The present disclosure relates to a barrier member, and in particular to a barrier member including a translatable column.
It is known to provide barriers and gates to protect equipment and demarcate areas. Such barriers and gates may be used to demarcate a path for pedestrians or motorists and/or prevent a vehicle colliding with equipment which can, for instance, cause damage to the equipment.
Barriers may be used to bring vehicles, such as forklift trucks to a stop to prevent them from driving into equipment or driving off a ledge. This is particularly important in relation to loading bay areas in which a steep drop may be present.
It is a challenge to provide a barrier that is sufficient to bring vehicles to a halt without imparting a high inertial impact on a driver.
It is an aim of the present invention to attempt to overcome at least one of the above or other disadvantages
According to the present disclosure there is provided a barrier member and method as set forth in the appended claims. Other features of the invention will be apparent from the dependent claims, and the description which follows.
According to a first aspect, there is provided a barrier member comprising: a support; a first engagement member coupled to the support; and a translatable column defining a longitudinal axis, wherein the translatable column is rotatably and translatably mounted relative to the support, wherein the translatable column is translatable between: a first position in which the translatable column and the first engagement member are spaced apart from one another such that the translatable column is rotatable about said longitudinal axis; and a second position in which the translatable column and the first engagement member are engaged to prevent rotation of the translatable column about said longitudinal axis.
The barrier member set out above is suitable for being used in a barrier system to absorb a vehicle impact and provide a cushioned deceleration to the vehicle, thereby reducing the likelihood of injury to a vehicle operator, whilst also prioritising safety. The barrier member allows for steady deceleration of vehicle under impact resulting in smaller forces exerted on the driver and so lowers the risks of injury. the barrier member will absorb multiple impacts and multiple products can be linked together to protect a larger area.
The translatable column may comprise a second engagement member having a complimentary shape with the first engagement member, such that in the second position, the second engagement member is configured to engage with the first engagement member to prevent rotation of the translatable column.
Providing a second engagement member (or one or more second engagement members) that has a complimentary shape provides means for preventing the translatable column from rotating. The barrier member may include one or more first engagement members.
A flexible barrier material may extend from the translatable column in a direction substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis. The flexible barrier material is configured to be coupled to a connection point.
The barrier member may be configured such that: in a first mode of operation, the translatable column is operable to rotate around the longitudinal axis in a first rotational direction to wind the flexible barrier material onto the column; and in a second mode of operation, the translatable column is operable to rotate around the longitudinal axis in a second rotational direction to unwind the flexible barrier material from the column; and in a third mode of operation, the translatable column is operable to move from the first position to the second position.
The barrier member may be configured to switch between the second mode of operation and the third mode of operation if an impact force on the flexible barrier material is above a first threshold value.
The support may comprise a housing configured to house the translatable column and first engagement member, wherein the housing comprises a slot through which the flexible barrier material is configured to extend, in use.
The barrier member may comprise one or more biasing members configured to bias the translatable column to the first position.
The one or more biasing members is configured to compress as the translatable column is moved from the first position to the second position.
One or more biasing members may comprise one or more hydraulic buffers. One or more hydraulic buffers may comprise one or more first hydraulic buffers having a first load response characteristic and one or more second hydraulic buffers having a second, different load response characteristic arranged in series.
The one or more biasing members may comprise a compressible elastic material.
The one or more biasing members comprises a plurality of magnets configured to bias the translatable column to the first position.
The one or more biasing members may comprise one or more springs.
The one or more springs comprises one or more first springs having a first stiffness and one or more second springs having a second, different stiffness arranged in series.
The support may comprise a first movement mechanism defining the extent of translation of the translatable column, the first movement mechanism comprising a first end member and a second end member and the one or more biasing members, wherein the one or more biasing members are located between the first end member and the second end member.
The first end member of the movement mechanism may be coupled with an inner surface of the housing at a first location and the second end member of the movement mechanism may be coupled with an inner surface of the housing at a second location, wherein the first location and second location are diametrically opposed on the housing.
The first movement mechanism may comprise one or more guiderails extending between the first end member and the second end member of the movement mechanism, wherein the translatable column is coupled to the one or more guiderails via a column attachment block.
The first engagement member may be coupled to the one or more guide rails.
The one or more first springs may be located between the first engagement member and the column attachment block and the one or more second springs may be located between a second end member of the movement mechanism and the first engagement member.
The one or more second springs comprises a higher stiffness than the one or more first springs.
The support may comprise a second movement mechanism, wherein the first movement mechanism and second movement mechanism are arranged at opposite ends of the support.
