TRAFFIC MONITORING ARRANGEMENT

Abstract

A traffic monitoring arrangement with a housing having a first housing component and at least a second housing component, wherein the traffic monitoring arrangement comprises a flexible stop means, by which the first housing component and the second housing component are connected to each other. Furthermore, the traffic monitoring arrangement comprises at least one predetermined breaking point which, with respect to a local connection region provided by the second housing component, on which the flexible stop means is fixed, is located on a side of the traffic monitoring arrangement facing away from the first housing component.

Claims

1. A traffic monitoring arrangement having a housing which has a first housing component and at least one second housing component, wherein the first housing component and the second housing component are connected to one another by at least one flexible sling gear, and the traffic monitoring arrangement has at least one predetermined breaking point which in relation to a local connection region which is provided by the second housing component and to which the flexible sling gear is fastened is located on a side of the traffic monitoring arrangement that faces away from the first housing component.

2. The traffic monitoring arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein a landing region for landing the traffic monitoring arrangement in the ground, wherein the landing region in relation to the predetermined breaking point is disposed on a side that faces away from the local connection region.

3. The traffic monitoring arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the traffic monitoring arrangement has a landing region for landing the traffic monitoring arrangement in the ground; the first housing component and the second housing component are disposed on a common vertical axis of the traffic monitoring arrangement that ends in the landing region; and the local connection region in the direction of the vertical axis is spaced apart from the landing region by the at least one predetermined breaking point.

4. The traffic monitoring arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the traffic monitoring arrangement has a landing region for landing the traffic monitoring arrangement in the ground, wherein the landing region is provided by a landing component which is configured as a foundation of the traffic monitoring arrangement or a landing component of the housing; the first housing component and the second housing component belong to housing components of the housing that are disposed on top of one another on a common vertical axis of the housing that ends in the landing component, the first housing component in relation to the second housing component being disposed on the side of the second housing component that faces away from the landing component; the second housing component is fastened directly or indirectly, that is to say so as to be spaced apart from the landing component by at least one intermediate piece, to the landing component; and the local connection region in the direction of the vertical axis is spaced apart from the landing component by the at least one predetermined breaking point, wherein the predetermined breaking point is provided by the intermediate piece (29), or a predetermined breaking region of the second housing component, said predetermined breaking region being disposed between the local connection region and a fastening region of the second housing component that is fastened to the landing component.

5. The traffic monitoring arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the housing has at least one intermediary housing component which, on a vertical axis of the traffic monitoring arrangement on which the first housing component and the second housing component are also disposed, is disposed between the first housing component and the second housing component, the first housing component being connected to the second housing component by way of said intermediary housing component; and the flexible sling gear in the intermediary housing component or outside the intermediary housing component is at least in portions disposed in an alignment of the intermediary housing component which, proceeding from the intermediary housing component, extends so as to be perpendicular to the vertical axis.

6. The traffic monitoring arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the flexible sling gear has a first connection portion which by way of at least one first connection location is fastened to a first connection region of the first housing component, and at least one second connection portion which by way of at least one second connection location is fastened to the local connection region as the second connection region of the second housing component, wherein the first connection location is configured as a first coupling which is provided by a first coupling portion of the first housing component or by a first coupling component which is made independently of the first housing component and which is, in particular releasably, fastened to the first housing component, and/or the second connection location is configured as a coupling which is provided by a coupling portion of the second housing component or by a coupling component which is made independently of the second housing component and which is, in particular releasably, fastened to the second housing component.

7. The traffic monitoring arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the flexible sling gear has a first connection portion which by way of at least one first connection location is fastened to a first connection region of the first housing component, and at least one second connection portion which by way of at least one second connection location is fastened to the local connection region as the second connection region of the second housing component, wherein of the flexible sling gear at least the first connection portion and the second connection portion are disposed either in the interior space of the housing or outside the housing, wherein the interior space in turn at least in portions is delimited by housing walls of the housing components, the first connection portion is formed by at least one first housing wall portion of the first housing component, and the second connection region is formed by at least one second housing wall portion of the second housing component.

8. The traffic monitoring arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the traffic monitoring arrangement has a foundation for landing the traffic monitoring arrangement in the ground, the first housing component and the second housing component belong to housing components of the housing that are disposed on top of one another on a common vertical axis of the housing that ends in the foundation, the first housing component in relation to the second housing component being disposed on the side of the second housing component that faces away from the landing component; the second housing component is fastened to the landing component; and the local connection region in the direction of the vertical axis is spaced apart from the landing component by the at least one predetermined breaking point, said predetermined breaking point being provided by a predetermined breaking region of the second housing component, said predetermined breaking region being disposed between the local connection region and a fastening region of the second housing component that is fastened to the landing component, wherein the second housing component comprises at least one housing wall that is aligned so as to be parallel to the vertical axis; the fastening region of the second housing component is provided by a base plate which bears on a bearing face of the foundation and which is connected to the at least one housing wall; the predetermined breaking region of the second housing component is provided by a first housing wall portion of the at least one housing wall that, in a manner parallel to the vertical axis, is spaced apart from the bearing face of the foundation by at least the thickness of the base plate in the connector region of the latter to the at least one housing wall; and finally the second connection region of the second housing component is provided by a second housing wall portion of the at least one housing wall that in the direction facing away from the foundation adjoins the first housing wall portion in a manner parallel to the vertical axis and includes the second connection location or means for fastening the second connection location.

