JPH11272327A - Magnetic mark body and its maintaining method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To facilitate the maintenance of a magnetic mark body by magnetizing a magnetic body from the outer side of the upper part of a casing, magnetically attracting it to a permeable magnetic body and holding it in a position where a magnetic field can be generated for a travel path. SOLUTION: In a magnetic mark body 100, the upper part of a casing 140 on a cylinder is formed of a permeable magnetic body 130 and a magnetic body 150 is housed in the cylinder inner space of the casing 140. The inner space of the casing 140 houses the magnetic body 150 so that it can freely vertically move and a confirmation window 160 for viewing an inner part from outside is installed nearby the center of the upper permeable magnetic body 130. When the magnetic mark body 100 is installed in a travel path, the casing 140 housing the magnetic body 150 is buried in a road and only the upper permeable magnetic body 130 is installed to be exposed onto the road. The magnetic body 150 is magnetically attracted to the upper permeable magnetic body 130 and the magnetic field of prescribed intensity is generated on the road through the upper permeable magnetic body 130.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a magnetic marker and a method of maintaining the same, and more particularly, to a magnetic marker for providing information to a vehicle by generating a magnetic field on a track and a method of maintaining the magnetic marker.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a magnetic marker such as a magnetic marker that generates a magnetic field is installed on a track, and the magnetic field generated by the magnetic marker is detected by a magnetic sensor provided on a vehicle side. Techniques for performing travel control based on strength have been proposed. For example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 4-92906 describes a band-shaped magnetic marker laid on the road surface, and the traveling vehicle can be guided to the road by the magnetic marker.

[0003]

Normally, foreign substances such as falling objects may be generated on a runway with the passage of time due to the influence of a running vehicle or other surrounding environment. At this time, the metallic foreign matter or the like is attracted by the magnetic force of the magnetic marker, and may affect the magnetic force (magnetic field) generated by the magnetic marker depending on the amount of the foreign matter. Therefore, it is necessary to periodically perform maintenance, inspection, etc. on changes in magnetic field characteristics due to removal of foreign substances adsorbed on the magnetic marker and aging, and in order to maintain good functions, easy maintenance is required. A structure of a magnetic marker or a maintenance method thereof is desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has as its object to provide a magnetic marker installed on a track and having a structure that is easy to maintain and a method of maintaining the magnetic marker. I do.

[0005]

The above object is achieved by the present invention.
As described in the above, a magnetic marker that is installed on the track and emits information to a vehicle passing on the track by generating a magnetic field, has an internal space buried in the road and having a predetermined depth, A housing in which a magnetically permeable material is installed at a predetermined position; and a magnetic material that is freely movable in an internal space of the housing, wherein the magnetic material is magnetized from outside the upper surface of the housing. This is achieved by a configuration in which a magnetic field is attracted to the magnetically permeable material and the magnetic flux is held at a position where a magnetic field can be generated on the track.

According to the present invention, the magnetic material that directly generates a magnetic field is installed inside a housing buried in the road, and is magnetized from the outside of the upper surface of the housing, that is, from the surface of the traveling road, to a predetermined position. It is configured to be held in position and to generate a magnetic field on the road via the housing. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent foreign matter from directly adhering to the magnetic body, and it is possible to minimize the influence of the foreign matter and the like on the magnetic body. In addition, since the magnetic body is installed freely in the internal space of the housing, maintenance work etc.
By configuring the apparatus so that it can be temporarily moved away from the position where the magnetic field is generated as necessary, the intensity of the magnetic field generated on the road surface can be reduced, and foreign substances and the like can be easily removed.

Further, the present invention provides,
In the above-mentioned magnetic marker, the upper surface of the housing may be configured to have a confirmation window through which the internal space of the housing can be viewed. With this configuration, when the magnetic material is freely moved in the internal space of the housing to change the magnetic field strength, the position of the magnetic material buried in the road can be visually observed,
Maintenance work becomes easy for the operator.

As described above, from the viewpoint that it is more preferable to easily perform the removal of foreign matter and the maintenance work associated therewith in order to maintain the function of the magnetic marker satisfactorily, the present invention relates to claim 3 As described above, in the method for maintaining a magnetic marker, the first maintenance magnetic body having the same magnetism is brought close to the magnetic body from the outside of the top surface of the housing, so that the magnetic body is placed inside the housing. A degaussing step of moving the space upper part and degaussing the upper surface of the housing; a foreign matter removing step of removing foreign matter on the upper surface of the housing that has been demagnetized; and An adsorbing step of adsorbing the magnetic body to the upper surface of the housing by bringing the diamagnetic second maintenance magnetic body close to the body.

