|
(11) | EP 2 362 020 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
| (54) | Device for transitions in vehicle traffic lane closures |
| (57) This invention refers to a device for closing lanes which comprises a main body affixed
to a base or a bench in order to rotate on a vertical axis, preferably by motorised
and remote means, and an arm affixed to the main body that it is able to rotate on
a horizontal axis, independently from the rotation and the degree of the main body.
|
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention refers to a device for transitions in vehicle traffic lane closures which comprises a main body affixed to a base or bench in order for the main body to rotate round a vertical axis, and an arm which rotates round a horizontal axis, independently from the rotation and the degree of the main body, preferably activated by remote control or a control centre.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] In the event of an accident or road works on a road, or any other case in which it is necessary to close at least one lane of vehicle traffic, various systems may be used to ensure closure of vehicle traffic without hindering the vehicle containment system.
[0003] At present systems exist for making transitions in traffic lane closures; some are manual and use conventional works signals and cones placed provisionally on the road, which have been placed by operators who have been required to enter the road containing vehicle traffic with the concomitant risk of being run over; others are manual or remote controlled, using signals located at the impact part of the vehicle contention system, which is not recommended, as in the case of vehicle impact with the contention system, the device would affect the correct operation of the contention system.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0005] A device is presented for transitions in vehicle traffic lane closures which comprises a main body, affixed to a base or bench in order to rotate round a vertical axis, and an arm which rotates on a horizontal axis.
[0006] The different specific modes of carrying out this invention defined by the dependent claims 2 to 6 included in this description are considered included herein by reference.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] The present descriptive report is complemented by a set of drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention, and which is in no way restrictive.
Figure 1 shows a profile diagram of a preferred embodiment of the invention.
Figure 2 shows a detail of the lower part of the preferred embodiment shown in Figure 1.
Figure 3 shows a detail of the means by which the arm is affixed to the main body according to the preferred embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0008] This invention consists of a device which comprises a main body in the form of a casing which incorporates a motor and components required for its operation. The main body (1) is affixed to a base or bench (2), which in his turn can be affixed to the ground, as illustrated in Figure 1. From the main body an arm (3) is affixed which comprises a signal with a warning indicator (4) on its distal end, preferably luminous or made from reflective material. This arm tilts on a horizontal axis with respect to the main body (5).
[0009] Figure 2 shows in detail how the main body (1) is connected to a base or bench (2) by means of a rotor (6) permitting the main body to rotate in a vertical axis (7) with respect to the base or bench. The rotor (6), which is a part of a motor (8), fits within a bearing (9), which in turn enters a bushing (10) present at the lower part of the base part of the cabinet (11).
[0010] The signal (4) preferably has the form of a tray and is affixed to the arm (3) by means of clamps and a guide attached to the posterior part of the signal (6).
[0011] When the device is activated, the arm (3) is raised in a horizontal axis according to the movement (5); subsequently the main body (1) moves in a vertical axis according to the movement (7); finally the arm (3) drops according to the horizontal axis in a movement (5) in order to indicate the transition of closure of the vehicle traffic lane. When the device is not in operation, it will always remain in a horizontal position without interference of the operation of the vehicle contention system and remaining protected from impact thereby.
[0012] Figure 3 shows how the arm (3) is affixed to the main body (1) by means of a support axis to a spike (14). This spike (14) comprises a bearing body (15) on its external end which is screwed to an internal shim (16) which, together with an external shim (17) supports the arm (3) by means of screws. At the end of the axis (14) there is a linchpin (18) which enters into a hollow in the blade (19) so that this moves together with the axis. On one side of the blade (19) a spring (20) is affixed, which is attached to the interior of the main body (1), while on the other side of the blade (19) a motor is affixed by means of a tie rod (21). When the motor is activated it causes the tie rod (21) to move and pulls or pushes the blade (19) and swivels the arm (3) in a horizontal plane (5).
