• 

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REF ID:A67797 

Patented June 21, 1932 1,863,658· 

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 

BOBEBT B. 1Alll:ES, 01' ATLAJITA, GBOBGIA, ASSIGlTOB 01' 01'B-JULI' TO Clrl!IVELAimBBOW1'Illl'G COKPAlTY, 01' ATLAB'TA, GEOBGIA, A COBPOBATIOJll' OI' GBOBGIA 

SWITCH KBCH.AJl'IBX l'OB BIGJITAL ABD OTHEB ELECTBICAL cmcnrI'l'B 

Appllaatlon. llell Ootober 18, 1880. Serial lll'o. 480,7H. 

ThlS invention relates to switch mechanism expiration of this time interval and burning 

for signals and other electrical circuits of a with the green light! and then both .extinkind wherem a switch is operated at prede- guished and the red hght lighted and so on; 

termined time intervals by means of a con- or the li~ht& may operate according to either 

u sta.ntly opera.ting member. method JUst described and an audible Signal, 11 

One of the kinds of apparatus with which such as a bell, sounded when the changes from 

such a switch mechanism may be advantage- red to green and from green to red are to be 

ously used is the so-called system of traffic made; and it is a further object of the invens1gnal lights now commonly employed at tion to provide switch mechanism in which 

ic street mtersections and at the intersections all of tlie various switches necessary for the eo 

of other traffic highways. o~rat1on of visible and audible signals, 

In such installations, the switch mecha- either as just pointed out or a.ccordiiJ.g to 

msm which controls the operation of the Sig- other conceivable schemes of operation, may 

nal hghts is ordmarily mounted apart from be embodied in o. Single simple orgamzation 

115 the hgbts themselves and in such position that of switch mechanism. 11 

it is readily accesSible to an authorized person The mvention contemplates a switch 

for adjustment_, whereby the on and off time mecha.msm, mcluding two relatively movable 

intervals for tne vanous lights may be ad- contact carrying members, preferably in the 

Justed by proper adjustment of the switch form of co-a::nally arrnnged relatively rota.t-· 10 mechanism. ObviouSiy1 it is desirable to able disks, these members hem~ dnven by a. '°• 

have the switch mechamsm for such appara.- smgle driving member and ho.vm~ such chartus of a. compact and simple nature, readily acter1sticsl notably a di:fference m diameter, 

accessible for 1ns~ct1on and adjustment, a.na whereby tney will be rotated by the dnvi:ng 

of such construction as to be capable of con- member at di:fferent SJ.>eeds to thus obtain a. 

211 tinuous operation for extended periods with- circmt controlling switching action between Tl 

out ha.bihty to failure. their contacts. And the mvenbon contemIn switch devices for the purpose men- plates also various structural refinements 

tioned, with which I am familiar_,. consider- whereby the switch mechanism is made markable reduction gee.ring and complicated ad- edly simple and efficient, es will be hereinaa justable switch mechanism is employed; and after more fully explained and finally 80 

one of the objects of this invention is to J?ro- claimed. 

v1de a switch mechanism which is susceP.tible In the accompanying drawings illustratof all such adjustment as may ordinanly be ing the invention, in the several fi~ of 

found necessary for the pro_per operation of wliich like parts are similarly designated, 

811 traffic Signals and the like, but which at the Fig. 1 is a side elevation· of apparatus em- 85 

same time is of compact form, few parts, and bodying the features of this invention. Fig. 

simple rugged construction. 2 is a partial longitudinal axial sectional 

In traffic signal systems of the kind men- elevation of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1. 

tioned, various visible, and sometimes audible Fig. 3 is an inner face view of the toothed 

:lO Signals a.re used. For example, there may disk carrying the contact plates, and Fig. 4 IO 

be a red hght which remains lighted for a is an outer face view of same. Fig. 5 is an 

certam time interval and is then extinguished outer face view of the toothed disk carrying 

and o. green h~ht lighted; or there ma.:r be a the contact arms, and Fig. 6 is an inner fa~ 

red hght which is. lighted for a predeter- view of same. Fi~. 7 is a wiring diagram 

II mmed time interval, and an amber li!fhi showing a conventional set of circuits which DI 

lighted near the expiration of such time m· may be controlled by the switch mechanism 

terval and burning simultaneously with the of the invention and which is suitable for a 

red light, and both extinguished, and then a system of visible traffic control si~als 

~en light lighted for a. predetermined time The switch mechanism includes. m the form 

50 mterval and an amber light lighted near the illustrated, a base 1 carrying an upstanding 100 

@'pp roved for Release by NSA on 09-05-2013 pursuantto E .0. 1352a 
REF ID:A67797 

:a "'' ,,.. ,. • ~. 