9. The traffic monitoring arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the flexible sling gear has at least one tensile force limiter, or is connected to the first housing component and/or the second housing component by way of at least one tensile force limiter.

10. The traffic monitoring arrangement as claimed in claim 9, wherein the traffic monitoring arrangement has a landing region for landing the traffic monitoring arrangement in the ground; the first housing component and the second housing component are disposed on a common vertical axis of the traffic monitoring arrangement that ends in the landing region; the flexible sling gear has a first connection portion which by way of at least one first connection location is fastened to a first connection region of the first housing component, and at least one second connection portion which by way of at least one second connection location is fastened to the local connection region as the second connection region of the second housing component, wherein the first/the second connection location is at least in part formed by a metallic plate which has a first plate portion which is fastened to the first/the second connection region, and a second plate portion to which the first/the second connection portion is fastened, wherein the metallic plate acts as the tensile force limiter in that said metallic plate is configured and in relation to the vertical axis is oriented in such a manner that a tensile force that is exerted on the second plate portion so as to be at least partially parallel to the vertical axis deflects the second plate portion in relation to the first plate portion in a manner at least partially parallel to the vertical axis.

11. The traffic monitoring arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein flexible sling gear is provided by a lashing which has a plurality of elongate fibers that are intertwined by twisting or braiding.

12. The traffic monitoring arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the traffic monitoring arrangement has a landing region for landing the traffic monitoring arrangement in the ground; the first housing component and the second housing component are disposed on a common vertical axis of the traffic monitoring arrangement that ends in the landing region; and at least one first sub-portion of the flexible sling gear that is disposed in a first intermediary housing component which is disposed between the first housing component and the second housing component is disposed outside an alignment, running parallel to the vertical axis, of at least one second sub-portion of the flexible sling gear that is disposed in a second intermediary housing component which is disposed between the first housing component and the second housing component.

13. The traffic monitoring arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein a plurality of different first sub-portions of the flexible sling gear that are separated from one another by different second sub-portions of the flexible sling gear that are disposed in the first housing component and the second housing component and/or are fastened to said first housing component and said second housing component, are disposed in one and the same intermediary housing component which is disposed between the first housing component and the second housing component.

14. The traffic monitoring arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the predetermined breaking point is provided by a first wall portion of a housing component, the first thickness of said first wall portion being less than the second thickness of a second wall portion of the same or of another housing component, wherein the second wall portion in relation to the first wall portion is disposed on a side of the housing that faces away from the local connection region.

15. The traffic monitoring arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein a third housing component of the housing, said third housing component being disposed on a side of the first housing component that faces away from the second housing component, and by a plurality of flexible sling gears of which a first flexible sling gear is said first flexible sling gear by way of which the first housing component and the second housing component are connected to one another, and a second flexible sling gear is a further flexible sling gear by way of which the first housing component and the third housing component are connected to one another.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0108] The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus, are not limitive of the present invention, and wherein:

[0109] FIG. 1 shows the schematic cross-sectional view of a first exemplary embodiment of the traffic monitoring arrangement according to the invention;

[0110] FIG. 2 shows the schematic cross-sectional view of a second exemplary embodiment of the traffic monitoring arrangement according to the invention;

[0111] FIG. 2 shows the schematic cross-sectional view of FIG. 2 in fragments;

[0112] FIG. 2a shows the perspective view of a tensile force limiter used in the second exemplary embodiment of the traffic monitoring arrangement according to the invention;

[0113] FIG. 3 shows the schematic cross-sectional view of a third exemplary embodiment of the traffic monitoring arrangement according to the invention;

[0114] FIG. 4 shows the schematic cross-sectional view of a fourth exemplary embodiment of the traffic monitoring arrangement according to the invention;

[0115] FIG. 5 shows the schematic cross-sectional view of a fifth exemplary embodiment of the traffic monitoring arrangement according to the invention; and

[0116] FIG. 6 shows the schematic external view of a sixth exemplary embodiment of the traffic monitoring arrangement according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

First Exemplary Embodiment

[0117] FIG. 1 shows the schematic cross-sectional view along the vertical axis 27 of the housing 20 of a traffic monitoring arrangement 10 according to the invention and according to a first exemplary embodiment, wherein the cross-sectional plane lies so as to be perpendicular to the detection direction of the traffic monitoring installations 11, 12, and 13, this being visualized by means of the detection direction symbol 19 which symbolizes a detection direction that is directed out of the illustration plane. The detection direction is ideally oriented so as to be anti-parallel to the traffic direction. However, since the invention is a traffic monitoring arrangement 10 that is configured for being landed in the ground at road level, the detection direction typically deviates from the counter direction of the traffic by 10 to 45. The housing 20 is fastened to a foundation 30 which is landed in the ground at road level, and has five housing components 21, 22, 23, 24, and 25 which are disposed on top of one another along the vertical axis 27. The vertical axis 27 is aligned so as to be perpendicular to the upper side 35 of the foundation 30 that faces the housing 20. Said foundation upper side 35 provides a bearing face 35 for the housing 20.

