Valve arrangment and traffic calming device incorporating such an arrangment
AssigneeAutospan Limited
InventorsGraham Heeks, Nigel Peter Fox
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A reactive speed hump (2) includes a fluid flow control valve assembly (4). A first valve (18, 20, 21) is naturally open and a second A valve (10, 14, 15, 16, 17), naturally closed. Application of fluid pressure on the control valve assembly below a first lower threshold level or above a second higher threshold level allows a flow of fluid from the inlet to the outlet, but an application of fluid pressure on the control valve between said first and second threshold levels allows substantially no fluid to flow between the inlet (7) and the outlet (9).
Claims15
A reactive traffic calming device comprising a resiliently deformable enclosure containing air, air within the enclosure communicating with the atmosphere via a valve arrangement permitting the enclosure to be deflated under the weight of a passing vehicle and to re-inflate after passage of the vehicle, said valve arrangement comprising a pressure-sensitive valve adapted to remain open while the air within the enclosure is up to a first pressure threshold, thereby permitting deflation, and to close in response to pressure above said first pressure threshold, thereby preventing deflation in response to excessive vehicle speed.
A reactive traffic calming device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the valve arrangement comprise means defining a sensing chamber surrounding the first valve closure, said inlet chamber communicating with the air within the enclosure via a restricted air inlet.
A reactive traffic calming device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the valve arrangement may further comprise a second valve, normally closed, arranged so as to open and allow rapid deflation of the device in response to pressure exceeding a second pressure threshold, greater than the first pressure threshold.
A fluid flow control valve arrangement comprising at least a first and a second valve wherein the first valve includes a first valve closure, movable against a first biasing means from its natural open state to a closed state, and wherein the second valve includes a second valve closure, movable against a second biasing means from its natural closed state to its open state such that the application of fluid pressure on the control valve assembly below a first lower threshold level or above a second higher threshold level allows a flow of fluid through the valve arrangement but an application of fluid pressure on the control valve between said first and second threshold levels allows substantially no fluid to flow through the valve arrangement.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.