1,868,8118 

bearin~bracket 2, preferably formed mtegral 

therewith, and a removable bearing bracket 

3 suitably spaced from the bea.rmg bracket 

2 Mounted m suitable bearings 4 ·and 5 m 

IJ. the brackets 2 and 3, respectively, JS a shaft 

6 upoa which are mounted f.or :fr.ee..relatrv.e 

rotat1an .tke contact carrymg members or 

disks 7 and 8 

These disks are formed of some msulatmg 

10 mi't-eftal such as fiber--oi toe ,ike; lin.d are 

provided at their periphei-ie8 with. geal" tep'fk 

9 and 10~ f~_J:!ectively, '!h1cb._m0fi}l_ with the 

teeth 11 of an elongated pm1on l2 ca1 ned 

bl- and 1 otatable with the shaft 13 of a.. motor 

1& 14 fixed to the base 1 • 

alt.e. disk 11' Oif greater chll.D'.l.eter than. .the 

Wsk8, and· has more teeth upon its periphery, 

and the teeth U of the pm1on 12 are of: a. depth 

stdli.c1e:nt to aecammodate the teeth of both I~ o'f t~e diSks-7 and 8 a:r.i.d to there\>y drive. 

the .d.1-sks--sunultaneou.sly regar.dless of the11" 

chftereace m dame.ter_, bu-t at ddferent speeds, 

the d1Sk 7 ha.;vmg the greater penpheral 

s~ ' 

16 'The disk 7' .carnes upon 1ts inner .face a ,,_ pl:u.:rah~ of s~gmental contact plates 15. 16, 

17, flnd 18 arranaed c11"eumferentiall) ttpon 

nme p:r:edetermmed. re.d1us, and a second plurality bf "Segmental contact plates 19, '20 21 

BO and 22 arranged c1rcumferenbally upon- another. pre.determined rad.ms, preferably so 

that t.My be near.er to the center o.f the dtsk 

than do bhe first m.e1\t1oned contact ple.tes 

It wdl be seen th.at the contact plate 15 ~x85 tends threugh. 11J1 .angle of -approx1matel;)' 

180'0 ,, whereas the contact plateS! 16, 1:1, and 

18 extend through .a.Ii'gles approximately .00° 

each.. spa<:ea -or ,gqs bemg left bet,veen the 

adiacent eBd.s of alt of the plates It will be 

fG seen als0 that.the.contact plat-e$19 2Q, 21-and 

22.extend througb. u angle of appro:inmately 

25° eliCh and are !ID arranged relatively to 

tke ,plates 15 11, 1-7 and 18 th.at an end of 

ea.ch .one -of th.em. hes on a d1a:metr1cal hne 

~ substantially co11101dent with.one end of-ea.ch 

of the pJates 15, 16, 17 and 18 Refer:rmg 

now to Fig. 4 it will be seen th.at the contact 

plates 1.0,~16:. 17 and l8 are mounted HI fi2d 

relatien relatavely to the inner faee of the 

liO du;k 'l by mean!( of sel"ews 23 and 23' which 

pass thr-augh. tBe '<hsk .and are threaded mto 

tbe-• .pla.tes The screws 23 attach the mid 

portion e.f the plate 15 to the diSk e.rtd th'e 

screws -23' attach .the ad3acent end portions 

-"! of theiplates 15, 16, t 7 Bild 18. to-th~ d.tsk ltt 

addition .te·these -sc:re~s 23 and 23' l provide 

oome111a.tlon ·atta.chmg and bmdmg 15Clie)VS 

M w1uca wdl be· ref.erred ta m more deta1'1 

later , - ~ 

18 The can.ta.ct plates 19, 2Q, 21, an,d 22 •&ri! 

sumlariy attac6ed to the inner fa<:e .:0f the 

disk 7 by means ef' screws 25 and 26, th.e 

screws 25 acting merely as attaching sCl'ews 

and the screws :26 act1e.g beth aa attaching 

'81 scr,ews &Dd as binding screws and.eJectncal 

conductors, as will be heremafter pomted 

out. 

