US3741147A - Traffic control sign - Google Patents

Traffic control sign Download PDF

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Publication number
US3741147A
US3741147A US00277668A US3741147DA US3741147A US 3741147 A US3741147 A US 3741147A US 00277668 A US00277668 A US 00277668A US 3741147D A US3741147D A US 3741147DA US 3741147 A US3741147 A US 3741147A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
wing
shaft
sprocket
motor
rotated
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US00277668A
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English (en)
Inventor
D Downing
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3741147A publication Critical patent/US3741147A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
    • G09F—DISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS
    • G09F11/00—Indicating arrangements for variable information in which the complete information is permanently attached to a movable support which brings it to the display position
    • G09F11/02—Indicating arrangements for variable information in which the complete information is permanently attached to a movable support which brings it to the display position the display elements being secured to rotating members, e.g. drums, spindles
    • G09F11/06—Indicating arrangements for variable information in which the complete information is permanently attached to a movable support which brings it to the display position the display elements being secured to rotating members, e.g. drums, spindles the elements being stiff plates or cards
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G08—SIGNALLING
    • G08G—TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEMS
    • G08G1/00—Traffic control systems for road vehicles
    • G08G1/09—Arrangements for giving variable traffic instructions
    • G08G1/0962—Arrangements for giving variable traffic instructions having an indicator mounted inside the vehicle, e.g. giving voice messages
    • G08G1/0967—Systems involving transmission of highway information, e.g. weather, speed limits
    • G08G1/096708—Systems involving transmission of highway information, e.g. weather, speed limits where the received information might be used to generate an automatic action on the vehicle control
    • G08G1/096716—Systems involving transmission of highway information, e.g. weather, speed limits where the received information might be used to generate an automatic action on the vehicle control where the received information does not generate an automatic action on the vehicle control
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G08—SIGNALLING
    • G08G—TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEMS
    • G08G1/00—Traffic control systems for road vehicles
    • G08G1/09—Arrangements for giving variable traffic instructions
    • G08G1/0962—Arrangements for giving variable traffic instructions having an indicator mounted inside the vehicle, e.g. giving voice messages
    • G08G1/0967—Systems involving transmission of highway information, e.g. weather, speed limits
    • G08G1/096733—Systems involving transmission of highway information, e.g. weather, speed limits where a selection of the information might take place
    • G08G1/096758—Systems involving transmission of highway information, e.g. weather, speed limits where a selection of the information might take place where no selection takes place on the transmitted or the received information
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G08—SIGNALLING
    • G08G—TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEMS
    • G08G1/00—Traffic control systems for road vehicles
    • G08G1/09—Arrangements for giving variable traffic instructions
    • G08G1/0962—Arrangements for giving variable traffic instructions having an indicator mounted inside the vehicle, e.g. giving voice messages
    • G08G1/0967—Systems involving transmission of highway information, e.g. weather, speed limits
    • G08G1/096766—Systems involving transmission of highway information, e.g. weather, speed limits where the system is characterised by the origin of the information transmission
    • G08G1/096783—Systems involving transmission of highway information, e.g. weather, speed limits where the system is characterised by the origin of the information transmission where the origin of the information is a roadside individual element

