JPH04215293A - Spot illuminator for pedestrian crossing - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To ensure the traffic safety by clearly spotlighting those who cross a pedestrian crossing during the nighttime to enable such people to be easily recognized from the automobile side even from a remote place. CONSTITUTION:In a pedestrian crossing at which red/blue color type signal devices or push-button type signal devices are installed, an overnight spot light lamp for illumination of only a pedestrian crossing is lit is synchronism with pedestrian crossing blue color signals of the signal devices. Further, in a pedestrian crossing equipped with no signal device, a spot light lamp is lit during the nighttime for a purpose to illuminate the pedestrian crossing. A spot illuminator equipped with this spot light lamp is arranged to enable adjusting the rightward/ leftward directions, width, and upward/downward inclination angle of the spot light rays so that these spot light rays may illuminate only the pedestrian crossing.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention [0001] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a spot lighting device for a crosswalk, and more specifically, it is used to illuminate a crosswalk when a pedestrian crosses the crosswalk at night when the light is green or by pressing a button. By illuminating the crosswalk, the presence of pedestrians can be seen even from a distance from the car side.
This allows accurate recognition. [0002] Conventionally, in general, crosswalks have only been equipped with green/red traffic lights or push-button traffic lights, and some crosswalks have no traffic lights depending on the location. In some cases, no lighting equipment is installed to specifically illuminate the crosswalk at night. Large intersections are often surrounded by street lights or advertising lighting, and in such cases, the crosswalks are also illuminated with a certain level of brightness. However, in many cases, there are no street lights or other lighting devices installed in the vicinity of crosswalks equipped with push-button traffic lights or without traffic lights. [0003] As mentioned above, if there is no lighting device around the crosswalk, the visibility from the car side will be extremely poor at night, and pedestrians crossing the crosswalk will be It is extremely difficult to confirm the presence or absence. Particularly when there are no traffic lights, vehicles cannot confirm the presence of pedestrians by the traffic lights, which can lead to them seeing pedestrians just before the crosswalk and slamming on the brakes, which is extremely dangerous. Additionally, at large intersections where there are streetlights and other lighting devices around, the lights are uniformly bright throughout, making them blurry and making it difficult for cars to see pedestrians. be. Furthermore, when turning left or right, there is a drawback that it is difficult to identify pedestrians due to surrounding street lights, lights of oncoming vehicles, etc. The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and provides a spot lighting device that accurately illuminates pedestrians crossing a crosswalk at night, so that the presence or absence of pedestrians can be recognized from a distance from the vehicle side. The purpose of this is to ensure the safety of pedestrians. [Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention synchronizes with a green signal when a red/green type traffic signal is installed, and when a push button type traffic signal is installed. To provide a spot illumination device equipped with a spotlight that reliably illuminates only the crosswalk in synchronization with the push button operation when the crosswalk is crossed. Specifically, in the present invention, the spotlight of the present spot lighting device is connected to a circuit that connects the blue light for pedestrian crossing of a green/red traffic light or a push-button traffic light and a power source via an on/off switch. are connected in parallel, and
