| DE8708065U1 | 1987-09-17 | |||
| DE3611900A1 | 1987-10-15 | |||
| EP0274352A1 | 1988-07-13 | |||
| EP0282851A1 | 1988-09-21 |
| 1. | : Barrier apparatus comprising : a) a base to be secured to a surface, such as a car parking area; b) post means connected to said base so as to be movable relative thereto between a lowered, passage permitted position, and a raised passagebarred position; c) locking means whereby said post means can be locked in said raised position; characterised by d) power supply means; e) motor means connectible to said power supply means; f) a drive train interconnecting an output shaft or rod of said motor means and said movable post means; g) control means for said motor means and said movable post means; and h) control means for said motor means and actuatable to energise same to cause selective raising and lowering of said movable post means between said lowered and raised positions. Barrier apparatus characterised by motor means connected to movable post means to selectively raise and lower same. Apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2 characterised in that said locking means for said movable post means to lock said post means in its raised position is operable by said control means. Apparatus according to claim 3 characte ised in that said locking means is provided by said drive train and said motor means, the ratio of the drive between said motor and said post means being sufficiently high that manual pushing o f the post means when raised is strongly resisted . Apparatus according to claim 4 characterised in that said drive train comprises a screwthreaded drive member . Apparatus according to claim 3 character ised in that said locking means compr ising detent means actuatable to adopt a pos ition in which relative movement between said base and said post is prevented or limited. Apparatus according to claim 6 character ised in that said detent means is actuated by said drive train on moving said post means to its raised position . Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7 characterised in that said post means is pivotally mounted on said base for movement between said lowered and raised positions , and said drive train applies torque to said post means to effect raising thereof , said torque being applied about the pivot axis of said post means , and counterbalance means being provided acting between said post means and said base to exert a torque in the l ifting direction to offset part of the weight of said post means . Apparatus accord ing to any one of claims 1 to 7 characterised in that said post means is pivotally mounted on said base for movement between said lowered and raised positions and said drive train applies torque to said post means to effect raising thereof, said torque being applied to the post means at a position spaced from the pivot axes of said post means by a link member extend ing between said base and said post means and said link member being connected to said motor means so that the end of the l ink member remote from sa id post means is moved generally laterally outwardly of the pivot mounting . Apparatus according to claim 9 characterised in that said link member is connected to said motor means through a screwthreaded shaft rotated by said motor means, and a threaded connector mounted on said shaft. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims characterised in that said power supply means comprises electrical battery means located within the structure of said barrier apparatus, and said motor means comprises an electrical motor suitable to be driven by said battery means. Apparatus according to claim 11 characterised in that said battery means is located within said base and is thus not raised with said post means in use. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 12 characterised in that said control means comprises signal transmission means and signal receiving means carried on said base means or on said post means to receive signals from said signal transmission means, said signal receiving means being actuatable by such signals to energise said motor means. Apparatus according to claim 13 characterised in that said signal transmission means is adapted to transmit and said signal receiving means is adapted to receive signals in the form of electromagnetic wave energy, transmitted without cord or cable, such as an infrared or radio frequency waves, and encryption means is provided to code said signals whereby only signals appropriately coded will cause said motor means to be energised. A method of operating a barrier characterised by the step of causing motor means connected to movable post means to selectively raise and lower the post means. |
In the case of presently available parking posts there appears to be a universal acceptance of the inconveniences of using such apparatus, these including the necessity to stop the vehicle on approaching same, to get out and lower the post, including using a key to remove a padlock to unlock the post, and repeating these operations after passage over the post, or after withdrawal of the vehicle from the parking space. Such problems are exacerbated by bad weather, and it therefore appears reasonable to assume that if any attempt has been made, in the past, to mechanise the operation of parking posts, this has failed due to the design difficulties, including those relating to locking the post, its general vulnerability, the need for it to be self-powered, providing a suitable source of power, and the usual need to provide a satisfactory compromise between design requirements and cost.
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide barrier apparatus, and a method of operating same, in which power operation of the barrier, for example a parking post, is provided, and/or improvements in relation to one or more of the matters discussed herein, or generally.
According to the invention there is provided barrier apparatus, and a method of operating same, as defined in the accompanying claims.
