US2074443A - Self-actuated traffic signal system - Google Patents

Description

March 23, 1937. B M, w o 2,074,443

SELF AGTUATED TRAFFIC SIGNAL SYSTEM Filed Dec. 9, 1930 9 Sheets-Sheet 1 N R I G g G m 01 8 Am i L g Q m K 3 5 is a .l 1 3 "Q 5 LL a Q E i N March 23, 1937.

B. M, WALPOLE SELF ACTUATED TRAFFIC SIGNAL SYSTEM Filed D60. 9, 1930 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 March 23, 1937. B. M. WALPOLE SELF ACTUATED TRAFFIC SIGNAL SYSTEM Filed Dec. 9, 1950 9 Sheets-Sheet 3 March 23, 19307' B. M. WALPOLE SELF ACTUATED TRAFFIC SIGNAL SYSTEM Fiied Dec. 9, 1950 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 March 23, 1937, B. M. WALPOLE SELF AGTUATED TRAFFIC SIGNAL SYSTEM Filed Dec. 9, 1930 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 zam-I INVENQOR fi m Ma BY M ATTORNEY 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 QQQ M March 23, 1937.. B. M. WALPOLE SELF ACTUATED TRAFFIC SIGNAL SYSTEM Filed Dec. 9, 1950 ZMMAQE? March 23 1937, B. M. WALPOLE SELF ACTUATED TRAFFIC SIGNAL SYSTEM Filed Dec. 9, 1930 9 Sheets-Sheet 7 ZMMAQE March 23, 1937., B. M. WALPOLE SELF ACTUATED TRAFFIC SIGNAL SYSTEM Filed Dec. 9, 1930 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 Em t HTToPr/ey.

March 23, 1937. B. M. WALPOLE SELF ACTUATED TRAFFIC SIGNAL SYSTEM Filed Dec. 9, 1930 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 2 g a n w b, 1 638 4 Mfihw u Q #0 7 .4 I W Z 2 m w J w PM a o I gm a m e m 2 2 O- o w .2 '10 w 6 0 .8wm .1 Q a 5 5 we 6 e o u iiu WEE? E3 FE J6.

AT ORNEY N w W w P T S E R Patented Mar. 23, 1937 NlTED STATES PATENT 19 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in signalling devices and in fluid pressure actuating means therefor.

As the actuating means of my improved signalling device I employ a power means capable of actuating the signalling apparatus, a closed fluid conduit having a flexible actuatable portion and an actuating portion and connecting means actuated by said actuating portion to store up potential actuating energy in said power means on contact of an object on said flexible actuatable portion of said fluid conduit to become operable on release of said object contact to withdraw said connecting means from said power means to permit it to function to actuate the signalling device.

I have discovered that in employing a fluid conduit having a flexible actuatable portion like a hose that the sharp contact of an automobile or other vehicle thereover will transmit sufficient fluid pressure through said conduit to store up sufflcient potential energy in the power, means through the sharp rush of liquid or other fluid pressure through said conduit, and on release of said object from the flexible actuatable portion of said fluid conduit to permit said power means to function to' actuate other means.

In my preferred embodiment, I employ this principle to actuate a trams signalling device. The weight of the automobile sharply striking 0 the actuatable portion of the fluid conduit will cause potential energy to be quickly stored up in the power means and on the release of the sharp rush of fluid pressure through said conduit the power means will be permitted to function.

In my preferred embodiment of fluid pressure for said conduit, I preferably employ a liquid pressure and where a liquid pressure is employed, I preferably also employ an overflow and supply reservoir connected to said conduit to keep a constant amount of liquid in said closed conduit. Thus if I employ a plurality of flexible traiflc actuatable portions in said closed conduit as is desirable in street signalling systems and a trafiic direction indicating device actuated by liquid pressure in said conduit, it is apparent that with a depression of one flexible portion by traiflc the actuation of another flexible portion by traflic may permit said liquid pressure to actuate said 50 traffic direction indicating device. This is a decided advantage not inherent in any former type of signalling apparatus so far as I am aware, for in former devices if one vehicle is on one pad in one trafic lane, it will prevent another ve- 55 hicle approaching in the opposite direction in the (Cl. l77337) same trafic lane from actuating the corresponding opposite pad in the same lane to actuate the signal. Thus in my device if an automobile becomes stalled on the pad, the rest of the device can go-right ahead and function whether it is stalled or not after the short period of time necessary to actuate the apparatus caused by the stoppage of the vehicle on said flexible actuatable portion.

If desired, my improved apparatus heretofore described may be used to actuate any kind of a signalling device whether it be a semaphore or lights controlled by the desired electrical circuit. If desired, it may be of the so-called reverting type particularly adapted for use in cross roads, where a vehicle approaching at one cross road will bar traffic in the main highway for a predetermined time and then reopen it. This construction is employed where there is a main artery of tramc and a cross road seldom used,

and only necessitates the use of two flexible actuating portions on the cross road only.

In most instances, however, trafic on the approaching lane is more or less equal to that on the opposite lane and it is for this particular type of traffic my invention particularly relates insofar as the signalling system itself is concerned. For this purpose, I provide two or more actuating pads on each lane on opposite sides of the intersection, thus broadly, right of way indicating means for said lanes, a traflic actuatable control in one lane adapted on actuation thereof to move the indicating means to. bar traffic in the other lane, a non-cyclic performance, and a traflic actuatable controller in the other lane adapted in actuation thereof to move the indicating means to bar traffic in said first lane and it is to this typeof apparatus that the broad improvements of my invention specifically relate. I specifically provide I believe for the first time means effective on the actuation of one controller to prevent reactuation thereof until the opposite controller has been actuated, thus leaving the highway on which the controller has been actuated free for continuous passage of traffic until a vehicle on the other highway actuates the signalling device to close said traffic. I also believe I am the first to provide in a trafic sig= nalling device of this description, means to store up actuating energy in one controller While the other controller is actuating, to permit said controller to actuate the right of way indicating means after the other controller has completed its action. This, therefore, provides a traffic signalling device which while still acting to open up trafic in one lane, may after a vehicle approaching in the opposite lane has passed over its pad or actuating portion of the fluid conduit, store up suihcient energy to open up the traffic in said lane after the traffic has passed through said other lane.

A further feature of my invention relates to the following combination for use in interfering trafiic lanes; right of way indicating means in said lanes, a traffic actuatable controller in one or both of said lanes, time controlled means actuated thereby to actuate said indicating means to bar traffic in the opposite lane for a predetermined time and in combination therewith supplemental time controlled means effective on successive actuation of said controller to stop the actuation of said time controlled means during its operation for supplemental time controlled periods up to an adjustable maximum period. This provides a very desirabletype of construction, for in case there is a flow of trafiic through one lane this supplemental time controlled means will be efiective on successive actuation of the controller in said lane to keep that lane open from a minimum predetermined time up to an adjustable maximum period by cutting out for a corresponding time controlled period, the functioning of the primary time controlled means. I, however, provide an adjustable maximum period so as not to bar trafiic in the opposite lane as it approaches beyond a reasonable time.

