CA1206223A - School bus stop sign and crossing arm apparatus - Google Patents
School bus stop sign and crossing arm apparatusInfo
- Publication number
- CA1206223A CA1206223A CA000415828A CA415828A CA1206223A CA 1206223 A CA1206223 A CA 1206223A CA 000415828 A CA000415828 A CA 000415828A CA 415828 A CA415828 A CA 415828A CA 1206223 A CA1206223 A CA 1206223A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- switch
- school bus
- safety
- vehicle
- motor
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60Q—ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60Q1/00—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor
- B60Q1/26—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to indicate the vehicle, or parts thereof, or to give signals, to other traffic
- B60Q1/50—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to indicate the vehicle, or parts thereof, or to give signals, to other traffic for indicating other intentions or conditions, e.g. request for waiting or overtaking
Abstract
School Bus Stop Sign and Crossing Arm Apparatus Abstract An electrically-powered school bus sign and crossing arm apparatus mounts on the school bus body. A uni-directional DC
motor and associated linkage and limit switch controls are used to deploy and retract the stop sign blade and crossing arm.
motor and associated linkage and limit switch controls are used to deploy and retract the stop sign blade and crossing arm.
Description
1 Technical F'_ld The presen-t invention relates generally to apparatus for deploying a sign. More particularly, the inven-tion rela-tes to apparatus for electromechanically deploying school. bus stop sign and crossing arm apparatus.
Background Art - A comprehensive review of the prior art is to be found in applicant's prior patents 4,138,668 and 4,339,744 which will therefore not be repeated.
Appli.cant's prior patents 4,138,668 and 4,339,744 teach an electrically~operated school bus stop sign which has proven in practice to offer many advantages over the conventional pneumatic system. The present invention wil.l be noted as basically Eollowing the same electromechanical construction.
However, with continued experience and use of the improved school bus sign taught by applicant's prior patents, applicant.
has discovered an electric relay control configuration which offers still fur-ther improvements over all known prior art as well as over applicant's prior patents. Also, government 20 regul.ations and practices vary frorn Sta-te to State within the Unlted States and applicant has found a need for a more ver-satile wiring and control system and which is easier to install.
Further, with the advent of use of pneumatica]ly-operated crossing arms, applicant provides with the present invention a school bus signaling system in which both a crossing arm and stop sign on a school bus can be electrically operated -together with an improved relay control and wiring configuration and while retaining the uni-directional motor and uni-directional mode of operation employed in the school bus sign of applicant's 3~ prior patent 4,339,7~4.
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1 _isclosure_of_Invent,ion The school bus s-top sign and crossing arm apparatus of the present invention basically follows the construction described in applican-t's prior patents and which may be referred -to for re~erence. As in -the school bus s-top sign of the prior pa-tents, there is provided an actuating mechanism located in a housing mountecl on the side of the bus and connecting a DC drive motor -to -the sign. A similar mechanism is provided on the fron-t bumper and operates a crossing arm to insure -tha-t the pupils on depar-ture walk well in fron-t of -the busn The actuating mechanism for both the sign and crossing ~rm are arranged in conjunction with the wiring circuit such that a rotatable arm driven by the shaft of the drive motor moves -the siyn in and out through a connecting rod and actua-tes a pair of limit switches as the motor shaft always turns in the same direc-tion. As compared to the wiring system of the prior patents, the present inventio~
employs a relay in both the sign and crossing arm apparatus and controls this relay with an on-off switch which in a preferred embodiment is dependent on the school bus door position so 2Q that both the school bus sign and crossing arm can be deployed and retracted with opening and closing of the doorO The driver's responsibilities ar~ thus substan-tially reduced. The school bus stop sign of the present lnvention thus eliminates the need for installing a dou~le pole~ double throw deploy-retract switch as in Patent 4,339,74~1, reduces -the complexity of the wiring terminals, provides for an easier installed system, adapts more readily to the widely varying schoool bus regulations and practices and allows both the stop sign and crossing arm to be electrically operated and in one embodiment 3Q automatically in conjunction with opening and closing of the school bus door.
Description of Drawings Figure 1 is a pictorial view of a school bus with the invention stop sign unit partially recessed in the ou-tside panel of -the bus on the driver side thereof.
Figure 2 is a fragmentary pic-torial view of a school bus with the inven-tion crossing arm unit mounted on the fxont bumper and showing the crossing arm and stop sign extended.
Background Art - A comprehensive review of the prior art is to be found in applicant's prior patents 4,138,668 and 4,339,744 which will therefore not be repeated.
Appli.cant's prior patents 4,138,668 and 4,339,744 teach an electrically~operated school bus stop sign which has proven in practice to offer many advantages over the conventional pneumatic system. The present invention wil.l be noted as basically Eollowing the same electromechanical construction.
However, with continued experience and use of the improved school bus sign taught by applicant's prior patents, applicant.
has discovered an electric relay control configuration which offers still fur-ther improvements over all known prior art as well as over applicant's prior patents. Also, government 20 regul.ations and practices vary frorn Sta-te to State within the Unlted States and applicant has found a need for a more ver-satile wiring and control system and which is easier to install.
Further, with the advent of use of pneumatica]ly-operated crossing arms, applicant provides with the present invention a school bus signaling system in which both a crossing arm and stop sign on a school bus can be electrically operated -together with an improved relay control and wiring configuration and while retaining the uni-directional motor and uni-directional mode of operation employed in the school bus sign of applicant's 3~ prior patent 4,339,7~4.
,, ~ . ...
