EP1565617B1 - Stand-alone device for reserving access to certain protected lanes or areas - Google Patents

Abstract

The device has an electronic board (37) to manage control of an actuator (3) of a terminal (2). A battery (38) feeds electricity to the actuator and photovoltaic cells charge the battery. The cells are protected by a transparent wall constituting a face or a part of a face of a technical chamber. A receiver (39) obtains information of a transmitter to inform the board and permit withdrawal of the terminal.

Description

The present invention relates to an autonomous device for reserving access to certain lanes or protected areas, for example delivery areas, parking spaces for the disabled, places reserved for markets, pedestrian streets, private parking or other. It relates more particularly to a device of this kind in the form of a retractable terminal in the soil whose motorization is powered by solar energy.

The many different structures known hitherto either do not work properly or are of complex design and consequently have a high cost price, see for example EP 0 570 312 A.

The present invention provides a new stand-alone access reservation device, having a simple structure, easy to install, maintain and operate.

• une platine électronique de gestion de la commande de la motorisation électrique de la borne,
• une batterie permettant l'alimentation électrique de ladite platine et de ladite motorisation,
• une ou plusieurs cellules photovoltaïques assurant la charge de ladite batterie, laquelle ou lesquelles cellules sont protégées par une paroi transparente constituant une face ou une partie de face dudit caisson technique, et
• un système récepteur apte à recevoir des informations d'un système émetteur associé, pour renseigner ladite platine de gestion et permettre l'extraction ou le retrait de la borne, selon le cas, en fonction des besoins.

The device according to the invention comprises, on the one hand, a receiving box of a retractable terminal in the ground controlled by an electric motor to ensure either its extraction from said box, or its withdrawal inside said box and, on the other hand, a technical box, independent of the receiving box of the terminal, which technical box integrates:

• an electronic control panel for controlling the electric motorization of the terminal,
• a battery for powering said platen and said motor,
• one or more photovoltaic cells charging said battery, which one or more cells are protected by a transparent wall constituting a face or a part of the face of said technical box, and
• a receiver system adapted to receive information from an associated transmitter system, to provide said management plate and allow the extraction or withdrawal of the terminal, as appropriate, as needed.

According to a first embodiment of the invention, the receiving box of the terminal and the technical box are juxtaposed, that is to say placed one next to the other, in particular to facilitate operations civil engineering.

The technical box is advantageously embedded in the ground, its cover placed at or substantially at the level of the ground surface, consisting of the protective wall of the photovoltaic cells, or comprising said protective wall.

According to a preferred embodiment, the technical box comprises a lost box whose upper part is closed by a cover member provided with the transparent wall for protecting the photovoltaic cells; this safe box includes a sealed housing on top of which are provided the photovoltaic cells, and within which are positioned, in particular, the receiver system, the management plate and the battery.

The safe box of the technical box is advantageously provided at its upper part with a wedge-shaped angle, which bracket ensures the reception and fixing of the cover member provided with the transparent wall.

According to a second possible embodiment, the technical box is offset relative to the receiving box of the retractable terminal, and this technical box is in the form of a projecting structure fixed to the ground, like "totem".

According to a particularly interesting embodiment, the receiving box of the terminal comprises a trunk whose upper part is provided with a cover member having an opening for the passage of the retractable terminal, which terminal is fixed on a movable carriage guided vertically by a fixed frame. The vertical movement of this mobile carriage is obtained by means of a pinion system driven by the electric motor mounted on said carriage, which motorized pinion system cooperates with a fixed rack carried by a vertical shaft placed in the center or substantially at center of the lost chest.

Preferably, the upper end of the central shaft is free and its lower end is positioned on a receiving sleeve, secured thereto by means of a detachable locking pin.

According to another feature, the terminal element of the terminal box comprises a stop which allows the locking of the movable carriage in the upper position.

According to yet another particularity, the fixed guide frame of the mobile carriage consists of four vertical angles secured by an outer cheek in the upper part, and an inner cheek in the lower part; this lower cheek comprises in its center a sleeve which allows the reception of the lower end of the vertical shaft which carries the aforementioned fixed rack.

Still according to a preferred embodiment, the trunk box of the terminal box is provided at its upper part with a wedge-shaped angle, which bracket ensures the reception and attachment of the upper end of the fixed frame, and the receiving the cover member, attached to said upper frame end.

According to another advantageous arrangement, the device according to the invention comprises high and low end-of-travel systems, adapted to inform the management plate of the high and low positions of the retractable terminal.