This type of device may be used for either type of a signalling device, namely, with a reverting device such as is hitherto described or with the preferred embodiment of my invention hitherto described in which there are actuating pads in each lane. In the reverting type of device the supplemental time controlled means will function to cut out the functioning of the primary controlled means just prior to its opening up traffic in the main line so as to prevent passage through the cross road for a predetermined adjustable length of time and when this has reached the desired maximum, the reverting primary time controlled means will automatically function to open up trafiic in the main highway.

Where employed in the preferred type of my invention, however, where there are actuating pads in each lane, the supplemental time controlled means cooperates with said first time controlled means on successive actuation of said controller to extend the predetermined period in which said lane is open from a minimum up to an adjustable maximum and then permits after the termination of the adjustable maximum period, the passage of traffic through the other lane. The controller in said other lane is also preferably equipped with said supplemental time controlled means to keep said other lane open from a minimum up to an adjustable maximum period for the same purpose until traffic in the opposite lane again opens it up.

Further objects of my invention relate to the specific mechanisms I employ for the purposes heretofore described and relate to the specific construction and timing of these various elements to accomplish the results desired.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device which is relatively foolproof, which can be used at all times of the year, which is easy to operate, and which where a semaphore is employed is'entirely independent of any outside electrical or other circuits or energy and which is entirely a self-acting, self-contained unit employing for its own use. only the force of gravitation and no other type of power means than the energy furnished by the passing vehicles to start its primary actuation and its secondary reactuation where employed for longer time controlled periods.

Further features of my invention relate to the specific construction of various component parts of my invention, it being observed that the specific construction of a so-called reverting type of device is generally similar to the non-cyclic, the non-cyclic consisting of a duplication of certain parts of the reverting apparatus and the construction of the supplemental time controlled means except for the means for adjusting the time controlled feature thereof is generally similar to the specific construction of either type of primary time controlled actuating means, thus providing a structure which may be readily made at small cost as each part is substantially a duplicate of others.

These and such other objects of my invention as may hereinafter appear are best understood from a description of the accompanying drawings which illustrate various embodiments thereof.

In the drawings, Fig. l is a perspective View partially shown in section of two intersecting streets on which have been attached the noncyclic or preferred embodiment of my invention with my preferred type of right of way indicating means employing a visual semaphore and illuminated stop and go lights.

Fig. 2 is a'diagrammatic plan view of such a crossing having the reverting embodiment of my invention attached thereto on the cross roads.

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic side elevation of the embodiment of my invention shown partly in section and partly in elevation showing the flexible actuatable portion of my improved closed conduit about to be passed over by a vehicle to actuate the apparatus, showing various parts of my invention in full lines in inoperative position and in dotted lines in a maximum operating position.

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic side. elevation partially shown in section of the details of the semaphore features of my improved apparatus.

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the parts shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the cam and means I preferably employ to actuate the semaphore feature of my invention.

Fig. '7 is a diagrammatic side elevation illustrating the wiring of my improved electric circuit showing the cams and contacts I employ when actuating said semaphore and said electrical circuit.

Fig. 8 is a plan view of thc apparatus shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 9 is a side elevation of the preferred improved type of non-cyclic signalling means I preferably employ with the type of supplemental time controlled means I employ therewith shown mounted on the same frame above said primary non-cyclic means.

Fig. 10 is a detailed side elevation of the noncyclic embodiment of the primary time controlled means of my invention.

Fig. 11 is a detailed side elevation of the specific supplemental time controlled means I employ with this embodiment.

Fig. 12 is an end elevation of the specific type of means I employ in Fig. 10 effective on the actuation of one controller to prevent reactuation thereof until the opposite controller has been actuated.

Fig. 13 is a plan view of the apparatus shown in Fig. and Fig. 14 is a plan view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 11.

Fig. 15 is a side elevation of the cyclic embodiment of my invention shown in Fig. 3 with a supplemental time controlled means preferably employed therewith.

Figure 16 is a view illustrating projections of the circular commutator contacts.

In the drawings, wherein like characters of reference indicate like parts throughout, 2B and 22 indicate two intersecting streets, intersecting as at 24. In Fig. 2 said streets comprise the main highway 293' and the cross road 22'.

In all the figures plain reference characters refer generically to similar parts in different units but-where the reference characters are given subscripts of a or b or are primed, they refer to a particular street or unit.

As stated, my invention includes not only improvements in signalling systems but improvements in fluid pressure actuating. means therefor. I believe I have provided a novel type of fluid actuating means which may be used preferably in connection with a signalling system for signalling traffic at cross roads and which may if desired be employed for other purposes. In my preferred traffic signalling system, I employ right of way indicating means 26 for said lanes 2@ and 22. Said means may include both a semaphore 28 and an electric lighting circuit 30 and may include a central silent policeman shown at the center of said intersecting streets or may consist if desired of separate signals at each corner as is well known in the art today.

As stated hitherto, my improved traflic signalling device may consist of a so-called reverting type of traflic signalling device known in the art which is particularly adapted for use as shown in Fig. 2 where there is a main highway 2t intersected by a cross road 22. In such a case I employ a tramc actuatable controller in one of said lanes preferably two controllers in the cross road one on each side of the intersection 241 and time controlled means actuated thereby to actuate the indicating means to bar traffic in the opposite lane for a predetermined time. Where the reverting embodiment of my invention is employed said time controlled means also functions after barring traffic for a predetermined time in the main highway 2E to again open up the main highway 20' for the passage of the usual traific therethrough.

In the preferred embodiment of my invention, however, as illustrated in Figures 9 and 10 and also shown in Fig. l, traihc actuatable controllers including also time controlled means may function to close one lane such as the lane 22 on actuation thereof by traflic in the other lane 26 and then on actuation thereof by traflic in said lane 22 to move the indicating means to bar traffic in said other lane 20 and it is to this specific non-cyclic type of signalling device which is particularly adapted for use in crowded city streets or any place where the traffic in each lane is substantially equal to which my invention particularly relates. This type of structure is also particularly desirable where the tr aiiic on one street varies at different times of the day relative totrafiic in the other street.

As stated; I preferably also employ supplemental time controlled means 32 effective on successive actuation of a controller to stop the actuation of said primary time controlled means 34 during its operation for supplemental time controlled periods up to an adjustable predetermined maximum.

The basic features of the specific type of apparatus and specific type of fluid pressure actuated control therefor I preferably 'employ are generically common to all embodiments whether it be the reverting embodiment shown in Fig. 3 or the non-cyclic embodiment shown in Fig. 10 or the specific details of the supplemental time controlled means shown in Fig. 11. Each of these primary time controlled means 34 and secondary time controlled means 32 includes in com,- bination a movable member 48, power means 33 to actuate said movable member in one direction through the member 36 a closed fluid conduit 40 having a flexible actuatable portion or pad 42 and an actuating portion specifically an upwardly forced diaphragm M actuated on increase of fluid pressure in said conduit due to the compression of the flexible actuatable portion 42 and connecting means 36 actuated by said actuating portion 44 to store up potential actuating energy in said power means 38 on contact of an object on said flexible actuatable portion 32 of said fluid conduit and operable on release of said object contact to withdraw said connecting means 46 from said power means 38 to permit it to function to move said movable member 36. In each of my embodiments shown the movable member 36 indirectly actuates the signalling mechanism in a manner to be hereinafter described.

