EP2362923A1

EP2362923A1 - Device for collecting objects from a roadway

Info

Publication number: EP2362923A1
Application number: EP09799661A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Jean-Luc Staebler
Original assignee: SANEF SA
Current assignee: SANEF SA
Priority date: 2008-11-05
Filing date: 2009-11-02
Publication date: 2011-09-07
Anticipated expiration: 2029-11-02
Also published as: EP2362923B1; ES2517917T3; WO2010052384A1; CA2742704A1; US20110286824A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (1) for collecting objects (2) from a roadway (3) and to a van-type vehicle provided with such a device, comprising a collecting plate (10), means for fixing (11) said plate to a motorised land vehicle (4), and actuating means (12) for moving the plate from a non-operational lifted position to a lowered collecting position and vice versa, said fixing means being used to fix the collecting plate to a front end of a motorised land vehicle. The invention is characterised in that the actuating means are suitable for pivoting the collecting plate between the lifted position in which it is perpendicularly oriented to the surface of the roadway, and the lowered position in which it is essentially parallel to the surface of the roadway. The invention also relates to a van-type vehicle (4) comprising such a device.

Description

DEVICE FOR COLLECTING OBJECTS ON A PAVEMENT

The invention relates to a device for collecting objects on a roadway, as well as a van-type vehicle equipped with such a device. Objects lying on the roadway of a road or highway constitute a significant danger to traffic. These objects include tire splinters, wheel trims, goods lost by transport vehicles, etc.

Generally, these objects are picked up manually by an operator (patroller) who goes to the site in a vehicle, park the vehicle on the emergency stop strip of the highway or on the roadside, gets off the vehicle and crosses the road. This involves a risk of collision between the operator and the vehicles traveling on the highway or road lanes, and from time to time can lead to accidents resulting in serious injury or death. the operator.

The document US 2006/0145489 teaches that it is possible to pick up objects from a roadway using an excavator whose bucket is equipped, in its lower part, with a shoe of elastic material intended to enter contact with the surface of the roadway. However, the thickness of this shoe is an obstacle to an efficient collection of objects. In addition, an excavator usually moves much more slowly than other vehicles traveling on a highway, and is therefore an inconvenience, even a danger, for traffic. Documents US Pat. No. 5,596,784 and US Pat. No. 5,745,947 disclose vehicles specially adapted for collecting objects from a roadway. These are complex and expensive machines. Specifically, the operator of a road or highway network could have only a very limited number of these machines, which would not be able to intervene quickly as soon as an object is reported on a roadway. Now ₁ the speed of response is essential to ensure the security of network users. Document KR 2002/0082034 discloses a device for picking up objects on a roadway comprising a pickup platform intended to be mounted beneath a motor vehicle, as well as actuating means making it possible to pass said platform, by vertical translation, from a non-operative raised position to a lowered pickup position and vice versa. Such a device has the disadvantage of being able to be installed only on a vehicle type heavyweight: indeed, the height of the ground of a light vehicle would be insufficient to allow the mounting of a collection tray and its vertical movement , except to sacrifice excessively its dimensions, and therefore those objects that can be collected. Thus, although less markedly, one of the drawbacks mentioned with regard to documents US 5,596,784 and US 5,745,947, namely the difficulty of having a sufficient fleet of collection vehicles, allowing rapid interventions in all respects a road or motorway network.

The invention aims to solve the aforementioned drawbacks of the prior art.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by a device for collecting objects on a roadway comprising a pickup platform, means for fixing said platform to a land motor vehicle and actuating means for passing said platform. from a non-operative raised position to a lowered pickup position and vice versa; characterized in that: said securing means is adapted to allow attachment of said pickup tray to the front of a land motor vehicle; and in that said actuating means are adapted to pivot said pickup tray between said raised position, in which it is oriented perpendicular to the surface of the carriageway, and said lowered position, in which it is substantially parallel to the surface of the roadway. As the pickup plate is mounted at the front, and not below, the vehicle, the latter can be light type without sacrificing the capacity of the tray. Thus, a collection device according to the invention could be mounted on all the vans used by the patrol boats of a highway section, allowing extremely fast interventions.

In addition, the collecting plate of the device of document KR 2002/0082034 protrudes from the front of the vehicle when it is in its raised position. Obviously, this arrangement is dangerous for other road users, especially in the event of a collision. The device of the invention does not have this disadvantage.

