EP1455021A1 - Metal separator element for traffic lanes - Google Patents

Abstract

The separator has support with metallic runners (3) fixed on its two sides. Two terminal casings (2) are constituted by two parallel metallic flanges (6). The flanges are connected one to another by longitudinal rods (7, 8, 9) having holes for fixing runner. One end of the separator is provided with a linking clip sliding with another identical separator.

Description

The present invention relates to a metal separating element for traffic lanes, usable in particular as part of a temporary separation barrier, for the secure demarcation of a road or motorway construction site, i.e. physical separation, during the duration of a site, between one or more lanes reserved for vehicle traffic, and one or more other lanes or a strip of land, on which are carried out works such as repair or widening of the road.

These separating elements are most often produced under the form of concrete blocks, supplemented by some metallic parts mainly intended for joining the separating elements together - see for example French patent application No. 2,810,055 in the name of Applicant, or the corresponding European patent application No. 1,162,315.

However, a modular separator concept has already been proposed. of traffic lanes made entirely of metal, in particular steel. A such a separator comprises support legs, on the sides of which are fixed metal slides, such as those commonly used as crash barriers, installed along traffic lanes road.

In the realizations currently known for this kind of metal separators, the connection between two consecutive unit elements, placed end to end, is carried out by bolting, using two, four or six screws, and with respectively male and female centering guides, provided at the ends of these elements. One drawback of this connection method is the impossibility of dismantling and removing an interposed unitary separating element in a line of elements, precisely because of the centering guides which are obstacles to such a withdrawal. In addition, the connection device by bolting requires, for its use, significant resources, both in equipment (van, compressor, impact wrench, hardware) as in labor (three people being necessary simultaneously). The operating cost of these metallic separators therefore remain, currently, excessively high, which greatly limits their use. Added to this is the fact that the current metal separators are also much more expensive higher than concrete separating elements, simply because of their service life shorter, which makes more frequent renewal necessary; as indicative, the average lifetime of metallic separators is around four to five years, taking into account their oxidation in contact with air and bad weather, and also because of the shocks and deformations undergone during their handling and their use, while the average lifespan of a concrete separator can be estimated at twenty years.

The present invention aims to remedy the aforementioned drawbacks metal separators, and its purpose is therefore to provide a system of more economical metallic separator, in its design and operation, also allowing the easy removal and replacement of an element interspersed in a file of elements.

To this end, the subject of the invention is essentially an element metallic separator for traffic lanes, in particular a element usable for the temporary delimitation of a road construction site area or motorway, this separating element generally comprising known supports on both sides of which are fixed slides metallic, and being characterized, according to the invention, by the fact that it comprises two end boxes, and possibly at least one intermediate box, each consisting of two parallel, vertical, connected metal cheeks to each other, on each side of the box, by longitudinal bars which each have at least one hole for fixing, by bolting, of minus a slide that connects the boxes.

In a preferred embodiment of the separator element metal according to the invention, the two metal cheeks of each box have the general shape of an isosceles trapezium, the large base of which position of use, is located at the bottom and serves as a floor support for the box. In this configuration, the two metal cheeks of each box are advantageously also connected to each other, at their vertices which correspond to the small base of the trapezoid, by a metal plate upper, whose side parts have lights for fixing by bolting the upper runners.

In detail, according to a particular embodiment of the element metal separator according to the invention, this separating element comprises, on on each side, three superimposed slides connecting these boxes, with a lower slide fixed on a lower longitudinal bar, a slide intermediate fixed on an intermediate longitudinal bar, and overlapping preferably the lower slide, and an upper slide fixed on a bar longitudinal upper and on a lateral part of the metal plate top of a box.

In a preferred embodiment of the separator element metallic object of the invention, the two metallic cheeks of its two end boxes are also connected by at least two tubular guides longitudinal, serving as housings and sliding guides for corresponding parts of a connecting device between separating elements consecutive, put end to end.

In particular, the connection device, provided at one end of the separating element, can be presented as a connecting stirrup comprising a vertical metal plate on one side of which project parts elongated horizontal sections and arrangement corresponding to those of aforementioned tubular guides, these horizontal parts being slidably mounted in the tubular guides of the terminal box of the separating element to which belongs the connecting device, and being engaging in the guides corresponding tubulars of an adjacent terminal box, belonging to a another separating element to link to the previous one.

Particularly in the case of shaped metal cheeks trapezoidal, the two cheeks of the two terminal boxes of the element separator are advantageously connected by three tubular guides longitudinal, comprising an upper tubular guide and two guides lower tubulars, arranged along the vertices of an isosceles triangle, the vertical metal plate of the connecting bracket bearing on one of its faces three elongated longitudinal parts of arrangement corresponding to that of the three tubular guides. In practice, these longitudinal tubular guides consist of horizontal metal tubes, of section rectangular, the ends of which are welded to the edge of openings corresponding rectangles, arranged in the two cheeks of each terminal box, while the corresponding parts of the connecting device between separating elements are constituted by flat irons, each of length slightly greater than twice the length of one of the tubes mentioned above, the flat bars being welded to one face of the metal plate vertical of the connecting bracket.

