US1700877A - Fastener for barrier-post cables - Google Patents

Description

Feb; 5, 1929 N. F. BROWN FASTENER FOR BARRIER POST CABLES Filed Dec. 23, 1927 WITNESSES INVENTOR Patented Feb. 5, 1929.

UNITED STATES NORMAN F. BROWN, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

FASTENEB FOR BARRIER-POST CABLES.

Application flledJJecember 23, 1927. Serial No. 24,196.

The invention relates to roadway guards comprising a cable slung I between barrier posts, and it has to do especially with means cooperating with a post to support the cable in spaced-away relation to the post.

One of the chief objects of the invention is to provide a device for supporting a guard cable from a barrier post in such a manner that the hubs of a vehicle wheel impinging against the cable can not strike the post.

Other 01 iects of the invention are to provide a device of the type referred to which shall be of simple and inexpensive construction, easily applied to and removed from a post, efficient in operation, strong and durable.

It is the practice on well kept highways to put barriers on the outsides of sharp curves, and along dangerous hillsides where automobiles by skidding off the road would be in unusual danger. strong posts, of wood, steel tubes, or concrete, usually spaced apart a considerable distance. Two wire cables are ordinarily stretched be- 2 tween posts, and drawn tight. The posts are placed as far apart as may be consistent with giving suflicient stren th to the barrier, it being desirable to catc automobiles that get out of bounds by the comparatively resilient cables, rather than the rigid posts. Usually the car strikes such barriers at an acute angle, and the outside front wheel in most cases contacts first with the wire cables. These are spaced so that the upper one will be above the hub of the usual car wheel, and the lower-one below the hub. The tendency is for the front wheel to deflected so that it will lie in the plane of t e barrier cables, and the car will thus slide along and follow the cables, the impact being reduced to a glancing blow. But if the car does not right itself and its direction quickly, it comes to one of the posts supporting the cables. As ordinarily constructed, the cables pass through holes in the osts, or else are clamped directly thereon. onsequently, the hub of the wheel strikes the post, and serious damage is likely to follow.

The present invention is designed to remedy this danger by spacing the cable inward from the posts s ch distance that with the ordinary automo ile or truck wheel sliding along the cables and in full contact therewith the hub will clear the post. The cable is held so close to the tip of ts carrier bracket that there is not suflieient projection to catch the These barriers consist of wheels, the tires readily sliding over the brackets and on along the cables.

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 represents an end view of one form of the cablesupporting device; Fi 2 and 3 are sectional views taken on lines I II and IIIIII, respectively of Fig. 1; Figs. 4 and 4 are elevation and plan views showing a portion of a guard fence built according to the invention, and- Fig. 5 is a modification of the device shown in Figs. 1 t0 3.

A preferred embodiment of the cable-sup porting device is shown in Fi s. 1 to 3. It comprises a bracket member of ox-like form, forged or cast from ferrous or other suitable metal, having a relatively flat end face 1, against which the cable bears, and from which side faces 2, 2", and 3, 3 flare outwardly and downwardly, terminating in post-contacting base surfaces 4. Bolt-receiving openings 5 and 6 are formed through the face portion 1. The base surfaces 4 of the side faces 2 and 2 are shaped to form a saddle portion which conforms to the curvature of the post, thus providing a secure seat, and post-engaging lugs or teeth -7 disposed about the base at the points of intersection of the side faces assist in maintaining the bracket rigidly against, the post. 7

In the use of this bracket, it is placed at the proper point on the side of a barrier post 8 nearest the roadway, and a hook bolt, prefer ably of steel, but possibly of any other strong metal, having a long arm 9, a loop portion 10 and a short arm 11 is inserted in openings 5 no and 6, and arm 9 is passed through a suitable opening previously provided in the post.

A guard cable 12 is engaged by the loop, and

by tightenin a nut 13 on the opposite end of arm9, the ca Is is drawn against end face 1 and the bracket simultaneously clamped against the st.

The brac et' is proportioned so that the cable is supported at such a distance in front of the post that when an automobile or truck 10 wheel strikes the cable and lances therealong; the hub will not strike t e post. The shape illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3 is not exclusive, as various other forms may be used, but

this form is preferred because it is strong, 10:;

simple, efiicient and easy to reduce.

One modification of this racket is shown in Fig. 5, in which the loop 10" of the hook bolt is flattened, at its forward point of contact with the cable 12', in order to reduce the thickness of metal which projects in front of the cable.

The curvature of the-base, or saddle can be adapted to conform to any particular size of post, and it will be understood that the invention is not limited to posts of any particular shape or material, since it is equally applicable to posts of any contour whatever or of any construction.

I claim:

1. A hi hway barrier or guard comprising in com ination a post having a transverse hole therethrough, a bolt positioned in the hole and threaded to receive a nut on the side of the post opposite the highway, the other end of the bolt being bent to form a J-shaped hook, a rigid hollow truncated spacing member adapted to seat with its larger end against the post and having an outer wall bored to permit passage therethough of the shank of the bolt, and a cable seated on the outer wall of the spacing member and retained thereon by the hook bolt.

2. A highway barrier guard comprising a post having a hole therethrough, a rigid separate hollow spacing member having an open end adapted to seat on the post, a cable, and a hook-bolt adapted to pass through the spacing member and post and to receive a clamping nut beyond the post, the spacing member having an outer wall bored to permit passage therethrough of both the shank and hooked end of the bolt, whereby to clamp the cable to the spacing member and the latter to the post.

3. In a roadway barrier comprising a rigid post and a flexible cable attached thereto, means for supporting the cable on and spacing it from the post comprising a rigid hollow truncated spacing member having an open end adapted to seat on the side of the post, the outer end comprising a wall adapted to furnish a bearing for the cable, and a hook-bolt adapted to engage the cable at its hooked end, the spacing member having a bore to ermit passage therethrough of the shank o the bolt, the post having an aligned opening to permit passage of the shank of the bolt, and the bolt having a straight shank adapted to ass entirely through the spacing member an post and to receive a clamping member beyond the post, whereby to detachably fasten the cable to the spacing member and the latter to the post.

In testimony whereof, I sign my name.

NORMAN F. BROWN.

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