A STRUCTURE FOR PLACEMENT OF PAYMENT STATIONS OR CONTROL POINTS

Abstract

 The present invention belongs to the field of checking devices, particularly to the field of devices and structures for collecting tolls, tunnel or bridge fees or entrance fees on one or more control points. The invention relates to an arrangement structure for placement of payment stations or control points, particularly for toll stations on highways. Each payment station has payment units, which are also named control units in case of control points, such as borders and customs or points for checking vignettes and other documents. The essence of the invention is in the arrangement of the control or payment units, which are arranged obliquely to the road. Namely, at least a part of the roadway is divided into at least an access lane, an exit driving lane and between said lane an intermediate lane with control or payment units, which are parallel to each other, between said units are shorter driving lanes, which originate on one end from the access lane and join on the other end to the exit driving lane. The number of control or payment units is arbitrary, higher the number, the longer the structure of the payment station or the control point is.

Description

Field of the invention

[0001] The present invention belongs to the field of checking devices, particularly to the field of devices and structures for collecting tolls, tunnel or bridge fees or entrance fees on one or more control points. The invention relates to a structure for placement or arrangement of payment stations or control points, particularly for toll stations on highways.

Background of the invention and the technical problem

[0002] Toll stations or booths are traffic-related objects built for collecting tolls paid by drivers of all vehicles using a highway. Similar objects are payment stations, which are intended for collection of fees for tunnels, bridges or similar, as well as control points, such as border and/or customs control points, which are usually present on borders of countries. Payment stations and control points are always arranged transversely to the road, which substantially limits the number of possible stations to be installed. Consequently, in case of heavy traffic the vehicles arrange in long lines, thus possibly leading to kilometres-long congestions. Such events have a negative effect on traffic safety, drivers' state and prolong the driving time. The technical problem, which is solved by the present invention, is designing a structure for arranging as many payment booths or control points as possible without the need to widen the road.

Prior art

[0003] Utility model CN205656677U describes a solution wherein the control points are in parallel with the road instead of the transverse position. The control points are arranged on a separate lane one after another, from which the vehicles can return to the main road. This structure of toll booths or control points is also not optimal, as even longer queues can be formed.

Description of the solution to the technical problem

[0004] The present invention addresses the problems and disadvantages of the above-described structures or arrangements of toll booths and control points. The technical problem is solved as defined in the independent claim, while the preferred embodiments are defined in dependent claims.

[0005] Payment stations mean any station that is intended for paying or collecting toll, tunnel fees, bridge fees or similar fees. The invention may be equally used for control points such as border crossings, customs stations, arrangements for checking vignettes, documents, etc.

[0006] Each payment station has payment boots or units, which are also called control units in case of control points such as borders, customs, and arrangements for checking vignettes and other documents.

[0007] The essence of the present invention is in the arrangement of the control or payment units, which are arranged obliquely to the road. The angle to the road is arbitrary, for example from 15 to 90 degrees to the road, preferably from 30 to 60 degrees to the road, for example 45 degrees. Due to usability and suitability for driving and road construction the preferred maximal angle is 90 degrees, i.e., perpendicular to the road or the direction of the driving. It is, however, possible to design the structure with angles larger than 90 degrees, but the path of vehicles will be different (not necessarily forward, but at least partly backwards). Such larger angles are not preferred due to longer vehicles, such as trucks, vehicles with trailers, etc.

[0008] At least a part of the roadway is divided into at least an access lane, an exit driving lane and between said lane an intermediate lane with control or payment units, which are parallel to each other, between said units are shorter driving lanes, which originate on one end from the access lane and join on the other end to the exit driving lane. After the last control or payment unit the access lane ends in any suitable manner, preferably with an obstacle or a wall to prevent passage. The last control point can also end with a narrowing that continues through the last control unit or leads past the last control or payment unit. The exit driving lane begins at the first control or payment unit or before, wherein after the last control or payment unit this lane leads (joins or forms) the driving lane. The driving lane can afterwards widen to an arbitrary number of lanes. The number of control or payment units is arbitrary, the more units the longer the structure of the control or payment point is.

[0009] In a preferred embodiment a sign is placed before the first control point or the first payment booth, said sign showing availability or occupancy of control points or payment booths. This allows the vehicles to distribute optimally based on availability of individual unit and thus shorten the time to pass through the control point or payment booth for paying toll, bridge fee or tunnel fee. At the same time, fatigue of drivers, fuel consumption and CO₂ release into the environment are reduced.

