Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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BACKGROUND OF_THE INVENTION
This invention relates to an admission and/or egress
control structure for separating -two areas and regulating the
passage of human traf~ic hetween the two areas such as might be
utilized in, for example, a mass -transportation system, a
theater or amusement park, etc.
This application is a division of Canadian Serial No.
321,632, filed February 16, 1979.
Increasing labor costs have resulted in increased auto-
mation on many levels. The control of human traffic between twoareas where the passage from one to the other requires that some
value be exchanged ~or the passage is no exception. For example,
the assignee of the present application has in recent years in-
stituted a highly automated "ticket-taking system" in connection
` 15 with i-ts commuter rail service in the Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A.
metropolitan area. In this system, many ticket sellers have
been replaced with automated ticket vending apparatus and human
ticket takers have been replaced with ticket operated turnstiles
at the various stations. Typically, a commuter, having obtained
a coded ticket, will enter a boarding area via a turnstile into
which the ticket is placed. The ticket is processed by a value
receiving device associated with the turnstile and returned to
the commuter who will then board the train until his desired
destination is reached.
At that time, the commuter will leave the train and
exit the boarding area at his destination, again through a -~
turnstile. The ticket is again placed within the turnstile and
; if a processing of the ticket by turnstile associated apparatus
indicates that the ticket was issued for value for a trip bet-
` 30 ween the two points actually traveled by the commuter, the
turnstile will allow the commuter to exit therethrough.
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Conversely, should the ticket have been issued for a
shorter ride than that actually taken by the commuter, the
turnstile will not operate and the commuter may seek manual
assistance from a remote control center for all stations via a
phone or the like.
Video and aural monitoring of each such location is
continuously made at a remote, central control station so that
assistance may be readily rendered when necessary.
The system has worked extremely well for its intended
purpose. By reason of the monitoring of each location, assistance
is readily available to those who require it from but a very
small number of persons at a remote control center serving all
stations. Yet the labor costs associated with ticket takers and
ticket sellers at each of the stations has been eliminated.
In one area, the system is not without flaws. In par- ;
ticular, handicapped persons in wheel chairs, for example~ may
find it impossible to move through the turnstile, with or without
extensive manual assitance and as a consequence, are effectively
denied use of the transportation system. Similarly, ambulatory
persons requiring assistance may move through the turnstiles only
with considerable difficulty. For example, an elderly person,
or one requiring the use of crutches may find the turnstiles
almost impossible to negotiate.
Similar difficulties attend the use of automated ad-
missions or egress control structures separating two areas andregulating the passage of human traffic therethrough such as may
be used at theaters, amusement parks or the like.
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SUMMARY OF rr~IE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to overcoming one or
more of the above problems.
According to the present invention to which the claims
are directed herein~ there is provided an admission and/or
-~ egress control structure for separating two areas and regulating
the passage of human traffic between the ~wo areas~ The control
structure includes a barrier adapted to be disposed between the
two areas to be separated and at least one turnstile is located
in the barrier through which unassisted, ambulatory humans may
easily pass from one area to the other. At least one gate is
disposed in the barrier and extends to the bottom thereof through
which non-ambulatory and assisted ambulatory humans may easily
pass from one area to the other. Means mount the gate for
~` 15 movement between open and closed positions relative to the
barrier and means normally and yieldably urge the gate towards
the closed position. Means are provided for normally loc~ing
the gate in the closed position. Means are also provided for
operating the locking means to unlock the gate from the closed
`; 20 position whereby non-ambulatory and assisted ambulatory humans
may move the gate against the urging means to the open position
to pass easily therethroughto move from one area ta the other
without traversing either the barrier or the turnstile.
According to preferred embodiment of the invention, the
gate is mounted on one side for pivotal movement about a
generally vertical axis so as to swing to either side of the
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` barrier. The locking means includes a latch moveably mounted
within the barrier for engagement with the gate on the side
- thereof opposite the one side.
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On a highly preferred embodiment, there is provided a
motor energizable to move the latch element to a position
positively locking the gate in the closed position along with
unpowered means for moving the latch element to a position un-
locking the gate whenever the mo~or is deenergized. Consequent-
ly, the gate will be unlocked in the event of a power failure.
