US2346503A - Light signal - Google Patents

Description

P e :l mw 7 f 0 w i l A 4, nL L W H 9 I L Jl J 2 b m l Hfs A'TOHNEY G. R. PFLASTERER LIGHT SIGNAL Filed Jan. 23, 1942 Patented Apr. 11, 1944 LIGHT SIGNAL George R. Pflasterer, Greenville, Pa., assigner to The Union Switch and Signal Company, Swiss? vale, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application January 23, 1942, Serial No. 427,977

4 Claims.

My invention relates to light signals,l and it has particular reference to light signals of the type employed in railway signal systems. More particularly, my invention'relates to railway signals of the color position light type.

Railway signal systems are arranged ordinarily to employ one or another of a plurality of dilerent types of light signals, among which types are position light and colorl position light signals. In a position light signal, a plurality of light projecting units each capable of propecting beams of the same color, are arranged in rows which intersect each other at a common point and which rows have as a common element thereof one of the light projecting units positioned at the point of intersection of the rows. 'I he unit common to the several rows is steadily energized, and by energizing the remaining units of one or another of the plurality of rows of units, the signal is caused to display different aspects differentiated from one onother` according to the position of the row of units caused to be energized.

Color position light signals are in genera-l similar to position light signals, in that a plurality of light projecting units are arranged in rows which intersect each other at a common point. This type of signal differs from a position light signal, however, in that although the units forming each individual row project beams of the same color, the different rows are arranged to project beams of distinctive colors. `In addition, the light unit employed in the position light signal at the common point of intersection of the rows, is not employed in the colorI position light ,l

signal. As a result, therefore, a position light signal has an advantage in that a single light projecting unit when used in common as a portion of each of the rows, enables a relatively few units to be arranged in rows each having a relatively large number of units, usually `three units in number. A color position lightsignal, on the other hand, has an advantage in that the distinctive aspects are provided not only vby the position of the row illuminated, but also by the distinctive colors projected by the different rows. However, in the latter type of signal the rows are formed of a fewer number of light units since there is no single unit common to all of the rows, hence in order to minimize the number of units required, each row is defined by a minimum number of units, usually by only two units.

In view of the foregoing and other important considerations, it is an object of my present invention to provide novel and improved light sig-l" nals incorporating all of the advantages usually `found individually in. .Signals of the position light and Color position. light types- Another Qbiet is i@ provide, a novel. andimproved form of color position light signal.

An additional object 'is to provide a railway signal of the color position light type, arranged to employ a single light unit as a portion of each of the rows of units, and which single unit is arranged to project a beam of light having one or another of a plurality of colors one corresponding to` Ieach of the distinctive colors projected by the several rows.

A further object is to provide novel and improved forms of light signals of the type em- V ployed in railway signal systems.

In practicing my invention, the above-mentioned and other important objects and characteristic features which will become readily apparent from the following description, are attained by providing a light projecting unit at the common point of intersection of the rows of light units of a color position light signal. This additional light unit is provided with means for causing the unit to Aproject a beam of light having one or another of a plurality of colors corresponding one to each of the distinctive colors projected by the rows of units.

I shall describe two forms of signals embodying my invention, and shall then point out the novel features thereof in claims.

In the accompanying drawing, Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view representing one from of a color position light signal embodying my invention. Fig, 2 is a diagrammatic view representing a modification of the signal illustrated in Fig. 1, and also embodying my invention. Similar reference characters have been employed in the two views to designate corresponding parts.

According to. the invention, an improved railway signal of the color position light type is provided by incorporating into the usual type of such a signal a light projecting unit disposed at the point of intersection of the rows of light emissive or projecting units. By usual type of color position light signal is meant the well-known type of signal heretofore proposed and now i-n use in certain of the railway systems. This type of signal is relatively simple, and comprises a plurality of light emissive or projecting units arranged to project beams of light in parallel relation and in the same direction, and which units are arranged in rows which intersect each othe rat a common point.` rIhis point of intersection may be intermediate the ends oi the rowsl (see Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawing) I or it may be at one end of the rows see Fig. 2).

In either case, itV has been customary to leave blankA the point of intersection, that is, a light unit is not placed at that point. Each row of units is, therefore,` usually defined by two units, as for example the rows of units of the usual type of eolol position light signal would be dened by the units at the ends of the rows represented in Fig. l, or by the two adjoining units projected.

on the outer ends of the rows as represented in Fig. 2, the inner ends of the rows of this signal being considered as intersecting.

