Abstract: The invention relates to a control device for vehicular street traffic, including a signal disc which consumes very little energy. This signal disc is provided with signal webs separated by deep grooves and with a diffusely reflecting color coating. Pivotal slats are disposed in a frame in front of the signal disc. If the signal disc is displaced with respect to the frame, the slats are pivoted upwardly and push themselves completely into grooves. The signal disc is therefore visible at any observation angle. At dusk or at night, the signals may be given by suitably disposed, dot-shaped, colored light sources in the form of light emitting diodes.

Abstract: An electrical system for providing an audible or visible warning and interior and exterior visible displays indicating whether the occupants of a motor vehicle have fastened their seat belts, in compliance with legal requirements and/or the will of the driver. The system involves a plurality of circuits each of which is associated with a driver's seat sensor switch, with a seat belt latch and with an interior display panel, and at least some of which are also associated with exterior display lights. Each said circuit has a seat belt latch for closing or opening said circuit, when the driver's seat sensor switch is closed, to change the condition of a light at a corresponding position on the interior display panel and, for at least the front seat belts, to change the condition of a corresponding exterior display light.

Abstract: In a "two-wire" multiplexed lighting system, a square wave voltage alternating between positive and negative polarities is delivered by the two wires to both right and left lamps. Each lamp includes a diode, and the diodes are oppositely pulled with respect to each other so that one of the lamps is energized by one polarity of the square wave while the other lamp is energized by the opposite polarity. The magnitude of each polarity relative to ground is twice the continuous D.C. voltage rating of each lamp so that the average voltage applied to each lamp can be equal to the load's maximum continuous rating to thereby provide full intensity illumination.

Abstract: A combined tachometer/gear number indicator, preferably in further combination with a speedometer, is described for use on a motor vehicle for synchronizing engine speeds and vehicle speeds to avoid clutch wear when changing gears. A plurality of coaxial transparent dials carry gear number, engine speed and vehicle speed indicia, and markers are provided for indicating data.

Abstract: A device for attachment in a vehicle brake light circuit for causing flashing of the brake lights when the vehicle undergoes an enhanced degree of deceleration comprising an accelerometer for determining when the enhanced degree of deceleration is reached, a first circuit component to determine whether the incoming power to the brake lights are for brake light operation or turn signal operation, a second circuit component to activate a pulse generating component, a timer component to stop the pulse generating component after a predetermined period of time and means to accumulate these various inputs and produce a time pulse flashing in the brake lights.

Abstract: An alarm signaling system, in which a pair of warning lights can be activated from inside the omnibus under emergency conditions, but in which hidden control apparatus prevents the deactivation of the warning lights from within the omnibus.

Abstract: A method of determining the trajectory of a body (1) such as a vehicle body on a relatively plane path portion (2), the method being characterized in that it consists: in forming a main real image (4) of the path portion in a plane (19) at a non-zero angle (5) with the path portion; in decomposing said main image as formed into a plurality of points (21); in determining the relationship between the size of a unit length (30) taken substantially at the level of the path portion and the size of its image formed in the main image the size being a function of the number of points covered by the image and of the location of the unit length on said path portion; in determining a secondary image (32) in the main image, the secondary image corresponding to a longitudinal reference mark (31) related to the vehicle on the path portion; and in determining the various successive positions (32, 33, 34) of the secondary image by correlation of the number of points covered by the secondary image, given that the secondary im

Abstract: A traffic signal control which is designed for color-blind persons, and has a unique geometric shape for the information to be conveyed. The traffic signal control has a central illuminated region of the specific geometric shape, bordered by an opaque region about which is provided a translucent track of white-light of the same geometric shape, which in turn is surrounded by another opaque strip of the same shape. When the control is for a "stop" signal, the central region is made of a red filter, and for the "go", it is made of a green filter. The white light is of a greater intensity than the light emanating from the central region, so that the color blind person may recognize the particular geometric shape indicative of that signal.

Abstract: An improved traffic signal directional indicator device comprises a housing which may be mounted onto a conventional traffic signal and be illuminated to provide indicia pertaining to a motorist's particular direction of travel, i.e. North, Northeast, South, etc. The improved traffic signal directional indicator device may be rapidly retrofitted onto existing traffic signals and function without adversely affecting the normal operation of the traffic signal.

Abstract: An apparatus for indicating that a motor vehicle's headlamps are in their high beam condition. Rather than mounting a light source on the dashboard as conventional, the indicator light is mounted in the top center portion of the vehicle's steering wheel with the wiring therefore routed through the rim and spokes of the steering wheel to the steering column.

Abstract: A portable lightweight vehicle signal flag and warning light is presented comprising a boom which has at least one pair of opposed lenses and a slotted-block which is pivotably attached to the boom. The slotted-block slips over the vehicle window and the boom may be adjusted by tightening a transverse bolt and wing nut. Between each pair of lenses is a bulb flasher assembly which is connected to the vehicles electrical power by a cord and cigarette plug adaptor. On the the bottom of the boom is a signal flag which can display a variety of emergency or warning messages. The bulbs are made to either blink to light in a sequential fashion.

