EP1360377B1

EP1360377B1 - Road furniture and method of installation thereof

Info

Publication number: EP1360377B1
Application number: EP02711045A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Graham Heeks
Original assignee: Autospan Ltd
Current assignee: Autospan Ltd
Priority date: 2001-02-13
Filing date: 2002-02-12
Publication date: 2010-05-05
Anticipated expiration: 2022-02-12
Also published as: EP1360377A1; WO2002064892A1; DE60236252D1; ATE466999T1; ES2345926T3; GB0103501D0; DK1360377T3

Abstract

An apparatus, and a method of installing said apparatus, comprising a tray adapted for mounting permanently in a recess in a road surface, the tray providing a support surface and restraining walls for an item of road furniture, such as a speed hump, and an insert adapted to fit the tray so as to interact with the wheels of passing traffic, the insert being replaceable without disturbing the mounting of the tray.

Description

The invention relates to the mounting of traffic calming devices and other items of road furniture in a roadway, for interaction with the wheels of passing vehicles. One particular type of device is a speed bump.
Deformable speed bumps are known, for example from WO-A-98/40563 , assigned to the present applicant, and from US 6024510 (Kamienchick ). These devices are resiliently deformable, and contain air which is permitted to escape when a vehicle passes at a permitted speed over the speed bump. At higher speeds, deflation does not occur, or occurs too slowly for the bump to deflate, providing a deterrent to speeding traffic. Other specialist forms of traffic obstruction are known from (for example only) DE-A-2914708 and US 5415493 . Other types of device required to interact with vehicle wheels include instrumentation for traffic flow monitoring etc.
DE 3447712 (Jost ) provides a speed hump and a retaining device for securing the hump body to the road surface. A road surface section is set into a tray or trough which can accommodate the hump body. The raised part can be inserted facing up or down. The hump body sits on rabbeted sections of the trough. The hump is of solid material.
GB-A-2288419 (Beveridge ) describes enclosed deformable speed bumps having a sealed hollow casing that can be mounted on a road surface. The fluid in the bump can be displaced, allowing the bump to deform. As vehicle speed increases, displacement of fluid in the bump is reduced, thus increasing disturbance to the vehicle.
Particularly where the device is deformable, mounting directly onto the road surface, any irregularity in or under that surface quickly leads to damage and/or loosening of the device mounting. Replacement of devices therefore becomes necessary more often. Besides the expense and inconvenience for motorists, repeated work on the road surface merely accelerates its decline.
Substantial and repeated shock forces of course emanate from any speed bump or other obstacle placed in the path of traffic, which further degrades the mounting of the device, and also causes noise and damage in the neighbouring environment (buildings, drains and service conduits etc.).
Moreover, even where the known devices are suitable for installation on a freshly made and sound road surface, existing road surfaces are frequently in poor condition. This causes a problem when installing any piece of road furniture.
Also, where the functioning of the products depends on the manner in which the device is fitted into the road surface, quality control of a standard expected in the factory environment, is hard to extend to the final installation.
It is an object of the invention to overcome one or more of the above limitations in the prior art, and to provide an improved method of installation for devices mounted in the roadway.
In one aspect the present invention provides an apparatus according to claim 1.
The traffic calming device may comprise a deformable element such as a speed bump. The deformable element may thus be removed from the road for replacement or repair.
The insert may comprise a rigid plinth with the deformable, element mounted thereon. Deformable materials naturally have a limited life, and more so when compressed against an irregular road surface. The tray and plinth define a regular surface so as to avoid localised damage, while permitting ready replacement of the worn or damaged components. Interruption of traffic is minimised.
The device or the mounting of the insert may provide resilience effective to reduce the transmission of vibration from vehicle wheels into the roadway and surrounding environment. A resilient gasket may be provided for this purpose, integrated with one of the tray and the insert, or provided as a separate component.
At least part of the insert, such as a concrete plinth, may be re-usable. The plinth may for example be reversible, to allow fitting of a fresh deformable element after wear of a first deformable element.
At least part of the device, such as a concrete slab may be coloured according to colour of the road surface where it is to be used.
The insert may be reversible to provide different characteristics, provided that the tray and recess are adapted to accommodate whatever parts may project from the reverse side of the insert, when the other side is in use.
The apparatus may further comprise a blank insert adapted for fitting in the tray so as to provide a flat road surface. The blank may be deployed to defer deployment of traffic calming measures while the trays are being installed, or to allow traffic calming devices or other road furniture to be deployed selectively over time, or removed temporarily for repair.
The phrase "traffic calming device" as used herein should be interpreted broadly to include any item of road furniture, unless the context requires otherwise. A physical speed bump may be replaced for example by a blank insert having instrumentation, or special visual markings, without departing from the scope of the invention.
