Claims
- 1. A restraining barrier system comprising:
- first and second vertically disposed towers,
- having a restraint zone defined between the lower portions thereof,
- first and second transport means slidably mounted to said first and second towers respectively,
- drive means for moving said transport means to selectable vertical positions,
- at least one of said transport means comprising a first energy absorbing means for providing a first predetermined restraining force,
- a restraining barrier means for support between said first and second transport means and being vertically movable therewith,
- means for supporting said barrier means to said first and second transport means and for coupling said barrier means to said first energy absorbing means,
- said selectable positions including a deployed position in which said restraining barrier means blocks the path of travel of a vehicle through the restraint zone and a passive position in which said restraining barrier is positioned to permit a vehicle to pass therethrough,
- at least one second energy absorbing means for providing a second predetermined restraining force, and
- said second predetermined restraining force being greater than said first predetermined restraining force,
- a support system,
- said second energy absorbing means interconnected between said barrier means and said support system and including means for activating said second energy absorbing means after activation of said first energy absorbing means,
- said first and said second energy absorbing means being joined in parallel,
- whereby a vehicle of a predetermined weight range can be substantially stopped by said first energy absorbing means upon said vehicle engaging with said barrier means and a vehicle of a weight heavier than said predetermined weight range can be substantially stopped by said second energy absorbing means upon said vehicle engaging with said barrier means.
- 2. A restraining barrier system as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for activating said second energy absorbing means comprises a high strength element of predetermined length interconnected between said second energy absorbing means and said barrier means.
- 3. A restraining barrier system as defined in claim 2 wherein said predetermined length of said element is of sufficient length to permit said barrier means to be moved between said deployed position and said passive position without activating said second energy absorbing means.
- 4. A restraining barrier system as defined in claim 3 wherein said element comprises a high strength steel chain.
- 5. A restraining barrier system as defined in claim 1 wherein each of said transport means comprises a separate first energy absorbing means.
- 6. A restraining barrier system as defined in claim 5 comprising a pair of said second energy absorbing means.
- 7. A restraining barrier system as defined in claim 1 further including means for indicating the status of said restraining barrier means.
- 8. A restraining barrier system as defined in claim 7 wherein said status indicating means comprises:
- at least one sensing cable means coupling an end of said barrier means to at least one of said first transport means,
- indicator means for indicating operation of said barrier means for restraining a vehicle,
- activator means for operating said indicator means,
- said activator means comprising an element coupled to said sensing cable means such that said activator means is impeded by said sensing cable means from operating said indicator means and said activator means being operated in response to breaking of said sensing cable means in a crash event.
- 9. A restraining barrier system as defined in claim 1 wherein said restraining barrier means comprises a flexible wall and at least one low wire disposed below and behind the wall, the wall having a height of at least four feet, said low wire distance behind and below the wall being sufficient to assure capture of a low vehicle with a long bumper-forward wheel axis distance while avoiding capture of the wall under forward wheels of a truck or like high vehicle with a low bumper-forward wheel axis distance.
- 10. A restraining barrier system as defined in claim 9 and further comprising multiple additional wires spanning the wall in its span direction.
- 11. A restraining barrier system as defined in claim 10 further comprising vertical strips arranged along the net and maintaining the relative spacing of net and wires.
- 12. A restraining barrier system comprising:
- at least one pair of fixed side restraints defining a restraint zone therebetween,
- at least one of said pair of side restraints comprising a first energy absorbing means for providing a first predetermined restraining force,
- a restraining barrier means for support between said pair of fixed restraints,
- means for supporting said barrier means to said pair of fixed restraints and for coupling said barrier means to said first energy absorbing means,
- at least one second energy absorbing means secured between a restraint and said barrier means for providing a second predetermined restraining force,
- said second predetermined restraining force being greater than said first predetermined restraining force,
- and means for activating said second energy absorbing means after activation of said first energy absorbing means,
- said first and said second energy absorbing means being joined in parallel,
- whereby a vehicle of a predetermined weight range can be substantially stopped by said first energy absorbing means upon said vehicle engaging with said barrier means and a vehicle of a weight heavier than said predetermined weight range can be substantially stopped by said second energy absorbing means upon said vehicle engaging with said barrier means.
- 13. A restraining barrier system as defined in claim 12 wherein said means for activating said second energy absorbing means comprises a high strength element of predetermined length interconnected between said second energy absorbing means and said barrier means.
