GB2135723A - Movable road surface barrier - Google Patents

Abstract

5A road surface barrier preventing vehicle entry between walls 2 along a road or drive 1 comprises a pit 3 incorporating a grid or platform 5 supported on upper ledges 4 of the pit 3. The platform 5 can be withdrawn horizontally by a suitable operating mechanism into the wall 2 to leave the pit 3 exposed so that a conventional vehicle cannot be driven across. The platform 5 could alternatively be mounted on a lowering mechanism within the pit 3 or be rotatable about a line across the platform so that a portion of the platform then projects above the top of the pit to create an additional barrier. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements relating to road barriers This invention is concerned with means for preventing unauthorised access to private propertyfor vehicles travelling along a road or drive. The security of property, within houses especially, is at risk if vehicles are able to drive upto the building. If the owner is absent thieves can than break in and transfer propertywithinthe buildingtotheirvehicleand may well be hidden from view by passers-by because they can approach so close to the building.

Gates across a drive to a building may not be entirely satisfactory since the thieves may be able to unlockthem or break therm open and still gain direct access to the building.

It is therefore an object ofthis invention to provide a barrier which will preventthe passage of vehicles travelling along a drive which may leadto a building.

Accordingly this invention provides a vehicle entry barrier for roads, drives or the like comprising a pitto be set belowthe road surface and incorporating a platform movable between a first position where it is supported in alignmentwith and covers thetop ofthe pit so asto be at the level of the road surface and a second position wherein the platform is withdrawn to expose the opening to the pit so that the passage of wheeled vehicles from one side of the pit to the other is prevented.

When the platform is withdrawn it is not possible for a conventional vehicle to drive from one side ofthe pit to the other. It will of course be appreciated that the pit will be of sufficient width so that such vehicles attempting to drive across cannotfail to fall into the pit.

In the preferred embodiment the platform is arranged to be withdrawn by being slid to one side of the pit. Ideally a housing for receipt of the withdrawn platform can be provided in the base of a wall bounding the passage of the road drive or the like.

As an alternative the platform could be arranged to be lowered into the pit in the withdrawn position. This arrangement is less preferred since the pit needs to be of sufficient depth to house lowering mechanism belowthe platform and to enablethe platform to be lowered to a depth sufficientto be effective.

It is conceivable, though perhaps unlikely, that determined thieves could bring with them support struts which they could lay across the pit in the manner of a bridge to enable a vehicle to be driven across. Even this can be prevented if the platform is arranged to be rotated about line across the platform intothewithdrawn position sothat partof the platform will project above the level of the top ofthe pit. The raised portion ofthe platform in the withdrawn position will then prevent any bridge structure from being build across the pit. The raised part of the platform, if situated close to the end of the pit to be approached by a vehicle, would also act as a stop member to reduce the possibility that anyone might accidentally drive into the pit.

The barrier will preferably include an operating mechanism for modifying the position ofthe platform.

Such an operating mechanism could be manually operable, but it is preferred that it should be operated by pneumatic or hydraulic rams.

The platform may readily be constructed from bars or as a grid both to reduce weight and also to enable the platform in its first position to act as a cattle grid.

The pit itself may readily be defined as an open topped chamber having flanges directed outwardly atthetop edges. Inwardly directed ledges could also be formed at the top edges of the chamberfor support ofthe platform. If necessarythe ledges could be arranged to be withdrawn into the side walls of the chamber prior to withdrawal ofthe platform.

In the preferred arrangement locking means can be provided for releasably holding the platform in the fi rst and/o r second position.

The invention may be performed in various ways and preferred embodiments thereof will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure lisa plan view ofoneform of vehicle entry barrier of this invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of an alternative form of barrier of this invention; Figure 3 is a vertical cross-section through the barrier of Figure 1 in an alternative position; Figure 4 is a vertical cross-section through a third form of barrier of this invention; and Figure 5 is a furthervertical cross-section ofthe barrier of Figure 4, at right angles to the first cross-section, in an alternative position.

