Abstract:
Disclosed is a self-contained, pop-up bollard barrier system ( 10 ) that is capable of working from a single electromechanical actuator ( 29 ) with a series of belts ( 30 ) and pulleys ( 38, 38 A). The system ( 10 ) is built in two parts that once the foundation vault ( 44 ) is in place, the internal apparatus or bollard assembly ( 11 ) can be removed as a unit for maintenance or can be completely replaced with another assembly to have a brand new barrier without the need of replacing or moving any of the initial foundation. The system ( 10 ) enhances the ability of the contractor on site to have a self contained product that only needs wiring and requires no grease while minimizing the installation cost, which is passed on to the end user.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention generally relates to traffic control barriers, and more specifically to an improved self-contained automatic pop-up bollard system. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Traffic control devices are well known. There are numerous examples in the prior art of various devices to control or limit traffic access to restricted areas. Recent terrorist attacks have presented numerous problems for controlling traffic access to highly secured areas. Local, state and federal governments have elevated concerns for securing areas from the threats of terrorists. The military has elevated concerns for securing military bases as well. 
         [0003]    Terrorist attacks on embassies, and other sites of foreign governments or corporations have become commonplace. Some of the more notorious attacks have involved terrorists driving large trucks laden with explosives through the gates of an embassy or other secured sites and detonating the explosives. In response to these attacks, many such sites have installed a variety of barriers in front of their gates. However, the barriers installed at these installations also obstruct the passage of authorized vehicles. 
         [0004]    Examples of some pertinent prior art patents are listed and discussed below: 
         [0005]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,624,600, issued on Nov. 25, 1986 to R. H. Wagner, et al, and entitled ANTI-TERRORIST VEHICLE IMPALER. This patent discloses a barrier device disposed in a trench in a roadway with an impaler arm that pivots into an oncoming vehicle when released by an explosive charge. The impaler arm is secured in place by a trigger that releases by the explosive charge, and a counter weight on the opposite end of the impaler arm. The counterweight is of sufficient mass so that the pivoting impaler arm turns about the pivot under the force of gravity, thereby thrusting the impaler arm above the surface of the roadway. The impaler arm projects at an angle toward a vehicle to be stopped, which is impaled by the arms. 
         [0006]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,705,426, issued on Nov. 10, 1987 to B. A. Perea entitled SECURITY AND DEFENSE BARRIER discloses a vault buried within and transverse to the roadway. The vault has within a latched plurality of barrier arms that may be raised by any powered means, or manually, and raised barrier arms are positioned within the vault so that impact forces are transmitted directly to the vault and to a foundation, and little or no load is supported by a pivoting mechanism. The raised barrier arms have a hook on the end so that the speeding vehicle attacking the barrier will be snagged and prevented from inadvertently or intentionally vaulting the barrier. 
         [0007]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,248,215 issued, Sep. 28, 1993, to M. Fladung entitled ROAD BARRICADE. This patent discloses a car park barricade that is fastened to the road surface with a barricade element optionally positioned parallel to the road surface or in a position at an angle thereto. The barricade element is swiveled upwards about an axis parallel to the road surface and vertical to the blocking direction by means of a drive mechanism comprising a spindle element. 
         [0008]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,702,512 B1, issued Mar. 9, 2004 to G. S. Reale entitled VEHICLE ARRESTING INSTALLATION. This patent discloses a barrier for blocking the passage of a vehicle wherein the barrier has a bollard post positioned to obstruct a vehicle path. The post is coupled to piercing bars or pikes that are normally kept in a compact stand-by state in a recessed housing bordering the vehicle path. The bars deploy pivotally when the vehicle strikes and pivots back the post. The bars or pikes impale the body of the vehicle and break away in an assembly together with the barrier post, to interfere with continued or powered driving of the vehicle. 
         [0009]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,997,638 B2, issued Feb. 14, 2006 to C. J. Hensley, et al entitled ANTI-TERRORIST ROAD BLOCK. This patent discloses a road block having an extendible bollard that is manually or electronically actuated by a powerful spring force for slow extension, and by both the spring and a power lift for rapid expansion. 
