Under passage it is meant, here and later on, an interruption in the fixed barriers positioned between two road or motorway carriageways to prevent the accidental or intentional transit of vehicles from a carriageway to the other. Such passages are provided to allow anyway this transit in extraordinary situations, as it happens when it is required to close a carriageway to the traffic and it is then necessary to use the remaining carriageway in two ways, or moreover when it has to be allowed the passage of service, aid, control, etc. transport, provided that they are specifically authorized by the administrator of the road or motorway section.

Under condition of usual traffic, the opening of these passages may cause accident, because the carriageway invasion is allowed, but also because the barrier end at the passage is a dangerous fixed obstacle for out-of- control vehicles. Furthermore, such passages offer a temptation to reckless manoeuvres and however forbidden to vehicles.

Therefore, it is more often required, and also specific rules in this regard are being studied, that such passages, under condition of usual traffic, be closed by a movable barrier.

This kind of barrier, then, has to offer resistance-to- collision performances, even to heavy vehicles, similar in functionality to those of the fixed barriers in cement or corrugated sheet iron. Furthermore, the removal and the installation of the barrier should be carried out in short times, also with the necessary shortness under emergency condition, and it has to involve the lowest number of personnel.

To this purpose, movable barriers have been studied constituted by segments liftable and removable with the help of not-heavy means, like elevators or hoisters with articulated arms. If installed, these segments are equipped with pins driven in specific holes made in the featheredge and the ends of adjacent segments are properly connected.

This solution, even if easy, requires the intervention of specialized personnel and of mechanical means for lifting and removing the segments. Furthermore, the problem of stocking the segments during the temporary removal thereof remains unsolved.

The technical problem underlying the present invention is to provide a movable barrier enabling to overcome the drawbacks mentioned with reference to the known art.

Such problem is solved by a movable barrier as above illustrated, comprising: * at least a mobile segment of movable barrier, mobile in longitudinal direction with respect to the fixed barriers on the featheredge, between a closing configuration of the passage and an opening configuration of the passage; * a corresponding protected compartment receiving the respective mobile segment in opening configuration of the passage; * anchorage means, active in closing configuration of the passage, to fasten said at least mobile segment to the featheredge; and * driving means of the mobile segment for the movement thereof.

It is meant that both the mobile segment of movable barrier and the protected compartment, if the latter is exposed to the traffic, have sufficient resistance-to- collision performances for the use they have been arranged for.

The main advantage of the movable barrier according to the invention is to require a reduced personnel for

opening and closing and, on the contrary, not to require stocking the removed segment. According to preferred embodiments of the invention, it is possible to drive and to remotely control the movable barrier without helping personnel, except for traffic safety and control reasons.

The present invention will be here below described with reference to an embodiment example thereof, provided by way of example and not for limitative purposes by referring to the enclosed drawings wherein: * figure 1 is a perspective view of a movable barrier according to the present invention; * figure la is a partial longitudinal section of the movable barrier of figure 1 ; * figure 2 is a perspective partial-sectional and exploded view of a detailed item of the barrier of figure 1 ; and * figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the detailed item of figure 2.

By referring to the figures, a movable barrier is designated as a whole with 1. Such movable barrier 1 is of the kind apt to close a road passage V, of the kind arranged for separating two road carriageways A and B at said passage obtained in the fixed barriers C usually provided for said separation.

The movable barrier 1 comprises, according to the present embodiment example, a mobile segment 2 of movable barrier 1. Under mobile it is meant in the longitudinal direction with respect to the fixed barriers C on the plane constituted by the featheredge, between a closing configuration of the passage V and an opening configuration of the passage V.

Such mobile segment 2 has an operating end 3 which moves forwards and backwards upon closing and opening the mobile segment 2. Such operating end 3 comprises a signaller 4 intended to signal the forward and backward movement of the mobile segment 2. In the present embodiment example such signaller is of visual kind

comprising a blinking light 5 placed on a vertical pole 6 which rises from said operating end 3, but it may also comprise a not-represented warning horn.

At such operating end 3, when the mobile segment 2 is in an opened configuration, the movable barrier 1 comprises a trajectory-deviating member for vehicles which should collision against said end, with rounded-off shape so that it deviates the vehicle on one side or the other one of the segment 2.

