FR2722216A1 - Retractable bollard for controlling car parking area - Google Patents

Abstract

The bollard (1) is retracted below the level of the surrounding surface (12) when not in use, inside a housing (2) with an inner sleeve (3) and a cartridge (4) containing its drive mechanism. The drive is in the form of a piston (5) connected to a pneumatic bellows which is inflated by air fed through a tube (6) to deploy the bollard, and released to retract it. The housing is covered by a cap with an aperture for the bollard to pass through, and the gap between the housing and sleeve contains cables (31) and pneumatic tubes for the drive. The sleeve also contains a sensor (13) which is linked to an indicator showing whether the bollard is retracted or deployed.

Description

 The present invention relates to a drive mechanism which can be used to retract any signaling element reversibly.

 This mechanism comprises a set of longitudinal parts placed one inside the other which contain the signaling element. This structure makes it possible to have parts that are removable with respect to others, which facilitates the implementation, maintenance and replacement of the mechanism according to the invention.

 In addition, this invention finds an advantageous application in the signaling of the road and motorway network.

 With regard to the drive mechanism, numerous documents define the state of the art.

 The document FR-A-2,697,548 proposes an elastic mechanism transforming the rotational movement of an output axis of a gearmotor, into linear displacement intended in particular to move retractable terminals, thus making it possible to reduce the dimensions thereof while improving their impact resistance and their manufacturing cost. I1 consists of two helical parts fixed in rotation and offset by half a step, enclosed in the block to move, and which serve as a raceway for two rollers located at the ends of an axis driven in rotation by a motor axis. The rotation of the axis causes the helical parts and the stud that contains them to move linearly. At the end of the stroke, the two helical pieces compress slightly, forming an elastic connection between the deployed stud and the motor assembly.

 Document FR-A-2,686,633 relates to a retractable obstacle, in particular for blocking the passage and / or parking of vehicles, of the type comprising a mobile terminal and a box intended to be buried in the ground and in which said bollard can be moved in axial translation, this bollard and this box being provided with complementary means for guiding the movement of axial translation of said bollard, characterized in that the movable bollard comprises, at its lower part, at least one latch movable in the direction radial and capable of cooperating with at least one fixed member integral with the box to ensure that said terminal is held in the high position of the maneuvering and transmission means accessible at the top of said terminal allowing, by a simple rotational movement, the erasure of the or locks and the retraction of the latter into the ground, under the sole effect of gravity.

 The document FR-A-2,596,782 relates to a device allowing the distance to close and / or open a passage or a location by means of retractable bollards in the ground.

The invention more particularly applies to freeing (or blocking) spaces (accesses, exits, parking lots, etc.), vehicles, when authorization is given by a signal emitted by a control member. This device consists of remote control unit (s), control cabinet, technical center supplying compressed air, one (or more) terminal box containing a terminal actuated by a pneumatic cylinder.

This terminal is integral with a female barrel sliding on a male barrel. The male barrel is secured to a support mounted on rubber blocks.

 The first two devices are fully mechanical, which can be operated either automatically or manually.

These therefore require significant maintenance, especially for lubrication. In addition, when the bollards are deployed, they contain complex and costly mechanisms which can be damaged if a vehicle or the like hits them. This can make the terminal unusable for a certain time, preventing the passage of the flow of vehicles or others.

 The third device works via compressed air. The essential problem consists in the very large size of the core to be produced, whether in diameter or in depth, because the retractable terminal is of a larger volume than the mechanism allowing its retraction and that in the retracted position, the terminal is still in the upper position relative to said retraction mechanism.

 With regard to the application to the road and motorway network, the document FR-A-2.688.808 proposes a device which can be used to mark the deviation of a traffic lane to another lane I1 consists of a series of signaling arms substantially horizontal, arranged at intervals from one another on the portion of motorway concerned, and having respective increasing lengths. Each signaling arm is pivotally mounted about an axis and can be either retracted on one side of the road, in particular by applying against a safety barrier, or deployed above the traffic lane whose traffic must be diverted .

