GB2569634A

GB2569634A - Barrier system

Info

Publication number: GB2569634A
Application number: GB1721672.2A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Frank Whitehead Andrew
Original assignee: Paul Jason Crookes
Current assignee: Paul Jason Crookes
Priority date: 2017-12-21
Filing date: 2017-12-21
Publication date: 2019-06-26
Also published as: GB201721672D0

Abstract

A barrier system 2 comprises a pair of barrier units 4, each barrier unit including a base plate 6, an upstanding spindle 8 and a collar 12 rotatably mounted to the spindle. Each collar rotates relative to the spindle between a first rotational orientation and a second rotational orientation, and each collar includes a barrier element 14, with the barrier units defining between them a barrier axis. Each collar has a first configuration at its first rotational orientation where each barrier element is substantially aligned with the barrier axis to define a first gap between the barrier elements, and a second configuration at its second rotational orientation where each barrier element is angled with respect to the barrier axis to define a second gap, wherein the second gap is greater than the first gap. The system controls vehicle access, and may prevent trailers or caravans passing between the barrier units when defining a first gap, but allow emergency or delivery vehicles to pass through the second gap. A stop member may define the first and second orientations, and a motor may drive the rotation of the collar.

Description

The present invention relates to barrier systems and in particular to barrier systems for controlling vehicle access to specific areas.

It is often desired to permit cars and small vans to enter certain areas, but to prevent larger vehicles and vehicles towing trailers or caravans from entering that area. Typically, this is achieved by the use of barriers which selectively permit or restrict vehicle access on the basis of the height of the vehicle. For example, an opening to the area may include a barrier which is located 2m above the ground. Thus, all vehicles which have a height that is less than 2m can pass through the opening under the barrier, but vehicles having a height which is greater than 2m are prevented from passing through the opening by the barrier.

Such barriers work well to prevent larger vans and lorries from passing through the opening, but they fail to prevent shorter vehicles towing trailers or caravans from passing through the opening.

An alternative to a barrier located a pre-determined height above an opening is a fixed width barrier. Such barriers provide an opening having a pre-determined width, wherein the width is typically sufficient to permit access by cars and similar vehicles, but which is too narrow to permit access through the opening by wider vehicles, such as those towing wide trailers or caravans, larger vans or lorries.

The problem with such width barriers is that it may be necessary for emergency vehicles to enter the area or to permit larger vehicles to enter the area at specific times.

There is thus a need for a width barrier which has a first configuration in which it defines a first gap and a second configuration in which it defines a second gap, wherein the first gap prevents access to the area by vehicles having a width which is greater than the first gap and the second gap is larger than the first gap and allows certain vehicles, such as emergency vehicles to pass through an opening controlled by the barrier.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a barrier system comprising a pair of opposed barrier units, wherein each barrier unit includes a base plate, an upstanding spindle carried by the base plate, and a collar coupled to the spindle; each collar is permitted to rotate relative to the respective base plate between a first rotational orientation and a second rotational orientation; and each collar includes a radially outwardly projecting barrier element; wherein the opposed barrier units define between them a barrier axis; each collar has a first configuration at its first rotational orientation wherein each barrier element is substantially aligned with the barrier axis and a first gap is defined between the barrier elements; and each collar has a second configuration at its second rotational orientation wherein each barrier element is angled with respect to the barrier axis and a second gap is defined between the barrier elements; and wherein the second gap is greater than the first gap.

The barrier system therefore restricts access through an opening when in its first configuration, but can provide a wider gap in its second configuration which permits larger vehicles, such as emergency vehicles to pass through the opening. Thus, with the collars in their first configuration a gap is defined between the barrier elements which permits cars and similar vehicles to pass through the gap, but prevents larger vehicles from passing through the opening, and when the collars are in their second configuration, a much larger gap is defined between the barrier units, which allows larger vehicles, such as emergency vehicles or delivery vehicles, to pass through the opening.

