A device being used for connecting railing elements

The present invention relates to a device being used for connecting railing elements end to end by aid of elongated bodies, which are provided with their ends directed towards each other in the longitudinal direction of the railing elements, each of said elongated bodies across its longitudinal direction comprises at least two projections intended to be inserted into downwardly directed openings in said railing elements, when they are placed on a ground of a road to protect persons and road- users, said ends or projections can be pressed towards each other by aid of a means, so that these parts in this case contact tight against each other with a minimized play or in an opposite direction for withdrawing the railing elements from each other in their longitudinal direction.

Existing structures of this type, which are on the market, are connected end to end such as a railing element according to the US patent 5.074.705. This railing element creates a railing intended to be located on a road ground, when the road is going to be repaired, and serves as a traffic protection. When running into the same the railing elements are kept together by aid of elongated bodies in the form of tubes, which extend in the longitudinal direction of the railing elements. The tubes have projections in the form of rod formations, which can be pushed down into downwardly directed openings in the upper portions of the railing elements, so that each tube comprises projections intended to be pushed into each separate railing element in order to connect a number of railing elements against each other to form an elongated railing. During the connecting process plays of a certain size between the ends, walls/edges and the projections and between joints in the ends of the tubes, where they are met one tube in another with different diameters, so that when a vehicle runs into the railing elements connected to each other, a displacement occurs of the same in a distance away from each other until the play is eliminated. In this way the railing elements do not function as an unit but these are displaced without control during that time which takes place until said play is busy by said displacement.

During this short time period the vehicle has not achieved enough slowing down by the railing elements but is only captured in a railing, which acts as a loose rope, which suddenly is stretched, so that a cooperation occurs not until the rope is stretched and the vehicle is stopped in a jerk, which makes that the vehicle and its passengers are subjected for a sudden stop, which hurts the vehicle, passengers and the function of the railing. Further, this railing is too low to handle heavier vehicles of the type lorries, provided with big wheels, which in an easy way catch the sides of the railing element so violent that they steer into the same.

One object of the present invention is to solve these problems existing in the structures mentioned above, in that by aid of a means press those parts, which are subjected for play, in a direction towards each other, so that the railing elements and the elongated bodies can cooperate mainly without play as an unit, when a vehicle is running into the railing elements. Said means can also be used for pulling said parts in a direction away from each other for bringing the railing elements apart from each other. Such a railing can also be made higher in order to handle heavier vehicles.

Thanks to the invention a device has now been provided, which minimizes the play in a railing consisting of railing elements connected to each other arranged end to end. Elongated bodies having projections pointing across their longitudinal direction are provided having their ends directed towards each other or inserted into each other in the longitudinal direction of the railing elements. The projections are insertable in the upper portions of the railing elements into downwardly directed openings in order to connect the railing elements against each other, when they are placed on a ground of a road in order to protect personal and road-users. According to the invention the ends or projections can be pressed towards each other or can be released from each other by aid of means provided at the projections or the ends. When the ends and/or the walls or edges of the projections, surrounding the

projections, are subjected to a pressing operation by said means, they are contacting tighter against each other, so that a play between these parts are minimized. In a preferred embodiment example of the invention the projections are formed as rod-like formations and are secured in one of their end by e.g. welding, screwing or with bolts to the elongated body. The projections can have a length of 10 - 150 cm, the railing elements a length of 100 - 200 cm and a width of 50 - 100 cm. The elongated bodies are provided in parallel above the upper portion in the longitudinal direction in a high of 50 - 150 cm from the ground to the upper part of the railing elements. The elongated bodies can consist of open or closed profiles of metal, which in section can be formed with different formations as e.g. C-, I-, L-, U-, O- formations. If open profiles are used the ends of the projection are hidden within the underside of the profile by surrounding material from outside and which also protects said means mechanically inside the profile. The railing element is built up or two parallel sheet formed plates, which are directed upwards towards each other in the longitudinal direction and which are bent inwards towards each other. The plates extend from the bottom of the railing element, serving as a supporting portion on said ground, and further upwards to the upper portion. The supporting portion is across the longitudinal direction broader towards the ground than its upper portion. Between these and the sheet formed plates a middle portion is provided. The upper portion and the middle portion each comprises an elongated tube structure, provided with said openings for the insertion of the projections, which extend a distance downwards into the tube structures. The means comprises a tightening portion/pressing apart portion having two in a direction towards or from each other movable provided gripping portions, arranged at each of its projection or each of its end. By actuating said means with a power the gripping portions are capable to move in a direction towards or from each other in a predetermined way. The power can in this way actuate e.g. a screw function, a clamp function, a level function, a hook function or a wedge function, so that the size of the play can be regulated in a desired extent. The gripping portions grasp the projections or the ends by aid of e.g.

