JP6664816B2 - Traffic control signal system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a traffic control signal system installed at an intersection or the like.

  2. Description of the Related Art Generally, a traffic control signal system for controlling traffic for vehicles and pedestrians is installed on a road where an intersection or a crosswalk is installed.

  This traffic control traffic signal system includes a traffic light installed at a predetermined height from a road by a support, and the traffic light is operated by an external power supply.

  By the way, when a lightning strike occurs, the power supplied from the external power supply to the traffic light may be stopped by the lightning strike, or the traffic light itself may be damaged. The traffic control function of the traffic control signal system is lost, leading to traffic congestion and accidents.

  The lightning strike described above is a discharge phenomenon occurring in the atmosphere. Lightning discharges include intra-cloud discharge, inter-cloud discharge, and cloud-to-ground discharge. The major damage caused by lightning discharge is cloud-to-ground discharge (hereinafter called lightning). A lightning strike is a phenomenon that occurs when the electric field strength between a thundercloud (cloud bottom) and the ground or a structure built on the ground becomes extremely large, and its electric charge becomes saturated, destroying the insulation of the atmosphere. is there.

A close look at the phenomenon of lightning strikes shows that in the case of general lightning strikes in summer (summer lightning strikes), as the thundercloud matures, the thundercloud approaches the ground while choosing a place where the atmosphere discharges easily from the thundercloud.
When the step leader reaches a certain distance from the ground, a weak stream of upward streamer (welcome discharge) extends from the ground, a building (lightning rod), a tree, or the like toward the step leader.
When the streamer and the step leader combine, a large current (feedback current) flows between the thundercloud and the ground through the path.
This is the phenomenon of lightning.

  In view of the fact that lightning can not be prevented by the conventional concept of lightning protection, a lightning rod (Franklin rod) is installed to attract lightning to one point of the lightning rod. (See Patent Document 1).

  Therefore, in order to protect the traffic control signal system from lightning strikes, the lightning rod is installed near the traffic control signal system. It is common to prevent a lightning strike on the power supply path from the external power supply and the traffic light itself.

JP 2012-80018 A

  According to such a method for preventing lightning strikes to a traffic control signal system using the rod type lightning rod, depending on weather conditions such as weather, lightning is not attracted to the rod type lightning rod, and the vicinity of the traffic control signal system is not affected. Since a lightning strike is expected, a traffic control signal system with a more effective lightning prevention function is desired.

The traffic signal system for traffic control of the present invention has been made based on the above-mentioned demand, and at an intersection where a plurality of traffic signals are installed, a negative charge is distributed above the plurality of traffic signals, and around the intersection. is suppressing lightning inhibitory arrester means lightning of installation, the lightning inhibitory lightning means, said plurality of traffic lights to one provided for, and circular lightning centered on one lightning suppression type arrester means The protection area is adjusted to an installation height surrounding all traffic lights at the intersection .

  With such a configuration, the negative lightning is distributed above the intersection or the like by the lightning strike suppression type lightning arrester.

  Then, when a thundercloud having a negative charge on the cloud bottom approaches the intersection or the like, the negative charge is distributed above the intersection or the like, thereby suppressing the occurrence of an upward streamer toward the cloud bottom, Accordingly, lightning strikes on the traffic light and its surroundings are suppressed.

In this manner, the lightning protection region is formed above the intersection or the like by the negative charges distributed by the lightning strike suppression type lightning arrester.
Then, the lightning protection range is widened so as to cover the traffic light, whereby lightning strikes on the traffic light, intersections, and the like are greatly suppressed.

  The lightning strike suppression type lightning arrester can be constituted by a capacitor including a grounded first electrode body and a second electrode body opposed to the first electrode body via an electric insulating layer.

  In the capacitor, when a thundercloud having a negative charge approaches the cloud bottom, a positive charge is attracted to the ground, and accordingly, the first electrode body installed on the ground also takes a positive charge.

  When the first electrode body has a positive charge, the second electrode body facing the first electrode body via the electric insulating layer has a negative charge.

  As a result, the lightning protection region due to the negative charge described above is effectively formed by the second electrode body of the capacitor.

  The lightning strike suppression type lightning arrester may be mounted on the traffic light, or when a plurality of traffic lights are installed, may be mounted on each traffic light.

  With such a configuration, the lightning strike suppression type lightning arrester can be installed using the existing traffic light, and can be installed near the protected object to be protected from lightning strike.

