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Inventors
Valentine, Heath E.
Application #
721476
Filed
Nov-22-2000
Published
Apr-22-2003
Current US Class
256/13.1
404/6
404/9
International Classes
E01F 013/00
Field of Search
256/1 256/13.1 404/6 404/9 404/10
Examiners
Will; Thomas B.
Attorney, Agent or Firm
Thompson Hine LLP
US Patent References
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Roadway impact at... |
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Median barrier for... |
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Collapsible road b... |
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| 4376594 |
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Traffic guide empl... |
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| 4496264 |
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Barrier structure |
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| 4553875 |
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Method for making... |
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| 4722513 |
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Crash barriers for r... |
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| 4852511 |
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Portable traffic bar... |
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| 5074705 |
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Highway divider |
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| 5104254 |
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Traffic divider witl... |
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| 5217318 |
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Low maintenance c... |
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| 5230582 |
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Highway divider |
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| 5531540 |
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Reinforcement syst... |
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| 5713694 |
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Method and base f... |
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Referenced by:
View Backward References
Other References
Drawing-Dow 1-Piece Face; date unkown; admitted to be prior art for the limited purpose of consideration of this reference as prior art in the prosecution of this application; applicant reserves the right to challenge the status of this reference as prior art. Drawing-Magnode 2-Piece Face; date unknown; admitted to be prior art for the limited purpose of consideration of this reference as prior art in the prosecution of this application; applicant reserves the right to challenge the status of this reference as prior art. Article, "Fabricated Posts", Design systems by states for ALCOA Highway Bridge Railing Assemblies, pps. 48,52,53,57,69, 1970.
Citation
Cite This Patent
More From Subclass 13.1
More From Class 256
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Abstract
A parapet for mounting on a deck and resisting applied loads comprising a base plate located on the deck and a post coupled to the base plate and extending generally upwardly from the deck. The parapet further includes a lower panel extending from base plate to the post such that the post, the base plate and the lower panel form a triangular truss for resisting applied loads.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A parapet for mounting on a deck and resisting applied loads comprising:
a generally continuous base plate located on said deck;
a post coupled to said base plate and extending generally upwardly from said deck; and
a lower panel extending from base plate to said post such that said post, said base plate and said lower panel form a triangular truss for resisting applied loads, wherein said base plate is a generally flat panel that is coupled to an end surface of said post, said base plate being coupled to said deck.
2. The parapet of claim 1 wherein said base plate, said post and said lower panel form a triangular pinned-bar connection.
3. The parapet of claim 2 wherein the connection between said lower panel and said base plate is tightly toleranced such that when a force is applied to said lower panel said lower panel applies no or very little bending forces to said post.
4. The parapet of claim 1 wherein said lower panel is coupled to said base plate.
5. The parapet of claim 1 wherein said base plate is integral.
6. A parapet for mounting on a deck and resisting applied loads comprising:
a generally continuous base plate located on said deck;
a post coupled to said base plate and extending generally upwardly from said deck; and
a lower panel extending from base plate to said post such that said post, said base plate and said lower panel form a triangular truss for resisting applied loads, wherein said lower panel is coupled to said post and said base plate such that said lower panel is restrained from moving vertically and transversely relative to said post and said base plate but said lower panel can slide longitudinally relative to said base plate and said post.
7. The parapet of claim 6 wherein said lower panel includes a channel formed therein and said post includes an opening, and wherein said lower panel is coupled to said post by a clamp bar slidably received in said channel and a fastener passed through said opening and received in said clamp bar.
8. A parapet for mounting on a deck and resisting applied loads comprising:
a generally continuous base plate located on said deck;
a post coupled to said base plate and extending generally upwardly from said deck; and
a lower panel extending from base plate to said post such that said post, said base plate and said lower panel form a triangular truss for resisting applied loads, wherein said base plate is coupled to said deck by a fastener, and wherein said lower panel is pivotable about its lower end relative to said base plate and said post such that said lower panel can be pivoted out of a vertical plane of said fastener to provide access to said fastener.
9. The parapet of claim 8 further comprising a toe clip removably coupled to said base plate such that said toe clip captures said lower end of said lower panel between said toe clip and said base plate to guide the pivoting of said lower panel.
10. The parapet of claim 9 wherein said toe clip includes a curved outer surface and wherein said lower end of said lower panel includes a curved outer surface such that said curved outer surface of said lower end slides along said curved outer surface of said toe clip when said lower panel is pivoted.
11. A parapet for mounting on a deck and resisting applied loads comprising:
a generally continuous base plate located on said deck;
a post coupled to said base plate and extending generally upwardly from said deck; and
a lower panel extending from base plate to said post such that said post, said base plate and said lower panel form a triangular truss for resisting applied loads, wherein a lower end of said lower panel and an outer edge of said base plate include interlocking profiles such that said lower end of said lower panel is slidingly and rotationally received in said outer edge of said base plate.
12. A parapet for mounting on a deck and resisting applied loads comprising:
a generally continuous base plate located on said deck;
a post coupled to said base plate and extending generally upwardly from said deck; and
a lower panel extending from base plate to said post such that said post, said base plate and said lower panel form a triangular truss for resisting applied loads, wherein said panel is received on said base plate, and wherein said base plate includes a ridge that receives a lower end of said lower panel to automatically locate said lower end a predetermined distance from said post.
13. A parapet for mounting on a deck and resisting applied loads comprising:
a generally continuous base plate located on said deck;
a post coupled to said base plate and extending generally upwardly from said deck;
a lower panel extending from base plate to said post such that said post, said base plate and said lower panel form a triangular truss for resisting applied loads; and
a support element coupled to said deck and receiving a lower end of said lower panel therein to prevent said lower end from moving transversely relative to said post.
14. A parapet for mounting on a deck and resisting applied loads comprising:
a generally continuous base plate located on said deck;
a post coupled to said base plate and extending generally upwardly from said deck;
a lower panel extending from base plate to said post such that said post, said base plate and said lower panel form a triangular truss for resisting applied loads; and
an upper panel located on top of and coupled to said lower panel, said upper panel being coupled to said post, wherein said upper panel and said lower panel each include interlocking portions to lockingly couple said upper panel to said lower panel.
15. The parapet of claim 14 wherein said lower panel includes an upstream edge and said upper panel includes an upstream edge, and wherein the upstream edge of said upper panel is offset from said upstream edge of said lower panel.
16. A parapet for mounting on a deck and resisting applied loads comprising:
a generally continuous base plate located on said deck;
a post coupled to said base plate and extending generally upwardly from said deck;
a lower panel extending from base plate to said post such that said post, said base plate and said lower panel form a triangular truss for resisting applied loads;
an upper panel located on top of and coupled to said lower panel, said upper panel being coupled to said post; and
a top cap coupled to said upper panel and located over said post.
