Today several cameras for automatic speed check-up are located along the roads in Sweden. The cameras are usually located adjacent to busy roads with high speed limit. The camera cooperates with a speedometer, usually a laser, which is located near the camera. The speedometer measures the speed of an approaching vehicle, and if the speed is higher than the speed limit a signal is communicated to the camera to take a photo of the vehicle and driver.

The camera is arranged in a box, which is arranged on a pole. All the poles with boxes which are located along the roads are not used at the same time. Instead a camera with support equipment is mounted in the boxes that are used for the moment. The installation in the boxes is today performed about 2,5-3 meters above the ground from a ladder or a mobile platform. Besides mounting the camera in the box, the film or memory of the camera must be changed or downloaded several times each day the camera is in use. This is a time consuming and dangerous work since the equipment, such as a ladder, is unsteady and makes it difficult to use both hands in a safe manner. Mobile platforms require time for mounting and dismounting, and also a relatively large vehicle for transportation. During work in a traffic environment, and especially if the traffic is not restricted, it is important for safety reasons to minimize the time vehicle stand still and personnel is out on the road. Except that each maintenance stop requires a relatively long time a large plane and hardened surface around the pole is needed. This surface is needed for the positioning of the ladder or mobile platform. The arrangement of such a suitable surface at each pole makes the arrangement considerably more expensive.

The invention solves the above-mentioned problem and gives the maintaining crew access to a box with the camera from a solid position and in a suitable working height. Furthermore, the work can be performed faster and thereby reduce the time the unprotected personnel is exposed to the traffic. A pole according to the invention does not need a large hardened surface for climbing equipment.

The solution according to the invention comprises a pole according to claim 1.

Embodiments of the invention are described in the subsequent claims.

The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the following Figures.

Fig. 1 shows a pole located adjacent to a road according to the invention.

Fig. 2a shows a pole in operation position.

Fig. 2b shows a pole in service position.

Fig. 3 shows a cut away pole in operation position.

Fig. 4 shows a cut away pole in service position.

Fig. 5 shows a pole from the side.

Fig. 6 shows a pole from the other side.

Fig. 7 shows s cut away of the lower part of the pole.

Fig. 8 shows a cut away of the sleigh and pole.

Figure 1 shows a pole (1) located adjacent to a road (2) according to the invention.

A traffic device (3), in this embodiment a camera for speed control, is arranged on the pole (1). When the camera for speed control is operating it needs to be at least 2.5 meters above the roadway. During service/maintenance the camera is lowered to a suitable height so that the service personnel is able to work standing on the ground. In Fig. 2a a camera is disclosed in it's operating position (A). In Fig. 2b a camera is disclosed in its service position (B). In the service position (B) the camera is easily available for the personnel to change camera film, empty camera memory or performing other maintenance. In the operation position (A) the camera is arranged sufficiently high to give it a good view of the road so that it can perform both speed control and photographing with a good result.

Fig. 3-4 shows a hoist device (10) that moves the traffic device (3) between the operating position (A) and service position (B) and vice versa. The hoist device (10) comprises a cable winder (11,12, 13,14) with a winch device (11) having a driving shaft (20) to be connected to a power source (24), a cable (12) attached to the winch device (11) and via a top wheel (13), attached to a sleigh (17), which glides along the pole. The sleigh (17) comprises two glide devices (15,16) vertically shifted from each other in order to reduce the friction between the sleigh (17) and the pole (1) and achieve a simple and working gliding movement along the pole despite the

unsymmetrical load. Fig. 8 discloses a cut away of the sleigh (17), the pole (1) and one of the glide devices (15). The glide device has two wheels (150) connected by an axle (151) which is also attached to the sleigh (17). To the sleigh (17) an arm is (34) arranged to carry the traffic device (3). Inside the arm (34), which is hollow, e. g. in the form of a tube, is a cable (12) for power supply or possible communication arranged. In the embodiment the arm (34) connects to the sleigh (17) below the lower glide device (16). It is also possible to arrange the arm above the lower glide device (16) or in the same height as the lower glide device (16).

