Railroad warning signal device

A warning device visually enhances the signalling of a dangerous situation such as an approaching train at a railroad crossing. The warning device includes oppositely rotating rims to which light reflecting discs are attached in surrounding relation to hubs fixed to the arms of a frame extending laterally from a vertical support post. Fixed light emitting surfaces are mounted on the hub facing opposite directions.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to a visual warning device particularly adapted for 
railroad crossings. 
Warning signs and signalling devices for railroad crossings are well known. 
Generally, such signs or signalling devices rely on flashing lamps and 
illuminated signs to alert motorists of approaching trains or railroad 
vehicles. The effectiveness of such alerting devices from a visual 
standpoint is often tragically reduced by malfunction of the illumination 
source or the accumulation of light blocking dust and by poor visibility 
because of atmospheric conditions. It is, therefore, an important object 
of the present invention to provide a signal warning device that will 
improve the visibility and alerting effectiveness of prior comparable 
signal warning devices. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
In accordance with the present invention a signal warning device includes a 
pair of alerting assemblies laterally spaced from a support post by a 
mounting frame having support arms to which a pair of supporting hubs are 
connected for rotational mounting of the alerting assemblies. Each hub 
presents axially spaced, light emitting surfaces that are fixed and face 
in opposite directions. The surfaces facing one direction are exposed 
through large openings in the frame arms to which the hubs are connected. 
The rotating alerting assemblies include light reflective discs mounted on 
rims rotatably supported on the hubs in surrounding relation to the fixed 
light emitting surfaces. A motor mounted by the frame between the arms is 
drivingly connected by gearing to the rims for rotation of the alerting 
assemblies in opposite directions. 
The rotational movement of the alerting assemblies without visual blocking 
of the fixed hub mounted surfaces, provides good visibility on both sides 
of the warning device as well as an effective attention generating 
arrangement. 
These together with other objects and advantages which will become 
subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation 
as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to 
the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein line numerals 
refer to like parts throughout.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
Referring now to the drawings in detail, FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 illustrate a 
railroad crossing type of warning signal device generally referred to by 
reference numeral 10. The warning signal device may be mounted on a 
conventional railroad warning sign post 12 below the usual railroad 
warning signs 14. The warning signal device of the present invention may, 
of course, be mounted on any other vertical post or support structure. 
The warning signal device 10 includes a frame assembly generally referred 
to by reference numeral 16 mounted on the post 12. The frame includes a 
bracket portion 18 secured to the post by means of a clamp 20. A pair of 
planar arm portions 22 of the frame extend laterally from the bracket 
portion transversely of the post and spaced forwardly therefrom. Each arm 
portion 22 rotatably mounts a movable or rotatable alerting signal 
assembly generally referred to by reference numeral 24. Both of the 
alerting signal assemblies 24 are adapted to be rotated in opposite 
rotational directions, as indicated by arrows in FIGS. 1 and 2, by means 
of a power drive assembly generally referred to by reference numeral 26 in 
FIG. 3. 
As more clearly seen in FIG. 5, each of the planar arm portions 22 of the 
frame is provided with a large circular opening 28 coaxially aligned with 
a hub 30 fixed to the arm portion in close parallel spaced relationship 
thereto by means of a plurality of fastener assemblies 32. The fastener 
assemblies extend through the arm portion 22 of the frame in peripheral 
relationship to the circular opening 28. By means of a bearing assembly 34 
mounted thereon, the hub 30 establishes a rotational axis that extends 
centrally through the opening 28 about which the movable alerting signal 
assembly 24 is rotatable. The hub 30 also presents a reflective type of 
light emitting surface 36 which faces one direction and is exposed through 
the opening 28. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5, the hub 30 
encloses a chamber within which a source of illumination 38 is located so 
as to emit light through a light transmissive cover 40 fixed to the hub 
and having a light emitting surface 42 facing in an axial direction 
opposite to that of surface 36. Port holes 37 extend through the face 36 
of the hub so that one may inspect the interior thereof to see if the 
lamps 38 are operative. Accordingly, the hub 30 supports surfaces that are 
visible on both sides of the warning signal device 10 of the present 
invention. It will, of course, be appreciated that electrical energy for 
operating the light bulbs 38, constituting the source of illumination, 
must be available according to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5. 
Alternatively, a light reflective surface cover 44 may be placed over the 
cover 40 as shown in in FIG. 11. The cover 44 is accordingly provided with 
radial projecting tabs 46 by means of which it is secured to the hub by 
means of fasteners 48. 
