Changeable message highway sign machine

• US 4,015,349 A
• Filed: 02/25/1974
• Issued: 04/05/1977
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Fosco Fabricators Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Fosco Fabricators Incorporated
• Inventors: Dunne, Samuel B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Oechsle, Anton O.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hum, Vance Y.
• Application Number:
  US05/445,627
• Time in Patent Office: 1,135 Days
• Field of Search: 40/30, 40/33, 40/52, 40/68, 40/68.4, 40/77, 40/77.4, 40/77.6, 40/77.8, 40/77.7, 40/125 N, 40/125 H, 40/130 R, 40/130 L, 40/132 R, 40/132 D , 40/133, 40/135, 219/203, 219/218, 219/219, 340/22, 340/150, 340/324 R
• US Class Current: 40/473
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 11/10 Electrical control therefor

Abstract

A highway sign machine adapted to be mounted in an overhead position proximate to a traffic lane operates under local or remote control to dis play selectively to motorists any of a plurality of written traffic messages on a vertical sign face covering the front profile of the machine and virtually duplicating the appearance of standard overhead signs for expressways that continuously display unchanging messages. A plurality of traffic messages are written longitudinally on angularly spaced message faces on rotors that are rotatably indexed to different message presenting positions where the rotors are accurately located and releasably held by rotary cam and follower means against vibration. Replaceable message panels on the rotors are supported by lightweight structure resistant to bending and vibration and comprising extruded corner chords having tubular bodies and integral flanges connected by diagonal webs underlying the message panels. Reliable operation even under freezing outdoor conditions is assured by a tight construction and deflectors which substantially exclude precipitation, the bridging of narrow interstices between relatively movable external parts being precluded by internal heating elements positioned and protected to consume little energy. Convenient operational capability in the event of an electric power failure is provided by an emergency low voltage electric drive by a local power source.

Claims

1. For displaying selectively to motorists any of a plurality of traffic messages, a changeable message highway sign machine comprising a casing adapted to be mounted in an overhead position proximate to a highway traffic lane to confront oncoming motorists, the motorist confronting side of said casing being shaped to form a vertical sign face, said casing defining in said sign face a message aperture a message bearing rotor defining on the periphery thereof a plurality of message faces extending longitudinally along the rotor and being angularly spaced around the rotor, each message face being adapted to support lettering of a written message, said rotor being disposed rotatably within said casing in aligned relation to said message aperture, bearing means in said casing journalling said rotor for rotation about the longitudinal axis thereof, power indexing means housed in said casing and coacting with said rotor to turn the rotor to message presenting positions thereof wherein the respective message faces thereon are disposed in viewing alignment with said message aperture to be displayed therethrough to oncoming motorists, said casing including a first hollow linear member defining the lower edge of said message aperture and having a downwardly and inwardly sloping upper edge surface closely confronting the rotary path of the periphery of the rotor, electrical resistance element means disposed longitudinally within said first linear member in proximate relation to said upper edge surface thereon to thermally preclude an icing bridgeover between the rotor and the lower edge of the message aperture, said casing including a second hollow linear member extending along the upper edge of said message aperture and defining a downwardly and outwardly sloping lower edge surface closely confronting the rotary path of the rotor periphery, said second member including a water deflector projecting downwardly and outwardly over the upper marginal edge of said message aperture to deflect downwardly flowing precipitation from the rotor, electrical resistance element means disposed in said second member in proximate relation to said sloping lower edge surface thereof to preclude an icing bridgeover between the rotor and the upper edge of the message aperture, and a cam and cam follower coacting with said rotor to releasably and firmly hold said rotor in any of said message presenting positions thereof.

2. For displaying selectively to motorists any of a plurality of traffic meassages, a changeable message highway sign machine comprising a casing adapted to be mounted in an overhead position proximate to a highway traffic lane to confront oncoming motorists, the motorist confronting side of said casing being shaped to form a vertical sign face, said casing defining in said sign face a message aperture, a message bearing rotor defining on the periphery thereof a plurality of message faces extending longitudinally along the rotor and being angularly spaced around the rotor, each message face being adapted to present lettering of a written message, said rotor being disposed rotatably within said casing in aligned relation to said message aperture, means journalling said rotor for rotation about the axis thereof, means coacting with said rotor to turn the rotor selectively to any of a plurality of message presenting positions thereof wherein the respective message faces thereon are disposed in viewing alignment with said message aperture to be displayed therethrough to oncoming motorists, a first internally open member on said casing extending along the lower edge of said message aperture in close proximity to the rotary path of the periphery of the rotor, heating element means extending along the interior of said first member to thermally preclude an icing bridgeover between the rotor and the lower edge of the message aperture, a second internally open member on the casing extending along the upper edge of said message aperture in close proximity to the rotary path of the rotor periphery, and heating element means extending along the interior of said second member to preclude an icing bridgeover between the rotor and the upper edge of the message aperture.

