WO2005059253A1

WO2005059253A1 - Structural means for assisting flow of traffic at roadway intersection

Info

Publication number: WO2005059253A1
Application number: PCT/IN2003/000395
Authority: WO
Inventors: Tarun Gupta
Original assignee: Tarun Gupta
Priority date: 2003-12-18
Filing date: 2003-12-18
Publication date: 2005-06-30
Also published as: AU2003300698A1

Abstract

An intersection of three or four or more roads is provided. Structural means for assisting flow of traffic are provided comprising ramps with a basic road structure supported on suitable colums/pillars, each ramp having a left arm, a right arm and interconnecting U portion forming a bridge like through opening below it.

Description

STRUCTURAL MEANS FOR ASSISTING FLOW OF TRAFFIC AT ROADWAY INTERSECTION

This invention relates to novel Humps for use in traffic regulation.

PRIOR ART AND DRAWBACKS.

It is already known to have flyovers in many parts of the roads in almost all major metropolis through out the world in order to see the traffic flow and avoid traffic hold-up.

It is known to have straight flyovers from one direction to the other or flyovers with diversions or such flyovers to the left, to the right or to any other part of the city roads where the traffic flow is to be eased.

Thus in other words, single flyover or multiple flyovers i.e. integrated flyovers are very well known and had been efficient in put to use for regulating city traffic.

It is also known to have mediants as well as traffic islands of different shapes and sizes such as circle, triangle etc. to divert and regulate traffic on city roads.

It is also known to have traffic lights or traffic constables at intersections of two, three, four, five or more roads or combination of both in order to regulate traffic to the different roads.

It is further known to have over-bridges for pedestrians to cross over one side to the other side of busy roads as well as traffic intersections.

Also known is underground passages for crossing roads such that the traffic is not impeded.

DRAWBACKS OF THE PRIOR ART.

It is not always possible to have major flyovers or even minor flyovers across all intersections of roads as these will not only be highly expensive, time consuming to construct, costlier to maintain but also every flyover occupies some space of the road beneath and therefore primary requirement for constructing fly over is that certain minimum width or broad roads is required so that two way traffic can be maintained on the roads as well as on the flyovers.

The space of the road that occupy under the flyover cannot be used for regulating traffic and therefore such a space is lost for traffic.

Similarly, the problem is more complicated when multiple, divergent or integrated flyovers are to be constructed, operated and maintained.

There is also not possible and effective to have traffic lights at every junction of city streets or main roads all synchronized to allow free flow of traffic.

Further, it is also not possible to have traffic constables all through the day and not to regulate traffic at the intersections of arterial roads by city roads.

It is thus an objective of this invention to propose alternate arrangement for traffic regulations and smooth flow of traffic on arterial roads, side lanes as well as junction of side lanes with arterial roads.

It is another object of this invention to also propose such a construction which will at any intersection will allow non stop traffic flow as if the traffic is on a interstate highway.

It is further object of this invention to propose such a construction which will also integrally involve pedestrian crossing also without coming across traffic on the roads.

It is further object of this invention to propose non stop straight flow of traffic, non stop traffic to the left or to the right or to any other intersections at any angle with the arterial road. It is further object of this invention to propose such a construction which can be used with suitable modifications in any portion of intersections with arterial roads.

It is a very important object of this invention to substantially dispense with fly-overs as far as possible.

It is further object of this invention to propose such a construction of humps which will be cheap, involve minimum hazards in construction of the structure and can also provide pedestrian facilities.

It is another object of this invention is to propose such a construction which can be easily made and erected at site within a short period of time and also it would be cheap but at the same time in construction in construction.

A still more object of this invention is to propose such a construction which can also be made in parts as unitary blocks, transported in different size and permanently erected as per requirements.

The further object of this invention will be apparent from the following paragraphs:

BRIEF STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION. •f traffic

According to this invention there is provided a structural means for assisting flow£at the intersection of three or four or more roads comprising one or more humps, preferably two humps preferably for a four road crossing, each said hump comprising a basic road structure supported on suitable columns/ pillars designed to take the load and shape and size of the road, each hump having a U shaped road surface having a left arm, a right arm and interconnecting U portion.

The various other features of the structural means are as follows:

1 ) the lowest portion of the left arm and the right arm of each hump merge with the road surface having gradual inclination/ declination as the case may be and merging with U curved portion at the highest point,

2) the portion below the U curve of each of the hump has a suitable bridge like through opening,

3) each of the arm of the U shaped hump is provided with supporting railings on either side,

4) each entry point or exit point as the case may be at the lowest end of each arm of the hump has a divider to a desired extend,

5) the two humps on a four road crossing are separated from the junction of the four roads and juxtaposed to each other,

6) the road underneath the two humps are provided with necessary median,

7) each of the intersecting hump free road is provided with complete barriers at the intersection so as not to allow any traffic flow straight beyond the meeting point of the intersection, each of the said roads having necessary median to divide the road into two portions,