In the context of the present invention, the term spindle refers to an upstanding shaft which permits the collar to rotate in use. Suitably, each collar is rotatably coupled to the respective spindle. Thus, the spindle may be fixed relative to the base plate and the collar may rotate about its respective spindle.

The collar may be substantially cylindrical, with an opening at its bottom end, such that the spindle is located within a cavity defined by the cylindrical collar. In such embodiments, each barrier element suitably projects from a vertical portion of the cylindrical collar, for example, each barrier element may have a vertical height of at least 0.5m, 0.75m, 1.0m, 1.25m, or 1.5m.

It will be appreciated that in the first configuration, the first gap is defined as the distance between the opposed distal edge portions of the barrier elements. In other words the distance between the edges of the barrier elements which are furthest from the respective spindles. This represents the smallest possible gap between the opposed barrier units.

In the second configuration, the barrier elements may face away from each other. Accordingly, the maximum second gap may be the distance between the opposed collars.

In an embodiment of the invention, each barrier unit further includes a latching mechanism and each rotatable collar can be latched in its first configuration or its second configuration. The latching mechanism may be operated only by authorised personnel in order to prevent unauthorised rotation of the collars from their first configuration to their second configuration. The latching mechanism suitably prevents rotation of the collar out of the first or second configuration. Thus, the latching mechanism may have an engaged configuration in which rotation of the collar about the spindle is prevented or restricted and it may have a released configuration in which the rotation of the collar about the spindle is permitted.

Each barrier unit may further include a stop member carried by the base plate, wherein the stop member defines the first rotational orientation and/or the second rotational orientation. The stop member may prevent rotation of the collar relative to the spindle other than between the first and second rotational orientations. Accordingly, the stop member may act against, contact and/or engage the collar and/or the barrier element when the collar is in its first and/or second configurations.

Suitably, the stop member defines a first stop surface and a second stop surface; the barrier element includes a first engagement surface and a second engagement surface; the first rotational orientation is defined when the first engagement surface of the barrier element contacts the first stop surface of the stop member; and the second rotational orientation is defined when the second engagement surface of the barrier element contacts the second stop surface of the stop member.

In this embodiment of the invention, a single stop member is able to define the limits of rotation of the collar. Each side of the stop member defines one end of the arc through which the collar is permitted to rotate.

Advantageously, the stop element is able to reinforce the barrier element when the collar is in its first or second configuration.

As noted above, each barrier unit may include a latching mechanism. In embodiments in which each barrier unit further includes a stop member, the latching mechanism may be carried by the stop member. For example, the stop member may include a locking bolt or rod slidably mounted within a channel defined by the stop member; the collar may include a first locating aperture and a second locating aperture; and the first locating aperture may be aligned with the locking bolt/rod when the collar is in its first configuration and the second locating aperture may be aligned with the locking bolt/rod when the collar is in its second configuration. In this way, when the first locating aperture is aligned with the locking bolt/rod (i.e. in the first configuration), the locking bolt/rod may slide into engagement with the first locating aperture, thereby locking the collar against rotation relative to the stop member. Similarly, when the second locating aperture is aligned with the locking bolt/rod (i.e. in the second configuration), the locking bolt/rod may slide into engagement with the second locating aperture, thereby also locking the collar against rotation relative to the stop member. Thus, the latching mechanism may prevent rotation of the collar out of the first or second configuration by rotationally locking the collar relative to the fixed stop member.

In an embodiment of the invention, each barrier element is angled from the barrier axis by at least 90° in its second configuration. Such an arrangement permits the barrier elements to be rotated such that no part of the barrier element obstructs the opening. In such embodiments, the gap defined by the barrier system may be equal to the spacing between the inwardly facing portions of the respective collars.