3. For displaying selectively to motorists any of a plurality of traffic messages, a changeable message highway sign machine comprising a casing adapted to be mountd in an overhead position proximate to a highway traffic lane to confront oncoming motorists, the motorist confronting side of said casing being shaped to form a vertical sign face, said casing defining in said sign face a message aperture, a message bearing rotor defining on the periphery thereof a plurality of message faces extending longitudinally along the rotor and being angularly spaced around the rotor, each message face being adapted to present lettering of a written message, said rotor being disposed rotatably within said casing in alined relation to said message aperture, means supporting said rotor for rotation about the axis thereof, rotary driving means coacting with said rotor to turn the rotor selectively to any of a plurality of message presenting positions thereof wherein the respective message faces thereon are disposed in viewing alinement with said message apeture to be displayed therethrough to oncoming motorists, a first internally open member on said casing extending along the lower edge of said message aperture in close proximity to the rotary path of the periphery of the rotor, heating element extending along the interior of said first member to thermally preclude an icing bridgeover between the rotor and the lower edge of the message aperture, a second member on the casing extending along the upper edge of said message aperture in close proximity to the rotary path of the rotor periphery, and an elongated water deflector member parallel to said sign face and sloping downwardly and outwardly over the upper marginal edge of said message aperture from the overlying portion of the sign face to deflect away from said message aperture downwardly flowing precipitation.

4. For displaying selectively to motorists any of a plurality of traffic messages, a changeable message highway sign machine comprising a casing adapted to be mounted in a position proximate to a highway traffic lane to confront oncoming motorists, the motorist confronting side of said casing being shaped to form a generally vertical sign face, said casing defining in said sign face a message aperture, a message bearing rotor defining on the periphery thereof a plurality of message faces extending longitudinally along the rotor and being angularly spaced around the rotor, each message face being adapted to present lettering of a written message, said rotor being disposed rotatably within said casing in alined relation to said message aperture, means supporting said rotor for rotation about the axis thereof, rotary driving means coacting with said rotor to turn the rotor selectively to any of a plurality of message presenting positions thereof wherein the respective message faces thereon are disposed in viewing alinement with said message aperture to be displayed therethrough to oncoming motorists, a member on said casing extending along the lower edge of said message aperture in close proximity to the rotary path of the periphery of the rotor and having an inner side, and heating element means extending along the inner side of said member to thermally preclude an icing bridgeover between the rotor and the lower edge of the message aperture.

5. A sign machine according to claim 4, in which said heating element means includes electrical resistance heating means.

6. For displaying selectively to motorists any of a plurality of traffic messages, a changeable message highway sign machine comprising a casing adapted to be mounted in a position proximate to a highway traffic lane to confront oncoming motorists, the motorist confronting side of said casing being shaped to form a generally vertical sign face, said casing defining in said sign face a message aperture, a message bearing rotor defining on the periphery thereof a plurality of message faces extending longitudinally along the rotor and being angularly spaced around the rotor, each message face being adapted to present lettering of a written message, said rotor being disposed rotatably within said casing in alined relation to said message aperture, means journalling said rotor for rotation about the axis thereof, means coacting with said rotor to turn the rotor selectively to any of a plurality of message presenting positions thereof wherein the respective message faces thereon are disposed in viewing alinement with said message aperture to be displayed therethrough to oncoming motorists, a first member on said casing extending along the lower edge of said message aperture in close proximity to the rotary path of the periphery of the rotor and having an inner side, heating element means extending along the inner side of said first member to thermally preclude an icing bridgeover between the rotor and the lower edge of the message aperture, a second member on the casing extending along the upper edge of said message aperture in close proximity to the rotary path of the rotor periphery and having an inner side, and heating element means extending along the inner side of said second member to preclude an icing bridgeover between the rotor and the upper edge of the message aperture.

7. A sign machine according to claim 6, in which each of said heating element includes electrical resistance heating means.

8. A sign machine according to claim 6, including a water deflector projecting downwardly and outwardly from said second member and over the upper edge of said message aperture to deflect precipitation from said rotor.

9. For displaying selectively to motorists any of a plurality of traffic messages, a changeable message highway sign machine, comprising a casing adapted to be mounted in a position proximate to a highway traffic lane to confront oncoming motorists, said casing having a motorist confronting sign face formed with a message aperture, a message bearing rotor disposed in said casing and having a plurality of peripheral message faces spaced at angular intervals around said rotor, means in said casing rotatably supporting said rotor for rotation behind said message aperture to bring said message faces successively into view through said message aperture, a rotary electric motor in said casing for driving said rotor, transmission means connected between said motor and said rotor for indexing said rotor in response to operation of said motor to bring each message face in turn into view through said message aperture, a locating cam connected to and rotatable with said rotor and having a plurality of lobes with recesses therebetween corresponding to said message faces, a cam follower for engaging said cam and for reception in said recesses to locate said cam and said rotor with each of said message faces accurately alined in turn with said message aperture, means movably mounting said cam follower in said casing for movement into and out of engagement with said cam, biasing means for biasing said cam follower toward said cam to urge said cam follower into said recesses against displacement by vibrations and air movement, an electrical solenoid connected to said cam follower for moving said cam follower away from said cam to release said rotor for rotation by said electric motor and said transmission means, and means for energizing said solenoid when said motor is energized while deenergizing said solenoid when said motor is deenergized, said cam follower being withdrawn from said cam by said solenoid when said rotor is being indexed by said motor, said cam follower being returned against said cam by said biasing means to accurately locate said rotor and to retain said rotor in its located position when said motor is deenergized.

