GB2477201A

GB2477201A - Deployable speed bump

Info

Publication number: GB2477201A
Application number: GB1100893A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Lee Reynolds
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2010-01-25
Filing date: 2011-01-19
Publication date: 2011-07-27
Also published as: GB201001106D0; GB201100893D0

Abstract

A speed bump device 10 for fitting across a road or other highway 12 comprises an elongate obstruction member 15, a displacement member 18 and an actuator 20 for causing relative movement. The two members 15, 18 have cooperating surfaces 17, 19 wherein relative movement of the members causes movement of the obstruction member in a direction perpendicular to its longitudinal axis, which in use may raise or lower the obstruction member relative to the road. The device may comprise an elongate channel-shaped housing 11 for setting into the road or other highway 12. The housing 11 may comprises a flat upper surface 13 which lies in the plane of the road or other highway 12. The cooperating surfaces may have surfaces which are inclined longitudinally of the members and in use, these may take the form of ramp formations. The device may comprise a sensor comprising means for sensing the speed of an approaching vehicle and means for actuating the device in the event that the speed exceeds a predetermined value.

Description

DEPLOYABLE SPEED BUMP DEVICE

This invention relates to a deployable speed bump device.

Speed bump devices, are well known and exist in the form of so-called sleeping policemen, speed cushions, speed ramps and speed bumps. Generally, such devices are permanently installed in-situ across a road or highway and serve to provide a raised obstruction, which acts to slow the passage of vehicles. A disadvantage of such devices is that they cause a great deal of nuisance to all drivers, even those who are driving within the defined speed limit. Another disadvantage is that the devices can cause damage to the suspension and tyres of vehicles which pass over them, even if the vehicles are travelling within the defined speed limit. A further disadvantage of such devices is that they cause a nuisance to nearby persons, due to the noise created as vehicles pass over them and as vehicles slow down and speed up on approach and leaving the device.

In order to overcome the above-mentioned problems, it has been proposed to provide a speed bump device, which can be raised and lowered to cause an obstruction and which is controlled by a speed sensor arranged to sense the speed of an approaching vehicle. One such device is disclosed in DE4310655 and comprises a plate which is hingedly mounted in a housing that is set into the road.

Under normal conditions, the plate lies flush with the surface of the road so that vehicles can pass over the device unimpeded. However, the device is able to sense if the vehicle is succeeding the predefined speed limit, whereupon one side edge of the plate is hinged upwardly to provide an obstruction. Other similar devices are disclosed in NL1 028590, WO97/46760, US5509753 and GB2448364. In the latter document, the obstruction is provided by inflating a bag or chamber, which either directly provides an obstruction or which acts to raise a plate or other obstruction member.

A disadvantage of the above-mentioned speed bump devices is that they are complex and costly in construction, particularly since they are mechanically compact and often rely on complicated hydraulics or pneumatics to actuate the obstruction member. Another disadvantage is that the forces which are transmitted from to the obstruction member from a speeding vehicle are substantial and can easily break or deform any supporting members, especially since EC96153 allows axle weights up to 11,500kg.

I have now devised a speed bump device which alleviates the above-mentioned problems.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a speed bump device comprising an elongate obstruction member for mounting transversally across a road or other highway, a displacement member, and an actuator for causing relative movement between the obstruction member and the displacement member, the two members having cooperating surfaces arranged such that said relative movement of the members causes transverse movement of the obstruction member in a direction substantially perpendicular to its longitudinal axis.

In use, the obstruction member can be raised or lowered simply by causing the actuator to cause relative movement between the obstruction and displacement members. The device is thus mechanically simple and strong in construction.

Furthermore, the obstruction member can be raised or lowered very quickly.

The actuator itself is not subjected to any forces from passing vehicles and as such the risk of the device being damaged or broken is avoided.

Preferably one of the cooperating surfaces comprises a formation having a surface which is inclined longitudinally of the obstruction member.

Preferably a plurality of said formations are disposed at spaced apart positions disposed longitudinally of the obstruction member.

Preferably a formation is disposed on both the obstruction member and the displacement member, the respective formations having cooperating surfaces which are inclined in opposite longitudinal directions.

Preferably, the cooperating surfaces of the obstruction member and the displacement member are respectively arranged to face downwardly and upwardly when the device is in use.

Preferably the obstruction member is arranged to rest on the displacement member when the device is in use.

One embodiment, the displacement member is fixed in position and the obstruction member is moved longitudinally of itself by the actuator to raise and lower the obstruction member.

In an alternative embodiment, the obstruction member is fixed against longitudinal movement and the displacement member is moved longitudinally of the obstruction member by the actuator to raise and lower the obstruction member.

Preferably the obstruction member is mounted in a housing arranged for setting in the road or other highway.

Preferably the obstruction member extends longitudinally of an elongate channel formed in the housing, the obstruction member being moveable transverse the longitudinal axis of the channel.

The obstruction member may be raised to cause an obstruction, such that the device forms a raised surface in the road or highway to slow vehicles: In this embodiment, the obstruction member may provide an abrupt or inclined surface across the road or other highway. The raised surface of the obstruction member may be curved or profiled transverse its length.

Alternatively, the obstruction member may be lowered to cause an obstruction, such that the device forms a recessed surface in the road or highway to slow vehicles.

Preferably the device comprises means for sensing the speed of an approaching vehicle and for actuating the actuator to cause an obstruction in the event that the speed exceeds a predetermined value.

Preferably the actuator is disposed at one end of the device and is preferably disposed in a housing for setting in a pavement or kerbside away from the road or other highway. Preferably the actuator housing comprises a cover.

