US3049062A - Safety construction for vehicular traffic - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 14, 1962 H. w. IRWIN SAFETY CONSTRUCTION FOR VEHICULAR TRAFFIC 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 9, 1961 Illlllll IN V EN TOR.

ffarf' Aug. 14, 1962 H. w. IRWIN 3,049,062

SAFETY CONSTRUCTION FOR VEHICULAR TRAFFIC Filed May 9, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR. yZK/fiwz United States Patent M 3,049,062 SAFETY CONSTRUCTIUN FOR VEHICULAR TRAFFIC Harry W. Irwin, 115 S. Marshall St, Lancaster, Pa. Filed May 9, 1961, Ser. No. 108,783 4 Claims. (Cl. 94--1) The present invention relates to a safety construction for a highway, road surface or the like, and more particularly to a means for preventing vehicles such as automobiles, trucks or the like from entering the wrong area or zone.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a barrier mechanism for use with a highway, road or the like, whereby vehicles traveling along the highway or road will be kept from entering areas or zones which are to be used for other purposes such as for use by vehicles traveling in an opposite direction, so that by using the safety barrier construction of the present invention, there will be less likelihood of accidents occurring so that the roads can be used with greater safety and convenience.

A further object is to provide a vehicle safety traffic construction of the type described that also includes a mechanism which is adapted to be used in conjunction with the barriers whereby this mechanism will serve to prevent a vehicle from entering a particular locality such as a dead end or the like, and wherein this last named mechanism includes rollers which are provided with an over run clutch construction so as to insure that the vehicles cannot travel past a particular point.

Another object is to provide an apparatus of the character described that is rugged in structure and foolproof in use, and which is economical to manufacture and efficient in operation.

Further objects and advantages are to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof in a device of the character described that is economical to produce, durable in form, and conducive to the most economical use of materials and uniformity of members formed therefrom.

Still further objects and advantages will be apparent in the subsequent description in the specification.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view illustrating a portion of a roadway having the present invention thereon and illustrating by dotted lines schematically how the vehicles of one lane are prevented from crossing or skidding onto the other lane.

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary plan view generally similar to FIGURE 1 but showing a continuation of the highway or road and illustrating how vehicles are prevented from entering or running off of the highway and also illustrating how vehicles which leave the highway are prevented from running oif the highway and also from entering the highway on a leaving lane.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 33 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of one of the clamps.

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view showing one of the spacer units.

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating a modified clamping and spacing member which is adjustable.

FIGURE 9 is a sectional view taken on the line 9-9 of FIGURE 2 and being on an enlarged scale.

FIGURE 10 is a sectional view taken on the line Iii-10 of FIGURE 9.

FIGURE 11 is a fragmentary sectional view taken through a pair of adjacent rollers and showing the rear 3,ii49,052 Patented Aug. 14, 1962 wheel of a vehicle turning in a forward direction and the rollers turning so that the vehicle cannot advance forward.

FIGURE 12 is a view similar to FIGURE 11 but showing the rear wheel of the vehicle turning in a reverse direction and the rollers locked so that the car can back oil of the rollers.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral indicates a portion of a highway, road surface or the like which may include a generally straight portion 21, FIG- URE 1, and the road 20 may also include a curved portion 22 and in FIGURE 2 the numeral 23 indicates the exit for vehicles from the road 20, while the numeral 24 indicates the entrance that is adapted to be used by vehicles which are entering the roadway or highway or the like.

According to the present invention there is provided barriers which are indicated generally by the numeral 25, and these barriers 25 are adapted to be arranged in the intermediate portion of a road such as the road 20 so as to separate the lanes such as the lanes and 31 of the road whereby vehicles traveling in one direction will not ordinarily be able to enter the wrong lane and bump into an oppositely traveling vehicle and cause an accident. The barriers 25 comprise hollow tubular members or units which are indicated generally by the numeral 26, and each of these tubular units 26 is adapted to have a shape that conforms to the shape or contour 20 so that for example the units 26 include a straight section 27 that conforms to the straight portion 21, and the units 26 further include a curved section 28 that conforms to the configuration or contour of the curved portion 22 of the road 20. As shown in FIGURE 1, end portions of adjacent units or barriers are spaced from each other so as to define spaces which are indicated by the numeral 29, for a purpose to be later described, and the spaces 29 of a pair of barriers 25 are arranged in offset or staggered relation with respect to each other.

