Expansion box for traffic signal control system

Abstract

To provide a traffic signal controller extension box integrated with a housing of a traffic signal controller, by utilizing a pole mounting hole pre-provided in the traffic signal controller.SOLUTION: A traffic signal controller extension box 10 comprises: a laterally long rectangular main box part 11 attachable to an existing traffic signal controller S by post-installation, and a fixing plate part 12 hanging only from a place near one side face part 11c of the main box part 11. A column body attachment hole S13 of the traffic signal controller S and a through-hole 12a of the fixing plate part 12 are fixed by a bolt after placing a bottom face 11b of the main box part 11 on a top face part S11 of the traffic signal controller S. The traffic signal controller extension box 10 that can store storage equipment inside the main box part 11 via an opening / closing door 11d allows the storage equipment to be taken out by unlocking a locking part 11i of the opening / closing door 11d when using the storage equipment.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an extension box for a traffic signal controller that can be attached to a traffic signal controller that controls the lighting of traffic signal devices installed at intersections.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a signal controller that can open and close an opening / closing door via a hinge. The signal controller shown in FIG. 12 of Patent Document 1 is to be installed by removing bolts on either the right or left side with respect to a column near an intersection.

[0003] The installation of the signal controller is such that after removing the closing bolts from the mounting holes for the column on the mounting side, a fixture is attached to these mounting holes for the column, and the signal controller is fixed to the column via the fixture.

[0004] When various additional units are separately added to this existing signal controller, it may be necessary to attach an extension box for installing the additional units to the signal controller.

[0005] In such a case, it is preferable that the extension box has a structure integrated with the existing signal controller for reasons such as space saving and reduction of corrosiveness due to rain and wind.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0006]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0007] However, as mentioned above, when attaching an integrated expansion box to an existing signal controller as an add-on, welding or drilling of the side wall plates on the existing signal controller requires different work procedures depending on whether the signal controller is mounted on the left or right side of the column, and it is difficult to process the signal controller and other components at the installation site.

[0008] Furthermore, it is possible to mount the expansion box directly above the signal controller on the pole in the same way as the signal controller itself, but this expansion box also requires mounting holes and closing bolts on both sides for the pole, making it a time-consuming process to mount on the pole.

[0009] The object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems and to provide an expansion box for a traffic signal controller that integrates with the housing of the traffic signal controller using mounting holes for pole mounting that are provided in advance for the traffic signal controller. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] To achieve the above objective, the present invention provides an expansion box for a traffic signal controller that can be mounted on the top surface of an existing traffic signal controller and attached as an integral part afterwards. The expansion box is horizontally elongated and rectangular in shape, and comprises a main box section having a bottom section that covers the entire top surface when mounted on the top surface, and a rectangular fixing plate section that hangs down only from a point near one side of the main box section along the short side of the bottom section and is parallel to the side section, and on a pair of sides along the longitudinal direction of the bottom section of the main box section, Each of the opening and closing doors is provided, which open and close via hinges located on the right side when viewed from the front and rear. The surface of the pair of opening and closing doors is provided with lock mounting holes for which a locking mechanism can be attached. One opening and closing door is made openable by attaching the locking mechanism, while the other opening and closing door is made inoperable by attaching a closing mechanism that closes the lock mounting hole. The fixing plate portion extending downward is provided with through holes that can communicate with lock mounting holes for column mounting provided on the left and right sides of the traffic signal controller. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] According to the expansion box for traffic signal controllers of the present invention, even if the traffic signal controller is mounted on the left or right side of the column, the expansion box for traffic signal controllers can be easily attached and fixed from the right or left side, which is outside the traffic signal controller.

[0012] Furthermore, when the expansion box for the traffic signal controller is attached to the traffic signal controller from the right or left side, an opening and closing door with a hinge on the right side, similar to the main door of the traffic signal controller, is positioned on the front, resulting in improved operability of the opening and closing operation.

