GB2333795A

GB2333795A - Safety Barrier

Info

Publication number: GB2333795A
Application number: GB9801848A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Leonard Rudolf Boekhoven
Original assignee: GRANTRAIL Ltd
Current assignee: GRANTRAIL Ltd
Priority date: 1998-01-29
Filing date: 1998-01-29
Publication date: 1999-08-04
Anticipated expiration: 2018-01-29
Also published as: GB9801848D0; GB2333795B

Abstract

A railway safety barrier which is releasably mountable onto a railway track member comprises plastics fencing members/planks (1) which are supported on a substantially vertical post (3). The post is in turn supported on a first beam (6) which is inclined away from the vertical and towards the track. A second beam (7) is secured to the underside of the first beam (6) and is inclined at a relatively shallow angle to the horizontal. A rail foot clip (10,14) is mounted on the second beam (7) and is releasably operable in order to attach the safety barrier to the underside of a rail track member. The barrier provides an easily assembled means to prevent pedestrian railway maintenance personnel from accidentally straying into the path of trains.

Description

SAFETY BARRIER This invention relates to safety barriers. More especially, but not exclusively, the invention relates to safety barriers which provide protection for railway operatives from passing trains.

Protection for railway operatives is presently provided by look-outs who alert a gang of operatives to the approach of a train by a visual or audible alarm. Alternatively, plastics netting strung along the side of the track area where the gang is operating is employed. Neither of these approaches are altogether satisfactory.

The present invention sets out to provide an alternative and improved safety barrier which overcomes, or at least alleviates, disadvantages present in existing barriers and warning systems.

According to the present invention in one aspect there is provided a safety barrier for positioning alongside a railway track, the barrier comprising one or more elongate fencing members each supported by a beam which is inclined away from the vertical and towards the track, a second beam secured to the underside of the first mentioned beam and inclined at a relatively shallow angle to the horizontal, and a rail foot clip mounted on the second beam and operable to releasably secure the assembly of the beams and post to a rail of the track.

The posts and or beams may be of tubular construction and may be produced from steel. The tubes may be square or rectangular in crosssection and may comprise galvanised mild steel.

The first mentioned beam may be permanently secured to the respective post by, for example, welding. The two beams may also be permanently secured one to the other by, for example, welding. The angle subtended between the post and the first mentioned beam may be between 1300 and 1600, typically around 1440. The angle subtended between the two beams may be between 1200 and 1400, typically 1300.

The second beam may subtend an angle of between 10 and 1 50 to the horizontal, typically 120.

The fencing members may comprise plastics planks which locate within vertical supports secured to the posts. The plastics may be reinforced with fibreglass. Spring loaded clips may be provided to retain the posts in position. The clips may each comprise a rod whose end protrudes through the post when urged to by a spring positioned internally within the post. The end face of the rod may be inclined outwardly to assist location of each plank within the respective vertical support. Preferably each post is capable of supporting two horizontally extending vertically spaced fencing planks. The fencing planks may be of rectangular section. Removable caps may be provided to close off the open ends of the fencing members.

The post height may be between 600 and 650 millimetres, typically 61 5 millimetres.

The free end of the second beam may at least partially be closed by an end plate. A drainage space may be provided within or below the end plate. The upper part of the end plate may.extend above the upper surface of the second beam and be turned inwardly such that in use a rail foot can be trapped between the upper surface of the second beam and the underside of the inwardly turned part of the end plate. In this arrangement the end of the second beam remote from the respective post passes below the rail alongside which the barrier is positioned, the inwardly turned part of the end plate defining one member of the rail foot clip.

A further rail foot clip member may be mounted for pivotal movement on the second beam. This further clip member may be supported for pivotal movement on a generally horizontally extending pivot whose ends extend through holes formed in the side walls of the second beam and are supported by the beam side walls. This clip member may comprise a pair of arms which are positioned on the pivot alongside the side walls of the second beam and a head which is carried by the arms and includes an end section whose under surface is shaped to overlie one foot of the rail to which the assembly of the beams and post are to be secured, the rail foot being trapped below the shaped end section of the further clip member and the upper surface of the beam.

A fixing bolt may be pivotally supported on a generally horizontally extending pivot whose ends pass through apertures formed in the side walls of the second beam and are supported thereby, this pivot being positioned between the first mentioned pivot and the clip head. The upper end of the shank of the fixing bolt preferably extends into a slot formed in the end of the clip head remote from the rail. A washer may be positioned between the head of the fixing bolt and the adjoining surface of the clip head. The lower end of the fixing bolt may include threads which engage complementary threads of a bore formed in the respective pivot thereby enabling the bolt to be moved into and out of contact with the head surfaces which border the slot.

The invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a side view of a safety barrier in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a side view of a pivotal rail foot clip member of the safety barrier of Figure 1 to an enlarged scale; and Figure 3 is a fragmentary view showing the rail foot clip secured to the foot of a rail.

The safety barrier illustrated in the drawings is intended to protect operatives working on or assembling a length of rail track from trains and other track vehicles travelling along neighbouring tracks.

The safety barrier comprises a pair of elongate fencing planks 1 supported within brackets 2 secured to a plurality of posts 3 (only one of which is shown).

The planks 1 are hollow and rectangular in cross-section and may, for example, be prdduced as extrusions from a fibreglass reinforced plastics material. As shown, two elongate planks 1 are provided, one positioned above the other. Each plank may be several meters in length.

The posts 3 are hollow and rectangular in section and are preferably produced from galvanised mild steel. Typically, the posts are 40mm by 30mm in cross-section, the mild steel gauge being typically 3mm. The height of each post is typically 61 sum. The open end of each post is closed by a plastics cap 4.

The brackets 2 may also be produced by galvanised mild steel and are preferably welded to the respective post side. The height of the upstanding bracket position of the uppermost bracket is typically 11 5mm and that of the lowermost bracket, 83mm. Spring mounted retaining clips 5 are provided to retain the planks 1 in place. Each clip 5 comprises a rod which can be moved into and out of the post interior by a spring mounted internally within the post. The end face of each rod is inclined outwardly to facilitate ease of assembly of the planks 1 into the brackets 2.

Neighbouring planks may be joined at their adjoining ends by an internally located clip or like member.

The lower end of the post 3 is secured to an inwardly inclined supporting beam 6. Beam 6 is preferably produced from galvanised mild steel of 3mm gauge, its dimensions in cross-section being typically 50mm by 50mm. The angle subtended between the beam 6 and the post 3 is preferably between 1300 and 1 600, typically 1440. The beam 6 is welded to the post by, for example, an all round 6mm fillet weld.

The lower end of beam 6 is secured to an inwardly inclined second supporting beam 7. This beam is also preferably produced from galvanised mild steel of 3mm gauge, its dimensions in cross-section being the same as for beam 6. The two beams are welded together with a 6mm single v-butt all round weld. The angle subtended between he beams 6,7 is preferably between 1200and 1400, typically 1300. The beam 7 subtends an angle of between 100 and 150to the horizontal, typically 120.

The open end of the beam 7 is closed by a steel plate 8. This plate is spaced from the lower margin of the beam 7 to define a drainage hole 9.

The upper part of the closure plate 8 is bent inwardly to define a clip member 10. As will be seen from Figure 3, the space defined between the undersurface of member 10 and the upper surface of the beam 7 is sufficient to receive one foot 11 of a rail 1 2.

Mounted on the beam 7 is a pivotal rail foot clip member 14. As will be seen more clearly from Figure 2, clip member 1 4 is supported for pivotal movement in a steel pivot pin 1 5 which passes through holes formed in the side walls of the beam 7. The pivot pin 1 5 is supported by these side walls.

The clip member 14 includes a pair of side arms 16 (only one of which is shown) each formed with a hole through which the pivot pin 15 passes.

The arms 1 6 carry a head 1 7 whose undersurface is shaped to define a rail foot engaging surface 1 8. This surface 1 8 is designed to complement the shape of the rail foot to be engaged. For different rails, different engagement surfaces may be required. Thus, the clip 1 4 is able readily to be removed and replaced depending on the shape of the rail foot to be engaged.

The head 1 7 is formed with an open-ended slot 1 9 to receive the shank of a bolt 20. The bolt 20 is connected to a steel pivot pin 21 which passes through holes formed in the side walls of the beam 7. The pivot pin 21 is supported by these side walls. Thus, the shank of the bolt 20 can pivot into and out of engagement with the slot 1 9. The slot is sufficiently wide to enable the bolt shank to enter the slot, but sufficiently narrow to enable the bolt head to engage the upper surface of the clip head 17. The bolt shank is threaded at its lower end, these threads engaging complementary threads of a base formed in the pivot pin 21. Thus, the bolt can be moved towards and away from the clip head 17.

The undersurface of the head includes a recess 22 to ensure that the clip does not foul the pivot pin 21. Both pivot pins can be removed from the beam 17. Nuts or the like may, however, be provided to ensure that the pivot pens are retained in place when required.