10. A sign machine according to claim 9, in which said biasing means includes weight means operable by gravity to bias said cam follower toward said cam.

11. A sign machine to claim 9, in which said cam follower includes a roller for engaging said cam and for reception in said recesses.

12. A sign machine according to claim 9, in which said sign face includes a second message aperture, said sign machine including a second message bearing rotor disposed in said casing and having a plurality of peripheral message faces speced at angular intervals around said second rotor, means in said casing rotatably supporting said second rotor for rotation behind said second message aperture to bring said message faces of said second rotor successively into view through said second message aperture, drive means for connecting said second rotor to said transmission means for indexing said second rotor simultaneously with said first rotor in response to operation of said motor, a second locating cam connected to and rotatable with said second rotor and having a plurality of lobes with recesses therebetween corresponding to said message faces of said second rotor, a second cam follower for engaging said second cam and for reception in said recesses of said second cam to locate said second cam and said second rotor with each of said message faces thereof accurately alined in turn with said second message aperture, means movably mounting said second cam follower in said casing for movement into and out of engagement with said second cam, and connecting means for causing said second cam follower to move simultaneously with the first mentioned cam follower, said second cam follower being withdrawn from said second cam by said solenoid when said second rotor is being indexed by said motor, said second cam follower being returned against said second cam to accurately locate said second rotor and to retain said second rotor in its located position when said motor is deenergized.

13. For selectively displaying traffic messages to motorists, a changeable message highway sign machine, comprising a casing adapted to be mounted in a position proximate to a highway traffic lane to confront oncoming motorists, said casing having a motorist confronting sign face formed with first and second message apertures, first and second message bearing rotors disposed in said casing behind the respective first and second message apertures, each of said rotors having a plurality of peripheral message faces spaced at angular intervals around said rotor, first and second means in said casing rotatably supporting the respective first and second rotors for rotation behind the respective first and second message apertures to bring the respective message faces of the respective rotors successively into view through the respective message apertures, a rotary electric motor in said casing for driving both of said rotors, transmission means connected between said motor and said first and second rotors for indexing both rotors in response to operation of said motor to bring the respective message faces in turn into view through the respective message apertures, first and second locating cams connected to and rotatable with the respective first and second rotors, each of said cams having a plurality of lobes with recesses therebetween corresponding to the message faces of said rotor, first and second cam followers for engaging the respective first and second cams and for reception in the recesses thereof to locate the respective cams and rotors with each of the respective message faces thereof accurately alined in turn with the respective message apertures, means movably mounting said first and second cam followers in said casing for movement into and out of engagement with the respective first and second cams, and biasing means for biasing said cam followers toward the respective cams to urge the respective cam followers into the recesses of the respective cams against displacement by vibrations and air movement.

14. A sign machine according to claim 13, including releasing means for counteracting said biasing means to release said first and second rotors for easy indexing movement by said motor and said transmission means.

15. A sign machine according to claim 13, including an electrical solenoid connected to said first and second cam followers for urging the respective cam followers away from the respective first and second cams to release the respective first and second rotors for easy indexing movement by said motor and said transmission means.

16. For displaying selectively to motorists any of a plurality of traffic messages, a changeable message highway sign machine, comprising a casing adapted to be mounted in a position proximate to a highway traffic lane to confront oncoming motorists, said casing having a motorist confronting sign face formed with a message aperture, a message bearing rotor disposed in said casing and having at least three peripheral message faces spaced at angular intervals around said rotor, means in said casing rotatably supporting said rotor for rotation behind said message aperture to bring said message faces successively into view through said message aperture, and powder indexing means for indexing said rotor to bring each message face in turn into view through said message aperture, said rotor having at least three substantially parallel longitudinal corner chords with a multiplicity of skeletal truss braces secured between the successive adjacent chords to form a three-dimensional skeletal truss structure having a strength to resist bending in all directions, each corner chord having a hollow cylindrical longitudinal body with a pair of substantially flat longitudinal flanges formed integrally with said body and projecting therefrom toward the two adjacent corner chords of said rotor, said skeletal braces being secured to said flanges and extending between the confronting flanges of the adjacent corner chords, and at least three thin flat longitudinal sign panels secured to an extending between the confronting flanges of the adjacent corner chords, said sign panels having said message faces thereon.

17. A sign machine according to claim 16, in which there are three of said message faces and three of said corner chords on said rotor, said rotor being substantially triangular in crosssectional shape, each of said corner chords having its flanges extending with an angle of approximately 60°

therebetween.

18. A sign machine according to claim 16, in which there are four of said message faces and four of said corner chords on said rotor, said rotor being approximately square in cross-sectional shape, each of said corner chords having its flanges extending with an angle of approximately 90°

therebetween.