AU2032702A - Sign - Google Patents

Description

1

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT S a 6Sign" The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me:

SIGN

Field of the Invention This invention relates to variable display signs and in a particular non-limiting aspect relates to variable display signs which may be used to display enforceable variable speed limits for roads.

Background of the Invention Various types of variable speed limit signs are known. Typically they are required in circumstances where road conditions change, eg. on bridges where high winds or adverse weather conditions reduce the safe limit at which vehicles may travel, or near schools 15 where speed limits need to be lowered when children arrive or depart from school.

Different types of display signs have been used to provide variable displays. In one more sophisticated arrangement, an electronic display board comprising a plurality of lights which may be actuated in a particular configuration to display the desired speed limit may Ii 20 be used. This is a very effective means of displaying different speeds. However, the display sign, because large electrical power consumption is associated with a large number of lights, needs to have access to a substantial power source. Such access can lead to significant cost in connecting the sign to mains electricity. Furthermore, the sign itself, because of its sophistication and complexity, can be quite expensive.

In another alternative, a hinged flap which displays one of two possible speeds limits depending upon the orientation of the flap, can be used in situations where there is no access to mains power and/or the expense of an electronic sign is not warranted. Whilst such a simple construction can effectively display variable speed limits, it suffers from the disadvantage that a person must reach up to move the flap to change the speed indicated whenever a change is required. This can be quite difficult if the sign is located above the 3 usual height of a person. Furthermore, the flap can be blown about or damaged by strong winds.

Thus there is a need for a variable display sign which can be operated automatically, is relatively inexpensive to install and construct, and does not require access to mains power.

Disclosure of the Invention In one aspect the invention provides a variable display sign comprising: a solar collector for converting solar energy to electrical energy, a battery arranged to store the electrical energy, a movable display surface having a plurality of images, guide means arranged to guide the display surface as it moves between a plurality of predetermined positions, 15 masking meansfor masking one or more of the images as the display surface moves to each of the predetermined positions, electrically actuated drive means for moving the display surface between the *o predetermined positions, and control means for controlling the drive means.

20 The display surface may comprise a planar sheet. The planar sheet may be in the form of a square or rectangular plate. The variable display sign may be mounted on a post. The solar collector may be mounted at or above the top of the post.

S 25 Suitably the movable display surface displays at least two images. The images may be numerals.

The masking means may comprise a masking plate. It may include an aperture. Thus the movable display surface may be arranged behind the masking plate. It may be movable with respect to the aperture to display a desired image through the aperture.

4 The masking plate may also display an image. For example the image may be a zero provided next to the aperture. Thus if the image displayed through the aperture on the movable display surface is a numeral such as 4, the total image displayed by the sign is Permanent text may be included on the display sign. The permanent text may be provided on the masking plate.

One or more warning lights may also be provided on or in association with the display sign. In one embodiment, two warning lights may be provided on the masking plate. The warning lights may be set so that they come on automatically when the display sign displays a speed limit which is lower than the maximum speed limit which can be displayed by the display sign. The lights may be flashing. They may shine through apertures provided on the masking plate. Alternatively they may be mounted directly on the face of the masking plate.

0 000 o• The guide means may comprise a pair of channel shaped guides. The channel shaped guides may fit over the edges of the display surface in the form of a movable plate in such a fashion as to allow the movable plate to be moved vertically.

00 20 The electrically actuated drive means may comprise an electric motor. The motor may be connected to the display surface via a belt or chain. The belt or chain may be directed over one or more pulleys.

000 In an alternative approach, the display surface may be connected to an electro-magnetic 25 solenoid which moves the display surface to the predetermined positions.

In another alternative approach a rotating screw threaded rod may be used to move a nut on which the display surface is mounted.

The control means for controlling the drive means may be actuated by radio control. Thus the control means may incorporate a receiver and a remote transmitter.

Voltage regulator means may be provided for regulating the voltage obtained from the solar collector to charge the battery.

Preferred aspects of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings Figure 1 shows a plan view of a variable display sign (without solar collector) according to the invention; Figure 2 shows the section X-X taken from Figure 1; Figure 3 shows a side on elevational view of a motor and guide arrangement; Figure 4 shows a block diagram of the control system for the variable display sign; and 15 Figure 5 shows a side on conceptual view of an alternative motor and guide '..arrangement.

The various integers identified by the numerals in the drawings are listed in the following integer list.

20 Integer List 1 display sign 3 front plate/mask 25 5 flashing light 7 permanent text 9 permanent text 11 changeable image 13 display aperture 15 image plate 17 first image 19 second image 21 channel guide 23 belt pulley 27 motor 29 solar panel 31 voltage regulator 33 battery motor controller 37 receiver 39 radio remote control 41 limit switch 43 limit switch flasher controller 47 nut 1L 49 bearing 1 51 threaded rod 0o Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment Referring to Figure 1, the display sign generally designated 1 comprises a front plate 3 i 20 which acts as a mask for the display surface in the form of an image plate 15. Whilst the image plate 15 is shown separately to the left side of the masking plate, it is of course to be understood that it is to be fitted behind the front plate when the display sign is assembled.

o*eo The front plate includes one or more flashing lights 5 mounted on the upper part of the plate. These are arranged to be in operation when the lower of the two speed limits, namely the "40" speed limit is displayed. Of course it is to be understood that any other speed limits eg. 75, 80, 100 etc could also be displayed depending on the numerals on the front plate and mask.

