EP1488045A1 - Set of dampening elements for protective barriers description - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to modular elements (composed of granules made of various materials with elastic memory and/or being able to permanently setting when mutually glued) shaped as a cube and/or other geometric shapes, adapted to make protective barriers with a suitable length in compliance with installation areas. Such manufactured articles (with different shapes, weights and sizes) provide for a set of lightening holes (1) in order to change their impact absorption capability.

Description

SET OF DAMPENING ELEMENTS FOR PROTECTIVE BARRIERS

DESCRIPTION

Object of the present invention is a set of dampening elements for protective barriers.

The invention stems from the idea of reducing the consequences for humans and means when vehicles in motor vehicles circuits go outside the racetrack.

The current barriers created with mutually bound and/or not bound tire carcasses, though with the addition of a band made of rubber-ply placed in the impact area, sometimes have not ensured the complete drivers' safety and even less the integrity of vehicles, mainly due to the fact that such barrier has not a controlled absorption capability, namely depending on elasticity and/or deformability.

It is known that, in every escape route of circuits for cars, motorcycles, etc., there are different impact conditions according to usual speeds reached next to such escape routes.

The current barriers do not allow performing technical choices for every type of circuit and for the speeds that are reached in critical points in which said barriers are placed.

Impact-absorption elements are already known, of the type disclosed in

International Patent Application Publication N. WO 99/00550 or in US

Patent N. 5.316.708.

These elements are composed of homogeneous mixtures of ground rubber and glue, though being it possible to provide for the change of mixture density by embedding more or less air when mixing or by using different types of granulometries. These elements have not been proven useful to solve all problems that can occur depending on element position, vehicle speed and/or weight, angles at which vehicle can get to interfere with the barrier, etc. For example in some cases one is obliged to place many elements in a series, with wide encumbrances, in which the most elastic elements are placed in front and the harder ones in turn are placed behind. Main object of the present invention is providing a greater capability of dampening impacts during collisions of any object or vehicle or person when they are under uncontrollable conditions and of being able to change the type of structure to be assembled depending on technical conditions created by route type and speed that vehicles can reach in different points in said route.

The set object of the present invention can be advantageously used also for creating longitudinal barriers along common roads or motorways, such as for example in clearing areas next to exits where "V"-shaped barriers or impact dampeners are provided.

This and other objects are obtained by the set of dampening elements for protective barriers, subject of the present invention, of the type having an impact absorption capability given by different elasticity and/or deformability so that, during impacts, the front surface of each element conforms to the impacting object, distributing the impact pressure onto a greater surface, with following specific pressure reduction, that is characterised in that each element is provided with a series of empty areas or holes with different shape and geometric arrangement with vertical, horizontal and/or slanting axis, said holes being able to be calibrated depending on the type of impact absorption that they must support. A further feature of the set of the present invention is given by that, after such arrangement, the cube goes on being compressed absorbing part of the energy, thereby allowing less residual impact with respect to current protection systems. Moreover, the capability of permanently setting reduces the return energy.

These and other features will be better pointed out in the following description of some preferred embodiments shown, purely as a non-limiting example, in the enclosed drawings in which:

- figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 show, in a perspective view, some embodiments of elements of the set;

- figures 5, 6 and 7 show, in a perspective view, three different types of element coupling;

- figures 8 to 15 show the section of elements with internal holes with different configuration and arrangement;

- figures 18 to 24 show, in a perspective view, some full or hollow insert shapes.

The elements can be realised with all materials having elastic memory or the feature of permanently setting (natural rubbers, synthetic rubbers, plastic materials, metals and metalloids, etc..)

The above materials are ground in grains with different shape and size, and the same ones can be used individually and in a single granubmetry or mutually mixed in different percentages, by type, shape or size. The imposition of various materials, defined by design, is amalgamated with suitable bonding agents or resins (two- component and/or single-component resins) whose choice depends on gluening

degree, colour, chemical base, resistance to atmospheric agents, resistance to chemical agents, etc.... The above amalgam (mixture) is poured into suitable dies to give the

dampening element its final shape.

Each dampening element can be realised also by using expansion materials of the

rwlyurethan, polystyrene type or the like, and whatever the market can provide for such

purpose or will be able to provide in the future.

Usually the standard sizes of a dampening cube, shaped as a parallelepiped, are as

follows: basic width 1.2 m, depth lm, height 1 m. Since every cube must be previously

studied, depending on the provided impact energy, it is not excluded that sizes can

change.

The external arrangement can have any shape and size in order to conform to the usage

area needs (see table 1) .

Fig. 1) cubic shape; Fig.2) triangular-section shape; Fig. 3) circular sector shape;

Fig.4) double-parallelepiped shape.

Various connection shapes are provided among the different darnpening cubes depending on required absorption degree together with easy replacement due to

maintenance or restores (see table 2).

Fig.5) semicylinder coupling Fig.6) parallelepiped coupling

Fig.7) dovetail coupling.