[0013] Furthermore, even if other devices are already attached to the column, if there is some space above and outside the traffic signal controller, an expansion box for the traffic signal controller can be installed, and it also looks good because it is integrated with the traffic signal controller. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0014] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view of the expansion box for the traffic signal controller in Example 1 before it is attached to the traffic signal controller. [Figure 2] This is a perspective view showing the expansion box for the traffic signal controller attached to the traffic signal controller. [Figure 3] This is a perspective view of the expansion box for the traffic signal controller in Example 2 before it is attached to the traffic signal controller. [Figure 4] This is a perspective view showing the expansion box for the traffic signal controller attached to the traffic signal controller. [Figure 5] This is a perspective view of the expansion box for the traffic signal controller, as seen from the opposite side. [Figure 6] This is a block diagram showing the traffic signal controller with an expansion box for the traffic signal controller attached. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0015] The present invention will be described in detail based on the illustrated embodiments. [Examples]

[0016] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the extension box for a traffic signal controller before being attached to the traffic signal controller in Example 1, and Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the extension box for a traffic signal controller attached to the right side of the traffic signal controller.

[0017] The extension box 10 for a traffic signal controller in Example 1 is a device that can be retrofitted and attached to an existing traffic signal controller S installed on a column or the like at an intersection, or an existing traffic signal controller S before installation.

[0018] The extension box 10 for a traffic signal controller is made of a metal that constitutes the housing including the main body part S10 and the main door part S20 of the traffic signal controller S. In addition, for the extension box 10 for a traffic signal controller, an appropriate material can be adopted as long as it is a metal or the like having durability against rain and wind.

[0019] The extension box 10 for a traffic signal controller is composed of a horizontally long rectangular parallelepiped main box part 11 and a fixing plate part 12 that hangs down only from a location near one side face 11c of the main box part 11 along the short side 11b of the bottom face part 11a of the main box part 11.

[0020] The size of the bottom face part 11a of the main box part 11 is such that it covers the entire top face part S11 when placed on the top face part S11. The bottom face part 11a of the main box part 11 is placed on the top face part S11 of the traffic signal controller S so that the extension box 10 for a traffic signal controller can be attached to the traffic signal controller S.

[0021] Openings (not shown) are provided on a pair of side faces orthogonal to the side face 11c of the main box part 11, and opening and closing doors 11d, 11e that can seal these openings are provided respectively. In addition, these opening and closing doors 11d, 11e in the closed state are parallel to the long side 11f of the bottom face part 11a of the main box part 11.

[0022] Both of these opening and closing doors 11d and 11e have hinges 11g mounted vertically on the right side when viewed from the front and the back. Additionally, a lock mounting hole 11h is provided in the center of the left side of the opening and closing doors 11d and 11e, and a locking mechanism 11i is attached to the lock mounting hole 11h of the opening and closing door 11d, which is on the front side.

[0023] This locking part 11i is attached only to the lock mounting hole 11h of the opening / closing door 11d or opening / closing door 11e, which is located directly above the main door part S20 of the traffic signal controller S, when the expansion box 10 for the traffic signal controller is attached to the traffic signal controller S. A sealing part is attached to the lock mounting hole 11h of the opening / closing door 11e on the back side to seal the lock mounting hole 11h. Therefore, the opening / closing door 11e on the back side cannot be unlocked and cannot be opened because it does not have a keyhole.

[0024] The fixing plate portion 12, which extends downward from the side portion 11c, is parallel to the side portion 11c and has two through holes 12a that communicate with the mounting holes S13 for the column body provided on the left and right side portions S12 of the main body portion S10 of the traffic signal controller S, which are used for attachment to the column body.

[0025] In the traffic signal control unit expansion box 10 of Embodiment 1, the fixing plate portion 12 is shown that has a length that reaches the upper of the two mounting holes S13 for the column body, which are arranged vertically. It is also possible to use a fixing plate portion 12 that has a length that reaches the lower mounting hole S13 for the column body, as shown in the traffic signal control unit expansion box 10 of Embodiment 2, which will be described later in Figures 3 to 5.

[0026] The traffic signal controller S is a metal box-shaped body consisting of a main body S10 having an opening on one side, and a main door S20 that seals this opening and can be opened and closed via a hinge S14.

