GB2159559A

GB2159559A - Road marker

Info

Publication number: GB2159559A
Application number: GB08512311A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Edward Mcdonald Briggs
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1984-05-15
Filing date: 1985-05-15
Publication date: 1985-12-04
Also published as: GB8412384D0; GB2159559B; GB8512311D0

Abstract

A marker which is flush with the road surface comprising optical fibres having their first ends spaced from the upper surface of the marker and their second ends at or slightly below the surface of the road. A reflective plate 3 reflects the light from vehicle headlights back towards the vehicle. Several markers 10 may be connected via optical fibres 13 to a single remote light source 12 for use on airport runways. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Marker This invention relates to a marker for roads, runways and the like.

There are several types of markers in use on roads, and on airport runways and taxi-ing paths to signify lane divisions and extremeties.

The markers generally consist of a number of reflective elements mounted in a resilient body which is embedded in the road or runway surface. The reflective elements stand proud and face along the line of travel of the road to reflect the lights of oncoming vehicles.

in the designs of the reflective markers aforementioned, the reflective surfaces stand proud of the road surface, and this can result in damage being caused to them, both by the weight of vehicles passing over them and by the action of snowploughs or the like which may scrape along the road surface.

According to the present invention there is provided a marker for roads, runways and the like comprising an optical fibre extending upwardly towards a first end which terminates at or slightly below the road surface in a direction in which light issuing thereform is visible to approaching vehicles.

Preferably, the optical fibre is embedded in a block of impact-resistant material which presents a continuous upper face which lies substantially flush with the road surface.

Preferably also, a plurality of optical fibres are provided.

The light passing along the optical fibre may be reflected light from vehicles; in this event a reflective surface may be provided at a second end of the optical fibre, whereby light passes from the vehicle's light source along the optical fibre, is reflected from said surface and passes back along the fibre to issue in visible form at said first end of the fibre.

The reflective surface may for example be in the form of a plain or coloured mirror, and can form a lower wall of the block of impactresistant material. When such a block is provided it may be mounted in the road with a rubber or other resilient housing around it for absorption of shock and heat effects.

Preferably, the block is of cylindrical crosssection. Thus, the blocks may be set in holes which have been cored in the road.

The optical fibres are preferably directed at their first end to open towards oncoming vehicles.

The light may be independently generated by a light source at the second end of the optical fibre for passage undirectionally along the fibre.

The light issuing from the first end of the optical fibre may only be visible from a limited angle in front of the marker.

The first ends of the optical fibres in the marker may be positioned at different angles to one another. A number of different coloured light sources may be provided one for each set of fibres at the same angle. This may create an effect whereby at certain points in front of a marker only one colour is visible.

Specific embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a flushfitting reflective marker of the present invention in a one-reflective view position; Figure 2 is a side sectional view of the flush-fitting relfective marker of Fig. 1 illustrat ing the refiection of vehicles' headlights; Figure 3 shows in plan an alternative version of the marker of this invention displaying two reflective views at 180 degrees to each other; and Figure 4 is a plan view of a number of flush fitting markers of a further embodiment of the present invention set in an airport runway.

Refferring to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the marker of this embodiment of the invention has a cubic block, of a tough, abrasionresistant translucent material, 1 within which are disposed a number of parallel optical fibres 2. The lower internal face of the block 1 is in the form of a reflective plate 3 of mirrored material which may be colourless, red, green, amber or some other colour suitable for road lane identification. The optical fibres 2 open at their lower ends facing the plate 3 and at their upper ends 4 curve round to an inclined angle, of, for example, 30 or 45 to the vertical.

The fibres 2 are arranged in straight rows when viewed from above, the rows being parallel to opposite side edges of the block 1.

The fibres 2 terminate short of the upper face 5 of the block 1 so that the upper face 5 is continuous, and translucent. Between the rows of parallel fibres 2 are rows of nonreflective material 6 of equal width.

