GB2387258A

GB2387258A - Breakable post and cable circuit connected to warning lights

Info

Publication number: GB2387258A
Application number: GB0305742A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Thomas Hawkins
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-03-13
Filing date: 2003-03-13
Publication date: 2003-10-08
Anticipated expiration: 2023-03-13
Also published as: GB2387258B; GB0305742D0

Abstract

The circuit includes a series of posts each of which has a circuit breaker at the center and a perforated section horizontally through it. The post plugs into a socket using connector and socket pins on either a single stand (fig 1) or a triple socket stand (fig 2/3), where it is secured into place with two locking bolts. The circuit also includes cables 16 that plug into dual socketed break bars to form a longer cable, which is ended with a special attachment (fig 5). The posts and cables are connected via a power cable 28 which passes though a relay 29 to form the circuit. When a first part of the circuit is disconnected, the power source 30 continues though the second part of the circuit closing the switch 31 and activating the warning lights 32. The arrangement may be used to give a warning that a road vehicle may be obstructing a railway line. The post sockets may provide access apertures for test rods.

Description

BREAKABLE POST AND CABLE CIRCUIT

The invention itself is a circuit that consists of a set of posts that come in the form of a single stand alone post and a triple socketed stand that holds three posts that come in two different variations which can be used on either concrete or set into the ground, along with a cable that when combined form a perimeter around any given area The invention solves the problem of that there is no actual means of alerting the driver of a high speed train that there has been an accident further up the tracks by the means of a foreign object such as a vehicle or any other large mass has blocked the railway tracks.

The invention creates a perimeter in the form of a large circuit around an area such as where a main road comes into contact with the railway through the use of posts and cables, when either the posts are knocked down or the cable is broken by a large mass such as a vehicle passing through it the circuit is broken, which in turn activates the emergency lights further down the tracks in both directions so the drivers will be aware of a problem and will be able to slow down in time to prevent a larger accident.

The invention provides a secure area through the use of the circuits component parts which are a set of posts that have a perforated section at the base so that the posts will break at that point every time they are struck a blow along with a cable that has break points every two meters through it so that when the cable is struck after it is attached to a structure it will break at that point also.

the invention itself would be preferably made out of plastics and rubber with a glass or resin break point within the posts and cables.

the preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: FIGURE 1 shows the front and side of a stand-alone post along with an above view of a socket attachment.

FIGURE 2 shows a triple socket stand, which is normally set onto concrete.

FIGURE 3 shows a triple socket stand, which is normally set into the ground.

FIGURE 4 shows a cross section of the cable along with a break bar.

FIGURE 5 shows a cross section of the end attachment of the cable along with a break bar. FIGURE 6 shows a layout of the circuit.

As shown in figure 1, the system comprises of a vertical post 1 which has a reflective panel 2 attached to the top, towards the base of the post there is an overhang which has a rubber seal 3 so that when plugged in it creates a watertight seal around the post preventing water from falling into the socket 4, just below the rubber seal is a perforated section 5 which passes through the middle of the post to the circuit breaker 6 which is in the shape of an hour glass which pulls apart when the post is struck by a large mass The single socket attachment 4 which the posts slots into has a set of terminals 7 which the posts connectors 8 slot onto to complete the circuit, the post is held in place by two bolts 9 which screw down through the socket 4 to hold the post securely in place along with two other holes 10 which give access to the power cable I 1 to test the circuit using a set of circuit testing rods 12, when the rods are not being used a set of plugs 13 are placed in the holes to keep the circuit dry and watertight.

Figure 2 shows a three socket stand for use on concrete and tarmac, the power cable 11 is raised so that it is resting on the surface of the floor, as in figure 1 the stand has three sets of terminals 7 for the posts connectors 8 to slot onto along with two sets of holes 10 on the rim of each socket 4, one set for the securing bolts 9 and another set for the circuit testing rods 12 and the watertight plugs 13.

The sockets are stabilized by two sets of fins per socket 14 that form a stable base for the socket and a wider connection area on the flat base 15, the base itself is connected to the floor via a number of bolts 9 which secure it to the floor.

