GB2218140A - Device for stopping vehicles - Google Patents

Abstract

A hollow elongate body 10 is mounted with an upper surface flush with the road surface. Two sets of spikes 38 are detachably mounted in sockets carried by respective shafts 32 and 34 pivotally mounted in the body 10. The shafts are selectively pivotable to move the spikes between an inoperative position in which they lie wholly within the body 10 and an operative position in which they project through an opening in the upper surface of the body 10. In the operative position, the spikes can lodge in the tyre of a vehicle passing over the body 10 and are disengaged from the latter to cause tyre deflation. To assist in deflation, each spike may be barbed, hollow, open at its socket-adjacent end and have a passage opening adjacent its tip. In an alternative embodiment, the device is mounted in or deployed across the road and the spikes are pivotally mounted on a spring biassed shaft so as to be pivotable into the inoperative position by vehicles travelling in one direction over the body, but to cause tyre deflation in the case of vehicles passing in the opposite direction over the body. <IMAGE>

Description

DEVICE FOR STOPPING VEHICLES This invention relates to a device for stopping vehicles and, in one of its aspects, is mainly concerned with modifications of the devices disclosed in my British Patent No. 1480331. In my British Patent No. 1480331, there are described a number of devices for stopping road vehicles which are capable of being deployed quickly across a roadway or a part thereof for the purpose of stopping unauthorised vehicles.

It is an object of one aspect of the present invention to provide a more permanent form of device for stopping vehicles.

According to said one aspect of the present invention there is provided a device for stopping vehicles comprising an elongate hollow body which is adapted to be mounted in the road so that an upper surface of the body lies substantially flush with the surface of the road; at least one shaft mounted in the body so as to extend longitudinally thereof, said shaft being rotatable and carrying a multiplicity of formations thereon; a multiplicity of spikes, each engaged with a respective one of the formations so as to be readily detachable therefrom without damage to the shaft, said hollow body having an opening in the upper surface thereof; and means for rotating the shaft between an inoperative position in which the spikes lie wholly within the body and an operative position in which the spikes project upwardly through the opening, the spikes being detachably engaged with said formations so that, when a vehicle runs over the device with the shaft in the operative position, at least one of the spikes becomes lodged in the tyre and is thereby detached from its respective formation on the shaft as the vehicle passes over the device.

Preferably, the shaft is provided with an abutment which engages with a corresponding abutment in the body so as to retain the shaft against rotary movement beyond its operative position. Most preferably, the abutments are relatively adjustable to enable the desired inclination of the spikes in the operative position of the shaft to be set.

Most advantageously, at least one end of the shaft projects from an end of the body and is adapted to be operatively connected with the end of the shaft of another such device. By this means, at least two devices can be mounted in end-to-end relationship across a roadway to be guarded.

The shaft may be connected with any desired mechanism for effecting rotation of the latter, for example a manually operable lever for direct or remote control, an electric, pneumatic or hydraulic motor or the like.

The device may be used in conjunction with a movable barrier arm so that, when the movable barrier arm is in a roadway obstructing position, the shaft is in its operative position with the spikes protruding from the body, whereas when the barrier arm is in a raised position, the shaft is in its inoperative position such as to allow the passage of traffic over the body, the shaft being mechanically, electrically, pneumatically or hydraulically linked with the barrier arm so that operation of the barrier arm automatically rotates the shaft, or vice versa. Alternatively, the device may be operated automatically when a vehicle passes a sensor located suitably in advance of the device.

In a preferred arrangement, the body includes a further rotary shaft which extends substantially parallel to the first-mentioned shaft and which carries a further set of spikes in a similar way. With such an arrangement, it is preferred for the shafts, when in their respective operative positions, to carry the spikes so that each set of spikes projects from the body at opposite inclinations so that effective stopping of vehicles is possible in either direction.

The upper surface of the body preferably takes the form of a metal grid which is preferably removable and has the opening in the form of a multiplicity of separate apertures through which a respective spike of the or each set pro3ects when the or each shaft is in its operative position.

The spikes are preferably hollow, being open at their shaft-adjacent ends and having intermediate openings communicating with the hollow so that fast pneumatic tyre deflation is facilitated once the spike has penetrated the carcass of the tyre.

Preferably, the body is of open-topped trough-like construction with base flanges which project laterally from opposite longitudinal sides of the box section so that the whole body can be firmly anchored in the road surface, the open top of the trough being closed by the grid.

