Hydraulic safety barrier traffic-way controller

Abstract

A vehicle traffic-way controller of retractile barrier configuration wherein activation and control is by hydraulics in the form of a pressure source applied from a motor driven pump and directed by a valve to opposite ends of a double acting cylinder and piston actuator to extend and retract the barrier, there being switch control with positive positioning of the barrier and with impact absorbing protection for the hydraulics and structure.

Description

BACKGROUND

Traffic controllers are utilized as intimidating devices that preclude traffic of autos and the like at the entrances and exits of parking lots and like facilities. That is, a visible barrier is presented at the pavement level so as to permit the desired traffic flow by means of its retraction, and to prevent unauthorized traffic by means of its raised and visible configuration in the form of a projecting curb or the like of substantial height. The curb configuration is menacing when projecting above the pavement level, and can be the cause of damage to the tires and to the undercarriage of vehicles attempting to encroach over the said barrier curb. The curb configuration of the controller is essentially a barrier that is substantially impassible by wheeled vehicles, and it is ruggedoperated oeprated , directly or indirectly by relay means, or the UP and DOWN contacts can be made instantaneously and positions held by friction or detent action (not shown).

A Motor M2 drives a positive displacement pump P2, in this fourth embodiment now under consideration, both of substantially reduced capacity compared with the full volume motor and pump means hereinabove described in the first three embodiments. In practice, the power reduction ratio is 4 1/2 to 1 based upon an operational requirement of four and one half piston strokes per minute, and for example a pair of cylinder and piston actuators A as shown herein require nine gallons per minute for such continuous operation, in which case a two gallon per minute rate is required in this embodiment with the use of pressure-volume accumulator B. In practice, a two horse power motor M2 and a two gallon per minute pump P2 are employed and operated intermittently upon demand responsive to a high-low switch 33 that senses accumulator pressure proportionate to volume therein.

In this fourth embodiment now under consideration, the motor M2 of comparative time-demand power drives the positive displacement pump P2 of a complementary and comparative time-demand capacity for reduced volume flow of increasing pressure into the accumulator B through a check valve 27 that protects the pump P2 from hydraulic impact and secures the piston in either the extended or retracted position. The pressure-volume accumulator B employed in this embodiment is a gas charged accumulator of two and one half gallons capacity, with a diaphragm as indicated, and is operated between 300 lbs. and 1500 lbs. pressure per square inch and connected into the delivery line to valve V2. In accordance with this invention, the high-low switch 33 is open hydraulically to the accumulator pressure so as to sense the pressure-volume condition thereof, and operates to close the energizing circuit to motor M2 at said 300 lbs. pressure, and to open the energizing circuit to motor M2 at said 1500 lbs. pressure.

A feature of this fourth embodiment is the uniform speed control and impact absorbing at variable pressure, to the piston of the cylinder and piston actuators A, by the inclusion of an adjustable flow regulating pressure relief valve 34 in the return line from valve V2 V1 to the reservoir 26. Accordingly, the relief valve 34 protects the hydraulic system and structure from impacts imposed to lift the curb C, while the above described accumulator protects the hydraulic system and structure from impacts imposed to depress the curb C. Still further, the valve 34 is primarily an adjustable flow regulator and thereby controls and establishes a uniform rate of movement regardless of variations in fluid supply pressure from the accumulator B. Accordingly, the velocity at which the curb C moves when extended or retracted is adjustable to remain substantially uniform and the same between the low supply pressure of 300 p.s.i to the high supply pressure of 1500 p.s.i. The regulating pressure relief valve 34 serves multi purposes; firstly speed control, secondly impact absorbing, and thirdly positively prevents retraction with a set pressure limit of the piston in either the up or down mode.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the four embodiments disclosed have the common attributes of quick safe-sure operation. In the kinetic full power form, either a two-position or three-position valve is employed with limit switches to shut off fluid to the cylinder at each end of a piston stroke. In the first described intermittent demand embodiment of FIG. 4, the pump motor is shut off by the pressure switch responsive to a pressure build-up at the end of each stroke, controlled by the two position valve, and the pump is protected by the check valve and the actuator is protected by a relief valve 35 with a return to the reservoir. In the second described continuous return flow embodiment of FIG. 5, the pump is by-passed by the center position of the three position valve so that there is no pressure build-up, and the pump is protected by the check valve and the actuator is protected by a relief valve 35 with a return to the reservoir. In the third described continuous flow by-pass embodiment of FIG. 6, a pressure relief by-pass valve returns unused fluid to the reservoir, and the cylinder and piston actuator is controlled by the two-position valve, and the pump is protected by the check valve and the actuator is protected by a relief valve 35 with a return to the reservoir. In the improved fourth described intermittent potential energy embodiment of FIG. 7, the supply of fluid at varied pressure is on a time-demand basis sensed by the high-low pressure switch control over the motor-pump means, and with velocity of the barrier movement controlled by the adjustable pressure regulating pressure relief valve, and the potential energy stored by the acculator accumulator having a volume complementary to the time cycle demand requirements. The last described embodiment is sure-safe sur-safe and most economical. Having described only a typical preferred form and application of my invention, I do not wish to be limited or restricted to the specific details herein set forth, but wish to reserve to myself any modifications or variations that may appear to those skilled in the art as set forth within the limits of the following claims.

