Energy dissipating system for a concrete roadway barrier
OwnerW. Eugene Arthurinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An energy dissipating system is mounted on the side surface of an elongated concrete median or roadway barrier and includes a longitudinally extending flexible sheet of low friction plastics material having upper and lower edge portions secured to the barrier and with an intermediate portion of the sheet defining a longitudinally extending cavity with the side surface. An elongated energy dissipating member extends horizontally within the cavity, and in one form, comprises a set of resilient cylindrical tubes of extruded plastics material with a smaller tube enclosed within a larger outer tube. In another form, the energy dissipating member includes helically extending compression plastic spring coils disposed between the resilient inner and outer tubes.
Claims18
An energy dissipating system in combination with an elongated concrete roadway barrier wall having a side surface extending parallel to the roadway and effective to reduce accidents and damage to motor vehicles moving on the roadway, said system comprising an elongated flexible sheet of plastics material having substantial thickness and overlying said side surface, said sheet including a longitudinally extending upper portion and a longitudinally extending lower portion integrally connected by an intermediate portion, said upper and lower portions of said sheet being attached to said barrier wall and said intermediate portion of said sheet being spaced from said side surface of said barrier wall to define a longitudinally and generally horizontally extending cavity between said sheet and said side surface, and at least one elongated and resilient energy dissipating member extending generally horizontally within said cavity.
An energy dissipating system in combination with an elongated concrete roadway barrier wall having a side surface extending parallel to the roadway and effective to reduce accidents and damage to motor vehicles moving on a roadway, said system comprising an elongated flexible sheet of plastics material having substantial thickness and overlying said side surface, said sheet including a longitudinally extending upper portion and a longitudinally extending lower portion integrally connected by an intermediate portion, said upper and lower portions of said sheet being attached to said barrier wall and said intermediate portion of said sheet being spaced from said side surface of said barrier wall to define a longitudinally extending cavity between said sheet and said side surface, and at least one elongated resilient tube of flexible plastics material extending longitudinally and generally horizontally within said cavity.
A method of constructing an energy dissipating system on a side surface of an elongated concrete roadway barrier wall extending parallel to a roadway to reduce the chance of a moving motor vehicle causing an accident on the roadway, comprising the steps of forming an elongated flexible sheet of plastics material with the sheet having a longitudinally extending upper portion integrally connected to a longitudinally extending lower portion by an intermediate portion, attaching the upper longitudinal portion and the lower longitudinal portion of the sheet to the barrier wall with the intermediate portion of the sheet and the side surface of the barrier wall defining a longitudinally and horizontally extending cavity therebetween, and extending an elongated and resilient energy dissipating member generally horizontally within the cavity.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.