Whilst each spike may be a push fit with the respective formation on the shaft, it is within the scope of the present invention to arrange for the spike to be engaged in screw-threaded fashion with the formation, provided that the portion of the spike which is intended to enter the tyre is provided with a helical formation thereon, the helical formation and the screw-threading being mutually arranged so that, as the spike enters the tyre of a vehicle running over the device, it is rotated in a direction such as to unscrew the spike from said formation.

It is an object of another aspect of the present invention to provide a spike construction for use in the permanent device of the present invention or the portable device of my British Patent No. 1480331 which facilitates fast deflation of a tyre penetrated by the spike.

According to this aspect of the present invention, there is provided a spike comprising a hollow body having a pointed tip at one end and being open at the opposite end, said body including at least one barbed portion intermediate its ends and at least one passage in the body which communicates with the hollow in the body and which opens externally of the body in the region of the pointed tip and above said at least one barbed portion.

By providing said at least one passage in the body so as to open externally of the body in the region of the pointed tip, fast deflation of the tyre is ensured, whilst the spike is retained within the tyre by said at least one barb.

In a particularly convenient embodiment, said at least one barbed portion includes a plurality of barbs which are spaced apart longitudinally of the spike.

In another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a device for stopping vehicles comprising an elongate hollow body which is adapted to be mounted in the road or to be deployed across the road, a multiplicity of -tyre-shredding spikes, means pivotally mounting each of said spikes in the body so that each spike is movable between an operative position and an inoperative position, each spike in its operative position projecting upwardly from the body at an angle so as to be directed transversely of the body, each spike in its inoperative position being disposed within the bodyt and resilient means biassing each spike into its operative position, whereby passage of vehicular traffic across the body in one direction causes spikes to be moved into their inoperative position against the action of the resilient means, whereas passage of vehicular traffic in the other direction across the body causes spikes in their operative position to impinge and penetrate the vehicle tyres.

It is within the scope of the present invention for some or all of the spikes to be mounted on a common shaft with the resilient means acting on the shaft.

However, it is also within the scope of the present invention for each spike to be mounted on its own shaft and to be provided with its own resilient means such as a spring.

It is preferred for each spike to have an upper surface leading to the tip which is inclined at an acute angle relative to the top of the body through which each spike projects so that vehicles travelling in said one direction engage against the inclined surface so as to cause the spike thereby engaged to be moved into its inoperative position.

It is preferred for the device to include means for moving all of the spikes against the action of the resilient means into their inoperative positions so asto enable movement of authorised vehicles over the device in said opposite direction.

The resilient means is preferably arranged to move each spike into its operative position at which further movement of the spike by the resilient means is prevented by reason of abutment against a stop in the body.

Each spike may have at least one passage or channel therein which facilitates release of air from a vehicle tyre penetrated by the spike. One form of spike takes the form of a blade having a point and at least one sharpened edge which faces said one side of the body.

It is also within the the scope of the present invention to provide a spike having an annular cutting surface designed to cut a plug of tyre material out of the tyre whereby to facilitate deflation.

Embodiments of both aspects of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a top plan view of one embodiment of a device according to said one aspect of the present invention for stopping vehicles, Fig. 2 is an end view of the device of Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a section on the line X-X of Fig. 1, Fig. 4 is a top perspective view showing two devices joined together in end-to-end relationship, Figs 5(a) to 5(g) are views of one embodiment of spike according to the present invention for use in the device of Figs 1 to 4, Figs 6(a) to (g) are views showing another embodiment of spike for use in the device of Figs 1 to 4, Fig. 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view of one embodiment of a device according to said another aspect of the present invention for stopping vehicles, and Fig. 8 is a schematic cross-section of a second embodiment of device according to said another aspect of the present invention for stopping vehicles.

