The object of this design was to provide a signal which was particularly
adapted for use on fire engines, ambulances and other public emergency vehicles.
It waws also designed for use at railroad crossings.
There is a plurality of
completely independent lights and circuits. If one or more of the light bulbs on
this unit burn out, it will not render the remaining elements inoperative.
Figure 1 is a front elevation view.
Figure 2 is a side
elevation view.
Figure 3 is a wiring diagram.
Figure 4 is
a rear elevation with the cover removed.
Figure 5 is a section on the
line 5-5 of Figure 4, showing the unitary mounting of the motor,
gearing, contact shaft, arms and lights upon a common supporting plate. This
plate is detachably attached to the supporting housing and standard that is
attached to the ground or to the vehicle.
A standard 1 is adapted to be installed in the ground or attached to a
vehicle. The standard has a detachable box mounted on it with a removable front
plate 7 and a removable rear plate 6. This box 2 is
attached to the standard 1 by bolts 3. The box 2 carries a
switch 4, having a switch button 5 located outside of the box
2.
A rear inspection plate 6 is detachably mounted upon the
box 2 by suitable screws, while a bed plate 7 forms the front of
the box 2 and carries the following mechanism: the motor 8, the
standard 9 for the contact arm 10, the contact shaft 11,
the driving sleeve 12, the driving gears 13 and 14, the
light spider 15 and the lights 16. This front plate 7 is
detachably mounted on the box 2 by the screws 17.
The motor
8 drives worm gear 14, which, in turn, drives the worm wheel
13. This worm wheel 13 is connected to the shaft 12 which
is rotatably mounted in bearing sleeve 18. This sleeve 18 is
supported in the relatively long bearing hub 19 of the front plate
7 and may easily be replaced when worn or broken. An oiling well
20 is provided for oiling this bearing. The light spider 15 is
connected by any attaching means, such as a set screw 21, to the driving
sleeve 12. Driving sleeve 12 is hollow and carries the contact rod
11, which engages with the contact finger 10 on the inside of the
box. The contact rod 11 is electrically seperated from the driving sleeve
12. The other end of the contact finger 10 is attached to but is
electrically seperate from the supporting standard 9 which is on the
front wall 7. This also constitutes a terminal 22, to which is
connected the wire 23. This is the grounded connection for the circuit.
It is insulated from the contact finger 10. The other wire 24 is
connected to terminal 25 on contact finger 10. The terminal
25 is connected via wire 26 to switch 4. The other side of
switch 4 is connected via wire 27 to the source of current.
The light spider 15 is made up of a hollow drum 28 on the
exterior of which are mounted the spider arms 29. The wires 30
lead out of this drum from the contact rod 11 and connect with the lights
16. The lights 16 are mounted by bolts 31 in any desired
position upon the spider 15. It is usually the practice to adjust these
lights so as to direct their beams at an angle to the axis of the contact shaft
11 of this apparatus.
Figure 3 shows the ground connections
for wires 32 and 33, which lead from the motor to the lighting
circuits.
The construction of the unit makes its operation unaffected by
ice, snow or dust.
Damage to any one of the lights will not interfere with
the operation of the rest of the lights.