Protective construction

Abstract

A protective construction, such as a fence for a race track, may include a device for energy dissipation, e.g., in line with a guy wire. In some examples, the energy dissipation device may have a braking profile and a cutting unit having at least one blade that can be pulled through the braking profile along its longitudinal axis.

Claims

1. A protective construction comprising: a carrier structure having at least one support held in place by a guy cable, wherein the guy cable is coupled to an anchor in the ground; an energy dissipation device disposed in line with the guy cable, the energy dissipation device including: a cutting unit having two cutting sheets arranged at a distance to each other, each cutting sheet having a cutting edge, wherein the cutting unit is coupled to a connecting lug; a flat sheet-metal strip having two pre-cut insertion gaps which transition into tapering inlet areas, which in turn transition into corresponding insertion slits; wherein the two pre-cut insertion gaps are configured to receive the cutting edges of the two cutting sheets; and wherein the flat sheet-metal strip is provided with a guide web having an end stop arranged at a free end thereof.

2. The protective construction of claim 1, further comprising a respective reception opening in each cutting sheet, configured to receive therethrough a connecting appliance.

3. The protective construction of claim 2, wherein the connecting appliance comprises a connection screw with a corresponding nut.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Further details, features and advantages of the invention follow from the following description of exemplary embodiments based on the drawing.

(2) Herein:

(3) FIG. 1 shows a schematically simplified side view of a protective construction according to the present disclosure,

(4) FIG. 2 shows a schematically slightly simplified top view of a device for energy dissipation according to the present disclosure,

(5) FIG. 3 shows a side view of the device of FIG. 2,

(6) FIG. 4 shows a rendering of a further embodiment of the device for energy dissipation according to the present disclosure corresponding to FIG. 2,

(7) FIG. 5 shows a rendering of the device of FIG. 4 corresponding to FIG. 3, and

(8) FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of a cutting or gap unit according to the invention for use in the energy dissipation device according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(9) FIG. 1 shows, in a schematically simplified manner, a protective construction 23 according to the invention, wherein FIG. 1 shows a side view.

(10) The protective construction 23 has a so-called carrier structure which is usually formed by a plurality of supports, which may for example be affixed via rock anchors 24 in the base of a slope. Depending on the length of the control structure of the protective construction 23, a plurality of such carriers is provided, which can be positioned next to each other at the slope H at selectable distances to each other. In principle, it is also possible that only one such carrier or only one cable arrangement is provided.

(11) The protective construction 23 further has a net 24 which is guided via carrying cable arrangement 27 in the area of a carrier head 26 of the carrier 25 that can be seen in FIG. 1, wherein it is possible that the carrying cable arrangement 27 comprises either one top carrying cable or multiple top carrying cables.

(12) In the area of the support foot 26 of the supports 25, a bottom carrying cable arrangement 28 is provided, which again can be comprised of one carrying cable or multiple carrying cables.

(13) In the shown, particularly preferred exemplary case, a middle cable arrangement 29 is provided between the top carrying cable arrangement 27 and the bottom carrying cable arrangement 28. This cable arrangement 29 can have one or multiple middle cables that can be guided at the carrier 25 via guide devices 30 or 31. Here, the guide devices 30 and 31 can for example be embodied as shackles, tube cable guides, or caliper guides.

(14) Further, the embodiment of the protective construction 23 according to FIG. 1 illustrates that a top guy cable 32 and a bottom guy cable 33 are provided. Via an attachment device 34 (rock anchors), the top guy cable 32 holds the carrier head of the carrier 25 in the subsoil of the slope H, while this fixation takes over the bottom guy cable 33 in the lower area (support foot 26) of the carrier 25. As illustrated in FIG. 1, with each of these guy cable arrangements 32, 33, a braking element or an energy dissipation device can be switched in, which is symbolized in FIG. 1 by the block 35 and can be embodied according to the previously explained embodiments of the dissipation device according to the invention.

