Automatic bollard security system with manual override

Abstract

A bollard security system for opening and shutting an entrance or exit to a passageway includes a plurality of bollards activated by a drive system including a counterweight. The system includes vehicle and or personnel recognition and authorization system for lowering the bollards. The system can be operated manually when the drive system is non-operational.

Claims

1. A security system for selectively shutting and opening the vehicle entrance or exit or passage ways comprising: base structure housing a support structure-and a main frame, wherein the main frame comprises a interconnected by steel channels, and wherein the main frame comprises a drive system for moving the bollard up and down; a guide system for guiding movement of the bollards, wherein the guide system comprises a male and female part; a counterweight coupled to the plurality of bollards to balance the bollards when moving up and down, with the help of the guide system; and at least one sensor for identification of a vehicle or a person to initiate movement of the bollards in up or down direction.

2. The security system of claim 1, further comprising a top plate to withstand weight of the vehicle.

3. The security system of claim 1, wherein the base structure is constructed to support the support structure, the main frame, the plurality of bollards, and the counterweight.

4. The security system of claim 1, characterized in that the support structure is assembled to the base structure in such a way that it can take the complete upward and downward movement of the bollard along with complete load of the vehicle passing on it.

5. The security system of claim 1, wherein the main frame takes effective weight of the guide, and the counterweight.

6. The security system of claim 1, wherein the male part of the guide system is made of tool steel with phosphorous and the female part is made of steel with phosphorous bronze and is fitted to the male part to reduce the wear and tear.

7. The security system of claim 1, characterized in that the counterweight bears the equivalent load of the moving the bollard and that will minimize the load on the drive.

8. The security system of claim 1, wherein at least one sensor identifies and recognizes the vehicle or person by reading a card reader or a biometric system or any type of signal generation mechanism from a database storing information.

9. The security system of claim 1, wherein the security system can be operated manually.

10. The security system of claim 1, wherein the number of bollards comprises at least one bollard depending on size of the passage way or as per load of the vehicle.

11. The security system of claim 10, wherein height of the bollard is from 1500 mm to 2700 mm.

12. The security system of claim 11 wherein each of the bollards is a seamless tube having a height of 270 mm, a diameter of 150 mm and a thickness of 13 mm.

13. The security system of claim 1, wherein the drive system for moving the bollards up and down is characterized in that having a gear box with a motor for movement along with a drive shaft and at least one pulleywhich upon receiving instruction/information moves the bollards up or down.

14. The security system of claim 13 wherein the drive system comprises a pair of pulleys disposed on the drive shaft in spaced relation to each other.

15. The security system of claim 1 wherein the bollards have bottom ends and are interconnected at the bottom ends.

16. The security system of claim 12 wherein each of the bollards is a seamless tube.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1A illustrates a security system comprising bollards.

(2) FIG. 1B illustrates a top view of the security system.

(3) FIG. 2 illustrates the security system comprising base structure and a support structure.

(4) FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate the security system comprising a main frame and a plurality of bollards.

(5) FIG. 4 illustrates the security system comprising a gear box.

(6) FIG. 5 illustrates the security system comprising a guide system.

(7) FIG. 6 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the security system comprising a counterweight.

(8) FIGS. 7A and 7B illustrate a perspective view and top view of a top plate.

(9) FIG. 8 is schematic diagram of the security system in operation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(10) The invention relates to an automatic bollard security system for selectively shutting and opening the vehicle entrance or exit or passage ways. It particularly relates to the bollard security system or apparatus for selectively shutting and opening the vehicle entrance or exit or passage ways. It specifically relates to the simple, efficient, automatic and cost effective, bollard security system or apparatus and method for selectively shutting and opening the vehicle entrance or exit or passage ways with manual override.

(11) Bollards:

(12) The novel developed security system/equipment contains rising bollards made of M S Section fabricated with 150 mm diameter and 12 mm thick (thickness can vary as per the impact load) seamless tube or an equivalent section and top covered with SS Sheathing or without sheathing for the top part and bottom is fabricated with INDIAN STANDARD METRIC CHANNEL (ISMC) 150 mm75 mm or of an equivalent suitable material. ISMC is a steel channel which is C-shaped, and is considered as a standard in fabrication. The equivalent for ISMC is the metric channel (MC) that is considered as a standard in the United States of America.

(13) Bollards frame is moving on machined and hardened guides attached to a fabricated structure. It can work without guide also. This structure is fully fabricated with ISMC 150 mm75 mm or equivalent section with necessary stiffeners for withstanding any impact load.

(14) The total enclosure is erected inside the earth (underground) on the road or passage. The top is Stainless Steel Chequered Plate or equivalent material. Card Reader is placed approx. 5 meters before the Bollards and Exit Sensor is placed approx. 4 meters after the Bollards or as per the condition and requirement of the user.

(15) Referring to FIGS. 1A-7B, an automatic security system (100) is described. FIG. 1A illustrates the automatic security system (100) comprising bollards (8). FIG. 1B shows top view of the automatic security system (100). The automatic security system (100) comprises a base structure (1). The automatic security system (100) comprises a support structure (2) provided in perpendicular to the base structure (1), as shown in FIG. 2. The automatic security system (100) further comprises a main frame (3) provided in perpendicular to the base structure (1), as shown in FIG. 1A and FIG. 3. The support structure (2) and the main frame (3) are used to support other components of the automatic bollard system (100).

