Patent Application
20240279890
The present invention relates to a lane delimitation arrangement and a method for diverting vehicles.
Lane delimitation elements are passive restraint systems on roads. Their main purpose is to prevent vehicles from leaving a lane. On the one hand, areas outside the lane are protected from vehicle impact, and on the other hand, more serious effects on the vehicle and its occupants due to falling down slopes or collisions, e.g. with oncoming traffic or trees, can be prevented. Furthermore, a reduction of potential accident consequences is achieved by absorbing the kinetic energy of the vehicle through deformation or displacement of the lane delimitation element in the course of an impact.
Mobile lane delimitation elements are necessary for some applications. This allows, for example, construction sites to be secured and lanes to be quickly built up and dismantled or diverted. In the case of high traffic volumes, the rearrangement of a lane delimitation arrangement to adapt the course of the lane must be carried out in a particularly short time. In order to be able to divert traffic flows quickly and efficiently to other lanes, it is necessary to implement lane delimitation elements quickly and efficiently.
There are, for example, swivelling, semi-mobile systems with which traffic can be opened on demand and traffic diverted to the opposite lanes. A flexible, demand-oriented diversion of the traffic flow and/or the direction of the traffic while maintaining the crash barrier function is not possible with these systems.
In order to meet the above-mentioned requirements, a number of movable and displaceable crash barrier systems are known from the prior art. From EP3569765A1 it is known that stationary as well as movable lane delimitation elements can be connected by a locking device. The movement process of the movable lane delimitation element and the locking process of the locking device take place one after the other. Particularly in the case of retracted lane delimitation elements, the positioning of the lock must be very precise and can therefore only be carried out slowly.
It is therefore the object of the invention to overcome the disadvantages of the state of the art and, in particular, to create a lane delimiting arrangement and a method for diverting vehicles which can be executed simply and safely and, in particular, the crash barrier function is maintained.
The problem is solved by a lane delimitation arrangement and a method for diverting vehicles according to the independent claims.
In particular, the task is solved by a lane delimitation arrangement comprising at least a first stationary lane delimitation element and a movable lane delimitation element which is movable relative to the first stationary lane delimitation element. The movable lane delimitation element comprises a first end and a second end, the second end preferably comprising an articulation device and the first end comprising a locking element. The first stationary lane delimitation element has a locking arrangement complementary to the locking element, the movable lane delimitation element having a first position in which the stationary and movable lane delimitation elements are not connected. Further, the movable lane delimitation element has a second position in which the stationary and movable lane delimitation elements are coupled together, wherein in the second position the locking element of the movable lane delimitation element engages the locking arrangement of the first stationary lane delimitation element. The movement of the movable lane delimitation element from the first to the second position is a pivoting movement. The locking element has a lateral recess for the locking arrangement of the first stationary lane delimitation element or the locking arrangement of the first stationary lane delimitation element has a lateral recess for the locking element.
Such a lane delimitation arrangement leads to a simple and quick engagement of the movable lane delimitation element into the stationary lane delimitation element and the closure is safe and uncomplicated even after a swivelling movement. Furthermore, the closure is so secure that the required crash barrier function is maintained.
The lane delimitation arrangement can have a second stationary lane delimitation element, which has a locking device complementary to the locking element. In particular, the movable lane delimitation element may have a third position in which the second stationary lane delimitation element and the movable lane delimitation element are connected.
Preferably, the two stationary lane delimiting elements each have a longitudinal axis which are arranged substantially parallel to each other.
In particular, the locking element is provided to be engageable with the locking device and the locking arrangement.
Thus, vehicles can be easily and efficiently directed to a first or a second lane. Since the locking arrangement of the first stationary lane delimitation element and the locking device of the second stationary lane delimitation element are each complementary with the locking element, the locking element can be connected to the first and second lane delimitation elements in the second and third positions, respectively, in an analogous manner. This allows the movable lane delimitation element to be closed quickly and efficiently in the second and third positions. Furthermore, the lane delimitation arrangement is constructed in a simple and effective manner and can be used immediately as a crash barrier in both positions in which the closure is closed.
The movable lane delimitation element can be lockable in the locking arrangement and/or the locking device.
This ensures that the movable lane delimitation element is not unintentionally displaceable in the second or third position and remains connected to the other lane delimitation elements even in the event of external impacts, e.g. in the event of a vehicle collision. The movable lane delimitation element can be locked but can still be released quickly. Thus, the locking element is securely and firmly connectable to the first stationary lane delimitation element and the second stationary lane delimitation element, respectively, and can nevertheless be swivelled quickly from the second to the third position. This makes the lane delimitation arrangement particularly efficient.
The first end of the movable lane delimitation element can be retracted completely into the lateral recess of the first or second stationary lane delimitation element.
In the context of the invention, completely retractable means that the first end of the movable lane delimitation element does not protrude into the lane after the closure but forms a substantially flat surface. It is of course possible for the surface to comprise depressions and openings, but these have no significant influence on safety.
