Activation of an inductance loop vehicle detector
View Patent ↗An apparatus and method for activating an inductance loop vehicle detector is disclosed, wherein a magnet is positioned within a casing and attached to a vehicle. In order to activate the inductance loop vehicle detector, the vehicle, attached magnet, and casing are moved in relation to an induction loop embedded within a roadway. A reaction between the magnet and induction loop causes the inductance loop vehicle detector to register the presence of a vehicle. The casing may be configured to form a separation distance between the magnet and the vehicle to enhance the magnetic field proximal the induction loop.
1. An apparatus for activating an inductance loop vehicle detector, comprising:
a magnet;
a casing extending around at least a portion of the magnet; and
a mount for mounting the magnet and the casing to a vehicle, wherein the casing includes protrusions that provide a separation distance between the magnet and the vehicle.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the protrusions have a linear configuration.
3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein at least two of the protrusions are oriented parallel to each other.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the casing includes at least a first element and a second element that cooperate to form an enclosure for receiving the magnet.
5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the casing defines passages therethrough for receiving the mount.
6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the passages are formed by an aperture in at least one of the first element and the second element.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the magnet is a permanent magnet.
8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the magnet is a grade 5 ceramic magnet.
9. A method for activating an inductance loop vehicle detector, comprising:
attaching a magnet positioned within a casing to a vehicle, the casing including one or more protrusions;
moving the vehicle with the magnet within the casing proximal to an inductance loop of the inductance loop vehicle detector; and
spacing the magnet from the vehicle with the casing including mounting the magnet within the casing on the vehicle such that a separation distance between the magnet and the vehicle is formed by the one or more protrusions.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the protrusions have a linear configuration.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein at least two of the protrusions are oriented parallel to each other.
12. The method of claim 9 , further including enclosing the magnet within the casing.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the casing includes a first element and a separate second element that form an enclosure for receiving the magnet.
14. The method of claim 9 , wherein the step of attaching includes extending a mount through passages defined in the casing.
15. The method of claim 9 , wherein the magnet is a permanent magnet.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the magnetic is a grade 5 ceramic magnet.
17. A method for manufacturing a vehicle, comprising:
manufacturing a vehicle;
attaching a magnet positioned within a casing to the vehicle for purposes of activating proximal inductance loop detectors, the casing including one or more protrusions; and
spacing the magnet from the vehicle with the casing including mounting the magnet within the casing on the vehicle such that a separation distance between the magnet and the vehicle is formed by the one or more protrusions.
18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the protrusions have a linear configuration.
19. The method of claim 18 , wherein at least two of the protrusions are oriented parallel to each other.
20. The method of claim 17 , further including enclosing the magnet within the casing.
21. The method of claim 20 , wherein the casing includes a first element and a separate second element that form an enclosure for receiving the magnet.
22. The method of claim 17 , wherein the step of attaching includes extending a mount through passages defined in the casing.
23. The method of claim 17 , wherein the magnet is a permanent magnet.
24. The method of claim 23 , wherein the magnet is a grade 5 ceramic magnet.
25. A method of retrofitting a vehicle, comprising:
attaching a magnet positioned within a casing to a vehicle for purposes of activating inductance loop detectors proximal to the vehicle, including one or more protrusions; and
spacing the magnet from the vehicle with the casing including mounting the magnet within the casing on the vehicle such that a separation distance between the magnet and the vehicle is formed by the one or more protrusions.
26. The method of claim 25 , wherein the protrusions have a linear configuration.
27. The method of claim 26 , wherein at least two of the protrusions are oriented parallel to each other.
28. The method of claim 25 , further including enclosing the magnet within the casing.
29. The method of claim 28 , wherein the casing includes a first element and a separate second element that form an enclosure for receiving the magnet.
30. The method of claim 25 , wherein the step of attaching includes extending a mount through passages defined in the casing.
31. The method of claim 25 , wherein the magnet is a permanent magnet.
32. The method of claim 31 , wherein the magnet is a grade 5 ceramic magnet.