EP3029202A1 - Modular metallic retaining device for roadways, module and installation method - Google Patents

Abstract

Modular metal slide retainer for a roadway, comprising a set of modules (1). Each of the modules internally comprises spacers including a central spacer which is traversed by a pile provided with an enlarged head, pile which is stuck in the road. The upper peripheral edge of the central strut (15) may have an upper through hole (20) and the lower peripheral edge of the central strut (15) may have a lower through hole (19), the enlarged head ( 22) that can not pass through the upper through hole (20), the lower through hole (19) allows greater clearance with the pile than the clearance of the upper through hole (20) in order to allow a movement of the lower part of the module (1) on the track in the event of a side impact on said module while the pile is driven into the track.

Description

The invention relates to a modular metal retainer for roadways, a module and a method for laying such a device.

Restraint devices are road safety devices located along roadside traffic lanes and intended to prevent a vehicle from passing beyond that edge. These devices can be arranged at the edge of a road or between two lanes as lane separators. Their holding capacity is defined by standards such as the European Standards EN 1317.1 and EN 1317.2 describing tests TB41, TB42, TB32 and TB11 whose level H1 corresponds to the level BT4 of the French Standard XP P98453. These tests test the impact of a heavy vehicle (TB41, TB42) of 10,000 kg at 70 km / h at an angle of 15 degrees or 8 degrees, a light vehicle (TB32) of 1500 kg at 110 km / h at an angle of 20 degrees and a light vehicle (TB11) of 900 kg at 100 km / h at an angle of 20 degrees. In each case, the displacement of the device, in particular the resulting deformation pocket, must be less than a predetermined limit for the standard to be respected.

Existing modular restraint systems, whether they are located at the edge of a road or between two lanes as lane separators, consist of modules having, in most cases, a general trapezoidal profile with a wide lower base and a higher top narrow. They can also have a straight profile with vertical side edges to reduce the risk of vehicle climbing on the device. These modules are connected to each other to increase the strength of the device as a whole.

Such a module has been presented for example in the patent application EP1380696 .

The object of the invention is to propose a modular restraint system which provides better restraint of vehicles in the event of an impact so that the restraint system can meet the road safety regulatory requirements for the restraint of a light vehicle and a vehicle. heavy according to the standards indicated above, in case of accidental lateral exit of a vehicle.

The object of the invention is achieved by a modular metal retaining device for roadway, comprising a set of modules elongated along a longitudinal axis and intended to be laid on the road and connected to each other at their ends, each of modules comprising two end walls longitudinally spaced within the module, a lower face of the module, an upper face of the module and two opposite side walls of the module, the side walls being each constituted by two superimposed safety rails, a low and a high, one above the other between the lower face and the upper face of the module, each guardrail having a W-shaped undulating cross-section profile with two separate lateral tops between them by a central hollow, the two end walls of a module being substantially flat, parallel to each other, vertical, and perpendicular to a longitudinal vertical median plane of the module, each module having internally at least three spacers, including two spacers d ends and a central spacer disposed substantially equidistant from the two end walls, the slides being attached to the spacers.

According to the invention, each spacer consists of a vertical transverse wall and flat peripheral edges of predetermined width, the peripheral edges being two lateral peripheral edges, an upper peripheral edge and a lower peripheral edge, the slides being fixed on the lateral circumferential borders of the spacer, the transverse wall of an end spacer forming the corresponding end wall of the module.

