Road restraint device equipped with a support heel

Abstract

The road restraint device (2) comprises a main body (3) including a base (4) and a restraint portion (5) extending substantially vertically and having a first lateral face (5.1), which is inclined with respect to the vertical at an angle of inclination between 4° and 6°, and a second lateral face (5.2). The base (4) includes a support heel (6) projecting laterally from the first lateral face (5.1). The support heel (6) has a lateral face (6.1) extending vertically with a heel height (H1) of between 12 and 16 cm, and an upper longitudinal edge of the lateral face (6.1) of the support heel (6) and a lower longitudinal edge of the first lateral face (5.1) are offset laterally from each other by an offset distance (D3) of between 4.5 cm and 6 cm. Figure 2

Description

Title of the invention: Road restraint device equipped with a support heel technical field

[0001] The present invention relates generally to the field of road equipment, and more particularly to road restraint devices, such as cast-in-place road restraint devices. State of the art

[0002] A road restraint device serves both to protect vehicles from an accidental departure from the roadway, as well as pedestrians or cyclists who may be travelling on an adjacent structure (sidewalks, cycle paths, etc.).

[0003] Road restraint systems, and in particular cast-in-place road restraint systems, must therefore have sufficient restraint capacity for vehicles striking them. This restraint capacity is defined in particular in the performance standards of the NF EN 1317 series.

[0004] In order to benefit from a restraint level H1 as defined by the NF EN 1317 standards, a road restraint system must be able to restrain two types of vehicles with different behaviors, namely a light vehicle (LV) and a heavy goods vehicle (HGV) with a mass of less than 10 tonnes. A light vehicle and a heavy goods vehicle exhibit different reactions in the event of a collision with a road restraint system, due in particular to the difference in mass, impact height, and center of gravity height.

[0005] Furthermore, in order to comply with NF EN 1317 standards, a road restraint system must also have an Acceleration Severity Index (ASI) that is lower than a first predetermined value, and a Theoretical Head Impact Velocity (THIV) that is lower than a second predetermined value. These two impact severity indices are assigned to a road restraint system during crash tests carried out in accordance with NF EN 1317 standards.

[0006] A cast-in-place road restraint system could, for example, have a strictly trapezoidal cross-section and thus have a width that gradually decreases from a base of the restraint system to its apex. Such a road restraint system exhibits good performance for light vehicles and heavy goods vehicles, but the ASI and THIV values ​​obtained for such a road restraint system are significantly out of range. standard.

[0007] In order to improve the ASI and THIV values ​​obtained for a cast-in-place road restraint system, it is known to equip the latter with a support heel oriented towards the roadway. The presence of such a support heel also allows for a more gradual reduction of the speed of a light vehicle, but creates a risk of tipping for a heavy vehicle, particularly if the transverse dimension (the offset) of the support heel is too pronounced.

[0008] In addition, a variation of certain morphological criteria of the road restraint device (such as the width of the base, the height and offset of the support heel or the height of the lateral face of the upper part of the road restraint device which is located on the side of the support heel) is likely to degrade the ASI and THIV values ​​obtained. Summary of the invention

[0009] The present invention aims to remedy all or part of these drawbacks.

[0010] The technical problem underlying the invention consists in particular of providing a road restraint device which is of simple and reliable structure and which has a restraint level Hl, while conforming to the NF EN 1317 standards and exhibiting satisfactory behavior for both light vehicles and heavy goods vehicles.

[0011] To this end, the present invention relates to a road restraint device, also called a road protection device or traffic lane separator, intended to extend along a traffic lane and to restrain a vehicle on the traffic lane, the road restraint device comprising a main body which is elongated and which extends along a longitudinal axis, the main body comprising:

[0012] - a base configured to rest on the ground, and

[0013] - a retaining portion extending substantially vertically, preferably from the base, comprising a first lateral face and a second lateral face which is opposite the first lateral face,

[0014] the base having a maximum width which is greater than a maximum width of the retaining part, and comprising a support heel extending longitudinally and projecting laterally from the first lateral face of the retaining part.

