JP2000282423A - Variable road marker - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a variable road marker device capable of easily changing a marker on a road without relying on hand and easier for a driver to recognize. SOLUTION: A variable road marker comprises a marker main body 2 buried in a road leaving a visible part 2s, a display member storage part 3 provided in the marker main body 2, a marker display member 4 provided movably in the display member storage part 3 and colored in a plurality of colors and a drive part 5 operating the marker display member 4 to change a color visible from the visible part 2s. The marker display member 4 is operated from the outside through the drive part 5.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a variable road marker, and more particularly to a variable road marker which is buried in a road and whose display can be changed according to a traffic volume or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, an expressway, a national highway, or the like having a large traffic volume of automobiles has a plurality of road lanes, and is often divided into two lanes or three lanes on one side both up and down. If the same number of lanes is used for both ascent and descent in this way, during traffic rush hours in the morning, despite the traffic congestion on the ascending lane heading to the city area, the amount of traffic on the down lane heading to the suburbs is extremely low. It was inconvenient.

In order to solve these inconveniences,
Road lanes that can be passed are regulated according to the time zone, and the regulation method is that a worker arranges a plurality of cone-shaped markers (variable indication signs) on the lane line to change the lane that can be passed. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 12, a road lane marker 42 (variable instruction sign) suspended from a support wire 41 bridged everywhere on the road R is positioned above the lane line L1 according to the time zone. From the vehicle to a position above the lane line L2 to restrict the lanes that can pass in the time zone.

[0004] However, it takes time and effort for an operator to arrange or move the cone-shaped markers on the line according to the time zone, and since the markers are arranged on the road line, it is difficult to obstruct traffic. In the case where the traffic lane is restricted by the suspended road lane marker 42, the traffic lane is above the driver,
It was difficult for the driver to recognize the road lane marker 42.

[0005]

Therefore, there has been a demand for a variable road marker which can be easily changed without relying on humans for markers on the road and which can be easily recognized by a driver.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object to provide a variable road marker in which a marker on a road can be easily changed without relying on humans, and which can be easily recognized by a driver. .

[0007]

Means for Solving the Problems In order to achieve the above object, the invention of claim 1 of the present application provides a marker body buried in a road by exposing a visible portion, and a display member provided on the marker body. A storage portion, a marker display member movably provided in the display member storage portion and color-coded into a plurality of colors, and a drive portion for operating the marker display member and changing a color seen from the visible portion, The present invention provides a variable road marker characterized by operating a marker display member from the outside via a unit.

[0008] In the invention of claim 2 of the present application, the gist is that the marker body is a variable road marker according to claim 1, wherein the marker body is a transparent body.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the marker display member is immersed in a liquid housed in the display member housing and having a specific gravity substantially equal to that of the marker display member. Is a variable road marker described in the above.

[0010] The invention of claim 4 of the present application is characterized in that the marker display member is a variable road marker according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the marker display member is a cylindrical body.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the marker display member is a sphere.
The gist is that the marker is a variable road marker according to any one of the above.

According to the invention of claim 6 of the present application, the marker display member is a plate.
The gist is that the marker is a variable road marker according to any one of the above.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, the marker display member is colored in two colors with a rotational axis rotating in the display member housing as a symmetric axis. The gist is that the marker is a variable road marker described in any one of the above items.

[0014] According to the invention of claim 8 of the present application, the color of the marker display member is white, and one of the colors is a variable road marker according to claim 7.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, the marker body is buried in a portion corresponding to a lane dividing line of a road, and the color of the marker display member is changed according to a predetermined time zone. The gist is a variable road marker according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

In the tenth aspect of the present invention, the marker body is one color white and another color is the same or similar to the color of the road in which the marker is buried. The gist is that the marker is a variable road marker described in any one of the above items.