X
2i~
1 _isclosure_of_Invent,ion The school bus s-top sign and crossing arm apparatus of the present invention basically follows the construction described in applican-t's prior patents and which may be referred -to for re~erence. As in -the school bus s-top sign of the prior pa-tents, there is provided an actuating mechanism located in a housing mountecl on the side of the bus and connecting a DC drive motor -to -the sign. A similar mechanism is provided on the fron-t bumper and operates a crossing arm to insure -tha-t the pupils on depar-ture walk well in fron-t of -the busn The actuating mechanism for both the sign and crossing ~rm are arranged in conjunction with the wiring circuit such that a rotatable arm driven by the shaft of the drive motor moves -the siyn in and out through a connecting rod and actua-tes a pair of limit switches as the motor shaft always turns in the same direc-tion. As compared to the wiring system of the prior patents, the present inventio~
employs a relay in both the sign and crossing arm apparatus and controls this relay with an on-off switch which in a preferred embodiment is dependent on the school bus door position so 2Q that both the school bus sign and crossing arm can be deployed and retracted with opening and closing of the doorO The driver's responsibilities ar~ thus substan-tially reduced. The school bus stop sign of the present lnvention thus eliminates the need for installing a dou~le pole~ double throw deploy-retract switch as in Patent 4,339,74~1, reduces -the complexity of the wiring terminals, provides for an easier installed system, adapts more readily to the widely varying schoool bus regulations and practices and allows both the stop sign and crossing arm to be electrically operated and in one embodiment 3Q automatically in conjunction with opening and closing of the school bus door.
Description of Drawings Figure 1 is a pictorial view of a school bus with the invention stop sign unit partially recessed in the ou-tside panel of -the bus on the driver side thereof.
Figure 2 is a fragmentary pic-torial view of a school bus with the inven-tion crossing arm unit mounted on the fxont bumper and showing the crossing arm and stop sign extended.
2~3, ~ .
1 Figure 3 is a plan view of the unit wi-th`-the sign in a retracted position but with a large portion of the si.gn cut away, cover removed, the wiring eliminated and illus-trating the position of the internal mechanism in the retracted position, a unit similar in construc-tion being used f~r the crossing arm~
Figure 4 is a circuit diagram showing the circuitry for deployi.ng and for retracting the stop sign and for flashing . the bus body and sign lights.
Figure 5 i.s a block diagram of a system accordiny to the invention in which bo-th the stop sign and crossing arm are controlled automatically from the bus door switch through a relay control using two relays.
Figure 6 is a block diagram of a system according to the invention in which both the stop s.ign and crossing arm are controlled automaticcllly from the bus door switch through a relay control.
Be t Mode for Carrying Out the Invent.ion De-tails o~ the school bus stop sign apparatus construction described in applicant's prior patent 4,339,7~4 will be gi.ven along with a descrip-tion o~ the improved relay control circuitry and operation o:E the present invention.
Fr~m this description, the similar cross~ng arm apparatus will be understood and from later description how b~th the school bus stop sign and crossing arm apparatus are used with the improved relay control and wiring arrangement of the invention.
As illustrated in Figure 1, the electrically-operated school bus stop sign unit 10 mounts partially recessed in the exterior side panel 11 of the body of school bus 12 and is held in place by screws 13 passing through flange 14 and secured into side panel 11. ~n Figure 2, a similar electri-cally operated unit 70 is shown mounted on the front bumper of the school bus to operate a crossing arm 71 having an optional light 72. The mechanical, general construction and operation of school bus sign unit 10 and crossing arm unit 70 are similar.
The cons-truction and operation of school bus sign unit 10 is firs-t explained ~rom which the cons-truction and opera-tion of crossing arm unit 70 will be readi.ly understood.
_fi_ 1 School bus stop sign uni-t 10 is normally installed on the driver side ~nd includes a sign 20 which, in Fiyures 1 and 2, is shown deployed approxima-tely 90 ~rom bus 12 in a posi-tion where si.gn 20 is readily visible to bo-th following and oncoming traffic. While not shown, it wil.l be understood that the front main entrance door of the bus is on the opposite side of the bus~ School bus stop sign unit 10 is electri.cally tied to the sign ligh-ts 22, 23 and rear and front bus body lights 15, 17 through -the later described improved circuitry of the present invention. In the deployed position, invention unit 10, as later explained7 causes lights 22, 23 to blink or flash along with lights 15 and 17 to alert ~rivers of nearby cars that bus 12 is either loading or unloading children.
Other warning lights are also typically operated when the bus starts slowing down to stop and before it ac-tually comes to a stop.
Housing 19, of school bus stop sign unit 10, i.s partially recesscd within side panel 11. A cover 21 o-f housing 19 is removably secured to housing 19 by screws 2~ to facilitate repairs of component parts o~ housing 19. Housing 19 includes a top housing portion 25 and a bottom housing portion 26.
Housing portions 25, 26 are secured together by welding or other suitable means. Top portion 25 has the ou-~wardly extending peripheral, thin, flat, mid-positioned flange 1.4 pre~iously mentioned through which unit 10 is screwed into place. The schoo] bus stop sign unit 10 can thus be recess~d in the exterior side panel 11 so that the unit 10 is positioned between ~rame members (not shown~ of bus ~2.