[0118] A housing component referred to as the first housing component 21 also is considered as the uppermost housing component in the sense that the first housing component 21 of all housing components 21, 22, 23, 24, and 25 is that housing component 21 which along the vertical axis 27 is disposed so as to be the most remote from the foundation 30.

[0119] A housing component referred to as the second housing component 22 also is considered as the lowermost housing component in the sense that the second housing component 22 of all housing components 21, 22, 23, 24, and 25 is that housing component 22 which along the vertical axis 27 is disposed so as to be closest to the foundation 30.

[0120] The housing components 21, 22, 23, 24, and 25 are configured in the shape of circular hollow cylinders, the walls thereof that provide shell faces in each case enclosing in portions the interior space of the housing 20. Said walls on the lower sides thereof that face the foundation 30 and on the upper sides thereof that face away from the foundation have in each case an inwardly directed collar that is oriented so as to be orthogonal to the wall, the respective external side of said collar providing a flange face for the force-fitting connection between two directly adjacent housing components 21 and 23, 23 and 24, 24 and 25, as well as 25 and 22, said force-fitting connection being effected by threaded bolts 28a and nuts 28b.

[0121] Exceptions are, on the one hand, the upper side of the upper (first) housing component 21, said upper side being configured as a closed cover plate, and, on the other hand, the (lower-side) collar of the lower side of the lower (second) housing component 22, the external side of said collar serving as a support face for bearing on the bearing face 35 of the foundation 30. The second housing component 22 herein, by means of a fastening plate 31 and fastening screws 32 which penetrate the fastening plate 31 and engage in a force-fitting manner in the foundation 30, is fastened directly to the foundation 30 in that the fastening plate 31 in the peripheral region thereof bears on the internal side of the lower-side collar of the second housing component 22.

[0122] The foundation 30 is largely composed of concrete and can have a stainless-steel insert (not illustrated) which provides a particularly planar bearing face 35 and internal threads for the reliable engagement of the fastening screws 32. The foundation 30 can furthermore have at least one duct (likewise not illustrated) having an inlet opening that faces the housing 20 and an outlet opening that faces away from the housing 20 by way of which power supply and/or signal lines (likewise not illustrated) are guided into the housing 20, preferably by way of a breakthrough in the fastening plate 31, said breakthrough likewise not been illustrated.

[0123] One traffic monitoring installation 11, 12, and 13 is in each case disposed in the intermediary housing components 23, 24, and 25 that are disposed between the first housing component 21 and the second housing component 22. A vehicle contour detection installation 11 (for example a LIDAR, a RADAR, a time-of-flight camera, or a stereo camera) is fastened in the interior space of the housing component 23 (for example on the internal side of the wall of the housing component 23) in the second uppermost housing component 23; an image recording installation 12 (for example a traffic monitoring camera) is fastened in the interior space of the housing component 24 (for example on the internal side of the wall of the housing component 24) in the third uppermost housing component 24; a vehicle-to-infrastructure communication installation 13 (for example a DSRC (Dedicated Short Range Communication) installation) for the radio-supported collection of data of a passing vehicle is fastened in the interior space of the housing component 25 (for example on the internal side of the wall of the housing component 25) in the second lowermost housing component 25.

[0124] The housing component walls herein can in portions be configured as a door, a flap, or a loading front of a drawer, wherein the traffic monitoring installations 11, 12, and 13, are in each case fastened to the corresponding door, flap, or drawer, such that a good accessibility to the respective traffic monitoring installation is provided by way of the door, flap, or loading front when a housing component is opened.

[0125] The intermediary housing components 23, 24, and 25, have openings (not illustrated in this view perspective) which permit the detection of in particular optical and/or electromagnetic signals of the vehicle by the traffic monitoring installations 11, 12, and 13 and which are illustrated, for example, in FIG. 2 using the reference signs 23a and 24a, and in FIG. 2 using the reference sign 25a. Said housing openings can be closed by material, for example window glass, that is permeable to the optical and/or electromagnetic signals, so as to protect the interior space of the housing 20, and thus also the traffic monitoring installations 11, 12, and 13, from the weather.

[0126] A data processing installation 15 which is configured for receiving and processing measured values of the traffic monitoring installation 11, 12, and/or 13, for example a vehicle contour of a passing vehicle detected by the vehicle contour detection installation 11, an image recording of the passing vehicle detected by the image recording installation 12, and/or a dataset detected by the DSRC installation that represents a vehicle state of the passing vehicle, and for outputting the result of said processing to a traffic monitoring vehicle and/or a traffic monitoring center, preferably by way of a WLAN or mobile wireless communication installation (not illustrated) that is comprised by the traffic monitoring arrangement, is fastened in the interior space of the lower, second housing component 22.

