EP4029993A1

EP4029993A1 - Release device for entrance control barriers and barriers comprising said device

Info

Publication number: EP4029993A1
Application number: EP22151173.6A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Andrea Cadamuro; Andrea BUSTREO
Original assignee: Came SpA
Current assignee: Came SpA
Priority date: 2021-01-13
Filing date: 2022-01-12
Publication date: 2022-07-20
Anticipated expiration: 2042-01-12
Also published as: PL4029993T3; IT202100000530A1; EP4029993B1

Abstract

A barrier for controlling the entrance to restricted access areas is described, comprising a support column and a bar adapted to be lifted and lowered to either allow or prevent accessing supervised areas, wherein the bar is connected to the column by a release device (10) comprising a pair of flanges (12, 13) mutually interacting to allow the displacement of the bar from its support in case of an impact, for example of a vehicle either intentionally or unintentionally attempting to force the passage when the bar is in the closed position.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a barrier for controlling entrances to restricted access areas, provided with a safety system acting in case of an impact. More in particular, the present invention relates to a barrier comprising a lifting bar designed to be released from its support when a given external force is applied to said bar, so as to prevent damage to the barrier and the movement system thereof in case of an impact.

BACKGROUND ART

The access control barriers are very common for controlling traffic and access to areas where entrances need to be filtered. These barriers are usually employed in places such as parking lots, toll lanes, private areas, and commercial areas. In general, the arm or bar of access control barriers is anchored to a support and movement column and elongated in the crosswise direction with respect to the regulated access route. Furthermore, the bar is usually operated by a control system, often inside the support and movement column, in which an electromechanical actuator is appropriately controlled by an electrical signal from an operator or a magnetic or optical card reader or even from a proximity or presence detector. The barrier bar is activated when a vehicle preauthorized for access approaches and is then lowered after the vehicle has passed.
Because of their function, the access control barriers are obviously exposed to the risk of impact with a vehicle which, either intentionally or unintentionally, attempts to cross them when the bar is still down. Accidents of this type can also occur as a result of malfunctions in the control system which cause the bar not to be lifted within the scheduled times and modes with consequent damage to both the bar and the vehicle in transit.
The available automatic barriers of the most advanced type are adapted to detect a possible impact of the bar on the vehicle and to react by lifting again the bar automatically. However, the response times often do not allow avoiding considerable damage, both to the vehicle and the bar. This is even more true when breakable type bars are used, characterized by high replacement costs. Furthermore, if the barrier is associated with heavy traffic routes, such as the freeway access toll lanes, for example, the operating speed to repair a bar damaged by an impact becomes crucial to avoid the formation of potentially dangerous queues and traffic jams.
Therefore, the need is apparent to equip the access control barriers with safety systems which, in case of incidents such as those described, can operate to avoid damage to the barrier bar, the movement system of the bar, and the vehicle which, either accidentally or not, could impact it.
Moreover, the aforementioned safety systems should be able to allow a quick repair intervention to avoid long interruptions of the traffic circulation regulated by the barrier and preferably be independent of the type, shape, and size of the bar used.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a barrier for controlling entrances to restricted access areas. The barrier is provided with a bar and a safety release system associated with said bar which acts in case of an impact. Said safety release system is adapted to minimize the damage caused by any impact between the barrier itself and a vehicle attempting to force its way through the controlled access point, and is further adapted to allow a quick repair of the damaged barrier temporarily out of service.
The barrier according to the present description preferably comprises a bar and a support and movement column to which said bar is connected. The support and movement column comprises suitable means for moving the bar according to known and commonly used embodiments. For example, said movement means can comprise a manual-type drive comprising a rotating shaft connected to one end of the barrier bar so as to control the lifting and lowering thereof with respect to the road surface.
In another example, said movement means can comprise an electromechanical drive comprising an electric motor driven by a control system controlled, in turn, by an electrical signal from an operator or a magnetic or optical card reader or a proximity or presence detector. The shaft of the electric motor is connected to one end of the barrier bar so as to control the lifting thereof with respect to the road surface when a vehicle preauthorized for access approaches, and then the lowering after the vehicle has passed.
The connection between the aforementioned shafts and one end of the barrier bar is achieved by a pair of flanges hinged to each other on one side.
Of this pair of flanges, a first flange is provided with a through-hole adapted to engage a pin which is integral with a second flange.
