US1973691A

US1973691A - Highway crossing signal system

Info

Publication number: US1973691A
Application number: US595831A
Authority: US
Inventors: Milton S Friendly; Company Central Republic Trust
Original assignee: CENTRAL REPUBLIC TRUST Co; MILTON S FRIENDLY; OSCAR N FRIENDLY
Current assignee: CENTRAL REPUBLIC TRUST Co; MILTON S FRIENDLY; OSCAR N FRIENDLY
Priority date: 1922-10-20
Filing date: 1922-10-20
Publication date: 1934-09-11
Anticipated expiration: 1951-09-11

Description

Sept. 1l, 1934.

H. M. FRIENDLY HIGHWAY CROSSING SIGNAL SYSTEM Filed oct. 2o. 1922 zsneets-sheet 1 IIIIIIMU IIIILQMW CEEEDUrjIL.

H. M. FRIENDLY HIGHWAY nossma SIGNAL SYSTEM Sept. 11, 1934.

Filed oct'. 2o. 1922 z'sheets-sheet 2 m s. m .Pm m E .D O D Cvmmnm m W ....1 @lmmmwnu A V 53T@ P. o EQVU mM r3* :mmm m Y @t -m -EL K J E We... Nnh H su mmh M QWQN QNNU. AW HWMQN .D C D. N NN m 1li Q mmnrm@ m m mmnr En m 5? 195 9155.5 l Q Q :Q G Qv Mmmm M u@ SW Nom@ H 1.9@ MQW Wim, l M -UE Z O@ Patented Sept. 1l, 1934 UNITED STATES HIGHWAY CROSSING SIGNAL SYSTEM Herbert M. Friendly, Portland, Oreg.; Milton S. Friendly and Central Republic Trust Company, .executors of said Herbert M. Friendly, deceased, assigncrs to Milton S. Friendly, Chicago, Ill.; Oscar N. Friendly, Salt Lake City, Utah; and Central Republic Trust Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporationof Illinois, trustees under the will of Herbert M. Friendly, deceased Application October 20, 1922, Serial No. 595,831

22 Claims.

The present invention refers to highway trafc stop signals; vmore particularly traffic signals at street intersections or other crossings which are periodically controlled by clock mechanism or 5 other timing device.

` I am aware that clock-controlled and manually-controlled stop signals for controlling trac along streets whereby the trafc will be halted oh one street while permitting the traic on a cross street to proceed, and vice versa, is not new. Moreover, it is not new to control a plurality of said stop signals from 'a central point simultaneously, as for example, to halt the traic along a main stret at ,a plurality of cross highways while permitting the traic on the said cross streets to proceed,'and vice versa. Under this latter arrangement the trailic' along a mainsrreet, for example, is halted at each of a plurality of cross Streets coincidently, and then sent forward coincidently, while exercising the converse control tersection, this latter control will depend upon a secondary manual control (orpossibly an independent clock control) at each cross street, or predetermined cross streets. In the commercial embodiment of the invention, the detailed organization will be modified or adapted to the trailc condition involved. Thus, a central control station may, forexample,primarily govern signal devices at applurality of street crossings, or a signall device at a single one only. In the case of controlling a plurality of the signal devices at a corresponding plurality of street crossings, a manually controlled circuit-closer (single or inmultiple plurality) will be provided at each crossing,-

which may be operated by depressing a 4corresponding push-button, whereby the signal device at the corresponding crossing will be thereby enabled to operate under the primary control of the central or master control station. That is to say, the master control station will not cause the operation of any of the signal devices unless a specinc setting with respect to the concerned signal device has rst occurred. Of course, some of the signal devices may be set to operate responsive to the master control station `directly'automatically, while oher signal devices may only operate when specifically set manually by a circuit closer, for example, andin the latter case, Will operate but `a single time and be thereafter disabled until again enabled by 'the said manual operation of its corresponding circuit-closer. 50

One contemplated organization of the invention which will be described, and which is illustrated by the accompanyingvdrawings, is a master control station in primary control of main and cross street stop signal lamps located in pairs at each street crossing. A push-button is placed at each corner of the crossing for each of the said two signal devices, being eight push-buttons at each crossing. The said buttons will be in two groups of four, multipled. One push-button of each group is conveniently mounted on a post or flushwith the sidewalk at each corner curb. IIl'hus, there will be a push-button at each curb corner for each of the two stop signal lamps. 'In addition to the said push-buttons, a vehicle wheel operated push-button will be set flushlwith the Street surface in the line of trac contiguous to each curb corner. The wheel push-button will become operatively depressed upon a vehicle wheel or other weight bearing upon it.

The master control station,`which it will be remembered is adapted to be controlled by a time mechanism at stated intervals, which latter may vary alternatively as well as with respect to the time of day, hasauxiliary control mechanism responsive to the push-buttons located at the various street corners, so that if a push-button is depressed for an instant, a relay at the master control station will be lcaused to operate effective to cause the corresponding stop signal lamp to be directly controlled by the master control mechanism for one time only at the next normal operative period of .the said master control station, but not thereafter, unless the push-button is again operated.

