EP0866171A1 - Device for protecting a wall and a peripheral zone - Google Patents

Abstract

The protection components (1) comprise stop pipes, which can slide into the coupling devices, crossing (2) them in an adjusted manner. The protection devices have a cylindrical profile and are arranged in accordance with a certain height by means of spacing components (10) provided for this purpose. The height corresponds to the impact of a tyre of a vehicle in collision. The impact is absorbed by the vehicle tyre when the protective device is hit by a standard vehicle. The spacing components (10) comprise on the one hand a set of feet supporting the coupling devices and on the other hand protection components adjusted to them and arranged at a distance from one another.

Description

The present invention relates to a protection device for the protection of a wall, more particularly the facade of a building and its marginal area.

The current state of the art known in this respect consists of concrete blocks called bumpers which, in a way unsightly are placed in front of certain facades. Due of their significant weight they have the disadvantage that they must be installed using expensive machinery, vehicles for heavy transport and used forklifts specially for this purpose. In addition, these concrete blocks take up a lot of space. By their arrangement uninterrupted they constitute a collector for waste piling up in front of the buildings. Also, this system is limited with regard to its application because of its large volume. In companies with extensive installations where there is a continuous movement of forklifts and other transportation they can be a potential danger to workers circulating.

Nowadays, in companies the ground is marked by colored lines to indicate pedestrian areas and to separate them from vehicle traffic areas. However, this means is not very effective. Since it does not offer no physical protection and the danger of a vehicle incoming is not excluded. Consequently accidents of circulation is possible, even inside businesses.

In order to remedy this drawback, according to the current state of technique, we often use concrete blocks prefabricated elongated and massive on areas of parking. On the public highway also concrete blocks heavy are used to protect footpaths in hazardous areas. Most often, during a accidental collision with a vehicle they cause damage to vehicles, but also to these concrete blocks. Of this fact the blocks are moved and therefore they must be re-aligned and repaired afterwards.

Today, unauthorized parking on trails pedestrian is fought by placing small poles in concrete, cast iron or increasingly wooden. They are regularly aligned along the edge of the footpath. But after each contact with a vehicle they leave a messy appearance because their vertical position is easily transformed into an inclined position. So the solution they offer is not a satisfactory solution for the dangerous situation in which pedestrians get found in everyday traffic.

Typically the systems in use today still cause damage to vehicles upon impact accidental. Most of these systems are heavy, unsightly and require a lot of maintenance.

We still know a protection device for vehicles according to document FR-1083771-A. However the device described in this document has the disadvantage that its maintenance is particularly complicated, due to the fact that this device must be completely dismantled, including support legs and protective bars when only one element must be replaced. The presence of partitions in the inside of the support legs does not allow passage protective pipes therein. By therefore the maintenance of the device described above takes a lot of time.

In addition, the protection bars described in this document have a square section and therefore the surface of contact between the stopper pipe on the one hand and the tire of colliding car on the other hand is more important. Which is a disadvantage with regard to the elastic deformation of the stopper pipe caused when the impact of the car tire on the bumper pipe. Then contact surface between car tires and beam flat constituting the protective element and which is located at an angle of 45 ° is important, which makes it necessary an enlarged support leg, as described here and which comes out laterally from the plane in which the pipes are located bumpers.

Add to that the support legs extend laterally with respect to the actual stopper pipe. This which is still a disadvantage because so the feet of support can be an unexpected obstacle both for cars running along the protective pipes that for protected pedestrians, because the attention of the driver of the vehicle or pedestrian will be drawn to the stopper pipe extending continuously rather than over the support legs arranged in places, especially when protective pipes have a layer of paint particularly clear or fluorescent. This prominence lateral makes the system less suitable to serve as guiding protection.

In addition, the construction of the support legs is not standardized, which makes manufacturing expensive. In addition, the protective elements described here are in addition wooden bars. This material is insufficient as long as maintenance perspective that from the perspective of the safety with regard to the vulnerable road user.

Yet another protective device is known from document US-2936150. However, the device described in this document has almost the same disadvantages as that of the document mentioned above. So here too a foot of side projecting support is described as well as a non-standardized production of support legs and a large contact surface with wooden beams, placed at an angle of 45 °.

The object of the present invention is to remedy the disadvantages mentioned above. The mounting problem complicated is remedied by the measure determined at the claim 1. Thus, thanks to the invention it is obtained that the round stopper pipes can be slid into the connecting elements and exited from these elements without a disassembly of the support leg is necessary. Which makes the system according to the invention particularly suitable for user and easy to use. In addition, thanks to system according to the invention, advantageously remedy is inclined to the aforementioned problems with regard to the security.