In each of my embodiments shown, the flexible actuating portion 02 of the fluid conduit comprises the pads 412 located in the intersecting streets specifically as shown in Fig. 1 the pads M and 32 located on opposite sides of the intersection 2A in the street 22 and the pads 22 and 62 located in the street 23 where the non-cyclic em bodiment of my invention is employed. Where the reverting embodiment of my invention is employed as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3 the pads N and 62 are omitted in the main highway 2|].

Each of the primary-and secondary time controlled means Stl and 32 includes a movable member 38, in my preferred embodiment a main gear 68 is rigidly secured to the shaft 50, a second movable member capable of reverse movements such as the pulley 36 in the embodiment shown in Fig. 3 or the pulleysv 36 and 36' shown in Fig. 13 or the pulley 36' shown in Fig. 11 of the secondary time-controlled apparatus. I employ means connecting said movable members 36 and gear 48 to move together in one direction only. In all of the embodiments shown said means comprises the ratchet 52 fast to the shaft and the pawl 5 .3 pivotally mounted on the side wall of the pulley 1-36 loosely mounted on said shaft 50 to actuate said ratchet to rotate said gear 418 when said pulley 36 is moved in one direction.

I also preferably employ any suitable type of means attached to said second movable member 18 to make it move at uniform speed so that it may move over a predetermined time controlled interval. In my preferred embodiment I employ for this purpose a resisting fan 58 including suitable blades in mesh with said gear 43 although any other type of means for this purpose may be employed. I also employ power means 38 to impart motion in one direction only to said second movable member 36. As shown in my different embodiments any suitable type of power means may be employed, such as the spring 38 as shown in Fig. 11 or the weights 38 shown in Figs. 3 and Hi suitably flexibly connected to the pulley 36 by means of a flexible cord 60.

In the preferred construction of my invention, I employ means to store up potential energy in said movable member 36 against the action of said power means 88. Said means includes the closed fluid conduit 66 having a flexible actuatable portion 62 and the actuating portion or diaphragm 38 and connecting means actuated by said actuating portion 44 to store up potential actuating energy in said power means on contact of an object on said flexible actuatable portion 32 of said fluid conduit 60 and operable on release of said object contact to withdraw pressure from said power means 38 to permit it to function to move said movable member or pulley 36.

In my preferred embodiment said connecting means is preferably constructed as follows: I employ an upper lever 62 pivotally mounted as at 68 on the frame '66. I also employ means such as a spring 68 connecting said lever 62 and frame 66 to normally urge said lever to lowered position. I provide a lower lever 10 also pivotally mounted on said frame 66 as at 72 and I provide a link it connecting upper lever '62 and lower lever 18 having a lost motion connection 16 to permit said upper lever to raise said lower lever and to move to lowered position regardless of the position of said lower lever Hi. I also provide an arm 18 connecting said lower lever 18 to said pulley 36 to rotate said pulley 36 against the action of said power means 38 on raising of said upper lever 62 to store up potential energy in said power means 38.

I also provide latch means for said upper lever controlled by the position of said pulley to latch said upper lever in lower position against further actuation by said fluid conduit and releasable by said pulley 36 for a further actuation when said power means 38 has returned said pulley 36 to its initial normal position. In my preferred embodiment said latch is preferably constructed as said frame 66 as at 82.

The latch 80 is pivotally mounted on Said latch 80 has the upwardly projecting latch arm 86 having a notch 86 therein adapted to overlap the end of the upper lever 62. I also provide means such as a spring 81 attached to said frame 66 and latch 88 to normally raise said latch notch 86 to a position over the end of said lever 62. Said latch 80 is also provided with the outwardly projecting work arm 88 adapted to be abutted by the pin 90 projecting laterally from the side wall of the pulley 36. Fig. 3 illustrates the operation of said latch means, as said pulley 36 is raised so that the pin 98 is free of the work arm 88 of said lever, the spring 8! will automatically operate to pull the notch 86 of the latch 80 over around said lever 62 to retain it in lowered position so that repeated actuation of the flexible actuating portion 42 of the closed fluid conduit 60 will not be operative to raise said upper lever 62 to reactuate said apparatus. As the pulley 36 is returned to follows.

.' its normal initial position by means of the power means 38, it is obvious that the pin 90 will strike the work arm 88 to lower the notch 86 away from said upper lever 62 to permit it to be raised up on another actuation of the actuating portion 42 of said fluid conduit. This may take place after the pulley 38 has fully or partially returned to its normal position. In the reverting embodiment shown in Fig. 3, this takes place when the lower lever 10 has only partially returned to its lower position to permit a reactuation of the device to acre-Ase prevent any vehicle from becoming stuck in the dead space between the pad and the intersection.

The operation of the features of my invention heretofore described is common to the embodiments shown in Figures 3, 9, 10 and 11. When a passing vehicle actuates the pad 62, it causes the actuating portion or diaphragm i of said closed conduit 40 to throw the upper lever 62 upwards against the pressure of the spring 68. The link 16 will then raise the lower lever ill to the upper position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3 simultaneously raising the arm l8 and throwing the second movable member or pulley 36 from the position shown in full lines to the position shown in dotted line in Fig. 3 against the pressure of said power means 38, the pawl 54 during this operation merely sliding over the teeth on the ratchet 52. Due to the lost motion connection 16 and the pressure of the spring 68, the upper lever 62 will be immediately returned to its lower position and the spring 81 will. force the latch means 80 to retain said upper lever 62 in lowered position until later released by said latch means 88 in the manner heretofore described. It is then obvious that repeated actuation of the flexible portion c2 of the fluid conduit will not raise the upper lever 62, so that the rest of the apparatus will continue to function in its usual manner. When the lower lever 18 and arm '12 are raised to their maximum position it is obvious that the pulley 36 will be moved forward to its maximum operative position and that the pressure caused by the upward movement of the lever 62 caused by fluid pressure in the conduit 66 will be released and the pulley will be temporarily free. The power means, however, will then function to immediately act on the pulley to move it back to its original position and the pawl 56 engaging in the teeth 52 will then automatically revolve the gear 68 forward, the fan 58 acting as a brake on the power means 38 and gear 38 to cause it to move at a substantially uniform speed forward. The power means 38 will continue to revolve the pulley 36 to its initial position and the pin 90 abutting the arm 88 of the latch 88 will function to release the notch 86 from over the upper lever 62 in the manner heretofore explained to release said upper lever for reactuation as said pulley 36 nears its initial position.

Such features and operation of my invention means shown in Fig. 11 and form in themselves a desirable subcombination for any use.

In the reverting embodiment shown in Fig. 3, due to the specific gearing employed the gear 68 will function to open up trafiic in the cross road 22 and to return it to the main road after a pad has been actuated in the cross road. In the non-cyclic embodiment shown in Fig. 10 the device will function merely to bar the traffic in the opposite road from that in which the controller has been actuated and the typeof control affected depends merely upon the choice of gearing employed.

Whether the reverting embodiment shown in Fig. 3 or the non-cyclic embodiment shown in Fig. 10 be employed, the inherent parts of the signalling circuit and/or semaphore I preferably employ are substantially the same. The gear 68 in either embodiment drives the gear 92 fast to the shaft 94. The desired circular contacts 96, each of which include live portions 98 and intacts 96 and 96 are so spaced as not to overlap each other but to leave oversupply insulated portions to enable a function of the yellow lights by 15 the action of the contact 96 intermediate each reversal thereof and the insulated portions I of the contact 96 are substantially opposite the live portions 98 of the contact 96 on the shaft.

