EP1214475B1 - Installation with traffic sign devices - Google Patents

Installation with traffic sign devices Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1214475B1
EP1214475B1 EP99933314A EP99933314A EP1214475B1 EP 1214475 B1 EP1214475 B1 EP 1214475B1 EP 99933314 A EP99933314 A EP 99933314A EP 99933314 A EP99933314 A EP 99933314A EP 1214475 B1 EP1214475 B1 EP 1214475B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
traffic
warning means
crossing
installation
way
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.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP99933314A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP1214475A1 (en
Inventor
Börje Eklund
Hans-Erik Persson
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.)
SAFERANGE AB
Original Assignee
Saferange AB
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 Saferange AB filed Critical Saferange AB
Publication of EP1214475A1 publication Critical patent/EP1214475A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1214475B1 publication Critical patent/EP1214475B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G08—SIGNALLING
    • G08G—TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEMS
    • G08G1/00—Traffic control systems for road vehicles
    • G08G1/09—Arrangements for giving variable traffic instructions
    • G08G1/095—Traffic lights

Definitions

  • the invention is related to an installation for making, in connection to a specific traffic section, road-users on a way, e.g. a highway, aware that there is reason to be careful, the installation comprising at least two traffic signs located along the way and at different distances from the traffic section, according to the preamble of claim 1.
  • the intended crossings are of level crossing type and can be crossings of a first way in the form of a railway, and a second way in the form of a highway, bicycle way or similar.
  • railway is included ways and tracks for trains, commuter trains, street car, rail-car, subway trains etc.
  • these signs have the disadvantage of being static in the sense that they cannot be activated such that the degree of warning is raised in the event of a particularly dangerous/hazardous situation. These situations can for instance be when a train will pass the crossing or when a train is approaching the crossing and an object at the same time is present in the crossing area.
  • An object of the invention is to provide an installation inducting traffic signs by means of which it is possible to increase the information transmission capability/warning capability from a first level to at least a second level for making road-users aware that there is reason to be careful in connection to a specific traffic section.
  • Such an installation can be used for instance for making road-users aware that there is reason to be extra careful in connection to a crossing.
  • the object is achieved by providing an installation as defined in claim 1.
  • the installation includes a signal processing and control unit to provide for control of the energy supply to the warning means
  • the installation also includes a supervision member comprising a detector for supervising the crossing area of a crossing in connection with said crossing, so as to detect objects present in the crossing area by means of the detector, and the supervision member is connected to the warning means through said signal processing and control unit for turning on the energy supply to the warning means when objects have been detected so as to activate the warning means to thereby emit visible light
  • a supervision member comprising a detector for supervising the crossing area of a crossing in connection with said crossing, so as to detect objects present in the crossing area by means of the detector
  • the supervision member is connected to the warning means through said signal processing and control unit for turning on the energy supply to the warning means when objects have been detected so as to activate the warning means to thereby emit visible light
  • the installation according to this embodiment has a complete system for supervising a crossing area in a crossing and detecting objects present in the crossing area with means for subsequent signal processing and for controlling the energy supply to the warning means, which thereby emit light so that drivers and other road-users in a simple and very efficient manner are made aware that there is a hazardous situation.
  • a hazardous situation can arise for instance when a vehicle of some kind, such as a petrol truck, which quite possibly could be stuck or cannot be moved from the crossing area for some other reason, is present in the crossing area. If additionally a train approaches the crossing on this occasion, there is a very hazardous situation.
  • the traffic sign device in the example includes a warning sign 5 for informing road-users of a present railway crossing.
  • the sign 5 is usually located at a highway for indicating a crossing of a railway and said highway to drivers, which crossing can be of the type with lowerable gates or of the type without such.
  • the number of light emitting units 2 can be varied within the scope of the invention and furthermore they can be combined with a large number of different traffic information symbols 3 and/or substantial parts thereof.
  • traffic information symbol 3 is intended to be interpreted in a wide sense including for instance symbols, figures, text etc.
  • the invention can be applied to a large number of different traffic situations.
  • the invention can be applied to arbitrary traffic section where one wants to attract the attention of road-users to a greater extent during certain periods for some reason.
  • These traffic sections can be for instance a road section where strong winds blow during certain periods or slippery road conditions often exist or where there is a large risk of animal related accidents at certain times of day or night etc.
  • the traffic sections can also include permanent or temporary traffic installations of the type of bridges, crossings, roundabouts, ferry berths, road-work etc.
  • Fig 2 an alternative traffic sign device.
  • the device includes said warning means 1 with two light emitting units 2 and each unit is arranged at an independent traffic information symbol 3.
  • the two symbols 3 are known as warning for road-work and warning for slippery roadway, respectively.
  • the light emitting unit 2 at the symbol for road-work could be activated on the occasions when road-workers are present at the road-work site of interest and the unit 2 at the symbol for slippery roadway could suitably be activated when for instance the roadway recently has been covered with asphalt.
  • the warning means can be designed with light emitting units, which can be controlled separately with respect to the activated and non-activated state.
  • Fig 3 and 4 traffic sign devices including warning means 1 applied and designed such that the warning means 1 itself constitutes said traffic information symbol 3 or a substantial part thereof both when the warning means is in an activated state and in a non-activated state.
  • Fig 4 another traffic sign device is illustrated in which the warning means 1 has such a design that the warning means 1 constitutes the traffic information symbol 3 or at least a substantial part thereof both when the warning means 1 is in an activated state and in a non-activated state.
  • the embodiment is related to a traffic sign in the shape of a warning sign 5 intended to warn drivers of animals, and especially of elks.
  • the light emitting unit/units 2 of the warning means 1 is/are designed to visually depict the elk and/or for instance the triangular frame of the warning sign 5, the possibility to give road-users information in a common way in a non-activated state of the warning means 1 is obtained.
