US1499170A - Traffic signal for vehicles - Google Patents

Description

June 24, 1924. 4 1,499,170

J. T. GLASS TRAFFIC SIGNAL FOR VEHICLES Filed March 11, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 :lllm,

Ji /ass June 24, 19240 J. T. GLASS TRAFFIC SIGNAL FOR VEHICLES Filed March 11, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheen 2 f /////J%/////////// ///U Patented June 241, 1924.

UNITED STATES JOHN T. GLASS, or cnn'raarra, WASHINGTON.

TRAFFIC SIGNAL FO'R VEHICLES.

Application filed March 11, 1922. Serial No. 542,962.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN T. GLAss, a citizen of the United States, residing at Gentralia, in the county of Lewisand State of Washington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Traflic Signal for Vehicles; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same. b

This invention relates to a traflicsignal for vehicles. I

It is generally aimed to provide a construction which will prevent vibration and relative movement of the parts thereof tov the minimum, which maybe made in fewer and more substantial parts than is at present the case, one in which .the parts may be readily adjusted or removed for inspection, cleaning or repair, and one inwhich the cost of construction is reduced ,as well as the liability of the parts to get out of order.

Another object is to provide aconstruction which may employ several parts, particularly castings, to serve one as thesignal proper andone as the lamp housing.

I further aim to provide a signal operable by means of an electro-magnet and in con nection therewith to provide a meanscoopcrating with its core to vary the throw of the signal and also to provide a clamp attachable to the signal with a connection from the clamp to the said core in the nature of a yieldable spring and inconnection with r a return spring for the signal attachable to a mounting bracket for the magnet and to said clamp. r It is still further aimed to provide a novel construction of mounting bracket for the signal and means to form a bearing. for its movable parts and a means to support the electromagnet and associated parts.

Additionalobjects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the description following taken in connection with accompanying 'drawings-illus-o trating one practical embodiment; In said drawings r Figure 1 is a front elevation of the improved traflic signal, showing the signal frame in anelevated orsignal position Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through the signaltaken centrally of the bearing tube and electromagnet; r Y

Figure 3 is an end elevation looking tovehicle.

ward the magnet with the signal frame in full lines in a normal position and in dotted lines in an elevated position; 7 Figure 4 is a plan view; Figure 5 is a cross sectional view on the line 55 of Figure 1 lookingtoward the electro-magnet and taken intermediate the same and a signal frame, and

Figure 6 is an electric diagram showing the parts in circuit. I

Like reference characters designate like or similar parts in the dilferent views.

In reducing the invention to practice, a

suitable bracketis provided having a body or, main portion at 10 and a laterally extending attaching wing 11, integral therewith.

In cooperation with the wing 11 is a fastening plate 12 secured to wing 11 by adjustable bolts at 13. The free edge portions of wing 11 and attaching plate l2m'ay be U-shziped as at 14 so that such parts will coact to form a clamp in order to attach the apparatusto a suitable part of anautomobile or other Disposed transversely through a suitable opening in the body 10 is a stationary bearing 14 in'the form of a tubular shaft. A"

clamp plate 15 surrounds the bearing and is bolted or otherwise fastened as at 16 to the wing 11 in order to rigidlymaintain the bearing in place. 1

To the free end ofthe bearing 14 a lamp housing or frame 17, of any suitable shape, is secured. 'This housing may have a collar 18 to directly surround the bearing 14 and be secured against displacement by a binding set screw or the like 19 passing through the collar and engaging the bearing; Lamp housing 17 is particularly a construction which may be cast or otherwise provided in asinglepiece. It may be appropriately adjusted longitudinally of the bearing 14 through appropriate manipulation. of the binding screw19. 1

The upstanding sides of the lamp housing are open as shown and covered by panels at 20 which may be of glassfor instance and xrendered opaque for the most part but provided with transparent arrow shaped portions or signals at 21. Oneof these arrows 21 may be viewed from one side and the other from the other side of the lamp housing,- as will be understood. I The panels 20 are placed directly againstthe sideedges of the housing 17 and secured thereto by de t ab e tra nee having fl g s 23 to overlap the ends of the housing and securing flanges 24 to overlap the top and bottom walls of the housing. or other .fastening means 25 may pass through the flanges 24 and into the housing. Thus a detachable frame or means enabling removal of the lenses for cleaning, replacement or otherwise is provided.

ttention is called to the fact that the panels 20 may be of appropriate colors according to local traffic regulations and that the opaqueness for the panels may be provided by mats or sheets at 26 having openings cut therein to conform in shape tothe arrows at 21.