Other particularities are determined by the secondary claims 2 and 3. Thus we obtain that the contact surface between the car tire coming in collision and the stopper pipe is minimal. In addition, according to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, a standard pipe system is provided, which can be slid in a sleeve and brought to a height that corresponds almost that of common car tires. By therefore this system therefore functions as an element barrier that protects both the facade and the pedestrian. So the colliding car is not damaged, thanks to the suitable height at which the system is fitted out, also minimizing the stress on the protection. Consequently a more reduced dimensioning the support leg is sufficient, the latter being entirely limited inside the vertical plane of the stopper pipe.

In addition, an essential advantage exists that the protection against a colliding car will take place at the height of the deformable tires so elastic and not to other parts, irrevocably deformable of the vehicle. Therefore, during a collision with the protection device according to the invention no damage is caused to cars or the device protection.

Thanks to this measure according to claim 4, one obtains that the support feet are fully understood at inside the plane of the stopper pipes, so that that no lateral obstacle is formed, nor for cars running along the protective pipes, nor for pedestrians moving along the protective pipes. Thanks to the free space, as defined according to the claim 5 a light structure is obtained, avoiding as well as dust, litter and other matter collect at the location of the spacers of the device, thereby significantly improving maintenance daily.

Thanks to its light structure, more particularly by the raised support leg, the rubbish and water are washed away from below the system. In this way we avoid that the refuse will pile up at the location of the protection system. Therefore, the system is also aesthetic and maintenance-free.

Thanks to the measurement according to claim 6, it is obtained that the energy transmission during an impact is less demanding with regard to the support leg, more particularly with regard to its stability.

Thanks to the measurement according to claim 7, it is obtained that mounting and / or dismantling the protection device can be done in a particularly easy way, simply by sliding the stopper pipes into the elements cylindrical coupling or by removing them. So a particularly user-friendly system is obtained, saving time during repairs.

Thanks to the measures according to claim 7, one obtains also that the stopper pipes can rotate freely in the coupling elements among others during a impact of a car tire. Which has a favorable effect on the transmission of energy upon impact. So energy can be absorbed by the protection system in a flexible way. In addition, thanks to the simplicity no more specialized personnel are required for mounting.

Thus, according to an advantageous embodiment of the invention a standardized pipe system is provided which can be slipped into a sleeve. So the system of protection according to the invention is particularly handy, because it is composed of standardized elements of use current, allowing particularly easy mounting and fast.

The system is also easy to disassemble, which is particularly useful in case you need to quickly clear a passage for security reasons.

In addition, possible distorted parts can be replaced in a rather simple way.

Another feature of the system according to the invention is constituted by the possibility offered by the good system align parked cars so that that optimal use of parking space be assured. Usefully, a detection system can be incorporated into the security system for inform the driver using a signal, allowing him to check if it is parked correctly or not.

In addition, if all the cars move until they affect the system, we get maximum use of parking spaces, saving money on construction costs.

Yet another feature of the system according to the invention is that when a certain impact velocity of the car in collision is exceeded, the latter may overtake the system, yet without being able to back off. Thus according to the system of the invention a system operating unidirectionally is obtained. So an anti-theft system is obtained and at the same time a system able to combat vandalism against facades buildings.

Thus the system according to the invention constitutes a device additional security, consisting in retaining a vehicle colliding when it has passed the protection system.

Thus, the advantages of said system consist in the simplicity of design, particularly placement fast and without the need for lifting machines complicated and expensive. In addition to manufacturing and placement of the protective device are particularly cheap.

In addition, thanks to the measure according to claim 8, the system still stays in place and therefore an aspect clean and aligned is therefore maintained. System stability protection is achieved with minimal fixation on the ground, because thanks to its shape the forces are transmitted to the ground.

Advantageously the protection system is made modular. As a result, a replacement parking lot can be assigned by module in a particular way.

Also, in addition to the elongated buffer pipes, there are also curves in order to allow in a simple way the possibility of making angles, where a wide range of protection possibilities and configurations can be provided, for example in the case of parking bays in Sawtooth.

The numerous combination possibilities mean that the protection system can be compared to a system sewer.

In an application of the protection system in question, where it is necessary to remove it regularly so to get free space, it is desirable that no bar after the disassembly of the feet support and stopper pipes. In these cases use is made of encased sockets or of sealed or glued sockets in the ground. The top of the sockets is at the same level as finished flooring. Attaching the support legs to these sockets is simply done using two bolts which are tightly seated in the sockets.

After removing the support legs, the sockets are protected with PVC plugs to avoid the infiltration of water and refuse into the sockets.

Preferably said fixing means and removable.

In addition, and advantageously, said lateral arms are provided with anchoring holes for a support console.

