Patent Publication Number: US-10767325-B2

Title: Impact absorbing traffic noise barrier system

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of, and claims priority to, Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/613,821 filed on Jan. 5, 2018 and entitled “Impact Absorbing Traffic Noise Barrier System.” The contents of this application are expressly incorporated herein for all purposes. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to a traffic noise barrier system. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a traffic noise barrier that is designed to absorb impacts from vehicles. 
     Description of the Background Art 
     Noise barriers are commonly used along roadways. Noise barriers, sometimes called sound walls, are installed along roadways, such as interstate highways, county roads, streets and other thoroughfares. The noise barriers are used to acoustically isolate adjacent areas from sounds associated with automobiles, trucks, motorcycles, and other vehicular traffic. The area protected by the barrier may be a subdivision, park, office complex, or any other area that desires to be relatively free of noise pollution. Noise barriers are increasingly common as traffic volumes and population densities increase. 
     Often times there is short distance between the roadway and the area to be protected. This can require installing the noise barrier close to the edge of the roadway. In some instances, the noise barrier must be installed less than 40 feet from the flow of traffic. In such situations, it is known to install a sound wall along the top of a crashworthy traffic barrier. Suitable crashworthy traffic barriers include concrete partitions or dividers. Other types of crashworthy traffic barriers are known in the art. Crashworthy barriers are designed to deflect vehicle impacts and re-direct the vehicle back into the flow of traffic. Crashworthy barriers are also designed to allow a vehicle to ride up the side of the barrier before re-directing the vehicle. 
     Placing the sound wall along the top of the traffic barrier can be problematic. In particular, the sound wall can adversely affect the intended operation of the crashworthy traffic barrier. A vehicle impacting the crashworthy barrier can become caught up in the sound wall. This may preclude the vehicle from re-entering traffic. Also, if the sound wall becomes detached from the crashworthy barrier, the vehicle, its occupants, or nearby pedestrians can become injured. For this reason, various efforts have been made to reinforce the connection between the sound wall and crashworthy barrier in the hope of preventing such detachment. However, these reinforced barriers tend to be heavy, difficult to erect, and expensive. 
     An example of such a system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,220,077 to Humphries. Humphries &#39;077 discloses a crashworthy traffic noise barrier system that includes a longitudinal barrier extending parallel to the path of traffic. The barrier includes a plurality of upstanding posts attached to the traffic noise barrier wall. Transparent panels are included that are reinforced with plastic bands or threads. The system further includes a series of beams that extend generally parallel to the top surface of the barrier. 
     Still yet another example is U.S. Pat. No. 7,104,720 to Humphries. Humphries 720 likewise discloses a traffic noise barrier system that includes a longitudinal barrier and a noise wall. However, the noise wall is positioned at a distance of 18 or more inches from a front surface of a longitudinal barrier. The distance between the noise wall and barrier being provided to prevent a vehicle from getting snagged or from vehicle intrusion. 
     Although the inventors of the background art achieve their own unique objectives, all suffer from drawbacks. The background art all involve heavy, difficult to erect, or expensive designs. Other designs of the background art involve multi-part, complex designs, all in an effort to prevent a noise wall from interfering with the normal operation of a crashworthy barrier. What is needed, therefore, is a simple, lightweight, and easily installed sound wall that does not detract from the intended operation of a crashworthy barrier. 
     Therefore, it is an object of this disclosure to provide an improvement which overcomes the aforementioned inadequacies of the prior art devices and provides an impact resistant traffic noise barrier system. 
     It is therefore an objective of the present system to position a sound wall above a traffic barrier in a manner that does not adversely affect the operation of the barrier. 
     It is a further objective of the present disclosure to create a traffic noise barrier system that is lightweight, inexpensive, and easy to install. 
     It is still yet another objective of the present disclosure to create a noise barrier system with a series of upstanding beams that are designed to give way in the event of a vehicle impact. 
     It is another objective of this system to create a noise barrier system with a series of acoustic panels that are supported by way of an anchor cable. 
     Still yet, a further objective of the present invention is to provide a series of acoustic panels that will stay supported by way of an anchor cable even after a vehicle impact. 
     The foregoing has outlined some of the pertinent objects of the invention. These objects should be construed to be merely illustrative of some of the more prominent features and applications of the intended invention. Many other beneficial results can be attained by applying the disclosed invention in a different manner or modifying the invention within the scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, other objects and a fuller understanding of the invention may be had by referring to the summary of the invention and the detailed description of the preferred embodiment in addition to the scope of the invention defined by the claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     For the purpose of summarizing this invention, this invention comprises an impact resistant traffic noise barrier system. The system includes a crashworthy traffic barrier that is designed to be placed adjacent a roadway and next to a flow of traffic. The design and weight of the traffic barrier permits it to withstand a variety of vehicle impacts. As part of the system, a sound wall is installed along the top of the traffic barrier. The sound wall includes a series of beams that are secured to the traffic barrier via anchor plates. Acoustic panels are secured between adjacent beams. An anchor cable extends from an anchor post, to a first post, and along a number of intermediate posts. In a preferred embodiment, the anchor cable is routed through holes in the acoustic panels. The beams include a frangible section that is designed to break upon an impact with a vehicle. When such an impact occurs, the acoustic panels are supported by the anchor cable and remain in place. 
     The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the more pertinent and important features of the present invention in order that the detailed description of the invention that follows may be better understood so that the present contribution to the art can be more fully appreciated. Additional features of the invention will be described hereinafter which form the subject of the claims of the invention. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and the specific embodiment disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the front side of the impact resistant traffic noise barrier of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is an elevational view of the rear side of the impact resistant traffic noise barrier of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 3  is a sectional view taken along line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is a front elevational view of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 5  is a detail view taken from  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 6  is a plan view taken along line  6 - 6  of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 7  is a detailed view taken from  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 8  is a detailed view of an anchor bolt and anchor plate of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 9  is a detailed view of the lower bracket of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 10  is a plan view taken along line  10 - 10  of  FIG. 2 . 
     
