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(11) | EP 0 698 689 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | Anti-crashing safety device, particularly for road guard-rails |
| (57) A plurality of elements (3) suitably shaped, coupled to each other along the longitudinal
direction and fixed in the ground by poles (1) and like, said device comprising at
least a tension wire (4) fixed close by said elements (3) realizing the guard-rail,
provided at its ends with a fixing and/or traction device, and coupling means (2)
between said elements (3) and said poles (1) or like for the fixing to the ground,
determining in case of crash an upward and backward motion of the guard-rail elements
(3), and a contemporaneous maximum extensions of said at least one tension wire (4). |
[0001] The present invention relates to a anti-crashing safety device, particularly for road guard-rails.
[0002] More particularly, the invention relates to a device of the above kind that allows to make integral all the elements realizing a guard-rail.
[0003] At present, the protection solutions employed are made up of sheet strips, having a different shape in function of the different cases, which abutted longitudinally and supported by evenly spaced poles.
[0004] Unfortunately, in case of crashes, this kind of solution, wherein the single elements are coupled by few bolts, detach and often fold, yielding under the load due to a violent crash, so that the vehicles and particularly the trucks, invading the opposed lane, with the tragic unavoidable consequences.
[0005] In this context can be inserted the solution suggested according to the present invention that allows to avoid that the above structural yielding of the protection occurs following to a violent crash.
[0006] The anti-crashing device for road guard-rails according to the invention can be advantageously in any application connected to the road safety, i.e. bridges, highways, mountain roads, etc., i.e. in any case it is necessary to strengthen the existing protections or those to be installed, making them suitable to keep the vehicles on the roadway in case of impact, accident, etc.
[0007] The solution suggested according to the present invention has the main object to make integral the single elements comprising the road protections or barriers (guard-rails), so as to avoid their crashing in case of impact and so as to deviate upward the barrier.
[0008] These and other results are obtained according to the present invention by a solution providing the adoption of one ore more tension wires placed close by the elements of the protection, as well as a coupling system of the single elements of the barrier with the support poles determining a deviation upward the barrier and stretching said tension wires.
[0009] It is therefore specific object of the present invention a anti-crashing safety device, particularly for road guard-rails made up of a plurality of elements suitably shaped, coupled each other along the longitudinal direction and fixed in the ground by poles and like, said device comprising at least a tension wire fixed close by said elements realizing the guard-rail, provided at its ends with a fixing and/or traction device, and coupling means between said elements and said poles or like for the fixing to the ground, determining in case of crash an upward and backward motion of the guard-rail elements, and a contemporaneous maximum extensions of said at least one tension wire.
[0010] Preferably, according to the invention, there are provided two or three tension wires, provided one above the other, even if it is possible to provide a greater number of tension wires.
[0011] Always according to the invention, said at least one tension wire is comprised of stainless steel or other high strength material , and is fixed close by said guard-rail elements in the most suitable position, for example in correspondence of a curvature, of a technical resistance, etc. in front of or behind said guard-rail.
[0012] The fixing of said at least one tension wire with said guard-rail can be realized by mechanical means, for example a flange.
[0013] Further, according to the invention, said coupling means between said poles and said guard-rail elements can be made up of at least an arm, preferably two or three arms, but even more, provided between said pole and the guard-rail element, preferably upward inclined from the pole toward the guard-rail element, or having a shape suitable to allow the deviation upward of the barrier.
[0014] Always according to the invention, more than one guard-rail can be provided vertically coupled, each one provided with its own device according to the invention.
[0015] The present invention will be now described for illustrative but not limitative purposes according to its preferred embodiments, with particular reference to the figures of the enclosed drawings, wherein:
figure 1 is a diagramatical view of a first embodiment of the device according to the invention;
figure 2 shows a particular of the solution of figure 1;
figure 3 is a diagramatical view of a second embodiment of the device according to the invention;
figure 4 is a diagramatical view of a third embodiment of the device according to the invention;
figure 5 is a diagramatical view of a fourth embodiment of the device according to the invention;
figure 6 is a diagramatical view of a fifth embodiment of the device according to the invention;
figure 7 shows a particular of a device according to the invention; and
figure 8 shows a particular of a device according to the invention.