[0013] The main body is only able to rotate on a vertical axis according to the movement (7) when the arm (3) of the signal (4) is at a vertical position.
[0014] The main body (1) and the arm (3) are activated by means of a remote control, a control panel which may be located in a operation centre or at a safe place on the road itself. In addition, it is possible to extend in a sequential manner several barriers within a group by means of one single action of the remote control.
[0015] By positioning the devices in groups on one side of the road, the transition for the closure of the vehicle traffic lane can be realized in a progressive manner by positioning the devices with an arm length which gradually increases with the initial arm being the shortest and the final arm being the longest.
1. Device for transitions in the closure of vehicle traffic lanes characterised because it comprises a main body (1) affixed to a base or bench (2) which can be affixed
to the ground, joined by means of a rotor (6) which permits movement of the main body
(1) in a vertical axis (7) with respect to the base or bench (2) and an arm (3) which
is affixed to the main body which tilts on a horizontal axis (5) with respect to the
main body (1).
2. Device according to claim 1 characterised because the arm (3) which is affixed to the main body (1) comprises an indicator (4).
3. Device according to claim 2 characterised because the indicator (4) is luminous or made from reflective material.
4. Device according to either of claims 2 or 3 characterised because the indicator (4) is affixed to the arm by means of clamps and a guide attached to
the posterior part of the signal (6).
5. Device according to claim 1 characterised because the main body (1) is joined to a base or bench (2) by means of a motor (8) with a
rotor (6) which fits inside a bearing (9) and enters a bushing (10) present at the
base of the cabinet of the main body (11) in order to facilitate movement of the main
body (1) in a vertical axis (7).
6. Device according to claim 1 characterised because the arm (2) is affixed to the main body (1) by means of a support axis to the spike
(14) with a bearing body (15) at the external end of the axis, screwed to an interior
shim (16) and an external shim (17) incorporating the arm (3), and the internal extreme
end of the axis (14) comprises a linchpin (18) which enters a hollow in the blade
(19) so that when the blade (19) moves the axis (14) moves and subsequently the arm
(2), where the blade (19) is affixed on one hand to a spring (20) affixed to the interior
of the main body (1) and on the other to a motor by means of a tie rod (21).
Amended claims in accordance with Rule 137(2) EPC.
1. Device for transitions in the closure of vehicle traffic lanes which comprises a
main body (1) affixed to a base or bench (2) which is affixed to ground, joined the
main body (1) and the bench (2) by means of a rotor (6) which permits rotation of
the main body (1) around a vertical axis (7) with respect to the base or bench (2)
and an arm (3) which is affixed to the main body which tilts around a horizontal axis
(5) with respect to the main body (1) characterized in that the main body (1) is joined to the base or bench (2) by means of a motor (8) with
the rotor (6) which fits inside a bearing (9) and enters a bushing (10) present at
the base of the cabinet of the main body (11) in order to facilitate rotation of the
main body (1) in a vertical axis (7), and wherein the main body (1) and the arm (3)
are activated by means of a remote control or a control panel which may be located
in a operation centre or at a safe place on the road itself.
2. Device according to claim 1 characterised because the arm (3) which is affixed to the main body (1) comprises an indicator (4).
3. Device according to claim 2 characterised because the indicator (4) is luminous or made from reflective material.
4. Device according to either of claims 2 or 3 characterised because the indicator (4) is affixed to the arm by means of clamps and a guide attached to
the posterior part of the signal (6).
5. Device according to claim 1 characterised because the arm (2) is affixed to the main body (1) by means of a support axis to the spike
(14) with a bearing body (15) at the external end of the axis, screwed to an interior
shim (16) and an external shim (17) incorporating the arm (3), and the internal extreme
end of the axis (14) comprises a linchpin (18) which enters a hollow in the blade
(19) so that when the blade (19) moves the axis (14) moves and subsequently the arm
(2), where the blade (19) is affixed on one hand to a spring (20) affixed to the interior
of the main body (1) and on the other to a motor by means of a tie rod (21).