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~ tl L-shaped bracket 30 bolts into bottom housing port.ion 26 anrl mount~ on its upright portion a uni-dlrectionally operating DC motor 31 and assoclated gear hou3ing 29, by mean~
of bolt~ 16, t~e gears of w~ic~, althoug~ not ~own, are driven uni-directionally by t~e shaft oE motor 31. Bolts 32 are integral ~ith bottom portion 26 and mount bracket 30 locked in place by nuts 33. T~e end of housing 19 which contains bracket 30, motor 31 an~ gear housing 29 is substantially deeper than t~e opposite end and lts related mechani~m and allows uni-directional rotation of arm 41~
Normally-closed limit switches 34, 35 are also mounte~ on bracXet 30, a3 seen in Figure 3. Switc~es 34, 3~ are fastened to bracket 30 by screws (not s~own~ which fa~ten into bracXet 3n. Sen~ing arms or springs 37, 38 are used to depress plungers 39, 40, respec~ively, as arm 41 contac~s springs 37 38 during t~he ~Ini-directional travel of arm 41. Arm 41 is driven by shaf~ 42 of gear ~0U5 ing 29. Arm 41 rotates unl-directionally and makes a clockwise rsvolution as ~own by the arrow in Figure 4. A stub ~aft 45 i3 rigidly fixed on the outer surface of arm 41 opposite and p~rallel to shaft 42 and extends beyond a sufficient d:istance to provlde a mount.
Connecting rod 46 mounts pivotall~y upon shaft 4~, with washers 43, 44 on either side, an~ .is held in place by cotter pln 47.
The xearwardly disposed end of hou~ing 19 which contains motor 31 and gear housing 29 i6 considerably deeper than the oppo-site forward end. An openlng 55 in wall 51 ha~ adjacent thereto a pair o~ ou~wardly ex~ending bracket~ 56, 57 rigidly secured to wall 51. Brackets S6, ~7 receive pivotally there-between a ~pring-loaded cylinder 60 o the type conven-tionally ~ed .in two-way ~winging ~oor~, and the like.
- Cylinder 60 is capable of being adjusted for ~pring tension.
Through appropriate linkage, as explained in ~he prior patent, a second cylinder 8~ is connected operatlvely with cylinder 60. From cylin~er 88, also as e~plainea in the prior patent, appropriate linkage extends to and connects with sign 20. Sign ~0 is deploye(~ and retracted through operation of connecting rod 4~ and cylinders 60 and 88.
In the illustrated embodiment of the improved relay control cireuit of the present invention bus battery 95 i~ connected ~hrouclh ~ire 96 to a te~nlnal lOOc o a relay switc~ 100 located within housinc1 19. Terminal lOOa on one side of relay ~witc~ 100 is in ~he "deploy" circuit and throuq~ wire 98 connects to terminal 34a on one 3ide of nor-5 mally clo~ed limit ~witch 34. Terminal lOOb on the opposlte~ide of relay ~witch 100 i3 in the "retract" circuit and through wire 99 connect~ to terminal 35a on one ~ide of limit switc~ 35. Relay arm 115 is normally in t~e solid line po~i-tion shown in Fi.gure 4 and in such po~ition connects terminal~
lOOc and lOOb corre~ponding to t~e retract po6ition. Wkile not sho~n in Figures 1 and 2, it will be understood that in many ~tates the ~chool bu~ i~ provided with an on~of boay light control switch 117 operated by the front door. Door ~witch 117 i~ utilized in the pre~ent inventlon. ~hen the ~chool bus door i~ opened by the driver, relay control coil 116 is energized by closing o the normally~open door switc~
117 through wire llB connected to terminal 119 and arm 115 i~
po~itioned by solenoid arm 118 to the da~ed line position ~hown in Figure 4 w~ich connect~ terminal~ lOOc and lOOa corre6ponding to the deploy posi~ion. Wi.re 102 connects ter-minal 34b of the opposite ~ide of normally closed swltc~ 34 and terminal 35b of t~e oppo~ite side of ~witc~ 35. Motor 31 through wirc 104 an~ juncti.on 103 connects to wire 102 and i~
grounde~ throuyh wire 105.
Fla~her YWitc~ 106 ia connec~ted through wi~e 108 and ~unction 11)7 to wire 98. Sign light~3 '22, 23 are in turn connected ~lrough wires 109, 110 to fla~her ~witch 106 and to ground through wire 114. ~lso, bus body rear and ront llght~
15, 17 are connected to flasher swi~c~ 106 ~hrough wire 111 and are grounde~ throug~ wire 112. Wire~ 9~, 99 and 109-111 are conveniently bundled and pa~3 into housi~g 19 through a single hole lOlo ~i~hts 15, 17 and 2~, 23 thus fla~ w~n the sc~ool bu~ door is open.
~hen the ~chool bu~ door i~ closed by the school bu~
3S driver,door switch 117 i5 open and relay arm 115 :L~ in the of or "retract" po~ikion, arm 41 re~ts in contact wi~.h spring 38 oE limit switch 35 which ~aintain~ lights 15, 17, 27., 23 in ~ non~1ashing condition. Thu~, when ~he school bu~ door i~
open, ~he ~oor switch 117 i~ closed and relay arm llS moves to the on or "deployed" po~ition, as in Figure 4, arm 41 rest~
~7-in contact with ~pring 37 of limit 3wit~h 34 which turns lights 15, 17, 22, 23 to an on and fla3hing condition ~hrough flasher ~wi~ch 106 which is conveniently located within housing 19 and can be replaced ea~ily when t~e needl arise~.
Sign 20 is normally in the retracted position. ~u~ lights 15, 17 and ~ign light~ 22, 23 lS continue to flash a~ long ~9 door ~witch 117 is closea, with the sc~ool b~ door open.
In moving rom one po~ition to the other, motor 31 always operate~ .in one direction.