Cooperating with the lamp housing 17 is a signal member generally designated 27. This member has a frame, generally rectangular at 28 provided with a ring or hub at 29 which surrounds a tube 30 journaled on the bearing 14 intermediate the collar 18 of the body 10. Frame 28 may be adjusted along the tube 30 and rigidly fastened thereto by means of a set screw 31 passing i which has its upper end secured to the split.

tion is called to the through the hub 29 and binding against tube 30; 7

A suitable signal which may be an arrow at 32 is provided on the frame 28. Attenfact that the frame 28, hub 29 and arrow 32 form a single piece and may be provided in a single casting, whereby separate parts are avoided which wouldrvibrate and tend to loosen in actual practice. V

The frame 28 and arrow 32 are normally disposed in a horizontalposition. To this end a contractile spring is provided at 33 secured by a bolt or the like at 34 fastened to a base flange integral with and extending from the body 10 at 35. The bolt directly passes through a sleeve of insulation at 36. Through the adjustment of the bolt, thetension of the spring v33 may be regulated. Sur rounding the spring 33 is a split clamp 37 having its terminals secured together by an adjustable bolt 38. Suitable insulation at 39 is interposed between the clamp 37 and tube 30. The other terminal of said spring 33 is fastened to the bolt 38. The urgency of said spring 33 is the medium for maintaining the signal and frame in and urging it to the said horizontal position.

Mounted onand suitably insulated from the base flange 35, is an electromagnet at 40, which may be secured in place by a clamp at 41 bolted or otherwise fastened at 42 to the body 10. This electromagnet may be of the solenoid type and thus provided,

with a slidable core or plunger at 43. Suitably secured tothe plunger 23, as by a rivet or bolt at 34 is a resilient'or spring strip 45 clamp 37 by its bolt 38. v

The lamp housing 17 is adapted to be illuminated in any suitable manner and pref- Detachable set screws employed.

extending from said utilized as the source of current for the electime, it is undertric parts. At the same stood that any other suitable source may be 7 From the battery, a conductor 49 leads to the winding 50 of the electromagnet 40 and thence to the lamp at 46, thence back to the battery, having suitably located therein, a switch 51. It will be realized that the switch 51 may be of any approved type and arrangedfor actuation in any desired manner 'or at any appropriate location.

Through the closing of the switch, the electromagnet 40 may be energized simultaneously with the lamp at 46.

In use, the apparatus may be applied at any suitable location on the automobile and when desired, more than one may be used. When a signal is to be given, according to traflic regulations, switch 51 is closed which immediately illuminates the lamp 46 and en ergizes the electromagnet 40. As a result, the core or plunger 43 is drawn inwardly, moving with it the strip 45 and causing the tube 30 to rotate on the bearing 14 and move with it the frame 28 and arrow 32'to an up- 7 standing or signal position. switch 51 is open, the spring 33, which has been tensioned through the raising of the arrow 32, will restore the parts to a horizontal or normal position.

, Integral with the frame 28 and disposed to project through the opening thereof at the junction with the hub 29 are stop lugs 52 and 53. Projecting from the hub 29 is a stop lug 54. Spring 33 draws the parts into such relation that said lug 52 engages the lug 54 so that movement of the frame and arrow 32 to a horizontal position maybe limited.

' It will be noted that the tube and bearing 14 may have the conductor 49 passed therethrough for connection to the socket 37, without danger of severance through relative movement oftheparts.

one practicalembodiment has 7 be resorted toprovided theyfall within the spirit and scope of the invention. I claim as HlYlIlVBIltlOIlZ- 'When the i 1. A signal having a lamphousing pro- '7 vided with an attaching collar, astop lug collar, a signal frame extending about the housing and having a stop lug cooperating with said lug to limit movement of the frame to normal position.

2. A signal having a lamp housing provided with an attaching collar, a stop lug extending from said collar, a signal frame extending about the housing and having a stop lug cooperating With said lug to limit movement of the frame to normal position, a hub on said frame adjacent its lug, supporting means engaged by said collar, and an actuating tube ournaled on said supporting means, and said hub being secured to said tube.

3. A signal having a bearing arm, a bracket having a body portion through Which said bearing arm passes, a Wing ex tending angularly from said body portion,

means coacting With said Wing to form an attaching clamp, a base flange extending angularly from the body portion, a solenoid JOHN T. GLASS. Witnesses:

CHAs O. NELSON, FRED RADIKA.

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