Road signalling devices for facilitating the driving of vehicles in foggy weather

Abstract

 A signalling arrangement for indicating the path of a road in conditions of impaired visibility, in particular in fog, comprises series of roadside support elements (1) with fibre optic illumination. Said supports can be vertical display panels (5) on posts mounted on top of the guard wall (4) or of the guardrail structure, with the light-emitting ends of the optical fibres defining e.g. a directional chevron mark or part thereof; in a bend a plurality of such panels (5) may be positioned in a staggered array so as together to display a directional arrow. Alternatively, a tubular element (3) from which project a continuous series of spaced support elements (1) with spot fibre optic illumination (2) may be recessed into the flank of the guard wall (4).
To warn of the risk of a front-end pile-up, apparatus, e.g. induction coils, spaced along the road and adapted to detect stopped vehicles, may cause the up-stream fibre optic lights to flash.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to road sig­nalling devices, for facilitating the driving of vehicles in poor visibility conditions, in parti­cular in foggy weather.

[0002] As is known, one of the most important problems to be solved in the vehicle traffic field is that of properly indicating the road path, by means of suitable light signalling devices, mainly on speedways and under poor visibility conditions.

[0003] Known devices designed for solving the above mentioned problems have not be found fully satisfactory since these devices are substantially based on the concept of assuring a very high illumi­nation level which is obtained by light sources mounted on posts or lighting towers.

[0004] This system, on the other hand, is very expensive, both because of its installation cost and because of its maintenance cost: in fact, it has a very great power consumption.

[0005] The above mentioned problems are particular­ly serious in foggy weather since, under these con­ditions, a driver can hardly follow the road path.

[0006] In this connection it should be pointed out that a high illumination from the top is suscepti­ ble to further aggravate the poor visibility problem.

[0007] For solving the problem of providing suffi­cient driving capabilities in foggy weather light refracting devices have been also proposed: however, these devices have been found also unsatisfactory.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] Accordingly, the aim of the present invent­ion is to overcome the above mentioned drawbacks, by providing road signalling devices which are so designed and arranged as to substantially facilitate the driving of vehicles under foggy weather condi­tions.

[0009] Within the scope of the above aim, a main object of the present invention is to provide road signalling devices which are adapted to pre-signal to coming vehicle drivers the presence of vehicles queues in a rest condition on the road track and susceptible to cause, under foggy weather conditions, the so-called "chain" accidents.

[0010] Another object of the present invention is to provide road signalling devices which are very reliable and safe in operation.

[0011] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide road signalling devices which can be easily made starting from easily available materials and elements and which, moreover, are very competi­tive from a mere economic and maintenance standpoint.

[0012] According to one aspect of the present in­vention, the above aim and objects, as well as yet other objects, which will become more apparent here­inafter, are achieved by road signalling devices, particularly designed for indicating a road path or track, characterized in that said signalling devices essentially comprise support elements adapted to sup­port the end portions of one or more optical fibres and adapted to be modularly applied at given posi­tions, so as to continuously indicate the path of a given road track.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] Further characteristics and advantages of the road signalling devices according to the present invention, will become more apparent from the follow­ing detailed description of some preferred embodiments thereof which are illustrated, by way of an indicative but not limitative example, in the figures of the ac­companying drawings, where:

Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating a continuous spot signalling devices for signalling rectilinear road tracks;

Figure 2 is another perspective view illus­ trating a road signalling device designed for signal­ling curves road tracks;

Figure 3 shows a rectilinear road track the­rewith there are associated vertically extending sig­nalling devices according to the invention;

Figures 4 and 5 show a curved road track therewith there are associated two different types of road signalling devices according to the invent­ion;

Figures 6, 7 and 9 show corresponding types of possible road signalling devices according to the invention;

Figure 8 shows a signalling device which has been specifically designed for signalling a road curved portion, and made by mutually assembling several signalling panels;
and

Figure 10 is a detail view showing a plurali­ti of supporting elements for supporting the end por­tions of corresponding optical fibres, according to the arrangements of figures 1 and 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0014] With reference to the figures of the accom­panying drawings, the road signalling devices accord­ing to the invention, which have been specifically designed for facilitating the driving of vehicles on roads and speedways, under poor visibility con­ditions, and mainly in foggy weather, comprise a supporting element,overally indicated at the refer­ence number 1.