According to a preferred embodiment said protective elements are arranged practically parallel to the walls to be protected at such a distance from them than at collision position A of a standard vehicle with said protective elements there remains a space considerable between said walls on the one hand and the front of said vehicle on the other hand.

According to another advantageous embodiment the protective elements are fixed to the ground by means of elements coupling, said protective elements forming a line at relatively short spacings between protective elements relative to each other, this spacing preferably being less than half the length of each protective element, preferably still less than a quarter of it, and the elements coupling consist of sockets to be embedded or connecting sheaths that can be fixed in the ground.

For good visibility for the benefit of the road user these elements can be painted regularly, preferably in light or fluorescent colors.

Other advantages and particularities will appear from the explanatory description below of some examples execution of a protection system according to the invention, illustrated using the drawings appended hereto.

Figures 1 to 3 show a protection system according to the invention with a vehicle colliding in consecutive positions.

Figure 4 shows a cross-section of a shape of realization of the protection system according to the invention.

Figures 5 and 6 show a side view of a part of the protection system according to the invention for two variants.

Figure 7 shows a plan view of the protection according to the invention on a relatively larger scale reduced than in the previous figures 4 to 6 with console for unilateral use.

In general, the device described below is a protective device for a wall and a marginal area of this wall as well as a reserved area. This includes regular provision of protective elements 1. The protective elements 1 are elongated and connected to each other others by means of coupling elements 2, the elements of protection consist of stopper pipes. Of preferably the protective elements 1 have a profile cylindrical.

The protective elements are arranged in a certain heights by means of elements d 10 provided for this purpose, corresponding to the impact of a car tire 31 of a colliding vehicle 30 which is such that when said protection device 20 is hit by a vehicle standard 30, the impact is absorbed by the tire 31. More particularly the elements d 10 are constituted by a support leg set at a distance one of the other to support the protective elements 1. Thus, the system described above reacts to contact with the tires thus avoiding that the spoilers of automobiles are damaged, which on the one hand is very useful in applying it to the problem of parking. On the other hand, this system provides fine and secure protection of areas of security demarcated by means of a stop system prefabricated.

The spacers have a main dimension L which mounts approximately to the diameter of the protective hose 1 to maximum. Advantageously the elements spacers 10 consist of a U-shaped profile with lateral arms 11, 12, a free space 20 being provided between the U-shaped spacer 10 and the protective pipe 1.

More particularly the lateral arms 11, 12 are folded in forming an angle α with the perpendicular M to the outer circumference of said protective elements 1 which is less than 45 °, preferably less than 30 °.

Basically the system consists of two elements; the stopper pipes and support legs 10. The pipes can be obtained commercially and are cut to size the desired measurement, after which they can be processed and painted in color, for good visibility for the benefit of the road user can be painted regularly.

The support legs 10 are placed in a modular fashion. Support legs 10 are folded into an inclined U shape and support a round pipe serving as a sleeve to tighten the buffer pipes 1. Each of the coupling elements 2 being constituted by a sleeve of a cylindrical profile.

Pipes and U-profiles can be obtained in the trade as standard materials and are cut to size as you go. Said U-shaped profiles are provided with necessary fixtures and they are processed. In the case of a stainless steel execution just paint them, while the steel pipes and profiles must be hot-dip galvanized or galvanized in advance.

Between said protective elements 1 and the elements coupling 2, a free play 25 is provided and / or further towards the ground a fixed link.

Each of the spacers 10 is connected in a manner fixed to the element of said coupling 2 by an element of connection 4, for example, by means of welded joints.

For each of the elements 10, 10 'at least one means of fixing 5, 15 is provided, preferably removable, for the fixing the protective device 20 in the ground 6, in such a way that it can withstand the push of a vehicle in collision.

According to a variant, said spacing elements are made up of 10 'foundation plates, at the same time serving as a coupling element to the ground.

The lateral arms 11, 12 are provided with anchoring holes 33 for a support console 34.

The protection device includes a number of profiles straight tubular 21 and / or curved 22 coupled together to others, which are modular in design and which can therefore be exchanged without delay.

The protective elements are arranged so that that they extend almost parallel to the walls to protect 9 at such a distance from these walls that at the collision position A of a standard vehicle 30 against said protective elements 1, there remains a free space 8 between said walls 9 on the one hand and the front 32 of said vehicle 30 on the other hand.

According to a variant, the protection device is fixed in soil by means of coupling elements. The elements protectors form a row at spacings relatively short between the protective elements compared to others. This spacing is preferably less than half the length of each of the elements of protection, preferably even less than a quarter thereof. The coupling elements consist of sockets to be embedded or connecting sheaths which can be fixed in the ground.

In the event of a provision of the protective device to dual use, where the system can be hit from both sides, preferably the support feet 10 do not exceed the stopper pipe 1. Thus, in the case of dual use, there is will have no obstacles.

