JP2007048260A - Traffic signal light device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a traffic signal light device with a simple structure, which can prevent snow from sticking thereon by making a snow-proof plate incline forward, prevent dust from infiltrating the gap between the snow-proof plate and the surface of a display, and can be seen clearly. <P>SOLUTION: An LED unit 11 is made to incline forward, the plate 12 formed of poly-carbonate for the snow hard to stick thereon, having the characteristics of light diffusion (anti-reflection effect and is arranged with forward inclination facing close contact with and in its front). The light-emitting shape of the LED unit 11 is formed in a vertically-long elliptical a shape so as to be seen as a circle, when viewed from a distant place in the horizontal direction. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a traffic signal lamp, and more particularly to a traffic signal lamp that prevents snow from adhering to the surface.

  In traffic signal lamps installed in snowy countries where there is a lot of snowfall, it is necessary to prevent snow on the surface. Therefore, a transparent snow-prevention plate is attached to the front of the display with the front tilted so that the wind blown from the front flows downward along the slope of the snow-prevention plate. There has been proposed a display device that prevents snow from falling (see Patent Document 1).

JP 2003-109187 A

  In traffic signal lamps installed above the road, it is also important to prevent glare caused by the reflection of sunlight (especially the western sun). Usually, a hood is installed on the lamp to block the sunlight. Yes.

  However, as disclosed in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, when the snow-prevention plate is tilted forward, a space surrounded by the hood, the lamp, and the snow-prevention plate is formed. In order to prevent the invasion of snow, snow, small insects, water, etc., it is necessary to take measures such as sealing with packing, and there is a problem that the structure becomes complicated and the price of the apparatus increases.

  In place of the hood, an antireflection treatment (non-glare treatment) for diffusing light may be applied to the snow accretion prevention plate, but in this case as well, the forwardly inclined snow accretion prevention plate and the substantially vertical lamp surface Since a space is created between them, it is necessary to take measures to cover and surround the space.

  In addition, the distance between the surface of the almost vertical lamp and the snow-preventing snowboard that tilts forward increases as it goes upwards. There is a problem that the light is easily diffused and the outline of the lamp is blurred and difficult to see. This phenomenon is similar to the fact that when the light is placed over the frosted glass, the outline of the light is clearly visible if the distance between the frosted glass and the light is short, but the outline becomes blurred as the light is moved away from the polished glass. is there.

  The present invention is intended to solve the above-mentioned problem. Dust or the like can enter between the snow accretion prevention plate and the display surface while preventing the snow accretion by tilting the snow accretion prevention plate forward. Furthermore, the object is to provide a traffic signal lamp that is clearly visible and simple in structure.

  The above object can be achieved by the following inventions.

[1] A traffic signal lamp characterized in that the lamp (11) is tilted forward and a snow-prevention prevention plate (12) having light transmission is tilted forward in front of the lamp (11). .

  According to the above invention, the wind blowing from the front flows downward along the inclination of the snow accretion prevention plate (12), thereby preventing snow accretion. Further, since the lamp (11) is also tilted forward, the distance between the snow accretion prevention plate (12) and the front of the lamp (11) can be reduced, and measures for preventing entry of dust and the like are facilitated.

[2] The traffic signal lamp according to [1], wherein the snow accretion prevention plate (12) is disposed so as to overlap the front surface of the lamp (11).

  According to the said invention, the clearance gap between a snow accretion prevention board (12) and the front surface of a lamp device (11) is lose | eliminated, and intrusion prevention measures, such as dust, become still easier.

[3] The traffic signal lamp according to [1] or [2], wherein the snow accretion prevention plate (12) further has light diffusibility.

  According to the said invention, when sunlight falls, such as a western day, on a snow accretion prevention board (12), reflected light is scattered by the light diffusibility of a snow accretion prevention board (12), and glare is eased. In addition, the space | interval of a lamp device (11) and a snow-prevention prevention plate (12) can be arrange | positioned by inclining a lamp device (11) forward or putting a snow-prevention prevention plate (12) on the front of a lamp device (11). Therefore, the contour of the lamp (11) is hardly blurred due to the light diffusibility of the snow accretion prevention plate (12).

[4] The light emission shape of the lamp (11) is vertically long so that the deformation of the shape seen from the horizontal direction caused by tilting forward is corrected [1], [2] or The traffic signal lamp according to [3].