(15) A corresponding fixation of the top and bottom carrying cables (which is not shown in FIG. 1) as well as of the middle cables can be realized by way of an energy dissipation device 36 (also referred to as an energy absorbing structure or a cable brake) that can also be embodied corresponding to the principles of the present invention, which are explained in the following based on FIGS. 2 to 6. Here, it is possible to switch in a dissipation device 1 in each of the individual cables 27, 28, 29, 32 or 33, or to assign multiple cables (such as e.g. the cables 29 and 32, 33) to such a dissipation device 1.

(16) FIGS. 2 and 3 show a first particularly preferred embodiment of a device 1 for energy dissipation (energy dissipation device) according to the invention.

(17) The device 1 has a braking profile 2 which in an exemplary case is constructed of an elongated rectangular sheet-metal strip 11A and a guide web 11B that is centrally welded to the same, and at which an end stop 10 is affixed at one end.

(18) As illustrated in a combined view of FIGS. 2 and 3, a pair of pre-cut gaps for inserting cutting sheets 5A and 5B, which are parts of a cutting unit 3 acting together with the braking profile 2 for creating the energy dissipation, is provided in the sheet-metal strip 11A at the end of the sheet-metal strip 11A that is arranged opposite the end stop 10. The pre-cut gaps 7A, 7B for inserting these cutting sheets 5A and 5B transition into tapering inlet areas 8A or 8B which in turn transition into pre-cut insertion slits 9A and 9B that pass through the entire sheet thickness of the sheet-metal strip 11A.

(19) As can in particular be seen from FIG. 3, the cutting sheet 5A has a cutting edge 4A, just like the cutting sheet 5B that has such a cutting edge, which will be described in more detail based on FIG. 6.

(20) As is further shown in the combined view of FIGS. 2 and 3, the sheet-metal strip 11B is provided with a connecting lug 12 for a cable that is not shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, for which purpose the connecting lug 12 comprises a connecting recess 14 into which e.g. a cable shackle can be inserted.

(21) The cutting unit 3 also has a connecting lug that is indicated by reference number 13 and inside of which a connecting recess 15, into which e.g. a shackle of a cable arrangement can be inserted, is also provided.

(22) Here, FIG. 3 illustrates that the connecting recesses 14 and 15 are arranged in a line of sight F, so that no canting can occur as a result of the cutting unit 3 being pulled through the braking profile 2, so that the cutting process is equalized.

(23) Such a device 1 for energy dissipation can be installed in the protective construction 23, for example at the position of the devices for energy dissipation that are characterized by the reference numbers 35 and 36.

(24) The particular advantage of the embodiment according to FIGS. 2 and 3 is the fact that the energy to be received can be set in a very simple manner by way of a corresponding dimensioning of the sheet-metal strip 11A.

(25) Further resulting are advantages with regard to simple mounting through the pre-cut gaps 7A and 7B into which the cutting sheets 5A and 5B can be inserted in a simple manner. Further, the cutting process is improved by the tapering inlet areas 8A and 8B connecting to the gaps 7A and 7B, as well as the insertion slits 9A and 9B in turn connecting to the former.

(26) As previously explained, in the embodiment according to FIGS. 2 and 3, the braking profile 2 is constructed from a flat sheet-metal strip 11A and the guide web 11B, thus forming a T-profile. Here, the guide web 11B represents an option which, although improving the guiding of the cutting sheets 5A and 5B, does not necessarily have to be provided, so that, according to the invention, the braking profile 2 can also be a flat or planar sheet-metal strip such as the sheet-metal strip 11A.

(27) As the cutting unit 3 is pulled through the braking profile with its blade or its blades 4A, 4B, energy dissipation is realized by the braking profile 2 being split by the blade or the blades 4A, 4B, that is, a part of the braking profile 2 is severed by the cutting unit 3.

(28) In contrast to that, in the embodiment of the device 1 for energy dissipation according to FIGS. 4 and 5, a hollow profile is used as a braking profile 2, which may for example be embodied to have a round or angular cross section. In other words, any kind of hollow profile is suitable for the embodiment according to FIGS. 4 and 5.