Where all of a plurality of lamp signals lccated at corresponding cross-streets are coincidently operated under positive control of the master station, but not dependent upon secondary push-buttons, as is contemplated in the present 100 invention, it means that when the master control station operates to close the lamp circuit, lamps at all cross streets will glow as a stop signal to halt the traflic in the corresponding direction, regardless of the fact that there may not be traic at one or more crossings awaiting the cessation of the halted traic. This causes a needless delay of traffic under the condition, and this condition will be met at various times. Again, Where there may be little vehicular cross trame with respect to a busy main street, pedestrians will frequently nd the traic so dense that crossing the main street traflic will be impossible or hazardous. The said cross street trafc maynot be of such volume that a definite stop at predetermined periods is warranted, or at least required to be of such duration as parallel cross streets. Under this condition of trafic it will obviously unduly hinder the main street trailic were it halted by predetermined rule regardless of' the present requirement or exigency, having in mind that While pedestrians may be awaiting an opportunity to cross, the density of trafc on the main street may not be great enough to warrant halting the traiiic precipitately. Of course, the hour of the day will perhaps alter the relative traiiic on the streets crossing the main street, as well as the traine on the main street. In any event, it is quite impossible to predetermine the regulation of the traiiic over a plurality of streets crossing a main street without favoring certain cross streets at times and prejudicing the trafc on the main street correspondingly.

Having the last foregoing in mind, should a pedestrian desireto cross the main street, he will press the push-button on the curb of the corner he occupies, corresponding to the main street. This will lock a relay at the master control station so that at the next potential halting period on the main street, the trame on the main street at the cross street atwhich the push button was depressed will be halted due to the glowing of the lamp at the specific crossing of the main street. The latter said lamp will lshow red to the traiic on the .main street to indicate that the tradic thereon must halt, or that the cross ternate.

trame of every kind has the right-of-Way, depending upon the rules laid down. The said lamp will show green to the traic on the cross street -to indicate that the traic thereon has the righto-w'ay across the main street. In this connection, it will be understood that the glowing of the said lamp will be coincident with the glowing of corresponding other cross street lamps, provided a pedestrian has set the master controlstation mechanism by depressing a button or a permanent setting has been made. If the push-button has been depressed during a potential halting period .on the main street, the signal lamp will not b e effective until the next said.

halting period. To make a setting to cause the stop lamp to glow, a momentary pressing of the Y push button is all that is required.

A separate lamp is 'provided'for halting cross traic controlled by setting the mechanism at the master control station through the agency of one of the alternative push-buttons mentioned, in the same manner as halting the trafc on the main street, having in mind that the halting periods for the main street and the cross streets al- In the latter case, the red discs of the lamp will indicate to the cross trailic that it must halt, or that the main street trailic of every kind has the right-of-way, depending upon the rules laid down.

Two lamps are shown at each intersection,

though it will be understood that one lamp mayI direction of the cross'street (vehicular and pedestrian) has the right-of-way over the main street traflic. Under this condition there would not be the requirement for the set of push-buttons mechanism will be caused to set itself to halt the traffic as if the corresponding curb push-button had been momentarily pressed. In the case of the street push-button,l a retarding relay is interposed to prevent the mechanism from being set due to a vehicle crossing the push-button under motion.

A signal device is provided associated with each lamp which will operate in advance of the lamp extinguishing, to indicate the condition, so that those concerned will know the halted or the right-of-way condition of the concerned street will terminate in a shrt predetermined interval. y

It will be clear, presently, that while the system may be directively operated by manual means through the agency of the push-buttons located on the corners, governing the clock means, the said manual means may be disabled at certain periods of the day at any or all crossings, and furthermorafthe automatic means may be made to predominate at certain hours of the day, so that the cross tramo and main trafc will bn halted at any or all streets in a predetermined manner by the clock (or other timing means), regardless of the push-buttons. Moreover, the n@ primary clock control may -be displaced by or supplemented by a manual key control, operated by the foot ci a traic oiiicer, for example.

Having set forth the general operative functions of the invention, its operation, as well as ug other functions will be now described.

Referring to the drawings:-

Fig. l shows a schematic wiring arrangement oi the master control station, together with the schematic representation of the push-buttons and signal devices at two street intersections.

1 Fig. 2 shows east and west main streets with three north and south cross streets, together with the push buttons and lamps indicated in Fig. 1 located thereon as correspondingly designated.

Fig. 3 shows a schematic detail of a lantern containing a lamp as shown in Fig. l. Fig. i shows a vertical sectional view of a street surface push-button adapted to be oper- V ated by a vehicle wheel, for example. The section is along line Cin Fig. 5.

Fig. 5 shows a plan view of the surface pushbutton shown in Fig. 4. y Fig. 6 shows a locking means for one of the relays with the relay in deenergized condition.

