Cable barrier system for use with cable barrier management system including turnbuckle subsystem, and method
View Patent ↗A cable barrier system is managed by a cable barrier management system including a management system controller having a management processor and a plurality of turnbuckle subsystems joined to respective barrier cables to provide pretension. Each of the turnbuckle subsystems has a strain gauge mounting zone, and strain is communicated from a strain gauge circuit to the management processor. The controller is configured to determine excess strain events. Strain event data is sent via a wireless data communications interface to a remote recipient computing device.
1. A method of managing a cable barrier system, said method comprising:
providing in the cable barrier system a turnbuckle subsystem comprising a turnbuckle body assembly having a strain gauge mounting zone to support a strain gauge circuit, the strain gauge circuit receiving strain from the turnbuckle body assembly at the strain gauge mounting zone; and
configuring a management system controller comprising a management processor to output strain data communications via a wireless data communications interface to a remote recipient computing device, the strain data communications in relation to strain received by the strain gauge circuit from the turnbuckle body assembly in relation to strain in a longitudinal direction exerted by a respective cable of the cable barrier system;
configuring the management system controller, by a sensing circuit, to monitor strain received by the strain gauge circuit;
analyzing, by the management processor, strain received by the strain gauge circuit to identify excess strain deviations exceeding a normal strain maximum threshold;
identifying vehicle to barrier impact collisions by association with an excess strain deviation;
analyzing, by the management processor, strain received by the strain gauge circuit to identify insufficient strain deviations below a normal strain minimum threshold.
2. The method of claim 1 , said method comprising:
identifying cable pretension failures by association with an insufficient strain deviation.
3. The method of claim 1 , said method comprising:
managing, by the management system controller, supply of electric power for operating the cable barrier management system by a power supply system.
4. The method of claim 1 , said method comprising:
managing, by the management system controller, the charging of a rechargeable battery via a battery management subsystem, to supply electric power for operating the cable barrier management system.
5. The method of claim 1 , said method comprising:
generating, by a photovoltaic element, electric power for operating the cable barrier management system.
6. The method of claim 1 , said method comprising:
locating, by the management processor implementing a location module, by associating system configuration information with a geographic location of the turnbuckle subsystem.
7. The method of claim 1 , said method comprising:
transmitting a preliminary flag, by the management processor via the wireless data communications interface, where excess strain exceeds a maximum threshold for normal functioning of the cable barrier system.
8. The method of claim 7 , said method comprising:
identifying, by the management processor, disruption events wherein communications subsequent to the preliminary flag are not received by the remote recipient computing device.
9. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having tangibly embodied thereon and accessible therefrom processor-executable instructions that, when executed by a processor of a data processing system, causes said processor to perform the method of claim 1 .