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(11) | EP 0 246 545 A2 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | Movable-element guard-rail |
| (57) The guard-rail consists of a series of elements (1) each of which is pivoted on a
fixed pin (5) at its middle line: thus the single elements are movable and coupled
to one another to unelastically absorb the kinetic energy generated by an autovehicle
impact. |
[0002] As is known, conventional guard-rails consist of rigid elements, of a comparatively strong material, arranged along the roadway and adapted for absorbing the kinetic energy from a vehicle impacting thereagainst.
[0003] The rigid structure of these guard-rails frequently causes serious damages to the autovehicle and to the person therein, as well as causes the vehicle to dangerously bounce on the road.
[0004] Accordingly, the main object of the present invention is to provide a guard-rail which is so shaped as to stop the vehicle impacting it in a less dangerous manner and without dangerous bouncings on the road.
[0005] This and other objects of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following disclosure.
[0006] The guard-rail according to the invention is essentially characterized in that it consists of a series of elements which are pivoted on a fixed pin at their middle lines, each element being movable with respect to the others said elements being coupled to unelastically absorb the kinetic energy generated by an autovehicle impact.
[0007] More specifically, each element cooperates with the adjoining element through the interposition of loose coupling means, thereby the autovehicle impact causes a plurality of adjoining elements to rotate about their pivoting pins.
[0008] The coupling means consist of a fork member arranged at at least one end of an element, in which fork member there is loosely engaged the end portion of the adjoining element, said end portion of said adjoining element being of substantially pointed shape.
[0009] The resistance against rotation of the single elements about their pivot pins is suitably adjusted by means adapted for providing a given friction between the fixed pin and movable element.
[0010] The invention will be illustrated, by way of an illustrative but not limitative example, with reference to the figures of the accompanying drawings, where:
Figure 1 is a top view of a movable element, and shows the manner in which it is coupled to like movable adjacent elements, the thus obtained guard-rail being adapted for locating on the right side of a road;
Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II of Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line III-III of Figure 1; and
Figure 4 is a top view of a modified embodiment for making a guard-rail adapted for arrangement at the center of a road having two opposite lanes.
[0011] With reference to Figures 1-3, the guard-rail consists of a series of reinforced concrete elements 1, or optionally light boxes, metal prefabricated elements or vibrated concrete elements, which are filled in situ with concrete or inert material mixtures, each having a fork-shaped end 2 and a pointed end 3.
[0012] Each element 1 is provided, on the middle or center line thereof, with a hole 4 in which is freely seated a vertical pin 5 carried by a concrete pole 6, embedded into the roads surface P so as to allow for the element 1 to rotate (arrows F) as it is impacted.
[0013] In order to adjust by the desired friction the rotation of the element 1, inside the hole 4 it is possible to introduce suitable materials such as gravel, sand or the like.
[0014] As is shown in Figure 1, the end 3 of an element 1 freely penetrates the fork 2 of the adjoining element: thus, for a given rotation of an impacted element 1, there will occur a gradual and decreasing rotation of the adjoining element with a unelastic absorption of the impact energy.
[0015] In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 4, the solution is the same, with the difference that the guard-rail is generally formed by an alternating series of elements 7 and 8, each of which is also pivoted on a pivot pin 5.
1. A guard-rail characterized in that it consists of a series of elements, each element
being pivoted on a fixed pin at its middle line, thereby the single elements are movable
and coupled to one another so as to unelastically absorb the kinetic energy generated
by an autovehicle impact.
2. A guard-rail, according to Claim 1, characterized in that each element cooperates
with the adjoining elements through the inter-position of loose coupled means, in
such a way that an autovehicle impact causes a plurality of adjoining elements to
rotated about their pivot pins.
3. A guard-rail, according to the preceding claims, characterized in that the coupling
means consist of a fork member located at at least one end of an element, in said
fork member loosely engaging the end of the adjoining element, the end of said adjoining
element having a substantially pointed shape.
4. A guard-rail, according to the preceding claims, characterized in that each element
is provided, at the center line thereof, with a hole therein is housed the fixed pin,
in the gap formed between said hole and pin there being provided means for adjusting
the rotation friction resistance of said element.
5. A guard-rail, according to claim 4, characterized in that said means consist of
an inert material such as sand, gravel and the like.
6. A guard-rail, according to the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises
an alternating series of first and second elements, the first elements having their
both ends of point shape and the second elements having both their ends of fork shape.
7. A guard-rail, according to the preceding claims, characterized in that the single
elements are made of reinforced concrete.
8. A guard-rail, according to the preceding claims, characterized in that the single
elements are formed by light boxes, metal or vibrated concrete elements, which are
filled in situ by concrete or an inert material mixture.