Abstract:
A modular gate system for a vehicle travel lane employs a plurality of various modules to control the traffic flow and to sense and monitor the vehicles traversing the travel lane. The power and communication for the modules are provided by power and communication lines enclosed in a conduit which is mounted to an elevated rail.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     This disclosure relates generally to gate systems for controlling the entrance and exit of vehicles to and from a facility. More particularly, this disclosure relates to automatic gate systems which are employed to automatically control the traffic flow to and from a facility and to automatically identify the operator and the vehicle. 
     The requirements for a gate system and the automatic identification of personnel and vehicles can vary from facility to facility. It is highly desirable that a vehicle gate system be provided which efficiently incorporates various modules that can be selected and installed to meet the given facility requirement. An additional obstacle to installing automatic gate and control systems resides in providing the required power and communication connections for the systems. Conventional construction techniques practically require that the power and communication lines be placed underground or below the facility floor. These technologies typically require expensive penetration through concrete or pavement to complete the hardware connections. Typically, such automatic gate systems must be designed for a specific locale given the various in-place features of the facility. 
     SUMMARY 
     Briefly stated, a modular vehicle gate system comprises a rail system having a plurality of supports and at least one rail unit supported by the supports to extend generally linearly to define an elevated rail. At least two modules are mounted adjacent, against and/or to the rail at spaced positions along the rail. The modules constitute one or more modules selected from the group of an anti-tailgate module, a personal identification module, a vehicle identification module, a gate module or a barrier gate module. A conduit encloses power lines and communication lines connecting the mounted modules. The conduit is carried by the rail. The module group may also comprise a vehicle sensor and/or a camera. The power and communication lines connect with a communication power cabinet. Some of the modules operate in conjunction with vehicle sensors. 
     A vehicle gate installation includes a vehicle travel lane. A rail adjacent the vehicle travel lane is elevated above the travel lane. A gate module has a gate which is movable over the travel lane to obstruct vehicle movement. An identification module adjacent the rail identifies the vehicle or the vehicle operator in the travel lane. A conduit encloses at least one power line and at least one communication line connecting the gate module and the identification module. The conduit is carried by the rail at the protected side of the rail. 
     The modularity allows for numerous embodiments. An anti-tailgate module is disposed adjacent the rail. At least one power line connects the anti-tailgate module. A vehicle sensor, which connects to a power line and a communication line carried by the rail, is also employed. A camera has a field of view traversing across the travel lane. The rail has an impact side and a protected side with elongated channels. The conduit is preferably disposed in a channel of the rail. 
     A method for providing power and communication to a vehicle gateway system for regulating traffic in a travel lane comprises providing an elevated rail adjacent the travel lane, and installing at least one power line and a communication line in a conduit. The method further comprises mounting the conduit to the rail on a protected side of the rail. The installation method further comprises positioning modules on the protected side of the rail and connecting the power line and communication line to the modules. The method preferably comprises mounting the conduit in a channel of the protective rail. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a representative modular gate system; 
         FIG. 2  is an annotated side elevational view, partly in schematic, of an exit gate section of a modular gate system and further illustrating a one-line, low voltage wiring diagram; 
         FIG. 3  is an annotated elevational view, partly in schematic, of the exit gate section for the modular gate system of  FIG. 2  and further illustrating a one-line, high voltage wiring diagram; 
         FIG. 4  is a fragmentary view of the electrical conduits employed for the modular gate system of  FIGS. 2 and 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is an annotated elevational view, partly in schematic, of an entrance gate section of a modular gate system and further illustrating a one-line, low voltage wiring diagram; 
         FIG. 6  is an annotated elevational view, partly in schematic, of the entrance gate section of the modular gate system of  FIG. 5  and further illustrating a one-line, high voltage wiring diagram; 
         FIGS. 7  A-E are enlarged elevational views of representative modules and an adjacent rail for a modular gate system; and 
         FIG. 8  is a schematic block diagram for representative portions of a modular gate system. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     With reference to the drawings wherein like numerals represent like parts throughout the several figures, a modular gate system especially adapted for controlling vehicle access and/or vehicle egress to and from a controlled facility is generally designated by the numeral  10 . The modular gate system typically employs an exit gate section  12  and an entrance gate section  14  for a vehicle travel lane  16 . For some embodiments, only an exit or an entrance installation is provided. 
     A plurality of longitudinally spaced stanchions  20  mount a plurality of rail members  22  each having at least one longitudinal reinforced channel  24 . The rail units and stanchions are connected and integrated to form an elevated rail  30  which extends along one side of a travel lane. Rail  30  preferably has the form of a highway guardrail with an impact side generally facing the travel lane and an opposite protected side  32 . For convenience, the rail  30  is schematically illustrated in broken lines in  FIGS. 2 ,  3  and  5 . The rail  30  functions to support, connect and/or attach the various modules, as will be described below, as well as to carry the hardwired power and communication lines for the modules. 
