Transferable roadway lane divider

'6884 The present invention relates to a system of transferable roadway lane dividers and a method of transferring said dividers. Such a system is necessary due to the flapping of roadways on bridges and major roads duri~g peak hours.

The existing method of moving lane markers consists of manually picking up the-originally placed markers and manually placing the markers into the new positions.

This particular job is somewhat -dangerous for the people physically moving the lanes and also requires several people to successfully carry out the operation. The present invention overcomes these problems by providing a transferable lane divider which can be moved by an appropriate transfer " mechanism located on a special vehicle.

In one broad form the invention comprises a transferable roadway lane divider comprising divider sections which are adapted to be hingedly connected to adjacent sections to form a divider separating traffic lanes, said sections each having means whereby they can be picked up by a transfer device and slid along the transfer device to be repositioned. ~ -- i - 884 Thus in accordance with one embodiments ofthe invention there is provided a transferable roadway lane divider module adapted to be hingedly connected to adjacent modules such that the modules pivot with respect to each other to form an elongated divider for separating traffic lanes, each of said divider modules having a bottom surface which is adapted to rest directly on the roadway surface and including transfer means above its bottom surface for enabling said modules to be pulled upwardly by an elongated transfer device and slid along said transfer device as said~transfer device traverses the roadway to cause said divider t~ be moved from a first roadway position to a second roadway position said transfer means comprises a groove extending substantially horizontally along each said module and into which a slide means of said transfer device is adapted to fit.

In another form the invention comprises a method of transferring road lane dividers which dividers comprise a plurality of individual sections pivotally joined together, said method comprising the steps of lifting at least.one of said sections and feeding said sections along an elongated transfer device and depositing said lane divider sections in their new position.

-- 2 - 884 Thus in accordance with an embodiment of this aspect of the invention there is provi~ed a method of transferring a roadway lane divider from a first lane position to a second lane position, wherein said lane divider comprises divider sections connected together such that adjacent sections can pivot with respect to each other to form an elongated divider for separating traffic lanes, and wherein said lane divider having a bottom surface which rests directly on the surface of the roadway, comprising the steps of pulling said divider sections upwardly by means of an elongated transfer device having a roller conveyor which is inserted into a groove extendingalong each of said divider sections, above the bottom ~urface causing said divider sections to be moved along said roller conveyor in a substantially Sshaped path, and depositing said lane divider sections in a different lane position.

- 2a il~7~884 The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows the lead divider section and adjacent section of a embodiment of the present invention and the position of the lead in end of a transfer device of an embodiment of the present invention:

Figure 2 shows a schematic representation of the roller assembly of one embodiment of the transfer device;

Figure 3 shows sehematic representation of the roller assembly of an aligning device for straightening up the lane dividers if they are accidentally knocked out of position; and Figure 4 illustrates schematically the position of a transfer device mounted on a trailer, according to an - embodiment of the present invention.

Each lane divider is made up of individual sections 1 which are hingedly joined together on links 2. The required number of sections 1 are joined together to form any suitable length of divider with each end containing a shaped section having only one hinge attachment and a substantially bullet shaped other end.

The divider sections 1 can be shaped as shown in Figure 1 in which each section has two chamfered edges 3 to provide a smooth surface in case a motorist's tyre accidentally runs onto the divider. It is desirable that -- 3 - 11~6884 the height of the divider be relatively short while using a wide base 4 to provide a solid large surface area of contact with the roadway, so as to resist lateral movement o~ the divider i~ accidentally bumped by a vehicle.

~oulded shoes 5, made from any suitable material, such as polyurethane, to further enhance road holding.

The sections of the lane divider can be made of any suitable material such as concrete or plastics or sheet metal.

To facilitate in moving the lane divider, each section has an inverted T-shaped cross-section channel 6 running longitudinal along the upper face 7. To transfer the lane divider, a transfer mechanism as shown in Figure 4 can be used. This consists of a roller conveyor 8 comprising a series of rollers as'shown in figure 1.

Basically the transfer mechanism is s-shaped as shown schematically in figure 2 with its total width 9 corresponding with the distance between traffic lanes. It can preferably be mounted, as shown schematically in figure 4, from below a trailer. The front section 10 and the rear section 11 are preferably hinged at pivots 12 and 13 such that they can hinge back to the body of the trailer to keep within the allowable width for travel on the road. The straight centre section 14 can be telescoped in and out to achieve variable lane widths.

To move the lane divider from one side oE the lane to the other, one simply drives a vehicle with the transfer - 4 .`~J 117~884 mechanism mounted beneath or towed behind on a trailer, and engages the leading rollers 15 within the T-shaped channel 6. As the transfer mechanism is moved along the lane the lane dividers are threaded along the roller conveyor 8 and are deposited by the rear section 11 on the other side of the lane. Three types of rollers are used the roller conveyor to facilitate the movement of the sections along the rollers. These are the guide rollers 16 which engage within the cross arm of the T-shaped channel, lift rollers 17 which lift the sections off the road and engage with the surfaces 1~ and restraining rollers 18 which stabilize the transfer.

Preferably the vehicle or trailer carries the channel underneath the wheels with the mouth extending on one side of the vehicle with the outlet extending on the other side of the vehicle such that the vehicle can drive the center of the lane to reposition the lane divider. However in certain circumstances it may be necessary ~or the channel to be positioned in other relationships with respect to the vehicle.

Figure 3 shows an aligning mechanism useable to straighten out the lane divider in cases where the lane divider is accidentally knocked out of position by a vehicle or other circumstances.

It should be apparent to people skilled in the art that the invention is not only limited to the specific disclosure detailed herein but is broad enough to cover obvious variations without departing from the spirit of the invention.