EP0537095A2 - Marker for indicating lane switching - Google Patents

Abstract

Diversion-marking device for a motorway, which can be used to mark the switching from one traffic lane (B) to another (A), and essentially consists of a series of substantially horizontal signalling arms (3), placed at intervals from each other over the motorway section in question and having increasing respective lengths (L1, L2, L3, L4). Each signalling arm (3) is mounted so as to pivot about a substantially vertical shaft (4) so that it can be either retracted onto a side of the road, or extended over the traffic lane (B) from which traffic is to be diverted towards the other lane (A), the signalling arms (3) in the retracted position being applied laterally against crash barriers (2) or against a low concrete wall (29; 33, 34). <IMAGE>

Description

The present invention relates to a deviation beacon device for a motorway or other fast road.

Such devices are used to mark the deviation from one traffic lane to another, in particular from the left lane to the right lane, in particular in risk areas known for the frequency of accidents that occur there, without excluding deviations for maintenance, maintenance work, and others, in areas where crossing is dangerous for intervention personnel.

To ensure such deviation markings, highway safety and maintenance services usually use mobile conical beacons, which must be placed on the roadway. Since the drawdown of traffic from one lane to the other must be gradual, a deviation "bevel" is made, the length of which must be 100 to 150 m, with a beacon placed every 5 m approximately, so 20 to 30 tags are needed. Personnel officers intervention vehicles, the vehicle of which is initially parked on the emergency stop lane, and which can only carry a small number of beacons each time, must cross the road on foot a certain number of times before being able to set up their vehicle behind the "bevel" to continue marking the length of the track. It is understood that during the installation of the beacons, the agents are exposed to serious risks due to the circulation of vehicles on the road, and that there is thus a serious safety problem for the intervention personnel.

To solve this problem, starting from the observation that the risk zones are well known by the security services, the present invention proposes a deviation beacon device for motorway intended to be permanently installed in such a zone, the setting in service of this beaconing device can be made by crossing only once the roadway, or even without crossing the roadway in the case of a device controlled remotely, therefore in considerably improved safety conditions.

To this end, the deviation device for motorway object of the invention consists essentially of a series of substantially horizontal signaling arms, arranged at intervals from one another on the portion of motorway concerned and having respective increasing lengths, each of these signaling arms being pivotally mounted so that it can be either retracted on one side of the road, or deployed above the traffic lane whose traffic must be diverted to the other lane.

The beacon device according to the invention can be fixed either between the safety rails of the median central section of the motorway concerned, either on a single or double concrete wall constituting the separation of the two carriageways of a motorway, without any modification resulting in the rupture of said slides or of said wall. In the retracted position, the signaling arms are applied laterally against the rails or against the wall, as the case may be, forming a negligible excess thickness, in no way hampering vehicle traffic and not adversely affecting the safety of motorists. In the deployed position of use, these signaling arms, the length of which is progressive, mark out a "bevel", the optical effect of which is improved compared to that of traditional conical beacons, the signaling function being provided, preferably towards the free end of each arm, by an end plate provided for example with a retro-reflecting arrow or any other suitable means.

Advantageously, the whole part of each signaling arm which in the deployed position of use projects beyond the track, is made of a material, such as a plastic material, allowing it to break easily in the event of an impact with a vehicle.

On the other hand, each signaling arm is mounted on a pivot, itself fixed on an anchoring base, preferably with the interposition of screw adjustment means which facilitate the adjustment of the horizontality of the signaling arm. The pivoting mounting of the signaling arms makes it possible to deploy them either perpendicular to the roadway, or in an oblique direction with respect to the roadway.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the beacon device is manually controlled, each signaling arm being provided with locking means in separate angular positions corresponding to the retracted position and the deployed position of use.

According to another possibility, the beacon device according to the invention is motorized, with for each arm a motor means capable of pivoting it between its retracted position and its deployed position of use, the motor means associated with the different arms , for example electric cylinders, being themselves remotely controlled.

