EP0419229A2 - Améliorations relatives aux dispositifs de signalisation - Google Patents

Améliorations relatives aux dispositifs de signalisation Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0419229A2
EP0419229A2 EP90310241A EP90310241A EP0419229A2 EP 0419229 A2 EP0419229 A2 EP 0419229A2 EP 90310241 A EP90310241 A EP 90310241A EP 90310241 A EP90310241 A EP 90310241A EP 0419229 A2 EP0419229 A2 EP 0419229A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
plastics material
light
symbol
fluorescence
sign
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP90310241A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0419229A3 (en
Inventor
Ian Alexander Shanks
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Thorn EMI PLC
Original Assignee
Thorn EMI PLC
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Thorn EMI PLC filed Critical Thorn EMI PLC
Publication of EP0419229A2 publication Critical patent/EP0419229A2/fr
Publication of EP0419229A3 publication Critical patent/EP0419229A3/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
    • G09F—DISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS
    • G09F13/00—Illuminated signs; Luminous advertising
    • G09F13/20—Illuminated signs; Luminous advertising with luminescent surfaces or parts
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E01—CONSTRUCTION OF ROADS, RAILWAYS, OR BRIDGES
    • E01F—ADDITIONAL WORK, SUCH AS EQUIPPING ROADS OR THE CONSTRUCTION OF PLATFORMS, HELICOPTER LANDING STAGES, SIGNS, SNOW FENCES, OR THE LIKE
    • E01F9/00—Arrangement of road signs or traffic signals; Arrangements for enforcing caution
    • E01F9/60—Upright bodies, e.g. marker posts or bollards; Supports for road signs
    • E01F9/623—Upright bodies, e.g. marker posts or bollards; Supports for road signs characterised by form or by structural features, e.g. for enabling displacement or deflection
    • E01F9/654—Upright bodies, e.g. marker posts or bollards; Supports for road signs characterised by form or by structural features, e.g. for enabling displacement or deflection in the form of three-dimensional bodies, e.g. cones; capable of assuming three-dimensional form, e.g. by inflation or erection to form a geometric body
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E01—CONSTRUCTION OF ROADS, RAILWAYS, OR BRIDGES
    • E01F—ADDITIONAL WORK, SUCH AS EQUIPPING ROADS OR THE CONSTRUCTION OF PLATFORMS, HELICOPTER LANDING STAGES, SIGNS, SNOW FENCES, OR THE LIKE
    • E01F9/00—Arrangement of road signs or traffic signals; Arrangements for enforcing caution
    • E01F9/60—Upright bodies, e.g. marker posts or bollards; Supports for road signs
    • E01F9/688—Free-standing bodies
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
    • G09F—DISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS
    • G09F13/00—Illuminated signs; Luminous advertising
    • G09F13/04—Signs, boards or panels, illuminated from behind the insignia
    • G09F13/0418—Constructional details
    • G09F13/0472—Traffic signs