In use, a plurality of post and beam assemblies are positioned along the length of a rail track to be protected and are secured to the closest rail through the rail foot clips 10, 14. The clipsare secured to the rail simply by locating the bolt shanks in the slots 1 9 and then tightening the bolts 20 until their heads make firm contact with the clip heads 1 7. The fencing planks 1 are then positioned within the brackets 2, the spring loaded clips 5 then operating to lock the planks 1 in position.

It will be appreciated that the foregoing is merely exemplary of safety barriers in accordance with the invention and that various modifications can readily be made thereto without departing from the true scope of the invention.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A safety barrier for positioning alongside a railway track, the barrier comprising one or more elongate fencing members each supported by a beam which is inclined away from the vertical and towards the track, a second beam secured to the underside of the first mentioned beam and inclined at a relatively shallow angle to the horizontal, and a rail foot clip mounted on the second beam and operable to releasably secure the assembly of the beams and post to a rail of the track.
2. A safety barrier as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the posts and/or beams are of tubular construction.
3. A safety barrier as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the posts and/or beams are produced from steel.
4. A safety barrier as claimed in Claim 3 wherein the tubes are square or rectangular in cross-section and comprise galvanised mild steel.
5. A safety barrier as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 4 wherein the first mentioned beam is permanently secured to the respective post.
6. A safety barrier as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 5 wherein the two beams are permanently secured one to the other.
7. A safety barrier as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 6 wherein the angle subtended between the post and the first mentioned beam is between 1300 and 1600.
8. A safety barrier as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 7 wherein the angle subtended between the two beams is between 1200 and 1400.
9. A safety barrier as claimed in Claim 8 wherein the angle is 1300.
10. A safety barrier as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the second beam subtends an angle of between 100 and 15 to the horizontal.
11. A safety barrier as claimed in Claim 10 wherein the angle is 120.
12. A safety barrier as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the fencing members comprise plastics planks which locate within vertical supports secured to the posts.
1 3. A safety barrier as claimed in Claim 1 2 wherein the plastics is reinforced with fibreglass.
14. A safety barrier as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein spring loaded clips are provided to retain the posts in position.
15. A safety barrier as claimed in Claim 14 wherein each clip comprises a rod whose end protrudes through the post when urged to by a spring positioned internally within the post.
1 6. A safety barrier as claimed in Claim 1 5 wherein the end face of the rod is inclined outwardly to assist location of each plank within the respective vertical support.
17. A safety barrier as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein each post is capable of supporting two horizontally extending vertically spaced fencing planks.
1 8. A safety barrier as claimed in any one of Claims 1 2 to 1 7 wherein the fencing planks are of rectangular section.
1 9. A safety barrier as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein removable caps are provided to close off the open ends of the fencing members.
20. A safety barrier as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the post height is between 600 and 650 millimetres.
21. A safety barrier as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the free end of the second beam is at least partially closed by an end plate.
22. A safety barrier as claimed in Claim 21 wherein a drainage space is provided within or below the end plate.
23. A safety barrier as claimed in Claim 21 or Claim 22 wherein the upper part of the end plate extends above the upper surface of the second beam and is turned inwardly such that in use a rail foot can be trapped between the upper surface of the second beam and the underside of the inwardly turned part of the end plate.
24. A safety barrier as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein a further rail foot clip member is mounted for pivotal movement on the second beam.
25. A safety barrier as claimed in Claim 24 wherein the further clip member is supported for pivotal movement on a generally horizontally extending pivot whose ends extend through holes formed in the side walls of the second beam and are supported by the beam side walls.
26. A safety barrier as claimed in Claim 24 or Claim 25 wherein the further clip member comprises a pair of arms which are positioned on the pivot alongside the side walls of the second beam and a head which is carried by the arms and includes an end section whose under surface is shaped to overlie one foot of the rail to which the assembly of the beams and post are to be secured, the rail foot being trapped below the shaped end section of the further clip member and the upper surface of the beam.
27. A safety barrier as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein a fixing bolt is pivotally supported on a generally horizontally extending pivot whose ends pass through apertures formed in the side walls of the second beam and are supported thereby, this pivot being positioned between the first mentioned pivot and the clip head.
28. A safety barrier as claimed in Claim 27 wherein the upper end of the shank of the fixing bolt extends into a slot formed in the end of the clip head remote from the rail.
29. A safety barrier as claimed in Claim 28 wherein a washer is positioned between the head of the fixing bolt and the adjoining surface of the - clip head.
30. A safety barrier as claimed in any one of Claims 27 to 29 wherein the lower end of the fixing bolt includes threads which engage complementary threads of a bore formed in the respective pivot thereby enabling the bolt to be moved into and out of contact with the head surfaces which border the slot.
31. A safety barrier as herein described and as described with reference to Figures 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawings.