Classifications

• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E01—CONSTRUCTION OF ROADS, RAILWAYS, OR BRIDGES
  • E01F—ADDITIONAL WORK, SUCH AS EQUIPPING ROADS OR THE CONSTRUCTION OF PLATFORMS, HELICOPTER LANDING STAGES, SIGNS, SNOW FENCES, OR THE LIKE
  • E01F9/00—Arrangement of road signs or traffic signals; Arrangements for enforcing caution
  • E01F9/60—Upright bodies, e.g. marker posts or bollards; Supports for road signs
  • E01F9/70—Storing, transporting, placing or retrieving portable devices

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a road signaling element and the vehicle for the deposit and the picking up of this element.
• FR-A-2 580 008 describes a road beacon capable of being deposited and picked up automatically, using a vehicle equipped accordingly.
• the tag described has a substantially conical upper part and a lower weighted part with rounded edges.
• this tag can, like a tumble, straighten itself when it is lying down at the time of its deposit or following a shock.
• the tag can be fitted, at its upper end, with hooking means, in the form of an axial rod comprising a spherical stop.
• the pickup device is in the form of a horizontal or slightly oblique rake projecting laterally from the vehicle.
• This rake is arranged to a height such that the rod of the beacon is inserted between two of the teeth of the rake when the vehicle passes close to the beacon, the stop making it possible to retain the latter vertically in the rake.
• a translational movement of the teeth ensures evacuation of the beacon towards the vehicle as soon as the pickup is carried out.
• the aforementioned device only allows the pickup of beacons and not their deposit on the road.
• EP-A-0 145 625 describes other devices for depositing and collecting beacons, these beacons comprising square bases perpendicular to their longitudinal axis, which ensure their stability.
• the current aims to remedy these drawbacks by providing a stable signaling element in both an upright and inverted position, which can be removed and picked up in all circumstances.
• the road signaling element which it relates to of the type comprising a body provided with a gripping head capable of bearing against the parallel teeth of a handling rake, is shaped to occupy several stable positions on the ground and comprises at least one other gripping head, said gripping heads being arranged so that at least one of them is located in the upper part of the element and is facing upwards, whatever the stable position the element occupies in relation to the ground.
• the element can be picked up by appropriate means mounted at an adequate height in a vehicle, regardless of the stable position it occupies, standing or overturned.
• the invention is particularly intended for signaling elements comprising a body and a polyhedral base, perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the body, making it possible to stabilize the element even when the latter is overturned.
• the gripping heads in addition to those arranged at the end of the body opposite the base, are arranged in the base itself.
• each gripping head is arranged so as to be inscribed inside the polyhedron that define, on the one hand, the end of the body of the element opposite to the base and, on the other hand, the angles of the base.
• the invention also relates to road signaling vehicles intended for the installation and recovery of the signaling elements according to any one of the preceding definitions.
• the vehicle comprises a mobile platform, on which is mounted at least one support for handling rakes, a support being capable of placing a handling rake which it supports to the right of said mobile platform, another support being likely to place a handling rake that it supports to the left of the mobile platform.
• the vehicle comprises a mobile platform, on which is pivotally mounted around of a vertical axis a support of said manipulation rake, so that this manipulation rake can be placed selectively, by means of a pivoting of the support around said vertical axis, to the right or to the left of said platform.
• the handling rake comprises teeth contained in at least two parallel planes whose height corresponds substantially, for one of the groups of teeth, to the height of the gripping head in the "upright" position of the signaling element, and, for the other group, at the height of the gripping head in the inverted position of the signaling element;
• a handling rake support comprises a ramp for adjusting the height of this handling rake, a slider which is slidably mounted along said ramp and a device for adjusting the sliding of this slider, the handling rake being mounted on the slide;
• the guide elements of the ramp have a first part, located between the bottom part and a determined location of the ramp, having a determined orientation that is substantially constant maintaining the horizontality of the teeth of the rake, extended at the top of the ramp by a second part, whose orientation, different from said determined orientation, causes the teeth of the handling rake to tilt relative to the horizontal and the subsequent evacuation of the handling rod of the signaling member from the teeth of the rake manipulation;
