GB2315085A - Vehicle mounted highway lane closure sign - Google Patents

Abstract

A support frame 1 is mounted on a vehicle and driven by operating mechanism 2 from a control panel within the vehicle. It can be swung away (and retracted) from the vehicle to display a sign in the highway lane. An extension arm 4 15 of light weight material and is adjustable in the support frame tube 5 by matching securing devices 6. The sign 7 attached to the extension arm is of light weight material, reflective and aerodynamically profiled to withstand wind gusts.

Description

Highway Lane Closure Paddles 1. This invention relates to the protection, by Highway Lane Closure Paddles, of slow moving vehicles working on high speed roads.

2. Mobile road works requires a mobile sign system which guides fast moving vehicles from the occupied lane into those free for the passage of vehicles.

3. The safest place for mobile road signs, given the requirement to move along the road, is the hard shoulder.

4. A final forcing function, by the Highway Lane Closure Paddles, ensures that vehicles move across to the safe lanes before crashing into the protecting crash attenuator protecting the slow moving vehicle.

5. The forcing function sign provided by the paddle assembly is cantilevered from the mobile sign system vehicle.

6. The Highway Lane Closure Paddles will be as described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drgs. in which: Figure 1. Shows in perspective, the paddle in the deployed position Figure 2. Shows in perspective, the paddle in the stowed position Figure 3. Shows in perspective, the paddle in the deployed position on a vehicle 6.1 A strong, lightweight, easily secured and easily detached frame with pivoted arm 1 is arranged so that, by the use of levers or switches the arm can be rotated through approximately 90 degrees for the purpose of deployment and stowing.

6.2 A light weight extension arm 4 with prearranged fixing locations and devices 6 to attach the extension arm to the pivoted arm. The extension arm will be made in a manor which provides for its fragmentation on impact. The arm will be constructed to allow the centre line of the sign to be extended up to 3.5m from the vehicle.

6.3 A road traffic sign, 7 of regulation size and displaying symbols compliant with the regulations, provided with securing arrangements to fix it to the extension arm. The sign will be designed to reflect light from the spotlight 8 mainly along the axis of the occupied lane and to accommodate wind gusts up to 20m/s in the deployed and stowed state. The sign will be constructed to :6.3.1 Fragment on impact.

6.3.2 Make a loud noise on impact 6.4 A focused spot light mounted on the vehicle, will be easily secured, detached and adjusted to illuminate the displayed sign in the deployed state.

6.5 In the stowed state the arm will lie along the side of the vehicle and will be secured by an easily released fitting. In the deployed state the arm will extend at right angles to the vehicle's main axis.

Claims (1)

1. Claim 1 A controllable cantilevered frame attached to three fixing points on a vehicle.

   Claim 2 Cantilevered frame as claimed in claim 1 with operating mechanism to deploy and retrieve attachments from the operating position to the safe retrieved position.

   Claim 3 Cantilevered frame and devices as claimed in 1 and 2 with lightweight extension arm of adjustable extension attached to frame by securable devices.

   Claim 4 Cantilevered frame and devices as claimed in 1, 2 and 3 with light Weight, aerodynamically framed roads sign with reflective surface.

   Claim 5 Interactive, reflective road sign as claimed in claim 4 with vehicle mounted spot light to provide appropriate illumination upstream of the blocked lane.

   Claim 6 Road sign and extension arm as claimed in claim 3 and claim 4 wherein the arm and sign fragment on collision with reduced risk of injury.