Taxiway barricade system

• US 6,836,222 B1
• Filed: 06/29/2001
• Issued: 12/28/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sherwin Industries, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sherwin Industries, Inc.
• Inventors: Carini, John J.
• Primary Examiner(s): GOINS, DAVETTA WOODS
• Application Number:
  US09/896,801
• Time in Patent Office: 1,278 Days
• Field of Search: 340/908.1, 340/953, 340/947, 340/954, 340/956, 340/907, 340/9, 362/132, 362/152, 362/126, 362/219, 362/84, 116/63.R, 116/63.P, 116/63.C, 256/1, 256/13.1, 404/6, 404/11, 404/12
• US Class Current: 340/908.1
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/095 Traffic lights

Abstract

A barricade system includes supports positioned in a spaced-apart fashion across a path to be closed. A lightable rope is fastened to the supports to close the path to vehicular traffic. The lightable rope is energizable by a single electrical power source such as a generator or an electrical outlet. The components of the system can be stowed and transported on a trailer or the like, making the system very portable. The barricade system is particularly suited for use in closing airport taxiways, in which case it warns pilots that a taxiway is closed and prevents entry onto the taxiway. The entire system (or at least those parts of it that are placed on the taxiway) also is sufficiently frangible to permit its use as a taxiway barricade system.

Claims

1. A barricade system for an airport taxiway comprising:

(A) supports which arm positionable in a spaced-apart fashion across the airport taxiway to be closed and which comprise stanchions and bases which hold the stanchions; and

(B) a lightable rope which is fastenable to the supports to close the airport taxiway to vehicular traffic and which is energizable by a single electrical power source, wherein the supports and the lightable rope are sufficiently frangible that, when they ar contacted by a rotating propeller, they are knocked over or destroyed by the propeller without damaging the propeller.

2. A barricade system of claim 1, wherein the electrical power source comprises a generator.

3. A barricade system of claim 1, wherein the electrical power source comprises an electrical outlet.

4. A barricade system of claim 1, wherein the barricade system further comprises:

a trailer; and

a reel which is carried by the trailer and on which the lightable rope can be retained, wherein, when the system is in use, the lightable rope includes a first end which is attached to one of the supports and a second end which is supported by the reel.

5. A barricade system of claim 1, wherein the stanchions arm removable from the bases.

6. A barricade system of claim 1, wherein the stanchions further comprise clips in which the lightable rope is selectively held.

7. A barricade system of claim 1, farther comprising a controller which regulates illumination of the ligatable rope.

8. A barricade system of claim 7, wherein the controller regulates a frequency of the illumination of the lightable rope.

9. A barricade system of claim 7, wherein the controller regulates a duration of the illumination of the lightable rope.

10. A barricade system of claim 1, further comprising a trailer which carries the supports and the lightable rope when the barricade system is not in use.

29. A barricade system of claim 4, wherein the lightable rope is electrically coupled to the reel when the system is in use.

31. A barricade system of claim 4, wherein, when the system is in use, the trailer can be positioned away from the airport taxiway.

11. A barricade system for an airport taxiway comprising:

(A) supports which art positioned in a spaced-apart fashion across the airport taxiway; and

(B) a lightable rope which is fastened to the supports to close the airport taxiway to vehicular traffic and which is energized by a single electrical power source, wherein the supports and the lightable rope are sufficiently frangible that, when they are contacted by a rotating propeller, they are knocked over or destroyed by the propeller without damaging the propeller.

12. A barricade system for an airport taxiway comprising:

(A) a trailer;

(B) supports which are carried on the trailer when the system is not in use and which, when in use, are positioned in a spaced-apart fashion on the airport taxiway to be closed; and

(C) a lightable rope which is carried on the trailer when the system is not in use and which, when in use, is fastened to the supports to close the airport taxiway to vehicular traffic;

(D) a portable generator which is supported on the trailer and which supplies electrical power to the lightable rope when the system is in use; and

(E) a reel which is carried by the trailer, wherein, when the system is in use, the lightable rope includes a first end which is attached to one of the supports and a second end which is supported by the reel, wherein the supports and the lightable rope are sufficiently frangible that, when they are contacted by a rotating propeller, they aye knocked over or destroyed by the propeller without damaging the propeller.

30. A barricade system of claim 12, wherein the lightable rope is electrically coupled to the reel when the system is in use.

