Classifications

• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E02—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING; FOUNDATIONS; SOIL SHIFTING
  • E02D—FOUNDATIONS; EXCAVATIONS; EMBANKMENTS; UNDERGROUND OR UNDERWATER STRUCTURES
  • E02D29/00—Independent underground or underwater structures; Retaining walls
  • E02D29/02—Retaining or protecting walls
  • E02D29/0208—Gabions
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E01—CONSTRUCTION OF ROADS, RAILWAYS, OR BRIDGES
  • E01F—ADDITIONAL WORK, SUCH AS EQUIPPING ROADS OR THE CONSTRUCTION OF PLATFORMS, HELICOPTER LANDING STAGES, SIGNS, SNOW FENCES, OR THE LIKE
  • E01F7/00—Devices affording protection against snow, sand drifts, side-wind effects, snowslides, avalanches or falling rocks; Anti-dazzle arrangements ; Sight-screens for roads, e.g. to mask accident site

Definitions

• This invention relates to a sight screen, and more particularly to a deployable and recoverable sight screen for screening the view of an accident scene on a road network.
• Rubbernecking can be a very dangerous practice, especially for other drivers who must negotiate both the original accident scene and the traffic snarl created by curious onlookers.
• Emergency officials at an accident often try to discourage rubbernecking by forcefully directing drivers to keep moving, particularly the drivers on a road who are not directly affected by the disruption to the road network for example, drivers on the opposite side of a carriageway.
• One technique used by emergency officials to discourage rubbernecking is to prevent drivers and onlookers from being able to see the scene of the accident. Sight screens or safety curtains can be used to prevent onlookers from viewing such a scene.
• EP-A-0, 366,555 discloses a masking curtain which is erected temporarily on the central safety barrier of the rail or low wall type.
• the portable curtain consists of PVC tarpaulins provided with eyelets for installing them on aluminium profiled sections.
• the profiled poles are slid into the U-shaped profiled sections which support the rails or attached by means of aluminium stirrups which fit over the top of a central barrier.
• G B-A-2 ,440,338 describes a remote controlled highway screen, for use in the event of an accident or similar situation, comprising a screen arranged to be deployed vertically from a retracted position, a drive mechanism to move the screen and guide rails to guide the screen from the retracted to the deployed position and to support it once deployed.
• US-B-7, 109,885 discloses a portable expandable screen having a plurality of panels assembled in a telescoping manner like an accordion.
• a horizontal track is located on the inside surface at the bottom end of every panel.
• a small wheel is fixed to the inside edge at the bottom end of every panel, for allowing the small wheel of one panel to be fitted within the track of an adjacent panel, This allows the panels to slide inwardly and outwardly in a telescoping manner to block accidents from view on the roadways
• a deployable sight screen comprising a gabion comprising opposed side walls connected together at spaced intervals by a plurality of partition walls such that spaces between neighbouring pairs of partition walls define, together with the side walls, one or more individual compartments of the gabion wherein one or more surfaces of said gabion further comprises material to prevent a line of viewing therethrough, and said mate ⁇ al to prevent a line of viewing further arrange ⁇ to allow the passage of air therethrough
• the adjacent side and partition walls are preferably connected to one another by pivotal connections.
• the gabion of the traffic screen may comprise one compartment or a plurality of compartments.
• a deployable sight screen comprising: a partition wall having a first side and a second side, said partition wall comprising a plurality of partition wall elements connected to one another by pivotal connections; a plurality of support wall elements connected to, and extending from, one or more of said pivotal connections; wherein said partition wall further comprises material to prevent a line of viewing therethrough; and said material to prevent a line of viewing further arranged to allow the passage of air therethrough.
• the pivotal connections preferably enable the sight screen to be folded between flattened and deployed configurations.
• the pivotal interconnection between connected walls may be achieved by providing interconnected walls with a row of apertures along an interconnection edge thereof and by providing a coil member helically threaded through a plurality of apertures along the interconnected edge.
• a single coil member can be helically threaded through the connection edge apertures of two or more neighbouring walls to achieve pivotal interconnection therebetween.
• the plurality of support wall elements comprise support wall elements arranged to extend from said first side of said partition wall, and support wall elements arranged to extend from said second side of said partition wall.
• Adjacent support wall elements on said first side of said partition wall are preferably tethered together and adjacent support wall elements on said second side of said partition wall are preferably tethered together.
• the tethering may be effected by one of: a rope; a tape; or a hinged bar.
• one of said support wall elements is provided on each side of every fourth pivotal connection connecting the plurality of partition wall elements.
