GB2032983A

GB2032983A - Vehicle Control Device

Info

Publication number: GB2032983A
Application number: GB7841909A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: LILLESHALL ENG Ltd
Current assignee: LILLESHALL ENG Ltd
Priority date: 1978-10-25
Filing date: 1978-10-25
Publication date: 1980-05-14

Abstract

A vehicle control device comprises a fabricated body 10 in a hollow 11 of which is disposed a shaft 27 having a series of spaced spikes 28 detachably engaged therewith. The shaft 27 is angularly rotatable manually by means of a lever or electrically or hydraulically, preferably from a remote location, from a position in which the spikes 28 lie wholly within the body 10 to a position in which the spikes project through respective slots 25 in an upper surface of the body. The device provides an effective means for immobilising an unauthorised vehicle passing over the device. The spikes 28 may include an explosive charge. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Vehicle Control Device This invention relates to a vehicle control device which permits authorised vehicles to pass through a checkpoint or roadblock but which can be operated to prevent unauthorised vehicles from passing.

It is an object of a preferred embodiment of the invention to provide such a vehicle control device which is transportable and which can be relatively easily set up in a short period of time.

According to the present invention, there is provided a vehicle control device comprising a body provided with a hollow therein, said body being adapted to be mounted on or in a surface over which vehicles to be controlled are passed in use, at least one vehicle immobilising or stopping member mounted in the hollow, and means for selectively activating said at least one member whereby, in use, vehicles can pass over the device until the means for selectively activating said at least one member is operated.

The or each vehicle immobilising or stopping member may take the form of a mechanical member which is moved, when activated by the activating means, into the path of movement of a vehicle passing over the device. For example, said member may take the form of a post which is merely raised by the activating means in order to provide a bar to passage of the vehicle over the device. However, said member is preferably capable of immobilising a vehicle, for example, by puncturing a tyre thereof or, in the case of a tracked vehicle, of removing or otherwise immobilising at least one of the tracks thereof.

Thus, said member may take the form of a spike and/or an explosive device.

The means for selectively activating said member may be arranged to move a surface of the body over which a vehicle crossing the device passes relative to said member so as to expose the latter. However, it is preferred to arrange for said member to be moved relative to the body into a position in which it projects out of the hollow and into the path of movement of a vehicle passing over the device.

The activating means may be manually operated directly by lever or other mechanical means via a linkage or may be electrically or fluid pressure operated either from a location adjacent the device or from a location remote from the device. In the latter case, a central control may be provided for operating a large number of vehicle control devices in order to prevent vehicles from entering or leaving a particular area.

In a preferred form of construction, the body of the vehicle control device can be formed in a number of sections which are detachably secured together in side-by-side relationship. The length of the vehicle control device can therefore be adjusted to suit requirements, e.g. to suit the width of a road. If desired, a vehicle control device according to the invention can be used in a system for controlling vehicles which also includes a plurality of fixed barriers or spiked members disposed at either side of the control device in any desired pattern in order to constrain vehicles to pass over the vehicle control device. If desired, so-called "sleeping policemen" or like humped or recessed members may be provided in advance of the vehicle control device in order to control the speed of vehicles approaching the device.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which: Fig. 1 is a sectional view through one embodiment of vehicle control device according to the present invention, and Fig. 2 is a plan view of the device of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawing, the vehicle control device comprises basicaliy a hollow body 10 fabricated from sheet steel and including a hollow 11. The body 10 includes a planar base plate 1 2 and a cover plate 13. The cover plate 13 has a lead-in portion 1 5 coplanar with the base plate 12, an upwardly inclined portion 1 6 which is disposed at an angle of 1 50 to the horizontal, a horizontal portion 17, and a downwardly inclined portion 1 8 on the opposite side of the horizontal portion 1 7 to the inclined portion 1 6 and lead-in portion 1 5. The portions 1 5 to 1 8 are formed from the same piece of sheet metal.Internal stiffening and fixing brackets 1 9 and 20 of generally L-section are welded to the base plate 12 and receive respective fixing screws 21 (only one shown). The body 10 is further stiffened by the provision, internally thereof, of a channel section member 21 which is welded to the base plate 12 and on the top of which the horizontal portion 1 7 bears to be secured by screws (not shown) passing through holes 22 in the horizontal portion 17 and member 21. The sides of the body 10 between the plates 12 and 13 are defined by respective stiffener plates (not shown) and further stiffener plates 24 are provided internally of the body 10 on opposite sides of the channel section member 21.A series of slots 25 is provided through the inclined portion 1 6 of the cover plate 13, said slots 25 opening into the hollow 11 between each adjacent pair of stiffener plates 24.

