1 A BARRIER ELEMENT AND A BARRIER ASSEMBLY FIELD OF THE INVENTION 5 This invention relates to a barrier element for being coupled to other barrier elements to form a barrier assembly. It also relates to a road barrier assembly comprising a plurality of barrier elements that are operatively connected to each other. 0 This invention relates particularly but not exclusively to a barrier element for use in forming a temporary road barrier assembly that is used for resisting a motor vehicle from driving off a road and crashing particularly while road works are being conducted. It will therefore be convenient to hereinafter describe the invention with reference to this example application. However at the same time it must be 5 recognized that the invention is capable of broader application. For example the invention could be used for a barrier element used for a purpose other than a temporary road barrier. BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION 20 Temporary road barriers are known and generally comprise an elongate barrier element in the form of a container that is placed in position on a support surface along a line of the intended road barrier. The barrier is filled with water in use to increase its weight so that it requires a considerable force to be dislodged from its 25 installation position. Additionally the water is capable of yielding in an impact and thereby permits the barrier to deform in an accident. The elongate barrier element is in the form of a container having a container wall that can conveniently be made of a plastic material by a rotational moulding operation. 30 The use of plastic forms a container wall that is able to yield and deform in response 2 to an impact from a vehicle colliding with the barrier element. This helps to absorb energy and also has the result that the wall is less likely to break in response to any impact. 5 A number of the barrier elements are linked together end to end to form a barrier assembly that extends in a line along a support surface such as a road. The barrier elements are operatively linked together in such a way that they resist being separated from each other in the event of a vehicle colliding with the barrier assembly. This is necessary for the collective barrier assembly to be effective as a 0 barrier in use and not to deviate too far from the original line when a vehicle collides with it. A barrier assembly also has to meet the relevant Australian standards and these standards require it to have sufficient structural strength. One end of the barrier element has one end attachment arrangement and the other 5 end has another end attachment arrangement. Each end attachment arrangement facilitates coupling of the element to an adjacent such barrier element and comprises a plurality of vertically spaced coupling formations. The one and other end attachment arrangements are complementary such that when the barrier elements are positioned end to end the coupling formations are at different heights and can be 0 fitted into each other. The one end attachment arrangement has three spaced coupling formations and the other attachment arrangement has two vertically spaced coupling formations. Each coupling formation has a pin receiving passage defined therein for receiving a 25 vertically extending link pin there through. The link pin is passed through the aligned pin passages on the coupling formations of the end attachment arrangements of the two adjacent barrier elements. The end attachment arrangements are dovetailed with each other or engaged with each other whereby to couple the two adjacent barrier elements to each other. 30 3 Applicant is aware of one prior roadside barrier in the art of temporary roadside barriers which is described and illustrated in published Australian patent application 47345/93. This prior art publication discloses a barrier element comprising a barrier body that is a container formed of plastics material as described above and which is 5 filled with water in use. The plastic from which the barrier body is formed is only of moderate strength and to strengthen the container the barrier element includes an internal frame that is received within the container. The internal frame is intended to increase the rigidity 0 of the barrier to strengthen the barrier against bending. The frame is comprised of rigid members that are rigidly interconnected to each other. The members of the frame are thereby held in a fixed spaced relationship to each other and cannot move relative to each other. In broad terms the frame comprises first and second axial braces that are interconnected by cross braces. 5 Further this barrier element also includes a steel cable that extends along an operatively upper edge of the barrier element from one end of the barrier to the other. Further each end of the steel cable is looped and it appears that the looped ends could be passed around a vertically extending post or pin towards each end of 0 the barrier body. One disadvantage of known constructions of individual barrier elements for road barriers is that the provision of a fixed and rigid frame mounted within the container is quite expensive. Consequently the individual barrier elements are expensive to 25 manufacture and to supply to the market. It would be advantageous if another construction of barrier element could be devised that had sufficient strength to function efficaciously as a barrier element while not having the drawbacks of the prior art barrier element with its internal frame as discussed above.
