MODULAR INFRASTRUCTURE FOR VEHICLE MOVING ON TIRES

Abstract

The present invention relates to modular elements (1) for creating a modular infrastructure for guiding vehicles on tires. The infrastructure comprises a central guide line (20) and, on each side of said guide line (20), identical modular elements (1) in the form of slabs. The modular elements (1) are interlocked, articulated, and oriented relative to each other at a predetermined angle in a laying plane to follow the path of the central guide line (20) and, together with the opposing treads (8), form a traffic lane for guided vehicles on tires. Figure 8 is shown for the abstract.

Description

Title of the invention: MODULAR INFRASTRUCTURE FOR VEHICLE ROLLING ON TIRES Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to the general technical field of infrastructures for the creation of traffic lanes for vehicles and in particular of infrastructures for the rolling and / or guidance of vehicles on tires.

[0002] Such infrastructures are particularly dedicated to the rolling and guidance of light tramways or more generally small vehicles on guided tires for the transport of people in towns and in the countryside.

[0003] The present invention relates more particularly to infrastructures intended to be laid on any type of ground following the existing relief and according to the desired layout. State of the art

[0004] For example, we know of an infrastructure system proposed by the company URBANLOOP, comprising electric, automatic, unidirectional vehicles circulating on dedicated roadways. These vehicles have two axles on tires and are guided by a mechanical system interfacing with the roadway. However, such a system has drawbacks. Indeed, a roadway equipped with such a system is not crossable and therefore blocks intersections. Furthermore, its integration into a pedestrian lane is impossible.

[0005] Also known, for example, through document WO 2005 / 042844, is a track construction for a self-guided urban transport vehicle on tires comprising modular track sections. The prefabricated sections are made of metal or concrete and have a thickness of approximately 30 cm and must therefore be embedded in an existing roadway to allow it to be crossed, for example at intersections. Each section allows two rolling zones to be created and a central gutter to be fixed to a flush guide rail. In addition, the laying plan for these modular sections must be treated so that the traffic lane over a length of approximately 10 m rests in continuous support. Significant work for the installation of such a track is therefore necessary. Such a route is also frozen in time because it is embedded in a roadway.Another disadvantage of such a route lies in the complexity of managing plane or parabolic rays. Statement of the invention

[0006] The object of the present invention is therefore to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art and to provide a new infrastructure for creating a roadway traffic for vehicles on guided and light tires, traversable by all traffic, at least locally, in an urban, urban and rural environment.

[0007] Another object of the present invention is to provide an infrastructure making it possible to create, in a simple and economical manner, a traffic lane in straight alignment or along any curve or clothoid.

[0008] Another object of the present invention is to provide a new infrastructure making it possible to create a traffic roadway for vehicles on guided and light tires with minimum installation time on all types of support.

[0009] Another object of the present invention is to provide a new infrastructure making it possible to create a traffic roadway for vehicles on guided and light tires, said infrastructure being easily removable for temporary use or to carry out a modification of the route, while restoring the original traffic lane or support intact.

[0010] Another object of the present invention is to provide a roadway, comprising a guidance system.

[0011] Another object of the present invention is to provide a roadway comprising an electrical power supply system and, where appropriate, other control harnesses.

[0012] Another object of the present invention is to provide a new infrastructure making it possible to create a traffic roadway for vehicles on guided and light tires, presenting various possibilities of vegetation.

[0013] The objects assigned to the invention are achieved using a modular element for a modular infrastructure dedicated to guiding vehicles on tires along a desired trajectory, characterized in that it is made from a single piece comprising: - a rigid or semi-rigid frame made up of rising walls whose height H substantially determines the thickness of said modular element, - said rising walls delimiting an exterior compartment and an interior compartment, - the outer compartment being intended to be covered with an upper wall or to be filled with a filling material to constitute a rolling zone, extending in a longitudinal direction L orthogonal to the height H, - the outer compartment being delimited by two external and internal longitudinal rising walls, which extend at the longitudinal ends by a first convex end part and a second convex end part, which are at least partially projecting from said modular element and provided with respective interlocking members in complementary shapes, said interlocking members, located under the rolling zone, making it possible to achieve continuity of the rolling zone in all assembly and configurations installation of said modular element.

[0014] According to an exemplary embodiment, the modular element comprises an immobilization system for fixing it to the ground or to a pre-existing roadway and / or to another modular element located opposite.

[0015] According to an exemplary embodiment, the modular element comprises an immobilization system for fixing it to a central support extending along the desired trajectory.