[0127] The housing 20 comprises a lashing, configured as a braided line 40, as the flexible sling gear according to the invention, said sling gear being completely disposed in the interior space of the housing. The braided line 40 has a 32-ply braided jacket of fibers from Vectran, and a 12-ply braided core of fibers from Dyneema, and possesses a diameter of 12 mm. Said braided line 40 has a first connection portion 41 having a cringle that is spliced into a lashing eye, said cringle being disposed in the first, upper housing component 21. Said braided line 40 furthermore has a second connection portion 42 having a cringle that is spliced into a lashing eye, said cringle being disposed in the lower, second housing component 21.

[0128] The braided line 40 finally has a first coupling portion 45 by way of which the first connection portion 41 is coupled to the second connection portion 42 and which extends across the third housing component 23, the fourth housing component 24, and the fifth housing component 25, wherein said coupling portion 45, guided in a corresponding manner in the housing by guide elements 47, assumes mutually differing alignments. This means in particular that a portion of the first coupling portion 45 that is disposed in one of the intermediary housing components 23, 24, and 25, in the direction parallel to the vertical axis 27 has an alignment that does not overlap with a portion of the first coupling portion 45 in other intermediary housing component 24, 25, or 23. In short: a first portion of the first coupling portion 45 does not lie in the alignment of a second portion of the first coupling portion when the first and the second portion are disposed in different intermediary housing components 23, 24, and 25.

[0129] The first connection portion 41 by means of a first connecting means configured as a carabiner 61 is fastened to a first connection region 211 of the first housing component 21 by way of a first connection location configured as an eyelet screw 51, wherein the first connection region 211 is provided by the cover plate of the first housing component 21.

[0130] A shackle can also be used instead of the carabiner 61.

[0131] The second connection portion 42 by means of a second connecting means (a braided line of the same type as the flexible sling gear according to the invention used here) configured as a further flexible sling gear 62 is fastened to a second connection region 221 of the second housing component 22 by way of two connection locations configured as deck plates 52 (also referred to as eye plates, eyelet plates, or mast plates).

[0132] The further flexible sling gear 62 not only provides the connection function but also the function of a tensile force limiter 49 in that said flexible sling gear 62 deflects tensile forces that in the direction of the vertical axis 27 act on the braided line 40 from the vertical axis direction and thus causes a yielding in the direction of the vertical axis 27, said yielding being a function of tension.

[0133] The second connection region 221 is provided by a shell region of the wall of the second housing component 22, said shell region being concentric with the vertical axis 27 and in the direction of the vertical axis being disposed so as to be spaced apart by a fastening region 223 of the second housing component 22 and a predetermined breaking region 222 of the second housing component that is disposed between the fastening region 223 and the second connection region 221.

[0134] The fastening region 223 of the second housing component 22 is provided at least by the lower collar and the lower shell region which is concentric with the vertical axis 27 and adjoins the lower collar and in the direction of the vertical axis in terms of height does not extend beyond the thickness of the fastening plate 31.

[0135] The predetermined breaking region 222 of the second housing component in the direction of the vertical axis that faces away from the foundation 30 adjoins the fastening region 223 and is provided by that shell region of the housing component 22 that is concentric with the vertical axis 27 and is located between the fastening region 223 and the second connection region 221.

[0136] In the event of an impact of a vehicle on the housing 20 in an impact region above the fastening region 223, a compressive force on the housing 20 is exerted so as to be substantially perpendicular to the vertical axis 27. The housing 20 cannot yield to said compressive force, at least not in the fastening region 223. Therefore, a shear stress is formed between the impact region and the fastening region 223, said shear stress being highest in the proximity of the fastening region 223 which is relatively small in comparison to the impact region and in which a resistance counter to the compressive force builds up. Therefore, shearing-off of a main region 20 of the housing 20 from the fastening region 223 of the housing 20 that consequently remains on the foundation arises most likely in the predetermined breaking region 222 located according to the invention. Since the braided line which is intended to secure a cohesion of the housing components 21, 22, 23, 24, 25 is fastened in a second connection region 221 which is comprised by the main region 20 that is subjected to any potential shearing, the cohesion even of the sheared-off housing components 21, 23, 24, 25, as well as partially 22, remains assured even in the case of shearing-off that has actually taken place.

[0137] In order for the data-processing installation 15, which in the direction of the vertical axis is located so as to be level with the predetermined breaking region 222, to be secured against being released from the sheared-off composite of the main region 20, the data-processing installation 15 is also connected to a housing component region of the main region by way of a flexible sling gear. In this case, the data-processing installation 15 is latched to the further flexible sling gear 62 by means of a carabiner.

[0138] No traffic monitoring installations 11, 12, 13 and data-processing installation 15 are illustrated in FIGS. 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, which form the illustrations for explaining the following exemplary embodiments, in order to improve clarity and to focus the contents illustrated on the feature signifying the characterizing part of the invention.

Second Exemplary Embodiment

[0139] The second exemplary embodiment of a traffic monitoring installation 10 according to the invention in FIG. 2 is illustrated in a schematic cross-sectional view along the vertical axis 27 of the housing 20, wherein the cross-sectional plane lies in the plane of the detection direction of the traffic monitoring installations, this being visualized by means of the detection direction symbol 19 which symbolizes a detection direction lying in the illustration plane.