Definitions

  • This invention relates to signalling devices, and it relates especially, though not exclusively, to such devices as may be used to convey information to the drivers of road vehicles.
  • bollards In more permanent situations, fixed devices such as bollards can be used, but these are no more effective as information carriers than cones, particularly in conditions of darkness or otherwise poor visibility, unless they are connected to a supply of electricity which permits illumination of symbols or other characters.
  • Both cones and bollards can be made reflective and it has been proposed to use fluorescent, scattering and retroreflective materials to make them more readily visible. The problem still remains, however, that the bollard, or cone as the case may be, conveys little or no information (other than that indicated by its physical presence) unless it is connected to an external source of power.
  • German Patent Application DE 2934140 discloses a light source with a high light output and a large range of variation of the spectral intensity distribution. This active device uses fluorescent materials as a means to collect light produced by conventional lamps and concentrate it at output points.
  • a light responsive signalling device including at least a portion fabricated from a plastics material containing a fluorescent dye for generating light by fluorescence within the material in response to light from an external source incident thereon, the plastics material bearing a marking in the form of a symbol or sign conveying information which it is desired to communicate, the marking being arranged such that at least a portion of the light generated by fluorescence is scattered or otherwise diverted from the plastics material in substantial conformity with the symbol or sign.
  • German Patent Application DE 2934140 is essentially concerned with producing a concentrated beam of light from a point, although the finite point may be in the form of any geometrical shape.
  • the device shown therein comprises a traffic cone of which at least the upper part 1 is constructed of a plastics material such as polycarbonate, containing an organic fluorescent phosphor dye. If desired, combinations of layers containing different fluorescent dyes can be used to produce various colours (including white).
  • a suitable plastics material is that known as Lisa, developed by Bayer in West Germany.
  • the base part 2 of the cone may or may not be formed of or include fluorescent material and it may be weighted for stability if desired.
  • the region 3 of the cone is formed with or otherwise supports material capable of reflecting or diffusing incident light on the upper part 1.
  • the material of the upper part 1 of the cone is shaped and configured to ensure that most of the light generated by fluorescence therein is constrained to remain within the material until it encounters a scattering or other diverting agency.
  • the thickness of the plastics material increases as the cone tapers.
  • the scattering or diverting agency comprises a carved or sculpted symbol 4 (see Figure 2) in the internal or external surface of the upper part 1 of the cone.
  • the agency could comprise a layer of paint or other suitable substance printed or otherwise applied to or deposited on the inner surface of the upper portion 1 of the cone in accordance with the desired form of symbol 4.
  • the plastics material may if desired be "shrink-wrapped' in a comformable plastic as there would then always be an air film between the shrink wrapper and the cones and thus marks such as fingerprints on the plastic wrapper would not undesirably interfere with light emission.
  • the material of the upper portion 1 will respond to the incidence of such light by fluorescing and since the collection area and fluorescing volume of the cone is very much larger than the region of light emission (i.e. the vicinity of the symbols) there is a significant concentration of light which causes the symbol region to glow brightly relative to its immediate surroundings.
  • the invention provides for the communication of visual signals of enhanced brightness compared with their background. It will be appreciated that a local power source may be added if required.
  • a device in accordance with this example of the invention is capable of showing the symbol 4 in one direction in response for example to illumination from the headlamps of vehicles travelling in the opposition direction, or approaching at some other angle.
  • the invention is not limited in its application to the field of traffic cones but may be used in any situation where it is desired to convey information by visual signalling and where the device carrying the symbol or other form of visual information is or can be illuminated.
  • the upper part of the cone may be made of clear plastics material 5 and fluorescent plastic elements, for example of triangular form 6, may be solvent welded 7 edge-on to the inner surface of the cone in a predetermined format (see Figures 3 and 4).
  • the fluorescent plastic elements are preferably left free at their innermost surfaces so that the cones can be stacked on top of one another for storage.
  • the cones may be made collapsible by forming a number of sections that are retained together by suitable latching arrangements when extended. This would provide for improved storage efficiency.
  • a fluorescent cylinder may be used inside a protective, clear cone.
  • the light responsible signalling device may take the form of a shroud or cover for use with conventional traffic cones.
  • a plastic foil embossed with corner-cubes on its rear surface, retroreflects light entering its front surface within a range of angles (e.g. 30 degrees) either side of the normal to the foil. This involves (total internal) reflections from the faces of the corner-cubes on the rear surface. Outside this range of angles, these reflections become insignificant and incident light is transmitted through the foil and emerges from the rear surface.
  • a foil may be obtained by removing the back (translucent) layer from a transflective corner-cube retroreflector such as that made by Reflexite Limited (Transflector, non-adhesive, Nos. D50-15000180 or D52-1800-180).
  • a fluorescent plastic layer e.g. on a cone
  • it retroreflects light near normal incidence but allows obliquely incident light to pass through to stimulate the fluorescence and light concentrating processes in the fluorescent plastic.
  • light may be emitted from the regions above or below the retroreflector, or even from behind the retroreflector provided that it is viewed obliquely.
  • Due to the curvature of a conical shape the white light from the headlights of a car is retroreflected back to the driver from this central portion over most of its width, whilst light falling near the edges of the cone is transmitted to pump the fluorescent plastic and cause light to be emitted from the desired areas or symbols.
  • the retroreflected light may be coloured if desired by using a suitable filter layer which does not significantly absorb the wavelengths required to stimulate the fluorescence.
  • the light emitting areas of a cone or display sign e.g. the border of a number plate
  • Light from a car's own headlights is, however, very brightly retroreflected from the central area of the cone or display sign as in a conventional cone or number plate.
  • a final layer of transparent material is sealed or otherwise provided over the fluorescent plastic and retroreflector to prevent dirt and moisture from degrading these too much in use.
  • the retroreflector may be made by embossing corner-cubes over part of the inside surface of this protective layer, or the transparent sheet may be welded to the edges of the retroreflector.
  • any of the foregoing embodiments or examples of the invention is used as a cone or bollard, there may be advantage in constructing the object in question in the form of a three- or four-sided pyramid rather than a true cone with circular geometry.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
  • Architecture (AREA)
  • Civil Engineering (AREA)
  • Structural Engineering (AREA)
  • Geometry (AREA)
  • Road Signs Or Road Markings (AREA)
  • Refuge Islands, Traffic Blockers, Or Guard Fence (AREA)
  • Illuminated Signs And Luminous Advertising (AREA)
  • Luminescent Compositions (AREA)
EP19900310241 1989-09-20 1990-09-19 Improvements in or relating to signalling devices Withdrawn EP0419229A3 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB898921294A GB8921294D0 (en) 1989-09-20 1989-09-20 Improvements in or relating to signalling devices
GB8921294 1989-09-20