[0027] A window (not shown) is provided in the lower center of the main door section S20, which communicates with the interior of the main body section S10. A rectangular sub-door section S21 (not shown) is provided to cover this window and opens and closes around a vertical axis.

[0028] The main door section S20 and the sub-door section S21 are provided with a locking section S22 that can be locked and unlocked with a common key. The locking section 11i of the traffic signal controller expansion box 10 may also be locked and unlocked using the same key as these locking sections S22.

[0029] When attaching the expansion box 10 for the traffic signal controller to an existing traffic signal controller S, the main box section 11 is placed on the bottom surface 11a of the main box section 11, which can be placed on the top surface S11 of the traffic signal controller S. Then, the main box section 11 and the fixing plate section 12 are aligned, and the mounting holes S13 for the column on the side surface S12 of the traffic signal controller S and the through holes 12a of the fixing plate section 12 are fixed with bolts B as shown in Figure 2.

[0030] When the expansion box 10 for the traffic signal controller is fixed to the traffic signal controller S, the opening and closing doors 11d and 11e of the expansion box 10, which are made to match the external dimensions of the traffic signal controller S, become flush with the front and rear sides of the traffic signal controller S.

[0031] Furthermore, a rubber sheet material, which is approximately the same size as the bottom portion 11a and serves to prevent misalignment, may be placed between the top portion S11 of the traffic signal controller S and the bottom portion 11a of the main box portion 11.

[0032] Furthermore, Figures 1 and 2 are perspective views of the traffic signal controller S when it is mounted on a column (not shown) on the left side, viewed from the front where the main door section S20 is visible. Therefore, although the diagrams show the expansion box 10 for the traffic signal controller fixed to the right side of the traffic signal controller S, it is possible to fix the expansion box 10 for the traffic signal controller, with its front and back reversed, to the left side of the traffic signal controller S that is mounted on a column on the right side.

[0033] In this manner, when the extension box 10 for the traffic signal controller is fixed to the left side of the traffic signal controller S, the locking part 11i is attached to the lock mounting hole 11h of the opening / closing door 11e, which is located directly above the main door section S20. Then, a sealing part is attached to the opening / closing door 11d on the back side to seal the lock mounting hole 11h.

[0034] In this way, the extension box 10 for the traffic signal controller, which is fixed to the traffic signal controller S, can store maintenance equipment and various tools for the traffic signal controller S inside the main box section 11 via the opening and closing door 11d.

[0035] These storage devices are housed in the main box section 11 of the expansion box 10 for the traffic signal controller because there is not enough space inside the housing of the traffic signal controller S. When using the storage devices, the locking section 11i of the opening / closing door 11d is unlocked and the storage devices are removed.

[0036] Furthermore, for traffic signal controllers S that are to be fixed to a column from the left or right side, through holes (not shown) are provided in advance in the top surface S11 of the traffic signal controller S and the bottom surface 11a of the main box 11 of the expansion box 10 for the traffic signal controller, respectively. Cables and the like can be passed through these through holes to connect the internal components of the traffic signal controller S to the various internal components installed in the main box 11.

[0037] Furthermore, internal equipment such as antennas housed in the main box section 11 can be placed on the bottom surface 11a, or they can be fixed to the back surface of the non-opening door 11e. By attaching the internal equipment to the back surface of the opening door 11e, maintenance and replacement of the internal equipment can be easily performed when the opening door 11d is opened. [Examples]

[0038] Figure 3 is a perspective view of the extension box for the traffic signal controller in Example 2 before it is attached to the traffic signal controller, Figure 4 is a perspective view of the extension box for the traffic signal controller attached to the right side of the traffic signal controller, Figure 5 is a perspective view of the extension box for the traffic signal controller viewed from the opposite side, and Figure 6 is a block diagram showing the extension box for the traffic signal controller attached to the left side of the traffic signal controller.

[0039] The expansion box 10' for the traffic signal controller in Example 2 is made of a durable and rigid synthetic resin material, such as polycarbonate, rather than the metal housing that makes up the housing of the traffic signal controller S.

