Impactable vehicle restraint

Abstract

Systems and methods and methods relating to the control and operation of an impactable vehicle restraint. The impactable vehicle restraint has a vertically movable barrier. The impactable vehicle restraint has a control system having three switch signal inputs that is compatible with two switch input systems. The impactable vehicle restraint has a control system to stop the motion of its drive system for the based on either sensing that the restraining device is at its limits of motion or that the drive system has been activated for a predetermined amount of time, whichever occurs first.

We claim: 
     
         1 . An impactable vehicle restraint comprising:
 a carriage body having at least one vertical member;   a rotatable drive shaft disposed at least partially within the carriage body and extending through the at least one vertical member;   a barrier disposed at least partially within the carriage, the barrier being linearly movable between a first position and a second position; and   a force translator coupled to and between the rotatable drive shaft and the barrier, the force translator causing the barrier to move between the first and second position as a result of the rotatable drive shaft.   
     
     
         2 . The impactable vehicle restraint of  claim 1  wherein the barrier does not extend beyond the bounds of the carriage body when in the barrier first position. 
     
     
         3 . The impactable vehicle restraint of  claim 1  wherein the rotatable drive shaft is coupled to a motor with a rotational output. 
     
     
         4 . The impactable vehicle restraint of  claim 1  wherein the force translator further comprises barrier guide means for guiding the linear motion of the barrier. 
     
     
         5 . The impactable vehicle restraint of  claim 4  wherein the barrier guide means further comprises
 a front guide fixed to the carriage body, the front guide having a first bearing surface; and 
 a rear guide fixed to the carriage body, the rear guide having a second bearing surface. 
 
     
     
         6 . The impactable vehicle restraint of  claim 5  wherein the barrier guide means further comprises a lower guide fixed to the carriage body, the lower guide having a third bearing surface. 
     
     
         7 . The impactable vehicle restraint of  claim 5  wherein
 the barrier has a front surface and an opposed rear surface; and 
 the movement of the barrier between its first and second positions is guided by the engagement of at least a portion of the first bearing surface with at least a portion of the barrier front surface and at least a portion of the second bearing surface with at least a portion of the barrier rear surface. 
 
     
     
         8 . The impactable vehicle restraint of  claim 1  wherein the force translator further comprises over toggle means. 
     
     
         9 . The impactable vehicle restraint of  claim 8  wherein the over toggle means further comprises
 a drive member having a first end and a second end; 
 a pivot member having a first end and a second end; and 
 wherein the drive member first end is coupled to the drive shaft, the drive member second end is rotatably coupled to the pivot member first end, and the pivot member second end is rotatably coupled to the barrier. 
 
     
     
         10 . The impactable vehicle restraint of  claim 9  wherein the force translator further comprises a stop linkage coupled to the carrier body, the stop linkage adapted to limit the rotation of the drive member. 
     
     
         11 . The impactable vehicle restraint of  claim 8  wherein the over toggle means further comprises
 a drive member having a first end and a second end; 
 a lift member having a first end and a second end, the lift member having a race formed at or near the second end thereof; and 
 wherein the drive member first end is coupled to the drive shaft, the drive member second end is in sliding engagement with the lift member race, the left member first end being pivotably coupled to the carriage body, and the lift member second end is in sliding engagement coupled to the barrier. 
 
     
     
         12 . The impactable vehicle restraint of  claim 1  wherein force translator further comprises a drive member having a first end and a second end and a race formed at or near the drive member second end; and
 wherein the drive member first end is coupled to the drive, shaft and the drive member race is in sliding engagement with the barrier. 
 
     
     
         13 . The impactable vehicle restraint of  claim 12  further comprising a sliding member coupled to the barrier, wherein the siding member is in sliding engagement with the drive member race. 
     
     
         14 . An impactable vehicle restraint comprising:
 a carriage body having at least one vertical member, a portion of the at least one vertical member having a top surface that is generally horizontal;   a rotatable drive shaft disposed at least partially within the carriage body and extending through the at least one vertical member;   a barrier disposed at Least partially within the carriage, the barrier having a front surface, an opposed rear surface, and a top surface, the barrier being linearly movable between a first position and a second position;   barrier guide means for guiding the linear motion of the barrier;   a force translator coupled to and between the rotatable drive shaft and the barrier, the force translator causing the barrier to move between the first and second position as a result of the rotatable drive shaft; and   wherein the force translator includes a drive member, the drive member having a first end and a second end, the drive member first end being coupled to the rotatable drive shaft and the drive member second end being coupled, either directly or indirectly, to the barrier.   
     
     
         15 . The impactable vehicle restraint of  claim 14  wherein the plane of the barrier top surface is parallel with or below the plane of the at least one vertical member top surface when the barrier is in its first position, such that the harrier dues not extend beyond the bounds of the carriage body when in the barrier first position. 
     
     
         16 . A method of controlling an impact able. vehicle restraint including the steps of:
 providing a drive system;   providing a control system;   providing the control system with an input arranged to start the drive system;   providing a drive motor;   providing a motor run timer;   transmitting the input to the drive motor and the motor run timer;   setting the motor run timer for a predetermined amount of time;   starting the drive motor and the motor timer; and   running the drive motor the predetermined. period of time set by the motor run timer.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  including the further steps of:
 determining an end position of the impactable vehicle restraint; and 
 stopping the drive motor. 
 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16  including the further steps of:
 exceeding the predetermined period of time set by the motor run timer; 
 determining a non-end position of the impactable vehicle restraint; and 
 stopping the drive motor.