Barricade apparatus

Abstract

A barricade apparatus includes a ground engaging drive member for moving the barricade apparatus along a path. A motor is mounted within the barricade body and is operatively connected to the ground engaging drive member. A remote transmitter signals a receiver which is operatively connected to the motor.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention is directed to a barricade apparatus or a barrier system which may, for example, be used on a highway with a plurality of other barricades to form a typical orange barrel traffic control system.

[0002] Moveable barrier systems are known in the art and are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,253,951; 5,294,138; 4,632,598; 4,653,954; 5,551,796 and 6,722,788. A vehicle barrier having a portion which is elevated during an operative condition is disclosed in British application GB 2 210 089 A dated Jun. 1, 1989.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The present invention comprises a barricade apparatus for movement along a path. A radio controlled drive assembly is positioned within a barricade body. Upon receiving a signal from a remote control transmitter, the drive assembly is energized and moves the barricade apparatus along the path. The barricade apparatus, according to the present invention, may be utilized along with a number of similar apparatus during a highway construction project to define a traffic lane. At the end of a work day, the series of barricades may be moved to a remote position upon receiving a remote signal.

[0004] In another application of barricade apparatus, according to the present invention, a barricade apparatus may be placed in a driveway leading to a house. Upon the receipt of a signal, the barricade is moved along a path allowing access to the driveway.

[0005] Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a review of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments and the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a barricade apparatus, according to the present invention;

[0007] FIG. 2 is a top view of the barricade apparatus shown in FIG. 1 taken along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

[0008] FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the barricade apparatus taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

[0009] FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic view showing a plurality of barricade apparatus, according to the present invention positioned along a highway to control traffic during a construction project;

[0010] FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic view of the FIG. 4 embodiment showing movement of a barricade apparatus from an operable to an inoperable position and indicating in the upper right-hand corner a remote transmitter; and

[0011] FIG. 6 is another embodiment of a barricade apparatus, according to the present invention used as a driveway barricade and showing movement of the barricade apparatus from an operable position to an inoperable position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

[0012] A barricade apparatus, according to the present invention is indicated in FIG. 1 by the reference number 10. The barricade apparatus 10 is, for example, an “orange barrel” which is moveable along a defined path between an operable position and an inoperable position. The barricade apparatus 10 includes a generally frusto-conical body 11 having an upper end or top 12 and a lower end 13. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, a base flange 14 is located adjacent the lower end 13. A drive assembly 16 is mounted within the body 11 adjacent the lower end 13.

[0013] Referring to FIG. 3, a frame 17 is connected by bolts 18 to the body 11 and mounts the drive assembly 16. The frame 17 includes a pair of spaced parallel frame members 19 which journal a pair of spaced axles 21.

[0014] Referring to FIG. 1, the frame also includes a cross member 23 which extends between the frame members 19 and mounts a radio frequency receiver 24. A generally U-shaped bracket assembly 26 extends between the frame members 19 and mounts a drive motor 27 and a gear reducer unit 28. The drive motor 27 is operatively connected to a driveshaft 29 which extends from the gear reducer assembly 28. A drive member 30 is positioned on the driveshaft 29 and a driven member 31 is mounted on one of the axles 21. In the present embodiment the drive member 30 and the driven member 31 are chain sprockets which mount a continuous flexible chain member 32. In other embodiments, the drive member 30 and driven member 31 may be drive pulleys and the continuous flexible member 32 may be a continuous belt.

[0015] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 3, a pair of opposed drive wheels 34 are mounted on the outer ends of each of the spaced axles 21. In the present embodiment, continuous flexible drive members 36, which may either be chains or pulleys extend between spaced ones of the drive wheels 34. A ground engaging continuous flexible track 37 is mounted by the drive wheels 34. When the drive motor 27 is energized, the flexible tracks 37 are rotated in a desired direction to move the barricade apparatus 10 along its defined path.

[0016] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 3, the frame 17 mounts a battery holder 39 and a battery 40. The battery 40 is a rechargeable 9 volt battery pack which is electrically connected to both the electrical motor 27 and a power switch 41 located in the top 12 of the body 11. The top 12 also includes provision for a long distance antenna connector 42 which may be operatively connected to the receiver 24. In the present embodiment it has been found that an antenna 42 mounted directly on the receiver 24 is sufficient to supply the signal from a remote radio transmitter such as the transmitter 45 illustrated in FIG. 5. The transmitter 45 in the present embodiment is identified as a “Sky Sport” digital proportional R/C system-Model 4VS-FM75. This transmitter operates at 75 mhz. The receiver 24 is identified as Model R127DF. When the transmitter 45 is energized, it operates a servo which is in communication with the drive motor 27. This operates the motor either in a forward or a reverse direction whereby the drive tracks 37 rotate to move the barricade apparatus 10 along the defined path. The motor 27 is either de-energized by an operation of the transmitter 45 or by a timer unit 47 having a knob 48 mounted adjacent the top 12 of the barricade apparatus 10. The timer unit 47 is electrically connected to the motor 27 to stop the motor 27 after a predetermined period of time.

[0017] Referring to FIG. 4, a plurality of barricade apparatus 10a-10n are indicated along a highway 50. At a predetermined time, the individual barricade apparatus 10a-10n are moved along their respective paths to the dash line positions. In this embodiment, the timing units 47 are preset to move the barricade apparatus 10 to their individual home positions off the pavement.

[0018] FIG. 5 shows a barricade apparatus 60 which is controlled by the transmitter 45 to move the barricade apparatus 60 along its path on a pavement 61 to its home position 60a. In this embodiment, the transmitter 45 is also used to disengage the drive motor 27 when the barricade 60 reaches its home position 60a.

[0019] Referring to FIG. 6, another embodiment is shown. A barricade apparatus 70 is positioned in a home driveway 71. A path 72 is indicated on the driveway 71 and is comprised of a proximity coating such as metallic paint. The barricade apparatus 70, upon receiving a signal from the transmitter 45, moves along the path 72 to a home position 70a to allow a vehicle to pass through the driveway entrance.

[0020] The above detailed description of the present invention is given for explanatory purposes. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that numerous changes and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the whole of the foregoing description is to be construed in an illustrative and not a limitative sense, the scope of the invention being defined solely by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A barricade apparatus comprising a body having an upper end and a lower end, a drive assembly mounted adjacent said lower end of said body, said drive assembly including a drive motor, a ground engaging moveable drive member operatively connected to said drive motor, a battery electrically connected to said motor, and a receiver in communication with said drive motor for activating and deactivating said drive motor, said receiver receiving a signal from a remote transmitter.

2. A barricade apparatus according to

claim 1, wherein said body has a generally frusto-conical shape.

3. A barricade apparatus according to

claim 1, including a frame mounted in said body adjacent said lower end, a pair of spaced axles journaled by said frame, said moveable drive member including opposed pairs of drive wheels mounted on said pair of spaced axles, and flexible continuous tracks mounted on said wheels for engaging said ground and moving said body.

4. A barricade apparatus according to

claim 3, including a drive shaft operatively connected to said drive motor, a drive member operatively connected to said driveshaft, a driven member mounted on one of said spaced axles and a continuous flexible member extending between said drive member and said driven member.

5. A barricade apparatus, according to

claim 1, including a switch in communication with said motor for reversing said motor.

6. A barricade apparatus, according to

claim 1, including a timer in communication with said motor, whereby operation of said timer activates said motor for a pre-set time period whereby said body is moved a predetermined distance.