GB2471895A

GB2471895A - Camera mounted in street lamp

Info

Publication number: GB2471895A
Application number: GB0912438A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Christopher Manning; Jimmy Guaren; Sajay Asokan
Original assignee: ALAN DICK MIDDLE EAST
Current assignee: ALAN DICK MIDDLE EAST
Priority date: 2009-07-17
Filing date: 2009-07-17
Publication date: 2011-01-19
Anticipated expiration: 2029-07-17
Also published as: GB0912438D0; GB2471895B

Abstract

A camera installation for accessing a camera 14 to be mounted overhead from a post 10, preferably a street lamp comprises an elongate housing 12 configured to attach to a post. The housing includes a slot 28 extending along at least part of the bottom of the housing, a pair of spaced apart tracks 26 located on either side of the slot and a carriage 22 moveably located on the tracks and having at least one camera suspended through the slot. The mounting arm is moveable between a first position wherein the carriage is located at a first end of the housing and a second position wherein the carriage is located at a second end of the housing.

Description

Installation for accessing overhead sensors

Technical field

[0001]The invention relates to an installation system for overhead sensors such as cameras or road pricing detectors that allows access to the sensors for cleaning and maintenance. In particular the invention relates to an installation for accessing cameras of CCTV systems mounted overhead on posts.

Background art

[0002] It is common to see closed circuit television (CCTV) systems situated above the ground to allow remote monitoring of areas, such as along streets, car parks and pathways etc for surveillance and security measures. The systems use one or more cameras to provide a video or still image output of the viewed area. The cameras are generally mounted overhead in order to provide large area of coverage and to be positioned away from where the cameras could be easily damaged or interfered with by the public.

[0003] Cameras can be mounted on poles extending from verticals posts or columns typically hollow in cross section. The verticals posts may be already present, such as for street lighting, flag poles, towers, masts etc, or may be specially erected for the installation of the CCTV system.

[0004] Other sensors that are often mounted overhead are road pricing sensors which can detect transponders in vehicles to automatically authorise road toll payment. Such sensors are often mounted on overhead arms or gantries so that each sensor can detect vehicles of any size or shape in a particular lane.

[0005] However, one problem with such overhead installations is that the sensors are often difficult to access safely for cleaning and/or maintenance and repair work. In environments where it is particularly dusty or dirty, cleaning needs to be regularly carried out to enable clear and accurate output to be obtained from the sensor.

[0006] While such installations often include vertical mounting posts, the positions of the sensors are often positioned on arms or gantries some horizontal distance from the post. Consequently, it is often not easy for a maintenance worker to safely reach the sensors for cleaning or maintenance or repair work. Using the vertical post as a support, either for integral steps or by leaning a ladder against the post would still not enable the maintenance worker to safely reach the cameras without stretching out further from the main post or climbing along the horizontal pole to reach the cameras. The use of mechanical systems such as cherry pickers is slow, expensive and can interfere with the easy use of the surrounding space.

[0007]Therefore it is an object of the invention to provide an installation to enable sensors to be accessed for cleaning and other maintenance work that does not suffer from these problems.

Disclosure of the invention

[0008]A first aspect of the invention provides an installation for mounting overhead sensors, comprising: an elongate horizontal arm configured for attachment at one end to a vertical support; the arm including a slot extending along at least part of its length; a pair of tracks located on the arm on either side of the slot; a carriage moveably located on the tracks above the slot and moveable between a first position in which the carriage is remote from the one end and a second position in which the carriage is close to the one end, the carriage having at least one mounting point for a sensor such that when the sensor is mounted in the mounting it is suspended below the arm through the slot; and an actuating system connected to the carriage that is operable to move the carriage between the first position and the second position.

[0009]The sensor can be a camera or other such sensor and more than one sensor is provided. In one embodiment, multiple sensors are mounted on a single carriage. In another embodiment, more than one carriage is provided, each carrying at least one sensor. In this case, each carriage can have its own first position that can be different from that of the other(s).