  According to the above invention, when the tilted lamp (11) is viewed from the horizontal direction, the phenomenon in which the lamp (11) is observed to be crushed vertically and short is observed as the light emission shape of the lamp (11). It is offset by making it vertically long.

[5] The traffic signal lamp according to [1], [2], [3], or [4], wherein the lamp (11) is an LED unit (11).

[6] The LED unit (11) is obtained by attaching the LED element (22a) to a forward inclined substrate, and adjusting the optical axis direction by bending the foot of the LED element (22a). The traffic signal lamp according to [5].

  According to the said invention, although the board | substrate of an LED unit (11) is inclined and arrange | positioned, an optical axis is adjusted horizontally by bending the leg (lead) of an LED element (22a). The LED element (22a) may be attached to the substrate so that a plurality of legs are arranged side by side.

[7] The traffic signal lamp according to [5], wherein the LED unit (11) includes a forward inclined board and a lens-attached LED element (22) that changes a light emission direction.

  According to the said invention, although the board | substrate of an LED unit (11) is arrange | positioned forward, an optical axis is corrected to a horizontal direction with the lens which an LED element (22) has.

[8] The LED unit (11) includes an LED element (22b) disposed on a forward inclined base,
The traffic signal lamp according to [5], wherein a lens (25) for correcting the forward tilt of the optical axis of the LED element (22b) is disposed in front of each LED element (22b).

  According to the above invention, the LED elements (22b) are disposed on the board inclined forward without bending the legs, and the forward tilt of the optical axis of each LED element (22b) is in front of each LED element (22b). Correction is made with the arranged lens (25). A lens (25) is provided corresponding to each LED element (22b).

[9] The traffic signal lamp according to [8], wherein the lens (25) is attached to the back surface of the snow accretion prevention plate (12).

  In the said invention, since a lens (25) is attached to the back surface of a snow accretion prevention board (12), arrangement | positioning holding | maintenance of a lens to an appropriate position becomes easy.

[10] The traffic signal lamp according to [8], wherein the lens (25) is formed integrally with the snow accretion prevention plate (12) on the back surface of the snow accretion prevention plate (12). .

  According to the above invention, since the lens (25) is formed integrally with the snow accretion prevention plate (12) on the back side of the snow accretion prevention plate (12), the lens (25) is disposed and held at an appropriate position. And the manufacture of the lens (25) is facilitated.

[11] The traffic signal lamp according to any one of [1] to [10], wherein the snow accretion prevention plate (12) is formed of polycarbonate.

  According to the said invention, the snow accretion prevention board (12) is formed with the polycarbonate excellent in transparency, freezing resistance, heat insulation, light diffusivity (surface roughness), etc.

  According to the traffic signal lamp according to the present invention, the snow accretion is prevented by tilting the snow accretion prevention plate forward. In addition, since both the lamp and the snow-prevention plate are inclined forward, the distance between the snow-prevention plate and the front surface of the lamp can be reduced, and measures for preventing entry of dust and the like are facilitated. In particular, in the case where a snow-prevention plate is placed on the front surface of the lamp, they are almost in close contact with each other, so that intrusion prevention measures such as dust can be made unnecessary or simpler, and the structure is simplified. Since the lamp is tilted forward, it is difficult for direct sunlight to enter, and good visibility can be ensured without wrinkles.

  When the snow accretion prevention plate has light diffusibility, glare due to reflection of sunlight is prevented. In addition, since the distance between the lamp and the snow-prevention plate is short, such as by placing a snow-prevention plate on the front of the lamp, the lamp can be used even when the snow-prevention plate with light diffusivity is passed. The outline of the image becomes difficult to blur and can be clearly seen.

  When the light emission shape is vertically long, the light emission shape when viewed from the horizontal direction can be a predetermined shape, for example, a circle. Further, since the lamp is tilted forward, a larger light emitting surface can be displayed for a vehicle entering the intersection or a vehicle waiting for a signal.

  When the lamp is composed of an LED unit, the amount of generated heat is reduced, the temperature difference between the outside air temperature and the snow accretion prevention plate is reduced, and it is difficult to snow. In addition, since the amount of heat generated is small, the temperature difference can be kept small even if the LED unit and the snow-prevention prevention plate are placed in close contact with each other, and no separate heat dissipation mechanism is required, making the traffic signal lamp thinner and smaller. To contribute.

