Static structures (e.g. – buildings) – Footing or foundation type – Socket
Patent
1995-12-18
1998-05-12
Wood, Wynn E.
Static structures (e.g., buildings)
Footing or foundation type
Socket
52 98, 52295, 52296, 52297, 527264, 527361, 248548, 248900, 403 2, 404 10, E01F 901
Patent
active
057491895
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a post device which is yieldable when hit by a vehicle, comprising a per se known post with a base having at least three spaced-apart fixtures fixedly attached thereto, and a per se known foundation with fixing means which support at least three spaced-apart rods which are arranged to cooperate with the fixtures for securing the post to the foundation.
More specifically, the invention relates to a lamp post or the like which, when hit by a vehicle, should permit detachment from its foundation, i.e., shearing-off from the foundation (breakaway-type posts).
Road lighting is mounted to increase road safety. Lamp posts are often extremely hard tubular constructions and, therefore, most dangerous in traffic. In Sweden, "collision-friendly" safety lamp posts were introduced at the end of the sixties, i.e., yieldable constructions which, when hit by a vehicle, catch and brake the vehicle in a relatively smooth fashion to make it stop such that its occupants fastened with a seat belt are not subjected to highly dangerous retardation. Up to now, tens of thousands of catch posts of different types have been mounted in Sweden.
In the U.S.A., among other countries, breakaway-type lamp posts have been mounted in about the same period of time. These posts differ from the catch posts by coming loose/being shorn off from the foundation when hit, being normally thrown in the air so as to hit the ground behind the vehicle. The breakaway idea is based on the fact that the vehicle has a residual velocity after hitting the post.
Breakaway-type posts have now also been introduced in Sweden and approved by the road authorities. The prevalent type of breakaway posts has a separating joint on ground level, which is relatively complicated and expensive to produce.
Swedish published application No. 443,015 discloses a "collision-friendly" post device, comprising a post whose entire base serves as a fixture, a foundation with a conical fixing means which is adapted to fit into the base, and a resilient locking sleeve for clamping thereof, thereby securing the post to the foundation. This post device thus requires a specially designed fixing means which is not adapted to be used together with conventional posts. Nor is it provided with directing means for adjusting the orientation of the post.
Furthermore, Swedish published application 461,049 discloses a "soft" post device which consists of a foundation with rod-shaped fixing means, and a post comprising a jacket and longitudinal internal rods which are adapted to be connected to the fixing means by means of friction joints. Also this post device relates to a special design of the post and, thus, also to specially designed fixing means, i.e., the above-mentioned friction joint, which means that the base does not rest directly on the foundation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a post device in which a conventionally designed post and a conventional foundation can be used.
A further object of the invention is to provide a post device which can withstand high wind loads and which is yieldable when hit by a vehicle.
One more object of the invention is to provide a post device which is relatively easy to mount and align and which is inexpensive to produce.
An additional object of the invention is to provide an attachment for a post, by means of which the post can be attached to a conventional foundation.
According to the invention, these objects are achieved by means of a post device as described above, which is characterised in that the fixtures are arranged on the outside of the base and enclose the respective rod and are formed with a through opening or slot which is oriented essentially in the longitudinal direction of said post, and that a stop element engages the associated rod and the upper portion of the associated fixture.
Further developments of the invention are described below.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be describ
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Callo Laura A.
Dekont Teknik AB
Wood Wynn E.
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