Field of the invention
[0001] The present invention generally refers to the sector of road safety devices, and
in detail concerns a guardrail fixing device.
[0002] The present invention also concerns a method of junction of guardrail portions by
means of the above device.
Background art
[0003] The usage of guardrail for protecting roads is universally known.
[0004] It is further known that guardrails are subject to be joined by so-called "joints"
for ensuring the continuity of protection along the entire length of the road.
[0005] The traditional joints are nothing more than simple bars provided with slotted holes,
that neither provide the right safety nor allow for a correct adaptation to the thermal
dilation of the guardrail.
[0006] In fact, the applicant observed that the guardrails are subject to two macrotypes
of deformations, macrotypes that are based on the deformation speed itself. The first
macrotype is exactly the thermal dilation, that is a type of deformation which is
very slow. The second macrotype, instead, is the deformation due to impact, characterized
in contrast to a significantly higher speed.
[0007] The applicant knows guardrail junction systems of a more advanced type, one of which
is produced by Freyssinet. It deals with a junction realized with a pre-contraction
strand, permanently anchored to an end of the device on a first steel block (so-called
passive) arranged in a junction between two guardrails. The device furthermore comprises
a second block, so-called active, fixed to the adjacent junction. The strand, that
passes also through the active block, is prolonged also over this last in such a way
to allow the operation of the junction in normal conditions, being therefore capable
of freely move within the active block without impeding the opening or closure of
the junction of the barrier.
[0008] In case of accident, in proximity of the device it takes place a strain that tends
to separate the anchoring blocks of the device, and this activates the functioning
of the device itself that firmly anchors the strand in the active block.
[0009] The device produced by Freyssinet is complex and lowly effective in managing the
blockage of the two guardrail portions in case of impact. Nonetheless, the device
produced by Freyssinet is not newly usable in case of impact, since the active block
rests damaged.
[0010] Moreover,
GB2497811A discloses a guardrail junction system able to compensate for thermal expansion and
contraction of the members in use to make such junction. A spring is connected to
the members through a load sensitive coupling which in use is arranged to lock the
system, and thereby prevent movement between the adjacent members when the relative
rate of movement between the adjacent members exceeds a pre-determined value such
as in a crash or impact situation. The load sensitive coupling is realized by a hydraulic
cylinder provided with a lock off valve.
[0011] The system disclosed in
GB2497811A is effective only by calibrating very gently the fluid passing through the hydraulic
cylinder and the lock off valve and is usually subject to hygroscopic problems know
for such kind of fluids.
[0012] Other systems are disclosed, for example, in
EP0687774A1 or
AT344778B, but they relate to very complex and less effective system, employing respectively
cable or hydraulic clock systems.
[0013] The scope of the present invention is therefore to describe a guardrail fixing device
that allows to solve aforementioned drawbacks.
[0014] A further scope of the present invention is to describe a method of junction of guardrail
portions which allows to solve the aforementioned drawbacks and advantageously allows
to meet the guardrail thermal dilations or contractions without for this leaving space
for failures or risk that the vehicle exits from portions of road wherein said guardrail
misses.
Summary of the invention
[0015] According to the present invention is realized a fixing device for guardrails, suitable
of being interposed between a first and a second portion of guardrail, characterized
in that it comprises at least one first configuration of lower longitudinal extension
and a second configuration of greater extension, wherein said second configuration
of greater extension takes place when said device is longitudinally stretched following
an impact of a vehicle against one of said two guardrail portions;
said device comprises elastic means operating in combination with a hydromechanic
organ linearly extensible and causing a selective blocking of the longitudinal extension
on said second configuration of greater extension according to a speed and/or impulse
of force exerted between a first and a second end of said device, and in particular
when said speed and/or impulse of force exerted exceeds a predetermined threshold
value realizing an inertial block.
[0016] According to the present invention, said hydromechanic organ is a piston, linearly
extensible, secured in correspondence of a first end thereof to an end of said device
and to a second end thereof opposed to said first end, in correspondence of said elastic
means on a rotating support in turn secured to said elastic means.
[0017] According to an aspect of the present invention, said device is characterized in
that said threshold value is determined in accordance to a retention force exerted
by said elastic means and by a viscous friction force exerted by said piston.
[0018] According to an aspect of the present invention, said rotating support is pivoted
on the body of said fixing device; said pivoting takes place on a pin arranged in
such a way to detect a rotation axis orthogonal respective to a plane onto which said
device extends between said first and said second configuration.