The following types of support legs can be provided depending on the dual-use application areas with sleeve and U-piece.
The support plate is therefore placed in a modular fashion, the stop pipes being able to be welded to this support plate. Finally, a socket can be provided in the ground, used to fix the bent stopper pipe.

For simple use, use the sleeve, the U-piece and the screwed support console. Small support posts metallic which can also be arranged so modular, the stopper pipes being screwed to these small posts.

To form angles between two straight lines, short or long curves can be incorporated between the consecutive support legs.

However, protections of a curved shape are possible, using curved pipes and feet.

The device can be fixed to the ground by means of anchors of a common type, a collage chemical of threaded rods and other means depending on the nature and / or composition of the soil, in which these means must be introduced.

The fields of application of the device described above are many, for example adjacent parking lots to buildings, for the protection of buildings, for the protections of green spaces and then for areas of pedestrian safety in industry, where an area pedestrian is protected from rolling traffic, such than forklifts and others.

In general, this device is advantageous for pedestrians on public roads or paths pedestrian are thus protected in a safe manner by a light tubular structure that extends to the place of borders. In a particular application example, said protective device can be used as a replacement traditional footpaths, where the raised edge of these can be replaced by the tubular structure. Of this way we can solve the problems arising in an agglomeration that is not equipped with trails pedestrian, where a similar pedestrian zone can be quickly and inexpensively furnished.

The device is also applicable to areas of parking at maximum use of the area of parking respecting the entrances and exits using guide strips in areas requiring safety and protection against rolling traffic.

Below a numerical example in figures is given to as an example. The stopper pipes 1 have a length about 2.66 m, an outside diameter of about 80 mm and an internal diameter according to the place of application. Since preferably these 1 are hollow in view of their replacement without problems and their reduced weight in consequence of which the support feet can also have a smaller size, as shown in the figure 4. For cars a wall thickness about 3 mm is sufficient and for heavy transport it is necessary switch to a wall thickness of approximately 6 mm. Space between the consecutive support legs 10 is approximately 2.61 m from axis to axis. These consist of a round pipe 4 about 15 cm long, welded to hose 2 and carry the coupling or clamping pipe 2 of a length of about 15 cm. The distance from the underside of the hose 2 and the bottom of foot 10 is about 3 cm allowing the evacuation of water and refuse from the free space 20 thus created.

Claims (12)

Protective device for a wall and the area marginal of this wall as well as for a reserved area, including a regular dispcsition of elements of protection (1), the protection elements (1) being connected to each other by means of coupling elements (2), characterized in that said protective elements (1) consist of stopper pipes, which can be slipped into and through the coupling elements 2) adjusted. Protection device according to one of previous claims, characterized in that said protective elements (1) have a cylindrical profile and are arranged at a certain height by means of elements spacing (10) provided for this purpose, the height corresponds the impact of a tire (31) of a colliding vehicle (30), which is such that the impact is absorbed by its tire (31), when said protective device (20) is struck by a standard vehicle (30). Protective device according to claim previous, characterized in that said elements spacers (10) consist on the one hand by a set of feet supporting the coupling elements (2) and other part by protective elements (1) adjusted thereto and which are arranged at a distance from each other. Protective device according to claim previous, characterized in that said elements spacers (10) have a main dimension (L) which does not not exceed the diameter of the protective hose (1). Protective device according to claim previous, characterized in that the spacers (10) consist of a U-shaped profile with lateral arms 11, 12), a free space 20) being provided between the element U-shaped spacer (10) and the protective hose (1). Protective device according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that said lateral arms (11, 12) are folded to form an angle (α) with the perpendicular (M) at the outer circumference of said elements of protection (1), which is less than 45 °, preferably less than 30 °. Protection device according to one of previous claims, characterized in that each of coupling elements (2) consists of a sleeve of a cylindrical profile, a free play (25) being provided between said protective elements (1) and the elements coupling (2). Protective device according to claim previous, characterized in that a fixed link is provided further down to the ground, at least one fixing means (5, 15) being provided for each of the spacers (10) for fixing the protection device (20) in the ground (6), so that it resists the thrust of a colliding vehicle. Protection device according to one of previous claims, characterized in that each of spacers (10) is fixedly connected to said coupling element (2, by means of connecting elements (4). Protection device according to one of previous claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said spacers (10) are constituted by support plates also acting as an element ground coupling. Protection device according to one of previous claims, characterized in that it is modular in design and consists of profiled parts standard to tubular profiles (21; 22, 10; 2) straight (21) and / or curved (22) coupled to each other other. Protection device according to one of previous claims, characterized in that a system detection is incorporated in the protection system to pass information to the driver of a vehicle at means of a signal allowing him to check if it is parked correctly or not.

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