[0140] The second exemplary embodiment differs from the first exemplary embodiment substantially on account of three features: a) the provision of an intermediate piece 29 that serves as a predetermined breaking point, b) the arrangement of the first coupling portion 45 in the housing 20, and c) the configuration of the tensile force limiter 49.

[0141] An intermediate piece 29 which at the same time forms the lowermost housing component (that housing component that of all housing components on the vertical axis 27 is disposed closest to the foundation 30) and serves as a predetermined breaking point according to the invention is thus provided by the traffic monitoring arrangement 10 of this second exemplary embodiment. The lower, second housing component 22 as the second lowermost housing component, which according to the invention provides the second connection region 221, is fastened indirectly to the foundation 30 by way of said intermediate piece 29.

[0142] The lower side of the intermediate piece 29 that faces the foundation 30 is provided by a base plate 33 of the intermediate piece 29, said base plate 33 forming a fastening region 293 of the intermediate piece 29 and the internal side thereof that faces away from the foundation 30 having an encircling groove 34 that directly adjoins the internal face of the shell region of the intermediate piece 29 and is concentric with the vertical axis 29. The shear stresses in the event of an impact accumulate on the internal edge of the groove 34 that points toward the shell region, so that the sub-region of the shell region of the intermediate piece 29 that directly adjoins the groove 34 can be considered as the predetermined breaking region 292 of the intermediate piece 29, said predetermined breaking region 292 per se being the predetermined breaking point of the traffic monitoring installation 10.

[0143] This is because the second connection portion 42 of the braided line 40 as well as the connection location 52 which is configured as the tensile force limiter 49 and which by means of threaded bolts 28a and nuts 28b is fastened to the second housing component 22, more specifically to the lower-side collar of said housing component 22 that provides the second connection region 221, are situated in the second housing component 22.

[0144] An alternative description of these conditions can be followed by means of FIG. 2, the latter being an illustration of FIG. 2 in fragments of the traffic monitoring arrangement 10 that is restricted to the lower housing component as well as to the components of the foundation 30 and of the second lowermost housing component that are connected directly thereto. The connection location 52 by way of the threaded bolts 28a and the nuts 28b is indeed not only fastened to the second lowermost but also to the lowermost housing component which, as opposed to the preceding description pertaining to FIG. 2, according to FIG. 2 can also be considered to be the second housing component 22 to which, on the side facing away from the foundation 30, the third intermediary housing component 25 is connected according to FIG. 2, said third intermediary housing component 25 in FIG. 2 having been considered to be the second housing component 22. Accordingly, according to FIG. 2, the second connection region 221 by the upper-side collar of the second housing component 22, the fastening region 223 by the lower-side base plate 33 of the second housing component 22, and the predetermined breaking region 222 by the shell region of the second housing part 22 that in the direction of the vertical axis is disposed between the fastening region 223 and the second connection region 221.

[0145] As can be concluded by means of FIG. 2, the arrangement of the first coupling portion 45 in the housing 20 is characterized in that said arrangement is performed substantially along a straight connecting line between the first connection portion 41 and the second connection portion 42, said connecting line being parallel to the vertical axis 27. A first sub-portion of the first coupling portion 45 herein is in each case disposed in the alignment, parallel to the vertical axis 27, of a second sub-portion of the first coupling portion 45, wherein the first sub-portion and the second sub-portion are disposed in different intermediary housing components 23 and 24.

[0146] The second connection location 52 which acts as a tensile force limiter 49, is separately illustrated in an oblique view in FIG. 2a. Said second connection location 52 is composed of two plate portions 55 and 57 that are mutually contiguous in an orthogonal manner, and has been produced by bending a single planar plate from stainless steel, having a thickness of 4 mm. A first plate portion 55 serves as a connector portion 55 for fastening the second connection location 52 to the second connection region 221 and to this end has four continuous connecting openings 56 which serve for receiving the shank of the threaded bolts 28a. A second plate portion 57 in the form of a lug serves as an attaching portion 57 for fastening the second connection portion 42 by means of a carabiner 62 (FIG. 2 and FIG. 2) and to this end has an attaching opening 58 which is provided for engaging with the carabiner 62 in a reciprocating manner.

[0147] The first plate portion 55 moreover has two tear seam structures 59 which have been incorporated in the plate by etching or laser cutting and delimit a plate region of the first plate portion 55 that ends in the second plate portion 57. Tearing of said tear seam structures 59 takes place when a tensile force acting in the direction of the vertical axis 27 on the attaching portion 57 exceeds a limit tensile force. The tearing herein is preceded by a deflection of the second plate portion 57 in relation to the first plate portion 55 in a manner at least partially parallel to the vertical axis 27. A further deflection of this type takes place with tearing and after tearing, wherein the connection between the first connection region 221 and the second connection region 222 established by way of the flexible sling gear 40 is maintained in a tensile-force-limited manner on account of the yielding of the second tensile-force-limiting connection location 52.

[0148] In the case of this exemplary embodiment, the connection location 52 is disposed between the screw heads of the screws 28a and the lower-side collar of the second lowermost housing component, wherein, on account of the circumstance that the screws 28a and the nuts 28b are contemporaneously connecting means for connecting the second lowermost housing component to the lowermost housing component and fastening means for fastening the connection location 52 to the lower-side collar of the second lowermost housing component, as described, the ambivalent understanding is permissible that the second housing component 22 can be provided the second lowermost housing component (FIG. 2) as well as the lowermost housing component (FIG. 2).