Figure 3 shows a three socket stand for use on earth and other softer materials as it is designed to be placed underground, unlike figure 2 the power cable 11 remains underground as like the rest of the unit leaving only the top of the socket with the access holes 10 for the circuit testing rods 12, plugs 13 and the securing bolts 9 visible when the post is in place.

The higher and wider base mean that the base is more stable in a softer material and when the post is struck by a large mass such as a vehicle the stand has less chance of falling over. Figure 4 shows a cross section of the cable 16 that has a number of break points in it much like the posts from figures 1,2 and 3, the cable itself comes in 2 meter lengths which at each end has a positive and negative terminal 17.

Just before each end is two holes 18, which give access to the center of the cable so that circuit-testing rods can be used, the break point itself is a tube 19 with two connector rods 20 inside it along with a cable socket 21 on either end.

Bach cable socket 21 has a set of connectors 22 where the positive and negative terminals 17 plug into, there is also a set of holes 23 on either side of the cable socket 21 that line up with the other set of holes 18 when the cable 16 is plugged in so that the cable can be tested using circuit testing rods.

The cable is held in place by a set of grips 24 that grip around the rim of the cable 25 and is also held in place by a set of plugs 13 that keep the cable watertight.

Figure 5 shows the end connector 26 for completing the circuit within the cable, the end connector has the same connections as the cable like the positive and negative terminals 17, the circuit tester rod holes 18 and the rim 25 around the edge of the cable.

Inside the end connector 26 there is a connection 27 between the positive and negative terminals 17 which makes the circuit complete, the end connector 26 slots into one of the sockets 21 on one end of the break point with the cable 16 on the other end and is held in place by two plugs 13 and a set of grips 24 also.

Figure 6 shows a layout of the circuit once it is complete, as the circuit itself can be made up from component parts such as the triple post stand from figure 3, a length of cabling from figure 4 and a set of stand alone posts from figure 1 which are all connected by a power cable 28, the system can be customized for a perimeter of any given area.

The circuit runs with a relay 29 and a power source 30, this part of the circuit remains active until one of the circuit breakers in the posts lor the cable 16 are broken and once one half of the circuit becomes inactive the switch 31 closes and activates the warning lights 32 to warn any train driver of a possible accident.

Claims

1. The circuit comprises of a set of posts with a perforated section at the base along with a cable that has breakable points in it every two meters, so that it will break at that point every time when either of them are struck.

2. The posts in claim 1 are supported by stands that come in individual socket forms and in a triple socket form with each socket containing a set of connector pins, which the posts slide down upon.

3. Within the posts from claim 1 is a circuit breaker in the shape of an hourglass that breaks when the perforated section of the posts are broken.

4. The cable in claim 1 can be made to any length due to the two-meter sections connecting via the break point sockets.

5. The posts and cables from the preceding claims form parts of a circuit, which are connected using a power cable so that the circuit can be adapted to suit any given environment.

6. The posts and cable as claimed in any preceding claim can be made from plastics,rubber,resin or from a combination of these materials.

7. A breakable post,cable and socket substantially as herein described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings

7. A breakable post, cable and socket substantially as herein described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings

! Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows CLAIMS

1. A circuit comprises of a set of posts with a perforated section at the base of each post along with a cable that has breakable points in it every two metres, so that it will break at that point every time which will produce a warning signal when the circuit has been interupted whenever any of the posts or cables are struck.

2. A circuit as claimed in claim 1 comprises of posts that are supported by stands that come in individual socket forms and in a triple socket form with each socket containing a set of connector pins which the posts slide down upon.

3. circuit as claimed in claim 1 in which within the posts is a circuit breaker in the shape of an hour glass that breaks when the perforated section of the posts are broken.

4. A circuit as claimed in claim 1 comprises of a set of cables that can be made to any length due to the two metre sections connecting via the break point sockets.

5. Ike posts and cables from the preceding claums form parts of a circuit which are connected using a power cable so that the circuit can be adapted to suit any given environment. 6. The posts and cable as claimed in any preceding claim can be made from plastics,rubber,resin or from a combination of these materials.