US2261499A - Traffic signal - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 4, 1941. F. A. LEDWARD 2,261,499

TRAFFI C S IGNAL Filed Nov. 18, 1940 2 sheets-sheet 1 Wei);

Frederick A. Lgd wand F. A. LEDWARD TR'AFFIG SIGNAL Nov. 4, 1941.

2 bneecs- Sheet 2' Filed Nov. 18, 1940 \hveflov Frederick A. Ledwaord -i I M ATTomv Patented Nov. 4, 1941 UNETED STATES PATENT OFFICE A TRAFFIC SIGNAL Frederick A. Ledward, Grand Rapids, Mich.

Application November 18, 1940, Serial No. 366,034

3 Claims.

This invention relates generally to traffic signals and is particularly directed to a means for indicating the portion of time each light is to operate remains.

A particular object of the invention is the provision of indicating means, preferably in the form of an arrow, which is rotatably mounted between ing means and an illumination of a light source during a portion of its rotative movement.

Other objects and purposes of th invention will appear more fully as the description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends said invention, then, consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

The annexed drawings and following description set forth in detail certain means for carrying out my invention, said means constituting, however, but one of various ways in which the principle of the invention may be employed.

In said annexed drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the various views:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the preferred form of my devic showing one of the arrows after it has rotated through a portion of its revolution.

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view showing the nanner in which the wiring is laid out.

Fig. 3 is a front elevatio showing the mechanism within the enclosure, and

Fig. 4 is a vertical section through the device from front to rear.

The main advantage arising out of this construction is the fact that it will permit both motorists and pedestrians to know how long either the green or red light still has to operate before changing and will accordingly enable the pedestrians particularly to know whether it is advisable to proceed across the street or wait until the light has changed back to green. It would also prevent pedestrians from being caught in the middle of the street when the light changes from green to red thereby reducing accidents as a result of such a situation.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, it is to be seen that I provide an enclosure having a front I, a back 2, sides 3,and top and bottom 4 and 5 respectively. As isusual in traffie lights the front is provided with upper and lower openings within which the red and green colored glass 6 and l is located. The front may be either hingedly mounted on the enclosure or secured thereto in any other desired manner.

Spaced from the rear 2 is a board or partition 8 on which most of the mechanism is mounted extending from the top to the bottom with various openings therein to enable the various parts of the mechanism to be mounted thereon.

In this board 8 are upper and lower openings 9 behind which and to the rear side of the board are mounted the light sockets Ill so that the light bulbs ll may extend therethrough. An additional plate 12 is provided which has a shape substantially like that shown in Fig. 3. This plate is mounted on the board 8 and is secured thereto by any desired means. In the center of the board 3 is another opening l3 which has a motor [4 located therein and which is provided with a shaft lfi 'extending through the plate i2 and rotatably mounted therein. At the outer end of the shaft 15 and at the forward side of the plate a gear segment I6 is secured and held in place by means of a collar ll. The teeth on this gear segment extend substantiallyhalf way around it so that in effect it is a semi-circular segment.

Openings are also provided in the plate l2 concentric With the openings 9 in the board 8 and receive therein theshank ill of the gears l9. A ring 20 has a press fit around the shank l8 behind the mounting board to prevent removal of the gear I9 but permitting its rotation in the openingin which it is mounted. The construction at the upper and lower ends of the plate l2 are similar. I

Immediately above the lower gear is and immediately below the upper one another gear .2!

is mounted for rotative movement in another opening in the place [2 concentric with the open- 1 ings 22in the board 8. The gears 2| are adapted to be in mesh with the gears I9 so that a rotation of one will cause a rotation of the other in the opposite direction. At this point, then,

- it is to be noted that the respective locations of the various gears is such that a clockwise rotation of the gear segment l6, when it is in mesh with the upper gear 2|, will cause a counterclockwise rotation of that gear which in turn will cause a clockwise rotation of the upper gear I9. Then as the gear segment continues to rotate one end will contact the lower gear 2| as soon as the other end leaves the upper corresponding gear and, through the same train, will cause a clockwise rotation of the lower gear I9. The gear segment is continuously rotated by means of the motor I4 and therefore the upper and lower gears I9 will be rotated automatically one complete revolution during one-half of a revolution of the gear segment and in alternate relation.