[0149] The same applies to the case of an alternative arrangement (not illustrated) of the connection location 52 between the nuts 28b and the upper-side collar of the lowermost housing component. In a manner analogous to the afore-described case, it applies in this case that the screws 28a and the nuts 28b are contemporaneously connecting means for connecting the second lowermost housing component to the lowermost housing component and fastening means for fastening the connection location 52 to the upper-side collar of the lowermost housing component. The same ambivalent understanding as in the afore-described case that the second lowermost as well as the lowermost housing component can correspond to the second housing component according to the invention is thus also permissible in this case.

Third Exemplary Embodiment

[0150] The third exemplary embodiment of a traffic monitoring arrangement 10 according to the invention in FIG. 3 is illustrated in a schematic cross-sectional view along the vertical axis 27 of the housing 20, wherein the cross-sectional plane lies in the plane of the detection direction of the traffic monitoring installations, this being visualized by means of the detection direction symbol 19 which symbolizes a detection direction lying in the illustration plane.

[0151] The third exemplary embodiment differs from the first exemplary embodiment substantially on account of three features: a) the configuration second housing component 22, b) the arrangement of the first coupling portion 45 in the housing 20, and c) the configuration of the tensile force limiter 49.

[0152] By contrast to the first exemplary embodiment, the second housing component 22 on the lower side thereof that faces the foundation 30 has a base plate 33 which bears on the foundation 30 and has a plurality of continuous fastening openings through which the shanks of the screws 32 for fastening the housing 20 to the foundation 30 are guided. The shell region of the housing component 22 which adjoins the base plate 33 so as to be concentric with the vertical axis 27 and which in the direction of the vertical axis is delimited to the thickness of the base plate, forms the fastening region 223 of the housing component 22. The second connection region 221 is provided by that shell region of the housing component 22 in which the fastening means 521 (in this case a screw) for fastening the second connection location 52 (in this case a fastening angle 52 having an attaching opening for engaging a carabiner 62 which in turn latches in the cringle of the eye 42 as a second connection portion of the braided line 40) engages and which in the direction of the vertical axis 27 is spaced apart from the fastening region 223 by a shell region which encircles the housing component 22 and is configured as the predetermined breaking region 222.

[0153] Said predetermined breaking region 222 has a second housing component material which is more brittle than a first housing component material in regions of the second housing component 22 outside the predetermined breaking region 222. For example, the second housing component material has a finer-grain microstructure than the first housing component material, said finer-grain microstructure having been generated in the first housing component material by thermal and/or mechanical treatment in the predetermined breaking region 222, for example. On the other hand, the second housing component material can differ from the first housing component material also in chemical terms, this having been generated by the effect of an embrittlement agent, for example hydrogen, on electrolytic copper Cu-ETP or martensitic steel, on the first housing component material in the predetermined breaking region 222. Finally, the housing component 22 can also be in three parts, wherein the predetermined breaking region 222 as a predetermined breaking ring can also be made separately from a lower housing component portion which comprises the fastening region 223 including the base plate 33, and from the upper housing component portion which comprises the second connection region 221, and be made from a second housing component material which is entirely different from the first housing component material of the lower and the upper housing component portion. In the course of the production, the predetermined breaking ring may have been inserted between the lower and the upper housing component portion by means of soldering/brazing, for example.

[0154] As can be concluded by means of FIG. 3, the arrangement of the first coupling portion 45 in the housing 20 is characterized in that said arrangement takes place substantially along a straight connecting line between the first connection portion 41 and the second connection portion 42, said connecting line being parallel to the vertical axis 27. A first sub-portion of the first coupling portion 45 herein is in each case disposed in the alignment, parallel to the vertical axis 27, of a second sub-portion of the first coupling portion 45, wherein the first sub-portion and the second sub-portion are disposed in different intermediary housing components 23 and 24, 23 and 25, and/or 24 and 25.

[0155] In this third exemplary embodiment, a strap fall attenuator 49 which as part of the flexible sling gear is disposed between the first coupling portion 45 and the second connection portion 42 serves as the tensile force limiter, said first coupling portion 45 and said second connection portion 42 being linked to one another by way of the strap fall attenuator 49. This arrangement alternatively permits the consideration that the strap fall attenuator 49 is either part of the first coupling portion 45 or part of the second connection portion 42.

Fourth Exemplary Embodiment

[0156] The fourth exemplary embodiment of a traffic monitoring arrangement 10 according to the invention in FIG. 4 is illustrated in a schematic cross-sectional view along the vertical axis 27 of the housing 20, wherein the cross-sectional plane lies so as to be perpendicular to the detection direction of the traffic monitoring installations (not illustrated), this being visualized by means of the detection direction symbol 19 which symbolizes a detection direction that is directed out of the illustration plane.

[0157] The fourth exemplary embodiment differs from the first exemplary embodiment substantially on account of three features: a) the configuration second housing component 22, b) the configuration and arrangement of the braided line 40 in the housing 20, and c) the absence of a tensile force limiter 49.