[0040] By using synthetic resin materials that are less likely to block radio waves, it becomes possible to ensure sufficient reception strength when the internally installed equipment is, for example, an antenna.

[0041] The traffic signal control unit expansion box 10' consists of a horizontally elongated rectangular main box section 11, a fixing plate section 12 located near one side section 11c of the main box section 11 and hanging down from the bottom section 11a, and a vertically elongated rectangular sub-box section 13 that hangs down from a corner section 11j provided at the corner of the bottom section 11a of the main box section 11 and communicates with the interior of the main box section 11.

[0042] The structure of the opening and closing doors 11d and 11e, which are located in front of and behind the main box section 11 of the traffic signal control unit expansion box 10', is the same as the structure of the traffic signal control unit expansion box 10 of Embodiment 1. The side surface 11c of the main box section 11 and the outer surface 13a of the sub-box section 13 are flush and continuous, forming an inverted L shape as shown in Figure 4.

[0043] As shown in Figure 5, the inner surface of the sub-box section 13 and a portion of the outer surface of the fixing plate section 12 are connected, and the fixing plate section 12, except for the parts connected to the sub-box section 13, has multiple through holes 12a running vertically.

[0044] The fixing plate portion 12, which is fixed to the traffic signal controller S via the through hole 12a, may be made of metal because it requires a certain degree of strength. The sub-box portion 13 may also be made of metal. In such cases, at least the main box portion 11 will be made of a material that does not easily shield radio waves.

[0045] As shown in Figure 6, the traffic signal controller S contains a control unit S30 that controls the lighting of the signal lights L installed at the intersection, a transmission unit S40 connected to the control unit S30 and communicating with a wireless communication unit 14 installed inside the main box 11, and a power supply unit S50 that is powered by an external AC power supply P and outputs DC power to the control unit S30, the transmission unit S40, and the wireless communication unit 14. The control unit S30 has a processing unit that performs the lighting process for each signal light L and a storage unit that stores constants such as the time schedule for the signal lights L.

[0046] Although not shown in Figures 3 to 5, a wireless communication unit 14 is provided inside the main box 11, as shown in Figure 6. The wireless communication unit 14 consists of, for example, a GPS communication unit 14a, a mobile communication unit 14b, and a BLE communication unit 14c for Bluetooth®. In addition to the wireless communication unit 14, other internal equipment such as a battery unit that supplies backup power to the traffic signal controller S can also be placed inside the main box 11, and these appropriate devices can be installed in combination.

[0047] The GPS communication unit 14a, the mobile communication unit 14b, and the BLE communication unit 14c, installed in the main box 11, are connected to the transmission unit S40 in the traffic signal controller S via communication cables C1, C2, and C3, respectively. Furthermore, the GPS communication unit 14a, the mobile communication unit 14b, and the BLE communication unit 14c are connected to the power supply unit S50 via power cable C4.

[0048] These communication cables C1, C2, C3 and power cable C4 are wired from the lower end of the traffic signal controller S and routed inside the sub-box 13. Furthermore, if the wireless communication unit 14 is an antenna, such as a GPS antenna, BLE antenna, or mobile communication antenna, then the power cable C4 does not need to be wired.

[0049] The procedure for installing the traffic signal control unit expansion box 10' to the existing traffic signal control unit S is as follows: First, the internal equipment is pre-fixed to the bottom surface 11a or to the back of the unused opening / closing door 11e or opening / closing door 11d inside the main box section 11, and the communication and power cables C connected to these internal equipment are inserted into the sub-box section 13.

[0050] In this state, similar to the expansion box 10 for the traffic signal controller in Embodiment 1, the main box portion 11, which can be placed on the top portion S11 of the traffic signal controller S, is placed on the bottom portion 11a. Then, the main box portion 11 and the fixing plate portion 12 are aligned, and the mounting holes S13 for the column on the side S12 of the traffic signal controller S and the through holes 12a of the fixing plate portion 12 are fixed with bolts B as shown in Figure 4.

