Other

Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation

Donald V Comiskey, Jr

Robert M Zawislak

Donald A Brichta

A traffic-control sign that automatically displays a primary message, such as 'STOP', when electrical power is absent, and an optional secondary message, such as 'We Arrest Drunk Drivers', when electrical power is present. The motorless sign is continually encompassed by an enclosure having a transparent facade. A plurality of pivotally-mounted louver panels arranged in a louvered fashion are viewable through the transparent facade. A linkage rod interconnecting the panels provides for unison rotation of the panels. The linkage rod communicates with a solenoid so that the panels assume two distinct positions dependent on the state of the solenoid. These distinct positions reveal primary and secondary viewing surfaces to which the respective messages are affixed. Panel travel approximating 180 degrees allows the messages to be displayed on the overall viewing surfaces formed by the combined individual panel surfaces. Panel travel approximating 90 degrees allows one message to be displayed on the panels and the other message to be displayed on a separate viewing surface located behind the panels. Thus, the solenoid being energized by an electrical power source causes the panel orientation to reveal the optional secondary message and conceal the primary message. Upon removal or loss of electrical power, such as during a power outage, the solenoid de-energizes and causes the panel orientation to reveal the primary message ('STOP') and conceal the secondary message. The sign is ideally suited to supplement a traffic signal and is mountable to a support pole thereof.

Motorless traffic-control sign automatically responsive to state of

A series of arc lamps each has an inductor connected in series with its anode which is field-coupled to a similar inductor connected to its cathode, the inductors being connected in series with each other through the inductors between an arc lamp power supply and a high current modulator for illuminating the arc lamps, once ignited. Ignition takes place serially from a single source of high voltage through respective charging networks, the charge time of each network being different from the others so as to successively create arcs in the arc lamps in sequence. The high voltage used for initial ignition of the arc lamps is differentially balanced to ground by means of the coils in series with the cathode and anode respectively of each arc lamp. The coils are poled so that the buildup of field in each coupled pair oppose each other, thereby rendering the coils invisible to the high current modulation during illumination of the arc lamps.

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West Chicago, IL, United States of America

Donald V Comiskey, Jr