[0019] According to the present invention, said means of selective blocking further comprises
a toothed bar, having a first and a second end; in said first end said bar comprises
a plurality of teeth suitable for being engaged on an blocking arm of said rotating
support, wherein said blocking arm has a terminal portion opposed respective to the
portion jointed to the principal body of said rotating support provided with at least
an engagement tooth; in said second end said toothed bar is jointed to an extensible
plunger of said piston.
[0020] In detail, said toothed bar linearly moves on a predefined path and moves parallel
to said piston.
[0021] In detail, said blocking arm engages on said plurality of teeth when said speed and/or
impulse of force exerted exceed a predetermined threshold value, with an extension
of said piston causing a compression and/or extension of said elastic means.
[0022] According to an aspect of the device object of the present invention, said elastic
means are configured for keeping said supporting element in a neutral position centrally
defined respective to a plurality of unstable positions wherein said support rotates
respective to said neutral position, said supporting element being capable of pivoting
respective to said neutral position centrally defined.
[0023] According to the present invention, said piston comprises a plunger secured to a
first end of said device in turn configured for being rigidly jointed to a first portion
of guardrail; said device comprises a principal body detecting a second end opposed
to said first end, said second end being joined to a second portion of guardrail.
[0024] Preferably, said device - in correspondence of the said first and second end - comprises
fixing plates respectively to said first and second portion of guardrail; said fixing
plates comprising a plurality of holes suitable for housing means of pivoting on said
guardrail portions.
[0025] According to the present invention it is further realized a method of junction of
guardrail portions, characterized in that it comprises the installation of the device
according to the present invention, further characterized in that it comprises, before
the step of installation of said device between a first and a second portion of guardrail
not connected each other, a step of calculation of a speed of thermal dilation of
said guardrail portions, a subsequent step of calculation of speed of deformation
of at least one of said guardrail portions following an impact of the vehicle against
thereto, said speed of deformation being calculated in relation to the position of
said device with said guardrail; said method comprising furthermore a step of calculation
of a maximum threshold speed or force impulse such that to cause said blockage of
longitudinal extension of said device in accordance to said speed of deformation and
in accordance to an elastic constant of said elastic means in combination to a coefficient
of viscosity of said hydromechanic organ linearly sliding, so that a speed of deformation
below said threshold keeps said device free to extend. Preferably, said method comprises
a step of calculation of a an angle of rotation necessary to said arm of said supporting
element for coming into contact with said plurality of teeth of the said toothed bar,
and a calculation of a coefficient of compression and/or extension of at least one
of said elastic means in accordance to said rotation angle.
Description of the figures
[0026] The invention will now be described referring to the annexed figures wherein:
- Figure 1 shows a lateral section view of the fixing device for guardrails in a first
configuration of use;
- Figure 2 shows a front view of the device of figure 1;
- Figure 3 shows a lateral section view of the fixing device for guardrails in a second
configuration of use;
- Figure 4 shows a detail of the fixing device for guardrails according to the present
invention.
Detailed description of the invention
[0027] With reference to figure 1, with the reference number 100 is shown in its complex
a fixing device for guardrails, in detail for disjointed portions of a guardrail by
means of the realization of a selective inertial blocking.
[0028] The device 100 comprises a principal body 101 a boxed structure detecting a first
end wherein there is a plate 102 of fixing to a first portion of guardrail.
[0029] In detail, the plate 102 develops along a plane which is orthogonal respective to
that of the principal body, and is provided with holes 103, positioned on its four
edges, for introducing the pins or equivalent means of engagement and fixing on the
guardrail itself.
[0030] Inside the principal body 101 is furthermore comprised a piston 120, provided with
a cylinder fixed to said principal body and a plunger linearly extensible respective
to said cylinder. Said plunger ends in an end thereof opposed respective to that which
is introduced in the cylinder, on a second end of the device in turn provided with
a plate 102, laying on the same plane of the other plate 102 and as it possessing
a plurality of holes 103 positioned on its four edges for the introduction of pins
or equivalent means of engagement and fixing to the guardrail itself.
[0031] The plate 102 is jointed to the plunger of the piston 120 by means of a bracket 104a
that is oriented orthogonally respective to the plate itself thereby resulting among
the other jointed to this last, and that is provided with a hole for the engagement
with the piston.
[0032] Clearly, the relative position of plunger or cylinder of the piston shall not be
intended as limiting, in fact so that the elements could be in contrast installed
- cylinder secured to the second end of the device and plunger secured to principal
body 101 of the device 100 - without modifying the operation of the device object
of the present invention.