The dampening cube interior is equipped with a set of empty areas (1) (commonly

known as "holes") with different figure and geometric arrangement and/or other

suitable figures (see table 3) in which the following are pointed out: Fig. 8) Arrangement with holes with different section Fig. 9) Arrangement with

circular holes

Fig. 10) Anangement with square holes Fig. 11) Arrangement with

diamond-shapes holes

Fig. 12) Arrangement with triangular holes Fig. 13 ) Arrangement with double

joined circles

Fig. 14) With holes with irregular outline

Fig. 15) W iholes with different concentrations

All the above holes (1) can have width, orientation direction (with vertical, horizontal

and/or slanting axis), amount and mutual position that are mutually different. It must

not be excluded, for design purposes, that dampening elements can be realised with

different hole outlines coexisting in the same manufectured product Always in order to optimise the absorption capability of the dainpening cube

depending on its provided use, it is possible to fill the holes with mobile inserts (2) with

different shape and material (see table 4). Usually, inserts have shape and sizes of the

holes obtained in the dampening cube in which they will have to be inserted. The insert

height can be equal to the dampening cube height or a sub-multiple thereof In

particular:

Fig. 16) cylindrical Fig. 17) square Fig. 18) diamond-shape

Fig. 19) triangular

Fig.20) double joined circles Fig.21) tubular with thickness from 0.01

mm up to 4/5 of the radius Fig.22) square tubular with thickness from 0.01 mm up to

4/5 of side half

Fig. 23) hollow triangular with thickness from 0.01 mm up to 3/4 of hypotenuse

Fig.24) irregular full shapes Materials provided for realising inserts are usually similar to materials used for dampening cubes, but the use of metal, metalloid, plastic, etc. ... materials is also provided (particularly for figures 21, 22, 23). The possible insertion of inserts allows adjusting and calibrating the element depending on its destination of use. Depending on modularity and versatility that the dampening cube can have (see tables 1 and 3) and different sizes and shapes in which it can be made, this manufactured product is provided to be used in all public and private places where it is necessary, for personal safety purposes, to dampen the impact energy against existing stiff barriers (ex. autodromes, motordromes, kartodromes, at the end of airplane takeoff and landing runs, in motorways, paths and/or platforms in amusement parks, and all places in which sports events are held with mechanical or auxiliary means, etc.). In case of impacts provided for escape routes in which vehicle speed exceeds 80 km/h, it is provided that the dampening cube will lose its structural integrity (when it finishes its absorption capabilities) in order not to transmit back the energy accumulated during its compression stage. The protective barrier arrangement, defined with dampening cubes depending on the contact system between one cube and the other (see table 2), allows transferring part of the impact energy to adjacent dampening cubes, not directly affected by the impact, further reducing the residual energy of the impacting object.

The aesthetic appearance of the dampening cube is mostly of a rough nature, showing natural colours of used materials; according to the customer wishes, it can be coloured in any dye, and writings, different colours, logos, etc. can appear on the manufactured product. The manufactured product can further be contained inside a semi-rigid bag with suitable shape and sizes, with or without cover and with or without lifting suspenders. To facilitate its gripping, handling and transporting, every dampening cube will be equipped with suitable handles (made of various bands or ropes) that are strongly glued from inside the dampening cube. The set of above-described elements can be advantageously prefabricated or, in some particular cases, cast with suitable caissons arranged in order to receive the mixture. The above-described elements are eco-compatible since, in case of impact, they can be ground again and then used again.

The set of dampening elements can be advantageously used also for hurban furniture, to protect fixed obstacles such as poles, piers, pedestals or as protection of angles or to absorb the impact of airplane gears at the end of airport runs.

Claims

1) Set of dampening elements for forming protective barriers of the type having an impact absorption capability given by different elasticity and/or deformability so that,

during impacts, the front surface of every element is substantially confoπning to the

impacting object, distributing the impact pressure on a greater surface, with following

specific pressure reduction, characterised in that each element is equipped with a series

of empty areas (1) or holes with different figure and geometric arrangement with

vertical, horizontal and/or slanting axis, said holes being able to be calibrated

depending on the type of impact absorption that they must support.

2) Set of elements according to claim 1, characterised in that every element has an

amount of empty areas (1) with variable sizes.

3) Set of elements according to claim 1, characterised in that every element comprises

aplurality of holes (1) with different concentration

4) Set of elements according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that every element has a plurality of empty areas that can be. filled with mobile inserts (2) with

different shape and material

5) Set of elements according to any one of the previous claims, characterised in that the

inserts (2) have an height that is equal to the cube height or a sub-multiple thereof

6) Set of elements according to any one of the previous claims, characterised in that the

inserts (2) are substantially made of materials equal to those used for elements of the set.

7) Set of elements according to any one of the previous claims, characterised in that the

inserts (2) are made of a different material from the one used for making the

dampening elements, such as tired resins and/or metal pipes.