• the support comprises a stop, which is arranged so as to interfere with the heads of the signaling members possibly supported by the rake, so as, in the upper part of the ramp, to push said heads out of the teeth of the handling rake;
• a storage location is provided on the platform and includes a frustoconical wall, of vertical axis, converging towards the platform, the head clearance area of a signaling member outside the teeth of the handling rake being placed nearby. of said axis of the frustoconical wall;
• Each handling rake is capable of being placed at a determined distance from the ground, and of being mounted oscillating vertically around a mean position corresponding to said determined distance, the rake being for this purpose coupled to a device generating oscillations;
• the oscillation generating device comprises a cam coupled in rotation to a displacement member, which is provided with the vehicle, and coupled to said handling rake, so as to lower and raise it alternately relative to said average position and, according to a second embodiment, comprises a device for measuring the distance traveled, associated with a pulse generator coupled to said handling rake, so as to lower and raise it alternately relative to said average position according to a chosen step of said path to generate the pulses.
• FIG. 1 shows a LUBEC cone according to the invention, in a first position
• - Figure 2 shows the LUBEC cone of Figure 1, in a second position
• - Figure 3 is a view along arrow F of Figure 2
• Figures 4, 5A and 5B show variants of LUBEC cone bases according to one invention
• FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the gripping phase of a LUBEC cone according to one invention.
• FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a handling rake of a LUBEC cone according to
• FIGS. 8A to 8B are partial views and on an enlarged scale of the base of a LUBEC cone, according to different embodiments;
• FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a LUBEC cone and part of a rake for its gripping, according to another embodiment;
• - Figure 10 is an axial sectional view of two stacked cones;
• - Figures 11 and 12 are simplified views of the rear of a vehicle according to the invention according to two embodiments according to the invention;
• - Figure 13 is a top view of the vehicle of Figure 12;
• - Figure 14 is a side elevation view, along arrow G of Figure 13;
• Figures 15 and 16 are sections along XII-XII and XIII-XIII of Figure 14;
• FIGS. 17A, 17B are rear and side views, respectively, of an alternative embodiment of an assembly according to the invention, in a first configuration of use;
• FIG. 18A, 18B are views similar to Figures 17A, 17B, of the same assembly, in a second configuration of use;
• - Figure 19 is a rear view of a vehicle according to the invention;
• Figures 20A, 20B are views of two variants of a detail of the vehicle of Figure 19;
• - Figure 21 is a rear view of a variant according to the invention of the vehicle of Figure 19;
• - Figure 22 is a plan view, from below, of a vehicle according to the invention.
• - Figure 23 is a partial view, in perspective;
• Figure 24 is a cross-sectional view.
• Figures 1 to 3 show a LUBEC cone comprising a base 1, through which the cone rests on the ground 2 in normal configuration of road signs, a frustoconical body 3 carrying the color signaling strips, whose axis 4 is erected vertically when the base 1 rests on the ground 2.
• the base 1 is substantially shaped into an equilateral triangle and the assembly of the base 1 and the frustoconical cone 3 is inscribed in a tetrahedron with four vertices 5.
• the cone has a gripping head, comprising a head 7 proper, of diameter D7, and a rod 6, of diameter D6 less than D7, which connects it to the frustoconical body 3, extending vertically towards that of the four highest vertices 5, this regardless of the side 8 of the base 1 on which the cone rests when it has been tilted around this side 8, or even that the cone rests on its base 1.
• FIG. 6 represents a simple handling rake 10, with teeth 9 parallel to each other and to the ground 2, spaced one from the next by a distance D9 greater than the diameter D6 of the rods 6, and less than the diameter D7 of the heads 7, so that, during a movement of said rake 10 parallel to its teeth 9, of course by adjusting the height of the teeth 9 relative to the ground for the make it equal to the average height H6 of the rod 6 erected upwards, it is possible to introduce the rod 6 between two teeth 9 and to manipulate the LUBEC cone, either to place it on the ground 2, or for the remove from the ground 2.
• the triangular shape of the base 1 which is the simplest shape allowing both tilting of the LUBEC cone into determined configurations in which a rod 6 is erected vertically and upwards, and the maintenance stable of said configurations, is not the only one that can be adopted.
• Figures 4,5A and 5B show LUBEC cone bases, also according to the invention, which are, one ( Figure 4) of generally square shape, with two rods 6 and two heads 7 per side to ensure the stability of the determined configurations in which at least one, here two, rods 6 are erected vertically upwards, the others (FIGS. 5A and 5B) of generally pentagonal shape, the base then being provided with five rods 6 and five heads 7 .