4 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to one aspect of this invention there is provided a barrier element for use 5 in forming a road barrier, the barrier element including: an elongate barrier body having two sides and two opposed ends extending between the barrier sides, and an end attachment arrangement at each end thereof for operatively attaching that end of the barrier element to the proximate end of an adjacent barrier element, the barrier body defining a container within which water can 10 be received for increasing the weight and thereby the inertia of the barrier element in use; and at least two vertically extending anchor posts being at least partly received within the container that are spaced apart from each other in the direction of length of the barrier body and at least one flexible elongate element extending between the 15 posts. The barrier element may have two anchor posts that are fully received within the container and that are mounted thereto. One anchor post may be positioned towards one end of the barrier body and the other anchor post may be positioned 20 towards the other end of the barrier body. Further each post extends substantially the full height of the barrier body. The barrier element may include one end attachment arrangement at one end of the body and another end attachment arrangement at the other end of the body for 25 facilitating coupling of the barrier element to other barrier elements. The barrier element may further include one post anchoring arrangement for operatively connecting said one anchor post to said one end attachment arrangement, and another post anchoring arrangement for operatively connecting said other anchor post to said other end attachment arrangement. This feature facilitates linking the 30 anchor posts of adjacent barrier elements to each other in use.
5 Each end attachment arrangement may comprise a plurality of vertically spaced coupling formations having a vertically extending aperture defined therein for receiving a vertically extending link pin there through for linking adjacent barrier 5 elements to each other. Each post anchoring arrangement may comprise a plurality of anchoring members that are mounted on the post, each of which is received within a said coupling formation and extending around the aperture defined by the coupling formation. 0 The barrier element may have two vertically spaced said flexible elongate elements in the form of cables extending between the axially spaced anchor posts that are spaced less than 1 metre apart from each other. The flexible elongate element/s may extend tautly between the posts and may be tensioned. 5 For example in one embodiment each post may be closely spaced from the associated end of the barrier body. The anchor post may be spaced less than 50 cm, e.g. less than 30 cm, from the associated end of the barrier body. Correspondingly each post may extend vertically up a substantial portion of the height of the barrier element. Further each post may be made of high tensile steel and may have a 0 diameter of 30 to 60 mm, e.g. about 40 to 50 mm. Each end attachment arrangement may comprise a plurality of vertically spaced coupling formations having a vertically extending aperture defined therein for receiving a vertically extending link pin there through for linking adjacent barrier 25 elements to each other. One end of the barrier element may have three vertically spaced coupling formations and the other end of the barrier body may have two vertically spaced coupling formations. Further the coupling formations at said one end may be vertically offset from the 30 coupling formations at said other end of the barrier body. This enables the adjacent ends of adjacent barrier elements to fit into each other so that the vertically extending 6 passages in each of the coupling formations from both barrier elements can be aligned and a vertically extending link pin passed there through. Put another way the coupling formations of the end attachment arrangements on the interconnecting said one and other ends of the adjacent barrier elements are complementary in the sense 5 that they can be fitted together and then linked together by passing a link pin through the aligned apertures thereof. The two cables may be spaced less than 60 cm apart from each other. One of the cables in an operatively lower position may be positioned more than 30 cm above an 0 operatively lower edge of the barrier body. The vertical height of each cable may be selected in a way that manages the forces caused by a car colliding with the barrier in an effective manner. The cables may be made of cable strands having a high tensile strength. 5 The post anchoring arrangement towards said one end of the barrier body may have three said anchoring members. That is it has one anchoring member corresponding to each of the three coupling formations. Correspondingly the post anchoring arrangement towards said other end of the barrier body may have two said anchoring members. That is it has one anchoring member corresponding to each of the 0 coupling formations. Thus in one embodiment of the invention at least, there may be an anchoring member within each of the coupling formations on both ends of the barrier body. Each anchoring member of the post anchoring arrangement may comprise a rigid 25 member that is mounted to the associated anchor post and defines a loop which surrounds the pin receiving passage of the associated coupling formation. Conveniently each anchoring member may be in the form of a D-shackle having a linear base portion that bears against the post and a loop that extends around the link pin passage defined by the coupling formation. The shackles of the post 30 anchoring arrangements may also be made of high tensile steel.