Since the ~chool bu~ ~ign circuit ~ypically operates the ~ign ligh~ and bu~ body lights, t~e cro~ing arm clrcuit does not require t~e fl~sher ~witch or the sign and bu3 body ligh~s shown in ~igure 4. That i~, t~e operating mec~anism of Figure
1 Figure 3 is a plan view of the unit wi-th`-the sign in a retracted position but with a large portion of the si.gn cut away, cover removed, the wiring eliminated and illus-trating the position of the internal mechanism in the retracted position, a unit similar in construc-tion being used f~r the crossing arm~
Figure 4 is a circuit diagram showing the circuitry for deployi.ng and for retracting the stop sign and for flashing . the bus body and sign lights.
Figure 5 i.s a block diagram of a system accordiny to the invention in which bo-th the stop sign and crossing arm are controlled automatically from the bus door switch through a relay control using two relays.
Figure 6 is a block diagram of a system according to the invention in which both the stop s.ign and crossing arm are controlled automaticcllly from the bus door switch through a relay control.
Be t Mode for Carrying Out the Invent.ion De-tails o~ the school bus stop sign apparatus construction described in applicant's prior patent 4,339,7~4 will be gi.ven along with a descrip-tion o~ the improved relay control circuitry and operation o:E the present invention.
Fr~m this description, the similar cross~ng arm apparatus will be understood and from later description how b~th the school bus stop sign and crossing arm apparatus are used with the improved relay control and wiring arrangement of the invention.
As illustrated in Figure 1, the electrically-operated school bus stop sign unit 10 mounts partially recessed in the exterior side panel 11 of the body of school bus 12 and is held in place by screws 13 passing through flange 14 and secured into side panel 11. ~n Figure 2, a similar electri-cally operated unit 70 is shown mounted on the front bumper of the school bus to operate a crossing arm 71 having an optional light 72. The mechanical, general construction and operation of school bus sign unit 10 and crossing arm unit 70 are similar.
The cons-truction and operation of school bus sign unit 10 is firs-t explained ~rom which the cons-truction and opera-tion of crossing arm unit 70 will be readi.ly understood.
_fi_ 1 School bus stop sign uni-t 10 is normally installed on the driver side ~nd includes a sign 20 which, in Fiyures 1 and 2, is shown deployed approxima-tely 90 ~rom bus 12 in a posi-tion where si.gn 20 is readily visible to bo-th following and oncoming traffic. While not shown, it wil.l be understood that the front main entrance door of the bus is on the opposite side of the bus~ School bus stop sign unit 10 is electri.cally tied to the sign ligh-ts 22, 23 and rear and front bus body lights 15, 17 through -the later described improved circuitry of the present invention. In the deployed position, invention unit 10, as later explained7 causes lights 22, 23 to blink or flash along with lights 15 and 17 to alert ~rivers of nearby cars that bus 12 is either loading or unloading children.
Other warning lights are also typically operated when the bus starts slowing down to stop and before it ac-tually comes to a stop.
Housing 19, of school bus stop sign unit 10, i.s partially recesscd within side panel 11. A cover 21 o-f housing 19 is removably secured to housing 19 by screws 2~ to facilitate repairs of component parts o~ housing 19. Housing 19 includes a top housing portion 25 and a bottom housing portion 26.
Housing portions 25, 26 are secured together by welding or other suitable means. Top portion 25 has the ou-~wardly extending peripheral, thin, flat, mid-positioned flange 1.4 pre~iously mentioned through which unit 10 is screwed into place. The schoo] bus stop sign unit 10 can thus be recess~d in the exterior side panel 11 so that the unit 10 is positioned between ~rame members (not shown~ of bus ~2.
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~ tl L-shaped bracket 30 bolts into bottom housing port.ion 26 anrl mount~ on its upright portion a uni-dlrectionally operating DC motor 31 and assoclated gear hou3ing 29, by mean~
of bolt~ 16, t~e gears of w~ic~, althoug~ not ~own, are driven uni-directionally by t~e shaft oE motor 31. Bolts 32 are integral ~ith bottom portion 26 and mount bracket 30 locked in place by nuts 33. T~e end of housing 19 which contains bracket 30, motor 31 an~ gear housing 29 is substantially deeper than t~e opposite end and lts related mechani~m and allows uni-directional rotation of arm 41~
Normally-closed limit switches 34, 35 are also mounte~ on bracXet 30, a3 seen in Figure 3. Switc~es 34, 3~ are fastened to bracket 30 by screws (not s~own~ which fa~ten into bracXet 3n. Sen~ing arms or springs 37, 38 are used to depress plungers 39, 40, respec~ively, as arm 41 contac~s springs 37 38 during t~he ~Ini-directional travel of arm 41. Arm 41 is driven by shaf~ 42 of gear ~0U5 ing 29. Arm 41 rotates unl-directionally and makes a clockwise rsvolution as ~own by the arrow in Figure 4. A stub ~aft 45 i3 rigidly fixed on the outer surface of arm 41 opposite and p~rallel to shaft 42 and extends beyond a sufficient d:istance to provlde a mount.
Connecting rod 46 mounts pivotall~y upon shaft 4~, with washers 43, 44 on either side, an~ .is held in place by cotter pln 47.
The xearwardly disposed end of hou~ing 19 which contains motor 31 and gear housing 29 i6 considerably deeper than the oppo-site forward end. An openlng 55 in wall 51 ha~ adjacent thereto a pair o~ ou~wardly ex~ending bracket~ 56, 57 rigidly secured to wall 51. Brackets S6, ~7 receive pivotally there-between a ~pring-loaded cylinder 60 o the type conven-tionally ~ed .in two-way ~winging ~oor~, and the like.
