US3030165A

US3030165A - Controller

Info

Publication number: US3030165A
Application number: US752322A
Authority: US
Inventors: Stephen J Nagy
Original assignee: Marbelite Co Inc
Current assignee: Marbelite Co Inc
Priority date: 1958-07-31
Filing date: 1958-07-31
Publication date: 1962-04-17
Anticipated expiration: 1979-04-17

Description

pril

17, 1 5. J. NAGY 3,030,165

CONTROLLER Filed July 51, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 BY zmuw msim ATTORNEYS S. J. NAGY CONTROLLER April 17, 1962 Filed July 51, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR JTE HEN J NAG) BY PMM m? PM ATTORN E'.Y-

United States Patent 3,030,165 QONTRGLLER Stephen J. Nagy, East Orange, N.J., assignor to Marbelite Co., Inc, Brooklyn, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed July 31, 1%58, Ser. No. 752,322 7 Claims. (fil. 312-3]l1) The present invention relates to traffic signal controllers that include cyclic program timers of the pre-timed type.

Traflic signal controllers of the above referred to type usually include a number of components such as a signal sequence controller, one or more signal program timers for energizing elect-r0 responsive means in accordance with a predetermined signal display program, as well as adjustable contact actuating keys and change gears for varying the cycle time of the controller. Usually these components are mounted on a common base that may be encased within a weather-tight housing.

The type of controller referred to is usually mounted on a pole or standard at street intersections at which the traffic is desired to be controlled. Servicing of these controllers requires frequent adjustment of the various components and substitution of replaceable units when malfunction of a component occurs. This servicing requires the withdrawal of the components from the weather-tight housing in order to permit the desired adjustments to the components or the replacement thereof.

:The principal object of this invention is to provide a traflic signal controller or the like that may be mounted within a weather-tight housing in a manner to be easily withdrawn therefrom for servicing while still supporting the controller or the like at a convenient elevation for servicing.

Another object is to provide a mounting within a housing for a traffic signal controller or the like that will permit ready withdrawal of the controller from the housing at the same elevation the controller assumes when located within the housing.

Another object of the invention is to provide a supporting device for a trafiic signal controller or the like within a housing and arranged to permit ready sliding of the controller out of the housing and to permit turning of the controller about a vertical axis.

Another object of the invention is to provide a supporting device for a traflic signal controller or the like within a housing that will permit ready sliding out of the housing of the controller under controlled conditions and permit turning of the controller about a vertical axis for facilitating servicing thereof.

One aspect of the invention may be to provide a weather-tight housing having a door thereon opening to the interior thereof. A single track on only one side wall of the housing may be employed. A slide may be telescopingly connected to the track and it may support a vertically disposed bearing for receiving a sleeve fixed to the bottom of a base that may support the various components of the traffic controller or the like.

In another aspect of the invention an anti-friction bearing arrangement may be provided between the telescoping track and slide and arranged to be effective not only to overcome the vertical forces incident to the weight of the traffic controller or the like, but also to overcome a force couple incident to the employment of a single track and slide on only one side of the controller housmg.

In another aspect of the invention, the anti-friction bearing arrangement for the telescoping track and slide may include a ball bearing cage having a motion control means forming an integral part thereof for maintaining the track and slide at any desired telescoping posi- V6 t Ice 3,030,165

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a housing containing atrafiic signal controller and to which the principles of the invention have been applied;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 showing the traffic signal controller withdrawn from the housing for servic- FIG. 3 is a partial elevational view taken substan tially along line 33 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a sectional elevational View taken substantially along line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

:FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a ball bearing cage forming a detail of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a top plan schematic view of the controller in position withdrawn from its housing, and illustrating its capacity of being turned about a vertical axis; and

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating the forces encountered by the anti-friction slide bearing of the telescoping track and slide.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the principles of the inven tion are shown as applied to a tratlic signalcontroller comprising a housing 10 of generally box form, having.- a door 11 hinged to the housing 10 and, when closed,

adapted to protect the contents of the housing from the elements. 1

Within the housing 10 and mounted on only one side wall 12 thereof may be a track member 13 which maytelescopingly receive a slidel4 .in a manner to permit,- when door 11 is open, the movement of slide 14 along the track 1 3 so that the forward portion of the slide 14..

extends exteriorly of the housing 10.

A bracket 15 may be fixed to the slide :14 and it may include a vertically extending stud 16 that may be reduced in diameter to receive a sleeve 17 that may be rigidly fixed to the bottom of a base 18.

g The base 18 may comprise a rigid plate-like member for supporting the various components of the traffic Sig-- nal controller including a signal sequence controller 19 which may be of the drum type, as well as one or more signal program timers 2% of usual form for energizing electro responsive means in accordance with a predetermined signal display program.

Power for operating the various components as well as signal impulse current may be supplied to the trafiic signal controller by lines 21 and 22 that may lead from a source at a central station to the controller through

jack mountings

23 and 24 that may extend through thebase 18.

Referring to FIG. 3, the track 13 may include a channel member 25 fixed to the wall 12 of housing 10 and may include horizontally extending

parallel race ways

26 and 27.

Plates

28 and 29 may be bolted to the legs of the channel member 25 by screws 36, and the plates may be provided with a horizontally extending race way 31 and 32 corresponding to, and aligned with the

raceways

26 and 27.

The slide 14 may comprise a plate having race ways on each of its sides corresponding to the race ways 26,

27, 31 and $2, and balls 33 may be located within all of the race ways to provide an anti-friction telescoping mounting for the base 18.