• les modules sont fixés sur la voie routière chacun par un pieu muni d'une tête élargie, le pieu s'enfonçant verticalement dans la voie routière en traversant l'entretoise centrale, la bordure périphérique supérieure de l'entretoise centrale comportant un orifice de passage supérieur pour le passage du pieu et la bordure périphérique inférieure de l'entretoise centrale comportant un orifice de passage inférieur pour le passage du pieu, la tête élargie ne pouvant pas passer à travers l'orifice de passage supérieur, l'orifice de passage inférieur permettant un jeu avec le pieu plus important que le jeu de l'orifice de passage supérieur afin de permettre un déplacement de la partie inférieure du module sur la voie en cas de choc latéral sur ledit module alors que le pieu est enfoncé dans la voie,
• les parois d'extrémités sont rapportées sur les entretoises d'extrémités,
• les parois d'extrémités font partie des entretoises d'extrémités, ces dernières étant d'un seul bloc,
• les bordures périphériques sont dans des plans perpendiculaires au plan de la paroi transversale de l'entretoise,
• les bordures périphériques, sauf pour les entretoises d'extrémités, sont disposées à cheval de la paroi transversale de l'entretoise,
• les bordures périphériques sont disposées latéralement, d'un côté, de la paroi transversale de l'entretoise,
• les bordures périphériques sont rapportées sur les entretoises,
• les bordures périphériques font partie des entretoises, ces dernières étant d'un seul bloc,
• les bordures périphériques sont obtenues par pliage des bords d'une plaque formant la paroi transversale de l'entretoise,
• l'orifice de passage inférieur est un trou oblong d'axe principal sensiblement perpendiculaire au plan médian vertical longitudinal du module,
• le pieu est soit un pieu battu, soit un pieu vissé,
• le pieu comporte une tige sensiblement lisse et est un pieu battu,
• le pieu comporte une tige sensiblement lisse avec au moins une arête débordante verticale allongée et est un pieu battu, l'arête étant orientée le long de l'axe principal du trou oblong de l'orifice de passage inférieur et l'orifice de passage supérieur comportant une gorge latérale de guidage de l'arête, ladite gorge étant parallèle à l'axe principal du trou oblong pour former un guide d'orientation dudit pieu,
• le pieu comporte une tige comportant un filetage et est un pieu vissé,
• le pieu est choisi parmi les pieux battus et les pieux vissés,
• le module comporte en outre une plaque de protection latérale inférieure disposée sous la glissière basse et destinée à masquer l'espace entre le bord inférieur de la glissière basse et la surface de la voie routière,
• les glissières sont fixées sur les bordures périphériques latérales des entretoises par boulonnage de chaque glissière au niveau de son creux central sur lesdites bordures périphériques latérales,
• les plaques de protection latérales inférieures sont fixées sur les bordures périphériques latérales des entretoises par boulonnage de chaque plaque de protection latérale inférieure sur lesdites bordures périphériques latérales,
• les deux parois d'extrémités d'un module sont parallèles entre elles, verticales, et perpendiculaires à un plan médian vertical longitudinal du module,
• le module du dispositif est symétrique par rapport à son plan médian vertical longitudinal,
• la section transversale du module est de forme générale trapézoïdale,
• la section transversale du module est de forme générale triangulaire à sommet tronqué, le module ayant des faces latérales inclinées,
• la section transversale du module est de forme générale rectangulaire, le module ayant des faces latérales verticales,
• la paroi transversale de l'entretoise est essentiellement pleine, sous réserve des ouvertures des éléments de liaison femelles pour les entretoises d'extrémité,
• les entretoises sont parallèles entre elles, verticales, et perpendiculaires à un plan médian vertical longitudinal du module,
• chaque module comporte en outre deux entretoises intermédiaires, une première entretoise intermédiaire entre une première entretoise d'extrémité et l'entretoise centrale, une seconde entretoise intermédiaire entre la seconde entretoise d'extrémité et l'entretoise centrale,
• les entretoises d'un module sont sensiblement équidistantes les unes des autres,
• deux barres anti-torsion sont fixées entre l'entretoise d'extrémité et l'entretoise intermédiaire adjacente correspondante, lesdites barres anti-torsion étant destinées à s'opposer à un basculement de la paroi d'extrémité correspondante,
• le module repose sur la voie routière par les faces inférieures des bordures périphériques inférieures des entretoises du module avec interposition d'éléments destinés à augmenter l'adhérence ou le frottement du module sur la voie routière, lesdits moyens augmentant l'adhérence ou le frottement étant de préférence constitués par des patins non glissants et de préférence en matériau élastomérique,
• dans un module, une des deux parois d'extrémité est pourvue d'au moins un élément de liaison mâle et l'autre des deux parois d'extrémité est pourvue d'au moins un élément de liaison femelle, les éléments de liaison mâle et femelle étant conformés pour, dans une position d'insertion de deux modules adjacents, permettre l'insertion ou le retrait de l'élément de liaison mâle de l'un de ces deux modules dans ou hors de l'élément de liaison femelle de l'autre de ces deux modules et pour, dans une position d'accrochage de deux modules que les éléments de liaison femelle et mâle empêchent la séparation de ces deux modules tout en présentant un jeu axial suivant l'axe longitudinal, de manière à pouvoir faire travailler chaque module séparément dans ladite position d'accrochage,
• l'élément de liaison femelle est constitué par une ouverture présentant une partie supérieure circulaire et une partie inférieure dont la largeur est inférieure au diamètre de la partie supérieure et l'élément de liaison mâle est constitué par un élément d'accrochage champignon comprenant une partie de pied ayant un diamètre D2 surmonté d'une tête tronconique ayant un plus grand diamètre D3, le diamètre D3 étant choisi de manière que la tête puisse passer uniquement par la partie supérieure de l'ouverture et le diamètre D2 étant choisi de manière que le pied puisse circuler dans la partie inférieure de l'ouverture,
• dans un module, le nombre des éléments d'accrochage champignon est égal au nombre des ouvertures,
• de préférence, un module comprend sur sa première paroi d'extrémité trois ouvertures et sur sa seconde paroi d'extrémité trois éléments d'accrochage champignon,
• le jeu axial a une valeur comprise entre 2 mm et 12 mm,
• le dispositif atteint au moins le niveau de retenue N1 de la norme européenne EN 1317,
• les parois latérales, les parois d'extrémités et les entretoises du module définissent un espace intérieur compartimenté,
• au moins un des compartiments de l'espace intérieur comporte un réservoir,
• le réservoir est ouvert,
• le réservoir est fermé et comporte une ouverture de remplissage,
• le réservoir est étanche à l'eau,
• le réservoir est étanche à l'air,
• le réservoir est un réservoir souple,
• le réservoir est un réservoir rigide,
• le réservoir est un réservoir de sable,
• le réservoir est un réservoir d'eau,
• le réservoir est un réservoir d'air comprimé,
• le réservoir d'air comprimé est un réservoir souple,
• le réservoir comporte au moins un orifice de vidange.