Claims

1. A self contained vehicle traffic-way controller of retractile barrier configuration subject to upward and downward impacts and wherein actuation and control is by instantly reversible hydraulics, and including;

a barrier disposed across a traffic-way and pivoted to a frame for extension through intermediate positions to an UP position projecting as an abutment exposed to impact in the traffic-way and to a DOWN position substantially coplanar with the traffic-way,

at least one double acting cylinder and piston actuator connected between the barrier and frame and operable between a normally extended UP position of the barrier and a retracted DOWN position of the barrier,

an intermittent running motor driven pump means supplying fluid from a reservoir at a variable pressure and a volume rate complementary to the time-demand requirement of said at least one cylinder and piston actuator,

a pressure-volume accumulator open into a supply line from the motor driven pump means and storing potential energy as fluid volume under low to high pressure,

an instantly reversible valve means in a supply line between the pressure-volume accumulator and the cylinder and piston actuator and having two controlled operating positions, an UP position pressuring a lower end and exhausting an upper end of the actuator and extending said actuator, and a DOWN position pressuring the upper end and exhausting the lower end of the actuator and retracting said actuator,

a high-low pressure switch open to and responsive to accumulator pressure to close an energizing circuit to the motor at a predetermined low accumulator pressure and to open the energizing circuit at a predetermined high accumulator pressure thereby maintaining a variable pressure and proportionate volume of fluid in the accumulator,

a check valve in and preventing reverse flow in the supply line between the motor driven pump means and the pressure-volume accumulator to hold a fluid volume in the accumulator for yielding to retraction of the actuator when moving and when held to said UP position to protect both the actuator and pump and related structure from hydraulic impact,

and control means switching the valve means alternately into said UP and DOWN positions.

2. The vehicle traffic-way controller as set forth in claim 1, wherein the valve means discharges into a return to the reservoir from the cylinder and piston actuator when in either of said UP and DOWN positions, there being a pressure relief valve means in the return to the reservoir for yielding to retraction of the actuator from said UP and DOWN positions and thereby protect the actuator from hydraulic impact.

3. The vehicle traffic-way controller as set forth in claim 1, wherein the valve means discharges into a return line to the reservoir from the cylinder and piston actuator, there being a flow regulating valve means in the return line to the reservoir for controlling retraction of the actuator from said UP and DOWN positions and thereby protect the actuator from hydraulic impact.

4. The vehicle traffic-way controller as set forth in claim 1, wherein the valve means discharges into a return line to the reservoir from the cylinder and piston actuator, there being a flow regulating pressure relief valve means in the return line to the reservoir for permitting controlled retraction of the actuator from said UP and DOWN positions and thereby protect the actuator from hydraulic impact.

5. The vehicle traffic-way controller as set forth in claim 1, wherein the valve means discharges into a return line to the reservoir from the cylinder and piston actuator, there being an adjustable flow regulating pressure relief valve means in the return line to the reservoir for permitting controlled retraction of the actuator from said UP and DOWN positions and thereby protect the actuator from hydraulic impact.

6. The vehicle traffic-way controller as set forth in claim 1, wherein the valve means is a four-way two-position valve with solenoid means responsive to the control means to alternately switch flow of fluid from the supply line to opposite ends of the cylinder and piston actuator with the exhaust fluid therefrom to the reservoir, whereby fluid is trapped in the cylinder to positively hold said UP and DOWN positions.

7. The vehicle traffic-way controller as set forth in claim 1, wherein the control means includes a selector switch contact for said UP position of the valve means, and alternately a selector switch contact for said DOWN position of the valve means.

8. The vehicle traffic-way controller as set forth in claim 1, wherein the valve means is a four-way two-position valve with with solenoid means responsive to the control means to alternately switch flow of fluid from the supply line to opposite ends of the cylinder and piston actuator with the exhaust fluid therefrom to the reservoir, whereby fluid is simultaneously trapped in the cylinder to positively hold said UP and DOWN positions, wherein the valve means discharges into a return line to the reservoir from the cylinder and piston actuator, there being an adjustable flow regulating pressure relief valve means in the return line to the reservoir for permitting controlled retraction of the actuator from said UP and DOWN positions and thereby protect the actuator from hydraulic impact, and wherein the control means includes a selector switch contact for said up position of the valve means, and alternately a selector switch contact for said DOWN position of the valve means.