A so-called "sleep switch" is installed in the circuit connected to the spotlight, which closes at sunset and opens at dawn, so that the switch of the traffic light closes automatically or by pressing a button at night to prevent pedestrians from walking. When the blue crossing lights are turned on, the spotlights are turned on at the same time, and when the switch is opened, the spotlights are turned off. [0007] The present invention also provides a spot lighting device equipped with the above-mentioned "sleep switch" to be installed in places where no traffic lights are installed, and is turned on at sunset to illuminate the crosswalk. At the same time, the lights are turned off at dawn. In addition, when installing in a place where there is no traffic light, it is necessary to install a power supply, but since the configuration of the spot lighting device except for the power supply is the same as the spot lighting device installed in the place where the traffic light is installed, it cannot be used in common. You can. [0008] In any of the above-described spot lighting devices, the light preferably has a light source frame shaped to emit light mainly forward and prevent light from leaking to the sides so that the spotlight illuminates only the crosswalk. , used in vehicle headlights. In addition, in order to reliably illuminate the crosswalk and improve visibility for vehicle drivers, depending on the crosswalk situation at the installation location, a means for adjusting the beam angle in the vertical and horizontal directions and a beam range adjustment blade are also provided. It is also equipped with a voltage regulator (slidac and transformer) to adjust the illuminance of the light. Furthermore, in the spot lighting device of the present invention, even when the pedestrian crossing blue light is turned on, the spotlights may not be turned on at the same time, but turned on only while the pedestrian is crossing. . Similarly, even at a crosswalk without a traffic light, the lights may be turned on only when a pedestrian crosses the street. In that case, a sensor is installed to detect pedestrians, and a timer is installed to set the lighting time, and when a pedestrian is detected by the sensor, the crosswalk is connected to a power source for the predetermined time necessary for the pedestrian to cross. I'm trying to turn it on. Specifically, the spot lighting device according to the present invention includes a clamp fitting fixed to a support shaft projecting horizontally from a support, a hood attached to the clamp fitting by adjusting the horizontal direction thereof, and Equipped with a light holding fitting installed in the hood by adjusting the vertical inclination angle, and a spotlight fixed to the light holding fitting,
The horizontal direction of the light beam of the spotlight can be adjusted according to the direction of the crosswalk to be illuminated, and the vertical angle of the light beam can be adjusted so as to illuminate only the crosswalk according to the length of the crosswalk. It is characterized by its configuration. [Operation] As described above, the device according to the present invention illuminates the crosswalk when a pedestrian crosses the crosswalk at night, so that the pedestrian is clearly raised and can be seen from the car side. It can be easily confirmed even from a distance. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [0012] Hereinafter, a crosswalk spot illumination device according to the present invention will be explained in detail with reference to embodiments shown in the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a crosswalk spot illumination device of the present invention installed at an intersection where a blue, red, and yellow type traffic signal A for automobiles and a blue/red type pedestrian traffic signal B linked to the traffic light are installed. This figure shows a first embodiment in which C is installed. Figures 2 to 4
5 shows the structure of the spot illumination device C, and FIG. 5 shows an electric circuit between the above-mentioned traffic lights A and B and the spot illumination device C. The spot illumination device C is installed at the bottom of the pedestrian traffic light B as shown in FIG. I'm trying to install it. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the clamp fitting 2 consists of a pair of semicircular metal fittings 2A and 2B that are fitted onto the support 1, and these metal fittings 2A,
Flange parts 2A-1 and 2B-1 protruding from the joint end of 2B
is fixed to the pillar 1 by tightening the bolt 3. One end of the hood holding shaft 4 is fixed to one of the metal fittings 2A, and a mounting plate 5 is fixed to the other end of the hood holding shaft 4. A bolt hole 5a is drilled. As shown in the figure, the hood 6 has a substantially box shape with only the front side open, and has a mounting plate 7 fixed to its upper surface for contacting the mounting plate 5. A pair of bolt holes 7a are bored in the mounting plate 7, and these bolt holes 7a and any bolt hole 5a of the mounting plate 5 are connected to each other.
