Abstract
A barrier element for bounding a carriageway including an elongated casing, having two opposing longitudinal side walls and an upper wall joining the two side walls; and at least one casing support structure located in the elongate casing and connecting to both the side walls. Additionally, a support structure for use in a barrier element.
Claims
1. A barrier element for bounding a carriageway, comprising: an elongated casing, comprising two opposing longitudinal side walls and an upper wall joining the two side walls; and at least one casing support structure located in the elongate casing and connecting to both the side walls; wherein at least one of the side walls of the casing is connected to the support structure at least at two spaced apart locations, such that between the at least two spaced apart connection locations of the support structure and the side wall, the support structure and the side wall are situated at a distance of each other, leaving a mutual transposition space, wherein at least one of the side walls is provided with at least one indentation, elongated in the direction of elongation of the casing and projecting towards the support structure, and wherein the support structure is at a side facing one of the side walls provided with at least one indentation projecting away from said side wall to contact and form an abutment with the indentation provided in said side wall.
2. A barrier element according to claim 1, characterised in that the distance between the support structure and the side wall providing the mutual transposition space is at least 4 mm.
3. A barrier element according to claim 1, characterised in that the spaced apart connection locations of the support structure and the side wall are separated in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the casing.
4. A support structure for use in a barrier element according to claim 1.
5. A barrier element according to claim 1, wherein the at least one indentation of the at least one of the sidewalls comprises a first indentation and a second indentation spaced from the first indentation, wherein the at least one indentation of the support structure comprises a third indentation contacting and forming an abutment with the first indentation, and a fourth indentation contacting and forming an abutment with the second indentation.
6. A barrier element according to claim 1, characterised in that both the side walls of the casing are connected to the support structure at least at two spaced apart locations, such that between the at least two spaced apart connection locations of the support structure and each of the side walls the support structure and the side walls are on distance of each other.
7. A barrier element according to claim 1, characterised in that at least one of the side walls is provided with at least one slit, that cooperates with a protruding part of the casing support structure.
8. A barrier element according to claim 1, characterised in that the side walls are formed by a concatenation of straight wall parts.
9. A barrier element according to claim 1, characterised in that the upper wall is connected to the support structure.
10. A barrier element according to claim 1, characterised in that the support structure comprises a base having a trapezium-shaped cross-section in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the casing.
11. A barrier element according to claim 10, characterised in that the lower part of the side walls abuts the base of the support structure.
12. A barrier element according to claim 1, characterised in that the at least one support structure comprises an essentially vertical plate positioned perpendicular to the longitudinal side walls of the casing.
13. A barrier element according to claim 12, characterised in that the essentially vertical plate of the support structure transfers into an essentially horizontal support plate at the bottom end of the support structure.
14. A barrier element according to claim 1, characterised in that at least one side wall of the casing at a lower end bends inwards and the support structure is near the bottom end provided with a notch for receiving said inwardly bended end of the side wall.
15. A barrier element according to claim 1, characterised in that the casing support structure is provided with a holder directed towards the top side of the barrier and the upper wall is provided with an aperture in line with the holder such that the holder is accessible from the outside of the barrier element.
16. A barrier element according to claim 1, characterised in that an end side of the longitudinal casing is provided with a spacer plate, which spacer plate has a contour that follows the inside of the elongated casing.
17. A barrier element for bounding a carriageway, comprising: an elongated casing, comprising two opposing longitudinal side walls and an upper wall joining the two side walls; and at least one casing support structure located in the elongate casing and connecting to both the side walls; wherein at least one of the side walls is provided with at least one indentation, elongated in the direction of elongation of the casing and projecting towards the support structure, and wherein the support structure is at a side facing one of the side walls provided with at least one indentation projecting away from said side wall to contact and form an abutment with the indentation provided in said side wall.
18. A barrier element according to claim 17, wherein the at least one indentation of the at least one of the sidewalls comprises a first indentation and a second indentation spaced from the first indentation, wherein the at least one indentation of the support structure comprises a third indentation contacting and forming an abutment with the first indentation, and a fourth indentation contacting and forming an abutment with the second indentation.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) The invention will now be elucidated into more detail with reference to non-limitative exemplary embodiments shown in the following figures. Corresponding elements are indicated with corresponding numbers in the figures. In the figures:
(2) FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a barrier element according to the invention,
(3) FIG. 2 shows a top view of the barrier element of FIG. 1,
(4) FIG. 3 shows a cross section of the barrier element of FIG. 1 along line A-A as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4,
(5) FIG. 4 shows a side view of the barrier element of FIG. 1,
(6) FIGS. 5a-5b show a detailed perspective view of the respective end sides of the barrier element of FIG. 1, and
(7) FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of a casing support structure according to the invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
(8) FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a barrier element 1 according to the invention. The barrier element 1 comprises an elongated casing 2 that includes two longitudinal opposing side walls 3 connected by an upper wall 4. In the barrier element shown here, the casing 2 is formed by two opposing longitudinal metal sheets 5, that each constitute a side wall 3 of the barrier element as well as together forming the upper wall 4 of the barrier element. The metal sheets 5 are joined at the top and connected by a suitable connection such as a weld 6. It is however equally possible to use other sheet materials such as plastic. It is moreover possible that the casing 2 comprises a single folded material sheet or more than two separate sheets that together make up the elongated casing 2. The side walls 3 of the casing 2 are provided with indentations 7, between which the casing protrudes in an outer direction. The casing is further provided with slits 8, position along the side walls 3 and upper wall 4 of the casing 2 and configured to receive a corresponding protrusion provided on the support structure 14 of the barrier element (see FIGS. 3 and 7). The barrier element 1 further comprises two end sides 9 provided with coupling elements 10 for coupling with another barrier element. At the end sides 9 of the barrier element, the casing 2 encloses a spacer plate 11 having a contour that follows the inside of the casing 2.