. Fig. '7 shows the same relay with the armature held in energized position by the locking means. With further reference to Fig. l, the relays l, 2, 1' and 2' are dash-pot relays which have a retarded actuating characteristic of their respec- 4 tive plunger-arms, so that they will not effect a circuit closure until a predetermined period after the respective winding has become energized@ The push-buttons 6, '1, 6' and 7' (shown in detail in Figs. 4 and 5) are set flush with the street M5 surfacing, being located where indicated in Fig. 2. It will be understood that a plurality of the latter said push-buttons may be grouped as al gang, in lieu of employing a single one, as invdicated in Figs. 1 and 2. The push buttons 12, 150

^ y 1,973,691 `13, 12' and 13' (and multipied buttons therebf) are on posts 201 to 204 and 201' to 204' located on the curb where indicated in Fig. 2, having in mind that buttons 13 and 13 are on the west sides`of the posts 201 and 201', respectivelyf'and that buttonsI 12 and 12 are on the north sides of the posts 201l and 201', respectively. The buttons 12 and l2 are to halt traflic along the main street and the buttons 13 and 13 are to halt traffic along the cross streets at the points concerned. Each of the said posts 201 to 204 and 201 to 204 will have two push-buttons for halting traiic. For example, post 202 will have two buttons in multiple relation with buttons 12 and 13 on the north and east sides thereof, respectively; post 203 will have two buttons in multiple relation with buttons 12' and 13 on the south and west sides thereof, respectively; post 204 will have two buttons in multiple lrelation with buttons 12 and 13' on the south and east sides thereof, respectively. The same relation as the last described will relate to the posts 202 to 204, respective-to the buttons on post 201. That is to say, at the cross street intersection, there will be a button on each of the four corner posts for halting traffic on the main street and for halting traflic on the cross street independently; eight buttons in all. It will be understood that the invention contemplates the installation of street surface push-buttons at'the crossings, located as indicated by 6a and 7a connected in indirect multiple relation. with push-buttons 6 and 7, respectively, for example, to halt the traffic on the main and cross streets, respectively.

It will be understood that in some instances the traiiic on the cross streets Will be relatively light at all hours, so'that it wil not be necessary to halt it, the main street traffic having the rightof-Way over it at alll times. Under such condition this cross` street traffic will be ignored', so far as signal lamps and push-buttons are concerned. That is, push-buttons and signal lamps for haltingthe said cross traffic will not be provided ior.

The lamps 21 and 22, for example,A wi'l be mounted on a convenient corner post at the concerned corner, 'or otherwise suspended or placed visual to the main and cross trac. As shown in Fig. 3, the lamps wil-l'show red and green to right angles as indicated in Fig. 3, so that if a lantern presents a red light to the north and south traillc,` it will at the same timepresent a green light to the east and west traiiic. 'I'he red light will indicate that traffic must halt, or that its right-of-way. is subordinated to the rightang e tralc, depending upon the trafc rules in force. All north and south stop lamps at all intersections 'will light simultaneously, if at all,

and the east and west stop lamps will operate similarly at the alternative period. That is to say, the north and south, and the east and west stop lamps will not glow simultaneously. p r

The lamps indicated at the extreme left and the extreme lower portion in Fig. 2 are not shown in the wiring diagram of Fig. 1'. The designated common conductors in Fig. 1 at the master control station may have groups of relays at` tached, depending upon how many crossings are to be operated from the master control station; wiring for two crossings only being shown in the circuit diagram in Fig. l. Also, if cross traffic with relation tothe main street is to be ignored, then the relay sets B andB will bev omitted, and relay sets A and A' only used with relation to the two crossings concerned. In that event,'the

conductor i.

corresponding pushfbuttons, indicators and lamps will be omitted from the installation.

The indicators, as 26 and 27, and 26' and 27' may be buzzers or bells, or other electromagnetic auditory, or in factvisual signals, or they may be lamp signals. It will be remembered that the latter signals are to apprise the traflic in advance of a signal being effaced, so that traflic will prepare for the changed condition to ensue.

The clock or motor driven kcircuit changer CL periodically closes the contacts 3l to operatively energize the relays 32 and F. The push-button PU may be operated by a traffic officer, for example, at arbitrary periods, to hait the traffic on the main street, while giving the cross street trafc the right-of-way. Slow actuating and releasing relay F. will operatively actuate; energized in multiple with relay 32.

Assume that it is desired to halt the traffic on the main street through the agency of lamp 2l, contacts 31 being open at said instant. 'I'he push-button 12 (or any of its multiplied buttons on posts 202 to 204), will bemomentarily de` 'pressed by a pedestrian or officer.. This will operatively energize relay 34 while push-button 12 is held down. Armature 35 will apply ground from armature 36 to actuate slow-releasing relay 37 and lock it to grounded armature 36. Nothing elsehappens now andlamp 21 does not light until the next operation of the timer CL. Upon the contacts 31 being closed (or the push-button PU being depressed), relays 32 and F will actuate. 4Upon relay F actuating (following the actuation of relay 32), relay 38 will actuate, whereby grounded armature 39 will ground conductor e, and ground will be applied from armature 40 through armature 41 to the winding of slowreleasing relay 42, the latter said relay actuating. 'Ihe armature 36 will unlock relay 37 consistent with its slow-releasing period and will ground armature 40. Relay 42rwill become deenergized and will subsequently deactuate after relay 37 (relay 42 being somewhat more slow-releasing thanf'relayv 37), and relay 44 wil be maintained actuated dependent upon the attracted condition of armature 40. However, before relays 37 and 42 retract their armatures, said' relay 34 having only momentarily operated and restoredto normal, the push-button l2 being assumed (for the present) released promptly after depressing it before relays 32 and FV actuate, and relays 37 and 42 not yet having retracted their armatures, a circuit can be traced from the grounded armature 36, conductor i, armatures 45 and 46 to the winding of relay 48. 'I'he latter relay will actuate and lock to conductor e, so that when armature 46 retracts, the re ay 48 will be sustained actuated dependent upon the attracted condition of armature 39. A circuit can be traced from the lamp 21 to grounded armature 50, the latter said lamp glowing to h alt the traic on the main street and to indicate through the green disc to the cross street concerned that its traino (the cross street) has the right-of-way. When the contacts 31 disengage (or the push button PU is released),