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

• the modules are fixed on the roadway each by a pile provided with an enlarged head, the pile sinking vertically in the roadway through the central spacer, the upper peripheral edge of the central spacer having a passage opening upper for the passage of the pile and the lower peripheral edge of the central spacer having a lower through hole for the passage of the pile, the enlarged head not being able to pass through the upper through hole, the lower through hole allowing a clearance with the pile greater than the clearance of the upper through hole to allow movement of the lower part of the module on the track in the event of a side impact on said module while the pile is driven into the track,
• the end walls are attached to the end spacers,
• the end walls are part of the end spacers, the latter being of a single block,
• the peripheral edges are in planes perpendicular to the plane of the transverse wall of the spacer,
• the peripheral edges, except for the end spacers, are arranged astride the transverse wall of the spacer,
• the peripheral edges are arranged laterally, on one side, of the transverse wall of the spacer,
• the peripheral borders are reported on the spacers,
• the peripheral edges are part of the spacers, the latter being of a single block,
• the peripheral edges are obtained by folding the edges of a plate forming the transverse wall of the spacer,
• the lower passage orifice is an oblong hole of main axis substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal vertical median plane of the module,
• the pile is either a beaten pile or a screwed pile,
• the pile has a substantially smooth shaft and is a beaten pile,
• the pile has a substantially smooth shaft with at least one elongate vertical protruding edge and is a pile pile, the edge being oriented along the main axis of the elongated hole of the lower through hole and the upper through hole having a lateral groove for guiding the edge, said groove being parallel to the main axis of the oblong hole to form an orientation guide of said pile,
• the pile comprises a rod having a thread and is a screwed pile,
• the pile is chosen from beaten piles and screw piles,
• the module further comprises a lower side protection plate disposed under the lower slide and intended to mask the space between the lower edge of the lower slide and the surface of the road,
• the slides are fixed on the lateral peripheral edges of the spacers by bolting each slideway at its central recess on said lateral peripheral edges,
• the lower side protection plates are fixed to the lateral peripheral edges of the spacers by bolting each lower side protection plate to said lateral peripheral edges,
• the two end walls of a module are parallel to each other, vertical, and perpendicular to a longitudinal vertical median plane of the module,
• the module of the device is symmetrical with respect to its longitudinal vertical median plane,
• the cross section of the module is generally trapezoidal,
• the cross section of the module is of generally triangular shape with truncated apex, the module having inclined lateral faces,
• the cross section of the module is of generally rectangular shape, the module having vertical lateral faces,
• the transverse wall of the spacer is substantially solid, subject to the openings of the female connecting elements for the end spacers,
• the spacers are parallel to each other, vertical, and perpendicular to a longitudinal vertical median plane of the module,
• each module further comprises two intermediate spacers, a first intermediate spacer between a first end spacer and the central spacer, a second intermediate spacer between the second end spacer and the central spacer,
• the spacers of a module are substantially equidistant from one another,
• two anti-torsion bars are fixed between the end spacer and the corresponding adjacent intermediate spacer, said anti-torsion bars being intended to oppose a tilting of the corresponding end wall,
• the module rests on the roadway by the lower faces of the lower peripheral edges of the spacers of the module with the interposition of elements intended to increase the adhesion or the friction of the module on the road way, said means increasing the adhesion or the friction being preferably consisting of non-slip pads and preferably of elastomeric material,
• in one module, one of the two end walls is provided with at least one male connecting element and the other of the two end walls is provided with at least one female connecting element, the male and female connecting elements. wherein the female is shaped to, in an insertion position of two adjacent modules, allow insertion or removal of the male link member of one of these two modules into or out of the female link member of the other of these two modules and for, in a coupling position of two modules that the female and male connection elements prevent the separation of these two modules while having an axial play along the longitudinal axis, so as to be able to working each module separately in said hooking position,
• the female connecting element is constituted by an opening having a circular upper part and a lower part whose width is smaller than the diameter of the upper part and the male connecting element is constituted by a mushroom fastening element comprising a part foot having a diameter D2 surmounted by a frustoconical head having a larger diameter D3, the diameter D3 being chosen so that the head can pass only through the upper part of the opening and the diameter D2 being chosen so that the foot can circulate in the lower part of the opening,
• in a module, the number of mushroom latches is equal to the number of openings,
• preferably, a module comprises on its first end wall three openings and on its second end wall three mushroom fasteners,
• the axial clearance has a value of between 2 mm and 12 mm,
• the device reaches at least the retention level N1 of the European standard EN 1317,
• the side walls, the end walls and the spacers of the module define a compartmentalized interior space,
• at least one of the compartments of the interior space comprises a reservoir,
• the tank is open,
• the tank is closed and has a filling opening,
• the tank is waterproof,
• the tank is airtight,
• the tank is a flexible tank,
• the tank is a rigid tank,
• the reservoir is a sand reservoir,
• the tank is a water tank,
• the tank is a tank of compressed air,
• the compressed air tank is a flexible tank,
• the tank has at least one emptying orifice.

The invention also relates to an individual module of the device.

More particularly, the module is specially configured for implementation in the device of the invention and comprises two end walls longitudinally spaced within the module, a lower face of the module, an upper face of the module and two opposite side walls. of the module, the side walls being each constituted by two superimposed safety rails, a low and a high, one above the other between the lower face and the upper face of the module, each guardrail having a shape W-shaped undulating cross section profile with two lateral tops separated from each other by a central recess, the two end walls of a module being substantially flat, parallel to each other, vertical, and perpendicular to a longitudinal vertical median plane of the module, each module internally having at least three spacers, including two end spacers and a e central spacer disposed substantially equidistant from the two end walls, the slides being fixed to the spacers, each spacer being constituted by a vertical transverse wall and peripheral peripheral edges of predetermined width, the peripheral edges being two lateral peripheral edges, an upper peripheral edge and a lower peripheral edge, the slides being fixed on the lateral peripheral edges of the spacer, the transverse wall of an end spacer forming the corresponding end wall of the module.

