Traffic Calming Device

• US 20180298570A1
• Filed: 07/07/2016
• Published: 10/18/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Khalil Mahmoud Abu Al-Rubb
• Original Assignee: Khalil Mahmoud Abu Al-Rubb
• Inventors: Abu Al-Rubb, Khalil Mahmoud
• Granted Patent: US 10,577,762 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: E01F 13/126 Pitfall barriers, causing the vehicle to face a step-like obstruction
• CPC Class Codes: E01F 9/529 specially adapted for signalling by sound or vibrations, e.g. rumble strips; specially adapted for enforcing reduced speed, e.g. speed bumps

Abstract

A traffic calming device comprising an obstacle which is placed on a road, the obstacle being moveable or deflateable at a predetermined speed or rate so that the obstacle presents a smaller profile to a vehicle driving at or below the speed limit.

Claims

1. A traffic calming device comprising a moveable obstacle and a retraction mechanism for moving the obstacle when a vehicle is brought into contact with the obstacle, wherein the retraction mechanism comprises a release system for moving the obstacle at a predetermined speed,

wherein the predetermined speed is variable so that a user may set the predetermined speed in dependence on a speed limit, and

wherein the obstacle comprises a cradle for engaging with one or more wheels of the car, wherein the cradle is engaged with the retraction mechanism, the retraction mechanism comprising an hydraulic cylinder, the cradle being adapted for pivotal movement relative to a surface upon which the wheel proceeds, wherein the cradle is engaged with the hydraulic cylinder so that the pivoting movement of the cradle commensurate with the forward direction of the vehicle compresses the hydraulic cylinder, the release system further comprising a release valve engaged with the hydraulic cylinder so that the hydraulic cylinder has a maximum rate of operation, and so the pivoting movement of the cradle is limited by the maximum rate of operation of the hydraulic cylinder.

2. The traffic calming device according to claim 1 wherein the obstacle is a cradle for engaging with one or more wheels of a vehicle.

3. The traffic calming device according to claim 1 wherein the obstacle is retractable.

4. The traffic calming device according to claim 1 wherein the obstacle is deflateable and wherein said movement of said obstacle at the predetermined speed comprises deflating the obstacle.

5. The traffic calming device according to claim 1 wherein the retraction mechanism comprises a fluid release.

6. The traffic calming device of claim 5 wherein the fluid release comprises an hydraulic piston.

7. The traffic calming device of claim 6 wherein the fluid release further comprises a release valve.

8. The traffic calming device according to claim 7 wherein a flow rate of the release valve is adjustable.

9. The traffic calming device according to claim 8, wherein the predetermined speed is related to a fluid flow rate of said release valve.

11. The traffic calming de vice according to claim 1 wherein the cradle comprises first and second arms.

12. The traffic calming device according to claim 11 wherein the retraction mechanism comprises a first and a second hydraulic cylinder, each hydraulic cylinder being connected to corresponding arms of the cradle so that pivoting of the cradle in a first direction engages the first hydraulic cylinder and pivoting of the cradle in a second direction engages the second hydraulic cylinder.

10. (canceled)

13. A method for calming traffic comprising providing a moveable obstacle and moving the obstacle at a predetermined speed when a vehicle is brought into contact with the obstacle,

wherein the predetermined speed has been set in dependence on a speed limit, and

wherein the obstacle comprises a cradle for engaging with one or more wheels of the car, wherein the cradle is engaged with the retraction mechanism, the retraction mechanism comprising an hydraulic cylinder, the cradle being adapted for pivotal movement relative to a surface upon which the wheel proceeds, wherein the cradle is engaged with the hydraulic cylinder so that the pivoting movement of the cradle commensurate with the forward direction of the vehicle compresses the hydraulic cylinder, the release system further comprising a release valve engaged with the hydraulic cylinder so that the hydraulic cylinder has a maximum rate of operation, and so the pivoting movement of the cradle is limited by the maximum rate of operation of the hydraulic cylinder.

14. The method according to claim 13 wherein the obstacle is a cradle for engaging with one or more wheels of a vehicle.

15. The method according to claim 13 wherein the obstacle is retractable.

16. The method according to claim 13 wherein the obstacle is deflateable and wherein said step of moving of said obstacle at the predetermined speed comprises deflating the obstacle.

17. The method of claim 13 wherein the obstacle is moved by a fluid release.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the obstacle is moved by an hydraulic piston.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising providing a release valve.

20. The method according to claim 19 wherein a flow rate of the release valve is adjustable.

21. The method according to claim 20, wherein the predetermined speed is related to a fluid flow rate of said release valve.

22. The method according to claim 13 comprising the further step of reversing a movement of the obstacle once the vehicle is out of contact with the obstacle.

23. The method according to claim 22 wherein the obstacle is moved back to an initial position.

24. The method according to claim 22 wherein the obstacle is moved back to a position which varies from an initial position.