- Cylinder 60 is capable of being adjusted for ~pring tension.
Through appropriate linkage, as explained in ~he prior patent, a second cylinder 8~ is connected operatlvely with cylinder 60. From cylin~er 88, also as e~plainea in the prior patent, appropriate linkage extends to and connects with sign 20. Sign ~0 is deploye(~ and retracted through operation of connecting rod 4~ and cylinders 60 and 88.
In the illustrated embodiment of the improved relay control cireuit of the present invention bus battery 95 i~ connected ~hrouclh ~ire 96 to a te~nlnal lOOc o a relay switc~ 100 located within housinc1 19. Terminal lOOa on one side of relay ~witc~ 100 is in ~he "deploy" circuit and throuq~ wire 98 connects to terminal 34a on one 3ide of nor-5 mally clo~ed limit ~witch 34. Terminal lOOb on the opposlte~ide of relay ~witch 100 i3 in the "retract" circuit and through wire 99 connect~ to terminal 35a on one ~ide of limit switc~ 35. Relay arm 115 is normally in t~e solid line po~i-tion shown in Fi.gure 4 and in such po~ition connects terminal~
lOOc and lOOb corre~ponding to t~e retract po6ition. Wkile not sho~n in Figures 1 and 2, it will be understood that in many ~tates the ~chool bu~ i~ provided with an on~of boay light control switch 117 operated by the front door. Door ~witch 117 i~ utilized in the pre~ent inventlon. ~hen the ~chool bus door i~ opened by the driver, relay control coil 116 is energized by closing o the normally~open door switc~
117 through wire llB connected to terminal 119 and arm 115 i~
po~itioned by solenoid arm 118 to the da~ed line position ~hown in Figure 4 w~ich connect~ terminal~ lOOc and lOOa corre6ponding to the deploy posi~ion. Wi.re 102 connects ter-minal 34b of the opposite ~ide of normally closed swltc~ 34 and terminal 35b of t~e oppo~ite side of ~witc~ 35. Motor 31 through wirc 104 an~ juncti.on 103 connects to wire 102 and i~
grounde~ throuyh wire 105.
Fla~her YWitc~ 106 ia connec~ted through wi~e 108 and ~unction 11)7 to wire 98. Sign light~3 '22, 23 are in turn connected ~lrough wires 109, 110 to fla~her ~witch 106 and to ground through wire 114. ~lso, bus body rear and ront llght~
15, 17 are connected to flasher swi~c~ 106 ~hrough wire 111 and are grounde~ throug~ wire 112. Wire~ 9~, 99 and 109-111 are conveniently bundled and pa~3 into housi~g 19 through a single hole lOlo ~i~hts 15, 17 and 2~, 23 thus fla~ w~n the sc~ool bu~ door is open.
~hen the ~chool bu~ door i~ closed by the school bu~
3S driver,door switch 117 i5 open and relay arm 115 :L~ in the of or "retract" po~ikion, arm 41 re~ts in contact wi~.h spring 38 oE limit switch 35 which ~aintain~ lights 15, 17, 27., 23 in ~ non~1ashing condition. Thu~, when ~he school bu~ door i~
open, ~he ~oor switch 117 i~ closed and relay arm llS moves to the on or "deployed" po~ition, as in Figure 4, arm 41 rest~
~7-in contact with ~pring 37 of limit 3wit~h 34 which turns lights 15, 17, 22, 23 to an on and fla3hing condition ~hrough flasher ~wi~ch 106 which is conveniently located within housing 19 and can be replaced ea~ily when t~e needl arise~.
Sign 20 is normally in the retracted position. ~u~ lights 15, 17 and ~ign light~ 22, 23 lS continue to flash a~ long ~9 door ~witch 117 is closea, with the sc~ool b~ door open.
In moving rom one po~ition to the other, motor 31 always operate~ .in one direction.
Since the ~chool bu~ ~ign circuit ~ypically operates the ~ign ligh~ and bu~ body lights, t~e cro~ing arm clrcuit does not require t~e fl~sher ~witch or the sign and bu3 body ligh~s shown in ~igure 4. That i~, t~e operating mec~anism of Figure
3 w~en applied as a crossing arm opera~or only requires an electrical connection to the door ~witch 117 and battery 95 when the door ~wi~ch i~ us~d as t:he cvntrol ~witc~ as in Figure 4.
After the pupil8 have been di~charged from th~ bu~, to retract ~ign 20, ~e bu~ door ~g clo~ea by the driver which CaU9~8 door switch 117 to open and relay arm 115 to be flipped to ~e retract po~ition, w~ich all~w~ motor 31 ~o mov~
arm 41 forward in the ~ame direction as befor~ to contact switch 35~ When arm 41 reache~ ana contacts sprin~ 38 of l`i~it switch 3~, motor ~1 stop~ and ~ign 20 is held ~n thQ
retracted position 25 and light~ lS, 17, 22, 23 are turnsd of~.
Figure 5 illu~trate~ the described relay control ~y~em o~ the invention operating both th~ ~top sign and crossing arm u~iliz.ing two relay~ and without a li~h~ on t.he cro~sing ~rm.