[OO1O]The horizontal arm can comprise a hollow housing, the slot being provided in a lower face of the housing and the carriage being located within the housing. One or more access plates can be provided to allow access to the interior of the housing from the outside. The housing can also include limit structures to restrict the movement of the carriage beyond the first and second positions. Stoppers can be provided on the carriage to engage the limit structures when at the first or second position.

[OO11]The actuating system can comprise an actuating arm that is used to push or pull the carriage to move it between the first and second positions. Other actuating systems comprise cables arranged to pull the carriage to the desired position; a resiliently-biased mechanism to urge the carriage to one position and an actuator to push or pull the carriage to the other position; a motor in the carriage to drive it along the tracks between the two positions; or combinations of these.

[0012]The actuating arm can be slidably mounted in a mounting plate and provided with a locking mechanism such as a lock pin for securing the arm in position. The mounting plate can be secured to the vertical support or to the horizontal arm.

[0013]A cable providing a power and/or data connection for the sensor can be connected between the carriage and an appropriate connection in the vertical support. Cable guides can be located on the actuating arm for supporting the cable. The cable guides can comprise sliding hooks positioned on the actuating arm to accommodate changes in length as the carriage moves. Positioning slings can be provided to connect the cable guides together to allow proper positioning of the guides when the actuating arm is fully extended.

[0014]The mounting plate for the actuating arm can comprise a cable guide stopper.

[0015]The carriage can further comprise a scraper and/or brush arrangement attached to the carriage and configured to engage the tracks so as to clear any materials in the tracks preventing proper movement of the carriage.

[0016]A counter weight can be attached to the cable to pull the cable back as the carriage moves from the first position to the second position.

[0017]The installation can comprise a hollow post as the vertical support. An opening can be provided in the post near the position of the horizontal arm to allow operation of the actuating system. The cable can extend up the inside of the post and the counter weight can be arranged to withdraw the cable into the post as the carriage is moved to the second position.

[0018] More than one arm can be provided on the post. The mounting point for the arm or arms can be moveable between an operational (upper) position and a service (lower) position. An access opening can be provided in a lower region of the post.

[0019] Further aspects of the invention will be apparent from the following

description.

Brief description of the drawings

[0020] Figure 1 shows a schematic view of a street post comprising the installation according to the invention; Figure 2 shows a side view of Figure 1; Figure 3 shows a cut away view of part of an installation according to the invention at a first end of the housing in position for monitoring an area; Figure 4 shows a cut away view of part of an installation according the invention at a second end of the housing in position for accessing the cameras; Figure 5 shows a cut away view of part of an installation according to the invention attached to a post in an extended position; Figure 6 shows a cut away view of part of an installation according to the invention attached to a post in a withdrawn position; Figure 7 shows a schematic view of the end of the installation of the according to the invention attached to a post; and Figure 8 shows a schematic view of the locking mechanism of the installation.

Mode(s) for carrying out the invention [0021]The invention will be described in relation to an installation for cameras such as CCTV cameras. The invention is not restricted to such installations and can apply to a number of other such sensors.

[0022] Referring to Figure 1 and 2, a street post 10 for mounting a camera overhead has an installation system comprising an elongate arm housing 12 extending substantially horizontally from near the upper end of the post 10. The housing supports two cameras 14 which can be used to remotely monitor the area. However any number of cameras may be mounted overhead. The type of camera 14 mounted on the post 10 will depend upon the monitoring requirements. For example, the cameras may be color or black and white, infrared sensitive cameras and/or have sensors to detect movement. The cameras can form part of a CCTV system with the images recorded sent to a central operation unit where they can be monitored in real time by an operator at a remote location or the images can be stored for reviewing at a later stage.

[0023]The housing comprises a carriage 22 that can be moved between a far (first) position in the housing, close to the end of the housing, and a near (second) position in the housing, close to the post. When the carriage 22 and cameras 14 are at the far position the cameras can monitor the area and when the carriage 22 and cameras 14 are at the near position it enables the cameras 14 to be in a position for easy access to the cameras for cleaning or maintenance work. The housing 12 and post 10 can have access hatches 16 to access the interior of the housing 12 and the post 10. Steps 18 may be connected to the post 10 to enable the top of the post to be reached. The steps 18 may be permanently attached to the post or removable. A ladder 20 can be used to lean against the post 10 to reach the top of the post and/or the first pair of steps 18.

