AU774224B2 - A barrier - Google Patents

Description

This invention relates to a barrier.

This invention has particular but not exclusive application to traffic barriers and for illustrative purposes reference will be made to such application.

Demountable traffic barriers typically include a plurality of hollow, water fillable, barrier elements which are arranged end to end and are linked by a plurality of pin joints or by interlocking end portions.

Often the connection means connecting adjacent barrier elements and/or the side walls of individual barrier elements are damaged by collisions with motor vehicles. The resulting damage often severely weakens the structural integrity of the barrier.

Damaged barrier elements may remain undetected for several days.

Furthermore, the replacement of damaged barrier elements may necessitate that repair crews travel considerable distances to the crash site and wherein they may need to carry with them sufficient water to fill the replacement barrier elements.

Damaged barrier elements also pose a hazard to motorists and cyclists.

Ruptured side walls may have sharp edges which could severely injure a person who is thrown against the barrier element, such as may occur if a cyclist were to fall from their bicycle. It has also been noted that punctures in the side walls of the barrier elements may snare a part of a travelling motor vehicle that has 20 collided with the barrier and as a consequence may create an accident rather 00 than redirect the motor vehicle back onto the road.

The present invention aims to alleviate at least one of the above disadvantages and to provide a barrier which will be reliable and efficient in use.

Other advantages of this invention will hereinafter become apparent.

ooo 0. 25 With the foregoing and other objects in view, this invention resides broadly in a barrier system including: .o.e a plurality of hollow, ballast-fillable, demountable barrier elements that are arranged end to end so as to form a barrier, each of said barrier elements having opposing side walls and opposing end portions, said end portions being adapted to combine with an opposing end portion of an adjacent barrier element to form a joint connecting adjacent barrier elements together, and at least one thin walled, longitudinally extending, guard member that is mounted on and overlies the side walls of at least two adjacent barrier elements.

Preferably, the barrier elements are stackable and, in a preferred embodiment, the hollow, ballast-fillable, stackable barrier elements are fillable with sand or water.

The barrier elements are positioned either in abutment with adjacent barrier elements or positioned end to end with adjacent barrier elements at a proximity which is intended to redirect the motor vehicle or the like back onto the desired path rather than to snare part of the motor vehicle or the like. The proximity of adjacent barrier elements will depend on the particular shape and configuration of the barrier elements and readily determined by those skilled in the art so as to avoid snaring of a travelling motor vehicle or the like.

Adjacent barrier elements may be connected using a variety of jointing systems including the use of interlocking end portions, jointing pins, and other jointing systems which will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art.

At least one of the side walls of the plurality of barrier elements forms a longitudinally extending obstacle. In a preferred embodiment, the opposing side walls of the plurality of barrier elements form longitudinally extending obstacles on either side of the barrier system.

The profile of at least one side wall of the barrier element, in some 20. embodiments, may be arranged to complement or receive the guard which may, when assembled, bear against same.

The longitudinally extending guard may be substantially fiat or arcuate in cross-section, and may include one or more longitudinally extending ribs. In a preferred embodiment, the longitudinally extending guard may have a curved cross section having one or more convex segments extending from the barrier 25 elements.

The guard may be manufactured from a variety of materials such as plastics materials and metallic materials or composite materials. In one embodiment the guard may be formed from thin walled metal section, such as roll formed galvanised steel.

The guard may be in the form of a continuous member such as a polymeric member wound on a spool for engagement with a plurality of barrier elements in situ. Alternatively, the guard may be formed from a plurality of guard segments such as the thin walled sections described above.

The longitudinally extending guard overlies two or more of the barrier elements. Advantageously, providing a guard which overlies a plurality of adjacent barrier elements serves to increase the stability of the barrier system and render it less deformable when subjected to minor impact. It is preferred that the guard overlie and be mounted on a multiplicity of adjacent barrier elements.

Where the guard is formed from a plurality of guard segments, it is preferred that each guard segment overlie two or more of the barrier elements. It is preferred that where the longitudinally extending guard is formed from a plurality of guard segments, each guard segment is a multiple of the length of each barrier element such that whereby a plurality of guard segments are connected, they each overlie a plurality of barrier elements and terminate along the side wall of the barrier element rather than adjacent to the end of the barrier element where it abuts an adjacent barrier element. It is preferred that each guard segment terminate at the mid portion of a barrier element. The guard may be secured to a barrier element by any convenient means. For example, by a plurality of threaded fasteners which extend through tubes connecting opposing side walls of the barrier element. In other embodiments, the guard may be secured to the barrier element using one or more clamps or clips. The guard or guards may be adapted to cover all or only selected portions of the side wall of the barrier elements. For 20 example, the guard may only cover the portion of the side wall of the barrier element that is most frequently struck by motor vehicles, such as the mid portion of the side wall.

It will be appreciated that in some embodiments guards may extend longitudinally along opposing side walls of the barrier elements such that the 25 water filled barrier elements are sandwiched between opposing guards.