Referring now to Figs. 1 to 4 of the drawings, the device for stopping vehicles comprises a fabricated open-topped trough section body 10 formed with a base plate 12, a pair of upstanding side plates 14 and 16 and a plurality of strengthening flanges 18 welded to the outside of the side plates 14, 16 and to those portions of the base plate 12 which project laterally beyond the side plates 14, 16. Internally of the body 10 there is provided a pair of inwardly directed shelves 20 upon which an inverted U-shaped grid 22 rests. The grid 22 closes the open top of the trough-like body 10 and is formed with a multiplicity of side-by-side apertures 24 therethrough. Each end of the trough-like body 10 is closed by a respective end wall 26. Each end wall 26 has a pair of horizontally spaced circular openings 28, 30 therethrough.The openings 28 in the end plates 26 are mutually aligned, as are the openings 30. Two rotary shafts 32 and 34 are mounted within the body 10 to extend parallel to each other through the respective openings 32 and 34 in the end walls 26. The end walls 26 provide bearings for the shafts 32 and 34 which are rotatable relative to the body 10. Each shaft 32, 34 mounts a respective row of resilient, plastics cups or sockets 36. The sockets 36 of each row are mutually aligned longitudinally of the respective shaft 32, 34 and are equi-spaced so as to be aligned with the respective apertures 24. Each socket 36 is secured to the respective shaft 32, 34 by means of a threaded bolt whose head is disposed within the socket 36 and whose shank engages a correspondingly screw-threaded hole in the shaft.A steel washer is incorporated within the plastic material at the base of the socket 36 in order to impart rigidity to the socket in the region of its attachment to the shaft. Although not shown in the drawings, each socket 36 has a series of channels therein in which silicone grease is provided. Each socket 36 detachably receives a respective spike 38.

The smooth, slippery material of construction of the socket 36, together with the provision of the silicone grease in the channels therein, facilitates fast and easy detachment of the spike 38 from the socket 36 in service. Each spike has a base which engages within the socket 36 and which has a smooth outer surface and a pointed end which is sharpened. Each spike also has a plurality of (in this embodiment 3) longitudinal cutting edges for assisting in entry of the spike into a tyre.

Each rotary shaft 32, 34 is movable between an inoperative position in which the spikes 38 carried thereby lie within the body 10 and an operative position in which the spikes 38 project upwardly from the body 10 through the respective apertures 24 in the grid 22. In Figs. 1 to 4, the shaft 32 is shown in its rotationally operative position with the spikes thereon extending through the grid 22, whilst the shaft 34 is shown in its inoperative position with the spikes 38 disposed wholly within the body 10. Each shaft 32, 34 is provided with a member 40 defining an abutment surface 42. In the drawings, only the member 40 associated with the shaft 34 can be seen. The abutment surface 42 is engaged against a corresponding abutment surface provided on a member 44 secured to the base plate 12 within the body 10.The arrangement is such that the abutment surface 32 on the member 40 engages with the abutment surface on the member 44 when the associated shaft is in its operative position, mutual abutment of these parts preventing movement of the shaft beyond its operative position. If desired, the member 44 may be adjustably mounted on the base plate 12 to enable its position relative to the member 40 to be adJusted, thereby enabling the angle of the spikes 38 in the operative position of the shaft 34 to be adjusted to suit the particular requirements of use.

The above described device can be connected with one or more other similar devices so as to span the whole or part of a roadway along which the passage of vehicular traffic is to be controlled. The portions of the shafts 32 and 34 which protrude through the end walls 26 are tongued and grooved so as to enable the shafts of adjacent devices to be operatively connected together for simultaneous rotation.

In use the required number of devices are laid together in end-to-end relationship with the shafts operatively connected with one another in a trench dug across the roadway. Once mounted in the trench, the body can be firmly secured in the roadway by concrete or asphalt which fills the spaces between the flanges 18, with the grid 22 lying substantially flush with the surface of the roadway. The grid 22 can be readily removed to facilitate access to the spikes and equipment within the body 10, and the base plate 12 is apertured to facilitate drainage of water from the body 10. The shafts can be operated by any desired mechanism (not shown) as described previously so that the shafts 32 and 34 can be controlled simultaneously or independently.The device operates in a similar way to that described in my British Patent No. 1480331, except that it is of much more robust construction and is intended to be permanently installed in the roadway rather than temporarily deployed across the roadway.

If desired, the shafts 32 and 34 may be supported by intermediate trunnions for minimising the risk of bending of the shafts when a vehicle tyre is impacted on the spikes. If desired, the socket 36 can be mounted on a sleeve which fits over the shaft and which is secured thereto by means of a suitable pin or peg.