[0158] The configuration of the second housing component 22 is initially similar to that of the third exemplary embodiment but with the difference that the determined breaking region 222 is not provided by a material microstructure or a material that is different from the remaining housing component 22 but by a material deficit in the shell of the housing component 22, said material deficit having been generated by a groove incorporated in the internal wall of the shell.

[0159] The configuration and the arrangement of the braided line 40 in the housing 20 is of such a manner that the braided line 40 provides the connection between the first uppermost housing component 21 and the second lowermost housing component 22 multiple times, in this case in an exemplary manner twice, wherein a triple or quadruple connection is also possible. Specifically, the first connection portion 41 is a first end portion of the braided line 40 that by way of a carabiner 61 is fastened to an eye screw 51 which is screwed into the cover plate of the first housing component 21. A third connection portion 43 of the braided line 40 is provided by a second end portion of the braided line 40 and by way of a carabiner 63 is fastened to an eye screw 53 which is likewise screwed into the cover plate of the first housing component 21. The second connection portion 42 of the braided line 40 is provided by a central portion of the braided line which by way of two mutually opposite connection locations 52 which are in each case provided by a cover plate 52, fastened to the second connection region 221 of the second housing component 22 which is provided by the wall region 221 of the shell of the housing component 22, which along the vertical axis 27 is spaced apart from the fastening region 223 by the predetermined breaking region 222.

[0160] The first coupling portion 45 of the braided line 40 that connects the first connection portion 41 to the second connection portion 42 is disposed in the intermediary housing components 23, 24, and 25.

[0161] A second coupling portion 46 of the braided line 40 that connects the third connection portion 43 to the second connection portion 42 is likewise disposed in the intermediary housing components 23, 24, 25.

[0162] On account thereof, the profile of the braided line 40 in the housing 20 is imparted the shape of a letter U which is upright in relation to a direction that along the vertical axis points away from the foundation.

[0163] On account of this multiple linking of the first housing component 21 and the second housing component 22, the tensile forces that in the event of a breakage act on the braided line 40 can be distributed to two parallel first and second coupling portions 45 and 46 of the braided line so that a tensile force limiter can be dispensed with.

Fifth Exemplary Embodiment

[0164] The fifth exemplary embodiment of a traffic monitoring arrangement 10 according to the invention in FIG. 5 is illustrated in a schematic cross-sectional view along the vertical axis 27 of the housing 20, wherein the cross-sectional plane lies so as to be perpendicular to the detection direction of the traffic monitoring installations (not illustrated), this being visualized by means of the detection direction symbol 19 which symbolizes a detection direction that is directed out of the illustration plane.

[0165] The fifth exemplary embodiment differs from the fourth exemplary embodiment substantially on account of three features: a) the arrangement and the configuration second housing component 22, b) the configuration and the arrangement of the braided line 40 in the housing 20, and c) the configuration of a predetermined breaking region 292 in the intermediate piece 29.

[0166] In the case of said fifth exemplary embodiment the second housing component 22 is not the lowermost housing component but the second lowermost housing component of the housing 20 that by means of an intermediate piece 29 which is likewise a housing component of the housing 20 is fastened to the foundation 30. The intermediate piece 29 per se has a base plate 31 that faces away from the housing component 22 and faces the foundation 30, said base plate 31 having openings through which the shanks of fastening screws 32 for engaging in the foundation 30 are guided.

[0167] The intermediate piece 29 is the predetermined breaking point according to the invention of said fifth exemplary embodiment of the traffic monitoring arrangement 10 according to the invention.

[0168] As compared to the fourth exemplary embodiment, the arrangement of the braided line 40 is reversed, specifically in that said arrangement has the shape of a letter U which in relation to a direction along the vertical axis pointing away from the foundation is mirrored in a manner perpendicular to the vertical axis, that is to say has the shape of an inverted U.

[0169] Specifically, the first connection portion 41 is provided by a central portion of the braided line 40. Said central portion by way of in each case latching carabiners 61 is in each case fastened to the first housing component 21 by means of two cover plates 51 which serve as first connection locations and which in relation to an imaginary plane which in a manner perpendicular to the illustration plane comprises the vertical axis 27 are fastened to mutually opposite sides of the cover plate of the first housing component 21.

[0170] The second connection portion 42 is provided by a first end portion of the braided line 40 which by means of a carabiner 62 is fastened to the housing wall of the second housing component 22 by way of a second connection location 52 which comprises a fastening angle having an attaching opening for latching the carabiner 62.

[0171] A third connection portion 43 is provided by a second end portion of the braided line 40 which by means of a carabiner 63 is fastened to the housing wall of the second housing component 22 by way of a third connection location 53 which comprises a fastening angle having an attaching opening for latching the carabiner 63.

[0172] The first coupling portion 45 of the braided line 40 that connects the first connection portion 41 to the second connection portion 42 is disposed in the intermediary housing components 23, 24, and 25.

[0173] A second coupling portion 46 of the braided line 40 that connects the third connection portion 43 to the second connection portion 42 is likewise disposed in the intermediary housing components 23, 24, and 25.