    
    
     Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings. 
     
       
         
           
               
             
               
                   
               
               
                 PARTS LIST 
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                   
                 20 Impact Resistant Noise Barrier System 
               
               
                   
                 22 Crashworthy Traffic Barrier 
               
               
                   
                 24 Roadway 
               
               
                   
                 26 Flow of Traffic 
               
               
                   
                 28 Continuous Upper Surface of Barriers 
               
               
                   
                 32 Sound Wall 
               
               
                   
                 34 Posts 
               
               
                   
                 36 Anchorage Plates 
               
               
                   
                 38 Anchor Bolts 
               
               
                   
                 42 Anchor Post 
               
               
                   
                 44 First Post 
               
               
                   
                 46 Intermediate Posts 
               
               
                   
                 48 Acoustical Panels 
               
               
                   
                 52 L-Shaped Horizontal Bracket 
               
               
                   
                 54 L-Shaped Vertical Bracket 
               
               
                   
                 56 Protection Holes 
               
               
                   
                 58 Restrainer Cable Holes 
               
               
                   
                 62 Restrainer Cables 
               
               
                   
                 64 Anchor Cable 
               
               
                   
                 66 Guide Hole 
               
               
                   
                 68 U-Shaped Clevis 
               
               
                   
                 72 Shim Plate 
               
               
                   
