Boom arm for a boom gate

Abstract

The invention relates to a boom arm (1) for a boom gate, in particular for controlling the passage of vehicles, having an arm profile (2) that forms a substantial part of the boom arm (1) and having a light-emitting strip (13) that is attached to the lower side of the arm profile (2) over at least some of the length of said arm profile and emits visible light into the surroundings of the boom arm (1), said light-emitting strip emitting light over its entire length or at a plurality of locations distributed over its length. The light-emitting strip (13) is combined with a light guide (8), into which it radiates light, the light guide (8) is fastened to the arm profile (2) from below, and a support rail (6) for attachments is provided below the light guide (8) and attached to the light guide (8) and / or to the arm profile (2).

Description

[0001] Barrier boom for a barrier system

[0002] Description

[0003] The invention relates to a barrier boom for a barrier system, in particular for controlling the passage of vehicles, according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0004] Such a barrier boom is essentially formed by a boom profile made of a metallic material, such as an extruded aluminum profile, or a plastic or plastic composite material. It is usually a hollow profile with grooves, rails, and undercuts for attachments as required. The boom profile, fitted with covers, foils, paint finishes, or the like, and, depending on the application, a hinge, forms the essential part of the barrier boom.

[0005] In a barrier boom of this type, a light-emitting strip, in particular an LED strip, is mounted on the underside of the boom profile over at least part of its length to emit visible light into the area surrounding the barrier boom. The light-emitting strip can emit light over its entire length or at several locations distributed along its length, with the light sources distributed along its length preferably being arranged equidistantly.

[0006] Barrier booms illuminated by one or more light-emitting strips have been around for some time, especially in barrier systems for controlling vehicle passage, as is common in managed parking lots, multi-storey car parks, toll booths, or areas accessible only to authorized users. The lighting not only makes the closed barrier easier to see at night and in poor lighting conditions, but can also emit optical signals through color changes, flashing signals, and the like, thus providing information to the surrounding area, especially to vehicle drivers, operating personnel, and / or security personnel.

[0007] A problem here is that the light emitted by the light-emitting strip can cause glare, as is often the case when the light-emitting strip is attached to the side surfaces of the tree profile, so that drivers look directly at the light source. An example of a tree profile with light emitted laterally is disclosed in KR 20130012677 A. A similar example can also be found in WO 2017 / 201212 A1.

[0008] To make the light signal visible on both sides of a barrier boom without having to install two light-emitting strips, CN 205742012 U proposes attaching the light-emitting strip to the top of the boom profile, so that its light can also be seen from the front and rear of the barrier system. However, with multiple barrier systems arranged side by side, this poses the problem of confusion, for example, if an open barrier boom lights up green to indicate clear passage.

[0009] CN 217419422 U and WO 2021 / 240561 A1 therefore propose barrier booms in which a light-emitting strip is attached to the underside of the boom profile. An edge protector arranged underneath, for example made of silicone, is translucent and serves as a diffuser for the light emitted by the strip, so that it can be perceived from both sides of the barrier boom. However, it is then no longer possible to attach add-on components, such as a barrier grille or pendulum supports, to the underside of the boom profile. The present invention is therefore based on the object of improving a barrier boom of the type mentioned above, which is equipped with a light-emitting strip on the underside of its boom profile, with regard to the possibility of attaching add-on components to the boom profile.

[0010] This object is achieved by a barrier boom having the features of claim 1. Preferred embodiments and further developments of the barrier boom according to the invention are set out in claims 2 to 11.

[0011] A barrier boom of the present type, with a boom profile which forms the essential part of the barrier boom and is equipped with a light-emitting strip on its underside which extends over at least part of the length of the boom profile and emits light over its entire length or at several points distributed over its length, is thus further developed according to the invention in such a way that the light-emitting strip is combined with a light guide into which it radiates the light, that the light guide is fastened to the boom profile below the latter, and that a support rail for add-on parts is provided below the light guide, which support rail is attached to the light guide and / or the boom profile.

[0012] The light guide used according to the invention, which can guide the light from the light-emitting strip to an outer side of the boom profile, makes it possible to mount a support rail underneath the light-emitting strip. This support rail does not have to be translucent and can therefore be made of a metallic material. The light guide can guide the light from the light-emitting strip outwards, particularly between the boom profile and the support rail, so that it is visible from the outside on the side surface of the boom profile, even if the support rail covers the light guide at the bottom.

