WO1998033985A1

WO1998033985A1 - Road barrier device

Info

Publication number: WO1998033985A1
Application number: PCT/BE1997/000103
Authority: WO
Inventors: Clement Schiettecatte
Original assignee: Kredietbank
Priority date: 1997-02-03
Filing date: 1997-09-11
Publication date: 1998-08-06
Also published as: EP0897434A1

Abstract

This invention relates to a road barrier device (1) comprising at least one crush barrier (2), whereby said device further comprises at least one inflatable cushion (2), which cushion is provided for containing a gas under over pressure and for mounting in longitudinal direction of said cushion, against said crush barrier. The cushion is preferably divided in two or more compartments by means of a partition wall (4) that is substantially parallel with the bottom of the cushion. The invention also relates to a crash barrier device, comprising an inflatable cushion, which is divided in at least two compartments. The bottom compartment is provided for containing a liquid. The upper compartment contains a gas under an over pressure.

Description

Road barrier device.

The present invention relates to a road barrier device comprising at least one crush barrier.

It is known from the art to arrange crush barriers along the sides of, for example, a road, a sports track or a sports field, in order to temporarily demarcate said road, sports track or sports field from its environment. Such a temporary demarcation is mostly destinated for preventing access to part of a road or one of the driving ianes of a road. The temporary demarcation is usually arranged along the sides of a sports track in case of a sports competition, to delimit the sports track from its environment and prevent public watching the competition, from entering the track.

The known crush barriers mostly comprise a plurality of individual metal barriers that are arranged along the sides of the track, one next to the other. Thereby, adjacent crush barriers are mostly connected to each other, in order to provide a continuous barrier. At the time they are not in use, the individual metal barriers are mostly stored in a central storage place. When a temporary demarcation has to be constructed, the required number of individual metal barriers is transported to the place where the demarcation has to be constructed. The barriers are positioned one beside the other, until a demarcation of the desired length is obtained. After the presence of the demarcation is no longer necessary, the crush barriers are disconnected from each other, the individual barriers are removed and transported back to the storage place.

The known crush barriers however have the disadvantage that their shock absorbing properties are rather limited. The known crush barriers are rather hard and stiff. As a consequence, a person who collides against the metal barrier, after having been moving with some speed, will often get hurt and can get seriously injured. it is the aim of the present invention to provide a road barrier device, which is suitable for arrangement on or along public roads, sport fields etc. on a temporary basis, and which is at the same time capable of absorbing and dissipating the energy of a colliding person, for example a runner, cyclist or the like.

This is achieved according to the present invention in that the road barrier device comprises at least one inflatable cushion which is provided for containing a gas under over pressure, and for mounting in longitudinal direction of the cushion, against said crush barrier.

When a road barrier device of the present invention is constructed, the required number of crush barriers and cushions for obtaining a road barrier device of the desired length, is transported to the place where the road barrier is to be constructed. Thereby, the crush barriers and the cushions can be transported either simultaneously or separately. Thereby also, the cushions can be transported either in the inflated or the non-inflated state. Usually, the crush barriers are positioned first. These crush barriers function as support means, and can be set up without the necessity of being fixed to the road or the sports field. Thereafter, the cushions are mounted to the support means, either in the inflated or the non-inflated state. In the latter case, the cushion is inflated after mounting to the crush barrier.

Because in its non-inflated state, the volume of the cushion is seriously reduced, its transport and handling are facilitated. As a consequence, only one or a few people are needed for building the road barrier device of this invention. Also, the time needed for building up and removing the road barrier device according to the present invention is short. This allows to limit the time the normal traffic is perturbed during the building or removal of the road barrier device. Upon collision of a person or an object with the road barrier device of this invention, the collision energy is absorbed by the cushion. Namely, with the cushion in the inflated state, upon collision, in the region of the cushion where the collision took place, the cushion is impressed. The cushion thus responds to the collision, which results in an initial local pressure increase in the cushion. Thereafter, the local pressure increase is spread out over part of or the entire cushion, which results in a slight overall increase of the pressure in part of or the entire cushion, and a restoration of the initial local pressure increase. In that way, the collision energy is dissipated over part of, or the entire cushion. When the colliding person, then stands up and leaves the cushion, the cushion is no longer impressed and the initial pressure is restored.