[0016] According to an exemplary embodiment, the modular element comprises an interior compartment, extending in the transverse extension T of the exterior compartment, said interior compartment being delimited by the internal longitudinal rising wall and by a complementary internal longitudinal wall. These walls are separated and connected together by means of stiffening ribs, substantially central and transverse and / or by means of substantially transverse rising connecting walls.Each rib or each connecting wall is located and / or oriented on the frame to allow said modular element to be fitted at its first and second end parts with other modular elements along a fitting axis I orthogonal to the rolling zones and to allow two fitted modular elements to be oriented between them at an angle which can vary within an angular range of at least - 10° to + 10° and thus follow the desired trajectory, in a straight line or in a concave or convex curved line.

[0017] For example, the ribs each have an inverted U shape, to form water drainage channels.

[0018] By way of example, the complementary internal longitudinal wall comprises in the upper part, a covering strip orthogonal to said complementary internal longitudinal wall, to at least partially cover a central zone between two modular elements facing each other, comprising a central support or another support materializing the desired trajectory.

[0019] According to an exemplary embodiment, the complementary internal longitudinal wall or the covering strip is provided with at least one fixing member, making it possible to fix said modular element on the central support or on another support materializing the desired trajectory.

[0020] According to an exemplary embodiment, the external longitudinal rising wall comprises on its external face, fixing systems for accessories such as crossing ramps or separation walls.

[0021] According to an exemplary embodiment, the rolling zone comprises a tread made from the upper face of a filling material, of the fiber concrete type, filling the outer compartment.

[0022] According to another exemplary embodiment, the rolling zone comprises a strip of bearing formed by an upper wall made in one piece with the frame.

[0023] According to an exemplary embodiment, the covering strip comprises at its longitudinal ends inverted material clearances to form at one longitudinal end, a projecting extension forming an upper overlapping zone and at its other longitudinal end, on the underside, a lower overlapping zone in overhang so as to at least partially overlap the upper overlapping zone of a nested modular element and ensure continuity of coverage of a central support passing from one modular element to the other and this for any mutual angular orientation of said nested modular elements.

[0024] By way of example, the first convex end portion forms a portion of the tread having a convex rounded edge projecting from the frame and in the extension of the outer compartment, the second convex end portion being delimited on the frame with a concave rounded edge in the form of a shoulder, the tread extending from the convex rounded edge to the concave rounded edge, the first convex end portion comprising on the underside a male fitting member and the second convex end portion comprising an upper face offset downwards relative to the tread and provided with a female fitting member of a shape complementary to the male fitting member, said female fitting member being intended to cooperate with a male fitting member of another modular element to produce a rotational connection along an axis I orthogonal to the tread,the first end part being intended to be arranged on the upper face of another modular element and thus provide continuity of said tread.

[0025] According to an exemplary embodiment, the external and internal longitudinal rising wall, the complementary internal longitudinal wall, the connecting walls and the ribs, have at their lower end intended to rest on a support, crenellated edges to promote the evacuation of runoff water.

[0026] According to an exemplary embodiment, the interior compartment is covered with a fixed or removable cover plate.

[0027] According to another exemplary embodiment, the interior compartment is intended to be filled with ballast, concrete or earth.

[0028] The objects assigned to the invention are also achieved using a modular infrastructure for guiding vehicles on tires characterized in that it comprises a central guide line following a desired trajectory and on each side of said guide line, identical modular elements as presented above, the modular elements being nested and oriented relative to each other in a laying plane, to follow the desired trajectory and form with the facing treads, a traffic lane without discontinuities for tire-guided vehicles. The modular infrastructure, once assembled and installed, will thus constitute a traffic roadway for tire-guided vehicles.

[0029] The modular element according to the invention has the enormous advantage of being able to be manufactured simply and economically, in particular thanks to the use of recycled materials such as rubber and / or plastic materials. In addition, all the modular elements are identical, which makes it possible to substantially reduce manufacturing costs.

[0030] Another advantage of the modular element according to the invention lies in the possibility of producing assemblies along different lines, namely straight, clothoid, curved, with parabolic rays, on a slope or along different reliefs.

[0031] Another advantage of the modular elements according to the invention lies in the possibility of easily creating crossing zones using ramps.

[0032] Another advantage of the modular elements according to the invention lies in their assembly with play, linked to the articulation members of said modular elements, thus allowing said modular elements to follow the undulations of the ground or the laying support and to eliminate local defects, in particular in the rolling zones.

[0033] The infrastructure according to the invention has the enormous advantage of being able to be laid temporarily and of being removable without destroying the laying support, in this case when said laying support is a pre-existing roadway.