Furthermore, the first flange is provided with an elastic element anchored to the first flange and arranged around the through-hole so as to narrow the useful diameter thereof when at rest.
The pin being integral with the second flange is shaped so as to have a narrowing with a smaller diameter than the pin head diameter, which in turn is smaller than the diameter of the through-hole of the first flange.
Moreover, said first flange and said second flange are connectable to the manual or electric actuating shaft of the bar, or to the end of the barrier bar, or both, according to usual methods of the art. For example, a sheet metal cover, which contains and supports the end part of the bar and is secured to one of the two flanges by means of screws, can be used to secure the bar. On the other hand, a counter-flange, which can be either directly welded to the shaft or butt-connected by means of screws, can be used to secure the shaft.
By way of example, we will assume that the first flange is connected to the drive shaft while the barrier bar is connected to the second flange. When the two flanges being hinged on one side are closed, the pin which is integral with the second flange engages the through-hole and the elastic element associated therewith. The insertion of the pin into the through-hole causes the initial spreading of the elastic element associated with the hole, which spreading is due to the action of the pin head. Afterwards, when the head of the pin has passed the elastic element, the elastic element itself will return to its resting dimensions by reversibly engaging the narrowing present on the pin body.
Thereby, the barrier bar for controlling entrances to restricted access areas can be normally moved by the support and movement column according to the usual functions, because it is appropriately anchored, by means of the two flanges hinged together, to the shaft of the manual or electric drive of the aforementioned support and movement column. When the bar is lowered, in case of an impact, for example, by a vehicle, the force applied to the bar during the impact will be such as to cause the displacement of the pin of the second flange which will spread the elastic element, protrude from the through-hole of the first flange, and thus allow the bar to open by rotating horizontally about the joint hinge of the aforementioned two flanges. This horizontal movement of the bar will allow preserving the integrity of the bar and the actuation system thereof, as well as limiting any damage to the body of the vehicle which caused the impact.
The release force of the bar can be easily programmed and set by means of the aforesaid elastic element associated with the first flange. The minimum force required to cause the bar to be released can be precisely established by appropriately choosing the material of the elastic element and its stiffness.
A further degree of freedom in programming the minimum release force of the bar can be provided by the arrangement of different points for anchoring the elastic element to the aforementioned first flange. By appropriately choosing these anchoring points, it is possible to ensure that said elastic element can be positioned in different manners so as to reduce the useful diameter of the through-hole of the first flange to a different extent, and thus ultimately to achieve different minimum release forces of the bar.
Moreover, the described system has a minimal impact on the barrier, also allowing possible retrofitting of existing barriers. Furthermore, the described system can be advantageously used with bars of different sizes and with sections of different shapes and dimensions, it will be sufficient to suitably size the two flanges and the mutual coupling means therebetween.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the reading of the following detailed description, given by way of non-limiting example, with the aid of the figures shown on the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a detail of the barrier according to the present invention, relating to the connection between the barrier bar and the bar support column, when the bar is in the closed position.
Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of a detail of the barrier according to the present invention, relating to the connection between the barrier bar and the bar support column, when the bar is in the closed position and is released following an impact.
Fig. 3 shows a perspective view of a detail of the release device according to the present invention, when the bar is in the closed position.
Fig. 4 shows a plan view of a section of a detail of the release device according to the present invention, when the bar is in the closed position.
Fig. 5 shows a perspective view of a detail of the release device according to the present invention, when the bar is in the closed position and is released following an impact.
Fig. 6 shows a plan view of a section of a detail of the release device according to the present invention, when the bar is in a closed position and is released following an impact.
Fig. 7 shows a view of the first flange of the release device according to the present invention, where the elastic element is connected in a first operating mode.
Fig. 8 shows a view of the first flange of the release device according to the present invention, where the elastic element is connected in a second operating mode.
Fig. 9 shows a first view of an example of a connection between the shaft of the bar support column and a flange of the release device according to the present invention.
Fig. 10 shows a second view of an example of a connection between the shaft of the bar support column and a flange of the release device according to the present invention.

