EP1421238B1 - Road signal device retractable - Google Patents

Abstract

Said signalling element being capable of taking up a first position wherein said signalling element is retracted at ground level and a second position wherein it is almost vertical; the actuating means enabling the signalling element (2) to shift, when operated, from one to the other of the first and second positions by rotation of the signalling element about the axis of rotation (7), and the signalling element further comprising at its base and above the axis of rotation, an elastic articulation (4) enabling it to be deflected in the direction opposite its retraction in the first position when it is subjected to a load resulting from the passage of a vehicle and to return to the second position when there is no more load.

Description

The present invention relates to the field of signaling on communication routes, or any place intended to accommodate vehicles. More particularly, the invention relates to a ground folding marker device which is adjusted to indicate different information to the driver of a vehicle, as defined in the preamble of claim 1. Such a device is known from the document. US-A-4,713,910 .

On certain roads or railways, some recurring information need only be indicated at a specific time. This is for example the case for traffic jams, side winds, accidents. This can also be used to indicate a direction of movement momentarily, as in the case of work.

Some systems use retractable terminals in the ground. Thus, the patent US 4713910 describes a beacon having along its length a rack which cooperates with a gear located inside the ground, allowing a motor to go down and mount the beacon. The problem with these retractable beacons is that they require a certain amount of time to get out and into the ground. Also the patent US 4713910 also provides foldable tags. These are articulated around an axis allowing the folding of the beacon inside a recess provided in the ground. The tag is hollow to accommodate the mechanism for its recovery. The beacon must be reinforced to protect the mechanism from any shock. These beacons are used to prohibit the access of an area to a vehicle and not as a means of signaling on taxiways. They therefore constitute physical barriers and can only be lowered in a direction to the user's command. Thus when they suffer a shock with a vehicle, they break or damage the vehicle.

The patent US 4552089 relates to removable folding tags for signaling. This is a device to install multiple tags at the same time. These are also articulated around an axis, allowing them to fall back into a receptacle.

The entire device is removable. When the device is installed on the road, a spring allows the recovery of the beacon, so that it is vertical. The winding makes it possible to exert a constraint on the beacon and to fold it down inside the receptacle. Thus, once in position at the taxiway, the beacon is not operable in recovery and drawdown, but remains in a fixed position. In addition, a constraint experienced in the direction opposite to folding in the receptacle causes damage to the tag since no rotation in this direction is provided. This can be inconvenient to distinguish two two-way traffic lanes.

The document FR2124197 relates to a device for protecting access to a parking lot. The device comprises a hoop that can be lifted from a horizontal position (allowing access to the parking) to a vertical position (prohibiting access to the parking) by pressing with the foot on a pedal forming part of a lever for moving the hoop in a vertical position. When the hoop is in the vertical position, the movement of said hoop is automatically bilocated with a lock. This locking can be unlocked through the use of an electromagnet rocking the lock and thus toggling said lock to a position to read the movement of the arch.

The document FR2609069 relates to a device for reinforcing pedestrian passenger signaling by using a moveable member of a housing, wherein said member is received in its upright position, to a second position towards which the end of the device is visible above of his dwelling. The movement of the signaling device is achieved through the use of compressed air. The device according to FR2609069 can be equipped with a hinge, the hinge being at ground level to allow the device to tilt in case of passage of a vehicle.

The object of the present invention is to allow the use of folding tags in the ground, able in case of shock with a vehicle to lie down to stay in working condition without damaging the vehicle that the shock takes place in a direction of the traffic or in the other, and can thus be positioned in the middle of a traffic lane. These tags must also be able to be erected and folded to order without the device leaving its location.

More precisely, the subject of the present invention is a marking device as defined in claim 1.

• la figure 1 représente l'ensemble du dispositif selon une réalisation préférentielle de la présente invention, et
• la figure 2 représente un comportement du dispositif selon la présente invention selon un cas donné.

The objects, objects and features of the invention will appear more clearly on reading the following description given with reference to the drawings in which:

• the figure 1 represents the entire device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and
• the figure 2 represents a behavior of the device according to the present invention according to a given case.

