US1541979A - Traffic signal for street crossings - Google Patents

Description

June 16, 1925. 1,541,979

J. w. LOWTHER TRAFFIC SIGNAL FOR STREET CROSSINGS Filed 001. s. 1924. 2 shee1s snm 1 FIG.2.

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J. w. LbwTHER TRAFFIC SIGNAL FOR STREET CROSSINGS Filed Oct :5, 1924 w/T/yEssEs 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG-5.

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Patented June 16, 1925.

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Application filed October 3, 1924. Serial No. 741,406.

To. all wizomc't may concern: 1

Be it known that I, J 01-IN W. Low'rnns, residing at Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, a citizen of tlieUnited States, have invented or dis covered certain new and useful Improvements in Traffic Signalsfor Street Cross ings, of which improvements the following is a specification.

It is the object of this invention to provide a visual signal for controlling traffic at the intersections of streets, which. will be of simple and substantial construction, and which can be operated manually by the traflic office, preferably by threesimple successive movements, to invariably visualize the propersuccession of signals.

At the present time it is usual at the in- 'tersection of streets in cities at which officers are stationed to controlvehicle trafiic, when it is desired to stop the flow of traffic on one of the intersecting streets and start, the

flow on the other street,to delay the permissive signal for the second street for an appreciable time after giving the stop signal, usually audible, for stoppage on the first street. The reasons for this are obvious. But confusion, and sometimes injury to pedestrians, is likely from'f'ailure of vehicle drivers to hear, or to understand, the first stop signal, which is usually an audible signal only and unaccompanied by any visual signal. i

The signaling device herein described permits the display of the proper signal for each of the intersecting streets at all times.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is an elevation in perspective of a signaling device embodying the invention. Figure 2 isa front elevational section of the upper portion of the device. Figure 3 is a horizontal section on the line III-III of Figure 2. Figure 4 is a view, partly in elevation partly in section, taken at right angles to Figure 2, and showing additional portions of the device. Figure 5 is a detailed partial sectional view of a portion of the device. Figure 6 is a cross-section on the line VI-VI, of Figure 5. i

The structure comprises a pedestal 1, having a tubular extension 2, upon which is rotatably mounted the signal-carrying upright or post 3, in the present instance said upright 3 being capable of an oscillatory axial movement through an arc of As shown in Figure 5, the upright 8 has bolted to' it at the proper point, the sleeve at,

-having an enlarged lower portion 5, forming an internal shoulder 6, adapted to rest The exprovided at its top with a slot upon the top of the extension 2. tensile-n2 1S 7, which receives theinner end of apin or bolt 8, inserted through the wall 5 of the i 1,541,979- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

sleeve, and which limits the extent of the rotary movement of the sleeve and the upright 3, to which it is attached.

is here shown as a tubular structure, is secured in any suitable way to the top of the upright at right angles thereto, there is rigidly secured to the upright a bifurcated disk 10, provided on both faces with a visible Stop 3, and below said frame 9, and h The frame S), which may be of any suitable form and posite faces a Stop signal or a Go signal,

as the case may be. In order to oscillate the box 11, it is provided with an arm 12, connected by a link 13 with a lever 1A pivoted on the upright 3 and having its opposite end connected by a link 15' to the hand lever 16, which is also pivoted at one end to the upright 3.

The intended operation is as follows. Referring to Figure 1, it will be seen that a Stop signal is showing for both streets. In this situation it is assumed that the traflic on one street has been stopped, and the second signal is about to be given for movement of traflic on the other street. As the oflicer gives his second signal, he pulls the hand lever 16 upwardly, thereby turning the upper movable signal 11 toGo position. Then when it is desired to change the flow of traffic, the officer coincidentally with giv ing the first audible signal, depresses the lever 16 and thereby throws the upper movable signal 11 to Stop position, thus stop ping traffic on street No. 1. His next movement is to give the upright 3 a quarter-turn, thus throwing the rigid lower Stop signal 10 toward street No. 1, and throwing the movable Stop signal 11 toward street No. 2, thus holding trafiic still stopped on both Ill) streets. Then, as above described, when he gives the second audible signal, he coincidentally raises the hand lever 16, thus giving the visible Go signal 11 to street No. 2.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown conventionally suitable connections for incandescent lamps arranged within the box 11, and have also shown a sign for display ot any local rule above the movable signal. These features, however, "form no part ot the invention.

it is obvious that the device shown is capable of considerable modification without departure from the invention. It will be understood by those skilled in the art,,that instead of being manually operated, it can be operated mechanically or electrically from a control station common to several crossing signals. Also the specific means For mounting and operating the parts may be varied.

1 claim as my invention:

1. In a signaling device of the class deccrihed, a two-position support, two signal arms borne by the support and extending in ditl'erei'it vertical planes, one o't said arms bearing a plurality o't panels movable to alternate display position while the other arm continues unmoved.

2. In a signaling device of the class described, a two-position support rotatable on a vertical axis, two gnal arms borne by the support and extending in different vertical planes, one o't said signal arms includii'ig a two-facedmember with le ends upon its two faces rotatable upon a horizontal axis, and means for rotatingthe two faces of the lastnamed member alternately to legible position in vertical plane while the support continues unchanged in position.

3. In a signaling device of the class described, a two-position support rotatable on a vertical axis, a Stop signal rigidly borne. by said support and extending in vertical plane, a Stop and Go signal rotatably borne by said support and provided with Stop and Go panels, and means for rotating said Stop and Go signal and bringing the Stop and Go panels alternately toposition in a vertical plane angularly disposed to the plane oi the first-named Stop signal, while the support continues unol'ianged in position.

4-. la a signaling device 01 the class described, a two-positio 'i support bearing two signal arn-is, extending in ditlerent vertical planes, each displayed to one only of two crossing streams of traffic, one of said signal arms bearing two panels, and means for moving said panels alternately to display position while the support continues unchanged in position.

In a signaling device of the class described, a two-position support bearing two signal arms, extending in different vertical planes, each displayed to one only of two crossing streams of traffic, one of said signal arms bearing a four faced indicator rotatable upon a horizontal axis, and means for rotating said indicator while the support continues unchanged in position.

lntest'imony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

JOHN ll LOWTHER.

Witnesses lwIARsI-L L A. GHuisTY, PERCY A. ENGLISH.

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