  In addition, the LED unit itself as a lamp can be tilted forward by bending the LED element, mounting the LED element obliquely, using an LED element with a lens, or providing a lens function to the snow accretion prevention plate. Even so, the optical axis can be horizontal, and good visibility from a distance in the horizontal direction is ensured.

  In the case where the snow prevention plate is formed of polycarbonate, a higher snow prevention effect can be obtained.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  A traffic signal lamp 10 according to the present invention is attached to an upper portion of a support column 3 standing beside an intersection, and signals such as “red”, “yellow”, and “blue” are directed toward a vehicle passing on a road. It is to show. The traffic signal lamp 10 is installed so that the front surface of the lamp tilts forward. FIG. 1 shows a front view when the traffic signal lamp 10 installed tilted forward is seen from the horizontal direction, and FIG. FIG. 3 shows a cross section taken along the arrow AA in FIG.

  The traffic signal lamp 10 is disposed in close contact with an LED (Light Emitting Diode) unit 11 as a lamp disposed obliquely downward with respect to the vertical plane V and superimposed on the front surface of the LED unit 11. And a housing 13 that houses the LED unit 11. More specifically, the LED unit 11 is fitted into an opening provided on the front surface of the housing 13 from the inside of the housing 13 so that the front surface (display surface) is substantially flush with the front surface of the housing 13. Attached to the housing 13.

  The snow accretion prevention plate 12 has a horizontally long rectangle so as to cover the entire front surface of the housing 13, and the housing is stacked in close contact with the entire front surface of the housing 13 (including the display surface of the LED unit 11). It is fixed to each part of the body 13 with a metal fitting 14 or the like. Here, the angle θ between the vertical plane V, the snow accretion prevention plate 12 and the LED unit 11 is set to be 30 degrees.

  The snow accretion prevention plate 12 is made of transparent polycarbonate. Further, the surface is subjected to antireflection treatment (non-glare treatment) and has light diffusibility.

  The LED unit 11 includes a substrate 21 and a large number of LED elements 22. FIG. 4 shows a state in which the LED unit 11 is viewed from the direction of arrow B in FIG. A large number of LED elements 22 are arranged such that the light emission shape of the entire LED unit 11 is a vertically long ellipse. This light emission shape is set so that it looks just circular when the LED unit 11 tilted forward 30 degrees is viewed from the horizontal direction.

  FIG. 5 shows a state in which a part of the LED unit 11 is viewed from the side. The substrate 21 is installed with an inclination of 30 degrees with respect to the vertical plane V, and each LED element 22 mounted substantially perpendicular to the substrate 21 is also inclined forward with respect to the vertical plane V by 30 degrees. The LED element 22 is provided with a lens that changes the direction of light emission, and is refracted by this lens so that the optical axis L of the emitted light is horizontal.

  FIG. 6 shows a comparison between polycarbonate and other materials regarding material properties related to snow accretion. Polycarbonate is superior to glass and acrylic resins in all of the items of surface roughness, contact angle, and frost resistance.

  The relationship between surface roughness and snow accretion is explained as follows. The snow blown to the surface of the snow accretion prevention plate by the wind melts by the impact of the collision and then solidifies. At this time, as the surface roughness is larger, an air layer exists between the melted water and the surface of the snow prevention plate 12 and the contact area is also reduced. It becomes difficult to stick. That is, the larger the surface roughness is, the more difficult it is to snow. When measured, the surface roughness Ra of the polycarbonate was about 3.0 μm, the glass was about 0.6 μm, and the acrylic resin was about 1.2 μm.

  The contact angle is an index of water repellency. The larger the contact angle, the more water repels molten water and the more difficult it is to snow. The contact angle of polycarbonate was about 80 degrees, glass was about 50 degrees, and acrylic resin was about 70 degrees.

The freezing resistance represents the magnitude of the force required to peel off the attached snow, and the smaller the value, the easier it is to remove the attached snow. In the experiment, the freeze resistance of polycarbonate was about 0.4 kN / m ² , glass was about 3.0 kN / m ² , and acrylic resin was about 0.7 kN / m ² .

  Thus, in addition to being excellent in snowfall, polycarbonate has features such as high transparency and low thermal conductivity. These characteristics are suitable for the snow accretion prevention plate 12 of the traffic signal lamp 10.

