Barrier element

Abstract

 The present invention comprises a barrier element for separating a roadway from another terrain area, wherein the barrier element comprises a substantially elongate body part and hook parts arranged on the ends of the body part for hooking together successive barrier elements, wherein on a first end the hook ends are bent inward.

Description

[0001] The so-called Haitsma Step Barrier is a prefabricated concrete vehicle barrier with a high impact absorption and a minimal displacement in the case of collision. In a collision this barrier can turn a vehicle with a mass of 13,000 kg and a speed of 70 km per hour at an angle of 20° relative to the barrier. The horizontal displacement of the barrier is minimal. The return-to-road angle after collision is also very small.

[0002] A barrier element for such a vehicle barrier is described in the Netherlands patent NL-C-193170 of applicant. These known concrete barrier elements are simpler and quicker to assemble than steel barrier elements.

[0003] The present invention has for its object to further improve the above stated barrier element, particularly in respect of the more stringent European requirements for heavier vehicles and the growing practice wherein such barrier elements are placed for an increasingly longer time on roads.

[0004] The present invention provides a barrier element for separating a roadway from another terrain area, wherein the barrier element comprises a substantially elongate body part and hook parts arranged on the ends of the body part for hooking together successive barrier elements.

[0005] In the preferred embodiment whereby the body part is substantially made of concrete, whereby such a displacable vehicle barrier satisfied the high, so called European H2- requirements, wherein practical experiments which are to carried at in the near future will further substantiate this.

[0006] The hook ends are preferably mutually connected in lengthwise direction of the barrier element by reinforcing bars embedded in the concrete, whereby a very strong and rigid entity is provided and whereby a possible shifting or tilting movement is obviated as well as possible.

[0007] For stable placing on the ground the barrier element is preferably provided with a broad base part in which can be arranged a recess for optional electrical cables.

[0008] Further advantages, features and details of the present invention will be elucidated on the basis of the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof with reference to the annexed figures, in which:

fig. 1 shows a view in perspective of a vehicle barrier, wherein a barrier element according to the present invention is arranged;

fig. 2 shows a partly broken-away view in perspective of a part of the barrier element of fig. 1;

fig. 3 is a side view of detail III of fig. 1;

fig. 4 is a view in perspective of the opposite end of the barrier element of fig. 1;

fig. 5 is an exploded view of the construction shown in fig. 3; and

fig. 6 is an exploded view of the construction shown in fig. 4.

[0009] A vehicle barrier 1 comprises lying elements 2, 2' for placing on the ground which comprise a broad base 3 and an upper part 4 which takes a narrowed form. For leading of for instance electrical cables the base 3 is preferably provided on the underside with a recess 5, for instance in order to place a lamp post or the like between lying elements 2, 2' in a more (semi-)permanent situation. In the shown preferred embodiment the lying elements are further provided with recesses 6, 7 for engagement by the forks of a fork-lift truck.

[0010] The lying element manufactured from concrete is provided on its end surface with integrated metal plates 7, 8, 9 and 10 - see also fig. 2-6 - which are alternately provided with inward respectively outward pointing hook ends.

[0011] As becomes particularly apparent from fig. 2, plates 9 and 10 are fixed on either side of the lying element to reinforcing bars 11 respectively 12 which are embedded in the concrete 13. Also extending between reinforcing bars 11 and 12 is grating 14 which is likewise embedded in the concrete.

[0012] As also becomes apparent from fig. 3-6, the base part 5 is provided on the underside with steel plates 22 and 23. On the other end surface the lying element is further provided with steel plates 31, 32, 33, 34, the shapes of which are complementary to the shape of the end surface of fig. 3 of a subsequent lying element.

[0013] During placing of a vehicle barrier the successive lying elements are fitted together with the hook ends, whereby an extremely sturdy vehicle barrier is provided which in all likelihood will comply with the strictest European standards and is therefore very suitable for forming of a crash barrier for a longer period of time.

[0014] Owing to the reinforcement which extends between the end plates and is fixedly connected thereto an undesired tilting and/or translation movement brought about by a collision is obviated very well and transmitted to following lying elements, whereby a greater impact absorption is possible.

[0015] The present invention is not limited to the above described preferred embodiment, the rights sought being defined by the following claims, within the scope of which many modifications can be envisaged.

Claims

1. Barrier element for separating a roadway from another terrain area, wherein the barrier element comprises a substantially elongate body part and hook parts arranged on the ends of the body part for hooking together successive barrier elements.

2. Barrier element as claimed in claim 1, wherein on a first end the hook ends are bent inward, while the hook ends on the opposite end of the body part have outward pointing hook ends which can be hooked into the inward pointing hook ends of a subsequent body part.

3. Barrier element as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein reinforcing bars extend between the hook ends close to the longitudinal walls of the body part.

4. Barrier element as claimed in claim 3, wherein the reinforcing bars are welded fixedly to the hook ends.

5. Barrier element as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the body part has a broad lower base part, while the body part becomes narrower in upward direction.

6. Barrier element as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the body part has a substantially flat top side.

7. Barrier element as claimed in claim 6, wherein the base part is provided on the underside with one or more recesses.

8. Barrier element according to any of the claims 1 to 7, wherein the body part is substantially made of concrete.

9. Proces wherein barrier elements according to one of more of the proceeding claims in based on or near the road.

Drawing