Patent ID: 8448913
Filing Date: 2013-05-28
Classification: E01F

Abstract:
1. An anchor cable release mechanism in combination with a guardrail system, said guardrail system having a W-beam rail element, an anchor impact surface, and an anchor cable comprising: a first set and a second set of cable release bolts connected to a first section of said W-beam rail element of said guardrail system, said first set and said second set of cable release bolts aligned in separate rows along a top side and a bottom side of said W-beam, respectively; a cable release bracket releasably attachable to said cable release bolts, said bracket having a first side with a plurality of enlarged openings slidingly engageable on said first set of said bolts along said top side of said W-beam rail element, said bracket having a second side with a plurality of tapered slots, said tapered slots slidingly engageable on said second set of bolts along said bottom side of said W-beam rail element, each of said tapered slots having a flat, bolt slide surface intersecting with an angled, release surface, each of said flat, bolt slide surfaces having a length extending from a first end at said intersection with said angled, released surface, each of said flat, bolt slide surfaces having a length extending from a first end at said intersection with said angled, release surface, to a second end in perpendicular alignment with a center of a U-Shaped curved portion on each of said tapered slots, said length of said flat, bolt slide surface increasing progressively from a upstream most slot to a downstream most slot, said bracket adapted to move away from and out of parallel alignment with said W-beam rail element beginning at a downstream end of said bracket as tension is released from said cable of said guardrail system and said bracket is urged downstream by impacting forces.