At the same time, such a closure results in the lane delimiting element fulfilling a tensile strength at the level of the required restraint performance for vehicles according to current standards in any retracted state.
This ensures that vehicles can safely pass the lane delimitation arrangement and do not collide with protruding parts. Furthermore, this results in a visually smooth transition of the lane delimitation elements into each other for the occupants of the passing vehicles. This ensures a pleasant and safe passing process.
The first stationary lane delimitation element can have a longitudinal axis and the lateral recess of the first stationary lane delimitation element can have a stop device as a stop for the movable lane delimitation element, wherein the angle between the longitudinal axis and the stop device is in particular between 1° and 5°, in particular 2°.
Similarly, the second lane delimitation element may also have a stop device.
The locking element strikes the stop device when pivoting into the second or third position. This means that no control elements are required to bring the locking element to a stop exactly in the second or third position. The swivelling process is therefore very simple, not very error-prone and fast.
The movable lane delimitation element may have a length of more than 60 m from the first to the second end. The first stationary lane delimitation element and the movable lane delimitation element have longitudinal axes which, in the second position, have a very acute angle of essentially 3° relative to each other. The resulting uniform surface of the lane delimitation arrangement without protrusions ensures that vehicles can pass the lane delimitation arrangement, which is in the second or third position, at a reasonable speed. The design of the closures of the lane delimitation arrangement provides a very acute angle between the closure parts and at the same time a very space-saving design, so that the lane delimitation elements can have a width of less than 40 cm, preferably less than 30 cm. The lane delimitation arrangement is thus very space-saving and can preferably be used particularly advantageously in the area of locations with limited space, for example when the number of lanes is reduced due to maintenance work on a road section. Furthermore, due to the acute angle of the longitudinal axes of the first stationary lane delimitation element and the movable lane delimitation element, the lane delimitation arrangement can preferably be used in the area of construction sites or other places where vehicles have to be diverted, without the vehicles having to reduce their speed significantly, as the curve radii of the lanes are large. This provides a pleasant driving experience when passing the lane delimitation arrangement and also ensures the efficiency of the traffic route on which the lane delimitation arrangement is installed.
The lane delimitation elements may comprise steel, plastic and/or a composite material. The use of these materials makes the lane delimitation elements and thus the lane delimitation arrangement as a whole robust, resilient and resistant to external influences (e.g. weather, freeze-thaw cycles, exposure to de-icing salt and/or brine).
The locking assembly and/or the locking device may each have a pin, the locking element having a complementary aperture, or the locking element may have a pin and the locking assembly and/or the locking device each have a complementary aperture.
The connection between the movable lane delimitation element and the first stationary lane delimitation element or the second stationary lane delimitation element in the second and/or third position is thus simple, compact and secure.
In a further variant of the invention, the pin of the locking arrangement and/or locking device may be configured to extend through and into the opening of the locking element by at least 4 cm in the second and/or third position.
This ensures that the locking element cannot unintentionally slip off the pin from the second or third position. The protrusion of the pin into the opening also makes it particularly easy to check visually by an operator or by means of a monitoring device whether the lane delimitation arrangement is in the second or third position.
The lane delimitation arrangement can be provided with a monitoring device, in particular with at least one sensor. The monitoring device is provided in such a way that it can be determined whether the movable lane delimitation element is in the second or third position.
The monitoring device may comprise an optical, electronic or acoustic sensor. For example, the monitoring device may comprise a laser sensor, an ultrasonic sensor or a capacitive sensor. The monitoring device may be connected wirelessly or wired to a control unit that evaluates the data from the sensor.
This means that the position of the lane delimitation arrangement and whether the lane delimitation elements are securely closed can be determined remotely by a wireless or wired connection without the need for an operator to be on site. Multiple lane delimitation arrangements can also be monitored and/or controlled remotely to direct traffic. This ensures that one or more lane delimitation arrangements can be combined into a lane delimitation arrangement system or a road switch, which can be monitored remotely and can thus be operated easily and efficiently.
The monitoring device can be provided such that it can be determined whether the pin of the locking arrangement or locking device is in the opening of the locking element or whether the pin of the locking element is in the opening of the locking arrangement or locking device.
Monitoring the engagement of the pin in an opening is a simple and safe monitoring method.
The movable lane delimitation element may comprise a lifting device and in particular a running gear.
The running gear and the lifting device may be provided as one driving lifting device or separately. Furthermore, the running gear and the lifting device can be designed in such a way that the movable lane delimiting element can be moved without an operator having to be on site.
This allows the movable lane delimitation element to be raised and pivoted quickly and easily. In a particularly preferred manner, this enables both the pivoting movement of the movable lane delimitation element and the locking operation of the movable lane delimitation element with the first and/or second stationary lane delimitation element. Furthermore, the movable trolley element can be swivelled between the positions without the need for an operator to be on site. In fact, the movable lane delimitation element can be moved to the different positions by remote control. This enables a particularly efficient control of the lane delimitation arrangement.
