Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
81799112
SIGNAL LIGHT APPARATUS
TECHNICAL rIE4D
This invention relates to a signal light apparatus,
more particularly a signal light apparatus incorporating tiltable
structure including a mast having at least one signal light
attached at an end portion thereof.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Poles and masts of various types incorporating
pivotally attached pole components are known. It is also known
to use such poles and masts to support lights, the pivot feature
utilized to replace, repair or otherwise service the lights
supported thereby without the necessity of climbing.
Counter-weights have been employed to facilitate
tilting of mast segments or portions; however, maintaining the
tilted portion of a light apparatus at a stable and desired
location can be difficult. As will be seen below, the subject
invention provides a tilt control mechanism which frictionally
engages a tiltable structure including a signal light relative to
a base member and which releasably maintains the tiltable
structure at alterative selected tilt orientations relative to
the base member in the absence of outside forces of predetermined
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magnitude being applied to the tiltable structure. In other
words, an individual can attain the desired degree of tilt and
maintain the desired degree of tilt until exerting a force on the
tiltable structure sufficient to return it to upright position or
change the degree of inclination.
This keeps the individual, such as signal maintainer or
inspector, on the ground instead of having to climb a ladder and
work from a platform.
The following patent documents are believed to be
representative of the current state of the prior art in this
field: U.S. Patent No. 3,355,847, issued December 5, 1967, U.S.
Patent No. 4,149,347, issued April 17, 1979, U.S. Patent No.
189,514, issued April 10, 1877, U.S. Patent No. 4,697,672,
issued October 6, 1987, U.S. Patent No. 5,171,088, issued
December 15, 1992, U.S. Patent No, 926,426, issued June 29, 1909,
U.S. Patent No. 5,170,975, issued December 15, 1992, U.S. Patent
Publication No. US 2013/0220760, published August 29, 2013,
Patent Publication WO 2009/007757, published January 15, 2009,
French Patent No. FR2875582, issued March 23, 2007, French Patent
No. FR2924731, issued June 12, 2009, Korean Patent No.
KR101108665, issued January 25, 2012, Chinese Patent No.
CN2531042, issued January 15, 2003, U.S. Patent No. 5,171,068,
issued December, 1992 and U.S. Patent No. 3,355,847, issued
December, 1967.
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81799112
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
The signal light apparatus of this invention includes
an elongated base member extending upwardly from the ground
or other support surface and having a distal end.
A tiltable structure includes a mast having first and
second mast ends pivotally connected at or adjacent to the
distal end of the base member at a pivot location on the mast
between the mast ends.
The tiltable structure also includes counter-weight
structure attached to the mast at or adjacent to the first
mast end and at least one signal light attached at or adjacent
to the second mast end.
A tilt control assembly at the pivot location provides
the connection between the mast and the base member allowing
tilting of the tiltable structure relative to the base member
and releasably maintaining the tiltable structure at
alternative selected tilt orientations relative to the base
member in the absence of outside forces of predetermined
magnitude being applied to the tiltable structure.
Some embodiments of the invention provide signal light
apparatus comprising, in combination: an elongated base member
extending upwardly from a support surface and having a distal
end; a tiltable structure including a mast having first and
second mast ends pivotally connected to the distal end of said
base member at a pivot location on said mast between said mast
ends, counter-weight structure attached to the mast adjacent to
said first mast end and at least one signal light attached at
or adjacent to said second mast end; and a tilt control
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81799112
assembly at said pivot location allowing tilting of said
tiltable structure relative to said base member and releasably
maintaining the tiltable structure at alternative selected tilt
orientations relative to said base member unless outside forces
of predetermined magnitude are applied to said tiltable
structure, said tilt control assembly including a rotor
attached to said mast and rotatable with said mast, and two
rotor engagement members applying frictional forces to said
rotor at opposed locations on said rotor to resist rotation of
said mast, each said rotor engagement member comprising a shoe
with a curved rotor control surface for frictional engagement
with said rotor, said shoes being opposed and at least one of
said shoes being a pivotally mounted shoe, said tilt control
assembly additionally including adjustment means for pivoting
said at least one pivotally mounted shoe and moving said at
least one pivotally mounted shoe toward the shoe opposed to
said at least one pivotally mounted shoe to adjust frictional
engagement between said shoes and said rotor.
