US20140103278A1

US20140103278A1 - Guardrail device for highway

Info

Publication number: US20140103278A1
Application number: US14/111,556
Authority: US
Inventors: Wenxue CAI
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2011-04-15
Filing date: 2012-01-09
Publication date: 2014-04-17
Also published as: WO2012139426A1; CN102191755A; CN102191755B

Abstract

The present invention involves a kind of guardrail device used for a highway, wherein, said guardrail plate is formed by PVC resin and has reinforcing bands fixed therein; a bracket is set between a small vertical column and the guardrail plate, the bracket being fixed to the small vertical column, the guardrail plate being fixed to the bracket by frame bolts; a middle large vertical column mechanism is comprised of a middle connecting plate, a connecting ring and a guardrail plates having end portions; two guardrail plates wind reversely within the connecting ring; an end large vertical column mechanism comprises a sheath, an end connecting plate and guardrail plates having end portions, the sheath is fixed to the end large vertical column, the outer sheath is wound around by guardrail plates which are fixed to the end connecting plate by frame bolts. The whole design of the invention is reasonable in structure, have good performance of collision resistance, low cost and long life performance. It displays nice cushion property at the moment of vehicle collision and uneasily to impose scratch on the car, which greatly reduce the possibility to cause secondary damage to the passenger and vehicle. Moreover, the material used brings no pollution to the environment, therefore it's green.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention involves a kind of guardrail device for a highway, which is mainly applied to the divided protection of the highway lanes.

