MOBILE SAFETY BARRIER AND METHOD FOR ASSEMBLING MOBILE SAFETY BARRIER

Abstract

 In the mobile road barrier comprising the panels (1) adjacent to each other at the ends and coming into contact with each other, and connected with each other at the top by means of the connecting elements with the connecting means, that fix the upper connector (3), and at the bottom by means of the lower connector (2), which forms a base of the mobile road barrier and supports the panels within the areas of their lower ends. Each of the lower connectors contains locking elements on which seats made in the lower strips are mounted.
In the seats of the upper strip of adjacent panels, the upper connector (3) is placed, each end of which is fitted with a rod and recess, which adjoins the tongue of the seat of the upper strip.
The design of the panels of the mobile barrier and the method of its installation allows for automatic installation.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a mobile road barrier according to the preamble of claim 1. The road barrier of this type has quadrangle-shaped panels in side view, adjacent to each other at the ends with seats at the ends at the top and lower seats at the bottom, and coming into contact with each other directly or indirectly. Whereas it is foreseen that at least one connecting element is at the bottom of a shape that corresponds to the shape of the seats of the upper strip positioned in the upper part of the panels and together with the connecting means serves for connecting the adjoining panels at the top by means of the connecting element. Whereas, for connecting the adjoining panels at the bottom serve bottom connecting elements and a bottom connector corresponding at the top to the shape of the seats of the bottom strips or profiles positioned at the ends at the bottom of the panels, which forms the base of the mobile road barrier and supports the panels in the regions of their bottom ends.

[0002] Furthermore, the invention relates to a method of putting together the mobile road barrier, the structure of which will allow using automatics in laying the barriers on long sections of roads.

[0003] The mobile road barriers described generally above are used during road maintenance or when a number of lanes is being increased, where due to the safety reasons the lanes of opposite direction are fenced from each other by means of road barriers, which most often can be rearranged and used many times.

[0004] An example of one of the simplest barriers is a safety road barrier presented in publication PL 66432 Y1 describing an industrial design entitled "Safety Road Barrier". According to the aforementioned description, this barrier comprises at least two metal pillars and a metal section guide attached thereto. The profile of the pillar features a shape of the upper-case Greek letter "Σ" (sigma) and is inscribed into the rectangle, whose width to length ratio falls within a range from 0.5 up to 0.6, and the section guide profile has two external parts, between which there is an internal part with a curvature opposite to the curvatures of the external parts and is inscribed into the rectangle, whose width to length ratio falls within a range from 0.21 up to 0.29, whereas the internal part and the external parts of the guide section have the shape of the isosceles trapeziums.

[0005] A barrier similar to the above-described barrier is known from publication PL 68391 Y1 entitled "Industrial barrier". The said industrial barrier serves for protection of walls, construction structural elements, machinery and devices against impacts caused by forklifts and pallet trucks. The design of this barrier is characterized by a short pillar where a commonly known profile sheet used in the road barriers is fixed thereto.

[0006] In turn, from the description in the patent application of invention P. 412418 entitled "Absorbing element of a safety road barrier and a safety road barrier comprising such absorbing element", an absorbing element is known that serves for constructing a safety road barrier, which has a form of a metal, bent, thin-walled section comprising a first connecting wall having connecting means adapted to connecting to a barrier fender beam, a second connecting wall generally parallel to the first connecting wall and having connecting means adapted to connecting a barrier pillar and two deformation walls connecting the first connecting wall to the second connecting wall. In order to allow designing road barriers with improved shock absorbing properties, each deformation wall of the absorbing element is inclined at the acute angle in the vertical plane, whereas the orientation of the said inclination angle is the same for both deformation walls, and this angle is preferably approximately of 7°.

[0007] A barrier that can be moved is known from PL183546 patent description entitled "Safety mobile road barrier". This mobile barrier comprises at least two outmost pillars and n-middle pillars. Each outmost pillar is fitted on both sides with two pairs of connectors, each of them with a cross-section shape corresponding to the shape of the profile fender beam, with two arms in its bottom part, on which three guide strips are fixed. In turn, the middle pillar is fitted with two pairs of guide strips, and the profile fender beams are fixed in a separable manner on the guide strips of the outmost and middle pillars by means of screws.