In the reverting embodiment of my invention 20 upon an actuation of lever I0 the gear 48 is stored with energy from the weight 38 to close the commutator 96 to complete one revolution. While the drum 36 moves from actuated to rest position the result is that the green go light will switch from the main highway '20 to the cross-road 22 and go back again to the main highway 20 a predetermined time after the vehicle has passed.

In the preferred embodiment of my invention shown in Fig. 10, where each individual pad merely functions to bar traffic in the opposite lane, it is obvious that the contacts are so spaced or the movement of the gear so controlled as to not reopen traflic in the main highway again after it has been opened up in the cross road and this matter of making the device cyclic or nonreverting is merely a matter of choice and can be accomplished by the changing of the gear 92 or the amount that the main gear 48 is moved on each actuation by the traflic controllers 42. It is obvious that the circuit hitherto described connecting the various lights to the various circular contacts are controlled by the contact arms H2 suitably urged against the circular contacts 96 45 by the springs II4.

Where a semaphore is employed as shown in Figs. 3-7, I employ the semaphore cam I I6. The semaphore 28 is adapted to be actuated by an oscillating movement. For this purpose the 50 semaphore 28 may be mounted inside the silent policeman 26 to normally show go on street 20 andstop on street 22 and to show alternately go and stop signals thereon. The pawl I I8 is normally urged against the surface of said 55 semaphore cam II6 by the spring I20 and said pawl H6 is so connected with the semaphore 28 as shown in the drawings that as said pawl I I8 is raised in the high and low substantially semicircular portions of said cam I I6 that said semaoo phore will be oscillated back and forth between the two streets 20 and 22, in the reverting embodiment, the semaphore being returned to the go position on the main street 20.

As stated, the various pads 42 form part of 65 the closed fluid conduit system namely, the flexible traflic actuated portion thereof. I provide means to actuate other mechanism actuated by the fluid pressure in said conduit on contact of traflic with said flexible portion and by using 70 fluid pressure, it is obvious that any flexible traflic portion may function to actuate said other mechanism, namely, the signalling apparatusshown despite the depression of another portion by traffic. This feature is very desirable in case 75 an automobile gets stalled or a child happens to stand on one of the actuating pads. In the preferred type of liquid actuating pressure I preferably employ to insure this feature, I preferably provide an overflow and supply reservoir I22 to which liquid from said fluid conduit may suitably overflow or be supplied through the orifices I24 therein. It is thus obvious that if there is pressure on one pad the fluid may leak out from the fluid orifices I24 to raise the liquid level I26 in said reservoir I22 leaving the amount of liquid in the closed conduit for actuating purposes by another pad or controller 42 just the same as formerly and it is obvious that when pressure is removed from said'pad that liquid may again flow from the reservoir I22 into the closed conduit 40 keeping a constant supply of liquid therein for actuating the signalling device or other mechanism.

' actuating liquid but I preferably employ water and. if desired to provide a non-freezing solution in the winter-time, denatured alcohol may be added. It is apparent, however, that other types of liqids or fluids may be used such as glycerine, oil, etc,

So much of my apparatus heretofofedescribed namely the vehicle actuated controller iscommon to a cyclic or non-reverting and to the reverting and the secondary time controlled features of my invention. The apparatus shown in Fig. 3, and which has already been described, is sufiicient, per se, for the reverting system. The pads are provided only in cross street 22' (Fig. 2) and the signal controlling mechanism 92 or H6 and associated parts arranged to normally display the go signal to the main highway 20'. A vehicle operating a pad in the cross street actuates the mechanism of Fig. 3 in the manner described to bar traflic in the main street and give the go signal to the cross street for a predetermined time.

As stated hitherto, particularly where there is a large amount of substantial equal or varying tramc in the different roads 20 and 22, it is desirable to provide controllers 42 in both the main highway 20 such as 42 and 42 and in the cross road 22 such as 42 and 42 to move the indicating means to bar traffic in said opposite respective lanes 20 and 22. For this purpose I thus as shown in Fig. 1 provide the pads-42 and 42 on each side of the cross road 22 and the pads 42 and 42 on each side of the main highway 20 and I provide separate time controlled mechanism for said respective pads and controllers on the roads 20 and 22 respectively actuated and it is to this specific embodiment of my invention that my invention specifically relates. I provide in combination with said controllers in each highway to bar traffic in the opposite lanes, means effective on the actuation of one controller in one highway to prevent the reactuation thereof until the opposite controller in the opposite highway has been actuated. This therefore keeps the highway which has just been freed clear for the continuance of the passage of traffic thereover until traflic coming down the opposite highway functions to open up traflic in that highway. This results in the saving of much wear on the apparatus and also where the specific type of continuously revolving right of way indicating means for said lanes is employed adapted on each actuation thereof to transfer traific right of way into said lane, to keep the traffic open in said lane until the opposite controller has been actuated. I also provide specifically in this combination means to store up actuating energy in one controller or in its respective time controlled portion while the other controller or respective time controlled means is actuating to permit said controller to actuate the right of way indicating means after the other controller has completed its action. This means of storing up energy in itself to cause an actual transfer of the right of way indicating means by the passage of cars passing over said controller alone, I believe is novel in non-cyclic signalling devices of this description.

I will now describe the specific embodiment of my invention shown in Fig. 10 which is preferably so constructed as to have these two novel features heretofore described. The device shown inFig. 10 employs a duplication of most of the elements shown in the device shown in Fig. 3. The common elements include the frame 66, the shaft 50 mounted transversely of said frame, the main gear 48 rigidly mounted on said shaft adapted to have intermittent substantially equal forward movement, the resistance fan 58 in mesh with said gear 48 and the signalling device actuated by said gear on each respective forward movement thereof. However, as in this device we have a supplemental set of pads 42 and 42 or. controllers located in the main highway 20 it is necessary to provide substantially duplicate parts of the time controlled mechanism adapted to be actuated alternately by said respective controllers 42 and 42 in the cross road 22 and the controllers 42 and 42 in the cross road 20. The actuators for said main gear 48 independently controlled by traific near the intersecting streets 20 and 22 include the controllers 42 and 42 in the cross road 22 and the controllers 42 and 42 in the main highway 20. I provide the two ratchets 52 and 52 mounted on each end of said shaft 50, the two pulleys 36 and 36 adapted to be actuated by the independent controllers 42 and 42 and loosely mounted on each side of said shaft, the two pawls 54 and 54 each respectively mounted on the side walls of each pulley 36 and 36 to actuate said respective ratchets 52 and 52 when their respective pulleys 36 and 36 are moved in one direction, respective duplicate power means 38 and 38 to actuate their pulleys 36 and 36 in said direction, two upper levers 62 and 62 and springs I58 and 68 to urge each respective lever to lowered rTosition, two lower levers 10 and 10' also pivotally mounted on said frame, two. links I4 and 14 connecting said upper levers 62 and 62 and lower levers Ill and 10 each respectively having a lost motion connection Hi and 16 to permit said upper levers 62 and 62 to raise theirlower levers 10 and 70 and to move to lowered positionregardless of the position of said respective lower levers II! and-J09,

two arms I8 and 18 respectively connecting said lower levers 10 and 10 and pulleys 36 and 36 to rotate the respective pulleys against the action of the respective power means 38 and 38 on raising of said upper lever (i2 or 66 to store up potential energy in said respective power means 38 or 38, two closed fluid conduits 40 and 40 of the manner hitherto described leading respectively tothe controllers 42 and 42 and respective latch means and 80 for the respective upper levers 62 and 62.