In one embodiment, the guards and/or the barrier elements may also be 0 :*:secured to the ground if so desired. The barrier elements may include a base that is adapted to engage a surface on which the barrier system is to be deployed. The base may be integral with a base wall of the barrier element or may be releasably engaged therewith. The base may engage the surface in a non slip or fixed manner. Suitable engagement may include providing the base with a plurality of pointed members such as spikes or barbs which penetrate the surface. Altemrnatively the base may include a pad or plurality of pads formed from a deformable plastics or rubber like material which will hinder the movement of the barrier element relative to the surface. The base may also be adhered to the surface by an adhesive or a combination of an adhesive and an interlocking key on the base, for example, the use of base which is maintained on the surface of a roadway with protrusion in the form a metal spike, a bitumen or concrete key adapted to engage with a key way on the base.

In a preferred embodiment, the present invention provides a barrier system as described above wherein the barrier elements include a base wherein said base is integral with the plurality of barrier elements or engaged with the plurality of barrier elements and which base is adapted to engage a surface on which the barrier system is to be deployed.

In order that this invention may be more easily understood and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention, wherein: Figure 1 is a pictorial view of a barrier constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a pictorial view of a barrier system of the type shown in Figure 1 having a non slip mat for engagement with the surface on which the barrier system is to be deployed.

e 20 Figure 3 is a pictorial view of a barrier system of the type shown in Figure 1 having an adhesive mat for engagement with the surface on which the barrier system is to be deployed.

Figure 4 is a pictorial view of a barrier system of the type shown in Figure 1 having integrally moulded protrusions for engagement with the surface 25 on which the barrier system is to be deployed.

o*ea "...."Figure 5 is a pictorial view of a barrier system constructed in accordance with that shown in Figure 1 having a detachable base for engagement with the surface on which the barrier system is to be deployed.

Figure 1 shows a barrier 10 that includes a plurality of hollow, water fillable, barrier elements 11 that have been arranged end to end so as to form a substantially continuous, longitudinally extending obstacle. The barrier elements 11 each include a pair of opposing side walls 12 that are maintained in a spaced relationship by a top wall 13 and a base wall 14.

Preferably adjacent barrier elements 11 are connected by a plurality of threaded fasteners 15 that retain mating end portions 16 of the respective barrier elements 11 engaged.

The barrier 10 also includes a number of guards 17 manufactured from a thin walled, rolled section, of galvanised steel. The guards 17 are arranged end to end and are secured to the barrier elements by threaded fasteners 18. Individual guards are positioned such that they overlie the connection between adjacent barrier elements 11.

In use, the guards 17 protect the barrier elements 11 from direct contact with a motor vehicle and help strengthen the connection between adjacent barrier elements.

Figure 2 shows the barrier system of Figure 1 which further includes a non slip mat 20 positioned for engagement with the surface on which the barrier system is to be deployed.

Figure 3 shows the barrier system of Figure 1 which further includes an adhesive 30 positioned for engagement with the surface on which the barrier system is to be deployed.

20Figure 4 shows the barrier system of Figure 1 further including integrally moulded spikes 40 projecting from the base wall 14 of the barrier elements.

Figure 5 shows a base 50 having downwardly projecting spikes 51. The base 50 engages with adjacent with barrier elements 11 which are retained in engagement with the base 50 by pins (not shown) which pass through apertures 53 into corresponding apertures 52 and optionally into the surface on which the barrier system is deployed.

0" 25 It will of course be realised that the above has been given only by way of illustrative example of the present invention and that all such modifications and variations thereto as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of this invention as is herein described.

ooo o9

Claims (9)

1. A barrier system including: a plurality of hollow, ballast-fillable, demountable barrier elements that are arranged end to end so as to form a barrier, each of said barrier elements having opposing side walls and opposing end portions, said end portions being adapted to combine with an opposing end portion of an adjacent barrier element to form a joint connecting adjacent barrier elements together, and at least one thin walled, longitudinally extending, guard member that is mounted on and overlies the side walls of at least two adjacent barrier elements.

2. A barrier system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said one or more guard members extend across said side walls in a generally horizontal direction.

3. A barrier system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said one or more guard members are each substantially flat or 000 c° arcuate in cross-section.

4. A barrier system as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said one or more guard members each have a curved cross-section having one or more convex segments that extend outwardly from said side walls. oooo

5. A barrier system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, "0 ~wherein the profile of said side walls complements or is adapted to receive 0" .said one or more guard members. S

6. A barrier system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said one or more guard members are secured to at least one of said barrier elements by a plurality of threaded fasteners that extend through tubes that connect opposing side walls of the same barrier element together.

7. A barrier system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein each of said barrier elements includes a base that is either integral with said barrier element or attached thereto and wherein said base is adapted to engage a surface upon which it is deployed.

8. A barrier system as claimed in claim 7, wherein said base includes a plurality of pointed members, or a non slip pad, or an interlocking key, that is adapted to engage the surface.

9. A barrier system substantially as herein before described with reference to the accompanying drawings. S* e *S Se.. oe f *f ft ftS. ft f f. **ft. f ft ftft* ftftftf ft ft f ft ft ftf f f