EP0554864A1 - A semi-rigid road barrier providing controlled dissipation of impact energy and attitude correction - Google Patents

A semi-rigid road barrier providing controlled dissipation of impact energy and attitude correction Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0554864A1
EP0554864A1 EP93101729A EP93101729A EP0554864A1 EP 0554864 A1 EP0554864 A1 EP 0554864A1 EP 93101729 A EP93101729 A EP 93101729A EP 93101729 A EP93101729 A EP 93101729A EP 0554864 A1 EP0554864 A1 EP 0554864A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
upright
barrier according
spacer member
rail
impact
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP93101729A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Inventor
Antonio Pellecchia
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
CENTRO ACCIAI SpA
Original Assignee
CENTRO ACCIAI SpA
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by CENTRO ACCIAI SpA filed Critical CENTRO ACCIAI SpA
Publication of EP0554864A1 publication Critical patent/EP0554864A1/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E01—CONSTRUCTION OF ROADS, RAILWAYS, OR BRIDGES
    • E01F—ADDITIONAL WORK, SUCH AS EQUIPPING ROADS OR THE CONSTRUCTION OF PLATFORMS, HELICOPTER LANDING STAGES, SIGNS, SNOW FENCES, OR THE LIKE
    • E01F15/00—Safety arrangements for slowing, redirecting or stopping errant vehicles, e.g. guard posts or bollards; Arrangements for reducing damage to roadside structures due to vehicular impact
    • E01F15/02—Continuous barriers extending along roads or between traffic lanes
    • E01F15/04—Continuous barriers extending along roads or between traffic lanes essentially made of longitudinal beams or rigid strips supported above ground at spaced points
    • E01F15/0407—Metal rails
    • E01F15/0438—Spacers between rails and posts, e.g. energy-absorbing means