According to yet another particularity, a security system makes it possible to automatically invert the raising movement of the terminal in the event of the presence of an obstacle, before said terminal reaches its high point, and which makes it possible to automatically lower the terminal , after total extraction, if there is a predetermined pressure on said terminal.

• la figure 1 est une vue générale schématique qui montre un premier mode de réalisation possible d'un dispositif de réservation d'accès conforme à l'invention, ce dispositif étant ici illustré en vue externe, avec la borne en position extraite ;
• la figure 2 est une vue schématique en coupe du dispositif illustré sur la figure 1 ;
• la figure 3 est une vue en perspective du châssis fixe qui guide le chariot mobile dans le mode de réalisation illustré sur les figures 1 et 2 ;
• la figure 4 est une vue de détail agrandie qui montre schématiquement la fixation de l'élément de couvercle et du châssis fixe sur le coffre perdu de réception de la borne ;
• la figure 5 est une vue générale schématique qui montre un second mode de réalisation possible d'un dispositif de réservation d'accès conforme à l'invention.

But the invention will be further illustrated, without being limited in any way, by the following description of various particular embodiments, given solely by way of example and represented in the appended drawings in which:

• the figure 1 is a schematic overview showing a first possible embodiment of an access reservation device according to the invention, this device being here illustrated in external view, with the terminal in the extracted position;
• the figure 2 is a schematic sectional view of the device illustrated on the figure 1 ;
• the figure 3 is a perspective view of the fixed frame which guides the movable carriage in the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. figures 1 and 2 ;
• the figure 4 is an enlarged detail view which schematically shows the attachment of the cover member and the fixed frame to the lost box receiving the terminal;
• the figure 5 is a schematic overview showing a second possible embodiment of an access reservation device according to the invention.

As illustrated on figures 1 and 2 , the access reservation device comprises a first box 1 for receiving a retractable terminal 2 controlled by an electric motor 3, and a second box 4, called "technical box", containing the autonomous control means and supply of said electric motor 3.

The two independent boxes 1 and 4 are embedded in the ground; in the illustrated embodiment, they are juxtaposed next to each other so as to facilitate the civil engineering operations.

The receiving box 1 of the terminal 2 comprises a box 6 of generally parallelepipedal shape, for example made of steel sheets. This lost box 6 includes a fixed frame 7 for vertically guiding a movable carriage 8 on which is fixed the terminal 2.
The electric motor 3, shown in dashed lines, is mounted on the movable carriage 8 and drives a system of reduction gears leading to the driving pinion 9 which engages a rack 10 mounted on a vertical shaft 11 to ensure the cycles of rise and fall of the terminal 2.

The fixed frame 7 is detailed on the figure 3 . It consists of four vertical angles 12, section L, secured in the upper part by a cheek 13 in the form of a frame extending horizontally and on the outside of said brackets 12. In the lower part, the four brackets 12 are secured by a cheek 14 in the form of a horizontal plate positioned internally. In the center of the plate 14 we note the presence of a sleeve 15 which allows the reception of the lower end of the vertical shaft 11. This shaft 11 is secured to the sleeve 15 by means of a removable pin 16.

The mobile carriage 8, figure 2 , consists of two parallel plates 18 and 19 assembled by corner angles 20 and a hollow shaft 21 in the central part. A suitable opening is arranged in this hollow shaft 21 to allow the motorized pinion 9 to engage the rack 10.
The angles 20 of the movable carriage 8 are guided by the brackets 12 of the fixed frame 7; the guide of the movable carriage 8 is completed by an open bearing (not shown) associated internally with the hollow shaft 21 and sliding on the vertical shaft 11. This vertical shaft 11 is advantageously made of steel and the rack 10 is preferably made of "nylon" (registered trademark).

The lower plate 18 of the mobile carriage 8 allows the reception of the engine 3 associated with its gear system; its upper plate 19 comprises a plurality of orifices for fixing the terminal 2 by means of screw / nut systems.

The terminal 2 may have a generally cylindrical shape and may be made of steel or cast iron.

In the upper part, the trunk 6 has a peripheral internal return 22 on which is fixed, by screw or by welding, a spacer 23 in the form of an angle section L. As detailed on the figure 4 this spacer 23 allows the reception and fixing of the upper cheek 13 of the fixed frame 7. The corresponding attachment can be achieved by means of screws schematically in 24 on the figure 4 . On the other hand, this spacer 23 also allows the reception of a cover member 25 fixed by security screws 26 on the cheek 13 of the fixed frame 7. This cover member 25 is positioned at ground level, or substantially at the ground level ; it comprises a central orifice 27 whose shape corresponds best to the horizontal section of the terminal 2.
On the figures 2 and 4 , it is noted that the cover member 25 comprises a vertical return 28 which borders the central orifice 27, serving as a guide structure for the terminal 2 and also a stop element for the movable carriage 8 in the high position.