Held beneath the screws 23' of the plates 

15, 16, 17 and 18, and electrically connected 

to these plates thereby. are conductor mem- '10 

bers 27 which may be electncally connected 

by .means af washers 21r nnd scre.w.s 29 a.s 

shown, whereby an;y of the plates 15, 16 17 

and 18 me.y be electrical~ connected together 

• Cil"ried ov tb.e·serews 26 iri(t e1ectricaUy 76 

cofinectea. tO tlte.contact"pfo.tes u;-'20 "and 21 

the~~V are q,q,nducf;pr members 30 adapted to 

coo'perate by" means of-wasb.enr31 and screws 

32 w1th.smnlar ~o.nductor members 33 ca1 ned 

by bmdmg screws 34 to which are attached 80 

eonnectmg- wires. or, the bke 3'5 By these 

means 1t )VIII be -seen that any of the contact 

plates 19, 2Q, and 21. may "be electncolly conneeted. to the conta~t plate 22 , Referring to the bereuwefore •recited prac- ~5 

tical application of the switch mechamsm to 

a t.ralic Signal, it Wiil 'be :t ecalled. that three 

sets of lights, red; a.ml>er .and green, :respectively, are 11.'1.Bed The -contact ple.tes 15, 16, 

17 and. l811r.e used for controllmg the circ1uts 80 

through the lamps -of the 'red •1lnd :greeu. 

hghts, for lighting and e-xt1,igu~ngtb.em at p•r~ete1mmed des1-red' time•,mtervals, and 

the contact plates 19, 20, 21 n.n.d 22 are used 

for. proEerly hghtm~ and -extmgu1slunp; the 81 

la.mpsof.the.ambe1 hghts m tuned relatmn to 

the hghtmg and extingu1sh1'Dg of the red. and 

green hgli.ts Wi!.th the vamous can.tact plates 

eonnectecl as.1llnstrated m Fig A, the·eleetncal cir.<nnts 'fol' the r.ed .and igreen lights ar:e 101? 

so m-ade that they w1H rem1un lighted alternately th:roughoul the same penod of time, 

and the -c1rcu1ts. fe:r the amber hghts are :so 

arranged that thev will be lighted e.nd extinguished m .Proper-timed relation to the extm- 106 

gu1shmg of the red and. green 1Ights 

At some street 'or h1ghwe.y m'tersectiohs, 

ROtably where across street 'Intersects a traffic 

ar.tery ~it is desus:ble to have the green bght, 

md1catmg "Crc)', burn- longer f-or the t1 aftic 110 

artefy tho for lihe• cFOss street WRen this is 

the case-, :Mi \\di be seen, assummg th.at t'he 

contact plate 15 •controls the green lamp, that 

bv electncal:ly connectin.v; the plate 18 artlte 

plates-18 and 1 'l, thereto by means of the asso- 1111' 

c1a.tion thereWJ.th of the washers or tne hk:e 

29 and screws 28 with. the contact members 

27 thereof 1t 'Wn.J. be possible to extend tbe 

time mterv:ai tl:i.rou.ghout whiclt the green 

hp:ht may burn, the t1meinter~al th:rou¢iout 120 

wh!lch the .red hgnt. bums bemg correspondmglv rshol'ieneci When tins rearrangement 

I'S m~e,i obviously' the• connection o0f the 

pla.f.es il.9, 20, ;2l o.nd 22 must be altered, n.nd 

tms 'ma'V' readily ibe done by changmg the f.!6 

locatwn of the' wtl'Sher 3h-Blld screw 32 to a. 

p0S1t10n 'D.dJacent .to the- pla.te-00 •0r the plate 21 1 r 1 1 • ,. 