As such features as just described are common in the embodiments shown in Fig. 3 and Fig. 10, only duplicate sets of the respective actuating means are provided for each respective controller 42 or 42' to respectively rotate the main gear 48 in desired amounts to switch the traffic from the road 20 to the road 22 on actuation of the respective controller 42 or 42 to respectively rotate the main gear 48 in desired amounts to switch the traffic from the road 20 to the road 22 on actuation of the respective controller 42 or 42 in the opposite highway and in this device the main gear is moved forward a certain amount and the contacts 96 and 96 are so spaced as to only permit a non-cyclic switching of the signals from one road to the other.

As stated hitherto, however, I provide in combination with the improved double type of noncyclic signalling device I preferably employ, means effective on the actuation of one controller to prevent the reactuation thereof to keep trafiic in said lane open until the opposite controller has been actuated. In the preferred embodiment, (Fig. 12) shown said means comprises a spring actuated cross shaped lever I30 pivotally mounted on said frame 66 so as to have the lower depending end I32 thereof pivot first over the upper lever I52 and then up over the upper lever 62*. The lower projecting end I32 of said lever is centrally notched as at I 34 for a purpose to be described. The spring I35 is connected to the frame 66 and to the upper projecting end I36 of said cross shaped lever to tend to prevent its pivoting. Said lever I 32 is also provided with the sidewardly projecting cross arms I38 and I38 The operation of this device is as follows: In the position shown in Fig. 12 the controller pad 42* has just functioned to lift up the lever 62 to close traific in the side road 22. When a vehicle passes over a controller 42 in said side road 22 it is obvious that it will raise up the upper lever 62 until it abuts the cross arm I38 of said crossed shaped lever, thereby causing the downwardly projecting arm I 32 to slide off of the opposite upper lever 62 and the upper projecting portion I36 to pass over the center and the downwardly projecting portion I32 to pass over the lever 62 which has already by this time been lowered to its lower position. The spring I35 will then function to retain the downwardly projecting portion I32 over the arm 62 so that any number of reactuations of the controller 42 will not permit the upper respective lever 62 to be raised but the leverGZ will be free to be raised on depression by another vehicle of the controller 42* on the highway 20.

The means I provide to store up actuating energy in one controller 42 while the other controller is actuating, to permit the first controller 42 or vice versa to actuate the right of way indicating means 26 after the other controller has completed its action will now be explained. I provide circular locking plates I40 and I40 attached to each respective pulley 36 and 36 having single respective notches I42 and I42 in the peripheries thereof. I provide cams I44 and I44 rigidly mounted on the shaft 50 each having alternatelyraised and lowered arcs I 46 and I46 and I48 and I48 respectively, each raised and lowered arc being approximately the distance of the pulley movement and the raised arcs I 46 and I48 respectively on the cam I44, being mounted on said shaft 50 so as to be complemental to the lowered arcs I 48 on said opposite'cam I44. I provide pawl means I50 and I50 normally urged towards said cams I44 and I44 by the springs I52 and I52 each having an arm I54 and I54 respectively adapted to contact the lowered arcs I46 and I48 of said cams I44 and I44 respectively to permit the pawl 5 proper portion I50 and I50 thereof to engage saidrespective notches I42 and I42 insaid locking plates I40 and I IIl to retain the respective pulley in raised position to store up actuating energy therein while said main gear 48 is being actuated by the opposite actuator and operative at the release of the movement of said opposite actuator to release its respective pulley 36 or 36 for its supplemental action of said gear 48. It is thus apparent that while the opposite side of said actuating device is being actuated to bar trafiic on the opposite street for a predetermined length of time that a vehicle passing over an actuator on the opposite street may store up energy on its respective side to actuate the device to change the signal to open up traffic in said street while the other actuator is still actuating, the cams I44 and I44 being arranged in the alternate manner heretofore described for this purpose.

It is apparent that when the projecting portion I54 is raised up on to the raised portions I46 of said cam that it will free the pawl I32 from its respective notch I34 to then permit its respec tive power means to actuate the gear 48 to open up traffic in its respective lane.

A further feature of my invention relates to supplemental timepcontrolled means effective on successive actuation of a controller to stop the actuation of said primary time controlled means 34 at a period of its cycle for supplemental time 35 controlled periods up to an adjustable maximum 'namely, the adjustable period of functioning of the supplemental time controlled means 32. As also stated hitherto in my preferred embodiment, the inherent parts of the supplemental time con- 40 trolled means are respectively similar to the inherent parts of the primary time controlled ,means, the respective parts being designated by reference characters in Fig. 11 with prime numerals as heretofore described in unprimed time controlled means. The supplemental time controlled means may be used as shown in Fig. 9 in association with the non-cyclic signalling device operated by controllers in each of the high-ways or as shown in Fig. 15 in association with the cyclic type of controller shown in Fig. 3, which includes supplemental time controlled means and may be specifically modified for this purpose. Said supplemental time controlled means preferably functions in combination with the primary 55 time controlled means to cut out the functioning of the primary time controlled means and functions itself for a period of time which may be extended by the successive actuation of said controlled means to extend said period of cutting 60 out the functioning of the primary time controlled means up to an adjustable maximum. In the improved combination in which this device is employed I provide the usual right of way indicating means 26 in the intersection, a traffic actuating controller 42 in, one of the lanes, primary time controlled means 34 actuated thereby to actuate said indicating means 26 to bar trailic in said opposite lane for a predetermined time and supplemental time controlled means effective on the successive actuations of said controller to stop the actuation of said time controlled means at a period of its cycle for supplemental time controlled periods up to an adjustable maximum period.

Said supplemental time controlled means is substantially similar in construction except for the adjustable time controlled feature, to the primary time controlled actuating means 34 shown in Figs. 3 and 10 and includes the frame 66, a shaft 56 mounted transversely of said frame 66, a main gear 48' rigidly mounted on said shaft 50', a ratchet 52 rigidly mounted on said shaft 50', a resistance fan 58' in mesh with said gear 48, a pulley 36' loosely mounted on said shaft 50, a pawl 54 mounted on the side wall of said pulley 36 to actuate said ratchet when said pulley is moved in one direction, power means 38 to actuate said pulley in said direction, an upper lever 62 pivotally mounted on said frame 66', means 68 to normally urge said lever to lowered position, the lower lever I6, also pivotally mounted on said frame, the link I4 connecting said levers 62 and I6 having the lost motion connection I6 to permit said upper lever to raise said lower lever and to move to lowered position regardless of the position of said lower lever, an arm I8 connecting said lower lever 16' to said pulley 36' to rotate said pulley 36' against the action of said power means 38 on raising the said upward lever 62' to store up potential energy in said power means 38, the usual closed fluid conduit 40' and latch means 80' for said upper lever 62 heretofore described. The closed conduit 40- is attached to the closed conduit 40 .as shown in Figures 9 and 15 and thus when the upper lever 62 of the primary time controlled means is locked the upper lever 62' of the supplemental time controlled means may be actuated on each actuation of the pad or flexible portion 42.

