PORTABLE TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEM WITH TELEVISION MONITORING

• US 3,729,706 A
• Filed: 10/15/1970
• Issued: 04/24/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: George P. Hein
• Original Assignee: George P. Hein
• Inventors: Hein, George P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Claffy, Kathleen H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Myers, Randall P.
• Application Number:
  US05/080,876
• Time in Patent Office: 922 Days
• Field of Search: 340/31R,31A,35,38R,40,41,22 178/DIG.1,DIG.38 116/63R,63P
• US Class Current: 340/908
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0955 transportable

Abstract

A portable, electronic, vehicular traffic control system consisting of a central control console, telemetry links and numerous, remote flagging units. The remote flagging units are located at the traffic thresholds to a restricted zone and relay traffic entrance orders from the central control console thereby allowing the remote control of the ingress and egress of vehicles into that zone. The remote flagging units contain remotely operated traffic signal lights, a communications system, mechanical and electrical traffic passage sensors and a closed circuit television camera. The system is primarily adapted for the control of vehicular traffic within a control zone where portions are visually obscured.

Claims

1. A traffic controller having a control console and a pair of traffic control units electrically connected to the console to enable the traffic control units to be temporarily mounted on opposite ends of a highway control area to allow the control of traffic from the console in situations in which the console is situated outside of the range of direct viewing of at least one of the control units comprising at least a pair of signal lights mounted on each of said control units, one of said signal lights indicating a go indication and the other of said signal lights a stop indication, panel light means mounted on said console for each said signal light on each of said control units, each panel light means being connected to provide on the console a positive indication of the light illumination condition of a signal light, switch means mounted on said console operative to illuminate and extinguish the respective signal lights individually, a television camera mounted on each of said units in a fixed position to encompass the same general field of view and facing in the same direction as said signal lights whereby the signal lights and the television camera as a unit are mountable to face in the direction of incoming traffic flow to the control zone, television monitoring receiver means mounted on said console and connected to said television camera to allow the console operator to simultaneously view said television monitoring receiver means and said panel light means while operating said control switches, audio warning means mounted on each of said control units, automobile actuated switch means mounted on the road area within the control zone, means operative to energize said audio warning signAl upon the simultaneous energization of the signal light indicating a stop indication and of said automobile actuated switch means, and display means mounted on said console connected to said audio means to provide an indication on said console during activation of said warning means.