A~ compared ~o the circuitry of the prior patents~ an be ~een that the ~eeA for in~ta].ling a ~eparate ~ouble pole, double throw control ~w1tc~ to opera~e the ~op ~ign and where applicable t~e cro~sinq arm has been eliminated. Thu~, bo~h the ~op ~ign and cro~ing arm can be electrically and automatlcally ~pera~.ea by opening and clo~ing t.he bus door alld ~2~2~
using tlle ~oor ~witch to operate the de~cribe~ relay control~
~hile not ~hown, lt also can be recognized that th~ describsd relay control could be operated with a toggle switc~ used to operate the bus body lig~ts or could b~ operate~ independently with a ~oggle switc~ while retaining ~he advantage of relay control and the dramatieally improved ease of in~tallati~n parti.cularly in view of the varying government regulations and practices from ~tate to sta~e. ~n the typical on site or replacement installation for a gc~ool bus sign application all that i~ required to make the invention apparatu~ operational after being ~ecured to ~e side of the bu~ i9 to connect w~res 96, 111 and 118 ~ince all the other connectlone will have b~en made a~ the factory. Thu~, the need to properly locat0, in~tall and wire a speclal double pole, double ~hrow switch to lS :control t~he appar~tu~ has been elimlnate~. In the type of application where a guard arm i8 ~lso being installed only two wiring connections woulcl need to be made namely the respective wiring connection~ to t~e door ~witch 117 and bat~ery 95.
Figure ~ urther il1ustrates the versatility and advan-tages of the relay con~ol system o the invention. In ~igure 6 ~ it will be noted t.hat a single relay 80 ~ usecl to op~rate both the sign and cros~ing arm m~chani~m~ Addl~ionally, where a light i~ pro~ide~ on the cro~sing arm ~uc~ as liyht 72 on crossing arm 71 in Figure 2, the relay control system of the invention allows the crossing arm light o be fla~hed with switch 75 of Figure 6 open or to be operated continuou~ly with switc~ 7S closed. Thus, depending o~ the local government reg~lations and practice~ the invention ~y~tem adap~ to either requirement.
After the pupil8 have been di~charged from th~ bu~, to retract ~ign 20, ~e bu~ door ~g clo~ea by the driver which CaU9~8 door switch 117 to open and relay arm 115 to be flipped to ~e retract po~ition, w~ich all~w~ motor 31 ~o mov~
arm 41 forward in the ~ame direction as befor~ to contact switch 35~ When arm 41 reache~ ana contacts sprin~ 38 of l`i~it switch 3~, motor ~1 stop~ and ~ign 20 is held ~n thQ
retracted position 25 and light~ lS, 17, 22, 23 are turnsd of~.
Figure 5 illu~trate~ the described relay control ~y~em o~ the invention operating both th~ ~top sign and crossing arm u~iliz.ing two relay~ and without a li~h~ on t.he cro~sing ~rm.
A~ compared ~o the circuitry of the prior patents~ an be ~een that the ~eeA for in~ta].ling a ~eparate ~ouble pole, double throw control ~w1tc~ to opera~e the ~op ~ign and where applicable t~e cro~sinq arm has been eliminated. Thu~, bo~h the ~op ~ign and cro~ing arm can be electrically and automatlcally ~pera~.ea by opening and clo~ing t.he bus door alld ~2~2~
using tlle ~oor ~witch to operate the de~cribe~ relay control~
~hile not ~hown, lt also can be recognized that th~ describsd relay control could be operated with a toggle switc~ used to operate the bus body lig~ts or could b~ operate~ independently with a ~oggle switc~ while retaining ~he advantage of relay control and the dramatieally improved ease of in~tallati~n parti.cularly in view of the varying government regulations and practices from ~tate to sta~e. ~n the typical on site or replacement installation for a gc~ool bus sign application all that i~ required to make the invention apparatu~ operational after being ~ecured to ~e side of the bu~ i9 to connect w~res 96, 111 and 118 ~ince all the other connectlone will have b~en made a~ the factory. Thu~, the need to properly locat0, in~tall and wire a speclal double pole, double ~hrow switch to lS :control t~he appar~tu~ has been elimlnate~. In the type of application where a guard arm i8 ~lso being installed only two wiring connections woulcl need to be made namely the respective wiring connection~ to t~e door ~witch 117 and bat~ery 95.
Figure ~ urther il1ustrates the versatility and advan-tages of the relay con~ol system o the invention. In ~igure 6 ~ it will be noted t.hat a single relay 80 ~ usecl to op~rate both the sign and cros~ing arm m~chani~m~ Addl~ionally, where a light i~ pro~ide~ on the cro~sing arm ~uc~ as liyht 72 on crossing arm 71 in Figure 2, the relay control system of the invention allows the crossing arm light o be fla~hed with switch 75 of Figure 6 open or to be operated continuou~ly with switc~ 7S closed. Thus, depending o~ the local government reg~lations and practice~ the invention ~y~tem adap~ to either requirement.