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to modifications to conventional metal road barriers so as substantially to alter their behaviour when hit and optimise potential absorption of energy.
  • the invention consists essentially in improving and ensuring the absorption and also the dissipation of the impact energy of a swerving vehicle.
  • the barrier of the invention includes a mechanical energy-absorbing connecting and/or coupling element for rendering any deformation of parts connected thereby (rail and support posts or uprights) gradual and controllable when these parts are subject to dynamic forces of whatever size generating compression, traction, bending, torsion and/or cutting.
  • the longitudinal connecting member of a metal road barrier of the "triple crest" type is connected to the support upright not directly but by means of an articulated system consisting of a spacer which includes a pair of energy-dissipating plates, fixed at their front ends to the rail by a riveted profiled section and pivoted at their rear ends on a strengthened portion of the support upright.
  • the dissipating plates are provided with curved slots which permit the rotation both of the plates themselves and of the rail if the upright is bent outwards.
  • the uprights for their part, are connected longitudinally by a front wheel-impact rib and an elongate rear rib having the specific role of increasing the cable effect in the final restraint of the colliding vehicle.
  • the profiled section connecting the plates and the rail moves parallel to itself, absorbing and dissipating a first portion of the energy from the impact.
  • the subsequent deformation of the upright, as a result of bending outwards, assisted by the cable effect of the front and rear ribs, causes the system made up of the two plates side-by-side to rotate about its own fulcrum, in the vertical plane, thanks to the presence of guide-slots, with the final result being that the triple-crest rail remains vertical.
  • a semi-rigid road safety barrier commonly known as a guard rail, suitable for installing along the outside edge of a carriageway of a road is generally indicated 9.
  • the barrier 9 includes the usual rail 10 made up of a series of lengths 11 of a strong corrugated metal strip (see also Figure 3) for example with three crests.
  • the various lengths 11 are connected together by superimposing two end portions 12 and rigidly fixing them with bolts.
  • the rail 10 is supported by a series of posts or uprights, generally indicated 13, spaced by a predetermined distance.
  • Each upright 13 is formed by a profiled metal section 14 ( Figures 3 and 4) having a C-shaped section and positioned with the base wall or web 16 perpendicular to the road axis.
  • Each upright 13 has a lower portion 17 fixed in any conventional manner to a suitable foundation or to a kerb 18 of the road carriageway, and an upper portion 19 provided with two vertical-axis slots 21.
  • the portion 19 is strengthened with a length of another C-shaped section 22 the base wall 23 of which is provided with two slots 24 ( Figure 5) corresponding to the slots 21.
  • the dimensions and position of the section 22 are such that it forms a rectangular box structure with the section 14.
  • the rail 10 is provided in turn with a series of attachment elements or members, each made up of a C-shaped section or element 26 and each having two flanges 27 and a base wall or web 28.
  • Each flange 27 of the element 26 has two holes 29, 30 vertically spaced by a predetermined distance.
  • a spacer element or double-pivot spacer is positioned between the upper portion 19 of each profiled section 14 constituting the upright 13 and the corresponding attachment element 26.
  • the spacer 31 is formed by a pair of plates 32 of right-angled trapezium shape, the longer base of which is substantially the same length as that of the element 26 and the inclined edge 35 of which is at the bottom.
  • the lower edge of the element 26 has the same inclination as the side 35 of the plate 32. Both the top and bottom edges of the element 26 are stiffened by ribs which differ from each other, possibly with appropriately positioned notches provided to enable preferred distortion in predetermined planes.
  • the characteristic function of the rail-spacer attachment elements 26 is to absorb and therefore dissipate a first portion of impact energy thanks to their ability to move parallel to themselves up to a maximum predetermined distance.
  • each plate 32 is adapted for connection to the two flanges 27 of the element 26.
  • each plate 32 is provided with a pair of holes 33, 34 positioned in correspondence with the two holes 29, 30 in the corresponding flange 27 of the element 26.
  • a corresponding pair of bolts with nuts 36, 37 ( Figures 3 and 4) engages the pair of holes 33, 34 respectively in the two plates 32 and the pair of holes 29, 30 respectively in the two flanges 27, fixing the plates 32 to the element 26.
  • Adjacent each hole 33, 34 ( Figure 5) is a corresponding hole 39, 41 respectively, separated from the former by a partition 38 which can be easily sheared. Both the holes 33, 34 and the holes 39, 41 are semicircular and positioned so that each partition 38 has a constant section, thereby permitting controlled shearing.
  • connection between the attachment element 26 and the plates 32 constitutes a dissipator of the energy from an impact against the portion of rail 10 adjacent this element 26.
  • the bolts 36, 37 break the partitions 38 and engage the holes 39, 41, causing the rail portion 10 to move towards the plates 32.
  • the holes 39, 41 are equal and symmetrical relative to the holes 33, 34. However they may be differently shaped and positioned so as to vary the dissipation of energy, and may have an elongate shape so as to vary the relative movement between the element 26 and the plates 32 after the partitions 38 have been sheared.
  • Each plate 32 is also provided with a hole 42 through which the spacer 31 is pivoted on the upright 13 so as to project therefrom.
  • the hole 42 is substantially equidistant from the holes 33 and 34.
  • a bolt with nut 43 is inserted through the hole 42 in the two plates 32 into the lower slot 24 in the strengthening section 22 and into the corresponding slot 21 in the profiled section 14.
  • each plate 32 is provided with a curved slot 44 positioned slightly above the hole 33.
  • the slot 44 is in the shape of an arc of a circle concentric with the hole 42, with a radius equal to the distance between the two slots in the profiled sections 14 and 22.