7 The barrier element may further include a tensioning arrangement for tensioning the cables extending between the anchor posts. The tensioning arrangement may include a fastener having a loop that is passed around both cables, wherein the fastener is adjustable to reduce the loop and thereby displace the cable path to 5 some extent and thereby tension the cables. Conveniently the fastener of the tensioning arrangement may be formed by one or more D-shackles, e.g. two D shackles that are interconnected with each other. The barrier body may be integrally formed by a moulding operation, e.g. a rotational 0 moulding operation. The barrier body may be moulded from a variety of plastics materials. In particular the barrier body may be moulded from polyethylene material. The end attachment arrangements having the coupling formations and the link pin receiving passages defined there through may be integrally formed with the body in the moulding operation. 5 The barrier body may include post locating formations that are formed around the end posts that are received within the barrier body. Similar to the end attachment arrangements, the post locating formations may be formed by moulding the formations around one or more ends of the post during the moulding of the barrier 0 body. According to another aspect of this invention there is provided a road barrier assembly including a plurality of barrier elements operatively coupled to each other end to end and extending along a barrier line on the support surface. 25 Each barrier element may comprise an elongate barrier body having two sides and two opposed ends extending between the barrier sides, including an end attachment arrangement at each end for operatively attaching that end of the barrier element to the proximate end of an adjacent barrier element, the barrier body defining a 30 container within which water can be received for increasing the weight and thereby the inertia of the barrier element in use; and at least two vertically extending posts 8 mounted within the container that are spaced apart from each other in the direction of length of the barrier body and at least one flexible elongate element extending between the posts. 5 The container of each barrier element may be filled with water. Each barrier element may include one post anchoring arrangement for connecting said one post to the end attachment arrangement at one end of the barrier body and another post anchoring arrangement for connecting said other post to the end 0 attachment arrangement at the other end of the barrier body. Each post anchoring arrangement may include a plurality of anchoring members, each anchoring member defining a loop which surrounds a pin receiving passage of an associated coupling formation of a said end attachment arrangement. 5 Each barrier element may include any one or more of the preferred or optional features of the barrier element defined above according to the first aspect of the invention. 20 Adjacent barrier elements are arranged with said one end of one barrier element attached to the other end of its adjacent barrier element on one side, and said other end of said one barrier element attached to said end of its adjacent barrier element on the other side. 25 Adjacent barriers may be operatively coupled to each other by a link pin that is passed through aligned pin passages in the coupling formations of the end attachment arrangements that are fitted into each other. Each link pin may also pass through the loop of each anchoring member whereby to enable the posts of adjacent elements to be operatively coupled to each other. 30 9 The barrier body, the anchor posts and the elongate flexible element may include any one or more of the features of these components defined in the first aspect of the invention above. 5 According to yet another aspect of this invention there is provided an internal support for a barrier element for use in forming a road barrier having two sides and two opposed ends extending between the barrier sides, and an end attachment arrangement at each end thereof for operatively attaching that end of the barrier element to the proximate end of an adjacent barrier element, the internal support 0 including: at least two vertically extending posts mounted within the barrier body that are spaced apart from each other in the direction of length of the barrier body and at least one flexible elongate element extending between the posts. 