BARRIER SYSTEM

• US 20070284562A1
• Filed: 06/11/2007
• Published: 12/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Protectus LLC
• Original Assignee: Protectus LLC
• Inventors: Bunk, Kenneth J., Leimbach, Wendell B., George, William Alan, Somers, Robert, Marshall, James W., O'Banion, Michael Lester, O'Banion, Daniel Stafford
• Granted Patent: US 7,942,602 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 256/10
• CPC Class Codes: E01F 13/028 Flexible barrier members, e.g. cords; Means for rendering same conspicuous; Adapted supports, e.g. with storage reel
• CPC Class Codes: E01F 15/025 Combinations of at least two of the barrier member types covered by E01F15/04 - E01F15/08, e.g. rolled steel section or plastic strip backed up by cable, safety kerb topped by rail barrier
• CPC Class Codes: E01F 15/06 essentially made of cables, nettings or the like E01F15/10, E01F15/12 take precedence; protection against falling rocks E01F7/04; arresting gear for aircraft B64F1/02

Abstract

A barrier system and method for providing a barrier system are disclosed. The barrier system and method relate to a vehicle and pedestrian barrier system which can be positioned in vehicle and pedestrian passageways adjacent a protected structure or area to preclude the vehicle or the pedestrian from reaching and engaging the protected structure or area.

Claims

1. A barrier system comprising:

a first end post supported by a first foundation,

at least one intermediate post,

a second end post supported by a second foundation, and

at least one tension cable, wherein said at least one tension cable is connected to said first end post via at least one first energy absorbing means, said at least one tension cable extends from said first end post, via at least one intermediate post, to said second end post and said at least one tension cable is connected to said second end post via at least one second energy absorbing means.

2. The barrier system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of panels through which said at least one tension cable extends.

3. The barrier system of claim 1, wherein said first end post is formed integrally with said first foundation and said second end post is formed integrally with said second foundation.

4. The barrier system of claim 3, wherein said first and second end posts comprise at least one tension rod.

5. The barrier system of claim 1, wherein said first foundation and said second foundation are subterranean.

6. The barrier system of claim 1, wherein an upper surface of said first foundation and an upper surface of said second foundation are at least one of above, at, and below ground level.

7. The barrier system of claim 1, wherein said at least one first and at least one second energy absorbing means comprise at least one ductile energy absorber.

8. The barrier system of claim 7, wherein said at least one ductile energy absorber comprises at least one crushable element.

9. The barrier system of claim 7, wherein at least one of said first and second end posts comprises at least one chamber and said at least one ductile energy absorber is located within said at least one chamber.

10. The barrier system of claim 9, wherein said ductile energy absorber comprises a plurality of crushable elements disposed along said at least one tension cable between an end cable clamp and a surface of said at least one chamber.

11. The barrier system of claim 10, wherein said end cable clamp comprises a clamping element and a tapered segment with at least one raised tooth.

12. The barrier system of claim 11, wherein each of said plurality of crushable elements comprises a frustum of a cone having a base with an axial hole and a continuous side wall tapering outwardly from said base at a prescribed angle to define a recess.

13. The barrier system of claim 1, wherein said at least one first and at least one second energy absorbing means comprise a brake-pad restraining arrangement.

14. The barrier system of claim 13, wherein said brake-pad restraining arrangement comprises at least two brake pads having interfacing surfaces in which are formed arcuate grooves and a plurality of fastening elements retaining said at least two brake pads in an interfacing arrangement.

15. The barrier system of claim 14, wherein at least one of said first and second end posts comprises at least one chamber, said brake-pad restraining arrangement is disposed within said at least one chamber, and a portion of said tension cable is disposed within said arcuate grooves.

16. The barrier system of claim 1, wherein said at least one first and at least one second energy absorbing means comprises a plate, a ductile tube, and a swaging end.

