CA1214348A - Concrete block - Google Patents
Concrete blockInfo
- Publication number
- CA1214348A CA1214348A CA000420255A CA420255A CA1214348A CA 1214348 A CA1214348 A CA 1214348A CA 000420255 A CA000420255 A CA 000420255A CA 420255 A CA420255 A CA 420255A CA 1214348 A CA1214348 A CA 1214348A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- block
- blocks
- straight
- side faces
- gradient
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
- 230000004888 barrier function Effects 0.000 description 19
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 229910000831 Steel Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 241000079527 Ziziphus spina-christi Species 0.000 description 1
- 230000001154 acute effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 235000013405 beer Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 230000009194 climbing Effects 0.000 description 1
- 235000000396 iron Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000005096 rolling process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000012216 screening Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000010959 steel Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000000725 suspension Substances 0.000 description 1
Landscapes
- Refuge Islands, Traffic Blockers, Or Guard Fence (AREA)
- Road Paving Structures (AREA)
Abstract
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
An improved concrete block intended to serve as a roadway defining member. The block is in the shape of an elongate concrete body having an essentially triangular cross-sectional configuration with one bottom face and two preferably symmetrical side faces. Each side face is formed closest to the bottom face with a straight threshold portion sloping at a gradient of 1:5, which portion is connected to a second straight portion sloping at a gradient of 1:7 via en essentially circularly arcuate concave portion.
An improved concrete block intended to serve as a roadway defining member. The block is in the shape of an elongate concrete body having an essentially triangular cross-sectional configuration with one bottom face and two preferably symmetrical side faces. Each side face is formed closest to the bottom face with a straight threshold portion sloping at a gradient of 1:5, which portion is connected to a second straight portion sloping at a gradient of 1:7 via en essentially circularly arcuate concave portion.
Description
E3ACK~t)UND UF Tl-lE INVEI~TlDN
_ _ ____~______ The subject invention concerr-~s improvemer-lts in cnncrete blrcks desigr7ed to serve as road barriers, and roadway or lanr defining members. ~he blocks have an elongate concrste body with an essentially triangular cross-sectional shape including one bottom face and two preferably symmetrical side faces.
In four~lane traffic routes median barriers and roadway defining rnembers are often used to prevent vehicles travelling in one direction from enterir1g the lanes il~ which the vehicles are moving in the opposite directionO In case of accidents caused by skidding, aqua-planing, tyre punctures or careless driving such road barriers may prevent ths vehicles involved in the acciden-ts from colliding head-on with oncoming trafficv The barriers and roadway defining means usually consist of concrete plinths to which horizontal s-teel beams ars attached. One disadvantage with barriers and roadway defining mermbers of this kind is that the steel material of the beams make them somewhat resilient, with the result that vehicles colliding with the barrier at an oblique angle of irnpact as a rule will be thrown back towards the vehicles travelling in a dirr-ction parallel with that of the colliding vehicle, or even be -thrown off the road. A comparatively ~ r,~
3~3 harmless accident therefore may have very serious consequences.
Road barriers uf the kind referred to above are permanently anchored~ that is, they cannot be opened up to allow the traffic to be rerouted onto adjoining traffic lanes in case one lane or roadway is blocked off. Nor is it posslble to use this kind of road barriers tn protect workmen engaged in temporary road work.
It is also known to use concrete blocks as median barriers to separate opposing traffic roadways. Th~3 blocks have a triangular cross-sectional shape and may be moved temporarily to divert traffic in case of accidents and may also be used as protection during road work. Cases have been repnrted, however, when as a result of aqua-planing or skidding, vehicles hit a row of concrete blocks at an acute angle and roll over the blocks and onto the lane of oncoming traffic, thus causing serious accidents. Also whsn vehicles hit the concrete blocks at low speeds the damages to the front part of the car chassis have proved to be so serious that the car has to be towed from the place of accident and be repaired at great expense.
The purpose of the road block in accorr~ance with ~5 the subject inventiorl is to prevent vehicles hitting the barriers from rolling over the barriers, frorr ~,31~3~
being thrown into thr- lane of parallel traffic or from beir19 damaged to such an exter1t that the vehicle rnust be -towed away. The road block is furthermore intended for use in temporary road work. It is also desigr,ed to allow indiuiduai, damaged blocks to be easily replaced, to allow water runoff~ and to be rapidly and easily dismantled and removed for asphalting and other paving work or when an upening is desired through the barrier. The blocl< in accordance with the inventior furtherrnore serves as a blind, screening off glaring and blinding lights from oncoming traffic. In addition, it is clesigned to allow road signs, lights poles and noise-reducing ma-ts to be mounted thereon.