Such deviating member if of kind known to the skilled in the art and usually it is locally arranged manually and made heavier, if for example manufactured with plastic material, in order to carry out its function. A variant of the present embodiment example can comprise a deviating member integrated and integral with said operating end 3, destined to be received into a special recess formed in the part of movable barrier 1 contacting said operating end 3 with the mobile segment 2 in closed configuration.

The movable barrier 1 further comprises a protected compartment 7 corresponding for length and sizes to the mobile segment 2 thereto it is destined with the purpose of receiving it inside thereof in opening configuration of the passage V.

It is to be meant that the protected compartment 7 could have an even greater length than the respective mobile segment 2, in order to be apt to wholly contain the mobile segment 2.

By referring to figure 2, such protected compartment 7 is defined by a highly-resistant frame formed by a plurality of fixed members of upside-down-U-shaped frame 8 equally spaced and parallel between them, connected on one side by fastening bars 9 properly associated to the fixed members of frame 8 for welding, riveting, bolting.

The fixed members of frame 8, placed in sequence, determine a tubular space able to receive said mobile segment 2. Both the members 8 and the bars 9 are of the kind highly resistant to collisions and they have an

appropriate section, for example C-shaped. The lower ends 10 of the fixed members of frame 8 are installed irreversibly driven in the featheredge, by means of most appropriate means.

The above-mentioned tubular space is covered, outside the fixed members of frame 8 and the fastening bars 9, by first covering plates 11, able too to offer, in cooperation with the associated members, the resistance to collisions required by the operating circumstances.

The protected compartment 7 and the respective mobile segment 2 are arranged in a so-called telescopic relation.

Said protected compartment 7 is placed at one of the two edges of the passage V and it occludes a part thereof by replacing the fixed barrier C. It is meant that said compartment 7 could assume a shape different from the one described, in case integrated with the fixed barriers C which, in the example here described, are of the kind in cement called jersey with a double row of members.

At the opposite edge of the passage V, the movable barrier 2 comprises a secondary compartment 12, protected and marked too by the same structure of the previous one, to receive the operating end 3 of the mobile segment 2.

Such secondary compartment 12 may constitute said recess to receive a deviating member.

According to a possible variant, the passage has a movable barrier with a pair of facing and cooperating mobile segments, each one provided with a respective protected compartment. In this case, conveniently the segments could have a different length: a first segment could have such a length to enable the passage of a service, aid or control vehicle and in case of absolute need. This first segment would be suitable for an operation in case of short openings and, if possible, remotely controlled. The second segment, with greater length, could intervene for openings apt to let a traffic flow pass, a rearer event usually involved in programmed maintenance activities.

The structure of the mobile segment 2 is substantially similar to the one of the protected compartment 2: it comprises upside-down-omega-shaped mobile segments of frame 13, with smaller sizes than the previous ones, connected by fastening bars 14. In the present example, the mobile members 13 comprise a space 15 to receive the anchorage means of the mobile segment 2 which will be described later.

Also the mobile segment 2 has covering plates 16 (second) which as a whole and in cooperation with said anchorage means provide to the mobile segment 2, in case of collision, the structural resistance required by the operating circumstances.

The movable barrier 1 comprises driving means of the mobile segment 2, for the movement of the latter, designated as a whole with 17.

According to the present embodiment example, said driving means 17 comprises a motor 18 positioned at the operating end 3 of the mobile segment 2 and associated to the latter, so as to enable the best accessibility to the motor 18 itself. Such motor 18 is connected to a wheel 19, resting on the featheredge, by means of a chain drive device 20.

Preferably, such motor is of internal combustion type, provided with its own fixed tank (not represented), the fuel level thereof, however present in very small quantity, is controlled periodically. Moreover, the motor is provided with an ignition device of simplified kind, for example a manual one with string.

In this way, an operator, by acting on specific changes in direction, could start and drive by opening or closing the mobile segment without effort and without a previous preparation.

A variant of said driving means provides the use of an electric motor provided with, apart from driving controls, a battery pre-charged or kept in charge by a passive system, for example a solar energy system with photovoltaic panels.

In both said variants the motor is provided with a source of autonomous energy. However, additional variants of the driving means could include an arrangement for coupling with towing means locally brought by operators, humanly- driven motors (pedal systems, manual dragging), electric motors fed by the supply mains if available.