Referring now to Fig. 5, an embodiment of spike is illustrated therein. In this embodiment, the spike 50 is hollow and, save for its base portion 52, is of substantially triangular section. Each spike 50 is tapered and has sharp cutting side edges 54. The outside of the body 50 is formed with three longitudinally spaced barbs 56, 56 and 58 thereon. The body 50 is also provided with a multiplicity of openings in the form of slits 60 in each of its three side faces. The uppermost set of slits 60 opens onto the exterior of the body 50 at the pointed tip thereof so that the uppermost slits 60 extend above the uppermost barb 56. The advantage of this contruction is that, as the spike penetrates into the tyre, pressure is lost from the tyre as soon as the pointed tip protrudes into the pressurised air cavity within the tyre.The sharp edges 54 assist in penetration through the carcass of the tyre and the barbs 56, 57 and 58 serve to prevent the spike from being ejected from the tyre under the pressure of air and/or by centrifugal force. Each time the tyre rotates the spike is brought into contact with the road and is thrust further into the tyre. With increasing penetration of the spike into the tyre, more slits 60 are exposed to the air pressure within the tyre and so increase the rate of deflation of the tyre.

In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 6, a similar construction to that described in relation to Fig. 5 is provided, except that only one barb 56 is provided adjacent the pointed tip of the spike. Otherwise, similar parts to that described in relation to Fig. 5 are accorded the same reference numerals.

In a further embodment (not shown) instead of mounting the spikes 38 in sockets 36 mounted on each shaft 32, 34, the shafts 32 and 34 may be drilled to define an orifice at each spike location. A plastics insert is push-fitted into each orifice and the shanks of the spikes 38 are pinch fitted into the respective plastic inserts.

Referring now to Fig. 7, the device illustrated therein is for mounting permanently in the surface of the road and includes a hollow body 100 formed by a pair of U-section girders which are embedded in the roadway and a steel grating which lies flush with the surface of the roadway and which is secured by bolts to the girders. The device further includes a shaft 101 which is mounted in trunnions (not shown) in the body. A multiplicity of spikes 102 are fixedly mounted on the shaft 101. A tension spring 103 secured to one of the spikes 102 and to the body 100 serves to urge the spikes 102 into an operative position as shown in Fig.

7 where an abutment surface 104 on the spike 102 engages against a stop 105 in the body 100. In this operative position, each spike 102 projects through a respective slot in the grating generally upwardly.

However, it will be seen that each spike 102 is inclined at an acute angle relative to the plane of the steel grating so as to point to one side of the body 100. Each spike 102 is formed, in this embodiment, of a blade having a cutting edge 106 and a flat, non-sharpened upper surface 107, the surface 107 and cutting edge 106 converging to a sharp tip 108. In this embodiment, traffic is permitted to pass unimpeded over the device from left to right as viewed in Fig. 7 since the tyres of the vehicle engage against the surfaces 107 of the spikes 102 which are pivoted downwardly against the action of the spring 103 into an inoperative position in which they lie within the body 100. No tyre penetration occurs in this direction.

However, when vehicles travel in the opposition direction, i.e. from right to left as viewed in Fig. 7, the tyres of the vehicles are penetrated by the spikes 102 and this penetration is accompanied by slashing of the tyre by the sharp edge 106. Any tendancy for the spikes 102 to be rotated in the anti-clockwise direction by the vehicle is prevented by virtue of the engagement of abutment 104 against stop 105. Any suitable means (not shown) such as the means described with relation to the previous embodiment may be employed for moving the spikes 102 into the body 100 when it is desired to permit authorised vehicles to pass over the device from right to left as viewed in Fig. 7.

Referring now to Fig. 8, the device illustrated therein operates in a similar way to that described in relation to Fig. 7, and similar parts are accorded the same reference numerals. However, in this particular embodiment, the body 100 is intended to be deployed across the surface of a road as a portable device.

Accordingly, the body 100 is provided along each of its side edges with a ramp 110. Whilst the devices of Fig.

7 and 8 are devices showing a spike 102 in the form of a solid blade, it is within the scope of the present invention to provide a hollow blade with a passage opening onto the edge 106 which is defined by two parallel blade portions extending to the tip 108. It is also possible for the exposed tip of the spike to be detachably mounted (e.g. in bayonet fashion) on a root portion of the spike which is actually secured to the shaft 101. Such an arrangement facilitates replacement of the portion of the spike which is most likely to become damaged in service. In the embodiments of Figs.

7 and 8, it is important for the whole structure to be very robust so as effectively to minimise the risk of damage to the spikes which are not designed to remain in the tyres after the vehicle has passed over the device, but are intended to remain engaged with the shaft but to cause fast deflation of the tyre. However, in a modification (not shown), the spikes 102 are mounted so as to be detachable from the body 100 as well as being mounted on shaft 101. Such detachable spikes may take the form of any of the spikes previously described eg with reference to Figs. 1 to 6. Such an arrangement has the advantage that the body 100 and shaft 101 need not be of such robust construction.

