VEHICLE PASSAGE CONTROL DEVICE
Disclosed is a vehicle passage control device capable of suppressing damage and breakage of an opening/closing bar thereof to the minimum, and suppressing damage and the like of a vehicle to the minimum even if the vehicle collides with the opening/closing bar. The vehicle passage control device is a vehicle passage control device in which an opening/closing bar 12 that regulates passage of a vehicle is provided, the vehicle passage control device being installed at a passage gate of an entrance or exit of a toll road or the like. The vehicle passage control device performs opening/closing control for the opening/closing bar 12 to rotationally move and upspring obliquely upward in front in a passing direction of the vehicle. An inclined angle θ at which the opening/closing bar 12 rotationally moves and upsprings obliquely upward remains within a range from approximately 25 degrees to approximately 55 degrees with respect to a road surface. A vehicle sensing sensor that senses a vehicle approaching a front of the opening/closing bar 12 is provided, and an instruction to open the opening/closing bar 12 is issued when the vehicle is sensed by the vehicle sensing sensor. When a predetermined load or more is applied to the opening/closing bar 12, an instruction to perform an opening operation is issued to the opening/closing bar 12.
The present invention relates to a vehicle passage control device including an opening/closing bar for controlling permission or non-permission of vehicle passage on an ETC (registered trademark) lane or the like at an entrance or exit of an expressway, a toll road or the like.
BACKGROUND ARTThis type of conventional vehicle passage control device is a control device in which, after fee payment processing or the like is finally completed by a proper communication between a roadside radio device and an on-board machine, an opening/closing bar provided on the control device concerned is opened, and a vehicle is enabled to pass through a passage gate.
Then, in order that a driver of the vehicle can visually recognize an opening/closing state of the opening/closing bar satisfactorily from an inside of the vehicle that goes slowly, the opening/closing bar concerned is configured so as to rotationally move perpendicularly to a road surface and in a direction at right angles to a traveling direction of the vehicle.
That is to say, this opening/closing bar is formed so as to rotationally move within a plane vertical to the road surface.
However, in this conventional vehicle passage control device, there are a variety of problems as below.
Since passage of the vehicle is inhibited, the vehicle collides with the opening/closing bar and the opening/closing bar is broken in the case where the vehicle cannot stop immediately in front of the opening/closing bar.
Therefore, in such a current device, in a portion of driving the opening/closing bar, such an impact avoidance mechanism that enables the opening/closing bar to rotationally move in a direction horizontal to the road surface is provided. However, it is the present condition that the breakage/damage of the opening/closing bar itself is inevitable.
Once the vehicle collides with the opening/closing bar, the opening/closing bar opens until becoming parallel to such a vehicle traveling direction, a lock mechanism for preventing a rebound works, and the opening/closing bar is fixed. Therefore, in order to return the device concerned to a normal usage state, it is necessary for an operator to walk to an installation location of the device, and to reset the device.
In a passage gate in which ETC (registered trademark) is provided, it cannot be estimated when the collision occurs. Accordingly, the operator for resetting the opening/closing bar must always be distributed at a toll booth or the like.
In order to make the resetting, the operator must go to the vehicle passage control device. However, there also occurs a necessity that the operator should cross a traffic lane on the way, and there also occurs a possibility that the operator may encounter an accident with the passing vehicle.
In each of passage control devices described in the following patent documents, an opening/closing gate thereof rotationally moves up and down perpendicularly to the road surface.
Then, in Patent Document 1, it is an object thereof to further downsize a drive device of the opening/closing bar, and in Patent Document 2, it is an object thereof to prevent a trouble of the opening/closing bar at the time of a power failure.
PRIOR ART DOCUMENTS Patent Documents
- Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2008-127911
- Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. H11-61752
In this connection, in order to solve a variety of the above-described problems, the present invention has the following items as objects thereof.
First, one of the objects is to suppress, to the minimum, the damage and breakage of the opening/closing bar of the vehicle passage control device.
That is to say, the object is to make it possible to suppress, to the minimum, the damage/breakage of the opening/closing bar even if the passing vehicle collides with the opening/closing bar.