• FIGS. 8A to 8D show different alternative embodiments of the gripping heads, arranged in bases 1 of triangular shape.
• the rod 6 comprising the head 7 can be simple (FIG. 8A) or double (FIG. 8B), of cylindrical shape (FIGS. 8A, 8B) or parallelepiped and of thickness equal to that of the base (FIG. 8C).
• the gripping head can also be constituted by a peripheral "ring" 40 delimiting, with the base 1 which is interrupted at its corners, an opening 41 for engaging one or more teeth 9 of the rake 10.
• FIG. 9 shows another embodiment of the cone gripping heads in the inverted position, having the advantage of being able to be applied to preexisting cones, with square bases.
• lights 42 are arranged in the base 1 to receive the teeth 9 of the rake 10, specially designed to be engaged through these lights 42.
• each gripping head is arranged so as to be inscribed inside the polyhedron defined by the end of the body 3 of the element opposite the base 1, d on the one hand, and the angles of the base 1 on the other.
• the stacking of the elements is not hampered by the gripping heads and is carried out in the same way as for the existing cones.
• FIG. 10 also shows that the elements can comprise a hole 43 arranged along their longitudinal axis, this hole being intended to receive the finger of a plate supporting a signaling light.
• FIG. 11 represents the rear of a maintenance and / or construction vehicle which comprises a platform 12 mounted mobile on wheels 13, platform on which are mounted two inclined ramps 14 and 15 for supporting and guiding reinforcements 11 handling rakes 10A, 10B or 10.
• the ramp 14 has its upper part close to the median vertical axis 17 of the platform 12 and its lower part close to the rear left side of the platform.
• a frame 11 supporting two handling rakes 10A, 10B is slidably mounted, by means of a slide 16 and an endless chain 37, along the ramp so that the handling rakes can on the one hand grab a LUBEC cone (1-3) which rests on the ground 2, whatever its position and, on the other hand, lift this LUBEC cone until placing it inside the vehicle above the platform 12 , where it will be stored.
• a LUBEC cone (1-3) which rests on the ground 2
• FIGS. 14 to 18B, 22 and 23 the method of depositing LUBEC cones out of the teeth of the handling rakes and of placing them in reserve on the platform 12.
• the ramp 15 has its upper part near the median vertical axis 17 of the platform 12 and its lower part near the right rear side of the platform.
• the periodic oscillation of the handling rake makes it possible to deposit a LUBEC cone (1-3), the base 1 of which has been previously placed near the ground 2, on the ground 2.
• the frame 11 of the handling rake 10 is by elsewhere mounted sliding along the ramp 15 by means of a slide 20 and an endless chain 37.
• FIG. 11 shows a variant of mobile platform 12 having only a single inclined ramp 21, which, on the other hand, is pivotally mounted about the median axis 17 of the platform 12.
• this inclined ramp 21 makes it possible to take up and / or deposit LUBEC cones, both on the right side and on the left side of platform 12. It allows in particular to set up, on a first side of the platform, a row of LUBEC cones, or other signaling elements, such as beacons or signs, while removing the LUBEC cones previously arranged in a row on the second side of the platform.
• the inclined ramp 21 pivots about the vertical axis 17, takes up a LUBEC cone from the second side to replace it along the first side. It is thus possible, with only one signaling element in excess with respect to those of one of the rows, to move the signaling elements from one row to the other row and to shift the beacon track.
• Figures 14 to 16 show the detail of examples of arrangements allowing the automatic ejection, out of the teeth of a handling rake 10, of a LUBEC cone previously removed by said teeth.
• the ramp 22 is contained in a vertical transverse plane perpendicular to the direction of movement D of the mobile platform 12 and is inclined from its upper end 22A, close to the median axis of the platform, to its lower end 22B, close on one of the sides, right or left, of the platform 12.
• the slide 23, of which the frame 11 is integral, support for the handling rake 10, is guided by two cables 24 or the like (tie rods, rods, bars) .
• the cables 24 are parallel and contained in a plane inclined relative to the vertical.
• the conformation of the fixing of the frame 11 on the slide 23 is such that the teeth of the handling rake remain parallel to the direction D, that is to say horizontal.
• the LUBEC cone, previously gripped by its gripping head 7 which rests on two successive teeth, remains suspended from the handling rake 10.
• the plane of the cables 24, according to the section shown in FIG. 16 inclines with respect to the direction D (and with respect to the horizontal) and the teeth 9 of the handling rake 10 have the same inclination, their free ends 9A constituting the lower part of these teeth, so that at - beyond the height HC the LUBEC cone escapes by gravity out of the teeth 9 and falls on the platform 12.
• FIGS. 17A, 17B, 18A, 18B show an alternative embodiment of the device for releasing the LUBEC cone from the teeth 9 of the handling rake 10.
