Delivery and retrieval device for road cones

Abstract

The invention relates to a delivery and retrieval device for road cones. In a preferred embodiment the device comprises a track for mounting across the rear of a vehicle, a tower mounted to slide on the track, means such as motor to move the tower on the track, a conveyor to deliver road cones from a roadway to the base of the tower or to deliver road cones from the base to the roadway, a conveyor platform powered to move from a first height position at the base of the tower and adjacent one end of the conveyor to a second height position up the tower, and a handling mechanism to support a stack of road cones above the platform. In use the device collects and deposits cones from/to the roadway, in such a way as top enable a portion of a carriageway to be selectively closed by forming a ‘taper’. The invention thus overcomes problems associated with personnel having to walk behind a vehicle in order to place cones in this arrangement.

1 . A delivery and retrieval device for road cones comprising:
 a) a track for mounting across the rear of a vehicle,   b) a tower mounted to slide on the track,   c) means to move the tower on the track,   d) a conveyor to deliver road cones from a roadway to the base of the tower or to deliver road cones from the base to the roadway,   e) a conveyor platform powered to move from a first height position at the base of the tower and adjacent one end of the conveyor to a second height position up the tower  3 , and   f) a handling mechanism to support a stack of road cones above the platform second position and to deliver or pick up road cones to or from the conveyor platform when at the second position, and   g) at least one cone storage rack adjacent the platform second position to receive a stack of cones from the conveyor platform or deliver a stack of road cones to the conveyor platform, in use the device collecting a cone from the roadway, said cone being transferred by the conveyor onto the conveyor platform at the first position, the conveyor platform lifting the cone to the second position, the cone then being transferred to the handling mechanism to be stored with other cones to create a stack of a predetermined number of cones, and the stack of cones being transferred by the conveyor platform to a storage rack; or the stack of cones being transferred from the storage rack to the conveyor platform and transferred to the handling mechanism, the handling mechanism delivering single cones to the conveyor platform at the second position, the conveyor platform taking a cone to the first position and transferring the cone to the conveyor for delivery to a roadway.   
   
   
       2 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the device handles pairs of stacked cones as well as single cones. 
   
   
       3 . A device according to  claim 1  or  2 , wherein two or more storage racks are provided in side by side relationship across a vehicle, the storage racks being accessed by movement of the tower on the track. 
   
   
       4 . A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the handling mechanism includes at least one pair of plates adapted to move towards and away from each other to engage or release from either side of the base of a cone. 
   
   
       5 . A device according to  claim 4 , wherein the or each pair of plates moves from a first lower to a second upper position relative to the tower. 
   
   
       6 . A device according to any preceding claim, wherein movement of the conveyor platform and handling mechanism is hydraulically controlled. 
   
   
       7 . A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the storage rack includes a roller conveyor. 
   
   
       8 . A device according to  claim 7 , wherein the roller conveyor can be inclined towards or away from the conveyor platform to create a gravity feed from the conveyor platform and the storage rack or vice versa. 
   
   
       9 . A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the tower is adapted to be moved on the track as cones are being laid by the conveyor to lay a lane of road cones at an angle across a roadway lane, and/or the tower is adapted to be moved on the track as cones are being retrieved by the conveyor to retrieve a lane of road cones at an angle across a roadway lane. 
   
   
       10 . A delivery and retrieval device for road cones comprising:
 a) A frame for mounting above a conveyor,   b) a first cone pick up device to engage a road cone on the conveyor at a first level and raise the cone to a second level, or to engage a road cone at said second level and lower the road cone to the first level,   c) a second cone pick up device to engage a road cone at said second level whilst supported by the first cone pick up device and raise the cone to a third level, or to engage a road cone at the third level and lower it to said second level, the distance between the second and third level being substantially the distance between the bases of two stacked cones,   any cone being supported at said second level by either said first and/or second cone pick up device at any one time, in use cones can be retrieved to create a stack of cones at said third level, by sequentially taking one cone to said third level, and repeatedly inserting a further cone underneath the previous cone and raising it to the third level, or cones can be delivered to a conveyor from a stack of cones at said third level, by sequentially lowering a bottom cone in the stack to the first level whilst supporting the remainder of the stack at said third level.   
   