According to the maintenance method of the present invention, first, in the demagnetization step, the magnetic material (for example, the N pole) is first maintained for the magnetic material (for example, the N pole) from the outside of the upper surface of the housing, that is, from the side of the runway. By bringing the magnetic bodies close to each other, the magnetic bodies in the internal space of the housing are moved away from the upper surface of the housing by the repulsive action of the magnetic bodies, and the upper surface is demagnetized. Next, the foreign matter on the upper surface is removed in a foreign matter removing step. At this time, since the upper surface is demagnetized, foreign matter can be removed relatively easily.
After removing foreign matter, in order to restore the function of the magnetic marker,
It is necessary to return the separated magnetic body to a position where a magnetic field can be generated on the road surface. Therefore, in the adsorption step, the diamagnetic (S-pole) second magnetic body for maintenance is brought close to the magnetic body (for example, the N-pole) from the outside of the upper surface portion, so that the magnetic body (for example, the N-pole) is attracted to the inside of the housing by the mutual adsorption action. The magnetic material in the space is attracted and moved to the original position, that is, the vicinity of the upper surface where a magnetic field can be generated on the road surface. Thus, a magnetic field on the road surface is generated again by the magnetic material located in the internal space of the housing, and the function as a normal marker is restored.

[0010] As described above, the magnetic marker installed on the track may change its magnetic field characteristics due to aging. For example, as in the prior art, the magnetic field intensity generated by the magnetic marker on the vehicle side is detected as a deviation from the magnetic marker, and the magnetic marker applied to a system that controls the steering of the vehicle based on the detected magnetic field intensity. However, when the magnetic field characteristics change, the generated magnetic field intensity also changes, so that the function as a marker cannot be sufficiently exhibited.

For the purpose of facilitating maintenance work for preventing aging of magnetic field characteristics, the present invention provides a method of maintaining a magnetic marker according to claim 4, wherein The magnetic body may be configured to be magnetized by bringing a diamagnetic magnetic body close to the magnetic body from the outside of the upper surface.

According to the above configuration, the diamagnetic (S-pole) magnetizing magnetic body is brought close to the magnetic body (for example, N-pole) from the outside of the upper surface of the housing, so that the inner space of the housing is formed. Re-magnetization of a certain magnetic material becomes possible, and maintenance work for aging of magnetic field characteristics can be easily performed.

[0013]

FIG. 2 shows an example of use of the magnetic label of the present invention. In the figure, the magnetic marker 100 is located on the traveling road 1
It is installed at a predetermined interval along 0 and generates a magnetic field of a predetermined intensity on the traveling road. When a vehicle 110 traveling on the traveling path 10 passes over the magnetic sign 100, a magnetic sensor 120 installed at a lower front portion of the vehicle 110 is provided.
Detects the intensity of the magnetic field generated by the magnetic marker 100. Since the strength of the detected magnetic field depends on the distance between the magnetic marker 100 and the vehicle 110, the vehicle 110 uses a vehicle-mounted computer (not shown) based on the detected magnetic field strength to perform relative displacement with the magnetic marker 100, That is, traveling path 1
The position of the vehicle 110 on 0 is calculated. As described above, the magnetic marker 100 uses the magnetic field generated by itself for the vehicle 110 passing on the travel path 10 to “vehicle 1
10 on the traveling path 10 ".

Next, an embodiment of a specific structure of the magnetic label of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The magnetic marker 100 includes a cylindrical housing 140 whose upper surface is formed of a magnetically permeable material 130, and a magnetic body 150 housed in the cylindrical internal space of the housing 140. The internal space of the housing 140 is formed to be substantially equal to the outer diameter of the magnetic body 150 while having a slight gap, and is formed to be larger than the magnetic body 150, so that the magnetic body 150 To be freely moved. Further, the upper surface permeable member 130
Is a confirmation window 1 near the center, which allows the inside to be seen from outside.
60. Actually, the magnetic marker 100
Is installed, the housing 14 accommodating the magnetic body 150
The zero portion is buried in the road, and only the upper surface magnetically permeable member 130 is installed to be exposed on the road. At this time, the magnetic material 150
Is magnetically attracted to the upper surface magnetically permeable member 130 (as shown),
A magnetic field having a predetermined strength is generated on the road through the upper surface permeable material 130.

