High-performance deformable steel guardrail
AssigneeAutostrada del Brennero S.P.A.
InventorVittorio Giavotto
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A guardrail for a road or highway includes spaced uprights or posts on which are mounted deformable spacers which carry a longitudinal rail. The rail is formed by two wave shaped strips mounted together in a FIG. 8 profile by fastening ribs positioned in the open areas of the FIG. 8. The spacer has a straight lower portion that extends diagonally upward from the upright to the rail, a center portion fastened to the rail, and an upper portion curved to meet the upright. The spacer deforms to lift the rail upon impact. Additional tubular rails are provided on the uprights above the rail height.
Claims19
A guardrail for a roadway, comprising:
- uprights for positioning in spaced out arrangement along a roadway;
- a longitudinal rail carried on a first lateral side of the uprights, said longitudinal rail including a pair of metal longitudinal strips, each strip having a double wave shaped profile, the strips arranged facing each other to define two cavities in a figure 8 profile;
- connecting ribs disposed between said two longitudinal strips and fastening said strips together, wherein said connecting ribs are made of sheet metal, have a C-shaped profile and are arranged in pairs, one of said ribs being disposed in each cavity formed by the longitudinal strips and wherein said ribs are fastened to said longitudinal strips;
- and
- deformable spacers mounted to said uprights and connecting said uprights and one of said longitudinal strips to carry said rail.
A guardrail for a roadway, comprising:
- uprights for positioning in spaced out arrangement along a roadway;
- a longitudinal rail carried on a first lateral side of the uprights, said longitudinal rail including a pair of metal longitudinal strips, each strip having a double wave shaped profile, the strips arranged facing each other to define a figure 8 profile;
- connecting ribs disposed between said two longitudinal strips and fastening said strips together;
- and
- deformable spacers mounted to said uprights and connecting said uprights and one of said longitudinal strips to carry said rail,
- wherein each spacer has a lower portion extending diagonally from the rail to a position on the upright below a height of the rail, and an upper curved portion, so that the upper portion collapses in response to a collision force to raise the longitudinal rail.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.