 2 by means of brackets 3. The casing in which the signal is contained is formed of sheet metal or cast iron. In the particular form shown, it has a cover plate 4. The cover plate is provided with a plurality of openings in which lenses 5 and 6 are located. The lenses 5 are of different colors, usually the lower lens 5 is a red, while the upper lens 5 is a blue or a green lens, and the intermediate lenses 6 are, preferably, similar in size and are yellow in color. Also, a plurality of reflectors form a part of the trafiic signaland are mounted on the cover 4. The reflectors 7 are located back of the lenses. 5 and-the reflectors 8 are located back of the lenses 6. Suitable electric lamps-are disposed intermediate the reflectors and the lenses in or.- der to provide a source of light which is colored by the lenses as it is transmitted therethrough. i The electric lamps are connected through a cable 10 to contacts located on the disc 11. The main signals, that is, the top and bottom signals 12 and 13, are connected to two substantially semi-circular contacts 14 and 15' respectively, while the intermediate sig nals 16, 17. 18, 19, 20, and 21, areconhected 1 each to two contacts arcuate in form, and in the form of construction shown in Fig. 7 contacts having different lengths, as measured in radians. Thus the signals 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, and 21, are connected to the pairs of cont'acts'22, 122', 23, 12s, 24, 124, 25, 125, 26,

126, and 27, 127, respectively. Preferably,

- the contacts 22 to 27 and contacts 122 to 127 are arranged in two sets, one of each pair being in a set. The contacts of thesets have ends located in a commondiameter and on opposite sides of the center of the disc. Also, preferably, the ends of the contacts 14 and 15 are located substantially in a diameter that is inclined but slightly to the diameter in which the contacts connected to the auxiliary signals terminate and so that the said common diameter will pass through one end part of each of the contacts 14 and 15, the said ends being positioncd in advance of the said common diameter with reference to a clockwise movement over the surface of the disc, whereby a connection may be made, by rotation of the disc or an element relative tothe disc, with one of the contacts 14 or 15 in advance of disconnection of one of the sets of contacts 22 to 27, upon a counter-clockwise movement of the disc or a clockwise movement of the element. v

The disc 11 is, preferably, formed to have channels in which the arcuate contacts are located and, preferably, the channels are of such a depth that the arcuate contacts are located below the edges of the ridges 31. Thus, the ridges 31 form separating strips beneath the contacts. The disc 11 is formed of insulating material and the arcuate contacts are imbedded beneath the surface of the disc 11 to thoroughly insulate the contacts from each other and prevent short circuiting by reason of the deposition of dust or dirt on the disc.

In the form of. construction shown, the

plate 11. is fixed and a rotatable member is provided" with a plurality of movable'contacts that register with the channels 30 and make contact with the arcuate contacts as the member is rotated. The plate 11 is secured to a suitable bracket 35 that may be mounted on the bottom of the case 1 and a rotatable arm 36 is rotatably supported in a frame 37 by means of the shaft 38. The shaft 38 is located at right angles to the face of the disc 11 and the center of the disc is located in the axis of rotation of the shaft 38. The

. arm 36 is, preferably, formed of insulating material and is provided with a plurality of channels 39 in which a plurality of spring contacts 40 are located and which are so bent as to extend into the channels 30 and elastically press aga-inst the arcuate contacts of the disc 11. The arcuate contacts are, preferably, made of sufiicient thickness, and the elastic contacts 40 are made of suflicient length, such that the elastic contacts will snap away from the ends of'the arcuate contacts as they pass away from the arcuate contacts.

The contacts 40 are connected together by means of a. conductor plate 41 which is connected to a contact 42 mounted on a part of the arm 36. Preferably, the arm is provided with a circular block or disc 43 formed of insulating material and formed integral with the arm and the contact 42 is mounted on the edge of the circular block 43 and thus rotates with the arm. A spring pressed contact 44 is located in contact with the rotatable contact 42 to complete the circuit with the rotatable contact as the arm is rotated and maintain a connection between the contacts 40 and a source of supply of current. The contact 44 may be formed of carbon or other conductive material. It is spring pressed by means of the spring 45 located in the capsule 46 supported in a block of insulating material 47. Suitable connection is made by means of the binding post 48 with a source of supply of current.

