FR2983218A1 - SYSTEM FOR CONNECTING SECURITY BARRIER SLIDING PIECES FOR CIRCULATION PATHS AND SAFETY BARRIER EQUIPPED WITH SUCH A SYSTEM. - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention proposes a system for connecting sliding parts of a safety barrier. The invention relates to a connecting system comprising: - a guide bar (10) provided over a portion of its length with an oblong slot; - a locking bar (20) provided with at least one pin (21) intended to be inserted into the oblong slot of the guide bar; the oblong lumen comprising: a lower guide surface comprising at least one notch allowing a slow and free forward and return guide of the pin when it rests on the lower guide surface by gravity; o an upper guide surface comprising detents, so that in case of rapid spacing the pin is guided by the notches of the lower surface towards the detents to block the spacing of the bars.

Description

SYSTEM FOR CONNECTING ROAD PARTS OF SAFETY BARRIER FOR CIRCULATION CHANNELS AND SAFETY BARRIER EQUIPPED WITH SUCH A SYSTEM. The present invention relates to a connecting system of sliding parts of a safety barrier for traffic lanes and a safety barrier equipped with such a system. A deck almost always includes an expansion joint at the ends of the deck to allow expansion and contraction of the deck under the effect of heat (depending on the season, geographical location or time of day or weather). night). This expansion joint is constituted by a width spacing calculated according to the expected expansion. To ensure the continuity of the traffic lane, this spacing is most often provided with two combs facing each other and arranged so that the teeth of the combs are interleaved. Thus, when the bridge expands or contracts, the combs can move closer to or away from each other while ensuring the filling of the spacing and continuity of the traffic lane. Other forms of bridge expansion joints also exist. Safety barriers along the traffic routes also undergo the phenomenon of expansion. However, these safety barriers, by definition, must be able to ensure the safety of a damaged vehicle by retaining it during the impact, and this all along the barrier. An expansion joint of structure similar to that of the joints of the bridge is not possible. Indeed, such a structure would not transmit the effort throughout the barrier, so that the damaged vehicles could cross the barrier. Thus, it is necessary both to allow the expansion of the constituent elements of the barrier and, at the same time to ensure the safety of the vehicles in the event of impact against the barrier.

Currently, there are two types of sliding part connection system of a safety barrier. The first is illustrated in Figures la and 1b. In current section (Figure 1 a), that is to say along a traffic lane not comprising an expansion joint, a connecting sleeve A is used to connect two sliding parts B and B '. The sleeve A and the sliding parts comprise holes C allowing the passage of through bolts firmly immobilizing the sliding parts B and B 'on the sleeve A. Thus, the mechanical continuity is ensured between the sliding parts. This arrangement allows the normal operation of the barrier in case of shock, that is to say that the sleeve transmits the mechanical force between the part B and the part B ', which allows the barrier to absorb the shock and hold the vehicle. At the right of the expansion joint (s) of the bridge (FIG. 1b), the used connection sleeve D comprises oblong holes E of length calculated according to the maximum expansion envisaged. This sleeve D thus allows the mechanical connection of the sliding parts B and B ', while allowing a distance and a calibrated approach. This system allows movement related to expansion while ensuring the holding of the barrier in case of impact. This type of assembly works well as long as expansion is limited. It can be considered that this type of solution is insufficient for breaths (distance between the position in maximum contraction and the position in maximum expansion) greater than 10cm.

The risk is that in case of an accident against the barrier the two sliding elements will move away from each other under the effect of the shock. This displacement will be very fast unlike that of the expansion and is only in one direction (removal of the two sliding elements). Two phenomena can occur: - the vertical bolts break (because of the combination of speed and effort) and the vehicle falls off the bridge - the barrier is deformed too much (operating width too large) and the vehicle falls off the bridge. In addition, the barrier may not absorb the shock of the vehicle quickly enough which can cause very significant damage. In fact, the absorption of the shock and the restraint starts only when the elements B and B 'are sufficiently far apart for the bolts to abut at the ends of the holes E. A second system exists to solve this problem on the bridges where the expansion is important (eg 60 cm). This product is described in document EP 0 687 774. In addition to its very high cost, it is necessary to size it to measure in the factory, according to each barrier to be equipped, adapting, in particular, the race allowing the spacing of the rails of the barrier.