[0008] Furthermore, from the publication of the description of European patent EP2664712 entitled "Traffic guidance barrier element and traffic guidance barrier" is known an element of a traffic guidance barrier comprising a longitudinal body with two end portion and at least one connecting device positioned on each end portion, which can be connected to the next element of the traffic guidance barrier, positioned adjacent to the element of the traffic guidance barrier. The connecting device, which is the subject of the invention, has from its front side a latch and a slot, whereas the latch cooperates with the slot of the adjacent element of the barrier. The connecting device has a locking section the height thereof equals to the height of the barrier, and is fitted with at least one pin, or at least one element receiving the pin, whereas at least one pin or at least one element receiving the pin may be connected to a transverse part which is fitted with at least one pin or at least one element receiving the pin which is formed and positioned or which are formed and positioned complementarily in respect of at least one pin or at least one element receiving the pin of the locking section. Moreover, from the front side there is a front panel provided which has a slot and a latch, whereas the slot is formed as being conically tapered downwards at least along certain sections.

[0009] From document EP 2540913 B1 that presents similar solutions as in document DE 202012009387 U1 and from documents EP 2644776 A1, EP 2664713 A2, EP 2712962 A2 a safety barrier is known comprising mobile elements connected with each other by means of a connecting system that comprises a rail and a connector that has at least two wall parts positioned at a specified distance from each other, in particular parallel to each other, whereas the rail is positioned in the first connecting area of a first safety barrier and a second safety barrier under a first mobile element of the safety barrier and under a second mobile element of the safety barrier. In turn, the connector of the safety barrier, disclosed in the aforementioned documents, is positioned above the rail in a second area of connecting the first mobile element of the safety barrier and the second mobile element of the safety barrier between the first mobile element of the safety barrier and the second mobile element of the safety barrier in order to create a connection that stiffens the first mobile element of the safety barrier and the second mobile element of the safety barrier in a specified arrangement with relation to each other.

[0010] A disadvantage of the described barriers consists in their low strength at the points where the road barrier elements are connected, or its complex shape, what in turn requires large amount of workload while putting together the road barrier and precision while connecting the elements of the road barrier with each other.

[0011] The object of this invention consists in developing a road barrier featuring a non-complex design and high strength and stiffness at the points where the elements of the road barrier are connected. The creators aimed at simplifying the operations related to the assembly of the barrier on the road and thus shortening the time of assembly, reducing the number of elements required for the assembly and easier positioning of elements against each other during the assembly. In addition, the new design aims at optimizing the production by reducing the number of operations related to the production of barriers. The method of creating the mobile barrier should envisage the uncomplicated and reliable assembly, quick assembly using the automation of the assembly process.

[0012] According to the invention, the task has been resolved on one hand by means of the mobile road barrier with features of claim 1 and on the other hand by means of the solution with features of claim 6. The preferred embodiments have been presented in the dependent claims, description and figures.

[0013] The mobile road barrier comprising quadrangle-shaped panels in side view, adjacent to each other at the ends with upper seats at the ends of upper strips and lower seats at the ends of lower strips, and with a middle strip made of profiled sections. The panels are in contact with each other and are connected at the top by means of an upper connector of a shape corresponding from underneath to the shape of seats located in the upper part of the upper strips of adjacent panels and a lower connector of the panels. At the ends of the lower strip there are permanently attached seats_that are put on the upper surface of the lower connector and embrace locking elements thereof. The upper strip of the adjacent panels is provided with an upper connector wherein each end has a rod and a recess which is adjacent to the tongue of the seat of the upper strip. The locking elements of the lower connector are, mounted to the flat base transversely to the axis of the panel, at least two flat bars under each lower seat and at least one pin placed in the holes in the lower seats. The lower strip section consists of a flat bar connected permanently to a channel bar with arms downward, where the edge of the arms is pointing along the panel and this edge is connected to the upper surface of the flat bar, and the channel bar closes it on both sides. Under the vertical sections on the lower plane of the lower connector and on the lower plane of the lower strip, the panel is provided with surfaces with increased friction, preferably made of rubber.

