Manually depressible automatically deployable spring balanced bollard

A bollard type trafficway barrier for arresting vehicles, comprised of a cast in place foundation and a bollard replaceable therein with a spring for lifting the bollard that is directionally oriented with respect to traffic so as to withstand great impacts, and with access for replacement of the bollard, with retraction by manual depression and extension by instantaneous release of potential energy stored in said spring, the bollard being locked in both the retracted and extended conditions, and installation being flush with the grade when retracted and the bollard being released manually or power controlled from a remote location by a vehicle sensor.

Reference is made to copending application Ser. No. 679,079 filed Dec. 6, 
1984, entitled BOLLARD TRAFFICWAY BARRIER AND VEHICLE ARREST SYSTEM, 
issued Mar. 18, 1986 as U.S. Pat. No. 4,576,508. 
BACKGROUND 
This invention relates to anti terrorist barricades capable of stopping the 
movement of vehicles unauthorized to enter a trafficway. A vehicle moving 
toward such a barricade has a certain kinetic energy which is a measure of 
the hitting power it possesses. This kinetic energy is calculated from the 
vehicle weight and velocity, and on impact with such a barrier the kinetic 
energy is then converted into heat, sound and deformation of the vehicle, 
and in some cases deformation of the barrier, in this case the "bollard". 
In actual practice, the total energy dissipation depends upon varying 
factors prevailing at the moment of impact, all of which need not be 
detailed here. However for example, a vehicle moving at 50 mph has twenty 
times as much kinetic energy as it would moving at 10 mph; or for example 
an armored car weighing thirty times as much as a small passenger car and 
moving at 10 mph would have less kinetic energy than said passenger car 
moving at 60 mph. It is within this approximate range of kinetic energy 
with which this invention is primarily concerned, it being a general 
object of this invention to provide a retractile bollard that is 
configured to provide maximum protection against vehicle assault within a 
minimum package or installation area. Multiple bollards are to be used to 
barracade a trafficway. 
In accordance with this invention, the bollard is a structural steel 
fabrication that is instantaneously lifted into working position by a 
directly coupled spring means, so that it can be extended as a barrier to 
traffic. The bollard and spring means is depressed during the interim time 
awaiting release for extension. The geometry of the bollard is disposed 
and rotatably oriented so that the energy of impact is efficiently 
transmitted into a rugged foundation that absorbs said energy, within its 
elastic limit that exceeds the rupture point of the bollard under the same 
impact conditions. Accordingly, under major impact conditions the bollard 
per se may be damaged or destroyed and it is therefore considered to be 
expendable and adapted to be readily replaced. It is an object of this 
invention, therefore, to provide a barrier of unit construction wherein 
the bollard is individually replaceable. 
The retractile bollard of the present invention is characterized by the 
aforesaid foundation and by a direct installation of the bollard in said 
foundation. A feature is the flush trafficway condition of this barrier 
unit, when the bollard is retracted, and to this end access means as 
disclosed herein provides for disassembly and repair, service and 
replacement of the bollard per se. It is an object of this invention to 
provide for this accessability and replaceability. 
The bollard is operated by a yieldable lift means, preferably by potential 
energy stored in a spring system as herein described. However, the term 
"lift means" or "spring" is to include such means as metal springs, 
elastic springs, pneumatic springs and hydraulic springs, and any other 
such resilient means or the like. In practice, operation is from a 
resilient metal coil spring, preferably a compression spring, as will be 
described. A feature of this barrier system is its capability of released 
by either manual or automatic remote operation, as circumstances require. 
The typical collision point above grade is presumed to be approximately 17 
inches, the average height of a vehicle bumper. Accordingly, the bollard 
is extended well above the point of collision, for example to a height of 
about two or three feet, all of which may vary as required. The actuation 
of the bollard between the vertically extended and the retracted position 
is manual through the application of a person's body weight for the 
storage of potential energy in the spring, it being an object to eliminate 
the necessity of power means heretofore required to raise such bollards. 
With the preferred form of bollard motivation, for extension, a manually 
depressible compression spring is employed, wherein potential energy is 
stored and available for subsequent instantaneous action. As disclosed 
herein, there is a latch that is manually controlled or automatically 
controlled as may be required. Lifting of the bollard is by the relase of 
potential energy stored in a spring and released as kinetic energy for 
instantaneous raising of the bollard. 
