AU2006235945A1 - Resilent pilla and road safety device using the same - Google Patents

Description

i AUSTRALIA SPatents Act 1990 r

-I

N COMPLETE SPECIFICATION q STANDARD PATENT RESILIENT PILLAR AND ROAD

SAFETY

DEVICE USING THE SAME The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: RESILIENT PILLAR AND ROAD SAFETY DEVICE

USING

)THE

SAME

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION SField of the Invention The present invention relates to a resilient pillar and a safety device for use in motorways, which can serve not only as a median barrier or guide rail installed along a center line or side of a motorway, bridge, and the like, but also as any other safety means to limit unwanted access of cars.

Description of the Related Art To constitute a fixed safety device for motorways, such as a generally known median barrier, guide rail, or the like, a plurality of pillars have been fixedly installed along the center line or side of motorways with a predetermined distance.

Although a variety of safety devices using the fixed pillars have been known in the prior art, but most the prior art safety devices have a problem in that the pillars are easily broken by traffic collision accidents that are caused by driver carelessness. Accordingly, the prior art safety devices are uneconomical because of their excessive repair or exchange costs, and less effective to prevent injury to victims of traffic accidents and damage to cars.

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0 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

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Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a resilient pillar and a safety device using the resilient pillar, in which the safety device, C serving as a motorway median barrier, is configured to have a shock-absorbing ability and resilient force sufficient to return its original state even when it is deformed by a collision or any other traffic accidents, whereby injury to victims of traffic accidents or damage to cars can be efficiently alleviated or prevented.

It is another object of the present invention to provide S a resilient pillar and a safety device using the resilient pillar, in which the safety device consisting of a plurality of the resilient pillars is configured to efficiently absorb an external shock caused upon a car collision or any other traffic accidents to thereby return its original state, whereby the repair or exchange of the safety device is unnecessary until the safety device including the resilient pillars is completely broken, resulting in a significant reduction in maintenance costs.

In accordance with the present invention, the above and other objects can be accomplished by the provision of a I resilient pillar comprising: a fixture secured onto the ground surface; a plurality of refractive unit vessels and a cylindrical tube stacked one above another by use of a vertical wire connected to the fixture; and a spring coupled to an upper portion of the vertical wire fitted in the cylindrical tube to allow the unit vessels to be refracted upon receiving a strong resilient repulsive force of the spring, and a motorway safety device comprising: a plurality of resilient pillars; a plurality of cover cases movably I mounted around the respective refractive unit vessels; and horizontal wires connected to the respective cover case to extend lengthwise along an arrangement direction of the resilient pillars.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The above and other objects, features and other advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a part of a safety device according to an embodiment of the present invention, which is usable as a median barrier for motorways; FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view illustrating important parts of the safety device according to the present

NO

c-i invention; O FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating the z coupling relationship of the important parts shown in FIG. 2; FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a cover case Itt used to be coupled to the outer periphery of a resilient pillar of the safety device according to the present invention;

NO

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the cover case shown in FIG. 4, which is coupled to the safety device and connected to horizontal wires; FIG. 6 is an operational state view of the safety device according to the present invention; FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating a resilient pillar according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and FIG. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating a resilient pillar according to another embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED

EMBODIMENTS

Now, preferred embodiment of the present invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a part of a

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c, safety device according to an embodiment of the present o invention, which is usable as a median barrier for motorways.

z FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view illustrating important parts of the safety device according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating the coupling relationship of the important parts shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a cover case used to Cbe coupled to the outer periphery of a resilient pillar of the safety device according to the present invention. FIG. 5 is a plan view of the cover case shown in FIG. 4, which is coupled to the safety device and connected to horizontal wires.

FIG.