• the second and third pivotal connections are preferably at least twice the length of the partition wall elements between the first and second pivotal connections and the third and fourth pivotal connections, and the support wall elements have a length equal to, or less than, the length of the partition wall elements between the first and second pivotal connections and the third and fourth pivotal connections.
• one or more of said plurality of support wall elements also comprises a wire mesh.
• said support wall elements extend transversely with respect to the partition wall.
• the deployable sight screen In the deployed position the deployable sight screen is self-supporting.
• the material to prevent a line of viewing may be made integral to one or more partition wall elements of said partition wall or the one or more surfaces of the gabion, or can alternatively comprise a material mounted substantially on the outer surface of one or more partition wall elements of said partition wall or the outer surfaces one or more walls of the gabion.
• said material comprises one or more perforations therein to allow the passage of air therethrough.
• perforations may comprise one or more substantially parallel slits, or alternatively may comprise any other shape or size holes or other perforations.
• One or more of the side walls and/or partition walls preferably comprise a wire mesh.
• the perforations or slits are preferably arranged coincident with the mesh of said walls which can allow the material to be weaved between the mesh of said walls.
• the means to prevent a line of viewing comprises a geotextile material . or alternatively a foam material.
• a container suitable for storing the sight screen as described herein in a folded configuration and from which the sight screen can be deployed comprising a base, at least one side wall and a roof, the container having a retaining means disposed therein in, on or to which a folded sight screen can be releaseably attached, connected or retentively engaged by way of at least one releasable attaching, connecting or retentive engaging means; wherein the at least one releasable attaching, connecting or retentive engaging means is adapted to attach, connect or retentively engage a part of the sight screen to the retaining means when the sight screen is folded but to release the gabion from the retaining means when the sight screen is deployed.
• the container comprises means for aiding the recovery the deployed sight screen, for example a cable connected to each section or compartment of the sight screen and a winch arranged to retract the cable.
• the container is preferably suitable for loading onto a vehicular trailer for transportation.
• the sight screen of the present invention comprises a plurality of wall elements.
• the side walls, support walls and/or partition walls preferably comprise one or more panel sections of any suitable material, for example steel, aluminium, titanium, any other suitable metal or alloy, or from a plastics, ceramic or natural material such as timber, sisal, jute, coir or seagrass.
• steel is preferred, in which case the steel is preferably treated to prevent or hinder steel erosion during development of the gabion.
• the mesh apertures may serve as connection edge apertures where needed.
• the sight screen of one embodiment of the present invention comprises a gabion.
• Gabions are generally structures of the type which comprise side wall panels, end panels and partition panels which connect the wall panels, and all the panels are usually rectangular and may be pivotally attached, connected together so that the structure can be moved between an expanded (or deployed) condition for use and a collapsed (or folded) condition for storage and transport.
• the structure In the deployed condition, the structure is elongated and the panels define a row of cavities extending in the length direction of the structure, each cavity being defined by side panels and partition panels, apart from the end cavities which are defined by side panels, partition panels and end panels.
• the structure In the folded condition, the structure is basically flat and the partition and end panels lie in parallel planes, whilst the side panels of each side are folded one relative to another in zig-zag or concertina fashion, so that the p!ar ⁇ footprint of the collapsed structure is rectangular.
• rectangular herein, square, which is one form of rectangle, is specifically to be included.
• Figure 1a shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a multi-side wall sectioned sight screen in accordance with the invention
• Figure 1b shows in schematic plan view the folded multi-compartm ⁇ ntal sight screen of Figure 1 a;
• Figure 2a shows a perspective view of a multi side wall sectioned sight screen in accordance with a further embodiment of the invention
• Figure 2b shows in schematic plan view the folded multi-compartmental sight screen of Figure 2a;
• Figure 3 shows in close-up perspective view the pivotal connection between neighbouring side wall elements of the sight screen of Figures 1a and 2a;
• Figure 4 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a multi-sectioned sight screen in accordance with the invention
• Figure 5a shows in schematic plan view the multi-sectioned sight screen of Figure 4 in a deployed configuration
• Figure 5b shows in schematic plan view the multi-sectioned sight screen of Figure 4 in a part-folded configuration
• Figure 6 shows in close-up perspective view the pivotal connection between neighbouring side wall elements of the sight screen of Figure 4;
• Figure 7 shows a schematic container sight screen deployment system for use with the sight screen in accordance with the invention;
• Figure 8a shows a further schematic container sight screen deployment system for use with the sight screen in accordance with the invention.
• Figure 8b shows a sight screen in accordance with the invention suitable for use with the schematic container sight screen deployment system of Figure 5.