According to another aspect of the invention, there is
provided a gate especially adapted for controlling non-ambulat-
ory and assisted ambulatory human traffic in passing between
two areas. The gate includes first and second spaced uprights,
the space between the uprights defining a traffic zone. A gate
panel substantially spans the space between the uprights and
has opposed edges, one in proximity to each upright. Hinge
means interconnect the first upright and the gate for pivotally
mounting the gate for swinging movement about a generally ver-
tical axis adjacent to one of the panel edges and towards either
side of the traffic zone. Spring means resilientIy urge the gate
towards a position aligned with the uprights and blocking the
traffic zone. An apertured lock plate is mounted on one of th~
second upright and the other of the panel edges and a lock is
mounted or. the other of the second upright and the other of the
panel edges. The lock includes a moveably mounted bolt receiv-
able in the lock plate, a spring urging the bolt away from the
lock plate, and a selectivsly energizable motor for moving the
bolt into the lock plate.
Other aspects and advantages become apparent from the
following specification taken in connection with the accompany-
ing drawings.
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DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an admission and/or
egress control structure separating two areas between which
human ~.raffic may pass and made according to the invention;
Fig~ 2 is a somewhat schematic, side elevation of
the control structure ana part of a remote monitoring station;
Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a gate made according
to the invention;
Fig. 4 is a fragmentary, perspective view of one side
of the gate with parts removed for clarity;
Fig. 5 is a perspective view of,a locking mechanism
made according to the invention and its location within part of
the barrier structure;
Fig. 6 is an enlarged view of the locking mechanism;
]-5 Fig. 7 is a block diagram of a system employing the
inventiOn.
`` DESCRIPTION OF T E PREFERRED El`IBODIMENT
An exemplary embodiment of the invention is illustra-
ted in Fig. 1 in the environment of a commuter ~tation. In the
foreground, i~ an area 10 which may be, for example, the entrance
to or exit from the station. A barrier, generally designated 12,
separates the area 10 from an area 14. The area 14 includes
stairs 16 which may lead to, for example, a boarding area. To facil-
- itate movement o~ :the handicapped~ the stairs 16 3re paralleled
by ramps 18 which also lead to the boardi~g a~ea,
~ The barrier 12 extend~,,be~ween side walls 20 and 22
so that all pa~age of human traf~ic between the area~ 10 and 14
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must be through the barrier 12. To provide for such trafficpassage, the barrier 12 includes a plurality of conventional
turnstiles 24 which, as will be recognized, easily allow unassist-
ed human traffic to pass therethrough. Automated ticket pro-
cessing apparatus is associated with each turns-tile and is
schematically shown at 26 in Fig. 1. The manner in which such
operates forms no part of the present invention.
A gate structure 28 is also disposed in the barrier 12
and will be described in greater detail hereinafter. PrPferably,
the gate structure 28 is such as to expose an opening of suf-
ficient width that a wheelchair may easily pass therethrough.
Typically, the width will be on the order of 36 inches and in
order to facilitate passage of a wheelchair of the like, the
opening in which the gate 28 is disposed extends down to the
floor, i.e., to the bottom of the barrier 12.
To the left of the gate 28 is a part 30 of the barrier
12. On either side of the part 30, there are disposed two con-
ventional pay-type telephones 32 and 34. Telephones provide a
means whereby a person in either of the areas 10 and 14 can
seek assistance from a remote control cen~er. The phones are
wired so that coins need not be placed in the pay phones in
order to establish communications with the remote control center.
However, the coin receiving means on each of the phones 32 and 34
is utilized as a value receiving means to provide signals to
the remote control center, in a conventional fashion, that a
given amount of money has been deposited therein.
In the usual case, unassisted, ambulatory humans will
; purchase via automated ticket issuing machines (not shown) or
receive them by other means, as for example, via the mail. In
the case of a handicapped person, or an ambulatory person on
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crutches, a ticket issuing machine may be difficult to operate
with the consequence that the fare is deposited in the money
taking part of either of the phones 32 and 34.
