NL1011959C1 - Light emitting, road surface traffic element includes a transparent plastic component fabricated from a multicomponent plastic in a closed mold by casting - Google Patents

Abstract

A traffic element has a body having a transparent plastic component (25) which comprises illuminating mechanism encapsulated by the plastic of the component. The transparent plastic component is fabricated from a multicomponent plastic in a closed mold by casting. Independent claims are also included for: (A) a transparent plastic component which comprises illumination mechanism encapsulated by the plastic of the component and is fabricated by casting a multicomponent plastic in a closed mold; and (B) a wing rib designed for use in a transparent plastic component.

Description

Short indication: Traffic element with lighting and light-transmitting plastic part intended for this purpose with lighting means.

The present invention relates to a traffic element with lighting, at least comprising an element body with a translucent plastic part, which comprises lighting means 5 enclosed by the plastic of the part.

Such a traffic element is known from EP-A-0 658 655. Said traffic element comprises, for example, a curb, in which a light-transmitting plastic part is accommodated in a recess. Said translucent plastic part comprises a tray-shaped holder of aluminum sheet material, in which a bottom slightly rising from the walls of the holder is present. Lighting elements in the form of LEDs (light emitting diodes) are arranged in said bottom and the container is filled with a plastic material with light-refracting particles therein. Optionally, the space under the bottom can also be filled.

An important drawback of such a plastic part is in the first place that the shape of the part is very limited. The part can be manufactured by pouring the particulate plastic into the holder over the LEDs. This means that the lighting surface in contact with the environment thereof is always flat. In practice, there are many traffic elements with very different shapes, which cannot therefore be provided with such lighting in the form of a translucent plastic part with lighting means, or only with a number of smaller ones. Secondly, pouring plastic into such an open container is an unreliable and non-reproducible technique, since air bubbles and irregularities can easily be poured into the container. Thus, according to the prior art, it is not possible to reliably and reproducibly manufacture luminescent translucent plastic parts of various shapes intended to be incorporated in traffic elements.

The object of the present invention is to provide a solution to the above-mentioned drawbacks and to also provide a generally improved traffic element, which is characterized in that the light-transmitting plastic part is manufactured in a closed mold by casting.

In connection with the present invention, molding 5 considers both conventional injection molding (injection molding) and transfer molding (pressing a charge of casing material to a mold cavity using a displacement space). Preferably, however, a multi-component casting technique and particularly preferably a vacuum multi-component casting technique is used. By applying molding techniques in a closed form, it is possible to give virtually any arbitrary shape to the translucent plastic part in a reliable and reproducible manner, without being limited in any way. The traffic element according to the invention can therefore also have any arbitrary shape.

In particular, the element body comprises a recess in which the translucent plastic part is at least partially received. It is also possible to apply the translucent plastic part to the element body.

Advantageously, the outer surface of the light-transmitting plastic part substantially follows the outer shape of the element body.

In current traffic, passive traffic guidance in the form of, for example, white stripes on the road surface is often used to indicate the different lanes, but instructions are also displayed on the lane. This could include lane indication, pre-sorting sections and speed instructions. There are also different ways of approximation indications, such as stripes and ridges on the road surface. Traffic obstacles such as curbs, refuges and the like include either passive warning indications in the form of colored stripes and warning signs or large lighting means such as light boxes and the like.

An important disadvantage of passive traffic control is that it must always be illuminated from outside by sources of lighting. This can lead to poor visibility. Even during the day, in bad weather conditions, low sun position, 1 0 1 1 ö o 9 3 rain, falling darkness, snow and snowfall, fog and the like, the visibility can be considerably impeded.

An important advantage of the traffic element according to the invention is that it is perceived as luminous by an observer in traffic and is therefore always clearly visible.