     For any given facility, various modules can be selected and mounted to, adjacent and/or against the rail  30  and electronically connected via various connections along the rail. Underground and/or subfloor hardwiring is not required. 
     The low voltage wiring designated generally as  40  and high voltage wiring designated generally as  50  for communication and power, respectively, are carried in a conduit  60  ( FIG. 4 ) or multiple conduits. The diagrams of wiring  40  and wiring  50  illustrated in  FIGS. 5 and 6  are not intended to show or suggest that the wiring is underground or below the support surface of the gate system  10 . To the contrary, the wiring  40  and  50  is principally disposed in conduits carried by the rail disposed above the level of the ground or the travel lane  16 . Each conduit is an integrated protective assembly which preferably substantially extends the length of the rail and is carried by the rail at the protected side  32  of the rail. The conduit  60  is preferably received and securely mounted in a longitudinal channel  24  of the rail. Various junction elbows  62  and junction boxes  64  are provided as needed for a given installation configuration. 
     Among the various modules preferably mounted and connected to the rail  30  are an anti-tailgate module  100  ( FIG. 7A ), an operator identification terminal  200  ( FIG. 7B ), a vehicle sensor module  300 , a camera module  400 , a stop gate module  500  ( FIG. 7C ), an exit gate module  600  ( FIG. 7D ) and an exit barrier module  700  ( FIG. 7E ). Other modules are also possible. Each of the modules ultimately connect with a central command station or communication power cabinet  800 . Some of the modules may be isolated for independent operation. 
     The vehicle sensor modules  300  and camera modules  400  may be directly mounted to the rail  30  with their communication lines being carried by conduit  60 . For some embodiments, the personal identification module is simply a card reader, an RFID reader, a bioreader or an input device for entering a name or a code. 
     With reference to  FIG. 7A , an anti-tailgate module  100  includes a cabinet  110  mounted to the top of a post  120 . The post  120  is mounted against the rail  30 . The cabinet  110  includes a red light, yellow light, and green light traffic light control  130  for signaling to warn the vehicle operator against tailgating into the entrance through the exit assembly. A vehicle sensor  300  is also employed in conjunction with the anti-tailgate module  100 . The power and communication lines for the anti-tailgate module  100  connect via the wires in the conduit  60  with the station  800  or other connection module. 
     With reference to  FIG. 7B , a personal identification module  200  includes a terminal  210  with a keyboard  212  and a card reader  214 , as well as a button and microphone  216  to provide audio communication. The terminal  210  is mounted to a tower  220  mounted against the rail  30 . External remote communication is provided by a cell phone module  230  at the top of the tower  220 . In addition, a bio-reader (not illustrated), as well as an RFID reader  218  may be provided. The communication line for the personal identification module  200  is carried in conduit  60 . The communication lines for module  600  are carried in conduit  60 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 7C , a stop gate module  500  includes a stanchion  510  which mounts an arm-like gate  520 . In a lower active position, the gate  520  obstructs passage until proper personal identification and vehicle identification has been provided. The stop gate also has a cabinet  530  with red, yellow and green lights  540  to indicate the operational status for exiting to the next area. The exit gate  520  is automatically lowerable and retractable to control passage of a vehicle. At least one vehicle sensor  300  is also employed in conjunction with the module  500 . The power and communication lines for the stop gate are carried in conduit  60 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 7D , the exit gate module  600  includes a cabinet  610  with red, yellow and green traffic control lights  630 . The cabinet  610  is mounted at the top of a stanchion  620  which also mounts an arm-like gate  650  which is lowerable to obstruct the vehicle and retractable to permit passage. At least one vehicle sensor  300  is also employed in conjunction with module  600 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 7E , an exit barrier module  700  includes a barrier  710  which may be pivoted from the pavement level of the travel lane to prevent exiting from the facility unless the proper identification has been provided. The exit barrier also includes a cabinet  720  with red, yellow and green traffic control lights  730 . Two vehicle sensors  300  on opposite sides of the barrier are employed in conjunction with the barrier gate. The power and communication lines for module  700  are carried in conduit  60 . 
     It should be appreciated that for the modules which require power to operate the gates or the barriers, the high power wiring  50  is provided through the conduits  60  which are mounted to the rail  30 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 8 , each of the modules which require motive force includes an interface box  70 . Each interface box  70  connects with a controller  80  which connects over the internet or via wireless communication or otherwise with a host  90  for providing isolated control over the operation of each active module, such as exit gate module  600  and barrier gate module  700 . 
     While preferred embodiments have been described, the foregoing description should not be deemed a limitation of the invention herein. Accordingly, various modifications, adaptations and alternatives may occur to one skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and the scope of the present invention.