Armature 43 will operatively energize relay 44 and lock it through armature 4l to relay 32 will deactuate, followed by relay F at a predetermined period thereafter, it being under-I circuit to deenergize relay 38. Thus, at the time v armature 33 retracts, a circuit path can be traced from the latter said armature, conductor a, armature- 52 to the winding of the indicator 26 vto render a signal to indicate that the lamp 21 `will be extinguished in,a predetermined period thereafter, as will appear. Upon relay F deactuating, following the deactuation of relay-32, relay 38 will deactuate, whereupon the locking circuit for relay 48 is opened so that armatures 50 and 52 will retract to deenergize the indicator 26 and extinguish the lamp 21.

It will be noted that should the push-button 12. have been depressed while contacts 31 are closed, that is, during a potential halting period for the main street, the relay 34 alone operates and would become locked through its armature 55, conductor b to attracted grounded armature 33. Having in mind that relay 42 actuates responsive to relay F and relay 38, and then deactuates responsive to the actuation of relay 44, it will be manifest that in a brief period (at most) after relay 34 locks while relay 42 is reactuated the relay 37 will be locked to armature 36. Then, the next time relay 42 actuates (relay 34 having deactuated), ground will be applied from its armature 36, conductor i, armatures 45 and 46 to the winding of relay 48, the latter said relay actuating and locking to conductor e grounded at armature 39, as vbefore described, to cause the lamp 21 to glow. It is thus clear that if the pushbutton 12 is momentarily depressed at an o potential halting period for the main street while I contacts 3l are o'pen with relays F, 32, 38, 42, and

,44 normal or de-energized, a condition will be set-up at the master control station which will cause the lamp 21 to glow at the next potential halting period for the main street, and if the said push-button 12 is depressed during the potential halting period for the mainstreet, that is, with timer contacts 31 closed and relays F, 32, 38, 42, and 44 actuated, a condition will be set-up which will prevent the lamp 21 from glowing during the said ensuing potential halting period, but which will operate to set-up a condition which will endure during the present said halting period and over the alternative cross street halting period, so that it willoperate to cause the lamp 21 to glow at the next potential halting period for the main street, after which the set-up condition will be effaced, unless the push-button 12 is again depressed to set-up a new condition as before described, wherein the relay 37. will be caused to actuate and lock.

pression spring 404 encircles a sleeve 405 at the center of the box. The sleeve 405 is hollow so as to allow a support spindle 407, which is integral with the cover and concentric with its center point, to slidably t into the hollow portion of the sleeve. A pair of insulated electrical contacts on springs is mounted on a standard 406 attached to the box 402. A plunger 409 is rigidly attached to the cover 501 so an electrical path will be closed including the latter said contact springs when the cover 'is depressed. .The said contact springs may be considered the springs of the push button 13.

When the top plate 501 is depressed by the Weight of a vehicle wheel, for example, the said plate 501 will depress against the resilience of spring 404 to close the contacts carried by the standard 406. The plate 501 is prevented from rising above a flush position by reason of the' heads of round-headmachine screws (not shown) indicated by the dotted circle 503. The latter said screws are placed in threaded holes in the four projections 401 and extended over the plate so as to retain 4the latter from rising above the ilush A position. Of course, the mechanical and electrical detail of the said street surface push-button can be varied in mechanical design -without departing from the present invention. For .example, the contact springs carried by the standard 406 may be enclosed in a water-tight compartment and operated through thelagency of a packed piston from the plunger 409 properly adapted. Assume that the push-button 6 is depressed by a vehicle wheel stopping upon it. After a predetermined period the -relay 1 will operate to energize relay 34 for the objects setv forth, the relay 1 retarding the eect of the primary closing of the push-button 6 in order to insure that brief closures of the button 6 (as by a wheel passing over it without pausing) will not set-up an operative condition in the relays at the master control station.

Assume that push button 13' is momentarily depressed while the contacts 31 are closed and after relay 38 has actuated and slow-releasing relay 57 is normal, that is, as illustrated in its deactuated condition. Relay 58 will actuate and apply ground from armature 59, conductor j, armature 60 to the winding of slow-releasing relay 61, the latter said relay actuating and locking to grounded conductor f. When the push-button 13 is released, relay 58 deactuates resultant therefrom, the relay 61 remaining locked. When the contacts 3l open at the potential halting period of the cross street traflic, relays 32 and F will deactuate; relay F deactuating last, followed by relay 38. A circuit path can now be traced from grounded armature 40, switch arm 63, armature 64 to the winding of relay 57, the latter said relay actuating. Armature 67 will apply ground to actuate relay 68, whereupon armature 64 will lock its relay 68 to grounded armature 40, relay 57 deactuating consistent with its slow-releasing characteristic. At the time armature 59 attracted it applied its ground over conductor Iz., armatures 70 and 71 to the winding of relay 72, the latter said relay actuating and locking through its armature '73, conductor -c to the grounded armature 39. A circuit path can be traced from the lamp 22 to grounded armature 75, the latter said lamp glowing as a halting signal to the cross street traffic. The re lay 7 2 will remain locked as long as armature 39 remains retracted. If` the contacts 31 now close, relays 32 and 38 will actuate, as has been described. When armature 33 attracts, it applies 'its ground over conductor b, armature 78 to the Winding of the indicator, 27 to indicate that the lamp 22 will extinguish in a predetermined time thereafter. f. Then, when relay 38 actuates, relay 72 will unlock and lamp 22 will extinguish and the circuit energizing indicator 27 will be opened.

'Had the push-button 13 beendepressed while the contacts 31 were open, as drawn, and while-` the relays 32 and 38 are normal, and armature 59 is retracted, conductor a will be grounded at armature 33 so that the relay 58 will lock through armature 79 to armature 33 when it is caused to actuate from push button 13, and remain so until the contacts 31 close and again open. The relay 61 will also be actuated, locked to armature 59, itv

being remembered that the armature 59 retracts a short period after it is caused to attract. When the contacts 31 close thereafter, relays 32 and 38 actuate and relay'68 will unlock, the relay 61 remaining locked to armature 59. When the contacts 31 open at the next potential halting period for the cross street traiic, the relay 57 will momentarily actuate to unlock relay 61 and to apply ground from armature 59, conductor h, armatures 70, 71 to the winding of relay 72 before the armature 71 will retract, due to the slow-release characteristic of relay 61. Relay 72 will thus actuate and lock through its armature 73, conductor cv to armature 39, causing the lamp 22 to glow. The relay 72 will remain locked until the contacts 31 close to cause armature 39 to attract, and the indicator 27 will operate in advance of the unlocking of relay 72 due to armature 33 applying ground over conductor b and armature 78.

The operation of relay 2 corresponds to that of relay 1. It retards the functioning of relay 53 when controlled from push button 7 (or its multipled button 7a) in the manner described with relation to push button 6 and relay 34.

The groups of relays A' and B' (and attachments) correspond to the groups A and B, respectively, with relation to the equipments to the right of common conductor i. So in view of the designations of the relay groups A', and B corresponding to the designations of the groups A and B, but with a'prime (or letter b substituted for the letter a when combined with a digit) added, the operation of the lamps 21' and 22'; push-buttons 12', 6', 13 and 7'; indicators 26 and 27' will be manifestin view of the descriptions preceding. l Each group of relays A, B, A and B' operate independent of each other, having in mind that the lamps 21 and 22 and the

indicators

26 and 27 operate'at alternative potential halting periods for the traffic of the main and cross streets, respectively, and that the same holds for lamps 21' and 22 and the indicators 26T and 27'. That is, for example,

lamps 21 and 21 may be caused to glow and extinguish simultaneously, if push buttons 12 and 12 have been set before the potential halting period of the traic on the main street, but the lamps 21 and 22, and 21' and 22' will only glow alternatively with respect to each said pair.

It will be noted that normally relay 44 or relay 68 will be locked alternatively, depending upon the grounded or non-grounded condition of the free terminal of the winding of relay 38. If it is desired to operate the signallamp at Yany crossing automatically at any period of the day, the relays 37 and 61 (or corresponding relays of other companion crossing relay groups), `will be mechanically closed or. blocked and then maintained so. Then, each time armature 36 attracts, relay 48 will actuate to glow lamp 21, locking to attracted armature 39, the indicator 26 actuating upon armature 33 retracting, and therelay 48 deactuating to extinguish the lamp 21 upon armature 39 retracting. Each time armature 59 attracts, relay 72 will actuate to glow lamp 22, locking to retracted armature 39, the indicator 27 actuating upon the armature 33 attracting, and the relay 48 deactuating to extinguish the lamp 22 upon armature 39 retracting.

relay armature is shown in its normal unoperated position, and in Fig. 7 the armature is shown mechanically locked by the lever 80. Such a hand operated lever, or any other suitable locking means, may be applied to the various relay pairs 37-,61 etc., and actuated when it is desired to effectthe continuous automatic operation of any or all of the crossing signals.

In view of the foregoing descriptions, it will be clear that the present invention provides multiple stop signals for a corresponding plurality of mutual cross streets, and that the said signals are operated from a common master control station in which the circuits are interlinked. Further, that the main street traine and the cross streets traiiic may be halted at will at a potential halting period of the main street or the cross streets, having in mind that the potential halting period of all crossl streets will be coincident, alternative with the potential halting period of the main street. It provides an automatically periodically controlled or variable. manually controlled signal system wherein the signals at a plurality of street crossings of a main street or streets may be simultaneously operated, or only a part thereof operated, depending upc-n directive control from-the various street crossings, independently, and it also provides for operating any or all the signals wholly automatically.

While the drawings show the wiring for a single vmain street and two cross streets thereto, it is to be understood that the system is applicable to any plurality of cross streets, by introducing a set of relays as A and B for each such cross street. Moreover, if a second main street parallels the designated main street, as shown in Fig. 2, and the cross streets shown as crossing the said second main street also, sets of relays corresponding to A and B, for example, may be attached to the common conductors a. to I, as are sets A to B, respectively, and conductors extended therefrom to the push buttons, lamps and indicators in the manner shown in Fig. 1, bearing in mind that the push buttons, lamps and indicator devices from the added set will be installed relative to the latter said elements as they 61 mechanically closed or blocked. In Fig. 6 the.

are shown attached to relay groups A and B. It

to halting the main street traic and the other group B' refers to halting the cross street traic at an alternative period with respect to the main street. From this it isclear that a master control station may comprise a large plurality of pairs of relay groups, any. said pair referring to any crossing, and connections made to the relay l groups indiscriminately from all street crossing master control station equipments of a district involving a plurality of main and a plurality of cross streets thereto.