  Next, the operation will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 3, when snow rides on the wind and blows from the horizontal direction H to the front surface of the snow accretion prevention plate 12, the snow accretion prevention plate 12 is tilted forward by about 30 degrees. Thus, it flows obliquely downward along the inclination of the snow accretion prevention plate 12. For this reason, no stagnation point of the wind is generated, and the snow is carried on the wind diagonally downward, so that it is prevented from landing on the snow accretion prevention plate 12.

  Moreover, even if a part of the snow reaches the surface of the snow accretion prevention plate 12, the snow accretion prevention plate 12 is formed of the polycarbonate having the above-mentioned difficult snow accretion, so that it hardly snows. . In the traffic signal lamp 10, the specific LED unit 11 is not always lit because the displayed color is switched. Polycarbonate has high heat insulation. Furthermore, the LED unit generates less heat than other types of light sources (for example, light bulbs). For this reason, even if the snow accretion prevention plate 12 is arranged in close contact with the front surface of the LED unit 11, there is almost no temperature difference between the surface of the snow accretion prevention plate 12 and the outside air temperature, and the snow accretion prevention plate is caused by heat from lighting. Snow is rarely melted on the 12 surfaces. This prevents snow fusion and refreezing. That is, when the snow is fused or re-frozen to the surface of the snow accretion prevention plate 12, it acts as a nucleus to induce and promote the adhesion of the snow, but the temperature difference between the snow accretion prevention plate 12 and the outside air temperature. Therefore, snow fusion and refreezing are prevented, and snow adhesion is reduced.

  In addition, by using the LED unit 11 with a small amount of heat generation, the LED unit 11 and the snow-prevention plate 12 can be disposed in close contact with each other while maintaining the above-mentioned difficult snow arrival property, and a separate heat dissipation mechanism is not required. The vessel 11 can be reduced in thickness and size.

  Further, the snow accretion prevention plate 12 has a surface roughness of about 3 μm and has light diffusibility, that is, an antireflection effect. For this reason, light is diffused on the surface of the snow accretion preventing plate 12, and reflection of sunlight (particularly, the western sun) does not give glare to the driver of the vehicle.

  In addition, since the snow accretion prevention plate 12 is placed on the front surface of the housing 13 so as to be in close contact with the surface of the LED unit 11, dust or the like enters between the snow accretion prevention plate 12 and the surface of the LED unit 11. I don't have to. Even when dust or the like is more reliably prevented from entering, it is only necessary to insert a packing between the front surface of the housing 13 and the snow-prevention plate 12, for example. In addition, since the snow accretion prevention plate 12 is arranged so as to overlap the surface of the LED unit 11, even if these distances approach each other and the snow accretion prevention plate 12 has light diffusibility, the outline of the LED unit 11 is not blurred. Observed clearly.

  Furthermore, since the LED unit 11 has a vertically long light emission shape, when a driver of a distant vehicle looks at the LED unit 11 from a substantially horizontal direction with the traffic signal lamp 10 tilted forward by 30 degrees, the expected shape is obtained. Observed at (circular).

  In addition to the effect of preventing snowfall and snow sliding, the traffic signal lamp 10 is tilted forward, so even if the hood is abolished, the reflected light and glare from the western sun (part of the field of view becomes bright and difficult to see) Can be prevented. That is, when receiving the sun from the front of the traffic signal lamp 10, the front of the lamp 10 is tilted forward, so that light with a relatively low solar altitude and a large energy is reflected downward and is substantially from the front. There is almost no reflection towards the driver looking at the lamp 10. For this reason, it is not necessary to provide a ridge on the upper part of the lamp 10 to block sunlight.

  Further, even when receiving the sun from the side of the lamp 10, the sun is reflected obliquely downward, so that glare is not generated for the driver in front. Moreover, if the non-glare-processed thing is used for the snow-prevention plate 12 of the lamp 10, the visibility from the side is improved.

  In addition, although the optical axis was leveled by using the LED element 22 with a lens, as shown in FIG. 7, the LED element 22a without a lens is attached to the substrate 21 by bending its legs (leads). The optical axis of each LED element 22a may be set to face the horizontal direction H.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 8, the LED elements 22 b are erected substantially vertically with respect to the substrate 21 without bending the legs on the forwardly inclined substrate 21, and the LED elements due to the forward inclination of the substrate 21 are arranged. You may make it correct | amend the forward inclination of the optical axis of 22b with the lens 25 arrange | positioned ahead of each LED element 22b. The lens 25 is provided on a one-to-one basis with the LED element 22b.