[0034] The infrastructure according to the invention also makes it possible to better absorb vibrations and jolts, thus improving the comfort of users traveling in a vehicle on tires guided along said infrastructure.

[0035] The infrastructure according to the invention thus makes it possible to create a permeable roadway allowing rainwater to run off directly into the ground. It is not necessary to provide a gutter to return rainwater to the sewers.

[0036] The installation of such an infrastructure is done manually and does not require handling equipment.

[0037] Local replacement or dismantling for underground intervention is extremely simple and rapid with the infrastructure according to the invention.

[0038] The method of assembling the modular elements also makes it possible to match the relief while maintaining surface continuity in the rolling zone.

[0039] The method of assembling the modular elements and fixing them to a central support, for example a guide rail, thus defining the exact route of the path, makes it possible to achieve straight alignment, radii and connection curves.

[0040] Another advantage of the infrastructure according to the invention lies in the fact that it makes the installation site easily identifiable for local residents on the one hand and for autonomous vehicles on the other hand. Brief description of the drawings

[0041] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the detailed description which follows, a description made with reference to the appended drawings given as illustrative and non-limiting examples, in which:

[0042] [Fig.l]

[0043] [Fig.2] Figures 1 and 2 illustrate respectively in top and bottom view, an exemplary embodiment of a modular element according to the invention.

[0044] [Fig.3]

[0045] [Fig.4] Figures 3 and 4 are sections of the modular element of [Fig.l], respectively along lines AA and BB.

[0046] [Fig.5]

[0047] [Fig.6]

[0048] [Fig.7]

[0049] [Fig.8] Figures 5 to 8 illustrate different examples of assemblies of modular elements forming an example of modular infrastructure in accordance with the invention.

[0050] [Fig.9a]

[0051] [Fig.9b]

[0052] [Fig.9c] Figures 9a and 9b and 9c illustrate another example of embodiment of a modular element according to the invention, respectively in top view, in left view and in right view.

[0053] [Fig. 10] [Fig. 10] is a perspective representation of the modular element of [Fig.9a].

[0054] [Fig. 11] [Fig. 11] is a top view of an exemplary embodiment of a portion of infrastructure comprising modular elements in accordance with the invention.

[0055] [Fig. 12] [Fig. 12] is a perspective view, respectively from above and below, of the infrastructure example of [Fig. 11].

[0056] [Fig. 13]

[0057] [Fig. 14] Figures 13 and 14 illustrate perspective views, respectively from above and below, of another exemplary embodiment of the modular element 1 according to the invention.

[0058] [Fig. 15]

[0059] [Fig. 16] Figures 15 and 16 illustrate perspective views, respectively, of above and below, of an example of assembly of modular elements of figures 13 and 14, forming a modular infrastructure in accordance with the invention. Detailed description of the invention

[0060] Figures 1 and 2 illustrate respectively in top and bottom view, a example of an embodiment of a modular element 1 in accordance with the invention. The latter is in the form of a slab intended to be placed or fixed to the ground, prepared or not, or on an existing roadway.

[0061] The modular element 1 advantageously has a length of between 500 mm and 800 mm, a width of between 300 mm and 600 mm and a height H or thickness of between 80 mm and 100 mm. As a preferred example, the modular element 1 has a length of 600 mm, a width of 400 mm and a thickness of 80 mm.

[0062] The modular elements 1 can be made with different materials, preferably electrically insulating, including rubber, recycled rubber, plastic, recycled plastic, concrete or others. The modular element 1 is advantageously made from a single piece obtained by molding with preferably a single constituent material.

[0063] The modular element 1 comprises a rigid frame 2 comprising an outer compartment 3 and an inner compartment 4. The frame 2 consists of at least one rising wall 5 whose height H substantially determines the thickness of the modular element 1.

[0064] The rising wall 5, for example in several portions, thus delimits at least in part the exterior 3 and interior 4 compartments.

[0065] The outer compartment 3 is thus delimited, as illustrated in [Fig.2], by an external longitudinal rising wall 5a and by an internal longitudinal rising wall 5b, which are extended at their longitudinal ends by a first convex end portion 6 on one side of said outer compartment 3 and by a second convex end portion 7 on the other side of said outer compartment 3.

[0066] The external 5a and internal 5b longitudinal rising walls extend in a longitudinal direction L of the modular element 1. The longitudinal direction L must be understood as being the direction which will follow the route of a guide road constructed in particular by an assembly of modular elements 1.

[0067] The external 5a and internal 5b longitudinal rising walls are connected to each other, at one end of the external compartment 3, by a concave wall portion 6a and at the other end of said external compartment 3, by a convex wall portion 7a, which delimits the second convex end part 7. The concave wall portion 7a can advantageously be cylindrical or semi-cylindrical.