17. A parapet for mounting on a deck and resisting applied loads comprising:
a generally continuous base plate located on said deck;
a post coupled to said base plate and extending generally upwardly from said deck; and
a lower panel extending from base plate to said post such that said post, said base plate and said lower panel form a triangular truss for resisting applied loads, wherein said base plate includes at least one bolt receiving hole, and wherein said base plate is coupled to said deck by a bolt that extends upwardly from said deck and is received through said bolt receiving hole, and wherein said bolt receiving hole is elongate to enable said bolt to slide within said bolt receiving hole.
18. A parapet for mounting on a deck and resisting applied loads comprising:
a generally continuous base plate located on said deck;
a post coupled to said base plate and extending generally upwardly from said deck; and
a lower panel extending from base plate to said post such that said post, said base plate and said lower panel form a triangular truss for resisting applied loads, wherein said lower panel includes a channel formed therein and said post includes an opening, and wherein said lower panel is coupled to said post by a clamp bar slidably received in said channel of said lower panel and a fastener passed through said opening of said spacer and received in said clamp bar.
19. A median barrier for mounting on a deck and resisting applied loads comprising:
a generally continuous base plate located on said deck; and
a pair of opposed lower panels located on said base plate and angled toward each other, said lower panels being directly or indirectly coupled together and to said deck to form a triangular truss for resisting applied loads, wherein both of said lower panels are coupled to a spacer, and wherein each lower panel includes a channel formed therein and said spacer includes at least two openings, and wherein each lower panel is coupled to said spacer by a clamp bar slidably received in the channel of said lower panel and a fastener passed through said one of said openings of said spacer and received in the associated clamp bar.
20. The median barrier of claim 19 wherein said base plate and a lower end of each of said lower panels include interlocking profiles such that said lower end of each lower panel can be slidingly and rotationally received adjacent an outer edge of said base plate.
21. The median barrier of claim 19 wherein said base plate and said opposed lower panels form a triangular pinned-bar connection.
22. The median barrier of claim 19 wherein the connection between said lower panels and said base plate are tightly toleranced such that when a force is applied to one of said lower panels said lower panel apply no or very little bending forces to said spacer.
23. The median barrier of claim 19 wherein said spacer is a beam coupled to each of said lower panels.
24. The median barrier of claim 23 wherein said beam is coupled to said deck.
25. The median barrier of claim 19 wherein said beam is coupled to said base plate, and wherein said base plate is coupled to said deck.
26. The median barrier of claim 19 wherein each channel includes a throat portion and each clamp bar includes a head portion that is larger than said throat portions such that said clamp bar can slide longitudinally in said channels, but can not be laterally pulled out of said channels.
27. The median barrier of claim 19 wherein each lower panel is coupled to said spacer and said base plate such that each lower panel is restrained from moving vertically and transversely relative to said spacer and said base plate but each lower panel can slide longitudinally relative to said spacer and said base plate.
28. The median barrier of claim 19 wherein each panel is received on said base plate, and wherein said base plate includes a pair of ridges, each ridge receiving a lower end of one of said lower panel to automatically locate said lower ends of said lower panels a predetermined distance from each other.
29. The parapet of claim 19 wherein each lower panel is coupled to said base plate.
30. The parapet of claim 19 wherein said base plate is integral.
31. A median barrier for mounting on a deck and resisting applied loads comprising:
a generally continuous base plate located on said deck; and
a pair of opposed lower panels located on said base plate and angled toward each other, said lower panels being directly or indirectly coupled together and to said deck to form a triangular truss for resisting applied loads, wherein each lower panel includes a lower end coupled to said base plate, and wherein said base plate is coupled to said deck by a pair of fasteners, and wherein each lower panel is pivotable about its lower end such that each lower panel can be pivoted out of a vertical plane of one of said fastener to provide access to said fastener.
32. The median barrier of claim 31 further comprising a pair of toe clips removably coupled to said base plate such that each toe clip captures said lower end of one of said lower panels between said toe clip and said base plate to guide the pivoting of said lower panel.
33. The median barrier of claim 32 wherein each toe clip includes a curved outer surface and wherein said lower end of each lower panel includes a curved outer surface such that the curved outer surfaces of said lower panel slide along said curved outer surfaces of said toe clips when each lower panel is pivoted.
34. A median barrier for mounting on a deck and resisting applied loads comprising:
a generally continuous base plate located on said deck;
a pair of opposed lower panels located on said base plate and angled toward each other, said lower panels being directly or indirectly coupled together and to said deck to form a triangular truss for resisting applied loads;
a pair of support elements coupled to said deck, each support element receiving a lower end of one of said lower panels therein to prevent said lower ends from moving away from each other; and
a pair of toe clip, each toe clip being located on one of said support elements and over a lower end of one of said lower panels to maintain the associated lower panel between said toe clip and said support element.
35. A median barrier for mounting on a deck and resisting applied loads comprising:
a generally continuous base plate located on said deck;
a pair of opposed lower panels located on said base plate and angled toward each other, said lower panels being directly or indirectly coupled together and to said deck to form a triangular truss for resisting applied loads; and
a pair of upper panels, each upper panel being located on top of and coupled to one of said lower panels, wherein each upper panel and each lower panel include interlocking portions to lockingly couple each upper panel to its associated lower panel, and wherein each of said upper and lower panels are coupled to a spacer, and wherein said spacer includes a plurality of openings and each upper panel includes a channel formed therein, and wherein each upper panel is coupled to said spacer by a clamp bar slidably received in said channel and a fastener passed through said one of said openings of said spacer and received in the associated clamp bar.
36. A median barrier for mounting on a deck and resisting applied loads comprising:
a generally continuous base plate located on said deck; and
a pair of opposed lower panels located on said base plate and angled toward each other, said lower panels being directly or indirectly coupled together and to said deck to form a triangular truss for resisting applied loads;
a pair of upper panels, each upper panel being located on top of and coupled to one of said lower panels, and wherein each upper panel and each lower panel include interlocking portions to lockingly couple each upper panel to its associated lower panel;
a top cap coupled to said upper panels; and
a pair of side panels, each side panel being coupled to one of said upper panels and to said top cap, wherein each of said upper panels and said top cap includes a longitudinal groove formed therein, and wherein each side panel includes a pair of flanges, one of said flanges being shaped to be received in a groove of one of said upper panels, the other of said flanges being shaped to be received in one of said grooves of said top cap to thereby couple each side panel to said upper panels and said top cap.
37. The median barrier of claim 36 wherein the distance between each groove of said upper panel and an associated groove of said top cap is greater than the distance between said flanges of each side panel when said side panels are not coupled to said upper panels and said top cap such that each side panel is pulled into a state of tension when coupled to one of said upper panels and said top cap.
38. A median barrier for mounting on a deck and resisting applied loads comprising:
a generally continuous base plate located on said deck;
a pair of opposed lower panels located on said base plate and angled toward each other, said lower panels being directly or indirectly coupled together and to said deck to form a triangular truss for resisting applied loads; and
a pair of upper panels, each upper panel being located on top of and coupled to one of said lower panels, and wherein each upper panel and each lower panel include interlocking portions to lockingly couple each upper panel to its associated lower panel, and wherein each lower panel includes an upstream edge and each upper panel includes an upstream edge, and wherein the upstream edge of each upper panel is offset from the upstream edge of each associated lower panel.