embracing, insertion into opening formations, gripping and friction clamping or by aid of existing protruding parts. According to a variant of the invention the projections comprise a visible portion from outside, extending about 5 -1 10 cm above the upper portion, so that a portion hidden from outside is situated within said opening, when the elongated bodies are orientated in the longitudinal direction in parallel above the upper portion of the railing elements in a predetermined distance right above the same in order to create a greater total high of the railing. Several layers of elongated bodies can of course be provided one upon the other constituting a railing structure. Having a larger total high the railing can manage to have heavier vehicles to be run into the same. The visible portion comprises a locking portion, which, in a high direction, is fixing the elongated body in position in a predetermined total high, which constitutes the upper part of the railing elements. The locking portion then comprises at least one resting surface provided laterally protruding around the projections, so that the openings near the upper portion is provided with smaller openings than the resting surface at the same time as the same is resting against the upper portion, when the projections are inserted into said openings. In an other variant of the invention the distance so large that a vehicle when running in to the railing with a wheel, having a diameter which is so large that its upper portion extends up to the side of the elongated bodies, which in this case pushes away said wheel, so that it is guided in the longitudinal direction. In this way it is eliminated that the wheel is caught by the sheet formed plates and is guided inwards to the railing elements. The elongated bodies can also have an extra large width, so that they can guide away a wheel before the same is caught by the sheet formed plate. The greatest advantages with the invention are thus that a device is provided, which in a simple way, cheep and effectively is minimizing the play in a railing and that it in this way can have the railing to cooperate as a whole when vehicles are running into the same. Further, in providing the elongated bodies in a distance above the upper portions of the railing elements, heavier vehicles having greater wheels, are urged to be guided in a longitudinal direction.

The invention is described more in detail below by aid of some preferred embodiment examples in view of the drawings enclosed, in which

fig. 1 shows a side view of a portion of two railing elements connected to each other,

fig. 2 shows a section through a railing element,

fig. 3 shows a side view of a means provided near two projections, and

fig. 4 shows a railing element, in which a wheel of a vehicle has been run into.

As can be seen from fig. 1 here is illustrated two railing elements 1 placed on a ground 7, said elements 1 are connected end 2 to end 2 by aid of two elongated bodies 3 provided with their ends 14 inserted into each other in the longitudinal direction 23 of the railing elements 1. The elongated bodies 3 comprise in a transverse direction two projections 4 intended to be able to be inserted into two openings 5 in the upper portions 6 of the railing elements 1. A means 8 embraces parts of said projections 4.

In fig. 2 is shown that a railing element 1 is built up by two sheet formed plates 18 directed towards each other, which extend from a ground 7 in the form of a supporting portion 20 and further up to the upper portion 6. Between these a middle portion 19 is provided. The upper portion 6 and the middle portion 19 each comprises a tube formation 21 provided with the openings 5.

As can be seen from fig. 3 the means 8 comprises a tightening portion/ pressing apart portion 16 having two gripping parts 17 provided at each projection 4. The projections 4 have one from outside visible portion 10 and one from outside hidden portion 1 1 , which is located in the openings

5 with the surrounding walls/edges 9. The visible portions 10 have locking parts 12 in the form of laterally protruding resting surfaces 22, intended to rest against the upper portion 6, which in this case are fixing the elongated bodies 3 in the railing elements 3 in position, said bodies 3 constitute an upper part 24 in a predetermined distance 13 above the upper portion 6.

In fig.4 is illustrated a wheel 26 from a vehicle, which contacts or is running into the railing elements 1. The upper part of said wheel 26 extends up to a side 25 of the elongated bodies 3, whereby this side in this case is pushing away said wheel 26, which then is guided mainly in the longitudinal direction 23. Thus, the railing elements 1 can have different predetermined total heights 15.