Joints and connections – Including frangible component
Patent
1998-05-06
2000-05-23
Browne, Lynne H.
Joints and connections
Including frangible component
404 6, 52 98, 248900, E01F 1500
Patent
active
060658940
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to the provision of roadside structures including posts, vehicle barriers, crash cushions, furniture, sign support systems, and light pole systems, and is concerned in particular with the posts used to support such structures. The invention is described herein with specific reference to roadside vehicle barriers but it will be understood that it has much broader application.
BACKGROUND ART
A widely used form of roadside vehicle barrier, commonly known as a crash barrier, consists of one or more, often two, steel rails of generally W cross-section supported by a line of posts and usually tensioned by inclined cables stayed by the end posts. Steel crash barriers have been known in the past to pierce into vehicles impacting the barriers end-on, with potentially horrific consequences for the occupants. To prevent such consequences, it is required by regulatory authorities in Australia that a prescribed initial number of posts at each end must be a specific and exact form of timber designed to snap in two when the barrier is subjected to vehicle impact greater than a predetermined severity. Snapping of the end posts allows the barrier to collapse away from rather than pierce the vehicle, while still absorbing its impact and slowing it down. The remaining intervening posts may be simple steel posts, eg of C-section channel.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of this invention to provide a novel coupling unit. In a preferred aspect of the invention, it is an object to provide a post assembly which may be adapted in one application to use as a snap-away end post in roadside vehicle barriers in substitution for the timber post typically now utilised.
The invention accordingly provides, in a first aspect, an integrally moulded coupling unit for connecting respective upper and lower segments of a roadside post, including respective end portions adapted to engage in or about the segments and an intermediate fracture zone defined in part by slot means which extends through the unit, in which fracture zone, the coupling unit divides to cause the upper post segment to break away from the lower post segment when the assembled roadside post is subjected in situ to a vehicle impact greater than a predetermined severity.
In accordance with a further aspect, the present invention also provides. an integrally moulded coupling unit for connecting respective upper and lower segments of a roadside post, including respective end portions adapted to engage in or about the segments, and an intermediate fracture zone, the respective end portions and the intermediate fracture zone having a general H cross-section including a central web means spacing a pair of flanges, said intermediate fracture zone being defined in part by slot means which extends fully through said central web means whereby the coupling unit divides completely in said fracture zone to cause the upper post segment to break away from the lower post segment when the assembled roadside post is subject in situ to a vehicle impact greater than a predetermined severity.
The present invention also anticipates providing a roadside post including an upper post segment, a lower post segment adapted to be secured in or on the ground adjacent a roadside and an integrally moulded coupling unit as defined in the two preceding paragraphs operably connected to the upper and the lower post segments.
In a preferred embodiment, the slot means extends through the central web means fully from one of the flanges to the other of said flanges. Conveniently, the central web means may be tapered along its length from a position adjacent each said flange towards an intermediate position along the central web means. Preferably, a groove is formed on an outer face of each said flange in the fracture zone.
In a still further preferred embodiment, a bore may be provided passing through the central web means with the bore being adapted to receive a tensioning cable. Preferably, an annular boss surrounds the aforementioned bore an
REFERENCES:
patent: 3349531 (1967-10-01), Watson
patent: 3355998 (1967-12-01), Roemisch
patent: 3381427 (1968-05-01), Watson
patent: 3623286 (1971-11-01), Parduhn
patent: 4021977 (1977-05-01), Deike
Melrose Gary James
Wasson Lance David
Bochna David E.
Browne Lynne H.
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