[0015] The support heel has a lateral face that extends substantially vertically (and is therefore substantially perpendicular to an underside face of the base) and has a heel height of between 12 and 16 cm, and for example of about 15 cm, the first lateral face of the retaining part is inclined, with respect to the vertical, at an angle of inclination of between 4° and 6°, and for example between 4.5° and 5.7°, and an upper longitudinal edge of the lateral face of the support heel and a lower longitudinal edge of the first lateral face of the retaining part are laterally offset from each other by an offset distance (which is therefore measured horizontally) of between 4.5 cm and 6 cm, advantageously between 4.7 cm and 5.7 cm, and for example about 5.2 cm.

[0016] Such a configuration of the road restraint device, and in particular of the support heel and the first lateral face of the restraint part, allows the road restraint device to have a restraint level H1 and to comply with all the criteria of the standard NF EN 1317 (and in particular compliance with the ASI criterion, the THIV criterion and the CEN box criterion), while exhibiting good behavior with light vehicles and heavy goods vehicles.

[0017] The road restraint device may also have one or more of the following characteristics, taken alone or in combination.

[0018] According to one embodiment of the invention, each of the first and second lateral faces of the retaining part is substantially flat.

[0019] According to one embodiment of the invention, the lateral face of the support heel extends from the lower face of the base.

[0020] According to one embodiment of the invention, the retaining part has a width which decreases towards a top of the retaining part, and for example to the top of the retaining part.

[0021] According to one embodiment of the invention, the second lateral face of the retaining part is inclined, with respect to the vertical, at an angle of inclination between 4° and 6°, and for example between 4.5° and 5.7°.

[0022] According to one embodiment of the invention, the support heel has an upper face which connects the upper longitudinal edge of the lateral face of the support heel to the lower longitudinal edge of the first lateral face of the retaining part.

[0023] According to one embodiment of the invention, the upper face of the support heel is substantially flat.

[0024] According to one embodiment of the invention, the upper face of the support heel is inclined with respect to the horizontal at an angle of inclination between 10° and 45°, advantageously between 20° and 30°, and for example about 25°. Such a configuration of the upper face of the support heel prevents water from stagnating on the support heel.

[0025] According to one embodiment of the invention, the upper longitudinal edge of the lateral face of the support heel and the lower longitudinal edge of the first lateral face of the retaining part are vertically offset from each other by an offset height of between 2 cm and 3 cm, and for example of about 2.5 cm.

[0026] According to one embodiment of the invention, the lower longitudinal edge of the first lateral face of the retaining part and the upper longitudinal edge of the The first lateral face of the retaining part is offset laterally from each other by a spacing distance (which is measured horizontally) of between 4.3 cm and 5.3 cm, and for example by about 4.8 cm.

[0027] According to one embodiment of the invention, the main body is configured to adhere to the ground on which it is placed.

[0028] According to one embodiment of the invention, the main body is cast in place, i.e., in situ, and is, for example, produced using a slipform paver. Advantageously, the main body is made of concrete. The fact that the main body is made of concrete, and in particular cast in place, allows it to adhere to the supporting ground, and thus to bond with the road surface or the ground, thereby constituting a road restraint system that is particularly resistant to impacts.

[0029] According to one embodiment of the invention, the base has a minimum width greater than 32.5 cm.

[0030] According to one embodiment of the invention, the base has a maximum width of between 32.5 cm and 36.5 cm.

[0031] According to one embodiment of the invention, the main body has a height greater than 70 cm, and for example between 70 cm and 1.5 m.

[0032] According to one embodiment of the invention, the main body is asymmetrical with respect to a median longitudinal plane of the main body.

[0033] According to one embodiment of the invention, the base includes an additional support heel located opposite the support heel and projecting laterally from the second lateral face of the retaining part. When the base includes the support heel and the additional support heel, the base may, for example, have a maximum width of between 37 cm and 41 cm.

[0034] According to one embodiment of the invention, the main body is symmetrical with respect to a median longitudinal plane of the main body.

[0035] According to one embodiment of the invention, the main body comprises an upper face which is substantially flat and which extends substantially horizontally.