 The essential drawback of this device lies in the fact that the signaling arms from upstream to downstream have different technical characteristics. If one of them becomes damaged, it will be necessary for the technical services to replace it with an arm of identical length. In addition, on windy days, the longer arms are more sensitive to weather conditions, and the lever "arm" thus formed can deteriorate the hinge axis.

 To this end, the present invention provides a retraction mechanism which solves the problems raised above.

 The subject of the invention is a drive mechanism for a reversible retractable signaling element, of the type which uses a box intended to be housed in the ground and containing the signaling element in the retracted position, said element being movable in translation out of the box through motorization means, characterized in that the box contains an inner jacket whose dimensions are such that the space between said box and the inner jacket, serves as a reservation for the passage of wiring, sheathing and / or others used for the implementation of the motorization means, and that said inner jacket contains the signaling element and the motorization means of said element.

 The motorization means, enclosed by the inner jacket, consist of a cartridge which contains a piston on which the signaling element is mounted, the piston being movable in translation due to the introduction or the output of the air from a pneumatic duct.

 The mobility of the piston is ensured by a pneumatic lung whose shape allows a unidirectional and longitudinal extension, coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the cartridge.

 The box is delimited by a closure cap having an opening through which the signaling element is movable.

 The box housed in the ground is formed of two parts, a lower part called the body and an upper part called the destructible jacket, the destructible jacket being replaceable according to the evolution of the surrounding wearing course.

 The inner jacket contains a presence sensor located opposite the signaling element in the retracted position, and opposite the movable piston, in the deployed position.

 The inner jacket contains a presence sensor located opposite the movable piston, in the retracted position.

 The cartridge is removable with respect to the inner jacket and has a quick coupling with respect to the air introduction and exit system therein.

 The motorization means are put into operation by introduction and exit of air due to an air compressor which sends air via at least one valve, the structure of which allows the two functions of introduction and exit of the air.

 A height adjustment jacket is located between the box and the inner jacket and comprises positioning means relative to the destructible jacket and means for securing with said inner jacket.

 The present invention also relates to an application allowing the implementation of several mechanisms for driving signaling elements, in order to mark the deviation from one traffic lane to another lane, of the same direction of traffic, which is characterized by the fact that the mechanisms are regularly spaced from each other, on the one hand, substantially transversely with respect to the deviated traffic lane, and, on the other hand, longitudinally between said deviated lane and the other lane, the mechanisms placed transversely preceding the mechanisms placed longitudinally according to the direction of circulation.

 The transverse mechanisms are placed at an angle, which gradually deviates the traffic lane from upstream to downstream.

 A central unit manages the operation of the implementation of the signaling element drive mechanisms, and manages the progressive and successive implementation of each mechanism from upstream to downstream.

 The transverse mechanisms are grouped in staggered rows, each group being supplied with air by a single pneumatic sheath.

 The attached drawings are given as indicative and non-limiting examples. They represent several preferred embodiments according to the invention. They will allow the invention to be easily understood.

 Figure 1 shows a longitudinal sectional view of a drive mechanism, implanted in the ground, which includes within it a signaling means in the retracted position.

 2 shows a sectional view identical to Figure 1, but in which the signaling means is in the deployed position.

FIG. 3 represents a view in longitudinal section along
AA in Figure 4.

 Figure 4 shows a top view of a box according to the invention.

 Figure 5 shows a side view of a height adjustment jacket of the entire drive mechanism.

 FIG. 6 represents a view in longitudinal section along B-E of FIG. 5, at the level of the partial longitudinal slot of the adjustment jacket.

 Figure 7 shows a top view of the adjustment jacket.

 Figure 8 shows a side view of an inner liner.

FIG. 9 represents a view in longitudinal section along
CC of Figure 8, at the longitudinal slot of the inner jacket.

 Figure 10 shows a top view of the inner jacket.

 Figure 11 shows a side view of a cartridge.

Figure 12 shows a longitudinal sectional view along
DD of Figure 11, at the presence sensors.

 Figure 12 shows a bottom view of the cartridge.

 Figure 14 shows the block diagram of the markup group.

 FIG. 15 represents an embodiment of an assembly of signaling elements faithful to the invention.

 FIG. 16 shows another embodiment of a set of signaling elements of the invention.