In a preferred embodiment, a parking post is provided
which is self-powered in operation. A motor located within the apparatus has a drive train connected to the raisable structure of the post, and torque applied thereto lifts and lowers the post, by means of a bracing or jacking structure. The post is self-locked in its raised position, this being achieved by means of the drive train itself. Alternatively, there may be provided a locking mechanism operated at the same time as, or in direct consequence of, the operation of the drive train. Where a high-ratio drive train is employed, such as a screw and pinion, this has a self-locking effect without the need for an additional locking means. Alternatively, it can be arranged that the motor/drive train itself operates a detent when the post reaches its raised position, or a detent-operating mechanism may be provided for simultaneous actuation with the motor.
In the embodiments where the parking post is raised and lowered by a battery-operated electric motor mechanism, there are benefits to be obtained (which may apply to other embodiments also) by providing counterbalance means to off¬ set the weight of the post and thus to counterbalance same in its overhung condition during the raising operation. This reduces the torque requirements from the motor, and thus the power requirements and battery consumption. This can be achieved by means of a suitable tension spring arrangement acting between the base of the parking post and the raiseable portion. Alternative systems include the use of torsion and springs or even, perhaps, a gas strut.
So far as the motor and drive train are concerned the preferred embodiment employs an electric motor. Where the apparatus is installed, as original equipment in a parking lot or residence, then it may well be convenient to provide for mains operation of the motor. However, for simplicity of installation, and in other situations, battery operation of the apparatus is an important requirement. In the preferred embodiment, it has been found possible to locate
the motor in the base of the parking post apparatus, and likewise the battery, whereby neither of these structures is raised and lowered during operation, and thus power requirements are minimised, the location of these major components within the structure necessarily present in such apparatus minimises its space requirements. Moreover, these structures themselves serve to shield these major elements of the apparatus, and its control systems, from inclement weather and damage.
So far as actuation of the mechanism is concerned, it is envisaged that the preferred method will be by means of a transmitted and sensed control beam, for example of radio or infra-red frequency, suitable signal reception apparatus being provided on the parking post itself, which is effective to actuate and energise the motor. Thus, for example, the driver of a vehicle may have a simple manually operated signal transmission device, including encryption means to prevent unauthorised use of the apparatus by third parties, which he would actuate on approaching and departing from the apparatus. Equally however, other systems may be required for other situations, including the use of simple cord-connected control systems, or vehicle presence detection, including pressure pads in the surface over which the vehicle must run.
Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which :-
Fig 1 shows a perspective view of a first embodiment, with the post in its raised position;
Fig 2 shows, on a larger scale, a longitudinal section through the apparatus of Fig 1 showing a motor, a battery and a drive train for the motor;
Fig 3 shows a perspective view of a second embodiment;
Fig 4 shows a plan view, partly cut away, and on a larger scale, of part of the apparatus of Fig 3;
Fig 5 shows an elevation view of the apparatus of Fig
Fig 6 shows a perspective view of a third embodiment;
Fig 7 shows a longitudinal section through the apparatus of Fig 6;
Fig 8 shows an end elevation view of the apparatus of Figs 7, showing further details of a drive train;
Figs 9, 10 and 11 show elevation views of a fourth embodiment, in which the parking post is a telescopic construction, these views showing the post retracted, a view at right angles thereto, and the post partly extended, respectively.
In the embodiment of Figs 1 and 2, barrier apparatus 10 comprises a base 12 having forward and rearward portions 14 and 16 respectively, to be secured to a surface such as a car parking area, and post means 18 connected to the base so as to be movable relative thereto between a lowered, passage-permitted, position indicated in Fig 2, and a raised, passage-barred, position shown in Fig 1.
Locking means 20 is provided whereby the post means 18 can be locked in its raised position.
Power supply means 22, in the form of a rechargeable battery is provided to power a motor 24 having a drive train 26 interconnecting an output shaft 28 on the motor and post means 18. In this embodiment, drive train 26 also (as will be explained below) provides the locking means 20 for the post means 18.
Control means 30 for motor 24 is provided (shown diagrammatically in Fig 2) and is actuatable to energise the motor to cause selective raising and lowering of the post means.
