GB2607308A

GB2607308A - Retractable bollard

Info

Publication number: GB2607308A
Application number: GB2107826.6A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Leedham David
Original assignee: Ramsafe Ltd
Current assignee: Ramsafe Ltd
Priority date: 2021-06-01
Filing date: 2021-06-01
Publication date: 2022-12-07
Also published as: GB202107826D0; WO2022254366A1

Abstract

The bollard 10 comprises a hollow ground engaging member 12; a retractable member 14 configured to be selectively stowed within and extended from the hollow ground engaging member and a counterweight 16 suspended within the hollow ground engaging member by way of a cable supported by at least one pulley 18. The counterweight biases the retractable member in an extended configuration relative to the hollow ground engaging member. The bollard may further comprise locking means 30 configured to lock the retractable member in a stowed position and/or an extended position. The locking means may comprise an actuable lever 32 and an elongate member 34 extending from the actuable member within the retractable member and termination at a latch 36 engaging a first detent in the ground engaging member when the retractable member is in the stowed configuration and a second detent in the ground engaging member when the retractable member is in the extended configuration, the latch passing through a cut out in the retractable member when it is engaged with either the first or second detent

Description

RETRACTABLE BOLLARD

FIELD

The present invention relates to a retractable bollard, more particularly a retractable bollard for preventing vehicular access to a designated space.

BACKGROUND

Bollards are typically used to prevent vehicular access to sensitive areas. A bollard typically comprises a steel or concrete mass of material that engages the ground. Some bollards are concreted into the ground whereas others may be bolted to the ground. In each case, the function of a bollard is to prevent vehicular access to a designated space.

In one example, it may be desirable to prevent vehicles from accessing high traffic pedestrian areas. Use of vehicles to cause injury and death is a common tactic employed by deranged individuals affiliated with certain terrorist groups and beliefs. Bollards that are capable of resisting impact from vehicles provide an effective defence against this type of fanatic behaviour in sensitive areas.

In another example, vehicles such as tractors and trucks are routinely used by criminals to damage cash machines and security doors and windows in the act of theft. Again, use of impact resistant bollards can provide an effective means of protecting retail and commercial buildings.

In yet another example, automotive retailers and service centres may wish to use bollards to secure all vehicle access points to their premises when closed. This is desirable to prevent vehicles being stolen, even if the vehicle keys are obtained from breaking into the premises.

While fixed bollards may provide excellent impact resistance, such bollards also prevent vehicular access by emergency services and authorised private and commercial vehicles. To address this problem, several different types of bollards have been developed to selectively allow vehicular access to a designated space. Such bollards are typically cumbersome to engage and may not be useable by disabled or mobility limited persons.

It is against the aforementioned problems that the present invention has arisen SUMMARY An aspect of the invention provides a retractable bollard comprising: a hollow ground engaging member; a retractable member configured to be selectively stowed within and extended from the hollow ground engaging member; and a counterweight suspended within the hollow ground engaging member by way of a cable supported by at least one pulley, wherein the counterweight biases the retractable member in an extended configuration relative to the hollow ground engaging member.

Conventional bollards are either fixed or require considerable user effort to stow and extend. The present invention provides an automated or semi-automated retractable bollard that may easily be moved between a stowed configuration and an extended configuration by way of operation of a counterweight system situated within the bollard itself. This significantly reduces the effort required by a user to operate the claimed retractable bollard and simplifies its method of operation.

The retractable bollard may further comprise locking means configured to lock the retractable member in a stowed configuration and/or an extended configuration. The locking means may comprise an actuable lever located towards an upper end of the retractable member, an elongate member extending downwardly within the retractable member from the actuable lever and terminating at a latch. The latch may be configured to engage with a first detent in the ground engaging member when the retractable member is in the stowed configuration. The latch may be configured to engage with a second detent in the ground engaging member when the retractable member is in the extended configuration. The latch, when engaged with the first detent or second detent of the ground engaging member, may pass through a cut-out through the retractable member. Alternatively, in an embodiment where the retractable member is positioned between the outer wall of the ground engaging member and an inner sleeve, or vertical support, the latch may engage a cut-out or detent in the inner sleeve, or vertical support. The locking means may be disengaged by depressing a top of the retractable member, wherein disengagement of the locking means causes the latch to release from the first detent such that the counterweight is able to move relative to the ground engaging member. The retractable member may rise automatically, or semi-automatically, because of the counterweight dropping under its own weight, or through partial user assistance, and the retractable member rising in response to movement of the counterweight. The retractable bollard may further comprise a key lock mechanism that requires use of a key or tool to permit actuation of the the locking means. The key or tool may, in a first configuration, prevent disengagement of the locking means. The key or tool, may in a second configuration, allow disengagement of the locking means.

