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Overhead Traffic Detector Mounting System
What Is This System?
The Overhead Traffic Detector Mounting System is a system that
allows a variety of detectors to be mounted over individual lanes of traffic.
This system uses a small mobile platform, or trolley, to deploy detectors over
traffic making it much safer, easier, and quicker than the current methods.
The trolley rides on a pair of tracks that can be mounted underneath the
walkway of any standard overhead sign truss. The tracks are designed so they
can be easily retrofitted to existing sign trusses. This permits multiple
detectors to be placed over multiple lanes of traffic at a single location.
With this system, detectors can be mounted very quickly, easily, and safely by
using the integrated self-aligning trolley hoist. This hoist allows the
trolley and mounted detector to be raised from the ground to the tracks while
the operator remains safely off the side of the road. This unique hoist also
makes the mounting system vandal resistant by keeping all of the system
components at the top of the sign truss.
Trolley Mounting on Tracks
Please click below to see how the trolley is mounted to
the tracks.
Drawings:
How Are Overhead
Traffic Detectors Currently Mounted?
The figure above shows how detectors are currently mounted over traffic.
This figure shows a test version of a laser detector mounted over a lane of
traffic. The detector needs a unique mount constructed to adapt to its
geometry and connection points. This custom mount is then connected to
the railing of a bridge over-crossing. To attach the mount to the
railing, one worker must hold it over traffic while another worker attaches
the large U-bolts to the mount that secure it to the railing. This
method of mounting detectors is unsafe, difficult, and not vandal resistant.
What Existing Work Has Been Done On This
Project?
Through a contract with the Mechanical Engineering Department
at the University of California - Davis, a
prototype trolley mount has been fabricated. This prototype has been
thoroughly studied and designed to ensure its reliability and durability. A
test truss was also manufactured to allow lab testing of the trolley (to
see a full write-up of the prototype testing performed
click here).
What Is The Current Status Of This
Project?
Currently, we are trying to obtain funding for this project.
As soon as funding is established, we will again contract with UC Davis to
begin work on creating more trolleys and a full-scale mobile test truss. In
addition to this, a field test truss site has been approved and
preliminary plans for this truss have been prepared. This field test
truss will be a standard S-5 truss and S-9 walkway with the addition of a set
of tracks and a ladder. The truss will be built over the I-5N onramp to
I-80E, which will help improve the Caltrans Headquarters test site. Work is
continuously being done to improve the overhead detector mount design and to
get the project under way.
Project Engineers:
Jacob Duane
Transportation Engineer
Structural Connections |
Joe Palen, P.E.
Senior Research Engineer
TMS Field Elements |
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