The problem of the invention is further solved by a road switch which comprises in particular at least one lane delimitation arrangement as described above, wherein a movable lane delimitation element, a first stationary lane delimitation element and a second stationary lane delimitation element are provided. The road switch has at least a first state and a second state. In the first state, the movable lane delimiting element is fully retracted into the first stationary lane delimiting element and connected thereto. Preferably, the movable lane delimitation element is retracted laterally into the first stationary lane delimitation element in the first state. In the second state, the movable lane delimitation element is fully retracted into the second stationary lane delimitation element and connected to it. Preferably, in the second state, the movable lane delimitation element is pivoted laterally into the second stationary lane delimitation element.
The movable lane delimitation element as well as the first stationary lane delimitation element and the second stationary lane delimitation element have longitudinal axes, wherein the longitudinal axes of the first stationary lane delimitation element and the second stationary lane delimitation element are substantially parallel. In the first state of the road switch, in which the movable lane delimitation element is connected to the first stationary lane delimitation element, the longitudinal axes of the movable lane delimitation element and of the first stationary lane delimitation element have an acute angle which is between 1° and 5° and is preferably 2°. In the second state of the road switch, in which the movable lane delimitation element is connected to the second stationary lane delimitation element, the longitudinal axes of the movable lane delimitation element and the second stationary lane delimitation element have an acute angle which is between 1° and 5° and is preferably 2°. Due to the acute angle and the resulting large curve radii, vehicles can safely pass the road switch without having to significantly reduce the speed of the vehicles. This means that the road switch can be used to particular advantage without becoming a bottleneck on a road. It is therefore extremely unlikely that traffic will come to a standstill or that vehicles will come to a standstill in front of the road switch.
The road switch is movable from the first state to the second state or from the second state to the first state by pivoting the movable lane delimitation element of the road switch on a substantially horizontal plane. Preferably, the first stationary lane delimitation element as well as the second lane delimitation element are each provided with lateral recesses so that the movable lane delimitation element can be pivoted laterally into the first stationary lane delimitation element and/or into the second lane delimitation element. Preferably, in the first state and in the second state, the movable lane delimitation element is pivoted into the first or second stationary lane delimitation element, respectively, so that no parts protrude abruptly into the clearance gauge of the lane. This allows vehicles to pass the road switch safely without the risk of collision due to protruding parts. This makes the road switch safe and convenient to pass.
The fact that the movable lane delimitation element changes from the first state to the second state by means of a pivoting movement and can preferably be pivoted into the first stationary lane delimitation element or the second lane delimitation element and can be connected to the first lane delimitation element or the second lane delimitation element, the road switch can be pivoted easily and quickly from the first state to the second state or from the second state to the first state. This makes the swivelling process simple and efficient. Since the pivoting movement is responsible for the change of state of the road switch and the pivoting movement simultaneously connects the movable lane delimiting element with the first stationary lane delimiting element or the second stationary lane delimiting element, the change of state of the road switch as well as the connection of the movable lane delimiting element with the first stationary lane delimiting element or the second stationary lane delimiting element occurs simultaneously. Thus, the road switch can be quickly and easily moved from the first state to the second state or from the second state to the first state. This makes the process quick, simple and less error-prone.
Preferably, a road switch has two lane delimitation arrangements. This allows vehicles to be directed to different lanes in a particularly advantageous manner.
The problem of the invention is further solved by a method for diverting vehicles from one lane to another lane using a lane delimitation arrangement as previously described, comprising the following steps:
The method allows vehicles to be easily and safely diverted from one lane to another lane. The connection of the movable lane delimitation element to a locking arrangement or locking device, which is easy to release, ensures that the movable lane delimitation element is securely connected to the locking arrangement or locking device and can nevertheless be released and moved quickly. This results in a particularly efficient process.
In the process, the lifting of the movable lane delimitation element can simultaneously lead to the release of the locking element from the locking arrangement.
Thus, two steps of the procedure—lifting as well as releasing the lock—are combined, which accelerates and simplifies the procedure in its entirety.
The locking element of the movable lane delimiting element can pivot into a lateral recess of a stationary lane delimiting element after pivoting over the lane.
Thus, the movable lane delimitation element is quickly and easily connected to the first or second lane delimitation element in the second and third position.
The locking element of the movable lane delimitation element can engage the locking arrangement or locking device of a stationary lane delimitation element by lowering the movable lane delimitation element.
By simultaneously lowering and engaging the locking element in the locking arrangement or locking device, two process steps are combined. This makes the procedure simple and efficient.
The pivoting and lowering of the movable lane delimiting element can be done, for example, by means of the lifting device which is mounted under the movable lane delimiting element.
The invention is explained in more detail in the following figures. It shows:
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/EP2021/066169 | 6/16/2021 | WO |