and are connected by bolts 8. that time,
By selecting the communicating bolt holes 5a, that is, by rotating the mounting plate 7, the horizontal direction of the hood 6 can be adjusted according to the situation of the crosswalk where it is installed. It is possible to adjust the left and right direction of the light beam from the spotlight provided on the screen. A spot light (hereinafter simply referred to as "light") 9 is installed inside the hood 6 with its vertical angle adjusted through a light holding fitting 10, and a slide tack for voltage adjustment and a voltage adjustment panel are installed on the back side of the light 9. transformer 11,
A sleep switch 12 and a timer switch 30 are housed therein, and a ventilation hole 26 is formed on the top surface of the hood 6. The color of the light 9 above is white or yellow (for fog)
It is said that In this embodiment, a vehicle headlight is used as the light 9, and the light bulb 13 is surrounded by a light source frame 14 having a light-shielding property, and a glass plate 15 is attached only to the front side, so that the light beam from the light bulb 3 is irradiates only the front and does not irradiate the sides. It should be noted that since the light source frame 14 has a shape that is inclined and enlarged from the back side to the front side as shown in the figure, by adjusting this inclination angle, the diffusion angle of the light beam can be adjusted. A mounting collar 14a is provided protruding from the front end of the light source frame 14 of the light 9, and the collar 14a is fixed to the light holding fitting 10 with screws 16. The light holding bracket 10 has a square frame shape, and has a mounting part 10a bent inwardly at the front end for fixing to the collar part 14a, and a screw is provided on the outer peripheral surface at the center of the left and right sides. A rotating shaft 10b is provided protrudingly. Further, a mounting plate 10c is provided in the center of the upper surface to protrude upward, and a mounting hole 1 is provided in the mounting plate 10c.
0d is drilled. On the other hand, on the inner surface of the hood 6, a fixing plate 17 for vertical angle adjustment is protruded at a position corresponding to the rotating shaft 10b of the light holding fitting 10, and a mounting hole 1 is provided in the fixing plate 17.
7a is drilled. In addition, there is a mounting plate 10c on the inner surface of the upper wall.
A fixing plate 18 is provided protrudingly at a position corresponding to the fixing plate 18, and a mounting hole 18a is bored in the fixing plate 18. The light holding fitting 10 and the hood 6 are connected by inserting the pair of left and right rotating shafts 10b of the light holding fitting 10 into the pair of left and right mounting holes 17a of the hood 6, and tightening them with nuts 19, respectively. The holding fitting 10 is fixed to the hood 6. At that time, the rotating shaft 1
By rotating the light 0b by an appropriate angle and fixing it with the nut 19, the vertical inclination angle of the light 9 fixed to the light holding fitting 10 can be adjusted as appropriate. Therefore, the irradiation distance and irradiation position from the light 9 can be adjusted according to the length of the crosswalk, and it can be set to illuminate only the crosswalk and mainly the sidewalk surface. Further, the upper surface side of the hood 6 is fixed with screws 20 so that the mounting hole 18a of the fixing plate 18 communicates with the mounting hole 10d of the mounting plate 10c of the light holding fitting 10. In this way, the light holding fitting 10 is fixed to the hood 6 at three locations: the upper portion and the left and right portions. As shown in the figure, the front end opening of the hood 6 protrudes from the front position of the light 9, extends inward from the upper part of the front end of the hood 6 and both left and right sides, and then extends rearward to the outer circumferential position of the light. A bent light cover 22 is attached to cover the gap created between the light 9 and the hood 6 to prevent mischief from outside. Further, light beam range adjusting wings 23 are attached to the front ends of the left and right side surfaces of the hood 6 with hinges 24, so as to adjust the width of the light beam from the light 9. The light bulb 13 of the light 9 is connected to the electric circuit of the traffic light shown in FIG. 5 via a "sleep switch" 12 housed in the back of the hood 6. The "sleep switch" 12 opens and closes depending on the surrounding light and darkness, and is closed at sunset and opened at dawn. In this embodiment, a vehicle headlight is used as the light 9, a slide tack and a transformer 11 are provided to lower the 100V voltage to 6V to 24V to adjust the intensity of the light. In addition, when installing in a place without a traffic light, the timer switch 12 is connected, and the timer switch 12 is connected to a sensor 25 that detects the presence of a pedestrian, and the timer switch 12 is activated by the detection signal of the sensor 25. The circuit is closed and opened after a set time has elapsed. The circuit diagram in FIG. 5 shows lighting devices No. 1 and No. 1 arranged perpendicularly to one traffic light I shown in FIG.
