GB2446859A

GB2446859A - Flat-pack ballasted post support assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2446859A
Application number: GB0703207A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Frank Myers
Original assignee: ROYAL BRITISH LEGION IND Ltd
Current assignee: ROYAL BRITISH LEGION IND Ltd
Priority date: 2007-02-20
Filing date: 2007-02-20
Publication date: 2008-08-27
Also published as: GB0703207D0

Abstract

A post support assembly 19 comprises a plurality of components 1, 5, 9, 13 which are transportable in a demounted state, and are connectable to provide a container for receiving ballast, and a post supporting structure. The components preferably include four side panels which slot 2, 3, 6, 7 together perpendicular to each other to provide the container, and a further four panels which slot 11, 12, 14, 15 together to comprise the post support. Additional slots 4, 8, 16 are preferably provide to connect the post support panels into the centre of the container panels. The assembled post support may be fixed to a base 17 using screws. A locking device may be passed through aperture 21 to secure the post to the holder.

Description

Title: Improvement to Ballast Baskets

Description of Invention

In the railway industry, it is necessary to erect temporary signs alongside the railway track to convey messages to train drivers. Typically these signs may include temporary speed limit signs. They are erected on posts and there is a requirement for a stand to support the post. * **

There is a need to erect these so close to the track that they are in danger of S...

being displaced by buffeting from the trains themselves. Consequently the * 15 stand and post assembly requires to be robust and stable whilst compact in : size and thus it is necessary for itto be heavy. S..

Given the layout of the railway, it is often possible to only gain access at *: locations some distance from the required position of the signs. In order to avoid the need to carry a heavy assembly along this distance, one solution is to provide a base which can be filled with the stone ballast once at the desired location. Track ballast is typicaHy used for this purpose. The base assembly is known as a ballast basket. It has a central housing into which the sign post can be slotted.

Because the assembly may be used alongside electric rails, it is normal for the basket and the post to be made from non-conducting materials, typically plastic.

In order to assemble a robust and durable ballast basket it is necessary to utilise mechanical fixings or to weld plastic panels together, a time consuming and costly process. * 2

According to a first aspect of the invention we provide an assembly for supporting a post, the assembly including a plurality of components which are transportable in a demounted state, and which are connectable to provide the assembly, the assembly including a container for receiving ballast, and a post supporting structure, The components may include a plurality of side components, connectable to provide four generally upstanding walls to receive and contain ballast, and components connectable to the side components and to each other to provide the post supporting structure. * S. S. S * *.

The side components may be panels each having slots which co-operate with * *.* slots of at least two others of the panels to provide the container, and the *:. panels may include further slots each of which may co-operate with a slot : 15 provided by a component of the post Supporting structure, to connect the post *:" supporting structure to the container, to provide the assembly. *...

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* The assembly may include a base e.g. provided by a base panel, to which the side components and/or the post supporting sturcture may be connected e.g. by one or more fasteners.

The post supporting structure may afford a generally upright opening to receive a post to which the sign or item of equipment is in use attached. The post and post supporting structure may provide a passage for a locking device such as a peg, to secure the post relative to the post supporting structure.

According to this invention there is provided a basket which is assembled by panels which slot together and are then locked in place by a minimum number of fixings. This gives an added advantage that the assembly may be shipped and stored in flat pack format prior to rapid assembly when needed. * 3

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 shows a side component i of the ballast basket into which slots 2, 3 and4arecut.

Figure 2 shows another side 5 of the ballast basket into which slots 6, 7 and 8 are cut.

The outer perimeter of the ballast basket is formed by taking two of side component 1 along parallel sides and two of the side component 5 parallel to each other and perpendicular to sides 1 and connecting them together by S...

engaging slots 7 into slots 3 and slots 6 into slots 2. The outer perimeter is then complete leaving four unused slots, two of 4 and two of 8.

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Figure 3 shows one of the components 9 which forms the centre post S...

mounting hole with slots 10, 11, 12. * *

Figure 4 shows another component 13 of the centre mounting hole with slots 14, 15, 16.

The centre mounting hole 20 is formed by taking two of component 9 on opposite parallel sides and two of component 13 parallel to each other and perpendicular to 9.

Each of these components are Connected together by engaging slots 14 into 12 and 15 into 11.

The outer perimeter of the ballast basket is connected to the centre post mounting assembly by engaging slots 4 and 8 into slots 10 and 16.

All of these components are locked into place by screwing screws 18 into a base board 17.

Figure 5 shows the complete assembly 19. The post can be slotted into the hole 20 and maybe secured in place by a peg through the hole 21.

Various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For example the container or "basket" which in use receives the baHast, need not be rectangular in plan view as in the specific embodiment described, but could have more than or less than four side walls provided by the connected side components as required. * S. * * S...

The post supporting structure which in the example is provided by four slotted components which each connect to a respective side component, may be provided by an alternative number of components which may or may not be of the same general configuration as the post supporting structure components shown in thedrawings *.S... * S

The base board may be attached to the basket components otherwise than as shown, e.g. beneath the upright walls provided by the side components rather than between the side components of the basket, but preferably, but not necessarily by fasteners.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the following claims, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, as appropriate, may, separately, or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims

1. An assembly for supporting a post, the assembly including a plurality of components which are transportable in a demounted state, and which are connectable to provide an assembly, the assembly including a container for receiving ballast, and a post Supporting structure.

2. An assembly according to claim 1 wherein the components include a plurality of side components connectable to provide generally upstanding walls of the container to receive and contain ballast.

3. An assembly according to claim 2 wherein the side components are panels, each having slots which cooperate with slots of at least two of the other panels to provide the container.

4. An assembly according to claim 3, including components connectable to the side components and to each other to provide the post supporting Structure.

5. An assembly according to claim 4 wherein the panels include further slots, each of which cooperates with slots provided by components of the post Supporting structure to connect the post Supporting structure to the container, to provide the assembly.

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6. An assembly according to any one of the Preceding claims including a * ** base to which the side components and/or the post Supporting structure are

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connectable *

7. An assembly according to any one of the Preceding claims wherein the post supporting structure affords a generally upright Opening to receive a post. * *. ** * * S

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8. An assembly according to claim 7 wherein the post and the post supporting structure each include a passage for a locking device to secure the post relative to the post supporting structure.

9. An assembly according to any one of the preceding claims suitable for supporting a post adjacent a railway track.

10. An assembly substantially as herein described, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Ii. Any novel feature or novel combination of features substantially as herein described, with reference to the accompany drawings. * ** * * * ** ****.

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