WO2020208282A1

WO2020208282A1 - Device for reducing vehicle speed

Info

Publication number: WO2020208282A1
Application number: PCT/ES2020/070231
Authority: WO
Inventors: Raül USTRELL I MUSSONS
Original assignee: Eminens Technology, S.L.
Priority date: 2019-04-12
Filing date: 2020-04-08
Publication date: 2020-10-15
Also published as: ES1231685U; ES1231685Y

Abstract

The device for reducing vehicle speed comprises a hinged surface (2) which is displaceable between a raised position and a lowered position, and a locking element (4) which enables the displacement of the hinged surface (2) to the lowered position, or which locks the displacement of the hinged surface (2), where said locking element (4) comprises a shaft (42) articulatedly attached to said hinged surface (2) at a first extremity, a piston (43) attached to the shaft (42) at a second extremity, a sleeve (41) wherein said piston (43) moves, said piston (43) defining within the sleeve (41) a high-pressure chamber (49) and a low-pressure chamber (48), and a cover (432) in said piston (43), said cover (432) being displaceable between a connected position and a closed position.

Description

SPEED REDUCING DEVICE FOR VEHICLES

DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to a speed reduction device for vehicles, comprising a collapsible surface that is lowered when the vehicle speed is less than a predetermined speed or is maintained in its elevated position when said speed is greater than the predetermined speed, forming an obstacle for the vehicle.

Background of the invention

At present there are different designs of speed bumps placed on public roads intended to regulate the speed of road traffic. These speed bumps modify the surface of the road by instigating drivers to slow down due to the shocks they transmit to vehicles when they pass them.

On the other hand, they have the disadvantage of continuing to cause considerable shocks in the vehicles, although they respect the speed of the road they are on, with the consequent deterioration of various vehicle components, mainly the suspension.

Document ES 1048038 U describes speed bumps that include a mechanism for reducing the speed of road traffic that varies in behavior as a function of the speed of the approaching vehicle.

These mechanisms can be designed in such a way that they are totally mechanical, in the sense that they do not need any source of electrical energy and, in addition, the folded surface is visible when the vehicle approaches, so the driver can see the folded surface and adjust speed accordingly.

The installation of this type of speed bumps is increasingly common, so there is a need to improve them, reduce their costs, simplify their mechanical complexity, as well as increase their reliability. The inventor of the present application is also the inventor of the mechanism described in document ES 2388019 A1. This document describes a mechanism for reducing the speed of road traffic on public roads that comprises a folding surface capable of reversibly moving between a first raised position and a second lowered position, where the folding surface is normally in the first raised position, so that it is visible to road traffic, and a retention means suitable to retain the collapsible surface in the raised position.

This document describes the use of a valve to block the system in case the vehicle passing the obstacle goes at a higher speed than the programmed one.

Although this mechanism fulfills its speed reduction function, an object of the present invention is to provide a speed reduction device for vehicles that provides improvements thereon.

Description of the invention

With the speed reduction device of the invention, it is possible to solve the aforementioned drawbacks, presenting other advantages that will be described below.

The speed reduction device for vehicles according to the present invention comprises:

a collapsible surface, which is movable between a raised position and a lowered position, and

a blocking element, which allows the displacement of the folding surface to the lowered position when the speed of a vehicle passing over said folding surface is less than a predetermined speed, or that blocks the displacement of the folding surface to the position lowered when the speed of a vehicle passing over said collapsible surface is less than a predetermined speed,

wherein said locking element comprises:

an axis articulated to said collapsible surface at a first end,

a plunger placed on the shaft at a second end, a liner inside which said plunger moves, said plunger inside the liner defining a high pressure chamber and a low pressure chamber, and a cap on said plunger, said cap being movable between a communication position, in the that communication between the high and low pressure chambers is allowed, and a closed position, in which the communication between the high and low pressure chambers is closed, the cover being placed in the communication position when the vehicle speed is below the predetermined speed or in the closed position when the vehicle speed is greater than the predetermined speed.

Advantageously, said cover comprises an axis, a spring being arranged around said axis which urges the cover towards its communication position.