The gear 48, however does not actuate of itself the signalling device, but the position of the lower lever I0 controls a locking device for cutting out the functioning of the primary time controlled device 34 on the motor means. In order that the time of functioning of the secondary time controlled means 32. be adjustably varied, I specifically provide the following apparatus for this purpose. I provide a ratchet I56 pivotally mounted on said upper frame 66' having a permanent stop I58 and an adjustable stop I60, said adjustable stop being adjustable in holes I62 spaced apart substantially the distance of the ratchet teeth. I provide means such as the spring I64 to urge the permanent stop of said ratchet against a portion of said frame 66'. I provide an actuating pawl I66 for said ratchet I56 pivotally mounted so as to depend at I68 from said upper lever 62 and normally urged by the medium of the spring I10 against said ratchet I56 when said upper lever is successively raised to upward position by successive actuation of said controller 42 and adapted to rotate said ratchet I56 one tooth when said upper lever 62' is raised to its upper position and provided with the lateral projection I12 adapted to abut the pin I14 on said frame to release said actuating pawl I66 from said ratchet I56 after said lever is moved to lowered position. I also provide a releasing and retaining pawl for said ratchet, namely the pawl I'I8 pivotally mounted as at I80 on said frame and normally urged by the spring I82 to engage said ratchet I56 and having an arm I84 projecting upwardly therefrom adapted to be abutted by said lower lever 10 in lowered position to release said ratchet, said releasing pawl being adapted to engage successive teeth of said ratchet to increase the time controlled period up to a maximum limited by the position of said adjustable stop I60 so said actuating pawl will become engaged with a tooth on the ratchet I56, thereby no longer permitting the upper lever 82' to be raised to successively raise the lower lever it and it is obvious that when the lower lever Ill is lowered to its lowermost position the arm i336 will force the releasing and retaining pawl away from the ratchet teeth I56 so that the spring it will pivot the ratchet to zero position and thereby free the device.

When the supplemental time controlled means 32 is employed in the reverting embodiment as shown in Fig. 15, it is obvious that only one of them will be required. When, however, my improved supplemental time controlled means is employed in the embodiment shown in Figs. 9

f and 10 it is obvious that parts of two will be needed, namely, individual parts for each respective actuating portion 33 of the primary controlled means adapted to be independently actuated by the pads 42 and 42 In either case, however, the following locking means and releasing means is similar.

I provide means effective on actuation of said supplemental time controlled means 32 when said primary time controlled means 34 has been locked to stop the actuation of said primary time controlled means during the actuation of said supplemental time controlled means. While any suitable means may be provided for this purpose, I preferably provide the link I86 projecting downwardly from the lower lever III of the supplemental time controlled means 32 preferably with the lost motion connection I88 at its lower end. Said lost motion connection functions on raising up of said lower lever 70 to permit the spring I90 7 to urge the pawl I92 into a tooth of the main gear 48 to cut out the functioning of the primary time controlled means 34 when said lower lever III is raised to an upward position. When the lower lever Ill sinks to its lowermost position, it is obvious that the link I86 will force the pawl I92 out of contact with the teeth on the gear 68 to free the primary time controlled means 34 for further action. v

In order to permit the functioning of the secondary time controlled means 34, I provide means actuated by said primary time controlled means to release said supplemental time controlled means 32 to be successively actuated by said controller at a time substantially near the end of the operation of said primary time controlled means. For this purpose said means comprises a pin or set of pins I94 projecting laterally from said gear 48 adapted to abut an arm I96 normally urged downwardly by the spring I98 to release through a suitable system of linkage 200 a latch 202 which functions to lock the upper lever 62 of the supplemental time controlled means 32 in lowered position. The secondary time controlled means is preferably so timed that it may be reactuated by a second impulse substantially half way to lowered position of the pulley 36' and the lower lever 10 and it is thus apparent that such successive actuation of the secondary time controlled mechanism may take place in the manner heretofore described up to a predetermined maximum limited by means of the adjustable stop I60 in said adjusting ratchet I56. Where my improved nnn-cyclic apparatus is employed, it is apparent that there will have to be a suitable duplication of certain features of the supplemental time control thereof, namely, duplicate secondary pressure connections 40 and 4G and actuated portions M and M thereof, duplicate upper levers 62 and 62 links W and N and duplicate latches 202 and 202 respectively actuated by duplicate arms I96 and Iefi respectively actuated by duplicate pins I9 3 and use for the respective sides of the primary time controlled actuating mechanism. A single secondary time controlled means in all other respects is sufficient and is suitably connected to the opposite side of the primary time controlled means in the manner heretofore described. It is obvious that the secondary time controlled means will only be released for functioning when one of the alternate primary controlled means is functioning by the respective pin M l or w l abutting its respective arm 596* or lefi to release its respective latch 262 or 282 for the functioning of the secondary time controlled means.

It is apparent that I have provided not only a novel type of traiiic signalling device, but also specific novel types of fluid pressure actuated control therefor, which specific type of fluid pressure actuated means may be used in other connections than for signalling or if desired signalling for foot traffic as well as for vehicular tramc. It is also apparent that my improved type of fluid pressure actuating apparatus may be employed for actuating a counting clock or other similar device as Well as for the specific signalling purpose shown.

It is understood that my invention is not limited to the specific embodiments shown and that various deviations may be made therefrom without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a traffic signalling apparatus, a frame, a shaft mounted transversely of said frame, a main gear rigidly mounted on said shaft, a ratchet rigidly mounted on said shaft, a resistance fan enmeshed with said gear, a signalling device controlled by said gear, a pulley loosely mounted on said shaft, a pawl mounted on a side wall of said pulley to actuate said ratchet when said pulley is moved in one direction, power means to actuate said pulley in said direction, an upper lever pivotally mounted on said frame, means to normally urge said lever to lowered position, a lower lever also pivotally mounted on said frame, a link connecting said levers having a lost motion connection to permit said up r lever to raise said lower lever and to move to lowered position regardless of the position of said lower lever, an arm connecting said lower lever and said pulley to rotate said pulley against the action of said power means on raising of said upper lever to store up potential energy in said power means, a closed fluid conduit having a flexible actuatable portion and an actuating portion connected to said upper lever adapted to raise said lever on contact of an object on said flexible actuatable portion of said fluid conduit to store up potential energy in said power means, and latch means for said upper lever controlled by the position of said pulley to latch said upper lever in lower position against further actuation by said fluid conduit and releasable by said pulley for a further actuation when said power means has returned said pulley substantially to its initial normal position.

2. In a trafiic signalling apparatus, a main gear rigidly mounted on a shaft, a ratchet rigidly mounted on said shaft, a resistance fan enmeshed with said gear, a signalling device controlled by said gear, a pulley loosely mounted on said shaft, a pawl mounted on a side wall of said pulley to actuate said ratchet when said pulley is moved in one direction, power means to actuate said pulley in said direction, an upper lever pivotally mounted on said frame, means to normally urge said lever to lowered position, a lower lever also pivotally mounted on said frame, a link connecting said levers having a lost motion connection to permit said upper lever to raise said lower lever and to move to lowered position regardless of the position of said lower lever, an arm conmeeting said lower lever to said pulley to rotate said pulley against the action of said power means on raising of said upper lever to store up potential energy in said power means, a closed fluid conduit having a flexible actuatable portion and an actuating portion connected to said upper lever adapted to raise said lever on contact of an object on said flexible actuatable portion of said fluid conduit to store up potential energy in said power means.