BACKGROUND

Among the available techniques, the divided protection of the highway lanes is achieved by the linking of guardrail plates and vertical columns; since the length of the guardrail plate is relatively long, it needs to be supported and fixed by small vertical columns in the central part; meanwhile, as the length of the guardrail plate is unlikely to be infinite, the guardrail plates require to be joined and the joints need to be connected and fixed by middle large vertical column mechanisms; At the same time, both ends of the guardrail plates have to be joined and fixed by end large vertical column mechanism. Therefore, the structural design of the small vertical column, the middle large vertical column mechanism and end large vertical column mechanism are related to the using effect and strength of the entire guardrail device.
A patent of utility model named “A W waveform Guardrail Plate against Bumping for a Highway” has been disclosed in the Chinese Patent No. 92213037X, which was achieved by overlapping W waveform guardrail plates against bumping with different cross-sectional dimension at both ends by screw nails and fixing them to the vertical columns on the highway one by one. However, since the guardrail plates of the invention patent is fixed to the vertical column directly by screw nails, its impact resistance is poor, and the safety of use isn't high. Moreover, the base material of the plate was not made of PVC resin, so it is easily to be oxidized and rusted, easy to damage cars in collision.
A patent of utility model named “A Guardrail Plate against Bumping for a Highway” has been disclosed by the Chinese Patent No. 200820157983X, which utilized U-shaped springs to connect corrugated board and vertical column. The U-shaped springs display good elastic collision force when a vehicle bumped into the board, hence, reduce the damage to the vehicle. Although this structure is a little better than the one of which the plate is fixed to the vertical column directly by screw nails, it is only adapted to steel plates instead of PVC guardrail plates as we use it.
The Chinese Patent No. 2010200145262 disclosed a patent of utility model named “Guardrail Device with waveform beam for Pavement Maintenance of Highway”, which comprises a waveform beam, an prevention block and a hollow guardrail column, while the guardrail column consists of a lengthened pipe and an internal casing which are located in the interior of the steel pipe of the guardrail column. The design of the structure is mainly for the purpose of lengthening the guardrail column. The guardrail of which is not formed by PVC resin, its shape only fits waveform beam, and ordinary screw snails are used for fixation between the waveform beam and the prevention block; thus, its comprehensive cost is expensive and not green enough; Meanwhile, the invention is adapted only to a narrow range, being of low capacity of collision resistance and lower life performance.
In addition, there have been some other patent applications of inventions and utility models, but their structural designs are not reasonable. Moreover, the current structures cannot be associated in a simple way, otherwise it may lead to weaker strength, worse effect in use, or result in pollution, higher cost or even impossible to be put into practice.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The technical problem to be solved in this invention is to overcome the above drawbacks being existed in prior art, providing a guardrail device for a highway with reasonable design in structure, better performance in collision resistance and good overall effect.
The technical solution to the above technical problems of the present invention is: the guardrail device for a highway involves guardrail plates, a small vertical column, a middle large vertical column and an end large vertical column, the guardrail plate is fixed to the small vertical column, the middle large vertical column and the end large vertical column respectively, wherein, said guardrail plates, which are made of PVC resin, have a reinforcing band fixed therein; a bracket is arranged between said small vertical column and said guardrail plates, the bracket is secured to the small vertical column, and the guardrail plate is secured to the bracket, the guardrail plate and the bracket are fixed together by means of frame bolts; said middle large vertical column mechanism consists of a middle connecting plate, a connecting ring and guardrail plates having end portions; the middle large vertical column, the middle connecting plate and the connecting ring are all fixed together by long bolts; guardrail plates winds reversely around said connecting ring therein; the two guardrail plates are fixed to the middle connecting plate by the frame bolts respectively; said end large vertical column mechanism comprises a sheath, an end connecting plate and guardrail plates having end portions, the sheath is fixed to the end large vertical column, while the sheath being Wound around by guardrail plates, said guardrail plates are fixed to the end connecting plate by frame bolts. Thus, it rendered the structural design of the present invention more reasonable, much better in collision resistance and much safer in use; the guardrail plate is made of PVC resin and there is no need to expose to anticorrosion or spraying treatment etc, which genuinely achieved the goal of green and environmental protection. On the other hand, since the density of the PVC resin is much lower than steel, its overall cost is low.
Preferably, said frame bolt had external thread set at its both ends, Being presented as an integrated structure and covered by guardrail plates therein, it rendered the structural design of the bolt more reasonable and much stronger in its linkage strength.
Preferably, said guardrail plate having end portions comprises end guardrail plate and middle guardrail plate fused together, which made the structural design of the bolt more reasonable and the connection strength of both the end guardrail plate and the middle guardrail plate much stronger.
Preferably, a pad is arranged in said middle large vertical column mechanism said pad is fixed between the middle large vertical column and the middle connecting plate so as to play a better cushioning effect in the event of vehicle collision.
Preferably, fixing holes of small vertical column and fixing holes of small vertical column guardrail are opened on said brackets, said fixing holes of the small vertical column guardrail match both ends of the frame bolts. It makes the structural design of the bracket more reasonable and convenient in connecting columns and guardrail plates.
Preferably, a connecting ring long bolt hole and two connecting ring guardrail slots are opened on the connecting ring of said middle large vertical column mechanism. A long bolt penetrates through the long bolt hole of the connecting ring, while guardrail plates winds reversely in the two guardrail slots of the connecting ring therein respectively, aiming to facilitate the link of the end portions of the guardrail plates and making the link structure more reasonable.
Preferably, long bolt holes and frame bolt holes are opened in the middle connecting plate of said middle large vertical column mechanism, a long bolt penetrates through the long blot holes of the middle connecting plate, and frame bolts through the frame bolt holes, which makes the whole body exposed to the force evenly and stronger in its link strength.
Preferably, a large vertical steel column is arranged in the middle large vertical column mechanism, which is welded to both ends of the connecting plate, and guardrail plates having end portions wind around the large vertical steel column, making the connection of the guardrail plates much firmer.
Preferably, an end large vertical steel pipe is arranged in said end large vertical column mechanism, which is welded to one end of the end connecting plate, and guardrail plates having end portions wind around the end large vertical steel pipe thereon, making the connections of the guardrail plates much tighter.
Preferably, said sheath in said end large vertical column mechanism binds tightly to the guardrail plates at the merge place therein, and the sheath is welded to the end large vertical column via reinforcing ribs, making no gap at the merge place and stronger in linkage, the association between the sheath and the column is getting tighter as well.
Preferably, said reinforcing band in cross section is composed of fibers in at least two directions, all the fibers in the reinforcing band are fixed together, making the ability of collision resistance enhanced with respect to the guardrail plate of the present invention.
Compared with the prior art, the current invention had the following advantages and effects: the overall design in structure is reasonable and has improved impact resistance, of low cost, of extended life performance, favorable cushion effect in vehicle collision, uneasily imposing scratch on the vehicle, and largely reducing the secondary damage to the passenger and the car as well; meanwhile, the used material brings no pollution to the environment, therefore being green, and it belongs to a sort of products which should be popularized actively nationwide.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front schematic view of the overall structure of embodiment 1 according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is the enlarged schematic view of the left structure of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is the top schematic view of the structure of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is the cross-sectional schematic view of the small vertical column taken along lines A-A in FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is the cross-sectional schematic view of the middle large vertical column mechanism taken along lines C-C in FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is the cross-sectional schematic view of the middle large vertical column mechanism taken along lines D-D in FIG. 2.