(9) FIG. 2 shows a top view of the barrier element 1 of FIG. 1. As could be clearly seen from this top view, the elongated casing 2 of the barrier elements is formed by two metal sheets 5 that are joined at the top and connected by a weld 6. The upper wall 4 of the casing 2 is provided with slits 8 to guide through the protruding parts 17 provided on the support structure 14 (see FIGS. 3 and 7). The upper wall 4 is further provided with an aperture 12 which lies in line with a holder directed towards the top side 4 of the barrier 1 that may be provided in the support structure 14.
(10) FIG. 3 shows a cross section of the barrier element of FIG. 1 along line A-A as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4. Again shown is the elongated casing 2 that formed by a concatenation of straight wall parts that define a series of alternating indentations 7 and protruding parts 13. Located in the elongate casing 2 and connecting to both the side walls 3 is a casing support structure 14. Although a barrier element 1 could contain a single support structure, the shown embodiment of the barrier element comprises several (four) of such casing support structures 14. The support structure 14 itself extends from the base of the barrier element 1, where it constitutes a support surface 15 of the barrier element, to the top of the barrier element where it contacts the upper wall 4 of the casing 2. At the sides of the support structure 14 facing the side walls 3 of the casing 2, the support structure is provided with indentations 25 which function as an abutment for the side walls 3, and specifically the indented parts 7 of the side walls. It is also at these spaced-apart locations that the side walls 3 of the casing 2 are connected to the support structure 14. Between these locations, the side walls 3 protrude outwards, wherein the side walls 3 and the support structure 14 are on distance of each other such that a space 16 is present between the side walls 3 and the support structure 14. The casing support structure 14 is further provided with protruding parts 17 that are received in corresponding slits 8 provided in the casing 2. The support structure comprises a base 18 having a trapezium-shaped cross-section that widens towards its lower end. The side walls 3 connect to the trapezium-shaped base 18 and at a lower end bend inwards to be received in a notch 19 provided near the bottom end of the support structure 14. As a consequence, the side walls 3 of the elongated casing 2 stay clear off the ground surface. Support structure 14 is provided with holes 20 to reduce its weight and that of the barrier element 1.
(11) FIG. 4 shows a side view of the barrier element 1 of FIG. 1, depicting a side wall 3 of the elongated casing 2, comprising two longitudinally extending indentations 7 and multiple slits 8 for receiving a protruding part 17 of one of the support structures 14. The support structures 14 are at a bottom end provided with essentially horizontal support plates 21 that support the barrier element 1 and form the contact surfaces of the barrier element 1 with the ground (or road) they are placed on. The end sides 9 of the barrier element 1 are provided with coupling elements 10 that are shown in more detail in the following FIGS. 5a and 5b.
(12) FIGS. 5a-5b show a detailed perspective view of the respective end sides 9 of the barrier element 1 of FIG. 1. As may be seen here as well, the casing 2 is formed by two opposing longitudinal metal sheets 5, that each constitute a side wall 3 of the barrier element 1 as well as together forming the upper wall 4 of the barrier element. The metal sheets 5 are joined at the top and connected by a weld 6. At a lower end the side walls 3 bend inwards to stay clear off the ground. Both end sides 9 are provided with a spacer plate 11, which spacer plate has a contour that follows the inside of the elongated casing 2. In addition, both end sides 9 are provided with coupling elements 10 that cooperate with complementary coupling elements 10 of a neighbouring barrier element 1 in order to couple the respective barrier elements end-to-end. On a first end side 9 of the barrier element 1, the coupling elements 10 in the shown embodiment comprise multiple pins 22. These pins 22 cooperate with corresponding holes 23 comprised in the coupling elements 10 of the second end side of another, adjacent barrier element 1. The shown coupling elements 10 allow for a rapid deployment and removal of the barrier, as individual barrier elements 1 are coupled just by lowering the barrier elements in a vertical direction. It is however equally possible that the barrier element 1 is provided with other coupling means for the purpose of coupling the end sides 9 of adjacent barrier elements.
(13) FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of a casing support structure 14 according to the invention. The support structure 14 comprises an essentially vertical plate which is configured to be positioned perpendicular to the longitudinal side walls 3 of the casing 2. At the bottom end of the support structure 14, the vertical plate of the support structure transfers into an essentially horizontal support plate 21. For additional strength the base of the support structure 14 is in this particular embodiment provided with additional wall parts that together form a hollow beam 24. The sides of the support structure 14 that face the casing 2 are provided with indentations 15, which form an abutment for the (indented parts of the) casing 2. Moreover, protrusions 17 are provided alongside the sides of the support structure 14 facing the casing 2 that are configured to be received in corresponding slits 8 provided in the casing 2. In addition, the support structure 14 may comprise a holder (not shown) that connects to the top side 4 of the barrier element 1 and is able to receive suitable objects such as traffic signs, glare screens or guidance rails.
(14) It will be apparent that the invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments shown and described here, but that within the scope of the appended claims numerous variants are possible which will be self-evident to the skilled person in this field. It is possible here to envisage that different inventive concepts and/or technical measures of the above described embodiment variants can be wholly or partially combined without departing from the inventive concept described in the appended claims.