In particular, the module is intended to be fixed on a road by a pile with an enlarged head, the pile sinking vertically in the road by crossing the central spacer, the upper peripheral edge of the central spacer having an upper through hole for the passage of the pile and the lower peripheral edge of the central spacer having a lower through hole for the passage of the pile, the enlarged head being unable to pass through the upper through hole, lower passage orifice allowing a clearance with the pile greater than the clearance of the upper through hole to allow movement of the lower part of the module on the track in the event of a side impact on said module while the pile is sunk in the lane.

The invention also relates to a method of laying a modular retaining device which comprises successive steps of laying, one after the other, modules along the road, the method being such that at each step , a new module is transported to a module already in place placed on the road way to be connected by their respective ends, put in an insertion position relative to the module already in place to allow the insertion of the male connecting elements of the new module in the corresponding female link elements of the module already in place, and then put in a hooking position relative to the module already in place to prevent the separation of these modules placed on the road, the modules having internally spacers provided with peripheral edges.

The method further comprises a step of vertical insertion in the road of a pile with an enlarged head, the pile being passed through the central spacer of the module already in place, the upper peripheral edge of the spacer central comprising for this purpose an upper through hole for the passage of the pile and the lower peripheral edge of the central spacer having a lower through hole for the passage of the pile, the enlarged head can not pass through the hole of upper passage, the lower passage orifice allowing a clearance with the pile greater than the clearance of the upper through hole to allow movement of the lower part of the module on the path in the event of a side impact on said module then that the stake is sunk in the way.

• la Figure 1 qui représente une vue en perspective d'un module côté extrémité des éléments de liaison mâles, un pieu étant inséré dans l'entretoise centrale,
• les Figures 2A et 2B qui représentent respectivement une vue en perspective et une vue en coupe d'un pieu pour battage,
• les Figures 3, 4, 5 et 6 qui représentent un module selon respectivement une vue d'extrémité côté des éléments de liaison femelle, une vue latérale, une vue de dessus et une vue d'extrémité côté des éléments de liaison mâle,
• la Figure 7 qui représente une vue en perspective et en éclaté d'un module, et
• la Figure 8 qui représente une vue en perspective d'une entretoise centrale.

The present invention will now be exemplified without being limited thereto with the description which follows in relation to the following figures:

• the Figure 1 which represents a perspective view of an end-side module of the male connecting elements, a pile being inserted into the central spacer,
• the Figures 2A and 2B which represent respectively a perspective view and a sectional view of a pile for driving,
• the Figures 3 , 4, 5 and 6 which represent a module respectively according to an end view on the side of the female connection elements, a side view, a top view and a side end view of the male connection elements,
• the Figure 7 which represents a perspective and exploded view of a module, and
• the Figure 8 which represents a perspective view of a central spacer.

The retaining devices according to the invention consist of modules having a sufficiently wide base to ensure a stable position when placed on a road. They can have various forms including various cross sections. Preferably, the modules of the retaining devices according to the invention have a trapezoidal general section with a wide lower base and a narrow upper vertex. However, modules having for example a rectangular general section are also conceivable without departing from the scope of the present invention. Modules have two profiled lateral faces. They can be placed on the edge of a road or between two lanes as lane separators.

To form a retaining device, modules are assembled successively between them, a first module being placed on the road and a second being brought to the end of the first to put it in an insertion position and then hooking when he is on the road in his turn. These operations are performed successively with the various modules to progressively lengthen the retaining device. The attachment position is permitted by the implementation of complementary connecting elements on the ends of the modules.

When the two modules are in the latching position, the latching / securing obtained between the two modules has an axial play, so that each module can be worked separately. The axial clearance has a value of between 2 mm and 12 mm, advantageously between 3 mm and 9 mm, and is typically 7 mm. This game can be useful when you need to move the modules on the road without totally disassemble / disassemble the device, the remaining modules hung / interdependent.

The modules are further immobilized by piles, also called keys, stuck in the path and through each module substantially in its middle and through its central spacer, to improve the holding capacity and strength according to standards. In addition, the lower passage orifice for the passage of the pile through the central spacer allows a transverse clearance that allows some displacement of the lower part of the module in case of side impact, unlike the upper passage opening for which game is virtually zero.

The retaining device according to the invention meets the requirements of European and French standards indicated above and in the best case reaches the corresponding European level H2.

If the restraint is to be moved, it is first necessary to remove the piles and then two possibilities are offered. The first corresponds to the case where the displacement is not important, for example for lateral shifting or a simple curvature, it is then sufficient to push the ad-hoc side side modules because a certain clearance between the modules is available in position attachment of the modules, which allows local overall displacements of the device. On the other hand, if the displacement must be greater or even if the device must be removed, it is necessary to separate the modules from each other to be able to handle them individually. In this case, it is necessary to return to the insertion position which also allows the stall / uncoupling and thus the separation of the modules.

In this context, the insertion position between two elongated modules is essentially that in which one of the two modules to be connected or, subsequently, to separate rests on the road while the other elongated module is kept in suspension. near the module posed, in order to be able to engage or, thereafter, separate the connecting elements from each other. The hooking position between two elongated modules is that where the two modules rest on the road, the connecting elements then being engaged in each other in a manner to prevent the separation of the modules resting on the road.

However, this does not mean that the insertion position of two modules according to the invention would be characterized exclusively by a vertical shift of one of these two modules relative to the other. On the contrary, any other orientation of the shift is also conceivable without departing from the scope of the present invention. Similarly, the insertion and attachment positions of two modules according to the invention are not limited to the notion of a level shift between the two modules, but also include applications where the longitudinal axes of these two modules form an angle between them and those where the connecting elements are shaped for an angular approximation of these two modules during their installation.