2, respectively, with 50 blue lights and 5 red lights.
1 and a spotlight 9 consisting of a white or yellow light according to the present invention. The spotlight 9 is connected in parallel to the blue light 50 of the lighting device on the same side via the "sleep switch 12". The blue light 50 on the No. 1 side, the spotlight light 9, and the red light 60' on the No. 2 side connected in parallel are connected to a power source 42 via a first switch 41 housed in a switchboard 40. The blue light 50' on the No. 2 side, the spotlight light 9', and the red light 60 on the No. 1 side are connected to the power source 42 via the second switch 43. The first switch 41 and the second switch
The switch 43 is alternately opened and closed. By making the above connection, after the "sleep switch" 12 is closed at night, the first switch 4
1 is closed, the blue light 50 and spot light 9 on the No. 1 side and the red light 60' on the No. 2 side are turned on. When the first switch 41 opens and the second switch 43 closes, the red light 60 on the No. 1 side turns on, the spotlight 9 goes out, and the spotlight 9 on the No. 2 side turns on.
' and blue light 50' will light up. In this way, in a red/blue type automatic traffic light, the spotlight is synchronized with the turning on and off of the green signal installed on the same side. [0025] The same applies to push-button traffic lights; for example, the first switch 41 is linked to a push button (not shown), and when the push button is pressed, the first switch 4
1 is closed, the spotlight 9 and the blue light on the pedestrian side are turned on, and the red light on the car side is turned on. When the first switch is opened after the set time has elapsed, the spotlight 9 and the blue light are turned off, and the second switch is closed and the blue light on the car side is turned on. If there is no traffic light, a "sleep switch" is installed between the light 9 and the power source 42', as shown in FIG.
12 and a timer switch 30 are provided. As mentioned above, the timer switch 30 is connected to the pedestrian detection sensor 25.
When a pedestrian is detected, the light 9 will turn on for a set period of time.
I'm trying to light it up. The pedestrian detection sensor 25
Various sensors can be used for this purpose; for example, a phototube may be installed to detect pedestrians, or a weight detection sensor may be installed in front of a crosswalk to detect the presence or absence of pedestrians. . Also, instead of installing a pedestrian detection sensor, a push button to turn on the light was installed.
The push button may be linked with the timer switch 30. Furthermore, the timer switch 30 may not be provided, and only the "sleep switch" 12 may be provided to turn on the light 9 throughout the night. Also, if you think it is unnecessary to turn off the lights late at night, you can set a timer to turn off the lights. Furthermore, in the present invention, a sound may be generated at the same time as the spotlight is turned on as a countermeasure for blind people. In the spot lighting device according to the present invention, the lighting device shown in FIGS. 2 to 4 can be used both when installed in a place where a traffic light is installed and when installed in a place where there is no traffic light. I can do it. As described above, in this lighting device, since the hood 6 can be attached by rotating it in the left-right direction, the angle of the light beam in the left-right direction can be adjusted. In addition, the light range adjustment blade 23 attached to the hood 6
The horizontal width of the light beam can be adjusted according to the width of the crosswalk. Furthermore, since the light holding fitting 10 fixed to the light 9 can be attached to the hood 6 by adjusting the vertical inclination angle, the irradiation distance of the light beam can be adjusted according to the length of the crosswalk. In this way, by adjusting the irradiation width and irradiation distance of the light beam, it is possible to irradiate only the sidewalk surface of the crosswalk. Therefore, pedestrians crossing the crosswalk can be clearly highlighted, and the presence or absence of pedestrians can be confirmed even from a distance from the vehicle side. "Experimental Example 1" - At a place where a push-button traffic light is installed, the crosswalk spot lighting device of the present invention was installed and the crosswalk spot lighting device of the present invention was not installed. We measured four times in total, two times each, to determine how far in front of a vehicle a pedestrian could be seen. The first and second times are at 40 km/h, and the third and fourth times are at 50 km/h. The measurement location is a place where the above push-button traffic lights are installed, where there are no streetlights or other lighting devices within 100 meters in front of or behind the crosswalk, and where there are no lighting devices around the crosswalk. be. The measurements were taken in November, between 21:00 and 60 minutes at night, and the weather was sunny. Further, the color of the light of the spot lighting device is white and the illuminance is 780 lux. A doll corresponding to the physique of an adult human was placed at the center of the crosswalk in its length and width directions. A car driver's visual acuity is 1.0. The measurement results are shown in Table 1 below, and it was confirmed that when the spot lighting device of the present invention was installed, the presence of pedestrians could be known from a greater distance. [Table 1] (Distance from crosswalk where pedestrians were confirmed)
Spot lighting equipment (available)
Spot lighting device (no)
1st time 128.5 meters before 34.5 meters 2nd time 132.0
〃 32.5
〃 3rd time
115.0 〃
32.0 4
120.0th time
30.5
[0032] "Experimental Example 2" - A case where the crosswalk spot lighting device of the present invention was attached to a crosswalk without any traffic lights, and a case where it was not attached.
