US1448379A - Traffic signal - Google Patents

Description

H. BOCK TRAFFIC SIGNAL 8, 1921 '2 sheets-sheet 1 Filed Nov.

W 19211717512 Eat]:

Mar. 13, 1923.

H. BOCK TRAFFIC SIGNAL 2 sheets-sheet 2 Filed Nmfl s, 1921 ZIZMMA 1%.22752: E005.-

?atented Mar. 113, 1923;

warren srare s HERMAN BOOK, @l MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR imam PATENT @FFEQE.

OF ONE-HALF 'EZQ JQEN SANDER, (PF MILWAUKEE, WISCGNSIN.

rnarrrc sreimn Application filed November 8, 1921. Serial No. 518,683;

To all whom it may. concern: I

Be it-known that l HERMAN Boon, a citizen of the United tates, and resident of Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and usefullznprovements in Traffic Signals; and I do hereby declare that thethe interval of time during which suc cessive signals are displayed in proportlon to' the density of traffic which passes the crossing in each direction.

The structure and operation of my improved signal will be better understood from the ollowing detailed description in which reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which:-

Figure 1 is av front elevational view of my invention.

Figure 2 is a plan vlew of the same wlth a portion of the casing cut away in order to show the operating mechamsm. t Figure 3 is' a vertlca-l sectional v1e w thru the operating mechanism and casmg in which it is supported.

' Referring more specifically to the drawings the numeral 5 indicates a supportin base or pedestal having a hollow cyllndrica upper portion 6 which is provided with wmdows 7 facing in the directions from which the traffic alpproaches. This upper portion is provide with a suitable overhanging cover 8 and with a bottom 9. A 4 bearing 10 is provided in whlch 1s journaled the upper end of a vertical shaft 11, the lower end of the shaft resting in the thrust bearing 12 secured to the bottom 9. A cylindricalcasing 13 is carried by the shaft 11 and suitably braced by a spider 14. The casing is opaque except for the transparent ortions 15 through which the traffic signals Go and Stop are displayed by means of a light within the casin A motor 16 56 which may be connected with the lighting circuit or operated in any other suitable manner is mounted within the casing and connected by backgearing 17 to a vertical stub shaft. 18 which is suitably sup acted by means of the bracket 19. A pair 0 varms: 20 and 21 are mounted voil the stub shaftand each arm is'provided with a-lug 22 which as the stub shaft and arms revolve successively engage the teeth of a toothed Wheel 23 which 1s carried by a stubshaft 24. The

toothed wheel is connected with a spur gear '25 which drives a pinion 26 which is'secured to the vertical shaft 11.

The gearing is so proportioned that when one of the lugs 22 engages one of the teeth of the wheel 23 the shaft 11 and the cylindrical casing 13 will be rotated through an arc of 90, thus reversing the trailic signals and permitting traflic to pass transversely to the direction in which it has been reviously passing. It will be appreciate that. at many crossings the trafiic along one street is considerably denser than the'traflic transverse thereto. I For this reason I have made the arm 21 adjustable angularly about the shaft 18 by providing the set screw 27. By this'means the angle between the arms 20 and 21 may be suitably adjusted and it will be understood that the relative time during which traiiic is permitted to proceed in eac direction will be exactly proportional to the arcs subtended by the arms'20 and 21. Thus the relative time for displaying each of the signals may be regulated in accordance with the traflic, The back gearing 17 may be arranged with any desired .ratio so as to make the cycle of the trafiic signals of any length of time desired.

While I have described and shown specifically one structure'by means of which the principle of my invention may be carried out it will be understood that variousv modifications maybe made therein, without departing from the scope. of the invention as claimed. a

I claim as my invention:

1. A trafiic signal comprising a revolubly mounted indicating member, rotary mechanism permanently connected thereto, and including a toothed wheel, a pair of relatively adjustable revolubly mounted members each of which has a single operative portion adapted to intermittently engage said toothed wheel, and driving mechanism for said pair of members.

Lee-813w 2. A. device of the character "described Wheel to rotate said casing through an arc comprising a casing through which trafic of ninety degrees, and means for adjusting signals may he displs yed, a vertical rota the angle between said arms, for the purtable shaft on which the casing is mounted, pose set forth 5 a toothed Wheel geared to the shaft, a motor In testimony that I claim the fei-egoing I 15 mounted Within the casing, a, veruical stub have hereunte set my handat Milwaukee, shaft back geared t0 the motor and having in the county of Milwaukee and State of a pair-0f arms secured thereto, each bf sai Wisconsini' arms during their rev0luti0n,' being inherm mittently engageehle with said 'toothedi HERMAN BQCK.

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