[0024]As shown in Figure 3 and Figure 4, the carriage 22 is connected to an actuating arm 24 and has a series of cameras 14 suspended from the bottom of the carriage 22. The carriage 22 runs on tracks 26 in the housing 12 that are located on either side of a slot 28 in the bottom of the housing 12. The cameras 14 are connected to the carriage 22 through the slot 28.

[0025] Figure 3 shows the apparatus in an extended position with the carriage 22 and cameras 14 located at the far end of the housing 12 away from the post 10 from which the housing extends, such that the cameras 14 are in the position to effectively monitor the area.

[0026] Figure 4 shows the apparatus in a withdrawn position with the carriage 22 and cameras 14 located at the near end of the housing 12 close to the post 10 from which the housing 12 extends. In this position the cameras 14 are located in a convenient place to be reached next to the post 10 to be cleaned and/or repaired.

[0027]The carriage 22 comprises connection to the cameras and a cable 30, which may provide control and/or signals to the cameras, terminates in the carriage. The carriage 22 may house electronics needed to control the cameras. Bearings 32 attached to the carriage engage with the track 26 and allow the carriage 22 to run along the tracks in the housing 12. However other mechanisms to move the carriage through the housing can also be used. A splash plate 34 is connected to the carriage 22 and located outside the housing 12 below the slot 28. The splash plate 34 covers part of the slot 28 where the carriage 22 is present and helps provides protection to the carriage 22 from the outside environment.

[0028]The carriage 22 and housing 12 comprise complementary stoppers to limit the movement of the carriage in the housing. A front stopper 36 can be located at the front end of the carriage 22 and side stoppers 38 may be located on either or both sides of the carriage 22.

Complementary side 40 and end stoppers 42 can then be located at the far end wall of the housing 12 and on the side walls of the housing 12 to help limit the distance the carriage 22 can extend down the housing 12. Additional stoppers 44 can be located on the side walls of the housing close to the near end of the housing 12 to restrict the movement of the carriage as it is being withdrawn from the housing 12.

[0029]A scraper 48 and brush can be attached to the end of the carriage 22.

The scrapper is positioned in the track 26 and can dislocate dirt and dust that may have accumulated. The brush can move the dust and dust out off the track as the carriage 12 is moved along.

[0030]As shown in Figures 5 and 6 a cable 30 is attached to the back end of the carriage 12. The cables 30 can include signal and control cables to transmit information to and from the cameras and to provide power to the cameras 14. The cable 30 extends from the carriage 22 down the housing 12 and into the post 10 from where it may connect to a central mains system.

[0031]The cable 30 is supported along the length of the actuating arm 24 by a series of cable guides, such as sliding hooks 50 attached to the arm 24. Adjacent hooks 50 are connected together by positioning slings 52. One of ends of the positioning sling 52 can be fixedly attached to the end of the arm 24 by the carriage 12 and the other end of the positions sling 52 can be attached to a stopper 46 at the near end of the housing 12. The cable guide stopper 46 can be a cylindrical tube that extends from a first side of a plate extending from the base of the housing. The positioning slings 52 may be formed from a continuous length of cable connecting all the hooks 50 or individual lengths may connect adjacent hooks 50.

[0032] When the arm 24 is extended so that it is fully within the housing 12, as shown in Figure 5, the hooks 50 are spaced apart along the arm 24. The positioning slings 52 are pulled taut as they are straightened out, the length of the sling between each hook 50 restricting the distance the hooks 50 can separate from each other and to allow the hooks 50 to be spaced apart along the arm 24 at a predetermined distance to provide sufficient support to the cable 30.

[0033] When the actuating arm 24 is withdrawn from the housing 12, as shown in Figure 6, the hooks 50 are brought together with the positioning slings 52 relaxing to form a concertinaed shape. An aperture 54 in the bottom surface of the housing 12 enables access to the hollow centre of the post 10. The excess cable 30 can drop down the hollow post 10 through the aperture 54 as the arm 24 is withdrawn from the housing 12. The cable 30 can comprise a counter weight 56 to help with the movement of the cable 30 down the post 10.

