US 5,199,814 A · Impact recovery delineation system

Abstract

An impact recovery delineation system comprises a base member that provides improved mechanical and chemical bonding to the road surface and a portable base that provides a rigid center portion and flexible ends to maintain the position of the delineator device after vehicle impact. A sealed, pneumatic tube of high impact resistant material composition acts as a delineator post and is adapted to receive modified load cells. Upper and lower load cell elements are provided with cable passages to allow side-by-side placement of wire rope cables. The passages are particularly geometrically configured and have two radiused edges and two straight edges which result in rapid bending and recovery of the delineator post system upon high speed impact, in any direction, by an automotive vehicle. A vented signage panel having air vents therein to reduce wind resistance, improve and speed recovery of the impacted system. A safety loop in the cable system is provided to prevent the delineator post and signage from being separated from the load cell abutment base connection should there be a structural failure at this connection. A flexible portable base structure is provided for temporary location of delineation posts and which is provided with an intermediate stiffener and flexible weighted ends to prevent its lifting from the roadway upon vehicle impact with the impact recovery delineator post system supported thereby.

Claims29

Dependent claims

A self-uprighting delineation system comprising:

(a) a base means adapted to be supported by any suitable structure;
(b) a tubular delineator post of polymer composition;
(c) a pivotal load cell having supported connection with said base member and having supporting connection with said delineator post and further comprising:
(1) upper and lower load cell elements, each having a flat abutment face disposed in abutting relation and forming an abutment joint, said load cell elements each forming a cable passage, cross-section dimensioned in a first direction slightly greater than a single cable diameter and in a second perpendicular direction slightly greater than two cable diameters, said cable passage having radiused edges intersecting said flat abutment faces in said second perpendicular direction and having straight edges along said flat abutment faces in said first direction, said radiused edges and said straight edges cooperating such that said upper load cell element is capable of preferably pivoting in alignment with said first direction at said abutment joint relative to said lower load cell element;
(2) a pair of wire rope cables disposed in close fitting side-by-side relation and extending through said vertically aligned passages of said upper and lower load cell elements, said wire rope cables being capable of bending as said upper load cell is pivoted at said abutment joint and resisting tensile elongation and cooperating with said radiused edges and said straight edges to prevent relative rotation of said load cell elements while minimizing the bending and uprighting force required to pivot said upper load cell element in said first direction at said abutment joint relative to said lower load cell element;
and
(3) at least one compression spring placing said wire rope cables under predetermined tensile load, said compression spring being further compressed upon pivoting of said upper load cell element in either of said first and second directions and developing an uprighting force urging said upper and lower load cell elements and said delineator post to the vertically aligned and properly oriented positions thereof.

4 more elements

In a self-uprighting delineation system for travelways and the like and incorporating a delineator post of polymer composition having a load cell interconnected therewith, the improvement comprising:

(a) an elongate base member composed of resilient material and forming opposed sides and opposed ends;
(b) a generally rigid stiffener element also forming opposed sides and opposed ends and being fixed to and located centrally of said elongate base to render the central portion of said elongate base member generally rigid, said opposed ends of said elongate base member extending beyond respective ends of said stiffener element such that opposed end portions of said elongate base member are of flexible nature, said elongate base member and stiffener elements cooperating to minimize the lifting of the vehicle-facing end of said elongated base member upon application of impact forces to said delineator post assembly and to define a portable delineator base assembly;
and
(c) said delineator post being supported in upright relation by said delineator base assembly.

1 more element

In a self-uprighting delineation system for travelways and the like and incorporating a delineator post of polymer composition having a load cell interconnected therewith, the improvement comprising:

a generally rectangular base member composed of generally rigid material and having a lower bonding surface defined by a plurality of spaced ridges defining first channels therebetween, said spaced ridges being interrupted to define lateral interconnecting channels having communication with a plurality of said first channels whereby upon forcible contact of uncured bonding material by the lower surface of said base, said bonding material will readily flow into and substantially fill all of said first channels, said base member further defining bonding recesses opening from the upper surface of said base and intersecting at least some of said first channels, whereby said forcible contact induces bonding material to flow from said first channels into said recesses and upon curing to form mechanical interlocking retention as well as bonded retention with said base member.

A self-uprighting delineator system comprising:

(a) base member adapted to be supported by any suitable stationary object;
(b) a delineator post of polymer composition, said post having a means for sealing said post so as to enable said post to retain within said post air compressed therein as the result of a high energy impact upon said post;
(c) a pivotal load cell having supported connection with said base member and having supporting connection with said delineator post and further comprising:
(1) upper and lower load cell elements, each of said elements having a flat abutment face disposed in abutting relation and forming an abutment joint, said load cell elements each forming a vertical cable passage, said passage cross-section dimensioned in a first direction slightly greater than a single cable diameter and in a second perpendicular direction slightly greater than two cable diameters, said passage having radiused edges along said flat abutment faces in said second perpendicular direction and straight edges along said flat abutment faces in said first direction, said upper load cell element capable of pivoting at said abutment joint relative to said lower load cell element;
(2) a pair of wire rope cables disposed in close fitting side-by-side relation and extending through said vertically aligned passages of said upper and lower load cell elements said wire rope cables being capable of bending and resisting tensile elongation and cooperating with said geometric configuration of said aligned passages, said radiused edges and said straight edges to prevent relative rotation of said load cell elements while reducing the bending and uprighting force required to pivot said upper load cell element in said first direction at said abutment joint relative to said lower load cell element;
and
(3) at least one compression spring placing said wire rope cables under predetermined tensile load, said compression spring being further compressed upon pivoting of said upper load cell element in said first direction and developing an uprighting force urging said upper and lower load cell elements and said delineator post to the vertically aligned and properly oriented positions thereof.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Impact recovery delineation system

Life of this patent

Impact recovery delineation system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims29