Modular securing device and process of laying such a device

Abstract

A modular securing device comprises a set of elongated elements intended to be laid on the road and connected together at their ends. Each of the elements is provided at one of its ends with a male linking member and at the other end with a female linking member, the linking members being shaped in order to engage into one another only long enough for two successive elongated elements to be in a first relative position and to be prevented from being separated long enough for both these elements to be in a second relative position. A process of laying such a device is described.

1 . A modular securing device, for road tracks, comprising a set of elements ( 1 ,  1 A) elongated along a longitudinal axis and intended to be laid on a road and connected together at their ends ( 2 ,  3 ), each of the elements ( 1 ,  1 A) containing two end faces ( 111 ,  131 ) spaced apart longitudinally, one of the end faces ( 111 ) being fitted with a male linking means ( 5 ) and the other end face ( 131 ) being fitted with a female linking means ( 4 ), the male and female linking means ( 5 ,  4 ) being shaped to engage into one another when laying the elongated elements, characterised in that the male and female linking means ( 5 ,  4 ) are shaped, in a first relative position of two elongated elements ( 1 ,  1 A), to enable insertion of the male linking element ( 5 ) of one of both these elongated elements into the female linking element ( 4 ) of the other of both these elongated elements and, in a second relative position of two elongated elements ( 1 ,  1 A), to prevent these elongated elements from being separated.  
     
     
         2 . A device according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the female linking means ( 4 ) consists of at least one opening and the male linking means ( 5 ) consists of at least one hooking means.  
     
     
         3 . A device according to  claim 2 , characterised in that the hooking means ( 5 ) comprises a body ( 51 ,  52 ) having a first section (D 2 ) and a head ( 53 ) having a second section (D 3 ), which is greater than the first section, and in that the opening ( 4 ) comprises a first section, of sufficient dimension, in the first relative position of the elongated elements ( 1 ,  1 A), to let through the head of the hooking means, and a second section, extending the first section and of sufficient dimension, in the second relative position of the elongated elements ( 1 ,  1 A), to receive the body of the hooking means, but of insufficient dimension, in this second relative position, to let through the head of the hooking means.  
     
     
         4 . A device according to any of the previous claims, characterised in that the female linking means ( 4 ) consists of several openings and in that the male linking means ( 5 ) consists of several hooking elements, the number of hooking elements ( 5 ) being equal to the number of openings ( 4 ).  
     
     
         5 . A device according to any of the previous claims, characterised in that, when the elongated elements ( 1 ) are in their second relative position, the female ( 4 ) and male ( 5 ) linking elements form a link showing a clearance along the longitudinal axis.  
     
     
         6 . A device according to any of the previous claims, characterised in that the female linking means ( 4 ) comprises three openings and in that the male linking means ( 5 ) comprises three hooking elements.  
     
     
         7 . A device according to any of the previous claims, characterised in that each of the elongated elements ( 1 ,  1 A) is provided, on one face ( 8 ) whereby it rests on the road, with means ( 9 ) increasing the adherence to the elongated element ( 1 ,  1 A) on the road.  
     
     
         8 . A device according to  claim 7 , characterised in that the means ( 9 ) increasing the adherence consist of non-slipping skids.  
     
     
         9 . A device according to  claim 8 , characterised in that the skids ( 9 ) are made of elastomer material.  
     
     
         10 . A device according to any of the previous claims, characterised in that it reaches at least the securing level BT 4  according to the French standard XP P98453 or any corresponding level of another standard.  
     
     
         11 . Process of laying a modular securing device, for road tracks, comprising a set of elements ( 1 ,  1 A) elongated along a longitudinal axis and intended to be laid on a road and connected together at their ends ( 2 ,  3 ), each of the elements ( 1 ,  1 A) containing two end faces ( 111 ,  131 ) spaced apart longitudinally, one of the end faces ( 111 ) being fitted with a male linking means ( 5 ) and the other end face ( 131 ) being fitted with a female linking means ( 4 ), the male and female linking means ( 5 ,  4 ) being shaped to engage into one another when laying the elongated elements, the process comprising successive steps for laying an elongated element ( 1 ) and a following elongated element ( 1 A) until a preset length of modular securing device is obtained and being characterised in that, at each step, an elongated element ( 1 A) is transported towards an elongated element ( 1 ) already placed, in a first relative position with respect to the elongated element ( 1 ) already placed to enable insertion of the male linking means ( 5 ) into the female linking means ( 4 ), and then placed in a second relative position with respect to the elongated element ( 1 ) already placed to prevent these elongated elements from being separated ( 1 ,  1 A).