ROADSIDE MARKER POLE WITH WIND DEFLECTOR

Abstract: Roadside marker pole with reflector (19) and with a wind deflector (14) of plastic, metal or the like for deflecting from the roadside marker pole the air movement or wind with dirty water or water mist, arising behind passing vehicles when driving in rain and on a wet roadway, such that the reflector will not be coated with dirt reducing the function thereof. The wind deflector is arranged on a fastening member (15) projecting from the pole and spacing the deflector therefrom, to extend along the surface of the pole over a portion of the circumference of the pole, spaced from said surface.

Description: ROADSIDE MARKER POLE WITH WIND DEFLECTOR The invention relates to such roadside marker poles with reflector, which for road safety reasons are located at the right hand roadside along major motor roads mutually spaced. The reflectors of such poles under certain seasonal and weather conditions are made very dirty by the water or water mist which is thrown up from passing vehicles when driving in rain or on a wet roadway. The reflectors are made so very dirty that the road maintenance authorities have to clean off the reflectors regularly for a satisfactory function the eof. In order to avoid this it is known to provide the roadside marker poles wi . th a wind deflector of plastic, metal or the like for deflecting from the roadside marker pole the air movement or wind con¬ taining dirty water or water mist, which arises behind passing vehicles when driving in rain or on a wet roadway, such that the reflector will not be coated by dirt reducing the function thereof. Illustrative embodiments of roadside marker poles with wind deflector are described in DE-A-2 137 701 , DE-A-2 314 560 and DE-A-2 321 572. The purpose of the invention is to provide a roadside marker pole with reflector and wind deflector of the kind referred to, which is simpler and cheaper than the embodiments previously known and which moreover much more effectively prevents the reflector from being made dirty than can be achieved with the known embodiments, without the visability of the reflector being reduced. For said purpose the roadside marker pole according to the invention has obtained the charac- teristics appearing from claim 1. In order to explain the invention in more detail reference is made to the accompanying drawings where¬ in FIG 1 di agr ammatically shows a roadway with roadside marker poles along the roadside, FIG 2 is a side view of the upper end portion of one embodiment of a roadside marker pole accord¬ ing to the invention as seen perpendicularly from the roadway, FIG 3 shows the -roadside marker pole in FIG 2 in cross section along line III - III, FIG 4 is a side view of the upper end portion of a second embodiment of the roadside marker pole according to the invention as seen from the front side thereof in the field of view of the vehicle driver in the driving direction, FIG 5 is a cross sectional view of the roadside marker pole in FIG 4 along line V - V, FIG 6 is a view similar to FIG 4 of a third embodiment of the roadside marker pole according to the invention, FIG 7 is a side view of the roadside marker pole in FIG 6 as seen perpendicularly from the road- way, FIG 8 is a side view of the roadside marker pole in FIGS 6 and 7 from the side thereof which is diametrically opposite to that shown in FIG 6, FIG 9 is a top end view of the roadside marker pole in FIGS 6 to 8, and FIG 10 is a cross sectional view along line X - X in FIG 8. FIG 1 shows the right hand roadside with a number of set out poles 1 to 3 provided with reflec- tor to improve the road safety primarily at dark- driving. On the pole 3 there is mounted a wind deflector, also termed spoiler, 4 with mounting means which provide a suitable spacing to the pole, and made of a suitable material e.g. plastic, metal sheet or the like. When vehicles pass the poles the air movement arising behind the vehicles, together with wind will be pressed outwards towards the roadside and towards the poles. When the roadway is wet and it is raining the water mist which is frequently very dirty will cover the reflectors of the poles 1 and 2 with a smeary coating which heavily reduces the function of the reflectors. When a wind deflector 4 is mounted to the pole 3 without screening off the reflectors the water mist will pass, due to the air movement caused by the wind deflector, at the side of the pole proper and the reflectors thereof. FIGS 2 and 3 show an embodiment of the roadside marker pole according to the invention. Said embodi¬ ment comprises a tube 5 the top end of which is closed by means of a cover 6 mounted to the tube. Reflectors 7 and 8 are provided at diametrically opposite sides of the pole, the wind deflector 4 being arranged to prevent the reflector 8 facing approaching vehicles on the roadway adjacent the pole, from being made dirty. The wind deflector 4 is mounted to the pole by means of a fastening member 9 projecting substantially radially from the pole and spacing the wind deflector therefrom, said deflector being angled to extend along the surface of the pole. The margin which faces approaching vehicles is angled outwards at 10. In the embodiment in FIGS 4 and 5 the reflector 10 only is provided on the roadside marker pole but in other respects this embodiment is as that in FIGS 2 an d 3 . OΛtPI The fastening member 9 of the wind deflector has to be shaped and adapted to different types of poles, materials and forms. The wind deflector can form a flange at the top margin which forms a roof together with the pole. The wind deflector described above is disclosed in an unsymmetric shape as a "vane" but it can be shaped as a "double vane". Moreover, the wind deflector is shown to be of rectangular shape, made of a sheet material forming two vertical bends. The shape and size of the wind deflector as well as said bends can be modified. Alternatively, the material can comprise a perforated surface e.g. of expanded metal . In the embodiment according to FIGS 6 to 10 the tube 11 forms a widened lower portion 12 to be applied as the top of a roadside marker pole of an arbitrary kind. At the top the tube is closed by means of a cover 13. The wind deflector 14 is made integral with the fastening member 15 projecting substantially radially from the tube and spacing the wind deflector therefrom. The wind deflector extends at a portion 16 partly around the curved surface of the tube, curved in conformity wi^th said surface, and terminates at a portion 17 bent outwards. The wind deflector and the fastening member are made integral with the tube 11. They can consist of a portion of the tube wall, which has been cut out to provide an opening 18 and has been shaped as shown, but said portion can, of course, be provided in another manner and can also be attached to the tube afterwards. The opening 18 extends substantially over half the c rcumference of the tube, and inside the tube opposite to the opening two reflectors 19 are mounted to the inner surface of the remaining curved wall. These reflectors accordingly can be seen through the O PI opening 18 and are well protected inside the tube 11 At the same time said reflectors are prevented from being made dirty by means of the wind deflector 14. In the fastening member 15 perforations 20 are provided to avoid turbulence inwardly of the wind deflector 14. The top portion of a roadside marker pole shown in FIGS 6 to 10 preferably is made of an integral piece of plastic tube having a smooth water- repelling surface. OMPI

