Movable barrier element, barrier formed therewith and method for forming such barrier

Abstract: The invention relates to a movable barrier element (1), comprising a beam-shaped body provided on at least one outer end with connecting means (14,15) which are adapted to absorb kinetic energy, for instance when the body is rotated on at least one of its axes. For this purpose the connecting means comprise at least one deforming member manufactured from an elastic material (14,15), the stiffness of which is less than that of the beam-shaped body. The body further has a sloping end face (9,10) on its outer end and the deforming member is arranged on the sloping end face. The invention also relates to a movable barrier formed from a plurality of such barrier elements, which are mutually connected. Finally, the invention relates to a method for forming a movable barrier by placing a plurality of movable barrier elements one after another in lengthwise direction and mutually joining the elements by means of connecting means placed therebetween, wherein the connecting means are placed under bias.

Description: The invention relates to a movable barrier element, comprising a beam-shaped body provided on at least one outer end with connecting means, which are adapted to absorb kinetic energy and which comprise at least one deforming member, the stiffness of which is less than that of the beam-shaped body, Such a barrier element is known from the AT-B-387808 and is used particularly for erecting temporary barriers along roads, for instance at places where work is being carried out on the road. After being placed in position, conventional movable barrier elements are either fixedly or hinged connected to each other. In the case of a fixed connection a barrier is obtained with very great rigidity which thus provides good protection under all conditions for personnel and/or vehicles present behind the barrier, while a hinged connection results in a barrier which can easily be placed in a desired form. These conventional barrier elements have a number of drawbacks however. The rigidity of a barrier formed by barrier elements fixedly connected to each other is so great and the deformity thereof so small that in the case of a collision the colliding vehicle and the occupants are exposed to very great deceleration forces, which can result in very considerable material damage and personal injury. On the other hand, in the case of a barrier constructed from barrier elements hinged connected to each other, a collision will often result in unacceptably large movements of the elements, thus causing danger for personnel and/or vehicles separated from the other traffic by the barrier. The above mentioned prior art document AT-B-387808 therefore discloses a movable barrier made up of concrete segments, each of which is provided in its end faces with a vertically extending C-shaped space. The end faces of each segment are straight and extend prependicularly to the longitudinal axis of the segment. The segments are connected by means of a coupling piece that is provided at its ends with two T-shaped parts which may be slid into the C-shaped spaces. The coupling piece is deformable, so that the segments may also be arranged in a curve and furthermore the coupling piece may easily be removed after a collision. Although this moveable barrier already constitutes an improvement vis-a-vis the conventional barriers, it still lacks some important features which the barrier of the present invention provide. From EP-A-0310754 a moveable barrier is known which has end faces extend perpendicularly to the surface of the road, but are inclined relative to the longitudinal axis of the barrier element, the purpose of this inclination being a reduction of the risk to a colliding vehicle in case two adjacent barrier elements are not perfectly aligned. In one embodiment the barrier element of this prior art document comprises a space at its foot for receiving an armed concrete connecting member having a locally narrowed cross-section which acts as a designated failure area. Although the end faces of this prior art barrier element are inclined relative to the longuitudinal axis of the element, they are still prependicular to the surface on which the element rests. The invention therefore has for its object to provide an improved movable barrier element of the above described type. This is achieved according to the invention in that the body has on its outer end an at least partially sloping end face and the deforming member is arranged on the sloping part of the end face. Preferred embodiments of the barrier element of the invention form the subject-matter of the dependent claims. The invention also relates to a movable barrier formed by a plurality of mutually connected barrier elements of the above described type. Finally, the invention relates to a method for forming a movable barrier by placing a plurality of movable barrier elements one after another in lengthwise direction and mutually joining the elements by means of connecting means placed therebetween. Such a method is also known from AT-B-387 808. The method of the present invention is distinguished from this prior art method in that each barrier element has an at least partially sloping end face, that during placing each barrier element is placed adjoining the preceding element, the connecting means are subsequently arranged and finally the element is lowered, wherein the element performs a partly horizontal movement as a result of the slope of the end face whereby the connecting means are placed under bias. The effectiveness of the thus formed connection is hereby greatly improved. The invention is now elucidated on the basis of three examples, wherein reference is made to the annexed drawing wherein corresponding components are designated with corresponding reference numerals, and in which: fig. 1 shows a partly sectional perspective view of a number of joined together barrier elements according to a first embodiment of the invention, fig. 2 shows a detail view of the join between two mutually adjoining barrier elements, and fig. 3 shows a partly sectional perspective detail view of two mutually adjoining barrier elements according to a second embodiment of the invention prior to assembly thereof, and fig. 4 shows a partly broken away perspective detail view of two barrier elements according to a third embodiment during assembly. A barrier 20, which can be used for instance as temporary crash barrier along a road at a location where work is being carried out on the road, is constructed from a plurality of mutually connected, identical movable barrier elements 1 (fig. 1). It is important that the barrier 20 is sufficiently robust to adequately protect the personnel and/or vehicles present behind the barrier 20 in the case of collision) indicated here with arrow A), but is on the other hand sufficiently deformable to limit as far as possible the damage to the colliding vehicle and the occupants thereof. The deformation of barrier 20 is indicated here with dashed lines 1'. Each barrier element 1 is formed by a beam-shaped body having a relatively broad lower part 5 and a relatively narrow upper part 4. A very stable placing of barrier element 1 on a ground 6 is hereby effected. This is important, as a part of the kinetic energy of a vehicle in the case of a collision must be absorbed in the form of frictional energy between the bottom 5 of the element 1 and the ground 6. From structural considerations the barrier element 1 in the shown embodiment is slightly pagoda-shaped and provided in its side surface with two fold lines 11, 12. From considerations of stability the beam-shaped body of barrier element 1 can take a solid form (fig. 3) but may also be hollow in order to make the barrier element 1 easier to transport. After placing of barrier element 1 the hollow internal space 19 can herein be filled with for instance water or sand to increase the stability of the barrier 20. In the case of a crash the struck barrier element 1 will perform a combined translation and rotation movement. The element 1 will shift over the ground 6 and simultaneously want to tip over as a result of a moment generated by the force of the collision and the friction force. In order to prevent these movements as far as possible, each element 1 is provided on its outer ends with connecting means 13, 16 whereby it is connected with its adjoining elements 1. The connecting means 13, 16 are herein adapted to absorb the greatest possible amount of kinetic energy. For this purpose the connecting means 13, 16 are formed by coupling means 16 which hold together the elements 1 and thus ensure that the greatest possible number of elements 1 takes part in absorbing the kinetic energy through displacement thereof, and deforming means 13 which absorb the kinetic energy by deforming. The coupling means 16 comprise a hook 17 incorporated in one of the elements 1 which co-acts with an eye 18 incorporated in the other element 1 to form a tension connection, while the deforming means 13 are formed by two deforming members 14, 15 arranged on the end surfaces 2, 3 of elements 1. The deforming members 14, 15 can for instance be manufactured from an elastic material such as rubber, whereby they can take on their original shape again after a collision and are therefore re-usable, but it is also conceivable to make use of plastically deformable members, for instance metal or plastic "crush zones". These will of course have to be replaced after a crash. In order to further increase the effectiveness of the deformable connecting means, the end faces 2, 3 of the mutually adjoining elements 1 are each provided with a fold line 7, 8 whereby a sloping part 9 respectively 10 is formed on which the deforming members 14, 15 are arranged. A combined shifting and rotation movement of barrier element 1 hereby results in a comparatively large displacement in the main deforming direction of the deforming members 14, 15. It will otherwise be apparent to the skilled person that differently formed deforming members, or only one deforming member, could also be applied. In addition, by giving the end faces 2, 3 a partially sloping form, the connection between two mutually adjoining elements 1 is placed under bias, whereby possible clearance between the elements is removed and, in the case of a collision, kinetic energy can thus be passed directly from the one element to the other without there being a spurious movement to span the clearance wherein no energy is absorbed. Biasing of the connecting means is elucidated with reference to fig. 4. In the embodiment shown therein the coupling means 16 are formed by a coupling member 21 inserted in recesses 22 of the barrier elements 1. The coupling member 21 therein has a substantially I-shaped section formed by a web 26 and two flanges 27, while both recesses 22 are each practically T-shaped. Recesses 22 are not arranged directly in element 1 though, but form part of a coupling piece 23 which is arranged in a space 24 in element 1 and connected to the reinforcement steel 25 of element 1. During forming of the barrier 20 by placing elements 1 one after another, a subsequent element 1 is raised in each case, for instance by means of a crane or, in the example shown, a forklift device 29 engaging in drainage recesses 28 of element 1, and placed with its end surface 2 against the end surface 3 of the preceding element 1. The new element 1 for placing is then carried downward so far that the recesses 22 in both elements 1 partly overlap each other, whereafter the coupling member 21 is placed in both recesses 22. When the new element 1 for placing is then carried further downward, this new element 1 will be pressed aside as a consequence of the sloping progress of the end surface 10 and also partly due to the presence of the deforming members 14 and 15, whereby both recesses 22 are moved apart and the coupling member 21 is placed under a bias, in this case a tensile stress.