[0014] The method of putting together the mobile road barrier comprising the panels that adjoin each other by the ends thereof and are connected with each other at the top by means of the upper connector with the connecting means, fixing the connector to the seat of the upper strip, and at the bottom by means of the lower connector at panel connection points consists in placing the lower connectors as a base of the mobile road barrier and an element supporting the panels within the area of their bottom ends. Whereas, the seat of the lower strip of one panel is put on half of the locking elements of the lower connector and the seat of the lower strip of the next panel is put on the other half of the locking elements. The upper connector is inserted into the upper seats of both upper strips such that the ends of the connector with the recesses adjoin to the tongues of the upper seats that are permanently connected in the upper part of the upper seat, and then the upper connector is fastened in a separable manner to the upper strips by means of threaded connections. Whereas the seats of the lower strips of the panels being connected and the pins entering the holes in the lower seats are secured against disconnection by means of detachable elements, cotter pins.

[0015] The core concept of the invention is to provide the mobile road barrier comprising the panels, which is stiffened at the connection points at the bottom by one profile with the flat bar, and at the top it is stiffened by one connecting element with threaded connections arranged in the axis of holes in the upper strips of the panels. This simplifies connecting the panels with each other, each of which can be removed from a row of the panels by an upward movement upon unscrewing the protections. But the design and sequence of installation will allow for automation of the process of laying down the barrier at long distances.

[0016] The targeted development of the invention may consist in that the panels comprise middle reinforcing strips positioned between the vertical side profiles and fixed to at least bottom profiles and upper profiles.

[0017] According to the next preferred embodiment of the invention, the middle profile is created from the sections in a shape of the letter "Σ" or the sections in a shape of channel bars with arms pointed to the inside of the barrier. It is essential that it has no sharp edges from the side of a potential collision and its shape absorbs the impact to great extent. Such possibilities are provided to a lesser extent by a flat bar and to greater extent by a section profiled as described above.

[0018] The embodiment of the invention has been presented in the drawing, in which Fig. 1 shows an axonometric view of the mobile road barrier panel with a pair of elements to connect with an adjacent panel, Fig. 2 shows an axonometric view of the mobile road barrier panel without elements to connect with an adjacent panel, Fig. 3 and 4 show the side view of the panels shown in Fig. 1 and 2. Fig. 5 shows a fragment of the mobile road barrier at the point of the panel connection, Fig. 6 shows a front view of the panel, Fig. 7 shows a cross-section of the panel within the area of middle section, Fig. 8 shows an axonometric top view of the upper connector, Fig. 9 shows an axonometric top view of the bottom connector.

[0019] The embodiment in Fig. 1 shows an axonometric view of the mobile road barrier 1 of the height from 500 mm up to 600 mm and length of approx. 6 meters, or 12 meters. The main part of the barrier, i.e. panel 1 consists of a bottom strip 1.1, upper strip 1.3 and middle strip 1.4. They are connected by means of a specified number of vertical sections 1.5 and 1.10 at pre-defined spacing to maintain integrity and stiffness of the whole structure.

[0020] The lower strip 1.1 is a section that consists of a flat bar of the specified width and thickness permanently connected to the channel bar with the arms downward where the edge of the arms is directed along the panel that is connected to the upper surface of the flat bar. At the ends of the bottom strip there are permanently fixed seats in the form of a reinforced section 1.6, e.g. a channel bar, with arms downward, which are an extension of the lower strip which is used to connect to a lower connector, and whose shape corresponds to the lower connector 2. At the ends of the lower strip inside the reinforced section 1.6, e.g. a channel bar, a flat element 1.8 is permanently fixed perpendicular to the ground and perpendicular to the plane running along the panel to increase the strength of the section 1.6, e.g. a channel bar. In addition, the reinforced section 1.6, e.g. a channel bar, has a hole, or holes, in the base in a specific position and of a specific dimension, which serves as detachable connection with the lower connector 2 by means of a pin joint. The main feature of the lower strip is its stiffness which is desirable when a vehicle collides with the barrier. The upper strip consists of a section 1.3 at the ends of which there are permanently fixed seats in the form of a reinforced section 1.7, e.g. a channel bar, with arms upward, which are an extension of the upper strip, which serves as a connection with an upper connector 3 whose shape corresponds to the upper connector. In the given reinforced section 1.7 e.g. a channel bar, in its lower part of the base there is a connecting element with the upper connector 3, a nut 1.11 that is permanently connected, and a tongue 1.9 that is permanently connected in the upper part of the base of the reinforced section 1.7 e.g. a channel bar. The given tongue 1.9 serves as reinforcement of connection between the reinforced section 1.7, e.g. a channel bar, and the upper connector 3. The middle strip 1.4 performs an additional safety function during a collision, for example when a motorcycle collides with the barrier. It is made of a section 1.4 of a defined shape permanently connected at a pre-defined height with the vertical sections 1.5 and 1.10of the panel.