  In the example of FIG. 8A, each lens 25 is formed integrally with the snow accretion prevention plate 12 on the back surface of the snow accretion prevention plate 12. As shown in FIG. 8B, the lens 25 may be configured separately from the snow accretion prevention plate 12 and attached to the back surface of the snow accretion prevention plate 12. In this case, a lens assembly plate 26 in which a large number of projections and depressions to be the lenses 25 are formed on one side is created, and the non-lens surface of the lens assembly plate 26 is attached to the back surface of the snow accretion prevention plate 12 and attached.

  The embodiment of the present invention has been described with reference to the drawings. However, the specific configuration is not limited to that shown in the embodiment, and there are changes and additions within the scope of the present invention. Are also included in the present invention.

  For example, in the embodiment, the forward tilt angle of the snow accretion prevention plate 12 and the LED unit 11 is 30 degrees, but the snow accretion preventing effect can be obtained even in the range of 7 degrees to 30 degrees. In addition, you may incline exceeding 30 degree | times.

  In the embodiments, the vehicle traffic signal lamp installed above the road has been described as an example. However, the present invention may be applied to other lamps such as a pedestrian traffic signal lamp. In this case, the pedestrian pattern or the like may be drawn on the snow accretion prevention plate 12 (particularly, the back surface on the LED unit 11 side).

  In addition, in order to reduce the difference between the surface temperature of the snow accretion prevention plate 12 and the outside air temperature, the thickness of the snow accretion prevention plate 12 may be increased to ensure higher heat insulation.

  Further, the traffic signal lamp 10 may be provided with a hood. In this case, the snow accretion prevention plate 12 may be one having no light diffusibility. In addition, since the snow accretion prevention plate 12 is arranged so as to overlap the surface of the LED unit 11, there is no need to create a new space to be sealed by attaching the hood. Does not invite

It is the front view which looked at the traffic signal lamp device concerning embodiment of this invention from the horizontal direction. It is a side view which shows the traffic signal lamp device concerning embodiment of this invention. It is AA arrow sectional drawing of FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the state which looked at the LED unit from the arrow B direction in FIG. It is a side view which shows a part of LED unit. It is explanatory drawing which represented and compared the polycarbonate and other materials about the material characteristic relevant to snow accretion. It is a side view which shows a part of lamp | ramp which bent the leg | foot of the LED element so that an optical axis might become horizontal. It is a side view which shows a part of lamp device which provided the lens which correct | amends the forward inclination of an optical axis in front of an LED element.

Explanation of symbols

L ... Optical axis V ... Vertical plane 3 ... Post unit 10 ... Traffic signal lamp 11 ... LED unit 12 ... Snow-prevention plate 13 ... Housing 14 ... Metal fitting 21 ... Substrate 22 ... LED element 22a, 22b with lens ... LED element 25 ... Lens 26 ... Lens assembly plate

Claims (11)

A traffic signal lamp characterized in that the lamp is tilted forward and a snow-prevention plate having light transmission is tilted forward in front of the lamp. The traffic signal lamp according to claim 1, wherein the snow accretion prevention plate is disposed so as to overlap the front surface of the lamp. The traffic signal lamp according to claim 1, wherein the snow accretion prevention plate further has light diffusibility. The traffic signal lamp according to claim 1, 2, or 3, wherein the light emission shape of the lamp is made vertically long so that the deformation of the shape seen from the horizontal direction caused by tilting forward is corrected. The traffic signal lamp according to claim 1, 2, 3, or 4, wherein the lamp is an LED unit. The traffic signal lamp according to claim 5, wherein the LED unit has an LED element attached to a forward inclined substrate, and an optical axis direction of the LED unit is adjusted by bending a leg of the LED element. The traffic signal lamp according to claim 5, wherein the LED unit has a lens element with a lens that changes a light emission direction attached to a forward inclined substrate. The LED unit is one in which LED elements are arranged on a base inclined forward.
The traffic signal lamp according to claim 5, wherein a lens that corrects the forward tilt of the optical axis of the LED element is disposed in front of each LED element. The traffic signal lamp according to claim 8, wherein the lens is attached to a back surface of the snow accretion prevention plate. The traffic signal lamp according to claim 8, wherein the lens is formed integrally with the snow accretion prevention plate on a back surface of the snow accretion prevention plate. The traffic signal lamp according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the snow accretion prevention plate is made of polycarbonate.

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