Patent Application
20240035243
The present invention relates to a roadblock for temporary installation to block traffic and/or as a security precaution comprising an elongated casing with two opposing longitudinal side walls, the two side walls joining an upper wall, and at least one casing support structure located in the elongate casing and connected to both the side walls.
Roadblocks are temporary installations set up to control or block traffic, e.g., during roadworks, temporary road closure and as a security precaution, such as Hostile Vehicle Mitigation (HVM). The usage demands of such roadblocks are various. Preferably a roadblock is easy to install and remove, as well as easy to transport and store. These demands may, for instance, be provided by an elongated element substantially shaped as a traffic barrier, which traffic barrier may, or may not, be firmly connected to the ground or surface. A further elementary requirement of a roadblock is that it provides an essential blocking functionality as it has to be able to handle the forces exerted on the roadblock exerted by a vehicle that collides with the roadblock. The blocking functionality may be provided by the combination of various technical features like the shape of the roadblock, the weight (mass) of the roadblock, the connection(s) of the roadblock with the surface, and/or one or more roadblock support(s). And even when one or more of the possible mounting assemblies break, disconnect from the roadblock and/or when the mounting assemblies detach from their position due to a considerable force being exerted on the roadblock as a result of the impact of a vehicle onto the roadblock, the roadblock still is required to fulfill a blocking function.
An actual development is that there is an enhanced attention for the blocking functionality of roadblocks as a result of an increased awareness in the protection of public spaces. This increased awareness is, among others, a result of several recent terrorist attacks, wherein vehicles (cars and trucks) were used. The request is thus to further enhance the blocking capabilities of both existing and new roadblocks. A problem is thus to provide a roadblock that is easy in use (e.g., easy to install, easy to remove, easy to transport and/or easy to store) in combination with providing a large blocking effect.
This problem is solved with a roadblock for temporary installation to block traffic and/or as a security precaution, comprising: an elongated casing with two opposing longitudinal side walls, the two side walls joining an upper wall; at least one casing support structure located in the elongated casing and connecting to both the side walls; supports for resting on the ground/surface connected to the lower side of the elongated casing and/or the lower side of the casing support structure; and plural stabilization arms protruding from one of the longitudinal side walls, wherein the protruding length of the stabilization arms is adjustable. The lower side of the elongated casing and the lower side of the casing support structure (that are thus located opposite to the upper wall) may be open, partially open or closed. In an operative position, the sideward protruding stabilization arms are preferably brought in a longer (or even better, the longest) configuration. In normal practice, it is prescribed to use the roadblock only with the stabilization arms in their longest configuration, as that is the condition wherein the roadblock is tested and approved. In the operative (installed) situation of the roadblock, the stabilization arms will rest with their free ends on the bottom or be a short distance from the bottom. When the roadblock then is substantially impacted (e.g., by a vehicle) on the sidewall from which the stabilization arms protrude, the roadblock may start tilting such that the free ends of the stabilization arms will move upward. With a further forward movement of the vehicle that provides the impact, the upward movement of the arms (or at least some of the arms) will contact the underside of the vehicle, and dependent on the forces, dimensions and weights, the vehicle may be partially lifted from the floor. This will normally stop the vehicle and thus the sought for blocking function is provided. For stopping a vehicle with substantial impact, the roadblock will thus tilt and the tilted roadblock will have resistance to displacement over the floor/underground while simultaneously the vehicle will be lifted by the rotating stabilization arms (as a result of the tilting of the roadblock).
For a proper functioning of the roadblock, the stabilization arms will require a substantial length of approximately 0.5-1.5 m. The disadvantage of the protruding arms is, however, that they are disadvantageous during the handling, transportation and storage of the roadblocks. The present invention, however, enables the length of the stabilization arms to be adjusted so that, during handling, transportation, and storage, the protruding arms may be reduced in their length or even may be absent. This enables a simpler and cheaper handling, transportation, and/or storage of the roadblock according to the present invention without any reduction of functionality.
Preferably, the stabilization arms are parallel orientated so that, independent of the location of impact, the colliding vehicle will always be “caught” by one or more arms. Furthermore, the angle enclosed by the stabilization arms and the longitudinal side wall may be more than 90°, preferably 93°-100°. Such a design further stimulates the “catching” of impacting vehicles.
