US2111087A - Traffic signal - Google Patents

Description

March 15, 1938. w, E, BE E 2,111,087

TRAFFIC SIGNAL Filed March 22, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 $751.2 [flue/1 tor- By 28 m Attorneys T VZz/terELB'ege/ W. E. BEYER TRAFFIC SIGNAL March 15, 1938.

Filed March 22 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 W C M W J Patented Mar. 15, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application March 22,

4 Claims.

This invention relates to trailic regulating Signals. and has for a primary object the provision of a simple compact means incorporating two major signals, one signal being displayed uniformly for the desired signal display length and the other major signal being displayed in gradually reducing sizes or degree of illumination to indicate the remaining period of duration thereof. A still further primary object of the invention is to provide means prohibiting stationary trailic from observing the condition of the moving-trafiic signal whereby the stationarytrafic may not anticipate changes in the signal and move before the actual signal change/ The invention comprises essentially a standard having a major signal lamp exposed on the side or sides in the direction of a trailic lane and then having a plurality of signal lamps grouped immediately around the above indicated major lamp, whereby, for example, the major signal may have the usual red lamp or lens to indicate "stop and. the other major signal may be a plurality of green lamps concentrically arranged around the red lamp and so operated that following the end of the illumination of the l7d lamp, all of the green lamps will be then illuminated 'to form a complete circle which, when viewed from a distance through the multiplicity of light rays appear as a common source of light to indicate the go signal. These green lamps are so perated that one after another is extinguished in clockwise rotation in timed sequence thereby indicating the amount of time left before the last of the green lamps is extinguished to end the display of the go signal.

By this operation of the signal, the standard carrying the signals is made in a very compact form and the drivers or operators of cars in the trafilc do not have to change their line of vision 40 from one place to the other on the standard as has been heretofore required when a number of operated signals have been displayed one above or below the other in spaced relation on a stand.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those versed in the art in the. following description of one particular form of the invention which is more or less diagrammatically illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a standard head embodying the invention;

Fig. 2, a top plan view on an enlarged scale on partial section;

Fig. 3, a detail in rear elevation of a standard head door; and

oil

1937, Serial No. 132,252

Fig. 4, a wiring diagram.

Like characters of reference indicate like parts throughout the several views in the drawings.

Referring first to the mechanical arrangement, I form a standard head it! supported in any suitable manner by a standard H and on each side of the head it) provide some suitable means for carrying the signals. In the particular embodi= ment herein shown, this means consists of a door l2 preferably mounted on the head by hinges 53 in each instance and held in a closed position by thumb screws M.

Each door i2 is provided with a central major aperture therethrough over which is mounted a glass or lens 55, here shown as being held in position by a plurality of clips it, Fig. 3. This glass it may be of the desired color for the signal to be displayed. Without limiting the invention thereto but merely for the sake of describing one particular form, the glass it will be hereinafter referred to as being red in color.

Within the head it behind each door it is mounted a reflector ll carrying centrally thereof a suitable socket l8 in which is mounted a lamp H! which may be clear in color when the lens or glass I5 is colored. The reflector H is mounted on the head proper so that the door 82 may be opened without disturbing the reflector and access may be had to the lamp 19 for replacement as becomes necessary.

The door l2 in each instance is provided with a plurality of openings 20 therethrough spaced in circumferential relation about the central aper ture. Each of these openings 20 is formed to receive a lamp socket 21 therein to be secured in any suitable manner. In the present form, the socket 2! is formed with an annular flange 22 to rest on an angular shoulder 23 presented within the hole 20. The flange 22 abuts the shoulder 23 from the forward or outer side and a clamp or bracket 24 is attached to the rear or inner side of the socket 2| and has legs extending forwardly or outwardly within the hole 20 along the sides of the socket 2! to abut by the leg ends the inner side of the shoulder 23.