The road barrier device of the present invention is thus not only capable of functioning as a temporary demarcation, but also offers the possibility of absorbing the energy upon collision, and dissipating this energy over at least part of the cushion.

The known metal crush barriers on the other hand, only function as a demarcation. The primary and most important function of the known crush barriers is a marking of bounds, and they meet this requirement. The known crush barriers are however not meant to absorb the energy of colliding items. Although they may be capable of absorbing the energy of a person who collides with the barrier device, they are not suited thereto. Because the known crush barriers are hard and stiff, they cannot and do not respond to the collision. As a consequence, the colliding person often gets hurt and/or seriously injured. The known metal barrier device does not offer the possibility of absorbing the energy of a colliding person, and dissipate the absorbed energy over the barrier device in such a way that the colliding person is prevented from being hurt and injured upon impact. The road barrier device of the present invention on the other hand, allows to avoid a direct contact between the colliding person or object and the crush barrier device.

It is thus not obvious for the man skilled in the art to attach an inflatable cushion to a crush barrier so as to obtain a road bamer device for temporarily marking the bounds of a road or a track, and to obtain in that way a device with good energy absorbing and dissipating properties, and is simple and quickly moveable.

In the device of the present invention, the cushion preferably comprises a partition wall that is substantially parallel with the bottom wall for dividing said cushion into at least two compartments, so as to ensure that the cushion, in the inflated state, maintains its shape. At least one of the compartments is provided to be filled with a gas. By inflating either only one, or all of the compartments, the height of the cushion can be adapted as required, e.g. to the height of the crush barrier. The cushion preferably comprises communicating compartments. This allows the gas to spread evenly over the entire cushion in case the pressure is locally increased in one of the compartments. In that way it is possible to improve the shock absorbing properties of the cushion, by avoiding a too large over pressures in one or more of the compartments upon impact, and to prevent the cushion from tearing apart.

Preferably, at least one of the compartments contains a gas under an over pressure, between about 350 and 1200 Pascal, preferably between about 400 and 750 Pascal. In that way a road barrier device can be obtained, with optimal energy absorbing and dissipating properties, which, upon impact, behaves as a soft surface with a limited elasticity. The over pressure is sufficiently high to prevent a colliding person or object from contacting the crush barrier to which the cushion is attached, and thus from being hurt and/or injured. The pressure is sufficiently low to allow, in case of a local increase of the pressure after an impact, the gas in the cushion to spread, which makes the cushion feel soft. A cushion containing a gas under a higher over pressure, will appear to be much harder and behave more like a wall. Also, it may involve a risk to rebound of the colliding item. Because, according to the invention, the over pressure is rather low, the impacting person or object is prevented from being rebound, and thus from being thrown back into the traffic or the sports track and being injured in that way. The cushion further preferably comprises at least one over pressure valve to ensure that, in case the over pressure in the cushion rises above a specific value, gas is released either from the compartment involved or from the entire cushion. In that way, the shock absorbing properties of the road barrier device of the present invention can be further improved, and the cushion is prevented from tearing apart.

According to the invention, the cushion is preferably provided with means for removably attaching the cushion to the crush barrier. The self supporting crush barriers most often define the sides of a road or the track of a sports field. Thereby usually, the track is situated on one side of the crush barrier, while the public can watch the track from the other side of the crush barrier. By providing the cushion with means for removable attaching it to such a crush barrier, the cushion can be used and moved separate from the crush barrier, thus rendering the cushion and the road barrier device much more versatile. The cushion can be moved, used and re-used several times at different sites, independent of the crush barrier, in that way a simultaneous move of the cushion bamer is not necessary, nor is it necessary to always use the same type of crush barriers.

According to the invention, preferably at least one of the longitudinal side walls of the cushion is divided into discontinuous sections, in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the bottom wall of the cushion. Such a divided wall can behave like a harmonica wall, containing zigzag folds. The zigzag folds can be folded, in case the barrier device with the cushion is arranged along a straight road. The zigzag folds can also stand open. In that way, the side wall containing the folds is capable of covering a larger length than the wall which does not contain such folds. Such cushions will mostly be used along curved roads, whereby the side wall with the folds is positioned along that side of the curve with the longest length.