According to the eleventh aspect of the present invention, the marker body is embedded in a portion corresponding to a lane dividing line of a road or a portion corresponding to a line orthogonal to the road, and the marker display member is
The gist is a variable road marker according to claim 10, wherein the marker can be recognized only in a predetermined time zone.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, the marker body is buried in a lane of a road, and the marker display member displays a character sign only during a predetermined time period. The gist is that it is the variable road marker described.

The variable road according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the driving unit is a solenoid acting on a magnet provided on the marker display member. The gist is to be a marker.

In the invention of claim 14 of the present application, the magnet is
The gist is a variable road marker according to claim 13, wherein the magnetic poles of the plurality of magnets are alternately arranged.

[0021]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a road lane marker according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

As shown in FIG. 4, the variable road marker 1 as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG.
A large number are continuously buried in portions corresponding to 1, L2 and used as variable road lane markers.

The variable road marker 1 is made of a transparent body, for example, a colorless and transparent hard glass, and has a marker body 2 buried by exposing the visible portion 2s on the road R, and a display member housing provided on the marker body 2. The part 3 and a plurality of colors (including white, black, and the color of the material of the marker display member) rotatably provided in the display member storage part 3, for example, two colors of a white part w and a yellow part y. Cylindrical marker display member 4 and the visible portion 2s
It has a drive unit, for example, a solenoid 5 that changes the color seen from the outside.

The display member housing 3 formed in the marker body 2 has a cylindrical shape having an inner diameter larger than the diameter of the marker display member 4, and is kept closed by the lid 2c.
The inside is filled with a liquid 6 having substantially the same specific gravity as the marker display member 4 in order to make the rotation of the marker display member 4 smooth and easy. The marker display member 4 stored in the display member storage unit 3 has a solid cylindrical shape, and has a white portion w.
The two colors of the yellow part y and the yellow part y are given with the rotation axis in the display member storage part 3 as the axis of symmetry.

A solenoid 5 is provided close to the lower surface of the marker body 2 opposite to the visible portion 2s. The solenoid 5 is provided on a flat flexible synthetic resin tube 7 and has a marker display member. 4, the white portion w side is provided on the north pole, and the yellow portion y side is provided on the magnet 8 disposed so as to be the south pole.

The variable road markers 1 are provided in a large number in succession by being adhered by an adhesive 9, and the solenoids 5 are also connected to the DC electric path 10 in parallel by the number of magnets 8 of the marker display member 4.

As shown in FIG. 3, the solenoid 5 connected to the DC power supply 11 via the DC electric circuit 10 operates at a predetermined time to operate the control device 12 and the magnetic pole switching device 1
The magnetic pole is changed by a timer 14 for switching the number 3 and a predetermined magnetic force is applied to the magnet 8 of the marker display member 4.

The solenoid 5 does not always need to be energized at all times, but may be energized when the marker display member 4 rotates half a turn.

The variable road marker 1 may be embedded over the entire length of the lane division lines L1 and L2 of the road R, or may be embedded only at important points where it is deemed necessary.

Reference numeral 15 denotes a variable road sign provided on a side road or the like as necessary.

Next, an example in which the variable road marker 1 according to the present invention is used as a variable road lane division marker is shown in FIGS.
It will be described based on.

As shown in FIG. 4, for example, in the traffic rush from 6:00 to 10:00 in the morning, when the up lane to the city is crowded and the traffic of the down lane to the suburb is small, the road R 4 Of the lanes, three lanes are dedicated to going up and one lane is dedicated to going down.

For example, at 6:00 am, the timer 14 as shown in FIG. 3 operates the magnetic pole switching device 13 via the control device 12 so that the magnetic flux of the solenoid 5 in the lane line L1 is directed downward. 5 and the direction of the current flowing through the DC circuit 10 are controlled. Solenoid 5
When the downward magnetic flux is generated, the S pole of the magnet 8 of the marker display member 4 is attracted, and the N pole is repelled, and the marker display member 4 rotates half-turn in the display member storage part 3 by the movement of the magnet 8. Thus, the yellow portion y faces the visible portion 2s (upper surface), and the white portion w faces the lower surface. In the marker display member 4 of the variable road marker 1 buried in the lane line L1 of the road R, the yellow portion y faces the visible portion 2s (upper surface) at once, so that the lane line L1 changes from white to yellow. Since the marker display member 4 of the lane line L2 keeps the state (white) of the previous time zone, as shown in FIG.
The lane is restricted to the road R having one lane going down, so that smooth vehicle traffic is realized.