Other features, advantages and objects of the present
invention will become apparent with reference to the
following description and accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is a frontal, perspective view of a first
embodiment of signal light apparatus of this invention in
operative condition with signal lights thereof fully elevated
and
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the tiltable structure in a substantially vertical orientation;
Fig. 2 is a rear, perspective view of the signal light
apparatus in the operative condition of Fig. 1;
Fig. 3 is an enlarged, exploded, perspective view
illustrating selected structural elements including a structural
component of the base member and attached structural components
of the mast and counter-weight employed in the invention, prior
to securing the base member and the mast by lock members;
Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, but illustrating
the structural elements of Fig. 3 locked together;
Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the signal light
apparatus with tiltable structure including mast, counter-weight
structure and signal lights in tilted condition;
Fig. 6 is an elevational, side view illustrating the
signal light apparatus in operative or use condition by solid
lines and in tilted or non-use condition by dash lines;
Fig. 7 is an enlarged, perspective view of the ratchet
and pawl assembly of the apparatus;
Fig. 8 is a top, plan view of the ratchet and pawl
assembly and a portion of the mast attached thereto;
Fig. 9 is an exploded, perspective view of the ratchet
and pawl assembly and related structure;
Fig. 10 is a view taken along line 10 - 10 of Fig. 8
and showing rotation of a portion of the mast about a pivot
location along with a rotating ratchet wheel and associated pawl
of the system;
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Fig. 11 is an enlarged, somewhat diagrammatic
presentation of the relationship between the pawl and ratchet
wheel of Fig. 10 during rotation of the ratchet wheel in the
direction illustrated in Fig. 10;
Fig. 12 is a view similar to Fig. 10, but illustrating
a second ratchet wheel and pawl combination, the second ratchet
wheel and mast rotating in the opposite direction, the view being
taken along line 12 - 12 of Fig. 8;
Fig. 13 is a view similar to Fig. 11, but showing the
second ratchet wheel and cooperative relationship therebetween
with two pawls when the second ratchet wheel is rotated in the
direction opposite the direction of Figs. 10 and 11;
Fig. 14 is a view similar to Fig. 7, but showing a
second embodiment of the tilt control assembly;
Fig. 15 is an exploded, perspective view of the tilt
control assembly of Fig. 14;
Fig. 16 is a side elevation view showing the second
embodiment of tilt control assembly in combination with a mast
portion and showing the tilt control assembly in operative
condition exerting frictional forces on the mast resisting
tilting of the mast;
Fig. 17 is a view similar to Fig. 14 showing the tilt
control assembly in inoperative position wherein forces resisting
tilting of the mast are not being applied to the mast;
Fig. 18 is a view similar to Figs. 7 and 14, but
showing a third embodiment of the tilt control assembly;
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Fig. 19 is an exploded, perspective view of the tilt
control assembly of Fig. 18;
Fig. 20 is a top plan view of the tilt control assembly
of Fig. 18;
Fig. 21 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 21-
21 in Fig. 20 showing a mast support shaft and attached rotor
supported by the third embodiment of the tilt control assembly in
inoperative position wherein forces resisting tilting of the mast
are not being applied to the rotor; and
Fig. 22 is a view similar to Fig. 21, but showing the
tilt control assembly in operation, forces resisting tilting of
the mast being applied to the rotor.
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MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Referring now to Figs. 1 - 13 of the drawings, a first
embodiment of signal light apparatus constructed in accordance
with the teachings of the present invention is illustrated. The
apparatus includes an elongated base member 10 extending upwardly
from the ground and secured thereto. The base member has a
distal end in the form of a flat plate 12.
The apparatus incorporates a tiltable structure 14
including a mast 16 having mast ends 18, 20. The mast is
pivotally connected to the distal end 12 of the base member at a
pivot location on the mast between the mast ends. In particular,
the pivot location corresponds to the center of gravity of the
tiltable structure 14.
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The tiltable structure 14 also includes a counter-
weight structure 24 attached to the mast adjacent to mast end 18.
Signal lights 26, 28 are also part of tiltable structure 14 and
they are attached at or adjacent to the mast end 20.
The mast is formed of any suitable material such as
stock aluminum. The mast includes a straight central mast
portion 30 and spaced end portions 32, 34 laterally projecting
from the opposed ends of the central mast portion whereby the
mast has a generally Z-shaped configuration. The mast end
portions 32, 34 extend along substantially parallel axes and are
vertically disposed when the tiltable structure is not tilted
relative to the base member.
The counter-weight structure 24 is a metal framework
suitably formed of galvanized steel rods projecting away from the
base member when the tiltable structure 14 is not tilted; that
is, when in the condition shown in Figs. 1 and 2, for example.
Mast end portion 32 having the counter-weight structure
attached thereto is closely adjacent and substantially parallel
to the base member when the tiltable structure 14 is not tilted.
Lock structure is provided to lock mast end portion 32 and the
counter-weight structure attached thereto to a laterally
extending base member portion 36 to keep the tiltable structure
in the operative position shown for example in Figs. 1 and 2. In
the arrangement illustrated, the lock structure includes two U-
clamps 38 secured by nuts to a receiver 40 at the end of base
member portion 36. Spaced ribs 42 on the receiver maintain the
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mast end portion 32 and counter-weight structure securely in
place. Fig. 3 shows the mast end portion 32 prior to engagement
with the receiver 40 and prior to securement by U-clamps 38 and
nuts. Fig. 4 shows the structure of Fig. 3 locked securely in
place.