• an extended or deployed sight screen 1 comprising a gabion 1a comprising opposed side walls 2, 3 comprising multiple side wall sections 2a, 2b, 2c, 3a, 3b, 3c.
• the opposed side walls 2, 3 are connected together at spaced intervals by pivotal hinges 4, 5, 6, 7 along the length of gabion 1a by a plurality of partition walls 8, 9, 10, 11 defining, together with the side walls 2, 3, individual compartments 12, 13, 14 of the gabion 1a.
• the gabion can comprise any number of compartments to form gabions of a variety of lengths to suit the circumstances.
• the multiple partition wall sectioned gabion 1 a is shown covered with a geotext ⁇ e material 17.
• the material 17 is made of any suitable material, for example woven or non-woven synthetic materials; fibreglass, sisal, jute, coir.
• the said covering material is the known geo-textile, materia! sold by DuPont, and which is designed to allow water to pass through the material, but to prevent light and solid particles from exuding through the material, even although pressed strongly against.
• the geotextile cover 17 may conveniently be folded over the top most edges of the outer wall gabion panels and stapled in place.
• the geotextile cover 17 has a plurality of substantially parallel slits 18 along the width of the material. These slits 18 allow air to pass through the sight screen 1 whilst only letting a minimal amount of light through the gabion wall. Allowing air to pass through the gabion 1 reduces the risk of the sight screen 1 being blown over by strong cross-winds, and using slits rather than, for example, cut-out holes prevents pedestrians and vehicle occupants from easily seeing through the sight screen 1.
• the slits 18 are formed coincident with the substantially vertical wires of the wire mesh of the gabion walls 2, 3 so that the view through the slit opening is at least partially obstructed by the wire mesh.
• the geotextile cover 17 can be woven between adjacent horizontal wires of the wire mesh of the sight screen walls 2, 3. Weaving the cover 17 through the sight screen walls 2, 3 opens up the slits 18 to allow more air to pass through the gabion walls 2, 3 and helps prevent air from being trapped on one side of the cover 17 which can unstablise the sight screen 1.
• the slits 18 can alternatively be cut in a substantially horizontal direction, in which case the weaving would occur in the vertical direction.
• Figure 1 b there is shown in schematic plan view a folded sight screen 1 comprising a multi-compartmental gabion 1a of the type illustrated in Figure 1a, with like features labelled with like reference numerals.
• the side wall elements 2a, 2b, 2c, 3a, 3b, 3c are substantially the same length as the partition wall elements 8, 9, 10, 1 1 is it is possible to fold the gabion into a substantially flat configuration which is used for storage and transportation of the sight screen 1.
• the sight screen 1 can be stored in a folded configuration ( Figure 1b) and extended to a deployed configuration ( Figure 1a) by applying a tensile force as indicated by Arrows A. Conversely, the sight screen 1 can be folded by applying a compressive force in the opposite sense to Arrows A.
• a deployed sight screen 1 comprising a multiple partition wall section gabion 1a comprising opposed side walls 2, 3 comprising multiple side wall sections 2a, 2b, 2c 2d, 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d.
• the opposed side walls 2, 3 are connected together at spaced intervals by pivotal hinges 4, 5, 6, 7 along the length of gabion 1a by a plurality of partition walls 8, 9, 1 1 defining, together with the side walls 2, 3, individual compartments 12, 14 of the sight screen 1.
• the sight screen 1 can comprise any number of compartments to form sight screens of a variety of lengths to suit the circumstances.
• FIG. 2b there is shown in schematic plan view a folded sight screen 1 comprising a multi-compartmental gabion 1 a of the type illustrated in Figure 2a, with like features labelled with like reference numerals.
• the side wall elements 2a, 2b, 2c 2d, 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d are a maximum of half the length of the partition wall elements 8, 9, 11. This makes it possible to fold the sight screen 1 in a concertina-like fashion into a substantially flat configuration which is used for storage and transportation of the sight screen 1.
• the sight screen 1 can be stored in a folded configuration (Figure 2b) and extended to a deployed configuration ( Figure 2a) by applying a tensile force as indicated by Arrows A. Conversely, the sight screen 1 can be folded by applying a compressive force in the opposite sense to Arrows A.
• Partition wall 8 comprises an open mesh work panel 22 comprising a mesh work lattice of square apertures 23. Although the entire partition wall element is not shown in Figure 3, the expanded view shows clearly the neighbouring mesh work frames of neighbouring partition wall 8 and side wall section 2a. Pivotal connection 4 therebetween is affected by helical coil 24 which is helically threaded through the mesh apertures of the neighbouring panels. Although not shown in Figure 3, loose end 25 of helical coil 24 may be bent round or otherwise prevented from accidentally disengaging with the top most mesh aperture of partition wall 8 and side wall section 2a.