Moreover, another object is to make it possible to open the opening/closing bar in the case where the collision with the opening/closing bar cannot be avoided.
Furthermore, still another object is to eliminate a necessity that the operator should manually reset the opening/closing bar even if the vehicle collides with the opening/closing bar.
Besides the above, the objects of the present invention also incorporate: operations at the time of the power failure; at the time of using a right and left pair of opening/closing bars, dealing with the case where one of them fails; adoption of a more efficient configuration in maintenance of the device; and further, avoidance of damage on visibility of the opening/closing bar.
Means to Solve the ProblemsA first aspect of the present invention is a vehicle passage control device in which an opening/closing bar that regulates passage of a vehicle is provided, the vehicle passage control device being installed at a passage gate of an entrance or exit of a toll road or the like, characterized in that the vehicle passage control device performs opening/closing control for the opening/closing bar to rotationally move and upspring obliquely upward in front in a passing direction of the vehicle.
Here, “obliquely upward” in front in the vehicle passing direction stands for both of opening/closing operations in which the opening/closing bar rotationally moves and upsprings “linearly obliquely upward” and “curvedly obliquely upward”.
In a second aspect of the present invention according to the first aspect, an inclined angle at which the opening/closing bar rotationally moves and upsprings obliquely upward remains within a range from approximately 25 degrees to approximately 55 degrees with respect to a road surface.
In a third aspect of the present invention according to the first or second aspect, a vehicle sensing sensor that senses a vehicle approaching a front of the opening/closing bar is provided, and the opening/closing bar is opened when the vehicle is sensed by the vehicle sensing sensor.
In a fourth aspect of the present invention according to any one of the first to third aspects, the opening/closing bar is opened when a predetermined load or more is applied to the opening/closing bar.
In the fifth aspect of the present invention according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the vehicle passage control device includes a right and left pair of vehicle passage control devices, opening/closing bars thereof are opened to both right and left sides, the opening/closing bar of one of the devices performs an opening operation and maintains an open state in a case where the one of the devices fails, and vehicle passage control is configured to be enabled by an operation of only the opening/closing bar of other of the devices.
In the sixth aspect of the present invention according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, the opening/closing bar has a substantially circular shape in cross section, and on a surface thereof, two types of paint different in color are alternately applied in a spiral fashion.
Effects of the InventionIn the first one of the present invention, the opening/closing bar rotationally moves and upsprings obliquely upward in front in the passing direction of the vehicle. Accordingly, even in the case where the passing vehicle collides with the opening/closing bar, a direction of an impact thereof is directed forward, and does not contradict a rotationally moving direction of the opening/closing bar at all. In other words, the opening/closing bar turns to such a state of being pushed and opened forward. Although the opening/closing bar and a front portion of the vehicle come into contact with each other, an impact thereof is absorbed, whereby it becomes possible to suppress the damage and breakage of the opening/closing bar and the vehicle to the minimum.
Moreover, the opening/closing bar does not rotationally move forward in the horizontal direction, but rotationally moves obliquely upward and turns to a retreated state. Accordingly, it also becomes possible for the driver to surely visually recognize a state where the opening/closing bar is opened (that is, a state where the opening/closing bar upsprings).
Moreover, a connection portion between the opening/closing bar and a rotational spindle of the opening/closing bar is made movable by a universal joint or the like, and a basal portion of the opening/closing bar is guided by a guide rail or the like, whereby it is also possible to curvedly adjust a rotational trajectory of the opening/closing bar. Then, this rotational trajectory is matched with a collision (substantially horizontal) direction on a closed state side, and is gradually set to a curved trajectory guided to an upward trajectory, whereby a function to absorb and relieve energy at the time of the collision can be exerted. In addition, when viewed from the driver, an initial speed of such an opening operation looks slow (at the beginning, the opening/closing bar rotationally moves in the substantially horizontal direction). Accordingly, an effect of speed suppression of the passing vehicle can be expected. However, in terms of a relationship between mechanical complexity and such an opening speed, it is more advantageous to rotationally move the opening/closing bar obliquely upward simply linearly.
