EP0628111B1 - Collapsible barrier - Google Patents

Abstract

A collapsible barrier comprising at least one rail (2) and a secondary rail (10'). The barrier is remarkable in that the rail (2) is supported by two or more spaced apart diamond-shaped mechanical assemblies (3') each consisting of four arms hinged together at their ends, in that said rail (2) is attached to one hinge of each assembly, i.e. a rail hinge (5), while the opposite hinge, i.e. a ground hinge (4), is fixed to the ground or to a member (1) placed on or fixed to the ground, said secondary rail consisting of a rod (10') parallel to the rail passing through or passed through by the other two hinges (6, 7) of each assembly, and in that at least one locking system is provided for locking the barrier in at least one operative position.

Description

The invention relates to an extendable barrier, in particular intended to constitute a railing or a barrier, or even a signaling barrier.

The present invention is indeed more particularly, but not exclusively, intended to protect pits, trenches, or the like, against accidental falls of passers-by or workers, and in general, to temporarily protect, permanent excavations , such as garage pits.

However, not only does the invention also make it possible to equip a platform, a terrace, a loading dock, or the like, but it also makes it possible to provide a temporary barrier for parking, pedestrian street, work areas, etc. or constitute a simple support barrier for signaling.

A garage pit railing, for example, has a heald, a sill and a baseboard.

Such a guardrail must be able to be installed and uninstalled easily since it must not hinder the use of the pit.

This is why we imagined railings of the folding type, such as those described in French patents 2621346 and 2661932 in the name of the same inventor.

One of the drawbacks of the known devices is the need to provide a housing for the folded railing which constitutes a grip on the pit and / or requires earthworks.

The barrier according to the invention makes it possible inter alia to avoid this drawback.

The invention indeed provides an extendable barrier comprising at least one heald and one sub-heald, but which is remarkable in that the heald is supported by at least two mechanical diamonds separated from one another and each formed of four arms hinged together at their ends, in that the heald is fixed to one of the articulations of each rhombus, called heald articulation, the diametrically opposite articulation, called ground articulation, being intended to be fixed to the ground or on an element to be fixed or placed on the ground, while the sub-rail is constituted by at least one rod parallel to the rail which crosses the two other joints of each rhombus, called under-hinge joints, or is crossed by them, and that at least one blocking system is provided for blocking the barrier in at least one position of use.

It is understood that such a barrier is extendable upwards, the heald and the sub-heald can thus be raised or lowered vertically (for a horizontal installation).

According to one embodiment, the blocking system comprises on at least one of the sub-hinge joints for each diamond, a threaded ring, intended to come into engagement with a threaded part of the sub-smooth rod.

Advantageously in this case, a rotational drive means is further provided to be engaged with the sub-rail rod so that the rotation of the latter causes the spacing, or the approximation, of the sub articulations. -smooth and vice versa the approximation or spacing of the heald and ground joints. Preferably also, the sub-arm rod has for each rhombus a threaded part for only one of the sub-hinge joints of said rhombus and a smooth part for the other sub-hinge articulation, the latter comprising a ring wherein said sub-arm rod can slide freely.

According to another embodiment, possibly with manual actuation, the locking system comprises for each rhombus and on at least one of the sub-hinge joints, a pawl intended to come into engagement with at least one notch formed on the rod sub-arm, which is made rotatable to be able to disengage from the pawl by simple rotation.

For example in this case, at least one counterweight is provided to hold the sub-arm rod in a position in which the notches with which it is provided, are turned towards the pawls.

Such a barrier can also be constituted by several elementary barriers connected together by means which subject the sub-rails to rotation as desired, while a means for locking in rotation can be provided on at least one of said elementary barriers. .