Refernngto,Fig' 2 it will.be.seen that<the 

disk i 1S med.upon a!IDetallac l!!leeveJSG ;which 1'80 

I 4J 
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• REF ID:A67797e 

1,888,818 a 

carries an msulatmgsleeve 36 Upon'thJSm- md1cated, the two amber lam.psi bemg m se4. sulatm' slee"e 36 are mounted dIStJ:ibutor nes and a red lamp and a green lamft of each 

IL rmgs 3 ~ 38 and 39 spaced apart by insulat- set bemg m series These sets of ights mmg washers 40 and clamped upon the sleeve dicate tlie oppositef controlled bghts -vJS1ble 

·r- S 36 by means of an msulating washer 41 and to the operators o vehicles. apprOachmg m TO 

set collar or nut 42 screw-threaded.onto the two mtersectmg directions at street mterend of the sleeve 35 sections, wheretiy when an operator gom~n 

The bracket 2 has an extension 43 m which one direction receives the peen or " " 

are mounted brush holders 44, 45, and 46, car- signe.l, an operator anproachmg lD the mter10 rymg brushes 47, 48, and 49, m enl!'agement secb.ng direction wi see the- red or "Stop?! VI 

w.ith the distributor rmgs 37, 38 and 39, r.e- sil1.rhl r •• ( 

spectively . e brush 62 which operates upon the col-• 

The screw 24 of· contact plate 15 is con- lector rmg 59 JS connected by- wire 63 with 

nected b~ means of a wire 50, or other sutt- the power hne and thus the contact arms 53 

115 able con uctor, with toe distributor rm1? 37 and 54 are alw'{! in circuit with the lme 80 

and therethrough with the brush 47 and .Also, one pole o each of the red, amber and 

brush holder 44 The screw 24 of contact green lamps is in circuit, through a wire 64,. 

plate 16 is connected throu'1'h a wire 51 or with the hne Furthermore, the motor- 14 

other smtable conductor, with the distributor is constantly operated to impart rota.tion to 

BO rm'1' 39 and therethrough with the brush 49 the sWitch mechanl.SJll so long as current. ts 80 

a-nd bi ush holder 46, and the screw 26 of the supplied from the lme Therefore, as the 

contact -plate 22 is connected by a wire 52, or disks 7 and 8 rotate relatively to each other 

other smtable conductor, with the dJStr1butor the contact arm 53 will contact, let us say, first 

i'lng 38 and therethroul?h with the brush 48 with the. contact plate. 15 This will estabII and brush holder 45 The wires 50, 51 and bsh a circuit through wire 63, brush 62, col- Ul' 

52 are shown as arranged along the outer lector rmf. 59, contact arm 53, contact plate face of the disk 7 and extending mto and 15, d1stri utor rmg 37, brush 47, wire 65, 

through the sleeve 38 to their pomts of con- green lamp 66, red lamp.67, wire 64, and back 

nection with thelr respective 'distributor rmgs to lme The gy:een lamp 66", and red lamp 

BO but, obviously, ot.her appropnate arrange- 67, will remi.m lighted until contact ann .53 115 

ments of these conductors may be made rides off of contact plate 15 However, beRefernn'1' to .Figs 5 and 6 it will be seen fore thIS occurs contact arm 54 Wiil have enl that the disk 8 carries on its inner face two re- gaged contact plate 22.• and a circuit \V11l .be ... 8 si:hent contact arms 53 and 54 havmg their established through wire 63, brush 62, col15 contact ends 55 and 56, respectively, so ra- lector nng 59, contact mn 54, contact plate _J1 

• diallv disposed as to wipe over the two cir- 22, distriliutor nng 38, brush 48, wire 69, the 

cumferential rows of contact plates 15, 16, 17 two amber lamps 70 and 71, and through wire 

and 18, and 19, 20, 21 and 22, respectively 64 back to lme Due to the relative arrangeThese contact arms 53, 54 are connected by ment of the contact plates 15 and 22 contact 

40 means of screws 57 and 58 re"Spectively, with arm 53 and contact arm 54 will ride -off of 106 

a collector rm~ 59 secured by screws 60 to the the-• contact ~lates 15 and 22, respectively, 

outer face of the disk 8 srmultaneou y, thus extmguishmfi green Mounted m the bracket 3 is a brush holder hght 66, red bght 67 and the amber iglits 70 

61 carryml? a brush 62 m electncal contact and 71 But immediately these -cir.cuits are 

41 with the collector rmg 59 opened circuits through the contact _Plates 110 

It wtll be seen that due to the difference m 16, 17 and 18 will be closed thTough w1~ 63, 

speed of rotation of the disks 7 and 8, the con- brush 62, collector ring 59, contact arm 53 

tact arms 53 and 54 will travel over the con- and plates 16, 17 and 18 which are mtercontact plates with which they are associated, nected as previously described, distributor 

60 thus switchmg the circmts through the lamps rmg 39, brush 4.9, wire 72, red lamp 73, green __ ,) 

of the red, green and amber hghts on and off lamp 74, wire 64, and back to hne As the 

at proper intervals and m proper timed rela- contact• arm 1$3 approaches the end of its 

tion to each other travel over contact plate 18, contact arm 54 

The arrangement of contact plates, contact wtll engage with contact plate 19 and a cir16 arms, distrdiutor rmgs and brushes herem- cmt will be closed, as previouslv descnbed .!.r<G 

above described JS adapted to a system m with respect to contactj.late 22, through the 

which three circuits, such as are necessary two amber lamps 70 an 71 .As contact arm 

for red. green and amber mgne.lhnl lights, 53- rides off of contact- plate 18, contact arm 

are used If more circmts, such as t ose for 54,.,will simultaneously ride oft' of contact 

' 80 audible signals or other devices operated in plate 19, and then the c1rcu1t fh:st describJ'd ~i!" 

~ tuned relation to the bghts, are necessaiy, will, be again completed, and so on as long as 

other contact plates, contact arms, distributor motor 14 operates , 

"' nif: and brushes may be provided It wiH thus be seen that by my arrangement 

ferrmg to Fig 7 it will be seen that two I am able to control a t"urahty of mter-reOli sets of red, amber and green hghts have been lated e1setr1cal cirt:mts f means of the two t" 1t 
e REF ID:A67797 

l,883,818 

co-e.xial relatively rotatable- disks to which 

motron is mi.parted by 111 single drivmg member, thus prodt1emg a very s11nple and efti:-

eient switching meehanism. Moreover, by 

.6 varying the speed of the moto1:· which drives 

the piw:on, OT b:y changing the ratio between 

the puuon: aml dJ:s~ e.ny desfred time intervids may be obtainea. 

Fm1:hermore, by a rearrangement or a;lter-

• ation of the connections between the various 

segmental portions of the contact plates, as 

heremf>efore described, it is possible to vary 

tl'le retative periods of illumination of the 

:red and green Signal lamps to accommodate 

u. the switch. mechanism to v11rious traffic cond1t1-0ns. 

Various changes. and modifications m the 

construction and operation af the deviee are 

considered to be withm the spirit of the mIO vention. antl the scope of the following chums. 

What I clltllll is:-

1. A. switch mechamsm, mcludmg t\vo contact-carrying disks of d1:fferent die.meters 

provided upon their per1 phenes wrth gear 

u. teeth, and a driv~ pimon meshing witl1 

the· teeth of both · s and adapted to drive 

them sim.ul'taneously at relatively different 

speeds, wl1erebf switching action of their 

contacts rs obtBJined. 

ao. 2. A switch mechanism,. mclu:dm~ two 

disks of dlff'e1"eDt dmmeters Rl'l'an~d m coaxial Jllltaposit5.on, one aE said diSks carrying a l>lura.lity of contact plates and the 

other disk en.rrymg a contact arm for coop86 era.ti.on with i;aid phttes, said disks prmrid'-

ed upon their I,>enphenes with gear teeth,. 

and o. dr1vmg pmion in mesh with the teeth 

of both of s&Id chsks for simultaneously 

driving same at drlterent speeds, whereby '° said contact arm w:dl traverse sud contact 

plates to produce o. switching o.ction at predetermined time intervals. 