Claims: CLAIMS 1. Roadside marker pole with reflector (7, 8, 19) and a wind deflector (4, 14) of plastic, metal or the like for deflecting from the roadside marker pole the air movement or wind with dirty water or water mist, which arises behind passing vehicles when driving in rain and on a wet roadway, such that the reflector will not be coated by dirt reducing the function thereof, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the wind deflector (4, 14) is arranged on a fastening member (9, 15) projecting from the roadside marker pole and spacing the deflector therefrom, to extend along the surface of the pole over a portion of the circumference of the pole, spaced from said surface. 2. Roadside marker pole according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e i z e d in that the wind deflector (4, 14) is substantially rectangular and has one or more angles or bends in order to have a suitable aerodynamic shape. 3. Roadside marker pole according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e z e d in that the wind deflector (4, 14) forms a smooth or perforated surface. 4. Roadside marker pole according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e i z e d in that the wind deflector (14) and the spacing fastening member (15) are made integral with a tube (11) forming the roadside marker pol e. 5. Roadside marker pole according to claim 4, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the curved wall of the tube (11) forming the roadside marker pole is cut off to uncover an opening (18) over substantially half the circumference of the tube. 6. Roadside marker pole according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the reflector (19) is arranged inside the tube (11) forming the roadside marker pole, opposite to the opening (18) on the inner surface of the remaining portion of the curved wall of the tube. 7. Roadside marker pole according to claim 4, c h a r a c t e r z e d in that the wind deflector (14) joins the spacing fastening member (15) at a margin extending axially. 8. Roadside marker pole according to claim 4, c h a r a c t e i z e d in that the wind deflector (14) is curved in conformity with the tube (11). 9. Roadside marker pole according to claim 7, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the wind deflector (14) is curved or angled outwards at the opposite axial margin. 10. Roadside marker pole according to claim 4, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the spacing fastening member (15) forms perforations (20). -BUREΛT

Inventors: SKOENVALL TAGE, SKOENVALL, TAGE
Applicants: DAVINYL FAB, DAVINYL FABRIKS AB
Application year: 1983
Main classification: E01F9
IPC codes: E01F9