Connecting device for a post of a roadway equipment support structure, and a roadway equipment support structure that includes said connecting device

Abstract

The invention relates to a connecting device for a pole of the support structure for road equipment, including a hollow drum, having a circular, elliptical, or polygonal section, comprising a first end for anchoring to the foundation, a second end for fixing to a lower end of the pole, and a central part with a wall portion configured for deforming in a controlled manner when an impact force acts on the pole, such that the lower end of the pole is displaced upwards and twisted in the direction of the impact force. A support structure for road equipment including the connecting device is also an object of the invention.

1 . A support structure for road equipment ( 3 ), comprising a pole ( 2 ), formed by a hollow cylindrical, elliptical, prismatic, polygonal, truncated pyramid-shaped, or truncated cone-shaped mast, comprising a lower end ( 2 . 1 ) adapted for being fixed to a terrain ( 6 ) by means of a foundation ( 4 ), and a connecting device ( 1 ) arranged between the lower end ( 2 . 1 ) of the pole ( 2 ) and the foundation ( 4 ), wherein the connecting device ( 1 ) comprises a hollow drum ( 1 . 1 ), having a circular, elliptical, or polygonal cross-section, adapted for being arranged with its longitudinal axis parallel to a longitudinal axis of the pole ( 2 ), the hollow drum ( 1 . 1 ) comprising a first end ( 1 . 11 ), a second end ( 1 . 12 ), and a central part ( 1 . 13 ) arranged between said ends ( 1 . 11 ,  1 . 12 ), where the first end ( 1 . 11 ) is adapted for being fixed to the foundation ( 4 ) by means of an anchoring piece ( 1 . 2 ) which is connected to said first end ( 1 . 11 ) of the hollow drum ( 1 . 1 ), and the second end ( 1 . 12 ) is adapted for being fixed onto the outside of the lower end ( 2 . 1 ) of the pole ( 2 ), characterized in that, in use, the second end ( 1 . 12 ) of the hollow drum ( 1 . 1 ) which is fixed to the lower end ( 2 . 1 ) of the pole ( 2 ) is arranged below the anchoring piece ( 1 . 2 ) for anchoring to the foundation ( 4 ), and the hollow drum ( 1 . 1 ) and the lower end ( 2 . 1 ) of the pole ( 2 ) are arranged inside a hollow space ( 4 . 1 ) formed in the foundation ( 4 ) {original claim  9 }, and the central part ( 1 . 13 ) comprises a wall portion ( 7 ) configured for deforming in a controlled manner under compression when an impact force (F) acts on the pole ( 2 ), such that the lower end ( 2 . 1 ) of the pole ( 2 ) is adapted for being displaced upwards or being raised and twisted in the direction of the impact force (F), the lower end ( 2 . 1 ) of the pole ( 2 ) remaining fixed to the second end ( 1 . 12 ) of the hollow drum ( 1 . 1 ). 
     
     
         2 . The support structure according to  claim 1 , wherein the wall portion ( 7 ) comprises a plurality of longitudinal notches ( 7 . 1 ) formed and distributed along the perimeter in said wall portion ( 7 ). 
     
     
         3 . The support structure according to  claim 1 , wherein the wall portion ( 7 ) comprises a plurality of longitudinal slots ( 7 . 2 ) formed and distributed along the perimeter in said wall portion ( 7 ). 
     
     
         4 . The support structure according to  claim 3 , wherein when the hollow drum ( 1 . 1 ) has a polygonal cross-section, the longitudinal slots ( 7 . 2 ) of the weakened wall portion ( 7 ) are formed on some or on all of the edges ( 1 . 131 ) of the central part ( 1 . 13 ) corresponding to the wall portion ( 7 ). 
     
     
         5 . The support structure according to  claim 1 , wherein the wall portion ( 7 ) comprises transverse creases ( 7 . 3 ) formed along the perimeter in said wall portion ( 7 ). 
     
     
         6 . The support structure according to  claim 1 , wherein the wall portion ( 7 ) comprises transverse notches or slots ( 7 . 4 ,  7 . 5 ) formed along the perimeter forming rows and columns in said wall portion ( 7 ). 
     
     
         7 . The support structure according to  claim 1 , wherein the wall portion ( 7 ) comprises a wall thickness (e1) of the central part ( 1 . 13 ) less than a wall thickness (e2) of the first and second ends ( 1 . 11 ,  1 . 12 ) of the hollow drum ( 1 . 1 ). 
     
     
         8 . The support structure according to  claim 1 , wherein the wall portion ( 7 ) comprises a non-constant longitudinal section, including a segment of a cross-section (s1) of the central part ( 1 . 13 ) having smaller dimensions than a cross-section (s2) of the first and second ends ( 1 . 11 ,  1 . 12 ) of the hollow drum ( 1 . 1 ). 
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . The support structure according to  claim 1 , wherein the anchoring piece ( 1 . 2 ) is connected to the first end ( 1 . 11 ) of the hollow drum ( 1 . 1 ) by means of welding. 
     
     
         12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . The support structure according to  claim 1 , wherein the second end ( 1 . 12 ) of the hollow drum ( 1 . 1 ) comprises first openings ( 1 . 121 ) which match up with respective second openings ( 2 . 11 ) formed in the lower end ( 2 . 1 ) of the pole ( 2 ), where each first opening ( 1 . 121 ) and the corresponding second opening ( 2 . 11 ) are configured for being traversed by second fixing means ( 8 ) adapted for keeping said second end ( 1 . 12 ) of the hollow drum ( 1 . 1 ) fixed to the lower end ( 2 . 1 ) of the pole ( 2 ). 
     
     
         14 . The support structure according to  claim 1 , wherein the second end ( 1 . 12 ) of the hollow drum ( 1 . 1 ) is fixed to the lower end ( 2 . 1 ) of the pole ( 2 ) by means of welding. 
     
     
         15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . The support structure according to  claim 1 , wherein the pole ( 2 ) comprises an upper end ( 2 . 2 ) adapted for being fixed directly or by means of an extension element ( 9 ) to at least one item of road equipment ( 3 ) selected from the group consisting of a lighting means ( 3 . 1 ), a sign panel ( 3 . 2 ), a traffic signal ( 3 . 3 ), and a support bracket ( 3 . 4 ) for overhead lines ( 3 . 41 ).