[0174] The intermediate piece 29 in turn finally has a fastening region 293 which in terms of the extent thereof parallel to the vertical axis 27 is restricted to the thickness of the base plate 33 of the intermediate piece 29. The intermediate piece likewise has a predetermined breaking region 292 where the shear stresses in the event of an impact are concentrated in such a manner that shearing-off takes place in the predetermined breaking region 292. As opposed to exemplary embodiments two, three and four, this predetermined breaking region neither in terms of structure nor material is defined in the sense of a weakening that has intentionally been incorporated by the other wall regions of the shell. In a manner similar to the first exemplary embodiment, said predetermined breaking region is defined in that said predetermined breaking region in the direction parallel to the vertical axis pointing away from the foundation directly adjoins the defined fastening region 293.

[0175] A configuration of the fastening region and of the predetermined breaking region of the lowermost housing component in the first exemplary embodiment in a manner analogous to the intermediate piece 29 of this exemplary embodiment is possible in the same manner in said first exemplary embodiment.

[0176] Both the fourth as well as the fifth exemplary embodiment can be modified with a view to two I-shaped braided lines being used instead of a single U-shaped braided line 40. FIGS. 4 and 5 to this end would have to be modified such that instead of said central portions (the second connection portion 42 in the fourth exemplary embodiment, the first connection portion 41 in the fifth exemplary embodiment), end portions of different braiding lines would exist according to the pattern of the already described end portions which are fastened to the corresponding connection locations on the second housing component 22 (fourth exemplary embodiment) and on the first housing component 21 (fifth exemplary embodiment), respectively.

Sixth Exemplary Embodiment

[0177] The sixth exemplary embodiment of a traffic monitoring arrangement 10 according to the invention in FIG. 6 is illustrated in a schematic external view of the housing 20, wherein the illustration plane lies so as to be perpendicular to the detection direction of the traffic monitoring installations (not illustrated), this being visualized by means of the detection direction symbol 19 which symbolizes a detection direction that is directed out of the illustration plane.

[0178] The sixth exemplary embodiment differs from the fifth exemplary embodiment substantially substantially on account of three features: a) the flexible sling gear 40 is is not disposed in the housing 20 but outside the housing on the housing, b) the base plate of the lowermost second housing component 22 is configured as an external collar, and c) the flexible sling gear per se.

[0179] In particular, a chain 40 having links from stainless steel, which is reinforced by a plastics material cladding, is used instead of the textile rope of the preceding exemplary embodiment.

[0180] Portions 41, 42, 43, 45, and 46 of the chain and the arrangement of said chain in terms of a fastening to the first housing component 21 and the second housing component 22 correspond to that of the fifth exemplary embodiment with the difference that the arrangement and the fastening is not performed in the housing 20 but outside the housing 20.

[0181] In order for the chain to be fastened to the housing 20, connection locations 51, 52, and 53 are provided which are U-shaped and on the base thereof, which in relation to the end faces of the legs is oriented so as to face away from the housing wall, have in each case a breakthrough for receiving a shank of in each case one screw 51a, 52a, and 53a, said screws 51a, 52a, and 53a being guided through a chain-link that is disposed between the legs of the respective connection locations and engaging in an internal thread of the respective housing component sub-wall of the respective housing component 21 or 22.

[0182] Further connection locations of the same type (not referenced) serve for fastening the chain 40 in portions to the intermediary housing components 23, 24, and 25.

[0183] The base plate 33, configured as an outwardly directed collar, of the lowermost housing component serves for fastening the lowermost housing component 22 to the foundation 30, said base plate 33 contemporaneously providing the fastening region 223 according to the invention. The predetermined breaking region 222 of the housing component 22 in the direction facing away from the foundation 30 adjoins the internal edge of the housing wall having the external collar 33, said housing wall being parallel to the vertical axis 27.

[0184] All of the exemplary embodiments can be modified with a view to the braided line/chain 40 along the longitudinal axis thereof being subdivided into a plurality of parts which in turn on the end portions have connection portions for fastening to the intermediary housing component(s) 23, 24, and/or 25 in/on which the respective connection portion of the braided line/chain 40 is disposed. On account of said singularization, the property of an originally intermediary housing component 23, 24, and/or 25 changes such that said originally intermediary housing component 23, 24, and/or 25 acts in the sense of the invention as one of a plurality of first housing components and/or one of a plurality of second housing components.

[0185] Such a piecewise multiple application of the principle according to the invention in series across a plurality of pairs of indirectly or directly adjacent housing components can be expedient when a single, comparatively long flexible sling gear 40 cannot or is not to be installed in its entirety on/through the housing, for example as a result of a deficiency in terms of space in the housing or of cost savings on the housing.

[0186] While reference has at all times been made in the exemplary embodiments to a foundation 30 as the landing component of the traffic monitoring installation, the foundation 30 in each exemplary embodiment can be replaced by a landing component of the housing 20. Such a landing component can likewise be a housing component of the housing 20 that conjointly with the remaining housing components 21, 22, 23, 24, and optionally 25, encloses a common interior space of the housing 20.

[0187] The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are to be included within the scope of the following claims.