(29) The cutting unit 3 of the embodiment according to FIGS. 4 and 5 has a cutting sheet 17 with cutting edges 4A and 4B, wherein the cutting sheet 17 is affixed at a tension rod 16 that can be inserted into the hollow braking profile 2, as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5. At its free end, the tension rod 16 has a connecting lug 13 with a connecting recess 15 into which a cable shackle of a cable of a protective construction can be inserted.

(30) At the opposite end, the braking profile 2 also has a connecting lug which is indicated by the reference number 12 as it corresponds to the connecting lug 12 of the embodiment according to FIGS. 2 and 3 and correspondingly also has a connecting recess 14 for inserting a cable shackle.

(31) If in the course of a braking process the tension rod 16 including the cutting sheet 17 affixed thereat is pulled with its cutting edges 4A and 4B through the hollow braking profile 2, the cutting edges 4A and 4B cut open the braking profile, whereby an energy dissipation occurs. Here, the cutting profile 17 is embodied as a flat profile, as follows from a combined view of FIGS. 4 and 5.

(32) In an exemplary case, the cutting sheets or cutting plates 5A and 5B are formed in a trapezoid manner in a top area and aligned in parallel to each other, as illustrated in the perspective rendering of the cutting unit 3 in FIG. 6. Further, the cutting plates 5A and 5B have mounting plates 19 and 20 that are formed in one piece with the trapezoid areas and are connected, preferably welded, to the connecting lug 13, which represents the final mounted state of the cutting unit 3 according to the invention.

(33) As FIG. 6 illustrates, the cutting sheets or cutting plates 5A and 5B take a selectable distance A to each other, since in the state where they are placed onto the braking profile 2, the guide web 11B, if provided, is received inside the resulting intermediate space.

(34) Further, FIG. 6 illustrates that provided between the trapezoid sections of the cutting plates 5A and 5B and the mounting plates 19 and 20 is respectively one insertion slit 18A or 18B, formed in a U-shaped manner and with the cutting edge 4A or 4B respectively being arranged in its base. As can be seen based on the cutting edge 4B, it ends in a guidance chamfer 4C which terminates at an outer wall surface 6C of the cutting plate 5B. A corresponding chamfer is also provided in the cutting edge 4A, but is not visible in FIG. 6. During insertion into the braking profile 2, these chamfers facilitate the sheering off of the severed profile area and thus result in an equalized energy dissipation.

(35) It is further illustrated in FIG. 6 that both cutting plates 5A and 5B have corresponding reception openings 6A and 6B that are arranged in a manner aligned with each other, so that connecting elements, such as for example a connection screw with a corresponding nut, can be inserted through these reception openings 6A and 6B, and can be affixed with corresponding nuts. This connection screw, which is not shown in detail in FIG. 6, improves the guidance of the cutting sheets or cutting plates 5A and 5B during the cutting process, so that it is ensured that the cutting plates 5A and 5B are not sheared off outwards during the cutting process or splitting process.

(36) As follows from the above explanation of the components of the dissipation device 1 according to the invention, the braking profile 2 as well as the cutting unit 3 respectively represent objects that can be traded autonomously and independently of each other, and thus are invention features which are characterized by the previously explained constructional and functional features.

(37) Further, it should be stressed that the blades or cutting edges 4A, 4B can be hardened in both previously described embodiments. Such hardening can preferably be realized by way of gas nitration.

(38) The previously described particularly preferred embodiment of the braking profile 2 for the device 1 for energy dissipation can also be embodied merely as a flat sheet-metal strip having neither pre-cut insertion gaps 7A, 7B nor inlet areas 8A, 8B or insertion slits 9A, 9B. In that case, it is only necessary to provide connecting lugs, such as the connecting lugs 12, 13 that were described by way of example. However, the previously described embodiment of the braking profile 2 with insertion gaps, inlet areas and insertion slits is a particularly preferred embodiment. Here, the inlet areas 8A, 8B can be formed in a tapering or obtusely tapering manner. What is to be understood by tapering here is that an inflow area with an acute angle is created, while obtusely tapering would mean that the inflow area can be embodied so as to be at least slightly rounded.