On each of the gears I9 an arm 23 is located which is curved slightly and then extends forwardly to a point beyond the end of its adjacent light source and an arrow 24 is mounted at the outer end thereof in such a Way that a rotation of the gear I9 will also cause a clockwise rotation of its attached arrow 24 about the center of the gear as its own rotative center. Since only one arrow and its corresponding light is in operation at one time, the light casts a shadow of the arrow on the colored glass in front thereof and, since it is known that one light will be extinguished and the other one illuminated as soon as the arrow reaches its upper vertical position, a pedestrian or motorist will be able to tell at a glance how soon the traflic signal will change.

Another feature of my invention is the provision of means to cause the changing of the lights also by movement of the gear segment I6 which causes a changing of the movement of the arrows. To effect this result, I provide adjacent each light source a pair of brackets 25 one on either side of the gear 2I between which extends a partial enclosure 26. Adjacent this small enclosure 26 is a metallic spring bar 21 secured at one end to the partition 8 and at its other end carrying the electric wire 28. The other corresponding wire 29 has its end bared and is located Within the enclosure 26 adjacent the end of the wire 28. The bar 21 has sufficient tension therein and is so located that it normally maintains the ends of the two wires 28 and 29 spaced apart. This construction constitutes a switch so that when the switch is closed by forcing a contact between the ends of the two wires 28 and 29 it will light the adjacent light source.

The end of the tension bar 21 has an enlargement 30 thereon through which the Wire 23 passes and the gear segment I6 has a camming rib 3| thereon so that in its rotative movement it will contact first one and then the other end 30 of each spring 21 forcing the end of the wire 28 against the end 29 thereby closing the circuit and lighting the light. It is to be noted that these various switches are located with respect to each gear 21 so that as one end of the gear segment causes a rotation of an arrow it simultaneously lights the light which casts the shadow of that arrow onto the glass in front thereof. The wiring diagram of these switches and associated parts is shown in Fig. 2.

While I have here illustrated and described what I consider to be the preferred form of my invention it is to be understood that certain parts thereof such as the arrows may be changed to other indicating means, and other parts so changed without departing in any way from the spirit of the invention. It should also be noted here that I have preferred to provide a reflector 32 around each light source to not only concentrate the light and make the shadow of the arrow more clear and distinct but also to prevent any light from one light source being seen through the opposite opening in the front of the enclosure.

This invention will be especially advantageous for pedestrians by enabling them to know how much more time will elapse before the light changes from green to red, and it will also aid motorists in the same way. The device is simple and economical to manufacture and has operated satisfactorily in practice.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be used instead of the one here described, change being made as regards the structure herein disclosed provided, however, that the means stated by any of the following claims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I, therefore, particularly point out and distinctly claim, as my invention:

1. A traffic signal comprising, an enclosure, two light sources mounted within said enclosure one above the other, a front on said enclosure having openings therein opposite said light sources, a gear surrounding each light source, a second gear above and below the lower and upper first gears respectively, a continuously rotating semi-circular gear segment mounted between said second gears and driving them alternately, a switch adjacent each light source to illuminate each one when its corresponding switch is closed, camming means on said gear segment to close each switch alternately as said segment is rotated, and an arrow in front of each light source mounted on the adjacent first mentioned gear and rotatable therewith, whereby said gear segment will cause an illumination of each light source and a complete rotation of the arrow adjacent thereto alternately during each complete rotation of said segment.

2. A traffic signal comprising, an enclosure, two light sources mounted within said enclosure one above the other, a front on said enclosure having openings therein opposite said light sources, a semi-circular gear segment mounted between said light sources, means to rotate said segment continuously, an electric switch adjacent each light source, means on said segment to close said switches alternately to illuminate each light source during one half of a revolution thereof, an arrow in front of each light source, and means on which each arrow is mounted to cause a complete revolution of each; arrow while the light source adjacent thereto is illuminated.

3. The combination of elements defined in claim 2, wherein said last named means is actuated by said gear segment.

FREDERICK A. LEDWARD.

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