EP2053165B1 - Support for fixing an accessory on a modular concrete road divider - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to an attachment support for an accessory on a concrete modular road separator. It has applications particularly in the field of civil engineering and more particularly the construction and maintenance of traffic lanes.

Modular road separators or Modular Track Separators (VMS) made of concrete are prefabricated concrete elements that can be set up and removed relatively quickly along roadways. To this end, each VPS generally comprises at least one plug device permanently installed on the module to be moved by a construction machine with a manipulator arm. This handling of the module is generally done by slinging with a cable (s) whose end (s) are fixed temporarily to the module gripping device. Once the manipulation performed, either for removal, or for movement, or for implementation of the module, the / cables are removed from the module. Thus, outside these handling periods, at least one gripping device remains available on the module.

The present invention proposes to use this gripping device which becomes free after manipulation for fixing with a support for fixing one or more accessories on the module. These accessories are in particular channel delineators, including supports for anti-glare screens or other slide accessories, the accessory being integrated or being attached to the mounting bracket.

It relates more particularly to modules with an anchor type catch device substantially flush on the surface of the upper part of the module and taken for its lower part in the concrete of said module, the upper part of the anchor comprising a hooking head remaining accessible in an obviously module. Thus, apart from the use of the anchor, it does not overflow the module. We know by US5,528,867 a cover for closing a recess comprising such an anchor.

In a particular embodiment, it is specially adapted to the anchors of the company Artéon and for example the Artéon anchor ref 6070.

It is well understood that in the context of the invention, an accessory is not an element intended for manipulation for placing, moving or removing the modular concrete separator.

Thus, the invention according to claim 1 relates to a mounting bracket for accessory modular concrete road separator, the separator module having to its upper part at least one gripping device for manipulations of said module, said gripping device being taken in the concrete at its lower part and having a fastening head at its upper part, said fastening head being accessible in a corresponding recess of the upper part of the module, said gripping device not projecting from the upper part of the module, said upper part of the module being of a determined width and laterally connected to two lateral inclined faces of said module.

The support comprises a covering portion intended to substantially conform to the upper part of said module and to the underside of the covering portion, a complementary coupling means of the attachment head, the attachment of the attachment means on the attachment head being removable to allow disassembly of said support, the accessory being intended to be disposed towards the upper face of said covering portion. The attachment head has a widening towards its upper end and the attachment means comprises two curved fingers separated by an insertion space (the attachment means is a curved hook with two fingers and the attachment head is taken by tilting the fingers under / in the head), the attachment means being intended to be inserted into the recess and then tilted for insertion into the insertion space of the gripping device below its widening, an extraction of the means vertical traction coupling being finally (at least once the support in place) prevented by finger stop against enlargement.