[0051] Finally, the communication and power cables C extending from the lower end of the sub-box section 13 are inserted into the sub-box section 13 and connected to the transmission section S40 and power supply section S50 of the traffic signal controller S, respectively, completing the installation of the expansion box 10' for the traffic signal controller to the traffic signal controller S.

[0052] The traffic signal controller S, to which the expansion box 10' for the traffic signal controller is fixed, allows for maintenance of internal equipment such as the wireless communication unit 14 through the openable door 11e or openable door 11d located directly above the main door section S20.

[0053] Thus, according to the traffic signal controller expansion boxes 10 and 10' of the present invention, even if the traffic signal controller S is mounted on the left or right side of the column, the traffic signal controller expansion boxes 10 and 10' can be easily attached and fixed from the right or left side, which is outside the traffic signal controller S.

[0054] Furthermore, when the expansion boxes 10 and 10' for the traffic signal controller are attached to the traffic signal controller S from the right or left side, the opening and closing doors 11d and 11e, which have hinges S14 on the right side, are positioned on the front, similar to the main door S20 of the traffic signal controller S, resulting in improved operability for opening and closing operations.

[0055] Furthermore, even if other devices are already attached to the column, if there is some space above and outside the traffic signal controller S, the expansion boxes 10 and 10' for the traffic signal controller can be installed, and since they are integrated with the traffic signal controller, they also look good. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0056] 10, 10' Expansion box for traffic signal controller 11 Main box section 11a Bottom part 11b Short side 11c Side part 11d, 11e Opening and closing doors 11g hinge 11h Lock mounting hole 11i Locking mechanism 11j corner corner 12 Fixing plate 12a Through hole 13 Sub box part 13a Outer side 14. Wireless Communication Section 14a GPS communication unit 14b Communication section for mobile communications 14c BLE communication section S Traffic signal controller S10 Main Unit S11 Top part S12 side S13 Mounting hole for column

Claims

1. An expansion box for a traffic signal controller that can be mounted on the top surface of an existing traffic signal controller and attached as an aftermarket addition, It is a horizontally elongated rectangular parallelepiped, and consists of a main box section having a bottom section that covers the entire top section when placed on the top section, and a rectangular fixing plate section that hangs down from only a point near one side of the main box section along the short side of the bottom section and is parallel to the side section. On the pair of sides of the bottom surface of the main box section, which run in the longitudinal direction, there are opening and closing doors that open and close via hinges located on the right side when viewed from the front and rear. The surface of the pair of doors is provided with lock mounting holes for attaching a locking mechanism. One of the opening doors is fitted with the aforementioned locking mechanism to allow it to be opened and closed, while the other opening door is fitted with a closing mechanism that closes the lock mounting hole to prevent it from being opened and closed. An expansion box for a traffic signal controller, characterized in that the fixing plate portion extending downward is provided with through holes that can communicate with mounting holes for a column body provided on the left and right sides of the traffic signal controller.

2. The sub-box section is provided with a vertically elongated rectangular shape that hangs down from the corner of the bottom surface and communicates with the main box section and its interior, The inner surface of the sub-box and a portion of the outer surface of the fixing plate are connected. The extension box for a traffic signal controller according to claim 1, characterized in that the through holes are provided in the fixing plate portion other than the portion connected to the sub-box portion.

3. The expansion box for a traffic signal controller according to claim 2, characterized in that internal equipment for connecting to the traffic signal controller is installed inside the main box section.

4. The expansion box for a traffic signal controller according to claim 3, characterized in that the internal equipment is a wireless communication unit.

5. The expansion box for a traffic signal controller according to claim 4, characterized in that the wireless communication unit includes at least one of a GPS communication unit, a BLE communication unit, and a mobile communication unit.

6. The extension box for a traffic signal controller according to any one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that a cable connected to the internal equipment is inserted through the sub-box, and the cable extending from the lower end of the sub-box is connected to the transmission unit of the traffic signal controller.

7. An expansion box for a traffic signal controller according to any one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that at least the main box portion is made of a material that is difficult to shield from radio waves.

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