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0419229A2 true EP0419229A2 (fr) 1991-03-27
EP0419229A3 EP0419229A3 (en) 1991-06-12

Family

ID=10663380

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP19900310241 Withdrawn EP0419229A3 (en) 1989-09-20 1990-09-19 Improvements in or relating to signalling devices

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0419229A3 (fr)
JP (1) JPH03151406A (fr)
GB (2) GB8921294D0 (fr)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1992019907A2 (fr) * 1991-05-06 1992-11-12 Hat Entwicklungsgesellschaft M.B.H. Element de type sandwich, ainsi que dispositif de manipulation pour de tels elements
US5398174A (en) * 1990-10-26 1995-03-14 Ultralux Ab Post for marking road verges
FR2735247A1 (fr) * 1995-06-07 1996-12-13 Otwd On Time Diffusion Sa Procede de fabrication d'une reproduction avec effet de luminescence et reproduction fabriquee par la mise en oeuvre du procede.

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN110700150A (zh) * 2019-11-18 2020-01-17 深圳科尔新材料科技有限公司 一种力致发光护栏网及其制备工艺

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1078785A (en) * 1965-05-22 1967-08-09 A D Crompton Ltd Traffic markers
US3952690A (en) * 1972-01-18 1976-04-27 Flexicade Ltd. Highway barricade
FR2308155A1 (fr) * 1975-04-18 1976-11-12 Aerospatiale Procede et panneau d'affichage photoluminescent
FR2441231A1 (fr) * 1978-11-10 1980-06-06 Bahrton Rolf Panneau indicateur de sortie de secours

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1078785A (en) * 1965-05-22 1967-08-09 A D Crompton Ltd Traffic markers
US3952690A (en) * 1972-01-18 1976-04-27 Flexicade Ltd. Highway barricade
FR2308155A1 (fr) * 1975-04-18 1976-11-12 Aerospatiale Procede et panneau d'affichage photoluminescent
FR2441231A1 (fr) * 1978-11-10 1980-06-06 Bahrton Rolf Panneau indicateur de sortie de secours

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5398174A (en) * 1990-10-26 1995-03-14 Ultralux Ab Post for marking road verges
WO1992019907A2 (fr) * 1991-05-06 1992-11-12 Hat Entwicklungsgesellschaft M.B.H. Element de type sandwich, ainsi que dispositif de manipulation pour de tels elements
WO1992019907A3 (fr) * 1991-05-06 1993-02-04 Hat Entwicklungs Gmbh Element de type sandwich, ainsi que dispositif de manipulation pour de tels elements
FR2735247A1 (fr) * 1995-06-07 1996-12-13 Otwd On Time Diffusion Sa Procede de fabrication d'une reproduction avec effet de luminescence et reproduction fabriquee par la mise en oeuvre du procede.
WO1996040530A1 (fr) * 1995-06-07 1996-12-19 Lumi Corp. Procede de fabrication d'une reproduction avec effet de luminescence et reproduction fabriquee par la mise en ×uvre du procede

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0419229A3 (en) 1991-06-12
JPH03151406A (ja) 1991-06-27
GB9009208D0 (en) 1990-06-20
GB8921294D0 (en) 1989-11-08

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