The signal light apparatus includes a tilt control
assembly comprising a ratchet and pawl assembly 50 at the
aforedescribed pivot location and providing the connection
between the mast 16 and the base member, allowing tilting of the
tiltable structure relative to the base member when clamps 38
have been removed as shown in Fig. 3. The ratchet and pawl
assembly 50 allows tilting of the tiltable structure 14 relative
to the base member 10 and releasably maintains the tiltable
structure at alternative selected tilt orientations relative to
the base member in the absence of outside forces of predetermined
magnitude being applied to the tiltable structure.
Bearing members 56, 58 are bolted in place on the support plate
at the distal end of the base member and rotatably support a
shaft 60. Ratchet wheels 62, 64 are welded or otherwise affixed
to one end of the shaft 60. A spacer ring 66 maintains a space
between the ratchet wheels, however the ratchet wheels and the
spacer ring are secured together so that the ratchet wheels both
rotate together with the shaft 60, as does spacer ring 66.
The ratchet and pawl assembly also includes pawl
supports 70 secured to the support plate, as by means of suitable
mechanical fasteners, with the ratchet wheels located between the
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pawl supports. In the arrangement illustrated, two pawls 72, 74
are operatively associated with one of the pawl supports 70 and a
single pawl 76 is operatively associated with the other pawl
support 70. The pawls are mounted on support pins 78 and are
pivotally mounted thereon. The pawls are also attached to L-
shaped springs 80 which are in turn affixed at ends thereof
spaced from the pawls to the pawl supports 70. The L-shaped
springs continuously bias their respective pawls toward the
associated ratchet wheel. In the arrangement illustrated, two
pawls are operatively associated with ratchet wheel 64 and one
pawl with ratchet wheel 62. The central mast portion 30 is
fixedly connected to the shaft 60 at the end thereof remote from
the ratchet wheels and pawls. Thus, the mast (along with the
rest of the tiltable structure 14) rotates along with the ratchet
wheels. In the arrangement illustrated, a handle 84 may be
connected to the shaft 62 to rotate the tiltable structure 14'and
the ratchet wheels along with the shaft 60.
The ratchet wheels have ratchet teeth with opposed
teeth edges, one of the teeth edges being steeply sloped and the
other of the teeth edges not being steeply sloped.
The ratchet wheels are oriented in opposition to one
another whereby the steeply sloped edge of the teeth of only one
of the ratchet wheels is the leading edge when the ratchet wheels
are jointly rotated in one direction. The steeply sloped edge of
the teeth of the other ratchet wheel is the leading edge when the
ratchet wheels rotate in the opposite direction. This operation
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is shown in Figs. 10, 11, 12 and 13. The ratchet and pawl
assembly acts to resist tilting of the tiltable structure 14
during the lowering and raising operations. Lowering operation
utilizes two pawls in case of a failure. The pawls and the
ratchet wheels function not as a fixed stop or brake, but
essentially as a "slip clutch" which will allow the mast and the
rest of the tiltable structure to move completely between the
upper (operating) position and lower (service) position as long
as an upwardly or downwardly manually exerted force of sufficient
magnitude is applied to the tiltable structure.
Upon application of sufficient outside force to rotate
the tiltable structure, the pawls will move against spring bias
and allow the rotation of the ratchet wheels. However, when such
an outside force is removed, frictional engagement between the
pawls and the ratchet wheels will be sufficient to maintain the
upper pole at any desired immediate position, acting as a safety
feature.
Figs. 14 - 17 show an alternative embodiment of the
invention which includes a tilt control assembly which is not a
ratchet and pawl assembly. Otherwise, the tiltable structure
with which it is employed is the same as described above and
depicted in Figs. 1 - 13.
Tilt control assembly 100 is located at the center of
gravity of the tiltable structure including mast 16 and provides
the connection between the flat support plate 12 of the base
member 10 and the mast 16.
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Mounted on flat plate 12 are two bearing members 106,
108 bolted in place on the support plate 12. The bearing members
rotatably support shaft 110 affixed to mast 16.
Also attached to support plate 12 (by bolts 112) is a
rigid mounting bracket 114 of steel or other suitable material.
The mounting bracket has opposed side walls 116 and opposed end
walls 118. The side walls and end walls define an open-topped
cavity 120 receiving two shoes 122 which may be formed of
aluminum or other suitable material. The shoes 122 have
concavely curved surfaces 126.