[0033] For said reason the device 100 object of the present invention, is therefore linearly
extensible, between at least one first and a second position, in such a way to being
capable to adapt in joining exactly in correspondence of the plates 102 a couple of
guardrail portions whose distance could not be always equal.
[0034] Figures 1 and 3 show respective configurations of a minimum and maximum linear extension
of the device 100 object of the present invention in a resting condition, that is
not being "photographed" in a dynamic motion condition of its mobile portions.
[0035] In detail, not only the distance between the two guardrail portions is not the same
due to the fact that their relative position could variate from case to case, but
also because the guardrails, being realized in metallic material, are subject to thermal
dilations that, precisely into the direction of maximum extension thereof, are far
from being negligible.
[0036] The cylinder of the piston 120 is jointed to the principal body 101 not directly
but with the interposition of a supporting element 150 rotating respective to a pin
fixed on the principal body and extending along a direction orthogonal respective
to the direction and the plane along which the device 100 is capable of linear extend
therein.
[0037] In detail the supporting element 150 pivots respective to a central resting position,
onto which is retained by two opposed springs 140, each one having a first end directly
fastened on the principal body 101 and a second end fastened to a wing 170 of said
supporting element 150.
[0038] Clearly, the use of springs shall not be considered limitative, since they can be
substituted by equivalent elastic means without for this departing from the operation
described into the present description.
[0039] The two springs 140 preferably but in a non-limiting extent are of the same type,
for ensuring that the force of rotation of the supporting element 150 respective to
the central position is equivalent into both the clockwise and anticlockwise rotation
direction (this last being defined by the arrow A in figure 3).
[0040] Therefore, in case the supporting element 150 is rotated respective to the central
position of equilibrium, a first of the two springs 140 is compressed while the second
is extended.
[0041] Consequently, any rotated position of the supporting element 150 - both in clockwise
that in anti-clockwise direction - is per se unstable, since the force of compression
and respectively extension exerted by the springs 140 on the wing 170 is so that the
supporting element 150 tends to return into the same starting position.
[0042] The supporting element 150 comprises a toothed arm that is suitable for engaging
on a toothed portion 104d of a toothed bar 104.
[0043] The toothed bar 104 is arranged below than the supporting element 150, and the arm
151 faces towards said lower direction on a side of the supporting element 150 that,
once observed the annexed figures, results being on its left side. The constraint
of the piston 120 on the supporting element takes further place on the opposite side,
and that is from the right.
[0044] The toothed bar 104 extends at least partially within said principal body 101 and
has an end portion opposed respective to the toothed portion 104d that is jointed
to the plate 102 of the second end of the device object of the present invention,
and is therefore further jointed also to the terminal portion of the stem of the plunger
of the piston 120. The toothed portion 104d of the said toothed bar 104 faces towards
the arm 151 of the supporting element 150.
[0045] In detail, therefore, during the rotation of the supporting element 150 respective
to the own central equilibrium position, if the rotation takes place in anti-clockwise
direction the arm 151 engages on the toothed portion 104d impeding further extensions
of the device 100.
[0046] In contrast, a rotation in clockwise sense, causes a distancing of the arm 151 respective
to the toothed bar 104, rendering this last free of sliding back within the principal
body 101.
[0047] The device 100 object of the present invention therefore operates on a selective
blocking of the elongation of the first end respective to the second. Said selective
blocking is an inertial block generated according to an action of force of extension
exerted on the device 100 and a contrasting action to the extension itself operated
by the assembly of the piston 120 and of the springs 140 with the rotating supporting
element 150. Said selective blocking allows for causing a free adaptation of the length
of the device 100 object of the present invention to the extension or contraction
of the guardrails due to a thermal dilation, but at the same time allows for blocking
the elongation of the device in case of impact of a vehicle against the guardrail
or against the device itself.
[0048] In fact, the thermal excursion and impact elongation are characterized by an elongation
speed (for example in mm/h) and impulse of force strongly different, in the order
of 100 or more times. The speed of extension of a guardrail following of impact is
closer to the magnitude order of a meter per second than to some mm/h as in the case
of the thermal dilation.
[0049] The selection of a threshold of intervention for the selective blocking, that is
a threshold of maximum speed or impulse of force, is scientifically calculated in
accordance to the viscosity and force which is necessary to extend the piston 120
in relation to the force of compression and extension (elastic constant) of the springs
140.
[0050] Therefore the speed and impulse force caused by the thermal elongation or contraction
of the guardrail is such that it causes a traction force on the plate 102 of the second
end so that to extend the piston 120 without causing a compression/extension of the
springs 170 that causes a rotation of the supporting element 150 so that to make the
arm 151 rotate up to engage on the toothed portion 140d of the toothed bar 140.