According to a particularly advantageous embodiment, the blocking system includes, for some at least of the diamonds, a double-acting cylinder whose rod acts on one of the arms of said diamond, while the sub-arm joints are slidably mounted in the sub-arm so that actuation of the actuator causes the sub-arm articulations to move apart, or reciprocally, and vice versa, the approximation or the spacing of the heald and floor joints. Preferably in this case, the cylinder of the jack is positioned substantially at ground level, parallel to the sub-beam and to the beam, while the rod of said cylinder is articulated by at least one link to one of the arms neighboring the ground joint of said rhombus.

The end of the cylinder rod can, for example, be articulated to the link by means of at least one roller.

In particular to ensure a well parallel lifting of the heddle, one of the two sub-hinge joints of at least some of the diamonds are connected together by a connecting bar. Advantageously also, at least some of the sub-hinge joints are stressed by a compression spring acting in particular as a damping means on the descent.

To allow various applications, an embodiment is remarkable in that the sub-rail rod has several sections connected to each other by articulated connections thus making it possible to constitute a barrier in a broken line.

The floor joint is, for example, fixed to a base forming at least one plinth, said base being intended to be fixed or to rest on the ground.

The base can have the shape of an inverted T, but also the shape of a U.

The base can also be intended to be placed in an excavation provided for this purpose.

In this case and according to one embodiment, the base is, for example, framed on either side of its length by elements forming a ramp and it is articulated to at least one of said elements which rests on the ground of such so that the other element is raised when the barrier is forced towards the articulated element.

Depending on the applications, it is also possible to provide for the ends of the heddle to be slidably mounted in two lateral uprights, means which can also be provided in at least one of the uprights to activate the barrier by acting on the arm.

• les figures 1, 2 et 3 montrent une barrière selon l'invention dans trois positions, respectivement basse, intermédiaire et haute,
• les figures 4, 5 et 6 correspondent aux figures 1 à 3, selon un autre mode de réalisation,
• la figure 7 montre en partie un autre mode de réalisation pourvu d'un autre système de blocage,
• la figure 8 montre un raccordement particulier entre deux éléments de barrière,
• la figure 9 représente une application rendue possible grâce à un raccordement du type de celui de la figure 8,
• les figures 10 à 15 montrent des applications possibles des modes de réalisation représentés sur les figures précédentes.

The invention will be clearly understood and other particularities will appear on reading the description which follows and which refers to the appended drawings in which:

• FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 show a barrier according to the invention in three positions, respectively low, intermediate and high,
• FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 correspond to FIGS. 1 to 3, according to another embodiment,
• FIG. 7 partially shows another embodiment provided with another blocking system,
• FIG. 8 shows a particular connection between two barrier elements,
• FIG. 9 represents an application made possible by a connection of the type of that of FIG. 8,
• Figures 10 to 15 show possible applications of the embodiments shown in the previous figures.

A barrier according to the invention, as shown in Figures 1 to 6, comprises a base 1 intended to be fixed or placed on the ground, or on any element integral with the latter, and a heddle 2 in the form of a bar (identical parts from one embodiment to another having the same references).

The rail 2 is movably attached to the base 1, by means of articulated arms forming diamonds such as diamonds 3 and 3 '.

In the embodiment of Figures 1 to 3, there are two diamonds 3 and in the embodiment of Figures 4 to 6, three diamonds 3 'are used (there could of course be more).

As shown in the figures, each rhombus 3, 3 'is made up of four arms hinged together.

The base 1 and the rail 2 in fact comprise parts respectively 4 and 5 on which the corresponding ends of two arms of each rhombus are articulated, and this is why the parts 4 and 5 will be referred to hereinafter as joints of ground and smooth.

In fact, it is perfectly understood that the arms of the rhombus could be directly articulated with one another without the intermediary of parts 4 and 5.

The other two joints 6, 6 'and 7, 7', are said to be sub-smooth for the reasons which will be understood below. In the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 3, the sub-hinge joints 6, 7 comprise for one 6, a threaded ring 8 and for the other 7, a smooth ring 9.

The rings 8 and 9 of the joints 6 and 7 are crossed by the sub-rail formed by at least one bar or rod 10.

