Movable roadway barrier

Claim 2

A movable barrier comprising a base support adapted to engage a supporting surface, a generally upright wall member attached to said base support, means for raising and lowering said barrier comprising a set of barrier support wheels, a lever arm, means connected between one end of said lever arm and said set of barrier support wheels for moving said wheels in an upward and downward direction relative to said base support upon actuation of said lever arm, means for moving said barrier in a lateral direction comprising means for moving said lever arm in one direction to lower said wheels and raise said base support above the supporting surface to support said barrier on said support wheels and simultaneously applying a lateral force to said barrier sufficient to move said barrier in a lateral direction on said wheels, and means for moving said lever arm in a reverse direction to raise said wheels and lower said base support to engage the supporting surface.

Claim 3

The movable barrier as claimed in Claim 1 wherein said means connected between one end of said lever arm and said set of barrier support wheels for moving said wheels in an upward and downward direction relative to said base support upon actuation of said lever arm comprises a cam follower plate, means for connecting said cam follower plate to said support wheels, a cam adapted to engage said cam follower plate, a cam shaft connected to said cam and attached to one end of said lever arm, a cam shaft bearing journalled to said cam shaft and attached to said barrier, said cam shaped to lower said wheels when said lever arm is moved in a direction away from a vertical position.

Claim 4

The movable barrier as claimed in Claim 1 wherein said means connected between one end of said lever arm and said set of barrier support wheels for moving said wheels in an upward and downward direction relative to said base support upon actuation of said lever arm comprises a cam follower plate, means for connecting said cam follower plate to said support wheels, a cam adapted to engage said cam follower plate, a cam shaft connected to said cam and attached to one end of said lever arm, a cam shaft bearing journalled to said cam shaft and attached to said barrier, said cam shaped to lower said wheels when said lever arm is moved in a direction away from a vertical position, and said means for moving said lever arm in one direction to lower said wheels and raise said base support above the supporting surface to support said barrier on said support wheels and simultaneously applying a lateral force to said barrier sufficient to move said barrier in a lateral direction on said wheels comprises a lever arm actuating trolley adapted to engage the end of said lever arm distal said level arm shaft, a barrier actuating cable attached to said actuating trolley, a first actuating cable drive motor located proximate one side of said barrier and spaced apart therefrom and connected to one end of said actuating cable, a second actuating cable drive motor located proximate the other side of said barrier and spaced apart therefrom and connected to the other end of said actuating cable, means for controlling said first and second actuating cable drive motors comprising means for actuating said first drive motor to apply a force on said cable to pull said actuating trolley in a direction lateral to said barrier and engage a side of said barrier and rotate said lever arm to lift said barrier on said support wheels and pull said barrier in a lateral direction, and means for actuating said second drive motor to pull said actuating trolley in the opposite direction and move said lever arm to a vertical position to lower said base support to engage said supporting surface.

Claim 5

A movable barrier comprising a base support adapted to engage a supporting surface, a generally upright wall member attached to said base support, means for raising and lowering said barrier comprising a set of barrier support wheels, a lever arm, means connected between one end of said lever arm and said set of barrier support wheels for moving said wheels in an upward and downward direction relative to said base support upon actuation of said lever arm, means for moving said barrier in a lateral direction comprising means for moving said lever arm in one direction to lower said wheels and raise said base support above the supporting surface to support said barrier on said support wheels and simultaneously applying a lateral force to said barrier sufficient to move said barrier in a lateral direction on said wheels, and means for detecting the distance the barrier has traveled, means for stopping said barrier movement when said detecting means has detected a predetermined amount of travel. means for moving said lever arm in a reverse direction to raise said wheels and lower said base support to engage the supporting surface.

Claim 6

A movable barrier comprising a base support adapted to engage a supporting surface, a generally upright wall member attached to said base support, means for raising and lowering said barrier comprising a set of barrier support wheels, a lever arm, means connected between one end of said lever arm and said set of barrier support wheels for moving said wheels in an upward and downward direction relative to said base support upon actuation of said lever arm, means for moving said barrier in a lateral direction comprising means for moving said lever arm in one direction to lower said wheels and raise said base support above the supporting surface to support said barrier on said support wheels and simultaneously applying a lateral force to said barrier sufficient to move said barrier in a lateral direction on said wheels, and means for detecting the distance the barrier has traveled, means for stopping said barrier movement when said detecting means has detected a predetermined amount of travel. means for moving said lever arm in a reverse direction to raise said wheels and lower said base support to engage the supporting surface.

Claim 7

A movable barrier comprising at least two barrier sections, each comprising a base support adapted to engage a supporting surface, a generally upright wall member attached to said base support, means for raising and lowering said barrier comprising a set of barrier support wheels, a lever arm, means connected between one end of said lever arm and said set of barrier support wheels for moving said wheels in an upward and downward direction relative to said base support upon actuation of said lever arm, means for moving said barrier section in a lateral direction comprising means for moving said lever arm in one direction to lower said wheels and raise said base support above the supporting surface to support said barrier on said support wheels and simultaneously applying a lateral force to said barrier sufficient to move said barrier in a lateral direction on said wheels, and said means comprising at least one drive motor adapted to move said lever arm bilaterally, means for detecting the distance the barrier has traveled, means for stopping said barrier movement when said sensor has detected a predetermined amount of travel, means for moving said lever arm in a reverse direction to raise said wheels and lower said base support to engage the supporting surface.