The modules used in the context of the present invention have a length of the order of 6 m, a height of about 80 cm and a width at the base of the order of 55 cm or less. Their weight is of the order of 600 kg. It is intended to manufacture these elongated steel modules, preferably hot-dip galvanized. The modules according to the invention have two important characteristics for their effectiveness, one being the relative elasticity of the materials used for their manufacture as well as the structure of the module and the way of arranging the modules together in the device in order to benefit from of this relative elasticity, the other being their adhesion or friction on the road.

This structure and arrangement allow the device to withstand, during an accident, the impact of a vehicle and prevent the return of a vehicle accident on the road. At the same time, they allow to absorb at least partially the kinetic energy developed during the impact, especially to prevent this energy is fully supported by the connecting elements and the vehicle. Advantageously, the modules are provided with a deformation zone situated in their lower part.

To ensure adhesion and therefore have a sufficient friction of the module on the road in order to meet the criteria of the road tests mentioned above, each module is made of a very heavy material and therefore has a grip and therefore a significant friction by him -even. In addition, each of the modules is provided, on the face by which it rests on the road, means increasing the adhesion and therefore the friction, such as non-slip pads, made for example of an elastomeric material such as a synthetic rubber. Each of the pads is secured to the spacers of the module. Advantageously, at least the bearing surface of the pads, by which they are in contact with the roadway, is substantially flat. According to an alternative embodiment, these pads are also provided with crampons.

When laying on the road and their assembly into a retaining device, the modules can be handled by a crane or a hydraulic or mechanical clamp. The modules of the retaining device according to the invention are provided with connecting elements which can not engage with each other until the time that two successive modules are in an insertion position, which is generally that of a module placed on the roadway with respect to a module to be installed which is being manipulated. More particularly, the connecting elements of the modules can not engage in each other until the time that the corresponding ends of two successive modules, in general therefore a module placed and a module to be installed, are located at different predetermined levels. We then use the movement of one of these modules, the one being manipulated, towards the other, already placed on the road, to engage, without the intervention of a person remaining on the road, the elements of linking the two modules into each other.

When the two modules are both placed on the road after the insertion position, they are automatically in a hooking position, in which the fastening is effective and can stop only when those two elongated modules that has been placed last, is moved, for example raised to a predetermined level, so that the two modules are found in the insertion position from which they can be separated / distant from each other.

The female connecting element is in the form of an opening in one of the two end walls of each of the modules and the male connecting element is constituted by a mushroom fastening element formed or mounted on the another end wall of each of the modules. The male connecting element is in particular a mushroom-shaped piece with a head part wider than its foot part. The precise shapes of the apertures and fastening elements are of little importance as long as they are chosen so that these connecting means can engage with one another or separate from one another only as long as the The elongate modules concerned are in the insertion position and the relevant modules are prevented from separating while they are in the latching position. In practice, each module end has a plurality of link elements which are complementary to other link elements of other modules.

For the implementation of this attachment principle, it is of no importance on which end of the module are respectively the male connection element and the female connection element. Indeed, the most common embodiment will be that in which the opening and the fastening element are formed so that the male fastening element mounted on an end face of an elongated module to be installed can be engaged in the opening made in an end face of an elongated module already laid. The opening will then be wider at the top than at the bottom so that the fastening element can be engaged in the opening when the module to be laid is in the insertion position relative to the module already laid, that is to say, in suspension above the road, but can not leave when the two elongated modules are placed on the road in the position of hanging.

The modules constituting the retaining device according to the invention are designed so that mounting and shifting can be done on a single lane, thus avoiding the immobilization of a second lane. In addition, their weight and dimensions allow the transport of a batch of at least twenty-four elongated modules, representing a minimum length of 144 m of restraint, on a 22-tonne crane semi-trailer. It can be noted that the prismatic section separators give the possibility of increasing the loading capacity by returning some of the separators and storing the separators on the truck in order to have a regular distribution: separator returned-separator unreturned and so that a returned separator is held between two unreturned separators.

In the case of an elongated module of prismatic shape, the cross section of which corresponds approximately to a narrow aperture trapezoid or a truncated triangle, the preferred number of openings is three, one of which is arranged at a higher level and two of which are arranged at a lower level. The number of fastening elements must obviously correspond to that of the openings.

The module shown in the Figures will now be described more precisely.

The modular restraint device according to the invention comprises a set of modules 1 elongate along a longitudinal axis and intended to be placed on a road. The modules 1 within the device are connected to each other at their ends 2, 3 by means of female connecting elements 4 which is provided with an end wall 2 of a first module and by means of male connecting elements 5 of which is provided with an end wall 3 of another adjacent module. The female connecting elements 4 and the male connecting elements 5 are formed so as to engage in each other by the movements inherent in the laying of the modules of the device. A given module 1 comprises a first end wall 2 with female connecting elements and a second end wall 3 with male connecting elements. In other embodiments, the male and female elements can be associated within the same module end and it is understood that the other end of the module will be complementary, all the modules being identical so that one can always find a relative longitudinal orientation of the modules which allows the insertion and attachment positions.

In the embodiment shown in the figures, the female connecting elements 4 are three elongate openings in a transverse wall 112 of an end spacer 12 of the module 1. Each of these openings has an upper portion circular and a lower part, as an extension of the upper part, down, whose width is smaller than the diameter of the upper part.

According to variants not shown, the female connecting element 4 may also comprise, for example, a triangular opening of which each triangle is positioned so that one of its angles is oriented downwards and the opposite side of the triangle extends horizontally, or by an opening having a rectangular portion of a first width which is extended by a rectangular portion of a second width smaller than the first.