S UMM A R Y OF THE I N IJE N T I O N
To achieve these purposes~ the block in accordance with the subject invention is characterised in that each side face of the block is formed in the area closest to the bottom face with a straight threshold portion sloping at a gradient of 1:55 said portion being interconnected to a second straight portion sloping at a gradient of 1:7 via an essentially circular arcuate concaue portion.
ORIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE I~RAWINGS
_ The inuentiorl will be describedin closer detail in the following with reference to one embodiment thereof illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is an end view of a concrete block in accordance with the invention~
Fig. 2 i5 a broken view of two blocks in accor-dance with the inventiorl with means for interlocking these two blocks together, and Fig 3 shows two interlocked blocks.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF n PREFERRED EM~nDIMEN~
The eoncrete block 1 is supported on feet 3 formr;~d on a bottom face 2, said feet being provided to allow water to flow freely underneath the block. The side faces ~I have a profiled shape incorporating a lower straight threshold portion 5~ a concave areuate portioi-l 6 and an upper sloping portion 7 on either sidr~ of the block.
The gradient of the slope of the threshold portion 5 is 1:5. It is designed to turn the front wheel of a vehicle hittir-lg the block at a small angle of impact in a direction in parallel with the lengthwise extension of the barrier~ As a result, the vehiele will continue its travel alongside the barrier of concrete blocks without being damaged or causing serious accidents.
When the angle of impact of the vshicie is larger and the speed higher the vehicle will "climb" over the threshold portion 5 up onto the concave arcuate portion 6 This will consume some of the kir,etic energy of the vehicle.
When the angle of impact is large the vehicle will "climb"
high up onto the slopir-~g portion 7 the gradierlt of which ~p~
i9 1 :7, ancl thr majl)rity of ths kinetic enElr9y of !he vr~hicle will tht~n be cnllsumed. However, the rJec~leratioo is not so abrupt that vehicles behind run the risk of driving into tns vehicle colliding with the barrier, which might o-therwise have resultsd in a chain of collisionsO
When it is "climbing" up the barrisr the vehicle will automatically be guided in a direction in parallel with the barriQr and the rear wheel of the vehicle will follow the front wheel up onto the barrisr. In the initial phase a considerable amount o~ the kinetic eneryy will be absocbed by the tyres and the suspension of the vehicle. A further amount of the energy may be absor-bed through the concrete blocks because ths lattsr, being interlocked into a long chain forming the barrier~ may be displaced somewhat laterally on the feet 3.
The means for interlocking the blocks 1 to one another are shown in Fig. 2 and comprise a tube 8, a retaining plate 9 and two nuts 10. At each end the concrete blocks 1 are provided with a centrally located and verti-2U cally extending groove 11. The groove 11 terminates shortoff the base face 2 of the block and is provided at its lower end with a vertically extending pin 12 which is directed upwards. When two blocks 1 have besn placed end-to-end the two grooves 11 of adjoirling blocks together form a chann~l in which the tube ~ may be inserted from above. When the tube a is inserted fully into thea chanlel it encloses the two pins 12 which are connected with reir,forcemer1t irons 1~ cast into the block. At the upper erld oF the char~ l and spaced From the latter there is provided a threaded pin 14, one adjacent each side face oF the block. The retaining plate 9 is Formed with apertures 15 matching the pins 14 and the plate may be locked to the latter with the aid oF
the nuts 10. Each end face of the blocks is slightly bevelled, which allow the blocks, being interconnected at ths centre line, to be locked together along the radius of a curve.
The interlocking meal1s in accordance with the invention are capable oF withstanding considerable strrss without breaking while at the same time they allow interlocked blocks to be rapidly and easily disconnected from one another. Road signs, light poles and nOise~
-reducir,g ma-ts may be mountsd at the interlocking means.
The concrete blocks in accordance with the subject invention have been tested by the Swedish National Road and Traffic Research Insti-tute (VTI)O1~hr tests show that vehicles colliding with a barrier formed by blocks in accordance with the subject inven-tion as a rule may be driven away from the place of the accident without further. 0nly in cases of extremely heavy collisions is it necessary to tow the vehicle away ~5 However, rlot even when the impact from the vehicle colliding with the barriur is extreml3ly struf-~g has one beer) able to detect any tenderlcies in the collidir-~g vahicle to bourlce away from the barrier in a direction towards ths cars travelling in parallel lanes or to roll ouer the barrier and into -the lane of the oncoming traffic.
The invention is not limited to the embodiment described in -the aforegoing but various modifications are possible within the scope of the appended claims.
