Basically, it keeps the pole from vibrating like a guitar string. The chains are there in case the supporting rod breaks; they keep the heavy weight from going through your windshield.
I've only ever seen them on electric wires, but I've seen light poles develop some pretty severe Aeroelastic flutter. This seems like a good way to (possibly) prevent it.
My guess is that those are weights installed as a vibration damper. That explains the chains with which they are secured, and the box with the antenna, which would then record the results of this installation.
Does that traffic light happen to be in a rather windy area, and were those traffic lights swinging madly during storms?
What's the big square antenna thing? Looks like a pretty beefy RF thingy. I've seen them on traffic lights and just by themselves. Are they detecting just the presence of big metal objects? Are they doing long range RFID?
33 Comments
Rivalarrival@lemmy.today · 284 pts · 142d
Stockbridge Damper.
Basically, it keeps the pole from vibrating like a guitar string. The chains are there in case the supporting rod breaks; they keep the heavy weight from going through your windshield.
hereiamagain@sh.itjust.works · 45 pts · 142d
Well I'll be! That seems right!
Rivalarrival@lemmy.today · 42 pts · 142d
I've only ever seen them on electric wires, but I've seen light poles develop some pretty severe Aeroelastic flutter. This seems like a good way to (possibly) prevent it.
SchmidtGenetics@lemmy.world · 22 pts · 141d
See this to see it happening and the dangers.
DarrinBrunner@lemmy.world · 12 pts · 142d
This answers a long-standing question for me.
snausagesinablanket@lemmy.world · 7 pts · 142d
Samesies.
PM_ME_VINTAGE_30S@anarchist.nexus · 8 pts · 141d
"Hey Periphery I got a new guitar for you"🤘👿🤘
gws@programming.dev · 6 pts · 141d
I guessed right ^_^
onnekas@sopuli.xyz · 4 pts · 141d
If vibrating like a guitar string is so bad then tell me why we don't install those things on guitar strings!?
Rivalarrival@lemmy.today · 5 pts · 141d
Guitars have 6 strings. If you attached six of those dampers to a guitar, it would weigh about 240lbs.
Michal@programming.dev · 2 pts · 141d
Because one is installed on a guitar and the other one is not
toiletobserver@lemmy.world · 56 pts · 142d
Traffic light pole truck nuts
derek@infosec.pub · 5 pts · 141d
Pole nuts, as it were.
swicano@slrpnk.net · 40 pts · 142d
I wonder if it's a weight to change the resonance frequency cause it was wobbling too much. Or it's the charging ports for the govt birds
RePsyche@lemmy.world · 19 pts · 141d
Bird recharge port, the cap comes off, they get inside to charge, software updates, etc. Yep.
vivi@slrpnk.net · 10 pts · 141d
https://www.reddit.com/r/civilengineering/comments/18uojdz/what_are_these/ it looks like you're correct. it's a spring damper
vivi@slrpnk.net · 6 pts · 141d
aside, I used Lens to look up similar images, and that worked, but the associated LLM made up a completely different purpose and name for them 🤦♀️
Threeme2189@sh.itjust.works · 20 pts · 141d
They're the answer to truck nuts. Traffic light ovaries.
ryannathans@aussie.zone · 19 pts · 141d
That's where the pee is stored
Treczoks@lemmy.world · 18 pts · 141d
My guess is that those are weights installed as a vibration damper. That explains the chains with which they are secured, and the box with the antenna, which would then record the results of this installation.
Does that traffic light happen to be in a rather windy area, and were those traffic lights swinging madly during storms?
hereiamagain@sh.itjust.works · 3 pts · 141d
Not sure, saw them on a road trip through Ohio
pastermil@sh.itjust.works · 16 pts · 141d
That's how they make new traffic lights.
bhamlin@lemmy.world · 13 pts · 142d
Those are males
SillyDude@lemmy.zip · 8 pts · 141d
What's the big square antenna thing? Looks like a pretty beefy RF thingy. I've seen them on traffic lights and just by themselves. Are they detecting just the presence of big metal objects? Are they doing long range RFID?
Dust0741@lemmy.world · 10 pts · 141d
Radar!
Almost definitely a wavetronix
finallymadeanaccount@lemmy.world · 0 pts · 141d
Jesus Christ! NSFW warning, thanks!
DarrinBrunner@lemmy.world · 8 pts · 142d
It's a lamp post. Did you expect a scrotum sack, Michael?
Zachariah@lemmy.world · 12 pts · 142d
elephantium@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 141d
I haven't seen that toaster model before
aramis87@fedia.io · 7 pts · 141d
Very old shot spotters?
edgemaster72@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 141d
The one on the left is named Dingle McDangle, and the one on the right is named Jingle Bojangle
Asfalttikyntaja@sopuli.xyz · 1 pts · 141d
And their dad is Mister Bojangles.
finallymadeanaccount@lemmy.world · -1 pts · 141d
Light Nuts. They got jealous when they saw truck nuts and, well ...