The marking device, as represented in figure 1 , it is intended to be inserted in the ground 3. It is composed of a markup element 2, which comprises a signaling means 5, so that when it is straightened, the markup element or beacon is in the position of signaling and is visible from afar by drivers. The beacon 2 comprises an axis of rotation 7, around which it can rotate 90 degrees from the horizontal position to the vertical or quasi-vertical position. The horizontal position of the beacon 2 is hereinafter called the first position and the vertical or quasi-vertical position is hereinafter called the second position of the beacon 2. Thus, the beacon can fall back to the ground level, particularly in housed in the ground inside a recess provided for this purpose, preferably in a housing 8 inserted into the ground and the dimensions of the tag. The rectification in horizontal position and the folding in the vertical or near vertical position of the beacon 2, is provided by an actuating means. The beacon can be raised or folded on command by this means of actuation according to the situation to report. Similarly, in case of impact in the direction of folding, the tag 2 will fall back into the ground. To respond to a shock in the other direction, the beacon comprises an elastic articulation 4 located above the axis of rotation 7. Thus, when such a shock occurs, the beacon will twist at this joint under the effect of stress, the area below the axis of rotation 7 bearing against the ground, and return to the vertical position when this constraint has ceased. The elastic joint 4 allows the beacon to bend up to 180 degrees from its drawdown position at ground level. Figure 4 illustrating this kind of constraint represents a vehicle that passing on the beacon 2 will sleep it. When passing the vehicle, the tag is lying and rubbing under it. As soon as it is passed, the beacon will return to the initial position, namely the vertical or near-vertical position.

Preferably, the joint consists of a piece 4 of flexible and elastic material, such as polyurethane, comprising a narrowing 6 at which is twisting when the tag 2 is subjected to a constraint opposite to its direction of drawdown at ground level . The elasticity of the material allows the beacon 2 to return to the vertical or near-vertical position.

Preferably the actuating means generates a translation movement of a rack 42 coupled directly to a first gear 44, the translational movement is thus transformed into a rotational movement. On the figure 1 , the first gear 44 is coupled to a second gear 46 fixed to the beacon 2, so that the rotation of the first gear in one direction causes the beacon to rotate in the other direction, and thus flip or rectify the beacon. It can also be envisaged a single gear that is directly attached to the tag 2 and coupled to the rack 42. Similarly, the number of gears can be greater than two. As represented in figure 1 , the vertical positioning of the rack and the even number of gears implies that the descent of the rack 42 causes the raising of the beacon 2.

The actuating means may comprise an electromagnet which, when activated, allows the element of markup or beacon 2 to pass from one to the other of said first and second positions. In the case where the device 1 comprises a rack gear pair, as shown in FIG. figure 1 , the electromagnet causes the translation of the rack 42. The latter comprises a stirrup 12 intended to be fixed in the ground, a metal core 14, a translation axis 18a or 18b at each of the ends 16a or 16b of the core and two electrical coils 30a and 30b on either side of the stirrup. The two coils are connected to a source of direct current via electrical wires 32a and 32b, so that the energization of one of the coils causes the displacement of the core towards this coil. Each of the translation axes 18a and 18b passes through a hole located at one end of the stirrup 2, one of the axes 18b being directly connected to the rack 42, so that the translation of the core 14 causes the displacement translation axes through the stirrup 12 and thus the translation of the rack. The translation of the axes 18a and 18b is improved by fixing bearings 20a and 20b to the ends of the stirrup. These bearings comprise a hole of the same diameter as the translation axes 18a and 18b and are self-lubricated, so that the axes slide through the bearings 20a and 20b.

In order to use a minimum of energy, a spring 22 is fixed on one side to the stirrup 12 and on the other to a plate 24 fixed to the end of the translation axis 18a opposite the rack 42 , so that the spring serves as a counterweight to the tag 2. Thus the force required to lift the tag 2 is much lower. The supercharging of the coil (30a on the figure 1 ) makes it possible to generate a magnetic field sufficient to exert the force required to recover the beacon 2.

The device may also comprise an electromagnetic pad 52 located opposite the rack 42, so as to maintain by magnetization the translation axis 18a. For this the suction cup 52 includes a permanent magnet generating a magnetic field of an intensity to maintain the beacon 2 vertical when it undergoes a force below a threshold S, and allowing its folding when it undergoes a stress greater than the threshold S. This threshold S is fixed according to the constraints that may be the tag 2. Thus, when the beacon is on the road, it is important that the beacon does not fall back under the action of wind. The threshold S will therefore correspond to the average intensity of the wind which usually blows at the place where the beacon must be located. The permanent magnet is therefore chosen according to this threshold, which can also be a standard threshold, such as a wind resistance of 20 km / h. When a car hits the beacon 2 in the direction of its folding in the first position, the stress experienced by the beacon is greater than the threshold S; the shock then disengages the translation axis 18a of the suction pad 52. The gap 50 generated is sufficient for the magnet no longer exerts sufficient force to maintain the beacon in the second position. The latter then folds down to the ground level. Similarly during the controlled folding of the beacon, the coil included in the suction cup is supplied with direct current by means of electrical wires 54 so as to cancel the magnetization generated by the permanent magnet.