In the above-described first invention, in the second one of the present invention, such an angle range at which the opening/closing bar rotationally moves obliquely upward is limited, and within this range, the visibility from the driver can be ensured most satisfactorily.
In the above-described first and second inventions, the opening/closing bar does not perform any positive retreating operation against the collision of the passing vehicle. Meanwhile, in the third one of the present invention, a structure is adopted, in which the opening/closing bar is instantaneously opened in such a manner that the collision of the passing vehicle is sensed by the vehicle sensing sensor.
In such a way, it is also intended to prevent contact between the opening/closing bar and the vehicle. Even if the vehicle and the opening/closing bar contact each other, the opening/closing bar performs the opening/retreating operations by itself, and accordingly, it becomes possible to suppress the damage of the opening/closing bar and the vehicle to the minimum.
In the fourth one of the present invention, the opening/closing bar is adapted to perform the opening operation when the predetermined load or more is applied to the opening/closing bar.
In such a way, when the vehicle collides with the opening/closing bar, the opening/closing bar can perform the opening operation, and on the other hand, even if the predetermined load or less is applied to the opening/closing bar by a strong wind of a typhoon or the like, it is made possible to prevent the opening/closing bar from causing a malfunction and opening.
In the fifth one of the present invention, in the vehicle passage control devices in which the right and left pair of opening/closing bars are provided, setting is made so that, in the case where one in the pair fails, the one can automatically perform the opening operation and maintain the open state, whereby the vehicle passage control is configured to be enabled only by opening/closing bar of other of the devices.
In the sixth one of the present invention, on the surface of the opening/closing bar, two types of paint different in color are alternately applied in the spiral fashion in order to maintain the visibility of the opening/closing bar. In such a way, even in the case where the opening/closing bar rotationally moves obliquely upward, such a zebra pattern of the two colors becomes satisfactorily visible from the driver.
A description is made below of an embodiment of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings.
The vehicle passage control devices 10 according to this embodiment include a right and left pair of devices, and each of the vehicle passage control devices 10 is formed of a body section 11, and an opening/closing bar 12 that has a rotational spindle thereof on an upper front side of this body section 11.
The pair of vehicle passage control devices 10 and 10 are installed on both sides of a road surface R that passes through a passage gate installed at an entrance or exit of an expressway or the like. Each of the opening/closing bars 12 rotationally moves within an inclined plane inclined in front in a vehicle traveling direction with respect to the road surface R, and rotationally moves and upsprings obliquely upward by 90 degrees.
In other words, a rotationally moving unit 14 located at a basal portion of each of the opening/closing bars 12 is provided on an inclined surface 13 formed by chamfering a front surface-side corner portion of an upper surface of the body section 11.
Hence, unlike the conventional one that up springs vertically upward, each of the opening/closing bars 12 rotationally moves and upsprings upward in a state of being inclined obliquely with respect to the traveling direction where the vehicle passes.
In each of the opening/closing bars 12, spiral-like red paint 12r is applied on a white base thereof, and the opening/closing bar 12 is configured so that a driver can visually recognize a zebra pattern of such two colors of red and white satisfactorily at any rotation angle even if the opening/closing bar 12 rotationally moves upward.
As means for rotationally moving the opening/closing bar 12, any means such as an electric motor and a hydraulic motor may be used.
Note that the opening/closing bar can not only be rotationally moved linearly within the inclined plane inclined in front in the vehicle traveling direction but also rotationally moved curvedly within the inclined plane concerned.
That is to say, a connection portion between the rotational spindle that rotationally moves the opening/closing bar and the opening/closing bar concerned is made movable by a universal joint or the like, and the basal portion of the opening/closing bar is guided by a guide rail or the like, thus also making it possible to rotationally move the opening/closing bar curvedly (along a curved surface in which an upper side is protruded, or a lower side is protruded).
When the opening/closing bar is rotationally moved curvedly along a curved surface in which a lower side is protruded, an initial operation of the opening/closing bar becomes substantially horizontal. Accordingly, an upward opening operation of the opening/closing bar is visually recognized to be slow by the driver, and an effect that a vehicle driving speed can be restricted at the time when the vehicle enters the passage gate is exerted.