The rod 10 here has threaded parts 10a and smooth parts 10b.

The threaded parts 10a are intended to cooperate with the threaded rings 8 and the smooth parts 10b are intended to pass freely through the rings 9.

In this way, it is understood that a rotation of the sub-rail rod 10 makes it possible, by screwing and unscrewing, to bring the joints 6 and 7 closer or apart and at the same time of course respectively to move the joints 4 and 5 and therefore raise or lower the heald 2 and the rod 10 of the sub-heald.

To ensure this rotation, an electric, hydraulic, pneumatic, or other motor 11 is provided here.

The dimensions are such that in the folded position (Figure 1), all the elements are housed in the base 1.

It is understood that the sub-arm rod has several functions here.

It firstly constitutes a necessary, or even mandatory, sub-arm for protection, but also a control and blocking member for the barrier.

We can consider several possible elevation heights depending on the uses, Figure 3 showing a maximum elevation depending on the length provided for the threaded parts of the rod 10.

It is clear, however, that the entire rod 10 could be threaded.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 4 to 6, the sub-heald joints 6 ′, 7 ′ are also crossed by a sub-heald rod 10 ′, but here each articulation 6 ′, 7 ′ has an axis which crosses a corresponding light 10 ′ arranged in said sub-arm rod (see also FIG. 12 for a perspective view).

There is therefore no threaded part here, nor a motor 11.

On the other hand, it can be seen that the two end diamonds 3 ′ are equipped with jacks 26, for example hydraulic, the cylinders of which are arranged in the base 1 opposite each other, parallel to said base and therefore parallel to the arm 2 and to the rod 10 'of the sub-arm.

The rods 27 of the cylinders 26 are articulated by means of a roller 28 to a double link 29, itself articulated to one of the arms of the diamond close to the articulation 4 of the ground, the aforementioned references 27 to 29 being only indicated on one of the jacks 26 which equips one of the diamonds 3 'of FIG. 6 to avoid unnecessary repetitions.

In addition, in this particular and entirely advantageous embodiment of FIGS. 4 to 6, one of the articulations of the sub-arm of each rhombus, in this case here the articulations 6 ′, are connected together by a bar link 30.

It is understood that the actuation of the jacks 26 makes it possible to act on one of the arms of the end diamonds and thus to cause the raising and lowering of the heddle 2 and of the sub-heald rod 10 ', the system can thus take, among other things, the positions shown in Figures 4 to 6, Figure 4 showing the folded position in which, as before, the assembly is housed in the base 1.

The connecting bar 30 appeared very useful for ensuring a well parallel lifting of the heald and the sub-heald. In addition, the bar 30 stiffens the diamond 3 'of the medium without cylinder, because it is clear that it is not necessary to provide one cylinder per diamond and the arrangement shown with three diamonds and two cylinders is particularly interesting.

The inventor also provided compression springs (not visible in the drawings) arranged in the openings 10'a, to ensure damping on the descent and / or to facilitate lifting.

In addition, other position locking means can be provided, as shown, for example, in the embodiment of FIG. 7 in which, in fact, the sub-heald joints, referenced here 6 "and 7", have pawls 12, 13 intended to cooperate with notches 14, 15 formed in the rod 10 "of the sub-rail.

In addition, in this embodiment, a counterweight 16 forces the sub-arm 10 "to be presented in such a way that the notches 14, 15 with which it is provided are turned towards said pawls 12, 13.

It is perfectly understood that in this embodiment, it suffices to lift the heald 2 to cause the locking of the pawls whereas it is necessary to turn the sub-heald 10 "to release the latter and fold up the barrier. It is also understood that the lifting of the arm 2 can be done by any means and even of course manually.

