Guard rail construction

A guard rail system comprising

• a plurality of W-beam rail elements;
• a curved rail end mounted to one of the rail elements and forming a termination of said plurality of rail elements;
• a plurality of vertical posts for supporting said rail elements in a substantially horizontal position;
• means for attaching said rail elements to each other in overlapping relationship with the rail element closer to said rail end of overlapping rail elements on top, so that said rail elements will move axially with respect to each other upon an axial impact, but will maintain full tensile strength upon other than axial impacts;
• and
• second volt means, including a plurality of frangible bolts, for connecting said rail elements to said posts so that said rail elements will break away from said posts upon an axial impact on said rail end, but will not break away upon other than axial impacts.

A guard rail system comprising:

• a plurality of rail elements having characteristics for re-directing impacting vehicles and disposed in a series;
• a curved rail end mounted to one of said rail elements and forming a termination of said plurality of rail elements;
• a plurality of vertical posts for supporting said rail elements in a substantially horizontal position;
• means for attaching at least some of said rail elements to said posts;
• and
• every other rail element of said plurality of rail elements comprising means for attaching rail elements on either side thereof to each other so that said rail elements will move axially with respect to each other upon an axial impact, but will maintain full tensile strength for maintaining their redirectional characteristics upon other than axial impacts, and said attaching means further comprising connecting means, and surface means formed on both ends of each said every other rail element for receiving and ejecting said connecting means.

A guard rail system comprising

• a plurality of rail elements having characteristics for re-directing impacting vehicles;
• a curved rail end mounted to one of said rail elements and forming a termination of said plurality of rail elements;
• a plurality of vertical posts for supporting said rail elements in a substantially horizontal position;
• means for mounting at least the post closest to said rail end so that said post will break away upon an axial impact of said rail end but will not fail upon an impact in other directions;
• means for attaching said rail elements to each other in overlapping relationship so that said rail elements will move axially with respect to each other upon an axial impact, but will maintain full tensile strength for maintaining their redirectional characteristics upon other than axial impacts, said means comprising first bolt means and surface means of said rail elements for receiving said first bolt means;
• and
• second bolt means for attaching said rail elements to said posts comprising a plurality of frangible bolts for connecting said rail elements to said posts so that said rail elements will break away from said posts upon an axial impact on said rail end, but will not break away upon other than axial impacts.

A guard rail system comprising

• a plurality of rail elements having characteristics for re-directing impacting vehicles;
• a curved rail end mounted to one of said rail elements and forming a termination of said plurality of rail elements;
• a plurality of vertical posts for supporting said rail elements in a substantially horizontal position at least some of said posts comprise a first metal section disposed in the ground and a second metal section detached from said first metal section and disposed above ground, and W-beam guard rail sections mounted to each said first metal sections and disposed underground to stabilize said first metal sections;
• means for mounting at least the post closest to said rail end so that said post will break away upon an axial impact of said rail end but will not fail upon an impact in other directions, said means comprising coupling means for mounting said first and second sections together so that said coupling means will fail upon an axial impact but not upon impacts in other directions;
• means for attaching said rail elements to each other in overlapping relationship so that said rail elements can move axially with respect to each other upon an axial impact, but will maintain their re-directional characteristics upon other than axial impacts;
• and
• second bolt means for attaching said rail elements to said posts.

A guard rail system comprising

• a plurality of rail elements having characteristics for re-directing impacting vehicles;
• a curved rail end mounted to one of said rail elements and forming a termination of said plurality of rail elements;
• a plurality of vertical posts for supporting said rail elements in a substantially horizontal position;
• means for mounting at least the post closest to said rail end so that said post will break away upon an axial impact of said rail end but will not fail upon an impact in other directions;
• means for attaching said rail elements to each other in overlapping relationship so that said rail elements will move axially with respect to each other upon an axial impact, but will maintain full tensile strength for maintaining their re-directional characteristics upon other than axial impacts, said means comprising first bolt means and surface means of said rail elements for receiving said first bolt means;
• said surface means of said rail elements for receiving said first bolt means comprise, for each bolt, a bolt-receiving opening, and a tang of said rail element having a root portion located closer to said rail end than said opening, and extending from said root portion to said bolt opening;
• and
• second bolt means for attaching said rail elements to said posts.