Lane separator

Abstract

A lane separation device (2), in particular as a passive safety device for vehicles, is described, which has separation elements (4) arranged in a longitudinal axis along the side edges of a roadway and connected to each other, which are provided on their end faces (6) oriented transversely to the longitudinal axis with connecting members (8) which, when separation elements are placed close together at their end faces, bring about a connection to adjacent separation elements (4), wherein at least one separation element (4) is provided on a side (18) facing away from the roadway with an elastic plastic coating (22) in order to prevent fragments of the separation element (4) from breaking off in the event of a collision with a vehicle.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a lane separation device for vehicles.

[0002] Such lane separation devices, also known as concrete barrier systems, are already known from the general state of the art and have proven themselves as passive protection both as temporary devices, for example, in a construction site area, and as permanent devices, for example, along a median strip in separated carriageways. The interlocking anchoring elements, which define a rotation axis, allow both a straight and a curved arrangement of the separating elements to form a curve or lane deflection.

[0003] DE 10 2007 006 746 A1 describes such a lane separator for braking, redirecting, or stopping vehicles. The device comprises separating elements, particularly concrete elements, preferably of identical shape, arranged in a row along the side edges of the roadway or between lanes of the roadway and interconnected. These elements are provided with typically J-shaped connecting elements on their end faces oriented transversely to the longitudinal direction. These connecting elements interlock when the separating elements are placed close together at their end faces. The space between the retaining profile and the anchoring element forms a receiving chamber for the anchoring element of the adjacent separating element. The retaining profile has a shape adapted to the outer contour of the anchoring element, at least on its side forming the receiving chamber.

[0004] In practice, these lane separation devices regularly exhibit high forces in the event of a vehicle impact, which can lead to the spalling of concrete fragments on the front or back of one or more separating elements, thus endangering bystanders near the lane separation device or other road users. This danger is further increased due to the greater fall height, for example, if the lane separation device is installed on a bridge that spans a carriageway or a railway line.

[0005] From DE 10 2020 111 581 A1, a mobile vehicle barrier is known, comprising at least a lower part and an upper part, wherein between the lower part and the upper part there is provided a sliding plane rising from a vehicle impact side to a rear side or a curved sliding surface which is formed between adjacent contact surfaces and / or sliding elements on the upper and lower parts and in which the upper part is displaceable relative to the lower part, an offset distance of the upper part relative to the lower part is limited by a positive connection between the lower part and the upper part, and the lower part and / or the upper part is formed from concrete. In the closed state of the vehicle barrier, at least one of the two concrete bodies is coated on an outer surface with polyurea or polyurethane thick coatings with a layer thickness of 300 µm to 4 mm or a similar suitable material.

[0006] It is known from the prior art to provide the rear side of the lane separator with a net. However, the on-site installation of such nets is complex.

[0007] EP 3 377 703 B1 shows a guide wall element with a concrete base body having two end walls and side walls, wherein coupling elements for connecting to adjoining guide wall elements are arranged on the end walls. A protective layer is arranged on one side wall, at least in partial areas of the surface of the base body. The protective layer comprises, in particular, a metallic grid, expanded metal, woven fabric, knitted fabric, net, braid, or knit, and the protective layer has sufficient strength to retain parts of the base body that become detached due to a collision event. The protective layer is arranged loosely on the surface at least in some areas and is arranged only on the side wall facing away from the traffic area.

[0008] JP 2004 011378 A shows bridge elements in which a synthetic resin layer is applied to the outer surface of a reinforced concrete surface structure. This prevents concrete parts from detaching and falling in the event of a collision.

[0009] EP 3 412 831 A1 shows a concrete barrier for a vehicle restraint system in which the concrete barrier is made of fiber concrete at least in part.

[0010] JP 2013 159947 A discloses a protective wall having a configuration in which the surface of a concrete skeleton forming a wall structure is coated with a resin reinforcing film. The reinforcing film is provided on the outer surface of a wall part that absorbs an impact force and on the opposite outer surface.

[0011] The task is to provide an alternative lane separation device which also reliably prevents the danger posed by flaking concrete parts on the rear side.

[0012] This object is achieved by a lane separator, in particular as a passive safety device for vehicles, which has separating elements arranged in a row along a longitudinal axis along the side edges of a roadway and connected to one another. The separating elements are provided with connecting links on their end faces aligned transversely to the longitudinal axis. These connecting links create a connection to adjacent separating elements when the separating elements are placed close together at the end faces. At least one separating element is provided with an elastic plastic coating on a side facing away from the roadway in order to prevent fragments of the separating element from chipping off in the event of a collision with a vehicle. The at least one separating element is additionally provided with the elastic plastic coating on one or both end faces, starting from the side facing away from the roadway.

