Guardrail terminal barrier

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11913182-B2
Application number	US-202117409140-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 23, 2021
Priority date	Dec 9, 2015
Publication date	Feb 27, 2024
Grant date	Feb 27, 2024

Abstract

A force-absorbing barrier includes a plurality of chambers at least partially filled with fluid. The walls defining the chambers are flexible. Fluid passages in the interior walls between chambers allow fluid flow between the chambers. Alternatively, the chambers are filled with structures instead of or in addition to a fluid. The fluid flow from chamber to chamber and/or the deformation of the structures will absorb energy from the impact a motor vehicle, preventing the vehicle from impacting the terminal of a guardrail.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An impact absorbing barrier system, comprising:
a plurality of impact absorbing barriers;
a plurality of bridging walls connecting adjacent impact absorbing barriers of the plurality of impact absorbing barriers to each other, the bridging walls forming bridging chambers between connected impact absorbing barriers; and
at least one baffle in the bridging chambers between the impact absorbing barriers and the bridging walls, the baffle connected to the bridging walls,
wherein the baffle includes at least one fluid passage, the fluid passage permitting fluid flow through the baffle, wherein compression of the barrier system forces a fluid through the fluid passage, thereby absorbing energy.

2. The impact absorbing barrier system of claim 1 , wherein the barrier system is configured to be positioned on a highway forward of a guardrail or pier.

3. The impact absorbing barrier system of claim 2 , wherein the barrier system is configured to rest against a curved plate fixed to the guardrail or the pier.

4. The impact absorbing barrier system of claim 1 , wherein a barrier of the plurality of impact absorbing barriers comprises:
a plurality of containers;
each container of the plurality of containers including a wall defining a chamber within the container; and
a fluid in the chamber, the wall of the container including at least one fluid passage, the fluid passage permitting fluid flow into and out of the chamber,
wherein compression of the wall of the container forces the fluid from the chamber through the fluid passage, thereby absorbing energy.

5. The impact absorbing barrier system of claim 4 , wherein at least one container of the plurality of containers is formed from polyethylene.

6. The impact absorbing barrier system of claim 4 , wherein 25 to 75% of an interior volume of the barrier is filled with the fluid.

7. The impact absorbing barrier system of claim 4 , wherein the fluid is selected from the group consisting of water and oil.

8. The impact absorbing barrier system of claim 4 , wherein at least one container of the plurality of containers is cylindrical in shape, and wherein said plurality of containers are attached to a common base.

9. The impact absorbing barrier system of claim 4 , wherein the barrier has a height of 2 to 5 feet and a diameter of 1 to 3 feet.

10. The impact absorbing barrier system of claim 4 , wherein the baffle includes at least one fluid passage, and wherein the at least one fluid passage of the barrier is substantially aligned with the at least one fluid passage of the baffle.

11. The impact absorbing barrier system of claim 1 , wherein a barrier of the plurality of impact absorbing barriers comprises:
a barrier wall defining a barrier chamber within the barrier wall; and
a plurality of structures located within the barrier chamber,
wherein the plurality of structures are configured to provide increased strength and stability to the barrier, and
wherein the plurality of structures are configured to change an energy absorption behavior of the barrier to a desired energy absorption behavior upon an impact of the barrier.

12. The impact absorbing barrier of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of structures are honeycomb shaped.

13. The impact absorbing barrier system of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of honeycombed-shaped structures are hexagonal.

14. The impact absorbing barrier of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of structures are truss supports.

15. The impact absorbing barrier system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of impact absorbing barriers are arranged in a line formation.

16. The impact absorbing barrier system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of impact absorbing barriers are arranged in a polygonal formation.

17. The impact absorbing barrier system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the barriers of the plurality of impact absorbing barriers has a different internal configuration than at least one other barrier of the plurality of impact absorbing barriers.

18. An impact absorbing barrier system, comprising:
a plurality of impact absorbing barriers including at least a first impact absorbing barrier and a second impact absorbing barrier; and
at least one baffle positioned between the first impact absorbing barrier and the second impact absorbing barrier,
wherein the baffle includes at least one fluid passage, the fluid passage permitting fluid flow through the baffle, wherein compression of the barrier system forces a fluid through the fluid passage, thereby absorbing energy.

Assignees

• Univ Ohio

Inventors

• Ali Muhammad
• Jenson Sean R
• Alam Khairul

Classifications

• E01F15/146 Primary

  fixed arrangements · CPC title

• E01F15/141

  for column or post protection · CPC title

• E01F15/143 Primary

  Protecting devices located at the ends of barriers (E01F15/145 takes precedence) · CPC title

• E01F15/145

  Means for vehicle stopping using impact energy absorbers · CPC title