We measured four times in total, two times each, to determine how far in front of a car a pedestrian could be seen traveling at 40 km/h and at 50 km/h. The first and second times are at 40 km/h, and the third and fourth times are at 50 km/h. The measurement location is a place where there are no lighting devices such as street lights within a range of 50 meters before and after the crosswalk, and where there are no lighting devices around the crosswalk. The time of measurement was November, the time was between 8:30pm and 60:00pm, and the weather was rainy. Furthermore, the white illuminance of the light of the spot lighting device is 760 lux. A doll corresponding to the physique of an adult human was placed at the center of the crosswalk in its length and width directions. A car driver's visual acuity is 1.2. The measurement results are shown in Table 2 below, and it was confirmed that when the spot lighting device of the present invention was installed, the presence of pedestrians could be known from a greater distance. [Table 2] (Distance from the crosswalk where pedestrians were confirmed) Spot lighting device (
) Spot lighting device (
None) 1st time 106
．． 5 meters in front 28.5
Meters before 2nd time 115
．． 0 〃
31.0 3rd time
98.5 〃
26.5 〃
4th 102.0
〃 24.5
[0034] "Experimental Example 3" - A crosswalk according to the present invention was carried out in a place where a car traffic light and a pedestrian traffic light are installed, and there are streetlights etc. in front and behind the crosswalk, and the intersection is illuminated as a whole. Measurements were made separately for cases with and without a sidewalk spot lighting device. The overall illuminance at the intersection is approximately 15.8 lux. We measured four times in total, two times each, to determine how far in front of a car a pedestrian could be seen traveling at 40 km/h and at 50 km/h. The first and second times are at 40 km/h, and the third and fourth times are at 50 km/h. The measurements were taken in November, and the hours were from 10pm to 6pm.
