| JP02171406 | CABLE SAFETY FENCE |
| JP09031933 | GUARD PIPE POST DRIVING PILE |
| WO/2011/138291 | GUARD RAIL |
Arend
Melle
Arend
Melle
| 1. | Device for encasing an elongate, substantially prismatic metal object which is intended for fixed outdoor arrangement, for instance a crash barrier element, which device comprises a sleeve which fits round the object and has an internal cavity in which the object for encasing can be fittingly accommodated, which sleeve is corrosionproof. |
| 2. | Device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the shape of the outer surface of the sleeve substantially corresponds with the shape of the internal cavity. |
| 3. | Device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sleeve has at least one hole for ventilation and/or moisture drainage. |
| 4. | Device as claimed in claim 3 , wherein a hole for moisture drainage is situated in a lowest region of a device placed in service position. |
| 5. | Device as claimed in claim 3 or 4, wherein the sleeve has a number of holes placed in distributed manner. |
| 6. | Device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sleeve consists of a rubber or a rubbery material. |
| 7. | Device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sleeve consists of an optionally reinforced thermoplastic plastic. |
| 8. | Device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the plastic belongs to the group of which PE (polyethylene) forms part. |
| 9. | Device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sleeve consists of at least two mutually coupled parts. |
| 10. | Device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the parts are snapcoupled to each other by coacting edges. |
| 11. | Device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sleeve is manufactured by extrusion. |
| 12. | Device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sleeve has holes for passage of fastening means. |
| 13. | Device as claimed in claim 3, 4, 5 or 12, wherein a hole is formed by punching. |
| 14. | Combination of a device as claimed in any of the foregoing claims with a metal object, wherein the object consists of Corten steel. ***.*. |
Metal structures which are used outdoors are given a corrosion-resistant form. They are manufactured for instance from stainless steel, or provided after manufacture with a corrosion-resistant coating. The use of stainless steel has the drawback that this entails relatively high cost. A corrosion-resistant coating can for instance consist of a zinc coating applied with a galvanizing process and/or one or more layers of lacquer, paint or the like.
Such a protection against corrosion is essential to increase the lifespan of the object and thereby reduce to a minimum the costs of the object per unit of time.
An example is a crash barrier. It will be apparent that due to corrosive and erosive action on a crash barrier not only the appearance of the crash barrier but also the mechanical strength, and therewith the safety, can be adversely affected. Corrosion can be caused for instance by the action of wet spreading salt, erosion by sand and the like. The galvanized constructions usual up to the present time have for instance a lifespan in the order of 15 to 20 years.
The invention has for its object to considerably lengthen the lifespan of an object for outdoor arrangement.
In respect of this objective the invention provides a device for encasing an elongate, substantially prismatic metal object which is intended for fixed outdoor arrangement, for instance a crash barrier element, which device comprises a sleeve which fits round the object and has an internal cavity in which the object for encasing can be fittingly accommodated, which sleeve is corrosion-proof. To save as much material as possible and to make the construction of the device as light and inexpensive as possible, the embodiment is recommended wherein the shape of the outer surface substantially corresponds with the shape of the internal cavity.
In order to prevent accumulation of moisture between the device and the encased object use can be made of an embodiment wherein the sleeve has at least one hole for ventilation and/or moisture drainage. This embodiment can have the special feature that a hole for moisture drainage is situated in a lowest region of a device placed in service position.
A good drainage of moisture and a good ventilation is ensured with an embodiment wherein the sleeve has a number of holes placed in distributed manner. Various materials can be considered suitable for manufacturing the device.
One embodiment has the feature that the sleeve consists of a rubber or a rubbery material.
The device preferably has the characteristic that the sleeve consists of an optionally reinforced thermoplastic plastic.
More preferably the device has the characteristic that the plastic belongs to the group of which PE (polyethylene) forms part. The mechanical and chemical properties of PE are of a nature such that the use thereof has a very small environmental impact. PE in both new and re-cycled state can be applied.