  • warning means 1 in an activated state of the warning means 1 the information transmission capability is increased considerably since the traffic information symbol 3 then emits light.
  • the warning means 1 will in connection herewith be given that colour or the colours and the degree of light transmission required for the warning means to work in both non-activated and activated state. This also holds for the light emitting units of the warning means according to the embodiment illustrated in Fig 3.
  • Fig 5 an installation according to the invention comprising three traffic signs 6, 7, 8 provided with warning means 1.
  • the traffic signs are situated along a highway 9 at a railway crossing 10.
  • the warning means 1 When activating the warning means 1, which advantageously can be done in phase with the activation of a signal equipment 11 generally present at railway crossings, the warning means 1 emit visible light for making road-users aware that there is reason to be extra careful.
  • the traffic signs 6, 7, 8 include different traffic information symbols 3 of distance indicating type for the purpose of indicating to road-users the distance between the respective traffic sign including the traffic information symbol and the crossing 10.
  • a first traffic sign 6 located furthest away from the crossing has a warning means 1 including three light emitting units 2
  • a second traffic sign 7 has a warning means including two light emitting units 2
  • a third traffic sign 8 located closest to the crossing has a warning means 1 including one light emitting unit 2.
  • the first traffic sign is arranged with a further traffic information symbol 12 for illustrating that the traffic signs can be combined with other existing traffic information symbols.
  • the installation is equipped with a signal processing and control unit 20, schematically shown in Fig 6.
  • the signal processing and control unit 20 can, in addition to receiving signals from other signal systems and/or from sensors, influence an energy source 40 such as an electric network, electrical plant, batteries or corresponding thereto, such that the warning means 1 obtains required energy supply from the source (arrow in Fig 6 indicates connection to the warning means 1) to be brought into the activated state, for instance when a train approaches the crossing.
  • the installation in the example also comprises a supervision member 21, shown in Fig 6-9, for supervising the crossing area 22 in a crossing.
  • the supervision member 21 suitably includes some kind of detector 23 which is able to detect whether there are such larger objects, for instance vehicles or people, present in the crossing area 22 which could constitute a danger to traffic.
  • this detector 23 is connected to the signal processing and control unit 20 which provides for interpretation of the signals from the detector 23 and, on relevant detection, ensures that the warning means 1 of the traffic signs obtains required current supply.
  • the supervision member 21 illustrated in Fig 6-9 is adapted to supervise the crossing area 22, for instance the area between railway gates 26, at crossings of a railway 24 and a second way 25 so as to detect objects present in the crossing area 22 which imply obstacles to the train or similar which travels on the railway 24.
  • a detector 23 is schematically shown. This detector 23 is arranged to transmit detection signals and to receive their reflection caused by objects. The detector 23 is reciprocally pivoted to transmit the detection signals in an angular area. This angular area is indicated with the angle V in Fig 6 and 7. To be more precise, this angular area V is restricted by a direction R1 extending substantially in parallel with said railway 24 and a direction R2 extending substantially perpendicular to the railway 24.
  • the detector 23 is connected to the signal processing and control unit 20 and arranged or adjustable/programmable to process signals obtained from the detector 23 to restrict the detection of foreign objects to a distance value varying in the pivoting angular area V so as to achieve an effective detection area corresponding to the crossing area to be supervised.
  • crossing areas in general are substantially rectangular.
  • the effective detection distance can in connection therewith correspond to substantially the width of said second way 25 or for instance half thereof if a further detector exists for the other half of the way, whereas the effective detection distance along the direction R2 normally is the width of the crossing area 22 transversal to the railway 24 itself.
  • the signal processing and control unit 20 that the effective detection distance will vary as the detector is pivoted between the directions R1 and R2 such that the supervision device only reacts if there is any object within this effective detection area, for instance a vehicle or a person which should not be there by rights at the time in question.
  • the signal processing and control unit 20 is arranged to provide for activation of the warning means 1, as previously described.
  • the signal processing and control unit 20 is arranged or adjustable to react only to objects with a surface above a certain value. This surface value should be adjusted to be less than the one which can be expected by a human being but such that there is no unnecessary reaction for small animals.
  • Raising of the gate 26 can be performed for instance when a vehicle present in the crossing area 22, which vehicle possibly have been stuck in the crossing area at an earlier moment, shall be moved from the crossing area, while an approaching train already has obtained necessary stop signal, so as to avoid the gate being wrecked.
  • the detector with advantage comprises a laser, the light of which forms the detection signals.
  • the detector 23 can be arranged on the gate 26 itself for blocking the crossing area 22.
  • Fig 8 it is illustrated somewhat more in detail how the detector 23 can be arranged in a cassette 30, which in turn may be received in a space 32 arranged in the area of the articulated suspension 31 of the gate 26 and designed in the gate.
  • the detector 23 with sweep motor and electronics is mounted within said cassette 30, which suitably can consist of a transparent plastic pipe.
  • This plastic pipe is sealed in a moisture proof and dust proof way at top and bottom.
  • the cassette 30 is mounted and secured in the space 32 and after that it is sealed with a tight fitting cover.
  • the electrical connections are made with special moisture protected connection members with quick coupling.
  • On a wall of the space 32 there is formed a window 33, through which the detection signals of the detector pass.
  • the detector 23 can be arranged separately, as shown in Fig 9, which furthermore enables arrangement of the detector 23 also in crossings which not include railway gates, on a pole 34 and/or a fundament of some kind secured relative to the ground. Also in this case it is suitable that the detection area of the detector is substantially rectangular and that the area is restricted by the directions mentioned above.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Train Traffic Observation, Control, And Security (AREA)
  • Road Signs Or Road Markings (AREA)
  • Traffic Control Systems (AREA)
  • Farming Of Fish And Shellfish (AREA)
  • Separation Of Suspended Particles By Flocculating Agents (AREA)
  • Financial Or Insurance-Related Operations Such As Payment And Settlement (AREA)
  • Crystals, And After-Treatments Of Crystals (AREA)
  • Eye Examination Apparatus (AREA)
EP99933314A 1998-02-02 1999-05-20 Installation with traffic sign devices Expired - Lifetime EP1214475B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
SE9800301A SE513423C2 (sv) 1998-02-02 1998-02-02 Varningsanordning i anslutning till en korsning mellan en första väg och en andra väg
PCT/SE1999/000857 WO2000071817A1 (en) 1998-02-02 1999-05-20 Traffic sign device