[0051] In this configuration the device object of the present invention finds itself therefore
in a first configuration of free extension, wherein the means of selective blocking
in accordance to a speed and impulse of force do not become operative for blocking
the longitudinal extension of the device 100 itself.
[0052] Therefore before a phase of installation of said device 100 between the two guardrail
portions of a same side of the road, at first it shall proceed with a compared analysis
of the elastic constant of the springs, of the viscosity of the piston 120 and of
the coefficient of elongation of the guardrail portions themselves. Only then the
springs and the piston are selected in accordance to the aforementioned analysis,
in such a way that modifications in the extension of the device 100 due to thermal
dilations or contractions do not cause a blockage of the device itself (second configuration).
[0053] In detail, considered the rotation of the supporting element for causing the blockage,
it is therefore performed a step of calculation of a an angle of rotation necessary
to said arm of said supporting element 150 for coming into contact with the plurality
of teeth 104d of the toothed bar 104, further calculating a coefficient of compression
and/or extension of at least one of said elastic means or springs 140 in accordance
to said rotation angle.
[0054] Then in the phase of installation, if necessary, it takes place a manual elongation
of the device, from the configuration of minimal extension (figure 1), conveniently
used for transporting the device 100 itself, to a further configuration with greater
extension, so that the plates 102 are in proximity of the guardrail portions to be
jointed and can be fixed thereto.
[0055] Then the device object of the present invention is ready to operate.
[0056] In contrast, in case of impact of a vehicle on the guardrail or on the device 100
itself, the speed of elongation or the impulse of force are such that the viscosity
of extension of the piston 120 exceeds that of the compression/extension of the springs
140, that consequently cause a rotation in anti-clockwise direction (arrow A, figure
3) of the arm 151 of the supporting element 150 so that to render its end engaged
on the toothed portion 104d of the toothed bar 104.
[0057] Consequently the device blocks, acting as an element of rigid union between two guardrail
portions one another separated.
[0058] This is particularly advantageous, since it impedes that the guardrail bends up to
the point of causing an exiting of the vehicle from the road path, allowing at the
same time for adapting separate guardrail portions without risking deformations due
to the thermal contraction or extension thereof.
[0059] In detail, the device 100 object of the present invention is furthermore reusable.
In fact, following of the block caused by the compression of the springs 140, in case
the impulse of force ceases or anyway goes below the predefined threshold, the rotating
supporting element 150 returns into the resting position wherein the forces of the
two counterposed springs equal one another, and the arm 151 rigidly jointed thereto
disengages the toothed bar 104, that can newly return to extend or include itself
within the principal body in accordance to thermal compression or dilation phenomena
of the guardrail portions thereto jointed on the plates102.
[0060] This is particularly advantageous since excepting accidents capable of breaking the
device 100 of the present invention, said device automatically returns into the first
configuration wherein it supports the thermal dilation or contraction of the guardrail
portions, without needing human intervention.
[0061] Not only the costs of substitution are reduced, but eventual costs of re-initialization
into the first configuration are therefore canceled.
[0062] The advantages of the device object of the present invention are clear in view of
the preceding description.
[0063] It is finally clear that to the object of the present invention additions, adaptations
or variants obvious for a technician expert in the art can be brought, without for
this departing from the scope of protection provided by the annexed claims.
1. A fixing device (100) for guardrails, suitable for being interposed between a first
and a second portion of guardrail, wherein it comprises at least one first configuration
of lower longitudinal extension and a second configuration of greater longitudinal
extension, wherein said second configuration of greater extension takes place in case
said device (100) is longitudinally slowly stretched by said portions of guardrail
due to their thermal dilation; said device (100) comprises elastic means (140) operating
in combination with a hydromechanic organ (120) which is a linearly extensible piston
(120) causing a selective blocking of a longitudinal extension of said fixing device
(100) according to a speed and/or impulse of force exerted between a first and a second
end of said fixing device (100), in case said speed and/or impulse of exerted force
exceed a predetermined threshold value realizing an inertial block, characterized in that the fixing device (100) further comprises a rotating support (150) and a toothed
bar (104), for causing said selective blocking, the toothed bar (104) having a first
and a second end; at said first end said toothed bar (104) comprises a plurality of
teeth (104d) suitable for being engaged on a blocking arm (151) forming part of the
rotating support (150), wherein said blocking arm (151) has a terminal portion opposed
to a portion joined to a principal body of said rotating support (150) which is provided
with at least an engagement tooth; wherein said second end of said toothed bar (104)
is joined to an extensible plunger of said piston (120); and wherein said piston is
at a first end thereof secured to an end of said device (100) and is at a second end
thereof, opposed to said first end, in correspondence to said elastic means (140),
secured on said rotating support (150), which in turn is secured to said elastic means
(140); and wherein said selective blocking is an inertial block generated according
to an action of force of extension exerted on the fixing device (100) and a contrasting
action to the extension itself operated by the assembly of said piston (120) and of
said elastic means (140) with said rotating support (150).