The primary purpose of retractable bollards of the claimed invention is to prevent vehicular access to sensitive areas. Therefore, it is important to allow the retractable member part of the bollard to be locked in position, at least when in the extended configuration. The claimed invention provides a simple yet effective locking mechanism to achieve this requirement.

The hollow ground engaging member may be formed from steel box section. the retractable member may also be formed from steel box section having an outer perimeter sized to fit within the inner perimeter of the steel box section of the ground engaging member. In another embodiment, both the ground engaging member and the retractable member may be formed from cylindrical steelwork. In yet another embodiment, the ground engaging member may be formed from a machined block having an outer perimeter of any feasible shape and a machine opening sized and shaped to fit a retractable member that may be square, rectangular or circular in profile, for example.

The at least one pulley may comprise four pulleys arranged such that each pulley is positioned at a corner of the ground engaging member in a square configuration. Each pulley may comprise a pulley wheel that is mounted to a pulley mount such that each pulley wheel is free to rotate relative to the respective pulley mount.

The counterweight may be suspended within the hollow ground engaging member by way of a pair of cables, wherein each cable of the pair is supported by two adjacent pulleys.

Each end of each of the pair of cables may terminate at opposing faces of a lower end of the retractable member.

The counterweight may comprise a first mounting point that receives the first cable of the pair of cables and a second mounting point that receives the second cable of the pair of cables. the counterweight may be sized to be housed within an inner perimeter of the retractable member when the retractable bollard is in the stowed configuration and within the inner perimeter of the ground engaging member when the retractable bollard is in the extended configuration. The counterweight may be heavier than the retractable member. In another embodiment, the counterweight may weigh less than the retractable member. In yet another embodiment, the counterweight may weigh substantially the same as the retractable member. The counterweight may be selectively installed within and removed from the ground engaging member.

The ground engaging member may be configured to attach to a ground surface and penetrate below the ground surface into a pre-formed hole. The ground engaging member may be configured to substantially extend towards a bottom of the pre-formed hole. Alternatively, the ground engaging member may be configured to form a perimeter around the pre-formed hole and extend an intermediate depth into the preformed hole between the ground surface and the bottom of the pre-formed hole.

The ground engaging member is required to withstand impact and pulling forces. To achieve this, retractable bollards of some embodiments of the claimed invention may be fully or partially contained within a pre-formed hole. This provides excellent impact protection. Furthermore, attachment of the ground engaging member of the retractable bollard to a ground surface, whether at ground level or below ground, with a ground anchor bolt, for example, provides excellent resistance against pulling, i.e., by a truck, and twisting forces.

The retractable member, when in the stowed configuration, may be positioned below, or marginally above, the ground surface, the retractable member, when in the extended configuration, may be positioned such that a substantial part of its surface area is above the ground surface.

The position of the retractable member when in the stowed configuration needs to be carefully controlled to ensure that vehicles may pass over it unimpeded when the retractable bollard is in the stowed configuration. Furthermore, retractable bollards that are positioned at or below ground level when in a stowed configuration are more difficult to tamper with than retractable bollards that are stowed fully or partially above ground level.

The retractable bollard may further comprise at least one seal positioned between an outer surface of the retractable member and the inner surface of the ground engaging member.

The seal provides a barrier against egress of water into the ground engaging member during inclement weather and flooding, for example.

The retractable bollard may further comprise a lower stop against which the counterweight rests when the retractable member is in the extended configuration. The retractable bollard may also further comprise an upper stop against which the counterweight rests when the retractable member is in the stowed configuration.

Advantageously, the upper and lower stops limit the range of motion of the counter weight and thus the retractable bollard. This is important to ensure that the locking means that may be mounted to the retractable member is able to engage a detent or cut-out in the ground engaging member or internal sleeve.

Retractable bollards falling within the scope of the claims may be used to selectively prevent access of vehicles to sensitive areas. For example, it may be desirable to limit vehicular access to high traffic pedestrian areas, i.e., London Bridge, at certain times or during pre-planned events. The claimed retractable bollards may be stowed below ground level when not in use, and quickly extended to form an effective anti-ram bollard when required. In commercial applications, retractable bollards may normally be extended to prevent vehicular access and subsequently stowed when access, i.e., deliveries or emergency services, is needed.

The claimed retractable bollards may be operated by nearly any person, irrespective of physical disability. When in a stowed configuration, the claimed retractable bollard may be extended automatically, or semi-automatically, through releasing a locking means, or latch. The retractable member can extend through assistance from the counterweight. In some embodiments, the retractable member can fully extend, or be stowed, automatically without user assistance. In other embodiments, user assistance is required to extend and/or stow the retractable member with minimal effort. The amount of user effort required to extend the retractable member is balanced with the effort required to overcome the counterweight resistance when moving the retractable member back to the stowed configuration. The heavier the counterweight, the less effort required to move the retractable member from the stowed configuration to the extended configuration but the greater the effort required to move the retractable member from the extended configuration to the stowed configuration. The lighter the counterweight, the more effort required to move the retractable member from the stowed configuration to the extended configuration, but the less effort required to move the retractable member from the extended configuration to the stowed configuration. The claimed retractable bollard may be combined with conventional features found in prior art retractable bollards. For example, at least one gas or hydraulic strut may be provided to provide additional assistance in extending the retractable member. In another embodiment, an electric motor may be provided to aid in extending or stowing the retractable member. For example, one, or more, pulley(s) may be driven by the electric motor to drive the counterweight up and down.

FIGURES

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate an embodiment of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention. They are meant to be exemplary illustrations provided to enable persons skilled in the art to practice the disclosure and are not intended to limit the scope of the appended claims.

It shall be noted that those skilled in the art will readily recognize numerous adaptations and modifications which can be made to the various embodiments of the present invention which will result in an improved invention, yet all of which will fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined in the following claims. Accordingly, the invention is to be limited only by the scope of the following claims and their equivalents.

Fig. 1 depicts a retractable bollard according to embodiments of the invention when in a retracted, or stowed, configuration.

Fig. 2 depicts the retractable bollard of Fig. 1 in an intermediate configuration.

Fig. 3 depicts the retractable bollard of Figs. 1 and 2 in an extended, or operable, configuration.

Fig. 4 depicts a plan view of the bollard of Figs. 1-3.

Fig. 5 depicts a sectional view along the lines A-A of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 depicts a sectional view along the lines B-B of Fig. 4 when the retractable bollard is in the retracted, or stowed configuration.

Fig. 7 depicts a sectional view along the lines B-B of Fig. 4 when the retractable bollard is in the extended, or operable, configuration.

Fig. 8 depicts a cut-away view of the retractable bollard in the retracted, or stowed, configuration.

Fig. 9 depicts a cut-away view of the retractable bollard in the extended, or operable, configuration.

DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the described embodiments of the application and uses of the described embodiments. As used herein, the word "exemplary" or "illustrative" means "serving as an example, instance, or illustration." Any implementation described herein as "exemplary" or "illustrative" is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other implementations. All the implementations described below are exemplary implementations provided to enable persons skilled in the art to practice the disclosure and are not intended to limit the scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any expressed or implied theory presented in the preceding technical field, background, summary or the following detailed description.

Detailed reference will now be made to one or more potential embodiments of the disclosure, which are illustrated in the figures.

As shown in Figs. 1-9, a retractable bollard 10 according to embodiments of the invention comprises a ground engaging member 12 that is configured to be inset into the ground. The ground engaging member 12 is hollow to accommodate both a retractable member 14 and a counterweight 16. The counterweight 16 is suspended within the ground engaging member 12 by way of a pulley system 18 that facilitates raising and lowering of the counterweight within a void defined within the ground engaging member 12 as the retractable bollard is operated.

In one embodiment, the ground engaging member 12 is formed from standard steel box section, i.e., 150 x 150 x 5mm, with a mounting plate at the lower end thereof. The mounting plate may be concreted into the ground or bolted into a concrete base, for example. The lower end of the ground engaging member 12 may also comprise a lower stop (not shown) for limiting range of motion of the counterweight 16 in a downwards direction. The upper end of the ground engaging member 12 may also comprise an upper stop (not shown) for limiting range of motion of the counterweight 16 in an upwards direction.