The supply of the coils is preferably managed by a control box 34 for optimally synchronizing the supply of the coils 30a, 30b and the suction pad 52. The supply can be provided by a current source external to the device or an internal source, such as a battery.

Preferably, the beacon 2 has a shape making it possible to arrange the signaling means or means 5 on its periphery, so that when the beacon 2 is rectified, the signaling means is visible at 360 °. This shape may be that of a square post, on each side of which are fixed the signaling means. Preferably the beacon has the form of a pole to round section, or the signaling means being distributed over the circumference of the tag 2. When a housing 8 is provided, it is preferably of a suitable shape so that once folded into the housing, the beacon n ' For example, in the case of a beacon in the form of a column of round section, the housing will have the shape of a gutter with an inner diameter identical to that of the beacon.

According to another embodiment, the beacon 2 is flat and thus constitutes a cover so that when the beacon is folded into the housing 8, the beacon then covers the actuating means and closes the housing. This embodiment may be advantageous when installed directly on the taxiway. Indeed, it is once folded in the first position a secure element for two-wheeled vehicles, which are much less likely to slide on. In this case, some signaling means can be arranged only on the two largest faces of the beacon. Nevertheless, this is not a disadvantage insofar as these means are generally representative figures, such as a stop or a lane prohibited for certain vehicles. Indeed in this case, only a visualization in both directions of circulation of the road is necessary. On the other hand, the 360 ° visualization can be kept for reflective strips or diode strips that can be placed on the edge of the beacon. Preferably these flat tags constituting a cover have a thickness of 5 millimeters.

The beacons are preferably designed to withstand the chemical and temperature constraints specific to the traffic lanes for which they are intended.

The device according to the present invention is installed by performing a coring in the ground. The hole 10 resulting from this coring has a depth and a diameter making it possible to house the actuation means and a part of the beacon 2. A groove 9 is also made at the ground surface 3. The groove 9 opens into the coring and has a depth, width and length sufficient to accommodate the beacon 2 when the latter is folded to the first position. The depth of the hole 10 must be sufficient so that, once positioned, the entire device is flush with the surface of the ground 3 when the beacon is folded down. To allow the evolution of the translation axes 18a and 18b in the stirrup 12, the stirrup is fixed at a sufficient distance from the bottom of the hole 10.

Thus, the actuating means is permanently housed under the surface and is protected from vehicles.

In the figure 1 , the device shown is intended to be installed after vertical coring. But the device can also be provided so that the actuating means is installed horizontally. In this case, the arrangement of the rack relative to the gears allows the folding of the tag through a horizontal translation of the rack. This is particularly interesting in the case of bridges where the depth to dig is limited. A groove is made to accommodate both the folded tag that the actuating means. The groove has a sufficient length that once installed, the entire device is flush with the ground surface when the beacon is folded to the first position. The stirrup is fixed in the groove so as to allow the evolution of the translation axes in the stirrup.

The applications of this device are diverse. It can be used to prohibit access to private parking. The control of the coils can thus be actuated by the owner of the parking according to whether he wants to condemn the entry or not. For this the control can be connected to a transceiver for remote control of the device.

It can also be used to warn a user who has taken a one-way street in the wrong way. In this case, the beacon 2 is in the first position, ie at ground level, if a vehicle is detected in the opposite direction, by a radar or an agent, it activates the command which triggers the recovery of the beacon at the zone where the vehicle will pass. The signaling means 5 indicates to the passenger that he is in the wrong direction. This device allows to place the beacon on the side of the track, but especially on the way, allowing a signal easily collectible. The beacon can indeed be struck by the vehicles regardless of their direction of movement since the beacon 2 will fall back to ground level or will bend. To improve the signaling, it is also possible to install several devices, according to the present invention, along the track and at regular intervals.

Such a system can also be used on lanes reserved for buses or taxis, the signaling means indicating the type of authorized vehicle. The device can be installed in the middle of the track. In this case, the beacon goes down when a vehicle passes over it, and gets up again afterwards. Either the lowering at the ground level is in the direction of the traffic, in which case the beacon is folded in the first position and the rectification is carried out by means of actuation on command of the driver or a detector, or it is in the opposite direction, in which case the beacon bends while twisting at the elastic joint under the constraint of the vehicle, rubs under the vehicle during its passage, and recovers once the vehicle passed. Since vehicle bumpers are generally 25 or 35 cm from the ground, the devices installed for these vehicles will include a marker approximately 45 cm high, so that the impact occurs in the highest quarter of the beacon.