         [0010]    U.S. Pat. No. 7,118,304 B2, issued Oct. 10, 2006 to R. R. Turpin and Joey W. Blair (the inventor hereof) entitled AUTOMATIC SELF CONTAINED COLLAPSIBLE TRAFFIC BARRIER BOLLARD SYSTEM. This patent discloses a collapsible traffic barrier located in a steel vault. A rod is rotatably mounted to support members inside the vault, wherein the rod extends across the vault from end to end. A plurality of bollards are secured to the rod near the first end thereof, whereby rotation of the rod rotates the bollards upward at an angle above the roadway and into the direction of an oncoming vehicle. 
         [0011]    U.S. Pat. No. 7,641,416 B2, issued Jan. 5, 2010 to G. D. Miracle entitled VEHICLE BARRIER DEPLOYMENT SYSTEM. This patent discloses a system having at least two lifting members, at least one barrier member, and an actuation assembly. The lifting members are pivotally secured to a base member, and are operable to be selectively raised and lowered in a vertical direction relative to the base member. The barrier member is in communication with the lifting members, and is configured to stop a moving vehicle when the lifting members are in a raised position. The actuation assembly is in communication with lifting members, and is operable to selectively raise and lower the lifting members by moving at least a portion of each of the lifting members in a direction transverse to the traffic lane. 
         [0012]    All of the prior art devices suffer from one or more disadvantages that are overcome by the system and structure of the present invention disclosed hereinbelow. Most of the prior art devices discussed above will only stop vehicles going in one direction, unlike the system of the present invention. As a result of the structure of the present invention vehicles may be stopped in multi directions, especially both directions in a single roadway. Moreover, many of the prior art devices require a lubricant or hydraulic fluid to operate, which creates environmental problems. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]    The invention is explained in the following description in view of the drawings that show: 
           [0014]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the system of the present invention wherein at least three bollards are in a partially raised position. 
           [0015]      FIG. 2A  is a partially cut-away elevational view of the bollard assembly of the present invention wherein the bollards are in the fully recessed position. 
           [0016]      FIG. 2B  is a partially cut-away elevational view of the bollard assembly of the present invention wherein the bollards are in a partially raised position. 
           [0017]      FIG. 2C  is a partially cut-away elevational view of the bollard assembly of the present invention wherein the bollards are in the fully raised position. 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  is a cut-away view of an end of the bollard assembly of the present invention with a bollard in a partially raised position while being enclosed within a vault buried in the roadway. 
           [0019]      FIG. 4  is a top view of a single bollard of the bollard assembly within the vault, wherein some of the top covers have been removed. 
           [0020]      FIG. 5  is an isometric view of a detail of the actuating belt clasped to a pin secured to the bottom of a bollard. 
           [0021]      FIG. 6  is an isometric view of a detail of the top of a bollard post showing the pulley for the actuating belt. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0022]    The present invention is a pop-up bollard barrier system that is to be used for restricting physical access to high security areas wherein the highest level of protection is required. The system must be capable of stopping a 15,000 pound vehicle traveling at 50 mph. Vehicle barriers of this type are currently being used in areas around the world, but they are typically incapable of mechanically functioning reliably during an extended period of time. Other systems of this type are known for their complexity and are expensive to maintain, plus they are very expensive to install. 
         [0023]    The present invention eliminates the need for high maintenance costs, high installation costs, and mitigates environmental issues related to lubricants and hydraulic oils typically used in such devices. Moreover, the present invention provides an inexpensive way to build and operate such a pop-up bollard barrier system. 
         [0024]    Referring now to the drawings and to  FIG. 1  in particular, a perspective view of the system  10  of the present invention illustrates at least three bollards  12 ,  14  and  16  in a partially raised position. The system  10  includes a bollard assembly  11 , which will be illustrated in  FIGS. 2A ,  2 B and  2 C and amplified further hereinafter; and, a vault  44  for receiving the bollard assembly  11 , which will be illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 4  and also amplified further hereinafter. In accordance with one embodiment, the bollards are formed of three 12″×12″×½″ steel tubes and upon activation they rise and extend from within the bollard assembly  11  secured within the vault  44  that is buried in the ground, and then project  36 ″ vertically into the roadway  17  of vehicles when access is not approved. The vault  44  is surrounded by concrete reinforced to 3000 PSI and merges with the roadway  17 . Each of the bollards  12 ,  14 ,  16 , has affixed thereto a reflector  12 A,  14 A and  16 A, respectively. The bollard assembly  11  is covered by a series of removable steel plates  18  through  25 . 
