CONNECTED STREET SYSTEM

Abstract

The invention relates to a connected manhole system (1), comprising a cast iron or steel manhole cover (2) that seals a manhole and has at least one slot (3) through it, sensors, connectors associated with an electronic device (6), and a protective housing (7) for the electronic device (6). According to the invention, the electronic device (6) is fixed to the underside of the manhole cover (2), which acts as a slot antenna to improve communication between, on the one hand, equipment located inside the manhole or integrated into the electronic device (6), and on the other hand, equipment located outside the manhole, while preserving the mechanical properties of the manhole cover (2). Figure 1

Description

Title of the invention: CONNECTED ROAD SYSTEM Technical field

[0001] The invention relates to the general technical field of connected road systems or devices or to road systems associated with a communication system.

[0002] The present invention relates more particularly to a communicating road system allowing electronic equipment positioned inside the manhole to communicate with other equipment located outside and / or vice versa.

[0003] In general, manholes are constructed so as not to expose to the outside gas pipes, drinking water supply, sanitation and drainage pipes, low or high voltage electrical cables, telecommunications cables, pumping stations, surface water regulation buildings. But for maintenance, inspection, control, piloting, maintenance, remote reading, equipment control, many road parts are affixed to the manholes to facilitate access, whatever their final uses.

[0004] However, given the number of manhole covers, their weight, the significant and necessary intervention times, the movement of vehicles or machinery, the risks of damage or safety accidents, due to environmental conditions or contact with other objects, this work cannot be carried out freely at any time.

[0005] Thus, a certain number of infrastructures are equipped with sensors or controls to facilitate the transmission and / or reception of information necessary for maintenance, inspection, control, piloting, remote reading, monitoring or evaluation of various technical data, originating from the installations by wired or wireless means, communicating indifferently towards the outside and / or towards the inside. Transmission in such a system is done by radio waves through an antenna and a wireless device installed in the manhole to a receiver installed outside and / or vice versa. However, the road parts, generally made of a metallic or composite material, absorb or attenuate the radio waves, which affects the correct transmission of data. Prior art

[0006] Also disclosed in EP 3 763 881 is an antenna device in which at least one notch portion having a predetermined length is formed in an edge of the antenna device as a slot antenna. The device comprises a structure that forms an internal space, a cover, an external space of the structure, a wireless device that is installed in the internal space, and a station. base which is installed in the external space and transfers a radio wave to the wireless device. The propagation of the emitted base inside is then enabled by this slit-shaped opening.

[0007] Most often in these devices, the information transmission elements are done either by a wired device, or by a device equipped with an antenna which is positioned inside the road system with rather random, even mediocre, results, regularly forcing the developers of these remote reading or other measurement solutions to move an antenna outside the road system. Presentation of the invention

[0008] The present invention aims to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art by proposing a new road system improving the reliability of data transmission between the inside and the outside of a manhole or vice versa.

[0009] Another aim of the invention is to produce a road system comprising a road part, promoting the transmission of data while not altering the mechanical properties of said road part.

[0010] The aim assigned to the invention is achieved using a connected road system, comprising a cast iron or steel road part closing a manhole and crossed by at least one slot, sensors, connectors associated with an electronic device and a protective housing of the electronic device characterized in that the electronic device is fixed on the underside of the road part, which constitutes a slot antenna to improve communication between on the one hand equipment arranged inside the manhole or integrated into the electronic device and on the other hand equipment located outside the manhole, while preserving the mechanical properties of the road part.

[0011] According to an exemplary embodiment, the slot(s) of the road part comprise(s) a sealing material to fill said slot(s) over at least part of their height, thus protecting the electronic device.

[0012] According to an exemplary embodiment, the electronic device comprises a support plate fixed on the underside to the road part by screwing and / or gluing and / or riveting.

[0013] According to an exemplary embodiment, the connected road system comprises a sealing layer covering the support plate and constituting the interface of the support plate and the road part.

[0014] According to an exemplary embodiment, the electronic device comprises a support plate fixed to a closing plate, said closing plate being fixed on the underside to the road part by screwing and / or gluing and / or riveting, the protective housing being fixed to the closing plate so as to confine the internal space of said protective housing, thus protecting the electronic device.

[0015] According to an exemplary embodiment, comprises a sealing layer covering the closure plate and constituting the interface of the closure plate and the road part.

[0016] According to an exemplary embodiment, the closing plate comprises at least one complementary through slot.

