GB2199605A

GB2199605A - Roadway crash barrier

Info

Publication number: GB2199605A
Application number: GB08700544A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Graeme Arthur Jones
Original assignee: British Steel Corp
Current assignee: British Steel Corp
Priority date: 1987-01-10
Filing date: 1987-01-10
Publication date: 1988-07-13
Anticipated expiration: 2007-01-10
Also published as: GB8700544D0; GB2199605B

Abstract

A roadway crash barrier section comprising a rolled steel corrugated beam curved to a predetermined degree in the common plane of the corrugations. The beam is suitably corrugated into a w-section and may be curved over its entire length. The beam is preferably curved at an angle of, say 6 DEG , and a hole (3) is formed approximately halfway along its length for receiving a bolt by means of which the beam is secured to an upright stanchion (4). A series of holes (2) at each end receive bolts by means of which the beam is secured in an overlapping relationship to adjacent beam sections. <IMAGE>

Description

CRASH BARRIERS This invention-relates to crash barriers, and in particular relates to 'end' sections of roadway crash barriers.

Hitherto where breaks in the continuity of roadway crash barriers occur, e.g. on either side of bridges, or 'reservations' formed with entry and exit routes, etc, it has been common to provide an 'end' section which is welded to the elevated run and is angled downwardly, at e.g. 60, towards ground level, theWhole being bolted to upright stanchions. The barriers are most commonly corrugated W-section rolled steel and the end sections are welded on to the straight run, either one end, or both ends, being mitred for this purpose to provide continuity.

However, it has been found that severe impacting on to the angled end sections, as for example, by a vehicle travelling at high speed, has on occasions been found to cause the welded joint to fracture, the 'level' barrier run then whipping away and presenting a jagged edge end-on to the oncoming vehicle with consequential disastrous results.

It is an object of this invention to mitigate this drawback.

From one aspect the invention provides a roadway crash barrier section comprising a rolled steel corrugated beam curved to a predetermined degree in the common plane of the Forrugations.

This section then, is designed tp be installed at the end of a barrier length, the degree of curvature being such that the end section extends from the conventional tensioned terminal section at ground level to the level of the elevated barrier run, overlapping these adjacent sections and being bolted into position as with adjacent plain barrier sections.

In order that the invention may be fully understood one embodiment thereof will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a schematic side elevation of the curved corrugated beam according to this invention, and Fig 2 is a cross-section on A-A.

Referring to the drawings the beam is a rolled piece of W-section (Fig 2) typically about 1000 mm in length having a series of holes 2 at each end for receiving bolts by which the beam is secured in an overlapping relationship to adjacent beam sections. In particular the 'level' end on the right-hand side overlaps with the end of the adjoining straight beam and the raked end on the other side overlaps with the end of the adjoining terminal section beam. The curved beam is bent at an angle of, say 6t, and a hole 3 is formed approximately halfway along its length for receiving a bolt by which this beam is secured to flri upright stanchion 4.The full curve may extend over either a short section of the beam or indeed over its whole length depending on the rolling practice adopted - it is two stage in the sense that a conventionSl straight corrugated section is subjected to a second stage rolling during which the rolling parameters are adjusted to produce the 'banana' - type curve.

The chain-dotted outline illustrates the comparison with the welded section beams produced hitherto with each length being mitred and welded along their mating faces.

Although this invention has been described with reference to the particular embodiment illustrated it is to be understood that various modifications and changes in detail may readily be effected without departing from the scope of this invention. For example the method of support of the barrier may be different from that shown and the section need not be of the conventional W-form.

Claims

WE CLAIM

1. A roadway crash barrier section comprising a rolled steel corrugated beam curved to a predetermined degree in the common plane of the corrugations.

2. A crash barrier according to claim 1, in which the beam is corrugated into a W-section.

3. A crash barrier according to claim 1 or claim 2, in which the beam is curved over its whole length.

4. A crash barrier substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

5. A method of making a crash barrier according to any one of claims 1 to 4 in which a straight section of corrugated beam is rolled to its final form and an additional rolling stage is conducted by which the curvature is imparted.