As adverted at the outset, in .case it is not desired Vto affectthe cross street traffic at any specific crossing, ,the relay group, as'l B, for example, may be` disconnected, and perhaps correlamp andindicator at some other cross street in the district served by the master control station.

While the push-buttons are referred to as mountedon posts on the corners of the crossing, it will be understood that the buttons or button may be placed convenient to a tratic ofiicer who may be stationed in the street intersection, or at some other point.

Separate indicators, as 261 and 27, are shown located at a crossing, each specic to one of the intersecting-streets. It will be understood that one of the said indicators may be disconnected andthe conductor freed connected to the conductor of the retained indicator, so that the retained indicator will operate under the conditions -both operated under independently.

Ground or grounded battery has been indicated at various terminals. It will be understood that in lieu of ground, a common conductor may be employed. Also, that lamps described may be displaced by another type of indicator without departing from the invention defined by the claims.

I claimz- -v 1. In a street crossing signaling system, a signal having traiiic directing means for trailic along a street, a main start circuit including a tramo controlled switch, an electro-magnetic device energized over the start circuit responsive to a momentary control applied to said switch by and at the will of traiiic approaching the street, an electric timer switch including means for continuously opening and closing said switch for predetermined periods, an electrical operat ing circuit for said signal adapted to be closed to cause the signal to assume a condition for halting -the main street tramo, and means jointly controlled by said operation of the electro-magnetic device and the timer and responsive to only one occurrence of the nextA succeeding interval operation of the timer switch after said control is applied to the start circuit for closing said signal circuit to operate the signal for halting the main street traffic.

2. In a street crossing signaling system, a sig- Y nal having traic directing means for trafllc along a street, a.' start circuit including atratlic controlled switch, an electro-magnetic device, means for energizing said device over the start circuit responsive to-a. momentary control applied to said switch by and at the will of traiiic approaching the street, a locking means controlled responsive to the energization of said device tomaintain said device energized independent of the start circuit, an electric timer switch including means for intermittently opening and closing said switch for predetermined periods, an

` electrical operating circuit for said signal adapted to be closedto cause the signal to assume a condition for halting the main street traic, and means jointly controlled by said operation of the electro-magnetic device and the timer and responsive to only one occurrence of the next succeeding operation of the timer .switch after said control is applied to the start circuit for closing the signal circuit to operate the signal for halting the trailic along the street.

3. In a street crossing signaling system, a sig- `nal having traflic directing means for tralc along a street, a start circuit including a traffic controlled switch, an electro-magnetic device,

means for energizing said device over the start` circuit responsive to a momentary control applied to said 'switch by and at the will of traflic '1,973,691 spondingly connected with the push-buttons,

approaching the street, a locking means controlled responsive to the energization of said device to maintain said device energized independent of the start circuit, an electric timer switch including means for intermittently opening and closing said switch for predetermined periods, an electrical operating circuit for said signal adapted to be closed to cause the signal to assume a condition for halting the main street traic,

means jointly controlled by said operation of lthe electro-magnetic device and the timer and` responsive to only one occurrence of the next succeeding operation of the timer switch after said control is applied to the start circuit for closing said signal circuit to operate the signal to halt traflic along the street, and means for unlocking said device for effacing the said assumed condition of the signal at the termination of a predetermined period following said next succeeding operation of the timer switch.

4. In a street crossing signaling system, a signal having tralc directing means for traiiic along a street, a start circuit including a traflic controlled switch, an electro-magnetic device, meansfor energizing saiddevice over the start circuit responsive to a momentary control applied to said switch by and at the will or traiiic approaching the street, an electric timer switch including means for intermittently opening and closing said switch for predetermined periods, an electrical operating circuit for said signal adapted to be closed to cause the signal to assume a condition for halting the main street traiiic, means jointly controlled by said operation of the electro-magnetic device and the timer and responsive to only, one occurrence of the next succeeding operation of the timer switch after said control is applied to the start circuit for closing the signal circuit to operate the signall to halt the traflic along the street, and meansl for restoring the signal to said condition normally existing a predetermined period after assuming its said condition for halting the traflic, so that the trafilc will be halted only a predetermined time regardless of when the traffic effects said control.

h5. In a street crossing signaling system, a signal having tramo directing means for trailic along a street, a start circuit including a trafllc controlled switch, an electro-magnetic device, means for energizing said device over the start circuit responsive to a momentary control applied to said switch by and at the will of traillc approaching the street, an electric timer switch including means for intermittently opening and closing said switch for predetermined periods, an electrical- `operating circuit for said signal adapted to be closed to cause the signal to assume a condition for halting the main street trailic, means jointly controlled by said operation of the electro-magnetic device and the timer and responsive to only one occurrence of the next succeeding operation of the timer switch after said control is applied to the start circuit for closing the signal circuit to operate the signal for halting the main street trafic, and circuit connections ing said'operating circuit immediately effective when saidelectro-magnetic device is in operated condition and in advance of the next predetermined interval.-