Advantageously, the part of the outer surface of the light-transmitting plastic part that contacts the element body and / or the part of the surface of the element body that contacts the light-transmitting plastic part comprises a light-absorbing material. The presence of a light-absorbing material offers the advantage that the traffic element becomes substantially invisible when the lighting means are switched off. In other words, the translucent plastic part, when switched off, will take on the color of the light-absorbing material, in particular a black material. This embodiment is of particular importance when the traffic element is a road surface. If the road surface comprises several light-transmitting plastic parts, which serve to indicate the lines on the road surface 20 for both a two-lane and a three-lane road, it is important that, in the case of the two-lane road, the light-transmitting plastic parts that are not used indicate the road user is invisible.

Preferably, the portion of the outer surface 25 of the light-transmitting plastic part in contact with the element body and / or the part of the surface of the element body in contact with the light-transmitting plastic part comprise a light-reflecting material and are one or more of the lighting means directed towards said reflective material.

In this way, which will be further elucidated in the figures below, it is for instance possible to give the translucent plastic part a specific color impression, whereby it seems as if there is no point-wise illumination by, for example, LEDs or the like, since the the entire part is evenly illuminated.

It goes without saying that the translucent plastic part can also be given a specific color by choosing a suitable plastic or by coloring it in an appropriate manner. 40 Apart from colored plastic or the use of light reflecting material, it is also possible to use luminescent, phosphorescent or fluorescent materials or parts.

It goes without saying that the translucent plastic part must have connecting means for connecting the lighting means to an energy source for energizing the lighting means. By energy source is meant both an electrical supply and a light source, in the case of light-conducting cables.

Connection means for an electrical supply can for instance comprise suitable connection terminals.

Such an electrical supply can also be injected into the plastic part, for example when solar cells with a battery are used. This battery 15 can be charged during the day by sunlight and energize the lighting means in the evening.

A combination of electrically powered lighting means with light-conducting cables is also possible.

The element body is advantageously provided with continuous grooves which are intended for receiving pipes for connecting the lighting means to an energy source. For an electrical power supply, for example, generally applied connection terminals, which can be connected to a power supply.

In a special embodiment, the element body is provided with coupling means intended for coupling one element body with the coupling means of another element body. These coupling means can for instance take the form of a knife-groove connection or a swallow-tail connection and the like.

Preferably, the coupling means also comprise connecting means for the connections of the lighting means, so that the lighting means of element bodies coupled together can be powered (illuminated) via only one connection.

The traffic element according to the invention is by no means limited and can for instance be chosen from a curb, traffic bump, roundabout element, bend protection block, priority road triangle, etc. In particular, the traffic element 40 is a road surface or a part thereof. The traffic element according to the invention offers special advantages in the case of application as a road surface, for example for its lining, direction indication, or speed indication and the like.

In the case of a road surface, it is preferable if the element body (the road surface) has one or more electrical supply lines and that the translucent plastic part comprises terminals that can cooperate with the lines. This method of connection will be further elucidated in the figure description. Thus, in the road surface, first of all the electrical supply lines can be laid, after which the plastic part can be electrically connected thereto in a simple manner.

In particular, in this embodiment, the electrical power lines with an insulating jacket are insulated electrical cables and the terminals include sharp terminals of electrically conductive material which are passed through the insulating jacket of the electrical cables to effect electrical contact. This embodiment will also be explained in more detail below with reference to the figure.

In particular, the lighting means in the traffic element according to the invention comprise one or more substantially flat lighting elements. Flat lighting elements have the advantage that the translucent plastic part according to the invention can be made very thin. These can be easily wrapped in the mold during the casting process. The lighting means can be introduced into the appropriate suitably shaped mold cavity prior to the casting process.

Preferably, the lighting elements are selected from LEDs, electrically energized light-emitting foil parts, parts illuminated by light-conducting cables or self-luminous cables. The light-transmitting plastic itself can be illuminated with light-guiding cables or suitable lenses or light-scattering elements can be incorporated in the plastic. According to the invention, the lighting means can thus comprise electrically energizable lighting means from outside the light-transmitting plastic part, but the lighting means can also be designed in the form of means which are irradiated with the aid of an external light source. 40 In the latter case, for example, light-conducting cables 10 119 5 9 6 are meant. A combination of both systems is also possible, that is to say by energizing lighting means in the translucent plastic part located outside the translucent plastic part, which in turn form a light source for light-conducting cables or the like present in the translucent plastic part. .