In a further embodiment of the invention, each barrier element has a cross section which is quadrant-shaped. Thus, each side wall of the barrier element projects radially from the collar, wherein the side walls are angularly spaced from each other around the collar and the two side walls are joined by an arcuate end wall. A quadrant-shaped barrier element may be used with a single stop member and provides the barrier element with a far greater mass. This in turn prevents the barrier element being forced open (i.e. forced into its second configuration), for example by the deliberate impact by a vehicle.

In order to provide a robust barrier unit, the collar and barrier elements are suitably formed from a metal, e.g. steel, and each barrier element may be welded to the respective collar.

It will be appreciated that a relatively heavy collar and barrier element arrangement may be difficult to rotate, e.g. about the spindle. Accordingly, one or more bearings may be located between the collar and the spindle. For example, in embodiments in which the collar is in the form of an inverted cylinder (i.e. a cylinder which is closed at its top end and open at its bottom end), within which is located the spindle, a bearing may be located between the top of the spindle and the bottom of the closed end of the cylindrical collar, such that the bearing supports the weight of the collar/barrier element arrangement. Additionally or alternatively, a bearing arrangement may be provided between the outwardly facing cylindrical wall of the spindle and the inwardly facing cylindrical wall of the collar such that the spindle is centralised within the collar and the collar and the spindle are arranged to be co-axial.

The first gap suitably allows cars to pass between the barrier units. Thus, the first gap may be from 1.5m to 2.5m. Suitably, the first gap may be from 1.7m to 2.4m, from 1.8m to 2.3m, from 1.9m to 2.2m, or from 2.0, to 2.2m. Such gaps suitably prevent larger vehicles or vehicles towing trailers or caravans from passing between the barrier units.

The second gap needs to permit access to larger vehicles, such as emergency vehicles and delivery vehicles (when delivery vehicles are permitted to enter the site only at certain times). Accordingly, the second gap is suitably greater than 2.5m. For example, greater than 2.7m, greater than 2.9m, greater than 3.1m or greater than 3.5m.

The base plate is suitably fixed to a ground anchor or other suitable foundation. Accordingly, the base plate is suitably a fixed base plate which is anchored to the ground or a suitable substrate.

The collar may be manually rotated about the spindle or it may include a motor to drive the collar for rotation about the spindle. Thus, each barrier unit may further include a motor configured to drive the collar to rotate relative to the spindle between the first and second rotational orientations.

In embodiments in which the barrier units include respective motors, they may also include respective controllers to control the operation of the motor. Suitably, each controller may further include a signal receiver and the controller controls the motor in response to signals received by the signal receiver. Thus, the signal receiver may receive signals from a local signal transmitter, such as a button carried by the barrier system, or it may receive a signal from a remote transmitter, or it may be capable of receiving both local and remote signals.

In this way, both of the collars may be rotated via a single signal transmitted to both controllers either locally or remotely. Thus, as operator may open or close the barrier system locally or from a remote control station.

The controller may also be able to transmit back to a user the status of the barrier system, e.g. the configuration in which the collars are positioned at any given time.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of controlling vehicular access to a specific area, the method comprising providing an opening to the area; installing at the opening a barrier system as defined anywhere hereinabove, wherein the barrier axis is aligned with the opening; and controlling access to the area by arranging each collar in its first or second configuration.

The skilled person will appreciate that the features described and defined in connection with the aspects of the invention and the embodiments thereof may be combined in any combination, regardless of whether the specific combination is expressly mentioned herein. Thus, all such combinations are considered to be made available to the skilled person.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a pair of barrier units according to the invention in a restricted configuration;

Figure 2 shows the pair of barrier units shown in Figure 1 in their unrestricted configuration; and

Figure 3 is a perspective view showing a barrier unit according to the invention.

For the avoidance of doubt, the skilled person will appreciate that in this specification, the terms up, down, front, rear, upper, lower, width, etc. refer to the orientation of the components as found in the example when installed for normal use as shown in the Figures.

Figures 1 and 2 show a barrier system 2 formed from a pair of barrier units 4. Each barrier unit 4 includes a base plate 6 on which is located a spindle 8 and a stop member 10. The spindle 8 and the stop member 10 are welded to the base plate 6.