Claims: Movable barrier element (1), comprising a beam-shaped body provided on at least one outer end (2,3) with connecting means (13,16), which are adapted to absorb kinetic energy and which comprise at least one deforming member (14,15), the stiffness of which is less than that of the beam-shaped body, characterized in that the body has on its outer end (2,3) an at least partially sloping end face and the deforming member (14,15) is arranged on the sloping part (9,10) of the end face (2,3). Barrier element (1) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the connecting means (13,16) are adapted to absorb energy when the body is rotated on at least one of its axes. Barrier element (1) as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the deforming member (14,15) is manufactured from an elastic material. Barrier element (1) as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the connecting means (13,16) are adapted to be placed under bias. Barrier element (1) as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the beam-shaped body is manufactured from concrete. Movable barrier (20) comprising a plurality of mutually connected barrier elements (1) as claimed in any of the foregoing claims. Method for forming a movable barrier (20) by placing a plurality of movable barrier elements (1) one after another in lengthwise direction and mutually joining the elements by means of connecting means (13,16) placed therebetween, characterized in that each barrier element (1) has an at least partially sloping end face, in that during placing each barrier element (1) is placed adjoining the preceding element (1), the connecting means (13,16) being subsequently arranged and finally the element (1) being lowered, wherein the element (1) performs a partly horizontal movement as a result of the slope of the end face whereby the connecting means (13,16) are placed under bias.

Inventors: DE BOER SIEBE JAN, DE BOER, SIEBE JAN
Applicants: BALLAST NEDAM BETON WATER, BURGGRAAF GELEIDERAIL BV, HAITSMA BETON BV, STRIEN VERKEERSGELEIDING B V V, BALLAST NEDAM BETON EN WATERBOUW B.V., BURGGRAAF GELEIDERAIL B.V., HAITSMA BETON B.V., VAN STRIEN VERKEERSGELEIDING B.V.
Application year: 1995
Main classification: E01F15
IPC codes: E01F15