Light-conducting cables include light-conducting plastic or glass fiber cables.

The lighting means advantageously comprise light-conducting cables to be illuminated, the cables extending near the outer surface of the light-transmitting plastic part. This embodiment is particularly advantageous in the case of a road surface and will be explained in more detail later in the figure description.

Preferably, the translucent plastic part has a substantially T-shaped cross section. Thus, the light-transmitting plastic part can be fixed by simply placing a groove in the traffic element, for example a road surface, by placing the vertical leg of the T-shaped cross-section in the groove. The top side which in that case lies on the traffic element is advantageously chamfered towards the element. In particular, the groove in the traffic element is designed in such a way that the load which, for example, is placed on the traffic element by a vehicle, does not substantially propagate in said groove, so that the sensitive electronics for the lighting means, such as an electrical supply or a light source can be included.

The T-shaped cross-section ensures that the translucent plastic part cannot be moved transversely in the traffic element. Longitudinal displacements can conveniently be reliably eliminated by locally providing the translucent plastic component with wing ribs. In particular, such wing ribs are located partly in the translucent plastic part and partly outside it. In addition to an elongated groove, a number of transverse grooves for receiving the said wing ribs must also be provided for fixing such a plastic part in a traffic element. This embodiment 1011859 7 will also be further elucidated in the figure description below.

The wing ribs preferably have positioning means for the light-conducting cables. Thus, they have the advantage that in the manufacture of the translucent plastic part by casting in a closed form, the wing ribs can hold the light-conducting cables in place. In particular, these positioning means of the wing ribs are projecting lips with holes in which the ends of the light-conducting cables can be attached. It will be appreciated that in this manner, when casting in a closed mold, the light-guiding cables can be conveniently positioned.

In a special embodiment, several LEDs 15 are included in an LED assembly in the translucent plastic part for illuminating the light-conducting cables. This is possible by guiding the light-conducting cables of the traffic element all to said assembly. This offers the advantage that such an LED assembly can be exchangeably incorporated therein after the manufacture of the translucent plastic part and can also be easily replaced in the event of damage or other defects.

The illumination of the light-conducting cables can also be effected in a manner other than with an LED assembly in the light-transmitting plastic part. In particular, the light-conducting cables can be illuminated by a light source located outside the traffic element.

The light-guiding cables are advantageously connected for this purpose to a first coupling piece for coupling to a light source. The light source can be selected from many different light sources. Preferably, however, the light source comprises an LED assembly, which is present in a second coupling piece, which is suitable for coupling to the first coupling piece.

Suitable connectors can for instance be used as connectors, in which the light-conducting cables open out in one plug and a light source is present in the other plug.

It will be clear that the positioning of the light-conducting cables can be carried out in many ways, 40 but preferably the light-conducting cables are positioned in such a way that, when used, light emanating therefrom makes an angle of approximately 20 ° with the respective surface of the translucent plastic part. This is particularly advantageous in the case of a traffic element in the form of a road surface, since at such an angle the lighting and thus the translucent plastic part can be observed very well by road users.

The invention furthermore provides a translucent plastic part which comprises lighting means encapsulated by the plastic and which is manufactured in a closed form by casting, apparently intended for use in a traffic element according to the invention.

A translucent plastic part according to the invention can be arranged in a recess in an element body, but can also be applied to an element body, for instance by gluing or the like.

Finally, the invention provides a wing rib intended for use in a translucent plastic part according to the invention.