(16) The automatic security system (100) comprises a drive system or a gear box (4), as shown in FIG. 1A. Referring to FIG. 4, the gear box (4) comprising a motor (5) for movement along with a drive shaft (6) and a pulley (7) is shown. Referring to FIG. 5, the automatic security system (100) comprising a guide system (9) is shown. The guide system (9) is provided around each of the bollards (8) such that the bollards (8) move up or down along the inner surface of the guide system (9).

(17) The automatic security system (100) further comprises a counterweight (10) coupled to the bollards (8) and the drive system (4) and the gear box (9). The automatic security system (100) is covered by a top plate (11) as shown in FIG. 1A. The top plate (11) comprises holes (13).

(18) The automatic security system (100) further comprises a control panel (12) provided outside of the components described above. The control panel (12) is used to operate the automatic security system (100) to operate the drive system (4) either manually or automatically.

(19) Construction of each component of Bollard Security System is presented in detail:

(20) Base Structure (1):

(21) The bottom part of the frame made of ISMC (INDIAN STANDARD METRIC CHANNEL) or with equivalent section. It is heavy and strong enough to take the complete load. The construction of base is done precisely to enable the other supporting members/components can be accommodated. The base is with locator for easy erection. It is made to withstand or accommodate for any further additional fittings.

(22) The Support Structure (2):

(23) The main support structure (2) is assembled to the base frame (1) with ISMC and other members/components of the frame, it can take the complete upward and downward movement of the popup bollards and complete load of the vehicle passing on it. The moving parts and other sets of the parts are fitted to this.

(24) Main Frame (3):

(25) The main frame (3) is the total shell of the automatic security system (100). The main frame (3) is made of ISMB and other supporting sections and materials. The main frame (3) accommodates the popup bollards (8), the drive system (4) and the guides (9) with the counterweight (10). The popup bollards (8) are moving on the precisely made guide (9) and weight is balanced by the counterweight (10). These complete loads are effectively born by the main frame (3).

(26) Gear Box or the Drive System (4).

(27) The motor (5) is connected to the gear box (4) for the speed regulation. This is fitted to the drive system. This is made of specially built, hardened gears designed to deliver specific speed at calculated torque.

(28) Motor (5).

(29) Special motor with S4 DUTY winding is used in this equipment, which can operate several times in an hour. It is to be noted that the term DUTY defines the load cycle to which a motor is subjected, including, if applicable, starting, electric braking, no-load etc. The S4 DUTY is defined as a sequence of identical duty cycles of a motor, each cycle including a predefined starting time, a time of operation at constant load and a time de-energized at a rest. Standard or any other types of motors also can be used. The capacity of the motor is as per the requirement of the automatic security system (100).

(30) Drive Shaft (6).

(31) This is of special tool steel or equivalent machined precisely to withstand the load and impact.

(32) Drive Pulley (7).

(33) The shape of the pulley (7) is as per the load of the equipment. This is of special steel roller made to wind and unwind the load bearing rope. The popup bollards and counterweight is fitted to this shaft.

(34) Bollard (8).

(35) Heavy seamless tube or equivalent section is used to make BOLLARD. For two-wheeler bollards, the seamless tube pipe of 150 mm diameter and 13 mm thickness is used as the bollard and ISMC is used for the connecting the tubes together. The assembly is used as the popup bollards. The total height of the popup bollards are 2300 mm and 1150 mm top part is sheathed with 2 mm thick SS 304 grade pipe. The protruding is 915 mm from the road level. Number of bollards will vary as per the requirement, for two wheelers it can be 1 to 2 popup bollards and for four (and more) wheelers it can be from 5 to any numbers of bollards as per the impact load or size of the passage way.

(36) In one of the embodiment the bollard top is of 2700 mm length and 1500 mm width for normal 4-wheeler bollards and for 2-wheeler the length is 1500 mm and width is 1500 mm. The card reader is placed 5 meter before popup bollards and exit sensor is placed 4 meter after the bollards for both sets. The gap between the popup bollards for 4-wheeler is varying from 317 mm to 400 mm depending on the length of the equipment. For 2 wheelers, it is 400 mm approximately. The width remains 1500 mm and the length varies as per the requirement.

(37) Guide System (9).

(38) The male part of the guide is made of tool steel or equivalent grade material machined as per the requirement. The female part is made of tool steel with phosphorous bronze or of any equivalent grade material fitted to the meshing part, to reduce the wear and tear. Both these parts are finished with scrapping. This is fitted in such a way that it will automatically align back in case of an impact.

(39) Counter Weight (10).

(40) The counterweight (10) is an equivalent load of the popup bollards (8). This will minimize the load on the drive motor (6) and will help to do the manual override. This is made of steel square rod of required size machined and fitted with necessary clamps. It is made of steel square rod instead of lead. The lead counterweight (10) is not eco-friendly. It can be of any material, only requirement is it should have equal weight of bollard (8) and its shape may vary. It also should move as per the movement of the bollard (8).

(41) Top Plate (11).

(42) Stainless Steel, 304 grade chequered plate (or equivalent material) is used as the top plate (11). It will allow vehicle to pass with little resistance. The holes (13) are made for popup bollards to come up, with necessary stiffener plates.

(43) Control Panel (12).

(44) The control panel (12) consists of a panel board with all mounted accessories. The main component/part of the control panel is the PLC. The control is through PLC and other accessories like sensors, control switches, limit switches, contactors, proximity switches and indicators etc.

(45) Card Reader/Identification: The card reader or signal supplier (14, explained in subsequent part of the description) can be of any type. It can be of computer command of card reader, biometric, voice command, android signal, or any type of electronic energizing signal or any type of signal can be used. It reads/recognises/identifies the incoming vehicle/person and transmits the signal accordingly as per the stored information in the database. This signal will energise the system which start with this signal and go for its cycle of operations.

(46) Referring to FIGS. 1A-7, the working of the automatic security system (100) is described. The automatic security system (100) may comprise 5 or more bollards (8) as shown. As presented above, the automatic security system (100) comprises the base structure (1), the support structure (2), the main frame (3) which accommodates the drive system (4) for moving the bollards (8) by the precisely made guide (9) and the weight of moving bollard is balanced by the counterweight (10) and the complete loads are effectively born by the main frame (3). The drive system (4) for moving bollard up and down is having the gear box (4) with the motor (5) for movement along with the drive shaft (6) and the pulley (7) which upon receiving instruction/information moves the bollards up or down through the top plate (11). The top plate (11) is having 5 openings or holes (13) which facilitates for the movement of bollards up and down and the distance between bollards vary from 317 mm to 400 mm depending on the length of the equipment and the width of each bollard is 1500 mm. The control panel (12) consists of a panel board with all mounted accessories. The main component/part of the control panel is the PLC. The control is through PLC and other accessories like sensors, control switches, limit switches, contactors, proximity switches and indicators etc.

(47) Referring to FIG. 8, the working process of the automatic security system (100) when implemented at a check point to avoid the unauthorized entry of the vehicles is explained. The automatic bollard security system (100) may be installed for 2 and 4 or more wheel vehicles. automatic security system (100) may comprise at least one sensor (14) to detect presence of the vehicle and a card reader (not shown) to read the vehicle identification. The card reader may be placed approximately 5 meters (or it can be placed as per convenience) away from the bollards (8) and the exit sensor is placed approximately 4 meters (or it can be placed as per convenience) away from the bollards (8). When the vehicle comes close to the at least one sensor (14) installed at the check point, the card reader/biometric identification (not shown) identifies the vehicle/person and gives signal to the automatic security system (100) via the control panel (12). The control panel may be placed near the automatic security system (100). After receiving the signal indicating the vehicle presence and identifying the vehicle, the bollards (8) go down giving way for the vehicle to pass on the top plate (11). The bollards move down within a period of 1 to 3 seconds or as may be configured by the user for vehicle passage. When the bollards (8) reach down, there is a set of sensors (not shown) and switches (not shown) to give signal for stopping the bollards (8). After the vehicle passes through the exit sensor, the bollards (8) will come up and will be stopped when it reaches the sensors and switches provided at the top and that completes one cycle. There are many safety precautions like at 2000 mm before the bollards there is a warning system, there is a curtain sensor just before the bollards to stop in case of mis-actuation of exit sensor. Also, there provided many measures for the smooth operation of the system. Also, there can be many add on security measures like warning system, in case of vehicle or person pass through the card reader without reading/un authorised biometric or any type of trespassing or even as per the specific requirement, many sensor measures can be added to avoid the security breach.

(48) The bollards system can be used for both ways. All the controls like card reader and other gadgets can be used from other side also.

(49) While in idle, the Bollards are in raised position as shown FIGS. 3A and 3B. Incoming vehicle is coming near the Card Reader (as shown in FIG. 8) or punch the card or biometric system or as per the signal generation of the recognition and identification mechanism, after identifying the vehicle/person, the Bollards will go down to facilitate the movement of the vehicle in. When the vehicle fully passes the Exit Sensor (as shown in FIG. 8), the bollards will rise to the normal position as in FIGS. 3A and 3B. The Bollards rising and going down is very quick as the time taken for rising and going down can be within 1 to 3 seconds and if require it can be operated very slow or fast as well.

(50) The complete system/equipment are inserted inside a trench made of RCC or equivalent casing. For the collection of rain water there provided with a collection pit and automatic water pumping facility. Main Electrical Control Panel with PLC should be fitted inside the switch room. Manual operation pendant is provided with the equipment.

(51) All the equipment can be operated together or independently from the Control panel (12) in case of emergency. Otherwise it will be operating automatically as per the PLC program.

(52) In case of power failure Manual Override is provided. In the case of an eventuality, instantly power supply will be sabotaged. In the present invention, this system can be operated UP and DOWN any number of times manually through Manual Override without the requirement of power.