It is to be noted that the phones 32 and 34 are disposed
ad]acent to fixed part 30 of the barrier 12. Thus, a person
using either one of the phones 32 or 34 will be out of the
normal flow of traffic through the turnstile 24 or the gate 28
so as not to disrupt the traffic pattern.
Fig. 2 illustrates additional structure of a system in
which the invention is advantageously employed including a video
camera such as a TV camera 36 which is trained on the barrier
structure 12. Also included is a combination microphone and
speaker unit 38 by which a person at a remote control center
may issue instructions to a person in either of the areas 10 or
14 or receive requests for information or responses to directions
from such a person without use of either of the phones 32 and 34.
At a remote location, there is provided a video monitor
in the form of a television monitor 40 along with a headset 42,
for example, which are connected to the camera 36 and speaker
system 38 respectively enabling an operator in the remote control
center to monitor, both visually and aurally the happenings in
the vicinity of the barrier 12.
In the usual case, one operator at the remote control
center will monitor several such locations, there typically being
provided an electronic scan system of known type to periodically
switch from one station to another with a provision for interrupt-
ing the scan from its normal sequence when assistance is required
or an unusual happening observed.
Fig. 3 illustrates a preferred form of gate. The same
includes a pair of spaced uprights 50 and 52 forming part of the
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harrier 12. The gate 28 is in the form of a rectangular panel
and one edge 54 thereof is connected by hinges 56 to the upright
50 so that the gate 28 may swing to either side of the barrier
12 about a generally vertical axis. To facilitate opening of
the gate 28 in either such direction, the hinges 56 are so called
double acting hinges of conventional construction. They addition-
ally include conventional spring mechanisms whereby the gate 28
is always urged, albeit yieldably, to its closed position as
illustrated in Fig. 3.
Fig. 4 illustrates the gate 28 with covering panels re-
moved. The same may be formed of interconnected channels 58 and
strengthened by cross members 60.
The edge 62 is provided with a lock plate 64 having a
central aperture 66 for receipt of a lock bolt. When the gate
is formed of a non-ferrous material as, for example, aluminum,
for purposes to be seen, the edge 62 may also carry a piece of
magnetic material 68.
It can be appreciated that the upright 52 is in the form
of a housing as seen in both Fig. 1 and 3, and the wall of the
same facing the edge 62 is formed as illustrated in Fig. 5.
frame structure is made as i~lustrated and includes frame mem-
bers 70 which are covered by one or more panels 72. A permanent
magnet 74 is carried by the upright 52 in vertical alignment
with the magnetic material 68 and is adapted to exert an attract-
ing force on the magnetic material 68 to center the gate 28 inthe closed position illustrated in Fig. 3.
Within the upright 52 there is also mounted a lock
- mechanism generally designated 76. The lock mechanism includes
- a T~shaped base 78, the top of which is secured to one of the
panels 72 and the bottom of which extends into the upright 52.
As seen in Fig. 6, a U-shaped bracket 80 secured to the base 78
reciprocally mounts a lockbolt 82 for reciprocal movement through
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an opening 84 in one o~ the panels 72. The emerging end 86 of
the lockbolt 82 is beveled as illustrated so as to easily enter
the aperture 66 in the lock plate 64 in spite of slight mis-
alignment between the two. When the lockbolt 82 is extended from
the upright 52 into the aperture 66, the gate 28 will be posi-
tively locked in the closed position.
A lever 88 has its upper end pivoted by a bolt 90 to
the base 78. Intermediate its ends, the lever 88 includes an
elongated slot 92 in which is received a pin ~4 carried by the
~olt 82.
The lower end of the lever 86 includes a pivot pin 96
which is pivotly connected to the armature 98 of a solenoid
100 mounted on the base 78. A spring 102 has one end connected
to the pivot pin 96 and its opposite end connected to a stud
104 on the base 78.
The solenoid 100 is of the type that, when energized,
will draw its armature 98 into its coil 106 to the solid line
position illustrated in Fig. 6. The same may or may not include
an internal spring return but in any event, the spring 102 serves
to bias the lever 88 toward the dotted line position shown in
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Fig. 6. As can be appreciated, by reason of the connection
between the pin 94 and the slot 92, the bolt 82 will be extended
to a locking position whenever the solenoid 100 is energized
and will be retracted from a locking position to an unlocking
position by reason of the spring 102 whenever the solenoid 100
is not energized.