FIG. 7 is the schematic view of the end large vertical column mechanism taken along lines E-E in FIG. 2.

FIG. 8 is the cross-sectional schematic view of the end large vertical column mechanism taken along lines F-F in FIG. 2.

FIG. 9 is the schematic view of the bracket structure according to the present invention.

FIG. 10 is the cross-sectional schematic view of the structure taken along lines G-G in FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is the schematic view of the bolt according to the present invention.

FIG. 12 is the left view of the structure in FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is the schematic view of the connecting ring according to the present invention.

FIG. 14 is the cross-sectional schematic view of the structure taken along lines H-H in FIG. 13.

FIG. 15 is the schematic view of the middle connecting plate according to the present invention.

FIG. 16 is the cross-sectional schematic view of the structure taken along lines I-I in FIG. 15.

FIG. 17 is the schematic view of the end connecting plate according to the present invention.

FIG. 18 shows the cross-sectional schematic view of the structure taken along lines J-J in FIG. 17.

FIG. 19 is the enlarged schematic view of the guardrail plate of the present invention.

FIG. 20 is the schematic view of the small vertical column of embodiment 2 according to the present invention.

FIG. 21 is the schematic view of the middle large vertical column mechanism of embodiment 2 according to the present invention.

FIG. 22 is the schematic view of the middle large vertical column mechanism of embodiment 2 according to the present invention, the frame bolts of the middle large vertical column mechanism therein cover guardrail plate.

FIG. 23 is the schematic view of the end large vertical column mechanism of embodiment 2 according to the present invention.

FIG. 24 is the schematic view of the structure of end large vertical column mechanism of embodiment 2 according to the present invention, the frame bolts of which therein cover guardrail plate.

FIG. 25 is the schematic view of the small vertical column of embodiment 3 according to the present invention.

FIG. 26 is the schematic view of the middle large vertical column mechanism of embodiment 3 according to the present invention.

FIG. 27 is the schematic view of the middle large vertical column mechanism of embodiment 3 according to the present invention, the frame bolts therein of which covers guardrail plates.

FIG. 28 is the schematic view of the end large vertical column mechanism according to the present invention.

FIG. 29 is the schematic view of the end large vertical column mechanism according to the present invention, the frame bolts therein of which coat guardrail plate.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiment

1

Referring to FIG. 1 to FIG. 19, the present invention will be illustrated by one embodiment in which there are two guardrail plates and convexes are arranged on each guardrail plate.
The current invention comprises guardrail plates 1, a small vertical column 2, a middle large vertical column mechanism 3 and an end large vertical column mechanism 4. Among them, the guardrail plates 1 comprise guardrail plates having end portions 1, the guardrail plates having end portions 1 comprise an end guardrail plate 11 and a middle guardrail plate 12 which are fused together. The middle large vertical column mechanism 3 comprises a middle connecting plate 31, a connecting ring 32 and guardrail plates having end portions 1. End large vertical column mechanism 4 comprises a sheath 42, end connecting plate 41 and guardrail plates having end portions 1.
The guardrail plates 1, which are formed by PVC resin, have reinforcing bands 13 fixed inside. In the embodiment, seven raised lines 14 are arranged on the guardrail plates 1, the guardrail plates 1 therein coat reinforcing bands 13; said raised lines 14 are fused integrated with the guardrail plates 1 and protruded out the surface of the guardrail plates 1, which are situated at the extended direction of 1, the outer surface of the guardrail plates 1 is made of PVC resin.
The reinforcing band 13 in cross section is made up of fibers extending in at least two directions. In this embodiment, the reinforcing band 13 is constituted by horizontal fibers 131 and vertical fibers 132 perpendicular to each other in two directions on the cross section. All horizontal fibers 131 and vertical fibers 132 are fastened together. The reinforcing bands 13 of the embodiment were made of melt coated glass fibers, which had relatively high strength in collision resistance; certainly, materials such as kevlar, carbon fiber, polyester, nylon, DuPont silk and alike may also be used.
Naturally, the guardrail plates 1 may take other shapes as well, and it is also acceptable to adopt one or three lines of such structures.
In this invention, a bracket 21 is set between the small vertical column 2 and the guardrail plate 1, on which fixing holes of small vertical column 211 and fixing holes of small vertical column guardrail 212 are drilled. The fixing holes of small vertical column 211 match with the ordinary bolt 22, and the fixing holes of small vertical column guardrail 212 match with both ends of the frame bolt 5.
The bracket 21 and the small vertical column 2 are fixed by ordinary bolts 22, whereas frame bolts 5 are utilized for the fixation between the guardrail plate 1 and the bracket 21. Being an integrated structure, the frame bolt 5 has external thread set at both ends, the frame 52 of said frame bolt 5 coats guardrail plates 1.
In the current invention, a connecting ring long bolt hole 321 and two connecting ring guardrail slot 322 are created on the connecting ring 32 in the middle large vertical column mechanism 3. The long bolt hole 321 is penetrated by a long bolt 33 and the two connecting ring guardrail slots 322 are reversely wound by two lines of guardrail plates having end portions 1; a middle connecting plate long bolt hole 311 and frame bolt holes 312 are drilled on the middle connecting plate 31, The middle connecting plate long bolt hole 311 is penetrated by a long bolt 33, whereas a frame bolt hole 312 is penetrated by a frame bolt 5.
The middle large vertical column 30, the middle connecting plate 31 and the connecting ring 32 are lined successively and fastened together through long bolt 33. Two guardrail plates having end portions 1 wind reversely in said connecting ring 32 respectively therein; the two guardrail plates 1 are fixed to the middle connecting plate 31 via a frame bolt 5 respectively; said frame 52 of said frame bolt 5 coat a guardrail plate 1; the middle connecting plate 31, which is structurally symmetrical, may be a steel plate.
A pad 35, which is also set in the middle large vertical column mechanism 3, is fixed between the middle large vertical column 30 and the middle connecting plate 31; the pad 35 and the middle connecting plate 31 are secured by welding.
A large vertical steel column 61, which is welded to both ends of the middle connecting plate 31 respectively and wound by an end guardrail plate 11, may also be set in the middle large vertical column mechanism 3.
In this embodiment, each guardrail plate 1 and middle connecting plate 31 are fixed by three frame bolts 5. Among them, the end guardrail plate 22 winding around the upper part of the large vertical steel column 61 may be fixed by one frame bolt 5 only.
In this embodiment, two guardrail plates 1 with reversed ends are linked by a connecting ring 32, of which each guardrail plate having end portions 1 is fixed by three frame bolts 5.
Of course, the guardrail plates 1 can also take other structures and shapes. Moreover, it may be structurally designed into one or three lines up to down. The middle large vertical column mechanism 3 can be a straight cylinder or a triangular prism as well.
In this invention, a frame bolt hole 411 is drilled on the end connecting plate 41 of the end large vertical column mechanism 4, and the frame bolt hole 411 is penetrated by a frame bolt 5 and the outer sheath 42 is wound around by a guardrail plate 1, the guardrail plate 1 and the end connecting plate 41 are fastened through a frame bolt 5, the frame 52 of said frame bolt 5 coats a guardrail plate 1; the end connecting plate 41 may be a steel plate.
An end large vertical steel pipe 62, which is welded to one end of the end connecting plate 41 and wound by an end guardrail plate 11, is set in the end large vertical column mechanism 4.
In this embodiment, the guardrail plate 1 and the end connecting plate 41 are fastened by three frame bolts 5. Among them, the end guardrail plate 11 winding around the end large vertical steel pipe 62 can be fastened by a frame bolt 5 only.
The sheath 42 in the end large vertical column mechanism 4 binds tightly at the merged place of the guardrail plates 1 and is welded to the end large vertical column 40 via reinforcing ribs 43.
Of course, the guardrail plate 1 may be in other structures or shapes. Besides, the guardrail plate 1 may be designed into a structure of one or three lines; the end large vertical column 40 may be a straight cylinder or a cylinder with supports.
In practice, the small vertical column 2, middle large vertical column mechanism 3 in the utility model can be set in multiplicity as needed, The end large vertical column mechanism 4 is usually installed at the two ends of the whole device; the lower part of the small vertical column 2, the middle large vertical column mechanism 3 and the end large vertical column mechanism 4 are all buried under the ground 100 so as to fix them.