The usual type of lcolor position light signal ordinarily consists also of a circular field (see Fig. 1) or sector shaped background 5a (see Fig. 2) provided with apertures or openings 6 'in which are mounted cover glasses (usually clear or colorless) and in back of which are mounted light emissive or projecting units. The openings in the eld are usually so located that a vertical, a horizontal, and at least one diagonal (45) row of units are provided. The signal itself is usually supported on a mast 8 to which it is suitably secured and the mast 8 in turn is secured as desired to a signal bridge, cantilever post, or concrete b ase 9.

The light projecting units employed in the usual type of color position light signal are of well-known construction, not illustrated in the: drawing, and it is deemed sufficient for the present description to state that each unit usually comprises a lamp case in which are mount- .,ed a reflector, a light source and a color filter or screen. The color filters or screens mounted in the units of any one row are of the same color, but the lters of the different rows are of distinctive colors. tomary to employ green color lters in the units Thus, for example, it is cusof the vertical row, yellow color filters in the units of the diagonal row, and red color filters in the units of the horizontal row, whereby vwhen the units `of the vertical row are energized, a vertical row of green beams of light is projected; when the diagonal row of units is -energized a diagonal row of yellow beams is projected; and when the horizontal row of units is energized, a horizontal row of red beams is It is therefore apparent that this type of signal displays distinctive aspects difierentiated from one another not only by the position of the row oi' units energized but also -by the color of the beams projected by such rows. ,jected bythe several rows of units are indicated by placing the reference characters G, Y and R in the openings B of the field through In the drawing, the different colors prowhich are projected green, yellow and red beams, respectively.

As mentioned heretofore, the improved signal 'embodying my invention comprises a color position light signal of the usual type having an .additional light projecting unit at the point of intersection of the several rows of units, and

-which additional unit is provided with means for causing the unit to project a beam of light having one or another of a plurality of colors one for eachY of they distinctive colors projected by -the rows oi units of the signal. Asignal therefore requires an aperture 6 to be provided in the signal field 5 at the point of in- The improved tersection of the rows of units, a cover glass mounted in such aperture, and a light project- .ing unitcapable of projecting a beam of light having one or another of a plurality of colors. Such a unit is designated in the drawing by the reference character SM and is represented diagrammatically as comprising a searchlight type of signal mechanism having a rotor or vane Ill to which are afxed a plurality of distinctively colored lters or roundels designated by the referxence characters VG, R and Y to indicate that "suchvillters are colored green, red and yellow, respectively. Unit SM also comprises a light :source (not shown) together with a suitable optical system by means of which light from the source is projected through the one of the color lters positioned in the operative position of the signal, that is, in the position of alignment with the cover glass mounted in the associated opening 6 provided in the signal field. In the particular form of signal mechanism illustrated, rotor IIJ is biased to a center or mid position, wherein the red roundel R is positioned in the operative position of the signal, and is caused to rotate to one extreme position or the other according as an operating winding II is energized by current of one relative polarity or the other. When rotor I0 is caused to rotate to its right-hand extreme position, as viewed in the drawing, roundel G- is positioned in the operative position of the signal, whereas when rotor I0 is caused to rotate to its other or lefthand extreme position, roundel VY is moved into the operative position of the signal. Signal mechanisms of the type described are well known in the art, and may, for example, be of the type shown and described in detail in Letters Patent of the United States, No. 1,864,224, granted to Wesley B. Wells on June 21, 1932. Other types of searchlight signal mechanisms may, of course, be employed, as for example the type wherein the yellow lter Y is interposed between the red R and green G filters.

The winding II of unit SM may be supplied with current of one relative polarity or the other over circuit means not forming a part of the present invention and of a type well known in .the art. However, to indicate the manner of control of the signal mechanism, a representative circuit arrangement is illustrated in the drawing as comprising a circuit extending from one terminal B of a suitable source of unidirectional current, such as a battery not shown butl having its opposite terminals designated by the reference characters B and C, through front contact I4 of a control relay RI, front contact I5 of another control relay R2, the winding II .of signal lmechanism SM, and front contact I6 cause roundel R to be positioned in the operative position of the signal.

The relays RI and R2 may be controlled in any suitable manner not shown. It should, however, be pointed out that it is contemplated to interlock the control of the relays with the control of the other light units of the signal in such manner that when relay RI is released and the common unit SM is conditioned to project a red beam, the other two units of the horizontal row are likewise conditioned to project their respective red beams; when relay RI is picked up 65 to project a yellow beam, the other two units of and relay R2 is released to condition unit SM the diagonal row are Asimilarly conditioned to project their yellow beams; and when both relays RI and R2 are picked up to condition unit SM to project its green beam,y the remaining units of the vertical row are conditioned to project their green beams. This control of the other light units of the signal may be eiected in Yany suitable manner, as by controlling the light units over contacts of relays RI and R2. For