2. Device (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that said threshold value is determined in accordance to a retention force exerted by
said elastic means (140) and by a viscous friction force exerted by said piston (120).
3. Device (100) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said rotating support (150) is pivoted on the body of said fixing device (100); said
pivoting takes place on a pin arranged in such a way to define a rotation axis orthogonal
respective to a plane onto which said device (100) extends between said first and
said second configuration.
4. Device (100) according to one or more claims from 1 to 3, characterized in that said toothed bar (104) linearly moves on a predefined path and moves parallel to
said piston (120).
5. Device (100) according to one or more claims from 1 to 4, characterized in that said blocking arm (151) engages on said plurality of teeth (104d) in case said speed
and/or impulse of force exerted exceeds a predetermined threshold value, with an extension
of said piston causing a compression and/or extension of said elastic means (140).
6. Device (100) according to one or more claims from 1 to 5, characterized in that said elastic means (140) are configured for keeping said supporting element in a
centrally defined neutral position respective to a plurality of unstable positions
wherein said rotating support (150) rotates respective to said neutral position, said
rotating support (150) being capable of pivoting respective to said centrally defined
neutral position.
7. Device (100) according to one or more claims from 1 to 6, characterized in that said piston (120) comprises a plunger secured to a first end of said device (100)
said first end in turn configured for being rigidly jointed to a first portion of
guardrail; said device (100) comprises a principal body (101) having a second end
opposed to said first end, said second end being joined to a second portion of guardrail.
8. Device (100) according to claim 7, characterized in that it comprises, in correspondence to the said first and second end of said principal
body (101), fixing plates (102) respectively joinable to a first and second portion
of guardrail; said fixing plates (102) comprising a plurality of holes (103) suitable
for housing means of pivoting on said guardrail portions.
9. Method of junction of guardrail portions, characterized in that it comprises the installation of the device (100) according to any of the preceding
claims 1-8 and furthermore comprising, before the step of installation of said device
(100) between a first and a second portion of guardrail disconnected to one another,
a step of calculation of a speed of thermal dilation of the said portions of guardrail,
a subsequent step of calculation of speed of deformation of at least one of the said
portions of guardrail following of an impact of the vehicle against the same, said
speed of deformation being calculated in relation to the position of said device (100)
with said guardrail; said method comprising furthermore a step of calculation of a
threshold of maximal speed or impulse of force capable of causing said block of longitudinal
extension of said device (100) in accordance to said speed of deformation and in accordance
to an elastic constant of said elastic means (140) in combination to a coefficient
of viscosity of said hydromechanic organ (120) linearly sliding, so that a speed of
deformation below said threshold keeps said device (100) free to extend.
10. Method according to claim 9, characterized in that it comprises a step of calculation of a an angle of rotation necessary to said blocking
arm (151) of said rotating support (150) per coming into contact with said plurality
of teeth (104d) of the said toothed bar (104), and a calculation of a coefficient
of compression and/or extension of at least one of said elastic means (140) in accordance
to said rotation angle.