[0017] According to an exemplary embodiment, the closing plate and / or elements for fixing said closing plate to the road part is / are made of stainless steel to avoid the occurrence of galvanic couplings.

[0018] According to an exemplary embodiment, the electronic device integrates a radio reception and transmission system.

[0019] According to an exemplary embodiment, the sensors are integrated into the road system or remote by wired or wireless connection.

[0020] According to an exemplary embodiment, the electronic device comprises means for supplying electricity to the slot antenna, for transmitting and receiving data and for processing collected data.

[0021] According to an exemplary embodiment, the sensors, for example of different types, are capable of controlling various equipment, receiving and / or transmitting various information.

[0022] An advantage of the invention lies in the fact that it allows the establishment of radio communications for buried road systems, without requiring the use of a remote antenna. The road part directly constitutes a slot antenna of a communicating system.

[0023] The road part is then used in its entirety to transmit, for example, information on meter readings, various sensors such as temperature, vibration, piezometer, seismic, etc. and / or to receive control or piloting information, for example the piloting of a regulating valve, the opening and closing of a gate, various motors for lock gates, dams, drawbridges, lighting, cameras, etc. The underground application areas are extremely varied.

[0024] Another advantage of the invention lies in achieving improved reliability in establishing two-way communication for the connected road system. Brief description of the figures

[0025] Other characteristics, aims and advantages of the invention will emerge from the detailed description which follows with reference to the appended drawings which represent, without limitation, a preferred embodiment thereof. In these drawings:

[0026] [Fig-1] [Fig. 1] is a perspective and exploded view of an exemplary embodiment of the road system according to the invention, [Fig.2] [Fig.2] is a perspective and exploded view of another exemplary embodiment of the road system according to the invention, and [Fig.3] [Fig.3] is a representation of examples of slot shapes of a system provided in a road part according to the invention. Detailed description of the invention

[0027] [Fig.l] illustrates an example of an embodiment of a road system 1 whose field of application is very broad. The system can be more or less large to adapt to different applications in the road field, namely communication water networks or dry networks such as gas or electricity, of which here are some non-limiting examples.

[0028] These are, for example, key-operated manholes most often allowing access to water valves, access hatches or covers, roadway manholes, inspection manholes, hydraulic manholes, sidewalk grates, gutter grates, drains, gas manholes, meter manholes (water, telecommunications or others).

[0029] The road system 1 comprises a road part 2, an electronic device 6, a protective housing 7 intended to confine the electronic device 6 and sensors fixed on equipment at the bottom of the manhole and / or on the electronic device 6 and / or remote sensors and / or remote controls.

[0030] The road part 2 is preferably made of cast iron or steel and is installed for example on roads, sidewalks, ports, airports, railway networks.

[0031] The road part 2 is crossed by at least one slot 3 of any shape, the slot edges of which at the level of the upper surface of the road part 2 function as an antenna. The slot 3 is advantageously positioned in a central zone or away from the peripheral edges of the road part 2.

[0032] The slot(s) 3 contain, for example, a filling material, with a thickness of, for example, between 6 and 10 mm. According to an exemplary embodiment, the thickness of the filling material is 8 mm.

[0033] The filling material advantageously comprises a sealing material, for example an elastomer, a resin or other to protect the electronic device 6 arranged under the slot 3 and to prevent retention of water or other elements such as sand or pebbles or water likely to infiltrate into the protective housing 7.

[0034] The electronic device 6 advantageously comprises a support plate 6a fixed on the underside to the road part 2 by screwing and / or gluing and / or riveting and / or clipping or any other system making it possible to ensure electrical contact between the electronic device 6 and the road part.

[0035] According to an exemplary embodiment, the support plate 6a is covered with a sealing layer, which constitutes the interface of said support plate 6a and the part of road 2.

[0036] According to an exemplary embodiment, the protective housing 7 is fixed to the underside of the road part 2 by means of screws and comprises a peripheral sealing joint 7a.

[0037] According to another embodiment, the protective housing 7 may itself be made of an elastomer-type material and directly ensure sealing when it is fixed to the road part 2.

[0038] According to another embodiment, the protective housing 7 can fully integrate the electronic device 6 into its constituent material, for example a resin, thus facilitating assembly with the road plate 2.

[0039] In the embodiment illustrated in [Fig. 2], a closing plate 8 closing the protective housing 7 has a complementary through slot 8a. This complementary slot 8a is for example identical or similar to the slot 3 of the road part 2.

[0040] According to another exemplary embodiment, the complementary slot 8a and the slot 3 have different shapes.