example, the light source of unit SM may be constantly energized, thus causing the unit to project a beam of light having a color determined by the particular color filter positioned intermediate such source and the associated cover glass mounted in the aperture of eld 5. When relay RI is released, roundel R of unit SM is interposed in the path of light emitted from the source and the unit accordingly is caused to project a red beam. At this time, the other units of the horizontal row may be energized over an obvious circuit including a suitable source of current, the light sources of the other units of such row, and back contact i1 of relay RI, whereby the signal will be caused to project three red beams aligned horizontally. When relay Rl is picked up, and relay R2 is released to cause yellow roundel Y of unit SM to be interposed in the path of light projected from the unit, the other units of the diagonal row may be energized over an obvious circuit which includes a suitable source of current, the light sources` of such units of the diagonal row, front contact l1 of relay RI and back contact I8 of relay R2, whereupon the signal will project three yellow beams aligned diagonally. If relays Rl and R2 are both picked up, then unit SM is caused to position green roundel G in the path of its beam of light, and the other units of the vertical row may be energized over an obvious circuit including the suitable source of current, the light sources of the other units of the vertical row, front contact I1 of relay RI and front contactl I8 of relay R2, whereupon the signal will project three green beams aligned vertically.

It is, of course, to be understood that the above described manner of control of the light units of a signal embodying my invention is merely illustrative, and other arrangements may be employed for causing the signal to display distinctive aspects. For example, approach control of the energization of the various units may be employed, whereby the signal is caused to be normally dark and is caused to project a lighted aspect only upon the approach of a train to the signal. Also, the common unit SM and the other units of the signal may be controlled in such manner as to cause the common unit to project a beam of light which may or may not be of the same color as the beams projected by the other units of the row energized. Thus, two Vertical green beams may be projected with the third beam having a green, yellow or red color; two diagonal yellow beams may be projected with a third beam of green, yellow or red color; and two horizontal red beams may be projected with a. third beam of green, yellow or red color. In any event, the aspect provided by the signal constitutes a plurality of beams projected by units Varranged in rows and having a unit common to each of the rows, and which aspects are differentiated from each other by the position of the beams projected and by the color of such projected beams. It follows, therefore, that a signal constructed in accordance with my invention incorporates all of the advantages heretofore found individually in the position light and color position light type of signals.

Although I have herein shown and described only two forms of signals embodying my invention, it is understood that various changes and modications may be made therein within the scope of the appended claims without defparting from the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In a color position light signal wherein a plurality of light projecting units are arranged in rows for providing distinctive aspects according to the particular row and color of the beams projected, the units of each row projecting beams of the same color and the diiferent rows projecting beams of distinctive colors, a light projecting unit common to all of said rows, and a plurality of color lters one corresponding to each of said distinctive colors for selective interposition in the beam projected from said common light projecting unit for causing such unit to project a beam of light having one or another of a plurality of colors one corresponding to each of said distinctive colors.

2. A light signal comprising a plurality of light projecting units arranged in a plurality of rows intersecting each other at a common point, one of said plurality of light units at said common point forming a portion of each of said rows, the beams projected by said units being in parallel relation and in the same direction, a plurality of distinctively colored filters one for each of said rows provided for said common light unit for se.- lective interposition in the beam of such unit, and a plurality of color filters one disposed in the beam projected from each of the remaining light units, the filters of the remaining light units of each row being of uniform color and the filters of the different rows being of a different one of said distinctive colors.

3. In combination with a plurality 0f light units arranged in rows intersecting at a common point provided with one of said light units common to all of said rows, a plurality of distinctively colored lters one for each of said rows, a mechanism for selectively interposing one or another of said light filters in the beam of said common light unit, and a plurality of color lters one disposed in the beam of each of the remaining light units, the lters of the remaining light units of each row being of uniform color and the filters of the different rows being of a different one of said distinctive colors.

4. A light signal comprising a plurality of light units arranged in a plurality of rows intersecting each other at a common point, one of said plurality of light units at said common point forming a portion of each of said rows, the beams projected by said light units being in parallel relation and in the same direction, a plurality of distinctively colored lters one for each of said rows, a mechanism for selectively interposing one or another of said light filters in the beam of said common light unit, a plurality of color filters one disposed in the beam of each of the remaining light units, the lters of the remaining light units of each row being of uniform color and the lters of the different rows being of a different one of said distinctive colors, means for constantly energizing said common light unit, and means for selectively energizing the remaining light units of one or another of said rows and simultaneously controlling said mechanism to interpose in the beam of said common unit the particular iilter having the color corresponding to the color of the lters of the remaining light units of the row selected to be energized.

GEORGE R. PFLASTERER.

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