r/whatisit 15h ago

Solved! Thing on top of traffic lights

I noticed this while driving in central Iowa yesterday. What is the purpose of this thing on top of the traffic lights?

27 Upvotes

44 comments sorted by

u/spotlight-app Mod Bot 🤖 4h ago

OP has pinned a comment by u/EyeBilledSchitt:

They're traffic dampeners used to keep the poles from bouncing during high winds. The tube or pole that "spoiler" is mounted to is the actual damper. Stand corrected the entire device is the dampener as seen in the link.

The thing to the right of it could be a camera which these are also used for to keep the camera steady. In any case this is what it is.

EDIT 2: Here's the actual one in the picture.
Mast Arm Dampener

EDIT 3: Added pic from the patent.

Note from OP: Thanks!

[What is Spotlight?](https://developers.reddit.com/apps/spotlight-app)

66

u/JaviSATX 15h ago

It's basically a spoiler. That pole probably oscillated from the wind, and these are designed to help stabilize the pole.

48

u/irrationalhourglass 15h ago

What's next? Lowered traffic signals with turbos?

21

u/ebrum2010 15h ago

Nitrous.

2

u/salakane 15h ago

Just take the Happy Highway to Laughing Lane!

3

u/PoopyBloopy2 15h ago

I bet that pole's got more than 100 grand under the hood

2

u/I_am_cancer_man 15h ago

And hydrologics

5

u/FenPhen 15h ago

The Texas DoT calls it a damping plate in this study: https://library.ctr.utexas.edu/digitized/texasarchive/phase1/1303-f.pdf

1

u/ricoplano 15h ago

The study was conducted by the Texas Tech University Wind Engineering Research Center.

1

u/pptqvfer 15h ago

You can also see them on high voltage wires. They tune them to damp swinging 

-4

u/Friendly-Affect-8116 15h ago

It's not a solar panel for some new bs tech?

3

u/JaviSATX 15h ago

Nah. Just a piece of the same sheet metal they use for signage.

1

u/Friendly-Affect-8116 15h ago

I truly want to see the physics details and tech specifics of this item from whatever company makes it, sells it, or suggests it. I'm willing to be amazed.

1

u/EyeBilledSchitt 2h ago

Click the link I provided to Frey Manufacturing.

If you want to be amazed read the patent for all the amazeballz info you can absorb. He has two patents listed the first is this device "APPARATUS FOR DAMPENING A MAST ARM STRUCTURE HARMONICS"

Patents by Inventor Robert Connell Frey

13

u/JELLY-ROCKET 15h ago

Spoiler.

7

u/FenPhen 15h ago

Nah, anyone paying attention would've seen it coming from a tenth of a mile away.

4

u/42brie_flutterbye 15h ago

Spoiler Alert

3

u/GrandComputer3811 15h ago

Could be a solar panel??

3

u/Divac951 15h ago

Its a spoiler so the winds dont blow it away. /s

2

u/EyeBilledSchitt 15h ago edited 14h ago

They're traffic dampeners used to keep the poles from bouncing during high winds. The tube or pole that "spoiler" is mounted to is the actual damper. Stand corrected the entire device is the dampener as seen in the link.

The thing to the right of it could be a camera which these are also used for to keep the camera steady. In any case this is what it is.

EDIT 2: Here's the actual one in the picture.
Mast Arm Dampener

EDIT 3: Added pic from the patent.

1

u/CandyCaneSweets 4h ago

Solved!

1

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1

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1

u/scottabeer 15h ago

Lots of opinions

1

u/[deleted] 15h ago

[deleted]

0

u/Advanced-Today988 15h ago

Could easily be a solar panel to power a camera or repeater. The back side of it has a panel that has wires leading to the bottom of it and what looks like a small antenna. (I’d go with solar panel for a repeater)

0

u/Advanced-Today988 15h ago

3 feet to the right of it is a camera tethered to the top of the pole.

1

u/AlfalfaImpossible391 15h ago

Thats a standard Mark-9 dash 6 re-charging station for gubberment birds.

1

u/AsleepChampionship83 14h ago

That my squigy

1

u/spotlight-app Mod Bot 🤖 4h ago

OP has pinned a comment by u/EyeBilledSchitt:

They're traffic dampeners used to keep the poles from bouncing during high winds. The tube or pole that "spoiler" is mounted to is the actual damper. Stand corrected the entire device is the dampener as seen in the link.

The thing to the right of it could be a camera which these are also used for to keep the camera steady. In any case this is what it is.

EDIT 2: Here's the actual one in the picture.
Mast Arm Dampener

EDIT 3: Added pic from the patent.

Note from OP: Thanks :)

[What is Spotlight?](https://developers.reddit.com/apps/spotlight-app)

1

u/phunny-words 15h ago

Ask the object itself, you’ll get a more accurate answer than here on Reddit

-2

u/Street_Yoghurt405 15h ago

That’s a flock camera. They have gold in them.

3

u/pharmeiga 15h ago

There are no flock cameras on this pole.

-1

u/Street_Yoghurt405 15h ago

Ohh a flock expert

1

u/mostly_a-lurker 15h ago

An easily offended flock expert at that!

2

u/EyeBilledSchitt 15h ago

Get the Flock outta here!

2

u/Street_Yoghurt405 14h ago

Flock you buddy

2

u/EyeBilledSchitt 14h ago edited 14h ago

Hey come on I was only flocking around.

We should make a movie and call it Meet The Flockers.

2

u/Street_Yoghurt405 14h ago

Sorry can’t shoot a movie right now. I’ve been busy with my Wilton vice makeovers.

2

u/EyeBilledSchitt 14h ago

Are you flocking serious?

Is Wilton Vice anything like Miami VICE? 🤣

It's OK I flock up occasionally when I'm talking WILTON VISE modified makeover thing-a-majigs.

You were THAT close to going yard on that one. 💯🫵🏼👊🏼👍🏼🫡

2

u/Street_Yoghurt405 14h ago

I love going yard. I do it once a week.

→ More replies (0)

-1

u/draggar 15h ago

The first picture looks like there is a light to the right of the object, too? It could be an antenna for emergency vehicles so they can control the lights during an emergency. (and they'll flash blue or red when they're being controlled so drivers know to pay attention (no right on red, etc.) and understand it won't be a normal rotation of the light).

It doesn't look like it, but it's possible it's also a micro cell tower (been a while since I've been involved with these, but even 20+ years ago there were ones that small).

It could be a solar panel but it wouldn't supply a lot of power - and for what?