  Further, by attaching the lightning device to each of the plurality of traffic lights, the lightning protection area formed by the lightning strike suppression type lightning arrester can be expanded.

  In addition, the power for operating the traffic light can be secured by generating the power by a solar power generation panel that converts solar energy into power, and charging this power to the secondary battery.

  With such a configuration, the driving power of the traffic control traffic signal system is made independent to eliminate the need for external power, and by installing the photovoltaic panel and the secondary battery near the traffic signal, These power sources can be located in the lightning protection area together with the traffic light.

Therefore, not only the traffic light but also a power supply for supplying power to the traffic light can be protected from lightning strikes, and power supply to the traffic light can be secured.
As a result, the entire traffic control signal system can be protected from lightning strikes.

  When a plurality of the traffic lights are installed, the secondary battery and the photovoltaic panel can be provided for each of the traffic lights.

  Further, a controller that controls charging of the secondary battery by the photovoltaic power generation panel and controls supply of lighting power to the traffic signal can be provided.

  Thereby, the controller for controlling the lighting of the traffic light can be located in the lightning protection area, and the operation of the traffic light can be maintained.

  The controller is provided for each of the intersections or for each of the plurality of traffic lights.

  Further, the controller may be provided with lighting synchronization means for controlling a lighting mode of the plurality of traffic lights, and each of the traffic lights may be provided with a transceiver for transmitting and receiving a control signal transmitted from the lighting synchronization means. desirable.

  By adopting such a configuration, it is possible to maintain the lighting mode of each of the traffic signals and prevent traffic control disturbance at an intersection or the like.

  According to the traffic control signal system of the present invention, a lightning strike protection area is formed around the traffic control signal system by negative charges, and the occurrence of upward streamers from this area is effectively suppressed, whereby Lightning strikes on the traffic control signal system can be suppressed.

It is a perspective view showing the outline of one embodiment of the present invention. It is a longitudinal section showing the lightning strike suppression type lightning arrester used in one embodiment of the present invention. It is a schematic diagram for explaining generation control of an upward streamer in one embodiment of the present invention. It is a system configuration diagram of one embodiment of the present invention. It is a front view which shows the modification of the lightning strike suppression type lightning arrester used for this invention. It is a longitudinal section showing a modification of a lightning strike suppression type lightning arrester used in the present invention.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a traffic control signal system according to the present embodiment.

  The traffic signal system 1 for traffic control according to the present embodiment is installed at an intersection S of a crossroad, and a support 2 is erected at each of four corners of the intersection S. A traffic light 3 for rearranging is mounted, and further, one of these pillars 2 distributes a negative charge above the plurality of traffic lights 3 (that is, above the intersection S), and moves around the intersection S. The lightning strike suppression type lightning arrester 4 for suppressing lightning strikes is installed.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the lightning strike suppression type lightning arrester 4 is provided so as to surround the grounded first electrode body 5 and the first electrode body 5 with a predetermined gap. The second electrode body 6 and an electric wire disposed in a gap between the first electrode body 5 and the second electrode body 6 to maintain the first electrode body 5 and the second electrode body 6 in an electrically insulated state. A capacitor is constituted by the insulating layer 7, the first electrode body 5 is formed in a substantially spherical shape, and the second electrode body 6 is formed so as to have a similar shape to the outer shape of the first electrode body 5. The first electrode body 5 is covered by the second electrode body 6 over substantially the entire surface.

  The first electrode body 5 is formed in a true spherical shape and in a hollow shape having a predetermined thickness as shown in FIG.

  Further, a nut 8 is integrally attached to a lower portion of the first electrode body 5, and the first electrode body 5 is screwed to a tip of a support rod 9 via the nut 8.

  A lock nut 10 is screwed to the support rod 9, and the lock nut 10 is pressed against the nut 8 to fix the support rod 9 to the first electrode body 5.

The second electrode body 6 is composed of a pair of second electrode structures 6a and 6b which are vertically divided into two parts.
The pair of second electrode structures 6a and 6b are butted so as to sandwich the electric insulating layer 7 from above and below, so that the electric insulating layer 7 is wrapped together with the first electrode body 5 and this butted. The parts are integrated by, for example, welding (welded portion W).

  At the lower center of the lower second electrode structure 6a, a through hole 11 communicating the inside and the outside thereof is formed, and the support electrically connected to the first electrode body 5 is formed in the through hole 11. A rod 9 is inserted, and the first electrode body 5 is grounded via the support rod 9.