• a piece such as a corner, forming a stop 25, is arranged at a determined height HC relative to the platform 12, along the cables 24, so as to interfere with the head 7 of a LUBEC cone suspended from the teeth 9 of a handling rake 10.
• the handling rake 10 is moved along cables 24, in the direction of its elevation relative to the platform 12, the head 7 of a LUBEC cone (1-3) initially suspended between two teeth 9 is opposite the part forming a stop 25 (FIGS. 17A , 17B).
• FIG. 18A, 18B show the arrangement of Figure 11 relating to the auxiliary wheel 18.
• the wheel 18 rolls on the ground at the same linear speed as the wheel 13 (both travel the same distance).
• a rod vertical 29 connects the support frame 11 of the handling rake 10 to the surface of the cam.
• a LUBEC cone is deposited on the ground 2.
• the hollows 28 and the vertices 27 of a cam 26 are distributed angularly in a regular manner, the device 19, which includes the cam 26 and the rod 29, makes it possible to deposit the LUBEC cones at regular intervals on the ground 2.
• the handling rake 10 oscillates around a determined average position between a position allowing the installation of a LUBEC cone on floor 2 and one posi tion where the LUBEC cone is suspended above the ground, before its installation.
• FIG. 21 schematically represents an alternative embodiment.
• An arm 30 is coupled (31) to the armature 11, and is part of a pulse generator 32 which delivers a lowering pulse of the armature 11 when a device 33 for measuring the distance traveled detects that has been traveled a distance since the filing of the last LUBEC cone on the ground equal to the desired interval separating two successive LUBEC cones.
• the pulse generators 32 and measuring devices 33 are advantageously made in the form of electronic, adjustable elements, the assembly having the same function as that of FIG. 16, and performing the oscillation of the handling rake around a determined position, between a position for placing a LUBEC cone, and a position for suspending the LUBEC cone before it is placed on the ground.
• Figures 22,23 and 24 show an automatic storage device for LUBEC cones.
• a plurality of guides 34 each consisting of two walls 34A in a circle sector and, on the other hand, a truncated cone 35 with large upper base, of vertical axis 36.
• the cone 35 itself comprises two guide walls 37, in a circle sector and arranged perpendicular to the walls 34.
• the cables 24 for guiding the slide 23 extend above the truncated cone 35, and beyond the axis 36, to the location provided for the separation of the LUBEC cone from the handling rake 10 (upper end 22A of the ramp 22) .
• This end 22A is close to the axis 36 and is arranged so that when it falls inside the truncated cone 35, the LUBEC cone first strikes, via its head 7 or its body 3, the upper edge 35A of the truncated cone 35 and rocks so that its hollow base 1 slides over the body 3 of a previously deposited LUBEC cone.
• the arrow K in FIG. 24 shows the direction of the tilting of the LUBEC cone during its fall.
• the invention is not limited to the embodiments described, but on the contrary covers all the variants which could be made to them without departing from their scope or their spirit.
• the invention described which relates to the constitution of signaling organs by LUBEC cones, is not limited to the manipulation only of LUBEC cones, but relates, in general, to all the organs signs used, such as beacons (K5C types for example), beacons, signboards and, of course also, LUBEC cones.
• the body 3 may not have a strictly conical shape.
• it can have a three-lobed shape in cross section, that is to say with three equidistant branches, facilitating its stacking.
• the rake can have asymmetrical teeth, that is to say, ⁇ on one side, teeth adapted to a particular type of gripping heads (cf. for example the teeth 9 shown in FIG. 6 for the head placed at the end of the cone) and, on the other side, teeth suitable for gripping the cone when it is overturned (see Figure 9), the rake can be pivoted to put one or the other of the series of teeth forward.
• the rake can include means for automatically controlling its movement depending on whether or not a signaling element is engaged between its teeth.
• the teeth may include retention means (roughness, non-slip material, etc.) to maintain the signaling elements between them.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Architecture (AREA)
• Civil Engineering (AREA)
• Structural Engineering (AREA)
• Refuge Islands, Traffic Blockers, Or Guard Fence (AREA)
• Road Repair (AREA)
• Road Signs Or Road Markings (AREA)
• Load-Engaging Elements For Cranes (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=9433620

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (5)

Families Citing this family (5)

Family Cites Families (4)

• 1992
  • 1992-09-17 FR FR9211107A patent/FR2695599B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 1993
  • 1993-09-16 EP EP93920888A patent/EP0663976B1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1993-09-16 WO PCT/FR1993/000892 patent/WO1994006968A1/fr active IP Right Grant
  • 1993-09-16 DE DE69307334T patent/DE69307334T2/de not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1993-09-16 ES ES93920888T patent/ES2099474T3/es not_active Expired - Lifetime

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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