A specific embodiment has the special feature that the sleeve consists of at least two mutually coupled parts. This latter embodiment can be such that the parts are snap-coupled to each other by co-acting edges.
The embodiment is recommended in which the sleeve is manufactured by extrusion. The use of extrusion reliably provides a qualitatively high-grade product and conveniently provides the option of applying various plastics. By constructing the moulds in modular form a desired adaptation to the design can be carried out quickly if required.
In the case of use as outdoor sited traffic means, such as crash barriers, use can be made in some conditions of a more or less conspicuously coloured device, for instance red, brilliant white, yellow. This can be of particular importance at locations where there is a danger of road users losing direction, for example at sudden road narrowings or blind bends.
Depending on the application the device can have the special characteristic that the sleeve has holes for passage of fastening means.
Each device provided with holes, be they ventilation holes, moisture drainage holes or fixing holes, can have the special feature that a hole is formed by punching. Particularly in the case of the easy manufacture by extrusion, the later arrangement of holes by punching can be a very practical embodiment. If the effective lifespan of a typical crash barrier, that is, 15 to 20 years, is compared with a crash barrier encased by a device according to the invention, it is then estimated that the effective lifespan will be doubled. In addition the crash barrier has become maintenance-free and no longer requires periodic treatment. As result the environmental impact will also be considerably less, since use is no longer made of solvents for degreasing, removal of paint and lacquer remnants, abrading means in which pieces of paint, lacquer and metal are present. The fact that a crash barrier has become maintenance-free also has the further advantage that the inconvenience caused by maintenance to traffic, such as traffic tail-backs, no longer occurs.
After an accident in which the crash barrier is struck, replacement of the sleeve according to the invention will be all that is necessary in many cases.
The amount of metal which is difficult to make suitable for re-use or is unsuitable therefor can also be reduced considerably through use of the invention.
The invention also relates to a combination of a device for encasing a metal object and such an object. According to the invention this combination has the special feature that the object consists of Corten steel. Such a steel type is a weather-resistant construction steel. It is a fine-grain steel having virtually the same mechanical properties as steel 52-3. The steel has the property that in particular conditions of exposure to the outside air it is gradually covered with a layer consisting of oxides, which layer protects the underlying steel. This layer consisting of oxides is the so-called patina layer. Such a steel type is
very suitable for use particularly in the open air as according to the invention since, other than the usual steel types, it does not have to be galvanized. Nevertheless, the metal object then already has a corrosion resistance such that an exceptionally long lifespan is ensured. The device according to the invention which encases the metal object ensures the desired, for instance aesthetically attractive, appearance. For crash barriers, particularly for marking bends and the like, the sleeve can be embodied in one or more functional colours. As an example of Corten steel can be mentioned the steel type Corten A, cold-rolled.
The invention will now be elucidated with reference to the annexed drawings. Herein: figure 1 shows a crash barrier with a device according to the invention in perspective view; and figure 2 shows a perspective view of a finished complete crash barrier provided with devices according to the invention.
Figure 1 shows a profiled metal plate 1 for use as crash barrier element. A sleeve 3 manufactured from extruded plastic is slid thereover as according to arrows 2. This sleeve consists of polyethylene having substantially the same wall thickness throughout. The cavity 4 bounded by sleeve 3 and extending in lengthwise direction corresponds with the shape of crash barrier element l. It will be apparent that the cavity and the crash barrier have the same generally prismatic form. The term "prismatic" indicates that the cross section is the same at each position. A number of moisture drainage holes 6 are arranged on the lower edge 5 by punching. Ventilation holes 8 are also arranged on the upper edge 7 for ventilation purposes. It will be apparent that during manufacture by extrusion the relevant holes can only be arranged in a subsequent operation.
Figure 2 shows a combination 12 of the crash barrier element 1 and the sleeve 3 according to the invention which is also provided in advance with all fixing holes designated with 9 with which the combination 12 can be fixed to a typical support construction consisting of a post 10 present in the ground and a cross beam 11 connected thereto.
Next Patent: METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SEWAGE TREATMENT