         [0025]    With reference now to  FIG. 2A  the first of a series of partially cut-away elevational views of the bollard assembly  11  is shown to include the bollards  12 ,  14  and  16  in a sequence of movements from a fully recessed position ( FIG. 2A ) to a partially elevated position ( FIG. 2B ) to a fully deployed position ( FIG. 2C ). Again with reference to  FIG. 2A , the bollard  12  is removed in order to show bollard post  26 , which acts as a guide for the bollard  12  to rise and fall. Bollard guide post  26  comprises two pieces of channel steel  26 A and  26 B, which is illustrated in greater detail in  FIGS. 4 and 6  and discussed hereinbelow. Strips  28  are made of a material known in the industry as Delrin (which is an engineered thermoplastic product available from DuPont Corporation) and the strips are attached to and spaced about the sides of the post  26 . These strips provide a smooth surface for the bollards to glide over with a minimum of friction since the Delrin thermoplastic has a very low coefficient of friction. Accordingly, no lubricant is required between the guide posts  26  and the individual bollards  12 ,  14  and  16 . 
         [0026]    The bollard assembly  11  is operated with a single drive mechanism in the form of an electromechanical actuator  29  that powers the three bollards to the up and down position simultaneously. In accordance with one embodiment, one end of the actuator  29  is coupled to a pivot arm  31  and the other end thereof is coupled to frame  35  of the assembly  11 . The pivot arm  31  is coupled to a single fulcrum  32  through a common shaft  33 . The belt  30  (which actually comprises several belts operating in parallel) is connected to an end of the fulcrum opposite the common shaft  33 , and a series of ratchets  34 , which are coupled to the ends of the belts  30  at the end of the fulcrum  32 , are used to tighten the belts. The ratchets  34  are standard off-the-shelf components and will not be amplified further herein. The belts  30  are guided around a series of pulleys  38  and  38 A in order to raise each individual bollard  12 ,  14 ,  16 . The actuator  29  operates the fulcrum  32  with the assistance of a group of springs  36  attached between the frame  35  and a pivot arm  27  coupled to the common central shaft  33 . The pivot arm  27  in one embodiment is actually an extension of the pivot arm  31 . That is, they comprise opposite ends of a single member pivoting about the central shaft  33 . 
         [0027]    The springs  36  may comprise any group of springs necessary to assist the lifting capability of the electromechanical actuator  29 . The fulcrum design takes into consideration the need for the electromechanical actuator  29  to operate as a single drive for the three individual bollards  12 ,  14 , and  16 , and with the assistance of the spring system  36 . The spring system  36  is designed to assist from the down position to the full up position of the bollards. The actuator  29  and the spring system  36  are connected to the structure using pins and devises  37  and  39 , respectively, thereby allowing for free movement of motion required to deploy the bollards. In one embodiment, the actuator  29  has a 12″ stroke, or extension, but is capable of moving the bollards to full deployment ( 36 ″) based on the length of the pivot arm  31 . 
         [0028]    The actuator  29  is operated from a source of 208 single phase alternating current (AC), when activated by a signal to the AC source. Alternatively, there is a back-up battery BB if the source of AC should fail. One terminal of the battery BB is coupled to the actuator  29  and the other terminal is connected to the frame  35 . Circuitry for operation of the actuator  29  is conventional in nature and will not be amplified further herein. 
         [0029]    The bollard assembly is different from others on the market in that square tubing is employed, which offers a much more robust product with higher structural capabilities requiring less material. The use of this product allows for more safety signage (such as reflectors  12 A,  14 A and  16 A) as well as less demand on the steel industry, thereby adding a savings not only to the “GREEN” concept but to cost savings for the end user as well. The bollard works over a double channel guide post  26  that will allow the bollard to slide up and down providing support and guidance for deployment. The Delrin product  28  acts as a slide attached to the guide post  26  to allow for smooth and controlled deployment of the bollards. This offers a stable position of the bollard while being deployed without the requirement of maintenance for metal products that would normally abrade and wear due to friction. 
         [0030]    In accordance with one embodiment, two pieces of 3″×3″×½″ angle iron form a collar  40  that are fastened to two sides of the bottom of the bollards with four ¾″×4″ bolts  51  (not shown in this FIG., but illustrated in greater detail in  FIG. 5 ). The belt  30  runs around the pulley  38  then up through the tower  26  to another pulley  38 A at the top of the tower and back down to a loop  49  on one end of the belt, which attaches to a 1 ½″ pin  42 . The pin  42  extends through the middle of the bollards  12 ,  14 , and  16  at the bottom thereof. Each bollard is individually connected to the fulcrum  32  by the use of a loop in the belt  30 , attached to the 1½″ pin  42 , then through a pulley configuration ( 38 ,  38 A) to the ratchet  34  used for final adjustment for the tension of the belt  30 . This arrangement is illustrated in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , and amplified further hereinafter. 
