Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
2025777
MODULAR TRAFFIC SIGNAL APPARATUS
1 Scope of the Invention
This invention relates to traffic signals and more
particularly to traffic signals of a modular type which may
be interconnected to provide a traffic signal apparatus.
Background of the Invention
Modular traffic signal apparatus are known.
Typical such assemblies are taught by U.S. Patent 3,991,400
to Buehler and U.S. Patent 3,999,160 to McDonnell. With
such known apparatus, the modular units are adapted to be
coupled together with their end surfaces in abutment and
means are provided to mechanically couple the end surface of
one unit to the end surface of an adjacent unit with the end
surfaces to bear the entire loading forces acting on the
complete assembly.
,1_ ~,;
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1 These known modular units suffer the disadvantage
that the strength of a resultant apparatus formed by joining
a number of units is determined by the strength of the
individual unit and particularly its end surfaces. Each
individual unit must bear the loading of the entire
assembly. As such units are typically manufactured from
cast aluminum alloy, the individual cast units must have a
substantial mass to bear the loading forces to which the
traffic signal assembly can be subjected. This necessarily
substantially increases the weight of the unit and its
resultant cost.
The previously known modular devices such as those
of Buehler and McDonnell have not proven satisfactory in
that they have not been practical to manufacture. The
individual modular units have been too heavy and the
couplings between end surfaces of the units have been unable
to efficiently bear the necessary loading forces.
Summary of the Invention
To at least partially overcome the disadvantages
of previously known devices, the present invention provides
a traffic signal assembly comprising a plurality of modular
signal housing units arranged in a row and rearward of the
units, a support tube extending between at least the two end
most units to bear major portions of the loading forces
acting on the assembly.
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l An object of this invention is to provide modular
signal housing units which have a lightweight and
inexpensive construction and can be assembled into an
assembly which will bear substantial loading forces.
Another object is to provide a construction for
modular signal housing units which can be arranged in rows
yet be made out of lightweight plastic or alluminum alloys.
Another object is to provide a traffic signal
assembly comprising a plurality of similar modular signal
housing units which can easily be assembled by a workman and
provides for convenient wiring of the assembly and
interconnection of numerous electrical lamps within the
various units.
Accordingly, in one of its aspect the present
invention provides a traffic signal apparatus comprising a
plurality of modular signal housing units arranged in a row
with end surfaces of adjacent units in abutting relation,
each unit comprising:
a support portion with a major cylindrical bore
centrally therethrough open to each said end surface; a
cavity portion integral with the support portion and
defining a hollow cavity with a major access opening in a
plane generally parallel to the bore; and wiring openings
through each end surface of the unit into the cavity,
a cylindrical support tube extending through the
bores of all units removably received therein,
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1 each unit including coupling means to directly,
fixedly and removably couple the support portion of each unit
to the support tube with the units juxtaposed so that the
wiring openings of adjacent units are in alignment to provide
communication through the wiring openings between all
cavities;
wherein the support tube bears major loading forces
acting on the assembly.
In another aspect the present invention provides a
0 traffic signal apparatus comprising:
a plurality of modular signal housing units arranged
in a row with end surfaces of adjacent units in abutting
relation,
each housing unit comprising a cavity portion defining
a hollow cavity with a major forwardly directed access opening
and wiring openings through each end surface of the unit into
the cavity, coupling means directly, independently and
removably coupling the end surface of one housing unit to the
end surface of an adjacent housing unit with the wiring
openings of adjacent housing units in alignment to provide
communication through the wiring openings between all
cavities.
two end units, one for coupling at each end of said
~ row of modular singular units;
each end unit having on a forward portion thereof an
end surface abutting the end surface of the housing unit at
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1 its respective end of said row; coupling means directly,
independently and removably coupling the end surface of each
end unit to the end surface of its abutting housing unit;
an elongate support tube,
each end unit having on a rear portion thereof tube
coupling means for removably coupling each end unit to the
support tube,
the support tube extending from the tube coupling
means of one end unit rearward of the housing units to the
tube coupling means of the other end unit,
a first of the end units having an aperture
therethrough in communication with the wiring openings of the
housing units to provide communication through the first end
unit to the housing units,
said first end unit including bracket means for
coupling of the signal housing assembly to a supporting
structure.
Brief Description of the Drawings
Further aspects and advantages of the present
invention will appear from the following description taken
together with the following drawings in which:
Figure 1 is an exploded pictorial view of a preferred
embodiment of a traffic signal assembly in accordance with a
first preferred embodiment of the invention;
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l Figure 2 is a top view of a traffic signal assembly
of Figure l;
Figure 3 is an exploded view of the traffic signal
assembly shown in Figure 2; and
Figure 4 is a pictorial view of a second embodiment
of a traffic signal assembly in accordance with the present
invention; and
Figure 5 is a top view of the assembly of Figure 4.