An embodiment or present invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which; Figure 1 is a plan view of a speed bump device in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is a sectional view along the line of u-u of Figure 1, when the device is in its raised condition; Figure 3 is sectional view along the line u-u of Figure 1, when the device is in its lowered condition; Figure 4 is a sectional view along the line iv-iv of Figure 1, when the device is in its raised condition; Figure 5 is a sectional view along the line iv-iv of Figure 1, when the device is in its lowered condition; and Figure 6 is a plan view of the device when in use.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a speed bump device 10 for fitting across a road other highway. The speed bump device comprises an elongate channel-shaped housing 11 for setting into the road or other highway 12. The housing 11 comprises a flat upper surface 13 which is arranged to lie substantially in the plane of the road or other highway 12. Preferably the opposite side faces of the housing comprise longitudinally-extending rebates 14 into which the road material extends, so as to securely fasten the device 10 in situ.

An elongate box-section obstruction member 15 extends along the channel 16 formed in the housing 11, the channel 16 having an opening which extends longitudinally along the upper surface thereof. The plurality of ramped formations 17 are disposed on a displacement member in the form of a plate 18 which is slidably mounted on the bottom wall of the channel 16 inside the housing 11. The formations 17 comprise inclined top surfaces, which are upwardly-inclined in the same direction longitudinally of the obstruction member 15. The obstruction member 15 is provided with a plurality of complementary formations 19 on its bottom wall. The formations 19 comprise inclined bottom surfaces, which are downwardly-inclined and which lie parallel to and in slidable contact with the upwardly-inclined surfaces of respective formations 17.

One end of the plate 18 is connected to a linear actuator 20 which is mounted in a manhole 31 formed in a pavement or verge 32 alongside the road 12. A manhole cover 33 is provided in the pavement to gain access to the actuator 20. The pavement 32 is separated from the road 12 by a kerb 30. The actuator 20 is arranged to slide the plate 18 longitudinally of the channel 16, such that the co-operating inclined surfaces of the formations 17,19 slide over each other and cause the obstruction member 17 to move verticaily and transversafly of its s&f within the confines of the channel 16. In this manner, the obstruction member 15 can be raised to a position in which is projects above the surface of the road or other highway 12, in order to present an obstruction. The obstruction member 15 can then be lowered by causing the linear actuator to move the plate 18 in the opposite direction (i.e. to the right in Figure 3).

Referring to Figure 6 of the drawings, the device 10 may comprise a sensor 21 which is arranged to sense the speed of an approaching vehicle 22, the sensor 21 of being connected to a control device 23 which operates the actuator 20 to raise the obstruction member 15 in the event that the speed of the vehicle 22 exceeds a predetermined speed limit. The obstruction member 15 is then lowered once the vehicle 22 has passed.

A speed bump device in accordance with the present invention is mechanically simple and robust in construction, yet can easily be fitted in a road or other highway to selectively prevent an obstruction to the passage of speeding vehicles.

Claims

CLAI MS1. A speed bump device comprising an elongate obstruction member for mounting transversally across a road or other highway, a displacement member, and an actuator for causing relative movement between the obstruction member and the displacement member, the two members having cooperating surfaces arranged such that said relative movement of the members causes transverse movement of the obstruction member in a direction substantially perpendicular to its longitudinal axis.
2. A speed bump device as claimed in claim 1, in which one of the cooperating surfaces comprises a formation having a surface which is inclined longitudinally of the obstruction member.
3. A speed bump device as claimed in claim 2, comprising a plurality of said formations disposed at spaced apart positions disposed longitudinally of the obstruction member.
4. A speed bump device as claimed in claims 2 or 3, in which a formation is disposed on both the obstruction member and the displacement member, the respective formations having cooperating surfaces which are inclined in opposite longitudinal directions.
5. A speed bump device as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the cooperating surfaces of the obstruction member and the displacement member are respectively arranged to face downwardly and upwardly when the device is in use.
6. A speed bump device as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the obstruction member is arranged to rest on the displacement member when the device is in use.
7. A speed bump device as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the displacement member is fixed in position and the obstruction member is moved Longitudinally of itself by the actuator to raise and lower the obstruction member.
8. A speed bump device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 6, in which the obstruction member is fixed against longitudinal movement and the displacement member is moved longitudinally of the obstruction member by the actuator to raise or lower the obstruction member.
9. A speed bump device as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the obstruction member is mounted in a housing arranged for setting in the road or other highway.
10.A speed bump device as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the obstruction member extends longitudinally of an elongate channel formed in the housing, the obstruction member being moveable transverse the longitudinal axis of the channel.
11. A speed bump device as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the obstruction member is raised to cause an obstruction, such that the device forms a raised surface in a road or highway.
12. A speed bump device as claimed in claim 11, in which the raised surface of the obstruction member is curved or profiled transverse its length.
13. A speed bump device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 10, in which the obstruction member may be lowered to cause an obstruction, such that the device forms a recessed surface in a road or highway.
14. A speed bump device as claimed in any preceding claim, comprising means for sensing the speed of an approaching vehicle and for actuating the actuator to cause an obstruction in the event that the speed exceeds a predetermined value.
15. A speed bump device as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the actuator is disposed at one end of the device.
16. A speed bump device as claimed in claim 15, in which the actuator is disposed at one end of the device in a housing for setting in a pavement or kerbside away from a road or highway.
17. A speed bump device as claimed in claim 15, in which the actuator housing comprises a cover.
18. A speed bump device substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.