One can of course imagine connecting several barriers of the type of Figure 7, means being provided to subject at will in rotation, the sub-beams 10 ". These means can, for example, be arranged in the counterweights 16 which include for this purpose each a coupling groove 16 ′, as shown in FIG. 7. In addition, in this case, it is also possible to provide a means for locking the rotation of at least one of the barriers, this means comprising, for example, a lock provided in at least one of the articulations 6 ", 7", actuable by a key. This locking can of course be provided even if the barrier is in a single element.

FIG. 8 shows a barrier of the type of that of FIGS. 1 to 3 (one can of course use the same means or similar means for the embodiment of FIGS. 4 to 6), but the sub-stringer 10 is in several sections connected to each other by fittings, such as fitting 17, here of Cardan type.

Such an arrangement makes it possible in particular to make elbows as shown in the barrier of FIG. 9 provided with at least one connection 17.

For a barrier of this type, the rail 2 and / or the base 1 can also be in several parts (or in one and have elbows).

Figure 9 already shows an application. Figures 10 to 13 show other possible applications.

With two barriers as described, it is possible, for example, to protect a garage pit 18, as shown in FIG. 10 (it is by way of example that the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 3 is used here. ).

Figures 1 to 10 show a base 1 formed of an inverted T-shaped iron (Figure 10) or L-shaped (Figure 9) and therefore constituting a plinth.

Figures 11 to 15, on the other hand, show a U-shaped base 1.

The base 1 in FIGS. 11 and 12 is intended to be placed in an excavation, or as here between two elements 19, 20 forming ramps, the barrier of FIG. 11 being of the type described in connection with FIGS. 1 to 3, and that of FIG. 12 of the type of that described in connection with FIGS. 4 to 6.

It is therefore understood that the whole barrier can fold back into the base 1, the assembly forming, for example, a retarder (the arm 2 being sufficiently wide to cover the base 1).

In the application of FIG. 13, only one ramp element 19 is provided, the barrier being, for example, intended for a landing quay.

Figures 14 and 15 show a barrier as previously described, but which is further provided here with two lateral uprights 21 and 22 in which the ends of the heddle 2 are, for example, slidably mounted. It can be a barrier forming a portal, for example. An entirely interesting embodiment can of course be directly obtained with the embodiment of FIGS. 4 to 6, the sliding being ensured by the openings 10'a. To do this, simply add amounts in Figure 12.

To actuate the barrier of Figures 14 and 15, there is provided at least one cylinder 23 arranged in at least one of the uprights, said cylinder being intended to act on the rail 2. However, with a device such as that of Figure 12, the actuating cylinders are arranged as already said in the base 1.

As in the case of FIGS. 11 and 12, the base is mounted between two elements 19, 20 forming ramps.

In addition, as shown more particularly in FIG. 15, the base and the uprights 21 and 22 are articulated at 24, 25 with said elements respectively 19 and 20.

In this way, if the barrier is forced with a vehicle in one direction or the other, the barrier will pivot towards the element opposite to the direction of arrival of the vehicle while the other element will be driven in rotation and will block the vehicle. from below.

It is obvious that in this case, the articulation can only be provided on one side.

In addition, the element intended to be raised can be equipped with a stand which unfolds at the time of pivoting to prevent its return to the initial position without special intervention.

Claims (19)