As more clearly seen in FIG. 5, the movable alerting assembly 24 has 
associated therewith a mounting rim 50 supported by the bearing assembly 
34. The mounting rim includes a pair of axially spaced, radial flanges 52 
and 54. The radial flange 52 closer to one of the planar arm portions 22 
of the frame is radially longer than the other radial flange 54. Secured 
to the rim by means of the radial flanges are a pair of planar discs 56 
and 58 as more clearly seen in FIGS. 1 and 2. One of the discs 56 may bear 
indicia while the other of the discs may be brightly colored red on both 
reflective sides thereof. The discs are positioned on the rim in 180 
degrees relationship to each other for rotation therewith about the 
rotational axis established by the hub 30 and in surrounding relationship 
to the fixed light emitting surfaces 36 and 42. As more clearly seen in 
FIG. 4, each disc 56 or 58 is detachably secured to the rim 50. Toward 
that end, each disc is provided with a folded connecting tab 60 that is 
fitted into the rim at a predetermined location between the radial flanges 
52 and 54. An opening 62 is formed in the portion of the tab 60 abutting 
the flange 54 so as to receive a projection 64. Fastener assemblies 66 
interconnect the flange 52 with the disc tab 60 through aligned openings 
formed in the flange 52 and the tab 60. With reference to FIG. 3, it will 
be observed that the rim 50 associated with the right hand movable 
alerting device differs from the left hand rim 50 with respect to the 
relative axial positions of the long and short radial flanges 52 and 54. 
Since the discs 56 and 58 extend from the longer of the radial flanges 52, 
both rims 50 will carry their discs in parallel but axially spaced 
relationship to each other so as to avoid interference with each other as 
both movable alerting devices are simultaneously rotated. 
As more clearly seen in FIG. 5, the power drive assembly 26 includes a 
plurality of circumferentially spaced blades 68 projecting axially from 
the rim 50 for engagement by a gear 70 projecting through a slot 72 formed 
in the planar arm portion 22 of the frame adjacent to the circular opening 
28 on that side thereof closest to the bracket portion 18. The gear 70 is 
fixed to one end portion of a drive shaft 74 that extends through a 
slotted opening 76 formed in the bracket portion 18 of the frame. 
Accordingly, a pair of such drive shafts are operable to impart rotation 
to a pair of gears 70 in order to transmit rotation to rims 50 in opposite 
rotational directions. The ends of the drive shafts 74 within the bracket 
portion 18 of the frame are connected to a drive gear 78 which is in 
meshing engagement with a power gear 80 driven by an electric motor 82 
fixedly mounted within the bracket portion 18 of the frame. 
As more clearly seen in FIGS. 5 and 10, the drive motor 82 has a mounting 
flange 84 secured in place within the bracket portion 18 by a plurality of 
fastener screws 86 that extend through aligned openings in the clamp 20, 
the bracket portion 18 and the mounting flange 84. The fastener screws 86 
also extend through the back wall 88 of a motor enclosure 90 having a top 
wall 92, a bottom wall 94 hingedly connected to the back wall by a hinge 
96 and a front wall 98 adapted to be latched in closed position to the top 
wall as shown by solid line in FIG. 10. The bottom wall 94 and front wall 
98 connected thereto may be opened as shown by dotted line in FIG. 7 for 
disassembly of the motor. Nut elements 100 on the fastener screws 86 
secure the back wall 88 to the bracket as well as to space the mounting 
flange 84 of the motor therefrom. Nuts 102 secured to the fastener screws 
86 on the other side of the mounting flange 84 hold the motor assembled in 
place. A tubular fitting 104 projects upwardly from the motor housing 
through an opening in the top wall 92 of the motor enclosure 90 and is 
connected through a bracket 106 to conductor enclosing conduits 108 
extending in opposite directions to each of the hubs 30 so as to carry 
electrical energy to the light bulbs 38 as aforementioned. 
As is more clearly seen in FIGS. 8 and 9, each of the drive shafts 74 is 
connected to the drive gear 78 by means of a non-circular axial formation 
112 received within a corresponding central opening formed in the body of 
the drive gear 78. The formation 112 extends axially from a retainer plate 
portion 114. Thus, plate portions 114 on opposite axial sides of the gear 
78 are held assembled by means of fastener bolt assemblies 116. 
The gears 70 connected to the outer ends of the drive shafts 74 are secured 
to the drive shafts by means of spline blades 120 as more clearly seen in 
FIGS. 5 and 6. Each gear 70 is axially positioned for driving engagement 
with the blades 68 on the rim 50 by means of a pair of journal bearing 
assemblies 122 and 124 that are secured to the planar arm portion of the 
frame by fasteners 126. A plurality of fastener openings 128 are formed in 
the planar arm portion so that the locations of the journal bearing 
assemblies 122 and 124 may be changed in order to alternately position the 
gear 70 adjacent opposite sides of the slot 72 in order to compensate for 
wear of the gear and thereby extend the operating life of the power drive 
assembly. 
Operation of the motor 82 and the light bulbs 38 if utilized is initiated 
manually or automatically by remote control in a manner well known in the 
art. The motor is connected to a suitable source of electrical energy 
through the fitting 104 by electrical cable anchored to the bracket 106. 
To further enhance the utility of the warning device, the rims 50 of each 
rotatable assembly 24 may be painted half white and half red with a 
suitable reflective paint to produce a red and white stripe image at a 
distance when the assemblies are rotating. When such stripe images are not 
discernable, the observer will know that the warning device is not 
operating. 
The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the 
invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily 
occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the 
invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and 
accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, 
falling within the scope of the invention.