6 is an operational state view of the safety device according to the present invention. FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating a resilient pillar according to a preferred S embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating a resilient pillar according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to the drawings, the resilient pillar according to the present invention comprises: at least one refractive unit vessel 1; and upper and lower caps 6 and 6' fixedly connected to the unit vessel 1 by welding, etc. The upper cap 6 includes: a convexly rounded portion 3 centrally perforated with a hole 2; an annular rim portion 4 formed along a periphery of the convexly rounded portion 3; and an insertion portion 5 formed at a lower surface of the annular

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c- rim portion 4. The lower cap 6' similarly has the convexly O rounded portion 3 and the annular rim portion 4, but has no z insertion portion 5 at the lower surface of the annular rim portion 4.

V) The resilient pillar 15 further comprises a fixture 7, n which includes: a semi-spherical convexly rounded center (Ni portion 9; and a square flange 10 integrally formed around the convexly rounded portion 9. The convexly rounded portion 9 is centrally perforated with a hole 8. In construction, a vertical wire 11 is first penetrated through the hole 8 perforated in the convexly rounded portion 9 of the fixture 7 and is knotted at a lower end thereof to form a bind knot 12 suitable to prevent the vertical wire 11 from being unintentionally separated from the fixture 7. Then, the refractive unit vessel 1, which is previously coupled with the associated upper and lower caps 6 and is fitted on the vertical wire 11 as the vertical wire 11 is penetrated through the holes 2 of the upper and lower caps 6 and In the present invention, a plurality of the refractive unit vessels 1 are vertically stacked one above another above the fixture 7 until a desired height of the resilient pillar 15 is obtained.

In this case, the desired height of the resilient pillar from the ground is approximately 140 cm corresponding to a common light-shielding height of motorways. After completely stacking the refractive unit vessels 1 one above another, a ccylindrical tube 1' is stacked on an upper end of the o uppermost refractive unit vessel 1. The cylindrical tube 1' is provided with only the lower cap If an upper end of the vertical wire 1 is penetrated through the hole 2 of the t lower cap 6' coupled with the cylindrical tube 1', V subsequently, a spring 13 and a spring cap 13' are fitted on N' the vertical wire 11 so that the spring 13 is compressed in S the cylindrical tube 1' by the spring cap 13' to keep a desired resilient repulsive force. Thereafter, the upper end of the vertical wire 11, which protrudes upward from the spring cap 13', is knotted to form a bind knot 2'.

Finally, if a cap unit 14 is stacked on the cylindrical tube the construction of the resilient pillar 15 according to the present invention is completed. In the above described configuration, the refractive unit vessels 1, which are stacked one above another to constitute the resilient pillar are vertically erected in such a manner that the adjacent upper and lower caps 6 and 6' of the respective lower and upper refractive unit vessels 1 come into close contact with each other under the influence of the resilient repulsive force of the spring 13, so as to achieve the upright resilient pillar 15. The resilient pillar 15 of the present invention is used to constitute a safety device, which is usable as a motorway median barrier or guide rail, or the like, for the purpose of preventing cars from crossing the centerline of a

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c, motorway or deviating from the motorway.

0 To constitute the safety device by use of the resilient z pillars 15, a plurality of cover cases 16 are movably mounted around an outer periphery of the resilient pillar f Specifically, the cover cases 16 are arranged to correspond to that of the refractive unit vessels 1 in a one to one ratio so R that each cover case 16 is located between the upper and lower S caps 6 and 6' of the associated refractive unit vessel 1. Also, in relation with the cylindrical tube a plurality of cover cases 16 are fitted around an outer periphery of the cylindrical tube 1' as they are stacked one above another until their height corresponds to a length of the cylindrical tube 1' As shown in FIG. 4, each of the cover cases 16 includes a pair of arched center pieces 17 defining a center insertion space, and a pair of rectangular left and right connecting pieces 18 and 18' to connect the center arched pieces 17 to each other at left and right sides thereof. Each of the connecting pieces 18 and 18' is laterally perforated with a plurality of outer and inner connecting holes 19 and 19' and also externally formed with front and rear wire grooves 20 and Specifically, the arched center pieces 17 of the cover case 16 define the center insertion space to allow the associated refractive unit vessel 1 or cylindrical tube 1' to

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be inserted thereinto. As shown in FIG. 5, horizontal wires 21 O and 22 are connected to both sides of the cover case 16.