[0013] The support rail allows for the attachment of various attachments to the barrier boom, particularly barrier grilles or pendulum supports, or even flexible edge protection, which are usually attached to the underside of the boom profile. The boom profiles of this type of barrier boom are often provided with at least one mounting groove on the underside to accommodate the aforementioned attachments. In this case, it is advisable for the light-emitting strip to be positioned in such a mounting groove on the underside of the boom profile. The strip is preferably simply pushed into the mounting groove during installation.

[0014] The optical fiber provided according to the invention, into which the light-emitting strip couples the light, is preferably also inserted into the boom profile in a form-fitting manner or attached to it, for example, by engaging behind undercuts in the profile or undercut grooves of corresponding rail-shaped recesses in the optical fiber. Preferably, a correspondingly shaped optical fiber is also inserted lengthwise into the boom profile.

[0015] Accordingly, it is preferred if the support rail also fits positively to the light guide and / or the boom profile. It is particularly preferred if the light guide has a profile with undercuts, and the support rail is inserted, in particular simply pushed, into these undercuts of the light guide.

[0016] It is useful if the support rail can be inserted or pushed into the light guide either with a form-fitting connection or with a form-fitting connection into the boom profile. This allows a barrier boom with lighting and a barrier boom without lighting to be assembled from identical parts.

[0017] Particular advantages arise within the scope of the present invention if the support rail has a mounting groove on the underside that is essentially identical to the boom profile (if the boom is provided with one). For an add-on component, it then makes no difference whether the barrier boom is equipped with lighting—that is, according to the invention, with a light-emitting strip, a light guide, and the support rail—or not.

[0018] If the support rail is provided with essentially the same profile as the underside of the boom profile, the underside of the barrier boom remains completely unchanged, regardless of whether it is equipped with lighting or not. In particular, this development of the present invention provides an option for attaching a light-emitting strip to the underside of the barrier boom, which ultimately leaves the externally accessible profile of the underside of the barrier boom unchanged.

[0019] Further advantages arise within the scope of the present invention if the support rail covers the light guide at the bottom, specifically in such a way that the light guide forms a light-emitting surface visible from the outside only on the sides of the barrier boom, preferably on both sides of the barrier boom. Such light-emitting surfaces, which can be reduced to comparatively thin lines, prevent glare, which would otherwise inevitably be accepted if a light-emitting strip on the underside of the boom profile is to be visible from both sides of the barrier boom.

[0020] With this preferred development of the present invention, it is thus possible to achieve illumination of the barrier boom for the purpose of improved visibility and / or signaling, which is visible on both sides of the barrier boom, from the front and rear of the barrier system, without having to provide two light-emitting strips, without having to attach the light signaling to the top of the barrier boom, where it can be misinterpreted when the barriers are open and there are several adjacent barrier systems, and without having to accept a glare effect on the underside of the barrier boom or without having to forego add-on components such as a barrier grille or pendulum supports. Advantageously, the light exit surface(s) of the light guide are each provided with a matte surface to scatter the light, which is known to significantly improve visibility from different viewing angles.For the same purpose, the light-emitting surfaces can also be provided with prism-shaped recesses running along the tree profile.

[0021] If the light signaling or lighting is to be visible on both sides of the barrier boom, it is preferred within the scope of the present invention to attach the light-emitting strip approximately centrally to the underside of the boom profile and to provide a prism-shaped boundary surface in the light guide, below the light-emitting strip, for deflecting the light to both sides of the barrier boom.

[0022] Finally, the light guide can be essentially V-shaped in its profile to direct the light upwards via the V-shaped legs, so that the light-emitting surfaces are positioned at the level of, or even above, the light-emitting strip. The light-emitting surfaces will then still be positioned in the lower area of ​​the barrier boom sides, but there will be no light emission to the underside of the barrier boom, thus eliminating any glare or misinterpretation. The light signaling is then only visible when approaching the barrier boom from the front or rear.