The male connecting elements 5 are three mushroom-shaped cylindrical members mounted on the transverse wall 113 of an end spacer 13 of the module 1. Each of these cylindrical elements comprises a body in two parts, namely a part of foot having a diameter D2 and a frustoconical head portion having a large diameter D3 and a small diameter D4 and with D2 <D3. The mounting of the male connecting elements on the wall 113 of end 3 is made so that in the attachment position, there is an axial clearance between the two end walls 112, 113 vis-à-vis two adjacent modules of the device, the male connecting elements 5 being introduced into the orifices of the female connecting elements 4.

In the chronological order of their engagement in the two parts of the openings constituting the female connecting element 4, the parts of the cylindrical elements constituting the male connecting elements 5 have the cross sections, with respect to their longitudinal axis, as follows: head portion has a first section characterized by its large diameter D3 and can pass through the upper part of the opening; the foot portion has a second section characterized by its diameter D2 and engageable in the lower part of the opening unlike the head portion.

The shape of the head portion, here frustoconical, has the function of facilitating the engagement of the male connecting element 5 in the opening of the corresponding female connecting element 4. The head portion is axially spaced from the end wall 113, by the foot portion, a distance such that there is an axial clearance between the two modules which are secured in the attachment position.

The axial length and the diameters of the male cylindrical connecting elements 5 are determined with respect to the dimensions of the openings of the female connecting elements 4 and as a function of the characteristics of the material, in particular the thickness of the female end wall 112, chosen for their realization. By way of example, the following dimensions are given: D3 about 80 mm, D2 about 40 mm, D4 about 20 mm and total length L1 of a cylindrical male connecting member about 95 mm. The length L2 of the foot portion is 25 mm for a thickness of 8 mm of the female end wall in which the openings 4 are formed and for an axial play of 7 mm.

The dimensions of the upper part of the openings 4 are slightly greater than the corresponding diameters of the head part and, therefore, of the foot part of the male connection elements 5. For example, the diameter of the upper part of the openings is 90 mm for the diameter D3 (80 mm) of the head portion and the width of the lower portion of the openings 4 is 44 mm for the diameter D2 (40 mm) of the foot portion.

In the figures, the cylindrical male connecting element 5 projects from the end wall 115 over a length of 72 mm and its head has a length of 22 mm over these 72 mm, which gives a length of the part of foot 50 mm and therefore a game greater than that of the previous example.

On the end views 2, 3 of a module of Figures 3 and 6 it is possible to see more precisely the arrangement of the respectively female 4 and male connection elements 5 on the transverse walls 112 and 113 of the end spacers 12 and 13. Three connecting elements are used on each transverse wall of struts. ends 12 and 13.

In an advantageous embodiment, the two transverse walls 112 and 113 of the end spacers 12 and 13 are initially identical, that is to say that they both comprise female connecting elements 4 which are elongate openings. but then, for the wall 113, the cylindrical male connecting element 5 was added and fixed in the openings.

During assembly of the modular restraint device according to the invention, a module is transported, by means of a mobile crane or a semi-crane, provided with a hydraulic or mechanical clamp, to a module already installed on the roadway and approaching the module, by its end provided with the male connection elements 5, the module already laid and having the end 2 provided with the female connecting elements 4, while keeping the module transported in the insertion position with respect to the module already in place, that is to say suspended until the elements 5 are engaged in the openings 4. Then, the module transported down into the attachment position by placing it on the road. During this final descent of the module, the head parts of the elements 5 engage in the respective lower part of each of the openings 4. Taking into account the shape of the head parts of the elements 5 and the structure of these elements 5 , the two modules are hooked / secured together with some possible game.

This connection principle allows, on the one hand, a laying using mobile cranes or semi-cranes with a reduced staff on the ground, which considerably improves the safety of the site personnel in all the phases of manipulation of the modules of the modular restraint system. . On the other hand, the laying can be done with a working speed of the order of 200 linear meters per hour and per crane or semi-crane.

With regard to the design of the elongate modules 1 themselves, the embodiment shown in the figures is that of an assembly of two metal slideways 6, 7 and a downward metal protection plate 8 forming two elongated profiled side walls. , on spacers including two end spacers 12, 13 comprising the two respective end walls 112 and 113, all assembled to form a prismatic module.

Each of the slides 6, 7 is constituted by two standardized section sections in W, that is to say, in other words, each slide 6, 7 has a W-shaped undulating cross-section profile shape with two lateral tops 6s separated from each other by a hollow 6c central. The use of standard rails ensures a quick repair if needed. The slides are interconnected at their ends by means of the two end spacers 12, 13. Between these two ends, the slides 6 and 7 are interconnected by three spacers, a central 15 and two intermediate 14.

The modules are symmetrical with respect to a vertical median longitudinal plane, in particular, the two side walls are generally symmetrical with respect to this plane. The Figure 4 is also a side view, in transparency, facing the vertical longitudinal median plane of the module. In a module 1, the distance between the fasteners of each intermediate spacer 14 and the central spacer 15 is 1500 mm. The distance between the fastenings of the end spacer 12 or 13 and its adjacent intermediate spacer 14 is 1400 mm, the end / outer face of the end wall 112 or 113 being at 1510 mm from the fasteners of the intermediate spacer 14 adjacent.

The profiles forming the slides 6 and 7 are made of a steel whose alloy is determined so that, in the event of an accident, these profiles, and in particular the lower profiles 7, can absorb the kinetic energy transmitted to the slides, partly in deformation zones formed essentially between the end spacers 12, 13, intermediate 14 and central 15. A remaining portion of this energy is absorbed by the limited displacement of the elongated modules.

