Roadway barrier apparatus

Abstract

Roadway barrier apparatus including roadway barrier modules disposed end to end and pivotally connected together by a pivot pin positioned in aligned apertures of connector brackets at the ends of the modules, the pivot pin having a groove and a spring biased hinge pusher member positionable in the groove to limit upward movement of the pivot pin.

Claims

1. Roadway barrier apparatus comprising, in combination: a first roadway barrier module having a double-ended first module body and upper and lower first module connector brackets extending from each end thereof, said upper and lower first module connector brackets spaced a fixed vertical distance from one another and defining aligned first module bracket apertures, said upper and lower first module connector brackets affixed to said first roadway module and immovable relative thereto; a second roadway barrier module having a double-ended second module body and upper and lower second module connector brackets extending from each end thereof, said upper and lower second module connector brackets spaced from one another and defining aligned second module bracket apertures, said upper and lower second module connector brackets affixed to said second roadway module and immovable relative thereto, the first module body and the second module body being disposed with opposed ends thereof spaced from one another and the upper first and second module connector brackets thereof in overlapping relationship and the lower first and second module connector brackets in overlapping relationship with the first module bracket apertures and the second module bracket apertures aligned; an assembly including a guide structure disposed in a cavity formed in said first module body and further including a spring biased hinge pusher member within said guide structure slidably connected to the first module body extending from the first module body toward the second module body and continuously biased toward the second module body; and a pivot pin positioned between said first module body and said second module body in said aligned apertures of said first and second module body connector brackets and extending through said upper and lower first and second module connector brackets, said pivot pin having a circumferentially extending groove defined by upper and lower circular chamfered surfaces, said pivot pin including a pivot pin top portion above the topmost upper module connector bracket and said spring biased hinge pusher member positioned in said circumferentially extending groove to limit upward movement of said pivot pin and prevent disengagement of said pivot pin from said overlapping upper and lower connector brackets due to ratcheting effect caused by relative motion between the first and second roadway barrier modules, said pusher member having a pin contact surface engaging said pin between said upper and lower circular chamfered surfaces.

2. The roadway barrier apparatus according to claim 1 including a guide projection attached to the hinge pusher member slidable in a slot in the guide structure.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an assembly including a pivot pin constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention in operative association with a spring biased hinge pusher member positioned in a guide structure;

(2) FIG. 2 shows two roadway barrier modules connected by the pivot pin of the present invention extending through connector brackets of the modules, the assembly illustrated in FIG. 1 located in a cavity of the roadway barrier modules;

(3) FIG. 3 is a front, elevational view illustrating one of the roadway barrier modules having the pivot pin positioned in and extending through the upper and lower connector brackets thereof;

(4) FIG. 4 is an enlarged, elevational view of the drawing portion indicated in FIG. 2 by reference numeral 4; and

(5) FIG. 5 is an enlarged, perspective view of the assembly hinge pusher member and spring, the guide structure shown in dash lines.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(6) The present invention is directed to roadway barrier apparatus comprising a plurality of pivotally connected roadway barrier modules, the roadway barrier modules interconnected by structure of the present invention. Two such roadway barrier modules 10 and 12 are shown, but it is of course to be understood that they typically are utilized in a longer string of roadway barrier modules.

(7) The illustrated arrangement includes roadway barrier modules 10, 12 of like construction. Each roadway barrier module has a double-ended module body 14. In the illustrated embodiment the roadway barrier module bodies are of steel reinforced concrete but the principles of this invention apply to other module body constructions. Each roadway barrier module has an elongated upper module connector bracket 16 extending from both ends thereof. Lower module connector brackets 18 of the barrier modules also extend from both ends of the module body, the upper and lower module connector brackets spaced from one another and defining aligned module bracket apertures 20.

(8) The module bodies 14 of the roadway barrier modules 10, 12 are disposed with opposed ends thereof spaced from one another and the upper first and second module connector brackets 16, 18 thereof in overlapping relationship. The module bracket apertures thereof are aligned, as is conventional.

(9) In the drawings an assembly 26 is shown positioned in a cavity of module bodies 14. The assembly 26 includes a hinge pusher member 28, a spring 30 and a guide structure 32 which accommodates the hinge pusher member 28 and spring 30. The pusher member 28 in the assembly in second module 12 is urged in the direction of the module body 14 of roadway barrier module 10.

(10) A pivot pin 40 is positioned between the module bodies 14 of roadway barrier modules 10, 12. The pivot pin 40 is in the aligned apertures 20 at the ends of the module body connector brackets 16, 18 and extends through both the overlapped upper and lower module connector brackets.

(11) The pivot pin 40 has the circumferentially extending groove 44 defined by upper circular chamfered surface 46 and lower circular chamfered surface 48. The hinge pusher member 28 is positioned in the groove 44 to limit upward movement of the pivot pin and prevent disengagement of the pivot pin from the overlapping upper and lower connector brackets due to ratcheting effect caused by relative motion between the first and second roadway barrier modules. The pin contact surface 50 of the hinge pusher member engages the pin between the upper and lower chamfered surfaces. The path and placement of the hinge pusher member 28 is controlled by a guide projection 52 attached to the hinge pusher member 28 and positioned in a slot 54 of the guide structure.

(12) The chamfered circular surfaces facilitate removal of the pin from the module connector brackets when desired.