JENSEN DANIEL FRANCOIS (ZA)
| WO2005058668A2 | 2005-06-30 | |||
| WO2001042073A1 | 2001-06-14 |
| FR2606572A1 | 1988-05-13 | |||
| JPH10341427A | 1998-12-22 | |||
| JPH11227608A | 1999-08-24 | |||
| US4318079A | 1982-03-02 |
| CLAIMS 1. A railway gate, which gate includes: a flat bottomed tubular structure dimensioned to allow a train there through; spikes provided on the upper surface of the flat bottom with a railway line arranged in passages provided through the spikes; detection means for detecting the presence of a person within the tubular structure; and deterrent means for deterring a person from passing through the gate. 2. A railway gate as claimed in Claim 1 , wherein the detection means includes a vibration detector or camera for detecting the approach of a train to allow the deterrent means to be deactivated while the train passes through the gate. 3. A railway gate as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the tubular structure is open topped with the opening dimensioned to allow for access to overhead electric cables and to provide clearance for a train's pantographs. 4. A railway gate as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the deterrent means includes any one or more of a high power sound generator, strobe lighting, smoke generator and pepper spray. 5. A railway gate as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the tubular structure is between 4 to 7 meters in length having a general octagon cross sectional profile. 6. A railway gate as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the sensing means includes a passive IR detector. 7. A railway gate as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the deterrent means includes a camera and a transceiver being in wireless communication with a control room. 8. A system for deterring access to a train station or railway line along railway tracks leading into the station or yard, which system includes a railway gate as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7. 9. A system as claimed in Claim 8, which includes a control room for monitoring and operating the deterrent means of the gate. 10. A system as claimed in Claim 8 or claim 9, which includes a fence which is also monitored by the control room and which fence detects and deters unauthorised entrance. 11. A railway gate substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings. 12. A system for deterring access to a train station or railway line along railway tracks leading into the station or yard substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings. |
Technical field of the invention
This invention relates to access control to railway yards and stations. In particular, it relates to a gate for the prevention of access by unauthorised persons to train stations and railway yards via the railway lines. Background to the invention
The inventors are aware of persons boarding trains without a ticket and theft of various items in train yards such as copper cables. The inventors are further aware that although train stations and railway yards can be fenced in, persons can gain access through the openings in the fence required for the railway lines.
It is an object of the invention to provide a railway gate which is not a barrier to trains but deters unauthorised persons from passing there through into a fenced in station or railway yard.
General description of the invention
According to the invention there is provided a railway gate, which gate includes:
a flat bottomed tubular structure dimensioned to allow a train there through;
spikes provided on the upper surface of the flat bottom with a railway line arranged in passages provided through the spikes;
detection means for detecting the presence of a person within the tubular structure; and
deterrent means for deterring a person from passing through the gate. The detection means may include a vibration, camera detection or similar detector for detecting the approach of a train and the deterrent means may then be deactivated while the train passes through the gate. The tubular structure may be open topped to allow for access to overhead electric cables and to provide clearance for a train's pantographs. An open topped tubular structure allows for a significantly smaller diameter tubular structure, cost savings and simplified installation. In use, the tubular structure will be installed against on the inside of and in line with a gap in a fence with the gap being the minimum safe dimensions, which also generally corresponds to the width of the flat bottom of the tubular structure. The fence will partially obscure the opening of the tubular structure. The deterrent means may include any one or more, preferably all, of a high power sound generator, strobe lighting, smoke generator and pepper spray. It is preferable to overload all the senses of an intruder to cause disorientation. The pepper spray may be useful in the case of the need for riot control. An advantage of the tubular structure is that it contains, at least to some extent the deterrent means inside the tubular structure to minimise disturbance to persons in the near vicinity of the gate, when the deterrent means is activated.
The tubular structure may typically be between 4 to 7 meters in length and may have a general octagon cross sectional profile. It will be appreciated that the octagon shaped tubular structure is simpler to manufacture from a set of flat panels, preferably metal such as aluminium or similar metals/sheeting, than the manufacture of a circular tubular structure. It will further be appreciated that the octagon shaped tubular structure has two panels which can be used for a solar panel for powering the sensing and deterrent means.
The sensing means may be a passive IR detector. The deterrent means may include a camera. The deterrent means may preferably include a transceiver and may be in wireless communication with a control room and the images from the camera may be transmitted to the control room. The deterrent means may also be configured to be automatically activated or remotely from the control room. The invention also extends to a system for deterring access to a train station or railway line along railway tracks leading into the station or yard, which system includes a railway gate as described above.
The system may include a control room for monitoring and operating the deterrent means of the gate and for receiving images from the camera.
The system may further include a fence which is also monitored by the control room and which fence detects and deters unauthorised entrance.
Detailed description of the invention
The invention is now described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings.
In the drawings:
Figure 1 shows a perspective view of one embodiment of a railway gate when installed, in accordance with the invention;
Figure 2 shows a front, side and top view of the railway gate; and
Figure 3 shows a front, side and top view of another embodiment of the railway gate, in accordance with the invention.
Referring now to the drawings, the railway gate, in accordance with the invention, is generally indicated by reference numeral 10. The railway gate 10 includes a flat bottomed tubular structure 12 dimensioned to allow a train there through. The tubular structure 12 is open topped to allow for access to overhead electric cables and to provide clearance for a train's pantographs. The tubular structure is 6 meters in length and in a first embodiment, shown in figures 1 and 2, have a general octagon cross sectional profile assembled from 7 aluminium, zinc alloys or similar based metal panels 14. The tubular structure 10 is installed against on the inside of and in line with a gap 16 in a fence 18 with the gap being the minimum safe dimensions to allow a train there through, which also generally corresponds to the width of the flat bottom of the tubular structure. The fence 18 will partially obscure the opening of the tubular structure 10. Spikes 20 are provided on the upper surface of the flat bottom with a railway line 22 arranged in passages 24 provided through the spikes. In a further embodiment shown in Figure 3 the tubular structure 12 is rounded. On one of the upper panels a weather resistant box unit 26 is installed, which houses a processor, which is connected to a deterrent means and passive infra-red detection means for detecting the presence of a person within the tubular structure. The processor is also connected to a vibration detector for detecting the approach of a train to deactivate the deterrent while a train passes through the gate 10. The deterrent means includes a high power sound generator, strobe lighting, smoke generator and pepper spray. The processor is also connected to a transceiver and a camera, which transmits alarm signals and video images to a control room. The unit 26 is powered by a solar panel to make it a self-contained unit.
It shall be understood that the examples are provided for illustrating the invention further and to assist a person skilled in the art with understanding the invention and are not meant to be construed as unduly limiting the reasonable scope of the invention.