Referring to FIG. 5, a cage 34 of channel shape may. include aligned holes 35 within its legs for the retention of the balls 33, and the assembly may be located between the slide 14 and the track 13, as shown in FIG; 4. The wall joining the legs of cage 34 may include motion re- Patented Apr. 17, 1962 p straining means 36 for maintaining the controller and base 18 at any point along the path of the track 13 and slide 14, and in the embodiment shown, takes the form of struck up portions of the cage providing resilient legs that may fiictionally engage the inside walls of the legs of channel member 25, which walls may be provided with motion inhibiting means such as serrations or the like.

Referring to FIG. 7, it is evident that the force 37 incident to the weight of the controller and base 18 produces a force couple including vectors 38 and 39 that must be overcome by the anti-friction mounting of the track 13 and slide 14, as well as vertical thrust on all of the balls 33.

Referring to FIG. 6, it is evident that with the base 18 withdrawn from the housing 10, it with the traffic signal controller can be turned about a vertical axis to facilitate servicing thereof.

Suitable stops (not shown) can be provided in the slide or in conjunction therewith for limiting movement thereof in either or both directions. Also, the slide of the present invention can be used for other similar instruments and where the base does not require turning, the slide means of the invention can be used on both sides of the enclosure or base. The balls may be spherical but also could be cylindrical. They can be of metal or any suitable material.

Although the various features of the mounting for traffic signal controllers have been shown in detail to fully disclose one embodiment of the invention, it will be evidentthat numerous changes may be made in such details and certain features may be used without others Without departing from'the principles of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a trafiic sign-a1 controller device, a housing; a door providing access to'said housing; means within said housing for supporting a traific signal controller; a track member mounted along only one side wall of said housing; a slide telescopingly coopera-ble with said track member; means connecting said supporting means to said slide; and means attached to said slide for turning said controller supporting means about a vertical axis at the edge portion of said supporting means, said turning means being located outside of said housing when said controller is withdrawn from said housing.

'2. In a traific signal controller device, a housing; a door providing'access to said housing; means within said housing for supporting a trafiic signal controller; a track member mounted along one side wall of said housing; a slide telescopingly cooperable with said track member; means connecting said supporting means attached to said slide means for turning said controller supporting means about a vertical axis at the edge portion of said supporting "means, said turning means being located outside of said housing when said controller is withdrawn from said housing; and means for maintaining said supporting means at various positions along the path of travel of said slide said maintaining means being mounted adjacent said track member and said slide and operative in opposition to the movement of said supporting means.

'3. In a traffic signal controller device, a housing; a door providing access to said housing; means within said housing'for supporting a trafiic signal controller; a track member mounted along only one side Wall of said housing; horizontally extending spaced parallel raceways formed in opposing relation in said track member; a slide adapted to telescope within said track member; cor responding raceways on both sides of said slide; balls within all of said raceways; pivotal means attached to said slide and connecting the edge portion of said supporting means to said slide, said pivotal means being outside of said housing when said controller is withdrawn from said housing; and means for engaging said slide to said track member to maintain said supporting means at various positions along the path of travel of said slide.

4. In a trafiic signal controller device, a housing; a door providing access to said housing; mean within said housing for supporting a traffic signal controller; a track member mounted along only one side wall of said housing; horizontally extending spaced parallel raceways formed in opposing relation in said track member; a slide adapted to telescope within said track member; corresponding raceways on both sides of said slide; balls within all of said raceways; and pivotal means attached to said slide and connecting the edge portion of said supporting means to said slide said pivotal means being outside of said housing when said controller is Withdrawn from said housing.

5. In a traffic signal controller device, a housing; a door providing access to said housing; means within said housing for supporting a traific signal controller; a track member mounted along only one side wall of said housing; horizontally extending spaced parallel raceways formed in opposing relation in said track member; a slid adapted to telescope within said track member; corresponding raceways on both sides of said slide; and a separate ball bearing cage extending over the edges of said slide and between each side thereof for supporting balls in proper relation in all of said raceways; means integral with said cages for frictionally engaging said track member to maintain said supporting means at any point along the path of travel of said slide; and pivotal means for conmeeting said supporting meansto said slide, said pivotal means being outside of said housing when said controller is withdrawn from said housing.

6. In a traflic signal controller device, a housing; a door providing access to said housing; means within said housing for supporting a traffic signal controller; a track member mounted along only one side wall of said housing; horizontally extending spaced parallel raceways formed in opposing relation in said track member; a slide adapted to telescope within said track member; corresponding raceways on both sides of said slide; a separate ball bearing cage extending over the edges of said slide and between each side thereof for supporting balls in proper relation in all of said raceways; and means integral with said cages for frictionally engaging said track member to maintain said supporting means at any point along the path of travel of said slide.

7. An instrument slide means comprising a, track member having opposed spaced parallel surfaces, a slide member telescopically moveable relative to said track and in said surfaces, raceways extending from said parallel surfaces on both sides of said slide, antifriction roll means on said raceways for exerting force on both sides of said slide, cage means extending over the edges of said slide and between each side thereof for supporting said antifriction roll means in proper relation in all of said raccways, and means integral with said cage means for frictionally engaging said track member to maintain said slide at any point along its path of travel.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,005,055 Miller Oct. 3, 1911 1,052,591 Kaiser Feb. 11, 1913 2,070,055 Levien Feb. 9, 1937 2,104,939 Whalen Jan. 11, 1938 2,320,276 Gussack May 25, 1943 2,622,940 Johnson Dec. 23, 1952 2,622,956 7 White Dec. 23, 1952 2,679,889 Barden et a1 June 1, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 489,592 Germany Jan. 18, 1930