Patent · US Active

Tension guardrail terminal

US8882082B2 · kind B2 · utility

3Cited by
30References
35Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateNov 15, 2010
Grant dateNov 11, 2014
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 20, 2033

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 an 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.