[0016] Referring first at figures 1 and 2, it can be seen a first embodiment of the device according to the invention.
[0017] In figure 1 it is shown a portion of road guard-rail comprising poles 1, driven in the ground, and from which arms 2 extend, upward inclined until coupling with the guard-rail element 3.
[0019] On the guard-rail element 3 two tension wires 4 are provided, internally coupled with respect to the guard-rail 3, by the flange 5 well shown in figure 2.
[0021] During the first impact phase, the guard-rail has a first motion upward and a rearward motion absorbing the energy.
[0022] In this way a maximum extension of the tension wires 4 between two following poles is obtained.
[0023] In the solution shown in figure 3, two parallel arms 2 are provided between each pole 1 and guard-rail element 3.
[0024] Further, the poles 1, the arms 2 and the elements 3 are not realized integral, but separately and then coupled each other.
[0025] The solution according to claim 4 is absolutely similar to the solution of figure 3, with the only one difference of the shape of the arms 2.
[0026] In figure 5 is instead shown a solution providing two guard-rails 3 vertically coupled, while in figure 6 it is shown a vertically overlapped wave shaped guard-rail 3.
[0027] Observing now figure 7, it can be noted an example of a wire 3 close by guard-rail elements 3, by the use of the flange 5.
[0028] Finally, in figure 8 it is shown a solution wherein the tension wire 4 is provided externally with respect to the guard-rail 3, so that in this case the flange 5' is provided externally and a similar fixing system employing a bolt 6' is used.
[0030] The present invention has been described for illustrative but not limitative purposes according to its preferred embodiments, but it is to be understood the variation and/or changes can be introduced by those skilled in the art without departing from the relevant scope as defined in the enclosed claims.
1. Anti-crashing safety device, particularly for road guard-rails made up of a plurality
of elements suitably shaped, coupled each other along the longitudinal direction and
fixed in the ground by poles and like, characterized in that said device comprises
at least a tension wire fixed close by said elements realizing the guard-rail, provided
at its ends with a fixing and/or traction device, and coupling means between said
elements and said poles or like for the fixing to the ground, determining in case
of crash an upward and backward motion of the guard-rail elements, and a contemporaneous
maximum extensions of said at least one tension wire.
2. Anti-crashing safety device according to claim 1, characterized in that there are
provided two or three tension wires, provided one above the other.
3. Anti-crashing safety device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized
in that said at least one tension wire is comprised of stainless steel or other high
strength material.
4. Anti-crashing safety device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized
in that said at least one tension wire is fixed close by said guard-rail elements
in the most suitable position, for example in correspondence of a curvature, of a
technical resistance, etc. in front of or behind said guard-rail.
5. Anti-crashing safety device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized
in that the fixing of said at least one tension wire with said guard-rail is realized
by mechanical means, for example a flange.
6. Anti-crashing safety device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized
in that said coupling means between said poles and said guard-rail elements are made
up of at least one arm, provided between said pole and the guard-rail element, upward
inclined from the pole toward the guard-rail element.
7. Anti-crashing safety device according to one of the preceding claims 1 - 5, characterized
in that said coupling means between said poles and said guard-rail elements are made
up of at least one arm, provided between said pole and the guard-rail element having
a shape suitable to allow the deviation upward of the barrier.
8. Anti-crashing safety device according to one of the preceding claims 6 and 7, characterized
in that two or three arms are provided.
9. Anti-crashing safety device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized
in that more than one guard-rail are provided vertically coupled, each one provided
with its own device according to the invention.
10. Anti-crashing safety device according to each one of the preceding claims, substantially
as illustrated and described.