[0034]A cap 58 can be provided around the edge of the aperture 54. The cap 58 can be made from rubber or other suitable material. A roller formed from nylon or other suitable material, can be attached to the aperture 54 to hang in the post 10, along which the cable 30 can roll over as it is pulled out of or pushed into the post 10. The cap 58 and roller 60 help protect the cable 30 from damage as it inserted and pulled out of the post 10 as the carriage 22 is moved along the tracks 26.

[0035]The actuating arm 24 can include a locking mechanism to keep the arm 24 in a fixed position. As shown in Figures 7 and 8 a plate 62 extends up from the bottom of the housing 12 and has an aperture 64 through which the arm 24 extends. A cylindrical tube 66 connected to the plate 62 extends from the aperture 64 from one side of the plate 62 while the cable guide stopper 46 extends from the either side of the plate 62 about the aperture 64. The locking mechanism can comprise a pin 68 which can extend through an aperture 70 in the arm 24 and cylindrical tube 66 which prevents the arm 24 from moving in and out of the housing 12. When it is necessary for the arm 24 to be withdrawn from the housing 12, the pin 68 can be removed from the arm 24 and the arm 24 can be then be pulled out of the housing 12 through the aperture 64. Other locking mechanisms could also be used to prevent movement of the arm relative to the housing.

[0036]A flange 72 can extend from the near end of the arm 24, to form a handle to assist in pulling the arm out of the housing 12. The handle can also help prevent the housing being pushed to far into the housing. The diameter of the handle being larger than the diameter of the aperture and cylindrical tube such that the handle can not fit through the aperture 64 in the plate 62. Access to the locking mechanism and handle of the arm is via a door 74 at the end of the housing 12.

[0037] When it is required to access the cameras 14 for cleaning or maintenance, the maintenance worker can climb up to the top of the post 10 using the steps 18 on the post 10 or a ladder. When the worker has reached the top of the post 10, he can open the door 74 at the end of the housing 12 to gain access to the interior of the housing 12. The locking mechanism can be unlocked by pulling the pin 68 out of the actuating arm 24 and tube 66 and the actuating arm 24 can then be pulled out of the housing 12 by the worker. As the actuating arm 24 is connected to the carriage 22 this results in the carriage 22 being moved along the tracks 26 from the far end of the housing 12 to the near end of the housing 12. As the cameras 14 are connected to the carriage 22 the cameras 14 are also moved from the far end of the housing to the near end of the housing 12 As the actuating arm 24 is pulled out of the housing 12, the first slidable hook 50 is stopped by the cable guide stopper 46 connected to the plate 62 extending from the floor of the housing 12. Continual pulling of the arm 24 results in the further hooks 50 bunching up against each other and the arm 24 being pulled through them and out the plate aperture 64. The excess length of cable 30 drops though the aperture 54 in the floor of the housing 12 and into the hollow centre of the post 10. When the carriage 22 reaches the near end of the housing 12 side stoppers 44, 38 prevent further movement in that direction by the carriage 22.

[0038] With the cameras 14 now located adjacent the post 10, they are more accessible to the worker. The worker can clean the cameras or undertake maintenance work without having to move far from the main post or stretching out to reach the cameras. If the carriage also needs maintenance works carried out on it the cleaner can access the carriage via a hatch in the housing located near the post.

[0039] Once the work needed has been carried out on the cameras, they can be returned to their main position of use at the far end of the housing 12. The worker can push the actuating arm 24 back into the housing 12 pushing the carriage 22 and camera 14 back along the tracks 26 to the far end of the housing 12. As one end of the positioning slings 52 is attached to the far end of the arm 24 when the carriage 22 and arm 24 are pushed back down the housing 12 the hooks 50 are pulled back along the arm 24 to be spaced along the arm to support the cable 30 as it is pulled up from the post 10. Stoppers 36, 38, 40, 42 located at the end and sides of the housing 12 will prevent the carriage 22 from hitting the end of the housing 12. The cameras 14 are then in position to operate again. The pin 68 can then be replaced back into the aperture 70 of the arm 24 to lock the arm in place.