This vertical metal plate still advantageously carries an operating handle, on its face opposite to that provided with the parts horizontal elongated, in particular constituted by flat irons.

These elongated horizontal parts are themselves advantageously each provided, towards their free ends, with a light designed to receive a removable locking key.

The metallic separating element according to the invention can be presented as a relatively short separating element, comprising two boxes terminals and a single intermediate box, connected together, on their two sides, by side rails whose length is equal to the length total of the separating element.

Alternatively, however, the separator element metallic object of the invention is presented as a separating element relatively long, comprising two terminal boxes and a plurality of intermediate boxes, interconnected by side rails successive, of length approximately equal to a submultiple of the length totality of the separating element, the ends of these slides overlapping at the level of intermediate boxes, on which they are simultaneously fixed by bolting.

Overall, the invention thus provides a separating element metallic which has numerous advantages and particularly appreciable:

The structure and manufacture of this separating element are simple and therefore economical, especially due to the constitution of the boxes and the connection device from cut sheets, flat irons and tubes, the only bolts necessary being those carrying out the fixing of the rails on the boxes.

The connecting device between separating elements placed end to end is also particularly simple, since it requires neither bolts nor articulation organs or the like.

The economic nature of this metallic separating element also results from the use of conventional metal slides, from trade, in particular pre-existing metal slides, which can be recovered at lower cost, for example when replacing them with barriers concrete used as final separation.

The boxes are particularly rigid, this applies in particular to terminal caissons, which are further stiffened by tubes connecting their two cheeks.

The two ends of the metal separating element according to the invention are perfectly smooth, since these are metal cheeks exterior of the terminal boxes, which makes it easy to remove a separator element inserted in a continuous line of elements, and to put back possibly in place this element.

The operation of assembling the separating elements together others are particularly easy and fast. This operation does not requires no bolting, and thanks to the clamping device, all flat irons links, which in a way form fishplates, are slid simultaneously in the corresponding guide tubes, with low effort manual. It is obviously the same for the reverse separation operation of two elements. These operations can therefore be carried out without difficulty by one person, which also results in a significant saving in labor.

In addition, the assembly thus produced between two elements consecutive dividers is particularly rigid, and it is secured by locking keys.

Thanks to the separator design according to the invention, it is in particular possible to constitute metallic separating elements "short", typically four meters long, with two boxes terminals and a single intermediate box, which produce an equivalent "module" to a standard concrete separator.

However, the invention also allows the constitution of elements "long" metal separators, typically twelve meters long approx., with more intermediate boxes and slides overlapping, such elements being transportable on a road assembly with tractor and semi-trailer with handling crane, and their larger length to reduce the number of assembly operations between elements (for a given total length of the barrier to be produced).

Figure 1 est une vue en perspective montrant les parties terminales adjacentes de deux éléments séparateurs consécutifs ;

Figure 2 est une vue en coupe verticale d'un élément séparateur suivant II-II de figure 1 ;

Figure 3 est une vue en plan par dessus d'un élément séparateur complet ;

Figure 4 est une vue en plan par dessus, très schématique, d'un élément séparateur de plus grande longueur.

The invention will be better understood with the aid of the description which follows, with reference to the appended diagrammatic drawing representing, by way of examples, two embodiments of this metallic separating element:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the adjacent end portions of two consecutive separating elements;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view of a separator element along II-II of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a plan view from above of a complete separator element;

Figure 4 is a plan view from above, very schematic, of a separator element of greater length.

In Figures 1 to 3, a metal separator element is designated overall for the reference 1. This element, for example with a length of four meters, consists of three boxes 2, comprising two boxes terminals and an intermediate box, interconnected by slides side 3, 4 and 5 of which they constitute the support.

With particular reference to Figures 1 and 2, we will describe first of all the detail of a box 2.

The box 2 comprises two parallel vertical cheeks 6, made up of metal sheets cut in the general shape of a trapezoid isosceles, the large base of which is at the bottom (at ground level, when the use of the separating element 1).

The two vertical cheeks 6 of the box 7 are connected to each other horizontally, on each side of box 2, by three flat bars superimposed 7, 8 and 9, the ends of which are welded to the inclined edges of the cheeks 6. Each flat iron 7, 8 and 9 has, at mid-length, a hole 10 for the fixing of the slides, as specified below.