For example, from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm in the daytime, four lanes of the road R are restricted to two lanes each for up and down lanes. In this case, the timer 14 as shown in FIG.
, The magnetic pole switching device 13 is operated at 11:00 am via the control device 12 to operate the solenoid 5 in the lane line L1.
The direction of the current flowing through the solenoid 5 and the DC electric circuit 10 is changed so that the magnetic flux of the current flows upward. When an upward magnetic flux is generated in the solenoid 5, the S pole of the magnet 8 of the marker display member 4 repels, the N pole is attracted, and the movement of the magnet 8 causes the marker display member 4 to move halfway in the display member housing 3. By turning, the white portion w faces the visible portion 2s (upper surface), and the yellow portion y faces the lower surface. In the marker display member 4 of the variable road marker 1 buried in the lane line L1 of the road R, the lane line L1 changes from yellow to white because the white portion w faces the visible portion 2s (upper surface) at once. It is restricted to a road R with two lanes going up and two lanes going down.

For example, at 4:00 pm, the timer 14 as shown in FIG. 3 operates the magnetic pole switching device 13 via the control device 12 so that the magnetic flux of the solenoid 5 in the lane line L2 is directed downward. 5 and the direction of the current flowing through the DC circuit 10. When a downward magnetic flux is generated in the solenoid 5, the S pole of the magnet 8 of the marker display member 4 in the lane line L2 is attracted, and the N pole is repelled. Turns halfway inside, and yellow part y is visible part 2s (upper surface)
, And the white portion w faces the lower surface. In the marker display member 4 of the variable road marker 1 embedded in the lane line L2 of the road R, the yellow portion y is simultaneously displayed in the visible portion 2s.
Since the lane line L2 changes from white to yellow because it faces the (upper surface), the marker display member 4 of the lane line L1 maintains the state of the previous time zone (white), so as shown in FIG. From 4:00 pm to 10:00 pm, one lane going up,
It is regulated by a road R of three lanes going down, and smooth traffic is realized.

For example, from 10:00 pm to 6:00 am in the night zone, four lanes of the road R are restricted to two lanes each for ascending and descending. In this case, the timer 14 as shown in FIG.
At 10:00 pm, the magnetic pole switching device 13 is operated via the control device 12 to change the direction of the current flowing through the solenoid 5 and the DC electric circuit 10 so that the magnetic flux of the solenoid 5 in the lane line L2 is directed upward. When an upward magnetic flux is generated in the solenoid 5, the magnet 8 of the marker display member 4
Is attracted, the N pole repels, and the movement of the magnet 8 causes the marker display member 4 to rotate half a turn in the display member storage section 3 so that the white portion w faces the visible portion 2s (upper surface). Then, the yellow portion y is in a state of facing the lower surface. The marker display member 4 of the variable road marker 1 buried in the lane line L2 of the road R simultaneously has the white portion w facing the visible portion 2s (upper surface), so that the lane line L1 changes from yellow to white,
It is restricted to a road R with two lanes going up and two lanes going down.

As described above, the number of lanes that can pass up and down is changed by the variable road marker 1 according to the time zone, so that smooth traffic without congestion is realized.

Further, since the marker display member 4 is actuated via the solenoid 5 in response to an instruction from the outside, it does not depend on the manual labor of the worker, does not require any trouble, and the variable road marker 1 is attached to the road R. Because it is buried, it is easy for drivers to recognize and does not obstruct traffic. Further, since the marker display member 4 is classified into a plurality of colors to change the color seen from the visible portion 2s, the driver can easily recognize the marker display member 4 and the marker display member 4 is filled in the display member storage portion 3. Since the marker display member 4 is immersed in the liquid 6, the marker display member 4 can be smoothly rotated. Since the marker display member 4 has a cylindrical shape, the marker display member 4 which is easy to manufacture and has a relatively large area can be manufactured, and the number of the variable road markers 1 does not need to be increased. Since the area of the colored portion can be increased, the variable road marker 21 that is easy to see can be provided.