• an extended or deployed sight screen 1 comprises a partition wall 2 comprising two partition walls sections 3, 4.
• Each partition wall section 3, 4 comprises a three wire mesh partition wall elements 3a, 3b, 3c, 4a, 4b, 4c.
• Adjacent partition wall element 3a, 3b, 3c, 4a, 4b, 4c in each partition wall section 3, 4 are connected together by pivotal hinges 7, and adjacent partition wall sections 3, 4 are also connected together by pivotal hinges 7.
• Support wail elements 8, 9 are connected at the pivotal hinges 7 connecting adjacent partition wall sections 3, 4, and at the ends of partition wall 2. These support wall elements 8, 9 extend away from either side of the partition wall 2 at a substantially perpendicular angle.
• a rope, tape or hinged bar 10 is connected to the extended end of the support wall elements 8, 9 on each side of the partition wall 2 and connects adjacent support wall element 8, 9 to each other.
• the length of the rope, tape or hinged bar 10 between each adjacent support wall element 8, 9 is substantially the same as the length of each partition wall section 3, 4, thereby keeping each wall element 8, 9 at a substantially perpendicular angle to the partition wall 2 when in the deployed configuration.
• partition wall sections 3, 4 are shown, but it is clear that the partition wall 2 can comprise any number of sections to form sight screens 1 of a variety of lengths to suit the circumstances.
• the partition wall elements 3a, 3b, 3c, 4a, 4b s 4c and the support wall elements 8, 9 are shown as wire mesh panels, but are not limited as such.
• the partition wall 2 is shown covered with a geotextile material 17.
• the material 17 is made of any suitable material, for example woven or non-woven synthetic materials; fibreglass, sisal, jute, coir.
• the said covering material is the known geotextile, material sold by DuPont, and which is designed to allow water to pass through the material, but to prevent light and solid particles from exuding through the material, even although pressed strongly against.
• the geotextile cover 17 may conveniently be folded over the top most edges of the outer wall gabion panels and stapled in place.
• the geotextile cover 17 has a plurality of substantially parallel slits 12 along the width of the material. These slits 12 allow air to pass through the partition wall 2 whilst only letting a minimal amount of light through. Allowing air to pass through the partition wall 2 reduces the risk of the sight screen 1 being blown over by strong cross-winds, and using slits rather than, for example, cut-out holes prevents passing pedestrians and vehicle occupants from easily seeing through the sight screen 1. To further reduce the amount of light passing through the sight screen walls, the slits 12 are formed coincident with the substantially vertical wires of the wire mesh of the gabion walls 2, 3 so that the view through the slit opening is at least partially obstructed by the wire mesh.
• the geotextile cover 17 is woven between adjacent horizontal wires of the wire mesh of the partition wall elements 3a, 3b, 3c, 4a, 4b, 4c. Weaving the cover 17 through the partition wall elements 3a, 3b, 3c, 4a, 4b, 4c opens up the slits 12 to allow more air to pass through the partition wall 2 and helps prevent air from being trapped on one side of the cover 17 which can unstablize the sight screen 1.
• the slits 12 can alternatively be cut in a substantially horizontal direction, in which case the weaving would occur in the vertical direction.
• Figure 5a there is shown in schematic plan view a deployed multi- sectioned sight screen 1 of the type illustrated in Figure 4, with like features labelled with like reference numerals.
• Figure 5a further includes a third partition wall section 5 comprising three partition wall elements 5a, 5b, 5c as described above.
• the partition wall elements 3a, 3c, 4a, 4c, 4a, 5c and the support wall elements 8, 9 have a length of approximately 0.9m (3ft).
• the middle partition wall elements 3b, 4b, 5b have a length of approximately 1.8m (6ft),
• the difference in length of the partition elements enables the sight screen 1 to be folded into a substantially flat configuration which is used for storage and transportation as described with reference to Figure 5b below.
• T/GB2009/051145 T/GB2009/051145
• FIG. 5b there is shown in schematic plan view the sight screen 1 of Figure 5a in a folded configuration with like features labelled with like reference numerals.
• the sight screen 1 can be stored in a folded configuration ( Figure 5b) and extended to a deployed configuration ( Figure 5a) by applying a tensile force as indicated by Arrows A.
• the sight screen 1 can be folded by applying a compressive force in the opposite sense to Arrows A.