• la partie de recouvrement se poursuit latéralement, de chaque coté, par deux rabats latéraux destinés à venir sensiblement épouser une partie des deux faces latérales inclinées du module,
• la partie de recouvrement présente une élasticité destinée à permettre un forçage du support contre le module lorsque le support est en place sur le module,
• la partie de recouvrement comporte a sa partie inférieure au moins deux pieds,
• le moyen d'accrochage du support a une forme ou structure telle que lors de la mise en place il y a passage par un point plus dur avant que le support ne soit finalement en place et inversement lors du retrait du support, (par exemple dans le cas de doigts courbes, une modification de la courbure à la partie intermédiaire des doigts ou, alors, un écartement variable des deux doigts avec rétrécissement intermédiaire ou un épaississement localisé des doigts (éventuellement contreforme de l'élargissement en retrait sur face supérieure des doigts), ceci afin de limiter les risques de démontage intempestif par exemple du fait de courants d'air ayant tendance à faire basculer le support)
• la tête d'accrochage comporte un élargissement vers son extrémité supérieure et le moyen d'accrochage comporte deux doigts séparés par un espace d'insertion (le moyen d'accrochage est un crochet à deux doigts sensiblement élastiques qui vient se « clipser » sur la tête d'accrochage), le moyen d'accrochage étant destiné à être introduit dans l'évidemment verticalement et forcé contre la tête d'accrochage, les deux doigts s'écartant alors pour passage de ladite tête puis reprenant leur position lorsque l'espace d'insertion passe en dessous de l'élargissement,
• le moyen d'accrochage est configuré de telle façon que le retrait d'un support qui est en place par traction verticale nécessite un écartement des deux doigts par une action mécanique externe sur lesdits deux doigts,
• l'espace d'insertion est resserré en dehors de la zone destinée à recevoir le dispositif de prise mais permet tout de même le retrait du support par basculement et forçage,
• l'espace d'insertion est resserré en dehors de la zone destinée à recevoir le dispositif de prise afin d'empêcher tout basculement du support,
• les deux doigts comportent sur leurs faces opposées en regard chacune un guide en creux destiné à recevoir par glissement lors du basculement la périphérie de l'élargissement,
• les guides sont étendus sur une partie des doigts,
• les guides sont étendus sur toute la longueur des doigts,
• les deux doigts se rejoignent à leurs extrémités proximales en un fond d'espace d'insertion et ledit fond comporte un guide en creux destiné à recevoir par glissement à la fin du basculement la périphérie de l'élargissement,
• l'écartement entre les doigts est tel qu'il y a libre passage du dispositif de prise lors du basculement,
• l'écartement entre les doigts est tel qu'il y a forçage des doigts par le dispositif de prise lors du basculement,
• l'écartement des deux doigts est sensiblement constant,
• l'écartement des deux doigts est variable le long de la course du dispositif de prise dans l'espace d'insertion,
• un resserrement de l'espace d'insertion est au moins présent avant la zone de l'espace d'insertion où se situe le dispositif de prise une fois que le support est en place, le resserrement nécessitant un forçage (point dur) (éventuellement supplémentaire par rapport à l'espace d'insertion où il n'y a pas autant de resserrement des doigts, un léger forçage pouvant éventuellement y être mis en oeuvre) pour passage du dispositif de prise lors du basculement,
• le support et l'accessoire forment une seule pièce,
• l'accessoire est rapporté sur le support,
• le support est en matière plastique,
• la matière plastique est thermoplastique ou thermodurcissable,
• le support est obtenu par moulage,
• le support est métallique,
• le support comporte une partie métallique et une partie en matière plastique,
• le dispositif de prise est une ancre de la société Artéon,
• l'accessoire est choisi parmi les délinéateurs de voies, les écrans anti-éblouissement, les panneaux anti-bruit, les panneaux indicateurs notamment kilométrique ou d'identification de point particulier (ligne HT, canalisation, pont, tunnel...),
• le délinéateur comporte au moins un catadioptre.

In various embodiments of the invention, the following means can be used alone or in any technically possible combination, are employed:

• the covering part continues laterally, on each side, by two lateral flaps intended to substantially fit a portion of the two inclined lateral faces of the module,
• the covering portion has an elasticity intended to allow a forcing of the support against the module when the support is in place on the module,
• the covering part has at its bottom part at least two feet,
• the hooking means of the support has a shape or structure such that during the introduction there is a passage through a harder point before the support is finally in place and vice versa when removing the support, (for example in the case of curved fingers, a modification of the curvature at the intermediate part of the fingers or, then, a variable spacing of the two fingers with intermediate narrowing or localized thickening of the fingers (possibly counterforming the enlargement recessed on the upper surface of the fingers ), in order to limit the risk of inadvertent disassembly, for example due to drafts tending to tilt the support)
• the attachment head comprises a widening towards its upper end and the attachment means comprises two fingers separated by an insertion space (the attachment means is a hook with two substantially elastic fingers which is "clipped" on the attachment head), the attachment means being intended to be introduced into the recess vertically and forced against the attachment head, the two fingers then deviating for passage of said head and then resuming their position when the space insertion process goes below enlargement,
• the attachment means is configured such that the removal of a support which is in place by vertical traction requires a spacing of the two fingers by an external mechanical action on said two fingers,
• the insertion space is tightened outside the zone intended to receive the gripping device but still allows the removal of the support by tilting and forcing,
• the insertion space is tightened outside the zone intended to receive the gripping device in order to prevent any tilting of the support,
• the two fingers comprise on their opposite opposite faces each a hollow guide intended to receive by sliding during tilting the periphery of the widening,
• the guides are spread on a part of the fingers,
• the guides are extended over the entire length of the fingers,
• the two fingers meet at their proximal ends in a bottom of insertion space and said bottom comprises a recessed guide intended to receive by sliding at the end of the tilting the periphery of the widening,
• the spacing between the fingers is such that there is free passage of the gripping device during tilting,
• the spacing between the fingers is such that forcing of the fingers by the gripping device during tilting,
• the spacing of the two fingers is substantially constant,
• the spacing of the two fingers is variable along the stroke of the gripping device in the insertion space,
• a tightening of the insertion space is at least present before the area of the insertion space where the setting device is located once the support is in place, the tightening requiring a forcing (hard point) (possibly additional to the insertion space where there is not as much tightening of the fingers, a slight forcing may possibly be implemented) for passage of the gripping device during tilting,
• the support and the accessory form a single piece,
• the accessory is attached to the support,
• the support is made of plastic,
• the plastics material is thermoplastic or thermosetting,
• the support is obtained by molding,
• the support is metallic,
• the support comprises a metal part and a plastic part,
• the setting device is an anchor of the company Artéon,
• the accessory is chosen from lane delineators, anti-glare screens, anti-noise panels, particularly kilometric indicator signs or particular point identification (HT line, pipeline, bridge, tunnel, etc.),
• the delineator comprises at least one reflex reflector.

