GB2177742A

GB2177742A - Vehicle pathway lane control systems

Info

Publication number: GB2177742A
Application number: GB08515172A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Sinclair Armour; Peter Michael Frederick Watson
Original assignee: SEC DEP FOR TRANSPORT
Current assignee: SEC DEP FOR TRANSPORT
Priority date: 1985-06-14
Filing date: 1985-06-14
Publication date: 1987-01-28
Also published as: GB8515172D0

Abstract

A vehicle pathway lane control system has a series of optical display units (18) embedded in the pathway surface and a series of light units (19) situated remotely from the display units, each light unit (19) being connected to one or more display units (18) by means of fibre optic cable (20). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Lane control systems The present invention relates to lane control systems for vehicle pathways such as aircraft runways and, in particular, roads.

One of the methods currently in use by traffic planners iin their efforts to overcome traffic congestion is a "tidal flow system". In this system multi-lane roads have the direction of traffic flow in one or more lanes changed according to the direction of main traffic flow.

A major problem with this method is definition of direction of flow in the particular lane. One means for defining the flow is the use of signals on gantries, but these tend to distract a driver's attention from the road ahead, and can be missed.

It has been suggested that lanes be designated by a series of lights in the road surface, the lights being illuminated either red or green.

Light installations suitable for this purpose are already in use in airfield runway and perimeter track layouts. These light installations have to be extremely robust to withstand vehicle impact, and also have to be constructed to allow access for the change of light bulbs. A major drawback with this type of system for road use rises from the life of the light bulbs, which is typically of the order of 500 hours.

This means that sections of road will have to be periodically closed to allow bulbs to be replaced, and this will inevitably result in local traffic congestion of the type which the planners are aiming to avoid.

According to the present invention a vehicle pathway lane control system includes a series of optical display units embedded in the pathway surface, and a series of light units situated remotely from the display unit, each light unit being connected to at least one display unit by means of a fibre optic cable.

Each light unit may be equipped with a series of filters, preferably remotely controlled, by which the colour of light displayed by any associated display unit can be adjusted as required.

A typical fibre optic cable as used in the invention may be single stranded at the light unit end and multi branched at the display unit end.

It will be apparent that by suitably positioning the light unit it becomes possible for lights to be changed without danger to personnel and without disrupting road traffic. One embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, of which: Figure 1 is a plan view is part of a prelaned road, and Figure 2 is an elevation, in section, along line ii-ii of Fig. 1.

A road 10 (1) has 3 lanes 11, 12, 13, defined between kerbs 14 and 15 and rows 16, 17 of display units such as 18. Each display unit 18 as an associated light unit 19 situated at some distance from the road 10.

Each display unit 18 (see Fig. 2) is joined to an associated light unit 19 by means of a fibre optic cable 20. Each light unit 19 lies in a hole 21 in a pavement 22 adjacent to the road and access thereto is by means of an access cover 23. Each light unit contains a bulb 24, a filter unit 25 and a remotely operated filter selector 26.

In use, when the bulk of vehicle flow is in a particular direction, for example in the direction A of Fig. 1, two lanes 12, 13 are made available to traffic flowing in this direction.

Light units 19 are activated so that each bulb 24 is illuminated and has a red filter of the filter system 25 interposed between it and its associated fibre optic cable 20. The display unit 18 of the row 16 are thereby illuminated red and drivers approaching will know that they are not allowed to cross this line. The other row 17 of display units 18 can be left un-illuminated, or alternatively can be illuminated green. When the volume of traffic changes the colour of illumination of rows 16, 17 can be adjusted accordingly.

It will be realised that with this system a great deal of flexibility is available to those concerned with traffic flow. A system could also be used, for example, by means of appropriate colours to indicate major routes such as routes through towns or routes to particu lar destinations, such as railway stations or hospitals.

It will be realised that there are many alternative embodiments lying within the scope of the invention. For example, whereas in the embodiment as described above and illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 each light unit 19 is associated with only a single display unit 1 8.

In practice one light unit 19 may be connected to 2 or more units 18.

It will be realised that in practice each fibre optic cable 20 will be encased in a suitable protective casing, constructed for example from metal or fibre reinforced plastic, to protect it from wear and to enable it to be manoeuvred more conveniently when road repairs have to be undertaken.

