A TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEM FOR MERGE JUNCTIONS

• US 3,593,262 A
• Filed: 12/13/1968
• Issued: 07/13/1971
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/1967
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Spencer Rolf Edmund
• Original Assignee: Spencer Rolf Edmund
• Inventors: SPENCER ROLF EDMUND
• Application Number:
  US04/783,598
• Time in Patent Office: 942 Days
• US Class Current: 340/932
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/075 Ramp control

Abstract

In a traffic control system for a merge junction between first and second vehicular paths there is provided means for detecting movement of a vehicle along the second path towards the junction. A first set of indicators are arranged in succession along a length of the first path and in advance of the junction; the indicators being so controlled by the detecting means as to direct the creation of a moving gap in the traffic on the first path. The moving gap is arranged to arrive at the merge junction simultaneously with the merging vehicle so that said vehicle can safely merge with the traffic on the first path.

Claims

1. A traffic control system for a merge junction between first and second vehicular paths including first detecting means for detecting movement of a vehicle along the second path towards the junction and a first set of indicators, arranged in succession along a length of the first path, the indicators being so controlled by the detecting means as to direct the creation of a moving gap in the traffic on said first path, into which gap the vehicle can merge at the junction.

2. A traffic control system according to claim 1 including a second detecting means for detecting movement of a vehicle along said first path and a second set of indicators being so controlled by said second detecting means as to indicate the presence of the vehicle on said first path.

3. A traffic control system according to claim 1 wherein said indicators are so controlled by said first detecting means as to cause said gap to move with substantially constant velocity and to reach said junction at the same time as the joining vehicle.

4. A traffic control system according to claim 1 in which the control of said first set of indicators by said first detecting means is arranged to take account of different velocities of vehicles on said two paths.

5. A traffic control system according to claim 1 in which the control of said first set of indicators by said first detecting means is arranged to take account of relative acceleration of vehicles on said two paths.

6. A traffic control system according to claim 1 in which said first detecting means comprises a plurality of vehicle detectors arranged in succession along a length of the said second vehicular path.

7. A traffic control system according to claim 6 wherein the spacing between successive vehicle detectors is progressively increased in accordance with a predetermined vehicle acceleration characteristic.

8. A traffic control system according to claim 6 wherein said vehicle detectors include inductive loops.

9. A traffic control system according to claim 1 wherein said indicators comprise lamp units.

10. A traffic control system according to claim 9 wherein each lamp unit includes two lamps of different colors.

11. A traffic control system according to claim 10 wherein the first lamp of each lamp unit is of one coloR, the second lamp of those lamp units nearer to the merge junction is of a second color, and the second lamp of those lamp units further from the merge junction is of a third color.