CONNECTING DEVICE FOR A POST OF A ROADWAY EQUIPMENT SUPPORT STRUCTURE, AND A ROADWAY EQUIPMENT SUPPORT STRUCTURE THAT INCLUDES SAID CONNECTING DEVICE

Abstract

The invention relates to a connecting device for a pole of the support structure for road equipment, including a hollow drum, having a circular, elliptical, or polygonal section, comprising a first end for anchoring to the foundation, a second end for fixing to a lower end of the pole, and a central part with a wall portion configured for deforming in a controlled manner when an impact force acts on the pole, such that the lower end of the pole is displaced upwards and twisted in the direction of the impact force. A support structure for road equipment including the connecting device is also an object of the invention.

Claims

1. A support structure for road equipment (3), comprising a pole (2), formed by a hollow cylindrical, elliptical, prismatic, polygonal, truncated pyramid-shaped, or truncated cone-shaped mast, comprising a lower end (2.1) adapted for being fixed to a terrain (6) by means of a foundation (4), and a connecting device (1) arranged between the lower end (2.1) of the pole (2) and the foundation (4), wherein the connecting device (1) comprises a hollow drum (1.1), having a circular, elliptical, or polygonal cross-section, adapted for being arranged with its longitudinal axis parallel to a longitudinal axis of the pole (2), the hollow drum (1.1) comprising a first end (1.11), a second end (1.12), and a central part (1.13) arranged between said ends (1.11, 1.12), where the first end (1.11) is adapted for being fixed to the foundation (4) by means of an anchoring piece (1.2) which is connected to said first end (1.11) of the hollow drum (1.1), and the second end (1.12) is adapted for being fixed onto the outside of the lower end (2.1) of the pole (2), characterized in that, in use, the second end (1.12) of the hollow drum (1.1) which is fixed to the lower end (2.1) of the pole (2) is arranged below the anchoring piece (1.2) for anchoring to the foundation (4), and the hollow drum (1.1) and the lower end (2.1) of the pole (2) are arranged inside a hollow space (4.1) formed in the foundation (4) {original claim 9}, and the central part (1.13) comprises a wall portion (7) configured for deforming in a controlled manner under compression when an impact force (F) acts on the pole (2), such that the lower end (2.1) of the pole (2) is adapted for being displaced upwards or being raised and twisted in the direction of the impact force (F), the lower end (2.1) of the pole (2) remaining fixed to the second end (1.12) of the hollow drum (1.1).

2. The support structure according to claim 1, wherein the wall portion (7) comprises a plurality of longitudinal notches (7.1) formed and distributed along the perimeter in said wall portion (7).

3. The support structure according to claim 1, wherein the wall portion (7) comprises a plurality of longitudinal slots (7.2) formed and distributed along the perimeter in said wall portion (7).

4. The support structure according to claim 3, wherein when the hollow drum (1.1) has a polygonal cross-section, the longitudinal slots (7.2) of the weakened wall portion (7) are formed on some or on all of the edges (1.131) of the central part (1.13) corresponding to the wall portion (7).

5. The support structure according to claim 1, wherein the wall portion (7) comprises transverse creases (7.3) formed along the perimeter in said wall portion (7).

6. The support structure according to claim 1, wherein the wall portion (7) comprises transverse notches or slots (7.4, 7.5) formed along the perimeter forming rows and columns in said wall portion (7).

7. The support structure according to claim 1, wherein the wall portion (7) comprises a wall thickness (e1) of the central part (1.13) less than a wall thickness (e2) of the first and second ends (1.11, 1.12) of the hollow drum (1.1).

8. The support structure according to claim 1, wherein the wall portion (7) comprises a non-constant longitudinal section, including a segment of a cross-section (s1) of the central part (1.13) having smaller dimensions than a cross-section (s2) of the first and second ends (1.11, 1.12) of the hollow drum (1.1).

9. (canceled)

10. (canceled)

11. The support structure according to claim 1, wherein the anchoring piece (1.2) is connected to the first end (1.11) of the hollow drum (1.1) by means of welding.

12. (canceled)

13. The support structure according to claim 1, wherein the second end (1.12) of the hollow drum (1.1) comprises first openings (1.121) which match up with respective second openings (2.11) formed in the lower end (2.1) of the pole (2), where each first opening (1.121) and the corresponding second opening (2.11) are configured for being traversed by second fixing means (8) adapted for keeping said second end (1.12) of the hollow drum (1.1) fixed to the lower end (2.1) of the pole (2).

14. The support structure according to claim 1, wherein the second end (1.12) of the hollow drum (1.1) is fixed to the lower end (2.1) of the pole (2) by means of welding.