Furthermore, the front side of the cushion can be provided with means for removable attaching a banner. This allows to vary the appearance of the cushion by only varying the banner. In that way, the boarding according to the invention can simultaneously be used for safety and publicity purposes. Thereby, the publicity can be varied without thereby involving the need to use another cushion. One and the same cushion can be decorated with various show bills or banners.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the cushion is preferably made of a woven material with a specific weight between 200 and 1000 g/m². This allows to obtain a rather large cushion, which has in the non-inflated state, a relatively low weight. Such a cushion is easy to handle, and can be mounted to the crush barrier and inflated by one or a few persons only, without the necessity of using dedicated machines. Materials with a gravity of below 200 g/m² have a low tear strength, and tend to tear easily upon contact with a sharp object. Materials with a gravity above 1000 g/m² become rather heavy, rendering the cushion awkward to handle.

Preferably, the cushion is made of a polyester, with a poiyvinyl chloride coating. Due to the presence of such a coating, the strength, tear strength and flame resistance of the cushion can be increased. Such a material moreover shows a good colour stability.

The present invention also relates to an inflatable cushion for use with the road barrier device as described above.

The present invention also relates to a crash barrier device for building a partition wall so as to temporarily divide a road into separate driving lanes, and to prevent access to part of a road.

Such crash barriers are often used for providing a temporary separation wall for separating traffic, driving on a first lane in a first direction, from traffic driving on the adjacent lane in opposite direction. Such crash barriers are often used on highways, in case of road repair activities, when for example one side of the highway is being repaired and all traffic has to drive on the other side of the highway. In that case, the other side of the highway is divided in two or more driving lanes, whereby traffic moving in opposite directions, is separated by crash barriers.

The known crash barriers comprise metal crash barriers that are arranged along the sides of a road on a permanent basis. Such crash barriers are fixed into the soil. Their construction is rather time consuming, and involves a non negligible transport problem. As a consequence, the crash barriers need to be constructed well before the time they are needed, so that the time during which the normal traffic is perturbated is rather long. It is also known to use straw bales or automobile tires for building such a temporary separation wall. These means however occupy a huge amount of space, straw bales are sensitive to the weather circumstances, and are therefore not suited for use on a public road.

It is finally known to use a plurality of containers in rigid plastic. The containers are divided in at least two compartments. The bottom compartment is filled with water, so as to increase the weight of the container and render it more sturdy. In order to obtain a partition wall of a longer length so as to block a road over a longer distance, for example several kilometres, a large number of such traffic dividers have to be arranged side by side. Thereto, a large number of containers has to be transported by truck, and unloaded one by one, and lined up along the road one next to the other. The containers have to be filled with water one by one. Because a large number of containers are needed, the transport and the lining up of the known traffic dividers is time consuming and may take several days, which may cause a serious perturbation of the traffic. When the crash barrier is no longer needed, the containers have to be emptied one by one, and loaded onto the truck one by one. This is rather time consuming and often takes several days to even a week. Also, upon storage, the containers occupy a huge amount of space. Also,

It is the aim of the present invention to provide a crash barrier device which is suited for temporarily disposition on a public road, which can be quickly set up and removed, and at the same time shows good energy absorbing properties.

This is achieved according to the invention with the measures described in the characterising part of claim 12. The cushion can be moved either in the inflated or the non inflated state, thus rendering it easily moveable. Because the time needed for inflating the cushion is rather short and takes only a few minutes, depending on the size of the cushion and the capacity of the means for inflating the cushion, the crash barrier according to the invention can be mounted in a short period of time. Also, the supply of liquid, preferably water can be done easily, in a short period of time.

Upon collision of a vehicle with the cushion, the cushion is impressed, and the gas pressure in the cushion is locally increased. In that way, the collision energy is absorbed. Thereafter, the local pressure increase is distributed uniformly over the gas containing compartment, thus dissipating the collision energy over the cushion. The presence of the liquid filled bottom compartment renders the cushion sufficiently cumbersome, so as to hinder the moveability of the crash barrier.

