Flexible tensioned crash barrier
A roadside crash barrier configured for deflecting errant vehicles towards the road. The barrier comprising at least one tensioned flexible strap comprising a planar face facing the road in use. Compared to prior art systems, the present invention reduces the chances of injury to motorcyclists, as well as being fast and easy to install. A collapsible end anchor for holding the tension of the straps is also described herein, where the end anchor is configured to reduce vehicle rollover should end on impact occur whilst still retaining the effectiveness of the retained road barrier.
1 . A roadside crash barrier for deflecting errant vehicles, the barrier comprising:
a plurality of elongate tensioned flexible straps each comprising a planar face arranged for engaging an errant vehicle and/or rider, and
a supporting arrangement configured to support the straps above the ground in use, wherein the supporting arrangement comprises:
an upright member, and
a retainer configured to secure the straps to the upright member via a releasable connection comprising one or more plugs arranged to engage one or more slots of the upright member, such that the retainer is configured to release from the upright member upon impact of the barrier by an errant vehicle and/or rider, thereby freeing the straps from the upright member, wherein the straps are held between the retainer and wherein the retainer is configured to continue to hold the straps after the release of the retainer from the upright member so as to maintain the straps in a pre-impacted relative arrangement.
2 . The roadside crash barrier as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the planar face of each elongate strap is perpendicular a surface of the road, and the barrier is configured to deflect errant vehicles back towards the road.
3 . The roadside crash barrier as claimed in claim 1 wherein the planar face of each elongate strap comprises a surface that is relatively smooth, and/or continuous along the length of the strap.
4 . The roadside crash barrier of claim 1 , wherein each plug comprises a frangible section configured to break upon impact of the barrier by an errant vehicle and/or rider to facilitate disengagement of the one or more plugs from the one or more slots of the upright member.
5 . The roadside crash barrier of claim 1 , wherein the one or more plugs are composed of a deformable polymer material so as to facilitate disengagement of the one or more plugs from respective slots upon impact of the barrier by an errant vehicle and/or rider.
6 . The roadside crash barrier of claim 5 , wherein the deformable polymer material comprises nylon, epoxy resin, or silicone.
7 . The roadside crash barrier of claim 5 , wherein the deformable polymer material comprises a fibre reinforced polymer material.
8 . The roadside crash barrier of claim 7 , wherein the fibre material of the fibre reinforced polymer material comprises glass, carbon, aramid, or basalt.
9 . The roadside crash barrier of claim 5 , wherein the deformable polymer material is glass fibre reinforced nylon.
10 . The roadside crash barrier of claim 1 , wherein each slot of the upright member is vertically elongated such that the respective plug is moveable vertically within the slot.
11 . The roadside crash barrier of claim 1 , wherein the straps are configured to be tensioned to between 200 kN and 400 kN.
12 . The roadside crash barrier of claim 1 , wherein the retainer comprises an inner retainer and an outer retainer connected by the plugs, and the straps are held between the inner retainer and the outer retainer.
13 . The roadside crash barrier of claim 1 , wherein the retainer is significantly flush or planar with the external face of the straps.
14 . The roadside crash barrier of claim 1 , wherein the external surface of the retainer does not extend more than 6 mm past the external face of the straps.
15 . A method of installing the roadside crash barrier of claim 1 , comprising:
(i) inserting a ground anchor into the ground, the ground anchor being integral with the upright member,
(ii) pressing each of the one or more plugs through a respective hole in the retainer,
(iii) aligning each of the straps with the top of a respective plug,
(iv) mounting the retainer to the upright member by engaging the plugs with the slots of the upright member including vertically slotting the ends of the plugs into the slots on the upright member.
16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the ground anchor is a ground screw.
17 . A method of installing the roadside crash barrier of claim 1 , comprising:
(i) inserting a ground anchor into the ground,
(ii) connecting the upright member to the ground anchor,
(iii) pressing each of the one or more plugs through a respective hole in the retainer,
(iv) aligning each of the straps with the top of a respective plug,
(v) mounting the retainer to the upright member by engaging the plugs with the slots of the upright member including vertically slotting the ends of the plugs into the slots on the upright member.
18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the ground anchor is a ground screw.
19 . The method of claim 17 , wherein connecting the upright member to the ground anchor comprises inserting the upright member into a socket of the ground anchor.