Patent Application
20180102050
The invention relates to a signal requesting device, and, in particular, to a signal requesting device configured for operation of traffic lights.
Signal requesting devices are well known, for example from traffic lights at cross walks. U.S. Pat. No. 1,251,666 discloses a municipal traffic-control system. The system has an actuating means comprising a switch which is mounted flush with the roadway, whereby an operator may control the signals while on his feet and pushing a switch. EP 2 270 763 B1 discloses a device for a traffic light, particularly for a pedestrian crossing, comprising a housing, which includes a base housing portion and a cover, a printed circuit board with a switching circuit being arranged in the housing which is connected to a push button or a sensor.
The embodiments are based on the object of a vandal proof signal requesting device which may be used in a traffic-control system.
In an embodiment, a signal requesting device comprises a switch module and a housing. The switch module may be configured to detect the presence of an object or a person close to a surface of the switch module, and to generate a trigger signal preferably for a traffic light system. The housing has a top cover and a housing base. The top cover has an outer side and an inner side. The outer side is visible when the top cover is mounted to the housing box. The inner side points towards the housing base and is not visible when the top cover is mounted. The top cover comprises an opening for the switch module, such that the switch module is flush with a surface of the outer side of the top cover. Furthermore, the switch module has a connection terminal for connecting the switch module, preferably to a traffic light system. The connection terminal protrudes from the switch module towards the housing base. In a second embodiment the switch module may be attached to the outer side of the top cover.
The top cover has an insert ring which may protrude from the inner side of the top cover, preferably towards the housing base. The insert ring may have a circular outer contour with an outer surface. Furthermore, the insert ring may have a circumferential groove, preferably at the outer side, which may accommodate a seal to prevent the entry of water or humidity into the housing base. It is preferred, if the seal has a centering effect on the top cover relating to the position to the opening of the housing base. The centered top cover leads to an improved mountability, because a bore of the housing base and the threaded hole in the insert ring are in an aligned position. As a result it is easier to fix the top cover to the housing base via a locking screw.
The housing base further comprises an opening with an opening diameter corresponding to the insert ring, such that the insert ring fits tightly into the opening of the housing base. The opening of the housing base preferably has a circumferential shape preferably with an inner surface.
The insert ring of the top cover and the housing base form a fit system. The fit system is defined by the ratio between a first value and a second value. The first value is defined by the depth of overlapping between the insert ring and the housing base. The second value is defined by the distance of a gap between the insert ring and the inner side of the housing base. The depth of overlapping is defined as the depth, which the insert ring protrudes into the opening of the housing base.
Preferably, the ratio between first value and the second value is larger than 1 most preferably larger than 10. For example, if the first value is 5 mm and the second value is 0.1 mm, the aforementioned ratio is 50. The technical effect of such a fit is, that the top cover cannot be tilted out of the housing base. To open the housing the top cover has to be removed by straight pulling.
In a further embodiment the insert ring has at least one first locking device. The housing base has at least one corresponding second locking device at the inner side of the central opening. The first locking device may comprise a flattening at the outer side of the insert ring preferably at the outer surface. The second locking device may comprise a flattening at the inner side of the central opening, corresponding to the flattening of the first locking device. The second locking device may be designed as a protrusion from the inner surface of the housing base. The first and the second locking device may have any other shape, for example tooth shaped or corrugated. The effect of such a locking device is, that rotation between the top cover and the housing base is prevented. To remove the top cover it has to be pulled out in a linear motion. Diagonally initiated force leads to cant during removing and the top cover cannot be removed.
In a further embodiment multiple first locking devices at the outer side of the insert ring are arranged at 90° to each other. In another embodiment multiple second locking devices at the inner side of the opening of the housing base are arranged at 90° to each other. This allows to place the top cover at multiple angular positions, 90 degree distant from each other, into the housing base. There may be any other angle instead of 90 degrees.
The insert ring may have at least one recess with a threaded hole for holding a locking screw and enabling a mechanical connection between the housing base and the top cover. The housing base has a bore towards the center at the outer side. The bore points towards the center of the housing base and enables the use of a locking screw or locking pin. Thus, the top cover and the housing base are configured to be locked together by a locking screw.
In an alternative embodiment the mechanical connection can be realized with a bayonet connector or a locking pin. Furthermore security screws may be used. A security screw may have a non-standard head. Such a mechanical protection prevents the signal requesting device from the access of not authorized persons.
In an alternative embodiment, an arrow may be provided at the switch module. The arrow indicates the direction respectively the assignment of the requesting device to an explicit traffic light at a crossing which normally corresponds with the chosen direction of movement. It may give visual impaired persons a tactile information about the direction of a crosswalk. In combination with the offset of the multiple first and/or second locking devices different precisely defined mounting options are possible.
The switch module of the signal requesting device preferably has at least one signal device. Each signal device preferably has at least 2 LEDs located adjacent to each other and being controlled by the switch module. The switch module is configured to normally activate a first LED and to switch over to a second LED when the presence of an object or a person is detected. Thus, colorblind persons may realize the change between the LEDs, as the position of the active light source changes. There may be multiple groups of LEDs. The at least one signal device may flush with the surface of the switch module.
The bottom of the mounting base may have at least one fixation hole at the bottom to attach the signal requesting device to a pole of a traffic light system. Furthermore the mounting base may have a curved bottom to fit to the curve of a pole of a traffic light system.
In the following, the invention will be described by way of example, without limitation of the general inventive concept, on examples of embodiment and with reference to the drawings.
While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof are shown by way of example in the drawings and will herein be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the drawings and detailed description thereto are not intended to limit the invention to the particular form disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.
On the switch module 120 an arrow 123 may be located. The arrow 123 may indicate the direction respectively the assignment of the requesting device 100 to an explicit traffic light at a crossing.
The housing base 130 has a circumferential opening 134 with an opening diameter 135 corresponding to the diameter of the insert ring 112. The insert ring 112 and the housing base 130 form a fit system. The opening 134 of the housing base 130 has a circumferential shape. Four second locking devices 133 are arranged with an offset of 90 degrees at the inner surface of the housing base 130. The second locking devices 133 comprise a flattening or recess corresponding to the at least one first locking device 113 at the outer surface 140 of the insert ring 112. The second locking device 133 is designed as a protrusion at the inner surface 139 of the housing base 130. In mounted condition the at least one first locking device 113 engages with the second locking devices 133 such that a rotation of the top cover 110 against the housing base 130 is prevented. Mechanical locking between the top cover 110 and the housing base 130 may be done by a locking screw 132.
The housing base 130 has a bore 131 towards the center at the outer side. It may hold the locking screw 132. The insert ring 112 may have at least one recess 137 with a threaded hole 138 to enable a mechanical connection between the housing base 130 and the top cover 110.
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It will be appreciated to those skilled in the art having the benefit of this disclosure that this invention is believed to provide signal requesting device. Further modifications and alternative embodiments of various aspects of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of this description. Accordingly, this description is to be construed as illustrative only and is for the purpose of teaching those skilled in the art the general manner of carrying out the invention. It is to be understood that the forms of the invention shown and described herein are to be taken as the presently preferred embodiments. Elements and materials may be substituted for those illustrated and described herein, parts and processes may be reversed, and certain features of the invention may be utilized independently, all as would be apparent to one skilled in the art after having the benefit of this description of the invention. Changes may be made in the elements described herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as described in the following claims.