In this embodiment, an electric servo motor 20 is used as such driving means for the opening/closing bar 12.
On an ETC (registered trademark) lane, when a roadside radio device and an on-board machine of the passing vehicle properly communicate with each other, and an instruction on passage permission is issued, the above-described servo motor 20 is energized, and the servo motor 20 rotates. Following this, the opening/closing bar 12 rotationally moves obliquely upward, and the opening/closing bar 12 is opened.
When the vehicle passes through such a vehicle passage control device 10, a vehicle passage sensing sensor (not shown) senses this passage, and controls the servo motor 20 to rotate reversely.
In the event where the vehicle collides with the opening/closing bar 12 at a high speed, and this situation cannot be dealt with by the servo motor 20, then in an inside of the rotationally moving unit 14, a bearing pressed by a return spring 21 wound around an outer circumference of the spindle for the opening/closing bar 12 is detached, and the opening/closing bar 12 is released, whereby the opening/closing bar 12 and the servo motor 20 are prevented from being damaged. A structure is adopted, in which such a bearing portion is locked again in a state where the opening/closing bar 12 completely turns to an open state, and a return owing to the collision is prevented.
In this embodiment, an inclined angle θ of the rotational movement of the opening/closing bar 12 with respect to the road surface is set at 40 degrees. This is because ±15 degrees of this angle are an angle range at which the driver of the vehicle can visually recognize such a rotational movement operation of the opening/closing bar most satisfactorily. It is necessary to adjust the angle range in consideration also of a gradient and line shape of the entire road.
Note that any problem does not occur if this inclined angle θ of the rotational movement remains within a range from approximately 25 degrees to approximately 55 degrees, and in this case, the inclined angle θ of the rotational movement becomes suitable; however, is appropriately settable according to needs.
In the case where the inclined angle is smaller than this angle range, visibility from the driver is deteriorated, and when this inclined angle becomes larger than this range, there occurs an apprehension that the damage and the like of the opening/closing bar and the vehicle may be increased when the vehicle collides with the opening/closing bar.
Moreover, in this embodiment, though not shown, a torque sensor is provided on the spindle that rotationally supports the opening/closing bar 12, and when this torque sensor is loaded with a load equal to or larger than a load, for example, when a wind speed is 40 m/s, this sensor is set to be activated, and then to allow the opening operation of the opening/closing bar.
In such a way, the opening/closing bar can be prevented from opening by wind up to the wind speed of 40 m/s, and in addition, when the passing vehicle collides with the opening/closing bar, the opening/closing bar can automatically perform the opening operation by a load of the collision concerned. However, as described above, the configuration is adopted, in which the opening/closing bar 12 is released by the function of the return spring 21 at the time of the hard collision.
As a matter of course, it is made possible to deal with such a problem of a collision of the passing vehicle by separately providing a vehicle sensing sensor as will be described later.
In a similar way to the above-described drawings,
In this embodiment, an electric cylinder 30 is used as operating means for the opening/closing bar 12.
By actuation of the electric cylinder 30 equipped in an upper portion of an inside of the body section 11, a reciprocating operation of the cylinder rod 31 is converted into a rotating operation, and the spindle for the opening/closing bar 12 is rotated, whereby the opening operation of the opening/closing bar can be performed.
That is to say, on the ETC (registered trademark) lane, when the roadside radio device and the on-board machine of the passing vehicle properly communicate with each other, and the instruction on the passage permission is issued, the above-described electric cylinder 30 is energized, the cylinder rod 31 is extended, and the spindle is rotationally moved. Following this, the opening/closing bar 12 rotationally moves obliquely upward, and the opening/closing bar 12 is opened.
When the vehicle passes through such a vehicle passage control device, the vehicle passage sensing sensor (not shown) senses this passage, and controls the electric cylinder 30 to rotate reversely.
In the event where the vehicle collides with the opening/closing bar at a high speed, the bearing pressed by the return spring 21 wound around the outer circumference of the spindle for the opening/closing bar 12 is detached, and the opening/closing bar 12 is released, whereby the opening/closing bar 12 and the electric cylinder 30 are prevented from being damaged. A structure is adopted, in which such a bearing portion is locked again in a state where the opening/closing bar 12 completely turns to an open state, and a return owing to the collision is prevented.