A feature of this barrier unit installation is that it is self bailing and 
rids itself of the accumulation of surface waters. By cycling the bollard 
downwardly, most of the surface water entering into the foundation cavity 
can be pumped out. 
Upon severe impact of a vehicle against a bollard type barrier, there is a 
tendancy for parts of the vehicle to move vertically as a result of forces 
imposed by the inertia of other collapsing vehicle parts. Upward vertical 
movement is to be avoided, it being an object of this invention to capture 
the vehicle against upward movement upon impact with the bollard. In 
practice, a lip is provided at the top of the bollard, and the lip being 
flush with the grade level when the bollard is retracted, and the lip 
being exposed to impacted vehicle parts when the bollard is extended. 
Captured tamper-proof assembly of the bollard within the foundation 
therefor is essential, it being an object of this invention to provide 
retractile bolts in the foundation for working engagement with stops on 
the bollard, while limiting extension of the bollard with the guides means 
thereof engaged in the foundation. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The bollard type barricade disclosed herein is a spring balanced and 
elevated barrier that is retractable below grade within a cast in place 
foundation, preferably a steel cylinder that provides a pit. The bollard 
per se drops into the foundation cylinder with first guide means to 
rotatably orient the bollard for impact strength. And the bollard per se 
is then received by the foundation cylinder and centered therein over the 
lifting spring by a second guide means that ensures coaxial alignment of 
the bollard and foundation cylinder. A feature is a third guide means that 
ensures alignment of the lift spring for its reliable operation upon 
release. It is the manually applied spring compression and the storage of 
potential energy that is subsequently released as kinetic energy to raise 
the bollard instantaneously. Alternately, the bollard can balance upon the 
spring. However, advantage can be gained in the preferred use by utilizing 
the inertia of the upwardly accelerated bollard, which carries it to an 
elevated position where it is latched. 
The foregoing and various other objects and features of this invention will 
be apparent and fully understood from the following detailed description 
of the typical preferred form and application thereof, throughout which 
description reference is made to the accompanying drawings.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows the retracted condition of a 
multiplicity of bollards B placed in a trafficway for the obstruction of 
traffic movement in either direction. Note that all features of the 
installation of this barrier unit are at or below grade level. In FIG. 2 
is shown the elevated or raised or extended condition of the bollards B, 
each extending to a height well above the grade level or trafficway 
surface. In practice, depression of the bollards B is individually applied 
thereto, while elevation thereof is simultaneous and occurs during a time 
span of a fraction of a second, as may be required and according to the 
spring source made available. 
As shown in FIGS. 8, 9 and 10 of the drawings, each barrier unit as shown 
in FIGS. 1 and 2 is comprised generally of a foundation F, the bollard B, 
and a latch means L to secure the bollard in either a retracted position 
or an extended position. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a spring lift means A 
operates the bollard. The foundation F is permanently installed below 
grade level, as by casting it in place in concrete as clearly shown in 
FIGS. 3 and 4. The foundation F is of tube form, and preferably of 
cylinder cross section disposed on a central vertical axis along which the 
bollard B is extended and retracted. The foundation F has a peripheral 
wall 10 open at the grade level with mounting flanges 11 flush with the 
grade, and closed at its lower end by a bottom 12 through which there is a 
drain 13. 
A first guide means G1 extends vertically at the interior of the wall 10 to 
guide and rotatably orient the bollard B, a second guide means G2 extends 
vertically at the exterior of the bollard B to guide it coaxially within 
the foundation F, and a third guide means G3 extends centrally within the 
spring S of the lift means A to prevent the spring from collapsing. 
The guide means G1 is comprised of a vertically disposed channel 14 
coextensive within the height of the foundation wall 10 and a follower 15 
operable along the channel. As shown, the channel 14 is fixed to the inner 
diameter wall of the foundation tube, and the follower 15 projects from 
the outer diameter wall of the bollard B. A control box 16 is provided at 
the outer side of the foundation tube wall for accomodating control means 
C later described. 
