FR2742176A1 - LIGHT SIGNALING ARROW WITH VARIABLE GEOMETRY - Google Patents

Abstract

An illuminated arrow mounted on a van (8) for directing traffic. The arrow includes an upper portion (4) supported on a frame (3) and movable between an operative position in which it is vertical and capable of being used to direct traffic, and a transport position in which it is folded down onto the roof of the van. Said upper portion consists of a stationary central panel (4c) that does not project beyond the sides of the van, and two retractable side flaps that are movable between an operative position in which they lie on either side of the central panel (4c), and a folded position in which they do not project beyond the sides of the van, whereas the lower portion (5) is supported on a frame (2) and consists of a stationary central panel (5c) that does not project beyond the sides of the van, and two retractable side flaps that are movable between an operative position in which they lie on either side of the central panel (5c), and a retracted position in which they do not project beyond the sides of the van.

Description

 The present invention relates to a Variable Geometry Light Arrow mounted on a utility van.

 The evolution of the signaling of construction sites on roads and motorways, taking into account the evolution of the average speed of vehicles, and the trivialization of classic construction site signals has led those responsible for safety and traffic management to develop new modes of lighting. These have the advantage of being visible from afar, between 200m and lOOOm and of warning motorists very early that they are going to approach a work zone or an area presenting a danger.

 In order for this signage to be relevant, the departments of road safety and traffic management have drawn up strict construction plans for these new light devices, including in particular the dimensions in terms of overall width (2.2 m mandatory), height overall (4.2m obligatory), number of flashing lights, number of rafters, diameter of regulatory circular panels, etc ... Each new product which will be built on this type will have to be approved to be used on roads and motorways.

 The two essential dimensions imposed by the departments of safety and road traffic are overall width and overall height. The authorized size of the utility vans being 1.95m wide at most, it was not possible to mount such equipment on these vehicles. Also, several types of towed trailers with luminous drawdown arrows have appeared on the market, either mounted with one light arrow per trailer, or mounted with two light drawdown arrows per trailer to create a mobile safety bevel designated as such in patent 93.08026 of 25/06/93.

 This equipment is not entirely satisfactory because to be used permanently for intervention on random events, it would be necessary for each safety van to permanently tow a trailer equipped with such a device, or to be equipped with a light folding boom which makes the vehicle oversized and requires derogations from the highway code which would not necessarily be issued. This is incompatible with the safety that one wants to do with this equipment, for intensive use and thus deprives the agents of the road and highway operating services of valuable equipment.

Also, it was invented a new luminous arrow called thereafter FLECHE LUMINEUSE A GEOMETRIE
VARIABLE which allows to mount on a utility vehicle a luminous drawdown arrow conforming to the legislation when it is in the working position, and which when it is folded is reduced in height and width to blend into the template of the van.

 The present invention allows, with a completely innovative approach to overcome the shortcomings of the different types of towed trailers, while still improving the perception of the signal by motorists when using this new device on random event.

 The light boom with variable geometry is fixed to the van by means of fixing lugs. It consists of two parts, a lower part and an upper part. The lower part consists of a low support supporting a regulatory road sign, itself equipped with a motorized arrow to indicate the direction of neutralization of the lane put in place (folding of the roadway from the right or from the left) .

This motorized boom can also be put in a vertical "neutral" position when the van moves from one point to another. The lower part also has panels with fixed and movable blades, each fixed or movable blade supporting a half signal chevron, the set of two half blades forming a complete chevron, when they are placed on the same plane, conforming to a road safety directorate standard. The movable blades deploy or retract thanks to the action of two cylinders plus rods, this makes it possible to reduce the gauge of the van in the folded position the lower part of the boom, or to obtain in the unfolded position the bottom of the signal of the luminous arrow conforms to current standards. Reserves are arranged in the blades to leave visible the rear light equipment and the van's license plate. The lower part can be raised to completely free the rear part of the van and thus give access to the rear doors of the van when they exist. .

 The upper part consists of a high support supporting a regulatory light arrow, fitted with large diameter xenon flash lamps and halogen lamps forming light arrows to indicate the direction of neutralization of the lane in place (lowering of the roadway from the right or from the left).

The upper part also has panels with fixed and mobile blades, each fixed or mobile blade supporting a half signal chevron, the set of two half blades forming a complete chevron, when they are placed on the same plane, conforming to a standard of the road safety department. The movable blades deploy or retract thanks to the action of two cylinders plus rods.