According to one aspect, there is provided a barrier comprising: a first barrier member according to any one of the preceding claims; and a second barrier member according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a flexible barrier material of the first barrier member extends from the first barrier member to couple with a connection of the second barrier member.
The barrier may include a third barrier member, wherein a flexible barrier material of the second barrier member extends from the second barrier member to couple with a connection of the third barrier member.
According to one aspect, there is provided a method of using the barrier member, the method comprising: unwinding the flexible barrier material from the translatable column of the support and coupling it to the connection; and upon impact of the flexible barrier material above a first threshold, translating the translatable column from the first position to the second position, so the translatable column is engaged with the first engagement member to prevent rotation of the translatable column.
According to one aspect, there is provided a barrier assembly comprising: a first support member: a column having a longitudinal axis, the column rotatably mounted relative to the first support member such that it is rotatable around the longitudinal axis; a first engagement member coupled to the column; a second engagement member coupled to the first support member; the column being movably mounted to translate in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, such that the column is moveable between: a first position in which the first engagement member and second engagement member are spaced apart from one another so that the shaft is rotatable around the longitudinal axis; and a second position, spaced apart from the first position, in which the first engagement member and second engagement member are brought onto engagement with one another to lock the column to the second engagement feature and/or first support member.
According to one aspect, there is provided a barrier comprising: a first support member comprising: a translatable column defining a longitudinal axis, wherein the translatable column is configured to rotate about said longitudinal axis and is translatable in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis from a first position to a second position; and one or more first engagement members configured to engage with the translatable column in the second position to prevent rotation of the column; and a flexible barrier material configured to extend from the translatable column and couple with a connection.
The above referenced features may be combined in various combinations.
Examples of the present disclosure will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
The present disclosure relates to a barrier that prevents vehicles from passing through. The barrier is arranged in such a way to provide a cushioned deceleration to a vehicle that may impact the barrier.
The support 102 may be substantially elongate and arranged in an upright orientation. In other words, the support 102 may be arranged in a vertical orientation. The support 102 is coupled with a translatable column 104. The translatable column 104 may be elongate and define a longitudinal axis about which the translatable column 104 is rotatable. In one example, the translatable column 104 is generally tubular. The components of the translatable column 104 are discussed in more detail below. The support 102 may include all the elements of the barrier member 100 except for the translatable column 104 and first engagement member 106.
The barrier member 100 includes the first engagement member 106 that is coupled with or mounted on the support 102. The first engagement member 106 is configured to engage with the translatable column 104 to prevent rotation of the translatable column 104 when the first engagement member 106 and the translatable column 104 are engaged. The first engagement member 104 may be known as a brake.
In
In order to move between the first position and the second position, the translatable column 104 is configured to move in a direction that is substantially perpendicular or orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the translatable column 104. That is to say that the translatable column 104 may both rotate about the longitudinal axis and translate in a linear direction in a direction substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis. The translatable column 104 may continue to rotate whilst concurrently translating. In other words, the translatable column 104 is rotatably and translatably mounted relative to the support 102.
The first engagement member 106 may exert a stopping force upon the translatable column 104 to prevent rotation, when the translatable column 104 is in the second position (i.e. when the translatable column 104 the first engagement member 106 are engaged). In one example, the first engagement member 106 comprises a notch or recess configured to receive a similarly shaped projection or tooth of the translatable column 104, such that when the projection is received in the notch of the first engagement member 106, the translatable column 104 is prevented from further rotation.
The barrier member 100 may include a flexible barrier material 108, which is not shown in
As shown by comparing
A free end of the flexible barrier material 108 is configured to couple with a connection to define the extent of the barrier.
As shown in
As shown in
The support 102 may comprise a base plate 116. The base plate 116 may include one or more holes through which fixtures (not shown) may extend to couple the support 102 to the ground. For example, the fixtures may be in the form of a dowel or bolt to fix the base plate 116 and therefore the support 102 in place. The fixtures and base plate 116 are configured to transfer impact forces from the flexible barrier material 108 to the ground, in use.
The housing 110 may comprise a slot 113 through which the flexible barrier material 108 may extend, as shown in
The support 102 may comprise one or more biasing members configured to bias the translatable column 104 to the first position. The one of more biasing members may be compressible such that they are configured to compress as the translatable column 104 is moved from the first position to the second position. The one or more biasing members may comprise springs, hydraulic buffers, pistons, or a compressible material as will be discussed in more detail below. In one example, the one or more biasing members may comprise a plurality of magnets configured to bias the translatable column 104 to the first position.
