FR2864674A1 - Signaling system for road or street junction, has raised central zone extending horizontally on intersections of two traffic lanes, and peripheral zones located adjacent to central zone - Google Patents

Abstract

The system has a raised central zone (4) whose surface constitutes a general roadway for vehicles. The central zone extends horizontally on intersections (ABCD) of two traffic lanes (2, 3). Peripheral zones (5-8) are located adjacent to the central zone and have an inclined surface forming ramps connecting the central zone to the lanes. The peripheral zones extend horizontally outside the intersection.

Description

- 1 -

  LIGHTNING SIGNALING DEVICE OF A CARREFOUR

URBAN OR ROAD

  TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a luminous signaling device of an urban or road junction.

  BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION It is well known that crossing two roads or two lanes poses a security problem, the unfortunate meeting of two or more users can never be ruled out. To remedy this situation, the solutions usually put in place at all dangerous junctions consist of traffic lights (red light, green light, flashing amber light), mainly in urban areas, or signs ("stop" coupled). to a protected passage indication panel, "Give way" markers on the secondary tracks associated with the indication of a priority axis ...).

  The situation is unfortunately aggravated by speed. In the city, another alternative or simultaneous solution is to reduce the speed of vehicles on the roads leading to the intersection. Safety enhancing elements, such as those having a raised flat central portion framed by two ramps, known as "damping cushions", may be placed across the roadway before the crossing.

  A device of this type, adapted to slowing vehicles at a pedestrian crossing, is described in particular in the French patent application 2,577,252 published August 14, 1986 in the name of the Society of Engineers and Technicians. - 2 -

  However, if the security is improved thanks to the various speed-reducing devices or momentary stop of the traffic detailed above, it is obtained at the expense of the fluidity of the traffic. Other means have been designed to try to reconcile fluidity and security.

  In the United States, for example, some intersections are equipped with "turning" lights leaving the passage free on the first arrival. Unlike standard red lights, a traffic axis is not in such a case arbitrarily blocked while no vehicle is presented along another axis.

  In the United Kingdom, since the post-war period, and more recently in France, the construction of roundabouts has been widespread.

  But at night, the intense lighting required of the central blocks or medians is often a source of nuisance for the surrounding area, and in addition leads to significant electrical energy consumption. Solutions to overcome these disadvantages have been imagined.

  One of them is disclosed in French patent application 2,774,403, published on August 6, 1999 in the name of the Cement Products Company. It is a road signal element, terminal, street furniture or building element equipped with integrated optical fibers, forming light spots on its surface, and powered by a centralized light source.

  The lighting of the obstacle being replaced by the markup, the energy consumption is reduced and the light pollution lower.

  All these technical improvements in the construction of the roundabouts did not for all that limit the negative effect of these on the fluidity of the traffic. The French highway code required traffic to turn in the direct direction, the deployment of roundabouts was therefore less effective than in the United Kingdom. Indeed, the common rule of priority on the right sometimes helps to clog the crossroads in France while it promotes their release across the Channel.

  - 3 - GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

  The present invention therefore aims to design a light signaling device of an urban or road junction combining both the improvement of road safety and fluidity of traffic.

  It is precisely a device of the type of those having integrated optical fibers forming light spots on their surfaces and placed at the intersection of at least two vehicle traffic lanes. It is remarkable in that this device comprises: an elevated central zone, the surface of which constitutes the usual running track of the vehicles, extending horizontally over the entire intersection of the tracks, peripheral zones adjacent to the central zone, whose inclined surfaces form ramps connecting this central zone to the convergent paths, extending horizontally outside the intersection.

  Preferably, the light spots form on at least one of the peripheral areas at least one horizontal line extending at least in part over the width of at least one of the channels. These luminous points also advantageously, simultaneously or alternatively, on at least one of these peripheral zones, at least one luminous chevron indicating the direction of circulation. In the same way, they form on at least one of the peripheral zones at least one light triangle.

  Another remarkable feature of the light signaling device of an urban or road junction according to the invention is that the light spots form a light grid on at least a portion of the central area. Advantageously, these luminous points form, alternately or simultaneously, a bright checkerboard on at least a portion of this central zone.