The crash barrier device of this invention has the advantage that it can be removed in a short period of time, thus allowing to limit the time during which the normal traffic is perturbed. Only one compartment has to be emptied of water. After the cushion has been emptied of gas, it can be folded and moved in the non-inflated state. In that way, the time the normal traffic is perturbed, can be limited, thus allowing to limit the occurrence of traffic jams.

In order to obtain a crash barrier of the desired length, a plurality of cushions can be disposed lengthways along the road, one beside the other, until a demarcation of the desired length is obtained. The shape and length of the cushions according to the present invention can be varied, depending on the circumstances in which the cushion is to be used. Along a straight road, cushions of a larger length, e.g. cushions with a length of 10 meter to a couple of hundred meters can be used. Along a roundabout, cushions of a shorter length can be used.

The cushion is preferably made of a material with a striking colour, so as to improve its visibility.

Other embodiments of the invention are elucidated in the following description, figures, and description of the figures.

Figure 1 and 2 respectively show a view of the front and the back side of the road barrier device of the invention.

Figure 3 shows a cross section of the cushion according to the invention. Figure 4 shows in perspective, a cushion according to the invention applied in a curved road. Figure 5 shows a crash barrier of the present invention.

The road barrier device 1 shown in figure 1 and 2 comprises an inflatable cushion 2, which is removably attached to a crush barrier 3. 5 The crush barrier can for example be a metal guarding rail, a wooden fence, or a brick wall.

Such road barrier devices are often meant for use along the sides of a road or the track of a sport s field. Thereby, the cushion 2 is applied at the side of the guarding rail facing the sports track. The public has access to o the other side of the guarding rail.

The cushion shown in figure 1 and 2 comprises a front wall 7, a rear wall 8, two side walls 9, a top wall 5 and a bottom wall 6. The walls are connected to each other along the seams 24. The cushion further comprises at least one partition wall 4, for dividing the cushion into at least two 5 compartments 14, 15 16, 17, 18. The partition wall 4 is substantially parallel to the bottom 6 of the cushion. The compartments 14-18 are preferably substantially parallel in horizontal direction. The partition wall 4 ensures that the cushion 2 in the inflated state, maintains its shape.

As is shown in figure 3, the partition wall 4 comprises 0 preferably also holes 20 for allowing air to move from the one compartment to the other, so as to provide communicating compartments. The sides of the partition wall 4 can be connected over their entire length, or only over part of their length to the side walls 9 and the front and rear wall 7, 8 of the cushion, so as to provide communicating compartments. The presence of communicating compartments 5 allows to obtain a uniform pressure over the entire cushion 2, in all compartments

14-18. The presence of communicating compartments also allows to maintain a uniform pressure in all compartments, even after a local pressure increase following collision, and to improve the shock absorbing properties of the cushion 2. 0 The cushion 2 preferably contains a gas under an over pressure, preferably between an over pressure of about 350 - 1200 Pascal, more preferred 400 - 750 Pascal. In general, the applied over pressure will be adapted to the circumstances wherein the road barrier device is used.

The above mentioned over pressures allow to obtain an 5 energy absorbing boarding that reacts as a soft surface with a limited elasticity. A cushion in which the gas pressure is higher, will appear to be much harder, and behave like a wall. Also, because the over pressure is not too high, the risk for the colliding person or object to be rebound, and thus from being thrown back into the traffic or the sports track and being injured in that way, can be avoided. On the other hand, the over pressure is sufficiently high, so that the cushion 2 constitutes an additional barrier which prevents the colliding person or object from contacting the crush barrier, and thus from being injured in that way.

Whether only one, a few, or all compartments 14-18 of the cushion 2 are inflated, depends on the circumstances wherein the cushion 2 is to be used. In case the side of the cushion 2 that is attached to the crush barrier 3, and the crush barrier 3 have approximately the same height, usually all compartments 14-18 will be inflated. In case a cushion 2 with a limited height suffices, only a few of the compartments 14-18 need be inflated.

As is shown in figure 2, the cushion 1 is preferably connected to a gas supply unit 14 for supplying gas to the interior of the cushion 2. The gas supply unit can either be mounted in or apart from the cushion 2. The gas supply unit 14 is a unit well known to the man skilled in the art, for example a pump, a blower or a compressor. The gas supply unit 14 can be chosen in such a way that a predetermined over pressure is maintained in the cushion 2. Thereto, the gas supply unit 14 is preferably coupled to a pressure gauge for monitoring the gas pressure in the cushion 2.