Fig. 5-6 shows how a power source (24) in the form of a hand held battery powered screwdriver is connected to the drive shaft (20) on the winch device (11) in order to move the sleigh (17). It is also possible to arrange the power source together with the winch device, but that would be more expensive and the construction would require more maintenance. In cases where a battery-or main power driven power source is not desired a hand crank could be used.

The pole has a vertical opening, a slit (21), in which a part of the arm (34) glides.

The slit (21) is covered with a protection (22,23) in order to protect the inside of the pole from wind and weather and also to make it difficult to reach the inside of the pole. In the shown embodiment the protection (22,23) comprises of two opposite each other arranged row of a bristle material (22,23), another example of a suitable material for the protection is rubber. The slit (21) is arranged as an opening for the cable (12) that provides power to the traffic device (3). The cable (12) is in this way always protected inside the pole or the arm (34). Furthermore, there is no need for a storage drum for the cable which is necessary if the cable runs along the inside of the pole and down on the outside to the traffic device. The solution with a slit (21) and a co-operating arm (34) for the cable (12) is therefore a safer, simpler and more reliable construction.

The pole is made so that the traffic device (3) in each position (A, B) is locked to prevent uncontrollable movements. In the operating position (A) a pin (26) is inserted in corresponding holes in the sleigh (17) and the pole (1). The pin (26) is preferably provided with a locking device, e. g. a pad lock (27), in order to make it difficult for unauthorized persons to change the position of the traffic device. In the service position the traffic device is locked by that the arm (34) rests against the lower edge of the slit.

The lower part of the pole is provided with a switch box (25), for connecting the incoming power supply cable with the cable (19) of the pole. Preferably a power outlet is also arranged, to supply electrical equipment, e. g. lightning, which can be useful during work at the pole.

In the embodiment the traffic device is a camera for speed control arranged in a box (30). The camera comprises a camera part (31) with an ordinary camera or a digital one, a flash (32), a speedometer (33), usually a laser speedometer, and control equipment. Other example of suitable traffic devices are, light signs, traffic signaling devices, measuring equipment for weather, air pollution and the like.

In the shown embodiment the pole is manufactured of flanged steel panel which is galvanized. Another example is to use a slotted square profile, of steel, aluminium or another suitable material.

The anchoring of the pole can be performed in many different ways, e. g. a ground anchor with wings can be driven into the ground as a base. In the shown embodiment a concrete foundation is used (not shown) on which a collision protection (28) is arranged. The collision protection (20) is preferably of a shearing type, e. g. Slip-Base, which consists of two connected plates, one fixed to the foundation, and one to the pole, who during shearing stress disconnects from each other.

In Figure 7 a cross section of the lower part of the pole (1) is shown. Inside the lower part of the pole a stiffener (30) is arranged. During a collision against the pole the pole is not intended to fold, but instead the force is intended to effect the collision protection which releases the pole from the foundation. In the Figure a switch box (25) with an access protection (29) around is shown. Both the switch box and the drive shaft (20) are preferably provided with a lockable access protection.

In the preferred embodiment the hoist arrangement comprises a cable winder. Other types of hoisting arrangements are also possible to use, e. g. a screw with a trapezoid thread. Thus, it is an advantage if the hoisting arrangement is a relatively simple and reliable construction.

The invention is a pole with a hoisting arrangement, preferably for a camera for speed control. The invention makes it possible for the service personnel to avoid climbing up to the camera, instead they can perform maintenance from a safer location, in a more comfortable and easier way. The maintenance can also be performed faster, which reduces the hazardous time when the personnel are working in the traffic. The invention also makes it possible to guide a cable from the pole to the movable traffic device in a protected manner. A pole located along a road is exposed to heavy strain, from wind and weather and also from snow and salt from snow clearing. In particular salt can penetrate and cause damage, especially on parts that infrequently moves against each other. Snow and water that penetrates the inside of the pole calls for a safe and reliable cable laying and mobility between the pole and the traffic device. The preferred embodiment with a sleigh, a pole with a slit and an arm conveying a cable manages these strains, works safe and reliable in all weather during a long time.