What is claimed is: 1. A vehicle pathway lane control system including a series of optical display units embedded in the pathway surface, and a series of light units situated remotely from the display units, each light unit being connected to at least one display unit by means of a fibre optic cable.

2. A lane control system as claimed in claim 1 wherein each light unit contains at least one colour filter.

3. A lane control system as claimed in

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Lane control systems The present invention relates to lane control systems for vehicle pathways such as aircraft runways and, in particular, roads. One of the methods currently in use by traffic planners iin their efforts to overcome traffic congestion is a "tidal flow system". In this system multi-lane roads have the direction of traffic flow in one or more lanes changed according to the direction of main traffic flow. A major problem with this method is definition of direction of flow in the particular lane. One means for defining the flow is the use of signals on gantries, but these tend to distract a driver's attention from the road ahead, and can be missed. It has been suggested that lanes be designated by a series of lights in the road surface, the lights being illuminated either red or green. Light installations suitable for this purpose are already in use in airfield runway and perimeter track layouts. These light installations have to be extremely robust to withstand vehicle impact, and also have to be constructed to allow access for the change of light bulbs. A major drawback with this type of system for road use rises from the life of the light bulbs, which is typically of the order of 500 hours. This means that sections of road will have to be periodically closed to allow bulbs to be replaced, and this will inevitably result in local traffic congestion of the type which the planners are aiming to avoid. According to the present invention a vehicle pathway lane control system includes a series of optical display units embedded in the pathway surface, and a series of light units situated remotely from the display unit, each light unit being connected to at least one display unit by means of a fibre optic cable. Each light unit may be equipped with a series of filters, preferably remotely controlled, by which the colour of light displayed by any associated display unit can be adjusted as required. A typical fibre optic cable as used in the invention may be single stranded at the light unit end and multi branched at the display unit end. It will be apparent that by suitably positioning the light unit it becomes possible for lights to be changed without danger to personnel and without disrupting road traffic. One embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, of which: Figure 1 is a plan view is part of a prelaned road, and Figure 2 is an elevation, in section, along line ii-ii of Fig. 1. A road 10 (1) has 3 lanes 11, 12, 13, defined between kerbs 14 and 15 and rows 16, 17 of display units such as 18. Each display unit 18 as an associated light unit 19 situated at some distance from the road 10. Each display unit 18 (see Fig. 2) is joined to an associated light unit 19 by means of a fibre optic cable 20. Each light unit 19 lies in a hole 21 in a pavement 22 adjacent to the road and access thereto is by means of an access cover 23. Each light unit contains a bulb 24, a filter unit 25 and a remotely operated filter selector 26. In use, when the bulk of vehicle flow is in a particular direction, for example in the direction A of Fig. 1, two lanes 12, 13 are made available to traffic flowing in this direction. Light units 19 are activated so that each bulb 24 is illuminated and has a red filter of the filter system 25 interposed between it and its associated fibre optic cable 20. The display unit 18 of the row 16 are thereby illuminated red and drivers approaching will know that they are not allowed to cross this line. The other row 17 of display units 18 can be left un-illuminated, or alternatively can be illuminated green. When the volume of traffic changes the colour of illumination of rows 16, 17 can be adjusted accordingly. It will be realised that with this system a great deal of flexibility is available to those concerned with traffic flow. A system could also be used, for example, by means of appropriate colours to indicate major routes such as routes through towns or routes to particu lar destinations, such as railway stations or hospitals. It will be realised that there are many alternative embodiments lying within the scope of the invention. For example, whereas in the embodiment as described above and illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 each light unit 19 is associated with only a single display unit 1 8. In practice one light unit 19 may be connected to 2 or more units 18. It will be realised that in practice each fibre optic cable 20 will be encased in a suitable protective casing, constructed for example from metal or fibre reinforced plastic, to protect it from wear and to enable it to be manoeuvred more conveniently when road repairs have to be undertaken. CLAIMS What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle pathway lane control system including a series of optical display units embedded in the pathway surface, and a series of light units situated remotely from the display units, each light unit being connected to at least one display unit by means of a fibre optic cable.

3. A lane control system as claimed in claim 2 wherein each light unit contains a series of colour filters.

4. A lane control system as claimed in claim 3 wherein each light unit contains a remotely operated filter selector.

5. A lane control system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein each light unit is connected to a plurality of display units.

6. A lane control system substantially as herein described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.