On the other hand, a high end-of-travel system 30 and a low end-of-travel system 31 make it possible to detect the high and low positions of the mobile carriage 8, and consequently the high and low positions of the terminal 2. These systems detection devices 30, 31 may be in the form of magnetized parts, beam cells, or other ...

The bottom of the trunk 6 has an opening 32 for connection to the sewers, to ensure the evacuation of rainwater likely to seep internally.

The technical box 4, juxtaposed to the terminal box 1, comprises a box 34 of generally parallelepipedal shape, made for example of steel sheets. The bottom of this lost box 34 has an orifice 35 for its connection to the sewers to evacuate the rainwater may infiltrate.

This technical box 4 contains the energy part and the "control" part of the device.
For this purpose, it incorporates a sealed housing 36 in which there is an electronic management plate 37, a battery 38 and a receiver system 39, optionally associated with other functional structures.
The battery 38 supplies power to the motor 3 of the terminal 2 via the management plate 37; this platiné 37 is also connected to the up and down end of the race 30, 31, as well as to the receiver system 39. The various corresponding connections are made by means of cables not shown.

The battery 38 is powered by a photovoltaic cell panel 40 fixed on the upper part of the sealed casing 36. This cell panel 40, conventional, is placed opposite a cover member 42 which closes the upper part of the trunk 34 This cover element 42 consists of a transparent wall 43, for example of polycarbonate, mounted on a steel frame 44 arranged for this purpose. This frame 44 is fixed by means of safety screws on a spacer 46, itself fixed to the upper part of the lost box 34.
The cover member 42 is at ground level or substantially at ground level so as not to impede the passage of vehicles and pedestrians.

The electronic control panel 37 extracts or lowers the terminal 2 according to the information provided by a transmitter system 47 associated with the receiver system 39. The transmitter / receiver unit 39-47 can be a radio type system. Or other. The transmitter system 47 may be in the form of a contactless badge, a portable remote control, or the like.

The electronic board 37 manages the direction of rotation of the electric motor 3 according to the information received from the up and down limit switches 30, 31.

Preferably, the device incorporates a security system controlled by the management plate 37, allowing the terminal to be completely extracted or during elevation, to perform an automatic descent movement, if it is subjected to an obstacle or at a determined pressure effort.
For this purpose, the plate 37 can be indicated by the high end-of-travel system 30 and / or by a variation variation of effort on the motorisation 3.
Following an obstacle or force detection, once the terminal 2 in the low position, the plate 37 can perform one or more tests, in the form of a succession of cycles of ascents and descents, before automatically replacing said terminal in the high position.

Preferably, the vertical shaft 11 is secured to the sleeve 15 while maintaining a certain degree of freedom, which allows to give the terminal 2 and its carrier carriage 8 a functional clearance of a few millimeters (3 to 5 mm for example ) to absorb efficiently and without significant degradation, the current shocks subject to this kind of material.

As a complementary functional structure, the housing 36 can integrate a clock connected to the management plate 37 to lower or raise the terminal 2 at certain times. This housing 36 can also integrate a presence detector system allowing, for example, automatic raising of the terminal after the passage of a vehicle, the prior lowering of the terminal having been controlled by the transmitter system 47.

We obtain a retractable access reservation terminal completely autonomous, simple structure and very easy to install.

The figure 5 illustrates a possible embodiment of an access reservation device according to the invention.
In the corresponding embodiment, the terminal box 1 'is identical or similar to the terminal box 1 which has just been described in connection with the Figures 1 to 4 ; on the other hand, the technical box 4 'is here in the form of a structure erected in totem. In this case, the box 4 'is fixed to the ground at some distance from the terminal box 1', on a "neutral" zone, not interfering. The totem 4 'encloses the management and power supply means described above, in the form of a solar panel 40', an electronic board 37 ', a battery 38' and a receiver system 39 ', possibly associated with other functional structures. The photovoltaic cell panel 40 'is placed in the upper part of the totem 4', protected by a transparent wall 43 'arranged on the top of said totem 4'.
The connection between the technical box 4 'and the terminal box 1' is achieved by a wiring system integrated in a trench connection.

The technical box 4 'may further comprise a control panel, possibly associated with a card reading system, to complete the transmitter / receiver control means.