[0036] According to one embodiment of the invention, the upper face of the main body has a width of between 17 and 20 cm, and for example of about 18 cm.

[0037] According to one embodiment of the invention, the retaining part has a cross-section that is substantially trapezoidal.

[0038] According to one embodiment of the invention, the road restraint device comprises longitudinal reinforcements, such as reinforcing bars or strands, integrated into the main body, and for example in the restraint part.

[0039] According to one embodiment of the invention, the longitudinal reinforcements are made of steel.

[0040] According to one embodiment of the invention, the longitudinal reinforcements comprise at least a first series of longitudinal reinforcements and a second series of longitudinal reinforcements, the reinforcement bars belonging to the first series being vertically offset with respect to the reinforcement bars belonging to the second series.

[0041] According to one embodiment of the invention, the reinforcing bars belonging to the first series are located above the reinforcing bars belonging to the second series and are vertically offset from the reinforcing bars belonging to the second series by a spacing distance of between 10 cm and 20 cm, and for example of about 15 cm.

[0042] According to one embodiment of the invention, the reinforcement bars belonging to the first series are spaced from the upper face of the retaining part by a distance of between 10 cm and 20 cm, and for example by about 15 cm.

[0043] According to one embodiment of the invention, the base may include water flow passages which are through and distributed along the base.

[0044] According to one embodiment of the invention, the road restraint device is intended to be installed on the shoulder of a traffic lane or in the central reservation in the case of a two-way traffic road. Brief description of the figures

[0045] The invention will be better understood with the aid of the following description with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings representing, by way of non-limiting example, one embodiment of this road restraint device.

[0046] [Fig-1] is a side perspective view of a road restraint device according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

[0047] [Fig.2] is a cross-sectional view of the road restraint device of [Fig.1].

[0048] [Fig.3] is a cross-sectional view of a road restraint device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. Detailed description

[0049] In this document, the terms "upper", "lower", "top", "bottom", "vertical" and "horizontal" are defined with respect to a road restraint device usage configuration in which the road restraint device rests, by its base, on a horizontal surface.

[0050] In this document, "median longitudinal plane" means a vertical plane that is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the main body and that divides the main body into two parts, left and right.

[0051] Unless otherwise stipulated, the term "substantially" means, in this document, "exactly or to within 10% or to within 10°".

[0052] Figures 1 and 2 represent a road restraint device 2, also called a road protection device or traffic lane separator, according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

[0053] The road restraint device 2 is designed to extend along a traffic lane and is configured to restrain a vehicle on the traffic lane. The road restraint device 2 serves both to protect vehicles from accidentally leaving the roadway and to protect pedestrians or cyclists who may be using an adjacent structure (sidewalks, cycle paths, etc.).

[0054] According to the first embodiment of the invention, the road restraint device 2 is more particularly intended to be installed on the shoulder of the traffic lane. The road restraint device 2 may, for example, rest on a bituminous concrete pavement structure or on a concrete base with grooves.

[0055] The road restraint device 2 comprises a main body 3 which is elongated and extends along a longitudinal axis. Advantageously, the main body 3 has a height greater than or equal to 70 cm, and for example between 70 cm and 1.5 m.

[0056] Advantageously, the main body 3 is made of concrete and is cast in place, i.e., in situ, using a slipform paver, to ensure adhesion to the substrate. According to the first embodiment of the invention, the road restraint device 2 forms a simple, adherent concrete separator.

[0057] As shown more particularly in [Fig.2], the main body 3 comprises a base 4 configured to rest on the ground, and a retaining part 5 extending substantially vertically from the base 4. Advantageously, the base 4 has a maximum width which is greater than a maximum width of the retaining part 5. The base 4 may, for example, have a minimum width greater than 32.5 cm, and advantageously a maximum width between 32.5 cm and 36.5 cm.