A lamp 25 is placed in each of the sockets 2i. In the form herein shown, there are twelve of these lamps 25 mounted concentrically of the glass l5. As indicated, each of the lamps 25 is accessible from the exterior side of the door H. For convenience in manufacture, the holes 20 and the lamps 25 with their respective sockets 2| are provided in an annular member 26 which is secured to the door H by any suitable means such as the screws 21, and extends outwardly around the lamps as a reflector. As indicated by the drawings, in the form of the invention herein shown and described, the head I is provided with four faces, each having a door l2 with the lamps directed as above indicated so that the particular example is suitable for a right angle intersection of roadways. In order to prevent trailic in one line from observing the condition of the signal for trafllc in the line to the right or left, the member 26 will serve to conceal from side traffic the illumination or passage of light through the glass I but in addition thereto to not only further conceal this condition but also to prevent side observance of the condition of illumination of the lamps 25, a tubular extension 28 is provided from each member 26 as a complete shroud or hood, opening only at its outer end to tramc approaching in that direction.

Now referring to the electrical operation of the various lamps, reference is made to Fig. 4. In this view each of the lamps l8, there being four in the particular example herein explained, are indicated as the red lamps. It is to be remembered of course that like signals will be displayed on opposite sides of the head ill to traffic travelling in both directions in the same roadway. Any suitable timing mechanism may be employed such as an electric motor 29 which will operate to open and close electrical contacts in the required sequence for the required periods of illumination of the various lamps. One particular form of such a mechanism may be operated by the motor 29 to revolve continuously one or more contact members 30 in the paths of contacts 3i.

Now assuming that the left hand contact mem ber 30, Fig. 4, has been revolved to that position wherein all of the contacts 3!, here shown as thirteen in number have just been covered and connected with the wire 32 which leads to any suitable source of current, current is thereby conducted from the wire 32 through the contact member 30 to the second contact 3! and then through the wire 33, wire 34, through the two red lamps is interconnected in parallel, these two red lamps being in this case on opposite sides of the head ID, from which lamps the circuit is completed through the wire 35, wire 36, back to the wire 37 to the source of the current. Simultaneously the electrical circuit is completed from the wire 32 through all of the remaining contacts 3| by the contact member 80 and through each of the twelve green lamps 25 which are on the opposite sides of the head l0 removed from the sides in which the red lamps l9 are then illuminated. 'With this illumination of all of the green lamps 25 on the respective opposite side of the head i 0, trafllc in that lane is given the signal to proceed whereas the illumination of the two red lamps IS on the other opposite sides of the signal head in indicated to the. trafiic in the right angle lane to remain stationary. With this illumination, it is understood that, Fig. 4, the other set of red lamps I 9a which are on the sides of the head In then carrying the illuminated green lamps 25 remain dark as do also the other green lamps 25a. appearing on the sides carrying the illuminated red lights [9, a condition accomplished by reasonof the fact that the right hand contact member 30 has not as yet been carried around to close the circuitleading to those respective lamps.

The contact member 30 on the left hand side, Fig. 4, is moved in the direction indicated by the arrow by the motor 2., so that step by step the contacts ii are uncovered to the left thereby opening the electrical circuit to the green lamps 25 one at a time leaving the remaining lamps illuminated until all of those contacts 3i have been uncovered to open the circuit completely between all of the green lamps 25 and the red lamps l9. When this condition is reached, the right hand contact member 30 has advanced over the respective right hand contacts 3| until the last contact 3| to the righ is reached whereupon current is then supplied to all of those right hand contacts 3i theretofore contacted by the member 30, in which case the red lamps Ha on those sides of the head It on which the green lamps 25 were just extinguished are then illuminated and the green lamps 250 are illuminated on those other sides of the head In on which the red lamps l9 were just extinguished.

It is therefore to be noted that for the stop signal there is a single red display of constant duration as to intensity or size throughout the period of existence of that particular signal whereas the other maJor signal, the "go" signal, comprises the ring of green lamps immediately surrounding the glass I5 and that this ring of green lamps is in timed sequence broken down, one lamp at a time being extinguished until the last lamp is reached andextinguished thereby indicating to the moving traffic the length of duration of the go" signal from the time it is flashed on until immediately preceding the period it is extinguished.