Embodiment 2

With reference to FIG. 20-FIG. 24, this represents the embodiment of the present invention in the case when the guardrail plate takes a wave-form structure.
The waveform guardrail plate 7 of the present invention includes wave-like structure protrusion 71, reinforcing bands 72 which are located at both sides of the bottom of the waveform guardrail plate 7; the reinforcing bands are fixed into the waveform guardrail plate 7; the outer surface of the waveform guardrail plate 7 is made of PVC resin.
In this embodiment, a bracket 21 is set between the small vertical column 2 and the waveform guardrail plate 7, the bracket 21 is fixed to the small vertical column 2 by an ordinary bolt, whereas the flat portion 73 of the waveform guardrail plate 7 is fixed to the bracket 21 via frame bolts 5.
In this embodiment, the middle connecting plate 31 in the middle large vertical column mechanism 3 is located between the middle large vertical column 30 and the connecting ring 32, the middle connecting plate 31 and the connecting ring 32 as well as the middle large vertical column 30 are fixed together; two waveform guardrail plates winds reversely in the connecting ring 32 respectively, and frame bolts 5 are used for the fixation between the waveform guardrail plate 7 and the middle connecting plate 31; number 35 is the pad.
In this embodiment, the waveform guardrail plates 7 of the end large vertical column mechanism 4 wind around the large vertical column 40; the waveform guardrail plates 7 and the end connecting plate 41 are fixed by frame bolts 5, whereas the sheath 42 is fixed to the large vertical column 40.
Of course, it also works if the waveform guardrail plate 7 gets waveform structures of two or more.
The rest parts are equivalent or identical to embodiment 1, therefore will not be addressed in detail.

Embodiment 3

Referring to FIG. 25 to FIG. 29, this represents the embodiment of the present invention in the case when the guardrail plate gets a circular structure.
The shape of the cross section of the guardrail plate of the present invention is round. The circular guardrail plates 8, which therein coats reinforcing bands 82, is presented to be a long strip in the extension direction, the outer surface of the circular guardrail plate 8 is formed by PVC resin; Multiple guardrail plates may be used in practice.
In the embodiment, brackets 21 are set between the small vertical column 2 and the circular guardrail plates 8, the brackets 21 are fixed to the small vertical column 2 by ordinary bolts; whereas the circular guardrail plates 8 are fixed to the bracket 8 via frame bolts 5.
In this embodiment, the middle connecting plate 31 of the middle large vertical column mechanism 3 is located between the middle large vertical column 30 and the connecting ring 31, the middle connecting plate 31, the connecting ring 32 and the middle large vertical column 30 are all fixed together; two circular guardrail plates having end portions 8 wind respectively in the connecting ring 32; Frame bolts 5 are used for the fixation between the circular guardrail plates 8 and the middle connecting plate 3.
In this embodiment, the circular guardrail plate 8 of the end large vertical column mechanism 4 winds around the outer end large vertical column 40, while the circular guardrail plates 8 are fixed to the end connecting plate 41 by frame bolts 5, the sheaths 42 are fixed to the end large vertical column 40.
What needs to be illuminated in this embodiment is that since the guardrail plate is circular, the shape of the frame bolt is just slightly different from other embodiments except for its structure, that is, the frame bolt is also of a frame structure, which has external threads set at both ends.
The rest parts are equivalent or identical to embodiment 1 and therefore will not be addressed in detail.
In the text, the so-called “the guardrail plate is formed by PVC resin” refers to: the guardrail plate may be partially made of PVC resin, or the outer surface of the guardrail plate may be made of PVC resin.
In the text, the so-called “the guardrail plate is fixed to the small vertical column, the middle large vertical column and the end large vertical column respectively” is referred to: the guardrail plate may be directly fixed to the small vertical column, the middle large vertical column and the end large vertical column respectively, or may be indirectly fixed to them by connectors.
In the text, the so-called “the middle guardrail plate” is referred to: any other guardrail plates fused to the end guardrail plate except for the end guardrail plate.
Although the present invention has disclosed in the form of embodiments described above, they are not meant to restrict the protection scope of this invention; the parts of the present invention may have different names; For any technician who is familiar with the art, all modifications or adornment made without departing from the spirits and scopes of the present invention shall all fall into the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