1. Extensible barrier comprising at least one top rail (2) and a lower rail (10, 10' 10''), characterised in that the top rail (2) is supported by at least two mechanical rhombuses (3, 3') separated from one another and each formed by four arms articulated together by their ends, in that the top rail (2) is fixed to one of the articulations of each rhombus, called the top rail articulation (5), the diametrically opposing articulation, called the ground articulation (4), being designed to be fixed to the ground or to an element (1) to be fixed or laid on the ground, while the lower rail is constituted by at least one rod (10, 10' 10'') which is parallel to the top rail and passes through the other two articulations (6, 7; 6', 7'; 6'', 7'') of each rhombus, called lower rail articulations, or is traversed by these, and in that at least one locking system is provided to lock the barrier in at least one position of use.
2. Barrier according to claim 1, characterised in that on at least one of the lower rail articulations (6) of each rhombus the locking system comprises a tapped ring (8), designed to engage with a threaded portion (10a) of the lower rail rod (10).
3. Barrier according to claim 2, characterised in that a means of entrainment in rotation (11) is additionally provided so as to be in engagement with the lower rail rod (10) such that the rotation of the latter leads to the widening or the narrowing of the gap between the lower rail articulations (6, 7) and reciprocally the narrowing or the widening of the gap between the top rail articulations (5) and the ground articulations (4).
4. Barrier according to one of claims 2 and 3, characterised in that for each rhombus (3) the lower rail rod (10) exhibits a threaded portion (10a) for just one (6) of the lower rail articulations of said rhombus and a smooth portion (10b) for the other lower rail articulation (7), the latter comprising a ring (9) in which said lower rail rod can slide freely.
5. Barrier according to claim 1, characterised in that for each rhombus and on at least one of the lower rail articulations (6", 7") the locking system comprises a pawl (12, 13) designed to engage with at least one notch (14, 15) formed on the lower rail rod (10") which is made capable of rotation in order to be able to disengage from the pawl through simple rotation.
6. Barrier according to claim 5, characterised in that at least one counter weight (16) is provided to maintain the lower rail rod (10") in a position in which the notches (14, 15) formed in it are turned towards the pawls.
7. Barrier according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that it is constituted by a plurality of elementary barriers connected together by means (16') which control the lower rails (10") in rotation at will, while a rotational locking means can be provided on at least one of said elementary barriers.
8. Barrier according to claim 1, characterised in that for at least some of the rhombuses (3') the locking system comprises a double-acting jack (26) whose rod (27) acts on one of the arms of said rhombus (3'), while the lower rail articulations (6', 7') are mounted slidingly in the lower rail (10') such that the operation of the jack (26) causes the widening or the narrowing of the gap between the lower rail articulations (6', 7') and reciprocally the narrowing or the widening of the gap between the top rail articulations (5) and the ground articulations (4).
9. Barrier according to claim 8, characterised in that the cylinder of the jack is positioned substantially at ground level, parallel to the lower rail (10') and to the top rail (2), while the rod (27) of said jack is articulated through at least one link rod (29) to the adjacent one of the arms of the ground articulation (4) of said rhombus.
10. Barrier according to claim 9, characterised in that the end of the rod (27) of the jack (26) is articulated to the link rod (29) through the intermediary of at least one roller (28).
11. Barrier according to one of claims 8 to 10, characterised in that one (6') of the two lower rail articulations (10') of at least some of the rhombuses (3') are linked together by a linking bar (30).
12. Barrier according to one of claims 8 to 11, characterised in that at least some of the lower rail articulations (7') are subjected to the action of a compression spring serving notably as a damper during lowering.
13. Barrier according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterised in that the lower rail rod exhibits a plurality of sections linked together by articulated connectors (17), thus making it possible to form a barrier in a jagged line.
14. Barrier according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterised in that the ground articulation (4) is fixed to a base (1) forming at least one plinth, said base being designed to be fixed or to rest on the ground.
15. Barrier according to claim 14, characterised in that the base (1) takes the form of a U.
16. Barrier according to one of claims 14 and 15, characterised in that the base (1) is designed to be disposed in an excavation provided for that purpose.
17. Barrier according to claim 16, characterised in that the base (1) is framed on either side of its length by elements (19, 20) forming a ramp and in that it is articulated (24, 25) to at least one of said elements (19, 20) which rests on the ground such that the other element is raised when the barrier is forced towards the articulated element.
18. Barrier according to one of claims 1 to 17, characterised in that the ends of the top rail (2) are mounted slidingly in two side uprights (21, 22).
19. Barrier according to claim 18, characterised in that means (23) are provided in at least one of the uprights (21, 22) to operate the barrier by acting on the top rail (2).

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