8. In a traflic signalling device, a frame, a shaft mounted transversely of said frame, a main gear rigidly mounted on said shaft to have intermittent equal forward movements, a resistance fan enmeshed with said gear, a signalling device actuated by said gear on each forward movement thereof, two actuators for said gear independently controlled by traffic in intersecting streets, each including two actuating controllers in one street, a ratchet mounted on opposite sides of said shaft, a pulley loosely mounted on said shaft, a pawl mounted on a side wall of said pulley to actuate said ratchet when said pulley is moved in one direction and power means to actuate said pulley in said direction; an upper lever pivotally mounted on said frame, means to normally urge said lever in lowered position, a lower lever also pivotally mounted on said frame, a link connecting said levers having a lost motion connection to permit said upper lever to raise said lower lever and to move to lowered position regardless of the position of said lower lever, an arm connecting said lower lever to said pulley to rotate said pulley against the action of said power means on raising of said upper lever to store up potential energy in said power means, a closed fluid conduit having a flexible actuatable portion and an actuating portion connected to said upper lever adapted to raise said lever on contact of an object on said flexible actuatable portion of said fluid conduit to store up potential energy in said power means, and latch means for said upper lever controlled by the position of said pulley to latch said upper lever in lower position against further actuation by said fluid conduit and releasable by said pulley for a further actuation when said power means has returned said pulley to its initial normal position, a circular locking plate attached to each pulley having a notch in the periphery thereof, a cam rigidly mounted on said shaft having alternately raised and lowered arcs, each raised and lowered are being approximately the distance of the pulley movement, the raised arcs on one cam being complemental to the lowered arcs on the opposite cam, pawl means normally urged towards said cam and notch having a portion adapted to contact the depression in said cam to permit said pawl to engage said notch to retain said pulley in raised position to store up actuating energy therein while said gear is being actuated by the opposite actuator and operative at the end of said movement to release said pulley for a supplemental actuation of said gear and a tiltable locking device operative to lock one actuating lever after an actuation thereof until the opposite lever has been actuated.

4. A trafflc signalling device for interfering traflic lanes having in combination right of way indicating means for said lanes, a traffic actuatable controller in one of said lanes, time controlled means actuated thereby to actuate said indicating means to bar traffic in the opposite lane for a predetermined time, supplemental time controlled means effective on successive actuation of said controller to stop the actuation of said time controlled means at a period of its cycle for supplemental time controlled periods up to an adjustable maximum period comprising a frame, a shaft mounted transversely of said frame, a main gear rigidly mounted on said shaft, a ratchet rigidly mounted on said shaft, a resistance fan enmeshed with said gear, a signalling device controlled by said gear, a pulley loosely mounted on said shaft, a pawl mounted on a side wall of said pulley to actuate said ratchet when said pulley is moved in one direction, power means to actuate said pulley in said direction, an upper lever pivotally mounted on said frame, means to normally urge said lever to lowered position, a lower lever also pivotally mounted on said frame, a link connecting said levers having a lost motion connection to permit said upper lever to raise said lower lever to move to lowered position regardless of the position of said lower lever, an arm connecting said lower lever and said pulley to rotate said pulley against the action of said power means on raising of said upper lever to store up potential energy in said power means, a closed fluid conduit having a flexible actuatable portion and an actuating portion connected to said upper lever adapted to raise said lever on contact of an object on said flexible actuatable portion of said fluid conduit to store up potential energy in said power means, latch means for said upper lever controlled by the position of said pulley to latch said upper lever in lower position against further actuation by said fluid conduit and releasable by said pulley for a further actuation when said power means has returned said pulley substantially halfway to its initial normal position, a ratchet pivotally mounted on said frame having a permanent stop and an adjustable stop, said adjustable stop being adjustable in holes spaced apart substantially the distance of the ratchet, means to urge said ratchet against said permanent stop, anactuating pawl pivotally mounted on said upper lever and normally urged against said ratchet when said upper lever is successive-- ly raised to upper position by successive actuation of said oontroller and adapted to rotate said ratchet one tooth as said upper lever is raised to its upper position and means to release said actuating pawl from said ratchet as said lever is moved to lower position, a releasing pawl pivoted on said frame to engage said ratchet having an arm adapted to be abutted by said lower lever in lowered position to release said ratchet, said pawl being adapted to engage successive teeth of said ratchet to insure the time controlled period up to a maximum limited by the position of said adjustable stop as said actuating pawl rotates said ratchet and means actuated by said primary time controlled means to release said supplemental time controlled means to be successively actuated by said controller at a time substantially near the end of its cycle and means effective on an actuation of said supplemental time controlled means to stop actuation of said primary time controlled means during the actuation of said supplemental time controlled means.

5. In a traffic signalling system for intersecting lanes, a right of way indicating device, a

trafiic actuated device in one lane capable of receiving energy from a unit of traffic actuating it and transmitting it, means actuated by and operating entirely from such energy to actuate said right of way indicating device to transfer the right of way to the lane of said actuated device for a predetermined time and then to retransfer the right of way to another of said lanes, and a means also actuated by and opera-t ing entirely from such energy from repeated actuations of said device within a predetermined time to extend the time before re-transfer up to a predetermined maximum.

6. In a traffic signal device the combination is with a signal adapted to be disposed at the intersection of two thoroughfares, and having traflic directing means thereon adapted alternately to be displayed to permit trafic to proceed on one thoroughfare and to restrain trafiic on the other thoroughfare, of a vehicle operated device in one of said thoroughfares spaced from said signal capable of receiving energy from a unit of traffic actuating it and transferring it, means entirely operated by said supplied and transmitted energy for setting the signal after each of said vehicles operates said first mentioned vehicle 0perated device to permit trafiic to proceed on said thoroughfare, means for holding the signal so set for a determined period also entirely operated by said supplied and transmitted energy until said vehicle has had time to pass said intersection, a vehicle operated device in the other thoroughfare also capable of receiving energy from a unit of traific actuating it and transfer- I ring it, means entirely operated by said supplied and transmitted energy of said last mentioned vehicle operated device for setting the signal to permit trafiic to proceed on said last mentioned thoroughfare, means entirely operated by said supplied and transmitted energy of said first mentioned device when actuated by said vehicle or subsequent vehicles for preventing said signal being set by said last mentioned vehicle operated device for a certain period, and means also entirely operated by said supplied and transmitted energy whereby the means actuated by said last mentioned vehicle operating device will change the signal as soon as said period is ended.