Figure 1 illustrates a drive 1 leading to a house and passing through an opening in a boundary waIl 2. At the point where the drivel passes through the wall 2 a pit3 is formed, having inwardly directed ledges 4 at the top along two sides. These ledges 4 support a platform 5formedfrom bars which can be moved by operating mechanism (not shown) between a position where it lies across the whole ofthe pit3 and a withdrawn position where it is received within a housing 6 within part ofthe wall 2. When the platform 5 is within the withdrawn position passage of vehicles along the length of the drive 1 is prevented because of the presence ofthe pit 3. However when the platform 5 is positioned over the pit 3 on the supportflanges 4 vehicles can safely be driven along the drive and over the platform.

In the alternative arrangement shown in Figures 2 and 3, the pit 3, is defined by an open topped chamber 7 having outwardly directed mounting flanges 8 which will lie flush with the surface ofthe drive 1. Received within the chamber 7 is a platform 5 which is supported by rams 9 at the four corners. These rams are double acting rams which enablethe patform 5to be lowered from the condition shown in Figure 3 to the condition shown in Figure 2 wherein the pit 3 acts as a barriertothe passage of vehicles.

In the embodiment shown in Figures 4 and 5the platform 5 is pivotally mounted about a shaft 10 which is itself received in side channels 11. The platform 5 is also supported flush with the top ofthe pit 3 by retractable ledges 12. The ram 13 is pivotally connectedto the platform 5 so as to be able to rotate the platform aboutthe shaft 11 (when the ledges 12 have been withdrawn) so that the platform 5will stand vertically and can then be dropped so that one edge enters a channel 14 across the base of the pit 3 to hold platform 5 in the upright position. The barrierthen provides portions ofthe pit3which prevents a vehicle from crossing from one side to the other and the upstanding platform 5 also prevents struts being laid across the pit to act as a bridge for a vehicle. The platform bridge for a vehicle. The platform 5 can be raised again and rotated so that it lies across the pit 3 and the ledges 12 will then be re-introduced to support the platform.

Itwill be appreciated thatthe mechanism for moving the platform 5 in all the embodiments is ideallysomeform of mechanism which can be operatedfrom an eiectrismotoralthough itwouldbe possible, in at least some embodiments, to provide a manually operable mechanism. The pit itself would need to be of sufficient depth (say 75 to 100 cms.) so that it could not readily be filled quickly with material, overwhich a vehicle could be driven.

Claims (14)

1. Avehicle entry barrier for roads, drives of the like comprising a pit to be set below the road surface and incorporating a platform movable between afirst position where it is supported in alignment with and covers the top of the pit so as to be at the level ofthe road surface and a second position wherein the platform is withdrawn to expose the opening to the pit so thatthe passage of wheeled vehicles from one side ofthe pit to the other is prevented.

2. A barrier according to claim 1 ,wherein the platform is arranged to be withdrawn by being slid to one side ofthe pit.

3. A barrier according to claim 2, wherein a housing for receipt ofthewithdrawn platform is provided in the base of a wall bounding the passage of the road drive or the like.

4. A barrier according to claim 1, wherein the platform is arranged to be lowered into the pit in the withdrawn position.

5. A barrier according to claim 1 ,wherein the platform is arranged to be rotated about a line across the platform into the withdrawn position so that part ofthe platform will project above the level of the top of the pit.

6. A barrier according to any one of claims 1 to 5, including an operating mechanism for moving the platformbetweenthefirst and second positions.

7. A barrier according to claim 6, wherein the operating mechanism is manually operable.

8. A barrier according to claim 6, wherein the operating mechanism is operated by pneumatic or hydraulic rams.

9. A barrier according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the platform is constructed from bars of as a grid.

10. A barrier according to anyone of claims 1 to 9, wherein the pit is defined by an open topped chamber having flanges projecting outwardly atthetop edges.

11. A barrier according to claim 10, whereinthe open topped chamber has inwardlyprojecting ledges at the top edgesforthe support ofthe platform.

12. A barrier according to claim 11 ,wherein the ledges can be withdrawn into the side walls of the chamber priorto withdrawal ofthe platform.

13. Abarrieraccordingtoanyoneofolaims 1 to 12, including locking means for releasably holding the platform in the firstand/orthe second position.

14. Avehicle entry barrier substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.