GB1377713A - Process and apparatus for amalgamating traffic streams - Google Patents

Abstract

1377713 Controlling road-traffic MESSERSCHMITT - BOLKOW - BLOHM GmbH 14 March 1972 [26 March 1971] 11785/72 Heading G4Q To enable a smooth, continuous flow of vehicles (such as road vehicles) where two input streams thereof merge into a single output stream, suitable gaps are created, in each input stream, between the vehicles in the input stream so that, at the merging zone, gaps in one input stream are filled by vehicles in the other input stream and vice versa. As illustrated, vehicles 1, 2 in respective streams 3, 4 which merge at zone 5 into a single stream 6 are each equipped with lateral transmitters 7, rear transmitters 8 and receivers 9. Along the stream routes transmitters 10, receivers 11 and auxiliary transmitters (not shown) disposed between adjacent transmitters 10, are provided. Preferably, transmitters 7 and 10 operate in a frequency range different from that of transmitters 8. The vehicle-mounted transmitters and receiver are connected in a vehicle speed regulation circuit (Fig. 2, not shown) in an arrangement in which a speed reference value (which changes in accordance with the speed of both the transmitting vehicle and its own, receiving vehicle) is compared with a vehicle speed regulation value derived from a generator driven in accordance with the receiving vehicle speed to control the vehicle drive and brakes. Thus, in operation, the necessary spacing of the vehicles is achieved well upstream of the merging zone 5 so that a smooth transition is achieved at that zone. The speeds of vehicles in streams 3, 4 also can be regulated in accordance with speed of the flow in the merged stream 6. The system may operate using radio, light or sound (e.g. ultrasonic) waves; alternatively, a system of waveguides, into which pulses on the vehicles project, may extend beside the routes.