1. Befestigungsvorrichtung (100) für Leitplanken, die zum Einfügen zwischen einem ersten
und einem zweiten Abschnitt der Leitplanke geeignet ist, wobei sie zumindest eine
erste Konfiguration von geringerer Längserstreckung und eine zweite Konfiguration
von größerer Längserstreckung aufweist, wobei die zweite Konfiguration von größerer
Längserstreckung stattfindet, falls die Vorrichtung (100) aufgrund ihrer thermischen
Ausdehnung durch die Abschnitte der Leitplanke längs langsam gestreckt wird;
wobei die Vorrichtung (100) Elastikmittel (140) aufweist, die in Kombination mit einem
hydromechanischem Organ (120) arbeiten, das ein linear ausfahrbarer Kolben (120) ist,
der eine selektive Blockierung einer Längserstreckung der Befestigungsvorrichtung
(100) gemäß einer Geschwindigkeit und/oder einem Impuls einer Kraft verursacht, die
zwischen einem ersten und einem zweiten Ende der Befestigungsvorrichtung (100) ausgeübt
wird, falls die Geschwindigkeit und/oder der Impuls der ausgeübten Kraft einen vorbestimmten
Schwellenwert überschreitet, der einen Trägheitsblock realisiert,
dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Befestigungsvorrichtung (100) ferner eine Drehstütze (150) und eine Zahnstange
(104) aufweist, um die selektive Blockierung zu bewirken, wobei die Zahnstange (104)
ein erstes und ein zweites Ende aufweist, wobei das erste Ende der Zahnstange (104)
eine Mehrzahl von Zähnen (104d) aufweist, die zum Eingriff an einem Blockierarm (151)
geeignet sind, der ein Teil der Drehstütze (150) bildet, wobei der Blockierarm (151)
einen Endabschnitt aufweist, der einem mit einem Hauptkörper der Drehstütze (150)
verbundenen Abschnitt entgegengesetzt ist und mit zumindest einem Eingriffszahn versehen
ist; wobei das zweite Ende der Zahnstange (104) mit einem ausfahrbaren Stößel des
Kolbens (120) verbunden ist; und
wobei der Kolben mit seinem ersten Ende an einem Ende der Vorrichtung (100) gesichert
ist und mit seinem dem ersten Ende entgegengesetzten zweiten Ende, entsprechend den
Elastikmitteln (140), an der Drehstütze (150) gesichert ist, die wiederum an den Elastikmitteln
(140) gesichert ist; und
wobei das selektive Blockieren ein Trägheitsblock ist, der gemäß einer Wirkung einer
Erstreckungskraft, die auf die Befestigungsvorrichtung (100) ausgeübt wird, und einer
kontrastierenden Wirkung auf die Erstreckung selbst, die durch die Baugruppe des Kolbens
(120) und der Elastikmittel (140) mit der Drehstütze (150) betätigt wird, erzeugt
wird.
2. Vorrichtung (100) nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der Schwellenwert gemäß einer Rückhaltekraft bestimmt ist, die durch die Elastikmittel
(140) und durch eine mit dem Kolben (120) ausgeübte viskose Reibkraft ausgeübt wird.
3. Vorrichtung (100) nach Anspruch 1 oder 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Drehstütze (150) an dem Körper der Befestigungsvorrichtung (100) angelenkt ist;
wobei die Anlenkung auf einem Zapfen erfolgt, der derart angeordnet ist, um eine Drehachse
orthogonal zu einer entsprechenden Ebene zu definieren, auf der sich die Vorrichtung
(100) zwischen der ersten und der zweiten Konfiguration erstreckt.
4. Vorrichtung (100) nach einem oder mehreren Ansprüchen von 1 bis 3,
dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass sich die Zahnstange (104) auf einem vordefinierten Weg linear bewegt und sich parallel
zu dem Kolben (120) bewegt.
5. Vorrichtung (100) nach einem oder mehreren Ansprüchen von 1 bis 4,
dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der Blockierarm (151) an der Mehrzahl von Zähnen (104d) eingreift, falls die Geschwindigkeit
und/oder der Impuls der ausgeübten Kraft einen vorbestimmten Schwellenwert überschreitet,
wobei das Ausfahren des Kolbens eine Kompression und/oder Erstreckung der Elastikmittel
verursacht.
6. Vorrichtung (100) nach einem oder mehreren Ansprüchen von 1 bis 5,
dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Elastikmittel (140) konfiguriert sind, um das Stützelement in einer mittig definierten
Neutralstellung in Bezug auf eine Mehrzahl von unstabilen Stellungen zu halten, wobei
sich die Drehstütze (150) in Bezug auf die Neutralstellung dreht, wobei die Drehstütze
(150) in der Lage ist, in Bezug auf die mittig definierte Neutralstellung zu schwenken.
7. Vorrichtung (100) nach einem oder mehreren Ansprüchen von 1 bis 6,
dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der Kolben (120) einen Stößel aufweist, der an einem ersten Ende der Vorrichtung
(100) gesichert ist, wobei das erste Ende wiederum konfiguriert ist, um starr mit
einem ersten Abschnitt der Leitplanke verbunden zu werden; wobei die Vorrichtung (100)
einen Hauptkörper (101) mit einem dem ersten Ende entgegengesetzten zweiten Ende aufweist,
wobei das zweite Ende mit einem zweiten Abschnitt der Leitplanke verbunden ist.