For instance, the height and width dimensions of the concrete blocks rnay differ~ the essential feature of the invention being the provisic~n in the block of a lower straight threshold portion sloping at a gradient of 1;5, a concavely arcuate portion 6 and an upprr sloping portion 7 the gradient of which is 1:7. Uther interlocking means than those shown to link the blocks -to one another are poss.ible.
_ _ ____~______ The subject invention concerr-~s improvemer-lts in cnncrete blrcks desigr7ed to serve as road barriers, and roadway or lanr defining members. ~he blocks have an elongate concrste body with an essentially triangular cross-sectional shape including one bottom face and two preferably symmetrical side faces.
In four~lane traffic routes median barriers and roadway defining rnembers are often used to prevent vehicles travelling in one direction from enterir1g the lanes il~ which the vehicles are moving in the opposite directionO In case of accidents caused by skidding, aqua-planing, tyre punctures or careless driving such road barriers may prevent ths vehicles involved in the acciden-ts from colliding head-on with oncoming trafficv The barriers and roadway defining means usually consist of concrete plinths to which horizontal s-teel beams ars attached. One disadvantage with barriers and roadway defining mermbers of this kind is that the steel material of the beams make them somewhat resilient, with the result that vehicles colliding with the barrier at an oblique angle of irnpact as a rule will be thrown back towards the vehicles travelling in a dirr-ction parallel with that of the colliding vehicle, or even be -thrown off the road. A comparatively ~ r,~
3~3 harmless accident therefore may have very serious consequences.
Road barriers uf the kind referred to above are permanently anchored~ that is, they cannot be opened up to allow the traffic to be rerouted onto adjoining traffic lanes in case one lane or roadway is blocked off. Nor is it posslble to use this kind of road barriers tn protect workmen engaged in temporary road work.
It is also known to use concrete blocks as median barriers to separate opposing traffic roadways. Th~3 blocks have a triangular cross-sectional shape and may be moved temporarily to divert traffic in case of accidents and may also be used as protection during road work. Cases have been repnrted, however, when as a result of aqua-planing or skidding, vehicles hit a row of concrete blocks at an acute angle and roll over the blocks and onto the lane of oncoming traffic, thus causing serious accidents. Also whsn vehicles hit the concrete blocks at low speeds the damages to the front part of the car chassis have proved to be so serious that the car has to be towed from the place of accident and be repaired at great expense.
The purpose of the road block in accorr~ance with ~5 the subject inventiorl is to prevent vehicles hitting the barriers from rolling over the barriers, frorr ~,31~3~
being thrown into thr- lane of parallel traffic or from beir19 damaged to such an exter1t that the vehicle rnust be -towed away. The road block is furthermore intended for use in temporary road work. It is also desigr,ed to allow indiuiduai, damaged blocks to be easily replaced, to allow water runoff~ and to be rapidly and easily dismantled and removed for asphalting and other paving work or when an upening is desired through the barrier. The blocl< in accordance with the inventior furtherrnore serves as a blind, screening off glaring and blinding lights from oncoming traffic. In addition, it is clesigned to allow road signs, lights poles and noise-reducing ma-ts to be mounted thereon.
S UMM A R Y OF THE I N IJE N T I O N
To achieve these purposes~ the block in accordance with the subject invention is characterised in that each side face of the block is formed in the area closest to the bottom face with a straight threshold portion sloping at a gradient of 1:55 said portion being interconnected to a second straight portion sloping at a gradient of 1:7 via an essentially circular arcuate concaue portion.
ORIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE I~RAWINGS
_ The inuentiorl will be describedin closer detail in the following with reference to one embodiment thereof illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is an end view of a concrete block in accordance with the invention~
Fig. 2 i5 a broken view of two blocks in accor-dance with the inventiorl with means for interlocking these two blocks together, and Fig 3 shows two interlocked blocks.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF n PREFERRED EM~nDIMEN~
The eoncrete block 1 is supported on feet 3 formr;~d on a bottom face 2, said feet being provided to allow water to flow freely underneath the block. The side faces ~I have a profiled shape incorporating a lower straight threshold portion 5~ a concave areuate portioi-l 6 and an upper sloping portion 7 on either sidr~ of the block.
The gradient of the slope of the threshold portion 5 is 1:5. It is designed to turn the front wheel of a vehicle hittir-lg the block at a small angle of impact in a direction in parallel with the lengthwise extension of the barrier~ As a result, the vehiele will continue its travel alongside the barrier of concrete blocks without being damaged or causing serious accidents.
When the angle of impact of the vshicie is larger and the speed higher the vehicle will "climb" over the threshold portion 5 up onto the concave arcuate portion 6 This will consume some of the kir,etic energy of the vehicle.