This device also requires assembly by a team of specialists who must, in fine, make the final adjustments according to the realities of the field. In addition, it has been found that in practice this device could hang, probably because of the complexity of the device and the multitude of parts composing it. This lack of reliability generates significant maintenance costs, both for changing the locked device and for changing the deformed rails by expansion. The object of the invention is therefore to propose a system for connecting the sliding parts of a safety barrier for traffic lanes that can be adapted to any expansion, including a significant expansion greater than 10 cm, of economic maintenance that can be adapted the type of barrier to allow retaining small vehicles (cars) and / or large jigs (buses or trucks), allowing easy manufacture and installation and in a limited overall size.

To this end, the subject of the invention is a system for connecting sliding parts of a safety barrier for traffic lanes arranged in the extension of one another in a position of use, in order to maintain continuity. between the two parts while allowing a movement of spacing and relative approximation of the two parts in a direction of movement, wherein the system comprises: - at least one bar called "guide" intended to be anchored to one of two pieces, and provided over a part of its length with an oblong light; at least one so-called "blocking" bar, intended to be anchored to the other of the two parts, provided with at least one pin intended to be inserted in the oblong slot of the guide bar; and wherein the oblong lumen comprises, with reference to the direction of the gravitational force: - a lower guide surface comprising at least one notch consisting of two opposite inclined ramps allowing forward and return guidance in the direction of movement of the pin when the latter is resting on the lower gravity guide surface, such that in the case of a slow distance and approach between the guide bar and the locking bar, the pin rests on the lower gravity guide surface and is guided slowly and freely by the notches of the lower surface; an upper guiding surface comprising stop lugs arranged staggered with respect to the notches of the lower surface, so that in case of rapid separation between the guiding bar and the locking bar, the pin is guided by the notches of the lower guide surface towards the detents of the upper surface and engages in these detents to block the spacing of the bars. According to other embodiments: - said at least one notch of the lower guide surface may be symmetrical; - The detents can include a locking surface at most perpendicular to the direction of movement; - The detents may further comprise an abutment surface, so that the pin is locked at least temporarily in the detent; - the detents can be asymmetrical or symmetrical; - The connection system may comprise two guide bars arranged in parallel, and a locking bar arranged between the two guide bars; - The connection system may further comprise a cover having a profile similar to that of the sliding parts of the barrier on which it is intended to be mounted; The invention also proposes a safety barrier for traffic lanes comprising two sliding parts arranged in the extension of one another in the position of use, characterized in that it comprises a preceding connection system between the two sliding parts to maintain continuity between the two parts while allowing a movement of spacing and relative approximation of the two parts.

Other characteristics of the invention will be set forth in the following detailed description made with reference to the appended figures which represent, respectively: FIGS. 1a and 1b, schematic perspective views of a connection system of parts of sliding of a safety barrier according to the state of the art; - Figure 2 is a schematic perspective view of a first embodiment of a guide bar according to the invention; - Figure 3, a schematic perspective view of a first embodiment of a locking bar according to the invention; - Figure 4 is a schematic perspective view of the functional assembly of the guide bar of Figure 2 and the locking bar of Figure 3 to form a connection system of sliding parts of a safety barrier according to l invention; - Figures 5A to 5D, schematic plan views of the operation of the sliding parts connection system of a safety barrier according to the invention for a slow relative displacement (expansion) of the sliding parts; - Figures 6A to 6D, schematic plan views of the operation of the sliding parts connection system of a safety barrier according to the invention for a rapid relative displacement (shock) of the sliding parts; - Figures 7 to 11, schematic plan views of four embodiments of a guide bar according to the invention; - Figure 12, a schematic perspective view of a second embodiment of a guide bar according to the invention; - Figure 13, a schematic perspective view of a second embodiment of a locking bar according to the invention; FIG. 14 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the functional assembly of the guide bar of FIG. 12 and of the locking bar of FIG. 13 to constitute a system for connecting sliding parts of a safety barrier according to FIG. invention; - Figure 15, a schematic perspective view of a third embodiment of a locking bar according to the invention; FIG. 16 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the functional assembly of the guide bar of FIG. 12 and the blocking bar of FIG. 15 to form a connection system for sliding parts of a safety barrier according to FIG. invention; and FIGS. 17 and 18 are diagrammatic perspective views of a fourth embodiment of a locking bar according to the invention. The terms "upper" and "lower" family must be understood in relation to the direction G of the gravitational force in the operational position of the safety barrier, that is, when it is placed along a taxiway, ready for use. The terms "transverse" or "longitudinal" families must be understood, respectively, as "perpendicular" or "parallel" to the direction of movement of the vehicles when the barrier is in operational position.