15. (canceled)

16. The support structure according to claim 1, wherein the pole (2) comprises an upper end (2.2) adapted for being fixed directly or by means of an extension element (9) to at least one item of road equipment (3) selected from the group consisting of a lighting means (3.1), a sign panel (3.2), a traffic signal (3.3), and a support bracket (3.4) for overhead lines (3.41).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0025] A set of figures illustrating a non-limiting, preferred embodiment of the invention is attached to the present specification.

[0026] FIG. 1 depicts a schematic front view of a first embodiment of the connecting device for being connected to the pole of the support structure for road equipment, where the second end of the hollow drum, which is fixed to the lower end of the pole, is arranged below an anchoring piece to the foundation which is welded to the first end of said hollow drum.

[0027] FIGS. 2a-2b depict a sequence of the assembly of the lower end of the pole on the connecting device according to the embodiment of FIG. 1.

[0028] FIGS. 3a-3c depict a sequence of the behavior of the connecting device and of the pole according to the embodiment of FIG. 1 during a vehicle impact (represented by the horizontal impact force (F)) against the pole.

[0029] FIG. 4 depicts a schematic front view of a second embodiment of the connecting device for being connected to the pole of the support structure for road equipment, where the second end of the hollow drum which is fixed to the lower end of the pole is arranged above the first end of the hollow drum which is fixed to the foundation by means of an anchoring piece welded to said first end of the hollow drum.

[0030] FIG. 5 depicts a perspective view of the connecting device of FIG. 1 or 4, including a first embodiment of the wall portion of the central part of its hollow drum.

[0031] FIG. 6 depicts a perspective view of the connecting device of FIG. 1 or 4, including a second embodiment of the wall portion of the central part of its hollow drum.

[0032] FIGS. 7a-7d depict front views of the connecting device of FIG. 1 or 4, including other possible embodiments of the wall portion of the central part of its hollow drum.

[0033] FIG. 8a depicts a section view of an enlarged detail of the hollow drum of the connecting device of FIG. 1 or 4, showing another embodiment of the wall portion of the central part of the hollow drum based on a reduction of the wall thickness of said weakened wall portion.

[0034] FIG. 8b depicts a section view of an enlarged detail of the hollow drum of the connecting device of FIG. 1 or 4, showing another embodiment of the wall portion of the central part of the hollow drum based on a non-constant longitudinal section of said wall portion in the form of a diabolo or hourglass.

[0035] FIGS. 9a-9b depict top and bottom views of the connecting device of FIG. 1 or 4 fixed to the lower end of the pole, using screwed connections, in relation to orthogonal and circular sections of the pole, respectively.

[0036] FIG. 10 depicts a schematic front view of a third embodiment of the connecting device for being connected to the pole of the support structure for road equipment, where the second end of the hollow drum which is fixed to the lower end of the pole is arranged above the first end of the hollow drum which is fixed directly to the foundation.

[0037] FIGS. 11a-11d depict examples of road equipment which can be fixed to the upper end of the pole comprising the connecting device of FIG. 1, 4 or 10.

DETAILED DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

[0038] The present invention relates to a connecting device for a pole of the support structure for road equipment on either public or private roads such as freeways, roads, streets, parking, etc.

[0039] As shown in FIGS. 1, 4 and 10, the connecting device (1) basically comprises a hollow drum (1.1), having a circular, elliptical, or polygonal cross-section, preferably made of metal or a metal alloy, which is adapted for being arranged with its longitudinal axis parallel to a longitudinal axis of the pole (2) of a support structure for road equipment (3).

[0040] In turn, the hollow drum (1.1) comprises a first end (1.11) and a second end (1.12), where the first end (1.11) is adapted for being fixed directly or indirectly to the foundation (4), and the second end (1.12) is adapted for being fixed to a lower end (2.1) of the pole (2).

[0041] In a first preferred embodiment of the connecting device (1) shown in FIGS. 1, 2a, and 2b, the first end (1.11) of the hollow drum (1.1) is fixed indirectly to the foundation (4) by means of an anchoring piece (1.2), where the hollow drum (1.1) is adapted for fitting onto the outside of the lower end (2.1) of the pole (2), such that in use, the second end (1.12) of the hollow drum (1.1) which is fixed to the lower end (2.1) of the pole (2) is arranged below (at a lower height than) the anchoring piece (1.2) for anchoring to the foundation (4), for example, a base plate, which is fixed, preferably by welding, to the first end (1.11) of the hollow drum (1.1), and the hollow drum (1.1) and the lower end (2.1) of the pole (2) are arranged inside a hollow space (4.1) formed in the foundation (4).