- 14. A restraining barrier system as defined in claim 13 wherein said element comprises a high strength steel chain.
- 15. A restraining barrier system as defined in claim 12 wherein each of said side restraints comprises a separate first energy absorbing means.
- 16. A restraining barrier system as defined in claim 15 comprising a pair of said second energy absorbing means.
- 17. A restraining barrier system as defined in claim 12 further including means for indicating the status of said restraining barrier means.
- 18. A restraining barrier system as defined in claim 17 wherein said status indicating means comprises:
- at least one sensing cable means coupling an end of said barrier means to at least one of said first transport means,
- indicator means for indicating operation of said barrier means for restraining a vehicle,
- activator means for operating said indicator means,
- said activator means comprising an element coupled to said sensing cable means such that said activator means is impeded by said sensing cable means from operating said indicator means and said activator means being operated in response to breaking of said sensing cable means in a crash event.
- 19. A restraining barrier system as defined in claim 12 wherein said restraining barrier means comprises a flexible wall and at least one low wire disposed below and behind the wall, the wall having a height of at least four feet, said low wire distance behind and below the wall being sufficient to assure capture of a low vehicle with a long bumper-forward wheel axis distance while avoiding capture of the wall under forward wheels of a truck or like high vehicle with a low bumper-forward wheel axis distance.
- 20. A restraining barrier system as defined in claim 19 and further comprising multiple additional wires spanning the wall in its span direction.
- 21. A restraining barrier system as defined in claim 20 further comprising vertical strips arranged along the net and maintaining the relative spacing of net and wires.
- 22. A restraining barrier system comprising at least one pair of fixed side restraints defining a restraint zone therebetween, a plurality of energy absorbing means for providing respective predetermined restraining forces, a plurality of restraining barrier means for support between said pair of fixed side restraints, means for supporting each of said barrier means to said fixed side restraints and coupling each of said barrier means to each of said energy absorbing means, respectively, said predetermined restraining force of each of said energy absorbing means being at least as great as an adjacent energy absorbing means, with the least amount of predetermined restraining force being associated with the energy absorbing means coupled to the first of said barrier means which a vehicle comes in contact with, whereby said plurality of barrier means operate in sequence to bring a vehicle to a substantial stop upon engagement by said vehicle with said plurality of barrier means.
- 23. A restraining barrier system as defined in claim 22 wherein said fixed side restraints are positioned adjacent the base of an inclined roadway, said restraint zone having an entrance portion leading away from said inclined roadway in order to receive runaway vehicles therein.
- 24. A restraining barrier system as defined in claim 23 wherein said fixed side restraints comprise a series of Jersey-like barriers.
- 25. A restraining barrier system as defined in claim 22 further including means for indicating the status of said restraining barrier means.
- 26. A restraining barrier system as defined in claim 25 wherein said status indicating means comprises:
- at least one sensing cable means coupling an end of said barrier means to at least one of said first transport means,
- indicator means for indicating operation of said barrier means for restraining a vehicle,
- activator means for operating said indicator means,
- said activator means comprising an element coupled to said sensing cable means such that said activator means is impeded by said sensing cable means from operating said indicator means and said activator means being operated in response to breaking of said sensing cable means in a crash event.
- 27. A restraining barrier system as defined in claim 22 wherein said restraining barrier means comprises a flexible wall and at least one low wire disposed below and behind the wall, the wall having a height of at least four feet, said low wire distance behind and below the wall being sufficient to assure capture of a low vehicle with a long bumper-forward wheel axis distance while avoiding capture of the wall under forward wheels of a truck or like high vehicle with a low bumper-forward wheel axis distance.
- 28. A restraining barrier system as defined in claim 27 and further comprising multiple additional wires spanning the wall in its span direction.
- 29. A restraining barrier system as defined in claim 28 further comprising vertical strips arranged along the net and maintaining the relative spacing of net and wires.
RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is a continuation-in part of U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 08/549,510 and 08/549,508 both filed on Oct. 27, 1995 and now U.S. Pat. No. 5,624,203 issued Apr. 29, 1997 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,634,738 issued Jun. 3, 1997, respectively. This application also claims priority of PCT Application No. PCT/US96/13495 filed 21 Aug. 1996.
US Referenced Citations (19)
Related Publications (1)
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549508 |
Oct 1995 |
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Continuation in Parts (1)
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549510 |
Oct 1995 |
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