The invention proposes a system for connecting sliding parts of a safety barrier whose operation differs according to the speed of the relative movement between the sliding parts. Thus, it allows a distance and a free approximation of the parts in the case of a slow movement, but prevents any removal of the parts in the case of rapid relative movement, so that the latter retain the accident vehicle. Slow movement is understood to mean a movement generated by contraction / dilation. This category of movement usually does not exceed one meter per hour.

On the contrary, a fast movement is a movement generated by a shock. This movement category typically exceeds one kilometer per hour, at least a thousand times faster than the expansion movement. For example, for the shock of a car at 50 km / h, the movement is fifty thousand times faster than the dilation. The system comprises at least two bars 10-20, one so-called "guide", the other 20 so-called "blocking", mounted parallel to each other and relative to the sliding parts of the barrier. Each type of bar 10-20 is integral with a fixing portion 30 provided with holes 40 for fixing on the end of the sliding parts of the barrier (not shown). In FIG. 2, this fastening portion 30 is oriented perpendicularly with respect to the bars 10 and 20, so that the penetrations 40 have a perpendicular orientation with respect to the bars 10 and 20 allowing fixation from above and / or from below. bars under normal conditions of use.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the guide bar 10, intended to be anchored to one of the two sliding parts (not shown), is provided on a portion L1 of its length L with an oblong slot 11. The length L1 is defined according to the maximum relative displacement calculated due to expansion / contraction. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the locking bar 20, intended to be anchored to the other of the two sliding pieces (not shown), is provided with at least one pin 21 intended to be inserted into the oblong slot 11 of the bar guide 10 (see Figure 4).

According to the invention, the oblong slot 11 comprises: - a lower guide surface 12 comprising at least one notch 14 constituted by two opposed ramped 16-18 ramps, preferably symmetrical (the notches are then called "symmetrical") allowing guidance back and forth in the direction of movement M of the pin 21 when it rests on the lower guide surface 12 by gravity. - an upper guide surface 13 comprising locking notches 15 arranged staggered with respect to the notches 14 of the lower surface 12.

The expression "staggered" means that the detents 15 extend in the oblong slot 11 between the symmetrical notches 14 while leaving the free passage for the pin 21 along the lower guide surface 12. necessarily means that a catch 15 is equidistant between two symmetrical notches 14.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, this asymmetrical structure of the oblong slot permits a relative back-and-forth displacement of the sliding parts of the safety barrier during a slow movement, and a blockage of the relative movement during an impact. against the barrier (fast spacing of the sliding parts).

Figs. 5A to 5D illustrate the case of slow relative movement in the direction of movement M.

As long as the movement is slow, the pins 21 rest on the lower guide surface 12 by gravity and are guided slowly and freely (i.e. without locking). In FIG. 5A, the pins are situated initially between two symmetrical notches 14 and resting on the lower guide surface 12. In FIG. 5B, the slow movement pushes the pins 21 along the notches, on the ramp 16. In FIG. 5C, the slow movement continues, and the pins 21 slide along the ramp 18 of the notches 14. In Figure 5D, the pins are between the two notches 14 following.