[0042] In a second embodiment of the device of anchoring (1) shown in FIG. 4, the first end (1.11) of the hollow drum (1.1) is likewise fixed indirectly to the foundation (4) by means of the anchoring piece (1.2), where in this case the hollow drum (1.1) is adapted for fitting onto the inside or onto the outside (not shown in FIG. 4) of the lower end (2.1) of the pole (2), such that in use, the second end (1.12) of the hollow drum (1.1) which is fixed to the lower end (2.1) of the pole (2) is arranged above (at a greater height than) the first end (1.11) of the hollow drum (1.1) which is fixed to the foundation (4) through the anchoring piece (1.2); for example, said anchoring piece (1.2) could likewise be a base plate which is fixed, preferably by welding, to said first end (1.11) of the hollow drum (1.1).

[0043] In both embodiments mentioned above, the anchoring piece (1.2) is preferably fixed to the foundation (4) through first fixing means (5), for example, anchor bolts (5.1), partially embedded in the foundation (4) on the upper surface (4.2) thereof, and respective washer and nut assemblies (5.2) adapted for being inserted and threaded respectively into said anchor bolts (5.1), after the latter traverse respective openings (1.21) formed in the anchoring piece (1.2). The upper surface (4.2) of the foundation (4) can be located on the surface of the terrain (6) or can be buried a certain depth from said surface.

[0044] Likewise, in a third embodiment of the connecting device (1), the hollow drum (1.1) is adapted for fitting onto the inside, as shown in FIG. 10, or onto the outside of the lower end (2.1) of the pole (2), such that in use, the second end (1.12) of the hollow drum (1.1) which is fixed to the lower end (2.1) of the pole (2) is arranged above (at a greater height) the first end (1.11) of the hollow drum (1.1) which is fixed directly to the foundation (4), i.e., without the use of an anchoring piece (1.2), as occurs in the embodiments described above. For example, the fixing of the first end (1.11) of the hollow drum (1.1) to the foundation (4) can be achieved if said first end (1.11) of the hollow drum (1.1) is embedded in the foundation (4) through the upper surface (4.2) thereof due to the formation and setting of said foundation (4) with the first end (1.11) of hollow drum (1.1) inserted therein. In order to reinforce the fixing of the first end (1.11) of the hollow drum (1.1) to the foundation (4), said first end (1.11) of the hollow drum (1.1) may be provided with screws, pins, or a similar element (not shown in the figures) fixed thereto in a manner transverse to its longitudinal axis.

[0045] Moreover, in all the embodiments of the connecting device (1), the second end (1.12) of the hollow drum (1.1) preferably comprises first openings (1.121) which match up with respective second openings (2.11) formed in the lower end (2.1) of the pole (2), where each first opening (1.121) and the corresponding second opening (2.11) are configured for being traversed by second fixing means (8) adapted for keeping said second end (1.12) of the hollow drum (1.1) fixed to the lower end (2.1) of the pole (2), for example by means of the screwed attachments (8.1) (screw and nut) shown in FIGS. 9a-9b. However, the fixing of the second end (1.12) of the hollow drum (1.1) to the lower end (2.1) of the pole (2) could also be achieved by means of welding.

[0046] Additionally, the hollow drum (1.1) comprises a central part (1.13) arranged between its first and second ends (1.11, 1.12), where said central part (1.13) in turn comprises a wall portion (7), weakened with respect to the ends (1.11, 1.12), which is configured for deforming in a controlled manner when for example a substantially perpendicular impact force (F), see FIGS. 3a-3c, acts on the pole (2), such that the lower end (2.1) of the pole (2) is suitable for being displaced upwards or raised, i.e., towards the road equipment (3) supported by the pole (2), and twisted in the direction of the impact force (F), the lower end (2.1) of the pole (2) remaining fixed to the second end (1.12) of the hollow drum (1.2).

[0047] Although the connection of the anchoring (1) and the pole (2) depicted in FIGS. 3a-3c, correspond to the first embodiment of the anchoring device (1) of FIG. 1, said behavior is essentially the same for the second and third embodiments of FIGS. 4 and 10. For these latter embodiments, it can be understood that instead of a controlled deformation under compression of the wall portion (7), the latter likewise deforms in a controlled manner but under tension, when the impact force (F) acts on the pole (2), and the lower end (2.1) of the pole (2) is also suitable for being displaced upwards or being raised and twisted in the direction of the impact force (F), while the lower end (2.1) of the pole (2) remains fixed to the second end (1.12) of the hollow drum (1.2).

[0048] In any case, a first embodiment of the wall portion (7) formed in the central part (1.3) of the hollow drum (1.1) shown in FIG. 5 preferably comprises a plurality of longitudinal notches (7.1), i.e., oriented in the same direction of the longitudinal axis of the hollow drum (1.1), formed and distributed along the perimeter in said wall portion (7). Notch can be understood to mean a cut made, for example, by means of a die, without any loss of material.