Another variant could comprise a seat for assembling a movable, electric or internal combustion motor, locally transported for the occasion and subsequently transported somewhere else.

It is to be noted, however, that internal combustion or electric motors still more are suitable to be driven and controlled wholly remotely, with the help of closed circuit video cameras or web cam dedicated for the observation of the passage V from a control station or with the help of remote controls driven locally and entrusted to the administrators of the road section, to the safety responsibles, to the drivers of the service, aid, control and so on vehicles.

The segment 2 further comprises sliding means on the featheredge. In the present embodiment example, they comprise pairs of idle wheels 30 assembled at regular intervals at said mobile members of frame 13. Said idle wheels 30 are assembled on a cross fixed shaft 31 thanks to integrated bearings 32 and rest on the featheredge and they keep the segment 2 lifted from the ground to allow it to overcome possible unevennesses of the featheredge.

Inside the protected compartment 7, the wheels 30 cooperate with rails 33 which keep the mobile segment 2 in a precise position, by making the extraction and the insertion thereof easier.

According to a variant, the mobile segment 2 comprises side straps, in case flexible, to prevent dirt or debris from invading the space under the mobile segment 2. The same could comprise, at the ends thereof, brushes laid on the ground to keep the forward and backward route clean.

The movable barrier further comprises anchorage means of the mobile segment 2 to the featheredge, active in closing configuration of the passage.

According to the present embodiment example, such anchorage means have a plurality of pairs of pins 21 apt to be driven inside holes 22 formed in the featheredge.

Each pair of pins 21 is received inside the space 15 among facing mobile members of frame 13. Each pin is vertically mobile thanks to a guide 23 which enables it to move between a lifted position disengaging from the holes 22 wherein the mobile segment 2 may be moved, and a lowered position engaging in the holes 22.

In this last configuration, the assembly of the mobile segment 2 and the pins 21 may guarantee the resistance required by the operating circumstances.

The pins 21 may be lifted and lowered simultaneously. To this purpose they are interconnected and each pair of pins 21 is associated to an articulated-arm system 24 which provides for the simultaneous movement of the pair.

Each articulated-arm system could be synchronized to the others by means of a simple mechanical connection 25.

Said system is driven by a hydraulic jack 26. A variable number of systems driven by the same jack may be provided, which is anchored to the mobile members of frame 13 and it is connected to a hydraulic circuit (not represented) fed by a pump driven by the motor 18. As an alternative, the jacks may be replaced by electric controls.

In case of need, said mechanical connection 25, which is incorporated by a hexagonal bar extending along the extension of the mobile segment 2, is engageable at one end also by a hand crank to allow manual fastenings. A simplified version of the present movable barrier 1 could comprise such crank as driving means of the pins 21.

A simplified solution comprises independent pins 21, which may be driven manually between a lowered position and a lifted position, apt to be controlled by an operator.

The holes 22 comprise a cup 40 embedded in the featheredge. The cup 40 may be closed again by a specific cover and it is also provided with a flexible barrier 41 to prevent insertion of debris. Furthermore, the cup 40 is provided with a centering system 42 for the respective pin 21. In the present preferred version, the pin 21 compresses a cap 43 assembled on a spring 44. The cap 43 keeps the inside of the cup 40 sealed and the spring 44 makes the going-back of the pin 21 into the seat thereof easier and brings the cap 43 back to the featheredge's level, by closing the cup 40.

From what described, the operation of the present movable barrier is immediately understandable. During the usual operation, the barrier is in a closed configuration: the pins 21 are driven in the respective holes 23 with the segment extending through the passage.

In case of opening, the motor 18 is started and it provides the motive energy necessary to lift the pins 21, with the help of the springs 44, and to move backward the segment inside the protected compartment 7.

In case of closing, the same motor is driven to move forward the segment and subsequently to provide energy to lower the pins.

The structure of the movable barrier above described is suitable for adopting a visual surveillance and remotely- controlled system. Such system may be completed also by a deformation detector able to inform the controlling center about collisions which have involved the barrier and which could jeopardize the correct operation thereof.

Based upon what above described it is meant that a skilled in the art could apply innumerable structural variants belonging to the protective scope of the following claims.