In addition, the respective vertices of the two vertical cheeks 6, which correspond to the small base of the trapezoid, are connected to each other by a upper plate 11 made of sheet metal, the horizontal middle part of which can have a large rectangular opening 12, the lateral parts of which, symmetrically inclined, each has two lights 13.

The two vertical cheeks 6 are still connected to each other by three horizontal metal tubes, of rectangular section, i.e. one tube upper 14 and two lower tubes 15, arranged along the vertices of a isosceles triangle. The ends of these tubes 14 and 15 are welded to the edge corresponding rectangular openings in the two cheeks 6.

Each box 2, thus formed, forms a rigid block, capable of rest on the self by the large bases of its two trapezoidal cheeks 6.

The boxes 2 are interconnected by the slides 3, 4 and 5, fixed by means of bolts 16. As shown more particularly the Figure 2, the two lower rails 3 are symmetrically fixed on the lower flat bars 7, by means of bolts 16 which pass through the holes 10 of these flat irons 7. The two intermediate slides 4 are fixed symmetrically on the intermediate flat irons 8, by means of bolts 16 which pass through the holes 10 of these flat irons 8, the lower part of each intermediate slide 4 overlapping the upper part of the slide lower 3 corresponding. Finally, the two upper slides 5 are fixed symmetrically, on the one hand, on the upper flat irons 9, by means of bolts 16 which pass through the holes 10 of these flat irons 9, and on the other hand, on the inclined side parts of the upper sheet 11, by means of bolts 16 which pass through the lights 13 of these side parts. By fixing the slides 3, 4 and 5, all of the same length (in particular four meters), on two 2-terminal boxes and on an intermediate 2 box, it is made up a metallic separating element 1, of rigid structure, provided on each side of three superimposed slides 3, 4 and 5.

The separating element 1 is provided, at one end, with a stirrup sliding 17 connecting with another separating element 1, the two elements separators 1 being placed end to end, as illustrated in Figures 1 and 3. The bracket 17, clearly visible in FIG. 1, comprises a metal plate vertical 18, of trapezoidal or triangular shape, on one face of which are welded three parallel and horizontal flat irons, comprising a flat iron upper 19 and two lower flat irons 20, the arrangement of which corresponds to that of the three tubes 14, 15 of rectangular section of a box 2. Each flat iron 19 or 20 has a length slightly greater than twice the length of a tube 14 or 15. Towards its free end, each flat iron 19 or 20 has a light or slot 21, designed to receive a key removable lock 22. On its face opposite the flat bars 19 and 20, the metal plate 18 of the stirrup 17 carries an operating handle 23.

Such a stirrup 17 is placed at one end of each separator element 1, on the terminal box 2. The flat bars 19 and 20 of the caliper are slidably engaged in the tubes 14 and 15 of this terminal box 2, so that the ends of the flat bars 19 and 20 are projection at the end considered of the separating element 1. The assembly of the stirrup 17 is thus movable in translation, in the longitudinal direction of the separator element 1, according to the double arrow F in FIG. 1.

When two separating elements 1 are placed end to end, as suggests it in figure 1 and as shown in figure 3 on the right, the bracket 17 of a first element 1, maneuvered by its handle 23, is advanced towards the end a second element 1, not provided with a stirrup. Flat irons 19 and 20 of the bracket 17, sliding in the tubes 14 and 15 of the box 2 terminal of the first element 1, are thus also engaged in the tubes 14 and 15 of the box 2 terminal of the second element 1. The free ends of the flat irons 19 and 20, which finally protrude from the tubes 14 and 15 of the box 2 terminal of the second element 1, finally receive keys 22, which locks the assembly of two separating elements 1.

This assembly remains removable, by removing the keys from locking 22, then moving the stirrup 17 backwards, still operating it by its handle 23.

As is easily understood, a separating element 1 interspersed in a continuous line with such separating elements can, from this way, be removed from the line of items, and possibly be replaced, without moving the other separating elements of this queue.

Figure 4 shows one more metal separator element great length, made according to the same principle, that is to say by the assembly boxes 2 and slides 3, 4 and 5 superimposed. This extra element great length, for example of the order of twelve meters, results from the union of three successive sections each corresponding to an element 1 (typically four meters long) as previously described, the box 2 terminal of a section being merged with the terminal box of the next stretch. At such a common box 2, the ends of the runners 3, 4 and 5 of a section overlap the ends corresponding slides 3, 4 and 5 of the following section. The fixing of ends thus superimposed of the slides 3, 4 and 5, on the common box 2, is also provided jointly, that is to say by the same bolts, as detailed previously with reference to FIG. 2.

It is thus possible to constitute separating elements of a length of the order of twelve meters, transportable on a semi-trailer road. These "long" separating elements can themselves be arranged in file, and assembled together by the stirrup link device 17 which is still provided at one of their ends, in the manner previously described.