  The light signaling device of an urban or road intersection according to the invention benefits from the fact that the color of the light spots formed on each of the peripheral areas is identical to the color of the traffic lights of each of the corresponding tracks. .

  According to another additional feature of the invention, the light spots are flashing.

  Advantageously, the flashing is triggered by means of at least one sensor detecting the stopping of at least one vehicle on the intersection for a duration greater than a predetermined threshold. This sensor is preferably a video camera.

  The detailed specifications of the invention are given in the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that these drawings have no other purpose than that of illustrating the text of the description and therefore do not constitute in any way a limitation of the scope of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

  Figure la is a schematic top view of an exemplary embodiment of the light signaling device of an urban or road intersection according to the invention, in the case of a crossing of two perpendicular traffic lanes.

  Figure lb is a schematic sectional view along the axis of one of these ways of the light signaling device of an urban or road junction according to the invention.

  DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION FIG. 1a shows the plan of a widely-spread junction in an urban environment where numerous streets, avenues or boulevards give rise to the crossing of two lanes along two perpendicular axes X'X, Y'Y. The intersection of the two channels 2,3 determines a space ABCD of substantially square shape, which the vehicles must take successively to cross the intersection 1.

  In preferred embodiments, the light-signaling device according to the invention comprises a central zone 4 which extends horizontally over the intersection ABCD, and peripheral zones 5, 6, 7, 8 covering the parts of tracks 2, 3 leading to junction 1.

  As the top view of the cross-section 1 of FIG. 1a clearly shows, the edges AB, BC, CD, DA of the surface ABCD of the central zone 4 of the device coincide with one side of each of the surfaces EFBA; BGHC; DCij; LADK peripheral areas 5, 6, 7, 8, respectively. On the cross section of the intersection 1 of Figure lb, it is clear that the trace AD, BC of the surface ABCD of the central zone 4 of the device is a horizontal segment in the extension of the segments KL, AD and GH, BC representing the traces of the peripheral zones 8, 6; in other words, the central zone 4 of the device is substantially flat and horizontal, and the vehicles reach this central zone by means of the inclined planes constituted by the peripheral zones 5, 6, 7, 8.

  The device according to the invention implements a known technique for integrating optical fibers into the concrete and to create light spots on its surface. This device is therefore preferably made at least partially of concrete, without this feature being limiting.

  The fibers emerging on the surface of the concrete form, in known manner, light spots when they are powered by a light source (not shown).

  Certain particular luminous patterns have obvious advantages in terms of signage. These include patterns of a chevron 9 oriented in the direction of the traffic, placed on the peripheral areas 5, 6, 7, 8. These rafters indicate the direction of movement on each part of the roadway, and their shape creates an optical illusion that makes it appear higher than it is in reality the central area 4 of the device, and therefore encourages users to further reduce their speed. - 6 -

  A reinforced effect is obtained with patterns of light points appearing triangles. The luminous triangles appearing on the peripheral zones 5, 6, 7, 8 signal by far the intersection 1 at night.

  The obstacle formed by the elevated central zone 4 is also, at lower cost, indicated by a single row of light points forming a glossy horizontal line on the surface of each of the peripheral zones 5, 6, 7, 8.

  Other optical fibers preferably equip the central zone 4. A light grid 10 is formed in particular by lines of light points perpendicular and regularly distributed. A bright checkerboard provides the same advantage: sending the user a message indicating that he must not park on the central zone 4 of the junction 1.

  The optical fiber light supply system is advantageously coupled to existing traffic lights. The color of the green, orange or red chevrons 9, identical to that of the corresponding light 11 on each lane 2, 3, contributes to reinforcing the signaling of the junction for the benefit of safety.

  When the traffic is weak, the three traffic lights imposing the stop are generally replaced by flashing amber lights so as not to unnecessarily block a user while the path is clear in front of him. For the same purpose, the light spots of the device according to the invention are, in identical situations, flashing.