As shown in Fig 1, base 12 and post means 18 are constructed as metal fabrications or mouldings, in rust- resistant metallic or plastics material. These three main structural components are in the form of generally hollow- section members serving as housings for the other components of the apparatus, as described more fully below.
Rearward portion 16 of base 12 is secured by bolts 32 to the parking surface. Corresponding bolts are provided on forward portion 14. The latter comprises an upper housing portion 34 which is removable to gain access to battery 22. A spigot 36 receiving a padlock 38 prevents unauthorised access to the battery.
Motor 24 is housed within rearward base portion 16 and its output shaft 28 drives gear train 26 which comprises constant mesh pinions 40 driving an externally threaded shaft 42 on which is received an internally threaded collar 44 connected to a link 46 by a pivot 48, the link being connected at its other end by a pivot 50 to post means 18.
It will be understood that when motor 24 rotates threaded shaft 42, link 46 will have its lower end moved lengthwise of shaft 42 in the direction of arrow 52, whereby upper pivot 50 will follow the arc 54 between its two indicated positions in Fig 2.
In Fig 2, there has been indicated both the raised and lowered positions of the post 18, the raised position being indicated in full lines and the lowered position in broken lines, and the same system has been adopted for the lead lines for the reference numerals relating to these two positions of the apparatus.
It will be seen in Fig 2 that the post 18 is provided with a second padlock 56 in the region of its upper end. This is provided for cosmetic reasons so as to give the appearance of a conventional padlocked post when the post is in its raised position.
In order to off-set the overhung weight of the post 18, when motor 24 is raising this from the lowered position, counterbalance means is provided to off-set a portion of the weight. This is in the form of a coiled tension spring 58 which acts between base 12 and an arm 60 connected to post 18, and turning with the latter about its pivot axes 62. As can be seen in Fig 2, the arrangement is
such that as the post 18 descends, arm 60 moves anti¬ clockwise, thereby increasing the tension in spring 58 and thus off-setting the increasing effect of the overhung weight.
Control means 30 includes signal receiving apparatus, which is located so as to be capable of receiving remotely- transmitted signals, for example a radio beam, both in the raised and the lowered positions of the post, in order for a user to actuate same.
In use, post 18 can be raised and lowered by remote control. Energising motor 24 causes link 46 to apply a turning torque to post 18 about axis 62, thereby raising or lowering same. When the motor de-energised, the post is locked in its then-position (raised or lowered) by virtue of the fact that the ratio of drive 26 between the motor shaft 28 and link 46 is relatively high, whereby the post 18 is effectively locked.
The torque required for motor 24 to raise the post from its lowered position is relatively low on account of the reduction of the overhung weight by counterbalance spring 58, whereby the motor's demands on rechargeable battery 22 are correspondingly low.
Turning now to the embodiment of Figs 3, 4 and 5, it will be noted that the main differences from the preceding embodiment lie in the mode of transmitting drive from the motor to the post itself. In this embodiment, the drive train from the motor applies torque to the post directly at its axis of turning, instead of through a link member such as 46 in the preceding embodiment.
In this embodiment, parts corresponding to those described in the preceding embodiment are given corresponding reference numerals, increased by 100. Thus, the barrier apparatus 10 of the preceding embodiment becomes apparatus 110, base 12 becomes 112 etc.
In Figs 4 and 5, motor 124 is connected by drive train 126 to post 118. In this embodiment, motor 124 has a worm
or screw pinion 127 driving through associated constant mesh pinions 129, 131, 133 and 135, through to an arc gear 137 which is rigid with the post 118 itself and angularly movable about the latter's pivot axis 162. Thus, a very low ration drive is provided between the motor and the post to effect direct drive of same about axis 162.
As in the preceding embodiment, power for motor 124 is derived from a battery 122, and a control system and apparatus is provided as in the preceding embodiment. A counterbalance spring 146 acts between a lever arm 160 and the base 116 to apply an upwardly directed torque to the post 118, as in the preceding embodiment.
In general, the mode of use of this embodiment is substantially the same as for the preceding embodiment. The motor and associated structures, including the drive train is protected by the housing 116. The latter stands proud of the surface of the car park.
