BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING
Certain embodiments of the invention are illustrated, by way of example, without limitation of the invention thereto, other than as set forth in the accompanying claims; it being understood that further embodiments may be derived by one skilled in the art. Reference is made to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first barrier embodiment in basic form:
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the first barrier embodiment in modified form;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a FIG. 1 folding embodiment;
FIG. 4 is an artists perspective view of a road construction incorporating braced versions of the FIG. 1 embodiment;
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional elevation of a road site incorporating a second barrier embodiment;
FIG. 6 is an elevational perspective of a post/beam portion of an embodiment with footing fins;
FIG. 7 is a perspective elevation of a beam portion with a removable post;
FIG. 7A is a perspective side view of a slotted beam outer end portion to receive a post; and,
FIG. 8 is a schematic side elevation showing a portion of a further barrier embodiment incorporating post-to-post side bracing.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 shows a barrier post assembly 10 having an upright post portion 12 attached to a beam portion 14. The beam portion 14 has a transversely extending co-planar anchor portion 16.
The assemblies 10 are positioned with the post portions 12 located at the desired boundary, such as the edge of a road that lies adjacent a hazard, such as a body of water, a steep decline or the like, with the beam portion 14 extending away from the hazard.
The beam portion 14 and its associated anchor portion 16 are buried at a predetermined depth beneath the surface of the road, being preferably embedded in cement.
In the FIG. 2 embodiment 20, the post portion 22 has a depending extension portion 23 (illustrated in phantom) that is driven into the border strata, to provide stabilizing reaction force to counter the anti-clockwise bending moment produced by an outward impact in the direction P against post portion 22. This serves also to diminish the bending moments acting on the beam portion 24.
Also illustrated by phantom lines in FIG. 2 are alternative or supplementary anchor means 26 which comprise a vertical spur. This may be better suited to certain situations or terrains than the horizontal anchor arms 16 of FIG. 1, where vertical boring is more feasible or cheaper.
Referring to FIG. 3, a barrier post assembly 30 related to the FIG. 1 embodiment has an upright post portion 32 pivotally attached to a beam portion 34, which has two pivotally attached transversely extending co-planar anchor portion 36. The pivotal attachments are provided by pairs of pivot links 38, which enable the folding of the post assembly 30 into a compact, readily handled, packaged and transported unit.
Turning to FIG. 4, in the construction or rebuilding of a road beside a substantially unprotected water hazard, barrier post assemblies 40 are located in mutually spaced relation along, and integrated into the fabric of the road. The post portions 42 and anchor portions 46 are braced to the beam portions 44 by way of corner braces 48. Barrier members 49 are attached to, and extend between post portions 42, to complete the barrier.
Referring to FIG. 5, a pair of post assemblies 50 are shown, located on opposite sides of a travelled way (which could include a railroad embankment). Each assembly 50 has an extended post portion 52, an inwardly extending hollow beam portion 54, which may be of thick-walled pipe, and a tensioned cable 56 extending therebetween. The cable 56 may have threaded rod ends, to which tension adjuster nuts 57 are applied, by means of which anchoring force may be applied to the pair of post assemblies 50. Where an open trench is used across the way to install the system, a turnbuckle may be incorporated to adjust the length of the cable 56. Where a predetermined standardized length of cable is used, a protective sleeve may be employed to protect the cable against degradation.
It will be understood that the term cable includes synthetic engineered plastic filaments and the like, in plain or cable form.
Referring to FIG. 6, a post and beam assembly 60, which is adaptable to any of the foregoing barrier post assemblies, has a post portion 62, and a hollow beam portion 64, both of which are shown foreshortened for convenience of illustration. The post portion 62 has a depending extension portion 63, having blade portions 65 at its lower end, oriented to finish enhanced ground resistance to further stabilize the barrier post assembly.
Referring to FIG. 7, a post and beam assembly 70 has a replaceable post portion 72 and a beam portion 74 with a pair of post brackets 76 projecting outwardly from the outer end, being sized to receive the post portion 72 in downwardly inserted relation therein. The post portion 72 has an annular stop plate, which rests upon the upper one of the post brackets 76, to provide predetermined extents of post downward projection and upward extension. It will be understood that this embodiment is compatible with the foregoing beam and anchor embodiments, except those of FIGS. 5 and 6.
Alternatively, the outer end of the beam 74 may have the top and bottom plates cut away, so that the sides 75 form a slotted recess, having apertures 77 to receive a transversely inserted shear pin (not shown). A post 72 is slid into the recess and pinned to the slot sides 75 by the inserted shear pin.
Turning to FIG. 8, looking inwardly to a road having a stretch of safety barrier therealong, the barrier 80 is illustrated as having three post portions 82 mounted upon beams (not seen). The lower, buried extension portions 83 of the post portions 82, which portions 83 extend below the level of the beam member portions, are shown in dashed lines. Elongated barrier elements 84 are attached to and connect the post portions 82.
Cross brace members 86 are secured near the top of each post and anchored at or adjacent the post/beam juncture of adjacent posts, to provide stability and load sharing capability between the posts. The end posts of a barrier have their outward top diagonal brace members 86 secured to respective ground anchors.
In the event that a vehicle collides with the barrier plates 84, the forces acting along the barrier that tend to collapse it lengthwise, are partially transferred by tensioning of the adjoining crossbrace members 86, with loads transferred to the beam and anchor portions of the system, such that the load is substantially shared along the length of the barrier.
Patent Application
20080006807