8. Vorrichtung (100) nach Anspruch 7, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass sie dem ersten und zweiten Ende des Hauptkörpers (101) entsprechende Befestigungsplatten
(102) aufweist, die jeweils mit einem ersten und zweiten Abschnitt der Leitplanke
verbindbar sind; wobei die Befestigungsplatten (102) eine Mehrzahl von Löchern (103)
aufweisen, die zur Aufnahme von Schwenkmitteln an den Leitplankenabschnitten geeignet
sind.
9. Verfahren zum Verbinden von Leitplankenabschnitten,
dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass es die Installation der Vorrichtung (100) gemäß einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche
1 bis 8 aufweist, und ferner, vor dem Installationsschritt der Vorrichtung zwischen
einem ersten und einem zweiten Abschnitt der Leitplanke, die voneinander getrennt
sind, aufweist:
einen Schritt der Berechnung einer thermischen
Ausdehnungsgeschwindigkeit der Abschnitte der Leitplanke, einen anschließenden Schritt
der Berechnung einer Verformungsgeschwindigkeit von zumindest einem der Abschnitte
der Leitplanke nach einem Aufprall des Fahrzeugs gegen diese, wobei die Verformungsgeschwindigkeit
in Bezug auf die Position der Vorrichtung (100) mit der Leitplanke berechnet wird;
wobei das Verfahren ferner aufweist: einen Schritt der Berechnung eines Schwellenwerts
einer Maximalgeschwindigkeit oder eines Impulses einer Kraft, die in der Lage ist,
den Block der Längserstreckung (100) zu bewirken, gemäß der Verformungsgeschwindigkeit
und gemäß einer Federkonstante der Elastikmittel (140) in Kombination mit einem Viskositätskoeffizienten
des linear gleitenden hydromechanischen Organs (120), so dass eine Verformungsgeschwindigkeit
unter dem Schwellenwert die Vorrichtung (100) frei gestreckt hält.
10. Verfahren nach Anspruch 9,
dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass es aufweist:
einen Schritt der Berechnung eines Drehwinkels, der erforderlich ist, damit der Blockierarm
(151) der Drehstütze (150) mit der Mehrzahl von Zähnen (104d) der Zahnstange (104)
in Kontakt kommt, sowie einer Berechnung eines Kompressions- und/oder Erstreckungskoeffizienten
von zumindest einem der Elastikmittel (140) gemäß dem Drehwinkel.
1. Dispositif de fixation (100) pour barrières de sécurité, convenant pour être interposé
entre une première et une deuxième partie de barrière de sécurité, comprenant au moins
une première configuration d'extension longitudinale inférieure et une deuxième configuration
d'extension longitudinale supérieure, ladite deuxième configuration d'extension supérieure
se produisant dans le cas où ledit dispositif (100) est longitudinalement lentement
étiré par lesdites parties de barrière de sécurité du fait de leur dilatation thermique
;
ledit dispositif (100) comprenant des moyens élastiques (140) fonctionnant en combinaison
avec un organe hydromécanique (120) qui est un piston extensible de manière linéaire
(120) provoquant un blocage sélectif d'une extension longitudinale dudit dispositif
de fixation (100) selon une vitesse et/ou une impulsion de la force exercée entre
une première et une deuxième extrémité dudit dispositif de fixation (100), dans le
cas où ladite vitesse et/ou impulsion de force exercée excède une valeur seuil prédéterminée
réalisant un bloc d'inertie, caractérisé en ce que le dispositif de fixation (100) comprend en outre un support rotatif (150) et une
barre dentée (104), pour entraîner ledit blocage sélectif, la barre dentée (104) présentant
une première et une deuxième extrémité ; auprès de ladite première extrémité ladite
barre dentée (104) comprend une pluralité de dents (104d) convenant pour être mises
en prise sur un bras de blocage (151) formant une partie du support rotatif (150),
où ledit bras de blocage (151) présente une partie terminale opposée à une partie
jointe à un corps principal dudit support rotatif (150) qui est prévu avec au moins
une dent de mise en prise ; où ladite deuxième extrémité de ladite barre dentée (104)
est jointe à un poussoir extensible dudit piston (120) ; et
où ledit piston se trouve à une première extrémité de celui-ci solidement fixé à une
extrémité dudit dispositif (100) et se trouve à une deuxième extrémité de celui-ci,
opposée à ladite première extrémité, en correspondance avec lesdits moyens élastiques
(140), solidement fixé sur ledit support rotatif (150), qui à son tour est solidement
fixé auxdits moyens élastiques (140) ; et
où ledit blocage sélectif est un bloc d'inertie généré selon une action de force d'extension
exercée sur le dispositif de fixation (100) et une action contrastante vis-à-vis de
l'extension qui est produite elle-même par l'assemblage dudit piston (120) et desdits
moyens élastiques (140) audit support rotatif (150).