In one embodiment, the retractable member 14 is also formed from standard box section. In the figures, the retractable member 14 is shown as being retractable into the ground engaging member 12, i.e, the ground engaging member 12 may incorporate a void to stow the retractable member 14. Accordingly, the box section of the retractable member 14 may be 140 x 140 x 5mm, for example. In some embodiments, a circumferential seal (not shown) may be provided between the ground engaging member 12 and retractable member 14 to prevent ingress of water into the ground engaging member 12. The circumferential seal may be attached to either of the ground engaging member 12 or retractable member 14.

In some embodiments, assistive means, i.e., an electric motor or hydraulic struts, may be located within the ground engaging member 12 to reduce the effort required to lift the retractable member 14, particularly in the case of where the counterweight weighs significantly less than the retractable member 14. The output power of an electric motor, for example, is significantly reduced as compared to electric motors used on prior art retractable bollards that utilise only an electric motor to assist the user in raising/lowering the retractable bollard. The electric motor may drive one or more pulleys 22, directly or indirectly.

The pulley system is mounted within the void defined within the ground engaging member by conventional fixings or welding, for example. In the illustrated example, the pulley system comprises four separate pulleys 22a-d, each supporting a cable or tendon 24. A first cable 24a is secured to the distal end of a first face of the retractable member 14 and extends over a first pulley 22a. The first cable 24a continues to and passes through a first mounting point 26 of the counterweight 16 before being supported by a second pulley 22b and terminating at a second, opposite face of the retractable member 14. A second cable 24b is secured to the distal end of the first face of the retractable member 14 and extends over a third pulley 22c. The second cable 24b continues to and passes through a second mounting point 28 of the counterweight 16 before being supported a fourth pulley 22d and terminating at the second face of the retractable member 14.

The retractable member 14 is biased in an extended configuration relative to the ground engaging member 12 by the counterweight 16. To retain the retractable member 14 in a stowed configuration relative to, and within, the ground engaging member 12 locking means 30, may be provided. In the illustrated embodiment, the locking means 30, as more particularly shown in Fig. 5, comprises an actuable lever 32 that may be pivotably mounted to the inside of the retractable member 14. An elongate member 34 connects to the actuable lever 32 and extends downwardly within the retractable member 14 and terminates at a latch 36. The latch 36 engages with a first detent (not shown) in the ground engaging member 12 when the retractable member 14 is in the stowed configuration. The latch 36 engages with a second detent (not shown) in the ground engaging member 12 when the retractable member 14 is in the extended configuration. The actuable lever 32 is moveable between a first orientation in which the latch 36 engages the first detent or second detent of the retractable member 14 and a second orientation in which the latch 36 does not engage either the first detent or second detent of the ground engaging member 12. A cut-out (not shown) through the retractable member 14 is positioned adjacent to the latch 36, through which the latch 36 protrudes when the actuable lever 32 is in the first orientation. In some embodiments, the latch 30 may be disengaged by a key lock mechanism that forms part of the actuable lever. The key lock mechanism may prevent actuation of the actuable member 32 when engaged.

In one embodiment, as depicted in Fig. 5 further comprises an internal sleeve, or vertical support, 42 positioned within the ground engaging member 12. The retractable member, in this embodiment, is positioned such that it is able to slide between the internal sleeve 42 and the ground engaging member 12. In this embodiment, the latch 36 engages a first detent or cut-out 44 in the internal sleeve 42 when the retractable member 14 is in the extended configuration. This locks the retractable member 14 in the extended configuration when the latch 36 is engaged with the first detent 44. A lock operable by key or tool (not shown) can be engaged to prevent disengagement of the latch 36 with the first detent 44. Although not shown in Fig. 5, a second detent or cut-out may be provided in the internal sleeve 42 with which the latch 36 may engage when the retractable member 14 is in the stowed configuration.

Starting from the stowed configuration, a user may raise the retractable bollard 10 by depressing the top of the retractable member 14 relative to the ground engaging member 12 to disengage the locking means 30. In the stowed configuration, the counterweight 16 is positioned towards the top of the ground engaging member 12. When the locking means 30 is disengaged, the counterweight 16 can fall move downwardly towards the bottom of the ground engaging member. As the counterweight 16 travels downwards, the retractable member may move upwardly out of the void defined by the ground engaging member 12. In the case that the counterweight 16 is of substantial weight, it may move downwardly under its own weight without user effort. Where the counterweight 16 is smaller, or lighter, the user may be required to apply some effort to lift the retractable member 14 and thus urge the counterweight 16 downwardly. In the latter case, the counterweight provides assistive lifting of the retractable member 14.