According to particular embodiments of the invention: the pick-up device may also comprise a detector for measuring the distance of the pick-up plate from the carriageway, and a servo-control system for keeping said distance constant when the tray is in its lowered position of pickup. Typically, a distance of the order of 1 cm is adapted. - Said collection tray may comprise at least one wheel intended to be in contact with the road when it is in its lowered collection position.

Alternatively, said pickup tray may be arranged such that, when in its lowered operating position, at least a front portion of its bottom rubs on the carriageway.

The collection tray may comprise at least two flaps forming a funnel for guiding objects to be picked up towards the inside of said tray. Advantageously, said flaps may be pivotally mounted to move from a folded position, when the pickup tray is in its non-operative raised position, to an unfolded position, when the pickup tray is in its lowered pickup position. The device of document KR 2002/0082034 does not have such a funnel, which could hardly be housed under the vehicle without the risk of coming into contact with the wheels of the latter. - The picking plate can be equipped with a brush roller fixed at its upper part. Alternatively or additionally, the pickup plate may be equipped with at least one stop, located in its front part, pivotally mounted so as to allow the entry of an object in the tray but to prevent accidental exit. - Said actuating means may be adapted to orient and / or move laterally the pickup tray when in its lowered pickup position. This allows, in particular, to use the pickup tray to push towards the edge of the floor an object too large to be picked up. Again, this feature would be incompatible with a fixing of the pickup tray below the vehicle.

The collection tray may be provided with means for absorbing the kinetic energy of the collected objects and prevent their expulsion, by rebounding, said tray. - The collection tray may also be provided with an upper closure element, preferably elastic. Advantageously, said upper closure member can be mounted in translation on the pickup tray, so as to approach the bottom of said tray when the latter passes in its raised position and to move away from said bottom when the tray passes into its lowered position. .

Another object of the invention is a van-type land motor vehicle comprising such a device for picking up objects on a roadway, as well as means for controlling the actuators of said device. Advantageously, the object collecting plate can be fixed between the headlights of the vehicle so as to be positioned in front of the calender of the latter when it is in its raised position.

Other characteristics, details and advantages of the invention will be apparent from reading the description made with reference to the accompanying drawings given by way of example and which represent, respectively: FIG. 1, a side view of the front part of FIG. a van equipped with a pickup device according to a first embodiment of the invention in its raised non-operational position; Figure 2, a side view of the front portion of a van equipped with a pickup device according to said first embodiment of the invention in its lowered pickup position;

Figure 3, a side view of the front portion of a van equipped with a pickup device according to a second embodiment of the invention in its non-operative raised position;

Figure 4, a side view of the front portion of a van equipped with a pickup device according to said second embodiment of the invention in its lowered pickup position; - Figure 5, a view from the top of the front portion of the van of Figure 4;

Figure 6, a front view of the van of Figure 4 with the pickup tray in the raised position; and

Figure 7, a front view of the van of Figure 4 with the pickup tray in the lowered position.

The device 1 for collecting objects according to the invention comprises a pickup plate 10 having a bottom 10a, two side edges or flanks 10b, a bottom wall 10c and an upper closure 10d of the plate, optional. A net 17 can be stretched on the bottom 10a and in front of the bottom wall 10c in order to absorb the kinetic energy of the collected objects, to prevent them from bouncing and are therefore ejected outside the plate. This makes it possible to carry out the collection at a relatively high speed, of the order of 50 - 60 km / h or more. Other means of absorbing kinetic energy, such as foam padding, can also be envisaged.

The upper closure 10d may be constituted by a cover or, more advantageously, by a thread consisting of elastic cables and / or elastic straps. It is advantageous that the distance separating the upper closure member 10d from the bottom 10a of the pickup plate 10 is variable. In particular, when the plate pivots to its raised position, said upper closure element can be closer to the bottom, to minimize the size of the device; conversely, when the plateau rotates towards its lowered position, this element can move away from the bottom to allow the pickup of large objects. This movement can be controlled by actuators or, preferably, be obtained passively by means of elastic elements such as springs. In a first embodiment of the invention (FIGS. 1 and 2), a brush roll 16 may be placed above the pickup tray 10, supported by two arms oriented parallel to the bottom 10. These arms may be adapted to allow a certain vertical displacement of the brush roll 16 relative to the bottom 10a of the tray, to allow the collection of large objects.

