Break-away coupling for highway or roadside appurtenances with enhanced fatigue properties
AssigneeTranspo Industries, Inc.
InventorsArthur M. Dinitz, Michael S. Stenko, Mahmoud Reda Taha
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A break-away coupling is formed of metal and has a central axis and a necked-down central region formed by two inverted truncated cones each having larger and smaller bases. The cones are joined at the smaller bases by a narrowed transition region having an exterior surface formed by a curved surface of revolution having an inflection point of minimum diameter substantially midway of the coupling along the axis. The cones each define an angle θ1 and θ2, respectively, at each of the larger bases, wherein both θ1 and θ2 are selected to be within the range of 20°-40° and, preferably within the range of 30°-37°.
Claims20
In a fatigue-resistant break-away coupling formed of metal and having a central axis and a necked-down central region formed by two inverted truncated cones each having larger and smaller bases joined at the smaller bases by a narrowed transition region having an exterior surface formed by a curved surface of revolution having an inflection point of minimum diameter substantially midway of the coupling along said axis, said cones each defining an angle θ1, and θ2, respectively at each of said larger bases, wherein both θ1, and θ2 are selected to be within the range of 20°-42°.
A method of forming a fatigue resistant break-away coupling formed of metal and having a central axis and a necked-down central region comprising the steps of forming two inverted truncated cones each having larger and smaller bases, said cones each defining an angle θ1, and θ2 respectively, at each of said larger bases;
- joining said cones at said smaller bases by a narrowed transition region having an exterior surface formed by a curved surface of revolution having an inflection point of minimum diameter;
- and selecting θ1 and θ2 to be within the range of 20°-42°.
In a roadside appurtenance comprising a post or other load;
- a plurality of fatigue resistant break-away couplings supporting said post or other load, wherein each fatigue, resistant break-away coupling is formed of metal and has a central axis and a necked-down central region formed by two inverted truncated cones each having larger and smaller bases joined at the smaller bases by a narrowed transition region having an exterior surface formed by a curved surface of revolution having an inflection point of minimum diameter, said cones defining an angle defining an angle θ1 and θ2, respectively, at each of said larger bases, wherein θ1 and θ2 are selected to be within the range of 20°-42°.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.