6. In a street crossing signalingsystem, a signal having tralc directing means for trafllc along a street, a main start circuit including a traffic controlled switch, an electro-magnetic device, means for. energizing said device y'over the start circuit responsive to a momentary control ap-= plied to said switch by and at the will of traffic approaching the street, a locking means controlled responsive to the energization of said device to maintain said device energized independent of the start circuit, an electric timer switch including means for intermittently opening and closing said switch for predetermined periods, an electrical operating circuit for said signal adapted to be closed to cause the signal to assume a condition for halting the main street trame means jointly controlled by said operation of the electro-magnetic device and the timer and responsive to only one occurrence of the next succeeding operation ofthe timer switch after said control is applied to the start circuit for closing the signal circuit to operate the signal.

for halting the main street tramo, and circuit connections including a manual circuit controller for rendering said operating circuit immediately effective and in advance of the next predetermined interval.

7. Inl a street crossing signaling system, a signal having traffic directing means for traiic along a street, a start circuit including a trac controlled switch, an electro-magnetic device, means for energizing said device'responsive to control over said start circuit responsive to traffic approaching the street, a slow-acting means interposed in said start circuit for delaying the energization of the electro-magnetic device a predetermined time after thetraic has approached and maintained its approach, for said predetermined time, an electric timer switch including means for intermittently opening and closing said switch for predetermined periods, and an electrical circuit for said signal adapted to be closed to cause the signal to assume a condition for halting the street trame, and means jointly controlled by said operation of the electro-magnetic device and the timer and responsive to only the one occurrence of the next succeeding operation of the timer switch after said device has become energized for closing said signal circuit to operate the signal to halt the traffic along the street,

8. In a street crossing signaling system, a signal having traffic directing means for traiiic along to the energization of said device to maintain said device energized independent of the start circuit, an electric timer switch including means for intermittently opening and closing said switch for predetermined periods, an electrical circuit for said signal` adapted to be closed to cause the signal to assume a. condition for halting the street traftlc and means jointly controlled by said .operation of the electro-magnetic device and the timer and responsive to only one occurrence of the next succeeding operation of the timer switch after` said device has become energized for closing said signal circuit to operate the signal for halting the traflic along the street.

9.- In a traffic signal device, the combination with a signal adapted to be disposed at the intersection of two or more thoroughfares and having traic directing means thereon adapted to be displayed alternately to allow traine to proceed on one thoroughfare and restrain traiiic on lanother thoroughfare* of a traino-operated device for each of said thoroughfares, an electric timer switch common tothe trafiic operated devices including means for intermittently operating said switch for predetermined periods, means including relay controlled circuits actuated by said device but controlled by operation of s aidy section of two thoroughfares and having traic directing means thereon adapted to be displayed alternately to allow trafc to proceed on one thoroughfore and to restrain traffic on the other, of vehicle and pedestrian-operated devices forsetting the signal for'trafiic `to Vproceed on one thoroughfare and to restrain traic on the other, means for holding the signal setior a definite period of time after operation of said vehicle or pedestrian-operated devices in pne thoroughfare and vehicle and pedestrian-operated means on the other thoroughfare for setting the signal for traic to proceed on said last mentioned thor'- oughfare, as soon as said period of time is ended.

11. In a traino signal device for two intersecting thoroughfares, the combination with a signal adapted to be disposed at the intersection and having trac directing means thereon adapted to alternately give the right of way to one of said thoroughfares while restraining traffic on the other thoroughfare, a traiiic operated device for one thoroughfare, an electric timer switch common to` the traii'ic operated devices includingl means for intermittently operating -said switch for predetermined periods, means including a relay controlled circuit actuated by'said device but controlled by operation of said timer switch for setting said signal to give the right of way `to said thoroughfare and for holding Athe signal so set for a predetermined time, a traffic operated device in the other thoroughfare, and means including a relay controlled circuit having itsoperation initiated by the lactuation of the last named traflic operated device within the said predetermined time but controlled byoperation of said timer switch, to cause said signal to dis'- play the right of way to said other thoroughfare at the end of said predetermined time.

12. A trailic signal system including a plum rality of signals adapted to be 'disposed at the intersections of a main and cross thoroughfares, said signals being normally inert to. permit trafiic along the main thoroughfare, a timer mechanism common to said signals, a control circuit for each signal, a trailic operated device in each cross thoroughfare for the corresponding signal and control circuit, and means for operating the control circuits responding to operationlof the corresponding traflicbperated device to effect an operation of the corresponding signal responsive to the timer to halt the traffic on the main 60 alternately energizing and` deenergizing said cirprising la signal on a street, the signal having a stop indication and an eifaced condition of said indication, a start conductor, a traillc actuated device, means operated over the start conductor by operation of the traiiic actuated device for causing the signal to. display its stop" indication, an electric timer switch including means vfor intermittently opening and closing said switch for predetermined periodsfor causing the" stop indications to endurefor a predetermined time, and thereupon efface, a change circuit, a manually controlled switch, and means for operating the change circuit responsive to momentary closure of the manual switch a single time for effacing the stop indication in advance of said predetermined time, but permitting a subsequent said display of the stop indication after said predetermined time.

