POST MOUNTING

Abstract: This invention relates to a device for mounting posts or poles in a foundation. As shown in Figure 1c one design consists of supports (2) attached both to the casing (3) and to the flange of the post (1). Figure 1a shows the extra bend or bends (4) with which the supports are provided, one or more of which are stretched when the casing of the post is demolished by a vehicle. The invention is of particular advantage when applied to yielding posts or poles of thin sheet metal which are normally cut off when hit by a vehicle, the supports stretching and restraining both the post and the vehicle.

Description: Post Mounting Posts for lighting and road signs at the side of the roads are exposed to the risk of being hit by vehicles. This relates to the road environ¬ ment and its influence on damage in run-off accidents, for example. Lately, impact absorbing posts have been introduced, posts that are sufficiently soft or which break away and thereby reduce the collision forces that cause damage to road-users and vehicles. It has, however, been observed that objects hit by a vehicle can da¬ mage following vehicles if the object is torn loose and flung about out of control. Furthermore, a driver who has just hit a post is most often so shocked that he can hardly steer the vehicle if it continues to move on. It would, therefore, be of great advantage if the object that was hit could relatively gently restrain the vehicle. The area of application could be expanded and eventually go so far as to the placing of such yielding and restraining posts along the central reservation of highways without a need for guard rails. The present invention is a mounting device especially suited for yiel¬ ding posts, for example lamp posts,' but also suited for other posts located in the road environment. The post mounting is in itself able to yield (either by means of short bent supports, ' or supports going through the post, or by means of an energy-absorbing attachment such as a friction attachment,) so that for¬ ces occurring when a vehicle hits the post become as small as possible. Should a collision occur, the post casing becomes particularly heavily deformed at its base. Special measures are required to ensure that the post is not snapped off. The alternative of using a stronger design for the post itself is unsatisfactory, as the yielding of the post to the vehicle becomes too low. By anchoring the casing in supports or similar devices that in turn can yield under balanced resistance, it is possible to restrain both the post and the vehicle at the base of the post. The following describes a flange mounting of the post. When hit, the casing of the post is bent ~ bγ the . vehicle to a flat shape along the ground, where the relatively thin shell of the casing splits and the post becomes partly or fully loosened at its base. The pre-shaped supports are fastened to the casing and readily follow the bending of the casing, but provide resistance when " they are stretched lengthwise. They can therefore be designed to retain the post at its base even after the casing has been torn off by the vehicle. The supports serve as an anchoring device between the foundation and the torn-off post, with the result that both the post and the vehicle hitting it are retained. A variation of the energy-absorbing support can be obtained by using a tie plate perforated in a certain pattern. The pattern is made allowing the plate to be torn crosswise in certain parts, not completely, but so that untorn sections of the material retain the post at its base. This effect can for example be obtained by making rows of holes across the tie plate and alternatively omitting the last hole or holes in each row so that no rupture of the material occurs at these points. The distanc between the edges of the holes is relatively small and the plate breaks there when strained. A zig-zag shaped rupture pattern occurs. By adjust ing the accumulation of material, it is possible in this manner to ob¬ tain supports that moderate forces. Slots can be punched in the materia instead of the rows of holes. The tie plate can furthermore be designed as a tube-shaped support along the whole of the inside of the post. Figures 1 - 5 show supports for the connection between a flange 1 and the base of a post 3. ' Figures 6 - 9 show supports for mounting a post set in a foundation. Figure 10 shows a support device with perforated tie plate. Figure 11 shows an expanded support (as in Figure 1θ). Figure 12 shows a friction attachment at the foundation. Figure 1 shows supports fabricated from steel straps which are then welded to the inside of the casing at their upper ends and to the under¬ side of the flange at their lower ends. The support is formed with a special bend 4, in accordance with the concept of the invention. Figure 1a shows an individual support. Figure -1 b shows a support mounted on the flange 1 and Figure 1c shows six supports mounted in a post. Figure 2 - 4 show variations of the shaping of supports in the form of iron rods, fastened at one end to the inside of the casing and at the other in special holes in the flange. Figure 5 shows a variation consisting of a relatively thin tube 5 which is pressed together in its axial direction as a bellows 6. It is then fastened to the inside of the casing and to the flange. Its energy-absor¬ bing capacity is based on stretching of the tube in its axial direction. Figure 6 shows the same type of support as in Figure 1. The post is, how¬ ever, not provided with a flange, but is intended for bedding in a founda¬ tion. The supports are therefore fastened to a section 3 above ground on the casing, and a section 7 below the ground, and are bent in one or more i curves' etween these sections. Figures 7 - 8 show designs corresponding to Figure- 6, but using rod supports. Figure 9 shows the same design as in Figure 5, but with a compressed, slotted tube fastened to a section above ground and to a section below ground. Figure 10 shows a support device with tie plate 10 and rows of holes 11 which have the last hole omitted alternately. This provides a greater amount of material 12 at those points. The rows of holes can be replaced by slots. Figure 11 shows a support which has been stretched as the result of an accident. The material 13 between the rows of holes has ruptured, except at point 12 where the material was more solid. The tie plate has been stretched and constitutes an energy-absorbing anchor between the founda¬ tion and the casing of the post. Figure 12 shows an example of a post support with a continuous casi extending to the bottom of the foundation. The casing 3 of the post is slightly tapered and when stretched, an interaction occurs betwe the flange 1 and a core 14 set in the foundation. The designs shown here are by no means the only ones satisfying the concept of the invention. Variations can be made, for example, the supports can be located on the outside of the casing, they can be fastened by screw connections so that an energy-absorbing effect is obtained by means of friction, or they can be provided with some so of springs dimensioned for the purpose.

Claims: PATENT CLAIMS 1. Mounting for hollow posts, poles and the like, placed at a roadside or similar location, characterized by yielding tensile strain supports (2), which are bent, shaped or friction bonded, and which are placed between a section of the casing (3) above ground and its flange attach¬ ment (1) or another section of the casing (7) below ground. 2. Mounting according to Claim 1 , characterized by an arrangement of friction and profile locking connections that deform the casing when it is drawn out of the foundation. 3. Mounting according to Claim 1. characterized by steel plates or rods welded to a section of the casing located above the ground and with one or more extra bends reaching down to the flange attachment, where the plates or rods are fastened by welding, or as an alternative, reaching down to a section below ground where they in like manner are welded to the casing. 4. Mounting according to the former Claims, characterized by the fastening of an inner support arrangement consisting of a thin-walled tube (5) or other profile, to a section of the inner casing of the post above ground, and, with one or more corrugations (6), peripheral channels, slots (11)- or the like, extending to the flange attachment (1 ) to which the tube is then fastened, or alternatively, extending to a section (7) below ground and there fastened to the casing of the post, or forming the casing of the post below ground.

Inventors: HASSELQVIST S, HELENELUND P, THORESON A
Applicants: HASSELQVIST S, HELENELUND P, SCANOVATOR HANDEL, THORESON A, SCANOVATOR HANDELSBOLAGET
Application year: 1978
Main classification: E04H12
IPC codes: E01F9, E04H12