The or each insert may be provided with receptacles for lifting gear, in order to facilitate fitting and removal of the devices. The receptacles may for example comprise bolt holes, for temporarily fitting eyebolts or the like. Other forms of recess may be permanently present in the surface of the insert.
The invention in a second aspect provides one or more inserts adapted for use with the apparatus of the first aspect of the invention as set forth above. The inserts may comprise speed restriction devices, blanks or other items of road furniture. They may comprise any of the optional features mentioned in connection with the apparatus as set forth above, or in the embodiments illustrated.
The invention in a third aspect provides a method of installation of a deformable traffic calming device, as described in the accompanying claims.
The tray may comprise walls and a base surface for restraining and supporting the insert, respectively.
The method may further comprise subsequently removing the insert and replacing it with another insert while the tray remains securely installed in the road. The other insert may be a replacement of the same type, or a different type of insert.
The method may for example comprise part of a programme of installation of speed restriction devices, wherein a number of trays and blank inserts are firstly installed by the method as set forth above, and subsequently the blank inserts are replaced by speed restriction devices to instigate speed restriction over a desired section of road.
The insert may comprise a speed restriction device, blank or other item of road furniture. The method may incorporate any of the optional features mentioned in connection with the first and second aspect of the invention as set forth above, or in the, embodiments illustrated.
The method may further comprise the repair of a speed restriction insert by factory replacement of a deformable element of the insert, while re-using a rigid plinth element, such as a concrete slab.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 illustrates a speed restriction device in the form of an insert according to an embodiment of the present invention;
Fig.2 is a cross section through the insert of Fig. 1, installed with a tray in a road surface;
Fig. 3 is a cut-away diagram of the tray isolation;
Fig. 4 is a cut-away schematic detail of the tray installed in the roadway;
Fig. 5 shows in perspective and section A-A' a reversible form of concrete slab for use in the manufacture of a speed restriction insert.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Referring to Fig.s 1 and 2, a deformable speed restriction device D of the type described in WO-A-98/40563 or in DE-A-3447712 is not fitted directly to a road surface, as in the prior art, but is fitted to a separate plinth P in the form of a concrete slab (see also Fig. 5). The entire assembly D+P is factory-made, permitting clean and secure bonding of the deformable material and the concrete plinth, and sealing of the airspace S within the deformable element. Eyebolts E are temporarily fitted in recesses cast or drilled into the slab, for lifting of the assembly D+P, which forms an "insert", within the meaning of the introductory portion of this specification.
As can be seen in the cross-section Fig.2, the deformable element may be mounted to the plinth P by means of bolts, mastic, or a combination of these. The deformable element may be open at its base, and closed only be sealing to the concrete of the plinth, or may be mounted to the plinth as a pre-sealed unit. In another embodiment (not illustrated), the plinth itself may be open to the bottom (thus lighter and cheaper), but sealed by gasket or other means to the tray T.
The assembly may weigh as much as 2 tonnes, its weight alone acting to retain it in the roadway under all foreseeable conditions.
Fig. 2 shows in particular how the insert D+P is set into the material of a road surface R. A tray T is provided and shown in greater detail in Fig. 3, which is a unitary steel structure, providing upstanding walls 2 to line the recess, and a base extending at least a few centimetres from the walls toward the centre, to provide a flat supporting surface 1 for the plinth P. The tray T has a variable width x so as to suit carriageway.
The upper edges of the tray walls 3 are returned to give additional support to the leading/impact face of the tray T, which is exposed to the traffic wheels. This detail provides a natural road break which satisfies current legislation and will prevent the wear course from deteriorating.
By saw cut and digging, a recess is formed in the road surface R to receive the tray T. This is sealed and secured in place by bitumen or other grouting, so as to be permanently fitted into the road surface. As can be seen in Fig. 4, a first saw cut 4 is made to the desired depth of the recess, while a second, shallower cut 5 is made, set back from the first, to accommodate the return on the top of each wall. Relief holes 6 are present in the walls and base to ensure a complete coverage of bitumen, and so avoiding voids 7 between the tray and the road material. This process is described in more detail in an Annex.
Fig. 5 shows a variation wherein the plinth is reversible and able to rotate through 180 degrees. This allows the slab to be used twice.
Various modifications and variations are of course possible within the scope of the present invention. These include variations as to the weight of the slab, which holds the device in place. the insert may be profiled, for example to match a camber in the road, or may be non-rectangular in plan. A number of elements or module may be fitted into one slab, or a number of discrete modules, each with a separate plinth, may be accommodated on a single installed frame. This permits the use of lighter lifting gear, replacement of heavily worn units, and so forth.