17. The barrier system of claim 16, wherein at least one of said first and second end posts comprises at least one chamber and said energy absorbing means is disposed within said at least one chamber such that said ductile tube is disposed between said swaging end and said plate and said tension cable extends through a hole in said plate, through said ductile tube, and to said swaging end and said tension cable is connected to said swaging end via cable termination means.

18. The barrier system of claim 17, wherein said ductile tube has an initial constant size corresponding with a small end portion of said swaging end.

19. The barrier system of claim 9, wherein

said at least one chamber comprises a substantially open end and a substantially closed end,

said at least one tension cable is threaded through said substantially open end of said at least one chamber, through said at least one plurality of ductile energy absorbers, and through said substantially closed end, and extends from said first end post, and

said at least one tension cable is secured to said at least one energy absorbers via a fastener.

20. The barrier system of claim 1, wherein said at least one intermediate post comprises a foundation, a beam, and at least one through opening allowing passage of said at least one tension cable.

21. The barrier system of claim 1, wherein at least one tension rod is embedded in said at least one end post.

22. A barrier system comprising:

a first end post;

a plurality of intermediate posts;

a plurality of panels;

a second end post; and

at least one tension cable, wherein said at least one tension cable extends from said first end post to said second end post via at least one conduit in each of said plurality of intermediate posts and each of said plurality of panels.

23. The barrier system of claim 22, wherein a majority of said plurality of panels comprises a tongue portion and a groove portion and a minority of said plurality of panels comprises a first tongue portion and a second tongue portion.

24. The barrier system of claim 23, wherein said plurality of panels comprises at least one first panel and at least one second panel and said tongue portion of said first panel cooperates with said groove portion of said second panel.

25. The barrier system of claim 24, wherein each of said plurality of intermediate posts is disposed within a groove portion of at least one of said plurality of panels.

26. The barrier system of claim 25, wherein each of said plurality of intermediate posts is located in one of a plurality of rigid sleeves.

27. A barrier system comprising:

a first end post;

a plurality of intermediate posts, each comprising a beam, at least one passage, and a base;

a plurality of panels, each comprising at least one conduit partially defined by at least one flared opening;

a second end post; and

at least one tension cable, wherein a first end portion of said at least one tension cable is attached to said first end post, and a continuous length of said at least one tension cable extends laterally from said first end post through said at least one passage of each of said plurality of intermediate posts, through said at least one conduit of each of said plurality of panels, and a second end portion of said at least one tension cable is attached to said second end post.

28. The barrier system of claim 27, wherein each of said plurality of intermediate posts is formed integrally with each of said plurality of panels.

29. The barrier system of claim 27, wherein

each of said first and second end posts comprises an integrally formed end post foundation, and

each of said plurality of intermediate posts comprises an integrally formed intermediate post foundation.

30. The barrier system of claim 28, wherein

said base of each of said plurality of intermediate posts comprises a short foot extending laterally in a first direction from said beam and a long foot extending laterally in a second direction from said beam, and

said at least one conduit of each of said plurality of panels comprises an integral preform that defines at least one slot.

31. The barrier system of claim 30, wherein

each of said plurality of intermediate panels comprises a first side and a second side, and said slot comprises an L-slot defined by a long-leg opening extending substantially centripetally from and substantially perpendicularly to said first side and a short-leg opening extending substantially perpendicularly to said long-leg opening.

32. The barrier system of claim 31, wherein said preform is formed from at least one of polymer, aluminum, and steel.

33. The barrier system of claim 27, further comprising

a plurality of keepers, each comprising a base section, an intermediate beam section, and a top section, wherein each keeper is formed to be substantially complementary to each of said plurality of intermediate posts such that each keeper can be placed over each intermediate post in a substantially close fit.

34. A barrier system comprising:

a first end post,

at least one intermediate post comprising a beam and a pedestal,

a plurality of panels,

a second end post,

at least one tension cable comprising (i) a first terminal end connected to said first end post, (ii) a continuous portion extending from said first end post, through said plurality of panels, through said at least one intermediate post, and to said second end post, and (iii) a second terminal end connected to said second end post, and

a channel defining an opening disposed substantially proximate to said pedestal, wherein

said beam extends from said pedestal and a portion of said pedestal substantially covers said opening of said channel.

