DE1006761B - Arrangement in traffic signal systems for at least two-phase regulation of dangerous traffic flows - Google Patents

Description

GERMAN

Traffic signal systems to regulate themselves, endangering Traffic flows are planned in such a way that only such electrical light signals are switched on that are permissible in terms of traffic. At traffic junctions, z. B. intersections, star points or circles, converging traffic flows, which hinder each other significantly when released at the same time or. could endanger it in at least two traffic phases released one after the other.

From the point of view of traffic safety, essentially two malfunctions are conceivable, one Traffic hazard. Once, as a result of a fault, two or more can do that Signal "free travel" activating (green light) circuits must be switched on at the same time, which should mutually exclude each other according to the planning. If, for example, the drive signal persists during the phase change for the direction of the road to be blocked, but at the same time for the previously closed street of the other traffic flow also the Drive is released, so obvious damage can occur. Another common one Malfunction is based on interruptions in the signal circuits, for example as a result of a burnout a lamp filament; it is particularly worrying if a stop signal (red light) does not light up, which is to stop the flow of traffic on a road with right of way for the time while which has the transverse direction of the travel signal (green light).

One has already secured against the last-mentioned disturbance by having two red lamps in parallel be switched. It is also already known to use circuit arrangements for monitoring, which by means of relays the circuits, in particular the lamp circuits, continuously for power interruption or check at periodic intervals and automatically if such an interruption is detected Use the relay to switch on a fault indicator or switch off the entire system or switch to a yellow flashing light switch.

Such monitoring arrangements which respond to power interruptions as a result of the burning out of lamps or the like however, they are not suitable for recording the first-mentioned malfunctions that are not are due to the fact that signal lamps go out, but are related to the fact that as a result mechanical or electrical inconsistencies signals light up at the wrong time, especially remain unchanged during phase change, so that traffic directions which are mutually exclusive should get similar signals, especially the travel signal.

Arrangement for traffic signal systems

for at least two-phase control

endangering traffic flows

Applicant:
Siemens & Halske Aktiengesellschaft,

Berlin and Munich,
Munich 2, Wittelsbacherplatz 4

Dr.-Ing. Alfred Berghahn, Braunschweig,
has been named as the inventor

To avoid these disturbances in traffic signals equipped with electrical light signals at least To exclude two-phase regulation of endangering traffic flows is the aim of the invention Although it is also based on an arrangement in which, as in the known signal systems, the signal lamps monitored by relays. According to the invention, however, the contacts of the monitoring relays are in different directions of traffic Simultaneously impermissible signals are switched in such a way that they switch on when their relays respond at the same time Actuate the test relay, which triggers a fault message and at least the relevant signals switches off permanently or replaced by a flashing signal.

The arrangement can be made so that all contacts to be actuated at the same time the monitoring relay of not allowed at the same time Signals are designed as working contacts and with each other and with the test relay in Row. Instead, the aforementioned contacts can also be designed as normally closed contacts and connected in parallel with each other and with the test relay.

Further details of the invention emerge from the description of some examples of circuit arrangements shown in the drawing, in which all contacts are each drawn in the position they assume when the associated relay is de-energized. In FIG. 1 it is assumed that the control device St connected to the network via the two-pole relay switch k regulates three different traffic flows which endanger each other, that is, of which alternately

609 869/90

only one can be released one after the other. With A1, A2 and A3 the traffic flows mentioned are assigned. Signal lamps for "free travel" (green lamps). Only these are monitored for a possibly existing, but undesired simultaneity, ie the monitoring circuit arrangement should determine when two or all three lamps A1, A2, A3 light up at the same time, and then the dangerous state is reported or the lamps mentioned be switched off. In series with the lamps A1, A2, A3 there is a monitoring relay P or Q and R. Their working contacts pl, p2, ql to q3 and rl to r3 are each connected so that when two relays respond simultaneously, ie when the contacts pl, ql or p2, rl or q2, r2 or q3, r3 are closed at the same time, a test relay K1 responds, which in the illustrated case directly opens the two-pole switch k. The test relay Kl could instead operate a contactor with its contacts, via which the control device St is connected to voltage. The test relay K 1 could also actuate an optical or acoustic fault indicator, which can be switched on in a known manner temporarily or until it is switched off manually. At the same time, the yellow and red lamps could also be switched off; What is essential, however, is that, at least in the manner shown, the green lamps that have fallen out of step are all switched off and thus the traffic flows that endanger one another are blocked.