39. A median barrier for mounting on a deck and resisting applied loads comprising:
a generally continuous base plate located on said deck; and
a pair of opposed lower panels located on said base plate and angled toward each other, said lower panels being directly or indirectly coupled together and to said deck to form a triangular truss for resisting applied loads, wherein said base plate includes at least one bolt receiving hole, and wherein said base plate is coupled to said deck by at least one bolt that extends upwardly from said deck and is received through said bolt receiving hole, and wherein said bolt receiving hole is elongate to enable said bolt to slide within said bolt receiving hole.
40. A median barrier for mounting on a deck and resisting applied loads comprising:
a generally continuous base plate located on said deck; and
a pair of opposed lower panels located on said base plate and angled toward each other, said lower panels being directly or indirectly coupled together and to said deck to form a triangular truss for resisting applied loads, wherein said base plate includes a pair of opposed notches, each notch being shaped and located to receive the lower end of one of said lower panels therein.
41. A method for assembling a parapet on a deck comprising the steps of:
providing a post structure comprising a post and a generally continuous base plate coupled to an end of said post;
coupling said post structure to said deck such that said post extends generally upwardly from said deck; and
coupling a lower panel to said post structure such that said lower panel extends from base plate to said post such that said post, said base plate and said lower panel form a triangular truss for resisting applied loads, wherein said lower panel includes a channel and said post structure includes an opening, and wherein second coupling step includes locating a clamp bar in said channel, sliding said clamp bar in said channel until said clamp bar is aligned with said opening, and passing a fastener through said opening and into said clamp bar.
42. A method for assembling a median barrier on a deck comprising the steps of:
coupling a generally continuous base plate to said deck;
locating a pair of opposed lower panels on said base plate such that a lower end of each panel is received in said base plate; and
directly or indirectly coupling said lower panels to each other such that said lower panels and said base plate form a triangular truss for resisting applied loads, wherein said coupling step includes coupling each lower panel to a spacer, and wherein each lower panel includes a channel and said spacer includes at least two openings, and wherein each lower panel is coupled to said spacer by locating a clamp bar in said channel, sliding said clamp bar in said channel until said clamp bar is aligned with one of said openings, and passing a fastener through said opening and into said clamp bar.
43. A method for assembling a parapet on a deck comprising the steps of:
providing a post structure comprising a post and a generally continuous base plate coupled to an end of said post;
coupling said post structure to said deck such that said post extends generally upwardly from said deck; and
coupling a lower panel to said post structure such that said lower panel extends from base plate to said post such that said post, said base plate and said lower panel form a triangular truss for resisting applied loads, wherein said second coupling step includes placing a lower end of said lower panel on said base plate and locating a toe clip on top of said base plate such that said lower end of said lower panel is captured between said toe clip and said base plate.
44. A method for assembling a parapet on a deck comprising the steps of:
providing a post structure comprising a post and a base plate coupled to an end of said post;
coupling said post structure to said deck such that said post extends generally upwardly from said deck;
coupling a lower panel to said post structure such that said lower panel extends from base plate to said post such that said post, said base plate and said lower panel form a triangular truss for resisting applied loads, wherein said second coupling step includes placing a lower end of said lower panel on said base plate and locating a toe clip on top of said base plate such that said lower end of said lower panel is captured between said toe clip and said base plate; and
pivoting said lower panel about its lower end to provide access to said base plate.
45. The method of claim 44 further comprising the step of adding a support element to limit the lateral movement of said lower panel, said adding step including coupling said support element to said deck such that said support element is located below a lower edge of said panel; locating a toe clip on top of said support element such that said lower edge is captured between said toe clip and said support element; coupling said toe clip to said base plate; pivoting said lower panel such that said lower panel is located adjacent to said post; and coupling said lower panel to said post.
46. A method for assembling a median barrier on a deck comprising the steps of:
coupling a generally continuous base plate to said deck;
locating a pair of opposed lower panels on said base plate such that a lower end of each panel is received in said base plate;
directly or indirectly coupling said lower panels to each other such that said lower panels and said base plate form a triangular truss for resisting applied loads, wherein said first coupling step includes placing said lower end of each lower panel on said base plate and coupling a pair of toe clips to said base plate such that said lower end of each lower panel is captured between one of said toe clips and said base plate; and
pivoting at least one of said lower panels about its lower end to provide access to said base plate.
47. A method for assembling a median barrier on a deck comprising the steps of:
coupling a generally continuous base plate to said deck;
locating a pair of opposed lower panels on said base plate such that a lower end of each panel is received in said base plate;
directly or indirectly coupling said lower panels to each other such that said lower panels and said base plate form a triangular truss for resisting applied loads, and wherein said first coupling step includes placing said lower end of each lower panel on said base plate and coupling a pair of toe clips to said base plate such that said lower end of each lower panel is captured between one of said toe clips and said base plate;
pivoting at least one of said lower panels about its lower end to provide access to said base plate; and
adding a support element to limit the lateral movement said one of said lower panels, said adding step including coupling said support element to said deck such that said support element is located below a lower edge of said lower panel;
coupling said toe clip to said support element such that said lower edge is captured between said toe clip and said support element;
pivoting said lower panel such that said lower panel is located adjacent to said other lower panel; and
directly or indirectly coupling said lower panel to said other lower panel.
Description
The present invention is directed to a highway barrier and parapet and a method for assembling a highway barrier and parapet.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In highway and roadway construction, a median barrier or barriers is often attached to a bridge or road surface to separate various lanes of traffic. The bridge or roadway may also include a parapet or parapets located on the outer edges of bridge or road surface to protect pedestrians from traffic and maintain traffic on the bridge. The median barriers and parapets may be a "safety shape" system, which are median barriers or parapets having a profile that allows smooth mounting and demounting of a vehicle along the lower edges of the barrier or parapet. An example of such safety shape median barrier systems are metal median barriers are manufactured by Dow Chemical Company of Midland, Mich. and by Magnode Products Company of Trenton, Ohio.
Safety shape median barriers and parapets usually have a generally smooth, continuous outer surface. The outer surface has a lower edge forming an angle with, and located adjacent to, the road surface. When a vehicle veers off the roadway and onto the safety shape median barrier or parapet, a wheel or wheels of the vehicle ride up on the lower edge of the median barrier or parapet. As the vehicle continues to ride up the median barrier or parapet, the vehicle is guided upwardly and rotated away from the barrier by the shape of the barrier or parapet. The upward and rotational movement of the vehicle converts some of the lateral energy of the vehicle into a vertical component which can be absorbed by the vehicle springs. The safety shape median barriers or parapets are also shaped to smoothly guide the vehicle from the median barrier or parapet back onto the roadway.