5 The posts and the flexible elongate element may include any one or more of the features of the posts and flexible elongate element defined in the preceding aspects of the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 0 A barrier element and a road barrier assembly in accordance with this invention may manifest itself in a variety of forms. It will be convenient to hereinafter describe at least one embodiment of the invention in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The purpose of providing this detailed description is to instruct persons 25 having an interest in the subject matter of the invention how to carry the invention into practical effect. However it is to be clearly understood that the specific nature of this detailed description does not supersede the generality of the preceding broad description. In the drawings: Fig 1 is a three dimensional view of a barrier element in accordance with one 30 embodiment of the invention having a barrier body with part of a wall of the barrier element being removed to expose internal components within the barrier body; 10 Fig 2 is a sectional front view of the barrier element in Fig 1; Fig 3 is an end view of one end of the barrier element in Fig 2; Fig 4 is an end view of the other end of the barrier element in Fig 2; and Fig 5 is a schematic plan view of a barrier assembly utilising the barrier 5 element in Figs 1 to 4 in use showing a motor vehicle impacting the barrier assembly at an acute angle to the barrier assembly. In Fig 1 reference numeral 10 refers generally to a road barrier element in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. 0 The barrier element 10 comprises a barrier body 12 having two elongate barrier sides 14, 16 and opposed barrier ends 18, 20 extending between the barrier sides 14, 16. The barrier body 12 defines a container within which water can be received for increasing the weight and the inertia of the barrier element. The barrier body 12 5 also includes a container inlet (not shown) towards an upper region of the container for introducing water into the container. The barrier body 12 also includes a water outlet (not shown) towards a lower region of the body for enabling water to be drained from the container in use. eo The barrier end 18 has an end attachment arrangement 24 including three vertically spaced coupling formations shown by numeral 26. Each coupling formation 26 has a vertically extending passage 28 defined therein through which a link pin shown by the numeral 52 can be passed. 25 The barrier end 20 has another end attachment arrangement 30 having two vertically spaced coupling formations also shown by numeral 26. The coupling formations 26 of the attachment arrangement 30 are arranged at different heights to those of the attachment arrangement 24 so that the adjacent ends of adjacent barrier elements 10 can fit together in the manner shown in the drawings. 30 11 The barrier element 10 includes a pair of axially spaced posts 34, 36 received within the container. One post 34 is located towards the end 18 of the barrier body 12 and the other post 36 is located towards the other end 20 of the body 12. The posts 34, 36 are linked together by two vertically spaced cables 40, 42 extending horizontally 5 between the posts 34, 36 as shown in the drawing. Further the post 34 is anchored in position and mechanically attached to the end attachment arrangement 24 by a post anchoring arrangement 44 and the post 36 is similarly anchored by another post anchoring arrangement 46 to its associated end 0 attachment arrangement 30. The post anchoring arrangement 44 comprises three anchoring members 48 that are passed around the associated post 34 and also around a link pin aperture 28 on a coupling formation 26. The post anchoring arrangement 46 has two anchoring 5 members 48 that pass around the associated post 36 and also around the link pin apertures 28 on the two coupling formations 26. The components described in outline above will now be described in more detail in turn. 0 In the illustrated embodiment each post 34, 36 is closely spaced from the associated end 18, 20 of the barrier body 12. Each post 34, 36 is made of high tensile steel and has a diameter of 30 to 60 mm, e.g. about 40 to 50 mm. The two cables 40, 42 are spaced about 50cm to 60 cm apart from each other and the operatively lower cable 25 is positioned about 30 cm to 40 cm above an operatively lower edge of the barrier body. The height of the lower cable is selected to catch the bumper of a typical car. The height of the upper cable will also be selected to catch the forward and rear body regions of a typical car. 30 Each post anchoring arrangement 44, 46 includes a plurality of anchoring members 48 extending from the post 34, 36 around a coupling formation 26 of the end 12 attachment arrangement 24, 30. In extending around the coupling formation 26 the anchoring member 48 also passes around the pin receiving aperture 28 defined in the coupling formation 26 for receiving a link pin which is shown by reference numeral 52 in Figure 2. The link pin 52 is used to couple adjacent barrier elements 5 10 to each other as will be described in more detail below with reference to Fig 5. In the illustrated embodiment each anchoring member 48 of the post anchoring arrangements 44, 46 comprises a rigid member that is mounted to the associated anchor post 34, 36 and defines a loop which surrounds the link pin receiving 0 passage 28 of the associated coupling formation 26. Conveniently each anchoring member 48 might be formed by a D-shackle having a base bearing against the post 34, 36 and a loop that extends around the passage 28 of the coupling formation 26. However it will readily be appreciated that many other arrangements that are capable of performing the same function might also be used. 5 In the illustrated embodiment of the invention the barrier element 10 also includes a tensioning arrangement indicated generally by numeral 60 for tensioning the cables extending between the anchor posts 34, 36. In the drawings the tensioning arrangement 60 comprises two D-shackles 62, 64 that are interlinked with each other 0 and that are passed around the parallel extending cables 40, 42. The D-shackles 62, 64 are adjustable to reduce the spacing between the cables 40, 42 at the point where they interact with the tensioning arrangement thereby to displace the cable path and increase its path length to thereby tension the cables 40, 42. 