Advantageously, the retaining module is completed downwards, on each of its lateral faces, with a lower lateral protection plate 8. The lower lateral protection plate, like the rest of the lateral walls of the module, can, for a better visibility, to be painted in yellow, especially by external thermo lacquering yellow rapeseed. The module can be equipped, in addition, with reflective elements for a better visibility at night. The metal elements of the module which are made of steel are preferably galvanized.

The two end spacers 12 and 13 and the three other spacers, a central 15 and two intermediate 14, consist of sheet steel elements formed to have, on the one hand, a transverse wall, of which 18 , 112, 113, approximately triangular, with the exception of an upper part which is truncated, as visible in the Figures, and, on the other hand, peripheral borders, 17 of which are perpendicular to the transverse wall and which are provided with mounting apertures for the fixing the slides by bolting.

Preferably, the end walls 112 and 113 are part of the end spacers 12 and 13 which therefore have as a transverse wall these end walls. In variants, the end walls 112 and 113 are attached and fixed on end spacers having their own transverse walls in order to implement spacers which are all identical in themselves in the module, that is, that is to say with transverse walls 18 which do not project beyond peripheral edges 17, the transverse walls 18 and peripheral edges 17 being inside and along the jig formed by the central recesses 6c of the slideways.

Thus, the central spacers 15, ends 12, 13 and intermediate 14 may all be identical and end walls 112, 113 specific to the end spacers are added and the lower passage opening 19 and the upper orifice 20 to the central spacer 15. The addition of specific end walls 112, 113 allows for module ends which follow the shape of the slides 6, 7 and the protection plate 8 without overflow laterally of the module as better visible on the Figures 3 and 6 . As a variant, the end walls follow the contour of the peripheral edges 17 of the spacers without following the shape of the slideways. Alternatively, all the spacers have a lower through hole 19 and an upper through hole 20, which may allow the installation of a pile in each or only a portion of the spacers. Alternatively, all the transverse walls 18, 112, 113 of all the spacers 12, 13, 14, 15 are initially identical, that is to say that they all comprise female connecting elements 4 which are elongated openings but then, for the wall 113 of the end spacer 13 male side was added and fixed cylindrical elements of male connection 5 in its openings. It is understood that all the combinations of the embodiments of each of the elements of the module are envisaged for the manufacture of a module 1. Preferably, the various elements constituting the module are assembled together essentially by bolting.

On the exploded view of the Figure 7 , one can see the two anti-torsion bars 16 which are fixed between the end spacer 12 or 13 and the corresponding intermediate spacer 14 corresponding. These anti-torsion bars 16 are intended to oppose a tilting of the end wall 12 or 13 corresponding. These bars have for example the following dimensions: 1604x50x15 mm and 1530x50x15 mm.

Always on this Figure 7 can be seen along the lateral peripheral edge of each end wall 112, 113, tabs 24 for fixing the wings of the two upper and lower rails 6 and 7.

The modules are provided with means 9 increasing the adhesion and therefore the friction of the module 1 on the road. These means 9 consist of non-sliding pads arranged on the underside of the lower peripheral edges of the spacers 12 and / or 13 and / or 14 and / or 15. Advantageously, each of the pads is made in the form of a block. synthetic rubber fixed on the lower edge of the corresponding spacer, the modules resting on the road via their spacers. The bearing surface on the road of each of the pads 9 has dimensions of the order of 125 mm x 125 mm. Other dimensions may be necessary depending on the synthetic rubber chosen.

According to an alternative embodiment, the pads 9 are provided with crampons whose height is chosen so that they protrude slightly from the bearing face on the road of the rubber block.

In order to increase the capacity of retaining the module on the roadway, a pile 21 is thus stuck through the central spacer 15 in the roadway. The central spacer 15 shown Figure 8 comprises through its upper peripheral edge an upper circular orifice 20 for passing the pile and through its lower peripheral edge an oblong orifice 19 for passing the pile. The orifice 20 of the top of the module 1 is seen from above on the Figure 5 .

The pile 21 represented on the Figures 2A and 2B comprises a threshing head 22 and is provided in the head of the pile a transverse orifice 23. The transverse orifice 23 may for example be used for the extraction of the pile or for its screwing / unscrewing in case the pile is threaded.

Claims (12)