8) on each said half portion of the road there is provided suitable dividers in order to divide each half portion into two traffic flow lanes,

9) two humps are constructed juxtaposed to each other and divided from each other at a traffic intersection of four roads,

10) the four roads meet preferably at an angle of 90 °. 11) the two approach roads free of the humps are provided with traffic islands at the junction end so as to prevent any traffic flow straight through, such traffic islands being triangular or elliptical or of any convenient shape and size,

12) high powered illuminating lights are provided at the traffic islands, at the intersection and along the road surfaces of the humps, and in the opening under the U portions,

13) suitable glow signs are provided at convenient locations on each of the four roads before the intersection to indicate the lane of traffic to be taken by the respective vehicles,

Detailed description of the invention.

The invention will now be more fully described with reference to the accompanying _: Λ — — — ^

'<•— r- ^•-—.'■ drawings 1 to 8.

As will be seen from figure 1 of the drawings, each hump has kerb-walls KW as per requirements.

The U curve of each hump is gradual and is slightly inclined towards the inside as per principles of curved roads.

It will be seen from figures 1, 5, 6, 7, and 8 that the approaching road from the South and the approaching road from the North do not have any hump construction but each is provided with medians M1 and M2.

Further, the approach road from the South and the approach road from the North are also provided respectively with barriers B1 and B2 of any convenient shapes or sizes.

For the sake of aesthetic value, these barriers can be islands with green pastures.

Further, each of the approach road from the South and from the North have in addition to the medians M1 and M2 subdivision provisions M1a, M1b and M2a, M2b respectively, thus, dividing each side of the half of the roads from the South and from the North into two lanes traffic.

Thus, it will be seen that there are 4 lanes of traffic on each of the roads from the South and the North.

Similarly, it is also seen that the left and right side portions 1A and 1C of each hump are also provided with a divider. 1A1 and 1 C1 at the beginning rising portion so as to divide each side of the hump into two lanes traffic. The roads underneath the two humps which are roads from the East and West have a central median CM so as to divide these two roads into two traffic flow routes.

It will be further seen from figure 1 that each hump has an open portion 0 suitably above the road surface of required height and width so as to allow a double decker bus to pass underneath the humps.

Figure 1 shows schematically the hump raised on conventional support structures viz. Columns or pillars, partly in plan and partly in elevation.

Figure 2 shows in cross-section typical details of the components forming a hump road surface.

Figure 3 shows a simple drawing of a preferred carriage way.

Figure 4 shows a plan view of the normal roads and the part of the humps.

Figure 5 shows a schematic diagram showing pattern of vehicular movement from the South road of a four point crossing.

Figure 6 shows a schematic diagram showing pattern of vehicular movement from the East road of a four point crossing.

Figure 7 shows a schematic diagram showing pattern of vehicular movement from the North road of a four street crossing.

Figure 8 shows a schematic diagram showing pattern of vehicular movement from the west road of a four street crossing.

Referring now to Figure 1 and 5 to 8, it will be seen that a pair of humps H1 and H2 formed diagonally on the East and West roads of a four road crossing and the approach roads from the South and the North do not have these humps.

These two humps are conveniently separated from each other and are juxtaposed and have a gradually rising first inclination I A followed by a U shaped second portion I B and a gradually declining third portion I C

The portions 1A and 1C go to the ground level at their respective starting points.

Both the humps are of identical construction and are made of a number of Columns C1 or pillars whose numbers, positions, shapes and sizes are determined according to constructional requirements. These columns are made of usual concrete structure at conveniently selected points of the road.

Side 1A and side 1C as well as U shaped portion 1B of the hump are in continuation of the road surface and are principally made of five layers which is described in detail with reference to Fig. 2_,

Before discussing the traffic flow pattern, I will now discuss the construction of the humps.

As stated earlier the humps are principally made of separate pillars or columns as per usual engineering principle, design and calculation to withstand the flow of traffic more in the manner of constructing a fly-over.

The great difference between a fly-over and a hump is that a fly-over is generally a straight fly-over or slightly curved from one road to another having the maximum rise at the center or junction of say 4 roads.

In my construction there is no such continuous flyover, which is normally constructed on the center of the road.

In my construction, the center of the road is left fully free as can be seen from F * ^ ^•> » ^^-^^--SF iF g and U shaped humps are constructed having two side arms at the two sides of the road , the highest point being the U shape contrary to the straight fly-overs, which have the highest point at the junction of say 4 roads.

Further, the road surface is made of five components viz. bottommost component compacted to 90% of maximum dry density of suitably approved material forming layer 5 shown in Fig. ^"^

Above this layer is formed a sub- based course 4 of two layers water bound macadam.

Above the sub-based course 4 is formed a first layer of water bound macadam course of approved grade 3 on top of which is formed a second layer of water bound macadam course of approved grade 2.