         [0031]    The collar  40  acts as a stop for the bollard post on impact with a vehicle and for security of maintaining the bollard in position at all times. The bollard rests on the collar  40 , which acts as a leveling stop for the final up position of the bollards  12 ,  14 ,  16 . Upon impact of the barrier system, if a bollard is damaged, it can simply be unbolted, whereupon maintenance personnel can remove the bollard pin  42  and then remove the bollard itself for replacement. The lifting belt can then be reconnected to the 1½″ pin  42 , thereby allowing the product to be quickly put back into operation after a crash. The collar  40  along with the bolts  51  and the 1½″ pin  42  on each side of the bollard prevents the bollard post from being removed by vandals as well as prevents the bollard from being pulled apart from the barrier system upon impact by an errant vehicle. 
         [0032]    The bollard assembly  11  of the present invention employs connection joints encased in an engineered thermoplastic product similar to Delrin, which is available from DuPont Corporation. Use of this product for the connection joints eliminates the need for lubrication of the moving parts, which would normally wear and require lubrication. This addition helps improve the “GREEN” concept thereby eliminating yet another possibility for an environmental issue. 
         [0033]    In accordance with one embodiment, a belt drive was used to allow for a “no” maintenance, flexible, quiet and long lasting system. Cables, chains and other products were considered but the belts  30  turned out to be the most practical for this application. In accordance with one embodiment, the belts  30  are made of Dyneema, which is an ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene. The belts  30  are ⅛″ thick and 1″ wide and have a tensile strength of approximately 7,000 pounds. The lifting requirement is calculated to be 350 pounds thereby allowing for a huge safety margin. The 4 inch pulleys  38 ,  38 A for the belt application are a manufactured product that is made for up to 1¼″ wide belt with a brass bushing, and steel with powder coat paint. 
         [0034]    As stated hereinabove, the present invention is built in two components, the bollard assembly  11 , and a vault  44  buried in the roadway  17 . With reference to  FIG. 3 , a cut-away view illustrates the end of the bollard assembly  11  inside the vault  44 , with bollard  16  in a partially raised position. The bollard assembly  11  is made to lock into the vault  44  by means of pins  45  secured into 6″×12″×1″ double steel extension clamps  46  anchored in the concrete and attached to the walls of the vault  44 . The clamps  46  are also welded to a No. 5 re-bar cage  47  that extends nine inches from the sidewalls and six inches from the bottom of the vault  44 . In accordance with one embodiment, the vault  44  is sized to be 10′×3′×54″ and is constructed of ¼″ plate steel on the sides with a 1½″ plate steel on the bottom. The vault  44  is reinforced with 3″×3″×¼″ angle iron  61 , which acts as an added keyway to lock the vault  44  into the concrete. The re-bar cage  47  is separated on 12″ centers and encases the vault on both sides and extends 6″ on each end and extending to within 6″ from the compacted soil on the bottom. The re-bar cage  47  will serve to tie the 18″×54″ concrete foundation on both sides and the 12″×54″ concrete foundation to the extension arms that are pinned to the bollard assembly  11 , thereby anchoring the entire vault  44  and bollard assembly  11  together to absorb and hold the impact of a crash of 1,250,000 pounds of Kinetic energy resulting from the 50 mph crash. 
         [0035]    Again with reference to  FIG. 3 , the shoulder  41  is made of 1″×12″×36″ steel that runs astride the entire bollard assembly  11  and to the walls on either side of the vault  44 . The shoulder  41  includes 1½″ openings in each end for receipt of the pin  45  that secures the bollard assembly  11  into the vault at the clamps  46 . With reference now to  FIG. 4 , a top view of an end of the bollard assembly  11  secured within the vault  44  is shown. Cross-brace members  48  are welded between the shoulders  41  in order to completely surround each of the bollards, and in particular bollard  16  in  FIG. 4 . Corner braces  50  are welded in each of four corners formed by the intersection of the shoulders  41  and the cross-brace members  48 . This adds rigidity to the surrounds for the bollards  12 ,  14  and  16 . 