7. In atrafiic signal device, the combination with a signal adapted to be disposed at the intersection of two or more thoroughfares and having trafiic directing means thereon adapted to be displayed alternately to direct trafic to proceed on one thoroughfare and restraining trafic on another thoroughfare, a trafic operated device for one of said thoroughfares capable of receiving' energy from a unit of trafiic actuating it and transferring it, means entirely operated by said supplied and transmitted energy by operation of said device for setting the signal to direct trafiic to proceed on said thoroughfare, a traific operated device on the other thoroughfare, also ca: pable of receiving energy from a unit of traffic actuating it and transferring it, means entirely operated by said supplied and transmitted energy by operation of said last mentioned device for setting the signal for traific to proceed on said last mentioned thoroughfare, means actuated and energy entirely supplied by operation of said first mentioned traffic operated device for so setting the signal and in a plurality of subsequent operations thereof while the signal is so set for preventing the signal being set by operation of said last mentioned trafiic operated device for a oer.-

Cir

trafiic on each of a plurality of different lanes 7 and having means operable to shift signal indication so as to transfer right of way between said lanes, a traffic actuatable controller capable of receiving energy from a unit of trafiic actuating it and transmitting it to entirely supply the energy for operation of said means in one of said lanes and on the approach to said signal, said means including mechanism cooperable with said controller to control transfer of right of Way and, by successive actuation of said controller within a predetermined interval by vehicles approaching the signal, to prolong the period of continuity of right of way in one lane beyond a predetermined minimum period but not beyond a predetermined maximum period before transfer from the latter lane.

9. A trafic signalling apparatus having, in combination, a visual signal approachable by traffic on each of a plurality of different lanes and having means operable to shift signal indication so as to transfer right of way between said lanes, a traffic actuatable controller in one of said lanes and on the approach to said signal capable of receiving energy from a unit of trafdc actuating it and transmitting it to entirely supply the energy for said means, said means including mechanism cooperative by actuation of said controller by a vehicle approaching the signal, to cause such actuation of said signal as to transfer right of way back and forth between said lanes and a device operable, by successive actuation of said controller within a predetermined interval by vehicles approaching the signal, to prolong the period of continuity of right of way in the lane of the controller beyond a predetermined period before transfer from the lane of the controller.

10. In a trafiic signal device, the combination, with a signal adapted to be disposed at the intersection of two or more thoroughfares and having constantly operative means for directing trafiic to go on one thoroughfare and stop on the other, or vice versa, a vehicle operated device in one of said thoroughfares, capable of receiving energy from a unit of traihc actuating it and transmit ting it to entirely supply the energy for operating said signal, to display a go sign on said thoroughfare and a stop sign on the other, means actuated and energy entirely supplied by said device for holding the signal so set for a determined period of time to permit said vehicle to cross said intersection, a vehicle operated device on the other thoroughfare, capable of receiving energy from a unit of traflic actuating it, and transferring. it, means entirely operated by said supplied and transmitted energy by said latter device for setting said signal to display a go sign on said other thoroughfare and a stop sign on said first mentioned thoroughfare, and means actuated and energy entirely supplied by said first mentioned device, when actuated by a plurality of subsequent vehicles for preventing said signal being set by said last mentioned means for a definite period of time after each of said vehicles operates said first mentioned vehicle operated device, whereby said subsequent vehicles operating said first mentioned device will re.- spectively have time to pass the intersection before the signal is changed.

11. The structure set forth in claim 10, and means also entirely operated by said supplied and transmitted energy, whereby said means actuated by said last mentioned vehicle operated device will set said signal so that the last said go sign changes at once to stop and the stop sign to go as soon as said period of time is ended.

12. A trafiic signal device having in combination, a signal adapted to be disposed at the intersection of two or more thoroughfares and having constantly illuminated tramc directing means thereon including means for directing trafiic to go on one thoroughfare and stop on the other thoroughfare, or vice versa, a traffic operated device for one of said thoroughfares capable of receiving energy from a unit of trafflc actuating it and transferring it, means entirely operated by said supplied and transmitted energy by operation of said device for setting the signal to direct traffic to proceed on said thoroughfare, a trafiic operated device on the other thoroughfare also capable of receiving energy from a unit of traffic actuating it and transmitting it, means entirely operated by said supplied and transmitted energy by operation of said last mentioned device for setting the signal for trafiic to proceed on said last mentioned thoroughfare, means entirely operated by said supplied and transmitted energy by operation of said first mentioned trafiic operated device in so setting the signal and in a plurality of subsequent operations thereof, while the signal is so set for preventing the signal being set by operation of said last mentioned traffic operated device for a certain definite period of time, and means also entirely operated by said supplied and transmitted energy whereby said means actuated by operation of said last mentioned trafiic operated device will change the signal as soon as said period of time has elapsed to direct trafiic to proceed on the thoroughfare in which said last mentioned traffic operated device is located.

13. A traific signal device adapted to be disposed at the intersection of two or more thoroughfares having in combination, a signal having illuminating means, a circuit containing certain of said illuminating means for causing said signal to direct traific to go on one thoroughfare and stop on another thoroughfare when said circuit is closed, a second circuit containing certain other of said illuminating means for causing said signal to direct traffic to stop on said first mentioned thoroughfare and go on the other when said second circuit is closed, means constantly operative to close one of said circuits and open the other, and vice versa, a traffic operated device in one of said thoroughfares capable of receiving energy from a unit of trafiic actuating it and transferring it, means entirely operated by said supplied and transmitted energy by operation of said device for causing said last mentioned means to close said first circuit and open said second circuit, a traffic operated device in the other thoroughfare capable of receiving energy from a unit of trafiic actuating it and transferring it, means entirely 'operated by said supplied and. transmitted energy by operation of said last mentioned device for causing said first mentioned means to close said second circuit and open said first circuit, means also entirely operated by said supplied and transmitted energy actuated by operation of said first mentioned traffic operated device inso closing said first circuit and in a plurality of subsequent operations thereof while said first circuit is still closed for preventing said first mentioned means from closing said second circuit for a definite period of time, and means also entirely operated by said supplied and transmitted energy whereby said means actuated by operation of saidlast mentioned trafiic operated device will close said second circuit as soon as said period of time has elapsed, to direct traific to proceed on said thoroughfare in which said last mentioned trafiic operated device is located.

14. In a traffic signal apparatus for interfering lanes, right of way signalling means for normally displaying right of way to one of said lanes, a traific actuated controller capable of receiving energy from a unit of trafic actuating it and transferring said energy, means controlled by and operating entirely from energy supplied by an actuation of said controller for a predetermined period of time to transfer said right of way to another of said lanes for a predetermined period of time not greater than first said period and then re-transferring said right of way back to the said one lane.

15. An apparatus defined in claim 14 wherein the last said means is operative by energy supplied by subsequent actuations of said controller during right of way to said other lane to extend said periods.

16. In a traific signal apparatus for interfering lanes, right of way signalling means for normally displaying right of way to one of said lanes, a trafiic actuated controller capable of receiving energy from a unit of traific actuating it and transferring said energy, said controller being located in another of said lanes, means controlled by and operating entirely from energy supplied by an actuation of said controller for a predetermined period of time to transfer said right of way to said other lane for a portion of said period and then retransfer it back to said one lane for a remaining portion of said period.

17. An apparatus defined in claim 16 wherein the last said means is operative by energy supplied by subsequent actuations of said controller during display of right of way to said other lane to delay retransfer of right of way back to the first lane.

18. A traffic signalling system for intersecting lanes, a right of way indicating device, a traffic actuated device in one lane capable of receiving energy from a unit of traific actuating it and transmitting it, means actuated by and operating entirely from such energy to actuate said right of way indicating device to display and maintain the right of way to the lane of said actuated device for a determined time, and then to permit transfer of the right of way to another of said lanes, and means also actuated by and operating entirely from such energy from repeated actuations of said device before said transfer to extend the time before said transfer up to a predeter-

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