[0040]Although the apparatus is exemplified being attached to its own post, the apparatus could also be attached to and extend from other mountings such as column, lamp posts, flag posts, towers, masts etc. [0041]Further modifications within the scope of the invention will be apparent. For example, more than one carriage can be provided and each carriage can carry one or more cameras of sensors. In this case, separate actuating systems may be provided or a common system with different limit positions for the carriages. Other such changes can also be made.

Claims

Claims 1. An installation for mounting overhead sensors, comprising: an elongate horizontal arm configured for attachment at one end to a vertical support; the arm including a slot extending along at least part of its length; a pair of tracks located on the arm on either side of the slot; a carriage moveably located on the tracks above the slot and moveable between a first position in which the carriage is remote from the one end and a second position in which the carriage is close to the one end, the carriage having at least one mounting point for a sensor such that when the sensor is mounted in the mounting it is suspended below the arm through the slot; and an actuating system connected to the carriage that is operable to move the carriage between the first position and the second position.
2. An installation as claimed in claim 1, further comprising more than one sensor.
3. An installation as claimed in claim 2, wherein multiple sensors are mounted on a single carriage.
4. An installation as claimed in claim 2, wherein more than one carriage is provided, each carrying at least one sensor.
5. An installation as claimed in claim 4, wherein each carriage has its own first position that can be different from that of another.
6. An installation as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the horizontal arm comprises a hollow housing, the slot being provided in a lower face of the housing and the carriage being located within the housing.
7. An installation as claimed in claim 6, wherein one or more access plates are provided to allow access to the interior of the housing from the outside.
8. An installation as claimed in claim 6 or 7, wherein the housing includes limit structures to restrict the movement of the carriage beyond the first and second positions.
9. An installation as claimed in claim 8, wherein stoppers are provided on the carriage to engage the limit structures when at the first or second position.
10.An installation as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the actuating system comprises an actuating arm that is used to push or pull the carriage to move it between the first and second positions.
11.An installation as claimed in claim 10, wherein the actuating arm is slidably mounted in a mounting plate.
12.An installation as claimed in claim 11, wherein the mounting plate is provided with a locking mechanism for securing the arm in position.
13.An installation as claimed in claim 11 or 12, wherein the mounting plate is secured to the vertical support or to the horizontal arm.
14.An installation as claimed in any of claims 1-9, wherein the actuating system comprises cables arranged to pull the carriage to the desired position; a resiliently-biased mechanism to urge the carriage to one position and an actuator to push or pull the carriage to the other position; a motor in the carriage to drive it along the tracks between the two positions; or combinations of these.
15.An installation as claimed in any preceding claims, further comprising a cable providing a power and/or data connection for the sensor between the carriage and an appropriate connection in the vertical support.
16.An installation as claimed in claim 15, further comprising cable guides located on the actuating arm for supporting the cable.
17.An installation as claimed in claim 16, wherein the cable guides comprise sliding hooks positioned on the actuating arm to accommodate changes in length as the carriage moves.
18.An installation as claimed in claim 17, further comprising positioning slings to connect the cable guides together to allow proper positioning of the guides when the actuating arm is fully extended.
19.An installation as claimed in claim 17 or 18 wherein the actuating arm is slidably mounted in a mounting plate, the mounting plate comprising a cable guide stopper.
20.An installation as claimed in any of claims 15-19, wherein a counter weight is attached to the cable to pull the cable back as the carriage moves from the first position to the second position.
21.An installation as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the carriage further comprise a scraper and/or brush arrangement attached to the carriage and configured to engage the tracks so as to clear any materials in the tracks preventing proper movement of the carriage.
22.An installation as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising a hollow post as the vertical support.
23.An installation as claimed in claim 22, further comprising an opening in the post near the position of the horizontal arm to allow operation of the actuating system.
24.An installation as claimed in claim 22 or 23, wherein a cable providing a power and/or data connection for the sensor is provided between the carriage and an appropriate connection in the vertical support, the cable extending inside the post.
25.An installation as claimed in claim 24, wherein a counter weight is arranged to withdraw the cable into the post as the carriage is moved to the second position.
26.An installation as claimed in claim 25, comprising more than one arm on the post.