[0049] In a second embodiment shown in FIGS. 6 and 7d, the wall portion (7) may comprise a plurality of longitudinal slots (7.2), i.e., cuts involving a loss of material, oriented in the same direction of the longitudinal axis of the hollow drum (1.1), likewise formed and distributed along the perimeter in said wall portion (7). In this embodiment, when the hollow drum (1.1) has a polygonal cross-section, as shown in FIG. 6, the longitudinal slots (7.2) of the wall portion (7) are preferably formed on some or on all of the edges (1.131) of the central part (1.13) corresponding to the wall portion (7).

[0050] In another possible embodiment shown in FIG. 7a, the wall portion (7) may comprise a plurality of transverse creases (7.3), i.e., extending in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the hollow drum (1.1), formed along the perimeter in said wall portion (7), forming alternating ridges and valleys, such as the shape of a bellows or accordion.

[0051] In two other possible embodiments shown in FIGS. 7b and 7c, respectively, the wall portion (7) may comprise transverse notches or slots (7.4, 7.5) formed along the perimeter forming rows and columns in said wall portion (7).

[0052] In another possible embodiment as shown in FIG. 8a, the wall portion (7) may be formed by a wall thickness (e1) of the central part (1.13) of the hollow drum (1.1) less than a wall thickness (e2) of the first and second ends (1.11, 1.12) of said hollow drum (1.1).

[0053] In another possible embodiment shown in FIG. 8b, the wall portion (7) may comprise a non-constant longitudinal section, which includes a segment of a cross-section (s1) of the central part (1.13) having smaller dimensions than a cross-section (s2) of the first and second ends (1.11, 1.12) of the hollow drum (1.1), for example, in the form of a diabolo or hourglass.

[0054] In any case, as will be understood, the central part (1.13) of the hollow drum (1.1) is intended to be suitable for deforming with respect to the ends (1.11, 1.12) for being fixed to the foundation (4) and to the lower end (2.1) of the pole (2), respectively, such that in the case of a possible vehicle impact (not shown in the figures) against the pole (2), there is a controlled deformation of the wall portion (7) formed in said central part (1.13) of the hollow drum (1.1), absorbing part of the energy from said impact, and the collapsing movement of the pole (2) is in turn controlled by completely or partially raising its lower end (2.1) above the connecting device (1), such that the pole (2) loses rigidity of its lower end (2.1), in order to then twist it in the direction of the impact force (F) of the vehicle, without the pole (2) losing its link to the foundation (4), thereby contributing to progressively reducing the velocity of the vehicle and therefore, reducing damages to the occupants of said vehicle.

[0055] Another object of the invention also relates to a support structure for road equipment (3) comprising a pole (2), for example, made of metal or a metal alloy, formed by a hollow cylindrical, elliptical, prismatic, polygonal, truncated pyramid-shaped, or truncated cone-shaped mast, comprising a lower end (2.1) adapted for being fixed to a terrain (6) by means of a foundation (4).

[0056] Additionally, as shown in FIGS. 11a-11d, the pole (2) preferably comprises an upper end (2.2) adapted for being fixed directly or by means of an extension element (9) to at least one item of road equipment (3) selected from the group consisting of a lighting means (3.1), a sign panel (3.2), a traffic signal (3.3), and a support bracket (3.4) for overhead lines (3.41).

[0057] The support structure further comprises the connecting device (1) according to any of the embodiments described above, which is arranged between the lower end (2.1) of the pole (2) and the foundation (4).

[0058] Thus, preferably using a pole (2) manufactured from a material or materials with an elastic limit within a certain predetermined range, such as known fusible or collapsible poles, upon losing rigidity at its lower end (2.1) as a result of the connecting device (1), the pole (2) is easily deformable by the vehicle impacting against it, such that said pole (2) deforms rapidly, with its contour crumpling up as if it were snakeskin, said pole (2) being caused to collapse by the vehicle without putting up major resistance. This deformation and collapsing of the pole (2), once removed from its encasing by the connecting device (1), also contributes to absorbing part of the energy from the impact (impact force (F)), as well as the energy already absorbed in the controlled deformation of the weakened wall portion (7) formed in the central part (1.13) of the hollow drum (1.1) of the connecting device (1) and furthermore allows a much more gradual deceleration of the vehicle to be achieved, and therefore the severity of the impact is largely reduced for the occupants of the vehicle.

[0059] In other words, the combination of the controlled deformation of the wall portion (7) of the central part (1.13) of the hollow drum (1.1) of the connecting device (1) connecting the pole (2) to the foundation (4), and the subsequent also controlled deformation sustained by the walls of the pole (2) during their collapse, after the raising and twisting of its lower end (2.1), allows the absorption of energy from the impact to be improved and a smooth deceleration of the vehicle to be achieved, reducing the severity of the impact for the occupants of the vehicle.