This allows the upper part of the boom to be reduced to the size of the van in the folded position, or to obtain, in the deployed position, the top of the light boom signal in accordance with the standards in force. In the upper part of the arrow, a reservation is made to leave a variable message panel visible when the arrow is in the folded position. When the upper part is raised, it completely hides the variable message panel because it is not possible to deliver the two messages "luminous folding arrow" or "variable message panel" at the same time.

 The two upper and lower parts of the boom are fully synchronized at the electromechanical level and programming of the light signals so as to coordinate all the orders necessary to fully open the light boom with variable geometry and thus deliver a light signal conforming to standards in force, or fold the whole boom to fit the template of the van. One thus feels the interest that this type of luminous arrow with variable geometry can have where it is necessary to have permanently a possibility of marking out in emergency on the field 24/24 tracks with light signaling. It is also possible to install a fairing (9) on the roof of the van to improve its aerodynamics.

 Variants in the design of the light boom with variable geometry are possible. Thus, it is possible to replace the deployment mode of the movable blades initially carried out using jacks and rods by the design of the chassis with variable geometry, the width of the chassis being conditioned by the lifting of the upper part of the boom , which activates rods to synchronize the opening movements of the 2 chassis. Also, the movable blades could fold back to 900 with respect to the face seen from the arrow, to come to form a fairing between the arrow folded up and down, and the van. This would considerably improve the aerodynamics and aesthetics of the van and its equipment. It is also possible, as a variant, to make with the movable half-blades a complete cover of the fixed blades of the lower part of the boom with variable geometry, which eliminates any risk of confusion by users when they come across a van equipped with such a device in the folded position.

 In any case, the invention will be clearly understood with the aid of the description which follows, with reference to the appended schematic drawings showing by way of nonlimiting examples several forms of execution of this new device.

FIG. 1 shows in profile the light arrow with variable geometry (1) mounted on a van (8),
FIG. 2 shows a rear view of the van (8) on which the variable geometry light arrow (1) is deployed,
FIG. 3 represents a rear view of the van (8) on which the variable geometry light arrow (1) is folded, revealing the variable message panel,
FIG. 4 alternatively shows a profile view of the folded variable geometry arrow (1), the fairing (9) of which is produced in part by the blades (4d and 5d),
Figures 5 and 6 show a variant of schematic sections of the chassis (2) with variable geometry, the width of the chassis being conditioned by the lifting of the upper part of the boom (1), a principle which can also be applied to the chassis ( 3),
Figures 7 and 8 show a variant of the lower part (5) of the arrow on which the movable blades (5d) come fully folded over the fixed blades (5c) and the arrow (5b) to make a complete cover of the part lower (5).

 Figure 1 shows in profile view the light boom with variable geometry (1), fixed to the van (8) by means of fixing lugs (2a). It consists of two parts, a lower part (5) and an upper part (4). The lower part (5) consists of a low support (2) supporting a regulatory sign (Sa) equipped with a motorized boom (5b). The upper part (4) consists of a high support (3) supporting a regulatory light arrow (4), equipped with large diameter xenon flash lamps (4a) and halogen lamps (4b). The two upper parts (4 ) and lower (5) of the boom (1) are fully synchronized at the electro-mechanical level and programming of the light signals via a hydraulic power station (6) so as to coordinate all the orders necessary to open entirely the light boom with variable geometry and thus deliver a light signal in accordance with the standards in force, or fold the whole boom (1) to fit into the template of the van (8). The support (3) of the upper part (4) of the boom (1) is arranged to leave visible a variable message panel (7) when the boom (1) is in the folded position. The light arrow (4) folds inside a fairing (9) on the roof of the van to improve its aerodynamics. The lower part (5) can be lifted to fully release the rear part of the van (8) and give thus access to the rear doors of the van when they exist.

 Figure 2 shows in rear view the van (8) on which the variable geometry light arrow (1) is fully deployed and exceeds the template of the van (8). The lower part (5) consists of a regulatory sign (5a), itself equipped with a motorized arrow (5b) to indicate the direction of neutralization of the lane in place (neutral, lowering of the roadway from the right or from the left). The lower part (5) also has panels with fixed and movable blades (5c) (5d), each fixed or movable blade supporting a half signal chevron, the set of two half-blades (5c and 5d) forming a chevron. complete, when they are placed on the same plane, conforms to a standard of the direction of road safety. The movable blades (5d) deploy or retract thanks to the action of two cylinders plus rods (5e) fixed on the chassis (2), to reduce the underside of the boom (1) to the size of the van in the folded position, or to obtain the bottom of the light boom signal (1) in the unfolded position, in accordance with current standards.