In the above described embodiments of Figs. 1 to 4, 7 and 8, the bodies of the devices are fabricated from sheet metal. However, it is possible, and may be preferable for economy of production, to produce some or all of the body parts as castings.

Claims (16)

CLAIMS:

1. A device for stopping vehicles comprising an elongate hollow body which is adapted to be mounted in the road so that an upper surface of the body lies substantially flush with the surface of the road; at least one shaft mounted in the body so as to extend longitudinally thereof, said shaft being rotatable and carrying a multiplicity of formations thereon; a multiplicity of spikes, each engaged with a respective one of the formations so as to be readily detachable therefrom without damage to the shaft, said hollow body having an opening in the upper surface thereof; and means for rotating the shaft between an inoperative position in which the spikes lie wholly within the body and an operative position in which the spikes project upwardly through the opening, the spikes being detachably engaged with said formations so that, when a vehicle runs over the device with the shaft in the operative position, at least one of the spikes becomes lodged in the tyre and is thereby detached from its respective formation on the shaft as the vehicle passes over the device.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the shaft is provided with an abutment which engages with a corresponding abutment in the body so as to retain the shaft against rotary movement beyond its operative position.

3. A device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the abutments are relatively adjustable to enable the desired inclination of the spikes in the operative position of the shaft to be set

4. A device as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein at least one end of the shaft projects from an end of the body and is adapted to be operatively connected with the end of the shaft of another such device, whereby at least two devices can be mounted in end-to-end relationship across a roadway to be guarded.

5. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the body includes a further rotary shaft which extends substantially parallel to the first-mentioned shaft and which carries a further set of spikes in a similar way.

6. A device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the shafts, when in their respective operative positions, carry the spikes so that each set of spikes projects from the body at opposite inclinations so that effective stopping of vehicles is possible in either direction.

7. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the spikes are hollow, open at their shaft-adjacent ends and have intermediate openings communicating with the hollow so that fast pneumatic tyre deflation is facilitated once the spike has penetrated the carcass of the tyre.

8. A spike comprising a hollow body having a pointed tip at one end and being open at the opposite end, said body including at least one barbed portion intermediate its ends and at least one passage in the body which communicates with the hollow in the body and which opens externally of the body in the region of the pointed tip and above said at least one barbed portion.

9. A spike as claimed in claim 8, wherein said at least one barbed portion includes a plurality of barbs which are spaced apart longitudinally of the spike.

10. A device for stopping vehicles comprising an elongate hollow body which is adapted to be mounted in the road or to be deployed across the road,.a multiplicity of tyre-shredding spikes, means pivotally mounting each of said spikes in the body so that each spike is movable between an operative position and an inoperative position, each spike in its operative position projecting upwardly from the body at an angle so as to be directed transversely of the body, each spike in its inoperative position being disposed within the body; and resilient means biassing each spike into its operative position, whereby passage of vehicular traffic across the body in one direction causes spikes to be moved into their inoperative position against the action of the resilient means, whereas passage of vehicular traffic in the other direction across the body causes spikes in their operative position to impinge and penetrate the vehicle tyres.

11. A device as claimed in claim 10, wherein each spike has an upper surface leading to the tip which is inclined at an acute angle relative to the top of the body through which each spike projects so that vehicles travelling in said one direction engage against the inclined surface so as to cause the spike thereby engaged to be moved into its inoperative position.

12. A device as claimed in claim 10 or 11, including means for moving all of the spikes against the action of the resilient means into their inoperative positions so as to enable movement of authorised vehicles over the device in said opposite direction.

13. A device as claimed in claim 10, 11 or 12, wherein the resilient means is arranged to move each spike into its operative position at which further movement of the spike by the resilient means is prevented by reason of abutment against a stop in the body.

14. A device as claimed in any one of claims 10 to 13, wherein each spike is mounted in the body so as to be detachable therefrom when it penetrates a tyre in use.

15. A device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 1 to 3 or Figs. 1 to 4 or Fig. 7 or Fig. 8 of the accompanying drawings.

16. A spike substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 5(a) to 5(g) or 6(a) to 6(g) of the accompanying drawings.