Claim 8

A movable barrier comprising at least two barrier sections, each comprising a base support adapted to engage a supporting surface, a generally upright wall member attached to said base support, means for raising and lowering said barrier comprising a set of barrier support wheels, a lever arm, means connected between one end of said lever arm and said set of barrier support wheels for moving said wheels in an upward and downward direction relative to said base support upon actuation of said lever arm, means for moving said barrier section in a lateral direction comprising means for moving said lever arm in one direction to lower said wheels and raise said base support above the supporting surface to support said barrier on said support wheels and simultaneously applying a lateral force to said barrier sufficient to move said barrier in a lateral direction on said wheels, and said means comprising at least one drive motor adapted to move said lever arm bilaterally, means for detecting the distance the barrier has traveled, means for stopping said barrier movement when said sensor has detected a predetermined amount of travel, means for moving said lever arm in a reverse direction to raise said wheels and lower said base support to engage the supporting surface.

Claim 9

A movable barrier comprising at least two barrier sections, each comprising a base support adapted to engage a supporting surface, a generally upright wall member attached to said base support, means for raising and lowering said barrier comprising a set of barrier support wheels, a lever arm, means connected between one end of said lever arm and said set of barrier support wheels for moving said wheels in an upward and downward direction relative to said base support upon actuation of said lever arm, means for moving said barrier section in a lateral direction comprising means for moving said lever arm in one direction to lower said wheels and raise said base support above the supporting surface to support said barrier on said support wheels and simultaneously applying a lateral force to said barrier sufficient to move said barrier in a lateral direction on said wheels, said means comprising at least one drive motor adapted to move said lever arm bilaterally, means for detecting the distance the barrier has traveled, means for stopping said barrier movement when said sensor has detected a predetermined amount of travel, said means comprising a computer programed to control each individual barrier section comprising means for storing predetermine information concerning barrier position, means for receiving signals from said sensors, means for actuating said drive motors based on signals from said sensors and said stored information, and means for actuating said drve motor to move said lever arm in a reverse direction to raise said wheels and lower said base support to engage the supporting surface.

Claim 10

A movable barrier comprising at least two barrier sections, each comprising a base support adapted to engage a supporting surface, a generally upright wall member attached to said base support, means for raising and lowering said barrier comprising a set of barrier support wheels, a lever arm, means connected between one end of said lever arm and said set of barrier support wheels for moving said wheels in an upward and downward direction relative to said base support upon actuation of said lever arm, means for moving said barrier section in a lateral direction comprising means for moving said lever arm in one direction to lower said wheels and raise said base support above the supporting surface to support said barrier on said support wheels and simultaneously applying a lateral force to said barrier sufficient to move said barrier in a lateral direction on said wheels, said means comprising at least one drive motor adapted to move said lever arm bilaterally, means for detecting the distance the barrier has traveled, means for stopping said barrier movement when said sensor has detected a predetermined amount of travel, said means comprising a computer programed to control each individual barrier section comprising means for storing predetermine information concerning barrier position, means for receiving signals from said sensors, means for actuating said drive motors based on signals from said sensors and said stored information, and means for actuating said drve motor to move said lever arm in a reverse direction to raise said wheels and lower said base support to engage the supporting surface.

Claim 11

A connector for connecting together the ends of a pair of movable barriers comprising a channel member proximate the end of each of said movable barriers comprising a lip retainer member proximate the end of said channel, a connector block defining a generally "U" shape, the tips of said "U" defining a pair of lip members adapted to engage said lip retainer member proximate each end of said barriers being connected, a locking block adapted to engage said connector block distal said lip members and adapted hold said connector block in engagement with said lip retainer member, a locking block handle attached to said locking block and accessible from the exterior of said channel member whereby said locking block can be moved along said channel and be dissengaged from said connector block, a connector block handle attached to said connector block and accessible from the exterior of said channel member whereby said connector block can be dissengaged from said lip retainer members.

Claim 12

A connector for connecting together the ends of a pair of movable barriers comprising a channel member proximate the end of each of said movable barriers comprising a lip retainer member proximate the end of said channel, a connector block defining a generally "U" shape, the tips of said "U" defining a pair of lip members adapted to engage said lip retainer member proximate each end of said barriers being connected, a locking block adapted to engage said connector block distal said lip members and adapted hold said connector block in engagement with said lip retainer member, a locking block handle attached to said locking block and accessible from the exterior of said channel member whereby said locking block can be moved along said channel and be dissengaged from said connector block, a connector block handle attached to said connector block and accessible from the exterior of said channel member whereby said connector block can be dissengaged from said lip retainer members.