The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the appended drawing. In it shows:

Fig. la, b and c a number of possible traffic elements according to the invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line II / II in FIG. 1a; FIG. 3 is a cross section of a curb with a translucent plastic part according to the invention;

Fig. 4a, b, c various steps during the manufacture of a road surface with a translucent plastic part according to the invention;

Fig. 5 is a cross-section of a road surface as a traffic element with a translucent plastic part; Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the translucent plastic component of FIG. 5; FIG. 7 is a partial cross-section of the translucent plastic part according to FIG. 6;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged view of part of the cross-section according to FIG. 5;

Fig. 9 a wing rib according to the invention; 1011359 9

Fig. 10 is a schematic side view of the translucent plastic component of FIG. 6;

Fig. 11 a perspective view of a traffic element according to the invention with light-guiding cables and a light source outside the traffic element; and

Fig. 12 an example of a plug combination for connecting light-conducting cables to a light source.

Fig. 1a shows a roundabout element in perspective view, in fig. 1b in perspective view a verge protection block and in fig. 1c in perspective view an escape hill block. The traffic elements are generally indicated by 1 and comprise a recess 2 containing a light-transmitting plastic part 3, which comprises lighting means in the form of LEDs 4. As is clear from these figures, the outer surface of the light-transmitting plastic part substantially follows the outer shape of the traffic element body 5. In Fig. 1a, coupling means 20 are clearly visible in the form of a projection 6 on one side and a correspondingly shaped recess 7 on the other side. These coupling means can also be provided with suitable connecting means for electrically coupling the LEDs in one element 1 to the other element.

The light-transmitting plastic parts are preferably manufactured from a multi-component material by a vacuum casting technique.

Fig. 2 shows a cross section of the traffic element of Fig. 1a along the line II / II. The various components are clearly visible therein, and a channel 8 is visible which serves to receive a line 9 for connecting the LEDs 4 to an external power source.

Fig. 3 shows a cross-section of a curb in which it is clearly visible that the translucent plastic part with the LEDs has a curved shape.

In the preceding figures, the translucent plastic part is always received in a recess in the element body. Although this is preferred, it is not necessary. The plastic part can also be attached to a 40 element body.

1 M i Q 9 10

Fig. 4a shows a first step of manufacturing a road surface using ZOAB concrete (Very Open Asphalt Concrete). Insulated electrical cables 11 are laid on a surface 10, which will form the bottom of the recess, 5 which serve for electrical connection with terminals 12 in the translucent plastic part 13 for energizing LEDs 14 present in the plastic part 13.

The terminals 12 comprise sharp edges 15 of an electrically conductive material, for example metal, which serve to penetrate the insulating material of the insulated electric cables 11 and make contact with the conductor therein.

16 denotes an adhesive layer which serves for attaching the luminescent plastic part 13 to the substrate 10. On the plastic part 13, a temporary protective film 17 is applied, which can be removed after the application of the ZOAB and the rolling thereof.

In Fig. 4b, a state is shown in which ZOAB 18 is arranged and the sharp connectors 15 are electrically connected to the conductor in the electricity cable 11. The longitudinal recesses 19 serve for a good and durable absorption in the ZOAB concrete.

In fig. 4b the protective foil 17 has been removed. For clarity, the connection between the LEDs 14 and the terminal 12 is not shown in more detail.

Fig. 4c shows a translucent plastic part 13, which is arranged in a milled recess 20 in an existing ZOAB road surface 21 and is secured therein by an adhesive layer 22. The electrical supply lines are here indicated by 23, which are in the same manner as described above can be electrically connected to the lighting means by means of suitable sharp connectors (not shown).

24 indicates an anti-slip surface pattern. This prevents the translucent plastic part from becoming slippery in wet weather.

In both Figs. 4a and 4b, as well as in Fig. 4c, the adhesive may be a black adhesive or a colored adhesive. As discussed earlier, a black adhesive offers the advantage that the element body is perceived as invisible when the illuminating means are not energized.

1 0 M 9 5 9 11

In Fig. 5 a road surface 21 is again shown with a translucent plastic part 25 having a substantially T-shaped cross-section arranged therein. The translucent plastic part 25 is arranged in a groove 26 in the road surface 21 and reattached with the aid of an adhesive 16. Reference numeral 27 denotes a wing rib extending transversely of the translucent plastic part 25, which will be explained in more detail below with reference to Fig. 9.