Rotatably mounted to the spindle 8 is a cylindrical collar 12 which is closed at its top end and open at its bottom end such that an upper portion of the spindle 8 is received within a cavity defined by the cylindrical collar 12.

The cylindrical collar 12 has projecting from it a quadrant-shaped barrier element 14 which includes a first radial wall 16, a second radial wall 18 and an arcuate end wall 20 which joins the first and second radial walls 16,18

In order that the collar 12 and the affixed barrier element 14 can rotate about the spindle 8, two bearing arrangements (not shown) are provided between the outer surface of the spindle 8 and the inner surface of the cylindrical collar 12. The first bearing arrangement is located between the upwardly facing surface of the spindle 8 and the closed top end of the collar 12. This first bearing arrangement supports the weight of the collar 12 and the barrier element 14. The second bearing arrangement is located between the cylindrical walls of the spindle 8 and the collar 12. This second bearing arrangement maintains the collar 12 in a centralised configuration around the spindle 8 and supports the lateral forces that result from the offset centre of gravity caused by the barrier element 14 projecting from a portion of the collar 12.

The stop member 10 is secured to the base plate 6 and spaced from the collar 12 such that the stop member 10 does not interfere with the rotation of the collar 12 about the spindle 8. However, the stop member 10 functions to limit the rotation of the collar by engagement with the barrier element

14. The stop member 10 has a first stop surface 22 defined by one of its side walls and a second opposed stop surface 24 defined by the other of its side walls. As shown in Figure 1, in the restricted configuration of the barrier system, the second radial wall 18 of the barrier element 14 contacts the second stop surface 24 of the stop member 10. In this arrangement, the stop member 10 prevents further rotation of the barrier element 14 in the event that the first radial wall 16 is impacted by a vehicle travelling in the direction A as shown in Figure 1.

In the restricted configuration shown in Figure 1, the barrier elements 14 partially block the opening within which the barrier system is located. A gap B is defined between the distal ends of the first radial walls 16 of the barrier elements 14. In this example, the gap B is 2.1m. Such a gap is sufficiently large to permit cars and similar sized vehicles to pass between the barrier units 4, but is not large enough to permit lorries or vehicles towing relatively wide trailers (e.g. caravans) to pass between the barrier units 4.

As shown in Figure 2, in its unrestricted configuration, the collars 12 have been contra-rotated about their respective spindles 8 until the first radial walls 16 of the barrier elements 14 contact the respective first stop surfaces 22 of the stop member 10. In this configuration, the barrier elements 14 are no longer disposed within the opening. A gap C is defined between the inwardly facing portions of the collars 12. In this example, the gap C between the opposing collars 12 is 3.1m. Such a gap is sufficiently large to permit larger vehicles, such as emergency vehicles and authorised delivery vehicles, to pass between the barrier units 4

Figure 3 shows in more detail one of the barrier units 4 in its restricted configuration (as shown in Figure 1). As can be seen from Figure 3, the stop member 10 includes a locking rod 26 which is slidably located within a channel 28 defined through the stop member 10. The locking rod 26 is longer than the channel 28 so that it projects from one end of the channel 28. In the example shown in Figure 3, the first end of the rod 26 is flush with an end wall 30 of the stop member 10. In this configuration, the opposite end of the rod 26 extends beyond the end of the stop member 10. The opposite end of the rod 26 passes through an aperture (not shown) defined by the collar 12 and into a corresponding aperture (also not shown) defined by the spindle 8. In this way, with the second opposed end of the rod 26 passing through the collar 12 and into the spindle 8, the collar 12 is prevented from rotating relative to the spindle 8 and is locked relative to the spindle 8.