2. Dispositif (100) selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que ladite valeur seuil est déterminée selon une force de rétention exercée par lesdits
moyens élastiques (140) et par une force de friction visqueuse exercée par ledit piston
(120).
3. Dispositif (100) selon la revendication 1 ou 2, caractérisé en ce que ledit support rotatif (150) pivote sur le corps dudit dispositif de fixation (100)
; ledit pivotement ayant lieu sur une tige disposée d'une manière telle qu'elle définit
un axe de rotation orthogonal par rapport à un plan sur lequel ledit dispositif (100)
s'étend entre ladite première et ladite deuxième configuration.
4. Dispositif (100) selon l'une ou plusieurs des revendications 1 à 3, caractérisé en ce que ladite barre dentée (104) se déplace linéairement sur un chemin prédéfini et se déplace
parallèle audit piston (120).
5. Dispositif (100) selon l'une ou plusieurs des revendications 1 à 4, caractérisé en ce que ledit bras de blocage (151) se trouve en prise sur ladite pluralité de dents (104d)
dans le cas où ladite vitesse et/ou impulsion de force exercée excède une valeur seuil
prédéterminée, avec une extension dudit piston entraînant une compression et/ou une
extension desdits moyens élastiques (140).
6. Dispositif (100) selon l'une ou plusieurs des revendications 1 à 5, caractérisé en ce que lesdits moyens élastiques (140) sont configurés pour maintenir ledit élément de support
en une position neutre centralement définie par rapport à une pluralité des positions
instables où ledit support rotatif (150) tourne par rapport à ladite position neutre,
ledit support rotatif (150) étant capable de pivoter par rapport à ladite position
neutre centralement définie.
7. Dispositif (100) selon l'une ou plusieurs des revendications 1 à 6, caractérisé en ce que ledit piston (120) comprend un poussoir solidement fixé à une première extrémité
dudit dispositif (100) ladite première extrémité à son tour configurée pour être jointe
de manière rigide à une première partie de la barrière de sécurité ; ledit dispositif
(100) comprenant un corps principal (101) présentant une deuxième extrémité opposée
à ladite première extrémité, ladite deuxième extrémité étant jointe à une deuxième
partie de la barrière de sécurité.
8. Dispositif (100) selon la revendication 7, caractérisé en ce qu'il comprend, en correspondance avec ladite première et deuxième extrémité dudit corps
principal (101), des plaques de fixation (102) pouvant être respectivement jointes
à une première et une deuxième partie de barrière de sécurité ; lesdites plaques de
fixation (102) comprenant une pluralité de trous (103) convenant pour loger un moyen
de pivotement desdites parties de barrière de sécurité.
9. Procédé de jonction de parties de barrière de sécurité, caractérisé en ce qu'il comprend l'installation du dispositif (100) selon l'une quelconque des revendications
précédentes 1 à 8 et en outre comprenant, avant l'étape d'installation dudit dispositif
(100) entre une première et une deuxième partie de la barrière de sécurité déconnectées
l'une de l'autre, une étape de calcul d'une vitesse de dilatation thermique desdites
parties de barrière de sécurité, une étape ultérieure de calcul de la vitesse de déformation
d'au moins l'une desdites parties de barrière de sécurité suite à un impact du véhicule
contre elle, ladite vitesse de déformation étant calculée en relation à la position
dudit dispositif (100) avec ladite barrière de sécurité ; ledit procédé comprenant
en outre une étape de calcul d'un seuil de vitesse ou d'impulsion de force maximales
capables d'entraîner ledit bloc d'extension longitudinale dudit dispositif (100) selon
ladite vitesse de déformation et selon une constante élastique desdits moyens élastiques
(140) en combinaison à un coefficient de viscosité dudit organe hydromécanique (120)
coulissant linéairement, de sorte qu'une vitesse de déformation inférieure audit seuil
maintient ledit dispositif (100) libre de s'étendre.
10. Procédé selon la revendication 9, caractérisé en ce qu'il comprend une étape de calcul d'un angle de rotation nécessaire audit bras de blocage
(151) dudit support rotatif (150) pour entrer en contact avec ladite pluralité de
dents (104d) de ladite barre dentée (104), et un calcul d'un coefficient de compression
et/ou d'extension d'au moins l'un desdits moyens élastiques (140) selon ledit angle
de rotation.