In FIGURE 1 the numerals 30 and 31 indicate the separate lanes of a road such as the road 20, and for example the lane 31 is adapted to be used by vehicles traveling from left to right in FIGURE 1, while the lane 30 is adapted to be used by vehicles traveling from right to left in FIGURE 1.

In FIGURE 2 the numeral 32 indicates a dead end, and the numeral 33 indicates another dead end, and these dead end portions are adapted to have a vehicle stopping mechanism contiguous thereto.

The numeral 34 indicates horizontally disposed plates which are suitably embedded in the road or highway 20, and the highway 20 may be made of a suitable material such as concrete, asphalt or the like, and arranged above certain of the plates 34- are clamps 35, FIGURE 5. Each clamp 35 includes an arcuate section 36 that straddles or surrounds a portion of a tubular unit 26, and the clamp 35 is provided with diametrically opposed horizontally disposed flanges 37 which have openings or apertures 38 therein. Suitable securing elements such as bolts 39 are adapted to extend through the openings 38 and through openings in the plate 34 whereby the clamps 35 can be used for helping to maintain the pipes or tubular units 26 in their proper aligned position.

Abutting ends, as at 46 in FIGURE 4, of adjacent tubular members 26 have a sleeve 41 therein to keep the ends in alignment.

As shown in FIGURE 7, spacer units 42 are provided for helping to maintain the barriers 25 properly spaced from each other in spaced parallel relation, and each spacer unit 42 comprises arcuate portions 43 which spraddle or surround portions of the tubular units 26, and each spacer unit 42 further includes outwardly arranged horizontally disposed flanges 44 which have openings 45 therein, and such openings are adapted to register with corresponding openings inplates 46 which are adapted to be suitably embedded in the concrete or other material that is used for making the road There are also provided openings 47 in an intermediate portion 49 of the spacer 42, and suitable securing elements such as bolts 48 are adapted to be extended through such openings as the openings and 47 and through the corresponding openings in the plates 46 in order to maintain the spacer units 42 properly anchored in place. The intermediate portion 49 of the spacer 42 is provided with an aperture or opening 50 whereby a suitable securing element or member such as a spike 51 can be driven down through the aperture 50 into the road surface 20 in order to further stabilize or help anchor the spacer.

There is further provided spaced apart elongated guard assemblies which are each indicated by the numeral 52, FIGURE 3, and each of the guard assemblies 52 includes a horizontally disposed flange 53 which is adapted to be secured in place as for example by means of the securing elements 39. Each guard assembly 52 further includes a vertically disposed or upstanding wall portion 54 which has an inclined wall section 55 secured to or formed integral with the upper edge portion thereof. Each of the guard assemblies 52 is disposed adjacent to and on the side of the adjacent tubular member 26 contiguous to the adjacent barrier, with the wall portion 54 abutting the tubular member 26 and having the upper end thereof extending above the tubular member 26. The inclined section 55 of each guard element 52 extends from the upper end of the wall portion 54 and has its lower end extending partially over the adjacent tubular member 26. The flange 53 of each guard assembly 52 extends in the direction opposite to the direction of the inclined section 55. Pairs of the guard assemblies 52 are adapted to coact so as to define a trough for at times receiving a wheel of a vehicle therein as for example when a vehicle inadvertently or accidentally strikes the barrier with such impact as to cause a front wheel to jump over the barrier and be received in the trough or space defined between the guard assemblies 52.

There is further provided a traffic stop mechanism for use along certain portions of the highway or other road surface or the like, and this trafiic stop mechanism is indicated generally by the numeral 56. The trafiic stop mechanism 56 is illustrated in detail in FIGURE 9 for example, wherein it is seen that there is provided opposed support members 57 which may have their lower portions 58 anchored in place in any suitable manner as for example such lower portion 58 may be embedded in concrete or the like, and the upper portions of the support members 57 are adapted to be provided with rectangular openings 59 which receive therein rectangular shanks 61 on the ends of stationary cores 60. Rollers 62 are rotatably mounted on the cores 60, and the construction of the stop mechanism 56 is such that the rollers 62 can only rotate in one direction. The rollers 62 are adapted to be provided with small openings 63 whereby oil can be introduced into the openings 63 in order to provide lubrication for the rotating rollers or drums 62, and outer portions of the core may be cut away as at 64 so as to help minimize friction between the rollers 62 and cores 60. As shown in the drawings a plurality of the rollers are arranged in spaced parallel relation with respect to each other for each of the mechanisms 56, and each of the rollers 62 is adapted to be mounted on a corresponding core 60. Portions of the cores 60 are cut away as at 65 so as to define or provide cam surfaces which are adapted to coact with movable cam pieces 66.

Referring to FIGURE 8 of the drawings the numeral 42' indicates a modified spacer unit which is adapted to be used in lieu of a spacer unit such as the spacer unit 42, and in FIGURE 8 the spacer unit 42' includes arcuate portions 43 that are adapted to straddle or surround portions of the elements or units 26, and there is provided flanges 44' on the outer ends of the spacer unit 42, and

the flanges 44 serve the same purpose as the previously described flanges 44. The spacer unit 42 [also includes overlapping portions "49' which are adjustably connected together, so that the portions 43 can be moved towards or away from each other in order to permit the spacer to be adjusted to accommodate or fit barriers of different spaced intervals, and a spike such as the spike 51 is adapted to be extended through registering apertures in the portions 49' of the spacer unit 42.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that there has been provided a safety structure which is especially suitable for use on highways, roads, or the like, and in use with the parts arranged as shown in the drawings, it will be seen that the barriers 25 can be used for preventing vehicles traveling in one direction from crossing over the medial or intermediate portion of the road and striking vehicles traveling in the opposite direction so that for example the two lanes 30 and 31 will be maintained separated in order to permit the road to be user with greater safety. It is to be noted that with the parts arranged as shown in the drawings the barriers 25 will help prevent vehicles from accidentally going from one lane to the other since if a vehicle goes too far towards the center of the road, the vehicle bumper will strike or encounter or engage the barrier such as the barrier 25 in order to help prevent the vehicle from accidentally crossing over into the wrong lane with the oppositely traveling tr-affic. If the barrier is struck with too much force by the vehicle, one of the front wheels of the vehicle may jump the barrier and be received in the trough defined between the pair of body members 52 so that this construction will help prevent the entire vehicle from moving over into the wrong lane. When such a front wheel is received in the trough between the guard assemblies 52, the vehicle must be moved forward or backward until the open spaces 29 are reached in order to permit the wheels to move clear or free of the barriers. In the drawings the numeral 57 illustrates schematically vehicles which are traveling along a highway or the like, and such vehicles 67 include the usual front wheels 68 as well as the rear wheels 69.

The barriers 25 include the pipes or units 26 which are held in place as for example by means of the clamps 35 as well as by the spacers 42 or 42', and these barriers have a configuration or contour to conform to the configuration of the road 26) on which they are being used so that it will be seen that a pair of the barriers 25 are adapted to be used cooperatively, and these barriers are adapted to include a straight section 27 as well 'as a curved section 28, and these sections are adapted to conform in configuration to the straight portion 21 and curved portion 22 of a road 20. It is to be understood that any number of the barriers can be used as desired or required, and the barriers have their ends spaced from each other as at 29, and this spacing 29 provides a means whereby any water such as rain water which has a tendency to collect in the trough between the guard assemblies 52 can drain out through the spaces or openings 29, and in addition the spacers 29 permit a means whereby when a vehicle front wheel is caught between the barriers 25, the vehicle may be moved along the road until a space 29 is reached in order to permit the vehicle wheel to move free of the barriers so as to permit the vehicle to continue on its journey.

As shown in FIGURE 2, there is also provided a means for preventing a vehicle from entering certain areas or locations and this means comprises the rotary rollers 62 which can only rotate in one direction on the stationary cores 60. Thus, as shown in FIGURE 2 in the event that a vehicle that is entering the road through the entrance 24 inadvertently fails to make a turn and approaches the dead end 32, it will be seen that the vehicle will come in engagement with the stop mechanism 56 adjacent the dead end 32 and when the rear wheels which provide the traction engage the rollers 62, the rollers 62 will spin so as to prevent the vehicle from moving forward ofi of the dead end 32. Even though the vehicle cannot continue in a forward direction, nevertheless by reversing the power supplied to the rear wheels 69 of the vehicle, the vehicle can be backed off of the mechanism 56 since when reversing of the wheels 69 takes place, the earns 66 will be caused to wedge or lock conjunctively with the cam surfaces 65 so that the rollers 62 will not spin or rotate when the vehicle is being backed off whereby the vehicle can be backed oif of the mechanism 56 and driven along the road 20 in the proper manner.