What is claimed:

1. A guardrail device for a highway, comprising guardrail plates, a small vertical column, a middle large vertical column mechanism and an end large vertical column mechanism, said guardrail plates are fixed to the small vertical column, to the middle large vertical column mechanism and to the end large vertical column mechanism respectively wherein,

a) said guardrail plates (1) are made of PVC resin and has reinforcing bands (13) fixed therein;

b) a bracket (21) is arranged between said small vertical column (2) and said guardrail plates (1), the bracket (21) is secured to the small vertical column (2), the guardrail plates (1) are secured to the bracket (21) and the guardrail plates (1) are fixed to the bracket (21) by frame bolts (5);

c) said middle large vertical column mechanism (3) comprises a middle connecting plate (31), a connecting ring (32) and guardrail plates having end portions (1), the middle large vertical column (30), the middle connecting plate (31) and the connecting ring (32) are all fixed together via a long bolt (33); two guardrail plates (1), being reversely wound in said connecting ring (32), are fixed to the middle connecting plate (31) through frame bolts (5) respectively;

d) said end large vertical column mechanism (4) comprises a sheath (42), an end connecting plate (41) and guardrail plates having end portions (1), the sheath is fixed to the end large vertical column (40), while the sheath being wound around by the guardrail plates (1), said guardrail plates (1) are fixed to the end connecting plate (41) by frame bolts (5).

2. The guardrail device of claim 1, wherein external thread (51) is set on either end of said frame bolt (5), which is an integrated structure, the frame (52) of the frame bolt (5) coats a guardrail plate (1) therein.

3. The guardrail device of claim 1, wherein said guardrail plates having end portions (1) comprise connecting end portion of guardrail (11) and middle portion of the guardrail (12).

4. The guardrail device of claim 1, wherein a pad (35) is arranged in the middle large vertical column mechanism (3), said pad (35) is fixed between the middle large vertical column (30) and the middle connecting plates (31).

5. The guardrail device of claim 1, wherein a large vertical steel pipe (61) is also set in said middle large vertical column mechanism (3), the large vertical steel pipe (61) is welded to both ends of the middle connecting plate (31) respectively, and besides, a guardrail plate (1) having end portions winds around the large steel pipe (61).

6. The guardrail device of claim 1, wherein small column fixing holes (211) and small column guardrail fixing holes (212) are drilled on said bracket (21) individually, said small column guardrail fixing holes (212) match with both ends of said frame bolt (5).

7. The guardrail device of claim 1, wherein a long bolt hole (321) and two connecting ring fence slots (322) are opened on the connecting ring (32) of said middle large vertical column mechanism (3), the connecting ring long bolt hole (321) is penetrated through by a long bolt (33) and the guardrail plates (1) are reversely wound in the two connecting ring fence slots (322) respectively; middle connecting plate long bolt holes (311) and frame bolt holes (312) are opened on said middle connecting plates (31), each middle connecting plate long bolt hole (311) is penetrated through by a long bolt (33) and each frame bolt hole (312) is penetrated through by a frame bolt (5).

8. The guardrail device of claim 1, wherein an end large steel column (62), which is welded to one end of the end connecting plate (41) and wound by guardrail plates having end portions(1), is arranged in said end large vertical column mechanism (4).

9. The guardrail of claim 1, wherein said sheath (42) is tightly bound to the guardrail plates (1) at the merge place therein, and besides, being welded to the end large vertical column (40) through reinforcing ribs (43).

10. The guardrail device of claim 1, wherein said reinforcing band (13) in cross section is composed of fibers in at least two directions, all fibers are fixed together.