Detailed Description of the Drawings
Reference is first made to Figures 1, 2 and 3
showing a first preferred embodiment of the invention.
Figure 3 shows a modular signal housing unit 10 in
accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention. The
unit has a part-cylindrical, rear support portion 12 with a
major cylindrical bore 14 extending centrally therethrough
open to each end surface 16 and 17 of the housing unit. The
rear support portion merges forwardly into a cavity portion 18
which defines a forwardly opening hollow cavity generally
indicated 20 with a major forward access opening 22. As is
shown, access opening 22 is in a plane which is generally
parallel to bore 14. That is, the major access opening 22
generally lies in a plane parallel to a central axis 24 of the
bore 14.
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1 As shown, cavity portion 18 has side walls 26 and 28
and a rear wall 30 which together with end walls 32 and 34
define cavity 20 with its forward opening 22. End walls 32
and 34 are provided with wiring openings 36 and 38 to provide
communication from the end surfaces 16 and 17 through the end
walls 32 and 34 into cavity 22.
As seen in the exploded view in Figure 3, cavity 22
is adapted to receive a lamp housing 40, door 42, lens 44 and
visor 46 in a known manner. Housing unit 10 is preferably
designed so as to accomodate commercially available such
components.
Figures 1, 2 and 3 show a traffic signal assembly
formed from four housing units generally indicated lOa to
lOd. A cylindrical support rod or tube 50 is provided to
extend through the bore 14 of each unit 10. Coupling means,
preferably set screws or set bolts 52, are provided in the
support portion 12 of each unit 10 so as to extend through the
support portion 12 and into bore 14. Tightening of these
bolts 52 directly fixedly couples each housing unit 10 to
support tube 50. Each housing unit is independently secured
to support tube 20 by set bolts 52.
Wiring openings 36 and 38 are located at
complimentary, corresponding positions on each housing unit 10
so that when the housing units 10 are fixed onto support tube
50, the wiring openings 36 and 38 of adjacent units 10 are in
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1 alignment. This permits communication through the wiring
openings 36 and 38 between the cavities 22 of adjacent units
10 and, accordingly, between the cavities 22 of all housing
units 10.
To seal the individual units, resilient gaskets 54
are provided between the abutting end surfaces 16 and 17 of
adjacent units to seal about the wiring openings 36 and 38 and
prevent air and water from entering cavities 22 via wiring
openings 36 and 38. Fastening means generally indicated and
shown as bolt and nut combinations 56 may preferably be
provided through bolt openings 58 in each end wall 32 and 34
of the units so as to bolt the end walls of adjacent units 10
together.
Figures 2 and 3 show the assembly as including in
addition to support tube 50 and the four units 10, an end cap
60 and a connecting end cap 62. Each of these end caps have
an interior end surface for mating, abutting engagement with
an end surface 16 or 17 of an adjacent housing unit. Each of
the end caps have a bore 64 to receive support tube 50. Set
bolts 52a provide coupling means to directly, independently
and fixedly couple each of the end caps to support tube 50.
Similarly, bolt fasteners 56a serve to secure the end surfaces
16 or 17 of the housing units to the end surfaces of the end
caps with similar sealing gaskets disposed therebetween. The
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1 bore 64 in the end caps may close as a blind end as shown or
open through the end cap.
Blind end cap 60 with its associated gasket serves
the purpose of sealing off wiring opening 32 from the last
housing unit lOd.
Connecting end cap 62 is provided with a hollow
tubular extension 66 to receive internally therein the support
arm 68 of a traffic signal standard. In a known manner,
clamping screws 67 serve to rigidly secure the extension 66
onto the support arm and can be utlized to vary the relative
angulation of the complete signal assembly relative to support
arm 68. Preferably, there is also a mechanical, safety means
to couple extension 66 to support arm 68 in the event of
failure of the clamping screws 67.
Connecting end cap 62 has a communicating passageway
centrally therethrough which opens to the wiring opening 38 of
the first housing unit lOa and permits wiring to pass
internally from support arm 68 through extension 66, through
the remainder of connecting end cap 62, and then through
wiring opening 38 of the first housing unit and, hence, to all
the cavities 22 of all the housing units.
In use, when a traffic signal assembly is desired,
the assembly may be assembled having as many of the housing
units 10 as desired. Support tubes 50 can be provided in
desired incremental lengths to accomodate one, two, three or
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-- 10 --
1 more housing units 10 and associated end caps 60 and 62. In
the event of damage to an assembly in use, any units 10 which
may be damaged can readily be replaced and substituted without
the need to discard units which have not been damaged.
