Barrier

Abstract

There is provided a barrier and a method of opening and closing a barrier. The barrier including a first arm moveable about a first support, a second arm moveable about a second support and at least one coupling. The first and second supports are spaced across an opening and the barrier is arranged between an open and closed position, such that in the closed position, the arms are arranged in combination to traverse the opening. The barrier is further arranged in a locked position, such that the coupling is slidably coupled to the first and second arms. The barrier improves the safety of loading bay areas in order to allow the efficient transfer of goods on freight transportation vehicles.

Claims

1. An impact barrier comprising: a first support; a second support; a first arm moveable about the first support to rotate about a substantially horizontal pivot axis; a second arm moveable about the second support to rotate about a substantially horizontal pivot axis; a coupling mounted to the first arm and arranged to slide relative to and along the first arm and the second arm, wherein: the first and second supports are spaced across an opening, and the impact barrier is arranged between an open position and a closed position, such that in the closed position, the first and second arms are arranged in combination to traverse the opening; and when in the closed position, the coupling is arranged to slide along and relative to the first and second arms, by a distance of at least 25% of a length of one of the first arm and the second arm, from a first position in which the coupling is mounted on only the first arm to a second position in which the coupling is mounted on both the first and second arms; and a projection provided on the second arm, the projection arranged to abut the coupling to impede movement of the coupling along the second arm beyond the second position when the impact barrier is arranged in the closed position.

2. The impact barrier as claimed in claim 1, wherein the coupling is hollow and is disposed on an outside of the first and second arms.

3. The impact barrier as claimed in claim 1, wherein: each of the first and second arms comprises a hollow section to accommodate the coupling; and the coupling is disposed on an inside of the first and second arms.

4. The impact barrier as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: another projection provided on the first arm, the other projection arranged to abut the coupling to impede movement of the coupling when the impact barrier is arranged in the first position.

5. The impact barrier as claimed in claim 1, wherein a slot or a recess is provided on the coupling.

6. The impact barrier as claimed in claim 1, wherein the projection comprises a plurality of elements that are located on the second arm.

7. The impact barrier as claimed in claim 4, wherein each of the projection and the other projection comprises a plurality of elements.

8. The impact barrier as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: a counterweight arranged on each of the first arm and the second arm such that the counterweight is outside the opening when the impact barrier is arranged in the closed position.

9. A method of opening and closing an impact barrier comprising the steps of: moving a first arm about a first support to rotate about a substantially horizontal pivot axis; moving a second arm about a second support to rotate about a substantially horizontal pivot axis, wherein the first and second supports are spaced across an opening, and the impact barrier is arranged between an open position and a closed position, such that in the closed position, the first and second arms are arranged in combination to traverse the opening; arranging the impact barrier into the closed position by arranging the first and second arms in combination to traverse the opening; sliding a coupling, by a distance of at least 25% of a length of one of the first arm and the second arm, from a first position in which the coupling is mounted on only the first arm to a second position in which the coupling is mounted on both the first arm and the second arm; and impeding movement of the coupling along the second arm beyond the second position by a projection provided on the second arm that abuts the coupling when the impact barrier is arranged in the closed position.

10. The method as claimed in claim 9, further comprising: the step of impeding movement of the coupling against another projection provided on the first arm when the impact barrier is arranged in the open position.

11. The method as claimed in claim 9, further comprising: the step of retracting the coupling towards and abutting another projection provided on the first arm when moving the coupling from the second position to the first position.

12. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the coupling is retained by only the first arm when the impact barrier moves to and from the open position and the closed position.

13. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein a counterweight is arranged on each of the first arm and the second arm to assist the movement of the first and second arms.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) For a better understanding of the invention, and to show how embodiments of the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a front view of a barrier showing the full range of movement from the open position to the closed position and finally to the locked position;

(3) FIG. 2 is a bottom view showing the underside of the barrier in the locked position (the dashed lines of the coupling show the closed position);

(4) FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional side view of the barrier showing the view towards the second support; and

(5) FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of FIG. 3 showing the coupling and first retaining means arranged on the first arm.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(6) Referring to FIG. 1, a barrier 100 is shown. The barrier 100 comprises a first arm 110 moveable about a first support 112 by means of rotation. A central shaft 114 supports the first arm 110 and allows the first arm 110 to rotate. Although not shown, bearings are provided on the first support 112 to promote smooth rotation of the first arm 110. A second arm 120 is also shown. The second arm 120 is also rotatable about a corresponding second support 122 and suitable bearings are provided. The barrier 100 further comprises a coupling 130 mounted on the second arm 120 whilst in an open position A. The first 112 and second 122 supports are spaced across an opening 140. The barrier 100 is moveably arranged between the open position A and closed position B. In the open position A, the arms 110,120 are upwardly facing and rest in a substantially vertical orientation. This is the limit of rotation about the central shaft 114. In the closed position B, the arms 110,120 are rotated in a downwards direction to be arranged in combination to traverse the opening 140. The range of movement is balanced by counterweights 116,126 arranged in each arm 110,112 in order to allow the rotation of the barrier 100 to be controlled and smooth and reduce any bending moments whilst generated in the closed B position. This helps to give an assured quality to the rotation of the arms 110,120 and helps to avoid acceleration of the arms 110,120 when moving towards or away from the closed position B. The barrier 100 is further arranged in a locked position C, whereby the coupling 130 is slidably coupled to the first 110 and second 120 arms. The coupling 130 acts like a sleeve. The coupling 130 is hollow and arranged on the exterior surface of the arms 110,120. When in the open position A, the coupling 130 is attached to the second arm 120. Accordingly, the counterweight 126 arranged on the second arm 120 is designed to accommodate the additional weight of the coupling 130 carried by the second arm 120 in order to maintain equal ease of lifting to the first arm 110.