Claims (10)
- Claims l. Electric battery operated apparatus for mounting and operating safety devices on a vehicle such as a school bus stop sign, crossing arm or the like in coordination with accepting and discharging passengers and opening and closing the main entrance door on the vehicle, comprising in com-bination for each such safety device on the vehicle:
(a) a housing having integrally joined walls to provide a box-like internal housing cavity and means enabling said housing to be releaseably secured to an exterior mounting surface of the vehicle;
(b) a uni-directional DC motor mounted and secured within said housing;
(c) a safety device mounting and linkage arrangement including switch actuator means positioned by said motor and linkage members connected to be actuated by said motor;
(d) a safety device such as a school bus stop sign, crossing arm or the like having an inner edge por-tion secured to said linkage members and adapted to being normally pivoted by said safety device mounting and linkage arrangement between a retracted position in which the safety device extends rear-wardly and parallel to said mounting surface and a deployed position in which the safety device extends outwardly and perpendicular to said mounting surface;
(e) first and second normally closed limit switches mounted in opposed positions proximate said motor and switch actuation means, said first switch being arranged to be contacted by said switch actuator means when said safety device is in said deployed position and said second switch being arranged to be contacted by said switch actuator means when said safety device is in said retracted position;
(f) an electric control switch mounted on said vehicle and having first and second positions corresponding to deployment and retraction of said safety device;
and (g) relay switching means including connecting wiring enabling said motor to be connected to the vehicle battery through a first relay established path and through said second limit switch in a first cir-cuit configuration when said control switch is moved to its said first position with said actuator means being in contact with said first limit switch and in which first circuit configuration said linkage arrangement is actuated by said motor shaft rotating in a given direction to move said safety device to said deployed position whereupon said second limit switch is electrically opened by contact with said actuator means and said battery is disconnected from said motor and enabling said motor to be connected to the vehicle battery through a second relay established path and through said first limit switch in a second circuit configuration when said control switch is moved to its said second position with said actuator means being in contact with said second limit switch and in which said second circuit configuration said linkage arrangement is actuated by said motor shaft rotating in the same said direc-tion to move said safety device to said retracted position whereupon said first limit switch is electrically opened by contact with said actuator means and said battery is disconnected from said motor. - 2. Safety apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said vehicle comprises a school bus, said control switch comprises a door switch mounted so as to be opened and closed by the opening and closing of the entrance door of said vehicle with the closed position of such door switch corresponding to the said deploy position and the open position of said door and with the open position of such door switch corresponding to the said retracted position and the closed position of said door.
- 3. Safety apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said vehicle comprises a school bus and at least one of said safety devices comprises a school bus stop sign.
- 4. Safety apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein at least one of said safety devices comprises a school bus stop sign.
- 5. Safety apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said vehicle comprises a school bus and at least one of said safety devices comprises a crossing arm.
- 6. Safety apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein at least one of said safety devices comprises a crossing arm.
- 7. Safety apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said vehicle comprises a school bus and at least one of said safety devices comprises a school bus stop sign having warning lights mounted thereon and including second circuit means having a circuit interrupter, said first circuit means wiring being connected such that said sign warning lights are con-tinuously energized by said battery through said circuit interrupter and independent of the electrical position of said first and second limit switches and electrically flash when and so long as said control switch is in its said first deploy position.
- 8. Safety apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said vehicle comprises a school bus and wherein said safety devices include at least both a school bus stop sign and a crossing arm.
- 9. Safety apparatus as claimed in claim 8 and wherein said electric control switch comprises a single said control switch and said relay switching means comprises a pair of said relay switching means for operating said devices.
- 10. Safety apparatus as claimed in claim 8 and wherein said electric control switch comprises a single said control switch and said relay switching means comprises a single said relay switching means for operating said devices.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US421,461 | 1982-09-22 | ||
| US06/421,461 US4559518A (en) | 1982-09-22 | 1982-09-22 | School bus stop sign and crossing arm apparatus |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1206223A true CA1206223A (en) | 1986-06-17 |
Family
ID=23670618
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000415828A Expired CA1206223A (en) | 1982-09-22 | 1982-11-18 | School bus stop sign and crossing arm apparatus |
Country Status (2)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (1) | US4559518A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1206223A (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN102514525A (en) * | 2011-12-31 | 2012-06-27 | 厦门汇缘湾机电有限公司 | Parking guiding device and parking guiding method |