This is a preferred form of the lock in that in the
event of a power failure, the spring 102 will pull the bolt
82 to the unlock position to allow the gate 28 to be opened.
~he base 78 also includes an elongated slot 108 ex-
tending generally in the direction of the elongation of the
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bolt 82 which adjustably receives a stop 110 which limits move-
ment of the lever 88 in the unlocking direction.
Use of the system will now be explained in connection
with the foregoing and with reference to Fig. 7 in addition to
the previously described figures. In the usual case, the un-
assisted ambulatory human passing through the barrier 12 will
deposit a thing of value, such as a ticket, in a value receiver
26 associated with a given one of the turnstiles 24 and pass
therethrough in the usual fashion. Should a difficulty occur,
and the same not be visually observed on the camera 36, the per-
son may go to either the phone 32 or the phone 34, depending
upon whether the human is in the area of 1~ or 14 and call for
assistance. The phones 32 and 34 are connected to a phone 112
in the remote control center in close proximity to the monitor
40 so that a person observing the monitor 40 may communicate
` with the human requiring assistance. Optionally, the phone 112
can be dispensed with and the phones 32 and 34 connected to the
headset 42.
The person operating the remote control center may,
if the situation requires, manually operate a turnstile control
114 allowing the person requiring assistance to pass through the
turnstile without the turnstile having received a proper
indication from its internal value receiver 26.
In the event a handicapped person, or an ambulatory
person assisted by another human or by mechanical means, such
as crutches, desires to pass through the barrier 12, that person
may call on either of the phones 32 or 34 to the remote control
center for assistance. In this connection, it is preferable
-` that the phones 32 and 34 be placed on the wall 20 at a suffi-
ciently low level so as to be easily accessible by, for
example, a person sitting in a wheel chair. Once communication
with the remote control center is established, the person
operating the remote control center may instruct the non-
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ambulatory person to deposit money in the corresponding phonein an amount sufficient -to cover the anticipated trip or admis-
sion price, as the case may be. Either the phone 32 or 34 will
provide the usual signal back to the remote control center by
which the depositing of the appropriate amount of money can be
de-termined. Once this has occurrecl, a gate control 116 at the
remote control center can be operated to interrupt all power to
the solenoid 100 whereupon the spring 102 (Fig. 6) will ulti-
mately cause the bolt 82 to move to an unlatched position. The
person may then be directed, either by the phone 32 or 34 or
the speaker system 38 to pass through the gate 28. Once that
person has passed through the gate, the internal spring mechanism
associated with the hinges will return the gate 28 to khe closed
position at which time power may be restored to the solenoid 100
to lock the gate in its closed position. The completion of
passage of such a person through the gate 28 may be monitored
on the monitor 40.
Alternately, the approach of a handicapped person or
; assisted ambulatory position toward the barrier 12 may be ob-
served on the monitor 40 during the usual scan of the various
stations. In such a case, the operator at the remote control
station may direct, through use of the speaker system 38, the
person to either the phone 32 or 34 as the case may be with
instructions to deposit whatever money is required for passage.
` 25 The remainder of the procedure may then take place as mentioned
immediately preceding.
It is to be observed that the invention, in its most
preferred sense, utilizes the means such as the phones 32 and 34
as value receivers which may be manually monitored to control
30 the gate 28. If automatic value receivers such as those 26
associated with the turnstile 24 were employed, it is possible
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that through the use of one ticket or the like, the gate 28
could be opened and held open to allow an unlimited number of
humans to pass therethrough. This could be overcome through
the use of an automatic closure for the gate 28 but this too is
undesirable in that there is no assurance that a handicapped
person would fully pass therethrough before the automatic closure
28 would begin to return the gate 28 to its closed position.
Moreover, such a system could require special means to disable
the automatic closure in the event of a power failure whereas
the present invention does not.
From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that an
admission and/or egress control structure made according to the
invention maintains the labor savings associated with automated
control structures of this type and further enables all human
traffic, whether non-ambulatory, assisted ambulatory, or unas
sisted ambulatory to easily use the same.
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