The bollard B is a reinforced tube structure, and preferably of cylinder 
cross section coaxially disposed within the confines of the foundation F 
when retracted as shown in FIG. 3. When the bollard is extended it 
projects along the vertical axis as shown in FIG. 4. As best illustrated 
in FIG. 7 there is an annulus between the concentric foundation F and the 
bollard B, to accomodate the guide means G1 and G2. A deck plate 27 with a 
clearance opening 28 therethrough passes the bollard and closes the 
annulus. The deck plate is welded to and integral with the foundation 
tube, as shown. 
Guide means G2 is comprised of circumferentially spaced runners 29 that 
project from and extend along the lower portion of the bollard exterior 
wall 30. The guide runners 29 are parallel with the axis of the unit, and 
they have sliding clearance and/or engagement within the inner diameter of 
the foundation wall 10. As shown, there are four runners 29 in two pairs 
and each pair thereof being aligned with the structural webs (31) of the 
reinforced bollard, next to be described. It is significant that the 
runners 29 transfer the load of the webs directly into the foundation F 
and into the cast concrete into which the bollard unit is set. This runner 
engagement within the confines of the cylinder wall 10 of the foundation F 
maintains the coaxial vertical disposition of the bollard B within the 
foundation tube through vertical movement and when subjected to vehicle 
impact forces. 
In accordance with this invention, the bollard B is a structurally 
reinforced member adapted to resist impact in the direction of trafficway 
movement of vehicles to be stopped. Accordingly, the interior of the 
bollard B is provided with reinforcement means disposed to efficiently 
strengthen the bollard in alignment with the direction of trafficway 
movement. For example, a square tube with its corners coextensively 
engaged with and/or welded to the inner wall of the bollard greatly 
resists collapse thereof, or disc-shaped transverse bulkheads at frequent 
intervals therein resist collapse. As shown, at least one end preferably a 
pair of planar webs 31 are disposed vertically and coextensively of the 
bollard cylinder between opposite front and back interior wall surfaces 
thereof and in planes parallel to the direction of trafficway vehicle 
movement. As shown in FIGS. 6, and 7, the webs are substantial and 
coextensively integral with the bollard wall 30 to form a box section 
characterized by the planar walls 31 that provide great strength in the 
direction of vehicle impact. A feature is the alignment of a pair of 
runners 29 with each of said webs 31, the runners 29 being in the form of 
rails on the periphery of the bollard B and extending upwardly from the 
bottom of the bollard approximately two fifths or 40% of the total height 
thereof, as shown. Essentially, the runners 29 are disposed in the planes 
of the webs 31, or substantially so. 
Guide means G3 is comprised of telescoping members disposed coaxially 
within the bollard B, a tube member 35 projecting upwardly from the bottom 
12 of the foundation F and a tube member 36 depending from the top of the 
bollard B. The tube members 35 and 36 pass through and between the 
reinforcing webs 31 and coaxially within the bollard B and its surrounding 
cylindrical foundation F. The tube member 36 is affixed to the bollard B 
by means of a header 37 extending diametrically within the bollard wall 30 
and beneath the top 38 of the bollard. In practice, the header 37 is of 
tube form that provides a spring seat surrounding the tube member 36. The 
members 35 and 36 remain telescopically engaged at all times, including 
the fully extended and raised condition of the bollard, as shown in FIG. 
4. 
The spring lift means A is provided to balance the bollard B in a partially 
raised condition (not shown) where its weight is in equilibrium with the 
spring forces that support it. In the preferred form of this invention, 
the spring means A is a simple coil spring S used in compression between 
the spring seat of the header 37 and a spring seat 39 at the bottom 12 of 
the foundation F. The seat 39 is of tube form slideably engaged over the 
tube member 35 to adjustably (by dimension) support the spring S. Since 
the bollard B is inherently balanced in a partially raised condition, a 
recessed handle 40 is provided in the top 38 of the bollard, so that it 
can be lifted manually to a fully raised position. An operational feature 
is that the bollard B can be depressed against the spring S, and then 
pulled upwardly to advantageously utilize the assist and accellerating 
force of the spring applied as kinetic energy to the bollard. As a result, 
the bollard is assisted by the spring to be raised above the normal 
balanced condition. In practice, the bollard B is raised from the latched 
position shown in FIG. 3 to the latched position shown in FIG. 4, entirely 
by the potential energy stored in spring S, which is converted to kinetic 
energy in the bollard. 
