US 8,975,516 B2 · System and method for loop detector installation

Abstract

A pre-fabricated ferromagnetic loop having a footprint characterized by a continuous wire shaped according to a predetermined planar pattern. In some embodiments, the predetermined planar pattern can be multiple contiguous polygons within a larger footprint used for establishing a sensor for the detection of moving vehicles. The footprint may include one of a triangle, a square, a rectangle, a rhombus, a parallelogram, an ellipse, or a circle, and/or other shapes or configurations. Similarly, each of the multiple contiguous polygons may include one of a triangle, a square, a rectangle, a rhombus, a parallelogram, and/or other shapes or configurations. A loop sensor housing is arranged to enclose a continuous loop sensor wire configured in the predetermined planar pattern. The prefabricated loop sensor is inserted in a groove web pre-cut in a receiving medium to match the predetermined planar pattern.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A housing forming an enclosed channel having a channel length for installation of a loop sensor in a receiving medium under a top surface of the receiving medium, wherein the loop sensor includes a wire, the housing comprising:

a hollow portion of the housing configured to receive the wire of the loop sensor therein such that, responsive to installation of the housing in the receiving medium, the hollow portion of the housing provides a sensor path for the wire of the loop sensor through the receiving medium, the sensor path having a sensor shape in the plane of the top surface of the receiving medium;
one or more wire guides, extending into said hollow portion of the housing and extending the length of the housing, configured to hold the wire of the loop sensor within the housing;
and
a retaining lip disposed at or near a first end of the housing, wherein the retaining lip is configured such that responsive to installation of the housing in the receiving medium, the retaining lip engages the top surface of the receiving medium to maintain the wire of the loop sensor in the hollow portion of the housing at a fixed depth below the top surface in the receiving medium said housing further comprising an insertion end, said first end being opposite said insertion end, said insertion end being configured for insertion into the receiving medium.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

System and method for loop detector installation

Life of this patent

System and method for loop detector installation

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20