Rubber adaptor for highway guardrail

Abstract

This invention relates to a method of manufacturing a solid rubber adaptor for converting an existing sheet metal highway barrier, said barrier preferably comprising an elongate horizontal guardrail of uniform transverse crossection connected to supporting posts spaced along the length of the guardrail, the guardrail having a roadside contoured surface and upper and lower edges, said adaptor comprising an elongate channel of uniform transverse crossection having an outer curbside contoured surface mating the contoured surface of the guardrail, the channel including a central web portion with an upper flange and a lower flange outwardly extending therefrom, the web portion having a thickness greater than the thickness of the flanges, the flanges each having outer ends with opposing return edge bead means for resiliently engaging the edges of the guardrail, said method comprising the steps of: mixing and knead melting a mixture of: 80 to 90 percent by weight particles of recycled waste rubber; 10 to 20 percent by weight virgin rubber; and an accelerator composition; forming the mixture to a selected adaptor configuration thus defining an adaptor; curing the mixture within a chamber at a temperature of 350.degree. C. to 400.degree. C. for a period of time from 3 to 5 hours; and removing the cured barrier from the chamber.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.