As described above, in the present invention, the structure is adopted, in which the opening/closing bar 12 rotationally moves and upsprings obliquely upward in front in the traveling direction of the passing vehicle.
Therefore, on the ETC (registered trademark) lane or the like, in the case where there occur such unforeseen circumstances that the communication between the roadside radio device and the on-board machine is not properly performed, and that the vehicle enters the passage gate in a state where the opening/closing bar is left closed, the vehicle collides with the opening/closing bar; however, the opening/closing bar itself is configured so as to move to open also in a forward direction in terms of the structure thereof, and accordingly, impact resistance at the time of the collision is further reduced.
Vehicle sensing sensors 18 are individually provided on a front side of the body sections 11 of the vehicle passage control devices 10, that is, on a vehicle entrance side, and a sensing direction S thereof is parallel to the opening/closing bars 12 which are in a closed state.
That is to say, each of the vehicle sensing sensors 18 is provided so as to sense a state immediately in front of a vehicle V collides with the opening/closing bar 12. An optical sensor is used as this sensor.
Hence, each of the vehicle passage control devices is configured so as, when the vehicle sensing sensor 18 senses the presence of the vehicle, to issue an instruction to perform the opening operation of the opening/closing bar 12, to energize the servo motor, and to instantaneously open the opening/closing bar 12.
In such a way, the impact owing to the collision between the opening/closing bar 12 and the vehicle V is further reduced, and the damage and the like of the opening/closing bar 12 and the vehicle V can be minimized.
As a matter of course, for a vehicle that has passed through the vehicle passage control devices in such a state, display/notice of abnormal passage or illegal passage is performed by a signboard, an alarm and the like after the vehicle passes through the vehicle passage control devices, whereby the vehicle is urged to stop, and appropriate post-processing is performed.
Specifically, the vehicle sensing sensors 18 are provided on the front side of the body sections 11 of the respective vehicle passage control devices 10, that is, on the vehicle entrance side. Unlike the embodiment illustrated in
Specifically, though it is necessary to differentiate the sensing positions concerned depending on an entering speed of the vehicle V, the entering speed of the vehicle V is assumed to be 60 km/h in this drawing, and a linear distance from centerlines of the opening/closing bars 12 to the sensing positions is set at 2145 mm.
In such a way, the above-described vehicle sensing sensors 18 sense the vehicle V that has entered at the speed of 60 km/h in a state where the issuance of the instruction to open the opening/closing bars 12 is left undone, whereby a configuration is adopted so that the opening operation of the opening/closing bars 12 can be instantaneously performed. In such a way, before the entering vehicle V collides with the opening/closing bars 12, the opening/closing bars 12 perform the opening operation, whereby collision between the opening/closing bars 12 and a front portion of the vehicle V can be avoided, and the damage of both thereof can be prevented.
Such optical sensors 18 are columnar sensors. These optical sensors are installed at several spots at a height of a vehicle tip end portion (ground clearance: 500 mm to 1000 mm), and are set so as to allow the opening operation when one or more thereof senses the vehicle tip end portion.
As described above, in consideration of the speed and the like of the entering vehicle, the optical sensors are installed on the front side of the opening/closing bars by a fixed distance, and are adjusted so that the opening/closing bars cannot open too quickly. Moreover, the optical sensors are installed at a height of approximately 500 mm from the ground, whereby erroneous opening owing to fallen leaves and the like is prevented.
Note that there are footboard-type sensors besides the optical sensors, and in ETC (registered trademark), there are also those using sensors which count the number of axles. However, the footboard-type sensors and the like are inferior in lifetime and ease of maintenance since a vehicle weight is applied thereto. Accordingly, it is conceived that the optical sensors are advantageous.
The description has been made above of the embodiments of the present invention; however, the present invention can be embodied by changing a form thereof variously in the following manner.
First, the right and left pair of vehicle passage control devices are used in each of the above-described embodiments; however, these can be embodied by either one of the right and left vehicle passage control devices, that is, as a vehicle passage control device by one opening/closing bar.