During the reverse movement (not shown), the pins slide along the lower guide surface 12, along the ramps 18 and along the ramps 16. It is advantageous that the notches 14 are symmetrical, that is to say say that the ramps have an identical angle with respect to the horizontal, to ensure a return movement identical to the forward movement. Nevertheless, in order to reduce the spacing distance before locking, the ramps 16 and 18 can be asymmetrical, provided that they allow a sliding without locking of the pin or pins 21 along the lower guide surface 12, that is to say that they form an obtuse angle strictly greater than 90 ° with the surface situated between the notches 14. FIGS. 6A to 6D illustrate the case of a fast moving movement of the two bars 10 and 20. In Figure 6A, the pins are initially located between two symmetrical notches 14 and bearing on the lower guide surface 12. In Figure 6B, the movement guides the pins along the ramps 16 of the notches 14. The movement being sudden and fast, the pins 21 are projected by the ramps 16 to the upper guide surface 13 before the gravitational force attracts the pins to the lower surface 12 (Figure 6C). The pins are then guided towards the stops 15 of the upper surface and engage in these detents 15 to block the spacing of the bars 10 and 20. Figures 7 to 11 illustrate variants The stop lugs 15 comprise a guiding surface 17 and a stop surface 19 at most perpendicular to the direction of movement M, so that when the pin is guided towards this face 19, the relative movement of the two bars 10 and 20 stops. "At most" perpendicular means that the stop surface 19 forms an angle [3 less than or equal to 90 ° with the horizontal and in the direction of the spacing of the two bars. In Figure 7, the stop surfaces 19 are perpendicular. Advantageously, the stop surface 19 of the detents 15 further comprises an abutment surface 19a, so that the pin is locked at least temporarily in the detent. Alternatively, as illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9, the stop surface 19 makes an acute angle R with the horizontal and in the direction of the spacing of the two bars. Thus, the pin is not only stopped but also blocked to prevent it falling too quickly on the lower guide surface 12. The stop surface 19 can be flat or curved, as long as at least one of the tangents to the curve forms an angle of 90 ° to the horizontal. Figures 5 to 9 illustrate variants in which the detents 15 are asymmetrical. This means that these variants have a mounting direction to ensure that a fast gap is blocked. Alternatively, as illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11, it is conceivable to provide symmetrical stop notches. In Fig. 10, they have a stop surface 19 perpendicular to the horizontal, but in Fig. 11 the stop surfaces 19 form angles [31, F32 less than 90 ° to the horizontal. The fact that the stops are symmetrical facilitates the installation of the system according to the invention since it no longer has a mounting direction. It can be installed in any direction. The connection system according to the invention may comprise several guide bars and / or blocking bars. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 12, the system comprises two parallel guide bars 10. They are secured to one another by a fixing portion 30 identical to the embodiment of FIG. 2. FIG. 13 illustrates a first variant of a locking bar 20 that can be used in combination with the guide bars of FIG. Figure 12. This locking bar 20 comprises a pin 22 extending on either side of the locking bar for engaging each oblong slot of the guide bars 10. The assembly is illustrated in Figure 14 , or the locking bar 20 is inserted between the guide bars 10. Then the pin is locked in the locking bar 20 so as to be engaged in each oblong slot of the guide bars 10, on either side of the the blocking bar 10. FIG. 15 illustrates a second variant that can be used in combination with the guide bars of FIG. 12, comprising two blocking bars 20 secured to one another by a fixing portion 30 identical to the r mode 3. These 20 locking bars comprise a common pin 23 intended to engage in the oblong slots of the guide bars 10. In the operative position, the guide bars 10 and the locking bars 20 are alternated in a parallel manner. and the pin 23 is locked in the locking bars 20 so as to be engaged in each oblong slot 25 of the guide bars 10, on either side of the locking bars 10. The multiplication of the guide bars 10 and blocking 20 increases the rigidity of the connection system according to the invention, and therefore its impact resistance. The adaptation of the system according to the desired resistance is therefore very easy.