The stabilization arms may be located opposite the upper wall of the elongated casing, thus on the lower side of the roadblock. The front of an impacting vehicle first has to pass the protruding ends of the stabilization arms before the vehicle will contact the upper wall of the elongated casing. This implies that the stabilization arms will have to be close to the bottom of the floor. Furthermore, the coupling of the stabilization arms on the lower side of the roadblock will provide leverage when the arms are moved upward during the tilting of the roadblock.
There are several alternatives for the adjustment of the protruding length of the stabilization arms. The stabilization arms may be formed by at least two interchangeable arm segments, for instance, telescopically segmented arms. Another option is that interchangeable arms are completely detachable or that a segmented arm has one or more detachable segments.
The supports may be provided with at least one central protrusion facing away from the elongated casing, which central protrusions are located on the side of a vertical central plane, though the elongated casing is facing away from the longitudinal side wall with the stabilization arms. These central protrusions form the first pivot points during the initial tilting of the roadblock.
The supports may also be provided with at least one second sideward protrusion facing away from the elongated casing, which sideward protrusions are located alongside the elongated casing on the side facing away from the stabilization arms. These second sideward protrusions are forming the second pivot points during further tilting of the roadblock after the initial tilting took place over the central protrusions of the supports and as described in the previous paragraph. To facilitate this change of pivot point during the tilting from the central protrusions to the second sideward protrusions, the central protrusions may protrude further down than the sideward protrusions.
The central protrusions and/or the sideward protrusions may have sharp angles to prevent the roadblock from shifting over the floor after impact. Sharp angled protrusions may grip into the bottom and increase the frictional resistance between the roadblock and the bottom.
The sideward protrusions may also have at least two sharp angles, like some teeth of a gear, so that during further tilting of the barrier, the point of pivoting may be followed from one to the next sharp angle.
As the blocking functionality of the roadblock on the sides is relevant, the ends of the elongated casing may be chamfered. This also prevents the chance of unwanted contact of road users (pedestrians, cyclists, guards) with the roadblock.
To enable coupling of the roadblock with other roadblocks or other objects, the ends of the elongated casing may be provided with couplings.
The roadblock may also be provided with at least one friction-increasing element attached to the upper wall of the elongated casing such that at least one (tapered) contact edge is protruding from a longitudinal side wall of the elongated casing. The advantage of the add on of a friction-increasing element is that when the roadblock to which the friction-increasing element is attached tilts, or is toppled, the tapered contact edge of the friction-increasing element may contact the ground (or surface) the roadblock stood on until the moment of impact. Due to the contact of the (tapered) contact edge, the friction between the frictional resistance between the road barrier and the ground increases due to which the further displacement (shift) of the barrier over the ground is further inhibited or prevented. The cause of this is the local high pressure on the location(s) where the contact edge engages on the ground/floor. The contact edge, e.g., a toothed edge, may “bite” into the ground.
In the roadblock, height adjustable wheels may also be provided. Such wheels may be used for relocation of the roadblock over shorter distances such as during accurate positioning of the roadblock. During use of the roadblock, the wheels have to be lifted to prevent undesired movement of the roadblock with the wheels.
The roadblock may be made from steel as in practice steel sheet material which is easy to obtain at reasonable prices. Also, during production of the prior art traffic barriers and roadblocks, often use is made of steel plate material, so production of the roadblock according to the present invention will normally fit the production facilities of traffic barrier and roadblock producers without the demand for substantive changes of adaptation.
The roadblock according to the present invention may also be provided with at least one, but preferably at least two, lifting openings to enable to attach a manipulator (e.g., a crane) for installment and/or removal of the roadblock.
The present invention will be further elucidated on the basis of the non-limitative exemplary embodiments shown in the following figures:
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023715 | Aug 2019 | NL | national |
This application is a continuation of U.S. Pat. No. 11,781,274, formerly co-pending patent application Ser. No. 17/002,924, filed on Aug. 26, 2020, and issued on Oct. 10, 2023, which claims priority to The Netherlands Patent Application No. 2023715 filed Aug. 27, 2019, which patent and patent applications are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 17002924 | Aug 2020 | US |
| Child | 18378495 | US |