[0023] An exemplary embodiment of a barrier boom designed according to the invention is described and explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. This is merely an example and is not intended to limit the invention; nevertheless, the following description may contain features essential to the invention. They show:

[0024] Figure 1 is a schematic view of a barrier system with a barrier boom designed according to the invention;

[0025] Figure 2 shows the profile of a barrier boom from Figure 1, but in a design according to the prior art;

[0026] Figure 3 shows the profile of a barrier boom designed according to the invention;

[0027] Figure 4 shows a partial section from Figure 3;

[0028] Figure 5 shows detail A from Figure 3.

[0029] The barrier system for controlling the passage of vehicles, shown in a schematic view in Figure 1, comprises a barrier boom 1 with a boom profile 2, which, provided with foils 3 and reflectors 4, forms the essential part of the barrier boom 1, as well as a barrier housing 5, on which the barrier boom 1 is pivotally mounted and which contains the drive (not visible) for the barrier boom 1.

[0030] The barrier boom 1 shown in Figure 1 is equipped with a light signaling system according to the invention, which is why a support rail 6 is arranged on the underside of the barrier boom 1. Between the support rail 6 and the boom profile 2, located laterally on the barrier boom 1 in its lower area, is a light exit surface 7 of a light guide 8 (otherwise not visible here). This light signaling system is also located on the rear side of the barrier boom 1 (not visible here).

[0031] Due to the very narrow light exit surface 7, the light signaling is very clearly visible on both sides of the barrier boom 1, i.e. when approaching it from the front and from the rear, but not from above and below, which is important when the barrier boom 1 is in its open position. This eliminates the risk of dazzling, particularly when the barrier boom 1 is in its open position. At the same time, the narrow light exit surface 7 on the barrier boom 1 is clearly positioned in its lower area, which is immediately apparent and noticeable even when the barrier boom 1 is in its open position. This minimizes the risk of confusion when several barrier systems are arranged next to one another.

[0032] The light-emitting surface 7 can serve solely to illuminate the barrier boom 1 in poor lighting conditions, particularly at night, to make it visible. However, it can preferably also serve for signaling purposes, for example, by a red light indicating that passage is not permitted, a green light signaling entry with appropriate authorization, and the like, for example, also using flashing signals and / or running lights.

[0033] Figure 2 shows a section through a barrier boom 1, such as can be used in the prior art in a barrier system from Figure 1. This barrier boom 1 is designed according to the prior art. The boom profile 2 of this barrier boom 1 consists of an extruded aluminum profile, which is equipped on its underside with profile rails 9, with undercuts 10 created by these, and with a mounting groove 11. A soft-elastic edge protector 12 is inserted into the mounting groove 11 and, thanks to the undercuts 10, sits positively in the boom profile 2.

[0034] Figure 3 shows, in a representation corresponding to Figure 2, the inventive development of the barrier boom 1 from Figure 2: The boom profile 2 itself is designed identically to the prior art example shown in Figure 2, i.e., the mounting groove 11, the profile rails 9, and the undercuts 10 are still present on its underside. According to the invention, a light-emitting strip 13 is now positively inserted into the mounting groove 11, which radiates light downwards from the mounting groove 11 and couples it into the light guide 8.

[0035] The light guide 8 is approximately V-shaped in its profile and consists of a profiled molded part with first rail elements 14, which engage behind the undercuts 10 of the profile rails 9 of the tree profile 2 and thus enable the light guide 8 to be inserted lengthwise into the profile rails 9 of the tree profile 2 for a positive connection.

[0036] On its underside, the light guide 8 is provided with second rail elements 15, which in turn form undercuts to positively accommodate hook-shaped bends 16 of the support rail 6 in the profile. The support rail 6 can thus also be inserted longitudinally into the second rail elements 15 of the light guide 8 with a positive fit, resulting in a stable connection between the tree profile 2, the light guide 8, and the support rail 6 without the need for additional mounting means.

[0037] The support rail 6 also consists of an extruded aluminum profile, and its profiling is designed such that it corresponds to the profiling of the underside of the boom profile 2, in particular with a support rail mounting groove 17. The edge protection 12, which is designed identically to the prior art according to Figure 2, is inserted into this support rail mounting groove 17 in the same form-fitting manner as in the boom profile 2 according to the prior art (Figure 2), i.e. from the point of view of the edge protection 12, nothing has changed as a result of the inventive design with light-emitting strip 13, light guide 8 and support rail 6.