As illustrated in FIGS. 17 and 18, the connection system according to the invention may also comprise one or more pins 24, in order to ensure a perfectly parallel relative movement of the bars 10-20. This also ensures the blockage in case of breakage of one of the pins. The pin can have different sections (round, square, triangular ...). The part for fixing the bars to the sliding elements of the barrier may be different from that shown in FIGS. 2 to 4 and 12 to 16, without departing from the scope of the invention. In FIGS. 17 and 18, the fastening portion 50 is arranged in the extension of the bars and parallel to bar cases, so that the bores 51 and fastening means (bolts in FIG. 1) 52 allow lateral attachment, under normal conditions of use, bars 10-20 to the sliding parts of the safety barrier.

As illustrated in FIGS. 17 and 18, it is also possible to add to the connection system according to the invention a cover or a connecting sleeve 60 to ensure the continuity of the shape of the sliding element. Alternatively, the connection system can be fixed to two sliding elements overlapping sufficiently to ensure the continuity of the barrier in case of expansion. The installation of the system according to the invention is very easy, since it suffices to fix the guide and locking bars at the ends of the sliding parts of the barrier so that the bars can move away and come closer to each other. one of the other. It is not necessary to make a fine adjustment. The calculation of the maximum expansion gives a relative position of the guide and locking bars (position of the pin in the notches). Once this relative position is established, it is sufficient to fix the bars in this position. It is also possible to use the system according to the invention on a barrier of current section (out of work). The road and the barrier having different coefficients of expansion.

Claims (9)

REVENDICATIONS1. System for connecting the sliding parts of a safety barrier for traffic lanes arranged in the extension of one another in the use position, in order to maintain the continuity between the two parts while allowing a movement of spacing and relative approximation of the two parts in a direction of movement (M), characterized in that the system comprises: - at least one bar (10) called "guide" intended to be anchored to one of the two parts, and provided on a portion (L1) of its length (L) with an oblong slot (11); - At least one bar (20) called "blocking", intended to be anchored to the other of the two parts, provided with at least one pin (21, 22, 23) intended to be inserted into the oblong slot (11). ) of the guide bar (10); and in that the oblong slot (11) comprises, with reference to the direction (G) of the gravitational force: - a lower guide surface (12) comprising at least one notch (14) constituted by two ramps (16- 18) with opposite inclines allowing forward and reverse guidance in the direction of movement of the pin (21, 22, 23) when it is resting on the lower guide surface (12) by gravity, so that in case of spacing and slow approach between the guide bar (10) and the locking bar (20), the pin (21, 22, 23) rests on the lower guide surface (12) by gravity and is guided slowly and freely by notches (14) of the lower surface (12); - an upper guide surface (13) comprising staggering catches (15) staggered with respect to the notches (14) of the lower surface (12), so that in case of rapid separation between the guide bar (10) and the locking bar (12), the pin (21, 22, 23) is guided by the notches (14) of the lower guide surface (12) towards the detents (15) of the upper surface (13) and engages in these detents to block the spacing of the bars. 2. Connecting system according to claim 1, wherein said at least one notch (14) of the lower guide surface is symmetrical. 3. Connecting system according to any one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the detents (15) comprise a locking surface (19) at most perpendicular to the direction of movement (M). 4. Connecting system according to claim 3, wherein the detents (15) further comprise an abutment surface (19a), so that the pin is locked at least temporarily in the detent . 5. Connecting system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the detents (15) are asymmetrical. 6. Connecting system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the detents (15) are symmetrical. 7. Connecting system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, comprising two guide bars (10) arranged in parallel, and a locking bar (20) arranged between the two guide bars. The bonding system of any one of claims 1 to 7, further comprising a cover having a profile similar to that of the sliding parts of the barrier on which it is to be mounted. 9. Safety barrier for traffic lanes comprising two sliding parts arranged in the extension of one another in the position of use, characterized in that it comprises a connecting system according to any one of claims 1 to 8 between the two sliding parts to maintain continuity between the two parts while allowing a movement of spacing and relative approximation of the two parts.