In the blades (5d) are arranged reservations (5f and Sg) to leave visible the rear lighting equipment (8a) and the license plate (8b) of the van (8).

The upper part (4) consists of a high support (3) supporting a regulatory light arrow (4), equipped with xenon flash lamps (4a) of large diameter and halogen lamps (4b) forming light arrows for indicate the direction of the neutralization of the lane put in place (pavement turned down by the right or by the left). The upper part (4) also has panels with fixed and movable blades (4c) (4d), each fixed or movable blade supporting a half signal chevron, the set of two half-blades (4c and 4d) forming a chevron. complete, when they are placed on the same plane, conforming to a standard of the direction of road safety. The movable blades (4d) deploy or retract thanks to the action of two cylinders plus connecting rods (4e) fixed on the chassis (3). This allows the upper part of the boom to be reduced to the size of the van in the folded position ( 1), or to obtain in the deployed position the top of the light arrow signal (1) to the standards in force.

When the upper part (4) is raised, it completely hides the variable message panel (7).

 Figure 3 shows in rear view the van (8) on which the light arrow with variable geometry (1) is folded and reveals the variable message panel (7). The arrow (4) is folded back in the fairing (9). The movable blades (4d) are folded over the fixed blades (4c); the same is true for the movable lower blades (5d) folded over the blades (5c).

 Figure 4 is a variant in profile view of the van (8) and the light boom with variable geometry (1). The movable blades (4d and 5d) instead of folding over the fixed blades (4c and 5c) fold back to 900 with respect to the blades (4c and 5c) to match the outline of the van (8). The front deflector (9a) forms part of the boom fairing (4). The set of blades (4d and 5d) and the deflector (9a) forms the complete fairing (9) up and down of the boom (1). This considerably improves the aerodynamics and aesthetics of the van and its equipment.

 Figures 5 and 6 shows alternatively the possibility of replacing the deployment mode of the movable blades (4d) initially carried out using jacks and rods (4e) by the design of the chassis (2) with variable geometry, thanks to the two extendable parts (2a) of the chassis (2) which support the movable half-blades (4d).

The width of the chassis being conditioned by the lifting of the upper part of the boom (1), which activates rods to synchronize the opening movements of the mobile chassis (2a). This variant also applies to the chassis (3).

 Figures 7 and 8 show a variant of the lower part (5) of the boom on which the movable blades (5d) come fully folded over the fixed blades (5c) and the arrow (5b) to achieve a complete cover of the part lower (5).

 We thus feel the interest that this new type of luminous arrow with variable geometry (1) can have, where it is necessary to have permanently on the ground a possibility to mark out urgently on the ground 24/24 tracks with signaling bright.

Claims (4)

1- Light signaling arrow with variable geometry (1) characterized in that it comprises: - an upper part (4) mounted on a frame (3) provided with a complete chevron (4c and 4d) constituted by the assembly the fixed half-blade (4c) and two mobile half-blades (4d), - a lower part (5) mounted on a frame (2) provided with a complete chevron (5c and 5d) formed by the assembly of the fixed half-blade (5c) and of two mobile half-blades (5d), 2- Aluminous signaling arrow, according to claim 1, characterized in that the mobile half-blades (4d and 5d) have more cylinders rods (4th and 5th) fixed to the chassis (2 and 3), controlled by a hydraulic electric power plant (6). 3- light signaling arrow, according to claim 1, characterized in that the movable half-blades (4d and 5d) and deflector (9a) together constitute a fairing (9) of the arrow (1), the two half-blades (4d and 5d) folding over the walls of the van (8) to form a top and bottom side deflector of the boom (1), in addition to the front deflector (9a), 4- Light signaling boom, according to claim 1 , characterized in that the frame (2) consists of a fixed part (2) and two extendable and mobile parts (2a) supporting the two half-blades (4d). 5- light signaling arrow, according to claims 1 and 4, characterized in that the frame (3) can be constituted in the same way as the frame (2). 6- Light signaling arrow, according to claim 1, characterized in that the movable half-blades (4d and 5d) together constitute a complete cover of the lower part (5) of the arrow (1), the two half-blades (4d and 5d) fully folding over the fixed blades (5d), the panel (5a) and the boom (5b).