Furthermore, said locking element advantageously comprises a return spring that biases said hinged surface towards its raised position.

The speed reduction device for vehicles according to the present invention preferably also comprises an external structure in which said folding surface is articulated, said folding surface being articulated at its rear or exit end in relation to the direction of advance of the vehicle, shown by arrow V in figure 2.

According to a preferred embodiment, said hinged surface is formed by a plurality of sheets.

Said sheets can be positioned longitudinally with respect to the direction of advance of the vehicle, or transversely alternately with respect to the direction of advance of the vehicle.

Alternatively, said sheets have a curved or partially curved upper profile with a straight portion.

Furthermore, the speed reduction device for vehicles according to the present invention also preferably comprises a grille complementary to the slats of the folding surface. The speed reduction device for vehicles according to the present invention also preferably comprises a cover provided with a cover that externally covers said hinged surface.

Furthermore, said low pressure chamber is in communication with an accumulator, which can house the fluid coming from said low pressure chamber.

The speed reducing device for vehicles according to the present invention may also comprise a casing that completely envelops the device except for the hinged surface and the cover.

Furthermore, said cap preferably has an arrow, flat or oval shape.

With the device according to the present invention, all the anchoring elements (screws, etc.) are inaccessible as they are buried under the asphalt or concrete of the public road, thanks to the envelope.

In addition, the structure can be prefabricated in concrete, cement or metal; or it can be created with cement or concrete at the time of its placement, passing the envelope and the structure to form part of the same element.

As the hinged surface is covered by a cover, preferably made of rubber or polyurethane, the device is sealed and becomes a closed and watertight assembly.

Protective elements for snow plows can be placed on the sides of the device to protect the roof and the rest of the vehicle elements that could scratch the road to clean it, such as, for example, snow plows.

The folding surface is capable of being folded down by the passage of a vehicle if the blocking element is not blocked. The folding surface is articulated by means of a hinge at the far end or exit of the passage of vehicles for two fundamental reasons: the first, because the effort to lower the locking elements is less by the law of the lever than if the articulation were in the side of the vehicle entrance, and the second because the speed transmitted to the locking element with the joint on this side is less than if it were on the opposite side.

In this way, if a vehicle passes the obstacle in the opposite direction, the speed transmitted to the blocking element will be higher than if it were in the right direction and, therefore, the obstacle constituted by the folding surface will be blocked at a lower speed, resulting in inconvenience for the vehicle that has passed it in the opposite direction.

The folding surface has the comb-shaped blades, which pass through the grate, so that when the folding surface is collapsed, there comes a moment when the blades of the comb are below the position of the grate and the wheel. of the vehicle rests directly on the grille.

Meanwhile, the collapsible surface can continue to lower, decelerating to zero speed and returning to the raised position through the action of the spring of the elastic element and without having impacted against any element to brake, thus eliminating the possibility of making any noise.

If desired, you can also add some extra shock absorber to help dissipate energy, either during the process of lowering the folding surface, during its return to the initial raised position or both.

The flip-up surface sheets may have a flat portion on the exit side of the vehicles to facilitate complete concealment of the flip-top surface earlier.

The hinged surface can be manufactured by packing different elements.

The plunger cap is pointed or oval shaped to reduce frictional losses of the fluid as it passes through the plunger.

In case the communication between the chambers is closed, the high pressure chamber is a chamber without any outlet. The accumulator has the function of receiving the excess fluid through the entrance of the shaft in the sleeve and is in communication with the low pressure chamber.

It should be noted that a single locking element or several can be fitted in a reducing device. If several are used, for better operation (to get all the blocking elements to be blocked at the same time) the high pressure chambers of all the liners would be connected to each other.

The cover of the hinged surface is preferably made of rubber, formed, for example, with rubber or polyurethane, it can contain abrasive elements such as corundum grains, to improve the non-slip properties of the surface.

The cover can contain a chain mail, for example, made of steel, to make it difficult for sharp or sharp elements to pass through it.

The cover can also contain sheets of a resistant material, transverse to the direction of movement, to make it difficult for sharp or cutting elements to pass through it.