[0038] As particularly illustrated in Figure 4, which shows the lower section of the tree profile 2 from Figure 3, light, symbolized by a light beam 18, is emitted downwards from the light-emitting strip 13 and coupled into the light guide 8, where a prism-shaped boundary surface 19 deflects the light beam 18 to the side. The light beam 18 is then guided within the light guide 8 to the light exit surface 7, where it exits into the open, preferably in a horizontal orientation. The support rail 6 covers the light guide 8 at the bottom, so that the light from the light-emitting strip 13 is actually only perceptible at the light exit surfaces 7.

[0039] Figure 5 shows detail A from Figure 3 in an enlargement to illustrate that the light exit surface 7 is provided with a series of prism-shaped depressions 20 running along the tree profile 2 in order to scatter the light beam 18 at the light exit surface 7 and thereby improve the perceptibility of the light signaling.

[0040] List of reference symbols:

[0041] 1 barrier boom

[0042] 2 Tree profile

[0043] 3 slides

[0044] 4 reflectors

[0045] 5 barrier housings

[0046] 6 support rail

[0047] 7 Light exit surface

[0048] 8 light guides

[0049] 9 profile rails

[0050] 10 undercuts

[0051] 11 Mounting groove

[0052] 12 Edge protection

[0053] 13 light-emitting strips

[0054] 14 rail elements (first)

[0055] 15 rail elements (second)

[0056] 16 turns

[0057] 17 Support rail mounting groove

[0058] 18 light beam

[0059] 19 Interface

[0060] 20 prism-shaped recesses

Claims

Claims 1.Barrier boom (1) for a barrier system, in particular for controlling the passage of vehicles, with a boom profile (2) which forms an essential part of the barrier boom (1), and with a light-emitting strip (13), in particular an LED strip, which is attached to the underside of the boom profile (2) over at least part of its length and emits visible light into the surroundings of the barrier boom (1), wherein the light-emitting strip (13) emits light over its entire length or at several points distributed over its length, preferably equidistantly distributed, characterized in that the light-emitting strip (13) is combined with a light guide (8) into which it radiates the light, that the light guide (8) is fastened to the boom profile (2) below the latter, and that a support rail (6) for add-on parts is provided below the light guide (8), which is attached to the light guide (8) and / or to the boom profile (2).

2. Barrier boom according to claim 1, wherein the light-emitting strip (13) is seated in a mounting groove (11) on the underside of the boom profile (2).

3. Barrier boom according to one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the light guide (8) is inserted, preferably pushed, into the boom profile (2) in a form-fitting manner.

4. Barrier boom according to claim 3, wherein the light guide (8) has a profile with undercuts (10) and the support rail (6) is inserted, preferably pushed, into the undercuts (10) of the light guide (8) in a form-fitting manner.

5. Barrier boom according to claim 4, wherein the support rail (6) can be inserted, preferably pushed, into the boom profile (2) in a form-fitting manner.

6. Barrier boom according to at least one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the support rail (6) has on its underside a support rail mounting groove (17) which is substantially identical to the mounting groove (11) of the boom profile (2) and is preferably provided with substantially the same underside profile as the underside of the boom profile (2).

7. Barrier boom according to at least one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the support rail (6) covers the light guide (8) downwards in such a way that the light guide (8) forms a light exit surface (7) visible from the outside only laterally on the barrier boom (1), preferably on both sides of the barrier boom (1).

8. Barrier boom according to claim 7, wherein the light exit surface (7) is provided with a matt surface for light scattering.

9. Barrier boom according to one of claims 7 or 8, wherein the light exit surface (7) is provided with prism-shaped recesses (20) running along the boom profile (2).

10. Barrier boom according to at least one of claims 7 to 9, wherein the light-emitting strip (13) is attached approximately centrally to the underside of the boom profile (2), and wherein the light guide (8) below the light-emitting strip (13) has a prism-shaped boundary surface (19) for deflecting the light towards the two sides of the barrier boom (1).

11. Barrier boom according to at least one of claims 7 to 10, wherein the light guide (8) is substantially V-shaped in its profile in order to guide the light upwards by means of the V-legs, so that the light exit surfaces (7) are located at the level of or above the light-emitting strip (13).

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