Bollard and cable vehicle barrier

Abstract

A below-grade collapsible bollard and cable vehicle barrier system disposed in a vehicle pathway. The system comprises one or more bollard devices that include a vault located in the vehicle pathway, a rod rotatably mounted inside the vault, a bollard having a first end coupled to the rod, whereby rotation of the rod rotates the bollard to extend the second end thereof above the vehicle pathway. An actuator is secured within the vault for rotating the rod and thus raising the bollard. A cable is disposed perpendicular to the vehicle pathway with each end thereof affixed to anchors on either side of the pathway. The middle of the cable is affixed to the second end of the bollard. When the bollard is raised the cable is stretched across the pathway forming a barrier to traffic.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This patent application is a continuation of Provisional Application No. 60 / 557,506, filed Mar. 30, 2004, and incorporates elements of the inventor's currently pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11 / 001,105, filed Dec. 1, 2004, and its parent U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 641,452, filed Aug. 16, 2003, all of which are by the same inventors hereof.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention generally relates to the field of collapsible below-grade barriers which may be employed as a barrier to vehicle movement. In particular, the present invention provides a simple below-grade mounted bollard and cable system providing a collapsible barrier protecting a wide spatial area. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] 1. Field of the Invention [0004] The present invention relates generally to an automatic collapsible self-contained, below-grade traffic barrier bollard and cable system which may be installed with a minimum amount o...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0014] The present invention is a barrier formed by one or more cables, or other similar flexible elongated barrier elements, that have a ground level condition when in storage and have a raised condition when active as a barrier. The ground level condition allows movement of vehicles over the barrier element due to the small size of the barrier element. The raised condition is enabled by one or more flush below-surface mounted bollards to which the barrier element is secured and retained. The bollards are each rotated from a flush down condition to an upright orientation to elevate the barrier element.

[0016] One object of the invention is a simple and inexpensive collapsible vehicle barrier capable of protecting an extensive path width.

Problems solved by technology

A large disadvantage of this prior art device is that once a vehicle crashes into the device it is difficult and time consuming to repair afterwards.

Here again, this prior art device is difficult and time consuming to repair after a crash.

Moreover, the hydraulic actuator is slow in activation.

Moreover, this prior art device has a similar problem of being difficult and time consuming to repair following a crash.

This device has a similar problem of being difficult and time consuming to repair following a crash.

Additionally, prior art techniques do not suggest the present inventive combination of component elements as disclosed and claimed herein.

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