All the layers are of approved aggregate size. The top road surface 1 is made of principally premix bitumen with a carpet layer with seal coat.

The dividers are made in the usual manner with necessary concrete mix.

I now refer to the figures of the drawings to illustrate as to how traffic management can be made wisely with ease. Referring to Fig. §f it will be seen that the detail of vehicular movement from the South road is shown herein.

Thus, the vehicles coming from the South road occupy the two lanes on the left-hand side of the road and approach the island of the respective lanes.

The traffic along lane 1 will take a left turn and move towards the west. The traffic in lane 2 from the South flows into the hump, takes a U turn and flows along the other side of the hump where at the divider it is bifurcating either to flow towards the North road or straight towards the East road.

The traffic flowing towards East road would naturally pass under the opening O at the hump on the East road.

Same details apply in an identical manner for the traffic from the North road, which can take the East road or the South road as shown in Fig,-^

Referring now to Fig. which shows the traffic coming from the East road, the traffic intended to flow to the west enters under the bridge sort of opening O below the highest point of the hump at the East end and flows straight to the West end and passes out through the bridge like opening O at the highest point of the hump in West road.

If however, any traffic is intended to come towards the North road it enters the hump on the West side as shown by an arrow and can easily flow to the North road.

If however, the person changes his mind and again wants to come towards East, this is also possible as shown by the arrow of the divider.

Any traffic intending to come to South from the East road flows outside the hump as shown by the arrow.

Same is also true and identical for the traffic flowing from the West towards East, which can go towards East, go towards North and go towards South. ~^*^r' ^ *

It will thus be appreciated that taking into consideration a four point crossing for illustration purposes, there is no traffic holdup on any of the roads and it is only a continuous thorough flow of traffic and there is no bottleneck or traffic congestion.

It will also be appreciated that no traffic constable is required to control the traffic. Similarly, no traffic signal is also required for regulating the flow of traffic.

It is only necessary to provide illuminated or florescent indication boards to show the various routes the traffic is going to take.

However, if required traffic constables can be provided for any help or emergency.

I have described, for the sake of convenience a four road crossing meeting at 90 ° each.

It is not outside the scope of invention to have roads meeting at different angles or more number of roads such as five point crossing, six point crossing etc. for which the same principle and construction of humps can be easily constructed and provided.

various modifications as can occur to a person are also part of the invention.

Claims

•f traffic

(1 ) "Structural means for assisting flow^at the intersection of three or four or more roads Comprising one or more humps, preferably two humps preferably for a four road crossing, each said hump comprising a basic road structure supported on suitable columns /pillars designed to take the load and shape and size of the road, each hump having a U shaped road surface having a left arm, a right arm and interconnecting U portion.

(2) Structural means as claimed in Claim 1 , wherein the lowest portion of the left arm and the right arm of each hump merge with the road surface having gradual inclination/ declination as the case may be and merging with U curved portion at the highest point,.

( 3) Structural means as claimed in Claims 1 and 2, wherein the portion below the U curve of each of the hump has a suitable bridge like through opening.

( 4) Structural means as claimed in Claims 1 to 3, wherein each of the arm of the U shaped hump is provided with supporting railings on either side.

(5) Structural means as claimed in Claims 1 to 4, wherein each entry point or exit point as the case may be at the lowest end of each arm of the hump has a divider to a desired extend.

(6) Structural means as claimed in Claims 1 to 5, wherein the two humps on a four road crossing are separated from the junction of the four roads and juxtaposed to each other.

(7) Structural means as claimed in Claims 1 to 6, wherein the road underneath the two humps are provided with necessary median .

(8) Structural means as claimed in Claim 7, wherein each of the intersecting hump free road is provided with complete barriers at the intersection so as not to allow any traffic flow straight beyond the meeting point of the intersection, each of the said roads having necessary median to divide the road into two portions .

(9) Structural means as claimed in Claim 8 wherein on each said half portion of the road there is provided suitable dividers in order to divide each half portion into two traffic flow lanes.

(10) Structural means as claimed in Claims 1 to 9, two humps are constructed juxtaposed to each other and divided from each other at a traffic intersection of four roads.

(11 ) Structural means as claimed in Claim 11 , wherein the four roads meet preferably at an angle of 90 °.

(12) Structural means as claimed in Claims 10 and 11, wherein the two approach roads free of the humps are provided with traffic islands at the junction end so as to prevent any traffic flow straight through, such traffic islands being triangular or elliptical or of any convenient shape and size.

(13) Structural means as claimed in Claims 1 to 12 wherein high powered illuminating lights are provided at the traffic islands, at the intersection and along the road surfaces of the humps, and in the opening under the U portion s.

(14) Structural means as claimed in Claim 13, wherein suitable glow signs are provided at convenient locations on each of the four roads before the intersection to indicate the lane of traffic to be taken by the respective vehicles. •f traffic

(15) Structural means for assisting flow at the intersection of three or four or more roads substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying photographs and drawings.