T
Currently reading:
Finally, a speed bump with some sense?!
C
Cynic-al
Guest
how long before it comes back up? will it wedge the center of the car? lol
Also what happens when the local joy riders slash it?
Also what happens when the local joy riders slash it?
A
Anonymous
Guest
True to your sign-in I see.
Presumably it will be reinforced with Kevlar or some other composite material.
If the councils sign up to it, low or zero maintenance will be a key factor in their decision.
It sounds like a damn fine idea.
I recall reading somewhere that a corrugated rubber road insert had been developed, (similar to those found in airports to prevent trolleys being moved past certain points), which if driven over at x or less mph, offered smooth and unhindered travel across. Above the preset speed, the rubber would splay out causing vibrations through the steering rack in an attempt to disuade speeding. Don't know if that has progressed at all.
Extract from an engineering website:
------------------------------------
"A dynamic, revolutionary new sleeping policeman traffic hump actuated by a specialised Norgren valve is set for road trials in the City of London, starting on 14 February.
The new traffic hump, the Dunlop Transcalm, is the brainchild of inventor Graham Heeks, who has been working with Norgren for the past four years to perfect the valve mechanism.
The valve reacts to impact and speed, retracting the hump for emergency vehicles, but staying in place for ordinary traffic.
A mix of circumstances led Graham to come up with the idea.
He was particularly concerned that traffic humps were adding vital minutes to emergency vehicles' response times.
"I just felt something had to be done; people were driving too fast and traffic calming had a role to play; but at the same time the emergency services were simply trying to do their job," said Graham.
So began a seven-year quest to perfect a retractable traffic hump that responded to the type and speed of the vehicle crossing it.
He started with three elements, a hump mould, a valve and a trough to house the unit under the road.
"I had effectively to develop a vehicle recognition valve, which is at the heart of the 'friendly bump'.
It was when I was introduced to Norgren, whose products I'd used in my job, that things gathered pace," said Graham.
"Norgren gave me the valve technology to address the market.
They were always enthusiastic and have never ever lost interest.
The work with the production team over the past three years has been integral to the valve's evolution.
Trials of the hump were carried out on the perimeter road at Norgren's Lichfield headquarters.
One of the main technical obstacles to overcome was to get the valve to react in harmony with the impact on the rubber of the hump.
Painstaking work has resulted in a specialised valve just 40mm by 40mm that controls the rate of deflation of the traffic hump and its deterrent profile.
Once the profile, moulding technique and valve had been perfected, the team encountered another problem.
When the road surface has been dug up and relaid, for example for pipe or cable laying, it affects the operation of the system.
To deal with this variable, the team created its own road surface that is now part of the overall installation.
Highway consultants Pell Frischmann and Dunlop GRG were involved as project sponsors by this stage.
The road trials on Puddle Dock, London near Blackfriars station are the fruition of one man's vision and dedication, and the belief and support of three industrial sponsors.
Ease of installation and maintenance are a further benefit of the system.
Transcalm's manufacturers are hoping the concept will have global appeal and be a major contributor to road safety."
Presumably it will be reinforced with Kevlar or some other composite material.
If the councils sign up to it, low or zero maintenance will be a key factor in their decision.
It sounds like a damn fine idea.
I recall reading somewhere that a corrugated rubber road insert had been developed, (similar to those found in airports to prevent trolleys being moved past certain points), which if driven over at x or less mph, offered smooth and unhindered travel across. Above the preset speed, the rubber would splay out causing vibrations through the steering rack in an attempt to disuade speeding. Don't know if that has progressed at all.
Extract from an engineering website:
------------------------------------
"A dynamic, revolutionary new sleeping policeman traffic hump actuated by a specialised Norgren valve is set for road trials in the City of London, starting on 14 February.
The new traffic hump, the Dunlop Transcalm, is the brainchild of inventor Graham Heeks, who has been working with Norgren for the past four years to perfect the valve mechanism.
The valve reacts to impact and speed, retracting the hump for emergency vehicles, but staying in place for ordinary traffic.
A mix of circumstances led Graham to come up with the idea.
He was particularly concerned that traffic humps were adding vital minutes to emergency vehicles' response times.
"I just felt something had to be done; people were driving too fast and traffic calming had a role to play; but at the same time the emergency services were simply trying to do their job," said Graham.
So began a seven-year quest to perfect a retractable traffic hump that responded to the type and speed of the vehicle crossing it.
He started with three elements, a hump mould, a valve and a trough to house the unit under the road.
"I had effectively to develop a vehicle recognition valve, which is at the heart of the 'friendly bump'.
It was when I was introduced to Norgren, whose products I'd used in my job, that things gathered pace," said Graham.
"Norgren gave me the valve technology to address the market.
They were always enthusiastic and have never ever lost interest.
The work with the production team over the past three years has been integral to the valve's evolution.
Trials of the hump were carried out on the perimeter road at Norgren's Lichfield headquarters.
One of the main technical obstacles to overcome was to get the valve to react in harmony with the impact on the rubber of the hump.
Painstaking work has resulted in a specialised valve just 40mm by 40mm that controls the rate of deflation of the traffic hump and its deterrent profile.
Once the profile, moulding technique and valve had been perfected, the team encountered another problem.
When the road surface has been dug up and relaid, for example for pipe or cable laying, it affects the operation of the system.
To deal with this variable, the team created its own road surface that is now part of the overall installation.
Highway consultants Pell Frischmann and Dunlop GRG were involved as project sponsors by this stage.
The road trials on Puddle Dock, London near Blackfriars station are the fruition of one man's vision and dedication, and the belief and support of three industrial sponsors.
Ease of installation and maintenance are a further benefit of the system.
Transcalm's manufacturers are hoping the concept will have global appeal and be a major contributor to road safety."
T
Tom
Guest
Bloody good idea! As long as it doesn't wheeze every time a car goes over it 
We have those long flat topped bumps around where I live and pedestrians thing they are crossings.
We have those long flat topped bumps around where I live and pedestrians thing they are crossings.
C
Cynic-al
Guest
lol, yeah we have the ones tehy people think are crossings, they are a classic safety product that increases accidents.
I wonder if you could get a piece of chewing gum in the valve, fire engine hits it a 40 and all the fireman stood on the side fall off. lol Hmmm, shame they don't stand on the side really.
No, i'm sure it's a very good idea, i wonder what the weight limit is to trigger it? It'll make all the delivery men happy, they won't have to slow down either!
I wonder if you could get a piece of chewing gum in the valve, fire engine hits it a 40 and all the fireman stood on the side fall off. lol Hmmm, shame they don't stand on the side really.
No, i'm sure it's a very good idea, i wonder what the weight limit is to trigger it? It'll make all the delivery men happy, they won't have to slow down either!
OP
OP
Tom (imposter)
Guest
Good point, you've revealed a chink in the plan.
If white van man can't be slowed down, then the project still needs development.
If white van man can't be slowed down, then the project still needs development.