[0021] The connectors 2 and 3 of the shape that corresponds with the seats of the reinforced sections 1.6 and 1.7, e.g. a channel bar, at the ends of the panels they are seated in these seats to improve the barrier stiffness at the points of connection, they are fixed in detachable way by means of a bolted connection or a pin joint secured with a cotter pin.

[0022] The lower connector 2 consists of a flat bar 2.1 with its shape corresponding with the continuity of the flat bar 1.1 of the bottom strip of the panel 1, on the upper surface of the flat bar 2.1 of the bottom connector 2 the locking elements are permanently fixed, a minimum of one piece per side in the form of flat bars 2.2, their plane is perpendicular to the plane of the flat bar 2.1, and perpendicular to the vertical plane along the lower connector 2, which are fixed permanently with the flat bar 2.1, and the shape corresponds to the bottom reinforced section 1.6, e.g. a channel bar of the panel 1. In addition, on the upper surface of the flat element 2.1 of the bottom connector 2 pins 2.3 are fixed where the pin's axis is perpendicular to the surface of the flat bar 2.1. The upper part of the pin 2.3 has a pre-defined edge chamfering that during the assembly with the panel 1 is used to determine the position relative to the hole in the reinforced channel bar 1.6 of the panel 1. In the upper part of the pin 2.3 there is a hole that is used to secure the connection to the panel by means of a cotter pin.

[0023] In addition, the lower connector 2 has an element 2.4 in form of a handle made from a rod to facilitate transportation.

[0024] On the lower plane of the flat bar 2.1 of the lower connector 2 there may be additional rubber element 2.5, which is located in the central part of the connector 2, it is permanently connected to the given connector by vulcanization method.

[0025] The upper connector 3 consists of a channel bar 3.1 with the arms upward, and the shape that corresponds to the reinforced section 1.7, e.g. a channel bar of the upper strip of the panel 1. In the upper part of the exemplary channel bar 3.1 of the upper connector 3, a flat bar 3.2 is permanently fixed to the edge of the arms, to improve the stiffness. The section 1.6, for example a channel bar, has a hole in the base in a pre-defined position and dimension which serves as detachable connection with the upper reinforced section 1.7, for example a channel bar, by means of a screw connection 8. The given tensioned connection caused by an appropriate tightening torque is aimed at increasing the friction between the upper reinforced section 1.7, for example a channel bar of the panel 1 and the upper connector 3. In the base at the ends of the exemplary channel bar 3.1 of the upper connector 3 there are recesses that mesh together with the tongues 1.9 of the panel 1. The given detachable tongue and groove connection is aimed at improving the strength properties of the permanent connection between the arms of the upper reinforced section 1.7, e.g. a channel bar, and the side walls of the section 1.3 in the panel 1. In the upper part, on the edge of the arms of the channel bar of the upper connector 3 in the pre-defined position there are bars 3.3 whose axis is parallel to the plane of the base of the channel bar and perpendicular to the vertical plane along the upper connector 3, they are aimed at facilitating the disassembly of the upper connector 3 in relation to the panel 1 with use of a simple tool, e.g. a steel rod to serve as a lever between the rod 3.3 and section 1.3 of the upper strip of the panel 1.

[0026] In addition, at least one lower middle base 4 can be affixed to the lower side of the lower strip 1.1. They can be fixed permanently or by means of a screw connection. The base 4 consists of a steel plate permanently connected with a rubber of the same dimensions as the plate by the vulcanization method.