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| US4766413A (en) * | 1987-04-01 | 1988-08-23 | School Bus Parts Co. Of Canada Inc. | School bus stop sign control apparatus |
| US4816804A (en) * | 1987-04-01 | 1989-03-28 | School Bus Parts Co. Of Canada Inc. | School bus stop sign control apparatus |
| US4825192A (en) * | 1987-11-24 | 1989-04-25 | Wells Kenneth A | Retractable guard for vehicles |
| US4983949A (en) * | 1989-01-30 | 1991-01-08 | Specialty Manufacturing Co., Inc. | Safety unit actuating device |
| US4916372A (en) * | 1989-05-01 | 1990-04-10 | School Bus Parts Co. Of Canada, Inc. | Control system for school bus safety device |
| US4956630A (en) * | 1989-09-08 | 1990-09-11 | Specialty Manufacturing Co., Inc. | Safety unit actuating device |
| US5036307A (en) * | 1990-06-04 | 1991-07-30 | School Bus Parts Co. Of Canada, Inc. | Weather resistant control system for school bus safety device |
| US5166663A (en) * | 1991-02-20 | 1992-11-24 | Kenneth Leis | Self contained air operated pivoting sign device for vehicle |
| US5132662A (en) * | 1991-06-05 | 1992-07-21 | Specialty Manufacturing Co., Inc. | Vehicle safety system |
| US5493269A (en) * | 1991-09-20 | 1996-02-20 | C.A.R.E., Inc. | Vehicular safety sensor and warning system |
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| US5281948A (en) * | 1992-04-24 | 1994-01-25 | Estrada Luis C | Folding school bus stopping arm |
| US5226686A (en) * | 1992-07-28 | 1993-07-13 | Triggs Glenn A | Safety gate for school bus |
| US5355117A (en) * | 1992-11-18 | 1994-10-11 | Jefferson Len B | Vehicle warning sign |
| US5406250A (en) * | 1993-01-28 | 1995-04-11 | Reavell; James | Apparatus for operating a school bus safety device |
| US5406251A (en) * | 1993-03-23 | 1995-04-11 | Leis; Kenneth | Air operated pivoting safety apparatus for vehicle |
| US5357239A (en) * | 1993-05-17 | 1994-10-18 | Transpec, Inc. | Actuating device for bus safety gate and stop sign |
| CA2112172A1 (en) * | 1993-12-22 | 1995-06-23 | Robin R. C. Inwood | School bus safety device and method of use |
| US5635902A (en) * | 1994-11-16 | 1997-06-03 | Hochstein; Peter A. | L.E.D. enhanced bus stop sign |
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| US6009650A (en) * | 1995-09-08 | 2000-01-04 | Lamparter; Ronald C. | Illuminated sign assembly |
| US5719553A (en) * | 1996-05-29 | 1998-02-17 | Transpec Inc. | Sealed electrical actuator assembly for hinged vehicle safety devices |
| US5781120A (en) * | 1997-03-25 | 1998-07-14 | Kucik; Michael | Pneumatically operated safety gate |
| US6234105B1 (en) * | 1997-06-09 | 2001-05-22 | Transpec, Inc. | Crossing arm assembly |
| US5812052A (en) * | 1997-10-29 | 1998-09-22 | Specialty Manufacturing Company | Switch operated actuating device |
| US6037866A (en) * | 1998-08-05 | 2000-03-14 | Leibowitz; Donald | Hazard device for a vehicle |
| US6213526B1 (en) * | 1999-10-08 | 2001-04-10 | Navistar International Transportation Corp. | Bumper integrated school bus safety arm |
| US6652182B1 (en) * | 2002-10-26 | 2003-11-25 | Scott Ellefson | Portable handicapped parking barrier |
| CA2429282C (en) * | 2003-05-21 | 2012-03-20 | B.M.R. Mfg. Inc. | Method and apparatus for operating a vehicle safety arm |
| DE202004005140U1 (en) * | 2004-04-01 | 2004-06-24 | Agco Gmbh & Co. Ohg | Holder for a warning board and warning board for marking the excess width of a tractor |
| US20060208867A1 (en) * | 2005-03-07 | 2006-09-21 | Mcloughlin John E | Vehicle safety and warning apparatus |
| US7397349B2 (en) * | 2005-11-29 | 2008-07-08 | International Truck Intellectual Property Company, Llc | System for automatic activation and cancellation of hazard lights on a vehicle |
| US7474201B2 (en) * | 2006-04-28 | 2009-01-06 | Specialty Manufacturing, Inc. | Safety unit for use on vehicles |
| US7559575B1 (en) * | 2008-04-02 | 2009-07-14 | International Truck Intellectual Property Company, Llc | School bus crossing gate and system for automatic activation |
| US9019380B2 (en) * | 2011-06-03 | 2015-04-28 | United Parcel Service Of America, Inc. | Detection of traffic violations |
| CN103273879B (en) * | 2013-05-17 | 2015-05-27 | 柳州职业技术学院 | Automatic controller of indicating board for school bus parking |
| US8979162B1 (en) | 2014-01-30 | 2015-03-17 | Faisal A. O. Alasfour | Vehicular physical disability assistance device |
| US9245465B1 (en) * | 2014-05-30 | 2016-01-26 | B.L. Solutions LLC | School bus stop safety breakaway arm extension |
| US9517720B2 (en) * | 2014-10-02 | 2016-12-13 | Mark Kevin O'Brien | Visible school stop sign apparatus |
| JP2018166195A (en) * | 2017-03-28 | 2018-10-25 | ソニー・オリンパスメディカルソリューションズ株式会社 | Medical electronic equipment |
| US11479166B2 (en) * | 2017-05-15 | 2022-10-25 | Danny Ringer | Bus safely arm |
| US11554715B2 (en) * | 2018-07-13 | 2023-01-17 | Smartrend Manufacturing Group (Smg), Inc. | School bus stop arm and drive unit therefor |
| US10696253B2 (en) * | 2018-07-18 | 2020-06-30 | Public Transportation Safety Int'l | Vehicle frontal safety guard |
| CN110588754A (en) * | 2019-08-09 | 2019-12-20 | 好孩子儿童用品有限公司 | Foldable children's article |
| US20210362719A1 (en) * | 2020-05-19 | 2021-11-25 | Waymo Llc | Arbitrating friction and regenerative braking for autonomous vehicles |
| US20220332243A1 (en) * | 2021-04-20 | 2022-10-20 | Karen DeVona McGirt | School Bus Stop Arm with Integrated Camera System |
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| US2144813A (en) * | 1934-09-27 | 1939-01-24 | Beacon Safety Signal Co | Direction turn indicator for vehicles |
| US2384689A (en) * | 1943-04-19 | 1945-09-11 | Murray L Moore | Vehicle signal |
| US3153398A (en) * | 1963-09-05 | 1964-10-20 | Superior Coach Corp | School bus safety gate |
| US4138668A (en) * | 1977-10-12 | 1979-02-06 | said Joseph E. Latta, Jr. | School bus stop sign |
| US4339744A (en) * | 1981-03-30 | 1982-07-13 | Latta Jr Joseph E | School bus stop sign |
-
1982
- 1982-09-22 US US06/421,461 patent/US4559518A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1982-11-18 CA CA000415828A patent/CA1206223A/en not_active Expired
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN102514525A (en) * | 2011-12-31 | 2012-06-27 | 厦门汇缘湾机电有限公司 | Parking guiding device and parking guiding method |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| US4559518A (en) | 1985-12-17 |
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