Turning now to the embodiment of Figs 6, 7 and 8, it will be seen that this embodiment provides barrier apparatus 210 in which the base 212 is of channel form to be received in a recess 214 formed in the parking surface 216. Thus, base 212 is simply a hollow moulding or fabrication having an external flange 218 for mounting purposes. Bolts 219 secure the base to the ground. Accordingly, the motor 220, its battery 222 and the drive train 224 are all located within the pivotable post 226 which turns about an axis 228, as in the preceding embodiment.
Turning to the details of drive train 224, it will be seen that the drive output from motor 220 is through a worm pinion 230, and associated constant mesh bevel gears 232, 234, as previously. The transmission of drive from shaft 236 to arm 238 is via an internally threaded coupling 240 pivotally connected to the arm with lost motion by means of a slot. Shaft 236 is externally screw-threaded to cooperate with the coupling. A tension spring 242 provides
a counterbalance effect, as previously. Limit switches 244, 246 are actuated by an abutment 248 on coupling 240, to control the operation of motor 220 and define the end positions of post 226. The switches 244 and 246 form part of the control apparatus (not shown) which corresponds to the apparatus 30 of the two preceding embodiments.
Figs 6 and 7 show various optional external features of the barrier apparatus, including an upstanding sight rod 250 to facilitate visual location of the post 226 by a driver. The upper end of the post may alternatively have the longer (taller) configuration which is shown in Fig 7, and likewise in Fig 6, this configuration including a tapered end post portion 252. A cosmetic locking pin 254 and associated padlock 256 are provided in the region of the lower end of the post.
The mode of operation of this embodiment is substantially the same as that of the preceding embodiment. Spring 242 is arranged to counterbalance, in addition, the weight of the motor and the battery within the pivoted post structure.
For manual operation, the outer end of motor 220 is provided with an extension of the motor output shaft which is coupled through a bevel drive 258 to a key socket 260 in which a handle can be inserted to enable manual operation of the drive.
In the embodiment of Figs 9, 10 and 11 there is provided a telescopic post assembly 310 in which the outer base structure 312 is secured by bolts 314 to the ground 316, and the inner post structure 318 is slidably received within the base, so as to be telescopically raisable from its "passage-permitted" position shown in Fig 9 and 10 to the raised position indicated in Fig 11.
Motor 320 is powered by a battery 322, as previously and the drive train 324 comprises pinions 326 coupled to a cable drive 328 having the ends of the cable fixed at 330 and 332 to the base 312 and to post 318 respectively. The
cable 334 is trained around pulleys 336, 338.
In use, the system operates in much the same way as the preceding embodiments, utilising a control system as described above.
A cosmetic external padlock 340 is provided to deter manual intervention with the system. The padlock also provides access to the battery compartment for servicing/replacement purposes.
The drive train 324 provides a degree of self-locking for the post in its raised position. To provide a more positive self-locking action, there can be provided, for example as indicated by arrow 342 a simple solenoid- operated detent arrangement in which the detent 344 provides a direct mechanical lock preventing further telescoping action. It may be arranged that the detent 344 is energised upon the drive train reaching an end position corresponding to alignment of the apertures in the post and the base.
In use, the assembly 310 is controlled and utilised in much the same way as the preceding embodiments, though the telescopic action differs significantly from the angular action of the other embodiments.
Interestingly, the above-described embodiments provide barrier apparatus constructed for power operation, for example by remote control, in a manner permitting simple and convenient use in relation to parking locks and related situations. The associated drive and power consumption constraints on the design have been overcome in a manner enabling the provision of a robust and simple apparatus well adapted to stand up to the rigours of intemperate climates ' and a reasonable degree of abuse from members of the public. Convenience of use has been maximised while inherent technical problems have been circumvented.
Amongst other modifications which could be made in the above embodiments are the incorporation, in the control
system 30 of current monitoring and limiting means effective to limit power comsumption by the electrical motor whereby, for example, if the post were accidentally energised in the raising direction with a vehicle standing over it, when the post engaged the underside of the vehicle, current consumption would rise to the limiting value and the control system would then detect this, and reverse the polarity of the drive to the motor so that it reverses and lowers the post to its down position, thereby preventing damage to vehicle and post.