The signal is unique in that from the same apparent source, comes both the stop. and go signals to the oncoming tramc. From a distance the ring of green lamps appears as a single central source of illumination but upon appro-aching closer, the attention of the driver in tramc is attracted immediately by the decreasing continuity of the illumination which warns him of the approach of the change from the go" to the stop signal.

Since the signals are completely concealed from view to the trafiic approaching from the side, a great degree of safety is afforded in that the side approaching traffic is not inclined to jump the signal and proceed into the intersection before the moving trafllc has come to a halt. In other words, the inherent delay between the stopping of traffic in one lane and the beginning of motion of the traffic in the other lane is produced without the necessity of having to employ an intermediate signal commonly of the yellow or caution nature. Furthermore by reason of the major go signal itself decreasing in size or intensity, this feature serves to supply the necessary caution indication to the moving trafflc.

Another safety factor of this signal is that the driver is not dependent on the colors of the lights because the moving light will always indicate go, and the stationary light will indicate stop. Even completely color-blind individuals can read this signal.

While I have herein shown and described my invention in the one-best form as now known to me, it is obvious that structural variations may be employed without departing from the spirit of the invention and I, therefore, do not desire to be limited to that precise form beyond the limitations as may be imposed by the following claims.

I claim:

1. A trafllc signal comprising a major stop" a area, and means interposed between said red and signal of red light displayed over an appreciable area, and a major go signal of green light to. all intents and purposes displayed over the same said area from a distance, said green signal comprising a plurality of individual green lights arranged circumferentialLv immediately around said area and a, hood completely encircling said green. lights and extending outwardly therefrom a sufficient distance ltocause a commingling of the green light rays to simulatea ball'oi. green lights from a distance, means illuminating and extinguishing said red and green lights in timed sequence, and extinguisaingisaidgreen lights one afteranother iollowing initial illumination of all or them. whereby said ball of, green light from a relatively nearer point decreases in size to a band of green light decreasing in'length around said area.

2. A trailic' signal comprising a major stop" signal of red lightdisplayed over an appreciable area, and a major "go signal oi green light to all intents and purposes displayed over the same said area from a distance, said green signal comprising a plurality of individual green lights arranged circumferentially immediately around said area and a hood completely encircling said green lights and extending outwardly therefrom a sufllcientdist'ance to cause a commingling oi the green light rays to simulate a ball of green lights from a distance, means illuminating and extinguishing said red and green lights in timed sequence, and extinguishing said green lights one after another following initial illumination all of them, whereby said ball of green light from a relatively nearer point decreases in size to a band of green lightdecreasing inlength around said green lights interrupting light reflection therebetween but permitting diffusion of the green light forwardly of the red light.

3. A trafllc signal comprising a} majofls'top signal of red light displayed over an appreciable area, and a major go signal'of green light to all intents and purposes displayed over the same said area from a distance, said green signal comranged circumierentially immediately around said area, and a hood completely encircling said green lights and extending outwardly therefrom a suflicient distance to cause a commingling of the green light rays to simulate a'ball of green lights from a distance, means illuminating and extinguishing said red and green lights in timed sequence, and extinguishing said green lights one after another following initial illumination of all of them, whereby said ball of green light from a relatively nearer point decreases in size to a band v of green light decreasing in length around said area, said green lights being surrounded by a reflector within said hood efiecting criss-cross reflection of rays within said hood from said green lights.

4. In a tramc signal, a standard carrying a stop indicating lamp, a lens over the lamp, a ring formed to flt around said lens, a plurality of sockets carried by the ring, a green indicating lamp in each socket setting forwardly of said lens, and a substantially cylindrical diffusing hood encircling said circle of lamps and extending an appreciable distance therefrom.

WALTER E. BEYER.

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