[0058] The retaining part 5 has a cross-section that is substantially trapezoidal, and more particularly comprises a first lateral face 5.1 and a second lateral face 5.2 which is opposite the first lateral face 5.1. Advantageously, each of the first and second lateral faces 5.1, 5.2 of the retaining part 5 is planar, and the first and second lateral faces 5.1, 5.2 of the retaining part 5 converge towards a vertex of the retaining part 5. Thus, the retaining part 5 has a width that decreases towards its vertex.

[0059] According to the first embodiment of the invention, the first lateral face 5.1 of the retaining part 5 is inclined, with respect to the vertical, at an angle of inclination between 4° and 6°, and for example between 4.5° and 5.7°, and the second face lateral 5.2 of the retaining part 5 is also inclined, with respect to the vertical, at an angle of inclination between 4° and 6°, and for example between 4.5° and 5.7°.

[0060] The lower longitudinal edge of the first lateral face 5.1 of the retaining part 5 and the upper longitudinal edge of the first lateral face 5.1 of the retaining part 5 are advantageously offset laterally from each other by a spacing distance Dl, which is measured horizontally, of between 4.3 cm and 5.3 cm, and for example of about 4.8 cm.

[0061] According to the first embodiment of the invention, the lower longitudinal edge of the second lateral face 5.2 and the upper longitudinal edge of the second lateral face 5.2 are vertically offset from each other by a height H4 between 58 cm and 62 cm, and for example by about 60 cm.

[0062] According to the first embodiment of the invention, the lower longitudinal edge of the second lateral face 5.2 and the upper longitudinal edge of the second lateral face 5.2 are laterally offset from each other by a distance D2 between 50 cm and 60 cm, and for example by about 22 cm.

[0063] The main body 3 further comprises an upper face 5.3 which is substantially flat and extends substantially horizontally. Advantageously, the upper face 5.3 of the main body 3 has a width of between 17 and 20 cm, and for example of approximately 18 cm.

[0064] According to the first embodiment of the invention, the main body 3 is asymmetrical with respect to a median longitudinal plane of the main body 3, and the base 4 includes a support heel 6 extending longitudinally and projecting laterally with respect to the first lateral face 5.1 of the retaining part 5.

[0065] The support heel 6 has a lateral face 6.1 which extends substantially vertically from the lower face of the base 4 (and which is therefore substantially perpendicular to the lower face of the base 4), and which has a heel height H1 between 12 and 16 cm, and for example about 15 cm.

[0066] The upper longitudinal edge of the lateral face 6.1 of the support heel 6 and the lower longitudinal edge of the first lateral face 5.1 of the retaining part 5 are laterally offset from each other by an offset distance D3, which is measured horizontally, of between 4.5 cm and 6 cm, advantageously between 4.7 cm and 5.7 cm, and for example of about 5.2 cm.

[0067] According to the first embodiment of the invention, the upper longitudinal edge of the lateral face 6.1 of the support heel 6 and the lower longitudinal edge of the first lateral face 5.1 of the retaining part 5 are vertically offset from each other by an offset height H2 of between 2 cm and 3 cm, and for example of about 2.5 cm.

[0068] According to the first embodiment of the invention, the upper longitudinal edge of the lateral face 6.1 of the support heel 6 and the upper longitudinal edge of the first lateral face 5.1 of the retaining part 5 are vertically offset from each other by a height H3 between 53 cm and 57 cm, and for example by about 55 cm.

[0069] The support heel 6 further comprises an upper face 6.2 which connects the upper longitudinal edge of the lateral face 6.1 of the support heel 6 to the lower longitudinal edge of the first lateral face 5.1 of the retaining part 5. According to the first embodiment of the invention, the upper face 6.2 of the support heel 6 is substantially flat and is inclined with respect to the horizontal at an angle of inclination between 10° and 30°, advantageously between 20° and 30°, and for example about 25°.

[0070] The base 4 may also include water flow passages which are through, that is to say which open out on each side of the base 4, and which are distributed along the base 4.

[0071] The road restraint device 2 further comprises longitudinal reinforcements 8, such as reinforcing bars or strands, which are integrated into the main body 3, and for example into the restraint part 5. Advantageously, the longitudinal reinforcements 8 are made of steel.