Selection of the individual door lens and visors for the
different housing units permits customization of the
individual traffic signal hanger. The traffic signal hanger
is readily adapted to hang with the series of units 10 located
in a horizontal row as is frequently the case in the Province
of Quebec, Canada, or otherwise with the units lO in a
vertical row.
The housing units 10 and the end caps 60 and 62 may
preferably be made from plastic or cast from lightweight
aluminum alloy castings. One useful plastic is Lexan (trade
mark), a polycarbonate plastic of General Electric.
In an assembled assembly, each housing unit 10 is
directly coupled to support tube 50. The support tube bears
the substantial loading forces to act on the assembly in
use. By reason of each unit 10 being directly coupled to
support tube 50, couplings between the ends of the units as,
for example, via bolts 56, do not need to be designed so as to
bear the major loading forces to act on the assembly.
Accordingly, the housing units 10 can individually be designed
to be of lesser strength thereby reducing the amount of
material required to make up the walls. This reduces the
weight and expense.
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1 In the first preferred embodiment of the housing
unit 10 as shown in Figure 1, internal cavity 22 is separate
from the bore 14. While this is not necessary, it facilitates
sealing cavity 22 and avoids the need to have weathertight
seals between support tube 50 and bore 14.
In the first preferred embodiment a cylindrical
support tube and corresponding cylindrical bore 14 have been
shown. It is to be appreciated that other configurations of
support tubes and rods such as a square, oval or triangular
rod, preferably with a correspondingly shaped bore, could be
utilized.
In the first preferred embodiment, only a single
bore is provided located relatively centrally in the part-
cylindrical rear support portion. More than one such support
tube and bore could be provided through each unit, however,
this is not necessary and it is believed that use of a single
support tube provides a superior product.
Figures 1, 2 and 3 show a planar backboard generally
indicated 72 which comprises two U-shaped segments 74 and 76
as seen in Figure 4. The backboard 72 may preferably comprise
a thin sheet of metal. Each unit 10 has forward flanges 78 on
each side of access opening 22 with holes 80 by which the
backboard segments may be bolted to the units 10. Similarly,
the backboard may be bolted to front surfaces 84 of end caps
60 and 62.
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- 12 -
l Reference is now made to the second embodiment
illustrated in Figures 4 and 5 and in which similar reference
numerals refer to simi]ar parts. The first and second
embodiments differ in two principal aspects. Regarding a
first aspect, in the second embodiment, the modular units lOa
to lOd are not connected directly to tube 50. The modular
signal units lOa to lOd are substantially the same as that in
Figures 1 to 3, with the exception that they do not have the
rear portion 12. In Figures 4 and 5, the support tube 50
extends rearward of the signal units between the end units 60
and 62 and bears a substantial portion of loading forces
acting of the assembly. The individual signal units lOa to
lOd are coupled together end to end as in the manner in
Figures 1 to 3.
Regarding a second aspect, in the second embodiment,
tube 50 is coupled to connecting end cap 62 at two
locations. As seen in Figures 4 and 5, connecting end cap 62
has two spaced clamp structures indicated generally as 92 and
9~ to securely clamp the support tube 50 at both en~s of the
end cap 62 and thus increase the mechanical strength. This is
advantageous in permitting the assembly to be mounted either
horizontally or vertically. To facilitate manufacture, end
cap 62 is shown in Figures 4 and 5 to have two removable C-
clamp members 93 and 95 to be bolted to compatible flange
mounts on the end cap 62 and grasp tube 50 frictionally
therebetween. Similarly, end cap 64 is shown with clamp
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.
l sructure 90 with a similar C-clamp member 91 bo]ted to its
flange mount.
The first embodiment of Figures l, 2 and 3 show all
modular signal units as having rear portions 12 to engage the
support tubes. Alternatively, only some of the modular units
in the second embodiment may have rear portions 12 to form a
hybrid between the first and second embodiments with or
without tube 50 coupled to the end cap 62 at two locations as
shown in Figures 4 and 5.
Both illustrated embodiments have end units at each
end of the row of modular signal units. The end units are not
necessary. In the first embodiment, the support tube could
terminate in the end most signal units lOa and lOd with the
end units either not being provided or not having a rear
portion with bore 62 to receive the support tube. In such a
configuration, internal signal units lOb and lOc need not have
rear portions with the support tube to be engaged merely by
units lOa and lOd.
While the invention has been described with
reference to the preferred embodiments, it is not so
limited. Many modifications and variations will now occur to
persons skilled in the art. For a definition of the invention
reference is made to the appended claims.