[0013] The lane separation device according to the invention is characterized in that the elastic plastic coating prevents fragments of the separation element from chipping off in the event of a collision with a vehicle, thus eliminating the need to install a net on the rear side. Such a plastic coating is also easy and cost-effective to install or maintain and can be retrofitted to existing lane separation devices if necessary. The elastic plastic coating must be selected so that it has sufficient retention force to prevent possible concrete spalling after an impact with the protection system, which could enter the traffic area and endanger innocent bystanders.

[0014] According to one embodiment of the invention, the elastic plastic coating is made of polyurea.

[0015] A polyurea coating with, for example, a Shore hardness of D 53 is based on aromatic polyurea technology. After complete curing, a hard coating is created that offers a good compromise between impact resistance and elasticity. The elastic plastic coating can achieve an elongation at break of YOUR 53504 of 330% and a tensile strength according to DIN 53504 of 23 N / mm². Unlike a mobile vehicle barrier, the elastic plastic coating must be applied over a large area. The force applied here is not frontal as with a mobile vehicle barrier, but usually lateral and at an acute angle.

[0016] The elastic plastic coating can have a layer thickness of at least 0.5 mm.

[0017] According to a further embodiment of the invention, the elastic plastic coating made of polyurea is sprayed on as a two-component system.

[0018] This allows easy application of the elastic plastic coating to the separating element(s).

[0019] According to the invention, the at least one separating element is additionally provided at least partially with the elastic plastic coating on one or both end faces, starting from the side facing away from the roadway.

[0020] In this way, the elastic plastic coating is continued beyond the back to the front surfaces, which creates additional safety, as concrete spalling from this area can now also no longer get into the traffic area.

[0021] According to a further embodiment of the invention, the at least one separating element is additionally provided with the elastic plastic coating on its upper side, starting from the side facing away from the roadway.

[0022] In this way, the elastic plastic coating is continued beyond the back to the top, so that concrete spalling from this area can no longer get into the traffic area.

[0023] According to a further embodiment of the invention, the at least one separating element is additionally provided with the elastic plastic coating on its underside.

[0024] The elastic plastic coating can change the contact area between the separating element and the ground in terms of the friction coefficient, so that the separating element is displaced less in the event of a vehicle impact, which further increases safety.

[0025] According to a further embodiment of the invention, the elastic plastic coating is applied at the factory. Alternatively, the elastic plastic coating can also be applied at the installation site.

[0026] The new coating can be applied in the factory, but it can also be applied directly to the walls on-site (at the construction site) using a mobile device. Factory application is preferred, as this ensures consistent quality. The length of a prefabricated element is irrelevant, as it is sprayed on as a suspension and cures immediately.

[0027] According to a further embodiment of the invention, the elastic plastic coating is provided on all or almost all separating elements that serve to secure the traffic area or a bridge.

[0028] The advantageous effect of the invention occurs even when the separating elements are only partially coated with the elastic plastic, but the improvement is maximum when the elastic plastic is completely coated, for example in the area of a bridge.

[0029] Below, some examples are explained in more detail using the drawings. They show: Figure 1 shows a perspective side view of a first embodiment of a part of a lane separating device, Figure 2 shows a part of a second embodiment in a further perspective side view, and Figure 3 shows a comparison view of the embodiment from Figure 1 or 2 .

[0030] In the figures, identical or functionally equivalent components are provided with the same reference numerals.

[0031] With reference to Figure 1A first exemplary embodiment of a lane separator 2 according to the invention is explained below. The lane separator 2 comprises a plurality of separating elements 4, which are designed as concrete elements of typically identical shape. In the exemplary embodiment in Figure 1A, only a single separating element 4 is shown. On its end faces 6, the separating element 4 has a connecting link 8 at both ends, which is designed in a hook- or J-shaped manner as is customary in the art. When separating elements 4 are placed close together at the end faces, the connecting links 8 of adjacent separating elements 4 engage with one another. In order to be able to assemble individual separating elements 4 to form the lane separator 2, it is necessary to provide the connecting links 8 with a bearing clearance so that after a first separating element has been set up, a further separating element can be added.

[0032] The separating element 4 typically tapers toward its upper side 16, forming a base region 10 toward the floor. On the underside 12 of the separating element 4, fastening rails 14 can be arranged on both sides, extending beyond the end face 6. The side 18 facing away from a roadway and the side 20 facing the roadway are also indicated.

[0033] According to the invention, it is now provided that at least the side 18 facing away from the roadway is provided with an elastic plastic coating 22.