The following description of exemplary embodiments relates to the accompanying drawings. The same reference numbers in the various drawings identify the same elements or similar elements. The following detailed description does not limit the invention. The scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference to the accompanying figures, the barrier for controlling entrances to restricted access areas according to the present description comprises a bar 10, a support and movement column 11, and mutual connecting means between said bar 10 and said column 11.
The support and movement column 11 is adapted to lift and lower the bar 10 to allow the passage of vehicles, for example, authorized to access areas or traffic lanes subject to narrowings and filterings. To do so, said column 11 is internally provided with a manual or electromechanical drive system comprising a shaft connected, directly or indirectly, to one end of bar 10. In case of and electric drive, the electric motor inside the column 11 is driven by a control system controlled, in turn, by an electric signal produced by an operator or a magnetic or optical card reader, or a camera, or a proximity or presence detector, etc.
In the presence of the conditions required to allow access, the electric signal gives consent to operate the electric motor which lifts the bar, rotating it about an axis passing through one end of said bar and substantially parallel to the ground. The rotation applied to the bar 10 is generally limited to an angle which is either smaller than or equal to a quarter of a turn. Once the access point has been crossed by the vehicle, the support and movement column 11 again rotates the bar 10, in the reverse direction, to return said bar 10 to the closed position, substantially parallel to the ground.
In further detail, the mutual connection means between said bar 10 and said support and movement column 11 comprise, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, a first flange 12 and a second flange 13 mutually hinged on one side. The first flange 12 is provided with a through-hole 17 adapted to engage a pin 14 which is integral with the second flange 13. The pin 14 is shaped so a to have a narrowing 15 with a smaller diameter than the maximum diameter of the pin head, which in turn is smaller than the diameter of the through-hole 17 of the first flange 12. Furthermore, the first flange 12 is provided with an elastic element 16 arranged around the through-hole 17 and adapted to narrow the useful diameter thereof when at rest.
Moreover, said first flange 12 and said second flange 13 are connectable to the manual or electric actuating shaft of bar 10, or to the end of the bar 10 of the barrier, or both, according to usual methods of the art. For example, a sheet metal cover 23, which contains and supports the end part of the bar and is secured to one of the two flanges by means of screws, can be used to secure the bar, as shown in accompanying Figs. 3 and 5. A counter-flange, which can be either directly welded to the shaft or butt-connected by means of screws, can be used to secure the shaft, as shown in the accompanying Figs. 9 and 10.
When the barrier bar is connected to the second flange 13 and the second flange is closed on the first flange 12 being integral with the support column shaft 11 (or vice versa), for example, the pin 14 which is integral with the second flange 13 engages the through-hole 17 and the elastic element 16 associated therewith. The insertion of pin 14 through the through-hole 17 causes the initial spreading of the elastic element 16, which spreading is due to the action of the head of pin 14. Afterwards, when the head of pin 14 has passed the elastic element 16, the elastic element will return to the resting dimensions by reversibly engaging the narrowing 15 present on the body of pin 14. The reversible engagement force between the elastic element 16 and the pin 14 will be such that the first flange 12 and second flange 13 are kept facing each other during normal operation of the barrier, thus ensuring the lifting and lowering of bar 10 by the support and movement column 11.
In the case of a frontal impact on the bar 10 by a vehicle attempting to cross the access point when the barrier bar is lowered, for example, the force applied to the bar 10 by the impact in a transverse direction substantially parallel to the ground is such as to cause the disengagement of the pin 14 of the second flange 13 from the elastic element 16 of the first flange 12 and the consequent separation of the free ends of the two flanges. This allows the bar which is integral with the second flange 13 to rotate around the hinge 18 in a direction substantially parallel to the ground so as to "accommodate" the received impact, thus minimizing the damage to the bar 10, the support and movement column 11, and the vehicle responsible for the impact.
The release force of bar 10 can be easily programmed and set by means of the elastic element 16 associated with the first flange 12. Indeed, the minimum force required to cause the release of the bar can be accurately determined by appropriately choosing the material of the elastic element and its stiffness. Furthermore, the first flange 12 can be provided with various securing points for the elastic element 16, said securing points being configured to obtain different resistive forces of the spring itself.
In a preferred embodiment, the elastic element 16 can be obtained by means of a spring of the bending type, such as of the clip or fork type, and said securing points comprise, for example, pairs of through- holes 19, 20, 21 made in the first flange 12 and adapted to house the ends of spring 16. Alternatively or additionally, the spring 16 can be secured to the first flange 12 by means of a shell 22 adapted to be anchored to the first flange 12 and comprising a seat capable of containing the spring 16 both at rest and when spread, and positioning said spring 16 around said hole 17. Securing points obtained in different manners can be provided, of both removable and non-removable types such as welding, riveting, etc.
By appropriately choosing these anchoring points, it is possible to ensure that the spring 16 can be positioned in different manners such as to reduce the useful diameter of the through-hole 17 of the first flange 12 to a different extent, and thus ultimately to obtain different minimum release forces of the bar.
With reference to accompanying Figs. 7 and 8, two embodiments of the different release forces of bar 10 are shown. In Fig. 7, the ends of spring 16 are connected to a first pair of holes 20, 21 to obtain a first release resisting force. In Fig. 8, the ends of spring 16 are connected to a second pair of holes 19, 20 to obtain a second release resisting force. The second release resisting force will be greater than the first release resisting force because the distance between the holes of the second pair of holes 19, 20 is lesser than the distance between the holes of the first pair of holes 20, 21. Correspondingly, the spring 16 will be more closed, thus promoting a greater narrowing of the through-hole 17 of the first flange 12, and therefore a greater force against the crossing by the head of pin 14.

