FR2877358A1 - Retractable bollard for prohibiting passage of unauthorized vehicle on path, has mobile part displaced between active position and inactive position, and warning light disposed in top of bollard and made visible across upper side of part - Google Patents

Abstract

The bollard (1) has a body (2) buried in ground and a visible mobile part (3) that is displaced between an active position in which the mobile part is located partly above the ground and an inactive position in which an upper side of the mobile part is flush with ground. A warning light disposed at the top of the bollard is visible across the upper side of the mobile part. An independent claim is also included for a method for controlling a retractable bollard.

Description

REMOVABLE TERMINAL

  The invention relates to a retractable terminal.

  It also relates to the control method of the retractable terminal.

  A retractable bollard is intended to prohibit the passage of unauthorized vehicles on a path.

  An order allows the passage to vehicles carrying a license or against payment of a fee.

  This retractable terminal consists of a body buried in the ground delimiting a housing for a movable part that can occupy a first so-called active position where this mobile part extends partly above (the traffic floor and an inactive position where this movable part has its upper face which is substantially at the edge of the roadway to allow the circulation of vehicles.

  This mobile part, which is above the ground, measures in the order of 30 to 70 centimeters so that it prevents the passage of vehicles of a certain size like four-wheeled vehicles.

  A motor and a transmission actuate the displacement of the movable part which is guided in translation in the buried body.

  Depending on the motor means used, the moving speed of the moving part is more or less rapid.

  A control device makes it possible to act on the motorization and thus on the movement of the mobile body.

  This control device comprises a first means controlling the passage in the inactive position thus retracted from the movable part and a second means controlling the passage of this movable part to its active position.

  The first means generally consists of an identification card and its reading means.

  The second means is more generally an induction loop detecting the presence of the vehicle in the direction of exit to determine that it has crossed the terminal before 30 of the rising.

  2877358 2 These terminals are designed to be relatively unobtrusive in the environment where they are set up.

  Often, they wear a retro-reflective element to better distinguish them at night but this reflective element is often damaged or destroyed by shocks or vandalism. Moreover, when the terminal is retracted, this reflective element is invisible.

  It sometimes happens that the driver of the vehicle hits the moving part even when it is passing to its inactive or active position if it is not visible.

  The night operation of a vehicle near this terminal can be a source of accidents especially in reverse.

  Also, when the terminal begins to climb, pedestrians may not notice it.

  The object of the invention is to improve the terminals of the aforementioned type.

  For this purpose, the subject of the invention is a retractable terminal comprising a body buried in the ground and a mobile part able to be moved between an active position where this mobile part is located partly above the ground and an inactive position where the upper face of this movable portion is substantially flush with the ground, this terminal being characterized in that it comprises at its top a warning light.

  It also relates to the control method of the retractable terminal. The invention will be better understood from the following description given with reference to the drawing which schematically represents FIG. 1: terminal according to the invention in the retracted position.

  FIG2: terminal according to the invention in the extended position.

  FIG 3: the control means of the terminal.

  Referring to the drawing, we see a terminal 1 retractable. This comprises a body 2 buried in the ground and a mobile part 3 visible able to be moved between an active position where the mobile part is located partly above the ground and an inactive position where the upper face 4 of this moving part is substantially at ground level.

  Typically, the buried body 2 houses a motor and a transmission for the vertical displacement of this moving part. Part of the mechanism can of course be housed in an independent box such as the control part or that relating to the power supply or pneumatic motor means.

  It comprises a control device for manipulating said moving part in response to a control command.

  This control device comprises a first means controlling the passage to the inactive position thus retracted from the movable part.

  The first means generally consists of an identification card and its reading means.

  The second means controlling the passage of this movable part to its active position is, very generally, an induction loop detecting the presence of the vehicle in the exit direction to determine that it has well crossed the front terminal of the lever. An electronics manages the movements.

  According to the invention this terminal comprises at its top a 5 light alarm.

  By light alarm means any means comprising an emitting light source capable of producing a light signal.

  Thus, independently of the retro-reflective means of which this terminal can be equipped, a light signal will be emitted and visible even when the terminal is in the retracted position.

  This feature allows to provide additional security especially when operating the terminal for example at night.

  It is, for example, visible through a window 5A presented by the upper face of the movable part.

  In one embodiment, it comprises means 6 for activating the warning light during the movement of the mobile element.

  These means 6 for activating the alarm are for example motion detectors of the moving part or switches or, more simply, depend on the control commands of the movement of the movable element.

  For example, when a rising control of the movable element is given, it also controls the lighting of the warning light during all its rise.

  Preferably, the terminal comprises a trigger 6A for lighting the warning light before the visible part begins its ascent. Thus when the induction loop indicates that the terminal can be raised, it controls the ignition of the warning light and after a few seconds the rise of this terminal.

  Thus the pedestrian or other will know that the terminal will get up and avoid stepping on it or hit it when it is barely out. Indeed with the conventional terminals, the night, when it is raised one or two centimeters, it remains almost invisible while with the terminal of the invention this drawback will be removed.

  Preferably, it comprises means 6B for controlling the rate of flashing of the lamp so as to impose a first rhythm before the ascensional phase and a second rhythm during this ascension phase.

  For example, the warning light consists of a high power LED.

  With regard to the warning light, another light source can be used.

  In another version, there is provided, in addition, an audible alarm 8.

  Thus, it controls the ignition of the warning light before starting the rise of the visible part. Preferably, a flashing warning light is selected and the flashing rate is changed during the rising operation of the visible portion.

Claims (9)

  1. Retractable bollard comprising a body (2) buried in the ground and a visible mobile part (3) able to be moved between an active position where this mobile part is situated partly above the ground and an inactive position where the face ( 4) above this movable portion is substantially flush with the ground, this terminal being characterized in that it comprises, at its apex, a buzzer (5) light.   2. retractable terminal according to claim 1 characterized in that the warning light is visible through the upper face of the movable portion (3) visible from the retractable terminal.   3. retractable terminal according to claim 1 or 2 characterized in that it comprises means (6) for activating the warning light during the movement of the movable element.   4. Retractable bollard according to claim 1 characterized in that it comprises a trigger (6A) for switching on the warning light before the visible part begins its ascent.   5. retractable terminal according to claim 1 characterized in that it comprises a horn (8) sound.   6. retractable bollard according to claim 1 characterized in that it comprises means (6B) for controlling the rate of blinking of the lamp so as to impose a first rhythm before the ascensional phase and a second rhythm during this ascension phase.   7. retractable terminal according to claim 2 characterized in that it comprises at least one window in the envelope defining the movable portion.   8. A method of controlling a retractable terminal characterized in that after having equipped the top of the visible portion of the retractable terminal of an alarm, it controls the ignition of the warning light before starting the rise of the visible part.   2877358 6 9. A method of controlling a retractable terminal according to claim 8 characterized in that one chooses a flashing warning light and changes the rate of blinking during the rising operation of the visible part.