Vehicle barrier

• US 7,263,803 B2
• Filed: 12/16/2004
• Issued: 09/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: SKIDATA AG (Thales SA)
• Original Assignee: SKIDATA AG (Thales SA)
• Inventors: Kranzinger, Erich, Ponert, Gregor, Herwich, Ingo
• Primary Examiner(s): REDMAN, JERRY E
• Application Number:
  US11/014,634
• Publication Number:
  US 20050150165A1
• Time in Patent Office: 992 Days
• Field of Search: 49/49, 49/35, 404/6, 404/9, 404/10
• US Class Current: 49/49
• CPC Class Codes: E01F 13/06 by swinging into open position about a vertical or horizontal axis parallel to the road direction, i.e. swinging gates

Abstract

A barrier is formed such that its barrier arm automatically moves back to its blocking position after forceful opening of the barrier.The barrier arm is pivotally mounted to a barrier post about a horizontal axis. The barrier post is formed to include a swivel joint having a vertical axis around which the barrier arm swivels upon forceful opening.

Claims

1. A barrier having a barrier post and a first drive swiveling a barrier arm around a horizontal axis between blocking and open positions, a swivel joint having a vertical axis around which said barrier arm swivels upon forceful opening, a device for producing a given force to be overcome upon forceful opening of said barrier arm, and a second drive automatically moving said barrier arm back to an initial blocking position about said vertical axis, wherein said barrier post comprises at least two members mutually rotatable around the vertical axis for forming said swivel joint, the barrier arm being pivoted to a first of said at least two members and a second of said at least two members forming a base for anchoring said barrier post to a support.

2. A barrier according to claim 1, wherein said at least two members are formed of telescoped tubes of different diameter.

3. A barrier according to claim 1, wherein said first drive is fastened to said first member.

4. A barrier according to claim 3, wherein said first member comprises an internal tube.

5. A barrier according to claim 1, wherein said second drive is formed by one of a spring, a motor, a pneumatic device and a hydraulic device.

6. A barrier according to claim 1, wherein said device for producing a given force to be overcome upon forceful opening of said barrier arm comprises a spring.

7. A barrier according to claim 6, wherein said spring loads a locking member disposed in said first member in a direction toward said second member, said second member being provided with a receiving means for said locking member.

8. A barrier according to claim 1, further comprising a device for detecting obstructions, preventing said second drive from moving said barrier arm back to said initial position upon detection of an obstruction in a moving range of said barrier arm.

9. A vehicle barrier comprising:

a barrier post and a barrier arm supported on said barrier post so as to be pivotable vertically about a horizontal pivot axis between a lowered blocking position and a raised open position to control passage of vehicles, said barrier post further comprising a swivel joint connected with said barrier arm such that said barrier arm is rotatable sidewardly about a vertical swivel axis from said blocking position to a forcefully opened position in response to sideward forcing of said barrier arm, said barrier post comprising at least first and second post members which are relatively rotatable about said vertical swivel axis to define said swivel joint, said first post member being provided for anchoring said barrier post on a support surface and said second post member being rotatable relative to said first post member about said vertical swivel axis, and said barrier arm being supported by said second post member to permit said vertical pivoting about said horizontal pivot axis and to permit said sideward swiveling about said vertical swivel axis;

a swivel resisting device which resists said sideward swiveling of said barrier arm and defines a given force to be overcome upon forceful opening of said barrier arm about said vertical swivel axis;

a first drive pivoting said barrier arm around said horizontal axis between said blocking and open positions to control passage of vehicles; and

a second drive automatically swiveling said barrier arm about said vertical axis back to said blocking position after forceful opening of said barrier arm.

10. The vehicle barrier according to claim 9, wherein said first post member and said second post member comprise telescoped tubes of different diameter.

11. The vehicle barrier according to claim 9, wherein said second drive comprises one of a spring, a motor, a pneumatic device and a hydraulic device.

12. The vehicle barrier according to claim 9, further comprising a device for detecting obstructions and preventing said second drive from moving said barrier arm back to said lowered blocking position upon detection of an obstruction.