YIELDING POST GUARDRAIL SAFETY SYSTEM INCORPORATING THRIE BEAM GUARDRAIL ELEMENTS

Abstract

A guardrail safety system includes a guardrail beam operable to contain and redirect an errant vehicle to prevent the vehicle from leaving a roadway. At least a portion of the guardrail beam includes a thrie beam. A support post is coupled to the guardrail beam and includes a lower portion, a mid portion, and an upper portion. The lower portion is installed below grade adjacent the roadway. The mid portion lies substantially adjacent the grade and is weakened about a first axis without being substantially weakened about a second axis that is generally perpendicular to the first axis. An upper portion is releasably coupled to the guardrail beam such that the upper portion is uncoupled from the guardrail beam when the mid portion yields about the first axis.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the present invention and the advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following brief descriptions, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and detailed description, wherein like reference numerals represent like parts, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of a guardrail safety system that incorporates certain aspects of the present invention;

FIGS. 2A-2C illustrate a transition portion of a guardrail beam suitable for use with the guardrail system of FIG. 1, in accordance with a particular embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate a length-of-need portion of a guardrail beam suitable for use with the guardrail system of FIG. 1, in accordance with a particular embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 4A-4C illustrate a guardrail support post suitable for use with the guardrail system of FIG. 1, in accordance with a particular embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 5A-5C illustrate another guardrail support post suitable for use with the guardrail system of FIG. 1, in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 6A-6C illustrate another guardrail support post suitable for use with the guardrail system of FIG. 1, in accordance with a particular embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 7A-7C illustrate another guardrail support post suitable for use with the guardrail system of FIG. 1, in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 8A-8C illustrate another guardrail support post suitable for use with the guardrail system of FIG. 1, in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 illustrates a guardrail support post that includes a modified flange for the protection of a guardrail beam, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 10A and 10B illustrate a flange protector for attachment to a support post for the protection of a guardrail beam, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 11A and 11B illustrate a flange protector for use with a corrugated rail element, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 12 illustrates a connector for coupling a guardrail beam with a support post, in accordance with a particular embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 13A-13C illustrate a connector for coupling a guardrail beam with a support post, in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 14A-14C illustrate a connector for coupling a guardrail beam with a support post, in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention; and

FIGS. 15A-15C illustrate a connector for coupling a guardrail beam with a support post, in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention.

Claims

1. A guardrail safety system, comprising: a guardrail beam operable to contain and redirect an errant vehicle to prevent the vehicle from leaving a roadway, the guardrail beam comprising a thrie beam; anda support post coupled to the guardrail beam, the support post comprising: a lower portion for installing below grade adjacent the roadway;a mid portion that lies substantially adjacent the grade, the mid portion including a weakened section operable to weaken the support post about a first axis without substantially weakening the support member about a second axis that is generally perpendicular to the first axis; andan upper portion releasably coupled to the guardrail beam such that the upper portion is uncoupled from the guardrail beam when the mid portion yields about the first axis.

2. The guardrail safety system of claim 1, wherein the weakened section comprises at least one aperture selected from the group consisting of a square, rectangle, circle, oval, ellipse, and trapezoid.

3. The guardrail safety system of claim 1, wherein the weakened section comprises at least one cutout selected from the group consisting of a notch, a diamond-shaped notch, a semi-circle opening, and a sawcut.

4. The guardrail safety system of claim 1, wherein the support post is comprised of material selected from the group consisting of steel, wood, and plastic.

5. The guardrail safety system of claim 1, wherein the support post is comprised of steel and is selected from the group consisting of an I-beam, an H-beam, a C-channel, an S-beam, a W-beam, an M-beam, a square tube, a rectangular tube, or a round tube.

6. The guardrail safety system of claim 5, wherein the support post is comprised of steel and is selected from the group consisting of a W6×9 Wide flange, a W8×10 Wide flange, and a W6×8.5 Wide flange.

7. The guardrail safety system of claim 1, further comprising a flange protector coupled between the support post and the guardrail beam, the flange protector selected from the group consisting of a corrugated guardrail member having two corrugations, a corrugated guardrail member having three corrugations, a flat plate, a block, or a channel.

8. The guardrail safety system of claim 1, further comprising a flange protector coupled between the support post and the guardrail beam, and wherein: the support post comprises first and second flanges and a web forming a coupling between the first and second flanges, the web extending generally perpendicular to a midpoint of the first and second flanges;the flange protector comprises a substantially rectangular body portion that includes an indentation in a surface of the flange protector that is proximate to the support post when the support post and the guardrail beam are coupled with the flange protector therebetween; andthe second flange of the support post rests inside the indentation of the flange protector when the second flange of the support post and the guardrail beam are coupled with the flange protector therebetween.

9. The guardrail safety system of claim 1, further comprising a connector for coupling the support post to the guardrail beam, the connector including a head portion that is configured to provide a sufficiently strong connection between the guardrail beam and the support post to support the guardrail beam and a sufficiently weak connection between the guardrail beam and the support post to enable the support post to detach from the guardrail beam when struck by the errant vehicle.

10. The guardrail safety system of claim 1, further comprising a connector for coupling the support post to the guardrail beam, the connector comprising a bolt having a countersunk head defined by a first surface and a second surface, the countersunk head having a tapered side between the first and second surfaces.

11. The guardrail safety system of claim 10, the countersunk head includes a shoulder proximate a threaded shaft of the bolt.