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The present disclosure relates to a traffic noise barrier system that is impact resistant. The system includes a crashworthy traffic barrier that is designed to be placed adjacent a roadway and next to a flow of traffic. As part of the system, a sound wall is installed along the top of the traffic barrier. The sound wall includes a series of posts that are secured to the traffic barrier via anchor plates. Acoustic panels are secured between adjacent beams. An anchor cable extends from an anchor post, to a first post, and along a number of intermediate posts. In a preferred embodiment, the anchor cable is routed through holes in each of the posts. Each beam includes a frangible section that is designed to break upon an impact with a vehicle. When such an impact occurs, the beams and acoustic panels remain supported by the anchor cable. The various details of the present invention, and the manner in which they interrelate, are described in greater detail hereinafter. 
     As described, the system  20  of the present invention includes a longitudinally directed traffic barrier  22 . As noted, this is a crashworthy traffic barrier  22  may be a concrete partition. Each barrier  22  includes an enlarged base and a sloped forward face. The barriers  22  are designed to absorb vehicle impacts, prevent the impacting vehicle from leaving the roadway  24 , and ultimately re-direct the vehicle back into the flow of traffic  26 . The longitudinal barriers  22  can be installed immediately adjacent to the flow of traffic  26 . The barriers  22  are intended to be positioned in an end-to-end relationship with numerous barriers  22  extending along the traffic flow  26 . The segmented nature of the barriers  22  allow the overall direction and shape of the traffic barriers  22  to be altered along the course of a roadway  24 . With the traffic barriers  22  placed in an end-to-end relationship, a continuous upper surface  28  is formed along adjoining traffic barriers. The present disclosure is not limited to any particular traffic barrier design or construction. 
     The next component of this system is the sound wall  32  that is mounted to the continuous upper surface  28  of the barriers  22 . Sound wall  32  consists of a series of upwardly extending posts  34 , acoustic panels  48 , restrainer cables  62 , and an anchor cable  64 . In the preferred embodiment, the series of upwardly extended posts  34  (or beams) are each secured to a back face of traffic barrier  22 . In accordance with the invention, posts  34  are preferably I-beams that can be anywhere between 8-15 feet in length. The lower extent of each post  34  is anchored to the backside of an associated traffic barrier  22  by way of a pair of anchorage plates  36 . Each anchorage plate  36 , in turn, is bolted to the rearward face of the traffic barrier  22  by way of a pair of anchor bolts  38 . As an alternative to the anchorage plates  36 , posts  34  can be cast into the associated concrete traffic barrier  22  or they can be epoxied in place. 
     Thus, a set of four anchor bolts  38  and two anchorage plates  36  are used to secure the bottom portion of each I-beam post  34  to the back face of an associated crashworthy traffic barrier  22 . The posts  22  are preferably spaced at even intervals along the length of the adjacent traffic barriers  22 . In one representative installation, the adjacent posts  34  are separated by 8 feet. The first post of the series is designated as the anchor post  42 , the second post is designated as the first post  44 , and the remaining posts are designated as intermediate posts  46 . 
     Each acoustical panels  48  is designed to be positioned between, and secured to, adjacent posts  34 . This is accomplished by one horizontally oriented L-shaped bracket  52  and two vertically oriented L-shaped brackets  54 . The vertically oriented L-shaped brackets create a U-shape for use in accepting the bottom edge of a panel  48 . In particular, the horizontal L-shaped bracket  52  is attached to adjacent posts  34 .  FIG. 6  is a top plan view of two adjoining horizontally oriented L-shaped brackets  52 .  FIG. 9  illustrates the cross section of one horizontal L-shaped bracket  52  holding the bottom edge of an acoustical panel  48 . An EPDM gasket (an ethylene propylene diene monomer) can be positioned between the bracket  52  and the panel  48 . Other elastomers can likewise be used, both within L-shaped bracket  52  or U-shaped bracket  54 . The sides of each acoustic panel  48  are retained by vertically arranged L-shaped brackets  54 . As noted in  FIG. 10 , each of these brackets  54  is secured to the forward face of a post  34 . The combination of the horizontal and vertical L-shaped brackets ( 52 ,  54 ) secures each acoustical panel  48  to its two adjacent posts  34 . In the preferred embodiment, acoustical panels  48  are formed from a transparent acrylic material. Such a material deflects sounds and is highly transparent. It may also include embedded polyamide threads. These threads retain any sheet fragments in the event of breakage. A suitable commercially available material is Acrylite® Soundstop GS CC from Evonik Cyro LLC of Parsippany, N.J. Other acoustically isolating materials will be known to those of ordinary skill. 
     Each of the posts include a pair of protection holes  56  located immediately above the upper anchorage plate  36 . These protection holes  56  makes the associated post  34  frangible or breakable. In the preferred embodiment, the frangible region is located just below the top edge of the associated crashworthy traffic barrier  22 . This allows post  34  to shear just below the top edge of the barrier  22  so no part of the post  34  will remain above barrier  22  following an impact. This reduces any possible hazards that may impact or snag a vehicle or passenger during an accident. The depicted protection holes  56  have a half inch diameter and allow the posts  34  to breakaway or fail on impact. The frangibility can also be provided by notches in the sides of the post  34  or otherwise providing a stressed or weakened area in the post  34 . For example, post  34  may include a post splice or a v-notch. Regardless of how provided, the frangible region allows the posts  34  to break, or to otherwise become dislocated from the traffic barrier  22 , upon impact. As described hereinafter, the anchor cable  64  thereafter prevents the acoustic panels  48  and posts  34  from falling or otherwise damaging the vehicle or adjacent pedestrians. Each post  34  also includes holes  58  for a pair of restrainer cables  62 . The restrainer cables  62  that extend from each post  34  to approximately 6 inches into the adjacent panel  48 . Restrainer cables  62  help keep the posts  34  and panels  48  together. 
     The anchor cable  64  includes a first end that is attached to the anchor post  42 , preferably at a location adjacent to the anchorage plates  36 . In a preferred but non-limiting example, anchor cable  64  is ¾″ diameter galvanized cable. Anchor cable  64  then extends to the top of the first post  44  and along the intermediate posts  46 . To facilitate the connection between the anchor cable  64  and posts ( 44 ,  46 ), a guide hole  66  is provided at the top of each post. A U-shaped clevis  68  and shim plate  72  then secure anchor cable  64  in place. Thus, anchor cable  64  is anchored at the anchor post  42  and then is routed through the guide holes  66  of the adjacent posts  34 . By way of the vertically and horizontally arranged L-shaped brackets ( 52 ,  54 ), the panels  48  are secured to the posts  34 . Thus, in the event of a vehicle impact, even if one or more posts  34  becomes dislodged, the anchor cable  64  will suspend the upper ends of the posts  34  and acoustic panels  48 . This prevents any damage to the vehicle or adjacent pedestrians. It further prevents intrusion into the vehicle compartment. Equally as important, by having the posts  34  break away upon impact, system  20  allows the crashworthy traffic barrier  22  to operate as intended. The design of this system  20  is in accordance with AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design Specifications, 2014 addition with 2015/2016 interims. The structural steel beams or posts are made in accordance with ASTM A709, Gr50. 
     It is also within the scope of the present invention to anchor the opposing ends of anchor cable  64  to the ground immediately adjacent the endmost barriers  22 . It is also possible to attach the ends of anchor cable  64  to ground mounted posts, or an adjacent ground mounted noise wall or crashworthy barrier. 
     The present disclosure includes that contained in the appended claims, as well as that of the foregoing description. Although this invention has been described in its preferred form with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure of the preferred form has been made only by way of example and that numerous changes in the details of construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.