The cushion 2 is preferably provided with an over pressure valve 22, so as to allow gas to be blown out of the cushion 2 in case the pressure in the cushion 2 becomes higher than a predetermined value. Such an increased pressure can for example occur after collision of a person or an object with the cushion 2. Depending on the dimensions of the cushion 2, and the circumstances in which the cushion is to be used, only one or a plurality of over pressure valves 22 can be provided.

According to the invention, preferably air is used as the gas for inflating the cushion. Air is a cheap gas, which is always present in the surrounding air, so that an additional transport of gas containers can be avoided.

Other gases, such as for example nitrogen and inert gases, for example helium or argon, can also be used.

The cushion according to the invention is substantially elongated. The cushion can have different shapes, it can for example be substantially beam shaped, or have a rounded top wall and/or side walls. The bottom wall can for example have a smaller or a larger depth than the top wall. As can be seen from figure 2, the cushion comprises at its rear side 8, preferably means 10 for removably attaching the cushion 2 to the crush barrier 3. These means 10 can for example comprise simple ribbons, or straps, or belts with a buckle etc.. The attaching means 10 can also be applied to the bottom 6, or only to the bottom 6 of the cushion 2. In that way, the cushion must not be used in combination with a specific crush barrier, but can be attached to several types of crush barriers 3. Also, the cushion 2 can be moved separate from the crush barrier 3, thus facilitating the transport of the cushion 2 and the road barrier device 1. The cushion 2 preferably comprises means for attaching two or more cushions 2 to each other. These means can be applied to any of the side walls 9, the bottom 6, top 5, front 7 or rear wall 8 of the cushion 2. In that way it is possible to obtain a continuous barrier of a larger length. As is shown in figures 1 and 2, the point where two cushions 2 are attached to each other, can be hidden by means of a flap 12.

The cushion 2 further preferably comprises means for removably attaching a banner 13 to the front side 7 of the cushion 2. Such a banner 13 can for example be a banner for commercial publicity purposes. By using a plurality of such banners 13 side to side, it is possible to obtain a large eye-catching wall of similar posters. Because the banner 13 is removably attachable, the advertising can be altered without necessitating to change the cushion 2.

As can be seen from figure 4, preferably at least one of the longitudinal walls, either the front wall 7 or the rear wall 8, are divided into discontinuous sections 19. In that way the cushion 2 is divided into a number of parallel blocks, of which the internal volumes may be connected to each other or not. The wall with the discontinuous sections can for example take the shape of a harmonica-like wall, containing zigzag folds 23. The zigzag folds 23 can remain closed, in that case both longitudinal walls 7, 8 have the same length. If the cushion 2 is applied along a curved road, the wall with the zigzag folds 23 is capable of covering the larger distance of the outer side of the curve, because the zigzag folds 23 can stand open.

The rear wall 8 of the cushion 2 can be provided with one or more left outs so that space is created for a person to take place in the cushion 2. Such a person is on the other side protected by the crush barrier 3 and is prevented from entering the track. A similar result can be obtained by leaving some space between adjacent cushions 2, and closing off this space by means of a banner 13 or a flap 12.

The cushion is preferably made of a woven material with a gravity between 200 and 700 g/m², preferably between 220 and 450 g/m². A cushion made of a material with a gravity of 250 g/m², with dimensions (k x h x d) of 10 m x 1 m x 0,5 m and one partition wall only has a weight of 7,75 kg and can easily be handled by one single person.

The cushion 2 can be made of various woven materials. The woven material is preferably a plastic, for example a polyester, polyamide, polyacrylate or a polyacrylamide. The cushion 2 is preferably fabricated of a woven plastic, preferably a polyester coated with a polyvinyl chloride coating. Due to the use of woven materials, gas often leaks from the internal volume of the cushion 2 to the outside. Also, the use of a woven material allows that, upon an increase of the pressure in the cushion for example following a collision, gas can leave the cushion 2 through the material.