[0010] The present invention may be used in existing roadways or newly built roadways or other areas where checking is needed, such as border crossings, customs offices, vignette control, control of documents, or payment of fees such as tolls, bridge fees or tunnel fees.

[0011] The present invention also relates to a road provided on at least one part with the above-described structure.

[0012] The structure for arrangement of payment stations or control points will be described in further detail based on exemplary embodiments and figures, which show:

Figure 1

Arrangement according to the first embodiment

Figure 2

Arrangement according to the second embodiment, wherein driving lanes of the roadway are shown

Figure 3

Preferred angles of control or payment units with regards to the roadway

[0013] Figure 1 shows an arrangement of control or payment units 1 at an angle A with regards to the road 2, if the access lane is on the right side. The angles A and A' together form a 90-degree angle with regards to the direction of the road 2. The vehicle V can move along different trajectories, for example trajectory T or alternative trajectories T', T", T'". The first payment unit 1 could also be used, however, the vehicle V is too far ahead.

[0014] Figure 2 shows a possible embodiment of obliquely arranged payment or control units 1 with an access lane 3 and an exit driving lane 5. The orientation in figure 2 is opposite to the orientation shown in figure 1, as the access lane is on the left, while the exit driving lane is on the right. A driving lane is present at least on a part of the roadway 2, wherein the driving lane is divided into at least the access lane 3, the exit driving lane 5 and between them a lane 4 with control or payment units 1, which is parallel to each other and between them shorter driving lanes 4a are provided, which on one end emerge from the access lane 3 and on the other end connect to the driving lane 5. After the last control or payment unit 1n, the access lane 3 is ended in any suitable manner, preferably with an obstacle or a wall 3a to prevent passage. The driving lane 5 begins with the first control or payment unit 1a or even before, wherein after the last control or payment unit 1a the driving lane leads (or connects or forms) the driving lane of the roadway 2. The driving lane can then be divided into an arbitrary number of lanes. The orientation of the access and the exit driving lane depends on the placement of the roadway, the properties of the terrain and the driving orientation (the steering wheel on the right or on the left).

[0015] The angle A (the angle of the inclination or obliqueness) between the payment or control units and the roadway or the mentioned lanes is arbitrary, for example from 30 to 60 degrees relative to the roadway. Figure 3 shows three different possibilities, for example approximately 30 degrees (upper unit), approximately 45 degrees (middle unit) and 90 degrees (bottom unit). Due to the suitable use and suitability for implementation the preferred maximum angle is 60 degrees, as the angle approximately 90 degrees (perpendicular units to the roadway) is less desired particularly due to heavy transport vehicles, vehicles with trailers and similar long vehicles.

[0016] Embodiments shown in the figures are strictly exemplary and are not limiting for other possible embodiments of the invention. In the scope of the invention other embodiments are possible, which are clear to the person skilled in the art based on the description above and the appended claims.

Claims

1. A structure for placement or arrangement of payment stations or control points comprising at least one control or payment unit, characterized in that the control or payment unit is placed obliquely to a direction of driving.

2. The structure according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of control or payment units is placed in succession in the direction of driving on the same part of a roadway.

3. The structure according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein at least a part of the roadway is divided into an access lane, an exit driving lane and between said lanes an intermediate lane with control or payment units, which are parallel to each other and wherein between said control or payment units smaller intermediate driving lanes are provided, which on one end emerge from the access lane and on the other end join the exit driving lane.

4. The structure according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the access lane after the last payment or control unit ends in a manner that prevents passage.

5. The structure according to the preceding claim, wherein the access lane ends with a wall, a barrier, or an obstacle.

6. The structure according to any of the preceding claims, wherein at the last control or payment unit the access lane is narrowed and leads to the last control or payment unit.

7. The structure according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the exit driving lane begins at the first control or payment unit or earlier, and wherein after the last control or payment unit the exit driving belt leads, joins or forms the driving lane of the roadway.

8. The structure according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the number of control or payment units is arbitrary, preferably 2 or more.

9. The structure according to any of the preceding claims, wherein before the first control or payment unit a sign is provided showing the drivers occupancy of the control or payment units.

10. The structure according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the obliqueness angle of the control or payment units is arbitrary, preferably 15 to 60 degrees, more preferably 30 to 60 degrees relative to the roadway.

11. The structure according to any of the preceding claims, wherein it is a structure for paying toll, bridge fee and/or tunnel fee.

12. The structure according to any claim from 1 to 11, wherein the structure is a border crossing, customs, a structure for checking vignettes and/or other documents.

Drawing