Roadway barrier
AssigneeInternational Barrier Corporation
InventorsLincoln C. Cobb, Teddy J. Hirsch
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An elongated roadway barrier deformable under impact to redirect a vehicle striking the barrier. The barrier includes a plurality of panels arranged in parallel, spaced rows to define a filler cavity. A filler material is disposed in the cavity to support the barrier and to provide a medium for dissipating impact energy. The filler material is stabilized by a bonding agent and has a shear strength of at least about 30 psi and a compressive strength less than about 1200 psi.
Claims39
An elongated roadway barier, positioned on a supporting surface of flank a roadway, the barrier being deformable under impact to redirect a straying vehicle striking the barrier, the barrier comprising:
- (a) a plurality of panels arranged in two generally parallel spaced rows along lower edges of the panels to define a filler cavity between them;
- (b) connection means engaged with the panels thereby locating the rows in their laterally spaced relationship, and connecting the panels in each row in end-to-end relationship in an elongated linked row with the barrier presenting an outer surface along at least a first side of the barrier which surface is generally smooth in a direction parallel to the length of the barrier to allow a vehicle striking the barrier to be deflected along the barrier;
- (c) a filler material housed in the filler cavity to support the barrier and provide a medium for dissipating impact energy;
- (d) the filler material being at least one layer of non-stabilized filler material and at least one layer of a stabilized filler material, said stabilized filler material is stabilized by means of a bonding agent;
- (e) the stabilized filler material providing a shear strength for the stabilized filler material of at least about 10 to 15 psi to provide beam strength for the barrier to distribute an impact force along the length of the barrier;
- and
- (f) the stabilized filler material having a compressive strength of less than about 1200 psi to permit deformation of the barrier under impact to absorb impact energy.
A method of improving the operating characteristics of a roadway barrier of a type comprising a plurality of panels which are arranged in two generally parallel spaced rows along their lower edges to define a filler cavity between them, with the panels being connected by means of connection means which locate the rows in their laterally spaced relationship and which connect the panels in each row in end-to end relationship in an elongated linked row, with the barrier being deformable under impact to redirect a straying vehicle along the length of the barrier, the method comprising providing at least one layer of a stabilized filler material and at least one layer of non-stabilized filler material in the filler cavity, the stabilized filler material providing a shear strength of at least about 10 to 15 psi and having a compressive strength of less than about 1200 psi.
A method of reducing the mass of a roadway barrier and increasing the beam strength of a roadway barrier of the type which is deformable under impact and comprises two substantially parallel rows of elongated panels which are connected together in laterally spaced relationship, with the panels in each row being connected together in end-to-end relationship, and which has a filler material between the laterally spaced panels to provide a medium for absorbing impact energy during use and for supporting the panels, which comprises a non-stabilized filler material and at least one layer of stabilized filler material which is stabilized with a bonding agent to provide a shear strength of at least about 15 to 25 psi for the stabilized filler material, while limiting the compressive strength of the stabilized filler material to less than about 1200 psi.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.