The banner 13 is preferably fabricated of the same material as the cushion 2, but can be made of another material. The banner 13 is preferably fabricated of a re-useable material.

The polyvinyl chloride coated polyester has a good colour resistance, can be re-used several times and can be cleaned with water or cleaners several times after use. A banner made of such a material does not show a discoloration, or does not fall apart upon contact with water, moisture or mud, as is often the case in cycling competitions that take place on the public road or in the fields. Upon mounting the road barrier device 1 according to the invention, the crush barriers 3 will mostly be installed first. Thereafter, a number of cushions 2, sufficient for covering the required length of crush barriers 3, is attached to the crush barriers 3. Thereby, one cushion 2 can be attached to one crush barrier 3, or one cushion 2 can be attached to a plurality of adjacent crush barriers 3. The cushions 2 are preferably attached to the crush barriers 3 in their non inflated state, to facilitate their handling. They can however be attached in the inflated state. The cushions 2 are attached to the crush barrier 3 via the attaching means 10 applied on the rear 8 and/or bottom side 6. Thereafter, the cushions 2 are inflated by means of the gas supply unit 14. The pressure is monitored by the pressure gauge. After the road barrier device 1 has been installed, the pressure gauge connected to the gas supply unit 14 ensures that a predetermined over pressure is maintained in the cushion 2. This can be obtained by supplying additional gas to the cushion when the gas pressure becomes too low, because air leaks from the seams and/or the material of the cushion, or in case the pressure becomes too high following blowing off of gas via the over pressure valve 22 and/or the air suction unit 14.

When a person or an object collides against the crush barrier 1 , the cushion 2 is impressed at the location where the collision occurred. In the compartment(s) against which the collision took place, the pressure is increased, and the material of which the cushion 2 is made, is stretched. In that way the collision energy is absorbed by the cushion. In case the compartments

14-18 are communicating compartments, the local pressure increase will be spread over all compartments. As a result, a uniform pressure is obtained over the entire cushion 2, thus dissipating the collision energy over the entire cushion 2. In case the pressure in the cushion 2 becomes too high, the over pressure valves 22 will open and gas is blown off until the required over pressure is obtained.

Because the over pressure in the cushion is not too high, the cushion can stand the pressure increase, without involving a tearing of the material or the cushion along the seams. Because the over pressure in the cushion 2 is not too high, also the cushion 2 will upon collision show an elastic, soft surface, with approximately no rebound and allow resilient behaviour of the cushion.

When the person is no longer in contact with the cushion 2, the original pressure is restored by supplying additional gas to the cushion via the gas supply unit 14, and the cushion 2 and road barrier device 1 can be re- used.

The presence of such a cushion 2 provides a thicker barrier, which is much more difficult to cross, to avoid a direct contact between the person or the object and the crush barrier 3 and to avoid that a colliding person gets injured. The road barrier device of this invention provides the possibility of combining a separation function of the barrier with an energy absorption and dissipating property. Moreover, the presence of such an inflated cushion 2 provides an additional barrier and consequently an additional protection for the public or objects that are located behind the crush barrier.

In figure 5, a crash barrier device is shown, which is suited for e.g. dividing a road into separate driving lanes. Such crash barriers are often used in case road repair activities are carried out on e.g. one side of a highway. In that case, the other side of the highway is divided into two or more driving lanes. Thereby, traffic is moving in opposite directions on adjacent driving lanes. The crash barriers are in such a case destinated for separating traffic driving on a first driving lane, from traffic driving on the adjacent driving lane in an opposite direction, and for preventing collisions between traffic driving in opposite directions.

The crash barrier device shown in figure 5 comprises a cushion 2, which is divided in at least two compartments 25-26 by means of a partion wall 27. The compartments comprise an upper compartment 25 and a lower compartment 26. The front, top and rear side are preferably formed from one large piece of woven cloth that is connected to the bottom wall via the seams 24. The partition wall 27 is connected to the seams 24 via its sides. The crash barrier device can also have other shapes, for example the shape of the above described cushion 2. The upper compartment 25 is provided for containing a gas under an over pressure of preferably between 350 - 1200 Pascal, more preferred 400 - 750 Pascal. Thereto, the crash barrier device is connected to a gas supply unit. The gas supply unit can be further connected to a pressure gauge as described above for the road barrier device, so as to maintain an approximately constant pressure. Preferably, air is used as a gas, but other gasses, for example nitrogen or inert gases, for example helium or argon, can also be used.

