Traffic flow control system

Abstract

A traffic intersection and flow control system which includes a hexagonally shaped, multilane roadway having radiating, multilane roadways extending outwardly from each corner of the hexagonal roadway. Traffic dividing island means are provided in the hexagonal roadway between each corner of the hexagon and are also provided in the several radiating multilane roadways. The islands and traffic lanes are arranged so that all traffic in the innermost lane (relative to the space enclosed by the hexagon) moves at all times in the same direction which is opposite the direction of movement at all times of traffic in the outermost lane. The islands and lanes are also positioned so that traffic moving in any lane will at no time cross in front of traffic moving in any other lane. Traffic control signals are provided adjacent each corner of the hexagonal multilane roadway for controlling the flow of traffic in three directions through the intersection of the hexagonal roadway with the several radiating roadways. The traffic control signals preferably used include at least two lamps for producing light of different colors, a louver system associated with each lamp, and cam means for moving each louver system synchronously to direct the light from each lamp in controlled, contiguous sectors.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A traffic intersection and flow control system comprising: a generally hexagonal, multilane roadway having radiating, multilane roadways extending outwardly from each corner of the hexagonal multilane roadway, the lanes of each of said multilane roadways being located in a single level;   traffic dividing island means in said hexagonal multilane roadway between each corner thereof and in each of said radiating multilane roadways for allowing traffic moving in a single lane to diverge and move in a plurality of lanes, said islands and lanes being positioned so that all traffic in that innermost lane of the hexagonal roadway which is nearest the enclosed hexagonal space moves at all times in one direction, and all traffic in the outermost lane of the hexagonal roadway moves at all times in the opposite direction to the direction of movement of traffic in said innermost lane, and being further positioned so that traffic moving in any of said lanes need at no time cross in front of traffic moving in the other lane; and   traffic control signals adjacent each corner of said hexagonal multilane roadway for controlling the flow of traffic in three directions through the intersection of said hexagonal multilane roadway with the several radiating multilane roadways.   
     
     
       2. A traffic intersection and flow control system as defined in claim 1 wherein each of said roadways has an odd number of lanes therein. 
     
     
       3. A traffic intersection and flow control system as claimed in claim 1 wherein each of said roadways has three lanes, and said traffic dividing island means includes: a traffic island in the center lane of each of said radiating, outwardly extending roadways; and   traffic islands located in the center lane of said hexagonal, multilane roadway on the opposite side of each intersection of said hexagonal roadway with said radiating, outwardly extending roadways.   
     
     
       4. A traffic intersection and flow control system as defined in claim 3 wherein said traffic islands each extend diagonally across the respective center lanes in which they are located, and extend parallel to the direction in which automobiles will necessarily move when moving from an adjacent outside lane into said center lanes when the traffic in said outside lanes moves in opposite directions. 
     
     
       5. A traffic intersection and flow control system as defined in claim 1 wherein each of said traffic control signals comprises a triangular housing having three sides extending at 60° to each other, and having traffic signal lights in each of said sides. 
     
     
       6. A traffic intersection and flow control system as defined in claim 1 wherein said radiating, outwardly extending roadways each form a portion of other hexagonally shaped roadways contiguous with said first mentioned hexagonal roadway and having a side in common with said first mentioned hexagonal roadway in honeycomb fashion. 
     
     
       7. A traffic intersection and flow control system as defined in claim 5 and wherein each of said control signals is further characterized in having three sets of vertically aligned signal lamps in said housing with the lamps in each of said sets facing at an angle of 120° with respect to the direction in which the lamps in adjacent sets face to direct light through the three respective sides of said housing, each set of lamps containing a top lamp, a central lamp and a bottom lamp, the top lamp, central lamp and bottom lamp in each set producing lights of different colors from each other; and wherein said control signal further includes louvers pivotally mounted on said housing in alignment with each of said lamps for directing light emanating from said lamps, said louvers being oriented relative to each other so that a first sector of light projected from said top lamp is clearly delineated from an adjacent second sector of light projected from both said central and bottom lamps; and   means for synchronously pivoting said louvers to enlarge said first sector, diminish said second sector, and maintain each of said first and second sectors well defined with respect to each other while moving the boundary therebetween toward said traffic control signal.   
     
     
       8. A traffic control signal light comprising: a housing having a plurality of apertures therethrough;   a first lamp for producing light of a first color positioned in said housing for directing said first color light through at least one of said apertures;   a second lamp for producing light of a second color positioned in said housing below said first lamp for directing said second color light through at least one of said apertures other than those through which said first color light is directed;   a first set of louvers pivotally mounted on said housing and aligned with said first lamp for directing light from said first lamp in a first sector extending from said signal light;   a second set of louvers pivotally mounted in said housing and aligned with said second lamp for directing light from .[.said.]. said second lamp in a second sector adjacent, but distinct from, said first sector with both of said first and second sectors intersecting.[.,.]. a plane extending normal to a vertical line extending through said housing;   means for .[.synchonously.]. .Iadd.synchronously .Iaddend.moving said louvers in pivotal movement to simultaneously enlarge said first sector and diminish said second sector while concurrently moving the boundary between the two sectors.   
     
