ES2326572B1 - A HORIZONTAL ROAD SIGNALING SYSTEM, OF VARIABLE HEIGHT. - Google Patents

Abstract

A horizontal road signaling system, of variable height, consisting of at least one continuous strip (1), applied transversely at ground level on the surface of the driveway (C); actuator means (2) capable of raising / lowering said continuous strip (1) from its initial height at ground level up to a maximum height (h); and detecting means (3) that control and command the lifting / lowering of said continuous strip (1) with respect to to the road (C) depending on the speed of the vehicles.

Description

A horizontal road signaling system, of variable height

The object of the invention is a system of horizontal road marking, of varying height.

The present invention belongs to the sector of the technique concerning the production, application and use of systems for road marking called "horizontal", that is to say the signaling applicable to the surface of the road and other areas that can be traversed by road traffic, such as roadway division strips, step signage of pedestrians and other indications that may appear on the road surface. These strips are usually colored clearly different from the road (white, yellow, red or strips, predetermined by the respective regulations) and they raise in a distinctly distinguishable way from the surface of said road. This road marking is universally diffused and Does not require further comments.

On a marked road surface, the area surface materialized by the signaling applied, object of invention, itself constitutes part of the road surface Recordable by vehicles.

They already know each other and are part of the state of the technique road signs of the type described. They can be cited, among others, national documents U0202132 and U0215514, and the foreign document US3399607.

An unsolved problem lies in the discomfort which is for users to drive on roads with this type of road marking as always - even when driving to, or through below, the speed limit - it is necessary to withstand the inconvenience of the artificial pothole, with the consequent damages and inconveniences for both the vehicle and the driver and passengers.

The system object of the invention avoids these inconvenience and damage to those users who circulate at speed equal to or less than the one established as the limit for that zone, because circulating at these speeds the system does not activate and, for consequently, the obstacle of this type of signaling is not exists. On the contrary, when these limits are not respected maximum speeds the system rises and can be programmed to that the obstacle reaches even heights greater than the obstacles current, for cases of abnormally high speeds.

To better understand the purpose of this invention, a preferred form of practical realization, susceptible to accessory changes that do not distort its foundation.

Figure 1 depicts schematically in plant the system object of the invention incorporated in a road.

Figure 2 represents a section, according to indication of figure 1, in raised position -figure 2a- and in retracted position -figure 2b-.

Figure 3 represents a section, according to indication of figure 2a, for a non-limiting example of realization.

Figure 4 represents, in elevation, a detail enlarged, as indicated in figure 1.

An example of practical, non-limiting embodiment of the present invention.

The object of the invention is a new system of horizontal road marking, of varying height, basically, of the following components:

1.- continuous strip

2.- actuator means

3.- detecting means

30.- sensors

31.- programmer

       \ vskip1.000000 \ baselineskip
    

In accordance with the invention, and according to the represented embodiment:

- at least one continuous strip (1) is provided, which is placed across the road and at ground level, opening previously a ditch (Z). Particularly, this continuous strip is rigid

- actuator means (2) are available, capable of raising and lowering said continuous strip (1) between a flush position of ground and other position, raised above the road a height (h)

       \ newpage
    

- detector means (3) are arranged which They locate the passage of vehicles and their speed of passage. These detector means (3) are arranged in a nearby area and go related to the actuator means (2) and associated to a programmer (31) who, through the appropriate hardware and software, at detect with sensors (30) the passage of a vehicle, establish a relationship between its speed of passage and the height (h) at which raise the continuous strip (1); said height (h) being directly proportional to the speed of the vehicle - see figure 2a-.

The system is programmed in such a way that, in both the vehicle circulates at the same or lower speed than the established as a limit for that area of the roadway (C), the system it is not activated, as long as the limits of speed, it circulates without obstacle in the road (C), because the continuous strip (1) is flush-see figure 2b-.

From this basic conception, they are any embodiments included in the object of the invention practices that do not alter, change or modify essentiality proposal.

It is indistinct and accessory for the purposes of invention, for example:

- the structure, dimensions and / or arrangement of the continuous strip (1)

- the actuator means (2) used to raise / lower said continuous strip (1)

- the detecting means (3) used to locate the passage of vehicles and their speed of passage

- the hardware and software used to establish the relationship between the speed of vehicles and the lifting height (h) of the continuous strip (1)

- the place of application (urban areas, intercity or even motorways / highways)

- the speed from which the system.

In particular, and for the embodiment example represented, the actuator means (2) are hydraulic cylinders (21) actuated by motor (22) and buried in a ditch (Z) pre-open on the road (C). The continuous strip (1) it rises from the roadway (C) or descends, hiding in said ditch (Z) when operating the hydraulic cylinders (21), whose Piston displacement is limited / controlled by the programmer (31) that, previously, has detected the speed of the vehicle through the sensors (30) of the corresponding detecting means (3).

A non-limiting sequence of relationship between step speeds and lifting height (h) of the continuous strip (1) can be, for example:

- up to 50 km / h the mechanism is not activated

- between 50 Km./h and 60 Km./h it rises 1.5 cm. of the ground

- between 60 km / h and 70 km / h, it rises 2 cm. of the ground

- between 70 km / h and 120 km / h up 3 cm. of the ground.

Claims (4)

1. A horizontal road signaling system, of variable height, characterized in that it consists of: a) at least one continuous strip (1), applied transversely at ground level on the road surface (C); b) actuator means (2) capable of raising / lowering said continuous strip (1) from its initial height to flush to a maximum height (h); c) detecting means (3) that control and command the raising / lowering of said continuous strip (1) with respect to to the road (C) depending on the speed of the vehicles. 2. A horizontal road signaling system, of varying height, according to claim 1, characterized in that said continuous strip (1) is rigid. A horizontal road signaling system, of variable height, according to claim 1, characterized in that said actuator means (2) are hydraulic cylinders (21) driven by motor (22). 4. A horizontal road signaling system, of variable height, according to claim 1, characterized in that said detecting means (3) are sensors (30) which, by means of software associated with a programmer (31), detect the vehicles and their speed of step, and activate the actuator means (2) at the height (h) at which the continuous strip (1) will rise depending on the speed of passage of the vehicle; said height (h) being directly proportional to the speed.