Further, since the marker display member 4 has a columnar shape, the marker display member 4 is easy to manufacture, and even when the magnet 8 and the solenoid 5 are driven, half turn can be easily given.

Next, another embodiment of the road lane marker according to the present invention will be described.

As shown in FIG. 6, the variable road marker 21
Is a marker body 22 made of a transparent body, for example, a colorless and transparent hard glass, and buried by exposing the visible portion 22s on the road.
And a display member storage 2 provided in the marker body 22.
7, a sphere that is rotatable and arranged like an abacus, and is color-coded into two colors of a white portion w and a portion r of the same color or a similar color to the road (hereinafter referred to as a road color) as shown in FIG. A marker display member 24 having a shape,
And a solenoid 26 that operates via the magnet 25 and changes the color seen from the visible portion 22s.

The magnetic poles of the plurality of solenoids 26 are alternately arranged as shown in FIG. 6, and the plurality of magnets 25 provided on the plurality of marker display members 24 which attract and repel the solenoids 26 also have the magnetic poles. Are alternately arranged, and the plurality of magnets 25 attract each other to keep a stable state.

The display member accommodating portion 23 formed in the marker body 22 forms a spherical space having an inner diameter larger than the diameter of the marker display member 24.
In order to make the rotation of 4 smooth and easy, a liquid 27 having substantially the same specific gravity as the marker display member 24 is filled. The marker display member 24 rotatably stored in the display member storage section 23 has a hollow spherical shape, and two colors of white and road color are given with the rotation axis in the display member storage section 23 as a symmetric axis. In this color application, the character display of the "traveling lane" is performed by a combination of the two colors of the white part w and the road color part r, similarly to the character display by the general pixel. Are also associated with the magnetic poles.

The variable road marker 21 is shown in FIGS.
As shown in the figure, the visible portion 22s is exposed in the lane of the road R, and is embedded and used so as to display the character sign "traveling lane" at the white portion w.

The up / down selection circuit 28 shown in FIG.
Is controlled by the timer 14 and the control circuit 12, via the magnetic pole switching device 13, the white portion w of the variable road marker 21
Has a function of giving a magnetic pole to the solenoid 26 so that the character sign "traveling lane" formed by the above is displayed upside down as necessary.

Next, an example in which the variable road marker 21 of this embodiment is used as a variable road sign will be described with reference to FIGS.

As shown in FIG. 8, for example, when the up lane is congested and the traffic on the down lane is small during a traffic rush from 6 am to 10 am, three out of the four lanes of the road R are changed to three lanes. Use only the up lane and one lane only for the down lane.

At 6:00 a.m., the direction of the current flowing through the solenoid 26 is controlled by operating the magnetic pole switching device 13 via the control device 12 and the up / down selection circuit 28 by the operation of the timer 14 as shown in FIG. . When the magnetic pole of the solenoid 26 is switched, the different poles of the solenoid 26 and the magnet 25 of the marker display member 24 are attracted to each other, and the marker display member 24 rotates half-turn in the display member housing 23 by the movement of the magnet 26. , The white portion w faces the visible portion 22s (upper surface), the road color portion r faces downward, and the character sign “traveling lane” formed by the white portion w is displayed. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 8, the road is restricted to the road R having three lanes going up and one lane going down, so that smooth vehicle traffic is realized.

From 11:00 am to 4:00 pm in the daytime,
The four lanes of the road R are restricted to two lanes each for up and down. In this case, by the operation of the timer 14 as shown in FIG. 6, the direction of the current flowing through the solenoid 26 is changed at 11:00 am by operating the magnetic pole switching device 13 via the control device 12 and the up / down selection circuit 28. By the action of the solenoid 26, as shown in FIG. 9, the character marking is changed and the "running lane" formed by the white portion w restricts the road R to two lanes going up and two lanes going down.

