Patent ID: 8353499
Filing Date: 2013-01-15
Classification: E01F

Abstract:
1. A roadway guardrail system comprising: a roadway guardrail having one or more mounting apertures; one or more roadway guardrail posts with a u-shaped cross-section each having a first end, a second end, two flanges with front surfaces and defining a channel therebetween, and a slot extending along a portion of the length of the roadway guardrail posts within the channel near the first end of the roadway guardrail posts and wherein the second end is configured for being operatively coupled to the ground; one or more reinforcing members having a first surface and a second surface and an aperture therethrough; one or more fasteners, each extending through a respective one of the mounting apertures, an aperture of the reinforcing members, and the slots; wherein the roadway guardrail is operatively coupled to the one or more roadway guardrail posts by the one or more fasteners, and wherein each of the one or more reinforcing members is located between the roadway guardrail and a respective one of the one or more roadway guardrail posts; such that the first surface of the reinforcing members engages the front surfaces of the two flanges of the roadway guardrail post and the second surface of the reinforcing member engages a surface of the roadway guardrail; wherein a portion of each slot aligns with one of the one or more mounting apertures at a desired height of the roadway guardrail; wherein upon a vehicle impact with the roadway guardrail the one or more fasteners, the one or more reinforcing members, and the roadway guardrail slide upwards with respect to the one or more guardrail posts, such that the one or more reinforcing members slide upwards with respect to the front surfaces of the two flanges of the one or more roadway guardrail posts along at least one of the one or more slots; and wherein the upward movement of the one or more fasteners, the one or more reinforcing members, and the roadway guardrail is inhibited when at least one of the one or more fasteners contacts an end of the at least one of the one or more slots, such that energy of the collision is dissipated as the one or more reinforcing members slide with respect to the front surfaces of the flanges of the one or more roadway guardrail posts and the at least one of the one or more fasteners contacts the end of the at least one of the one or more slots.