12. The guardrail safety system of claim 1, further comprising a connector for coupling the support post to the guardrail beam, the connector comprising: a threaded shaft;a head portion coupled to the threaded shaft; anda shoulder portion proximate the threaded shaft and configured to prevent the connector from rotating relative to the guardrail beam.

13. A guardrail safety system, comprising: a guardrail beam operable to contain and redirect an errant vehicle to prevent the vehicle from leaving a roadway, the guardrail beam comprising: a terminal portion comprising a corrugated guardrail member having two corrugations;a length-of-need (LON) portion comprising a corrugated guardrail member having three corrugations; anda transition portion comprising a steel member that transitions from a corrugated guardrail member having two corrugations to a corrugated guardrail member having three corrugations; anda plurality of guardrail support posts in spaced apart relation to one another, at least a portion of the plurality of support posts comprising: a lower portion for installing below grade adjacent the roadway;a mid portion that lies substantially adjacent the grade, the mid portion including a weakened section operable to weaken the support post about a first axis without substantially weakening the support member about a second axis that is generally perpendicular to the first axis; andan upper portion releasably coupled to the guardrail beam such that the upper portion is uncoupled from the guardrail beam when the mid portion yields about the first axis.

14. The guardrail safety system of claim 13, wherein the weakened section comprises at least one aperture selected from the group consisting of a square, rectangle, circle, oval, ellipse, and trapezoid.

15. The guardrail safety system of claim 13, wherein the weakened section comprises at least one cutout selected from the group consisting of a notch, a diamond-shaped notch, a semi-circle opening, and a sawcut.

16. The guardrail safety system of claim 13, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of support posts are comprised of material selected from the group consisting of steel, wood, and plastic.

17. The guardrail safety system of claim 13, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of support posts are comprised of steel and are selected from the group consisting of an I-beam, an H-beam, a C-channel, an S-beam, a W-beam, an M-beam, a square tube, a rectangular tube, or a round tube.

18. The guardrail safety system of claim 17, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of support posts are comprised of steel and are selected from the group consisting of a W6×9 Wide flange, a W8×10 Wide flange, and a W6×8.5 Wide flange.

19. The guardrail safety system of claim 13, further comprising a flange protector coupled between a selected one of the plurality of support posts and the guardrail beam, the flange protector selected from the group consisting of a corrugated guardrail member having two corrugations, a corrugated guardrail member having three corrugations, a flat plate, a block, or a channel.

20. The guardrail safety system of claim 13, further comprising a flange protector coupled between a selected one of the plurality of support posts and the guardrail beam, and wherein: the selected support post comprises first and second flanges and a web forming a coupling between the first and second flanges, the web extending generally perpendicular to a midpoint of the first and second flanges;the flange protector comprises a substantially rectangular body portion that includes an indentation in a surface of the flange protector that is proximate to the selected support post when the selected support post and the guardrail beam are coupled with the flange protector therebetween; andthe second flange of the selected support post rests inside the indentation of the flange protector when the second flange of the selected support post and the guardrail beam are coupled with the flange protector therebetween.

21. The guardrail safety system of claim 13, further comprising a connector for coupling a selected one of the plurality of support posts to the guardrail beam, the connector including a head portion that is configured to provide a sufficiently strong connection between the guardrail beam and the selected support post to support the guardrail beam and a sufficiently weak connection between the guardrail beam and the selected support post to enable the selected support post to detach from the guardrail beam when struck by the errant vehicle.

22. The guardrail safety system of claim 13, further comprising a connector for coupling a selected one of the plurality of support posts to the guardrail beam, the connector comprising a bolt having a countersunk head defined by a first surface and a second surface, the countersunk head having a tapered side between the first and second surfaces.

23. The guardrail safety system of claim 13, further comprising a connector for coupling the support post to the guardrail beam, the connector comprising: a threaded shaft;a head portion coupled to the threaded shaft; anda shoulder portion proximate the threaded shaft and configured to prevent the connector from rotating relative to the guardrail beam.

24. A guardrail safety system, comprising: a guardrail beam operable to contain and redirect an errant vehicle to prevent the vehicle from leaving a roadway, the guardrail beam comprising: a terminal portion comprising a corrugated guardrail member having two corrugations;a length-of-need (LON) portion comprising a corrugated guardrail member having three corrugations; anda transition portion comprising a steel member that transitions from a corrugated guardrail member having two corrugations to a corrugated guardrail member having three corrugations;a plurality of guardrail support posts in spaced apart relation to one another, at least a portion of the plurality of support posts comprising: a lower portion for installing below grade adjacent the roadway;a mid portion that lies substantially adjacent the grade, the mid portion including a weakened section operable to weaken the support post about a first axis without substantially weakening the support member about a second axis that is generally perpendicular to the first axis, the weakened section selected from the group consisting of at least one aperture, at least one notch, and at least one sawcut; andan upper portion releasably coupled to the guardrail beam such that the upper portion is uncoupled from the guardrail beam when the mid portion yields about the first axis;a flange protector coupled between a selected one of the plurality of support posts and the guardrail beam, the flange protector comprising a portion of a corrugated guardrail beam; anda connector for coupling the selected one of the plurality of support posts to the guardrail beam, the connector comprising a bolt having a countersunk head defined by a first surface and a second surface, the countersunk head having a tapered side between the first and second surfaces.