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US Pat. 1772499
SIGNAL
by Edward C. Rumsey [assigned to Buckeye Iron and Brass Works]Filed: Sept. 23, 1927; Serial No. 221,581
Patented: Aug. 12, 1930
"ROTO RAYS" (trademark) Warning Light
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.
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