Thanks to the invention, the accessories and supports can be recovered by disassembly, unlike the previous implementation in which the accessories are permanently fixed to the module by gluing or screwing / "spitage".

• la Figure 1 qui représente une vue avant d'un support selon l'invention,
• la Figure 2 qui représente une vue en coupe médiane du support de la Figure 1 selon la coupe A-A,
• la Figure 3 qui représente une vue de dessous du support de la Figure 1,
• la Figure 4 qui représente une vue de dessus du support de la Figure 1,
• la Figure 5 qui représente une vue arrière du support de la Figure 1 ,
• la Figure 6 qui représente une vue en coupe para-latérale du support de la Figure 1 selon la coupe B-B représentée Figure 5,
• la Figure 7 qui représente une vue de latérale du support de la Figure 1,
• la Figure 8 qui représente une vue en coupe longitudinale médiane d'un séparateur routier modulaire béton avec un support en place,
• la Figure 9 qui représente une vue avant d'un support double hauteur selon l'invention,
• la Figure 10 qui représente une vue avant d'un support double horizontal selon l'invention,
• la Figure 11 qui représente une vue en perspective du support double hauteur de la Figure 9, et
• la Figure 12 qui représente une vue en perspective du support double horizontal de la Figure 10.

The present invention, without being limited thereto, will now be exemplified with the following description of embodiments in connection with:

• the Figure 1 which represents a front view of a support according to the invention,
• the Figure 2 which represents a cross-sectional view of the support of the Figure 1 according to the AA cut,
• the Figure 3 which represents a bottom view of the support of the Figure 1 ,
• the Figure 4 which represents a top view of the support of the Figure 1 ,
• the Figure 5 which represents a rear view of the support of the Figure 1 ,
• the Figure 6 which represents a para-lateral sectional view of the support of the Figure 1 according to the BB section shown Figure 5 ,
• the Figure 7 which represents a side view of the support of the Figure 1 ,
• the Figure 8 which represents a median longitudinal sectional view of a modular concrete road separator with a support in place,
• the Figure 9 which represents a front view of a double height support according to the invention,
• the Figure 10 which represents a front view of a horizontal double support according to the invention,
• the Figure 11 which represents a perspective view of the double height support of the Figure 9 , and
• the Figure 12 which represents a perspective view of the horizontal double support of the Figure 10 .

The example of support represented on Figures 1 to 8 is more specifically intended for an accessory of the lane delineator type with reflector, the reflex reflector being fixed on the support. The removable attachment of the support on the setting device of the modular separator is in this example of the tilting type.