[0068] The first convex end portion 6 and the second end portion 7 partially project from the frame 2 and are provided with respective fitting members having complementary shapes.

[0069] The outer compartment 3 is for example intended to be covered by a wall upper plane to form a tread 8 extending in the longitudinal direction L. Advantageously, this tread 8 is treated with anti-slip to improve grip in the event of rain.

[0070] The tread 8 has at one longitudinal end, a convex rounded edge 9 projecting longitudinally from the frame 2, in the extension of the concave wall portion 6a, to delimit the first convex end part 6.

[0071] The first end portion 6 has on its underside a male interlocking member 11. The latter is for example constituted by a cylinder 12 surmounted by a bar 13. The bar 13 is for example removable, thus facilitating the assembly of the modular elements 1 together. Other known forms of the male interlocking member 11 can also be used.

[0072] The first end portion 6, thanks to its shape and its reduced thickness, has a certain flexibility to allow the modular elements 1 to rest freely on non-flat ground without generating stresses at the joints. Such flexibility is necessary in the event of a variation in slope and in the event of a variation in slope to obtain a surface without discontinuity at the level of the tread 8 and to avoid, when a vehicle moves on the treads 8, a phenomenon of the modular elements 1 placed for example on a rigid ground.

[0073] Furthermore, the tread 8 has, towards its opposite longitudinal end, a concave rounded edge 10 formed by a shoulder. The concave rounded edge 10 is complementary in shape to the convex rounded edge 9.

[0074] The concave rounded edge 10 thus delimits on the frame 2, the second convex end portion 7, offset downwards starting from said tread 8 and extending to the convex wall portion 7a. The second convex end portion 7 extends at least partially projecting on said frame 2.

[0075] The second convex end portion 7 has an upper face 15 provided with a female fitting member 16, intended to cooperate with a male fitting member 11 of another modular element 1, to achieve a rotational fitting along an axis I orthogonal to a plane defined by the tread 8. The female fitting member 16 is advantageously constituted by an opening of a shape complementary to the shape of the male fitting member 11.

[0076] The interior compartment 4, extending in the transverse extension of the exterior compartment 3, is delimited by the internal longitudinal rising wall 5b and by a complementary internal longitudinal wall 17, separated and connected together by means of two connecting walls 18.

[0077] The connecting walls 18 extending in a plane orthogonal to the tread 8, respectively have specific angular orientations a and [3 relative to a plane orthogonal to the longitudinal direction L. These angular orientations a and [3 allow, when two modular elements 1 are nested, along the nesting axis I orthogonal to the respective treads 8, to obtain an angle between the two nested modular elements 1 which can vary between at least - 10° and + 10° and thus follow the trajectory in a straight line or in a concave or convex curved line. This angular range preferably extends between -15° and +15°. For example, the values ​​of the angles a and [3 are respectively 7.5° and 15°.

[0078] The complementary internal longitudinal wall 17 is preferably parallel to the internal longitudinal wall 5b.

[0079] According to an exemplary embodiment, the modular element 1 comprises, substantially in the same plane as the tread 8, a cover strip 21, secured to the complementary internal longitudinal wall 17. The latter is intended to extend in a cantilevered manner, for example above a central support 20a. The cover strip 21 advantageously has a free edge 21a in an arc of a circle with a radius of approximately 5 m, corresponding to a minimum laying curvature, for example for a central support 20a of the guide rail type. The cover strip 21 makes it possible, for example, to limit the risks of contact with the central support 20a, which may be a rail under electrical voltage.

[0080] The complementary internal longitudinal wall 17 on an external face 17a or the covering strip 21 on the underside, is advantageously provided with a fixing member 19, which makes it possible to fix the modular element 1 on the central support 20a or on another support materializing the desired trajectory 20.

[0081] According to an exemplary embodiment, the internal compartment 4 is covered with a cover plate 22, for example removable, attached and fixed to the frame 2 and extending in an extension plane of the tread 8.

[0082] According to an exemplary embodiment illustrated for example in [Fig.l] and 2, the cover plate 22 is made in a single piece with the cover strip 21.

[0083] According to this exemplary embodiment, the upper wall constituting the tread 8 is made in a single piece with the frame 2.

[0084] The cover plate 22 and in its extension the cover strip 21, advantageously have on the two respective transverse sides, an upper overlap zone 23 and a lower overlap zone 24. On the transverse side of the first end part 6, the angular upper overlap zone 23 is produced with a clearance of material which is delimited by an upper shoulder 23a on the top face.