In accordance with the invention, and for increased safety, the pivots on which the signaling arms are mounted are positioned either on the side of the slide opposite to that which borders the traffic lanes concerned, which side will be referred to as -after, for convenience and clarity, "inner side", or, on the separation wall, so that in the retracted position the signaling arms do not exceed the outer edge of the base of said wall.

The invention will be better understood on reading the description which follows, made with reference to the appended drawing which represents, by way of nonlimiting examples, some embodiments of the beacon device according to the invention.

• la figure 1 est une vue en plan d'une portion d'autoroute équipée d'un dispositif de balisage de déviation selon l'invention ;
• la figure 2 est une vue en perspective d'un premier mode de réalisation d'un bras de signalisation d'un dispositif selon l'invention, adapté à des glissières de sécurité ;
• la figure 3 est une vue de face du bras de signalisation de la figure 2 ;
• la figure 4 est une vue de détail, en coupe verticale, des moyens de réglage situés à la base du pivot du même bras de signalisation ;
• la figure 5 est une vue de profil d'un second mode de réalisation d'un bras de signalisation du dispositif selon l'invention, adapté à un muret en béton simple ;
• la figure 6 illustre une variante du mode de réalisation de la figure 5 ;
• la figure 7 est une vue de profil d'un troisième mode de réalisation d'un bras de signalisation d'un dispositif selon l'invention, adapté à un muret double avec intervalle central.
• la figure 8 est une vue en perspective, avec éclaté partiel, d'un dispositif selon l'invention fixé sur un muret et enfermé partiellement dans un carter de protection.

In the attached drawing:

• FIG. 1 is a plan view of a portion of motorway equipped with a deviation beacon device according to the invention;
• FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a signaling arm of a device according to the invention, adapted to safety barriers;
• Figure 3 is a front view of the signaling arm of Figure 2;
• Figure 4 is a detail view, in vertical section, of the adjustment means located at the base of the pivot of the same signaling arm;
• Figure 5 is a side view of a second embodiment of a signaling arm of the device according to the invention, adapted to a simple concrete wall;
• Figure 6 illustrates a variant of the embodiment of Figure 5;
• Figure 7 is a side view of a third embodiment of a signaling arm of a device according to the invention, suitable for a double wall with central interval.
• Figure 8 is a perspective view, partially exploded, of a device according to the invention fixed on a wall and partially enclosed in a protective casing.

If we refer first to FIG. 1, we see a portion of the motorway represented there, with two carriageways between which a central separation 1 is provided, such as a median, here equipped with safety barriers 2. One of the carriageways comprises two traffic lanes A and B, and the other two traffic lanes C and D. A device according to the invention is used to mark a deviation of the left lane B from a carriageway to the lane right A of the same road. To this end, the deviation beacon device is constituted by a series of signaling arms 3, arranged at intervals from one another (in the longitudinal direction of the portion of motorway concerned), the arms 3 being for example in number of four. Each signaling arm 3 is pivotally mounted about a substantially vertical axis 4. The respective lengths L1, L2, L3, L4 of the different signaling arms 3 of the same device are increasing, in the direction corresponding to the movement of vehicles. Each signaling arm 3 can pivot, about its axis 4, between a retracted position and a deployed position, FIG. 1 showing two marking devices whose arms occupy, respectively, these two positions.

Thus, as shown in the lower half of FIG. 1, all the signaling arms 3 of the device can be deployed above the left lane B of one of the carriageways, so as to mark a deflection "bevel" from this left lane B to the right lane A, as shown by arrows E and F.

On the contrary, when all the signaling arms 3 are retracted, as illustrated for the other device, the two traffic lanes C and D of the roadway both remain free and open to traffic. It should be noted that in the retracted position, the signaling arms 3 are folded against the safety rails 2, and are located within the limits of the central reservation 1.