(7) Further referring to FIG. 2, a first retaining means 150 is disposed on the first arm 110. The first retaining means 150 is shown as a protrusion which impedes movement of the coupling 130 whilst the barrier 100 is in the locked position C. The first retaining means 150 is shown on the underside of the first arm 110 so that when in the closed B and locked C positions, the first retaining means 150 is not exposed and is therefore better protected from damage. Furthermore, a second retaining means 160 is shown on the second arm 120, once again on the underside, for similar reasons. A further benefit of locating the first and second retaining means 150,160 on the underside of the first and second arms 110,120 is that visual inspection and repair can be easily established when the barrier 100 is in the open position A. This allows the retaining means 150,160 to be easily assessed at a comfortable, high level, as opposed to an awkward, low level.

(8) The coupling 130 is shown to travel a distance S when sliding the coupling 130 to operate the barrier 100 from the closed position B (as shown by the dashed lines) to the locked position C. Distance S may be at least 25% or at least 30% of the length of the arm from the distal end to the support. In the locked position C, the coupling 100 abuts the first retaining means 150 on the first arm 110 and partially covers both arms 110,120 in order to bridge the gap G between the arms 110,120. The coupling 130 can be used to partially lock the barrier 100 by sliding the coupling 130 partly along the first arm 110 but not up to the first retaining means 150. However, the effectiveness of the barrier 100 to lock the arms 110,120 and prevent distortion of the barrier 100 on impact is reduced. When the coupling 130 is retracted, the coupling abuts the second retaining means 160 on the second arm 120. This helps to provide positive feedback so that the user knows that the barrier 100 is safe to open.

(9) The first and second supports 112,122 are provided on a first and second base 118,128 respectively. Several bolts 119 are shown that are used to secure the first and second bases 118,128 to the ground. The first and second base 118,128 accommodates the first and second supports 112,122 in that the first and second supports 112,122 are stable and secure. Although not shown, the bolts 119 are suitably long to prevent lateral movement of the first and second base 118,128.

(10) Further referring to FIG. 3, the barrier 100 is shown in the open position A. In this upright position, the second arm 120 is shown to be substantially vertical and the coupling 130 is prevented from sliding along the second arm 120 by the second retaining means 160. The coupling 130 is shown to fully cover the circumference of the second arm 120 whilst in the open position A and helps to protect the integrity of the second arm 120. The second arm 120 is locked in the open position A by a locking member 180. Two locking members 180 are shown as pins that protrude across the second arm 120 and prevent rotation of the second arm 120. Although not shown, these locking members 180 are spring loaded so that when the second arm 120 moves past the locking members 180 and towards the open position A, the locking members 180 retract and then spring outwardly locking the second arm 120 in place. The locking members 180 are manually depressed to allow the second arm 120 to be lowered towards the closed and locked positions B,C.

(11) The second support 122 is shown to comprise two support members either side of the arm. This allows the central shaft 124 to be fully supported in order to carry the load of the second arm 120 and coupling 130. The two support members allow the load to be distributed towards the base 128 which is shown to be relatively wide compared to one support member. This helps to reduce the pressure on the ground in order to prevent localised sinking or cracking.

(12) It is appreciated from the discussion of the second arm 120 and the corresponding features of the second arm 120 as shown in FIG. 3 that similar technical features and variations can be equally applied to the first arm 110 and the corresponding features of the first arm 120.

(13) Finally referring to FIG. 4, an enlarged view of the cross-section through the first arm 110 of the barrier 100 is shown. This view shows the coupling 130 abutting the first retaining means 150 in the locked position C. The coupling 130 is a hollow member that wraps around the first and second arms 110,120 when in the locked position C. The coupling 130 and the first arm 110 are substantially circular. The coupling 130 and the first arm 110 are produced from an extrusion process and form an extruded plastic. The first arm 110 is also shown as a hollow member in order to allow the first arm 110 to have reduced weight so that the respective counterweight 126 can have reduced mass and thus save material and cost. The first retaining means 150 is shown to have at least the same thickness as the coupling 130.

(14) The industrial application of the invention will be readily appreciated from the description herein. In particular, the barrier is capable of being made and used in industry, especially in the designated loading bays or goods in or goods out areas of a manufacturing site.

(15) Although preferred embodiment(s) of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the claims.