Should there be cases in which, according to the planning of the system, the green time of one circuit begins at the same time as that of the other circuit is ended, in order to prevent false tripping due to slightly different response or release times of the relays P, Q and R the test relay Kl be provided with a response delay. This can also be designed as an additional and adjustable time switch, with which one can monitor whether in special cases, for example in a multi-phase controlled system, the green periods persist longer than the planning allowed.

In most cases it will be sufficient to provide a common test relay for monitoring the permissibility of several groups of signals, in which. Circuit the corresponding contacts of the monitoring relays P, Q, R of the individual signal lamps Al to A3 are located. In special cases you can assign a special relay to each group, which checks the admissibility.

As FIG. 2 shows, the contacts 5 and p3 of the monitoring relays R and P can also be connected in parallel to each other and to the test relay K 2 connected in this case via a resistor W , in which case they are designed as normally closed contacts. The series connection is, however, more versatile.

3 shows an example in which the signals are checked for permissibility by a closed- circuit relay K3 , which can be used in this circuit at the same time as a network monitoring relay. The changeover contacts p 4 and r4 are used to check whether the corresponding signals are not switched on at the same time, but rather only one of these signals is actuated. Only then does the delayed releasing relay K 3 hold either with energized relay R and de-energized relay P via line 1 or with energized relay P and de-energized relay P via line 2. If both relays P and R are energized or de-energized - the last one would also in the event of a power failure - relay K 3 drops out.

In all cases, one can possibly with the response of the test relay Kl to K3 in a known manner a trapdoor, a counter or a time recorder for ease discoverability the cause connect a shutdown of the plant.

Since after the system has been switched off, all monitoring relays P, Q, R are de-energized in accordance with the circuit arrangement, the test relays Kl, K 2 or K 3 would also drop out again and the game would start again. This can be avoided with known circuit means in that the test relays K hold themselves mechanically or via their own contact. One can also switch off the entire system or switch to flashing amber, wherein 3 of this condition to a manual intervention, such as by eliminating the disorder persists even when again abgen fallenem testing relays Kl, K 2 or K. Finally, with simple circuitry aids, switching off or switching the system to flashing yellow can only be achieved for the duration of the disrupted traffic phase, while the other, undisturbed phases can continue to be operated unchanged.

Claims (8)

PATENT CLAIMS: 1. Arrangement in traffic signal systems for at least two-phase regulation of endangered traffic flows by electrically operated light signals, the signal lamps of which are monitored by relays, characterized in that the contacts ( e.g. pl, ql or p2, rl) of the monitoring relays (P, Q, R) of signals ( A1 to A3) that are not permitted in different traffic directions at the same time are switched in such a way that they actuate a test relay (Kl) when their relays respond at the same time, which triggers a fault message and at least permanently switches off the relevant signals or replaces them with a flashing signal. 2. Arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that all contacts to be actuated at the same time (eg pl, ql) of the monitoring relays (eg. P, Q) of simultaneously non-permissible signals (eg Al, A2) are designed as working contacts and with each other and with the test relay (Kl) are in series (Fig. 1). 3. Arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that all contacts to be actuated simultaneously (z. B. p3, rS) of the monitoring relays (z. B. P, R) of simultaneously not permissible signals (eg Al, A3) as normally closed contacts formed and connected in parallel with each other and with the test relay (K 2) (Fig. 2 in conjunction with Fig. 1). 4. Arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the test relay have a pick-up and / or a drop-out delay, which can also be used as an adjustable timer can be formed. 5. Arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that several Groups of signals to be monitored independently of one another are assigned to the same test relay, in its circuit the contacts of the monitoring relays of the same. Group in series and the Series connection of the contacts of different groups are arranged parallel to one another. 6. Arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the test relay as relays that hold themselves electrically or mechanically when the monitored signals are switched off are trained. 7. Arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the through the Test relay triggered optical and / or acoustic view Means for malfunction reporting temporarily or until a manual intervention takes place Shutdown can be switched on. 8. Arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that by the Test relay a counting device and / or a time recorder can be actuated. Considered publications: German Patent Specifications No. 555 705, 451 636; British Patent No. 428,978; U.S. Patent Nos. 1,900,723, 2,166,721. 1 sheet of drawings ® 609 868/90 4.