Claims

A release device (10) of barrier bars for controlling the entrance to restricted access areas, comprising:
a first flange (12) comprising a through-hole (17) and a bending spring (16) arranged about said hole (17) so as to narrow the useful diameter thereof with a predetermined resistive force;

a second flange (13) connected by means of a hinge (18) to said first flange (12) and comprising a pin (14) provided with a groove which allows said pin (14) to engage said bending spring (16) reversibly, said first flange (12) and said second flange (13) being connectable to an actuation shaft of the bar (10) or to the end of the bar (10) or both, characterized in that said pin is configured to be disengaged from said bending spring (16) if said bar undergoes an impact such as to exceed said predetermined resistive force.
A device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said first flange (12) comprises securing means for said bending spring (16).
A device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said bending spring (16) is a spring of the clip or fork type, having two ends.
A device according to one or more of claims 2 to 3 characterized in that the securing means for said spring (16) comprise a plurality of through holes (19, 20, 21) adapted to engage the ends of the spring (16).
A device according to one or more of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the securing means for said spring (16) comprise a shell (22) adapted to be anchored to the first flange (12) and comprising a seat capable of containing said spring (16) both at rest and when spread, and positioning said spring (16) about said hole (17).
A device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said pin (14) comprises a narrowing (15) having a diameter which is smaller than the maximum diameter of the top of the pin (14).
A device according to one or more of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that said first flange (12) is connectable to the actuation shaft of the bar (10) and said second flange (13) is connectable to the end of the bar (10).
A device according to one or more of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that said first flange (12) is connectable to the end of the bar (10) and said second flange (13) is connectable to the actuation shaft of the bar (10).
A barrier for controlling the entrance to restricted access areas, comprising:
a bar (10);

a support column (11) comprising means for moving the bar (10) comprising,

in turn, a rotating shaft associated with one end of the bar (10) and adapted to lift and lower said bar (10) with respect to the road surface;

mutual connection means between said bar (10) and said movement means,

characterized in that said connection means comprise the release device according to one or more of claims 1 to 8.
A barrier according to the preceding claim characterized in that said means for moving the bar (10) comprise a manual drive connected to said shaft.
A barrier according to claim 9 characterized in that said means for moving the bar (10) comprise an electromechanical drive comprising an electric motor connected to said shaft and driven by a control system, which is controlled, in turn, by an electrical signal.
A barrier according to the preceding claim characterized in that said electrical signal is produced by an operator or a magnetic or optical card reader, or a camera or a proximity or presence detector.