Traffic light control system
for slides and slides,
with timer

The device is designed to increase traffic safety: it controls the semaphore at the beginning of the slide according to a signal from sensors located at the beginning and end of the slide so that there is only one visitor on the slide at a time. The device also signals the prohibition of access to the slide for a specified time after the slide pump is switched on, so that the pump has time to sufficiently fill the finish pool before visitors begin to slide down the slide.

To further increase security, it is also possible to install a detection of leaving the arrival pool and/or an entrance turnstile.

The supplied Slide Control System with start semaphore control is available in two basic modifications:

• design with timer,
• without timer.

In both variants, the device is equipped with a traffic light (red – green), located at the beginning of the slide. The semaphore is used to improve the organisation of persons entering the slide and to reduce the risk of injury when more than one person enters the slide at the same time1.
The toboggan is equipped with sensors at the beginning and end of its path (start sensor, finish sensor). Short and clear slides do not need to be equipped with a destination sensor if the visitor is not expected to stay on the attraction.

The sensors are installed at the beginning and end of the slide; in specific installations it is possible to install only the start sensor (where no timing is required and we are satisfied with a fixed red light time after activation of the start sensor).

The sensors themselves are available in several versions, we use :

• Optical sensors of the transmitter-receiver type – are mounted on the side of the slide tube, an optical beam passes through a cutout in the slide material. The cut-out can be either a small unblinded hole above the surface (7 mm diameter) or a transparent window. The sensing is very reliable.
• Optical diffuse sensors, especially for retrofitting – monitor the slide area from above and detect the reflection of light from a person on the slide. The sensors are mounted about 1 – 1.5 m above the bottom of the runway, preferably in a place where there is no high water or waves and where the visitor is riding in the middle of the runway. The sensors must be adjusted and cleaned (wipe the sensing surface) from time to time.

In special cases, other types of sensors can be used, for example, optical gates for detecting exit from the arrival pool, etc.

Sensor-based detection of the slide occupancy works as described below:

• the visitor’s passage through the start sensor switches the traffic light to red. The timer is running.
• If the target sensor is activated before the minimum travel time has elapsed, this signal is ignored and the traffic light remains red (false impulse or two visitors in a row).
• If the target sensor is activated between the minimum travel time and the maximum travel time, the time measurement is terminated, in the version with a timer the time is displayed. The traffic lights will still be red for the delay time, which is the time during which the visitor should leave the arrival pool.
• If the target sensor is not activated within the maximum ride time, it is assumed that the visitor did not ride the slide or was not registered by the target sensor. In this case, the green signal lights up again after the delay time and the timer does not display the measured time.

The traffic light signals green if:

• the slide is free according to the sensor signal, or if a time operation is set by the operator switch, in which the red-green signalling alternates according to a predefined time program regardless of the sensors,
• pump running signal (optional element) from the slide machine room active for longer than the set blocking time (i.e. it is assumed that the slide is wet and the finish pool is filled)
• the operator switch (optional element) is switched on.

The semaphore is available in two design variants; other mechanical designs are also possible upon agreement.

• Semaphore single light, red-green LED
• Traffic light with two lights, red and green LED

The LED timer display is supplied in stainless steel (to improve corrosion resistance, it will be replaced by a plastic housing during 2019). The display can be adapted for external use.

Display function: in operation mode, the board displays:

• in the first line the current time or the last measured time (if the slide is not occupied or for the set time
  display since the end of the last run),
• the track record, the order of time since the slide pump started or the number of rides since the slide started (if
  ranking higher than 500. time),
• the fastest three times since the slide pump started or the speed of the ride in kilometres per hour.

Standard display size is 64 x 48 cm, larger displays are available on special order. Please discuss the fitting with our technicians before ordering.

Depending on the order, an operator switch can be installed to switch the operation modes of the device. As standard, the version with a timer is controlled only by the signal from the slide pump, the version without a timer is equipped with a switch for the mode “permanent red” – “sensor control” – “fixed time interval control”, located on the equipment cabinet in the machine room. It is possible to install multiple operator switches for one device.

On special order we can supply this operator switch in variants:

• wall cabinet with switch or switch with lock,
• cabinet with mushroom “STOP” button for immediate lighting of the red signalling, or with lock (cannot be reactivated without a key, anyone can press it),
• remote control with waterproof radio key fob.

Upon agreement, it is also possible to modify the SW device for manual operation – lighting of the green signalling only by the lifeguard on the instruction of the button after each passage or in cases where the sensor at the end of the runway has not been activated and should be reactivated after the maximum travel time (risk of a stuck person).

Some elements are expected to be fitted in the engine room.

In the timer version, the control electronics are located in the LED display, the sensor and semaphore cables are routed directly to the LED display. The power and signal cable is led to the machine room, where the SELV safe voltage source is located – the source is usually placed in the existing technology cabinet (DIN rail version + circuit breaker, or an auxiliary relay to provide a potential-free signal for pump running – consider a total width of 10 modules).

In the version without a timer, the control electronics are housed in a separate enclosure containing a microcontroller (PLC) with display, protective elements and terminal blocks. The SELV source is external, plug-in. There is also an operator switch on the cabinet (see above). The display shows the slide counter.

The entire electronic system uses 24 V DC SELV – the system is powered by its own 230 V AC power supply. Protection and safety of people from electric shock. The current is therefore ensured by the use of low voltage SELV meeting the requirements of Czech electrotechnical standards.

Passage sensors

It is always necessary to create a suitable location for the passage sensors and traffic lights with appropriate covers and possible sealing – it will be consulted according to the specific implementation. Our company does not process covers for sensors or traffic lights, nor do we install cable routes(we supply the cables themselves). The customer makes the attachment of the sensors and semaphore from his own resources and our technician only makes the electrical connection.

• Basic Toboggan – Operating Instructions (pdf, 163 kB)
• Toboggan with timer – Operating Instructions (pdf, 152 kB)