Figures 2 to 4 show the detail of the structure of a signaling arm 3 and its pivoting mounting. The signaling arm 3 has a rectilinear main part 5, of varying length, located outside of the slide 2 and being presented as a lattice structure, of plastic material, with an upper member 6, a lower member 7 and vertical 8 and oblique connecting elements 9. At one end, the members 6 and 7 are connected, by articulations 10 and 11 provided with a safety pin, to upper 12 and lower 13 elements, forming the one and the other an elbow. The upper bent element 12 passes over the slide 2, and the lower bent element 13 below, these two bent elements 12 and 13 being pivotally mounted around the same vertical pivot 14, preferably metallic, which materializes the pivot axis 4 of the signaling arm 3, the pivot 14 being located on the inner side of the slide 2. In an alternative embodiment, the safety pin 10 and 11 can be omitted, the bent elements 12 and 13 also being made of plastic.

As shown in FIG. 3, the free end of the signaling arm 3 advantageously carries a terminal signaling plate 15, preferably removable, provided with a retroreflective arrow 16 or another clearly visible motif, possibly illuminated by means electrical devices such as light emitting diodes. The oblique elements 9 of the arm 3 may also include patterns in the form of bands, arrows or the like, present over the entire length of the arm and suitable for encouraging motorists to fall back into the right lane.

Referring more particularly to Figures 2 and 4, it can be seen that the pivot 14 is fixed to the ground by an anchoring sole 17, which itself comprises an upper plate 18 secured to the pivot 14, and a lower plate 19 extended towards the bottom by tenons 20 sealed in a concrete block (not shown). Four adjustment screws 21 make it possible to position the upper plate 18 in the desired manner relative to the lower plate 19, and four other screws 22 ensure the immobilization of the upper plate 18 on the lower plate 19, in the previously chosen position.

FIG. 2 also shows mechanical means, generally designated by 23, which make it possible to lock the signaling arm 3 in two distinct angular positions, corresponding respectively to the retracted position and to the deployed position of use. These means 23 comprise, in the example shown, a fixed locking cam 24, integral with the lower part of the pivot 14, and ending at its ends by two notches 25 and 26. A horizontal rod 27, linked in rotation with the signaling arm 3, carries a locking lever 28 designed to cooperate with the cam 24. When the lever 28 is positioned in the notch 25, the arm 3 is immobilized in the deployed position of use, indicated in solid lines; when the lever 28 is positioned in the other notch 26, the arm 3 is immobilized in the retracted position, sketched in broken lines.

The locking lever 28 can be actuated manually, or by foot, or even by motorized, electric or other means, with a view to being lifted out of the notch 25 or 26 at the start of deployment or retraction of the arm 3. At the end of deployment or retraction, the lever 28 falls by itself, under the effect of its weight, in the other notch 26 or 25 of the locking cam 24.

The length of the locking cam 24, therefore the spacing between the two notches 25 and 26, can be fixed or adjustable. An adjustable cam 24 makes it possible to choose the final deployment position of the signaling arm 3. Thus, the arm 3 is not necessarily deployed perpendicular to the roadway, as illustrated in the drawing; it can also be brought into a deployed position, oriented in an oblique direction relative to the roadway.

Figures 5 to 8 illustrate the adaptation of the device according to the invention to a portion of highway whose two carriageways are separated from each other by a concrete wall. In this case, the signaling arms 3 proper are not modified with respect to the previous description, and the adaptation relates only to the mounting of the pivot 14 on the wall, it being understood that the arms 3 in the retracted position do not exceed the outside edge of the foot of the wall.

More particularly, FIG. 5 shows a simple low wall 29, which alone ensures the separation of the two carriageways. The pivot 4 passes through a first support bearing 30 fixed by screws on the top of the wall 29, and a second support bearing 31 fixed by screws against a lateral face of this wall 29, substantially at mid-height, these two bearings -supports 30 and 31 being made of a folded sheet whose seam matches that of the wall 29.