  • This circular arc has one end 46 positioned on a line parallel to the shorter base of the plate 32 and extends from here towards this shorter base, thereby permitting the plates 32 to rotate forwards relative to the upright 13.
  • Another bolt with nut 47 is inserted through the curved slot 44 in the two plates 32, the upper slot 24 in the strengthening section 22 and the corresponding vertical slot 21 in the section 14.
  • the plates 32 are positioned so that the ends 46 of the slots 44 abut the bolts 47 so that the rail 10 is positioned substantially vertically.
  • the nuts of the bolts 47 are tightened so that the rail 10 is normally held in this vertical orientation despite its overhanging weight relative to the fulcrum of the plates 32.
  • the uprights 13 ( Figures 3 and 4) are connected together by a front rib formed by a shaped wheel-impact strip 48. This has a C-shaped section and is fixed by any conventional means to a flange 49 of the profiled section 14 at an appropriate height for the purpose for which it is provided. Finally, the uprights 13 are connected together at the rear by a rear rib, formed by a flat or slightly curved section 51 which is bolted to the other flange 52 of the profiled section 14.
  • the section 51 acts as a tie bar causing the adjacent uprights 13 to cooperate.
  • first the bolts 36, 37 shear the partitions 38 between the holes 33 and 39 and between the holes 34 and 41 of the plates 32, thereby dissipating a first portion of the impact energy, as previously stated.
  • either the partition 38 between the upper holes 33, 39 alone may be sheared or that between the lower holes 34, 41 alone.
  • the thrust centre of the incident force is beneath the fulcrum constituted by the bolt 43 on which the two plates 32 forming the spacer 31 are pivoted so that the impact energy easily overcomes the friction between the bolt 47 and the plates 32 and makes the bolt slide along the curved slots 44 in the plates 32.
  • This enables the plates 32 to rotate easily in the clockwise sense about the bolt 43 from the position indicated by a chain line.
  • the rail 10 thereby maintains its substantially vertical orientation, avoiding following the bending of the upright 13.
  • the rail 10 follows the angular movement of the plates 32, to which it is closely connected, and assumes a vertical configuration relative to the ground which is substantially unaltered from that before the impact, freeing itself from the bending of the upright 13 and avoiding the creation of a dangerous plane inclined towards the outside of the carriageway.
  • the movement of the rail 10 also has a cable effect which involves the portions of rail 10 supported by adjacent uprights 13 in the energy absorption.
  • the bending of the rail 10 parallel to itself and the action of the rib 51 which acts as a tie bar greatly increase the cable effect of the barrier 9 by involving a greater number of uprights 13 in the energy absorption.
  • the barrier 9 When the barrier 9 is to be used as a directional separator, it may be doubled as shown in Figures 7 and 8.
  • Each of the two paired barriers 9 will therefore be formed by a series of uprights 13, each connected to the rail 10 by means of a spacer 31.
  • the uprights 13 will be connected together by a shaped wheel-impact strip 48 and a tie-bar rib 51.
  • the uprights 13 and the portions 12 joining the lengths 11 of the rail 10 will be appropriately staggered longitudinally.
  • the directional-separator barrier 9 is formed by a single series of uprights 13, connected together by two opposing wheel-impact strips 48.
  • the two rails 10 are connected in turn to the profiled section 14 and to the respective strengthening section 22 of the same upright 13 by a single energy-dissipating spacer 31'.
  • the spacer member 31' is formed by a single pair of plates 32' having swallow-tailed lower edges 53.
  • the plates 32' are fixed to each of the two attachment elements 26 by two bolts operable to shear the partitions 38 ( Figure 11) similar to those of Figures 1-5.
  • the plates 32' are fixed to the upright 13 on a common fulcrum 43' and are provided with a single curved slot 44' symmetrical about the vertical centre line. The two slots 44' thus allow the spacer member 31' to rotate in either sense.
  • the double-face spacer 31 connecting the corrugated strip 10 and the post 13 is operable:
  • the invention therefore gives the barrier designer greater scope by increasing the design variables for the absorption of impact energy from the usual two (corrugated strip and posts) by the addition of a further four design variables deriving from the said points a), b), c) and d).
  • the invention therefore means that, during design of the barrier, both the maximum quantity of energy absorbable and its variation from the moment of impact to the stopping of the vehicle may be predetermined.
  • the road barrier according to the invention also provides undeniable advantages over prior art barriers because the presence of various impact energy-dissipating couplings ensures overall effectiveness whatever the point of impact and its intensity.
  • a single, appropriately strengthened plate 32 may be used for the spacer 31, 31'.
  • This plate 32 may also have a different shape, for example a parallelogram.
  • the attachment element 26 which carries the dissipating means 36, 37, 38 may be entirely replaced by a different attachment element, fixed to the plates 32, 32', and having any shape, such as a C or a box shape and of a predetermined thickness, operable to be deformed by buckling so as to absorb and dissipate impact energy.
  • the shearable couplings may be made so that the respective bolt 36, 37 is sheared.
  • the various couplings may be constituted by pins or rivets.
  • the rail 10 may have a different cross-section and/or height, and/or number of crests from those indicated above.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Architecture (AREA)
  • Civil Engineering (AREA)
  • Structural Engineering (AREA)
  • Refuge Islands, Traffic Blockers, Or Guard Fence (AREA)
EP93101729A 1992-02-04 1993-02-04 A semi-rigid road barrier providing controlled dissipation of impact energy and attitude correction Withdrawn EP0554864A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
ITTO920090A IT1257376B (it) 1992-02-04 1992-02-04 Barriera stradale semirigida a dissipazione controllata dell'energia d'urto con correzione d'assetto.
ITTO920090 1992-02-04