   
       11 . A delivery and retrieval device for road cones according to  claim 10 , wherein the first cone pick up device comprises a first pair of reciprocating jaws adapted to engage a first pair of opposing sides of a substantially square based cone or other shape, said first pair of jaws being supported on a first carriage moveable from the first to the second level. 
   
   
       12 . A delivery and retrieval device for road cones according to  claim 11 , wherein the first pair of jaws are in the form of opposing L-shaped plates. 
   
   
       13 . A delivery and retrieval device for road cones according to  claim 11  or  12 , wherein the jaws are hydraulically operated. 
   
   
       14 . A delivery and retrieval device for road cones according to  claim 11 ,  12  or  13 , wherein the first carriage is moveable by means of hydraulics. 
   
   
       15 . A delivery and retrieval device for road cones according to any one of  claims 10  to  14 , wherein the second cone pick up device comprises a second pair of reciprocating jaws adapted to engage a second pair of opposing sides of a substantially square based cone, said second pair of jaws being supported on a second carriage moveable from the second to the third level. 
   
   
       16 . A delivery and retrieval device for road cones according to  claim 15 , wherein second pair of jaws are in the form of opposing L-shaped plates. 
   
   
       17 . A delivery and retrieval device for road cones according to  claim 15  or  16 , wherein the jaws are hydraulically operated. 
   
   
       18 . A delivery and retrieval device for road cones according to  claim 15 ,  16  or  17  wherein the second carriage is moveable by means of hydraulics. 
   
   
       19 . A delivery and retrieval device for road cones according to any one of  claims 10  to  18 , wherein sensors are provided to sense the presence of a cone on the conveyor when the cone is adjacent the first pick up device. 
   
   
       20 . A delivery and retrieval device for road cones according to any one of  claims 10  to  19 , wherein a transfer device is provided to transfer a stack of cones to a storage compartment from the third level adjacent the second pick up device, or to deliver a stack of cones from the storage compartment to the third level adjacent the second pick up device. 
   
   
       21 . A delivery and retrieval device for road cones onto and from a roadway comprising:
 a) a device body,   b) support means to support the device body above the end of a conveyor adjacent a roadway,   c) a pair of continuous loops of belts or chains rotatable in opposing directions on said device body, said loops defining an inclined elongate delivery channel between a length of each loop, said delivery channel having a first end substantially the height of a road cone when on a roadway with said first end above the roadway, and a second end above said first end with said second end being substantially the height of a road cone above the conveyor, said delivery channel being substantially the width of the top end of a road cone to engage the top of a road cone,   in use said device allowing cones travelling down the conveyor to have the tops thereof engaged in the delivery channel to be delivered to a roadway, or allowing cones to travel up the delivery channel with the tops thereof engaged in the delivery channel to be retrieved onto said conveyor.   
   
   
       22 . A delivery and retrieval device for road cones according to  claim 21 , wherein a pair of guides are provided extending from said delivery channel first end away from the second end, said guides guiding road cones towards the delivery channel as said device is moved along a roadway towards cones. 
   
   
       23 . A delivery and retrieval device for road cones according to  claim 21  or  22 , wherein the loops are motor driven. 
   
   
       24 . A delivery and retrieval device for road cones according to any one of  claims 21 ,  22  or  23 , wherein each loop is formed from a loop of chain or belt around cogs or wheels. 
   
   
       25 . A delivery and retrieval device for road cones according to any one of  claims 21  to  24 , wherein the delivery channel is adapted to engage in an annular recess at the top of a cone. 
   
   
       26 . A delivery and retrieval device for road cones according to any preceding claim, wherein the device is computer controlled. 
   
   
       27 . A delivery and retrieval device for road cones according to any preceding claim, wherein the rate of delivery and retrieval of cones to and from the conveyor is adjustable. 
   
   
       28 . A device for delivering and retrieving road cones as herein before described with reference to  FIG. 1  or  FIGS. 2 to 6  or  FIG. 7  of the accompanying drawings. 
   
   
       29 . A system including the device of any preceding claim when mounted on or in a vehicle.