[0085] On the transverse side of the second convex end portion 7, the lower angular overlapping zone 24 is produced by a clearance of material on the underside, which is delimited by a lower shoulder 24a. There is therefore a vertical offset between the upper 23 and lower 24 overlapping zones so as to allow, when assembling two modular elements 1, the upper overlap zone 23 of one modular element 1 to engage under the lower overlap zone 24 of the other modular element 1. The lower overlap zone 24, cantilevered, therefore covers, over at least one angular sector, the upper overlap zone 23 of a nested modular element 1.

[0086] On the same side of a modular element 1, the upper 23 or lower 24 overlap zone are advantageously inverted with respect to the corresponding overlap of the tread 8 located on the same side of the modular element 1. It is thus possible to block the relative vertical movements between two nested modular elements 1.

[0087] When the modular element 1 is without a cover plate 22, reference may be made, for example, to the examples in FIGS. 13 to 16 described in more detail below, the overlaps described above, the upper 23 and lower 24 overlap zones are located exclusively at the level of the cover strip 21. The interlocking assembly and the overlapping operation of two modular elements 1 remain unchanged.

[0088] Advantageously, the bar 13 or the spurs 14 of the male fitting member 11 have a specific orientation relative to the orientation of the female interlocking member 16, to allow the interlocking of two modular elements 1 only when the latter have a mutual angular orientation greater than 15°. These modular elements 1, once interlocked, are then rotated relative to each other to have a desired mutual angular orientation, between + / - 15° to follow the desired trajectory 20. The mutual vertical movements, along the axis I, of the interlocked modular elements 1 are then blocked.

[0089] On a transverse side of the modular element 1, the cover plate 22 and the cover strip 21 extend to the corresponding connecting wall 18 and the upper shoulder 23a extends at the angle [3 relative to the plane P.

[0090] On the other side of the modular element 1, the cover plate 22 and the cover strip 21 are cantilevered on the corresponding connecting wall 18 and the free end of said cover plate 22 extended by the free end of the cover strip 21 have an angle of a+[3 with respect to said connecting wall 18. The lower shoulder 24a on the underside, aligned with the corresponding connecting wall 18, therefore also has an angle [3 with respect to the plane P.

[0091] The complementary material clearances, offset vertically on the modular element 1, therefore make it possible to obtain a partial and adjustable angular overlap of two nested modular elements 1. These material clearances therefore materialize angular sectors allowing an overlap delimited by the shoulders upper 23a and lower 24a. Reference may be made more particularly to figures 5 to 8.

[0092] The interlocking of two modular elements 1 by means of the male 11 and female 16 interlocking members thus makes it possible to angularly orient said modular elements 1 between two limit angular positions. According to a preferred embodiment, the angular travel between two modular elements 1 has an amplitude of + / - 15°.

[0093] Advantageously, the interlocking of the modular elements 1 is located under the tread 8. The interlocking also has a certain mechanical play promoting adhesion to the support for laying the interlocked modular elements 1.

[0094] [Fig.3] and 4 are respectively a view along a section BB and a view along a section AA of the modular element 1 of [Fig.1].

[0095] Figures 5 and 6 are perspective views of two examples of assembly of three modular elements 1. The assembly of [Fig.5], illustrates a fitting of modular elements 1 with a mutual orientation making it possible to produce a concave shape for the free end of the tread 8 and to position itself opposite a curved path.

[0096] The assembly of [Fig.6] illustrates another interlocking of modular elements 1 with a mutual orientation making it possible to produce a convex shape for the free end of the tread 8 and to position itself opposite a curved path, for example opposite the assembly of [Fig.5].

[0097] [Fig.7] is a bottom perspective view of the assembly of [Fig.6].

[0098] [Fig.8] is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a section modular infrastructure for guiding a vehicle on tires, along a straight path. An assembly of nested modular elements 1 is positioned on either side of a central support 20a linked to the ground, for example a guide rail in one or two elements. Each of the modular elements 1 is fixed on a central support 20a so as to achieve a constant spacing along the path between the modular elements 1 facing each other, more precisely between the corresponding free edges 21a.

[0099] The external longitudinal wall 5a advantageously comprises on its external face, a fixing system 25, for example in the form of a dovetail, for fixing accessories such as crossing ramps or separation walls (not shown).

[0100] The external longitudinal wall 5a and internal wall 5b, the complementary internal longitudinal wall 17 and the connecting walls 18, forming the frame 2, have at their lower end intended to rest on a support, edges in the form of crenellations 26 to promote the circulation and evacuation of runoff water. In the case of draining soil, the crenellations 26 participate in the attachment to the ground. In the case of laying on a soil rigid, coated for example, the modular elements 1 can be fixed to the ground by screwing, nailing, or local gluing.