     
       9. A traffic control signal light as defined in claim 8 and further characterized to include: a third lamp producing light of a third color positioned between said first and second lamps and aligned with at least one aperture in said housing other than the apertures through which said first color light is directed;   a third set of louvers pivotally mounted in said housing and aligned with said third lamp for directing said light of a third color into said second sector with said second color light; and   means for synchronously moving said second and third set of louvers to maintain both said second and third color light in said second sector.   
     
     
       10. A traffic control signal light as defined in claim 8 wherein said first set of louvers includes a plurality of first plates extending in spaced parallel planes with each of said first plates being mounted for pivotation about a horizontal axis, each of said first plates having a light reflecting upper surface; and wherein said second set of louvers includes a plurality of second plates extending in spaced, parallel planes with each of said second plates being mounted for pivotation about a horizontal axis which extends parallel to the horizontal pivotal axes of said first plates, each of said second plates having a light reflecting lower surface.   
     
     
       11. A traffic control signal light as defined in claim 10 wherein said means for synchronously moving said louvers comprises: rods extending along the pivotal axes of each of said plates and secured to said plates;   gear means secured to each of said rods;   rack means drivingly engaging said gear means for driving said rods in rotation about their longitudinal axes; and   cam means engaging said rack means and moving said rack means to effect synchronous movement of said plates in a predetermined pattern of movement.   
     
     
       12. A traffic control signal light comprising: a first lamp for producing light of a first color;   a second lamp spaced from said first lamp for producing light of a second color;   louver support means adjacent said first and second lamps;   a first set of louvers pivotally mounted on said louver support means and aligned with said first lamp for directing light from said first lamp in a first sector extending from said signal light;   a second set of louvers pivotally mounted on said louver support means and aligned with said second lamp for directing light from said second lamp in a second sector adjacent, but distinct from, said first sector; and   means for synchronously moving said louvers in pivoted movement to simultaneously enlarge said first sector and diminish said second sector while concurrently moving the boundary between the two sectors.   
     
     
       13. A traffic intersection and flow control system comprising: a generally .[.polygonal.]. .Iadd.hexagonal.Iaddend., multilane roadway having radiating, multilane roadways extending outwardly from each corner of the .[.polygonal.]. .Iadd.hexagonal .Iaddend.multilane roadway, the lanes of each of said multilane roadways being located in a single level;   traffic dividing island means in said .[.polygonal.]. .Iadd.hexagonal.Iaddend., multilane roadway between each corner thereof and in each of said radiating multilane roadways for allowing traffic moving in a single lane to diverge and move in a plurality of lanes, said traffic dividing island means and lanes being positioned so that traffic moving in any of said lanes need at no time cross in front of traffic moving in any other lane; and   traffic control signals adjacent each corner of said .[.polygonal.]. .Iadd.hexagonal.Iaddend., multilane roadway for controlling the flow of traffic in three directions through the intersection of said .[.polygonal,.]. .Iadd.hexagonal .Iaddend.multilane roadway with the several radiating multilane .[.roadyays.]. .Iadd.roadways.Iaddend.. .Iadd. 14. A method for controlling traffic approaching a traffic intersection from a traffic control signal source positioned proximate to the traffic intersection comprising the steps of:   displaying at the traffic control signal source a "go" signal indication visible to traffic in a first sector, the traffic in the first sector being at a sufficiently short distance from the traffic intersection that passage thereof through the traffic intersection at a predetermined traffic control speed is permitted; and   simultaneously displaying at the traffic control signal source a "stop" signal indication visible to traffic following said first sector in a second sector, the second sector being at a greater distance from the traffic intersection than the first sector in the line of travel of traffic toward said intersection. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 15. The method for controlling traffic approaching a traffic intersection as defined in claim 14 characterized further to include the additional step of:   simultaneously displaying at the traffic control signal source a "caution" signal indication visible to traffic in the first sector. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 16. The method for controlling traffic approaching a traffic intersection as defined in claim 14 characterized in including the further steps of   moving the first sector in which the "go" signal indication is visible in a direction approaching the traffic intersection at a speed directly related to the predetermined traffic control speed; and   moving the second sector in which the "stop" signal indication is visible in a direction approaching the traffic intersection at a speed directly related to the predetermined traffic control speed. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 17. The method of controlling stop-and-go traffic in a control zone from a traffic signal adjacent said zone comprising displaying at said traffic signal a "go" indication to traffic at sufficiently short distances from said traffic signal to permit safe transit through said zone at normal zone speed, while simultaneously displaying at said traffic signal, a "stop" indication to traffic at greater distances. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 18. Apparatus for controlling traffic approaching a traffic intersection comprising:   a first source of light of one color;   a second source of light of a second and different color;   means for directing light of said one color into a first sector along a roadway passing under said first and second light sources; and   means for directing light of said second and different color into a second sector contiguous to said first sector and at a different distance along said roadway from said first and second sources than said first sector; and   means for simultaneously and continuously shifting the location of both said first and said second sectors toward said first and second sources of lights while maintaining said sectors contiguous to each other. .Iaddend.   
     
     
        .Iadd. 19.  Method of controlling stop-and-go traffic in a control zone from a traffic signal adjacent said zone and having a view lens, comprising displaying at said lens a "go" indication to traffic at sufficiently short distances from said signal to permit safe transit through said zone at normal zone speed, while simultaneously displaying at said lens, a "stop" indication to traffic at greater distances. .Iaddend.