A ROAD RAIL

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a road rail, comprising tubular posts to be anchored in the ground and a rail profile to be attached to the posts, the rail profile having a substantially closed cross-section but being open downwards for lowering onto the posts. Background of the Invention

Road rails of the above type may primarily be used between two lanes of a road for preventing such accidents as collisions between vehicles. Another use is at the side of a road for preventing vehicles to accidentally leave the road.

The cross-sectional shape of the rail profile is of importance to the effect of rail, where it is of importance that the rail shall be able to withstand forces in a controlled way, at the same time as impact damages to the vehicles and their occupants shall be minimized. It has appeared that a rail profile with a generally elliptical cross- sectional shape is advantageous.

In a previous design the rail profile is mounted to the posts by a system comprising internal and external attachments and screw joints.

The main purpose of the invention is to provide a mounting system without screw joints or the like. It shall be possible to quickly and easily mount the rail profile to the posts without use of tools and also to dismount the rail profile, for example at the repair after an occurred accident. The Invention

This is according to the invention attained by a mounting system generally comprising a support member carried by lower edges of opposed cutouts in each post and supporting the rail profile and at least one locking member inside the rail profile, the locking member providing locking between the post and the rail profile by engagement on one hand with the rail profile and on the other hand with an upper edge of each post cutout by a locking tongue of the locking member.

The support member preferably has a shape corresponding to the shape of the rail profile for providing good support over its entire length.

For increasing its stability and strength, the support member may be provided with at least one perpendicular flange.

In a first embodiment of the invention the locking member has the general shape of a U-profile, whose sidewalls at a larger distance from each other than the outer diameter of the posts are each provided with the locking tongue and has a geometry for holding the rail profile against the support member with its lower edge.

For increasing the stability of the design, the support member flange may be provided with indentations, into which the locking tongues extend.

The locking member may have openings for engagement by a crowbar or the like at a dismounting of the rail from the posts.

In a second embodiment a locking member is arranged at each side of the post inside the rail profile and has a geometry for holding the rail profile against the support member with its lower portion.

For increasing the engagement between the rail profile and the post, an upper portion of the post may be provided with a notches, each for engagement with an upper portion of each locking member.

For increasing the stability of the design, the support member flange may be provided with indentations, into which the locking tongues extend.

In both embodiments the lower and upper edges of the cutouts are prefereably beveled in order to accommodate for deviations from the perpendicular relative position between the posts and the rail profile.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The invention will be described in further detail below under reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig 1 is a side view of a road rail according to the invention,

Fig 2 is a section through a road rail according to a first embodiment of the invention,

Fig 3 is a section transverse to Fig 1 of the same road rail but without a rail profile, Fig 4 is a top view of the road rail shown in Fig 3 but with a locking member removed,

Fig 5 corresponds to Fig 4 but with the locking member again added,

Fig 6 is a section through a road rail according to a second embodiment of the invention,

Fig 7 is a top view of the road rail shown in Fig 6 but without a rail profile and a locking member, and

Fig 8 corresponds to Fig 7 but with the locking member again added. Description of Embodiments In this specification such words as "upper", "lower", "upright" and "vertical" refer to positions and directions when a road rail according to the invention is erected on or at a road and are not intended to be limiting in any way.

A road rail according to the invention is shown in a side view in Fig 1. Such a road rail is normally placed between two meeting lanes of a road for preventing collisions between vehicles but may of course also be placed at the roadside for protecting vehicles from leaving the road.

This road rail comprises basically tubular posts 1 anchored at intervals to the ground and a rail profile 2 attached to the posts 1 in a way to be described.

A first embodiment of a road rail according to the invention is shown in Figs 2-5. The rail profile 2, which is removed in Figs 3-5 for the sake of clarity, has a shape suitable for absorbing collision energy from a vehicle. The rail profile 2 has a longitudinal lower opening with a slightly larger width than the outer diameter of the posts 1. Upright profile flanges 3 are provided at the lower opening. Towards each of its ends the rail profile 2 may be provided with holes 2 ^' for the attachment of joint members between neighboring profiles.

Each post 1 has towards its upper end diametrically opposed cutouts 4 for receiving a support member 5. This support member 5 preferably may have a suitable shape for providing adequate support for the rail profile 2. In the case shown in Fig 2 the support member 5 accordingly is cradle-shaped. At mounting the support member 5 is introduced through the post cutouts 4 and will rest on their bottoms or lower edges, which have the shown bevel-shape in order to accommodate for possible deviations from the perpendicular relative position between the post 1 and the rail profile 2. Hereafter the rail profile 2 is lowered down over the top of the post 1 and comes to rest with its lower portion on the support member 5. In order to enhance the strength and stability of the support member 5 it may be provided with a perpendicular flange 6. The flange may be provided with two indentations 6' for a purpose to be described.

A locking member 7 is used to lock the rail profile 2 to the post 1. This locking member 7 may generally have the appearance of a U-profile with a rectangular portion 8, which is generally horizontal in mounted condition, and two downwardly extending

sidewalls 9 at a somewhat greater distance from each other than the diameter of the post 1. Each sidewall 9 is provided with a double-bent locking tongue 10.

A horizontal portion of each locking tongue 10 is intended to lockingly cooperate with the upper edge of the corresponding cutout 4, at the same time as the lower end of the sidewall 9 clamps the rail profile 2 against the support member 5. The upper edge of the cutout 4 is beveled for the same reason as its bottom.

A further security against unintentional release is provided by engagement of the vertical portion of each locking tongue 10 with the indentation 6' of the support member flange 6. The U-shaped locking member 7 is applied with a certain force sideways in the longitudinal direction of the rail profile 2.

An extra locking effect may be provided by vertical extensions 1 1 at the upper end of the post 1; these extensions are received by rectangular holes 8' in the rectangular portion 8. Alternatively, the locking member may be provided with end lugs, which can be bent down after mounting at either side of the post 1.

The rectangular portion 8 may be provided with openings 12 for engagement by a tool such as a crowbar useable at a later demounting of the locking member 7.

A second embodiment of a road rail according to the invention is shown in Figs 6-8. The second embodiment differs from the first embodiment mainly in the locking of the rail profile to the post, and accordingly reference in other respects is made to the description above of the first embodiment.

In Figs 6-8 the following members may thus be found: a post 20, a rail profile 21 with profile flanges 22, cutouts 23, a support member 24, and a perpendicular flange 25 with two indentations 25'. In this embodiment the support member 24 may be provided with stop tongues

24' cooperating with the post 20 and thus preventing the support member 24 from lateral movements. Also, the support member 24 may be provided with two flanges 25. In the first embodiment use is made of one locking member 7 with two locking tongues 10, whereas in the second embodiment use is made of two locking members 26, one at each side of the post 20.

Each such locking member 26 is shaped to fit into and cooperate with the rail profile 21 and has a certain length in the longitudinal direction of the rail profile 21. At its lower end it has a locking tongue 27 lockingly cooperating with the cutout 23 in the post 20. In order to secure its longitudinal position in relation to the post 21 the locking

member 26 may at its upper end engage a notch 28 in the post 21, as is especially visible in Fig 6.

Two embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, but it is obvious for the person skilled in the art that other embodiments are possible within the scope of the appended claims and also that modifications of these two embodiments are possible.