As described above, the magnetic body 150 is housed in the housing 140 and generates a magnetic field on the road through the upper surface magnetically permeable body 130 without being directly exposed on the road, so that foreign matter or the like does not directly adhere. . As a result, it is possible to reduce the adverse effect on the magnetic body due to the adhesion of the foreign matter. The magnetic material 15
0 is freely movable in the internal space of the housing 140, so that it can be temporarily moved away from the upper surface magnetic permeable member 130, which is a magnetic field generating surface, as needed during maintenance work, and generated on the road. The strength of the applied magnetic field can be reduced, and foreign matter and the like can be easily removed.

A specific method for maintaining a magnetic marker according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. (A) is normal time,
That is, the magnetic body 150 generates a magnetic field on the road and emits information to a passing vehicle. The configuration of the magnetic marker 100 shown here is basically the same as that of the magnetic marker shown in the above-described embodiment, and thus the specific configuration is omitted. Here, the magnetic body 150 is arranged with its upper surface forming an N pole and its lower surface forming an S pole. (B) to (d) show the flow of each step as a maintenance method for removing foreign matter. First, in the (b) degaussing step, the first maintenance magnetic body 170 having the same magnetism as the N pole, that is, the magnetic body 150, is brought close to the outside of the upper surface magnetic permeable body 130, that is, from the traveling road side. At this time,
Due to the magnetic repulsion between the magnetic body 150 and the first maintenance magnetic body 170, the magnetic body 150 moves below the internal space of the housing 140, and the upper surface magnetically permeable body 130 is demagnetized. Next, in the (c) foreign matter removing step, the upper surface permeable member 1 is removed.
Foreign matter on 30 is removed. As a method of removal, a manual device by an operator or a special device using an air suction force may be used. In any case, since the upper surface permeable material 130 is demagnetized, the upper surface permeable material 130 The foreign matter has a small adsorbing power and can be removed relatively easily.
In order to restore the function of the magnetic marker 100 again after the removal of the foreign matter, in the (d) adsorption step, the second polarity, which is diamagnetic with respect to the magnetic body 150, is the S pole from the outside of the upper magnetic permeable body 130. Of the maintenance magnetic body 180 is brought close. At this time, the magnetic body 150 and the second maintenance magnetic body 18
0, the magnetic body 150 moves to the housing 140
Moves upward in the internal space, that is, on the side of the traveling road, and is adsorbed by the upper surface permeable member 130 and
Is magnetized. Thereby, the magnetic marker 100
Can achieve the original function of (a) returning to the same state as normal and emitting information (magnetic field). In the maintenance method of the magnetic marker according to the present invention, the magnetic material is freely installed in the internal space of the housing and moved according to the situation, thereby removing the foreign material without impairing the original function. Work can be performed easily.

Next, another embodiment of the magnetic label according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG.
The magnetic marker 200 shown in FIG.
Cylindrical housing 240 formed of 10 and resin body 220
And the magnetic body 25 accommodated in the cylindrical internal space of the housing 240
0. The internal space of the housing 240 is basically the same as that of the embodiment described above, except for the configuration of the upper surface of the housing 240. In the present embodiment, by forming the magnetic body 250 only on a part of the upper surface of the magnetically permeable body 210 for magnetically attracting the magnetic body, the magnetic path distortion of the magnetic field generated on the road can be reduced.

In FIG. 5, a magnetic marker 300 shown in (a) a perspective view and (b) a vertical sectional view has a resin body 32 having an upper surface portion.
0, a housing 340 in which the upper part of the cylinder is formed of the magnetically permeable material 310
And a magnetic body 35 housed in the cylindrical internal space of the housing 340
0 is formed. In the previous embodiment, a magnetically permeable material was provided on the upper surface and the magnetic material was suspended by magnetic force. In this embodiment, the upper surface was formed only of the resin body (320), A magnetically permeable body 310 for magnetically attracting the magnetic body 350 is provided on the upper part, and the magnetic body 350 is held by the suction action in the horizontal direction in the drawing.