[0034] In Figure 1It is shown that the elastic plastic coating 22 is only applied to the side 18 facing away from the roadway. Here, the elastic plastic coating 22 is made of polyurea with, for example, a Shore hardness of D 53. After complete curing, a hard coating is created that offers a good compromise between impact resistance and elasticity. The elastic plastic coating 22 can have an elongation at break according to DIN 53504 of 330% and a tensile strength according to DIN 53504 of 23 N / mm². The elastic plastic coating 22 can have a layer thickness between 0.5 mm and 1 mm, but can also be implemented with a greater layer thickness. The elastic plastic coating made of polyurea is usually sprayed on as a two-component system. This enables easy application of the elastic plastic coating 22 to the separating element(s) 4.

[0035] In Figure 2a part of a second embodiment of a lane separating device 2 according to the invention is shown in a further perspective side view.

[0036] It can be seen that the separating element 4, starting from the side 18 facing away from the roadway, is additionally partially provided with the elastic plastic coating 22 on the front side 6. Likewise, the separating element 4, starting from the side 18 facing away from the roadway, is additionally provided with the elastic plastic coating 22 on a portion of its upper side 16.

[0037] In this way, the elastic plastic coating 22 is continued beyond the rear side 18 onto the end faces 6 or the upper side 16, which creates additional safety, since concrete spalling from this area can now also no longer reach the traffic area.

[0038] Additionally, the separating element 4 can be provided with an elastic plastic coating 22 on its underside 14. The elastic plastic coating 22 can alter the contact area between the separating element 4 and the ground with respect to the coefficient of friction, so that the separating element is displaced less in the event of a vehicle impact, which further increases safety.

[0039] With reference to Figure 31 shows a sectional view of a conventional solution in which a net 30 is applied instead of a plastic coating. The conventional separating element 32 is arranged on a structure 24, for example a bridge, next to a roadway 26 on a substrate 28. The conventional separating element 32 can be replaced by the separating element 4 according to the invention. According to the invention, the elastic plastic coating can be applied in the factory or, alternatively, at the installation site using a mobile device. Factory application is preferred because this ensures consistent quality. The length of the separating element 4 according to the invention as a finished part is irrelevant because it is sprayed on as a suspension and hardens immediately.

[0040] According to the invention, the elastic plastic coating 22 is provided on all or almost all dividing elements 4 that serve to secure traffic areas or a bridge. The advantageous effect of the invention is already apparent when the dividing elements 4 are only partially coated with the elastic plastic 22, but the improvement is maximal when the dividing elements 4 are completely coated with the elastic plastic 22, for example, in the area of a bridge.

[0041] The features stated above, those in the claims, and those apparent from the illustrations can be advantageously implemented both individually and in various combinations. The invention is not limited to the described embodiments, but can be modified in many ways within the scope of expert knowledge. List of reference symbols:

[0042] 2Lane separator 4Separator 6End face 8Connecting link 10Foot area 12Underside 14Hollow profile rail 16Top 18Side facing away from roadway 20Side facing towards roadway 22Plastic coating 24Structure 26Roadway 28Substratum 30Network 32Conventional separator

Claims

1. Lane separation device (2), in particular as a passive safety device for vehicles, comprising separating elements (4) which are arranged in a row, in a longitudinal axis, along side edges of a roadway and are connected to one another, and which are provided with connecting members (8) on their end faces (6) oriented transversely to the longitudinal axis, which connecting members bring about a connection to adjacent separating elements (4) when the separating elements are placed close to one another at the end faces thereof, at least one separating element (4) being provided with a coating (22) on a face (18) facing away from the roadway, in order to prevent fragments of the separating element (4) from chipping off in the event of a collision with a vehicle, characterized in that the coating is an elastic plastics coating, and in that the at least one separating element (4) is additionally provided with the elastic plastics coating (22) on one or both end faces (6), starting from the face (18) facing away from the roadway.

2. Lane separation device according to claim 1, wherein the elastic plastics coating (22) is made of polyurea.

3. Lane separation device according to claim 2, wherein the elastic plastics coating (22) made of polyurea is sprayed on as a two-component system.

4. Lane separation device according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the elastic plastics coating (22) has a layer thickness of at least 0.5 mm.

5. Lane separation device according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the at least one separating element (4) is additionally provided with the elastic plastics coating (22) on its upper face (16), starting from the face (18) facing away from the roadway.

6. Lane separation device according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the at least one separating element (4) is additionally provided with the elastic plastics coating (22) on its lower face (12).

7. Lane separation device according to any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the elastic plastics coating (22) is applied at the factory.

8. Lane separation device according to any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the elastic plastics coating (22) is applied at the installation location.

9. Lane separation device according to any of claims 1 to 8, wherein the elastic plastics coating (22) is provided on all or almost all separating elements (4) which are used to protect a bridge.

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