GB2509329A

GB2509329A - A traffic pole with spring loaded release base

Info

Publication number: GB2509329A
Application number: GB1223488.6A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alan Mark Seddon
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2012-12-28
Filing date: 2012-12-28
Publication date: 2014-07-02
Also published as: GB201223488D0

Abstract

A traffic pole 12 fitted within an inner sleeve 6 is affixed to the ground 1 by means of a base plate 3 which is affixed to the inner sleeve using locking pins 4. A system of cords 7 is arranged such that the outer sleeve 8 draws the cords up vertically when it undergoes a sideways impact. When the cords move up, the locking pins are drawn out of their initial positions against their securing springs 5. This frees the pole and release mechanism from the ground plate and allows the pole to be moved by the impacting force. A magnetic or electrostatic linkage system is also mentioned. A sensor for detecting the velocity of the vehicle is claimed. A system for disconnected the electricity supply to the traffic sign is claimed.

Description

TRAFFIC POLE WITH QUICK RELEASE BASE

BACKGROUND

Traffic poles are used extensively adjacent to roads to support lighting, signs and traffic lights.

They need to be strong enough so as not to buckle or rotate under wind load.

However if they are too strong then any vehicle colliding with them will undergo very rapid deceleration causing extensive damage to the vehicle and injury or even death to its passengers.

There have been developed poles that bend more easily under impact and these reduce the damage to the vehicle and injury to its passengers.

However, the extent to which the pole is weakened is limited by the necessity for the pole to withstand environmental factors and pedestrian tampering.

It is also a significant financial cost to replace the pole and the associated electronics that are damaged in the impact.

STATEMENT OF INVENTION

This invention relates to a traffic pole and its connection to its base plate whereby a quick release mechanism is activated when the pole is impacted from the side. This action detaches the pole from its backplate, allowing the pole to move away more easily and thus cause less damage to any vehicle that runs into the pole. It does not require the pole to have reduced resistance against windloads and pedestrian tampering due to the mechanism being based around an ejection system as opposed to a weakened section.

It will also reduce the substantial financial cost of replacing a conventional traffic pole after impact by rendering the pole and the connected electronics less damaged or undamaged.

Introduction to Drawings

Figure la is cross-sectional view of the lower section of the pole, the release mechanism and the ground fixating plate.

Figure lb is a plan view of the setup with no cross sectional or cut out views.

Figure 2 demonstrates the result of a sideways impact on the relative positions of the different pads of the release mechanism.

Figure 3a shows the likely situation that would arise just prior to a sideways impact to the traffic pole.

Figure 3b is the same as figure 3a with the mechanism displayed with a cross-sectional view.

Figure 4a demonstrates the way in which a car impact would shift the surrounding wall of the release mechanism.

Figure 4b is the same as figure 4a with the mechanism displayed with a cross-sectional view.

Figure 5a shows the likely motion of the traffic pole once the release mechanism is triggered and the car continues forwards.

Figure 5b is the same as figure 5a with the mechanism displayed with a cross-sectional view.

Figure 6 shows the final position of the traffic pole after the car has triggered the release mechanism and continued past the initial position of the traffic pole.

Figure 7 shows an alternate geometry and aesthetic design to perform the same function using the same fundamental concept.

Figure 8 shows an example of how the pole may be released in more than one location, so as to further reduce the resistive force against the vehicle.

DESCRIPTION

By referring to the drawings and associated elements, a particular embodiment of the present invention will be described: Figure 1 shows how the traffic pole [12] is fitted into an inner sleeve [6] which is fixed to the base plate [3] by several locking pins [4].

Preferably the base plate is affixed to concrete foundations [1] affixed by bolts [2], preferably adjacent to each of the locking pin holes.

An outer sleeve [8] encircles the pole over the length that would most likely suffer impact from a vehicle. This outer sleeve is restrained vertically by cords [7].

In this particular embodiment, a buffer ring of compressible material [13] separates the inner sleeve from the outer sleeve and, under normal conditions, maintains that distance between inner and outer sleeve. It is of sufficient stiffness so as to prevent a vandal triggering the device by striking it but compressible enough so that a vehicle can easily compress it in order to trigger the release mechanism during a crash. A column [9] exists to allow the outer sleeve to hit a solid surface in order to push the pole out of the way once the release mechanism has been activated.

Figure 2 illustrates how the movement of the outer sleeve, when hit by a vehicle, causes the release of the pole from the base plate.

As the outer sleeve is struck, it moves relative to the inner sleeve and the traffic pole. The cords are affixed, relative to the pole, at their upper ends [11] and restricted in the horizontal plane further down [10]. As the upper housing of the outer sleeve moves relative to points [10] and [11] the cord is drawn up vertically. This pulls the locking pins [4] against the springs [5] that are used to keep them in position under normal conditions. As the locking pins clear their housings within the ground plate, the housing of the inner sleeve of the mechanism is now no longer restrained to the ground plate [3].

Figure 5b illustrates how the release mechanism and traffic pole move freely away from the ground plate as the car continues its forward motion. A possible final position of the pole is shown in Figure 6, although this positioning depends on many variables, including centre of mass of the pole, angle of impact of the car and whether there will be more than one section of the pole that is disconnected via the release mechanism.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A traffic pole containing a mechanism which, when the pole is impacted, releases the pole, or sections of the pole, from the ground fixture or from adjacent sections of the pole.
2. A traffic pole as in claim 1 whereby physical, mechanical, electronic, magnetic or electrostatic linkage are utilised within the release mechanism.
3. A traffic pole as in claim 1 whereby the attachment to its baseplate is achieved by magnetic force and this force is removed if the pole is subjected to side impact.
4. A traffic pole as in claim 1 whereby there is more than one release mechanism along the pole which allows a section of the pole to be released and carried forward by the impact so that the entire pole is not required to be shifted by the force of impact.
5. A traffic pole as in claim 1 whereby the impact triggers release of the pole by colliding with a barrier surrounding the lower portion of the pole.
6. A traffic pole as in claim 1 whereby an electronic detection system that measures proximity, velocity or other variables, associated with identifying the nature of the impact, activates the release mechanism.
7. A traffic pole as in claim 1 whereby the mechanism is fully resettable in the event that insufficient damage is sustained by the pole to warrant a replacement.
8. A traffic pole as in claim 1 whereby the mechanism also disconnects electrical connections from the poles main body to the underlying electronic control systems and power cables.
9. A traffic pole as in claim 1 whereby the mechanism allows for extension of electronic wires and connections in order that displacement of the pole does not cause damage to the underlying electronic control systems and power cables.
10. A traffic pole as in claim 1 whereby the required force of impact to trigger the release is customisable to suit the local vehicle size, mode of pedestrian tampering and conformity to safety standards.
11. A traffic pole as in claim 1 whereby said release is done actively by aid of a spring or other device in order that the pole is ejected subsequent to being disconnected.
12. A traffic pole as in claim 1, whereby release of the pole can involve the pole sections remaining tethered to the base plate, or adjacent sections, so as to prevent the pole sections from being projected too far away from the impact site.