US3794966A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automatic vehicle classification and ticket issuing system
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1972-05-01
•
Granted: 1974-02-26
•
Expires: 1992-05-01
Abstract
Abstract An automatic vehicle classification and ticket issuing system for vehicle toll facilities having a ticket issuing device alongside a discretely identified single lane, single feed entering lane. A detector spaced from the ticket issuing device detects characteristics of the vehicle and based upon these characteristics, a control system classifies the vehicle and has the ticket issuing device issue an appropriate ticket. The control system has a memory capability so that it can store the classifications of a number of successive vehicles and appropriately issue the tickets. Vehicle detection and barrier devices control the flow of traffic to properly space the vehicles for proper operation of the system.
Inventors
- 👤 M Platzman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 16:18
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07B; G07B15/00; G07B15/06; G07F; G07F17/00; G07F17/14; G07F17/145; G08; G08G; G08G1/00; G08G1/01; G08G1/015
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
176 words
An automatic classification and ticket issuing system for vehicle toll facilities adapted to be installed in a discretely identified single lane traffic entering terminal comprising: ticket issuing means located adjacent said lane for issuing toll tickets bearing any one of a plurality of different vehicle classification codes; vehicle characteristic detector means located along said lane upstream from said ticket issuing means; vehicle presence detector means located along said lane adjacent said vehicle characteristic detector means; first vehicle direction means normally in a first condition permitting vehicle passage and having a second condition prohibiting vehicle passage located along said lane upstream of and controlled by said vehicle presence detector means to switch to its second condition during the time that the presence of a vehicle is detected; and control means including means for receiving the characteristics detected by said vehicle characteristic detector means, means for classifying the vehicle with one of said classification codes based on said characteristics, and means for operating said ticket issuing means to issue a ticket with the classification code classifying the vehicle.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
176 words
An automatic classification and ticket issuing system for vehicle toll facilities adapted to be installed in a discretely identified single lane traffic entering terminal comprising: ticket issuing means located adjacent said lane for issuing toll tickets bearing any one of a plurality of different vehicle classification codes; vehicle characteristic detector means located along said lane upstream from said ticket issuing means; vehicle presence detector means located along said lane adjacent said vehicle characteristic detector means; first vehicle direction means normally in a first condition permitting vehicle passage and having a second condition prohibiting vehicle passage located along said lane upstream of and controlled by said vehicle presence detector means to switch to its second condition during the time that the presence of a vehicle is detected; and control means including means for receiving the characteristics detected by said vehicle characteristic detector means, means for classifying the vehicle with one of said classification codes based on said characteristics, and means for operating said ticket issuing means to issue a ticket with the classification code classifying the vehicle.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
59 words
A system as in claim 1 and further including second vehicle direction means located downstream from said ticket issuing means and normally in a first condition prohibiting vehicle passage traverses and having a second condition permitting vehicle passage, said second vehicle direction means being switched to its second condition when said ticket is removed from said ticket issuing means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
50 words
A system as in claim 2 further comprising vehicle crossing detector means located along said lane adjacent said ticket issuing means and electrically connected to said second vehicle direction means for switching said second vehicle direction means back to its first condition when the passage of a vehicle is detected.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
48 words
A system as in claim 3 and further including alarm means electrically connected to said second vehicle direction means and said crossing detector means for sounding an alarm when said second vehicle direction is in its first condition and said crossing detector detects the passage of a vehicle.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
67 words
A system as in claim 1 and further including a vehicle crossing detector means located along said lane adjacent said first vehicle direction means, and alarm means electrically connected to said first vehicle direction means and said vehicle crossing detector means for sounding an alarm when said first vehicle direction is in its second condition and said vehicle crossing detector means detects the passage of a vehicle.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
41 words
A System as in claim 1 wherein said vehicle presence detector means includes an RF loop connected to said control means for normally producing a first frequency and for producing a different frequency while a vehicle is within said RF loop.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
A system as in claim 1 wherein said vehicle presence detector means includes a plurality of photo-electric devices whose output beams are cut by the passing of a vehicle therethrough.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
A system as in claim 1 wherein said vehicle characteristic detector means is a treadle inserted in the surface of said lane.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
42 words
A system as in claim 8 wherein the characteristics detected by said vehicle characteristic detector means include the number of axles on the vehicle, the width of the tires on the vehicle, and the number of wheels per axle on the vehicle.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
A system as in claim 1 and wherein the distance between said vehicle characteristic detector means and said ticket issuing means is greater than the length of the longest vehicle using the toll facility.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
A system as in claim 1 and wherein the distance between said vehicle presence detector means and said first vehicle direction is less than the length of the shortest vehicle using the toll facility.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
A system as in claim 1 and further comprising separation means placed on both sides of said lane and separating said lane from adjacent traffic.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
A system as in claim 12 and wherein said separation means bow outwardly from each other downstream from said first vehicle direction means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
82 words
A system as in claim 1 and wherein said control means further includes memory means for successively storing a plurality of classification codes sequentially classified by said means for classifying, and readout means for successively reading out the classification codes and wherein said means for operating successively, operates said ticket issuing means in accordance with the sequence of classification codes contained in said memory to issue a sequence of tickets in the same sequence as they were contained in said memory means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
33 words
A system as in claim 1 and wherein said first vehicle direction means is a traffic control signal, said first condition is a green light, and said second condition is a red light.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
32 words
A system as in claim 1 and wherein said first vehicle direction means is a gate and said first condition represents the opened gate and said second condition represents the closed gate.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
125 words
In a vehicle toll facility having a discretely identified signal lane, signal vehicle feed traffic entering terminal and means for automatic detecting of vehicle characteristics, means for automatic classification and ticket issuing at a distance along said single lane from said automatic detection means comprising control means for automatically classifying a vehicle by one of a plurality of classification codes in accordance with said characteristics, and ticket issuing means for automatically issuing a ticket to the appropriate vehicle whose characteristics were detected by said automatic detection means, said ticket having the classification code classified by said control means and further comprising memory means for retaining the classification code classified by said control means until said ticket issuing means issues said ticket bearing that classification code.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
125 words
In a vehicle toll facility having a discretely identified signal lane, signal vehicle feed traffic entering terminal and means for automatic detecting of vehicle characteristics, means for automatic classification and ticket issuing at a distance along said single lane from said automatic detection means comprising control means for automatically classifying a vehicle by one of a plurality of classification codes in accordance with said characteristics, and ticket issuing means for automatically issuing a ticket to the appropriate vehicle whose characteristics were detected by said automatic detection means, said ticket having the classification code classified by said control means and further comprising memory means for retaining the classification code classified by said control means until said ticket issuing means issues said ticket bearing that classification code.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3018469A
Cited
US3705976A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-02-25 | 1977-08-27 | 1978-02-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-02-25 | 1981-08-27 | 1982-02-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-02-25 | 1985-08-27 | 1986-02-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |