Single anchor terminal
AssigneeThe Texas A&M University System
InventorsMichael S. Brackin, Dean C. Alberson, Roger P. Bligh, Delbert Lance Bullard, JR.
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A single anchor terminal is provided for a roadside wire rope barrier. The single anchor terminal includes a release post, a brace, and an anchor base. The brace supports the release post in an upright position and extends from the release post to the anchor base. The brace has a first portion attached to the release post and a second portion coupled to the first portion with a release component. The anchor base includes a main post that supports the release post and a brace anchor that is coupled to the main post.
Claims17
A cable release system for a single anchor terminal, the system comprising:
- a release post
- a pair of keeper plates disposed on opposing first and second faces of the release post, the keeper plates each having apertures adapted to receive an end portion of a cable extending in a first direction from the release post;
- a pair of notched plates disposed adjacent the keeper plates, the notched plates each having lateral notches disposed along opposite side edges of each notched plate, wherein the notches are adapted to receive the end portion of the cable, and wherein the lateral notches align with the apertures of the keeper plates;
- and
- a brace extending in a second direction from the release post to support the release post in an upright position, the second direction being opposite the first direction.
A tension release system for a single anchor terminal, the tension release system comprising:
- a brace extending from a release post of the single anchor terminal to a brace anchor, the brace anchor having an above grade portion, wherein the brace comprises:
- a first portion and a second portion having adjoining portions, the adjoining portions of the first and second portions each comprising a catch and an indent, the catch having an inclined surface and a flat surface and the indent having an inclined surface and a flat surface;
- wherein a distal end of the first portion is attached to the release post and a distal end of the second portion is attached to the above grade portion of the brace anchor, the distal ends of the first and second portions forming opposing ends of the brace.
The tension release system of claim Error! Reference source not found.0, further comprising a fastener coupling the adjoining ends of the first and second portions of the brace.
A method for triggering a release of a cable from a single anchor terminal, the method comprising:
- impacting a brace of the single anchor terminal in a longitudinal direction, the brace having a first portion extending from a release post and a second portion coupled to the first portion with a release component, the brace further supporting the release post in an upright position by providing resistance against a tension applied by the cables on the release post in a first direction, and the release post being supported by an anchor base;
- and
- triggering the release component, decoupling the second portion from the first portion of the brace, and thereby releasing the release post from the brace anchor.
A method for triggering release of a cable from a single anchor terminal, the method comprising:
- impacting a cable with a vehicle in a lateral direction, the cable having an end portion releasably coupled to a release post of a single anchor terminal, the cable extending in a first direction through apertures of a pair of keeper plates disposed on opposite first and second faces of the release post and into laterally opening notches of a pair of notched plates disposed adjacent the keeper plates;
- applying a tensile load to the cable, and thereby applying a tensile load to a brace supporting the release post in an upright position, the brace extending from the release post in a second direction opposite the first direction and comprising a first portion attached to the release post and a second portion coupled with the first portion by a release component;
- and
- breaking the keeper plates with the cable and releasing the cable from the laterally opening notches.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.