When the angle of impact is large the vehicle will "climb"
high up onto the slopir-~g portion 7 the gradierlt of which ~p~
i9 1 :7, ancl thr majl)rity of ths kinetic enElr9y of !he vr~hicle will tht~n be cnllsumed. However, the rJec~leratioo is not so abrupt that vehicles behind run the risk of driving into tns vehicle colliding with the barrier, which might o-therwise have resultsd in a chain of collisionsO
When it is "climbing" up the barrisr the vehicle will automatically be guided in a direction in parallel with the barriQr and the rear wheel of the vehicle will follow the front wheel up onto the barrisr. In the initial phase a considerable amount o~ the kinetic eneryy will be absocbed by the tyres and the suspension of the vehicle. A further amount of the energy may be absor-bed through the concrete blocks because ths lattsr, being interlocked into a long chain forming the barrier~ may be displaced somewhat laterally on the feet 3.
The means for interlocking the blocks 1 to one another are shown in Fig. 2 and comprise a tube 8, a retaining plate 9 and two nuts 10. At each end the concrete blocks 1 are provided with a centrally located and verti-2U cally extending groove 11. The groove 11 terminates shortoff the base face 2 of the block and is provided at its lower end with a vertically extending pin 12 which is directed upwards. When two blocks 1 have besn placed end-to-end the two grooves 11 of adjoirling blocks together form a chann~l in which the tube ~ may be inserted from above. When the tube a is inserted fully into thea chanlel it encloses the two pins 12 which are connected with reir,forcemer1t irons 1~ cast into the block. At the upper erld oF the char~ l and spaced From the latter there is provided a threaded pin 14, one adjacent each side face oF the block. The retaining plate 9 is Formed with apertures 15 matching the pins 14 and the plate may be locked to the latter with the aid oF
the nuts 10. Each end face of the blocks is slightly bevelled, which allow the blocks, being interconnected at ths centre line, to be locked together along the radius of a curve.
The interlocking meal1s in accordance with the invention are capable oF withstanding considerable strrss without breaking while at the same time they allow interlocked blocks to be rapidly and easily disconnected from one another. Road signs, light poles and nOise~
-reducir,g ma-ts may be mountsd at the interlocking means.
The concrete blocks in accordance with the subject invention have been tested by the Swedish National Road and Traffic Research Insti-tute (VTI)O1~hr tests show that vehicles colliding with a barrier formed by blocks in accordance with the subject inven-tion as a rule may be driven away from the place of the accident without further. 0nly in cases of extremely heavy collisions is it necessary to tow the vehicle away ~5 However, rlot even when the impact from the vehicle colliding with the barriur is extreml3ly struf-~g has one beer) able to detect any tenderlcies in the collidir-~g vahicle to bourlce away from the barrier in a direction towards ths cars travelling in parallel lanes or to roll ouer the barrier and into -the lane of the oncoming traffic.
The invention is not limited to the embodiment described in -the aforegoing but various modifications are possible within the scope of the appended claims.
For instance, the height and width dimensions of the concrete blocks rnay differ~ the essential feature of the invention being the provisic~n in the block of a lower straight threshold portion sloping at a gradient of 1;5, a concavely arcuate portion 6 and an upprr sloping portion 7 the gradient of which is 1:7. Uther interlocking means than those shown to link the blocks -to one another are poss.ible.
Claims (3)
1. An improved concrete block designed to serve as a roadway or lane defining member, said block having an elongate concrete body with an essentially triangular cross-sectional shape including one bottom face and two preferably symmetrical side faces, the improvement comprising a first straight threshold portion at each one of said symmetrical side faces of said block, said threshold portion formed in the area closest to said bottom face of said block and sloping at a gradient of 1:5, a second straight portion at each one of said symmetrical side faces of said block, said second straight portion sloping at a gradient of 1:7, and an essentially circularly arcuate concave portion at each one of said symmetrical side faces of said block, said arcuate concave portion interconnecting said first straight threshold portion and said second straight portion.
2. An improved concrete block as claimed in claim 1, comprising said blocks having a length of appr. 2 meters.
3. An improved concrete block as claimed in claim 1, comprising means interlocking said blocks, interlocking means mounted on the opposing end faces of said blocks, said means interlocking said blocks by connecting said interlocking means with one another.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000420255A CA1214348A (en) | 1983-01-26 | 1983-01-26 | Concrete block |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000420255A CA1214348A (en) | 1983-01-26 | 1983-01-26 | Concrete block |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1214348A true CA1214348A (en) | 1986-11-25 |
Family
ID=4124423
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000420255A Expired CA1214348A (en) | 1983-01-26 | 1983-01-26 | Concrete block |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1214348A (en) |
-
1983
- 1983-01-26 CA CA000420255A patent/CA1214348A/en not_active Expired
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKEX | Expiry |