ANNEX - INSTALLATION PROCEDURE

1.3 Excavation
- 1.3.1 The perimeter of the proposed excavation shall be cut vertically using a road saw. The minimum depth of the saw cut shall be the specified depth of the metal trough.
- 1.3.2 The dimensions and location of the resulting saw cut shall be checked and amended as necessary prior to excavation.
- 1.3.3 All material within the limits of the saw cut shall be removed to the specified depth of the metal trough. All excavated material shall be removed from site and disposed of at a licensed tip. Sufficient care shall be exercised to ensure that the vertical faces of the excavation are not damaged.
- 1.3.4 The base of the excavation shall be trimmed and compacted using a vibrating plate compactor to give a smooth planer surface. Any isolated soft spots shall be excavated and replaced with Type 1 sub-base. Sufficient care shall be exercised to ensure that the vertical faces of the excavation are not damaged.
- 1.3.5 The depth of the resulting excavation shall be checked using an appropriate template and amended as required.
1.4 Installation of Metal Tray
- 1.4.1 A suitable bedding material shall be laid in the base of the excavation such that it extends beneath the full width of the edge base flange of the metal tray. The bedding material shall be selected such that the metal tray with the dummy slab installed can be trafficked without deformation within six hours of hours of imposing the first traffic restrictions.
- 1.4.2 The metal tray shall be positioned within the excavation and adjusted for level such that the top of the tray is level with the carriageway surface. Additional bedding material shall be used to ensure that the full width bedding specified in 1.4.1 above is maintained.
- 1.4.3 Any void between the vertical face of the excavation and the metal tray shall be filled using hot poured bitumen heated to 180°C and having a viscosity not greater than 80 Poise poured through the holes provided for that purpose in the vertical faces of the trough.
1.5 Placing Dummy Slab in the Metal Tray
- 1.5.1 Prior to installing the dummy slab within the metal all surplus bedding material and set bitumen shall be cleaned from the inside face of the metal trough.
- 1.5.2 The dummy slab shall be installed within the metal tray in such a way that the Dead Sheet/Rubber bearing and the compressible gasket are not damaged.

Claims

Road safety apparatus comprising
a tray (T) adapted for mounting permanently in a recess in a road surface (R), the tray having a support surface and walls;
a rigid plinth (P) adapted to fit within and be supported by the support surface and walls of the tray (T);
a deformable traffic calming device (D) which defines an air space (S) beneath the profile thereof; characterised in that the apparatus further comprises
sealing means for sealing the deformable device (D) to the plinth (P).
Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the tray (T) has a solid bottom surface.
Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the tray (T) is open.
Apparatus as claimed in any previous claim wherein the apparatus provides resilience effective to reduce the transmission of vibration from vehicle wheels into the roadway and surrounding environment.
Apparatus as claimed in Claim 4 wherein said resilience is provided by a resilient gasket.
Apparatus as claimed in Claim 5 wherein said gasket is provided as a separate component.
Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the plinth (P) is re-usable.
Apparatus as claimed in Claim 7 wherein the plinth (P) is reversible allowing fitting of a fresh deformable device (D) after wear of a first deformable device.
Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein at least part of the apparatus is coloured according to colour of the road surface (R) where it is to be used.
Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the plinth (P) is reversible to provide different characteristics, provided that the tray (T) and recess are adapted to accommodate whatever parts may project from the reverse side of the plinth when the other side is in use.
Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said apparatus further comprises a blank plinth (P) adapted for fitting in the tray so as to provide a flat road surface.
Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the plinth (P) is provided with receptacles (E) for lifting gear, in order to facilitate fitting and removal of the devices.
Apparatus as claimed in Claim 12 wherein the receptacles (E) comprise bolt holes for temporarily fitting eyebolts or the like.
Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim further comprising means to seal the tray (T) to the road surface (R).
Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim further comprising a dead sheet located between the plinth (P) and the device (D).
A method of installation of a deformable traffic calming device (D) in a road surface (R) comprising:
providing a removable deformable traffic calming device (D) having a predetermined size and shape and a plinth (P);

providing a rigid tray (T) having inner surfaces adapted in a size, shape and strength to receive and support the plinth (P);

excavating a recess of predetermined size and shape in a road surface, sufficient to accommodate the rigid tray (T) at a desired level in the road surface;

installing the tray (T) securely within the recess and

lowering the plinth (P) into the tray (T);
characterised in that the traffic calming device (D) is pre-sealed to the plinth (P).
Method as claimed in Claims 16 further comprising subsequently removing the plinth (P) and replacing it with another plinth while the tray (T) remains securely installed in the road.
Method as claimed in Claims 16 or 17 wherein said method comprises part of a programme of installation of speed restriction devices (D) wherein a number of trays (T) and blank plinths (P) are firstly installed by said method, and subsequently the blank plinths (P) are replaced by plinths with pre-sealed traffic calming devices (D).