The cover can also contain rods of a resistant material, transverse to the direction of movement, to avoid deformation of the cover between the sheets of the hinged surface.

The cover is attached to a frame of the cover by adherence and by a sewing system through holes made in the frame through which the cover passes.

The speed reduction device for vehicles according to the present invention may also comprise at least one side guard, for example for snow plows. Preferably, there will be a side shield on each side of the hinged surface.

According to a preferred embodiment, in the speed reduction device for vehicles according to the present invention, said sleeve comprises a communication tube, which communicates the low pressure chamber with the high pressure chamber when the plunger is at a height determined. If desired, the plunger may comprise a floating cap, which when the plunger goes down allows the passage of fluid and when the plunger rises limits the passage of fluid.

According to a possible embodiment, the blocking element comprises a second jacket, provided with first and second chambers separated from each other by a separation wall provided with holes, the lid opening and closing the holes in said separation wall, and the first chamber being in communication with the low pressure chamber and the second chamber with the high pressure chamber.

Furthermore, the accumulator may comprise a floating piston separating an oil chamber and an air or gas chamber.

Brief description of the drawings

For a better understanding of what has been stated, some drawings are attached in which, schematically and only as a non-limiting example, a practical case of embodiment is represented.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the speed reduction device according to the present invention used in a speed bump;

Figure 2 is a sectional elevation view of the speed reduction device according to the present invention;

Figure 3 is a sectional elevation view of the locking element of the speed reduction device according to the present invention;

Figures 4 to 6 are sectional perspective views of the speed reducing device according to the present invention according to three possible embodiments of the hinged surface; Y

Figures 7 to 10 are sectional elevation views of the locking element of the speed reduction device according to different embodiments of the present invention.

Description of preferred embodiments Figure 1 shows a speed bump comprising two speed reduction devices according to the present invention, generally identified with the reference number 10, fixed speed reducers 11 between the two reduction devices 10 of each lane and other reducers Fixed speed gauges 11 at the ends until the lane limits are reached.

Furthermore, at the ends of each reducing device 10 protectors 6 for snow plows are placed.

In figure 2 the components of the speed reduction device according to the present invention are shown in a sectional view.

This reducing device comprises an external structure 1 to which a folding surface 2 is articulated by means of a joint 22. Said folding surface 2 is preferably formed by sheets oriented longitudinally with respect to the direction of advance of the vehicle, which have a curved upper profile, such as is shown in figure 4, although it can also be formed by a plurality of sheets oriented transversely with respect to the direction of advance of the vehicle and placed alternately (figure 5), or by a plurality of sheets oriented longitudinally with respect to the direction of travel. vehicle advance with a top profile with a flat part (figure 6).

Said collapsed surface 2 tilts with respect to articulation 22 when the speed of the vehicle passing over it is less than a predetermined speed, as will be described later.

Placed below the collapsed surface 2 is a grating 3, the function of which is to support the weight of the vehicles when the collapsed surface 2 is in its collapsed position.

The tilting movement of said collapsing surface 2 is determined by a locking element 4, which comprises a sleeve 41 inside which a plunger 43 moves, defining a high pressure chamber 49 and a low pressure chamber 48, which house a fluid. Said piston 43 is attached to one end of a shaft 42, in particular to the lower end, the shaft 42 of which comprises at its opposite end, in particular the upper end, a joint 46 which is articulated with said folding surface 2.

Furthermore, the locking element 4 is hinged at its lower end to the structure 1 by means of a hinge 47.

The locking element 4 also comprises a cover 432 mounted on the plunger 43, which is movable between a communication position and a closed position. In the communication position, the high and low pressure chambers 49 and 48 are in communication with each other, while, in the closed position, the high and low pressure chambers 49 and 48 are isolated from each other. It should be noted that the high pressure chamber 49 has no outlet.

Said blocking element 4 acts as a parachute valve, which works by closing or leaving the passage of the fluid open depending on the speed at which the fluid passes through it, which is directly the piston 43 of the cylinder, simplifying the construction of the locking element 4.