[0101] According to another exemplary embodiment, illustrated in figures 9a, 9b or 9c, the modular element 1 is devoid of a cover plate 22.

[0102] The cover strip 21 comprises at one longitudinal end, an extension 27 projecting from the frame 2 and extending in the extension of the upper shoulder 23a. The extension 27 thus delimits the upper overlap zone 23. The cover strip 21 comprises at its other longitudinal end, a clearance of material on the underside, delimited by the lower shoulder 24a, thus delimiting the lower overlap zone 24.

[0103] The extension 27 of a first modular element 1 is intended to engage in the corresponding material clearance of the nested modular element 1 and to slide by overlapping under the cover strip 21 of the nested modular element 1. The cover strip 21 thus makes it possible to ensure continuity of coverage of the central support 20a and this for any mutual angular orientation of said nested modular elements 1.

[0104] The clearance of material on the underside of the cover strip 21 of a modular element 1, delimited by the lower shoulder 24a, extends over a sufficient length to allow the insertion by sliding of the extension 27 of another modular element 1. The angular overlapping travel is for example delimited by the stop of a longitudinal end of the cover strip 21b of the cover strip 21, on the upper shoulder 23a of the neighboring modular element 1, even if the arrival at the stop is not sought during the angular adjustment between two nested modular elements 1. Such a construction makes it possible in particular to cover the central support 20a with the cover strip 21 in all the curves of the layout.

[0105] The partial overlapping of the modular elements 1, in particular by means of the cover strips 21, also makes it possible to ensure a certain stability of the assembly. The overlaps between modular elements 1 and in particular the cover strips 21 and the cover plates 22, are advantageously not watertight to facilitate the circulation of water.

[0106] The modular element 1 advantageously comprises, in the lower part of the frame 2, transverse stiffening ribs 28, crossing the interior 4 and exterior 3 compartments and having, in cross-section of said ribs 28, an inverted U-shape. Each rib 28 thus forms an evacuation channel 28a open towards the ground or the support, thus promoting the drainage of rainwater towards the outside. The stiffening ribs 28 cross the exterior face of the external longitudinal rising wall 5a with their ends. The latter have specific shapes, to constitute the fixing systems 25 for example in dovetail or others.

[0107] The ribs 28 have a height identical to or less than that of the connecting walls 18 and / or the external longitudinal rising walls 5a, internal 5b or the complementary internal longitudinal wall 17.

[0108] The ribs 28 and the connecting walls 18 are located and / or oriented on the frame 2 in such a way that they do not hinder the nesting, overlapping and obtaining the desired mutual angular orientation of the modular elements 1.

[0109] The ribs 28 may also be provided with notches 26 at their ends resting on the ground. The ribs 28 therefore effectively ensure the drainage of the interior compartment 4 when the latter is dedicated to plantations. The ribs 28 also allow drainage towards the outside, the central space dedicated for example to a guide rail, even if the interior 4 and exterior 3 compartments are filled with concrete.

[0110] The interior compartment 4 is for example intended to be filled with ballast, concrete or earth or substrate for planting plants or the like. At a crossroads or a fork, concrete is a preferred filling material. Such fillings are carried out when the modular elements 1 are nested, laid and correctly oriented along the desired trajectory 20.

[0111] According to an exemplary embodiment, the tread 8 is made with a material filling the outer compartment 3, for example fiber concrete.

[0112] According to a preferred embodiment, the outer compartment 3 is closed by a wall or strip of the same material as the frame 2, for example recycled plastic. On the other hand, the inner compartment 4 remains open for planting purposes.

[0113] The use of concrete as a filling material advantageously ensures the anchoring of the modular elements to the ground and creates a quality tread 8.

[0114] Accessible technical areas comprising cable or pipe networks can also be provided before any planting of plants.

[0115] When such infrastructure is temporarily installed on an existing support track, it is possible to dismantle it without destroying said support track.

[0116] The connecting walls 18 and where appropriate the ribs 28 advantageously constitute formwork for the filling materials.

[0117] [Fig. 10] is a perspective view of the modular element of [Fig.9a]. The male interlocking member 11 is for example made up of a cylindrical portion and the female articulation member 16 is then made up of a circular opening of complementary shape.

[0118] [Fig. 11] is a top view of another example of an embodiment of an infra modular structure, following a curved line, for guiding a vehicle on tires, using modular elements of [Fig. 10].