The existing safety shape median barriers and parapets, while most frequently made of concrete, can also be made of extruded metal panels that are attached to vertically extending posts, and are particularly used on bridges or other elevated roadways. Most existing metal safety shape parapet or median barrier systems are installed by aligning pre-drilled holes in the panels with pre-drilled holes in the posts, and then passing a fastener through the aligned holes. However, it is difficult and time consuming to align the predrilled holes, as the panel elements may be warped or distorted, the posts may not be precisely located in the desired location, and/or the dimensions of the posts and panels may vary due to thermal expansion or contraction. Another drawback with existing median barrier and parapet systems is that the panels include access holes through which the fasteners are passed to enable assembly of the system. These access holes are unsightly and can allow debris or wildlife to enter the barrier or parapet.
During installing of existing highway safety shape median barriers or parapets, a foot piece is typically coupled to the deck. Several bolts are passed through the foot piece to attach the foot piece to the deck. The panels are then slid laterally into a slot in the foot pieces to couple the panel and the foot pieces together. However, sliding the panels into the foot pieces can be difficult and time consuming due to the size of the panels, friction between the panels/foot pieces and warping or distortion of the materials. Furthermore, once the panel is coupled to the foot piece in this manner, the panel typically blocks access to the bolts that couple the foot piece to the deck, which increases assembly time.
A further drawback with many prior art safety shape median barrier and parapet systems is that they are intermittent; that is, there are regularly spaced discontinuities along the length of the system. Because most prior art safety shape median barrier systems rely upon the alignment of pre-drilled holes, as more panels are mounted it becomes increasingly difficult to mount the panels to the posts due to the accumulated out-of-range tolerances. Accordingly, it is often necessary to create a break in the system (i.e., a discontinuity) in a vertical plane. A new post is then mounted adjacent to the existing post, and a new section of panels are restarted to reset the out-of-tolerance measurements. However, the discontinuities formed by this method of construction may create areas of weakness at the discontinuities. Furthermore, the discontinuities create a series of discreet, structurally independent sections within the median barrier or parapet system. Each section has little ability to transfer impact loads to its adjacent sections, and therefore each section of the median barrier or parapet system stands alone when receiving an applied force.
In order to address this problem, metal plates may be bolted to the median barrier or parapet and located such that the plates extend over a discontinuity. Alternately or additionally, the median barrier or parapet may include an upper section of railing that bridges the discontinuity. While providing some segment-to-segment continuity, these measures do not significantly address the loss of continuity in such median barrier or parapet sections.
Accordingly, there is a need for a safety shape median barrier or parapet system that is easy to install, and provides flexibility during installation by accommodating variations in the dimensions and locations of various system components. There is also a need for a safety shape median barrier or parapet system that provides ready access to the bolts that attach the system to the deck, and that reduces the effect of vertical discontinuities in the system.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a safety shape median barrier and a parapet system that is easy to install, accommodates size variations in various components, provides ready access to the mounting bolts during installation, and reduces the effect of vertical discontinuities in the system. More particularly, the present invention utilizes a plurality of panels, each panel including one or more channels shaped to receive a clamp bar therein. The clamp bars can be slid within the channels and mounted to a post or other structure by a fastener. Because the clamp bar is free to slide within the panels, the panels need not have pre-drilled holes. The channel/clamp bar system enables the panels to be attached to the posts or other structures at nearly any point along the length of the panel, and provides a high degree of flexibility to the installer. Because there is no buildup of out-of-range tolerances in the median barrier or parapet of the present invention, the median barrier or parapet can be installed as a substantially continuous system.
The various components of the present invention can be arranged such that discontinuities in a layer of components of the system are spanned by the structure of an adjacent component. In this manner, the system can be assembled so that there are no discontinuities that extend throughout the height of the median barrier or parapet system, which increases the strength of the median barrier or parapet.
In one embodiment, the present invention includes a plurality of base plates that are coupled to the bottom of the posts, and the base plates are shaped to receive the bottom of the lower panels. Because each base plate has a fixed distance between its outer edges and the post, the base plates precisely set the lateral spacing of the lower panels. In this matter, the tolerances in the system and the loading bearing characteristics of the system can be tightly controlled. The base plates also help to transmit applied loads into tensile and compressive forces to improve the load bearing characteristic of the median barrier or parapet system.
In another embodiment, the present invention also includes a support element that receives a panel therein to couple the panel to the deck. The support element is attached to the deck by one or more bolts, and includes an inwardly opening end surface that receives a lower flange of the panel therein. The support element enables the panel to rotate out of the vertical plane of the mounting bolt and thereby provides access for tightening of the bolt.
In one embodiment, the invention is a parapet for mounting on a deck and resisting applied loads comprising a base plate located on the deck and a post coupled to the base plate and extending generally upwardly from the deck. The parapet further includes a lower panel pivotably coupled to the base plate and the lower panel form a triangular truss for resisting applied loads.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a median barrier or parapet that is easy to install, robust, can accommodate variations in size of its various components, and reduces the effects of any discontinuities. Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective partial cut away view of a preferred embodiment of the median barrier of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a detail of part of the median barrier of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is an end cross section of the median barrier of FIG. 1, taken along lines 3--3 of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the median barrier of FIG. 3, with an alternate top cap;
FIG. 5 is an exploded end cross section of the median barrier of FIG. 1, taken along lines 5--5;
FIG. 6A is a partially exploded top view of an intermediate base used with the median barrier of FIG. 1, and coupled to the deck;
FIG. 6B is a partially exploded top view of an intermediate base used with the median barrier of FIG. 1;
FIG. 7A is a partially exploded top view of a post and base plate used with the median barrier of FIG. 1, coupled to the deck;
FIG. 7B is a partially exploded top view of a post and backing plate used with the median barrier of FIG. 1;
FIG. 8 is a detail end cross section of a portion of a side panel receiving a clamp bar therein;
FIG. 9 is a front view of a clamp bar used with the present invention;
FIG. 10 is an end view of the clamp bar of FIG. 9;
FIGS. 11-18 are a series of front views illustrating a preferred method for assembling the median barrier of FIG. 1;
FIGS. 19-26 are a series of end cross section views illustrating a preferred method for assembling the median barrier of FIG. 1, and roughly corresponding to FIGS. 11-18;