The shoes 122 are pivotally mounted on bracket 114 by
support pins 128 which extend through apertures in side walls 116
and aligned apertures passing through proximal end portions 132
thereof. Cotter pins are employed to maintain the support pins
128 in position. The curved surfaces 126 extend outwardly and
upwardly from the proximal end portions 132 to distal end
portions 134 of the shoes.
Attached to shaft 110 and rotatable therewith is a
rotor 140 made of aluminum or other suitable material and which
as a circular outer peripheral surface. The rotor is located
between the distal end portions of the shoes and above the
proximal ends of the shoes. When the shoes are in the position
shown in Fig. 17 (the non-use position) there is no frictional
engagement between the shoes and the rotor 140, the shoes biased
by gravity to pivot about said pivot pins to non-use position.
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Threadedly mounted on said mounting bracket 114 at the
upper portion of the end walls 118 are aligned adjustment bolts
142. Turning of the bolts 142 in one direction moves the bolts
inwardly and turning of the bolts in the other direction moves
them outwardly. The free ends of the bolts engage the distal
portions of the shoes and inward movement of the bolts causes
engagement between the rotor and the curved surfaces 126 of the
shoes, tilting shoes rotatably about the support pins in opposite
directions as shown by the arrows in Fig. 16.
When in motion, the friction between the rotor and the
shoes allows the mast and the rest of the tiltable structure to
stop in place at any angle when the force is no longer applied to
lift or lower the signals. This keeps the signal
maintenance/inspector on the ground instead of having to climb a
ladder and work from a platform.
Figs. 18 - 22 show another embodiment of the invention
which includes a tilt control assembly 200 which also is not a
ratchet and pawl assembly. Otherwise, the tiltable structure
with Which it is employed is the same as described above and
depicted in Figs. 1 - 13.
Tilt control assembly 200 is located at the center of
gravity of the tiltable structure including the mast and provides
the connection between the flat support plate 12 of the base
member 10 and the mast 16.
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Mounted on flat plate 12 are two bearing members 206,
208 bolted in place on the support plate 12. The bearing members
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rotatably support shaft 110 affixed to the mast.
Also attached to support plate 12 by bolts is a rigid
mounting bracket 214 of steel or other suitable material. The
mounting bracket has opposed side walls 216 and opposed end walls
218. The side walls and end walls define an open-topped cavity
220 receiving two shoes 222 which may be formed of aluminum or
other suitable material. The shoes 222 have concavely curved
surfaces 226. In the arrangement illustrated, each shoe 222 is
comprised of two shoe segments 228 in face-to-face relationship.
The shoes 222 are pivotally mounted on bracket 214 by
support bolts 230 which extend through holes in side walls 216
and aligned apertures passing through proximal end portions 232
thereof. Nuts are employed to maintain the support bolts 230 in
position. Spacers 240, 242 are employed between the shoes 222
and the side walls 216. The curved surfaces 226 extend outwardly
and upwardly from the proximal end portions 232 to distal end
portions 234 of the shoes.
Attached to shaft 110 and rotatable therewith is a
rotor 250 made of aluminum or other suitable material and which
has a circular outer peripheral surface. The rotor is located
=
between the distal end portions 234 of the shoes and above the
proximal ends of the shoes. When the shoes are in the position
shown in Fig. 21 (the non-use position) there is no frictional
engagement between the shoes and the rotor 250, the shoes biased
by gravity to pivot about said pivot pins to non-use position.
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The end walls 218 define opposed openings, each opening
accommodating a housing in the form of a pipe nipple 252 welded
or otherwise secured Co the side wall. A coil compression spring
254 is located in the interior of each pipe nipple.
Caps 256 are threadedly connected to the outer ends of
the pipe nipples. Aligned adjustment bolts 258 extend through
the caps 256 and threadedly engage nuts 260 affixed to the caps.
Washers 262 are welded to the distal ends of the bolts 258.
Turning of the adjustment bolts 258 in one direction
moves the bolts and associated washer 262 inwardly and turning of
the bolts in the other direction moves them outwardly. The
washers 262 engage springs 254 which are in contact with the
shoes. Inward movement of the bolts causes the shoes to rotate
about the support bolts 230 in opposite directions to bring them
into engagement with the rotor. Once the shoes engage the rotor,
continued inwardly movement will compress the springs.
The friction between the rotor and the shoes allows the
mast and the rest of the tiltable structure to stop in place at
any angle when an outside force is no longer applied to lift or
lower the signals. This keeps the signal maintenance/inspector
on the ground instead of having to climb a ladder and work from a
platform. The bolts can be readily adjusted to vary the spring
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compression and thus the degree of frictional engagement between
the shoes and rotor. The springs are also useful because they
adjUst to compensate for any surface dimensional variations
and/or surface defects or irregularities of the shoes or rotor.
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