32. A barricade system of claim 12, wherein, when the system is in use, the trailer can be positioned away from the airport taxiway.

13. A system for closing an airport taxiway to vehicular traffic comprising:

(A) stanchions and bases which hold the stanchions, both of which are positioned in a spaced-apart fashion across the airport taxiway; and

(B) a single illuminatable barricade which is fastened to all of the stanchions to close the airport taxiway to prevent vehicular traffic and is energized by an electric power source, wherein the stanchions and the lightable rope are sufficiently frangible that, when they are contacted by a rotating propeller they are knocked over or destroyed by the propeller without damaging the propeller.

14. A system for closing an airport taxiway to vehicular traffic comprising:

(A) a moveable platform;

(B) stanchions which are carried on the moveable platform when the system is not in use and which, when in use, are positioned in a spaced-apart fashion on the airport taxiway,

(C) an illuminatable barricade which is carried on the moveable platform when the system is not in use and which, when in use, is fastened to all of the stanchions to close the airport taxiway to vehicular traffic;

(D) an electric power source which is carried on the moveable platform and which powers the illuminatable barricade;

(E) a controller which regulates the electric power source; and

(F) signage carried by at least one stanchion, wherein the stanchions and the lightable rope are sufficiently frangible that, when they are contacted by a rotating propeller, they are knocked over or destroyed by the propeller without damaging the propeller.

28. A system of claim 14, wherein the signage is permanently mounted to the stanchion.

33. A system of claim 14, wherein, when the system is in use, the platform can be positioned away from the airport taxiway.

15. A method of closing an airport taxiway comprising:

(A) positioning bases across the airport taxiway in a spaced-apart fashion;

(B) attaching stanchions to the bases;

(C) fastening a lightable rope to the stanchions to close the airport taxiway to vehicular traffic; and

(D) energizing the lightable rope with a single electrical power source, wherein in the event of a rotating propeller hitting at least one of the rope and a stanchion, the part that is hit will break or be knocked over without damaging the propeller.

16. A method of claim 15, further comprising regulating the supply of electrical power to the lightable rope from the power source.

17. A method of claim 16, wherein the frequency of the illumination of the lightable rope is regulated.

18. A method of claim 16, wherein the duration of the illumination of the lightable rope is regulated.

19. A method of claim 15, further comprising:

(A) de-energizing the lightable rope;

(B) removing the lightable rope from the stanchions; and

(C) removing the stanchions and the bases from the airport taxiway.

20. A method of claim 19, further comprising winding the lightable rope onto a reel.

21. A method of closing an airport taxiway comprising:

(A) positioning supports across the airport taxiway in a spaced-apart fashion;

(B) fastening a lightable rope carried on a reel to the supports to close the airport taxiway to vehicular traffic;

(C) electronically coupling the lightable rope to the reel; and

(D) lighting the lightable rope with a single electrical power source, wherein in the event of a rotating propeller hitting at least one of the rope and a support, the part that is hit will break or be knocked over without damaging the propeller.

22. A method of closing an airport taxiway comprising:

(A) transporting a barricade system to the airport taxiway to be closed, the barricade system including;

(1) a trailer;

(2) supports which are carried on the trailer and

(3) a lightable rope which is wound onto a reel on the trailer,

(B) removing the supports from the trailer;

(C) positioning the trailer in a position spaced from the airport taxiway;

(D) positioning the supports across the airport taxiway in a spaced-apart fashion;

(E) unwinding the lightable rope from the reel;

then

(F) fastening the lightable rope to the supports to close the airport taxiway to vehicular traffic; and

then

(G) lighting the lightable rope with a generator mounted on the trailer when the trailer is spaced from the airport taxiway, wherein, in the event of an aircraft hitting at least one of the rope and a support the part that is hit will break or be knocked over without damaging the aircraft.

23. A method of claim 22, further comprising regulating the supply of electrical power to the lightable rope from the generator.

24. A method of claim 23, wherein the frequency of the illumination of the lightable rope is regulated.

25. A method of claim 23, wherein the duration of the illumination of the lightable rope is regulated.

26. A method of claim 22, wherein, during step (G), the trailer is located laterally adjacent the airport taxiway.

27. A method of claim 22, further comprising:

(A) de-energizing the lightable rope;

(B) removing the lightable rope from the supports;

(D) removing the supports from the airport taxiway; and

(E) stowing the supports and the lightable rope on the trailer.