Safety barrier anchorage

• US 7,367,549 B2
• Filed: 08/26/2005
• Issued: 05/06/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Flomax International, Inc., Hill & Smith Limited (Hill & Smith Plc)
• Original Assignee: Hill & Smith Limited (Hill & Smith Plc)
• Inventors: Titmus, Michael Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Sandy; Robert J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ferguson; Michael P
• Application Number:
  US11/213,606
• Publication Number:
  US 20060043353A1
• Time in Patent Office: 984 Days
• Field of Search: 256/13.1, 404/6, 404/9, 404/10
• US Class Current: 256/13.1
• 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 road safety barrier comprising a series of posts rigidly mounted on or in the ground, an anchor body (9) fixed in or on the ground beyond the series of posts, and at least one rope (1-4) which is supported by the posts so as to extend along the series of posts and which has an end portion (8) extending downwards from the last post (6a) of the series towards the anchor body (9). A terminal (19) is fixed on the extremity (8e) of the end portion (8) of the rope. An elongate tie bar 21 has a first end part connected to the anchor body (9) and a second end part releasably connected to the terminal (19) so that the elongate tie bar is in line with the terminal and the end portion (8) of the rope. The tie bar (21) reduces the risk of damage to the terminal (19) in the event of vehicular impact, and is easily replaceable. It also facilitates disengagement of the rope from the anchor body (9) if a vehicle becomes trapped 1o the end portion (8) of the rope during a collision.

Claims

1. A road safety barrier comprising:

a series of posts spaced longitudinally along the ground, each post mounted in the ground;

an anchor body fixed in or on the ground proximate a last post of the series of posts;

at least one rope supported by the posts and extending along the series of posts, the rope having an end portion extending downwards from the last post of the series of posts towards the anchor body; and

a terminal fixed on an extremity of the end portion of the rope, the terminal being connectable to the anchor body;

wherein the last post is inclined from the vertical towards the anchor body;

wherein the last post has a weakened portion at or near ground level such that the post buckles upon impact of a vehicle with the road safety barrier; and

wherein the weakened portion comprises a notch in a side of the post.

2. The road safety barrier of claim 1, wherein the notch is in a flange directed towards oncoming traffic.

3. A road safety barrier comprising:

a series of posts spaced longitudinally along the ground, each post mounted in the ground;

an anchor body fixed in or on the ground proximate a last post of the series of posts;

at least one rope supported by the posts and extending along the series of posts, the rope having an end portion extending downwards from the last post of the series of posts towards the anchor body;

a terminal fixed on an extremity of the end portion of the rope, the terminal being connectable to the anchor body; and

an elongate tie bar having a first end part connectable to the anchor body and a second end part releasably connected to the terminal, so that the elongate tie bar is in line with the terminal and the end portion of the rope;

wherein the last post is inclined from the vertical towards the anchor body; and

wherein the anchor body has a first abutment surface facing away from the series of posts, an abutment member on the tie bar has a second abutment surface facing the first abutment surface, the abutment surfaces are urged towards each other by tension applied to the rope, and the anchor body comprises a slotted opening allowing the elongate tie bar to separate from the anchor body in a direction parallel to the first abutment surface in response to a predetermined deflection of the end portion of the rope.

4. The road safety barrier of claim 3, further comprising at least one intermediate member between the first and second abutment surfaces.

5. The road safety barrier of claim 3, wherein the second end part of the elongate tie bar carries a socket which is threaded on the terminal.

6. A road safety barrier comprising:

a series of posts spaced longitudinally along the ground, each post mounted on or in the ground such that the posts are prevented from moving along the surface of the ground;

an anchor body fixed in or on the around proximate a last post of the series of posts;

at least one rope supported by the posts and extending along the series of posts, the rope having an end portion extending downwards from the last post of the series of posts towards the anchor body; and

a terminal fixed on an extremity of the end portion of the rope, the terminal being connectable to the anchor body;

wherein the last post is inclined from the vertical towards the anchor body;

wherein the last post has a weakened portion at or near ground level such that the post buckles upon impact of a vehicle with the road safety barrier; and

wherein the weakened portion comprises a notch in a side of the post.

7. The road safety barrier of claim 6, wherein the notch is in a flange directed towards oncoming traffic.

8. A road safety barrier comprising:

a series of posts spaced longitudinally along the ground, each post mounted on or in the ground such that the posts are prevented from moving along the surface of the ground;

an anchor body fixed in or on the ground proximate a last post of the series of posts;

at least one rope supported by the costs and extending along the series of posts, the rope having an end portion extending downwards from the last post of the series of posts towards the anchor body;

a terminal fixed on an extremity of the end portion of the rope, the terminal being connectable to the anchor body; and

an elongate tie bar having a first end part connectable to the anchor body and a second end part releasably connected to the terminal, so that the elongate tie bar is in line with the terminal and the end portion of the rope;

wherein the last post is inclined from the vertical towards the anchor body; and

wherein the anchor body has a first abutment surface facing away from the series of posts, an abutment member on the tie bar has a second abutment surface facing the first abutment surface, the abutment surfaces are urged towards each other by tension applied to the rope, and the anchor body comprises a slotted opening allowing the elongate tie bar to separate from the anchor body in a direction parallel to the first abutment surface in response to a predetermined deflection of the end portion of the rope.

9. The road safety barrier of claim 8, further comprising at least one intermediate member between the first and second abutment surfaces.

10. The road safety barrier of claim 8, wherein the second end part of the elongate tie bar carries a socket which is threaded on the terminal.