FIG. 27 is a partially exploded detail end cross section of the median barrier of the present invention illustrating an alternate side rail;
FIG. 28 is an end cross section of the median barrier of FIG. 3 illustrating a load-bearing characteristic of the median barrier;
FIG. 29 is a partially exploded perspective view illustrating a preferred embodiment of the parapet of the present invention;
FIG. 30 is a detail view of the parapet of FIG. 29;
FIG. 31 is an end cross section view of the parapet of FIG. 29, taken along lines 31--31;
FIG. 32 is an end cross section view of the parapet of FIG. 29, taken along lines 32--32;
FIGS. 33-38 are a series of front views illustrating a preferred method for assembling the parapet of FIG. 29;
FIGS. 39-44 are a series of end cross sections illustrating a preferred method for assembling the parapet of the present invention, and roughly corresponding to FIGS. 33-38;
FIG. 45 is a end view of a top cap clamp used with the parapet of the present invention;
FIG. 46 is a front view of the top cap clamp of FIG. 45;
FIG. 47A is an end view of a guard rail in combination with an alternate embodiment of the parapet of the present invention mounted to a deck;
FIG. 47B is an end view of a guard rail in combination with an alternate embodiment of the parapet of the present invention mounted to the earth;
FIG. 48A is an end view of a guard rail in combination with an alternate embodiment of the parapet of the present invention mounted to a deck;
FIG. 48B is an end view of a guard rail in combination with an alternate embodiment of the parapet of the present invention mounted to the earth;
FIG. 49 is a perspective view of the parapet of FIGS. 48A and 48B;
FIG. 50 is an end view of the median barrier of the present invention, illustrating the median barrier's reaction to applied forces;
FIG. 51 is an end view of the parapet of the present invention, illustrating the parapet's reaction to applied forces;
FIG. 52 is an end view of a conventional guard rail, illustrating the guard rail's reaction to applied forces; and
FIGS. 53-55 are a series of end cross section views illustrating a lower panel as it is pivoted from its open position to its closed position.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
As best shown in FIGS. 1-5, the median barrier of the present invention, generally designated 10, is designed sit on top of the road surface, earth, or deck 12, and extends longitudinally along the deck. Although the term "deck" is used throughout this application, it should be understood that the term deck means any surface upon which the median barrier or parapet of the present invention can be mounted, including roadways, bridges, concrete structures, earth, etc. A plurality of mounting bolts 14 extend upwardly from the deck 12, and the median barrier 10 is coupled to the mounting bolts 14 to couple the median barrier to the deck 12. The median barrier 10 is preferably made of metal, such as aluminum, and includes a plurality of posts 16 that extend down to the road surface, and a plurality of upper panels 20 and lower panels 22 are coupled to either side of the post 16 to form the mediam barrier 10. A plurality of intermediate bases 24 are located between each post 16, and a plurality of upper panels 20 and lower panels 22 are coupled to either side of the intermediate bases and posts. As best shown in FIG. 3, each lower panel 22 includes a lower flange 23 that includes a generally outwardly extending lip 25. As best shown in FIG. 4, the lower panels 22 include a groove 98 that receives a tab 100 of the upper panel 20 therein such that the upper 20 and lower 22 panels are interfit together. The lower panel 22 also includes a tab 104 that is received in a groove 106 in the upper panel 20.
As best shown in FIG. 2, the post 16 may include a base plate 26 at the bottom of the post, and the post 16 is preferably welded to the base plate 26 to form a post/base plate combination 17. Each post 16 is a generally vertically extending I-beam, channel, or other similar structure and in the illustrated embodiment the post 16 has a central web 30 and two end flanges 32, 34. The flange 32 includes a pair of upper holes 36 and a pair of lower holes 38 (FIG. 4). Similarly, the end flanges 32, 34 each include a pair of upper holes 36 and a pair of lower holes 38. For each set of holes 36, 38, one hole is located on one side of the central web 30 and the other hole is located on the other side of the central web.
The base plate 26 includes a pair of upwardly-extending projections 40, a center portion 42 located between the two projections 40, and a pair of generally upwardly-extending ridges 44 at each outer end of the base plate. Each ridge 44 has an inwardly facing notch 46 formed therein. As shown in FIG. 7B, each base plate 26 includes a set of elongated slots 48, each slot 48 being shaped to receive a mounting bolt 14 therethrough. As will be discussed in greater detail below, the elliptical or oval shape of the holes 48 provides tolerance for any misalignment of the posts 16.
As shown in FIG. 6B, each of the first and second support elements 52, 54 similarly includes a set of elongated slots 62 therein, and the support elements 52, 54 can be attached to the deck 12 by passing a mounting bolt 14 through each slot 62 in the same manner as the base plates 26 (see FIG. 5). Each support element 52, 54 may also include more than one slot 62, such as the embodiment in FIG. 2 wherein each support element 52, 54 includes two slots 62. Each intermediate base 24 includes a backing post 66 located above each corresponding support element 52, 54. Each backing post 66 is an I-beam similar to the post 16, and includes a central web 68, a pair of end flanges 70, 72 and a pair of upper 69 and lower 76 holes formed in each of the end flanges 70, 72 (FIG. 5). The backing post 66 is similar to a post 16, but does not extend down to the deck 12.
As shown in FIG. 1, a number of intermediate bases 24 are located between each post 16. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, three intermediate bases 24 are located between each post 16; in the embodiment shown in FIG. 17, two intermediate bases are located between each post. As shown in greater detail in FIGS. 2 and 5, each intermediate base 24 includes a first support element 52 and second support element 54, and each intermediate base 24 therefore lacks the center portion 42 of the base plates 26. Each support element 52, 54 includes a projection 56 at its inner edge that corresponds to the projection 40 on base plate 26. Each support element 52, 54 includes a ridge 58 at its outer edge, each ridge 58 having a notch 60 formed therein and goes to the ridges 44 of the base plate 26.
As best shown in FIG. 2, the median barrier 10 includes a plurality of toe clips 70 located on top of the base plate 26 and each support element 52, 54. Each toe clip 28 is located between a projection 40 and a ridge 44 on a base plate 26 which serves to locate the toe clips 70 on the base plate 26. Similarly, on each support element 52, 54, each toe clip 70 is located between a projection 56 and ridge 58 . Each toe clip 70 includes an opening or openings 71 extending therethrough. In order to couple a toe clip 70 to the median barrier 10, the toe clip 70 is located over a base plate 26 or support element 52, 54 such that the mounting bolts 14 extending through the base plate or support element 52, 54 are received through the opening 71 of the toe clip 70. A threaded fastener 72 is then threaded onto the mounting bolts 14. The mounting bolts 14 and fastener 72 also couple the base plates 26 and support elements 52, 54 to the deck 12.
As best shown in FIGS. 4-5, each toe clip 70 includes an open end 74 that receives/engages the lower flange 23 of a lower panel 22. Thus, each toe clip 70 and its associated ridge 44, 58 define an opening 75 therebetween (See FIG. 5) for receiving the lower flange 23 of a lower panel 22. Because each toe clip 70 receives a lower panel 22 against its open end 74, the projections 40, 56 (via the toe clips 70) also help to determine the location of the lower panels 22 (that is, the left-to-right location of the lower panels 22 in FIG. 3). As will be discussed in greater detail below, the intermediate bases 24 and support elements 52, 54 also restrain the lower panels 22 from lateral movement during impact forces applied by vehicles or other means. The intermediate bases 24 also provide points for the panels 20, 22 to absorb tensile loads, which enables the median barrier to resist rotational forces upon impact of a vehicle.
