Vehicular traffic barrier system

[0002] This invention relates to a vehicular traffic barrier system, more particularly, to a barrier comprised of a plurality of pivotally connected barrier system sections which are transferable to different locations on a roadway or other surface.

[0003] Moveable vehicular traffic barriers or dividers are in widespread usage. Some of these systems incorporate a plurality of sections including concrete barrier modules which are pivotally interconnected by hinges and disposed end to end. Exemplary moveable barrier systems of this latter type are made available by Barrier Systems Inc. of Rio Vista, Calif. and sold under the registered trademark Quick Change. Applicant is also aware of the following United States patents which relate to lane barrier systems and related structures: U.S. Pat. No. 4,624,601, issued Nov. 25, 1986, U.S. Pat. No. 4,498,803, issued Feb. 12, 1985, U.S. Pat. No. 4,500,225, issued Feb. 19, 1985, U.S. Pat. No. 4,474,503, issued Oct. 2, 1984, U.S. Pat. No. 4,806,044, issued Feb. 21, 1989, U.S. Pat. No. 4,815889, issued Mar. 28, 1989, U.S. Pat. No. 4,828,425, issued May 9, 1989, U.S. Pat. No. 5,006,010, issued Apr. 9, 1991, U.S. Pat. No. 5,246,305, issued Sep. 21, 1993, U.S. Pat. No. 5,253,951, issued Oct. 19, 1993, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,387,049, issued Feb. 7, 1995.

[0004] Moveable barrier systems featuring pivotally interconnected sections can sustain structural damage when struck and deflected by an automobile or other vehicle. One type of damage that can occur is breakage at the corners of the modules when they are deflected or moved in such a way as to bring the corners of adjacent modules into direct contact.

[0005] The present invention relates to an approach which inexpensively, efficiently and effectively reduces corner breakage on moveable barrier system sections when they are deflected, adding to the durability of the sections.

[0006] A vehicular traffic barrier system constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention includes a plurality of pivotally interconnected sections generally disposed end to end. Each section includes a barrier module having a top, a bottom, a pair of side walls and a pair of end walls.

[0007] Hinge elements are located at the end walls of the barrier module connecting the section to adjacent sections.

[0008] At least one resilient bumper is connected to the barrier module extending outwardly from each of the end walls thereof for engaging adjacent sections to limit relative pivotal movement therebetween and to absorb shock forces caused by the relative pivotal movement.

[0009] Other features, advantages, and objects of the present invention will become apparent with reference to the following description and accompanying drawings.

[0010] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a portion of a vehicular traffic barrier system constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention and including a plurality of pivotally interconnected sections disposed end to end;

[0011] FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the portion of the vehicular traffic barrier system shown in FIG. 1;

[0012] FIG. 3 is a perspective, detail view of the lower corners of two adjacent sections, each corner having a resilient bumper associated therewith;

[0013] FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but illustrating the vehicular traffic barrier system in a deflected condition, as caused, for example, by having been struck by a vehicle;

[0014] FIG. 5 is a plan view of the deflected barrier system portion shown in FIG. 4;

[0015] FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 3, but showing bumpers associated with adjacent deflected barrier system sections in engagement;

[0016] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a bumper;

[0017] FIG. 8 is a bottom, perspective view showing one bumper installed on an end of a section module and one bumper and related components prior to installation on the module;

[0018] FIG. 9 is a greatly enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line 9—9 of FIG. 3 and showing a bumper and surrounding structure of the module; and

[0019] FIG. 10 is a greatly enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line 10—10 of FIG. 3 and showing structural details relating to a bumper and the means of attachment thereof to the barrier module.

[0020] Referring now to the drawings, a moveable vehicular traffic barrier system constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention includes a plurality of vehicular traffic barrier system sections disposed end to end.

[0021] Each section 10 includes a barrier module 12 having a top 14, a bottom 16, a pair of side walls 18 and a pair of end walls 20. End walls 20 are generally V-shaped as viewed from the top or bottom and include two end wall surface portions 21 angularly disposed relative to one another. The illustrated barrier modules 12 are suitably formed of reinforced concrete.

[0022] Hinge elements 22, 24 are located at the centers of the end walls of the barrier modules and are cooperable with a hinge pin 26 to hingedly connect the sections 10 to adjacent sections. When the sections 10 are pivotally interconnected they form an articulated string that can be moved by suitable commercially available equipment utilized for such purpose.

[0023] FIGS. 1 and 2 show a plurality of sections 10 coaxially disposed and forming a straight line. In FIGS. 4 and 5, on the other hand, these sections have been displaced and in the configuration illustrated form a double curve. Such deflection may, for example, have been caused by the impact of a vehicle or perhaps may have taken place during the barrier moving operation.

[0024] It will be appreciated that if the deflection of the vehicular traffic barrier system sections 10 is great enough, the corners of at least some of the sections will be brought into engagement. This can result in breakage of the barrier modules at the locations of engagement. The problem is somewhat exacerbated by the fact that barrier sections of this type can have considerable weight, often approaching or even exceeding fifteen hundred pounds for each barrier element or section.

[0025] It is an objective of the present invention to reduce or in some cases even eliminate such damage. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention each section 10 includes four resilient bumpers 30 connected to the barrier module thereof and extending outwardly from each of the end walls thereof. The bumpers may be formed of any suitable resilient material such as rubber or an elastomeric material having the desired characteristics. A suitable representative material for formation of the bumpers is truck tire tread material having a Durometor Scale A hardness of about 60.

[0026] Two bumpers 30 extend outwardly from each of the end walls of a section 10, the bumpers being spaced from one another. The bumpers are located at the side walls of their respective barrier modules and also project downwardly from the bottoms of the barrier modules to support the modules on a roadway or other surface (not shown).

[0027] The resilient bumpers 30 are positioned in cavities 34 defined by the barrier modules 12 at the four corners thereof. The resilient bumpers limit relative pivotal movement between the adjacent hingedly interconnected sections 10 when they are deflected and also serve to absorb shock forces caused by the relative pivotal movement so that such shock forces are not applied directly to the concrete barrier modules. The bumpers 30 have substantially planar contact surfaces which parallel the angled end surface portions 21 of the modules with which they are associated so that the substantially planar contact surfaces of adjacent bumpers are placed in substantially full engagement when in contact to distribute forces.

[0028] The bumpers are in frictional engagement with their respective barrier modules. Each of the cavities 34 has an inner cavity wall having a predetermined cross-sectional shape and the bumpers received by the cavities have an outer bumper wall of essentially the same cross-section. It will be noted that the cavities include recesses 40 receiving correspondingly shaped protrusions 42 on the bumpers.

[0029] The bumpers 30 are preferably solid except for bumper openings 44 formed therein. The bumper openings 44 receive threaded ends 50 of concrete reinforcement bars 52 extending through the barrier modules closely adjacent to the ends thereof. Nuts 54 and washers 56 are employed to retain the bumpers in place on the reinforcement bars and in the cavities 34.