The present invention relates to a drive mechanism for signaling elements 1, well represented in FIGS. 1 and 2, as well as two embodiments of an implementation device comprising several of these signaling elements 1,
The drive mechanism for reversible retractable signaling elements 1 is of the type which uses a box 2 situated outside and which delimits a space between the internal mechanical part and the ground situated around its periphery.

 In fact, the installation of the drive mechanism requires a coring of the soil beforehand which creates a housing where the box 2 will be placed. Of course, beforehand, we could have made a roadway or a wearing course 12 allowing the passage of vehicles.

 The fixing of the casing 2 inside its core drilling is due to the presence of a seal 33, for example concrete laitance or any curable material.

 This box 2 contains a signaling element 1 in the retracted position, said element 1 being movable in translation out of the box according to F2, as can be seen in FIG. 2, by means of motorization means.

 These motorization means also allow the retraction, according to F1 of FIG. 1, of the element 1.

 As can be clearly seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, the box 2 being in contact with the outside, it comprises means for discharging water which could unfortunately have infiltrated, these are slots 37, arranged laterally, and a trellis 38, located in the lower part.

 The new and inventive design of the drive mechanism is due to the presence of an inner jacket 3 inside the box 2. The inside jacket 3 is smaller than the box 2, there is a space between these two parts 2 and 3 which serves as a reservation for the passage of the cables 31, the sheaths 6, and any other element allowing the implementation of the drive mechanism. The passage of the cables 31, sheathing 6, etc., in the box 2, is provided by a passage 36, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

 In addition, this inner jacket 3 containing the signaling element 1, as well as the means for motorizing said element 1, it is therefore obvious that the arrangement of the box 2 on the one hand, and of the inner jacket 3 on the other hand , is concentric with respect to the signaling element 1.

 In Figures 8 to 10, the inner jacket 3 is formed of a cylinder having a longitudinal slot 43, the utility of which will be explained later. In the lower part, the jacket 3 is provided with a quick connector 15 for inlet and outlet of the air coming either from a pneumatic sheath 6 or from a lung 7.

 In FIGS. 1 and 2, the signaling element is constituted by a beacon 1. Nevertheless, the element 1 could also be formed by a panel, a removable barrier or any other signaling element capable of ensuring the safety of the users of the road and motorway networks where said element 1 is located. The use of such elements 1 will be explained at greater length when we refer to Figures 4 and 5.

 In fact, as can be seen in Figures 1 and 2, there is another envelope located coaxially and concentrically with respect to the signaling means 1, it is a cartridge 4 which contains a piston 5 on which is mounted the signaling element 1. The piston 5 is movable in translation along F1 and F2 already defined above; it is the movement of said piston 5 which will allow the retraction according to F1 or the deployment according to F2 of the signaling element 1. This movement is due to the introduction or the exit of air passing through the pneumatic sheath 6 supplied from the outside, as can be seen in Figure 3 which will be explained below.

 This cartridge 4 has a general form of socket, that is to say having an opening 46, in the upper position, and a lower partition 47. In fact, this lower partition 47 is provided with a passage 48 for the quick coupling 15, when the cartridge 4 is placed in the inner jacket 3.

 The mobility of the piston 5 is ensured inside the drive mechanism by means of a pneumatic lung 7 whose shape allows a unidirectional and longitudinal extension which is coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the cartridge 4, as is clearly seen in Figures 1 and 2. The shape of the pneumatic lung 7 is that of an accordion. Due to the number of concentric housings, it is necessary that there is a part in the upper position which seals the system. This part is constituted by a closure cap 8 which is provided with seals 32 making it possible to completely isolate the interior of the box 2 from the exterior.

These seals 32 are present between the cap 8 and the box 2, between said cap 8 and the signaling element 1 which can be retracted or deployed and between the cap 8 and the cartridge 4.

 The movement of the signaling element 1 takes place at an opening 9, present at the level of the cover 8, the only physical link between the element 1 and the cover 8 being constituted by one of the seals 32.

 In fact, the box 2 consists of two elements of different structure and function. These two parts are located one above the other. The lower part, called body 10, is constituted by a metal casing which protects the drive mechanism of a signaling element against the tectonic constraints of the ground where the assembly is located.