Claims (13)

1. Stand-alone device which makes it possible to reserve access to certain protected areas or roads, characterised in that it comprises firstly a box (1, 1') for receipt of a terminal (2) which is retractable into the ground, and is controlled by electric motorisation (3) in order to assure either extraction of the terminal from the said box (1, 1'), or withdrawal of the terminal inside the said box (1, 1'), and secondly a technical box (4, 4'), which is independent from the box (1, 1') for receipt of the terminal (2), which technical box (4, 4') incorporates:

   - an electronic plate (37, 37') which makes possible control of the command of the electric motorisation (3) of the terminal (2);

   - a battery (38, 38') which makes possible the electrical supply of the said plate (37, 37') and of the said motorisation (3);

   - one or a plurality of photovoltaic cells (40, 40') which assure charging of the said battery (38, 38'), which cell(s)(40, 40') is/are protected by a transparent wall (43, 43') which constitutes a surface or part of a surface of the said technical box (4, 4'); and

   - a receiver system (39, 39') which can receive information from an associated emitter system (47), in order to convey information to the said control plate (37, 37') and permit extraction or withdrawal of the terminal (2), as applicable.
2. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that the box (1) for receipt of the terminal and the technical box (4) are juxtaposed.
3. Device according to either of claims 1 or 2, characterised in that the technical box (4) is embedded in the ground, its cover element (42) which is placed at the level of, or substantially at the level of the surface of the ground, consisting of the transparent protective wall (43) of the photovoltaic cells (40), or comprising the said protective wall (43).
4. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the technical box (4) comprises an embedded case (34), the upper part of which is closed by a cover element (42) which is provided with the transparent wall (43) for protection of the photovoltaic cells (40), which case (34) incorporates a sealed housing (36) on the top of which there are provided the said photovoltaic cells (40), and inside which there are positioned in particular the receiver system (39), the control plate (37) and the battery (38).
5. Device according to claim 4, characterised in that the embedded case (34) is provided in its upper part with a brace (46) in the form of an angle bracket, which angle bracket (46) assures the receipt and securing of the cover area (42) which is provided with the transparent wall (43).
6. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that it comprises a technical box (4') which is offset relative to the box (1') for receipt of the retractable terminal (2), which technical box (4') is in the form of a projecting structure which is secured to the ground.
7. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the box (1, 1') for receipt of the terminal (2) comprises an embedded case (6), the upper part of which is provided with a cover element (25) comprising an opening (27) for the passage of the retractable terminal (2), which terminal (2) is secured to a mobile carriage (8) which is guided vertically by a fixed frame (7), the vertical movement of the said carriage (8) being obtained by means of a pinion system (9) which is driven by the electric motorisation (3) fitted onto the said carriage (8), which motorised pinion system (9) co-operates with a fixed rack (10) which is fitted onto a vertical shaft (11) placed in the centre, or substantially in the centre, of the said embedded case (6).
8. Device according to claim 7, characterised in that the upper end of the central shaft (11) is free, its lower end being positioned on a receipt sleeve (15) which is rendered integral with the latter by means of a detachable locking pin (16).
9. Device according to either of claims 7 or 8, characterised in that it comprises a cover element (25) which is provided with a stop (28) for locking of the mobile carriage (8) in the high position.
10. Device according to any one of claims 7 to 9, characterised in that the fixed frame (7) for guidance of the mobile carriage (8) consists of four vertical angle brackets (12) which are rendered integral by means of an outer cheek (13) in the upper part, and by means of an inner cheek (14) in the lower part, which lower cheek (14) comprises in its centre a sleeve (15) for receipt of the lower end of the vertical shaft (11) which bears the rack (10).
11. Device according to any one of claims 7 to 10, characterised in that the embedded case (6) of the box of the terminal (1) is provided in its upper part with a brace (23) in the form of an angle bracket, which angle bracket (23) assures the receipt and securing of the upper end (13) of the fixed frame (7), as well as the receipt of the cover element (25) which is secured onto the said upper end (13) of the frame (7).
12. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterised in that it comprises top (30) and bottom (31) end-of-course systems, which are designed to inform the control plate (37) when the retractable terminal (2) is in the high position, and when it is in the low position.
13. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterised in that it comprises a safety system which makes it possible to invert the raising movement of the terminal (2) automatically if an obstacle is present, before the said terminal (2) reaches its high point, and makes it possible to lower the said terminal (2) automatically after complete extraction has taken place, if a determined pressure is present on the said terminal (2).

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