The control of the lowering of the beacon can be done directly from the outside for example by means of a transmitter connected to a receiver itself connected to a module, such as the control unit 34, allowing to operate the power of the coils. It is also possible to provide detectors internal to the beacon triggering the actuation of the beacon. For example, the detection of the approach of a vehicle, will trigger in anticipation the lowering of the beacon before any shock. This will extend the life of the tag. The recovery of the beacon can be programmed after a certain time.

An internal control can also be used coupled to a safety device to prevent heating of the coils, in the case where the wheel of a vehicle or any other object prevents the recovery of the beacon folded at ground level. The safety device triggers the command during a limited tripping time, sufficient to straighten the beacon when it is not blocked. If the spool can not straighten, the control will not be operated continuously, thus avoiding any overheating of the coils. After a time interval greater than the tripping time, for example eight times higher, the device will operate the command again. The alternation triggering of the command and interval of time without actuation of the command, will continue until the beacon is rectified.

In addition to the road network, this device can be used for railways or runways aerodromes or airports. In all cases the beacon can be placed at the edge of the lanes, and is raised or folded depending on the event to report. In addition the device can be placed in the middle of the track, since it can be folded in one direction or bend in the other when a vehicle passes over.

Claims (8)

1. A signage device intended to act as a signal to at least one vehicle including a signage element which is articulated around an axle of rotation and an upturning element, said signage element being able to adopt a first position in which said signage element is folded down to ground level and a second position in which it is vertical or virtually vertical, in which said upturning element is an actuation means which makes it possible for said signage element to move, on command, from one to the other of said first and second positions by rotation of said signage element around said axle of rotation (7), characterised in that said actuation means includes at least one gear (44 or 46) and a rack (42), such that the upturning and the folding down into the ground of the signage element (2) are brought about by translational movements of said rack (42) and in which said actuation means includes an electromagnet which, when it is activated, makes it possible for said signage element (2) to move from one to the other of said first and second positions by bringing about the translation of the rack (42), and in that said sign further comprises, at its base and above said axle of rotation, an elastic articulation (4) which makes it possible for it to bend in the opposite direction to the direction of its folding-down into said first position when it is subjected to a stress due to the passing of a vehicle and to return to said second position when this stress has ceased.
2. The signage device according to claim 1, further including a case (8) intended to be inserted into the ground (3) and to receive said signage element (2) when it is folded down to ground level.
3. The signage device according to claim 1 or 2, in which said signage element (2) has a shape such as a pole shape with a circular section, which makes it possible to arrange on its periphery a signalling means (5), such that when said signage element is upturned, said signalling means is visible at 360°.
4. The signage device according to claim 2 or 3, in which said signage element (2) is flat and thus constitutes a cover such that, when said signage element is folded down into said case (8), it then covers said actuating means and closes said case.
5. The signage device according to one of claims 1 and 4, in which said electromagnet includes a bracket (12) intended to be fixed into the ground, a metal core (14), a translation axle (18a and 18b) at each of the ends (16a and 16b) of said core and two electric coils (30a and 30b) on either side of the bracket, the two coils being connected to a continuous electrical source such that the energising of one of the coils brings about the displacement of said core towards this coil, each of said translation axes passing through a hole situated at an end of the bracket, one of said translation axes being directly linked to said rack (42), such that the translation of said core brings about the translation of said rack.
6. The signage device according to claim 5, characterised in that said actuating means further includes an electromagnetic suction pad (52) situated opposite the rack (42) in order to keep, by means of magnetisation, the translation axle (18a) opposite said rack, said suction pad including a permanent magnet which generates a magnetic field of an intensity which makes it possible to keep said signage means (2) vertical when it is subjected to a force below a threshold S and making it possible for it to be folded down into the ground when it is subjected to a force greater than the threshold S, whereby said translation axle (18a) is released from said suction pad.
7. The signage device according to claim 5 or 6, in which a spring (22) is fixed on one side to the bracket (12) and on the other to a plate (24) fixed to the end of the translation axle (18a) opposite said rack (42) such that the spring acts as a counterweight to said signage element (2).
8. The signage element according to any one of the preceding claims, in which said elastic articulation is made up of one piece (4) made of an elastic material such as polyurethane, including a narrowing area (6) at which a torsion takes place when said signage element (2) is subjected to a stress due to the passing of a vehicle.

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