9. The vehicle traffic-way controller as set forth in claim 1, wherein a pressure relief valve means in a return line from the actuator to the reservoir yields to retraction of the actuator from said UP and DOWN positions and thereby protects the actuator from

hydraulic impact. 10. A self contained vehicle traffic-way controller of retractile barrier configuration subject to upward and downward impacts and wherein actuation and control is by reversible hydraulics, and including;

a barrier disposed across a traffic-way and pivoted to a frame for extension through intermediate positions to an UP position projecting as an abutment exposed to impact in the traffic-way and to a DOWN position substantially coplanar with the traffic way,

at least one double acting cylinder and piston actuator connected between the barrier and frame and operable between a normally extended UP position of the barrier and a retracted DOWN position of the barrier,

an intermittent running motor driven pump means supplying hydraulic fluid from a reservoir at a variable pressure and a volume rate complementary to the time-demand requirement of said at least one cylinder and piston actuator,

a pressure-volume accumulator open into a hydraulic fluid supply line from the motor driven pump means and storing potential energy as fluid volume under low to high pressure,

a reversible valve means in the supply line between the pressure-volume accumulator and the cylinder and piston actuator and having only two controlled operating positions, an UP position pressuring a first end and exhausting a second end of the actuator and extending said actuator, and a DOWN position pressuring the second end and exhausting the first end of the actuator and retracting said actuator, there being a return line from the valve means to the reservoir, and said valve means being normally open to and maintaining uninterrupted communication of hydraulic fluid between said accumulator and said cylinder and piston actuator in either said UP or DOWN position,

a high-low pressure switch open to and responsive to accumulator pressure to close an energizing circuit to the motor at a predetermined low accumulator pressure and to open the energizing circuit at a predetermined high accumulator pressure thereby maintaining a variable pressure and proportionate volume of fluid in the accumulator,

a check valve in and preventing reverse flow in said hydraulic fluid supply line between the motor driven pump means and the pressure-volume accumulator to hold a fluid volume in the accumulator to protect both the actuator and pump and related structure from hydraulic impact,

and control means switching the valve means alternately into said UP and

DOWN positions. 11. The vehicle traffic-way controller as set forth in claim 10, wherein the valve means discharges into the return line to the reservoir from the cylinder and piston actuator when in either of said UP and DOWN positions, there being a pressure relief valve in the return line to the reservoir to protect the actuator from hydraulic impact. 12. The vehicle traffic-way controller as set forth in claim 10, wherein the valve means discharges into the return line to the reservoir from the cylinder and piston actuator, there being a flow regulating valve means in the return line to the reservoir for controlling retraction of the actuator from said UP and DOWN positions and thereby protect the actuator from hydraulic impact. 13. The vehicle traffic-way controller as set forth in claim 10, wherein the valve means discharges into the return line to the reservoir from the cylinder and piston actuator, there being a flow regulating pressure relief valve means in the return line to the reservoir for permitting controlled retraction of the actuator from said UP and DOWN positions and thereby protect the actuator from hydraulic impact. 14. The vehicle traffic-way controller as set forth in claim 10, wherein the valve means discharges into the return line to the reservoir from the cylinder and piston actuator, there being an adjustable flow regulating pressure relief valve means in the return line to the reservoir for permitting controlled retraction of the actuator from said UP and DOWN positions and thereby protect the actuator from hydraulic impact. 15. The vehicle traffic-way controller as set forth in claim 10, wherein the valve means is a four-way two-position valve with a solenoid means responsive to the control means to alternately switch flow of fluid from the supply line to opposite ends of the cylinder and piston actuator with the exhaust fluid therefrom to the reservoir, whereby fluid is trapped in the cylinder to positively hold said UP and DOWN positions. 16. The vehicle traffic-way controller as set forth in claim 10, wherein the control means includes a selector switch contact for said UP position of the valve means, and alternately a selector switch contact for said DOWN position of the valve means. 17. The vehicle traffic-way controller as set forth in claim 10, wherein the valve means is a four-way two-position valve with solenoid means responsive to the control means to alternately switch flow of fluid from the supply line to opposite ends of the cylinder and piston actuator, whereby fluid is simultaneously trapped in the cylinder to positively hold said UP and DOWN positions, wherein the valve means discharges into the return line to the reservoir from the cylinder and piston actuator, there being an adjustable flow regulating pressure relief valve means in the return line to the reservoir for permitting controlled retraction of the actuator from said UP and DOWN positions and thereby protect the actuator from hydraulic impact, and wherein the control means includes a selector switch contact for said UP position of the valve means, and alternately a selector switch contact for said DOWN position of the valve means. 18. The vehicle traffic-way controller as set forth in claim 10, wherein a pressure relief valve means in the return line from the actuator to the reservoir yields to retraction of the actuator from said UP and DOWN positions and thereby protects the actuator from hydraulic impact.