Said cover 432 comprises a shaft 433, around which a spring 434 is positioned, which urges the cover towards its communication position.

Said blocking element 4 also comprises a return spring 45, which urges the folded surface 2 to its raised position, that is, to its non-folded position shown in figure 2.

Furthermore, said low pressure chamber 48 is in communication with an accumulator 44, which houses the fluid under pressure, as will be explained later.

Covering the hinged surface 2 is a cover 5, formed by a frame 51 and a cover 52, said rubber cover being said externally covering said hinged surface 2.

Furthermore, in figure 1 it can be seen that around the structure 1 and the cover 5 an asphalt, mortar, concrete or cement envelope 7 is placed, so that, once the speed reduction device of the present invention is installed in the On public roads, the only thing that can be seen sticking out of the asphalt is the rubber cover 52 and the snow thrower guards 6. All other parts of the mechanism, including the fixing screws, are buried under the asphalt or cement envelope 7.

When the wheel of a vehicle impacts against the rubber cover 52 that covers the folding surface 2, the movement is transmitted to the folding surface 2 and this to the locking elements 4 by means of the joints 23 and 46.

If the speed transmitted to the locking elements 4 is less than the locking speed of the plunger 43, the communication between the high pressure chamber 49 and the low pressure chamber 48 remains open, and the shaft 42 will slide with practically no resistance inside. of the sleeve 41, since the fluid will pass from the high pressure chamber 49 to the low pressure chamber 48 through the plunger 43, the spring 434 will be compressed and the hinged surface 2 will be hidden under the grate 3.

The vehicle will then pass over gate 3 without receiving any impact. Meanwhile, the collapsible surface 2 will continue to descend, decelerating until it reaches zero speed. At that time, the spring 434 will extend the shaft 42 out of the sleeve 41 until bringing the hinged surface 2 to its initial position.

During the compression of the locking elements 4, the fluid displaced by the input of the shaft 42 in the sleeve 41 is stored in the accumulator 44.

If the speed transmitted to the blocking element 4 is greater than the blocking speed of the blocking element 4, the communication between the high and low pressure chambers 49, 48 will be closed by displacement of the cover 432 by pressure difference between their faces, defeating the spring 434 until it closes the passage of the fluid through the plunger 43.

Consequently, the shaft 42 will not be able to slide inside the sleeve 41, leaving the locking element 4 blocked, so that the folding surface 2 will remain in its initial position. The vehicle will then receive an impact, prompting the vehicle to slow down.

Figures 7 to 10 show different alternative embodiments of the element locking mechanism of the speed reduction mechanism according to the present invention.

For the sake of simplicity, in these embodiments the same reference numerals are used for the same or equivalent elements and only differences from the previous embodiment will be described.

According to the embodiment shown in figure 7, said sleeve 41 comprises a communication tube 41 1, or any communication element, which communicates the low pressure chamber 48 with the high pressure chamber 49 when the plunger 43 is at a determined height.

This communication tube 41 1 comprises first and second openings, so that when the plunger 43 has passed the first opening, although the cover 432 closes the communication between the low and high pressure chambers 48, 49, the system will not be blocked. because the oil will recirculate through the communication tube 411.

In this way, the system can only be locked at the beginning of the stroke of the plunger 43 and is never locked in the middle of the stroke, for example.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 8, the plunger comprises a floating cap, which when the plunger goes down allows the passage of fluid and when the plunger rises limits the flow of fluid, slowing the rise.

According to the embodiment shown in figure 9, the blocking element comprises a second sleeve 61, provided with first and second chambers 611, 612 separated from each other by a partition wall 613 provided with holes. The cover 432 opens and closes the holes in said partition wall 613, in the same way as in the other embodiments.

Furthermore, the first chamber 611 is in communication with the low pressure chamber 48 and the second chamber 612 is in communication with the high pressure chamber 49.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 10, the accumulator 44 comprises a floating piston 441 separating an oil chamber 442 and an air or gas chamber 443. It should be noted that this accumulator 44 may be used in combination with any previous realization.