In FIG. 2, the arrow R indicates the direction of rotation of this brush roller, powered by an electric motor, which makes it easier to pick up an object 2 lying on the roadway 3, and to prevent its accidental expulsion from the road. tray 10. In a second embodiment of the invention (FIGS.

3 to 7 the brush roller 16 is replaced by a stop or a set of pivoting stops, located at the front of the tray and allowing the entry of objects into said tray but preventing the exit.

In the example of Figures 3 to 7, the set of stops is constituted by a plurality of rods 160 pivoting about a horizontal axis and mounted on a horizontal bar 161 oriented across the plate. The rods 160 can pivot freely rearward when the tray is raised (see Figure 3) or when an object is picked up; on the other hand, their forward pivoting is limited, so as to prevent the accidental exit of an object contained in the plate (see FIGS. 4 and 7). We understand that the stems

160 could be replaced by stops of different shape, for example plates; these stops could also be articulated at the bottom of the tray or at its flanks, and include a resilient biasing element such as a spring. Figure 4 shows a set of pivoting stops 170 in the form of teeth, functioning as check valves, articulated at the bottom of the plate. In particular, they prevent small objects dimensions can not get out of the tray passing under the rods 160.

The horizontal bar 161 not only supports the stops 160, but also the front side of the elastic thread 10d constituting the upper closure element of the plate 10.

It can be seen in Figures 3, 4 and 7 that the horizontal bar 161 is carried by two vertical bars 162 slidably mounted within guides 163; a spring located within these guides pushes the vertical bars 162 outward. When the tray is in its raised position, the vertical bars 162 are forced inside the guides 163, against the action of these springs: the size of the device is thus minimized. Conversely, when the tray is in its lowered position, said springs push the vertical bars 162 out of the guides, thus moving the horizontal bar 161 and the upper closure element away from the bottom of the tray, to maximize the opening of the tray. the latter and allow the collection of large objects.

The bar 161 / rod 160 assembly has not been shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 for the sake of clarity. Similarly, the energy absorbing net 17 is not shown in FIGS. 5 and 7 so as not to overload them.

The pickup plate 10 is fixed to the front portion of a land motor vehicle 4, such as a van, by means of two hinges 11 allowing it to pivot about a horizontal axis, perpendicular to the direction of 4. This pivoting is controlled by two articulated hydraulic cylinders 12, connected at one end to the van 4 and the end opposite the sidewalls 10b of the tray. Advantageously, the joints 11 may be elastomeric bearings, so-called "silent blocks", in order to reduce vibrations and shocks due, for example, to unevenness of the roadway. As shown in Figures 1 and 4, when the cylinders 12 are in their retracted state, the plate 10 is oriented vertically and is positioned between the headlights 41 of the vehicle 4, in front of its calender 42. This is the non-operational position of the device; it can be noted that the plate 10, in this position, does not constitute a danger for other vehicles. The extension of the cylinders 12 brings the plate 10 into its lowered collection position, wherein the bottom 10a extends parallel to the roadway 3, at a height relative to the latter between a few millimeters and a few centimeters. A sensor 13, for example ultrasonic, and a servo system (not shown) may be provided to maintain the constant distance between the plate 10 and the roadway 3. One or more wheels "jockey" 14 - absent in the mode of 3 - 7 - may be provided to ensure the absence of contact between the bottom 10a of the pickup plate and the carriageway 3, even when said tray is loaded with collected objects.

Alternatively, shown in particular in Figure 4, the pickup plate can be mounted such that in the lowered position a front end 19 of its bottom, preferably blade-shaped and having sufficient strength, rubs on the floor to facilitate the collection of objects by a scraping action. In this case, the presence of the wheels 14 is generally not necessary. In the example of Figure 4, the assembly 161 bar / rods 160 is located forward relative to the scraper blade 19 to prevent any upward projection of objects lying on the road.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, bibs 15 may be provided at the front of the tray 10 to form a funnel for directing objects on the sides to the pickup device. Advantageously, these flaps can be pivoted and fold along the sidewalls 10b or in front of the front opening of the plate when the latter is in the nonoperational (raised) position. The pivoting of the flaps 15 can be controlled by electric motors. More preferably, resilient means may be provided for pivoting the flaps 15 to their unfolded position as the tray lowers; in the raised position, the Gravity force overcomes the elastic restoring force and returns said bibs to their closed position.

