DESCRIPTION TECHNICAL FIELD

The object of the invention is an impact detection apparatus, in particular for road barriers. BACKGROUND ART

Road barriers installed along the edges of roads protect vehicles from accidentally exiting the road, due to a high speed, when the driver is unable to control the car, as well as due to collisions of vehicles, when the impact force causes them to exit the road. Severe accidents of this type often cause multi-vehicle collisions, when the drivers of the further vehicles are surprised by the preceding accident. Therefore, there is a need for quickly providing the drivers with information about road accident.

A European patent application EP0125557A1 presents a system for remote signalling of road accidents, comprising switches arranged along the road and coupled with light and sound signalling devices. The switches must be activated manually.

A European patent application EP0525050A1 presents a warning system, comprising a receiver of an accident signal. The accident signal is transmitted by vehicles comprising impact sensors and accident signal transmitters.

A European patent application EP1071053A1 presents a system for detecting accidents in a road tunnel, comprising an element running alongside the tunnel walls, which can be broken upon impact. The system comprises an alarm activated upon detecting the break in said element.

The aforementioned systems require continuous power delivery, therefore they may be inoperable when the power supply is not functioning.

There are known road barriers comprising rotatable kinetic energy absorbers, such as described in a European patent applications EP10461530, EP1 1461508 or a PCT application PCT/EP201 1/053347. The rotatable kinetic energy absorbers used therein comprise a rotor, which accumulates in its rotational movement at least part of kinetic energy of impact imparted to the barrier. DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The aim of the present invention is to provide an impact detection apparatus, which does not require continuous power supply.

The object of the invention is an impact detection apparatus, comprising a rotatable kinetic energy absorber comprising a rotor coupled with an activating element for receiving the impact, configured to accumulate in the rotational movement of the rotor at least part of the kinetic energy of impact imparted to the activating element for receiving the impact, a power generator for generating electric energy upon movement of the rotor, an accumulator for storing the electric energy generated by the power generator and an impact signaler powered by the electric energy from the accumulator.

Preferably, the impact signaler comprises a light emitter.

Preferably, the impact signaler comprises a sound emitter.

Preferably, the impact signaler comprises a signal transmitter.

Preferably, the impact signaler comprises an impact energy detector configured to detect the amount of energy generated by the power generator.

Another object of the invention is a road barrier comprising an impact detection apparatus according to the invention. BRIEF DECRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The object of the invention is shown in exemplary embodiments on a drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 shows a schematic of the impact detection apparatus.

Fig. 2 shows an exemplary embodiment of a road barrier with the impact signaler.

MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Fig. 1 presents a schematic of the impact detection apparatus. The apparatus comprises a rotatable energy absorber 1 10, which operates according to the principles of the rotatable energy absorbers known from the prior art. The absorber comprises an activating element 1 1 1 for receiving the impact, coupled via coupling means 1 12 with a rotor 1 13. At least part of the impact energy imparted to the activating element 1 1 1 is absorbed in the rotational movement of the rotor 1 13. The amount of energy accumulated in the rotor 1 13, i.e. a rotatable mass, depends on the weight of the rotor and its moment of inertia, its diameter and rotational speed, which in turn depends on the parameters of the coupling means 1 12 between the activating element 1 1 1 and the rotor 1 13. The rotor 1 13 is a free wheel. The activating element

1 1 1 can be a toothed bar, and the coupling means 1 12 can be a toothed wheel, forming a rack-and-pinion configuration, and the coupling means 1 12 may comprise a plurality of toothed wheels coupled with the toothed wheel of the rotor 1 13 forming a transmission for multiplying the rotational speed. Alternatively, the coupling means

1 12 may have a form of a strand, having one end connected to the activating element with a strand connector, and a second end wound around the shaft of the rotor 1 13.

An electric power generator 121 is coupled with the rotor 1 13 for generating electric energy upon rotational movement of the rotor 1 13. Upon impact, the rotor

1 13 is immediately induced into high speed rotation, and at least part of the kinetic energy of the object providing the impact is aggregated in the rotational movement. After the impact, the rotor 1 13 which is a free wheel rotates, and the mechanical energy of its rotation is converted by the power generator 121 to electric energy. The Energy generated by the power generator is stored in an accumulator 122, which powers the impact signaler 130. Optionally, the signaler 130 may have circuits for keeping it in a standby mode, powered from an external battery, which is charged e.g. by solar cells. The energy from the accumulator 122 enables operation of the signaling circuits of the signaler 130. The signaling circuits may comprise light emitters 131 and/or sound emitters 132, for warning about the detected impact. A signaling circuit may be also an impact signal transmitter 133, for example a wireless transmitter, for informing appropriate service personnel about the detected impact. The impact signaler 130 may also comprise an impact energy detector 134 coupled with the power generator and configured to detect the amount of energy generated by the power generator. The amount of energy generated by the power generator is proportional to the rotational speed of the rotor 1 13, which in turn depends on the impact speed. Based on that information, the speed of the vehicle which hits the road barrier, can be detected. Information about the energy of impact can be provided in the signal generated by the signal transmitter 133, in order to inform the service personnel about the level of impact and possible consequences depending on it.

Fig. 2 presents an exemplary embodiment of a road barrier with the impact signaler. The barrier shown in Fig. 2 is a longitudinal barrier for installing alongside the road and protecting from side impact. However, the present invention can be also used with barriers of other types, for example frontal impact barriers installed in front of stationary road elements such as bridge pillars. The barrier comprises supports 101 , to which a transverse bar 102 is connected such that upon impact the transverse bar 102 moves towards the support 101 . A rotational kinetic energy converter 1 10 is mounted in the support, and a power generator 121 and accumulator 122 are connected thereto. The barrier further comprises an impact signaler 130 powered by the accumulator energy.

The impact detection apparatus according to the invention does not require continuous power supply, as it can be activated by the energy generated upon collision. Therefore, it can be installed in places, wherein the technical infrastructure does not allow power line supply, or where alternative energy sources, such as solar cells, cannot be installed.