The upper part, known as a destructible jacket 11, is generally made of a plastic type material which can be changed if the nature of the wearing course or of the covering 12 forming the road or the highway must be planed, replaced or repair.

 Concretely, when the thickness of the mix 12 is modified, the tag 1 no longer exceeds the ground by the same height in the extended position.

 In order to "normalize" this height, provision is made to insert a height adjustment jacket 39, which is well represented in FIGS. 5 to 7, located between the box 2 and the inner jacket 3.

 The correct positioning of this adjustment jacket 39 relative to the box 2 is effected by means of a shoulder 40 which comes to rest on the destructible shirt 11 of the box 2. It is the height of the destructible shirt 11 which will vary as a function of the thickness of the mix 12, the inner liner 3 being secured to the height adjustment liner 39, by means of lugs 42 and fixing lugs 45, as seen in the figures 5 to 10: said inner jacket 3 will vary in height in the same way as said adjustment jacket 39.

 In order to check the presence or absence of the signaling element, the inner jacket 3 includes a presence sensor 13 located in the upper position, that is to say opposite the signaling element 1 in the retracted position and in face of the piston 5 movable in the deployed position. The inner jacket 3 also contains a presence sensor 14 located opposite the movable piston 5 in the retracted position. These sensors 13 and 14, clearly visible in FIGS. 1, 2, 11 and 12, will make it possible to know remotely whether or not the signaling means 1, constituted for example by a beacon, has been damaged, and therefore s' it will have to be replaced.

 The sensors 13 and 14 requiring wired or wiring connections 31, which protrude from the cartridge 4, it is necessary to provide a longitudinal slot 41 and 43 at the level, on the one hand, of the adjustment jacket 34 and, on the other part, of the inner liner 3. The slot 41 of said adjustment liner 39 is partial, that is to say that it is not present from bottom to top of the liner 39, as seen on the FIGS. 5 to 7. While the slot 43 of the inner jacket 3 extends from the top to the bottom, as is well shown in FIGS. 8 to 10.

 All this information collected by the sensors 13 and 14 is analyzed remotely, as will be seen below.

 The cartridge 4 has the property of being removable with respect to the inner jacket 3 and comprises, in its lower part, the quick connector 15 with respect to the air introduction and outlet system located therein. When the cartridge 4 is put in place, the quick connector 15 is placed at the level of the pneumatic lung 7 and allows the introduction according to the arrow F4 of air allowing the deployment of the beacon 1. This air intake is due to the presence of an air compressor 16 as well as valves 17, clearly visible in FIG. 3, while the retraction movement, according to FI, is also due to the presence of valves 17 which, by a deviation of the air coming from the compressor 16, creates a depression in the lung 7.

 As can be seen in FIG. 3, the present invention consists in the study and the production of an assisted road marking system for the purpose of regulating or diverting traffic in order to avoid traffic jams, works, or accidents.

 The system is aimed at slowing down traffic on a given section and / or replacing the manual installation of danger factor beacons for intervention personnel and users.

 As can be clearly seen in FIG. 3, the electromechanical and electronic part which makes it possible to manage the operation of the beacon (s) 1 and integrate into an electronic box 20, itself implanted in the markup group 34.

 This electronic unit 20 has a structure which allows it to operate at sufficiently large amplitudes of temperature and hygrometry.

 Regarding lightning protection, the beacon group 34 will be earthed to allow good protection by Faradet cages.

 In fact, the electronic unit 20 comprises an input card 21 connected to the beacon 1 by means of cables 31. This input card 21 collects information in an all-or-nothing manner to know whether the beacon is extended or retracted via sensors 13 and 14.

 The electronic unit 20 includes an output card 22, also operating all or nothing; this allows not only the control of solenoid valves 35 for the supply of emergency air, but also the control of the lung 7, and if necessary, if the beacon 1 is provided, the flash control.

 The box 20 also includes a link card 24 with the command post, the command post and the link card 24 being connected via a main network 26.

 The box 20 also includes a logic control and command card 23 which is linked to the local network 25.