:J. A. switch mechanism, includmg two 

disks of different diameters erran~d m coa o.xud juxtaposition, one of said disks carrymg a plurabty of contact plates and the 

other disk carryi~ a. plurality of contact 

arms for cooperation with said plates, a current d1stributor rota.table with one of said 

'ID cbsk:s, b1 ushes for cooperation with said distr1 butor, gear teeth on the peripheries of sBJ.d 

disks, a drivmg pinion meshing with the 

teeth of both diskS for rotatmg same simultaneously o.t relatively different s~ds, o.nd 

611 means providing an electric circuit th11ough 

'mid contact arms, contact plates and distributor, whereby as said disks rotate said 

contact arms will travel over said contact 

plates to produce a t11Ded switching action 

BO m said ci:rcuit. 

4. A switch mechanism., mcluding two 

disks of different diameters toothed upon 

their peripheries and arranged· coaxially face 

to face in spaced relation, a. driving pmien 

ea 1t1eshmg with the teetk of both of said disks 

for simultaneously driving same st different 

speedsr one of said dISkS provided with a 

plurality of contact plates a.rr~ m cit'-

cumferential alignment, the other of said 

disks :provlded w1th a contact arm adapted ?o 

for shdmg engagement with Sa.Id contact 

plates durmg relative rotation of said disks 

to produce a circuit mo.king and breaking action at predetermined tin:re intervals determmed by the connection of said J>lates and T;; 

the relative rotative speed of said disks, and 

means 'vhereby certo.m of said plates may be 

electrically connected or disconnected to vary 

said time mtervals. 

5 A switeh mechanism, including two BO 

disks of di:tlerent diameters toothed upon 

their peripheries and 1nTanged coaxially face 

to face m spaced relation, a drivm~ pmion 

meshmg with the teeth of both of said disks 

for Simultaneously dnvin~ the same at dif- Bi" 

ferent speeds, one of s&J.d disks pl'ovided 

'vith two rows of circumferentially arranged 

contact plates, the other of said disks p1·0-

v1ded with two contact arms one of which is 

arranged for sliding engagem'ent with each oo 

of said circumferential rows of plates durmg relative rotation of said disks to produce 

ciTcuit making and breakm~ action between 

said plates and their respective arms at predetermmed time mtervals determined by the os 

connection of swd ,P.lates lmd the reln.tive rotative speed of sa.ia disks, one of s&J.d arms 

adapted to close o. circuit at a time adjacent 

to the opening of a circuit by the other arm 

and to open the former circuit simultianeousl:y roo 

with the openmg of the latter circuit, and 

means whereby certain of said plates in each 

cirC'lmrlei ential series thereof ma.y be electrically conne.cted ESr d'J..sconnected to vary 

said time intervals. lfl5 

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set 

my hand this 24 da.v of Sept.~ A. D. 1930. 

ROBERT 11. JAMES. 

l'IO 

U5 

120 

I21i 

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REF ID:A67797 • 

June 21, 1932 R B JAMES 1,863,658 

SWITCH MBCHANISM F~R SI~NAL AND OTHBR BLBCTRICAL CIRCUITS 

Filed Oct 23. 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 

FI 6. 1 _ ss \ 

' 

Fl6.2.. l 

• 

f 
REF, ID: A67 7 97 • 

Jane 21, 1932. R B JAMES 1,863,658 

SWITCH llECHAHISM POR SIGNAL AND OTHER ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS 

Filed Oct 23 1930 4 Sheets-She•t 2 r 

Fl 13. J. 

FI 6. 4. 

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- REF ID:A67797 

Jane 21, 1932 . . R B JAMES 1,863,658 .. SWITCH llBCRANISll POR SIGNAL AND OTHER ltl1ECTRICAL CTRCUJT'! 

Filed Oct 23 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 

, 

fl G. B. 

.. 
REF ID:A67797 • 

June 21, 1932. R B JAMES 1,863,658 

SWITCH llBCBANISM POR SIGNAL AND OTHER ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS 

I 

Filed Oct 23. 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 

65 

FI 6. 7. 

2 

64 

68 

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