As shown in FIG. 3, the lip 25 of the lower flange 23 of each lower panel 22 is captured between the open end 74 of each toe clip 70 and the ridge 44 of the associated base plate 26. The lip 25 of each lower panel 22 is also received in a notch 46 of any associated base plates 26. Because the distance between the ridges 44 is fixed by the base plate 26, the base plate 26 sets the lateral spacing of the lower ends of opposed lower panels 22. That is, at every post/base plate combination 17 location, the spacing of the lower end of each lower panel 22 relative to its opposed lower panel is controlled by the base plate 26, which helps to align the median barrier 10 at regularly spaced intervals. Furthermore, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, each support element 52, 54 is bolted to the deck 12 at each intermediate base 24. Accordingly, the lateral spacing between the lower edges of each opposed lower panel 22 is also controlled at each intermediate base 24 location.
As best shown in FIG. 5, the upper panels 20 and lower panels 22 may be made from an extruded, webbed material, such as aluminum. Each upper panel 20 includes a channel 80 extending through the length of the panel 20, and each lower panel 22 similarly includes a channel 82 extending through the length of the panel. Each channel 80, 82 includes a narrowed throat portion 84, and is shaped to slidingly receive one or more clamp bars 86 therein. Each clamp bar 86 is shaped to fit within a channel 80, 82 such that the clamp bar 86 can be passed into a channel 80, 82 at the end of each panel 20, 22, but the clamp bar 86 cannot be pulled through a throat 84 of the channel 80, 82.
As shown in FIGS. 9-10, each clamp bar 86 is generally "mushroom shaped" in end view and includes a head portion 88 and a neck portion or shank 89. Each clamp bar 86 includes a pair of threaded holes 92 that can be aligned with a corresponding set of upper 36 and lower 38 holes located in a post 16 (FIG. 7), or aligned with a set of upper 69 or lower 76 holes of a backing post 66 (FIG. 5). A fastener or fasteners 90 can then be passed through the holes 69, 76, or 36, 38 with which the clamp bar is aligned. The fasteners 90 are received in the holes 92 of the clamp bar 86 to couple the associated upper or lower panel 20, 22 to the backing post 66 or post 16. Because the clamp bars 86 are received in the channels 80, 82 of the upper 20 and lower 22 panels, the upper and lower panels 20, 22 are thereby coupled to the posts 16, and the vertical motion of the panels 20, 22 relative to the posts 16 is restrained. As will be discussed in greater detail below, this method of attaching the upper and lower panels 20, 22 to the posts 16 and backing posts 66 provides the installer great flexibility due to the ability of the clamp bars 86 to slide laterally within the channels 80, 82.
The median barrier 10 preferably includes a top cap 108 located on top of the upper panel 20. As best shown in FIG. 5, the top cap 108 includes a pair of downwardly-extending flanges 110 received in a corresponding notch 112 in each upper panel 20. The top cap 108 also includes a pair of horizontally-extending ledges 116 that are received on the top edge 118 of the upper panels 20. Finally, the top cap 108 includes a pair of opposed grooves 120. In order to couple the top cap 108 to the upper panel 20, the top cap 108 is loosely placed on the upper panel 20 such that the flanges 110 are received in the notches 112 and the ledges 116 rest on to the top edges 118 of the upper panels 20. Next, and a pair of side rails 126 are coupled to the upper panels 20 and top cap 108 to complete the assembly. Each side rail 126 includes an upper flange 130 and a lower flange 132. The upper flange 130 is received in a groove 120 of the top cap 108, and the lower flange 132 is received in a groove 136 in an upper panel 20.
A plurality of fasteners 138 are then passed through an opening 139 in the side rails 126 and received into a slot 140 in the associated upper panel 20 to secure the side rails 126 to the panels 20. The longitudinally extending slot 140 preferably has a running thread into which the fasteners 138 may be screwed. This provides the installer flexibility as to where the fasteners 138 are screwed. Various sizes and shapes of the top cap 108, such as top cap 108' of FIG. 4, and other shapes, may be utilized to provide different shapes of the median barrier 10. For example, the top cap 108 may include structure for receiving flashers, signs, or lights.
A preferred method for installing one embodiment of the median barrier 10 will be described in detail below. However, it is to be understood that the described and illustrated method of installation is only one method that may be used to install the median barrier 10, and other methods and steps of installation may be utilized without departing from the scope of the invention. In particular, several of the steps described herein may be carried out in different sequence than that described herein, or in different manners, in order to achieve the same result.
FIGS. 11-18 are a series of front views illustrating one manner for assembling the median barrier 10, and FIGS. 19-26 are a series of end views roughly corresponding to FIGS. 11-18. That is, FIG. 19 is an end view that roughly corresponds to the side view of FIG. 11; FIG. 20 is an end view that roughly corresponds to the side view of FIG. 12, and so on. As shown in FIG. 11, a series of mounting bolts 14 are first sunk into the deck 12, and the mounting bolts 14 are preferably coupled to or sunk into the deck 12 during the pouring or formation of the deck. The mounting bolts 14 are spaced longitudinally along the length of the deck 12, and generally define the location about which the median barrier 10 will be mounted. A series of posts/base plate combinations 17 are then located on the deck 12 by lowering each base plate 26 over a bolt 14 or set of bolts 14 such that each bolt(s) is received through a slot 48 in the base plate 26 (See FIGS. 7A, 7B). A plurality of support elements 52, 54 are then located on the deck 12 between each post 16, as shown in FIG. 11. The support elements 52, 54 are coupled to the deck 12 by lowering each support element 52, 54 onto the deck such that a bolt 14 is received through each elongated slot 62 of the support elements 52, 54 (See FIGS. 6A, 6B). FIG. 11 illustrates two sets of support elements 52, 54 located between each post 16, although this number may be varied, as desired. Once the posts 16, base plates 26 and support elements 52, 54 are located on the deck 12, they should form a generally straight line upon which the panels 20, 22 will be located, although the system can accommodate some curvature in the median barrier 10.
Next, as shown in FIGS. 12 and 20, a lower panel 22 is placed on a number of base plates 26 (four base plates 26 in the illustrated embodiment) and on the corresponding support elements 52 located between the base plates 26. The lower panel 22 is placed over the base plates 26 and support elements 52 such that the lower flange 23 of the lower panel 22 is received in the notches 46 of the base plate 26 and the notches 60 of the support elements 52. The panel 22 is then leaned against the posts 16, as shown in FIG. 20. A number of wooden blocks 160 may be located on the deck 12 below the lower panel 22 to help support the weight of the lower panel 22 and maintain the panel 22 leaned against the posts 16. Next, a toe clip 70 is located over each of the mounting bolts 14 that extend through the base plates 26 and support elements 52 that are receiving and supporting the lower panel 22.
As shown in FIG. 3, each toe clip 70 is mounted on a base plate 26 or support element 52 such that its open end 74 receives the lower flange 23 of the lower panel 22 therein. Alternately, in order to save time, the toe clips 70 may be mounted on only a few of the mounting bolts 14 extending through the base plates 26 and support elements 52 supporting the lower panel 22 to temporarily hold the lower panel 22 in place. Of course, in this case, the installer must return to later mount toe clips 70 over the remaining mounting bolts 14 before assembly is completed.