In a variant illustrated in FIG. 6, the lower end of the pivot 4 rotates in a lower support bearing 32 fixed practically at the level of the base of the wall 29. Of course, all the heights intermediate between those of the support bearing 31 and the support bearing 32 can also be envisaged. In all cases, the shape of the section of the wall 29 allows the signaling arm 3 to retract practically across the width of this wall 29.

FIG. 7 shows the adaptation of the invention to a double separation wall, with two parallel concrete parts 33 and 34, between which there remains a central interval 35, here used for the mounting of the signaling arm 3. Thus , the pivot 14 passes through two superimposed support bearings 36 and 37, fixed by screws against the inner face of a wall portion 33, and made of a folded sheet metal partially bearing against said inner face. The upper bent element 12 of the arm 3 passes over the wall part 33, while the lower bent element 13 passes through a horizontal opening 38, formed in the wall part 33, the length of the opening 38 being sufficient to authorize the rotation of said lower bent element 13. The mechanical members necessary for pivoting of the signaling arm 3 are thus protected between the two wall parts 33 and 34.

Locking means 23 are also provided in the case of devices adapted to concrete walls; these means 23 can be produced as described above, but, as the drawing shows, they are advantageously located here towards the top of the single wall 29 or of the double wall 33, 34.

Referring to FIG. 8, it can be seen that the device according to the invention can be partially enclosed in a protective casing 40 intended in particular to protect it against bad weather. The casing 40 is disposed laterally against the wall 29, to which it is fixed by means of a folded sheet 41 which is secured to it by means of screws, not shown, judiciously distributed, and it partially covers the upper face of the wall 29 It laterally comprises a cover 42 provided with two notches 43 allowing the rotation of the signaling arms 3 around a pivot 14, the cover 42 being fixed to the body of the casing 40, by means of screws 44 and bores 44 '. At its upper part, the casing 40 includes a second cover 45 mounted to pivot about a horizontal axis and covering the head 46 of the pivot 14, the drive system 47 of the arms 3 and a housing 48 containing position sensors. At its front part, the cover 40 includes protective slides 49 intended to protect the device from lateral impacts.

• par des modifications constructives de détail des bras de signalisation, ou par l'adjonction sur ces bras de tous accessoires ou motifs améliorant leur visibilité ;
• en ayant recours à toute solution équivalente de celle décrite, pour les moyens de verrouillage des bras en position escamotée et en position déployée ;
• en prévoyant une commande motorisée telle qu'à vérins ou moteurs électriques, pneumatiques ou hydrauliques pouvant elle-même être activée à distance, pour le pivotement des bras de signalisation, auquel cas les moyens de verrouillage précités ne sont plus indispensables ;
• en adaptant le nombre de ces bras de signalisation, leurs longueurs et leurs intervalles, selon les cas particuliers d'utilisation :
• en agençant le dispositif pour une déviation non pas de la voie de gauche vers la voie de droite, mais inversement de la voie de droite vers la voie de gauche ;
• en mettant en oeuvre le même dispositif de signalisation de déviation non pas sur une portion d'autoroute au sens strict, mais sur une portion de route à chaussées séparées où peut naturellement se poser un problème similaire ;
• par des implantations différentes du dispositif tenant compte de la nature et de la forme de l'élément de séparation disposé sur le terre-plein central, qui peut être autre qu'une glissière ou un muret.