  The electric insulating layer 7 is composed of a lower spacer 7a and an upper spacer 7b which are vertically divided into two parts like the second electrode body 6.

  The support rod 9 extends through the center of the lower spacer 7a, and a part of the lower spacer 7a extends into the through-hole 11 of the lower second electrode structure 6a. The support rod 9 and the lower second electrode structure 6a are configured to protrude below the lower second electrode structure 6a while maintaining the lower electrode structure 6a in an electrically insulated state.

The lightning strike suppression type lightning arrester 4 of the present embodiment thus configured is installed above the intersection S by connecting the support rod 9 to one of the columns 2.
Alternatively, the support 2 may be extended upward and the support 2 may be used as the support rod 9.

  In this state, the first electrode body 5 is grounded via the support rod 9 and the support column 2.

  On the other hand, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, a photovoltaic power generation panel 12 that generates lighting power to be supplied to the traffic light 3 and a control box 13 that controls the power are provided. I have.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the control box 13 includes a secondary battery 14 that stores the power generated by the photovoltaic power generation panel 12, and controls charging of the secondary battery 14 and lighting control of the traffic light 3. And a transceiver 16 for transmitting and receiving information on the lighting mode of the plurality of traffic lights 3.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the controller 15 includes an I / O interface 17 to which the traffic light 3, the solar power panel 12, the secondary battery 14, and the transceiver 16 are connected. Charge control means 18, lighting control means 19, and lighting synchronizing means 20 connected to the traffic light 3, the solar power generation panel 12, the secondary battery 14, and the transceiver 16 via an interface 17. It has.

  Based on the voltage information of the secondary battery 14, the charging control unit 18 continues charging the secondary battery 14 when the voltage of the secondary battery 14 is equal to or less than the reference value, and when the voltage of the secondary battery 14 reaches the reference value. The charging is stopped to prevent overcharging.

  The lighting control means 19 controls the lighting mode of the traffic light 3 by controlling the power supplied to the traffic light 3.

  The lighting synchronization means 20 acquires information on the lighting mode of each of the traffic signals 3 using the transceiver 16, and adjusts the lighting mode of each of the traffic signals 3 based on this information. .

  An antenna 21 attached to the column 2 is connected to the transceiver 16 so as to transmit and receive signals to and from the transceiver 16.

  Next, a lightning strike suppression function of the lightning strike suppression type lightning arrester 4 used in the present embodiment will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 3, when a thundercloud C in which a negative charge is distributed on the cloud base approaches, an opposite charge (positive charge) is distributed on the surface of the ground E, and the ground E is transferred to the ground E via the support rod 9. The grounded first electrode body 5 also has a positive charge (not shown in the figure).

On the other hand, the second electrode body 6 opposed to the first electrode body 5 via the electric insulating layer 7 has a negative charge due to the action of the capacitor.
By this action, the second electrode body 6 causes the negative charge to face the cloud bottom of the thundercloud C.

  This makes it difficult for the upward streamer to occur in the vicinity thereof, and as a result, lightning strikes are suppressed.

  Here, the influence of the negative charge of the second electrode body 6 is that the lightning strike suppression type lightning arrester 4 is installed above the intersection S, and thus the circular shape around the lightning strike suppression type lightning arrester 4. Range.

  Then, by adjusting the installation height and the like of the lightning strike suppression type lightning arrester 4, a wide range lightning protection area surrounding the plurality of traffic lights 3 is formed around the intersection S, as shown by the symbol A in FIG. can do.

  Since the traffic light 3 is located in the lightning protection area A thus formed, damage to the traffic light 3 due to lightning can be prevented.

  As a result, it is possible to protect the traffic light 3 from lightning strikes, secure its lighting, and prevent traffic control disturbance at the intersection S.

  In the present embodiment, the power source of the traffic light 3 is a self-contained power source using the photovoltaic power generation panel 12, and this power source is also arranged in the lightning protection area A. Damage can also be prevented, and power supply to the traffic light 3 can be reliably ensured.

  From this point, it is possible to prevent the traffic control signal system 1 from stopping when a lightning strike occurs, thereby preventing traffic jams and accidents at the intersection S.

  The various shapes, dimensions, and the like of the constituent members shown in the above embodiments are merely examples, and can be variously changed based on design requirements and the like.

  For example, although the example in which the lightning strike suppression type lightning arrester 4 is provided in one traffic light 3 is shown, it may be provided in each of a plurality of traffic lights 3.

