Methods and apparatus for quickly erecting a vehicle barrier across a roadway
OwnerDonald E. Waldeckerinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A barrier system is provided for blocking a roadway to prevent passage of a vehicle. The barrier system comprises a series of inflatable bags connected to a flexible net, and energy dissipating units connected to ends of the net. The system is normally located in a subterranean chamber when deactivated. When activated, the air bags are inflated and rise above the ground surface while pulling the net upwardly therewith. A vehicle which impacts the barrier is rapidly decelerated under the energy dissipating action of the air bags, energy dissipating units, and net.
Claims14
A barrier system for resisting the advance of vehicles and the like, comprising:
- a barrier mounted in a below-ground chamber and including:
- a flexible net formed of high strength material,
- inflatable bag means attached to said net, and
- means for inflating said bag means to raise said bag means and said net above the ground surface into the path of an oncoming vehicle or the like, and
- energy dissipating means anchored in said chamber and connected to opposite ends of said net for permitting limited displacement of said net under the impact of a vehicle while dissipating the energy of said vehicle.
A barrier adapted to be extended across a roadway for resisting the advance of vehicles comprising:
- a flexible net formed of high strength material,
- inflatable bag means connected to said net, and
- means for inflating said bag means to extend said bag means and said net across said roadway.
A method of stopping a vehicle comprising the steps of:
- inflating an inflatable bag means such that said bag means extends across a roadway from a folded condition beneath the ground surface, said bag means simultaneously raising a net connected to said bag means, said net having two ends connected to energy dissipating means,
- causing said inflated bag means to be compressed upon impact by said vehicle such that said bag means is compressed between said net and vehicle to impose a first-stage speed deceleration on said vehicle,
- causing said energy dissipating means to yield as said net is displaced by the vehicle, to impose a second-stage speed deceleration on the vehicle, and
- imposing non-yieldable forces on said net rendering said net stationary after said second-stage speed deceleration is terminated, to impose a third-stage speed deceleration on said vehicle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.