Explaining connection of the horizontal wires 21 and 22 in detail, first, both ends of the horizontal wire 21 or 22 are I knotted to form bind knots 23 and 23' so that eye bolts 24 and 24' are fastened to the bind knots 23 and 23', respectively.

Then, by penetrating the eye bolts 24 and 24' through the Sassociated outer and inner connecting holes 19 and 19' of the connecting piece 18', and fastening nuts 24a with the eye bolts 24 and 24' at the outside of the connecting piece 18', the horizontal wire 21 or 22 is connected to the associated connecting piece 18' of the resilient pillar Subsequently, the corresponding horizontal wire 21 or 22 is positioned to surround the cover case 16 of the adjacent resilient pillar 15 as it passes through the wire groove 20' of the connecting piece 18', the connecting holes 19' of the connecting piece 18, and the wire groove 20 of the connecting piece 18' in sequence along an U-shaped path, to thereby be connected to the cover case 16 of the adjacent resilient pillar To utilize the above described safety device according to the present invention as a median barrier or guide rail, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, H-beams are embedded in the ground with a predetermined distance to form a base 25 so that the square flange 10 provided at the lower end of the resilient pillar

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c- is bolted to the base 25. Thereby, the resilient pillar 15 is o installed on the ground to be vertically erected.

z When constituting the safety device by use of a plurality of resilient pillars 15, distal ends of the horizontal wire 21 or 22 connected to the foremost or rearmost resilient pillar are connected to a base 26 by use of a plurality of eye bolts g 30 installed on the base 26. Here, the base 26 is similarly C embedded in the ground through the use of a concrete H-beam. If the safety device is installed along the centerline of a motorway, it can serve as a median barrier. Also, if the safety device is installed along either side of the motorway, it can serve as a guide rail.

Referring to FIG. 8 illustrating a resilient pillar according to another embodiment of the present invention, the resilient pillar 28 of the present embodiment, which is used to constitute the safety device usable as a median barrier, etc., comprises: an elongated upright tube 27; the lower cap 6' to close a lower end of the upright tube 27; the fixture 7 having the square flange 10; the vertical wire 11 penetrated through the upright tube 27 and the hole 2 of the lower cap 6' in sequence, so as to be connected to the fixture 7; the spring 13 and spring cap 13' fitted on the vertical wire 11 in sequence to achieve a strong resilient repulsive force from the spring 13 compressed by the spring cap 13', a distal end of the vertical wire 11 being knotted above the spring cap 13' to form c- a bind knot 12'; and an upper cap 14 to cover an upper end of o the upright tube 27. The resilient pillar 28 of the present z embodiment can be installed at an appropriate desired position on the centerline of a motorway, etc., to prevent cars from crossing the centerline or control the entrance or exit of cars into or from specific places, such as parks, etc.

A When the safety device of the present invention having

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Cthe above described configuration is used as a median barrier and is subjected to a car collision, some of the horizontal wires 21 and 22, to which a collision shock is directly applied, are bent and simultaneously, the adjacent horizontal wires are pulled toward the colliding horizontal wires 21 and 22. Thereby, as the convexly rounded portion 3 provided at the lower cap 6' of each refractive unit vessel 1 temporarily slides on the convexly rounded portion 3 provided at the upper cap 6 of the underside refractive unit vessel 1 under the influence of the pulling force of the horizontal wires, the articulated resilient pillar 15 is refracted as shown in FIG.

6. As a result, the resilient pillar 15 can temporarily absorb the car collision shock, thereby preventing or alleviating damage to both the car and the safety device constructed of the plurality of resilient pillars When the resilient pillar 15 is refracted upon receiving the car collision shock as shown in FIG. 6, the vertical wire 11 vertically penetrated through the articulated resilient

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C pillar 15 is bent along the same refraction path as that of the S resilient pillar 15. Thereby, the spring 13 can exhibit an z increased resilient repulsive force by being further compressed by the vertical wire 11. As soon as the car collision shock tdisappears, accordingly, the plurality of cover cases 16, each containing the refracted unit vessel 1, upper cap 6, and lower (1 cap are returned to their original state via sliding

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S movements of the upper and lower caps 6 and 6' under the influence of the increased resilient repulsive force of the spring 13.