  In opposite circumstances, that is to say in the case of very dense traffic, where the junction 1 is sometimes blocked by vehicles stopped on the central zone 4, the blinking of the light spots, in particular those of the central zone 4 representing a grid 10 or a checkerboard, has a deterrent effect by drawing attention to drivers of misplaced vehicles.

  The stopping of one or more vehicles on the central zone 4 is detected by one or more sensors arranged inside this part of the device according to the invention, or outside. Preferably, one or more video cameras 12 - 7 - associated with image processing means effectively perform the detection of the stopping of any vehicle on the central zone 4 for a duration greater than a predetermined threshold.

  The set of characteristics of the light-signaling device of an intersection according to the invention set out above: reinforces security: the slight obstacle created by the elevated central zone 4 imposes a slowing down on the users; marking the junction 1 at ground level completes the existing signaling, - improves the fluidity of traffic: the user is encouraged not to park at junction 1; the device replaces traffic lights by a non-blocking signaling system 15 but whose safety is important.

  It goes without saying that the invention is not limited to the only preferred embodiments described above.

  On the contrary, it embraces all the possible variants of embodiment. In particular, concrete is not the exclusive material. The surface of the central portion is not necessarily flat and horizontal: depending on the situation, it has recessed or raised patterns, for example to make vibrate the vehicles, it is inclined by adapting to the profile of the ground. Similarly the peripheral parts 5, 6, 7, 8 are not necessarily constituted by an inclined plane. They are, without departing from the scope of the present invention, of convex or concave shape, or made in any combination of these forms, provided that they allow access of the vehicles to the elevated central zone 4 without compromising their safety, taking into account the their speed. Likewise, the slowdown zone can be arranged with four stop signs, or with speed limit signs, one per lane or multiplied per lane, in order to order a degression in speed, for example 30, 20, 10, and this to avoid traffic lights, more expensive to install and maintain in perfect working order.

Claims (10)

-8- CLAIMS   1) Luminous signaling device of an urban or road junction (1), said device being of the type of those comprising integrated optical fibers forming light points (9, 10) on their surfaces and placed at the intersection of at least two traffic lanes (2, 3), characterized in that it comprises: - a raised central zone (4), the surface of which constitutes the usual running track of said vehicles, extending horizontally over the entire intersection (ABCD) said convergent paths (2, 3), - peripheral zones (5, 6, 7, 8) adjacent to said central zone (4), whose inclined surfaces form ramps connecting said central zone (4) to the tracks convergent (2, 3) extending horizontally outside said intersection (ABCD).   2) Device for the light signaling of an urban or road junction (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the light points (9, 10) form on at least one of said peripheral zones (5, 6, 7, 8) at least one horizontal line extending at least in part across the width of at least one of said channels (2, 3).   3) Device for the luminous signaling of an urban or road junction (1) according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the light points (9, 10) form on at least one of said peripheral zones ( 5, 6, 7, 8) at least one light chevron (9) indicating the direction of circulation.   4) Device for the luminous signaling of an urban or road junction (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the light points (9, 10) form on at least one of said peripheral zones ( 5, 6, 7, 8) at least one light triangle.   5) Device for the luminous signaling of an urban or road junction (1) according to any one of Claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the light points (9, 10) form a light grid (10) on at least a portion of said central zone (4).   6) Device for the luminous signaling of an urban or road junction (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the light points (9, 10) form a luminous checkerboard on at least a part of said central area (4).   7) Device for the light signaling of an urban or road intersection (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the color of said light points (9, 10) formed on each of said peripheral zones (5, 6, 7, 8) is identical to the color of the tricolor traffic lights (11) of each of said corresponding channels (2, 3).   8) Light signaling device of an intersection (1) urban or road according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that said light points (9, 10) are flashing.   9) Light signaling device of an intersection (1) urban or road according to claim 8, characterized in that the blinking of said light points (9, 10) is triggered by means of at least one sensor (12) detecting the light. stopping at least one vehicle on said intersection (ABCD) for a duration greater than a predetermined threshold.   10) Device for the light signaling of an intersection (1) urban or road according to claim 9, characterized in that said sensor (12) is a video camera (12).