Definitions

  • ABSTRACT y 4
  • This invention relates to an improved traffic control ii sign. More particularly, it relates to a sign similar to 40/35 ig that of my U.S. Pat. No. 3,394,674, issued July 30, 1968, with an improvement to prevent damage to the [56] References Cited movable wing portions of the sign by vandals forcing UNITED STATES PATENTS the rotation of the'wings. 1,294,130 2/1919 Lou h 40 35 6 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures 1 TRAFFIC CONTROL SIGN CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT This invention is an improvement on my U.S. Pat. No. 3,394,674, entitled TRAFFIC SIGN, issued July 30, 1968.
  • This invention is in the field of improved traffic control signs. More particularly the invention relates to a sign for use in traffic control or the like, including means whereby upon actuation, the sign unfolds two hinged wings to display a traffic directory signal, and upon subsequent actuation folds to conceal the message, or to display a different message.
  • a motor is provided to actuate the rotation of two wing panels which are attached on either side of a central rectangular panel so that when the wings are open a prerecorded message is visible, and when the panel wings are closed, that is, folded over in contiguous position across the front of the central panel, the message is covered.
  • the wings are preferably approximately half the width of the central panel so that in the closed position no portion of the face of the central panel is visible.
  • the sprocket rotates freely on the hinge shaft so that the motor drive simply operates the sprocket.
  • a radial arm which is fastened to the sprocket and turns with it.
  • a second radial arm which is spaced longitudinally from the first radial arm and which is fastened rigidly to the hinge shaft.
  • the first arm turns with the sprocket, causing the first end of the spring to move with it, and correspondingly the second end of the spring because of the torque in the spring, moves in the same direction.
  • the wing panel is not connected rigidly to the sprocket and the drive motor, it can be forced to rotate against the torque of the helical spring. Therefore when undue pressure is applied to the wing panel causing it to rotate with the wing shaft, it can rotate without breaking any part of the mechanism.
  • the torque of the spring is sufficient so that the wing panels will follow the rotation of the sprocket as in my earlier invention. However, when undue force is offered against rotation, the wing panel will rotate without breaking any connection between the sprocket and the wing panel.
  • FIGS. 1 and 2 represent the plan and elevation views of the drive mechanism of this invention.
  • FIG. 3 illustrates, in cross section, thedetails of the drive system for one wing panel.
  • FIG. 4 is taken from my prior U.S. Pat. No. 3,394,674 and shows the general configuration of the sign.
  • FIG. 4 represents the prior art as described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,394,674, the sign of this invention is indicated generally by the numeral 10.
  • the sign is supported on a post 12 or by other means. It consists basically of a rectangular, verticallysupported, planar center panel 14 presenting a sign bearing face on one side thereof, adaptable to have a portion of the traffic control message imprinted thereon.
  • An actuating mechanism is contained in a covered enclosure 18 on top of the sign.
  • This mechanism rotates the wing panels 16A and 168 to a first position shown in FIG. 4, wherein they are coplanar with the center panel 14 to display a traffic control message printed across the three coplanar panels 16A, 14 and 16B.
  • the second position is not illustrated, but is the situation when the wing panels are rotated about their edge axes and are folded over in contiguous parallel position with the center panel.
  • the width of the wing panels 16A, 16B is substantially one-half the width of the center panel 14, so that the two wing panels completely cover and hide the message printed on the inner faces of the three panels.
  • This invention is primarily concerned with the improvements in the drive mechanism, so that much of the detail of the remainder of the apparatus, disclosed generally in FIG. 4, will not be described, but reference will be made to the U.S. Pat. No. 3,394,674, which describes the elements in detail, and which patent is made a part of this application by reference.
  • a plate 23 which forms the bottom portion of the mechanism 18 of FIG. 4.
  • a motor 36 is supported to the underside of this plate, having a shaft 38 which drives a disc 40, which is fastened to the shaft 38.
  • This disc 40 carries a cam plate 66 which is fastened to one side. Also, by
  • the disc 40 supports and drives one end of a bar 48 which is attached at its other end to screw 52, which is fastened to a rocker arm 42.
  • the arm 42 is fastened rotatably at its first end 42A to the plate 23.
  • At its second end 48 it has a cylindrical, small diameter extension 42C.
  • the two wing panels 16A and 16B are attached by hinges 13 to the center panel 14 and are controlled in rotation by short arms 74 about the axis of the hinge. This is clearly shown in FIG. 3.
  • the arm 74 is part of a short wing shaft 28, which is journaled in a bushing 70 which is attached to the plate 23 at point 72.
  • the arm 74 can be attached to the wing panel by means of bolts through the openings 76, or by other means.
  • a sprocket 30 is arranged to rotate freely on the wing shaft 28 adjacent to the support bushing 70.
  • a radial arm 78 is centered over the shaft 28 and is pinned rigidly to the sprocket by means of pin 79.
  • the arm 78 has an end portion 80 that is bent in a perpendicular direction, which makes it substantially parallel to the shaft 28.
  • Thereis a second radial arm 82 which is fastened rigidly at point 86 to a bushing 84 which slides on the shaft 28 and is rigidly pinned thereto by means of a pin 96.
  • This radial arm 82 has an end portion 88 which is similarly bent at 90.
  • the length of .arm 82 is greater than that of arm 78 so that there is no conflict between the rotation of the two arms.
  • A' helical wire spring 90 is placed over the bushing 84 concentric with the shaft 28.
  • the spring 90 has two long ends 92 and 94 which, under the torque in the spring, tend to move toward each other. As they come together they press against the tips 80 and 88 of the two arms 78 and82, rotating one with respect to the other until they are brought into line, one with the other.
  • the arm 78 is driven by the sprocket. As it turns, in one direction or the other, it presses on one end of the spring or the other, rotating the spring. The second end of the spring, following the driven end, presses against the second arm' 82 rotating it in accordance with the rotation of the first arm, so that they move together.
  • the torque of the spring is greater than the friction in the wing mechanism under normal working conditions.
  • the spring coupling design of this invention provides two important benefits. It pro vides ease of adjustment and construction of the entire mechanism whereby the precision of rotation of the rocker arm 42 is not required since the drive can be overextended. Also, the panels can be controlled by stops such as 98, or such as the entirely closed position when they overlap and are in contact with the center panel. These are the two principal advantages of the improvement of this invention.
  • each panel may be forcibly moved independently of the other, whether the sign is in the opened or the closed position. This feature reduces the chance of the sign being damaged by vandals. In addition, if one panel freezes in position the other will still operate. While a complete message change is not achieved by the operation of only one panel, nevertheless, one half of a sign is better than none.
  • the sign can be printed in such a way to provide one message when the panels are closed and another message when the panels are opened.
  • a traffic control sign including:
  • a traffic control sign as in claim 1 including two wing panels, each rotatably supported at one vertical .edge to opposite vertical edges of said center panel.
  • a traffic control sign according to claim 2 includa traffic control message imprinted on the back surfaces of said two wing panels, whereby when said wing panels are closed upon said center panels, said traffic control message imprinted upon the back surface of said wing panels is displayed.
  • a traffic control sign according to claim 1 wherein said means of controllably starting and stopping said motor includes:

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Atmospheric Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
  • Road Signs Or Road Markings (AREA)
  • Refuge Islands, Traffic Blockers, Or Guard Fence (AREA)
  • Transmission Devices (AREA)
  • Illuminated Signs And Luminous Advertising (AREA)
US00277668A 1972-08-03 1972-08-03 Traffic control sign Expired - Lifetime US3741147A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US27766872A 1972-08-03 1972-08-03

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3741147A true US3741147A (en) 1973-06-26

Family

ID=23061877

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US00277668A Expired - Lifetime US3741147A (en) 1972-08-03 1972-08-03 Traffic control sign

Country Status (7)

Country Link
US (1) US3741147A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
JP (1) JPS4960499A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
CA (1) CA1013621A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
DE (1) DE2339272A1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
FR (1) FR2195015B1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
GB (1) GB1419816A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
IT (1) IT990096B (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4138668A (en) * 1977-10-12 1979-02-06 said Joseph E. Latta, Jr. School bus stop sign
CN107142864A (zh) * 2017-06-06 2017-09-08 谢阳萍 一种高速公路用交通警示装置
US11217095B2 (en) * 2019-08-07 2022-01-04 Kimberlin Kirk Kreutzer Vehicle mounted traffic control apparatus

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB9625407D0 (en) * 1996-12-06 1997-01-22 Thomas James R Remotely controlled road sign

Family Cites Families (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3327418A (en) * 1965-05-19 1967-06-27 Garman O Kimmell Dual message traffic sign
US3394674A (en) * 1966-09-02 1968-07-30 Donald M. Downing Traffic sign

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4138668A (en) * 1977-10-12 1979-02-06 said Joseph E. Latta, Jr. School bus stop sign
CN107142864A (zh) * 2017-06-06 2017-09-08 谢阳萍 一种高速公路用交通警示装置
US11217095B2 (en) * 2019-08-07 2022-01-04 Kimberlin Kirk Kreutzer Vehicle mounted traffic control apparatus

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JPS4960499A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1974-06-12
DE2339272A1 (de) 1974-02-21
CA1013621A (en) 1977-07-12
IT990096B (it) 1975-06-20
FR2195015A1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1974-03-01
GB1419816A (en) 1975-12-31
AU5856273A (en) 1975-01-30
FR2195015B1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1978-04-21

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