35. A barrier system comprising:

a first end post,

at least one intermediate post assembly comprising a beam, a plate, and a pedestal,

a plurality of panels,

a second end post,

at least one tension cable comprising (i) a first terminal end connected to said first end post, (ii) a continuous portion extending from said first end post, through said plurality of panels, through said at least one intermediate post assembly, and to said second end post, and (iii) a second terminal end connected to said second end post, and

a channel defining an opening disposed substantially adjacent said pedestal, wherein

in a first position of said at least one intermediate post assembly, said beam extends from said pedestal in a substantially upward direction, a first portion of said plate is connected to an undersurface of said pedestal, a second portion of said plate extends substantially laterally from said pedestal and substantially covers said opening of said channel, and

in a second position of said at least one intermediate post assembly, said beam extends from said pedestal substantially laterally, and said plate extends substantially upwardly from said pedestal and said opening of said channel is not substantially covered by said plate.

36. The barrier system of claim 35, wherein

said channel is of proportions sufficient to prevent a vehicle from traversing said channel when said opening is uncovered.

37. The barrier system of claim 36, such that

when a first vehicle impacts said at least one intermediate post and displaces said at least one intermediate post from said first position to said second position, said opening of said channel is uncovered and a second vehicle cannot traverse said opening.

38. The barrier system of claim 36, such that

when a first vehicle impacts said at least one intermediate post and displaces said at least one intermediate post substantially laterally, said opening of said channel is uncovered and a second vehicle cannot traverse said opening.

39. A method for constructing a barrier system comprising:

providing a first end post,

providing a plurality of spaced apart intermediate posts set off from said first end post,

providing a second end post set off from said plurality of spaced apart intermediate posts,

connecting at least one tension cable to said first end post,

passing said at least one tension cable through each of said plurality of spaced apart intermediate posts,

passing said at least one tension cable through said second end post,

providing a plurality of panels along said at least one tension cable between said plurality of spaced apart intermediate posts.

40. A method for arresting a vehicle comprising:

providing a barrier system comprising a tension cable attached to energy absorbing means and disposed along a plurality of posts, such that when a moving vehicle impacts said barrier system, a quantum of energy transferred from said vehicle to said barrier system is absorbed by said energy absorbing means.

41. The method of 40 wherein said moving vehicle has a quantum of kinetic energy that, upon an impact of said moving vehicle with said barrier system, a portion of said quantum of kinetic energy is transferred via said tension cable to said energy absorbing means such that a substantial portion of said transferred kinetic energy is absorbed by said energy absorbing means.

42. The method of 40 wherein said tension cable comprises a material capable of absorbing large amounts of energy as said material is stretched between a yield strength and an ultimate strength.

43. A method for arresting at least one vehicle comprising:

providing a barrier system comprising;

a first end post,

at least one intermediate post comprising a beam and a pedestal,

a plurality of panels,

a second end post,

an energy absorbing means, and

at least one tension cable comprising (i) a first terminal end connected to said first end post, (ii) a continuous portion extending from said first end post, through said plurality of panels, through said at least one intermediate post, and to said second end post, and (iii) a second terminal end connected to said second end post; and

providing a channel defining an opening disposed substantially adjacent said pedestal, wherein said beam extends from said pedestal and a portion of said pedestal substantially covers said opening of said channel, such that when a first vehicle imparts a quantum of energy on said barrier system, said quantum of energy is transferred via said tension cable to said energy absorbing means, a substantial portion of said quantum of energy is absorbed by said energy absorbing means, and said first vehicle is arrested.

44. The method of claim 43 wherein when said first vehicle impacts said barrier system, said opening is uncovered and a second vehicle cannot traverse said opening.