The bottom compartment 26 is provided for containing a liquid, preferably water, so as to increase the weight and thus the stability of the crash barrier device, and to avoid that it is moved too easily upon a collision.

Thereto the bottom compartment 26 comprises a liquid inlet, and an outlet so as to allow the liquid to be removed from the crash barrier, when it is demounted or needs to be replaced.

The bottom compartment 26 will most often have a smaller volume than the upper compartment 25.

In order to increase its visibility, the crash barrier device is preferably made in a striking colour, for example a fluorescent colour. The traffic dividing device can have a large of ten to a few hundred meters. For example, the traffic device according to the present invention can have a length of 20 - 50 meter, a height of 60 cm, a width of 75 cm.

Notwithstanding its large dimensions, the upper compartment 25 can be inflated in a short period of time, e.g. a few minutes to half an hour. The lower compartment is preferably at least partially filled with a liquid, so as to concentrate the weight of the traffic divider at its bottom and increase its stability. When the crash barrier dividing device is crashed upon collision of a vehicle, it can be replaced in a short period of time, by letting the gas escape from the cushion, and removing the liquid from the bottom compartment 26 of the cushion.

The crash barrier device is in essence similar to the cushion 2 described above, except from the fact that the crash barrier device is preferably alone standing, and needs not be attached to a crush barrier.

Cushions destined for use as crash barrier device will preferably be made in a material with a higher density so as to increase their strength, e.g. a density of 800 - 1000 g/m².

Preferably, the depth of the crash barrier device is at least 75% of its height, so as to improve its stability.

Claims

CLAIMS.

1. A road barrier device comprising at least one crush barrier, characterised in that said device further comprises at least one inflatable cushion which cushion is provided for containing a gas under over pressure and for mounting in longitudinal direction of said cushion, against said crush barrier.

2. A road barrier device as claimed in claim 1 , characterised in that said cushion comprises an inner space and a bottom wall, which inner space is provided with at least one partition wall for dividing said inner space into at least two compartments, which partition wall is substantially parallel with said bottom wall, whereby at least one of said compartments is provided to be filled with a gas.

3. A road barrier device as claimed in claim 2, characterised in that said compartments are communicating compartments.

4. A road barrier device as claimed in any one of claims 2 or 3, characterised in that at least one of said compartments contains a gas under an over pressure of 350 to 1200 Pascal, preferably, 400 to 750 Pascal.

5. A road barrier device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that said cushion comprises at least one over pressure valve.

6. A road barrier device as claimed in any one of claims 1 or 5, characterised in that said cushion comprises means for removably attaching said cushion to said crush barrier.

7. A road barrier device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that said cushion comprises in longitudinal direction of the cushion at least one wall which is divided into discontinuous sections in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the bottom wall of the cushion, so as to be capable of covering a larger length.

8. A road barrier device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that said cushion comprises a back wall for mounting said cushion against said crush barrier and a front wall opposite said back wall, said front wall comprising means for removably attaching a banner.

9. A road barrier device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, characterised in that said cushion is made of a woven material with a density between 200 and 1000 g/m².

10. A road barrier device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9, characterised in that said cushion is made of a polyester coated with a polyvinyl chloride coating.

11. A cushion for use in a road barrier device as claimed in any one of claims 1-10.

12. A crash barrier device for dividing a road into driving lanes, characterised in that said crash barrier device comprises at least one inflatable cushion as claimed in claim 11 , which cushion comprises an inner space, a bottom wall and a partition wall, which partition wall is substantially parallel with said bottom wall, for dividing said inner space into at least two compartments, whereby a first one of said compartments is situated adjacent to said bottom wall, and said first compartment is provided to be filled with a liquid.

13. A crash bamer device as claimed in claim 12, characterised in that said cushion has a depth, length and height, whereby said depth of said cushion is at least 75% of said height.

14. A crash barrier device as claimed in claim 12 or 13, characterised in that the cushion is made of a woven material with a density of

800-1000g/m².