GB2405199A

GB2405199A - Headroom alert system

Info

Publication number: GB2405199A
Application number: GB0319515A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Robin Tingey
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-08-20
Filing date: 2003-08-20
Publication date: 2005-02-23
Also published as: GB0319515D0

Abstract

A sensor 1 detects when the height of a vehicle 10 is in excess of a predetermined height, and triggers an early audible or visible warning 5 to indicate that the vehicle 10 is too tall to pass under an obstruction 2 ahead. The sensor 1 can also be used to activate automatic braking of the vehicle 10. In a particular embodiment, the sensor 1 comprises a pulsed beam of light which is transmitted by a laser diode in a solar powered control box on a bridge. Mirrors are used to reflect the light across the road and back to a photodiode receiver in the control box, and an alarm is activated when the beam of light is broken. The sensor 1 may alternatively use a jet of water or a stream of balls or particles that are passed across the route, or an electric or magnetic field which is disturbed as the vehicle 10 passes through.

Description

24051 99 HEADROOM ALERT SYSTEM page 1

DESCRIPTION

Background

Many collisions are occurring regularly between lorries or buses and low bridges despite the installation of limited headroom warning signs and signs that say "LOW BRIDGE". Other similar accidents are commonly occurring in similar situations. It is generally undesirable to fit special equipment to each vehicle to prevent these accidents due to cost and maintenance.

Mode of Operation A sensor' which is able to detect vehicles' in excess of a predetermined height is used to trigger an early warnings for the driver/rider/pilot/helmsman of a vehicles that is too tall to pass under the obstructions ahead. Figure C shows that vehicles6 that are not too tall pass the sensor' without triggering the warning. As the warnings is given only when required, it is more likely to be noticed than the equivalent continuous warning. The sensor' can also be used to activate automatic braking of the vehicle' if suitable equipment is fitted to the vehicle. The sensor' is triggered early enough to give time for the vehicle' to stop or take other evasive action thus preventing a collision. Figures D and E show it does not matter what the distance between the front of the vehicles and where its height is too tall provided that the warnings is still received. In some circumstances the front of the vehicles may reach the obstruction before the vehicle stops.

Example embodiments of items in the Figures 1 Sensor This can be a beam of sound or light or other radiation that is broken as the vehicles passes through with a transmitter and receiver either side of the routed. Alternatively, if the transmitter and receiver are located together then as the vehicle' passes through, the sound or light or other radiation is reflected back to the receiver. The transmitter and receiver can be located anywhere if suitable conduit are provided to channel the sound or light or other radiation to and from the operating points along the router. The sensor can also be a movable object that the vehicle' strikes as it travels past. The sensor could also be a jet of water or a stream of balls or other particles that are being passed across the route. The sensor may also use an electric or magnetic field which is disturbed as the vehicle' passes through.

2 Obstruction This may be a bridge or a tunnel or overhead cables or tree branches or a signal gantry.

3 Alert Generator This can be flashing lights or a siren or a bell or a loudspeaker or waving flags or a suitably illuminated liquid crystal display or a pop up sign. It may also be an object that makes a loud noise if hit by the vehicle' in which case the Alert Generator and the Sensor' are one and the same thing (see Figure F). If the vehicle' is equipped with a suitable receiver then this can also be a transmitter of a radio signal or an ultrasound or other radiation.

4 Route This can be a road or a taxiway or a canal or a river or a railway or a footpath.

HEADROOM ALERT SYSTEM page 2 Warning Signal This is generated by the alert generators and its nature depends on the alert generators in use.

6 7, 8, 10 Vehicles Anything solid that moves over a route by means of its own propulsion system and either has a driver/rider/pilotlhelmsman to control it and/or is fitted with automatic braking which can be activated by the alert generators. t 9 driver/rider/pilotlhelmsman Only items 1 3 5 (11 12 if applicable) are essential to the invention.

In addition some means needs to be provided to allow the sensors to communicate with the alert generators. This can be electrical or optical or acoustic or other radiation or mechanical or a stream of water or balls or other particles. For some embodiments of the invention a direct connection may be possible or the means of communication may be the same as used in the sensing device.

A Specific Embodiment is shown in Figure G. 1 The sensor is a pulsed beam of light that is transmitted by a laser diode inside a control ' box" on the bridges and is reflected by mirrored to the operation point' across the road and i back to the control box" where it is received by a photo diode.

3 The alert generator is an array of light emitting diodes that spell out the word "STOP".

This is activated when the beam of light is broken at the operation point' and continues to flash for a set period of time.

11 The control box is powered by a solar panel with battery power storage.

12 The mirrors to direct the sensor' beam of light. r

Claims

HEADROOM ALERT SYSTEM page 5, CLAIMS

1 A sensor which is able to detect vehicles in excess of a predetermined height is used to trigger an early warning for the driver/rider/pilot/helmsman of the vehicle that is too tall to pass under the obstruction ahead.

2 The sensor mentioned in claim 1 being used to activate automatic braking of a vehicle.

3 The invention using the same mode of operation as set out in claim 1 and using any combination of the possible item embodiments mentioned in the description.

4 The specific embodiment of the invention as described in the description and Figure G.