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BR-112022006835-B1 - SHOULDER COLLISION BARRIER CONFIGURED TO DEVIATE OUT-OF-CONTROL VEHICLES

BR112022006835B1BR 112022006835 B1BR112022006835 B1BR 112022006835B1BR-112022006835-B1

Abstract

FLEXIBLE TENSIONED COLLISION BARRIER; The present invention relates to a shoulder collision barrier configured to divert out-of-control vehicles towards the highway. The barrier comprises at least one flexible tensioned strip comprising a flat face that faces the highway in use. Compared with prior art systems, the present invention reduces injury hazards for motorcyclists, as well as being easy and quick to install. A deformable end anchor to maintain the tension of the strips is also described herein, wherein the end anchor is configured to reduce vehicle rollover should the end impact occur while still retaining the effectiveness of the retained highway barrier.

Inventors

  • DAVID MARSHALL HUDSON

Assignees

  • DAVID MARSHALL HUDSON

Dates

Publication Date
20260317
Application Date
20201009
Priority Date
20191009

Claims (7)

  1. 1. Shoulder collision barrier (1) for diverting out-of-control vehicles, the barrier characterized in that it comprises: a plurality of elongated tensioned flexible strips (20), each comprising a flat face (21) disposed to engage with an out-of-control vehicle and/or driver, and a support arrangement (70) configured to support the strip above the ground in use, wherein the support arrangement comprises: a pillar (30), and a retainer (60) configured to fix the strips to the pillar by means of a removable connection comprising one or more plugs (62) disposed to engage one or more slots (56) of the pillar, such that the retainer is configured to release from the pillar upon impact with the barrier by an out-of-control vehicle and/or driver, thereby releasing the strips from the pillar, wherein the strips are held between the retainer and wherein the retainer is configured to remain engaged with the strips after the release of the retainer. from the pillar, in order to keep the strips in a pre-impact arrangement.
  2. 2. Shoulder collision barrier (1), according to claim 1, characterized in that each plug (62) comprises a frangible section configured to collapse upon impact on the barrier by an out-of-control vehicle and/or driver to facilitate the disengagement of one or more plugs from one or more slots (56) of the pillar (30).
  3. 3. Shoulder collision barrier (1), according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that one or more plugs (62) are made of a deformable polymeric material, such as nylon, so as to facilitate the disengagement of one or more plugs from their respective slots (56) after impact on the barrier by an out-of-control vehicle and/or driver.
  4. 4. Shoulder collision barrier (1), according to claim 3, characterized in that each slot (56) of the pillar (30) is elongated vertically so that the plug (62) is movable vertically within the slot.
  5. 5. Shoulder collision barrier (1), according to claim 1, characterized in that the flat face (21) of each elongated strip (20) is perpendicular to a roadway surface, and the barrier is configured to divert out-of-control vehicles back onto the roadway.
  6. 6. Shoulder collision barrier (1), according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the flat face (21) of each elongated strip (20) comprises a surface that is relatively smooth and/or continuous along the length of the strip.
  7. 7. Shoulder collision barrier (1), according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the strips (20) are configured to be tensioned between 200 kN and 400 kN.

Description

[001] The present invention relates to a flexible tensioned collision barrier. More particularly, but not exclusively, it relates to a collision barrier for use on the shoulder that utilizes a flexible strip under tension having a flat surface facing the roadway. Background [002] Flexible tensioned steel cable barriers have been used for many years as a cost-effective solution for highway safety. They are typically used alongside, or between, lanes of a highway. If an out-of-control vehicle impacts the barrier, the flexible steel cables can redirect the out-of-control vehicle back into the lane from which it left. For car and truck occupants, this solution has reduced the risk of injury from an accidental collision with oncoming traffic, as well as from any vehicle leaving the highway. These traditional steel cable barriers utilize a pylon that is configured to disengage or break near the ground so that the vehicle does not rotate when it hits or impacts the pylon. The steel cables can be disengaged from the pylon after a vehicle impacts the collision barrier. [003] The pillar is designed to bend under the impact of the vehicle and release the flexible barrier; typically, this allows the barrier/steel cables to deflect by 1-2 meters during the process of redirecting the out-of-control vehicle. Flexible barriers typically have the benefit of redirecting or absorbing energy from the out-of-control vehicle. [004] In operation, the pylon can provide strong resistance to longitudinal (vertical) movement of the barrier cables, but weak resistance to lateral (side) impact from an out-of-control vehicle. This can allow a pylon to give way under impact. Tensioned cables, combined with sacrificial pylons, can allow good correction of the direction of an out-of-control vehicle without causing a vehicle to roll over. [005] Flexible steel cable barriers can be dangerous for motorcycle and bicycle users (cyclists). The low cross-sectional area of the tensioned steel cable can create a high-pressure point if an out-of-control motorcycle user impacts the cable. This can cause injury to the driver. [006] Other variations of collision barriers are available, such as rigid and semi-rigid collision barriers. Rigid and semi-rigid collision barriers may be safer for motorcycle users as they may have a higher surface area, allowing a motorcyclist to slide along the barrier, rather than a high-pressure point that is created as in a cable collision barrier. However, rigid and semi-rigid collision barriers may be more expensive to install and manufacture compared to flexible collision barriers. Rigid and semi-rigid collision barriers may have the benefit of redirecting vehicles more quickly, for example, if there is a cliff behind the barrier, then it is undesirable for the collision barrier to veer over the cliff. [007] A person versed in the technique of collision barriers will know that semi-rigid or rigid collision barriers can reduce the level of injury to motorcyclists; however, rigid solutions are not as inexpensive as flexible tensioned collision barriers. Semi-rigid or rigid collision barriers may not always be a viable option for some highways. [008] In this descriptive report, when reference is made to external sources of information, including patent descriptive reports and other documents, this is generally for the purpose of providing context for discussion of the features of the present invention. Unless otherwise stated, reference to such sources of information shall not be construed, in any jurisdiction, as an admission that such sources of information are prior art or form part of the common general knowledge in the art. [009] For the purposes of this descriptive report, the term “plastic” shall be interpreted as meaning a general term for a wide range of synthetic or semi-synthetic polymerization products which generally consist of a hydrocarbon-based polymer. [010] One objective of the present invention is to provide a flexible tensioned collision barrier that solves or improves, at least partially, some of the disadvantages mentioned above or that, at least, provides the public with a useful choice. Invention claims [011] Thus, in a first aspect, the present invention relates to a highway collision barrier configured to deflect out-of-control vehicles, wherein the barrier comprises at least one elongated tensioned flexible strip comprising a flat face facing the highway in use. [012] In one embodiment, the elongated direction of the strip extends parallel to the highway, or to a highway lane, in use. [013] In one embodiment, the flat face has a normal direction facing the roadway. [014] In one embodiment, the flat face is perpendicular to the road surface. [015] In one embodiment, the flat face is vertical. [016] In one embodiment, the strip is under a tension of at least 20 kN in use. [017] In one configuration, the strap is tensioned at more than 40 kN in use. [018] In one embodiment, the strip is tensioned at