In one example, the flexible barrier material 108 comprises attenuation stitching.
In
The movement mechanism 118 includes the one or more biasing members configured to bias the translatable column 104 to the first position.
One or more guiderails 122 are configured to extend between the first and second end members 120A, 120B. The guiderails 122 may be received within a recess of the first and second end members 120A, 120B to fix the guiderails 122 relative to the first and second end members 120A, 120B. In the example shown in
The translatable column 104 may be mounted on the guiderails 122 via a column attachment block 124. The column attachment block 124 may be integral with the translatable column 104 or be a separate connected element. The column attachment block 124 is configured to be received on one or more guiderails 122. In other words, the column attachment block 124 may include one or more through holes through which the one or more guiderails 122 is configured to extend through, in use. The through holes of the column attachment block 124 may be configured to substantially match the cross-sectional shape of the guiderails 122. In other words, the column attachment block 124 may have a snug fit on the guiderails, but with enough tolerance to allow the column attachment block 124 to move along the guiderails 122 in use, with relatively low friction.
The first engagement member 106 may be mounted on the guiderails 122. In other words, the first engagement member 106 may be mounted on the support 102. The first engagement member 106 may also comprise one or more through holes to receive the guiderails 122. The through holes of the first engagement member 106 may also be complimentary in shape to the cross-sectional shape of the guiderails 122 so the first engagement member 106 has a snug fit on the guiderails 122, but with enough tolerance to allow the first engagement member 106 to move along the guiderails 122 in use, with relatively low friction.
The movement mechanism 118 may include one or more springs 126A, 126B. That is to say that the one or more biasing members is one or more springs 126A, 126B. The springs 126A, 126B are located around (or on) the guiderails 122. That is to say that the springs 126A, 126B may substantially surround the guiderails 122, in use. In the example shown in
The one or more springs 126A, 126B are configured to bias the column attachment block 124, and hence the translatable column 104, in a first position. In the first position, the column attachment block 124 may abut the first end member 120B.
The outer shaft 132 may be substantially hollow and elongate and is configured to extend around the inner shaft 130. The outer shaft 132 may be coupled to the inner shaft 130 via one or more bearings.
The translatable column 104 may include one or more second engagement members 134. The one or more second engagement members 134 are configured be in a fixed relationship relative to the outer shaft 132. That is to say that the second engagement members 134 may rotate together with the outer shaft 132 when the translatable column 104 is in the first (neutral) position. The second engagement member 134 is shown in more detail in
A cap 138 may be located within the region between the outer shaft 132 and the inner shaft 130. The cap 138 may have a press fit relative to the outer shaft 132 and/or be attached the other outer shaft 132 via an adhesive. The second engagement member 134, second engagement member plate 136 and cap 138 may have co-located openings through which one or more fixtures, such as dowels, can extend to couple the second engagement member 134 and second engagement member plate 136 to the cap 138 (and hence the outer shaft 132).
The detail shown in
The first spring 126A and the second spring 126B may have different spring stiffnesses. for example, the first spring 126A may have a first spring stiffness and the second spring may have a second spring stiffness, different to the first. This arrangement means that upon the application of a force to compress the springs, the first spring 126A and the second spring 126B are configured to be compressed at different rates and by different amounts.
In other examples, the translatable column 104 does not include a second engagement member 134 at all. Instead the first engagement member 106 comprises one or more surfaces configured to engage with the translatable column 104 in the second position and impart a friction upon the translatable column 104 so as to prevent further rotation of the translatable column 104.
A free end of the flexible barrier material 108 may be received in a connection. For example, the free end of the flexible barrier material 108 may be received in one or more hooks 246 of the second barrier member 200 (which may be identical to the hooks 146 shown on the first barrier member 100 in
In the configuration shown in
Depending on the level of the impact force, the resultant force on the column attachment block 124 may be sufficient to overcome the bias force provided by the one or more biasing members (such as the first and second springs 126A, 126B). That is to say that the column attachment block 124 moves to compress the one or more first springs 126A and the one or more second spring 126B.
If the impact force is sufficient, the column attachment block 124 will move relative to the first engagement member 106 along the guiderails 122. If the impact force is sufficiently high enough, the translatable column 104 engages with the first engagement member 106 so as to prevent further rotation of the translatable column 104, thereby preventing more of the flexible barrier material 108 from unwinding from the translatable column 104. The translatable column 104 is in the second position when it is engaged with the first engagement member 106. In the example in which the one or more biasing members comprises one or more springs, in this phase then one or more first springs 126A will compress and the column attachment block 124 will move relative to the first engagement member 106 along the guiderails 122.