[0015] This supporting element, which is so orient­ed as to be clearly visible on the road track, has applied, on a surface thereof, the end portion of one or more optical fibres 2.

[0016] The mentioned supporting elements (figures 1, 2 and 10) made with suitable shapes and sizes, can be installed, at even spacings, on a tubular element 3 which can be directly applied on a traffic island 4 having a corresponding longitudinal housing.

[0017] This constructional embodiment is adapted to provide a continuous series of signalling devices, both for a rectilinear road track and for a curved road track.

[0018] Alternatively (as shown in figures 3, 4 and 5), the support element can comprise a panel 5, of any suitable shape provided that it conforms to the road code regulations.

[0019] On at least a surface portion of this panel there are coupled the end portions of a plurality of optical fibres 2 which are so arranged as to define a traffic sign.

[0020] According to a preferred embodiment, it is provided that the optical fibre sign, which can be clearly seen at a distance,will not be seen as the visual angle is greater than 12°, so as to prevent any glare phenomena from occurring.

[0021] Advantageously, the bottom of the panel 5 comprises a light refracting film 6 adapted to im­prove the visual efficiency.

[0022] In this connection it should be pointed out that optical fibre signalling devices have a high brilliancy thereby they can be clearly seen even under highly foggy weather so as to provide a motor vehicle driver with a perfect indication of the road path.

[0023] In cooperation with the subject signalling devices, moreover, it is possible to provide for the installation of special apparatus adapted to detect motor vehicles at rest conditions and to drive, through suitable interfacing apparatus, the illuminating lamps of the optical fibres.

[0024] These apparatus, in particular, can comprise induction coils, of the easily commercially available type, which will be installed, at even spacings, along the road track.

[0025] Thus, if along the road several motor vehi­cles are in a rest condition, it will be possible to cause the light signalling devices to be switched on and off, for a given duration, so as to supply the driver of a coming motorvehicle with information related to the stopped motor vehicles present on the road.

[0026] Thus, the drivers of the coming motor vehi­cles will be timely informed about a dangerous queue of motor vehicles on the road.

[0027] It should be apparent that the subject sig­nalling devices should be made in conformity with the enforcing road code rules and could be easily changed according to requirements.

[0028] In particular, as it is schematically shown in figures 5 and 8, the signalling device can be made by assembling several signalling panels which can be arranged both in an adjoining relation­ship and in an offset relationship so as to be easi­ly seen as a single signalling sign as they are seen from a distance.

[0029] Moreover, the application of a light re­fracting film bottom allows to greatly increase the efficiency of the light signalling device.

[0030] Moreover, a brilliancy control system can be further provided for adapting the brilliancy of the optical fibres depending on the environment light, thereby overcoming any glare phenomena.

[0031] From the above disclosure it should be appa­rent that the invention fully achieves the intended aim and objects.

[0032] While the invention has been disclosed and illustrated with reference to preferred embodi­ments thereof, it should be apparent that the dis­closed embodiments are susceptible to several modi­fications and variations, all of which will come within the scope and spirit of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A road signalling device, particularly designed for facilitating the driving of motor vehi­cles under poor visibility conditions, in particular in foggy weather, characterized in that said device essentially comprises a support element adapted to support the end portion of one or more optical fibres and adapted to be modularly applied at given positions so as to continuously define the path of a given road track.

2. A road signalling device according to claim 1, characterized in that said device comprises a panel body including optical fibre light signal­ling elements, adapted to provide an indication in conformity with an enforcing road code.

3. A device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said optical fibres are adapted to emit a highly directional light signal so as to be visible exclusively with a visual angle less than 12°.

4. A device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said device comprises a plurality of adjoining panel bodies.

5. A device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said device comprises a plurality of spaced and offset panel bodies which can be seen from a distance as a single signalling element.

6. A device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said device comprises a light refracting bottom.

7. A device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said device comprises light sources adapted to emit light in an intermittent way,said sources being controlled by apparatus adapted to detect motor vehicles in a rest condition.

8. A road signalling device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said device further comprises light adjust­ing apparatus which operate depending on the environ­ment light for adjusting the brilliancy of said opti­cal fibres.

Drawing