In use, the road surface is recessed and a rubber housing 7 which is cuboidal and open at the top is located within the recess. The recess is of complementary shape to the housing 7. The block 1 is then mounted and secured in the housing so as to fit snugly within it, as shown in Fig. 2, so that the upper face 5 of the block lies flush with the road surface, and the inclined upper ends 4 of the fibres 2 face oncoming traffic.

The marker of Figs. 1 and 2 is suitable for lane identification on dual carriageways and motorways, where the traffic approaches from one direction only. Thus the headlights of traffic provide a light beam 8 which travels down the fibres 2, is reflected from the plate 3 and travels back up the fibres 2 to issue at their upper ends 4 in a manner visible to the traffic.

In Fig. 3 the marker is generally similar except that the rows of non-reflective material 6 are replaced by rows of optical fibres 2a whose upper ends are curved in the opposite direction to those of the fibres 2. This marker is effective in indicating lane divisions on roads where traffic approaches from both directions.

The fibres 2 may be moulded into the block 1 during manufacture, or can be held in the block by other means.

The plate 3 may form the lower surface of the block 1, as in Fig. 1, or may be removable from the block 1 so as to be replaceable by a plate of different colour.

In a further embodiment of the present invention, the housing is cylindrical in shape.

This permits the marker to bet set in a round hole which can be formed by coring, a round hole being more easily formed than a rectangular or square hole.

Referring to Fig. 4, a plurality of flush fitting markers 10 of yet another embodiment of the invention are provided in an airport runway 11.

Light, from a single independent light source 1 2 at the side of the runway, passes through optical fibres 1 3 to issue from each marker 10. The ends of the optical fibres from which the light issues are angled such that the light is only visible from a restricted angle above and in front of the marker. Therefore, the angles of the optical fibres in each marker 10 can be arranged so that the pilot of a plane landing on the runway can only see the light from the markers 10 when he is within a certain, predetermined flight path. Thus, by careful positioning of markers 10 having optical fibres at different angles, the correct flight path may be defined. If a pilot should stray above or below the correct flight path while landing the markers 'disappear' and he knows to alter his course.

In an alternative embodiment three light sources of different colours are provided, each light source being linked to each of the markers by separate optical fibres.

In each marker, each set of optical fibres is set at a different angle so that from any one point in front of the marker only one colour of light is visible.

Thus, by careful arrangement of markers, a pilot landing his plane on the correct flight path sees, for example, a white light, if he flies below the correct flight path a red light, and if he flies above the correct flight path a green light. Therefore, the pilot is constantly informed whether or not his flight path is correct.

The markers of these embodiments are selfcleaning, since road camber causes rainwater to flow over them, removing dirt. They do not form a harbour for dirt since they are flush with the road. The block may be made for example of perspex.

Modifications and improvements may be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A marker for roads, runways and the like comprising an optical fibre extending upwardly towards a first end which terminates at or slightly below the road surface in a direction in which light issuing therefrom is visible to approaching vehicles.

2. A marker as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the optical fibre is embedded in a block of impact resistant material.

3. A marker as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the block presents a continuous upper face which lies substantially flush with the roa'd surface.

4. A marker as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, wherein a plurality of optical fibres are provided.

5. A marker as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, wherein a reflective surface is provided at a second end of the optical fibre.

6. A marker as claimed in Claim 5, wherein the reflective surface is in the form of a plain or coloured mirror.

7. A marker as claimed in either of Claims 5 or 6, wherein the reflective surface forms a lower wall of a block of impact resistant material in which the optical fibre is embedded.

8. A marker as claimed in any one of Claims 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein a light source is provided at a second end of the optical fibre.

9. A marker as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the light issuing from the first end of the optical fibre is only visible from a limited angle in front of the marker.

10. A marker as claimed in Claim 4, wherein the first ends of the optical fibres in the marker are set at different angles to one another.

11. A marker as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the road marker is provided with a cylindrical body.

1 2. A marker as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the marker is mounted in the road with a resilient housing around it.

1 3. A marker substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2, or Fig. 3, or Fig. 4.

14. A plurality of markers as claimed in Claim 1, wherein a single common light source is provided at a second end of the optical fibres of each of the markers.