On the Figure 1 , the support 1 has a covering portion 2 here substantially flat because the modular separator considered has a substantially flat upper face. The covering part 2 continues laterally by two flaps 2a intended to come into covering an upper part of the two side walls of the separator. At the lower face of the covering part is arranged a hooking means 3 intended to engage on a gripping head of a gripping device 10 disposed in a recess 9 of a modular separator 8 (see also FIG. Figure 8 ). The attachment means 3 here is a two-finger pliers 5 curves to be slid during the tilting of the support under an enlargement of the gripping device. During tilting, the portion of the gripping device 10 located under the widening passes into the insertion space 6 between the two fingers 5. Forcing means of the passage are preferably implemented in order to reduce the risks of accidental disassembly of the support when it is subjected to tilting forces (air flow in particular). These means are in particular a narrowing visible at the entrance of the insertion space 6. Moreover, a vertical additional forcing is implemented thanks to the feet 7 arranged on the lower face of the covering portion 2 which is relatively elastic and deforms elastically during the insertion of the support. As a result, the enlargement of the gripping device 10 is tightened against the upper surface of the fingers 5 of the fastening means 3. A vertical flange 4 is disposed at the upper face of the covering portion 2 and is intended for receive one or more retro-reflectors.

The following figures make it possible to better visualize the elements previously described. In particular, with the Figures 2 , 6 , 7 and 8 it is well appreciated that because of the curved shape of the fingers 5 of the attachment means 3, it is necessary to tilt the support both when it is put in place and during its removal / disassembly.

The Figures 9 to 12 are variants of the previous support, variants essentially concerning the structure of the wing 4 with for the Figures 9 and 11 a wing 4 'double height compared to the previous and the Figures 10 and 12 a wing 4 "horizontal double It is understood that many wing variants are possible in the context of the invention, in particular according to the accessory provided.

Note that, preferably, the support is made of a plastic material and is molded and that its structure is such that a natural mold is possible, in particular there is no need to provide in the mold of moving part for form some parts of the support (there is no reentrant part requiring such a movable molding part). The advantage of a plastic material is that certain parts of the support can be made elastic in a relatively controlled manner (in particular according to the thickness of the material, by adding reinforcements, etc.) to allow forcing of the support on the separator module and on the gripping device.

In addition, many forcing means can be implemented to positively constrain the support in a correct position. By way of example, provision may be made for less forcing of the widening of the gripping device or of the part below the widening when the support has reached its correct position (for example a recess in the upper part of the two fingers or in the finger guides and complementary shape of the enlargement, for example an enlargement in the insertion space ...).

Claims (10)

1. A fixing support (1) for an attachment on a modular concrete road divider (8), the divider module comprising toward its upper part at least one gripping device (10) for the handling of said module, said gripping device being set into the concrete at its lower part and comprising a fastening head at its upper part, said fastening head comprising an enlargement toward its upper end, which is accessible through a corresponding recess (9) of the upper part of the module, wherein said gripping device does not project from the upper part of the module, said upper part of the module having a determined width and being laterally connected to two inclined side faces of said module, the support comprising a fastening means (3) complementary to the fastening head,
   characterized in that it comprises an overlapping part (2) intended to substantially fit the upper part of said module (8), the fastening means being located at the lower face of the overlapping part, the fastening means being detachably fastened to the fastening head to allow said support to be removed, and the attachment being intended to be located toward the upper face of said overlapping part, and in that the fastening means comprises two curved fingers (5) separated from each other by an insertion space (6), the fastening means being intended to be introduced into the recess and then tilted to be inserted into the insertion space of the gripping device, under the enlargement thereof, an extraction of the fastening means by vertical traction being finally inhibited by abutment of the fingers against the enlargement.
2. A support according to claim 1, characterized in that the overlapping part extends laterally, on each side, into two side flaps (2a) intended to substantially fit a part of the two inclined side faces of the module.
3. A support according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the overlapping part comprises at least two feet at its lower part.
4. A support according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the overlapping part has an elasticity intended to allow the support to be forced against the module when the support is in place on the module.
5. A support according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fastening means of the support has such a shape or structure that, at the time of the installation, a harder point is met before the support is finally in place, and conversely at the time when the support is removed.
6. A support according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the two fingers comprise on their faces opposite to each other a hollow guide intended to slidingly receive the periphery of the enlargement at the time of the tilting.
7. A support according to claim 6, characterized in that the two fingers join each other at their proximal ends, to form a insertion space bottom, and said bottom comprises a hollow guide intended to slidingly receive the periphery of the enlargement at the end of the tilting.
8. A support according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the support is made of plastic material.
9. A support according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is configured so that the attachment is chosen from lane delineators, glare shields, anti-noise walls, road signs.
10. A support according to claim 9, characterized in that it is configured so that the attachment is a lane delineator comprising at least one reflector.

Images