A nut 72 and washer 73 (FIGS. 4-5) are then loosely threaded onto each mounting bolt 14 protruding through a toe clip 70. The nuts 72 are not yet tightened down to allow for subsequent adjustments in the position of the base plates 26 and support elements 52 as the median barrier 10 is assembled. In particular, the elongated slots 48, 62 in the base plates 26 and support elements 52 allow the base plates 26 and support elements 52 to shift in the direction of the slots 48, 62. After the median barrier system is constructed and the pieces of the median barrier system, including the panels 20, 22, are fit together, the panels 20, 22 form a least-fit distance curve along the outer face of the panels. Thus, upon initial placement on the deck 12, the base plates 26 and support elements 52, 54 are only loosely bolted into place. As the upper 20 and lower 22 panels are subsequently mounted to the posts 16, the base plates 26 and support elements 52, 54 will adjust their lateral position via the slots 48, 62 to accommodate the grade and curve of the deck. The slots 48, 62 also provide compensation for bent panels as well as misaligned posts.
Once the desired toe clips 70 are mounted into place, the lower panel 22 is essentially captured between the toe clips 70 and the ridges 44, 58 of the base plates 26 and support elements 52. The lower panel 22 can pivot about its lower flange 23, but the lower panel cannot be lifted vertically out of place. Once the lower panel 22 is captured by the toe clips 70, the only way to remove the lower panel is to longitudinally slide the lower panel out of the clips 70, or to remove the toe clips 70 to enable the lower panel 22 to be lifted vertically.
The engagement of the lower panel 22 by the toe clips 70 and base plate 26 and support elements 52 enable the rotation of the lower panel 22. Referring to FIGS. 3-5, each lower panel 22 includes a lower flange 23 that includes a generally outwardly extending lip 25. Each toe clip 70 includes an open end 74 that receives the lower flange 23 of the lower panel 22 therein, such that the lower flange 23 is captured between the open end 74 of the toe clip 70 and the ridge 44 on the base plate 26, or captured between the open end 74 of a toe clip 70 and a ridge 58 of a support element 52. The open end 74 of the toe clip 70 is generally curved, or concave, and contoured to match the profile of the outer surface of the lower flange 23. The lip 25 of the lower flange 23 is received in a notch 46 formed in the ridge 44 of the base plate 26 (FIG. 4), or received in a notch 60 of the ridge 58 of support element 52.
The curved inner edge of the open end 74 of the toe clip 70 has a common center rotation with the curved outer surface of the flange 23 of the lower panel 22, and the common centers of rotation enables free rotation of the panel 22 within the toe clip 70 and base plate 26. In this manner, the lower panel 22 may be rotated to its open position 22' shown in FIG. 22, such that the upper panel 22' stably rests on the deck 12 or against the base plate 26. When the panel 22 is in the open position, the lower panel 22 is supported by its heel 182 resting on the deck 12 or engaging the base plate 26.
Once the lower panel 22 is properly located and all of the desired toe clips 70 are in place, the spacer blocks 160 are knocked out from under the lower panel and the nuts 72 on the mounting bolts may be tightened down. In order to access the nuts 72 on the mounting bolts 14, the lower panel 22 is preferably rotated to its open position, shown as panel 22' in FIG. 21. In this position, the lower panel 22' is rotated out of the vertical plane of the mounting bolts 14 which allows a worker to easily access the mounting bolts 14 and tighten the nuts 72 down. After the nuts 72 are tightened down, the lower panel 22 is preferably left in its open position for the time being.
After the toe clips 70 are tightened down, a second lower panel 184 (FIG. 13) is then installed adjacent the first lower panel 22 in the downstream direction (the direction indicated by arrow A in FIG. 13) by lowering the panel 184 over a plurality of base plates 26 and support elements 52 located on the deck, in the same manner as panel 22 described above. A slight gap (i.e., about one-quarter to about one-half inch) is preferably maintained between the first lower panel 22 and the second lower panel 184, and the lower panels 22, 184 are preferably located such that the gap is formed at a post 16, such as post 16' in FIG. 13.
A set of toe clips 70 are then mounted on the base plates 26 and support elements 52 that receive the second lower panel 184 to capture the second lower panel 184 between the toe clips 70 and support elements/base plates. The second lower panel 184 may be pivoted to its open position in the same manner described above for the first lower panel 22 to provide access to the bolts 14 for securing the nuts 72. A set of nuts 72 are then located on top of the mounting bolts 14 extending through the newly-located toe clips 70, and tightened down to fasten the second lower panel 184, and associated posts 16, toe clips 70, base plates 26 and support elements 52 to the deck 12. The second lower panel 184 is preferably left in its open position for the time being.
After the two lower panels 22, 184 are secured, an upper panel 20 is secured to the posts 16 as shown in FIG. 14.
In order to couple the upper panel 20 to the posts 16, the upper panel is located such that its channel 80 is located adjacent to the upper holes 36 of the flanges 32 of the posts 16. Next, a set of clamp bars 86 (i.e., ten clamp bars) are slid into the channel 80 in the upper panel 20. The clamp bars 86 are moved longitudinally down the panel 20 until the holes 92 in each clamp bar 86 are aligned with a set of upper holes 36 in an associated post 16 (i.e., see FIG. 11). As will be clear for reasons discussed below, two clamp bars 86 are preferably located between each clamp bar 86 that will be coupled to a post 16 (these clamp bars will be used to couple the upper panel 20 to the backing posts 16). A set of fasteners 90 are then passed through the upper holes 36 in each of the four posts 16 spanned by the upper panel 20 and threadedly received in an associated clamp bar 86 received in the channel 80 of the upper panel 20 to attach the upper panel 70 to the posts 16. The upstream edge 188 of the upper panel 20 is preferably offset from the upstream edge 190 of the first lower panel 22 by, for example, one post 16. The offset helps to avoid concentrating any discontinuities in the median barrier 10 at a common vertical location, which improves the continuity of the system. In other words, the gap between the adjacent lower panels 22, 184 at post 16' is spanned by the upper panel 20 located immediately above the gap, much in the same way bricks are commonly spaced in masonry work.
As will be described in greater detail below, the clamp bars are fixed to the posts 16, but the panel 20 can move relative to the clamp bars 86 and posts 16 due to the fact that the clamp bars 86 are slidably received in the channel 80. Preferably, a clamp bar 86 is located at each post 16 spanned by the upper panel 20. When a post 16 is located adjacent the end of a panel 20 (such as upstream end 188 of upper panel 20), only a single fastener 90 may be passed through the post 16 and into a clamp bar 86.