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1214475A1 EP1214475A1 (en) 2002-06-19
EP1214475B1 true EP1214475B1 (en) 2007-01-03

Family

ID=26663205

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP99933314A Expired - Lifetime EP1214475B1 (en) 1998-02-02 1999-05-20 Installation with traffic sign devices

Country Status (9)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1214475B1 (es)
AT (1) ATE350538T1 (es)
AU (1) AU4938499A (es)
DE (1) DE69934720T2 (es)
ES (1) ES2281182T3 (es)
FI (1) FI20012194A (es)
NO (1) NO20015556L (es)
SE (1) SE513423C2 (es)
WO (1) WO2000071817A1 (es)

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE102013218300A1 (de) * 2013-09-12 2015-03-12 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Zusatz-Warnanlage für einen Bahnübergang

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE1658658A1 (de) * 1967-01-24 1970-12-23 Guenter Gubela Verkehrszeichen
DE2107947A1 (de) * 1971-02-19 1972-08-31 Matthies A Leuchtwarnsignal mit Lichtsperrschranke und Vorwarnschilder für unbeschrankte Bahnübergänge

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3810091A (en) * 1972-05-11 1974-05-07 W Hoover Warning sign
AT401438B (de) * 1989-01-27 1996-09-25 Strahlen Umweltforsch Gmbh Warneinrichtung
DE4132509A1 (de) * 1991-09-30 1992-07-23 Kresse Guenter Verkehrseinrichtung zur verhinderung von "geisterfahrten bzw. falschfahrten"
US5755051A (en) * 1996-12-02 1998-05-26 Zumbuhl; Edward J. Warning light and sign apparatus

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE1658658A1 (de) * 1967-01-24 1970-12-23 Guenter Gubela Verkehrszeichen
DE2107947A1 (de) * 1971-02-19 1972-08-31 Matthies A Leuchtwarnsignal mit Lichtsperrschranke und Vorwarnschilder für unbeschrankte Bahnübergänge

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
SE9800301D0 (sv) 1998-02-02
WO2000071817A1 (en) 2000-11-30
NO20015556D0 (no) 2001-11-14
ES2281182T3 (es) 2007-09-16
DE69934720D1 (de) 2007-02-15
ATE350538T1 (de) 2007-01-15
AU4938499A (en) 2000-12-12
NO20015556L (no) 2001-11-14
DE69934720T2 (de) 2007-09-13
EP1214475A1 (en) 2002-06-19
FI20012194A (fi) 2001-11-13
SE9800301L (sv) 1999-08-03
SE513423C2 (sv) 2000-09-11

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