The translucent plastic part 25 comprises a plurality of series of thickenings 28 provided with lenticular parts 29, into which light-conducting cables 30 open. These are more clearly shown in the enlargement in Fig. 5. Such thickenings with lenticular parts can be directly molded during the manufacture of the translucent plastic part in the closed form.

In Fig. 6, the translucent plastic part 25 according to Fig. 5 is shown in perspective view. It is clear that a plurality of series of bosses 28 are present, each comprising lenticular members 29 connected to light-conducting cables 30.

Fig. 7 shows a longitudinal partial cross-section of the plastic part 25 of a thickening 28 in which the light guide cable 30 is indicated, which ends near the lenticular part 29. It is also clearly visible here that the wing rib 27 serves for positioning the light guide cable during the manufacture of the translucent plastic part 25. The wing ribs can of course have any desired shape, and in the first instance serve to position the translucent cables 30 in the mold when casting the translucent plastic part in a mold.

The angle α is preferably about 20 ° in the case of a translucent plastic part for a road surface.

Fig. 8 shows an enlargement of a part of Fig. 5, in which the groove 26 is visible, into which the vertical leg of the T-shaped translucent plastic part 25 is inserted. Also shown here are the light-conducting cables 30, which are connected to diagrammatically shown LEDs 31. The LEDs 31 can be connected with the aid of electrical supply lines 32 in the same manner as previously described 40 with reference to Fig. 4 with the aid of terminals 12. 9 12 with sharp edges are connected to electrical cables 11, which can be pre-laid in the groove 26.

The translucent plastic part shown in the preceding figures for use in a road surface therefore comprises, as lighting means, light-conducting cables, which can be illuminated by means of LEDs in the translucent plastic part. However, it is also possible to illuminate the light-conducting cables with the aid of a light source located outside the translucent plastic part. For example, the light-yellowing cables can be led to a plug, which plug can be coupled to a second plug, while the second plug comprises a light source.

Fig. 9 shows an embodiment of a wing rib 27 with lips 33 with positioning apertures 34 for positioning the light-guiding cables 30 during molding of the light-transmitting plastic part. The advantage of the use of such wing ribs 27 is not only the positioning accuracy of the light-guiding cables 30 during manufacture of the light-transmitting plastic part 25, but also the positioning accuracy when placing a light-transmitting plastic part 25 as described with reference to the previous figures in a road surface. or other traffic element.

The vertical leg of the T-shaped cross-section of the translucent plastic part 25 provides very good stability against any transverse loads of the translucent plastic part. Longitudinal loads are completely eliminated by the presence of the wing ribs 27 partially protruding from the material of the translucent plastic part 30. Thus, prior to placing a translucent plastic part in, for example, a road surface, not only a longitudinal groove for the vertical leg of the T -shaped cross-section, but also provided several transverse grooves for the wing ribs 27.

Fig. 10 shows a schematic side view of the translucent plastic part 25 according to Fig. 5. 35 denotes an interchangeable LED assembly comprising a large number of LEDs 31, all of which are connected to one or more light-conducting cables 30. The advantage of using a λ fi \ Q 0 | The LED assembly is, for example, that this assembly 35 can be fitted after manufacture of the translucent plastic part 25 and can be easily replaced in the event of damage or defects.

FIG. 11 shows a perspective view of a traffic element, as shown in FIG. 1b, but the lighting means comprise light-conducting cables 30 which open near the surface of the translucent plastic part 3 and can illuminate the traffic element there through scattering. The light-conducting cables 30 all come together in a first connector, here indicated as a plug 36. This plug 36 can be suitably coupled to a mating plug that includes a light source.

An example of such a plug assembly is shown in Fig. 12. This plug assembly comprises a first coupling piece 37 and a second coupling piece 38, which are of suitable design. The coupling piece 37 is a plug, which comprises a housing 39, into which the light-conducting cables 30 open. The second coupling piece 38 comprises a plug with a housing 40, in which 20 LEDs 41 are present, which can be supplied with the aid of an electric supply cable 42. The housing 40 fits into the housing 39. Thus, the light-conducting cables 30 can be illuminated by the LEDs 41 and thus the traffic element as shown in Fig. 11. It will be clear that instead of 25 LEDs, other lighting means can also be used .