[0041] The electronic device 6 is fixed on the underside of the closing plate 8 either directly or via an intermediate part.

[0042] The closing plate 8 is for example fixed on the underside of the road part 2. The protective housing 7 is closed by the closing plate 8 preferably by means of the sealing gasket 7a. The protective housing 7 can also be used as a housing for any other electronic device such as sensors and / or communication systems. The housing 7 can also accommodate one or more expansion ports for connecting sensors, batteries or other external devices.

[0043] The upper face of the closing plate 8 is advantageously covered with a seal 9 which extends over the entirety of said closing plate 8 and which serves as protection and shock absorption between the road part 2 and the electronic device 6.

[0044] In a preferred embodiment, to avoid galvanic corrosion which occurs when two metals are brought into contact and an electrical potential difference appears between them, the closing plate 8 as well as fixing elements 10, of the screw type, for fixing said closing plate 8 to the road part 2, are made of stainless steel. Any other metallic material making it possible to avoid galvanic coupling can be used. The closing plate 8 has for example a thickness of between 2 and 8 mm.

[0045] The closing plate 8 is fixed to the road part 2 preferably by screwing and / or by gluing and / or by riveting. An intimate mechanical and / or electrical connection must be kept over time to excite one or more slots 3 and not to alter the transmission of radio waves from the electronic device 6 to the road part 2.

[0046] The electronic device 6 makes it possible to interface with the road part 2 and to excite the slot 3.

[0047] According to an exemplary embodiment, the electronic device 6 integrates a radio transmission and reception system.

[0048] In one embodiment, specific sensors transmit the data by cable or by wireless means. The sensors comprise, for example, at least one sensor chosen from a non-limiting family comprising a flow meter, an accelerometer, a pressure sensor, a leak detection sensor, a temperature sensor, a gas sensor, a vehicle presence sensor, a strain gauge, a road piezometer, a seismic activity sensor on the road, a vibration sensor on civil engineering works.

[0049] The sensor(s) are for example integrated into the road system 1 or remote by wired or wireless connection.

[0050] The connectors to the road system 1 are extension connectors which allow the connection of remote probes deeper into the manhole.

[0051] [Fig. 3] illustrates non-limiting examples of shapes of the slots 3 or 8. The slots 3 and 8 have, for example, a straight, angled or curved shape.

Claims

Claims

1. Connected road system (1), comprising a road part (2) made of cast iron or steel closing a manhole and crossed by at least one slot (3), sensors, connectors associated with an electronic device (6) and a protective housing (7) of the electronic device (6) characterized in that the electronic device (6) is fixed on the underside of the road part (2), which constitutes a slot antenna to improve communication between on the one hand equipment arranged inside the manhole or integrated into the electronic device (6) and on the other hand equipment located outside the manhole, while preserving the mechanical properties of the road part (2).

2. Connected road system (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the slot(s) (3) of the road part (2) comprise(s) a sealing material to fill said slot(s) (3) over at least part of their height, thus protecting the electronic device (6).

3. Connected road system (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the electronic device (6) comprises a support plate (6a) fixed on the underside to the road part (2) by screwing and / or gluing and / or riveting.

4. Connected road system (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that it comprises a sealing layer covering the support plate (6a) and constituting the interface of the support plate (6a) and the road part (2).

5. Connected road system (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the electronic device (6) comprises a support plate (6a) fixed on a closing plate (8), said closing plate (8) being fixed on the underside to the road part (2) by screwing and / or gluing and / or riveting, the protective housing (7) being fixed on the closing plate (8) so as to confine the internal space of said protective housing (7), thus protecting the electronic device (6).

6. Connected road system (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that it comprises a sealing layer (9) covering the closing plate (8) and constituting the interface of the closing plate (8) and the road part (2).

7. Connected road system (1) according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the closing plate (8) comprises at least one slot com- additional (8a) crossing.

8. Connected road system (1) according to any one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that the closing plate (8) and / or elements for fixing said closing plate (8) to the road part (2) is / are made of stainless steel to avoid the occurrence of galvanic couplings.

9. Connected road system (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the electronic device (6) integrates a radio reception and transmission system.

10. Connected road system (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the sensors are integrated into the road system (1) or remote by wired or wireless connection.

11. Connected road system (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the electronic device (6) comprises means for supplying electricity to the slot antenna, for transmitting and receiving data and for processing collected data.

12. Connected road system (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the sensors control equipment arranged inside or outside the manhole by receiving and / or transmitting data from said equipment.

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