Each stiffener plate 24under the inclined portion 1 6 is provided with a hole 26 therethrough. A shaft 27 carrying a plurality of spikes 28 extends through the holes 26. The spikes 28 are aligned with the slots 25. Each spike 28 includes a screwthreaded shank portion 29 which engages in a respective, internally screw-threaded bore 30 in the shaft 27. Each spike 28 further includes a hexagon formation 31 to facilitate fixing and replacement of the spike 28. One end of the shaft 27 extends externally of the body 20 and has a lever (not shown) secured thereto.Manual operation of the lever can move the shaft 27 angularly between a position (as shown in Fig. 1) in which the spikes extend through the respective slots 25 and a position in which the spikes 28 lie wholly within the hollow 11, i.e. wholly under the inclined portion 1 6. In the present embodiment, when the spikes 28 are moved into their operative position (as shown in Fig. 1) they lie at an angle of 800 to the plane of the inclined portion 16, i.e.

they project slightly forwardly (in the direction of the lead-in portion 15) of a normal to the plane of the inclined portion 1 6.

In use, the device is positioned across a roadway with the lead-in portion 1 5 facing the traffic to be controlled at a checkpoint. With the spikes 28 in the lowered position, vehicles can proceed over the control device without damage.

However, if the vehicle tries to crash through the checkpoint, with the spikes 28 in the position shown in Fig. 1, at least one and possibly more of the spikes 28 will pierce the tyres of the vehicles so as to render it virtually undrivable. If desired and necessary, an explosive charge (e.g. a suitably modified shotgun cartridges) may be incorporated in the spike in order to augment the effect of the spike. Additionally, the spikes 28, instead of being straight may be bent in the direction of the lead-in portion 1 5 and/or barbed to increase damage to the vehicle tyres.It will be appreciated that the lead-in portion 1 5 is proportioned and spaced from the spikes 28 such that the tyres rest against the lead-in portion 1 5 in order to prevent the whole device from being pushed by the vehicle before the spikes 28 engage the tyres.

If desired, the spikes can be replaced by cutter discs or merely posts which project upwardly to stop passage of the vehicle over the device. If desired, the control device may be fixed into position by fasteners passing through portions of the body 10 and engaging in the road surface in order to prevent movement of the device along the road.

In the accompanying drawing, the device has been shown as being of very limited width.

However, it will be appreciated that the device may be of substantial width in order to extend across the whole of the road. In order to facilitate transport of the device, it may be formed in a number of short length sections which can be slotted together. For example, the sides of each section may be provided with mutually engageable T-shaped channels and T-shaped flanges with a suitable detachable engagement between the shaft in each section. It will be appreciated that, mutatis mutandis, the device may be arranged to be operated from a remote location in any desired manner, e.g. by radio signals, by an operator standing at a checkpoint some distance in front of the vehicle control device.

If portability of the device is not of prime importance, the body may be of a type which is adapted to be mounted in a suitable recess in the road so as to provide as little as possible obstruction to authorised vehicles allowed to pass over the control device. In such a construction, the spikes or the like will not project above the surface of the road in their inoperative position but, when operated, will project a suitable distance above the surface of the road in order to stop an unauthorised vehicle. If desired, the body, apart from the hollow 11, may be filled with foam in order to effect further reinforcement thereof.

Claims

1. A vehicle control device comprising a body provided with a hollow therein, said body being adapted to be mounted on or in a surface over which vehicles to be controlled are passed in use, at least one vehicle immobilising or stopping member mounted in the hollow, and means for selectively activating said at least one member whereby, in use, vehicles can pass over the device until the means for selectively activating said at least one member is operated.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the or each vehicle immobilising or stopping member takes the form of a mechanical member which is moved, when activated by the activating means, into the path of movement of a vehicle passing over the device.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said member is one which is capable of immobilising a vehicle.

4. A device as claimed in claim 3 wherein said member includes a spike.

5. A device as claimed in claim 4 or 5, wherein the member includes an explosive device.

6. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the body of the vehicle control device is formed in a number of sections which are detachably secured together in side-by-side relationship.

7. A device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the activating means is operable at a location remote from the device.

8. A vehicle control device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.