The arm 36 and the shaft 38 are rotated by means of an electric motor 50 supported in the lower end of the case of the traffic signal 1 and a suitable speed reducing mechanism is located intermediate the motor 50 and the shaft 38. For convenience of illustration, the shaft of the motor 50 is shown as provided with a. worm 51, that operates on the worm wheel 52 which is connected to the shaft 38 with the object of greatly reducing the speed of rotation of the arm 36. In the operation of the traffic signal, the motor 50 is continuously operated and the signal lamps perform their signaling operation in accordance to their-connections with the source of supply of currentas established through the arcuate contacts of the disc 11 and the spring contacts of the arm 36.

The connection of the arcuate contacts and of the disc 11, and the spring contacts of the arm- 36', are shown diagrammatically in Fig. 5 wherein the signal lamps and the contacts are shown connected in parallel circuits. Thus, the movable spring contacts 40 on the arm 36 are shown connected through the rotatable contact 42 with the main line 55 and the arcuate contacts 22 to 27 are connected to the auxiliary signal lamps 16 to 21, and the semi-circular contacts 14 and 15 are connected with the main signal lamps 12 and 13. The signal lamps are connected to the main line 56 so that as the arm 36 is rotated the lamps will be lighted and the signals will be produced according to the length of the arcuate contacts. The arcuate contacts are so located and have lengths such that the blue or green signal 12 will'be produced and maintained during the clockwise movement of the arm 36 while the contacts 27, 26, 25, 24, 23, and 22 are sequentially connected to the circuit and by reason of the lengths of the arcuate contacts will be maintained in the circuit until the contact 14 is. disconnected which discontinues the green signal and after a short interval of time and, preferably, while maintaining the signaling operation of the auxiliary signals, the contact 15 is connected in the circuit and immediately thereafter the making sequentialcontact with the contacts 27, 26, 25, 24, 23, and 22. Thus, in the continuous rotation of the arm 36, there is produced, first the green light main signal, and the auxiliary lamps 21, 20, 19, 18, 17, and 16. are progressively operated sequentially toward the green light whereupon the red signal lamp is lighted and all of the auxiliary lamps go out. Then follows the operation of the auxiliary signal lamps in reverse order as 16, 17,18, 19,20, and 21 towards the red light and thereupon the signal lamp 12 is operated and the auxiliary lamps go out and again there is the reversal of the sequential operation of the auxiliary signal lamps, thus by the progressive movement of the arm 36' in its rotation over the semi-circular contacts 14 and 15, there is produced an indication of the progressive expiration of the time interval permitted for tratlic to cross ina given direction at a crossing and operators of machines and pedestrians are informed of the length of the unexpired part of the period and enables them to judge whether they still have opportunity to cross during that period.

In the modified circuit controller shown in Figs. 11, 12. and 13, the contacts that control the auxiliary signals are made very much shorter, and are. preferably, located in a single channel. Two sets of contacts 60, 61, 62, 63, 64. 65. 66, and 67 are located in the channel 68 formed n the insulating disc 69 and the associated contacts of the other set are located in the channel 68 but in the reverse order as to clockwise movement. The arm 70, used in conjunction with the disc 69, is provided with a pair ofcontacts 71 and 72,

similar in construction to the contacts 40 on 4 the arm 36 and adapted to make contact with the contacts 60 to 67 sequentially and with guished as the arm 70 is rotated by the op eration of the shaft 38. The electric contact 72 is adapted to make contact with the contacts 14 and 15 in sequence and as one or the other of the sets of contacts 60 to 67 are being sequential-1y operated. I

