Patent · US Expired

Guardrail extruder terminal

US5078366A · kind A · utility

83Cited by
19References
8Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMar 5, 1990
Grant dateJan 7, 1992
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 5, 2010

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC E)Fixed Constructions
  • CPC primaryE01F15/143
  • WIPO fieldCivil engineering
  • WIPO sectorOther fields

Abstract

A guardrail extruder terminal for flattening a folded or W-beam guardrail and bending the guardrail to dissipate the energy of a vehicle impacting the end of the guardrail includes a feeder chute. The feeder chute is provided with an inlet in which the guardrail is positioned. The feeder chute extends into a terminal housing, and is in communication with an extruder or flattening throat. The flattening throat is of a smaller width than the feeder chute to flatten the guardrail. A bending member is also provided in the terminal to bend the guardrail in an curvilinear arc away from the impacting vehicle. Also included is a cable anchor releasably mounted on the guardrail. A cable extends from the cable anchor to a first post located at the end of the guardrail. The cable anchor includes lugs that release from the guardrail upon engagement of the extruder terminal with the cable anchor. To prevent twisting, bending or rotation of posts holding the guardrail as the extruder terminal and impacting vehicle move down the guardrail during a collision, a groundline cable extends through bores in each post. In an alternative embodiment, the extruder throat includes side walls defined by curv…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.