US2092606A - Railroad crossing signal - Google Patents

Description

sapt. 7, 1937. c, JOHNSON 2,092,606

RAILROAD CROSSING SIGNAL Filed Nov. 25, 19:55 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept- 7, 1 c. F. JOHNSON 2,092,606

RAILROAD CROS S ING SIGNAL Filed NOV. 25, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I I I 6. FT Jokmfiam.

Patented Sept. 7, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE RAILROAD CROSSING SIGNAL Chester F. Johnson, Odon, Ind.

Application November 25, 1935, Serial No. 51,508

2 Claims.

This invention relates to a railroad crossing signal, and one object of the invention is to provide a signal adapted to be installed in such relation to a railroad track and an intersecting highway that when a train is approaching the crossing, signals mounted in the roadway at some distance from the railroad track will be illuminated and thus serve as a warning that a train is approaching and thus eliminate danger of a vehicle or person being struck by the train at the crossing due to a person failing to see the approaching train or hearing the whistle.

. Another object of the invention is to so construct the apparatus that power for illuminating electric bulbs forming part of the signal will be supplied from a generator carried by the engine of the train and thus prevent the signal from being actuated except when a train is approaching the crossing and also prevent likelihood of a person receiving an electric shock when crossing the railroad track. This will also prevent the signal from being rendered inoperative by an irresponsible or mischievous person tampering with a sourceof electrical supply at the crossing.

Another object of the invention is to so construct the signaling element of the apparatus that when it is installed it will be located upon the roadway at quite a distance from the railroad insuch position that it can be easily seen by a person approaching the railroad and thus eliminate danger of a person failing to notice the signal.

Another object of the invention is to so construct the signaling element that when it is secured upon the roadway, an automobile or other vehicle may be driven across it without damage in case a person fails to notice the signal when not illuminated. l

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved contact carried by the engine and so mounted that it will make good contact with a contact rail mounted between rails of the track and extending longitudinally thereof.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a top plan view showing the improved crossing signal installed inoperative relation to a railroad track and intersecting highway.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of one of the signaling elements mounted upon the roadway at some distance from the) railroad track.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken transversely through the signaling element along the line 3-3 of Figure l. a

Figure 4 is a view in side elevation showing the contact mounted upon an engine, a portion of which is indicated by dotted lines and engaging the contact rail which extends longitudinally of the track.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 55 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a Wiring diagram.

This improved railroad crossing signal is to be installed in operative relation to a railroad track I and intersecting highway 2 which extends across the track as a grade'crossing. The signaling elements, which are indicated in general by the numeral 3, are located upon the highway at a suflicient distance from the railroad track that when the signals are illuminated to indicate that a train is approaching, a person driving an automobile or other Vehicle along the highway will have ample time to bring the vehicle to a stop before reaching the railroad crossing. A conduit, which consists of a metal pipe 4, is embedded in the highway and extends longitudinally thereof between the signaling elements with its intermediate portion extending under the railroad track and through this conduit extend Wires 5 and 6, the ends of which are attached to the binding posts of sockets l carrying electric bulbs 8. The wires 6 meet substantially midway the length of the pipe or conduit 4 and are passed outwardly through a side opening thereof, as shown in Figure 1, one of the wires 6 being secured to one of the rails 9 of'the railroad track and the other wire being secured to a contact rail or strip l6 mounted upon the ties of the railroad track and extending longitudinally thereof between the wheel engaging rails of the track. The contact strip or third rail Ill extends across the highway and along the track from opposite sides of the highway for such a distance that when a contact carried by the train engages the third rail or strip Ill to complete a circuit through the lamps 3 of the signaling elements, these signaling elements will be illuminated for a sufficient length of time topermit the driver of an automobile to be Warned in ample time to bring the automobile to a stop and thus eliminate danger of a wreck due to the driver of the automobile not receiving the warning soon enough.