Permanent text 7 displaying the words "School Zone" or other information which needs to be communicated to drivers is provided on the bottom of the front plate. In addition 7 permanent text in the form of the numeral is provided on the front plate next to the changeable image 11.

A display aperture 13 allows the first image 17 or second image 19 of the image plate 15 to be displayed through the display aperture.

Referring to Figures 2 and 3, it can be seen that the image plate 15 can be moved vertically by an arrangement of channel guides 21 running vertically and mounted behind the front plate so that the edges of the image plate are retained between the two channel guides.

Up or down movement of the image plate is obtained through the arrangement of electric motor 27, pulleys 25 and belt 23 connecting to the upper and lower ends of the image plate.

As indicated earlier, alternative forms of moving the image plate may be used eg. via an electro-magnetic solenoid arrangement, or other suitable drive mechanism.

9. 9* The display sign 1 may be mounted on a post or structure with a solar panel 29, (not shown in Figures 1 to mounted above the display sign for collecting electrical energy to power the sign.

i9* 20 Referring to Figure 4, the arrangement for controlling and providing power for the sign comprises a solar panel 29 which feeds through a voltage regulator 31 to supply power to the battery 33.

In turn the battery feeds through a motor controller to drive the motor drive 27 (as is illustrated in Figure 3) to move the image plate up and down as is required.

A radio receiver 37 actuated through a radio remote control sends signals to the motor controller to operate the motor drive and hence change the speed limit displayed on the sign.

Limit switches 41 and 43 operate to switch off the motor drive when the image plate has reached a predetermined position corresponding to the display of the high or low speed limit.

8 The low speed limit switch 43 is additionally associated with a flasher controller 45 such that the flasher controller causes the light or lights 5 to flash when the lower of the two speed limits is displayed by the display sign.

Referring to Figure 5, rather than the belt and pulley arrangement for moving the image plate 15, a threaded rod 51 which is rotated clockwise or counterwise by the motor 27 is used to move a nut provided on the threaded rod up and down. The image plate 15 is mounted on the nut and hence moves up and down with the nut. Channel guides 21 provided at two levels serve to guide the image plate as it moves up and down.

It is to be understood that the word comprising as used throughout the specification is to be interpreted in its inclusive form ie. use of the word comprising does not exclude the addition of other elements.

It is to be understood that various modifications of and/or additions to the invention can be made without departing from the basic nature of the invention. These modifications and/or S additions are therefore considered to fall within the scope of the invention.

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Claims (9)

1. A variable display sign comprising: a solar collector for converting solar energy to electrical energy, a battery arranged to store the electrical energy, a movable display surface having a plurality of images, guide means arranged to guide the display surface as it moves between a plurality of predetermined positions, masking means for masking one or more of the images as the display surface moves to each of the predetermined positions, electrically actuated drive means for moving the display surface between the predetermined positions, and control means for controlling the drive means. 0* S

2. A variable display sign according to claim 1 wherein the masking plate includes an aperture and the movable display surface is arranged to move behind the aperture so that images on the display surface come into registry with the aperture. 20

3. A variable display sign according to claim 1 or claim 2 including one or more warning lights arranged to automatically illuminate when the display sign displays one of the images but remains off if the display sign displays another of the images.

4. A variable display sign according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the 5555 display surface comprises a square or rectangular plate and the guide means comprise a pair of channel shaped guides fitting over the edges of the plate in such a fashion as to allow the plate to be moved vertically.

A variable display sign according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the electrically actuated drive means comprise an electric motor arranged to move the display surface by means of a belt or chain arranged over one or more pulleys, or an electric motor arranged to rotate a screw threaded rod to move a nut attached to the display surface and mounted on the screw threaded rod.

6. A variable display sign according to any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the electrically actuated drive means comprise an electro-magnetic solenoid.

7. A variable display sign according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the control means comprise a radio receiver and a radio transmitter arranged so that signals from the radio transmitter can be used to activate the drive means.

8. A variable display sign according to any one of the preceding claims comprising voltage regulator means to regulate the voltage obtained from the solar collector to charge the battery. 15

9. A variable display sign according to any one of the preceding claims mounted on a post with the solar connector being mounted so that it is at or above the top of the post. A variable display sign according to claim 1 substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 9e *oo Dated this 6th day of March 2002 Peter James Cowie by his patent attorneys Morcom Pernat by his patent attorneys Morcom Pernat