[0119] [Fig. 12] is a perspective and top view of the modular infrastructure of [Fig. 11]. Advantageously, the external 5a and internal 5b longitudinal rising walls are connected to each other at their longitudinal ends by a concave wall portion 6a. The latter has, for example, a reduced height compared to the height of said external 5a and internal 5b longitudinal rising walls.

[0120] The filling of the outer compartments 3 is therefore facilitated and the distribution of said filling material continuously from one outer compartment 3 to the other makes it possible to ensure continuity of the tread 8 thus obtained and makes it possible to fix the nested modular elements 1 in their mutual positions.

[0121] Advantageously, the ends of the external 5a and internal 5b longitudinal rising walls have, on one side of the modular element 1, a slightly convergent shape so as to allow a slight fit between the ends of said external 5a and internal 5b longitudinal rising walls on the opposite side of the other fitted modular element 1. This allows the rotation of one modular element 1 relative to the other, while avoiding the appearance of openings or slots between successive external spaces 3 and this for any angular orientation between said fitted modular elements 1. The filling material, during the filling operations, therefore remains well confined between the external 5a and internal 5b longitudinal rising walls.

[0122] Figures 13 and 14 illustrate perspective views, respectively from above and below, of another example of embodiment of the modular element 1. The first end part 6 also partly forms the tread 8 on the underside of which the male interlocking member 11 is located. The latter comprises the cylinder 12 provided with radial spurs 14.

[0123] The ribs 28, in addition to their functions of stiffening and evacuating runoff water, also serve as support for a central part comprising the cover strip 21. This central part, attached for example to the central support 20a by means of a fixing member 19, is thus secured to the external compartment 3.

[0124] A through orifice 29 extending through the tread 8 and the cylinder 12 is also provided so as to be able to access an internal volume 1a, delimited by the convex wall portion 7a of another nested modular element 1. This convex wall portion 7a is then advantageously of revolution to radially delimit the internal volume 1a.

[0125] A resin injected into the internal volume 1a of a first modular element 1 via the through-orifice 29 of another modular element 1 fitted onto the first element modular element 1, therefore does not extend throughout the entire external compartment 3. The quantity of resin required to produce an infrastructure in accordance with the invention is thus substantially reduced. The internal volume 1a can thus be filled with resin, totally or partially, through the through-hole 29 after interlocking and placement on a support. The solidified resin contributes to the ground support and, where appropriate, to the wedging of the modular element 1.

[0126] The internal longitudinal rising wall 5b is advantageously connected to the complementary internal longitudinal wall 17 exclusively by two ribs 28. The modular element 1 is therefore devoid of connecting walls 18. The height of the ribs 28 is for example less than the total height of the modular element 1.

[0127] Figures 15 and 16 illustrate perspective views, respectively from above and below, of an example of an assembly of modular elements of [Fig. 13] and 14, forming a modular infrastructure. The space between the treads 8 and the corresponding complementary internal longitudinal walls 17 can thus, for example, be filled with a vegetation substrate, concrete or other filling materials.

[0128] The modular element 1 therefore has shapes which, during fitting together, allow for an opposing overlap between the tread 8 on the one hand and the inner compartment 4 or the cover strip 21 on the other hand. Such an opposing overlap is found on each of the lateral sides of the fitted modular elements 1 and this for any mutual angular orientation. This greatly promotes the stability of the fitting together.

[0129] Obviously, the invention is not limited to the preferred embodiments described above and shown in the various figures, the person skilled in the art being able to make numerous modifications and imagine other variants without departing from the scope or framework of the invention defined by the claims.

[0130] List of references: 1: modular element 2: frame 3: outer compartment 4: interior compartment 5: rising wall 5a: external longitudinal rising wall 5b: internal longitudinal rising wall 6: first convex end part 6a: concave wall potion 7: second convex end part 7a: portion of convex wall 8: tread 9: convex rounded edge 10: concave rounded edge 11: male articulation organ 12: cylinder 13: barrette 14: radial spur 15: upper face 16: female articulation organ 17: additional internal longitudinal wall 17a: external face 18: connecting wall 19: fixing organ 20: desired trajectory 20a: central support 21: cover strip 21a: longitudinal free edge 21b: longitudinal end of cover strip 22: cover plate 23: upper overlap zone 23a: upper shoulder 24: lower overlap zone 24a: lower shoulder 25: fixing system 26: slot 27: extension 28: rib 28a: canal 29: through hole

