Guardrail terminal
AssigneeSicking Safety Systems LLC
InventorsDean L. Sicking, Dakotah Sicking, Steven D. Thompson, Kenneth Walls, Kevin D. Schrum, Joseph Schwertz, David Littlefield, Andrew Dameron
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Guardrail, guardrail terminal, and support post designs that improve control of a vehicle during collisions are described. The disclosed designs also reduce the likelihood of intrusion into vehicle systems and the occupant compartment(s). Embodiments include folding and/or flattening of the guardrail and controlling the folded and flattened guardrail to avoid intrusion into the vehicle. Other embodiments include containing the guardrail in an impact head of a guardrail terminal, which also avoids vehicle intrusion.
Claims20
A guardrail assembly, comprising:
- a w-shaped guardrail extending longitudinally, the w-shaped guardrail including a first, upper end and a second, lower end, each of the first, upper end and the second, lower end extending from the w-shaped guardrail in a first direction that is horizontally transverse to a longitudinal direction;
- and
- a guardrail terminal having a first end and a second end, the guardrail terminal configured to receive the w-shaped guardrail at the first end of the guardrail terminal, the guardrail terminal including a deflector positioned between the first end of the guardrail terminal and the second end of the guardrail terminal, the deflector configured to fold the w-shaped guardrail such that the first, upper end and the second, lower end of the w-shaped guardrail are repositioned from extending in the first direction to extending in a second direction that is horizontally transverse to the longitudinal direction while the w-shaped guardrail is within the guardrail terminal, the second direction being is opposite to the first direction.
A guardrail terminal, comprising:
- a first end configured to receive a w-shaped guardrail including a first end and a second end, each of the first end and the second end of the w-shaped guardrail extending in a first direction;
- a second end,
- a downwardly oriented opening positioned adjacent the second end of the guardrail terminal;
- and
- a first deflector positioned between the first end of the guardrail terminal and the downwardly oriented opening, the first deflector configured to fold the w-shaped guardrail such that the first end and the second end of the w-shaped guardrail are repositioned from extending in the first direction to extending in a second direction that is opposite to the first direction.
A guardrail assembly, comprising:
- a w-shaped guardrail;
- a guardrail terminal configured to receive the w-shaped guardrail, the guardrail terminal including an impact face and a deflector extending horizontally from an interior wall of the guardrail terminal, the guardrail terminal and deflector configured to fold the w-shaped guardrail;
- and
- a plurality of posts supporting the w-shaped guardrail,
- the plurality of posts having plastic moments perpendicular to the w-shaped guardrail in a range from about 9,000 ft-lb to about 38,000 ft.-lbs.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.