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0554864A1 true EP0554864A1 (en) 1993-08-11

Family

ID=11410006

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP93101729A Withdrawn EP0554864A1 (en) 1992-02-04 1993-02-04 A semi-rigid road barrier providing controlled dissipation of impact energy and attitude correction

Country Status (2)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0554864A1 (it)
IT (1) IT1257376B (it)

Cited By (15)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0687775A1 (de) * 1994-06-17 1995-12-20 LEIT-RAMM D. Graf von Koenigsmarck KG Schutzvorrichtung
EP0708206A1 (en) * 1994-10-17 1996-04-24 CENTRO ACCIAI S.p.A. Semirigid position-correctable road barrier for controlled impact energy dissipation
AT2086U1 (de) * 1997-05-28 1998-04-27 Voest Alpine Krems Finaltech Leiteinrichtung
US5921702A (en) * 1996-08-01 1999-07-13 Fitch; John C. Displaceable guard rail barriers
AT409005B (de) * 1997-05-28 2002-05-27 Voest Alpine Krems Finaltech Leiteinrichtung
AT6416U3 (de) * 2003-01-27 2004-02-25 Voestalpine Krems Finaltechnik Rückhaltesystem an fahrbahnrändern
US6942003B2 (en) * 2003-07-25 2005-09-13 Service Door Industries Limited Roll-up door curtain and guides and bottom bar therefor
AT413830B (de) * 2003-01-27 2006-06-15 Voestalpine Krems Finaltechnik Rückhaltesystem an fahrbahnrändern
EP1710353A1 (en) * 2005-04-07 2006-10-11 Hierros y Aplanaciones, S.A. (HIASA) Deformable separator device
FR2940660A1 (fr) * 2008-12-31 2010-07-02 Colas Sa Dispositif de retenue de vehicules leger et lourd le long d'une voie de circulation
WO2010105307A1 (en) * 2009-03-19 2010-09-23 Industrial Galvanizers Corporation Pty Ltd Improved road barrier
CN102477721A (zh) * 2010-11-29 2012-05-30 张家港港丰交通安全设施有限公司 一种高度可调式路障
US9631331B2 (en) 2011-05-30 2017-04-25 Industrial Galvanizers Corporation Pty Ltd Barrier construction
US10570641B2 (en) 2015-11-27 2020-02-25 Industrial Galvanizers Corporation Pty Ltd Parking barrier system and post
US11371198B2 (en) 2018-07-26 2022-06-28 Industrial Galvanizers Corporation Pty Ltd Spacer piece for a guard rail system

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
BE782308A (fr) * 1972-04-19 1972-08-16 Neher Maschf A Barriere de protection.
DE2461942A1 (de) * 1974-01-09 1975-07-17 Voest Ag Leitplanken
EP0356686A1 (en) * 1988-08-03 1990-03-07 METALMECCANICA FRACASSO S.p.A. Guardrail barrier