 The operation of the electronic unit 20 is ensured by the power supply 27 which provides a current coming from the EDF network 28.

The power supply 27 also allows the operation of the compressor 16 which allows the sending of pressurized air via the valves 17 and by means of the solenoid valve 35 which is used to supply emergency air supplied to a reserve of air 29, beacon 1.

 In FIGS. 4 and 5, several beacons 1 can be used to make it possible to mark a deviation from a traffic lane 18 towards another traffic lane 19, the two lanes 18 and 19 having the same direction of traffic F3. To do this, the various mechanisms containing the beacons 1 are regularly spaced from one another, on the one hand substantially transversely with respect to the deviated traffic lane 18, and on the other hand longitudinally between said deviated lane 18 and the other track 19, the mechanisms placed transversely preceding the mechanisms placed longitudinally, according to the direction of traffic.

 In practice, the transverse mechanisms placed on the deviated track 18 are placed at an angle and deflects the traffic lane progressively from upstream to downstream.

 According to the embodiment of FIG. 5, the transverse mechanisms are referenced 30 and are in fact formed by staggered groups of mechanisms 30 acting as retarders, each mechanism being slightly smaller in size than the signaling elements 1.

Each of these groups is supplied with air by a single pneumatic sheath 6,
In these two figures 4 and 5, the dotted lines represent the electrical connections 31 as well as the tires 6, the assembly being controlled by the marking group 34 which manages the lifting and the progressive descent from upstream to downstream of the various elements signaling 1, of FIG. 4 or of the various transverse mechanisms 30, of FIG. 5.

 The functionalities required of the transmission elements are as follows: they allow the configurable acquisition of information over an entire sector by electrical connections with the beacons 1, they transfer, to the road command post, the information thus acquired on the various tags 1 of the sector.

 To achieve these functionalities, several types of possible hardware are used. Anyway, the requested functionalities are to allow the raising, lowering or even flash command of the beacons 1, to control the safety devices such as the switching of the electrical supply between the EDF 28 network and a battery reserve or switching of the compressed air supply between the compressor 16 and its air reserve 29 on the one hand, and the air evacuated from the beacons 1, on the other hand.

 It is also necessary to acquire the information on the position of the beacons 1, they can be either returned, or taken out, or absent.

 It is also necessary to acquire the information from the pneumatic distribution concerning a possible blockage, a blocked tag 1 or an overpressure of the lung 7, etc.

 It is advisable to acquire the general information of the markup group 34, with the control of the general pressure, as well as of the tension.

 This information must then be processed and stored, possibly visualized by indicator lights and transferred to the command post.

 Of course, only the command post is capable of implementing the signaling elements 1. However, it is possible to have sensors in order to calculate the density of the stream of vehicles, or the average speed of the vehicles, if this calculation exceeds a preset threshold, the electronic unit 20 can control the said signaling elements 1 or the mechanisms.

REFERENCES
1 - Signaling element or beacon
2 - Casing
3 - Inner shirt
4 - Cartridge
5 - Piston
6 - Pneumatic sheath
7 - Pneumatic lung
8 - Closure cap
9 - Opening of the cover 8 10 - Lower part of the casing 2 or body 11 - Upper part of the casing 2 or destructible jacket 12 - Asphalt or wearing course 13 - Presence sensor in the upper position 14 - Presence sensor in the lower position 15 - Quick coupling 16 - Air compressor 17 - Valve 18 - Deviated channel 19 - Channel where the traffic is diverted 20 - Electronic shoemaker 21 - Input card 22 - Output card 23 - Logic control and command card 24 - Connection card 25 - Local network 26 - Main network to the command post 27 - Supply 28 - EDF network 29 - Air reserve 30 - Cross-staggered mechanism 31 - Wiring 32 - Seals 33 - Sealing of the casing 2 34 - Group lighting 35 - Emergency air supply solenoid valves 36 - Passage of the pneumatic sheath 6 and the cables 31 to
level of the casing 2 37 - Slots for evacuating the water infiltrated into the casing 2 38 - Lattice for evacuating the water infiltrated into the casing 2 39 - Shirt for adjusting the height of the drive mechanism 40 - Shoulder of the adjustment sleeve 39 41 - Partial longitudinal slot of the adjustment sleeve 39 42 - Lugs of the adjustment sleeve 39 allowing the attachment of
the inner liner 3 43 - Longitudinal slot of the inner liner 3 45 - Tab of the inner liner 3 allowing the attachment of
the adjustment sleeve 39 46 - Opening of the cartridge 4 47 - Lower partition of the cartridge 4 48 - Passage of the quick connector 15 through the partition 47
F1 - Retraction of signaling element 1
F2 - Extension of signaling element 1
F3 - Direction of traffic on tracks 18 and 19
F4 - Air outlet in the lung 7