The contacts 60 to 67 and the contacts 14 and 15 cooperate with the contacts 71 and 72 to connect the auxiliary signal lamps insequence while one .of the contacts14 or .15 connects one or the other of themain signal lamps with a source of current and then to connect the other of the main auxiliary signal lamps through the other of the lamps 14 g and 15 while the auxiliary lamps are operated sequentlally but in the reverse order through i tacts 60 to 67 are so located, with reference to the cont- acts 14 and 15, that whilethe sig nal lamp 12 is maintained lighted, the auxiliary signal lamps 75, connected to the con tacts 60 to 67, will be sequentially lighted and extinguished progressively towards the green signal of the signal lamp 12 and when the auxiliary lamp 75, located in proximit'y to the green signal lamp 12, is lighted, the red signal lamp 13 is thenopcrated to signal. As

thearm 7O continues'in its operation, the red signal .is maintained. while the a auxiliary lamps 75 are sequentially lightcd'andcxtinguished progressively towards the red signal 'light.- VV-hen the auxiliary signallamp. in

proximity to the red signal lamp is lighted,;;

the green signal is then produced. The operation is then againreversed as to the auxiliarysignalsr -;j.

' In order to prevent the short circuiting between the contacts, in the form of construction shown in Fig. 7, particularly by reason of the depositof dust thatmay be lodged between the arcuate contactsof the disc, I

' have provided a wiper for wiping the ridges -31. Preferably, the wiper is formed of in-;

sulating material which constantly maintains the surfaces clean and prevents short circuiting between the closely disposed arcuate contacts. A plate 80 is located on the arm 36, it being secured in position by the bolts 81. that also secure the elastic contacts 40 in position. Theplate 80 is provided with a plurality of elastic, fingers 82 to which are secured blocks 83 of insulating material that are so disposed as to rub onthe ridges 31; p and thus, as the arm 36 is rotated, the ridges are kept clean.

Thus, I have provided a means whereby the public may be apprised of the length of the unexpired period provided intermittently for the-crossing of trafiic which will operate toeliminate the dangers of crossing. while the signal indicatesa crossing period, caused by the expiration of the period while the pesignal and so on progressively to the unlighted main signal. \V hen the auxiliary signals are all lighted or all have been lighted, the first main signal is extinguished while the second becomes lighted. The order of lighting the auxiliary signals may then be reversed and progressively lighted towards the other main signal.

I claim:

1. In a tratfic signal, a pair of electric main signal lamps. a plurality of auxiliary electric lamps located intern'iediate the main signal lamps, a source of supply of current, a means connecting the source of supply with the main signal lamps during alternate periods and with the auxiliary lamps in succession and ,progressively from the disconnected mai-r'i signal lamp toy ards the connected main signal lamp, and means for maintaining the connected main signal lamp connected to the squrce of supply of current, while the auxiliary signal lamps are being connected to the source of supply.

main signal lamps during alternate periods, a means for connecting the auxiliary lamps with the said source of supply, the said means operating to change-the connection of the auxiliary lamps with the source of supply progressively to indicate subdivision of the time periods between the changes of the connection of the main signal lamps, the auxiliary lamp nearest the disconnected main signal lamp being lighted the longest of the periods in which the auxiliary lamps are lighted.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name to this specification.

WILLIAM H. MINIER.

2. In a traffic signal. a pair of electric main signal lamps, a plurality of auxiliary electric signal lamps located intermediate the main signal lamps, a source of supply of current, means for connecting the source of supply with the main signal lamps during alternate periods, means for connecting the auxiliary lamps with the source of supply in succession andprogressively during each period and from the disconnected main signal lamp towards the connected main signal lamp.

3. In a tratlic signal. a pair of electric main signal lamps, a plurality of auxiliary electric signal lamps located intermediate the main signal lamps, a source of supply of current. means for connecting the source of supply with the main signal lamps during alternate periods, in'eans for connecting the auxiliary lamps with the source of supply in succession and progressively during each period and from the disconnected main signal lamp towards the connected main signal lamp, means for maintaining the connection of the auxiliary lamps until all of the auxiliary lamps have been connected.

4. In a trafiic signal, a pair of electric main signal lamps, a plurality of auxiliary electric lamps located intermediate the main signal lamps, a source of supply of current, a means for connecting the source of supply with the

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