Tension guardrail terminal
US7883075B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 5, 2008 |
| Grant date | Feb 8, 2011 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 24, 2029 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC E)Fixed Constructions
- CPC primaryE01F15/143
- WIPO fieldCivil engineering
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
A terminal portion of a guardrail safety system includes a terminal portion of a guardrail beam having a downstream end and upstream end. The terminal portion of the guardrail beam slopes from a height appropriate for redirecting an errant vehicle to a height proximate the surface of the ground at an upstream end of the terminal portion. Support posts are installed adjacent a roadway in spaced apart relation to one another and are coupled to the terminal portion of the guardrail beam. A terminal support post is installed adjacent the roadway at the upstream end of the terminal portion of the guardrail beam. The terminal support post couples to an upstream end of the terminal portion of the guardrail beam by a resistive, tensile coupling that maintains tension in the terminal portion of the guardrail beam. The resistive, tensile coupling is maintained between the terminal support post and the guardrail beam during an end-on or re-directive impact by a vehicle. However, the resistive, tensile coupling between the terminal support post and the guardrail beam is released during a reverse-direction impact.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.