The collar 12 defines a second aperture (not shown) which aligns with the locking rod 26 when the first radial wall 16 is in contact with the stop surface 22 (as shown in Figure 2). Again, the locking rod 26 can pass through the second aperture of the collar 12 and into the aperture defined by the spindle 8. In this way, the collar 12 can be locked in its unrestricted configuration.

The locking rod 26 further includes a key operated locking member 32 which allows it to be locked in its lock configuration, i.e. with the second opposed end of the locking rod 26 passing through an aperture defined by the collar 12 and into the aperture defined by the spindle 8 or to release the locking rod 26 to slide within the channel 28 to allow the second opposed end of the locking rod to be retracted from the spindle 8 and the collar 12, thereby permitting the collar 12 to rotate relative to the spindle 8. Such key-operated locking members are well known and as such will not be described in more detail herein.

As also shown in Figure 3, the base plate 6 includes a number of through holes 34 via which it may be secured to foundation provided in the ground on either side of the opening.

In order to fit the barrier units 4, suitable foundations are provided either side of an opening. Each base plate 6 is then bolted to a respective one of the foundations via the through holes 34. The spacing between the barrier units 4 defines the maximum gap through which vehicles can pass. This can be reduced or restricted by rotation of the collars 12 until they are in their first or restricted configuration and the barrier elements 14 block a portion of the opening.

Claims

1. A barrier system comprising a pair of opposed barrier units, wherein each barrier unit includes a base plate, an upstanding spindle carried by the base plate, and a collar coupled to the spindle; each collar is permitted to rotate relative to the respective base plate between a first rotational orientation and a second rotational orientation; and each collar includes a radially outwardly projecting barrier element; wherein the opposed barrier units define between them a barrier axis; each collar has a first configuration at its first rotational orientation wherein each barrier element is substantially aligned with the barrier axis and a first gap is defined between the barrier elements; and each collar has a second configuration at its second rotational orientation wherein each barrier element is angled with respect to the barrier axis and a second gap is defined between the barrier elements; and wherein the second gap is greater than the first gap.

2. A barrier system according to Claim 1, wherein the collar is rotatably coupled to the spindle.

3. A barrier system according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein each barrier unit further includes a latching mechanism and each rotatable collar can be latched in its first configuration or its second configuration.

4. A barrier system according to any of Claims 1 to 3, wherein each barrier unit further includes a stop member carried by the base plate, wherein the stop member defines the first rotational orientation and the second rotational orientation.

5. A barrier system according to Claim 4, wherein the stop member defines a first stop surface and a second stop surface; the barrier element includes a first engagement surface and a second engagement surface; the first rotational orientation is defined when the first engagement surface of the barrier element contacts the first stop surface of the stop member; and the second rotational orientation is defined when the second engagement surface of the barrier element contacts the second stop surface of the stop member.

6. A barrier system according to Claim 4 or Claim 5, wherein the stop member includes a locking bolt slidably mounted within a channel defined by the stop member; the collar includes a first locating aperture and a second locating aperture; and the first locating aperture is aligned with the locking bolt when the collar is in its first configuration and the second locating aperture is aligned with the locking bolt when the collar is in its second configuration.

7. A barrier system according to any of Claims 1 to 6, wherein in its second configuration, each barrier element is angled from the barrier axis by at least 90°.

8. A barrier system according to any of Claims 1 to 7, wherein each barrier element has a cross section which is quadrant-shaped.

9. A barrier system according to any of Claims 1 to 8, wherein each collar and barrier element are formed from metal and the barrier element is welded to the respective collar.

10. A barrier system according to any of Claims 1 to 9, wherein at least one bearing is located between the collar and the spindle.

11. A barrier system according to any of Claims 1 to 10, wherein each barrier unit further includes a motor configured to drive the collar to rotate relative to the spindle between the first and second rotational orientations.

12. A barrier system according to Claim 11, wherein each barrier unit further includes a controller to control the operation of the motor.

13. A barrier system according to Claim 12, wherein the controller includes a signal receiver and the controller controls the motor in response to signals received by the signal receiver.