[0072] According to the first embodiment of the invention, the longitudinal reinforcement bars 8 comprise a first series of longitudinal reinforcement bars and a second series of longitudinal reinforcement bars, the reinforcement bars belonging to the first series being located above the reinforcement bars belonging to the second series and being offset vertically from the reinforcement bars belonging to the second series by a spacing distance D4 of between 10 cm and 20 cm, and for example, approximately 15 cm. Advantageously, the reinforcement bars belonging to the first series are spaced from the upper face 5.3 of the retaining portion 5 by a distance D5 of between 10 cm and 20 cm, and for example, approximately 15 cm.

[0073] Figure 3 represents a road restraint device 2 according to a second embodiment of the invention which differs from the first embodiment, shown in Figures 1 and 2, essentially in that the main body 3 is symmetrical with respect to the median longitudinal plane of the main body 3 and in that the base 4 has an additional support heel 9 which is located opposite the support heel 6 and which protrudes laterally with respect to the second lateral face 5.2 of the restraint part 5.

[0074] According to the second embodiment of the invention, the road restraint device 2 forms a double adherent concrete separator, and is for example intended to be installed in the central reservation in the case of a two-way traffic road.

[0075] According to the second embodiment of the invention, the base 4 can for example have a maximum width of between 37 cm and 41 cm.

[0076] According to an embodiment not shown in the figures, the road restraint device 2 could be without longitudinal reinforcement 8.

[0077] Of course, the present invention is in no way limited to the embodiments described and illustrated, which have been given only by way of example. Modifications remain possible, particularly with regard to the construction of the various elements or by substitution of technical equivalents, without departing from the scope of protection of the invention.

Claims

Demands

1. Road restraint device (2) intended to extend along a traffic lane and to restrain a vehicle on the traffic lane, the road restraint device (2) comprising a main body (3) which is elongated and which extends along a longitudinal axis, the main body (3) comprising: - a base (4) configured to rest on the ground, and - a restraint portion (5) extending substantially vertically and having a first lateral face (5.1) and a second lateral face (5.2) which is opposite the first lateral face (5.1), the base (4) having a maximum width which is greater than a maximum width of the restraint portion (5), and comprising a support heel (6) extending longitudinally and projecting laterally from the first lateral face (5.1) of the restraint portion (5), characterized in that the support heel (6) has a lateral face (6.1) which extends substantially vertically and which has a heel height (Hl) between 12 and 16 cm, in that the first lateral face (5.1) of the retaining part (5) is inclined, with respect to the vertical, at an angle of inclination between 4° and 6°, and in that an upper longitudinal edge of the lateral face (6.1) of the support heel (6) and an lower longitudinal edge of the first lateral face (5.1) of the retaining part (5) are laterally offset from each other by an offset distance (D3) between 4.5 cm and 6 cm.

2. Road restraint device (2) according to claim 1, wherein the support heel (6) has an upper face (6.2) which connects the upper longitudinal edge of the lateral face (6.1) of the support heel (6) to the lower longitudinal edge of the first lateral face (5.1) of the restraint part (5).

3. Road restraint device (2) according to claim 2, wherein the upper face (6.2) of the support heel (6) is inclined with respect to the horizontal at an angle of inclination between 10° and 30°.

4. Road restraint device (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the upper longitudinal edge of the lateral face (6.1) of the support heel (6) and the lower longitudinal edge of the first lateral face (5.1) of the restraint part (5) are vertically offset from each other by an offset height (Hl) between 2 cm and 3 cm.

5. Road restraint device (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the main body (3) is cast in place.

6. Road restraint device (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the main body (3) is made of concrete.

7. Road restraint device (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the base (4) has a minimum width greater than 32.5 cm.

8. Road restraint device (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the main body (3) has a height greater than or equal to 70 cm.

9. Road restraint device (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the base (4) has an additional support heel (9) which is located opposite the support heel (6) and which protrudes laterally from the second lateral face (5.2) of the restraint part (5).

10. Road restraint device (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, which comprises longitudinal reinforcements (8) integrated into the main body (3).