14. In a street crossing signal system for a periods, and means operative upon energization of said electro-magnetic devices and when saidv control circuit is operative for causing the respectivesignals to assume a condition for halting the street traffic predeterminately with respect to each other although the respective electro-magnetic devices are 'energized at random times.

15. In a signal system, a signal, a circuit path for said signal, a timer operating continuously to intermittently prepare said circuit path for operating the signal, a traiiic operated device, means operated by the traic device for causing the signal to subsequentlyoperate responsive to the prepared circuit path effective to operate the signal only at the one nextoperation of the timer and next prepared circuit although .the circuit path may be in prepared condition when the switch is operated.

16. I n a signaling system for a highway, electrical lamp signaling means mounted on the highway having traffic directing means with a condition permitting movement 4of traic along the highway and another conditionfor restraining movement along the highway, but permitting traiiic across the highway, electro-magnetic means including a circuit'normally disconnected from' said 'signal for operating said signal to change `from one condition to the other condition on closure of said circuitand back to its 4first condition on opening of said circuit, means for cuit at regular periods, and means'including a traffic operated switch actuated by traiiic approaching the street for connecting said signal to said circuitfor operation thereby upon energization thereof at the period next after the time of operation of said connecting means to restrain traic movement along the highway and permit approaching traic to cross the highway.

17. Ina signaling system for a highway, electric lamp signaling means mounted on the highway having traflic'directing means with a condition permitting movement of trame along the highway and another condition for Arestraining movement along the highway but permitting trame across the highway, lelectro-magnetic means including a circuit normally disconnected from said signal, for operating said signal to change from one condition to the other condition on closure of said circuit and back to its first condition on opening of vsaid circuit, means for alternately energizing and de-energizing said circuit at regular periods, and means including a trailic operated switch actuated by traiiic approachingk the street for connecting saidv signal to said circuit for operation thereby upon energization thereof a single time only at the period next after the time of operation of said connecting means to restrain traffic movement along the highway and permit approaching traffic to cross the highway.

18. In a street signaling system,"a lamp signal for stopping the traiiic on a; street, a traflic controlled device, relays and electrical connections between the relays and signal for causing the signal to operate to restrain the traffic along`the street and thereafter efface its operation to remove the restraint, responsive to operation of the traiic deviceby traflic approaching the street, to permit approaching traiic to cross the street, and an 'electrical timer device electrically connected with the relays for insuring that the sig'- nal will be disabled by said relays from reoperating to restrain traiiic along the street after its effacement within a mini1num predetermined time in order that the street traiiic will have a minimum predetermined timebetween operations of the signal in which it will be unrestrained although trailic has in the mean time approached the street.

19. In a street crossing signalingl system, a pair of signals for a point on a street, one signal operating for .imparting a specific restraint to traic along the street at the point, and the other coming on to the street, traffic controlled switches, an electric timer switch including means for intermittently opening and closing said switch for predetermined periods, a -relay controlled circuit for each signal, said circuits being alternately energized and de-energized by the timer without operating the signals, and4 means for rendering one of the relay controlled circuits operative responsive to traic approaching thel point on the street for operating one of the signals to cause it to assume a condition for restraining the flow of trailic along the street at the point but permitting tramo to pass on to the street.

20. In a traic signal device the combination with a signal adapted to be disposed at the intersection of two thoroughfares and having traillc directing means thereon adapted to be displayed alternately to allow traflic to proceed on one thoroughfare and to restrain traflic on the other, of vehicle and pedestrian operated devices for each thoroughfare, a timer periodically having one condition of operation and a second condition of operation, means operating responsive to operation of one of the devices for one thoroughfare and one condition of said timer, to set the signal for traiilc to proceed on s'aid one thoroughfare and toA restrain traic on the other for a predetermined period of time after operation of the last said devices, and means operated responsive to operation of one of the devices for the other thoroughfare and `the other condition of the timer,`

tive restrains traffic on one street and permits trailic to proceed on the other street,v means'normally inoperative, for rendering said signal means in position to be operative; a trac actuated device in one street, and means operated upon actuation of said device for making the normally inoperative means operative; a timer having successive periods of operation, a plurality of relays, means responsive to an operation of the timer to render said relays .in apredetermined condition, and means acting when said normally inoperative means is operative and the predetermined condition of said relays .has obtained for rendering said signal means operative.

22. In a tramo signal device for two intersectl ing thoroughfares, the combination with a signal adapted to be disposed at the intersection and having trac directing means thereon adapted to alternately give the right of way to one of said thoroughfares While restraining traflic on the other thoroughfare, an electric timer switch including means for intermittently operating the switch :for predetermined periods, interlocking relay circuits responsive to operations of the timer switch in the absence of traic for continuously automatically operating the relay circuits to oper.- ate the signals to alternately give the right of way to one of said thoroughfares while restraining trafiic on the other thoroughfare, manually controlled means for changing-the relay circuits to remove the automatic continuous operation of the/signals and effect a traine control of the signals, a traine operateddevice, and means for operating the changed relay circuits responsive to operation of the traiiic device and timer switch to operate the signal to restrain traiiic in one thoroughfare and permit passage of a vehicle in the intersecting thoroughfare Within a predetermined time after arrival of such vehicle, but only .for a predetermined period to permit passage of said vehicle. A

HERBERT FRIENDLY.