The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 13, 2010
Filed:
May. 05, 2008
Akram Y. Abu-odeh, College Station, TX (US);
Dean C. Alberson, Bryan, TX (US);
Roger P. Bligh, College Station, TX (US);
D. Lance Bullard, Jr., College Station, TX (US);
C. Eugene Buth, Wellborn, TX (US);
Akram Y. Abu-Odeh, College Station, TX (US);
Dean C. Alberson, Bryan, TX (US);
Roger P. Bligh, College Station, TX (US);
D. Lance Bullard, Jr., College Station, TX (US);
C. Eugene Buth, Wellborn, TX (US);
The Texas A&M University System, College Station, TX (US);
Abstract
In accordance with a particular embodiment of the present invention, an end treatment of a guardrail safety system includes a terminal portion of a guardrail beam that has a downstream end and an upstream end. The terminal portion of the guardrail beam slopes from a first vertical height appropriate for redirecting an errant vehicle to a second vertical height proximate the surface of the ground at an upstream end of the terminal portion of the guardrail beam. A flattening portion forms a channel through which the terminal portion of the guardrail beam is disposed. A vertical dimension of the channel is greater at a downstream end of the flattening portion than at an upstream end of the flattening portion. An impact plate is connected to the flattening portion for engaging an impacting vehicle at an end of said guardrail beam. During an end-on impact, the impact plate and the flattening portion are advanced longitudinally along the guardrail in a downstream direction by the vehicle. The advancement of the impact plate and flattening portion dissipate energy to decelerate the impacting vehicle. As downstream portions of the guardrail beam are forced into the flattening portion, the guardrail is flattened vertically.