(39) In addition to the above written disclosure, the drawn rendering of the invention in FIGS. 1 to 6 is explicitly referred by way of complimenting the disclosure of the invention.

PARTS LIST

(40) 1 device for energy dissipation 2 braking profile 3 cutting unit/gap unit 4A, 4B blade/cutting edge 5A, 5B cutting sheet/cutting plate 6A, 6B reception opening for connection screw 7A, 7B pre-cut gap 8A, 8B tapering inlet area 9A, 9B insertion slit 10 end stop 11A sheet-metal strip 11B guide web 12 connecting lug 13 connecting lug 14, 15 connecting recesses 16 tension rod 17 insertion slit 18 insertion slit 19 mounting plate 20 mounting plate 23 protective construction 24 net 25 support 26 support foot 26 support head 27 top carrying cable arrangement 28 bottom carrying cable arrangement 29 middle cable arrangement 30, 31 cable guiding elements (shackles) 32, 33 top or bottom guy cable arrangement 34, 37 attachment elements (rock anchors) 35, 36 device for energy dissipation (cable brake, energy absorption element) A distance F line of sight L longitudinal axis H slope

(41) The following series of paragraphs is presented without limitation to describe additional aspects and features of the disclosure. A0. Protective construction (23) with a device (1) for energy dissipation, comprising: a braking profile (2); and a cutting unit (3), having at least one blade (4A, 4B) that can be pulled along the longitudinal axis (L) of the braking profile (2) through the same. A1. Protective construction according to A0, characterized in that the cutting unit (3) has two blades (4A, 4B) that are arranged at a distance to each other. A2. Protective construction according to A0 or A1, characterized in that the cutting unit (3) has at least one, preferably two, cutting sheets (5A, 5B) that are arranged at a distance to each other and connected to a connecting lug (13), and which comprise the cutting edge (4A) or the cutting edges (4A, 4B). A3. Protective construction according to any of paragraphs A0 through A2, characterized in that the braking profile (2) is formed as a flat or planar sheet-metal strip (11A). A4. Protective construction according to A0, characterized in that the sheet-metal strip (11A) is provided with a centrally arranged guide web (11B). A5. Protective construction according to any of paragraphs A0 through A3, characterized in that the braking profile (2) is formed as a hollow profile, preferably as a round or angular hollow profile. A6. Protective construction according to A5, characterized in that the cutting unit (3) has a flat cutting profile (17) that is provided with two blades (4A, 4B). A7. Protective construction according to A6, characterized in that the flat cutting profile (17) is connected to a tension rod (16) that can be inserted into the hollow braking profile (2). A8. Protective construction according to any of paragraphs A0 through A7, characterized in that the blade (4A, 4B) is formed in a hardened manner, preferably hardened by way of gas nitration. B0. Device (1) for energy dissipation for a protective construction (23), characterized by at least one of paragraphs A0 through A8. C0. Cutting unit (3) with at least one blade (4A) that is attached at a cutting sheet (5A). C1. Cutting unit according to C0, characterized in that two cutting sheets (5A, 5B) arranged at a distance to each other are provided, respectively having a cutting edge (4A and 4B) and being connected, preferably welded, to a connecting lug (13). C2. Cutting unit according to C0 or C1, characterized in that the cutting sheets (5A, 5B) respectively have a reception opening (6A, 6B) through which a connecting appliance, preferably in the form of a connection screw with a corresponding nut, can be guided. D0. Braking profile (2) for a device (1) for energy dissipation, having a flat sheet-metal strip (11A) inside of which pre-cut insertion gaps (7A, 7B) are provided, which preferably transition into tapering or obtusely tapering inlet areas (8A, 8B), which in turn preferably transition into corresponding insertion slits (9A, 9B). D1. Braking profile according to D0, characterized in that the flat sheet-metal strip (11A) is provided with a guide web (11B), wherein an end stop (10) is preferably arranged at the free end of the guide web (11B).