At 4:00 p.m., the control unit 12 starts the up / down operation by the operation of the timer 14 as shown in FIG.
By operating the magnetic pole switching device 13 via the down selection circuit 28, as shown in FIG. 10, the character R is changed from 4:00 pm to 10:00 pm and the road R having one lane going up and three lanes going down is changed from 4:00 pm to 10:00 pm.
And smooth traffic is realized.

From 10:00 pm to 6:00 am in the night zone,
As in the daytime zone, the four lanes of the road R are restricted to two lanes both up and down.

As described above, the number of lanes that can pass up and down is changed by the variable road marker 1 according to the time zone, so that smooth traffic can be achieved without congestion.

Further, since the marker display member 24 is operated via the solenoid 26 in response to an external instruction, the marker display member 24 does not depend on the manual labor of the worker, does not require any trouble, and the variable road marker 21 is attached to the road R. Because it is buried,
It is easy for drivers to recognize and does not obstruct traffic. In addition, since it was made into a character sign using the variable road marker 21,
It is easy for the driver to recognize. In addition, the formation of character signs (display)
At this time, since the magnetic poles of the plurality of magnets 25 provided on the marker display member 24 are arranged alternately, the marker display member 24 maintains a stable state and can display characters reliably.

Since the marker display member 24 has a spherical shape, it is easy to form a character mark, and it is easy to manufacture.
Moreover, since the area of the colored portion can be increased, it is possible to provide the variable road marker 21 which is easy to see.

Further, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 8 to 10, an example in which the marker is used in the lane of the road R as a character marker is described. By setting it to r, it may be used as a timed stop line that is orthogonal to the road, displayed according to the time zone, or disappears.

In this embodiment, the marker display member 24
Is color-coded into two colors, a white portion w and a yellow portion y, and can be used by embedding it in a portion corresponding to a lane dividing line as shown in FIG. 4 or can be used in combination with a character marker. .

As shown in FIG. 11, a marker display member 31 is a plate body, and a support portion 32 is provided at both ends thereof, and a magnet 33 is embedded in the support portion 32 to form a cylindrical display member storage portion. (Not shown), it may be made to rotate half a turn. It is possible to provide a variable road marker having a flat coloring portion and easy to see.

[0058]

According to the variable road marker according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a variable road marker device whose display can be easily changed and which can be easily recognized by the driver.

That is, since the marker display member is operated via the drive unit in accordance with an external instruction, the marker display member is operated.
It does not depend on the labor of the worker, it does not take time,
Furthermore, since the variable road marker is embedded in the road, the driver can easily recognize the marker and does not obstruct traffic. The marker display member is color-coded into a plurality of colors to change the color seen from the visible portion, so that the driver can easily recognize and have excellent durability.

Also, since the marker body is transparent,
Even if the marker body is buried in the road, the visible portion can be easily exposed.

Since the marker display member is immersed in a liquid having substantially the same specific gravity as the marker display member, the marker display member can be smoothly rotated.

Further, since the marker display member is a cylindrical body, a marker display member that is easy to manufacture and relatively long and has a large area can be manufactured, so that the number of variable road markers does not need to be increased.

Further, since the marker display member is a sphere, it is easy to form a character sign, it is easy to manufacture, and the area of the colored portion can be increased, so that a variable road marker that is easy to see can be provided.

Further, since the marker display member is a plate, the variable color marker can be provided which has a flat coloring area and is easy to see.

Since the marker display member is colored in two colors with the rotation axis rotating in the display member housing as the axis of symmetry, the color can be easily changed by the half turn of the marker display member.

The color of the marker display member is white, so that it is suitable for a variable road marker embedded in a road.

The marker body is buried in the portion corresponding to the lane marking line of the road, and the marker display member can change the color seen from the visible portion according to a predetermined time zone. Suitable.