Claims (14)

 1. Drive mechanism for reversible retractable signaling element (1), of the type which uses a box intended to be housed in the ground and containing the signaling element in the retracted position, said element (1) being movable in translation out of the box (2) by means of the motorization means, characterized by the fact  that the box (2) contains an inner jacket (3) whose dimensions are such that the space between said box (2) and the inner jacket (3), serves as a reservation for the passage of cables (31), sheathing (6) and / or others used for the implementation of motorization means, and  that said inner jacket (3) contains the signaling element (1) and the means for motorizing said element (1).  2. Mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that  that the motorization means, enclosed by the inner jacket (3), consist of a cartridge (4) which contains a piston (5) on which is mounted the signaling element (1), the piston (5) being movable in translation due to the introduction or the exit of the air coming from a pneumatic sheath (6).  3. Mechanism according to claim 2, characterized in that  that the mobility of the piston (5) is ensured by a pneumatic lung (7) whose shape allows a unidirectional and longitudinal extension, coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the cartridge (4).  4. Mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that  that the box (2) is delimited by a closure cap (8) comprising an opening (9) through which the signaling element (1) is movable.  5. Mechanism according to any one of claims 1 or 4, characterized in that  that the box (2) housed in the ground is formed of two parts, a lower part called the body (10) and an upper part called the destructible jacket (11); the destructible jacket (11) being replaceable as a function of the development of the surrounding wearing course (12).  6. Mechanism according to claim 2, characterized in that  that the inner jacket (3) contains a presence sensor (13) located opposite the signaling element (1) in the retracted position, and opposite the movable piston (5), in the deployed position.  7. Mechanism according to any one of claims 2 or 6, characterized in that  that the inner jacket (3) contains a presence sensor (14) located opposite the movable piston (5), in the retracted position.  8. Mechanism according to claim 2, characterized in that  that the cartridge (4) is removable relative to the inner jacket (3) and has a quick connector (15) relative to the air introduction and outlet system therein.  9. Mechanism according to any one of claims 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that  that the motorization means are put into operation by introduction and exit of air due to an air compressor (16) which sends air via at least one valve (17), the structure of which allows the two functions of air inlet and outlet.  10. Mechanism according to claims 2 and 5, characterized in that  that a height adjustment jacket (39) is located between the box (2) and the inner jacket (3) and  that it (39) comprises positioning means (40) relative to the destructible jacket (11) and means for securing (42) with said inner jacket (3).  11. Application allowing the implementation of several signaling element drive mechanisms (1), according to any one of claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10, in order to mark the deviation from one traffic lane (18) to another lane (19), with the same traffic direction, characterized by the fact  that the mechanisms are regularly spaced from each other, on the one hand, substantially transversely with respect to the deviated traffic lane (18), and, on the other hand, longitudinally between said deviated lane (18) and the other lane (19), the mechanisms placed transversely preceding the mechanisms placed longitudinally according to the direction of circulation.  12. Application according to claim 11, characterized in that  that the transverse mechanisms are placed at an angle, which deflects the traffic lane (18) progressively from upstream to downstream.  13. Application according to any one of claims 11 or 12, characterized in that  that a central unit (20) manages the operation of the implementation of the signaling element drive mechanisms (1), and manages the progressive and successive implementation of each mechanism from upstream to downstream.  14. Application according to any one of claims 11 or 12, characterized in that  that the transverse mechanisms (30) are grouped in staggered rows, each group being supplied with air by a single pneumatic sheath (6).