1 0 f 1 S 5 9

Claims (21)

1. M 9 b 9 Traffic element with lighting at least comprising an element body (5) with a translucent plastic part (3, 13, 25), which comprises lighting means (4, 14) enveloped by the plastic of the part, characterized in that the translucent plastic part (3, 13) is manufactured in a closed mold by casting. Traffic element according to claim 1, characterized in that the outer surface of the translucent plastic part (3, 13, 25) substantially follows the outer shape of the element body. Traffic element according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the part of the outer surface of the translucent plastic part (3, 13, 25) which contacts the element body (5) and / or the part of the surface of the element body (5) which is in contact with the translucent plastic part (3, 13, 25) comprises a light-absorbing material. Traffic element according to one or more of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the part of the outer surface of the translucent plastic part (3, 13, 25.) which contacts the element body (5) and / or the portion of the surface of the element body (5) which contacts the translucent plastic part (3, 13, 25) comprises a light-reflecting material and which comprises one or more of the lighting means (4, 14) to said reflecting material be focused. Traffic element according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the element body (5) is provided with continuous grooves (8) intended for receiving pipes (9) for connecting the lighting means (4 , 14) on an energy source. Traffic element according to one or more of the preceding 40 claims, characterized in that the element body (5) is provided with coupling means (6, 7) intended for coupling thereof to coupling means of another element element. body (5). Traffic element according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the traffic element is a road surface (18, 21) or a part thereof. Traffic element according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that one or more electrical supply lines (11) are present in the element body and that the translucent plastic part (13, 25) comprises connection terminals (12, 15). that can cooperate with the pipes (11). Traffic element according to claim 8, characterized in that the electric supply lines with an insulating jacket are insulated electrical cables (11) and that the terminals comprise sharp terminals (12, 15) of electrically conductive material which, through the insulating jacket of the electrical cables (11) have been routed to effect electrical contact. Traffic element according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lighting elements are selected from LEDs, electrically energized light-emitting foil parts or parts illuminated by light-conducting cables. Traffic element according to claim 10, characterized in that the lighting means comprise light-conducting cables (30) to be illuminated, the light-conducting cables (30) extending close to the outer surface of the light-transmitting plastic part (25). 35 Traffic element according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the translucent plastic part (25) has a substantially T-shaped cross section. 40 Traffic element according to claim 12, characterized in that the translucent plastic part (25) is locally provided with wing ribs (27). Traffic element according to claim 13, characterized in that the wing ribs (27) comprise positioning means (33, 34) for the light-guiding cables (30). Traffic element according to one or more of claims 10-11-14, characterized in that a plurality of LEDs (31) are incorporated in an LED assembly (35) in the light-transmitting plastic part (25) for illuminating the light-guiding cables. Traffic element according to claim 15, characterized in that the light-guiding cables (30) can be illuminated by a light source (41) located outside the traffic element. Traffic element according to claim 16, characterized in that the light-conducting cables (30) are connected to a first coupling piece (37) for coupling to a light source. Traffic element according to claim 17, characterized in that the light source comprises an LED assembly (41) which is present in a second coupling piece (38) which is suitable for coupling to the first coupling piece (37). Traffic element according to one or more of claims 11-11-18, characterized in that the light-guiding cables (30) are positioned such that, when used, light emanating therefrom forms an angle of approximately 20 ° with the respective outer surface of the light-transmitting plastic part (25). 35 20. Translucent plastic part comprising lighting means enclosed by the plastic and manufactured in a closed form by casting, apparently intended for use in a traffic element according to one or more of the claims 1-19. 'ί; 1 0 Q i 'j:; ^ v Wing rib (27) evidently intended for use in a translucent plastic part according to claim 20. 1 Ü ’Μ S 5 P