As apparent from the above description, a resilient pillar and a safety device using the resilient pillar according to the present invention provides the following advantages.

Firstly, when the safety device including the resilient pillar is used as a motorway median barrier or guide rail, the safety device can efficiently absorb a collision shock even if a car collides with the safety device. As a result, the safety device in the form of a median barrier or guide rail can automatically return to its original state without damage thereto as soon as the car collision shock disappears.

Therefore, the safety device of the present invention has an advantage of eliminating the burden of repair costs while guaranteeing an extended life span thereof.

Secondly, if a car collides with the median barrier

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c. realized by the safety device of the present invention, the 0 resilient pillar of the safety device is temporarily refracted z and simultaneously, horizontal wires connected to the resilient pillar are pulled forward or rearward about a colliding portion of the resilient pillar, thereby acting to V alleviate a car collision shock. This has the effect of N reducing injury to victims of the car collision accident.

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CAccordingly, by installing a plurality of resilient pillars along the centerline of a motorway or in curved sections of a motorway, the safety device of the present invention can be efficiently used to prevent cars from crossing the centerline of a motorway, or to control the entrance or exit of cars into or from specific places, such as parks, etc.

Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.

Claims (3)

1. A resilient pillar comprising: a fixture including a convexly rounded portion centrally perforated with a hole and a square flange provided around the convexly rounded portion and configured to be bolted to an A upper surface of a base that is partially embedded in the O ground surface; a plurality of refractive unit vessels, each having upper and lower caps welded thereto; a vertical wire penetrated vertically through the refractive unit vessels when the refractive unit vessels are stacked one above another in sequence, a lower end of the vertical wire being knotted below the fixture to form a bind knot suitable to prevent the vertical wire from being separated from the fixture; a cylindrical tube stacked on an uppermost one of the refractive unit vessels; and a spring fitted around an upper end of the vertical wire to be disposed in the cylindrical tube so as to be compressed by a spring cap.

2. A resilient pillar comprising: an elongated cylindrical tube having a lower cap welded to a lower end thereof, the lower cap being centrally IND c- perforated with a hole; 0 a fixture provided at a lower end of the cylindrical z tube and having a convexly rounded portion centrally perforated with a hole; a vertical wire penetrated through the hole perforated in the convexly rounded portion of the fixture and the hole of the lower cap of the cylindrical tube, to allow the lower cap Cto be disposed on the convexly rounded portion of the fixture; a spring elastically fitted on the vertical wire so as to be compressed by a spring cap that is also fitted on the vertical wire; and a cap configured to cover an upper end of the cylindrical tube.

3. A motorway safety device comprising: at least one resilient pillar including: a fixture including a convexly rounded portion centrally perforated with a hole and a square flange provided around the convexly rounded portion and configured to be bolted to an upper surface of a base that is partially embedded in the ground surface; a plurality of refractive unit vessels, each having upper and lower caps welded thereto; a vertical wire penetrated vertically through the refractive unit vessels when the refractive unit vessels IND (N are stacked one above another in sequence, a lower end o of the vertical wire being knotted below the fixture to Z form a bind knot suitable to prevent the vertical wire from being separated from the fixture; t a cylindrical tube stacked on an uppermost one of the refractive unit vessels; and O a spring fitted around an upper end of the vertical wire to be disposed in the cylindrical tube so as to be compressed by a spring cap; and a plurality of cover cases each movably fitted around an outer periphery of an associated one of the refractive unit vessels of the resilient pillar vertically erected on the base to be located between the upper and lower caps of the associated refractive unit vessel, each cover case including: a pair of arched center pieces defining a center insertion space for allowing the resilient pillar to be penetrated therethrough; and a pair of rectangular connecting pieces to connect the arched center pieces to each other at opposite sides thereof, each connecting piece being formed with connecting holes and wire grooves for the connection of horizontal wires. SAMHO C&T PTY LTD. 9 NOVEMBER 2006