• Partition wall element 3a comprises an open mesh work panel 22 comprising a mesh work lattice of square apertures 23. Although the entire partition wall element is not shown in Figure 6, the expanded view shows clearly the neighbouring mesh work frames of neighbouring partition wall element 3a and partition wall element 3b. Pivotal connection 6 therebetween is affected by helical coil 24 which is helically threaded through the mesh apertures of the neighbouring panels. Although not shown in Figure 8. loose end 25 of helical coil 24 may be bent round or otherwise prevented from accidentally disengaging with the top most mesh aperture of partition wall element 3a and partition wall element 3b.
• a sight screen 1 is represented by showing only a succession of end walls 11 or support wall elements 8', 9' for clarity, although it will be appreciated that this represents a complete sight screen such as that shown in Figures 1 , and 2a, 2b, or Figures 4, 5a and 5b.
• a container 30 generally comprises a base 32, side and end walls 34 and a roof 36.
• the base 32 has apertures tabs 38 that engage with pins 40 provided (in this case) on a lorry 42,
• the container 30 has eyelets 44 to enable it to be loaded onto and off the lorry 42 using a crane (not shown).
• the sight screen 1 is deployed by pulling on the first end wall 11' or on the pair of support wall elements 8', 9' as indicated by Arrow D such that the sight screen extends, usually in a section-by-section manner.
• the pull D can be effected by pulling on the end wall 11' or on the pair of support wall elements 8', 9', holding the end wall 11' or pair of support wall elements 8 ⁇ 9' and driving the lorry in the direction indicated by Arrow C or a combination of both pulling and driving.
• Figure 8a illustrates a sight screen 1 deployment system which includes means for retracting the sight screen 1 after use.
• a container 30 is shown having a roof 36. From opposite ends of the underside of the roof 36 a support bar 58 is attached, along which runs a cable 50 connected at the container opening end by a winch 60. End walls 11 or the support wall elements 8', 9' of the sight screen 1 are connected to the cable 50 by way of discontinuous rings 66.
• the cable 50 prevents the sight screen 1 from spilling out of the container 30 and also provides a means to aid recovery of the deployed sight screen 1 after use.
• the door of the container 30 is opened and the first end wall 1 T of the sight screen 1 or first pair of support wall elements are pulled in the direction indicated by Arrow D.
• Support bar 58 slides beyond the periphery 68 of the container 30 such that a part of the sight screen 1 is suspended beyond the periphery 68.
• the winch 60 allows a length of cable 50 to be unwound, thereby giving enough slack to allow the sight screen 1 to be pulled in the direction indicated by arrow D.
• the winch 60 is operable to retract the cable 50, thereby pulling in the sight screen 1 as the lorry reverses.
• the winch 60 may be arranged to automate the retrieval of the sight screen 1 , or can assist in the manual retrieval of the sight screen 1 by taking some, if not all, of the weight of the sight screen 1.
• each end wall 11 or each pair of support wall elements 8', 9' are provided with a pair of attaching, connecting or retentive engaging rings 66 for attaching, connecting or retentive engaging to a pair of spaced-apart and substantially parallel cables 50.
• the sight screen 1 will be factory-assembled, provided with attaching, connecting or retentive engaging rings 66 and folded.
• One or more support cables 50 could then be threaded through the attaching, connecting or retentive engaging rings 66 attached, connected or retentiv ⁇ iy engaged to ends of the cable or cables 50.
• the sight screen 1 could then be loaded into a container 30.
• the sight screen neither deploys nor spills out of the container 30 when the lorry 42 is on inclined ground 46.
• the releasable attaching, connecting or retentive engaging means 66 are configured to support the weight of the sight screen 1 thereby preventing it from spilling out unless an additional force E is applied.
• the undulation 64 in the support bar 58 limits the number of sightscreen 1a sections/units that advance beyond the periphery of the container 30, thereby limiting the load on the releasable attaching, connecting or retentive engaging means 66 to prevent additional forces E from being applied thereto.
• ballast weights may be hung from the sight screen 1 , for example hung over the top edge of the sight screen 1 for ease of attachments and removal.
• the geotextile cover 17 may include a printed design, pattern or visual information, on the outer surface thereof, for example it may be used as advertising space or comprise road safety advice.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Civil Engineering (AREA)
• Structural Engineering (AREA)
• Architecture (AREA)
• Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Mining & Mineral Resources (AREA)
• Paleontology (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Revetment (AREA)
• Pit Excavations, Shoring, Fill Or Stabilisation Of Slopes (AREA)

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• 2009
  • 2009-09-09 WO PCT/GB2009/051145 patent/WO2010029349A2/en not_active Ceased
  • 2009-09-09 AU AU2009290631A patent/AU2009290631A1/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 2009-09-09 EP EP09785601A patent/EP2321464A2/de not_active Withdrawn

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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