Starting from the extended configuration, the user may stow the retractable bollard 10 by pushing the retractable member 14 downwardly into the ground engaging member 12 to overcome resistance provided by the counterweight 16. When the retractable member 14 is fully seated within the ground engaging member 12, the locking means 30 is engaged to prevent the retractable member 14 from moving further relative to the ground engaging member 12.

The above embodiments are exemplary only, and other possibilities and alternatives within the scope of the appended claims will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

Claims

CLAIMS1 A retractable bollard comprising: a hollow ground engaging member; a retractable member configured to be selectively stowed within and extended from the hollow ground engaging member; and a counterweight suspended within the hollow ground engaging member by way of a cable supported by at least one pulley, wherein the counterweight biases the retractable member in an extended configuration relative to the hollow ground engaging member.
2. A retractable bollard according to claim 1, further comprising locking means configured to lock the retractable member in a stowed configuration and/or an extended configuration.
3. A retractable bollard according to claim 2, wherein the locking means comprise an actuable lever and an elongate member extending from the actuable member within the retractable member and terminating at a latch, wherein the latch engages a first detent in the ground engaging member when the retractable member is in the stowed configuration and a second detent in the ground engaging member when the retractable member is in the extended configuration, the latch passing through a cutout in the retractable member when it is engaged with either the first detent or the second detent of the ground engaging member.
4. A retractable bollard according to any preceding claim, wherein the hollow ground engaging member is formed from a hollow steel fabrication or a machined block.
5. A retractable bollard according to claim 4, wherein the retractable member is formed from steel fabrication having an outer perimeter sized to fit within the inner perimeter of the the ground engaging member.
6. A retractable bollard according to any preceding claim, wherein the at least one pulley comprises four pulleys arranged such that each pulley is positioned at a corner of the ground engaging member in a square configuration.
7. A retractable bollard according to claim 6, wherein the counterweight is suspended within the hollow ground engaging member by way of a pair of cables, wherein each cable of the pair is supported by two adjacent pulleys.
8. A retractable bollard according to claim 7, wherein each end of each of the pair of cables terminates at opposing faces of a lower end of the retractable member.
9. A retractable bollard according to claim 8, wherein the counterweight comprises a first mounting point that receives the first cable of the pair of cables and a second mounting point that receives the second cable of the pair of cables.
10.A retractable bollard according to claim 5, wherein the counterweight is sized to be housed within an inner perimeter of the retractable member when the retractable bollard is in the stowed configuration and within the inner perimeter of the ground engaging member when the retractable bollard is in the extended configuration.
11.A retractable bollard according to any preceding claim, wherein the ground engaging member is configured to attach to a ground surface and penetrate below the ground surface into a pre-formed hole.
12.A retractable bollard according to claim 11, wherein the ground engaging member is configured to substantially extend towards a bottom of the pre-formed hole.
13.A retractable bollard according to claim 11, wherein the ground engaging member is configured to form a perimeter around the pre-formed hole and extend an intermediate depth into the pre-formed hole between the ground surface and the bottom of the pre-formed hole.
14.A retractable bollard according to any preceding claim, wherein the retractable member, when in the stowed configuration, is positioned below, or marginally above, the ground surface.
15.A retractable bollard according to claim 14, wherein the retractable member, when in the extended configuration, is positioned such that a substantial part of its surface area is above the ground surface.
16.A retractable bollard according to any preceding claim, wherein each pulley comprises a pulley wheel that is mounted to a pulley mount such that each pulley wheel is free to rotate relative to the respective pulley mount.
17.A retractable bollard according to claim 9, wherein the counterweight is heavier than the retractable member.
18.A retractable bollard according to claim 3, wherein the locking means disengaged by depressing a top of the retractable member, wherein disengagement of the locking means causes the counterweight to drop under its own weight, or through partial user assistance, and the retractable member to rise in response to movement of the counterweight.
19.A retractable bollard according to any preceding claim further comprising at least one seal positioned between an outer surface of the retractable member and the inner surface of the ground engaging member.
20.A retractable bollard according to any preceding claim further comprising a lower stop against which the counterweight rests when the retractable member is in the extended configuration.
21.A retractable bollard according to any preceding claim further comprising an upper stop against which the counterweight rests when the retractable member is in the stowed configuration.
22.A retractable bollard according to 18 further comprising a key lock mechanism that requires use of a key or tool to disengage the locking means when the retractable member is in the extended configuration.