Abstract: A reservoir, for retaining liquid such as coolant of a radiator of an automobile comprises a container having an opening and a deep portion. A switch case extends in the container, which has a flange at an end portion and a float cover at the other end portion. The flange is mounted on the periphery of the opening so as to suspend the switch case in the container. A reed switch is contained in the switch case. A float having a device for turning one and off the reed switch is slidably contained in the float cover. A tube extends into the container through the flange, through which tube the liquid is supplied into, and removed from the container. A holder is fixed on the float cover, which holds the tube in a fixed position. The flange of the switch case is positioned such that the tip portion of the tube is located at the deepest portion of the container.

Abstract: A portable multilight system is provided for traffic control, highway safety and to identify obstructions. A housing having a rechargeable power pack disposed therein includes a plurality of light blocks that are movable from a stored position within the housing to an extended position when developed to form an elongated spaced light block array. Each of the light blocks incorporates at least one Xenon tube stroke light with appropriate electrical connections and switching apparatus to permit selection of simultaneous flashing of the strobe light or serial flashing of the strobe lights from either end of the light block array. Flashing of the strobe lights can also be controlled from the standpoint of flash interval. The strobe light array can be used in many different arrangements for all types of traffic control, for identification of emergency helicopter landing sites and for identifying obstructions.

Abstract: Train monitoring equipment for a train formed by coupling a plurality of sets of cars of fixed formations, comprising monitoring stations mounted in the respective cars of the train and connected serially by transmission lines. Presetting switches are provided in the respective monitoring stations for presetting the formation numbers of the sets of cars in which the respective monitoring stations are located. One of the monitoring stations which serves as the control station transmits its formation number to the other monitoring stations which then register their station numbers on the basis of conformity or non-conformity of the preset formation numbers with the received formation numbers.

Abstract: A motor vehicle such as a truck or a van which has a powered liftgate and which includes a liftgate electrical circuit for activating the liftgate to raise and lower the liftgate and a hazard warning circuit for operating the pulsating hazard warning light system of the vehicle, is fitted with a power interrupting device in the liftgate circuit which is responsive to the operation of the hazard warning circuit to render the liftgate circuit operable when the hazard warning circuit is operating.

Abstract: A protective system for protecting a motor vehicle driver against an assault or threat of violence by a passenger, comprises: a discharge electrode disposed on the vehicle seat to be occupied by such passenger, and exposed for contact by the passenger when sitting on the seat; a high voltage generator connected to the discharge electrode; and an electrical switch actuated by the driver for energizing the electrode. The protective system further includes an arrangement for protecting also against intrusion of the vehicle, and a mode selector switch effective to select either an assault-protection mode or an intrusion-detection mode.

Abstract: Steering wheel with an electric lead to a protective gas bag impact device located in the steering wheel bowl of an automotive vehicle including a current conductor formed by a conducting strip arranged with several windings within a fixedly mounted housing surrounded a steering wheel hub. One end of the cable terminates in a core fastened to the steering wheel hub while the other terminates in the housing. A disk toothed over at least part of its circumference is mounted on the housing and an actuating element engaging the toothed disk is mounted on the hub or spindle. The toothed disk is located radially in relation to the axis of the hub and the spindle and the actuating element is formed by a flange-like transport disk surrounding the spindle or the hub and equipped with a radial slot which is provided with bevelling in the area of the slot. The edges of the slot are spread to form an opening corresponding to the tooth division of the toothed disk.

Abstract: Road safety installation with emission of sound messages for every type of signalling panel fixed along a road, including a fixed emitter device emitting a coded infrared radiation signal corresponding to the type of signalling panel to which it is associated for every signalling panel along a road and on every vehicle circulating along the road, a receiver device receiving the coded infrared radiation signal (i) delivered by the fixed emitter device on every vehicle and converting the signal into a clear sound message emitted for the attention of the driver of the vehicle; the emitter device feeds an infrared radiation emitter via an encoder, so that the fixed emitter device delivers, in the direction of the vehicles arriving on the road, the coded infrared signal, and a second sensor controlling a normally open switch which is closed in order to start the emitter device in operation, when the sound sensor perceives the noise emitted by the vehicle, and the receiver device comprises an infrared radiation sen

Abstract: A terminal in which the keyboard is adapted to be stored on the face of the monitor when it is not in use, thus freeing the work surface for other use. For this purpose, the usual feet used to elevate the back edge of the keyboard to tilt the keyboard towards the operator are spaced apart a distance that is less than the width of the monitor and are provided with cushioning and frictioning material on the front edge thereof as well as on the free edge thereof whereby a cushioning and frictioning material on the front edge of the feet will engage the front edge of the housing adjacent to the display screen and thus frictionally retain the keyboard on the housing.

Abstract: The status of the traffic signals is repeatedly monitored. A visual display is presented of the spatial arrangement of the traffic signals in the system. The currently monitored status of the traffic signals is repeatedly represented on the display, spatially coordinated with the display of the respective traffic signals. A plurality of previously monitored statuses is also repeatedly represented on the display, spatially coordinated with the respective traffic signals and a traffic speed progression representation therebetween. The display distinguishes between through green and local green traffic signal status. A comparison is made of the currently monitored status of a traffic signal under consideration with the previously monitored status of the adjacent traffic signals as the latter arrives at the traffic signal under consideration and a separately distinguishable mark represents a discrepancy in the comparison when the previously monitored status is through green.