Once the upper panel 20 is attached to the posts 16, the lower panels 22, 184 are pivoted from their open positions (shown as lower panels 22' and 184' in FIG. 22) into their closed positions (shown as lower panels 22, 184 in FIG. 23). The tab 100 in the upper panel 20 is received in the groove 98 in the lower panels 22, 184 and the tabs 104 of the lower panels are received in the groove 106 of the upper panel 20 to lock the upper 20 and lower panels 22, 184 together.
Once the two lower panels 22, 184 and an upper panel 20 are mounted on one side of the posts 16, the same process is repeated on the opposite side of the posts 16. Thus, two adjacent lower panels 200, 202 (FIG. 16) are mounted to the base plates 26 and support elements 54 on the opposite side of the post 16, and a series of toe clips 70 are located on the mounting bolts 14 in the same manner as described above (see FIG. 24). The lower panels 200, 202 are then pivoted to their open position, as shown in FIG. 25. A set of clamp bars 86 are then slid into the upper panel 204, and the upper panel is lifted into place such that its channel 80 is located adjacent to the upper holes 36 in flanges 34. The clamp bars 86 are then slid down the panel 204 until aligned with a set of upper holes 36 in flange 34 of post 16, and then coupled to the post 16 with fasteners 90, which couples the upper panel 204 to the posts 16. The lower panels 200, 202 are then pivoted to their closed position such that they engage the upper panel 204. After the lower panels 22, 184, 200, 202 and upper panels 20, 204 are installed on either side of the posts 16, alternating lower and upper panels may then be installed on either side of the posts 16 down the length of the deck 12.
Once sufficient upper and lower panels have been installed downstream, the lower panels 22, 184, 200, 202 must be coupled to the posts 16. This is accomplished by sliding clamp bars 60 into the channel 82 of each lower panel 22, 184, 200, 202 until the holes 92 in each clamp bar 86 are aligned with the corresponding set of lower holes 24 in each post 16. Any clamp bars 86 that may be needed to couple the lower panels to the backing panels 66 are also preferably slid into the channels 82 at this time. A set of fasteners 90 are then passed through the lower holes 76 in the posts 16 in both flanges 32, 34 and received in the holes 92 of clamp bars 86 and tightened down.
A torque wrench is preferably used to tighten down the fasteners 90 into the clamp bars 86, as the tightening of the fasteners 90 by the torque wrench pulls the lower panels 22, 184, 200, 202 into full engagement with the associated upper panels 20, 204 to ensure the tab 100 of the upper panels is fully received in the groove 98 of the lower panels, and that the tab 104 of the lower panels is fully received in the grooves 106 of the upper panels. The force of the torque wrench should overcome any interference between the tabs 100, 104 and the associated grooves 98, 106 to ensure a tight fit. The clamp bars 86 are preferably mounted at each post 16 for all of the lower panels on both sides of the posts 16, except for the last downstream lower panel.
Next, a series of backing posts 66 (FIG. 5) are mounted to the back of the lower 22, 184, 200, 202 and upper 20, 204 panels above each of the support elements 52, 54 to complete the intermediate bases 24 and provide further stiffening to the median barrier 10. The backing posts 66 also help to ensure that the upper panels 20, 204 remain coupled to the lower panels 22, 184, 200, 202 when transverse forces are applied to the median barrier system 10. As shown in FIG. 5, the backing posts 66 are coupled to the upper and lower panels by clamp bars 86 received in the grooves 80, 82 of the upper 20 and lower 22 panels, and fasteners 90 are received in the holes 92 of the clamp bars in a manner analogous to the coupling of a post 16 to the panels as described above. Preferably, the lower panels on one side of the posts 16 are left in their open position while the fasteners 90 of the clamp bars 86 for the lower panels on the other side of the posts are tightened down. Then, after the lower panels 22 on one side of the posts 16 are coupled to the posts 16 and backing posts, the lower panels 22 on the other side of the posts 16 are rotated to their closed position and coupled to the posts 16 and backing posts 66.
After the upper 20, 204 and lower 22, 184, 200, 202 panels are secured to the posts 16 and the backing posts 66, the top cap 108 is installed onto the upper panels 20, 204. As shown in FIG. 18, the upstream edge 109 of the top cap 108 is preferably longitudinally offset in the downstream direction by one post 16 from the upstream edge 188 of the upper panel 20. This arrangement of the top cap 108 ensures that any gaps between the top caps 108 are offset from any gaps between the upper panels and/or gaps between the lower panels. After the top cap 108 is placed on top of the upper panels, the side rails 126 (FIGS. 3-5) are fit into the groove 136 in the upper panels and a groove 120 in the top cap 108, and the fasteners 138 are threaded into the running thread 140 to secure the top cap 108 to the upper panel 20.
The side rails 126 couple the top cap 108 to the upper panels, and the side rails 126 may be pulled into a state of tension by the upper panels and top cap 108. That is, as shown in FIG. 5, each side rail 126 includes an upper flange 130 and a lower flange 132 that are received in the groove 120 in the top cap 108 and the groove 136 in the upper panel 20. The grooves 120, 136 may have a vertical spacing that is slightly greater than the vertical spacing between the flanges 130, 132, to pull the side rails 126 into tension when they are mounted to the median barrier. Once installed, the side rails 126 also helps to transmit vertical loads between the upper panel 20 and the top cap 108.
An alternate embodiment of the side rail 126' is shown in FIG. 27. The alternate side rail 126' includes a pair of opposed, outwardly extending barb portions 210, 212. The barb portions 210, 212 are shaped to be received in a channel 216 in the upper panel 20. The barb portions 210, 212 each include an inwardly-tapered end 211. The barb portions 210, 212 are curved and spaced apart a distance slightly greater than the entry height 218 of the channel 216. Thus, when the side rail 126' is urged against the channel 216, the barb portions 210, 212 are compressed towards each other to fit into the channel 216. Once received in the channel 216, the barb portions 210, 212 extend outwardly against the walls of the channel 216 to retain the side rail 126' in position.
The side rail 126' may be installed by urging the barb portions 210, 212 into the channel 216 by using a clamp at one end of the upper panel 20 to force the barb portions 210, 212 into the channel 216. Once the side rail 126' is "started" in the channel 216, a worker may use a sledge hammer or other tool to knock the remaining length of the side rail 126' into place, using a block of wood or other material to protect the outer face of the median barrier 10. The alternate side rail 126' eliminates the use of any fasteners on the outer surface of the side rail 126'.
When the median barrier 10 is damaged or deformed due to vehicle crashes or other deforming forces, the median barrier can be easily removed from the deck 12. In order to remove median barrier 10, the side rails 126 are first removed and the top caps 108 are lifted out of place. The fasteners 90 that couple the clamp bars 86 to the upper panels 20 and lower panels 22 can then be unscrewed, and the lower panels 22 can be pivoted to their open positions. The upper panels 20 can then be lifted out of place. Preferably, the fasteners 90 located on only one side of the median barrier are first loosened. After the clamp bars 86 attaching the lower panels 22 on one side of the median barrier are removed, those lower panels 22 |