[0027] The rubber elements 2.5 of the connector 2 and a rubber element of a middle base 4 in a steel barrier are placed with a predefined spacing, have a surface with a certain hardness and friction, which ensure maintaining the right ratio between the possibility of overturning the barrier and the appropriate coefficient of friction relative to the ground when a vehicle hits the barrier.

[0028] Adequate thickness of the rubber 2.5 of the lower connector 2, and the thickness of the middle lower base 4, is to maintain adequate clearance between the barrier and the ground to allow water to flow under the barrier during atmospheric precipitation.

List of designations

[0029] 

1 - mobile road barrier panel

1.1 - lower strip,

1.3 - upper strip,

1.4 - middle strip,

1.5 - outmost vertical sections,

1.6 - seat of lower strip,

1.7 - seat of upper strip,

1.8 - flat reinforcing element of the lower seat,

1.9 - tongue of the upper seat, permanently connected in the upper part of the upper seat for recesses at the end of the upper connector,

1.10 - middle vertical sections,

1.11 - nut,

2 - lower connector,

2.1 - flat bar of the lower connector

2.2 - locking elements,

2.3 - pin,

2.4 - element for transportation of the lower connector in the form of a handle made from a bar,

2.5 - rubber element located in the central part of the lower connector,

3 - upper connector,

3.1- upper connector channel bar,

3.2 - lower connector flat bar,

3.3 rods of the upper connector,

4 - middle base with the rubber element

Claims

1. A mobile road barrier comprising quadrangle-shaped panels in side view, adjacent to each other at the ends with upper seats at the ends of upper strips and bottom seats at the ends of lower strips and with a middle strip made from profiled sections, whereas the panels are in contact with each other and are connected at the top by means of an upper connector (3) whose shape from underneath corresponds to the shape of the seats (1.7) located in the upper part of the upper strips (1.3) of the adjacent panels and a lower connector (2) of the panels, characterised in that the seats (1.6) are permanently fixed at the ends of the lower strip (1.1), which are put onto the upper surface of the lower connector (2) and embrace its locking elements (2.2, 2.3)

2. The barrier according to claim 1, characterised in that the upper connector (3) is placed in the seats (1.7) of the upper strip of the adjacent panels, each end of which is fitted with a rod (3.3) and recess that adjoins a tongue (1.9) of the seat of the upper strip.

3. The barrier according to claim 1, characterized in that the locking elements of the lower connector are at least two flat bars (2.2) fixed to the flat base (2.1) transversely to the panel axis, under each the lower seat (1.6) and the pins (2.3) placed in the holes in the lower seats.

4. The barrier according to claim 1, characterized in that the section of the lower strip (1.1) comprising a flat bar permanently connected to a channel bar with arms downward, where the edge of the arms is directed along the panel and this edge is connected to the upper surface of the flat bar.

5. The barrier according to claim 1, characterized in that on the lower plane of the lower connector (2.1) and on the lower plane of the lower strip (1.1) it has fixed surfaces with increased friction, preferably rubber ones.

6. The way of assembling the mobile road barrier comprising panels (1) adjacent to each other at the ends and connected to each other at the top by means of the upper connector (3) with connecting means (1.11), fixing the connector to the seat (1.7) of the upper strip (1.3), and at the bottom by means of the lower connector (2), characterized in that the lower connectors are placed in panel connection points as the bases of the mobile road barrier and the elements supporting the panels within the areas of their lower ends, whereas, the seat (1.6) of the lower strip of one panel is put on half of the locking elements of the lower connector (2.2, 2.3) and the seat of the lower strip of the next panel is put on the other half of the lower connector, and the upper connector (3) is inserted into the upper seats (1.7) of both upper strips such that the ends of the connector with the recesses adjoin the tongues of the upper seats (1.9), permanently connected in the upper part of the upper seat, and then the upper connector is fixed in detachable way to the upper strips by means of threaded connections (1.11), whereas the seats of the lower strips of the connected panels and the pins entering the holes in the lower seats are secured against disconnection with detachable elements, cotter pins.

Drawing