Claims

Claims

1. Modular element (1) for a modular infrastructure dedicated to guiding vehicles on tires along a desired trajectory (20), characterized in that it is made of a single piece comprising: - a rigid or semi-rigid frame (2) consisting of rising walls (5, 5a, 5b) whose height H substantially determines the thickness of said modular element (1), - said rising walls (5, 5a, 5b) delimiting an outer compartment (3) and an inner compartment (4), - the outer compartment (3) being intended to be covered with an upper wall or to be filled with a filling material to constitute a rolling zone extending in a longitudinal direction L orthogonal to the height H, - the outer compartment (3) being delimited by two longitudinal rising walls, external (5a) and internal (5b),which extend at the longitudinal ends by a first convex end part (6) and a second convex end part (7), which are at least partially projecting from said modular element (1) and provided with respective interlocking members (11, 16) in complementary shapes, said interlocking members (11, 16), located under the rolling zone, making it possible to achieve continuity of the rolling zone in all the assembly and installation configurations of said modular element (1).,

2. Modular element (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises an immobilization system for fixing it to the ground or to a pre-existing roadway and / or to another modular element (1) located opposite.

3. Modular element (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises an immobilization system for fixing it on a central support (20a) extending along the desired trajectory (20).

4. Modular element (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it comprises the interior compartment (4), extending in the transverse extension T of the exterior compartment (3), said interior compartment (4) being delimited by the internal longitudinal rising wall (5b) and by a complementary internal longitudinal wall (17), separated and connected together by means of stiffening ribs (28), substantially central and transverse and / or by means of substantially transverse rising connecting walls (18), each rib (28) or each connecting wall (18) being located and / or oriented on the frame (2) to allow said modular element (1) to be fitted at its first and second end parts (6) and (7) with other modular elements (1) along a fitting axis I orthogonal to the rolling zones and to allow two modular elements (1) fitted together to be oriented at an angle which can vary within an angular range of at least - 10° and + 10° and thus follow the desired trajectory (20), in a straight line or in a concave or convex curved line.

5. Modular element (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that the ribs (28), each have an inverted U shape, to form water drainage channels (28a).

6. Modular element (1) according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the complementary internal longitudinal wall (17) comprises in the upper part, a covering strip (21) orthogonal to said complementary internal longitudinal wall (17), to at least partially cover a central zone between two modular elements (1) facing each other, comprising a central support (20a) or another support materializing the desired trajectory (20).

7. Modular element (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that the complementary internal longitudinal wall (17) or the cover strip (21) is provided with at least one fixing member (19), making it possible to fix said modular element (1) on the central support (20a) or on another support materializing the desired trajectory (20).

8. Modular element (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the external longitudinal rising wall (5a) comprises on its external face, fixing systems (25) for accessories of the type crossing ramps or separation walls.

9. Modular element (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the rolling zone comprises a tread (8) made by the upper face of a filling material, of the fiber concrete type, filling the external compartment (3).

10. Modular element (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the rolling zone comprises a tread (8) formed by an upper wall made in one piece with the frame (2).

11. Modular element (1) according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that

12.

13. that the covering strip (21) comprises at its longitudinal ends inverted material clearances to form at one longitudinal end, a projecting extension (27) forming an upper overlapping zone (23) and at its other longitudinal end, on the underside, a lower overlapping zone (24) cantilevered so as to at least partially overlap the upper overlapping zone (23) of a nested modular element (1) and ensure continuity of coverage of a central support (20a) passing from one modular element (1) to the other and this for any mutual angular orientation of said nested modular elements (1). Modular element (1) according to claim 11 and claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the first convex end part (6) forms a portion of the tread (8) having a convex rounded edge (9) projecting from the frame (2) and in the extension of the external compartment (3), the second convex end part (7) being delimited on the frame (2) with a concave rounded edge (10) in the form of a shoulder, the tread (8) extending from the convex rounded edge (9) to the concave rounded edge (10), the first convex end part (6), comprising on the underside a male interlocking member (11) and the second convex end part (7) comprising an upper face (15) offset downwards relative to the tread (8) and provided with a female interlocking member (16) of a shape complementary to the member male socket (11),said female interlocking member (16) being intended to cooperate with a male interlocking member (11) of another modular element (1) to provide a rotational connection along an axis I orthogonal to the tread (8), the first end portion (6) being intended to be arranged on the upper face (15) of another modular element (1) and thus provide continuity of said tread (8)., Modular infrastructure for guiding vehicles on tires characterized in that it comprises a central guide line following a desired trajectory (20) and on each side of said guide line, modular elements (1) identical and conforming to any one of claims 1 to 12, the modular elements (1) being nested and oriented relative to each other in a laying plane, to follow the desired trajectory (20) and form with facing treads (8), a traffic lane without discontinuities for vehicles guided on tires.

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