Actuating means and mechanism for rotationally moving each of the opening/closing bars can also be appropriately and freely selected and used.
Each of the opening/closing bars can also be embodied by coating thereon a cover for preventing the damage.
In each of the above-described embodiments, the optical sensors are used as the vehicle sensing sensors; however, other sensing means can be used.
Moreover, the positions at which the vehicle is sensed can also be appropriately set according to needs.
In the case where the right and left pair of vehicle passage control devices are installed, the right and left control devices concerned can also be configured so as to be capable of being actuated independently of each other, and even in the case where either one thereof fails, the right and left control devices concerned can also be configured so that the other control device can be normally actuated.
In the case where an electric drive device is used as the actuating means for each of the opening/closing bars, the electric drive device can also be configured so as to automatically leave the opening/closing bar in an open state or a close state by using a battery at the time of the power failure.
Moreover, at the time when such a power failure state as described above is released, the electric drive device can also be configured so as to be remotely operable in order to return the vehicle passage control device to a normal state. For example, it is also possible, by a wireless communication, to allow the electric drive device to perform an operation of shutting off activation of the battery, and to return the vehicle passage control device to the normal state.
In a similar way, in the case where either one of the pair of devices fails, the opening/closing bar of the failed device as one in the pair is opened and is left opened, whereby it becomes possible to perform the passage control for the vehicle only by the opening/closing operation of the opening/closing bar of the other device. In this case, in the case where it becomes impossible to drive one of the devices by the motor owing to the failure thereof, the bearing of the opening/closing bar of the failed one of the devices is electrically released, whereby the opening operation is performed by a spring and the like.
It is also possible to compose each of the vehicle passage control devices so that the opening/closing bar, actuator and control board thereof can be easily replaced, and that only a failed portion of these constituent components can be easily replaced at the time of such a failure.
As described above, the present invention has been able to provide a vehicle passage control device that exerts extremely significant effects by means of the simple configuration.
DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS
- 10 Vehicle passage control device
- 11 Body section
- 12 Opening/closing bar
- 13 Inclined surface
- 14 Rotationally moving unit
- 18 Vehicle sensing sensor
- 20 Servo motor
- 21 Return spring
- 30 Electric cylinder
Claims
1. A vehicle passage control device in which an opening/closing bar that regulates passage of a vehicle is provided, the vehicle passage control device being installed at a passage gate of an entrance or exit of a toll road or the like,
- characterized in that the vehicle passage control device performs opening/closing control for the opening/closing bar to rotationally move and upspring obliquely upward in front in a passing direction of the vehicle.
2. The vehicle passage control device according to claim 1, wherein an inclined angle at which the opening/closing bar rotationally moves and upsprings obliquely upward remains within a range from approximately 25 degrees to approximately 55 degrees with respect to a road surface.
3. The vehicle passage control device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a vehicle sensing sensor that senses a vehicle approaching a front of the opening/closing bar is provided, and the opening/closing bar is opened when the vehicle is sensed by the vehicle sensing sensor.
4. The vehicle passage control device according to claim 1, wherein the opening/closing bar is opened when a predetermined load or more is applied to the opening/closing bar.
5. The vehicle passage control device according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle passage control device includes a right and left pair of vehicle passage control devices, opening/closing bars thereof are opened to both right and left sides, the opening/closing bar of one of the devices performs an opening operation and maintains an open state in a case where the one of the devices fails, and vehicle passage control is configured to be enabled by an operation of only the opening/closing bar of other of the devices.
6. The vehicle passage control device according to claim 1, wherein the opening/closing bar has a substantially circular shape in cross section, and on a surface thereof, two types of paint different in color are alternately applied in a spiral fashion.
Type: Application
Filed: Feb 24, 2010
Publication Date: Nov 10, 2011
Inventors: Shinichi Hayashida (Osaka), Toshio Uchimaru (Osaka), Yutaka Yamamoto (Osaka)
Application Number: 13/145,280
International Classification: E01F 13/04 (20060101); E01F 13/06 (20060101);