         [0036]    Referring now to  FIG. 5 , an isometric view of a detail of the belt  30  clasped to the pin  42  via a loop  49 , which pin is secured to the bottom of the bollard  12 . The collar  40  is shown attached to either side of the bollard  12 , at the bottom thereof, by means of bolts  51  and nuts  52 . As stated hereinabove, the collars act both as a stop for the bollard&#39;s upward travel, but also prevents removal of the bollard by vandals or the like. It may also be appreciated that removal of the collars  40  can be accomplished by removal of the nuts  52  and the bolts  51 . The pin  42  may be slipped through the loop  49  in the belt  30  and through the vias on either side of the bottom of the bollard  12 . 
         [0037]    Referring now to  FIG. 6  an isometric view of a detail of the top of a bollard post  26 A,  26 B showing the pulley  38   a  for the belt  30 . The Delrin strips  28  are shown spread about the sides of the bollard post  26 A,  26 B, which form a smooth surface for the bollard post  12  to slide up and down upon. It is pointed out that the bollard  12  (shown in  FIG. 5 ) slides over the bollard post  26 . A pair of steel plates  56  and  57  is welded between the tops of the bollard posts  26 A and  26 B for support thereof and for supporting the pulley  38 A by means of a pin  60 . 
         [0038]    The present invention employs a two-part system with the vault  44  and the bollard assembly  11  as an insert, which will dramatically ease the production and maintenance of the system once installed. The system  10  incorporates a mechanism to operate multiple bollard posts simultaneously with one motor, thereby dramatically lowering the cost of the system and maintenance thereof once installed. The design of the system  10  allows one to remove the bollard assembly  11  from the vault  44 , which is secured in a permanent foundation, and still have the ability to reattach the bollard assembly  11  or a replacement assembly. All of this includes the ability to stop a 15,000 pound truck traveling at 50 mph, creating 1,250,000 pounds of kinetic energy. Upon impact, a maintenance crew will have the ability to simply remove and replace only the damaged bollard if required, while leaving the vault and bollard assembly  11  in a condition that would allow for continued use after minor repairs are made, if necessary. 
         [0039]    While various embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described herein, it will be obvious that such embodiments are provided by way of example only. Numerous variations, changes and substitutions may be made without departing from the invention herein. Accordingly, it is intended that the invention be limited only by the spirit and scope of the appended claims. 
       CATALOG OF PARTS 
       [0000]    
       
         AC Source of alternating current 
         BB Backup Battery 
           10  System of the present invention 
           11  Bollard Assembly 
           12 ,  14 ,  16  Bollards 
           12 A,  14 A,  16 A Reflectors of the bollards 
           17  Roadway 
           18  through  25  Top cover plates for the system  10   
           26  Bollard post for guiding movement of the bollards 
           26 A,  26 B Channel steel forming the bollard posts 
           27  Pivot arm for springs  36   
           28  Delrin strips for bollard posts  26   
           29  Electromechanical actuator 
           30  Belt 
           31  Pivot arm for actuator  29   
           32  Fulcrum to lift belts  30   
           33  Common shaft for fulcrum  32  and pivot  31   
           34  Ratchets for tightening belts  30   
           35  Frame for system  10   
           36  Group of springs to assist operation of actuator  29   
           37  Clevises for either end of the actuator  29   
           38 ,  38 A Pulleys for belt  30   
           39  Clevises for either end of the spring system  36   
           40  Collar to limit upward movement of the bollards 
           41  Shoulder attached astride the system  10  on either side of the bollards 
           42  Pin for attaching belt to bollards 
           44  Vault buried in the roadway  17  for receiving the system  10   
           45  Pins to lock system  10  in the vault  44   
           46  Steel clamps embedded in concrete for securing system  10  in vault  44   
           47  Re-bar cage surrounding the vault  44  and for embedding in concrete 
           48  Cross-brace members 
           49  Loop in belt  30  for receiving the pin  42   
           50  Corner braces 
           51  Bolts for securing collar  40  to bottom of bollards 
           52  Nuts for the bolts  51   
           56  Steel plate supporting one side of the pulley  38 A 
           57  Steel plate supporting other side of the pulley  38 A 
           60  Pin for pulley  38 A at the top of the bollards 
           61  Angle iron reinforcement of exterior of the vault  44