In FIG. 6, a magnetic marker 400 shown in (a) a perspective view and (b) a longitudinal sectional view has a resin body 41 having an upper surface portion.
And a housing 430 having a magnetically permeable body 420 fixed at a fixed position in the cylinder, and a magnetic body 450 for generating a magnetic field that is freely movable in the cylindrical internal space of the housing 430 and is connected to each other by a connecting member 440. And a magnetic body 460 for attracting magnetic force. Normally, the magnetic marker 400 of the present embodiment is in a state where the magnetic attraction magnetic body 460 is magnetically attracted to the magnetically permeable body 420 fixed at a fixed position in the internal space of the housing 430 as shown in the figure. The magnetic body 450 for generating a magnetic field is formed of the resin body 4 on the upper surface.
By being located near 10, a magnetic field is generated on the road.
Also, at the time of maintenance, as described in the above-described maintenance method (see FIG. 3), by bringing the first maintenance magnetic body 170 close to the road, the magnetic field generating magnetic body 4 is repelled by the magnetic force.
50 is moved away from the resin body 410 and attracted to the magnetically permeable body 420 to perform demagnetization. Then, after the maintenance work is performed, the second magnetic body for maintenance 180 is brought close to the road from the road, so that the magnetic body for magnetic field generation 450 is attracted to the upper part of the inner space of the housing 430 by the magnetic attraction, and at the same time, the magnetic body for magnetic attraction is drawn. The body 460 is magnetically attracted to the magnetically permeable body 420 and the magnetic body 45
0 is held at the upper part of the housing 430.

In each of the above embodiments, it is possible to form a confirmation window on the upper surface of the housing as in the previous embodiment, and it is easy to apply the maintenance method described above. Maintenance work can also be performed.

As described above, in each of the above embodiments, the configuration applied to the system for detecting the magnetic field intensity generated by the magnetic marker and performing steering control based on the deviation of the vehicle from the magnetic marker has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this, such as giving predetermined information on the traveling path with the polarity of the generated magnetic field, for a magnetic marker that emits certain information with magnetic information, The application of the present invention is possible.

[0022]

As described above, according to the present invention described in the claims, a magnetic body for emitting information can be freely installed in a housing, and can be appropriately used in normal or maintenance situations. By performing the demagnetization and the magnetization by changing the position of the magnetic material accordingly, the maintenance work can be easily performed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a view showing one embodiment according to the configuration of a magnetic marker of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of an application system of a magnetic marker according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a view for explaining a maintenance method of the magnetic marker of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a view showing an embodiment according to the configuration of the magnetic label of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a view showing an example of the configuration of the magnetic label of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a view showing an embodiment according to the configuration of the magnetic marker of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 100, 200, 300, 400 Magnetic marker 130, 210, 320, 420 Magnetically permeable 140, 240, 340, 430 Case 150, 250, 350, 450 Magnetic 160 Check window 170 First maintenance magnetic 180 second magnetic body for maintenance

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A magnetic marker which is installed on a track and generates information for a vehicle passing on the track by generating a magnetic field, wherein the marker has an internal space buried in the road and having a predetermined depth. A housing in which a magnetically permeable material is installed at a predetermined position; and a magnetic material that is freely movable in an internal space of the housing, wherein the magnetic material is magnetized from outside the upper surface of the housing. The magnetic marker is held at a position where a magnetic field can be generated on the track by magnetic attraction to the magnetically permeable material. 2. The magnetic label according to claim 1, wherein
A magnetic marker, wherein an upper surface portion of the housing has a confirmation window through which a space inside the housing can be viewed. 3. The maintenance method for a magnetic marker according to claim 1, wherein a first maintenance magnetic body of the same magnetism is brought close to the magnetic body from outside the upper surface of the housing. A degaussing step of moving the magnetic body downward in the housing internal space and degaussing the upper surface of the housing, a foreign matter removing step of removing foreign matter on the demagnetized upper surface of the housing, and An adsorbing step of magnetically attracting the magnetic body to the housing upper surface by bringing a second diamagnetic maintenance magnetic body close to the magnetic material from the outside of the housing upper surface. How to maintain magnetic markers. 4. The maintenance method for a magnetic marker according to claim 1, wherein a diamagnetic magnetizing magnetic body is brought close to the magnetic body from outside the upper surface of the housing. A method for maintaining a magnetic marker, comprising: magnetizing a magnetic material.