According to an advantageous variant of the invention, actuating means not shown in the figures can be provided to allow the pivoting and / or the translation of the pickup plate 10 to the right or to the left, when the latter is located in its lowered position. This allows the tray to push an object too heavy or too large to be picked up to one side of the road, like a snow plow. Control means of the various actuators of the device 1 (cylinders 12, electric motor of the brush roller 16, actuators of the flaps 15, etc.) are provided inside the van 4, in a position accessible to the driver and / or the passenger.

For safety reasons, the van 4 is preferably equipped with signaling light devices such as arrows, a variable message sign, a beacon.

The device of the invention has been described in association with a van-type vehicle; however, it is by no means a limitation.

Indeed, such a device could be mounted on a lighter vehicle, such as a car or, conversely, on a truck.

The pickup plate shown in the figures has a width less than that of the vehicle, so as not to cover the lights of the latter when it is in its raised position. Again, this limitation is not essential, and the tray could have a width equal to or greater than that of the vehicle. In this case, the flaps 15 may be omitted.

Tests have been carried out and it has been shown that the device of the invention makes it possible to pick up with very high reliability objects of large dimensions, such as truck exhausts, and this at a speed of 50 - 60 km / h.

Claims

1. Device (1) for collecting objects (2) on a roadway (3) comprising a pickup plate (10), means (11) for fixing said platform to a land motor vehicle (V) and means actuating means (12) for passing said tray from an inoperative raised position to a lowered pickup position and vice versa; characterized in that: said securing means is adapted to allow attachment of said pickup tray directly to the front of a land motor vehicle; and in that said actuating means are adapted to pivot said pickup tray between said raised position, in which it is oriented perpendicular to the surface of the carriageway, and said lowered position, in which it is substantially parallel to the surface of the roadway.

2. Apparatus for collecting objects on a roadway according to claim 1, also comprising a detector (13) for measuring the distance of the collection tray of the roadway, and a servo system for maintaining said distance constant when the plateau is finds in its lowered position of pickup.

3. Device for collecting objects on a roadway according to one of the preceding claims, wherein said pickup plate comprises at least one wheel (14) intended to be in contact with the road when it is in its lowered position pickup.

4. Apparatus for collecting objects on a roadway according to claim 1, wherein said pickup plate is arranged such that, when in its lowered operating position, at least one front portion (19) of his bottom rubs on the floor.

5. Apparatus for collecting objects on a roadway according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the collecting plate comprises at least two flaps (15) forming a funnel for guiding objects to be picked up to the inside of said tray.

6. Apparatus for collecting objects on a roadway according to claim 5, wherein said flaps are pivotally mounted to move from a folded position, when the collection tray is in its non-operative raised position, to an unfolded position, when the grass catcher is in its lowered pickup position.

7. Device for collecting objects on a roadway according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the picking plate is equipped with a brush roller (16) fixed at its upper part.

8. Device for collecting objects on a roadway according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the collecting plate is equipped with at least one stop, located in its front part, pivotally mounted to allow the entry of an object into the tray but to prevent its accidental exit.

9. Apparatus for collecting objects on a roadway according to one of the preceding claims, also comprising second actuating means adapted to allow pivoting and / or lateral translation of the collection tray when in its position. lowered pickup.

10. Device for collecting objects on a roadway according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the collection tray is provided with means (17) for absorbing the kinetic energy of the collected objects and prevent their expulsion from said tray.

11. Apparatus for collecting objects on a roadway according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the collection tray is provided with an upper closure member (1Od).

12. Apparatus for collecting objects on a roadway according to claim 11, wherein said upper closure member (10d) is mounted in translation on the pickup tray, so as to approach the bottom of said tray when the latter passes through its raised position and to move away from said bottom when the plate passes in its lowered position.

13. Land vehicle vehicle (4) of the van type comprising a device for collecting objects on a roadway according to one of the preceding claims, and means for controlling the actuators of said device.

14. A land motor vehicle according to claim 13, wherein the object collection plate is fixed between the headlights (41) of the vehicle so as to position itself in front of the calender (42) of the latter when it is in his raised position.