During 0 minutes, the weather is clear. Further, the illuminance of the light of the spot lighting device is set to 870 lux. A doll corresponding to the physique of an adult human was placed at the center of the crosswalk in its length and width directions. A car driver's visual acuity is 0.9. The measurement results are shown in Table 3 below, and it was confirmed that when the spot lighting device of the present invention was installed, the presence of pedestrians could be detected from a greater distance. [Table 3] (Distance from the crosswalk where pedestrians were confirmed) Spot lighting device (with) Spot lighting device (without) 1st time 13
1.0 meters before 32.5
Meters before 2nd time 12
4.0 〃
37.0 〃 3rd time 113.0 〃
34.0〃
4th 108.5
〃 31.5
[Effects of the Invention] As is clear from the above explanation, when the crosswalk spot lighting device according to the present invention is used, only the crosswalk is illuminated, so pedestrians crossing the crosswalk at night can be clearly seen. This allows vehicles to reliably recognize the presence or absence of pedestrians even from a distance. Therefore, traffic safety for pedestrians can be ensured, and traffic accidents can also be prevented for drivers of automobiles. Furthermore, with this spot illumination device, in particular, the horizontal direction and width of the light beam from the light can be easily adjusted, and settings can be made in accordance with the direction and width of the crosswalk. Similarly, since the vertical angle of the light beam can be adjusted, it can be set to illuminate only the crosswalk and mainly the sidewalk surface, depending on the length of the crosswalk. Furthermore, it can be used in both locations, including locations where pedestrian traffic lights linked to vehicle traffic lights are installed, and locations where push-button traffic lights are installed. In addition, when installing in a place where no traffic lights are installed, it is only necessary to attach a power supply, and it can be used for a variety of purposes. [0039] Furthermore, since this device can be manufactured extremely easily, it can be provided at low cost. Furthermore, it is small and easy to assemble, so it has great practical value.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an intersection where a spot lighting device according to the present invention is installed.

FIG. 2 is a front view of a spot illumination device according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a side view of FIG. 2 above.

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of FIG. 2 above.

FIG. 5 is an electrical circuit diagram of the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an electrical circuit diagram of a second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Support shaft 2 Clamp fittings 4 Hood holding shaft 5 Mounting plate 6. Food 7 Mounting plate 9 Spotlight 10 Light holding bracket 11　Slyduck or transformer 12 Good night switch 13 Light bulb 17 Fixed plate for vertical angle adjustment 18 Fixed plate 22 Light cover 25 Sensor 30 Timer switch 40　Switchboard 41 First switch 42 Power supply 43 Second switch 50 Blue light 60 red light

Claims (6)

[Claims] [Claim 1] A spotlight installed at a crosswalk to illuminate the crosswalk is powered by a switch that opens and closes depending on the brightness and darkness, and closes at sunset and opens at dawn. This is a crosswalk spot lighting device that is connected to a crosswalk and lights up at night to illuminate the crosswalk. Claim 2: A spotlight designed to illuminate the crosswalk is installed close to the installation position of the blue pedestrian crossing light of a blue/red automatic traffic light or a push-button traffic light, and The above spotlight is connected in parallel to a circuit that connects the blue light for pedestrian crossing to a power source via an automatic open/close switch or a push button interlocking open/close switch, and the spotlight is connected in parallel to the circuit to which the spotlight is connected. This spot lighting device for a crosswalk has a structure in which a switch is provided that opens and closes at sunset, closes at sunset, and opens at dawn, and lights up at the same time as the blue light for pedestrian crossing of the traffic light turns on at night. 3. The lighting device equipped with the spotlight includes: a clamp fitting fixed to a support shaft protruding horizontally from a support; and a hood attached to the clamp fitting by adjusting the horizontal direction thereof. A crosswalk comprising a light holding fitting installed in the hood by adjusting the vertical inclination angle, and the above-mentioned spotlight fixed to the light holding fitting, and irradiating the horizontal direction of the beam of the spotlight. Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the light beam is adjustable according to the length of the crosswalk, and the vertical angle of the light beam can be adjusted so as to illuminate only the crosswalk according to the length of the crosswalk. The spot illumination device according to item 1. 4. The spot according to claim 3, wherein light beam range adjustment wings are provided on both left and right sides of the front end of the hood, and the width of the light beam of the spotlight is set according to the width of the crosswalk to be irradiated. lighting equipment. 5. The spotlight according to claim 3, wherein the spotlight is surrounded by a light source frame having a light-shielding property except for the glass plate on the front side of the light bulb, so that the light beam is configured to have a structure that reduces sideward leakage of the light beam. The spot illumination device according to item 1. 6. The spotlight according to claim 1, wherein a timer switch is interposed in the circuit connecting the spotlight and the power source, so that the spotlight is turned off after a predetermined period of time after being turned on. Spot lighting device as described.