In accordance with this invention, the latch means L is provided to lock 
the bollard B in both the retracted and the extended position as shown in 
FIGS. 3 and 4. When manually lifting the bollard B from the aforementioned 
balanced condition thereof, the extended position of FIG. 4 is to be 
locked. When potential energy of spring S is utilized to lift the bollard 
B from the retracted condition of FIG. 3 to the extended condition of FIG. 
4 the said FIG. 3 condition is firstly unlocked and then the FIG. 4 
condition is locked. As shown, the control box 16 houses a releasable bolt 
45 engageable with stops on the wall 30 of the bollard B. In practice, the 
stops are openings in the bollard wall to receive the bolt, there being an 
upper opening 46 to secure the retracted condition of FIG. 3, and there 
being a lower opening 47 to secure the extended condition of FIG. 4. The 
bolt 45 is biased by a spring 48 to automatically enter either opening 46 
or 47, after its release to clear or to slide upon the surface of the 
bollard B. 
The bolt 45 is either manually operable as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, directly 
or remotely, or it is power operated as shown in FIG. 11. The control box 
16 is recessed below grade level and has a removeable cover for manual 
access to a lever 49 by which the bolt 45 can be retracted from either 
opening 46 or 47. Replacement of the cover ensures a locked position of 
the lever and bolt 45, the lever and bolt being connected by a link. 
Referring now to the fully automated trafficway barrier as it is shown in 
FIGS. 1, 2 and 11 of the drawings, the manual lever is replaced by a power 
means such as a solenoid 50 responsive to a power supply 51 through 
control means 52. As shown, there is a sensor loop 53 in the trafficway 
remote from the bollard installation. The loop 53 is sensitive to the mass 
of a vehicle or the like passing thereover, and is in circuit with the 
control means 52 in the form of a responsive circuit means such as those 
known in this art, to activate the solenoid momentarily for release of the 
bolt 45 from stop opening 46, whereupon the bollard B is lifted as 
hereinabove described and automatically latched and/or locked by the bolt 
45 re-entering the stop opening 47. The control means 52 includes reset 
means 54 for subsequent response to the mass sensitive loop 53. 
From the foregoing it will be understood that I have provided a manually 
depressible spring loaded trafficway barrier, wherein potential energy is 
made instantaneously available for release into kinetic energy that 
carries the bollard into a raised position where is it automatically 
locked. Operation can be entirely manual, release can be remote, and 
release can be electronically controlled by means of a loop sensor system 
as is disclosed. The bollard structure is reinforced so that it is rugged, 
and in the event of damage the bollard B can be removed and replaced, as 
next described. 
In accordance with this invention, vehicle retainment means is provided in 
the bollard B configuration, there being a lip 55 at the perimeter of the 
top 38 thereof. The lip 55 is in the form of a flange that overlies the 
wall 30 of the bollard, the flange projecting sufficiently to imbed itself 
into deforming vehicle parts upon severe impact. Consequently, the 
imbedded vehicle parts anchor themselves to the bollard configuration 
characterized by the lip 55. When the bollard B is retracted, the lip 55 
lies contiguous to the mounting flange 11. 
Assembly and disassembly of the bollard B with respect to the foundation F 
is provided for. The cylindrical foundation F and spring S are practically 
indestructable, although it is conceivable that damage can result thereto 
from a strenuous impact. Also, the bollard B is substantially 
indestructable, but on occasion might become damaged by deformation 
impairing its smooth operation. Accordingly, the top plate or flange 11 is 
removeable by the release of fasteners at 57, to expose the annulus within 
the cylindrical foundation F and to expose at least one and preferably a 
pair of retractile retainer means 58. The retainer means 58 are shown as a 
sleeve threaded into a fixed screw 59, and entering through the foundation 
wall 10 to engage (releasably) a stop shoulder on the bollard B. The 
sleeve has a polygonal head accessible in a protective box for operation 
with a suitable tool. 
Having described only a typical preferred form and application of my 
invention, I do not wish to be limited or restricted to the specific 
details herein set forth, but wish to reserve to myself any modifications 
or variations that may appear to those skilled in the art as set forth 
within the limits of the following claims.