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
BE782308A (fr) * 1972-04-19 1972-08-16 Neher Maschf A Barriere de protection.
DE2461942A1 (de) * 1974-01-09 1975-07-17 Voest Ag Leitplanken
EP0356686A1 (en) * 1988-08-03 1990-03-07 METALMECCANICA FRACASSO S.p.A. Guardrail barrier

Cited By (24)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0687775A1 (de) * 1994-06-17 1995-12-20 LEIT-RAMM D. Graf von Koenigsmarck KG Schutzvorrichtung
EP0708206A1 (en) * 1994-10-17 1996-04-24 CENTRO ACCIAI S.p.A. Semirigid position-correctable road barrier for controlled impact energy dissipation
US5921702A (en) * 1996-08-01 1999-07-13 Fitch; John C. Displaceable guard rail barriers
AT409005B (de) * 1997-05-28 2002-05-27 Voest Alpine Krems Finaltech Leiteinrichtung
AT2086U1 (de) * 1997-05-28 1998-04-27 Voest Alpine Krems Finaltech Leiteinrichtung
AT6416U3 (de) * 2003-01-27 2004-02-25 Voestalpine Krems Finaltechnik Rückhaltesystem an fahrbahnrändern
AT413830B (de) * 2003-01-27 2006-06-15 Voestalpine Krems Finaltechnik Rückhaltesystem an fahrbahnrändern
US6942003B2 (en) * 2003-07-25 2005-09-13 Service Door Industries Limited Roll-up door curtain and guides and bottom bar therefor
EP1710353A1 (en) * 2005-04-07 2006-10-11 Hierros y Aplanaciones, S.A. (HIASA) Deformable separator device
EP2204495A3 (fr) * 2008-12-31 2012-08-29 Colas Dispositif de retenue de véhicules léger et lourd le long d'une voie de circulation
FR2940660A1 (fr) * 2008-12-31 2010-07-02 Colas Sa Dispositif de retenue de vehicules leger et lourd le long d'une voie de circulation
WO2010105307A1 (en) * 2009-03-19 2010-09-23 Industrial Galvanizers Corporation Pty Ltd Improved road barrier
CN102439231A (zh) * 2009-03-19 2012-05-02 工业镀锌私人有限公司 改进的道路障碍
US10501902B2 (en) 2009-03-19 2019-12-10 Industrial Galvanizers Corporation Pty Ltd Road barrier
JP2012520952A (ja) * 2009-03-19 2012-09-10 インダストリアル ガルヴァナイザーズ コーポレーション ピーティーワイ リミテッド 改良道路バリア
US8858112B2 (en) 2009-03-19 2014-10-14 Industrial Galvanizers Corporation Pty Ltd Road barrier
CN102439231B (zh) * 2009-03-19 2015-06-10 工业镀锌私人有限公司 改进的道路障碍
CN102477721A (zh) * 2010-11-29 2012-05-30 张家港港丰交通安全设施有限公司 一种高度可调式路障
US10329722B2 (en) 2011-05-30 2019-06-25 Industrial Galvanizers Corporation Pty Ltd. Barrier Construction
US9631331B2 (en) 2011-05-30 2017-04-25 Industrial Galvanizers Corporation Pty Ltd Barrier construction
US10544554B2 (en) 2011-05-30 2020-01-28 Industrial Galvanizers Corporation Pty Ltd. Barrier construction
US11434613B2 (en) 2011-05-30 2022-09-06 Industrial Galvanizers Corporation Pty Ltd. Barrier construction
US10570641B2 (en) 2015-11-27 2020-02-25 Industrial Galvanizers Corporation Pty Ltd Parking barrier system and post
US11371198B2 (en) 2018-07-26 2022-06-28 Industrial Galvanizers Corporation Pty Ltd Spacer piece for a guard rail system

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
IT1257376B (it) 1996-01-15
ITTO920090A0 (it) 1992-02-04
ITTO920090A1 (it) 1993-08-04

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