Also, since the marker body is one color white and the other color is the same or similar to the color of the road in which it is buried, it is orthogonal to the road and is displayed in a time zone, or is displayed in a timed manner. It can be used as a simple stop line.

The marker body is buried in the lane of the road, and the marker display member displays a character sign only during a predetermined time period.
It does not block traffic.

Further, since the drive section is a solenoid acting on the magnet provided on the marker display member, the structure is simple and the marker display member can be turned halfway without fail.

Further, since the magnetic poles of the plurality of magnets are alternately arranged, the marker display member 24 maintains a stable state, and a reliable display can be performed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a variable road marker according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view showing an embodiment of a variable road marker according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a control circuit used in an embodiment of the variable road marker according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a road using a variable road marker according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a road using a variable road marker according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing another embodiment of the variable road marker according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a marker display member used in another embodiment of the variable road marker according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of a road using another embodiment of the variable road marker according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of a road using another embodiment of the variable road marker according to the present invention.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of a road using another embodiment of the variable road marker according to the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a marker display member used in another embodiment of the variable road marker according to the present invention.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram of a road using a conventional road marker.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Variable road marker 2 Marker main body 2c Lid 2s Visible part 3 Display member storage part 4 Marker display member 4d Color division surface 5 Solenoid 6 Liquid 7 Synthetic resin tube 8 Magnet 9 Adhesive 10 DC electric circuit 11 DC power supply 12 Controller 13 Magnetic pole switching device 14 Timer 15 Variable road sign 21 Variable road marker 22 Marker body 22s Visible part 23 Display member storage part 24 Marker display member 25 Magnet 26 Solenoid 27 Liquid 28 Up / Down selection circuit R Road r Road color part w White part y Yellow part 31 Marker display member 32 Support part 33 Magnet L1 lane division line L2 lane division line

Claims (14)

[Claims] 1. A marker main body which is embedded in a road with a visible part exposed, a display member storage part provided in the marker main body, and a movable member provided in the display member storage part is color-coded into a plurality of colors. A variable road marker, comprising: a marker display member; and a drive unit that operates the marker display member to change a color seen from the visible portion, and activates the marker display member from the outside via the drive unit. 2. The variable road marker according to claim 1, wherein the marker body is a transparent body. 3. The marker display member according to claim 1, wherein the marker display member is housed in a display member housing portion and is immersed in a liquid having substantially the same specific gravity as the marker display member.
The variable road marker according to 1. 4. The variable road marker according to claim 1, wherein the marker display member is a cylindrical body. 5. The variable road marker according to claim 1, wherein the marker display member is a sphere. 6. The variable road marker according to claim 1, wherein the marker display member is a plate. 7. The marker display member according to claim 1, wherein the marker display member is colored in two colors around a rotation axis that rotates in the display member storage portion. Variable road marker. 8. The variable road marker according to claim 7, wherein one color of the marker display member is white. 9. The marker body according to claim 1, wherein the marker body is buried in a portion corresponding to a lane dividing line of a road, and the color of the marker display member is changed according to a predetermined time zone. The variable road marker according to any one of the above. 10. The marker body according to claim 1, wherein one color of the marker body is white and another color is the same or similar to the color of a road in which the marker is buried.
The variable road marker according to item 1. 11. The marker body according to claim 1, wherein the marker body is buried in a portion corresponding to a lane dividing line of a road or a portion corresponding to a line orthogonal to the road, and the marker display member can recognize only a predetermined time zone. Item 11. A variable road marker according to item 10. 12. The variable road marker according to claim 10, wherein the marker body is embedded in a lane of a road, and the marker display member displays a character sign only during a predetermined time period. 13. The variable road marker according to claim 1, wherein the drive section is a solenoid acting on a magnet provided on a marker display member. 14. The variable road marker according to claim 13, wherein the magnets are arranged such that magnetic poles of the plurality of magnets are alternately arranged.