25 The barrier body 12 further includes two laterally spaced formations 66 for receiving the prongs of a lifting device such as a fork lift truck therein. Each barrier element 10 can be made by moulding the barrier body 12 from a plastic material in a rotational moulding operation. The two posts 34, 36 are mounted in 30 position within the mould prior to actually moulding the body 12 so that the body 12 is moulded around and over the posts 34, 36 and the posts 34, 36 are already in place 13 when the moulding operation is complete. Similarly the post anchoring arrangements 44, 46 including the anchoring members 48 are mounted in place in the mould prior to moulding and are cast into the moulded body 12 when it is formed. 5 In use the barrier elements 10 can be linked together to form a road barrier assembly indicated generally by the numeral 70 as shown in Fig 5. The elements 10 are placed in position along a desired barrier line on a road. The elements 10 are coupled to each other by passing the link pins 52 through aligned 0 pin passages 28 in the coupling formations of the adjacent elements 10 that are fitted into each other. This step is shown in some detail in Fig 2 of the drawings. Once all the elements 10 are linked together the barrier forms a single structure that is the barrier assembly 70. 5 The individual barrier bodies 12 of the discrete barrier elements 10 are then filled with water to increase their weight and their inertia while still enabling them to deform. This is done by pouring water, e.g. from a water tanker into the container through the water inlet towards the upper edge of the container. Once all the containers, of the elements 10, are filled with water then the barrier assembly 70 is 0 ready for use as a working and functioning road barrier. In the event that a motor vehicle such as that shown by numeral 72 collides with the barrier assembly the posts 34, 36 within the containers together with the tensioned cables 40, 42 extending between them that are linked together through the link pins 25 28 provide sufficient strength to absorb a considerable impact from the motor vehicle 72 without failing and causing the integrity of the barrier assembly 70 to be broken. It is therefore effective to perform its function of strengthening a light and low strength barrier body 12 made of plastic to enable it to act as an effective barrier. 30 The inventors of this invention have devised a cable system that is designed to capture, decelerate and alter the direction of travel of a vehicle that collides with it.
14 They have recognised that structural components within the barrier body are usually subjected to primarily a tensile force when a car collides with the barrier. Further they have appreciated and recognised that it is not necessary to provide a rigid structure to receive and manage these forces within a barrier element. They have recognised 5 that these tensile forces can be managed by one or more flexible elongate elements such as cables, which have a high tensile strength (but not compressive strength), extending between posts within the barrier body. An advantage of the barrier element described above with reference to the drawings 0 is that it has an internal structure comprising two axially spaced posts interconnected by a pair of vertically spaced cables that acts to strengthen the element. This structure is quite effective at providing a barrier of the requisite strength. Another advantage of the barrier element described above is that it is considerably 5 simpler than some prior art constructions which has the inevitable consequence that it is easier and cheaper to manufacture and therefore can be provided at a lower cost. A yet further advantage is that the manufacturing process that can be used to manufacture the barrier element is not unduly complex. o In summary the inventors have recognised the potential advantages to be obtained by changing the structure of known road barrier elements and have devised a barrier element that confers advantages over known road barrier elements, particularly in terms of simplifying the structure of the road barrier element and in reducing the cost of manufacture thereof. 25 It will of course be realized that the above has been given only by way of illustrative example of the invention and that all such modifications and variations thereto, as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art, are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of the invention as is herein set forth.