Although reference has been made to a specific embodiment of the invention, it is clear to a person skilled in the art that the speed reduction mechanism described is susceptible to numerous variations and modifications, and that all the mentioned details can be substituted by others. technically equivalent, without departing from the scope of protection defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. Speed reduction device for vehicles, comprising:

a collapsible surface (2), which is movable between a raised position and a lowered position, and

a locking element (4), which allows the displacement of the folding surface

(2) to the collapsed position when the speed of a vehicle passing over said collapsible surface (2) is less than a predetermined speed, or which blocks the displacement of the collapsible surface (2) to the collapsed position when the speed of a vehicle that passes over said folding surface (2) is less than a predetermined speed,

characterized in that said blocking element (4) comprises:

a shaft (42) articulated to said collapsible surface (2) at a first end, a plunger (43) positioned on the shaft (42) at a second end,

a sleeve (41) inside which said plunger (43) moves, said plunger (43) defining within the sleeve (41) a high pressure chamber (49) and a low pressure chamber (48), and

a cap (432) on said plunger (43), said cap (432) being movable between a communication position, in which communication between the high and low pressure chambers (49, 48) is allowed, and a position of closure, in which the communication between the high and low pressure chambers (49, 48) is closed, the cover (432) being placed in the communication position when the vehicle speed is lower than the predetermined speed or in the position of close when the vehicle speed is higher than the preset speed.

Speed reduction device for vehicles according to claim 1, in which said cover (432) comprises a shaft (433), a spring (434) which biases the cover (432) being arranged around said shaft (433) ) towards your communication position.

Speed reduction device for vehicles according to claim 1, in which said blocking element (4) comprises a return spring (45) that urges said folding surface (2) towards its raised position.

4. Speed reduction device for vehicles according to claim 1, comprising an external structure (1) in which said surface is articulated folding (2), said folding surface being articulated at its rear end in relation to the direction of advance of the vehicle.

Speed reduction device for vehicles according to claim 1 or 4, wherein said folding surface (2) is formed by a plurality of sheets.

6. Speed reduction device for vehicles according to claim 5, wherein said blades are positioned longitudinally with respect to the direction of advance of the vehicle.

7. Speed reducing device for vehicles according to claim

5, in which said sheets are placed transversely alternately with respect to the direction of advance of the vehicle.

8. Speed reduction device for vehicles according to claim

6, in which said sheets have a curved upper profile.

9. Speed reduction device for vehicles according to claim 6, wherein said blades have a partially curved upper profile with a straight portion.

10. Speed reduction device for vehicles according to claim 5, which also comprises a grid (3) complementary to the slats of the folding surface (2).

11. Speed reduction device for vehicles according to claim 1, also comprising a cover (5) provided with a cover (52) that externally covers said hinged surface (2).

12. Speed reducing device for vehicles according to claim 1, wherein said low pressure chamber (49) is in communication with an accumulator (44).

13. Speed reduction device for vehicles according to claim 1, comprising an envelope (7) that completely envelops the device except for the hinged surface (2) and the cover (52).

14. Vehicle speed reduction device according to claim 1, wherein said cover (432) has an arrow or oval shape.

15. Speed reduction device for vehicles according to claim 1, comprising at least one side protector (6).

16. Speed reduction device for vehicles according to claim 1, wherein said jacket (41) comprises a communication tube (41 1), which communicates the low pressure chamber (48) with the high pressure chamber ( 49) when the plunger (43) is at a certain height.

17. Speed reducing device for vehicles according to claim 1, in which the plunger (43) comprises a floating cover (431), which when the plunger (43) is lowered allows the passage of fluid and when the plunger (43 ) rises limits the flow of fluid.

18. Speed reduction device for vehicles according to claim 1, comprising a second jacket (61), provided with first and second chambers (611, 612) separated from each other by a separation wall (613) provided with holes, the lid (432) opening and closing the holes of said partition wall (613), and the first chamber (61 1) being in communication with the low pressure chamber (48) and the second chamber (612) with the chamber high pressure (49).

19. Speed reducing device for vehicles according to claim 12, wherein the accumulator (44) comprises a floating piston (441) separating an oil chamber (442) and an air or gas chamber (443).