Valve arrangement and traffic calming device incorporating such an arrangement

• US 6,726,399 B2
• Filed: 11/26/2002
• Issued: 04/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Autospan Limited
• Original Assignee: Autospan Limited
• Inventors: Fox, Nigel Peter, Heeks, Graham
• Primary Examiner(s): Hartmann, Gary S.
• Application Number:
  US10/204,895
• Publication Number:
  US 20030143023A1
• Time in Patent Office: 518 Days
• Field of Search: 404/9, 404/10, 404/15, 116/63.R
• US Class Current: 404/15
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 17/048 combined with other safety valves, or with pressure control devices

Abstract

A reactive speed hump (2) includes a fluid flow control valve assembly (4). A first valve (18, 20, 21) is naturally open and a second valve (10, 14, 15, 16, 17), naturally closed. Application of fluid pressure on the control valve assembly below a first lower threshold level or above a second higher threshold level allows a flow of fluid from the inlet to the outlet, but an application of fluid pressure on the control valve between said first and second threshold levels allows substantially no fluid to flow between the inlet (7) and the outlet (9).

Claims

1. A reactive traffic calming device comprising a resiliently deformable enclosure containing air, air within the enclosure communicating with the atmosphere via a valve arrangement permitting the enclosure to be deflated under the weight of a passing vehicle and to re-inflate after passage of the vehicle, said valve arrangement comprising a pressure-sensitive valve adapted to remain open while the air within the enclosure is up to a first pressure threshold, thereby permitting deflation, and to close in response to pressure above said first pressure threshold, thereby preventing deflation in response to excessive vehicle speed.

2. A reactive traffic calming device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the pressure-sensitive valve comprises a first valve closure biased into a normally-open position and movable to a closed position, the air pressure within the enclosure impinging on said first valve closure to overcome said biasing means above said first pressure threshold.

3. A reactive traffic calming device as claimed in claim 2 wherein the first valve closure comprises a member having a shaft portion mounted to slide within a bore, and a broader, head portion responding directly to the air pressure.

4. A reactive traffic calming device as claimed in claim 3 wherein the biasing means comprise a coil spring surrounding the shaft portion and acting against the head portion.

5. A reactive traffic calming device as claimed in claims 2, 3, or 4 wherein the valve arrangement comprises means defining a sensing chamber surrounding the first valve closure, said inlet chamber communicating with the air within the enclosure via a restricted air inlet.

6. A reactive traffic calming device as claimed in claim 5 wherein the restricted inlet may be arranged so as to direct air in a jet directly at the closure member.

7. A reactive traffic calming device as claimed in claims 1, 2, 3, or 4 wherein the valve arrangement may further comprise a second valve, normally closed, arranged so as to open and allow rapid deflation of the device in response to pressure exceeding a second pressure threshold, greater than the first pressure threshold.

8. A reactive traffic calming device as claimed in claim 7 wherein the second valve may comprise a second valve closure movable, against second biasing means from a normally closed position to an open position.