  Thereby, the lightning protection area A formed by the lightning strike suppression type lightning arrester 4 can be expanded.

  In addition, although the example in which the above-described photovoltaic power generation panel 12, the control box 13, and the like are provided for each of the traffic lights 3 has been described, these may be provided in one place in the above-mentioned lightning strike protection area A.

  5 and 6 show other structural examples of the lightning strike suppression type lightning arrester 4 shown in the above embodiment.

  In these figures, a lightning strike suppression type lightning arrester indicated by reference numeral 30 is composed of a substantially bowl-shaped upper electrode body 31 (corresponding to the second electrode body 6 in the above embodiment) and a lower electrode body 32 (first electrode body in the above embodiment). 5) and an electrical insulator 33 (interposed between the peripheral portion of the upper electrode body 31 and the peripheral portion of the lower electrode body 32 and connecting them in a state of insulation at a predetermined interval. And a support rod 34 attached to the lower electrode body 32. As shown in FIG. 6, the electric insulator 33 is provided on the periphery of the upper electrode body 31. A tubular portion 33a connected to the peripheral portion of the lower electrode body 32 and the peripheral portion of the lower electrode body 32, an annular flange portion 33b provided on the inner periphery of the tubular portion 33a, and the tubular portion 33a. Of the cylindrical portion 33a. Has a configuration including a cover portion 33c that covers the periphery.

  The lightning strike suppression type lightning arrester 30 configured as described above is installed in a state of being grounded by the support rod 34.

  When a positive charge is distributed on the ground E due to the approach of the thundercloud C, the lower electrode body 32 that is grounded via the support rod 34 on the ground E also has a positive charge. The upper electrode body 31 opposed via the insulator 33 has a negative charge.

  Thereby, the same operation as the lightning strike suppression type lightning arrester 4 of the above embodiment can be obtained.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Traffic control signal system 2 Support 3 Signal 4 Lightning strike suppression type lightning arrester 5 1st electrode body 6 2nd electrode body 6a 2nd electrode structure 6b 2nd electrode structure 7 Electric insulating layer 7a Lower spacer 7b Upper spacer 8 Nut Reference Signs List 9 support rod 10 lock nut 11 through hole 12 photovoltaic power generation panel 13 control box 14 secondary battery 15 controller 16 transceiver 17 I / O interface 18 charging control means 19 lighting control means 20 lighting synchronization means 21 antenna 30 lightning strike type lightning Means 31 Upper electrode body 32 Lower electrode body 33 Electrical insulator 33a Tube part 33b Flange part 33c Cover part 34 Support rod A Lightning strike protection area C Thundercloud E Ground S Intersection

Claims (9)

At the intersection where a plurality of traffic lights are installed, a lightning strike suppression type lightning arrester is installed, which distributes negative charges above the plurality of traffic lights and suppresses lightning around the intersection.
The lightning strike suppression type lightning arrester is provided one for each of the plurality of traffic lights, and the installation height at which a circular lightning strike protection area centered on one lightning strike suppression type lightning arrester surrounds all the traffic lights at the intersection. Traffic control system, characterized in that it is adjusted to:   The lightning strike suppression type lightning arrester is constituted by a capacitor comprising a grounded first electrode body and a second electrode body opposed to the first electrode body via an electric insulating layer. The traffic control signal system according to claim 1.   The traffic light system for traffic control according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the lightning strike suppression type lightning arrester is mounted on the traffic light. The traffic light system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the lightning strike suppression type lightning arrester is mounted on one of the plurality of traffic lights.   5. A secondary battery for storing electric power for lighting the traffic light, and a solar power generation panel for converting solar energy into electric power for charging the secondary battery. The traffic control traffic signal system according to any one of the above.   The traffic signal system for traffic control according to claim 5, wherein the secondary battery and the photovoltaic panel are provided in each of the plurality of traffic signals.   The controller according to claim 5 or 6, wherein a controller that controls charging of the secondary battery by the solar power generation panel and controls supply of lighting power to the traffic light is provided. Traffic control system for traffic control.   The traffic signal system according to claim 7, wherein the controller is provided for each of the plurality of traffic signals.   The controller is provided with lighting synchronization means for controlling a lighting mode of the plurality of traffic lights, and each of the traffic lights is provided with a transceiver for transmitting and receiving a control signal transmitted from the lighting synchronization means. The traffic signal system for traffic control according to claim 8, wherein