Modular metal retaining device for roadway, comprising a set of modules (1) elongate along a longitudinal axis and intended to be laid on the road and connected to each other at their ends (2, 3), each of the modules ( 1) comprising two end walls (112, 113) longitudinally spaced within the module, a lower face of the module, an upper face of the module and two opposite side walls of the module, the side walls each consisting of two slide rails (6 , 7) superimposed safety, a low (7) and a high (8), one above the other between the lower face and the upper face of the module, each slide (6, 7) of safety having a W-shaped undulating cross section profile with two lateral tops (6s) separated from each other by a central recess (6c), the two end walls (112, 113) of a module (1) being substantially flat, parallel between them, vertical, and perpendicular to a longitudinal vertical median plane of the module, each module having internally at least three spacers, including two end spacers and a central spacer disposed substantially equidistant from the two end walls, the slides being attached to the spacers,
characterized in that each spacer (12, 13, 14, 15) is constituted by a vertical transverse wall (112, 113, 18) and peripheral edges (17) of a fixed width, the peripheral edges being two lateral peripheral edges , an upper peripheral edge and a lower peripheral edge, the slides (6, 7) being fixed on the lateral peripheral edges of the spacer, the transverse wall of an end spacer (12, 13) forming the wall of corresponding end (112, 113) of the module. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the modules (1) are fixed on the roadway each by a pile (21) provided with an enlarged head (22), the pile sinking vertically in the roadway crossing the central spacer (15), the upper peripheral edge of the central spacer (15) having an upper through hole (20) for the passage of the pile and the lower peripheral edge of the central spacer (15) having an orifice lower passage (19) for the passage of the pile, the enlarged head (22) not being able to pass through the upper passage opening (20), the lower passage opening (19) allowing a clearance with the pile more important clearance of the upper passage opening (20) to allow movement of the lower part of the module (1) on the road in the event of a side impact on said module while the pile is driven into the track. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the lower passage opening (19) is an oblong hole of main axis substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal vertical median plane of the module (1). Device according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the pile (21) is either a beaten pile or a screw pile. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the module (1) further comprises a lower lateral protection plate (8) arranged under the lower slide (7) and intended to mask the space between the lower edge of the low slide and the surface of the road. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each module further comprises two intermediate spacers (14), a first intermediate spacer (14) between a first end spacer (12) and the central spacer (15). ), a second intermediate spacer (14) between the second end spacer (13) and the central spacer (15), and in that two anti-torsion bars (16) are fixed between the end spacer ( 12, 13) and the adjacent intermediate spacer (14), said anti-torsion bars (16) being intended to oppose a tilting of the corresponding end wall (112, 113). Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the module rests on the road by the lower faces of the lower peripheral edges of the spacers of the module (1) with the interposition of elements (9) intended to increase the adhesion or the friction of the module (1) on the road, said means (9) increasing the adhesion or friction being preferably constituted by pads (9) non-slip and preferably elastomeric material. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in one module, one of the two end walls (111) is provided with at least one male connecting element (5) and the other of the two side walls end (131) is provided with at least one female connecting element (4), the male and female connecting elements (5, 4) being shaped for, in an insertion position of two adjacent modules (1), allow the insertion or removal of the male connecting element (5) from one of these two modules in or out of the female connecting element (4) of the other of these two modules and for, in a hooking position of two modules (1) that the female (4) and male (5) connection elements prevent the separation of these two modules while having an axial play along the longitudinal axis, so as to be able to work each module separately in said hooking position. Device according to claim 8, characterized in that the female connecting element (4) consists of an opening having a circular upper part and a lower part whose width is smaller than the diameter of the upper part and the connecting element male (5) is constituted by a mushroom attachment element comprising a foot portion (52) having a diameter D2 surmounted by a frustoconical head (53) having a larger diameter D3, the diameter D3 being chosen from so that the head (53) can pass only through the upper part of the opening (4) and the diameter D2 being chosen so that the foot (52) can circulate in the lower part of the opening (4). Module specially configured for implementation in the device of any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises two end walls (112, 113) longitudinally spaced within the module, a lower face of the module, a upper face of the module and two opposite side walls of the module, the side walls being each constituted by two superimposed safety rails (6, 7), a low (7) and a high (8), one above the other between the lower face and the upper face of the module, each safety slide (6, 7) having a W-shaped undulating cross section shape with two lateral tops (6s) separated from each other by a hollow (6c ), the two end walls (112, 113) of a module (1) being substantially flat, parallel to each other, vertical, and perpendicular to a longitudinal vertical median plane of the module, each module comprising internally at least three spacers, including two end spacers and a central spacer disposed substantially equidistant from the two end walls, the slides being fixed to the spacers, each spacer (12, 13, 14, 15) being constituted of a vertical transverse wall (112, 113, 18) and peripheral edges (17) of predetermined width, the peripheral edges being two lateral peripheral edges, an upper peripheral edge and a lower peripheral edge, the slides (6, 7) are fixing on the lateral peripheral edges of the spacer, the transverse wall of an end spacer (12, 13) being the corresponding end wall (112, 113) of the module. Module according to claim 10, characterized in that it is intended to be fixed on a road by a pile (21) provided with an enlarged head (22), the pile sinking vertically in the road by crossing the central strut (15), the upper peripheral edge of the central strut (15) having an upper through hole (20) for the passage of the pile and the lower peripheral edge of the central strut (15) having a lower passage (19) for the passage of the pile, the enlarged head (22) not being able to pass through the upper passage opening (20), the lower passage opening (19) allowing greater play with the pile the clearance of the upper passage opening (20) to allow movement of the lower part of the module (1) on the track in the event of a side impact on said module while the pile is driven into the track. Method for laying a modular retaining device according to any one of claims 2 to 7 in its combination to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that it comprises successive steps of installation, one after the other , modules along the road, in that at each step, a new module (1) is transported to a module (1) already in place placed on the road to be connected to their respective ends (2, 3), placed in an insertion position relative to the module (1) already in place to allow the insertion of the male connection elements (5) of the new module (1) in the corresponding female connecting elements (4) of the module (1) already in place, and then put in a hooking position relative to the module (1). ) already in place to prevent the separation of these modules (1) placed on the road, the modules internally comprising spacers (12, 13, 14, 15) provided with peripheral edges (17), and
in that it further comprises a vertical insertion step in the roadway of a pile provided with an enlarged head, the pile being made to pass through the central spacer of the module already in place, the upper peripheral edge of the central spacer having for this purpose an upper through hole for the passage of the pile and the lower peripheral edge of the central spacer having a lower through hole for the passage of the pile, the enlarged head can not pass through the the upper passage orifice, the lower passage orifice allowing a clearance with the pile greater than the clearance of the upper through hole to allow movement of the lower part of the module on the track in the event of a side impact on said module while the pile is driven into the track.

Images