• les formes de détail des caissons, en particulier le contour de leurs joues ;
• le détail des moyens d'assemblage entre éléments séparateurs ;
• la longueur de ces éléments séparateurs, et le nombre des caissons intermédiaires, choisi en fonction de cette longueur

One would not depart from the scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims, whatever in particular:

• the detail forms of the boxes, in particular the outline of their cheeks;
• details of the assembly means between separating elements;
• the length of these separating elements, and the number of intermediate boxes, chosen according to this length

Claims (12)

Metal separating element for road traffic, in particular an element which can be used for the temporary delimitation of a road or motorway construction site, this separating element (1) comprising supports on the two sides of which metal slides are fixed, characterized in that that it comprises two terminal boxes (2), and possibly at least one intermediate box (2), each constituted by two parallel metallic cheeks (6), vertical, connected to each other, on each side of the box ( 2), by longitudinal bars (7, 8, 9) which each comprise at least one hole (10) for fixing, by bolting (16), at least one slide (3, 4, 5) which connects the boxes (2). Metal separating element according to claim 1, characterized in that the two metal cheeks (6) of each box (2) have the general shape of an isosceles trapezoid, the large base of which, in the position of use, is located below and serves as a ground support for the box (2). Metal separating element according to claim 2, characterized in that the two metal cheeks (6) of each box (2) are also connected to each other, at their vertices which correspond to the small base of the trapezium, by a upper metal plate (11), the lateral parts of which have openings (13) for fixing the upper runners (5) by bolting (16). Metal separating element according to claim 3, characterized in that it comprises, on each side, three superimposed slides (3, 4, 5) connecting its boxes (2), with a lower slide (3) fixed on a lower longitudinal bar (7), an intermediate slide (4) fixed on an intermediate longitudinal bar (8), and preferably overlapping the lower slide (3), and an upper slide (5) fixed on an upper longitudinal bar (9) and on a lateral part of the upper metal plate (11) of a box (2). Metal separating element according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the two metal cheeks (6) of its two terminal boxes (2) are also connected by at least two longitudinal tubular guides (14, 15), serving housings and sliding guides for corresponding parts (19, 20) of a connecting device (17) between consecutive separating elements (1), placed end to end. Metal separating element according to claim 5, characterized in that the connecting device (17), provided at one end of the separating element (1), is presented as a connecting stirrup (17) comprising a vertical metal plate (18 ) on one face of which project elongated horizontal parts (19, 20) of cross section and arrangement corresponding to those of the aforementioned tubular guides (14, 15), these horizontal parts (19, 20) being slidably mounted in the tubular guides ( 14, 15) of the box (2) terminal of the separating element (1) to which the connecting device (17) belongs, and being engaging in the corresponding tubular guides (14, 15) of a box (2) adjacent terminal , belonging to another separating element (1), to be linked to the previous one. Metal separating element according to claim 6, characterized in that the two metal cheeks (6) of its two terminal boxes (2) are connected by three longitudinal tubular guides, comprising an upper tubular guide (14) and two lower tubular guides (15 ), arranged along the vertices of an isosceles triangle, the vertical metal plate (18) of the connecting stirrup (17) carrying on one of its faces three elongated horizontal parts (19, 20) of arrangement corresponding to that three tubular guides (14, 15). Metal separating element according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the vertical metal plate (18) of the connecting bracket (17) carries an operating handle (23), on its face opposite to that provided with the elongated horizontal parts (19, 20). Metal separating element according to any one of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that the elongated horizontal parts (19, 20) are each provided, towards their free ends, with a lumen (21) intended to receive a locking key removable (22). Metal separating element according to any one of Claims 6 to 9, characterized in that the longitudinal tubular guides consist of horizontal metal tubes (14, 15), of rectangular section, the ends of which are welded to the edge of openings corresponding rectangles, formed in the two cheeks (6) of each terminal box (2), while the corresponding parts of the connection device (17) between separating elements (1) are constituted by flat bars (19, 20), each slightly longer than twice the length of one of the above tubes (14, 15), the flat bars (19, 20) being welded to one face of the vertical metal plate (18) of the connecting bracket ( 17). Metal separating element according to any one of Claims 1 to 10, characterized in that it is presented as a relatively short separating element (1), comprising two terminal boxes (2) and a single intermediate box (2), connected between them, on their two sides, by lateral slides (3, 4, 5) whose length is equal to the total length of the separating element (1). Metal separating element according to any one of Claims 1 to 10, characterized in that it is presented as a relatively long separating element, comprising two terminal boxes (2) and a plurality of intermediate boxes (2), interconnected by side rails (3, 4, 5) successive, of length approximately equal to a submultiple of the total length of the separating element, the ends of these rails (3, 4, 5) overlapping at the level of boxes ( 2) intermediates, on which they are simultaneously fixed by bolting.

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