Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
'6884
The present invention relates to a system
of transferable roadway lane dividers and a method
of transferring said dividers. Such a system is
necessary due to the flapping of roadways on bridges
and major roads duri~g peak hours.
The existing method of moving lane markers
consists of manually picking up the-originally placed
markers and manually placing the markers into the
new positions. This particular job is somewhat --
dangerous for the people physically moving the lanes
and also requires several people to successfully
carry out the operation. The present invention over-
comes these problems by providing a transferable lane
divider which can be moved by an appropriate transfer
" mechanism located on a special vehicle.
In one broad form the invention comprises
a transferable roadway lane divider comprising
divider sections which are adapted to be hingedly
connected to adjacent sections to form a divider
separating traffic lanes, said sections each having
means whereby they can be picked up by a transfer
device and slid along the transfer device to be re-
positioned. ~ -
-- i --
884
Thus in accordance with one embodiments ofthe invention there is provided a transferable road-
way lane divider module adapted to be hingedly con-
nected to adjacent modules such that the modules
pivot with respect to each other to form an elongated
divider for separating traffic lanes, each of said
divider modules having a bottom surface which is
adapted to rest directly on the roadway surface and
including transfer means above its bottom surface
for enabling said modules to be pulled upwardly by
an elongated transfer device and slid along said
transfer device as said~transfer device traverses the
roadway to cause said divider t~ be moved from a first
roadway position to a second roadway position said
transfer means comprises a groove extending substan-
tially horizontally along each said module and into
which a slide means of said transfer device is
adapted to fit.
In another form the invention comprises a
method of transferring road lane dividers which
dividers comprise a plurality of individual sections
pivotally joined together, said method comprising the
steps of lifting at least.one of said sections and
feeding said sections along an elongated transfer
device and depositing said lane divider sections in
their new position.
-- 2 --
884
Thus in accordance with an embodiment of
this aspect of the invention there is provi~ed a
method of transferring a roadway lane divider from a
first lane position to a second lane position,
wherein said lane divider comprises divider sections
connected together such that adjacent sections can
pivot with respect to each other to form an elongated
divider for separating traffic lanes, and wherein said
lane divider having a bottom surface which rests
directly on the surface of the roadway, comprising the
steps of pulling said divider sections upwardly by
means of an elongated transfer device having a roller
conveyor which is inserted into a groove extending-
along each of said divider sections, above the bottom
~urface causing said divider sections to be moved
along said roller conveyor in a substantially S-
shaped path, and depositing said lane divider sections
in a different lane position.
- 2a -
il~7~884
The invention will now be described by way of example
with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 shows the lead divider section and adjacent
section of a embodiment of the present invention and
the position of the lead in end of a transfer device
of an embodiment of the present invention:
Figure 2 shows a schematic representation of the
roller assembly of one embodiment of the transfer
device;
Figure 3 shows sehematic representation of the roller
assembly of an aligning device for straightening up
the lane dividers if they are accidentally knocked out
of position; and
Figure 4 illustrates schematically the position of a
transfer device mounted on a trailer, according to an
- embodiment of the present invention.
Each lane divider is made up of individual sections 1
which are hingedly joined together on links 2. The
required number of sections 1 are joined together to form
any suitable length of divider with each end containing a
shaped section having only one hinge attachment and a
substantially bullet shaped other end.
The divider sections 1 can be shaped as shown in
Figure 1 in which each section has two chamfered edges 3 to
provide a smooth surface in case a motorist's tyre
accidentally runs onto the divider. It is desirable that
-- 3 --
11~6884
the height of the divider be relatively short while using a
wide base 4 to provide a solid large surface area of
contact with the roadway, so as to resist lateral movement
o~ the divider i~ accidentally bumped by a vehicle.
~oulded shoes 5, made from any suitable material, such as
polyurethane, to further enhance road holding.
The sections of the lane divider can be made of any
suitable material such as concrete or plastics or sheet
metal.
To facilitate in moving the lane divider, each section
has an inverted T-shaped cross-section channel 6 running
longitudinal along the upper face 7. To transfer the lane
divider, a transfer mechanism as shown in Figure 4 can be
used. This consists of a roller conveyor 8 comprising a
series of rollers as'shown in figure 1.
Basically the transfer mechanism is s-shaped as shown
schematically in figure 2 with its total width 9
corresponding with the distance between traffic lanes. It
can preferably be mounted, as shown schematically in figure
4, from below a trailer. The front section 10 and the rear
section 11 are preferably hinged at pivots 12 and 13 such
that they can hinge back to the body of the trailer to keep
within the allowable width for travel on the road. The
straight centre section 14 can be telescoped in and out to
achieve variable lane widths.
To move the lane divider from one side oE the lane to
the other, one simply drives a vehicle with the transfer
- 4 -
.`~J
117~884
mechanism mounted beneath or towed behind on a trailer, and
engages the leading rollers 15 within the T-shaped channel
6. As the transfer mechanism is moved along the lane the
lane dividers are threaded along the roller conveyor 8 and
are deposited by the rear section 11 on the other side of
the lane. Three types of rollers are used the roller
conveyor to facilitate the movement of the sections along
the rollers. These are the guide rollers 16 which engage
within the cross arm of the T-shaped channel, lift rollers
17 which lift the sections off the road and engage with the
surfaces 1~ and restraining rollers 18 which stabilize the
transfer.
Preferably the vehicle or trailer carries the channel
underneath the wheels with the mouth extending on one side
of the vehicle with the outlet extending on the other side
of the vehicle such that the vehicle can drive the center
of the lane to reposition the lane divider. However in
certain circumstances it may be necessary ~or the channel
to be positioned in other relationships with respect to the
vehicle.
Figure 3 shows an aligning mechanism useable to
straighten out the lane divider in cases where the lane
divider is accidentally knocked out of position by a
vehicle or other circumstances.
It should be apparent to people skilled in the art
that the invention is not only limited to the specific
disclosure detailed herein but is broad enough to cover
obvious variations without departing from the spirit of the
invention.