As described above, in one example, the second engagement member 134 of the translatable column 104 is configured to mesh with or engage with the recess 144 of the first engagement member 106 to prevent further rotation of the translatable column 104.
The barrier member 100 is configured such that in a first mode of operation, the translatable column 104 is operable to rotate around the longitudinal axis in a first rotational direction to wind the flexible barrier material 108 onto the column 104. In the first mode of operation, the translatable column 104 is arranged in a first position in which the translatable column and the first engagement member 106 are spaced apart.
In a second mode of operation, the translatable column 104 is operable to rotate around the longitudinal axis in a second rotational direction to unwind the flexible barrier material 108 from the column 104. The second rotational direction is opposite to the first rotational direction.
In a third mode of operation, the translatable column 104 is operable to move from the first position to the second position.
The barrier member is configured to switch between the second mode of operation and the third mode of operation if an impact force on the flexible barrier material 108 is above a first threshold value.
The first threshold value may be defined by the biasing force provided by the one or more biasing members. In the example of the one or more biasing members comprising one or more springs 126A, 126B, the first threshold value would be set by the force required to compress the one or more first spring 126 such that the translatable column moves from the first position to the second position (i.e. the one or more first springs is compressed by a sufficient amount).
If the impact force is sufficiently high, then after the engagement of the translatable column 104 and the first engagement member 106, further compression of the one or more second biasing members (for example, the one or more second springs 126B) may occur and the translatable column 104 and the first engagement member 106 may move together along the guiderails 122 against the bias of the one or more second biasing members 126B.
As described above, the spring stiffness of the one or more first springs 126A is configured to be different compared with the spring stiffness of the one or more second springs 126B. In one example, the spring stiffness of the one or more first springs 126A is configured to be lower compared with the spring stiffness of the one or more second springs 126B.
The first spring 126A and the second spring 126B may be arranged in a series relationship on each guiderail 122. The deformation of each spring is governed by the following formula: k1×1=k2×2.
As such, setting the spring stiffness of the one or more first springs 126A to a lower value compared with the one or more second springs 126B means that under the application of force, the one or more first springs 126A is configured to compress by a great amount compared with the one or more second springs 126B.
The presence of the one or more second springs 126B with a higher stiffness provides a dampening effect on the movement of the translatable column 104. That is to say that even after the translatable column 104 has engaged with the first engagement member 106, the first engagement member 106 and translatable column 104 may continue to move together.
In other examples, the springs 126A, 126B may be replaced by other biasing members. For example, one or more hydraulic buffers may be used in place of the one or more springs. The hydraulic buffers may be used in conjunction with the guiderails 122 or replace the guiderails. As with the springs, a first hydraulic buffer may replace the first spring and a second hydraulic buffer may replace the second spring. The first hydraulic spring and second hydraulic buffer may have different response characteristics. That is to say that the first hydraulic buffer may compress easier compared with the second hydraulic buffer.
In another example, the one or more springs 126A, 126B may be replaced by a compressible material, such as polyurethane (PU). The PU material is configured to compress upon the application of load, but return to its original shape once the load has been removed. As with the springs, a first compressible material may replace the first spring and a second compressible material may replace the second spring. The first compressible material and second compressible material may have different Young's Modulus values. That is to say that the first compressible material may compress easier compared with the second compressible material.
In another example, the one or more springs 126A, 126B may be replaced by a plurality of magnets. That is to say that a first magnet may be placed on the column attachment block 124 and a second magnet may be place on the first engagement member 106. The first and second magnets are arranged such that the same polarity face each other so the resistive force increases as the column attachment block 124 moves closer to the first engagement member 106. A third magnet may be arranged on the other side of the first engagement member 106 and a fourth magnet may be arranged on the second end member 120B. The polarity of the third and fourth magnets that face each other are configured to match.
In one example, the first engagement member 106 is configured to be located within the outer shaft 132 of the translatable column 104 itself. The operation of the translatable column 104 and barrier member is as described above, i.e. the outer shaft 132 of the translatable column 104 is translatable between a first position in which the outer shaft 132 of the translatable spindle column and the first engagement member 106 are spaced apart from one another such that the outer shaft 132 of the translatable column 104 is rotatable about said longitudinal axis; and a second position in which the outer shaft 132 of the translatable column 104 and the first engagement member 106 are engaged to prevent rotation of the outer shaft 132 of the translatable column 104 about said longitudinal axis.
Attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.
All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.
Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings) may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.
The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment(s). The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.
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