Such a vehicle stop mechanism 56 can be used in other areas and for example it can be used to provide a vehicle such as the vehicle 67 from entering a dead end area 33, and it also can be used for preventing a vehicle from inadvertently or accidentally entering through the exit area 23 of the road surface.

The parts can be made of any suitable material and in different shapes or sizes.

Although the invention herein described is fully capable of achieving the objects and providing the advantages hereinbefo-re mentioned, it is to be understood that it is merely illustrative of the presently preferred embodiment of the invention and that it is not to be limited to the details of construction herein described other than as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a tnafiic safety structure, for a road surface and wherein the road surface includes a straight portion and a curved portion, a pair of spaced parallel barriers on the intermediate portion of said road surface, each of said barriers of said pair of barriers including a tubular member, an elongated guard assembly adjacent to and on the side of each of said tubular members contiguous to the other barrier of said pair of barriers, each of said guard assemblies including a vertically disposed wall portion abutting the adjacent tubular member and having the upper end thereof extending :above said tubular member, an inclined wall section extending downwardly from the upper end of said vertical wall portion and partially overlying said tubular member, and clamps and spacer units operatively connected to said pairs of barriers, said pairs of barriers coacting to define a trough adapted to receive therein a wheel of a vehicle which jumps one barrier of said pair of barriers, there being offset staggered spaces between adjacent pairs of barriers.

2. In a traffic safety structure for a road surface and wherein the road surface includes a straight portion and a curved portion, a pair of spaced parallel barriers on the intermediate portion of said road surface, each of said barriers of said pair of barriers including a tubular member, an elongated guard assembly adjacent to and on the side of each of said tubular members contiguous to the other barrier of said pair of barriers, each of said guard assemblies including a vertically disposed wall portion abutting the adjacent tubular member and having the upper end thereof extending above said tubular member, an inclined wall section extending downwardly from the upper end of said vertical wall portion and partially overlying said tubular member, and clamps and spacer units operatively connected to said pairs of barriers, said pairs of barriers coacting to define a trough adapted to receive therein a wheel of a vehicle which jumps one barrier of said pair of barriers, there being offset staggered spaces between adjacent pairs of barriers, and stop mechanisms for preventing vehicles from entering certain areas or zones.

3. The structure as defined in claim 2 wherein said stop mechanism comprises stationary cores, rollers rotatably supported on said cores and adapted to rotate in one direction only, and cam means for permitting the rollers to turn in one direction only.

4. A vehicle safety structure for a road surface that includes straight portions, curved portions, entrance and exit portions, and dead end portions; said safety structure comprising a pair of spaced parallel barriers arranged above said road surface, there being oifset staggered spacers between adjacent ends of said barriers, each of said barriers including a tubular unit having straight sections and curved sections to conform to the configuration to the straight portions and curved portions of the road surface, horizontally disposed plates embedded in said road surface, clamps arranged above certain of said plates and said clamps including arcuate sections straddling said tubular units and said clamps further including horizontally disposed flanges, securing elements extending through said flanges and plates, spacer units each including arcuate portions straddling portions of said tubular units, each spacer unit including an intermediate portion having an aperture therein, a spike-like securing member extending through said aperture into engagement with the road surface, each barrier including a tubular member, an elongated guard assembly adjacent to and on the side of each of said tubular members contiguous to the other barrier of said pair of barriers, each of said guard assemblies including a vertically disposed wall portion abutting the adjacent tubular member and having the upper end thereof extending above said tubular member, and an inclined wall section extending downwardly from the upper end of said wall portion and partially overlying said tubular member, and a traflic stop mechanism contiguous to the entrance and exit and dead end portions, said tr-aflic stop mechanism comprising support members, stationary cores having shanks on their ends connected to said support members, :a plurality of spaced parallel rollers mounted on said cores and mounted for rotation in one direction only, and cam means for permitting the rollers to turn in one direction only on said cores.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,940,994 Callaghan Dec. 26, 1933 1,969,845 Hick Aug. 14, 1934 2,927,513 Dove Mar. 8, 1960 OTHER REFERENCES Roads & Streets, November 1950, pp. 48, 49.

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