It goes without saying that the present invention cannot be limited to the embodiments which have just been described by way of examples, and which can undergo a certain number of modifications without thereby being depart from the scope of the invention. It is thus, in particular, that one would not depart from the scope of the invention:

• by constructive modifications of detail of the signaling arms, or by the addition on these arms of any accessories or patterns improving their visibility;
• using any solution equivalent to that described, for the means for locking the arms in the retracted position and in the deployed position;
• by providing a motorized control such as electric, pneumatic or hydraulic actuators or motors which can itself be activated remotely, for pivoting the signaling arms, in which case the above-mentioned locking means are no longer essential;
• by adapting the number of these signaling arms, their lengths and their intervals, according to the particular cases of use:
• by arranging the device for a deviation not from the left lane to the right lane, but vice versa from the right lane to the left lane;
• by implementing the same deviation signaling device not on a section of motorway in the strict sense, but on a section of road with separate carriageways where a similar problem can naturally arise;
• by different locations of the device taking into account the nature and shape of the separating element placed on the central reservation, which can be other than a slide or a low wall.

It is also possible to design a device the signaling arms of which are in the retracted position, not in the horizontal position, but in the vertical position, in which case the device should include a pivoting means allowing the said arms to pivot by 90 °. around a vertical axis so as not to present, in the retracted position, the signaling means facing the traffic lanes. Such a device with vertical arms would find its use in places whose arrangement would not allow the establishment of horizontal arms.

Claims (11)

Deviation beacon for highway, usable for beaconing the deviation from one traffic lane (B) to another (A), and essentially constituted by a series of substantially horizontal signaling arms (3), arranged at intervals others on the portion of motorway concerned and having respective increasing lengths (L1, L2, L3, L4), each of these signaling arms (3) being pivotally mounted about a substantially vertical axis (4) so as to can be either retracted on one side of the road, or deployed above the traffic lane (B) whose traffic must be diverted to the other lane (A), the signaling arms (3) in the retracted position s '' applying laterally against safety rails (2) or against a concrete wall (29; 33, 34) characterized in that each signaling arm (3) is pivotally mounted around a pivot (14) located on the inside from the se slide curity (2) or positioned on the wall (29; 33, 34) set back from its base. Highway deflection marking device according to claim 1, characterized in that the pivots (14) are arranged between the two safety rails (2) of the central reservation (1) of the portion of the highway concerned and are fixed on an anchor plate (17). Highway deviation beacon device according to claim 2, characterized in that each signaling arm (3) is linked to its pivot (14) by an upper bent element (12) and by a lower bent element (13) which pass , respectively, above and below the safety barrier (2) against which it is applied in the retracted position. Highway deviation beacon device according to claim 2 or claim 3, characterized in that the anchoring soleplate (17) comprises screw adjustment means (18 to 22), for adjusting the horizontality of the signaling arm (3). Highway deviation beacon device according to claim 1, characterized in that it is adapted to a concrete wall, single (29) or double (33, 34), by means of support bearings (30, 31 , 36, 37) fixed against the inner face of a part of the wall (33). Highway deviation beacon device according to claim 5, characterized in that each signaling arm (3) is linked to its pivot (14) by an upper bent element (12) passing above the wall part (33 ) and by a lower bent element (13) which passes through a horizontal opening (38) formed in said low wall part (33). Highway deviation beacon device according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the part (5) of each signaling arm (3) which, in the deployed position of use, projects beyond the traffic lane (B), is made of a plastic material allowing it to break easily in the event of an impact with a vehicle. Highway deviation beacon device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the free end of each signaling arm (3) carries a terminal signaling plate (15). Highway deviation beacon device according to any one of Claims 1 to 8, characterized in that each signaling arm (3) is provided with locking means (23) in angular positions corresponding on the one hand to the position retracted and on the other hand to the deployed position of use. Deviation beacon device according to claim 9, characterized in that the aforementioned locking means (23) comprise a fixed locking cam (24) ending at its ends by two notches (25, 26), and a locking lever (28) linked to the signaling arm (3) and designed to cooperate with the cam (24) and its notches (25, 26), the locking lever (28) being actuated manually, or by foot, or even by means motorized. Deviation beacon device according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that it comprises a motorized control, with for each signaling arm (3) motor means, such as electric jacks associated with a control with distance.

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