Each of the signaling elements is constructed as shown in Figures 2 and 3 and consists of a body I I formed of thick unbreakable glass. This body is of appreciably greater length than width and of such dimensions that when it is secured upon the highway transversely thereof at substantially midway the Widthof the highway, it may be easily seen by a person approaching the railroad crossing. The underface of the body I l is flat so that it may rest flat against the surface of the highway but the upper surface of the body is curved transversely, as shown in Figure 3, and slopes forwardly with its upper or rear portion merging into the rear face of the body. Therefore, the upper surface of the body will be disposed at such an incline that when the bulb 8 is illuminated, the word Stop which is painted or otherwise provided upon the body may be very easily seen by a person approaching the signal. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the body will be formed of red glass and the lens, forming the word Stop, black. Therefore, when the bulb is illuminated a red light will be displayed in addition to the word Stop and a person will not be liable to fail to notice the warning signal. Ends of the body are beveled, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, and, therefore, if the wheel of a vehicle should make contact with an end portion of the signaling element, a glancing blow will be received by the body and likelihood of its being broken reduced to a minimum. It should also be noted that since the upper surface of the body is rounded transversely and extends at the incline shown in Figure 3, a wheel of a vehicle may pass over the signal without being liable to break it. The interior of the body is hollowed to provide a chamber l2 to receive the socket l and bulb 8, and referring to Figure 3 it will be seen that the socket is secured against the rear wall of the chamber by bolts I3 which are embedded in the body and project forwardly from the rear wall of the chamber. Ends of the pipe or conduit 4 are bent upwardly, as shown at It, to register with a recess I5 leading from the chamber i2 and the wires 5 and 6 extend through this recess into the chamber for engagement with the bolts l3 which serve as binding posts for the socket. It is to be understood that binding posts other than the bolts [3 may be provided if so desired. An outstanding flange 16 extends about the body and is overlapped by the inwardly extending flange ll of a metal frame I8 which rests upon the surface of the highway where it is firmly secured by bolts l9 which are seated in openings drilled in the highway and secured by lead, as shown at 20. It will thus be seen that the frame will be firmly secured but when it is necessary to renew a bulb or make other repairs, the nuts of the bolts l9 may be removed and the frame then easily lifted out of place so that the body ll of the signal may be lifted from the highway and access had to the chamber [2. A seat 2! of rubber is placed under the frame and body to form a tight joint when the nuts of the bolts l9 are tightened and thus prevent rain water or melted snow from entering the chamber or conduit and causing a short circuit.

The contact which is carried by the train is preferably mounted under the fender 22 of the engine 23 and includes a mounting bar 24 which is firmly secured by bolts 25. The mounting bar, which extends longitudinally of the engine, is insulated therefrom by a strip of insulating material 26 and at its forward end is provided with 2. depending block 2'! to which the forked upper end of the arm 28 is pivotally mounted, as shown at 29. A spring 30, which has its ends anchored to lugs 3| and 32 carried by the strip 24 and arm 28, urges the arm downwardly so that when a train is approaching the crossing and reaches an end portion of the contact strip or rail It, the roller 33, which is rotatably mounted between forks 34 at the lower end of the arm 28, will be held in engagement with the contact strip. In order to limit downward movement of the arm and. prevent the roller from striking the ties or other obstructions along the track, there has been provided a set screw 35 which is threaded through the block 21 in position for engagement by a finger 36 projecting downwardly from the upper end portion of the arm at a forward incline. By adjusting the set screw and then securing it in a set position by tightening the lock nut 31, the extent to which the arm is moved downwardly by the spring when the roller is out of engagement with the contact strip can be accurately regulated. Power for operating the signal is obtained from the generator 38 carried by the engine, and upon referring to Figure 6 it will be seen that this generator has one side grounded upon the metal frame of the engine by a wire 39 and its other side connected with the arm 28 by a wire 40. As long as the roller 33 is in engagement with the contact strip or rail l0, a circuit will be completed through the bulbs 8 of the signaling elements 3 and thus cause the signaling elements to be illuminated but as soon as the roller moves out of engagement with the contact strip, the circuit will be broken and the bulbs extinguished. I have, therefore, provided a railroad crossing signal which is so constructed that when a train is approaching a crossing, the signaling elements will be illuminated and that the contact strip or third rail is of such length and the signaling elements located at such a distance from the crossing that a person driving an automobile along the highway will be warned in ample time to bring the automobile to a stop before reaching the railroad crossing.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. In a railroad crossing signal, a signaling element comprising a thick body of light penetratable material having a flat under face and a vertically disposed rear face merging at its upper end into a transversely curved upper face disposed at a downward incline toward its forward edge, an outstanding marginal flange about the lower edge of the body, said body having its lower portion formed with a chamber opening through the underface of the body, a lamp receiving socket mounted in said chamber against the rear wall thereof, a frame fitting about the body and having an inwardly projecting flange overlying the flange of the body, and means for firmly securing the frame upon the surface of a highway with its flange applying pressure to the flange of the body and holding the body fiat upon the highway.

2. A signaling element for a railroad crossing comprising a body of thick light penetratable material having its lower portion hollow to provide a chamber opening through the under face of the body the body having a vertically disposed rear face merging at its upper end into a transversely rounded upper surface sloping forwardly, a lamp receiving socket mounted in said chamber, and a frame, fitting about said body and adapted to be secured upon the surface of a highway, said frame having inwardly extending portions overlapping companion outstanding portions at the bottom of the body to hold the body firmly in place upon the highway when the frame is secured thereon.

CHESTER F. JOHNSON.

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