Energy absorbing apparatus

Abstract

An energy absorbing apparatus is provided and includes an outer shell having opposed ends, left and right side walls and a hollow core. The shell further includes a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart fold points positioned on the left and right side walls at a height which substantially corresponds to a center of gravity of a road vehicle where the fold points facilitate a controlled folding of the side walls and at least part of the shell, at or around, the fold points, during an end on impact.

Claims

1. A road barrier energy absorbing apparatus comprising: a substantially enclosed free standing outer shell having opposed end walls, left and right side walls, and top and bottom walls connected together, wherein the bottom wall forms a flat base supporting the outer shell, and a hollow core situated therebetween, said shell including a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart fold points in the form of apertures bounded by horizontally extending slots on either side thereof positioned on the left and right side walls of the outer shell and extending therethrough at a height at which a center of gravity of a road vehicle would be capable of impacting; said fold points being configured for facilitating a controlled folding of the sides and at least part of the shell, at or around, the fold points, during an end on impact; and wherein there are no fold points located on the top wall and the end walls of the barrier; wherein the left and right side walls are corrugated when viewed in a transverse cross-section such that they include horizontally extending alternating troughs and ridges; wherein the fold points are located on at least one ridge of the corrugated walls, such that the aperture of each fold point is located on a respective ridge and the horizontal slots extend longitudinally from either side of the aperture along the respective ridge.

2. The road barrier energy absorbing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is in the form of an elongate barrier section.

3. A temporary road barrier including a number of elongate barrier sections connected to one another, wherein at least one terminal end of the barrier includes an energy absorbing apparatus as claimed in claim 1.

4. A temporary road barrier including a number of elongate barrier sections connected to one another, wherein at least one terminal end of the barrier includes an energy absorbing apparatus as claimed in claim 2.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

(1) Further aspects of the present invention will become apparent from the following description which is given by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a side view of a temporary plastic barrier section prior to a head on impact according to one preferred embodiment of the present invention; and

(3) FIG. 2a is a photograph of a side view of a temporary plastic barrier section as shown in FIG. 1 before a head on impact with the end of a barrier has occurred;

(4) FIG. 2b is a photograph of a side view of a temporary plastic barrier section as shown in FIG. 1 after a high speed head on impact with the end of a barrier has occurred;

(5) FIG. 2c is a photograph of a side view of a temporary plastic barrier section as shown in FIG. 1 after a lower speed (cf. FIG. 2b) head on impact with the end of a barrier has occurred;

(6) FIG. 3 shows an end of view of the barrier section shown in FIG. 1; and

(7) FIG. 4 shows the slotted holes of FIG. 1 in more detail.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(8) In FIG. 1 there is provided a barrier section 1 made from high density polyethylene which can be used as the terminal end of a barrier to absorb the energy of end on impacts with the barrier. The barrier section 1 has a hollow interior and has corrugations having ridges 2 and troughs 3 (refer FIG. 3) which extend longitudinally along the side walls (of which only one is shown). The middle two ridges have been adapted to include fold points in the form of slotted holes 5 at a number of positions. In use this barrier section 1 unlike the barrier sections making up the barrier is not filled with water.

(9) During a head on collision the fold points which are regions of weakness along the ridges 2 facilitates the ridges folding/buckling and cause the ridges/barrier to fold and concertina —refer FIGS. 2a, 2b and 2c which show the barrier section pre- and post-impact. As the middle of the barrier is the first part of the barrier section to connect with the vehicle at or near bumper height (centre of gravity) this part of the barrier compresses faster and easier than the rest of the barrier section to quickly absorb energy. Further, as can be seen as the middle ridges concertina to a greater extent than the non weakened top and bottom ridges this creates a C-shaped (or reverse C-Shaped) depression at the upstream end of the barrier section which captures the front of the errant vehicle—refer FIG. 2b. FIG. 2c shows how the slotted holes 5 open up as a result of a head on impact with the end of the barrier.

(10) FIG. 4 shows the slotted holes 5 in greater detail illustrating the central aperture 10 and horizontal slot 11 extending out from the edges of the central aperture 10.

(11) Alternate Embodiments

(12) For ease of reference only the present invention will now be described in relation to an elongate plastic barrier section. However, it should be appreciated this should not be seen as limiting.

(13) The plastic may be any plastic having suitable characteristics for an energy absorbing barrier.

(14) In preferred embodiments the plastic may be high density polyethylene.

(15) The exact configuration of the corrugations may vary without departing from the scope of the present invention.

(16) The fold points can be configured in a number of ways.

(17) In some preferred embodiments the fold points are in the form of holes or slots or a combination thereof.

(18) In some other preferred embodiments the fold points may be in the form of two intersecting slots which form a cross.

(19) The number and positioning of the fold points along the barrier section may vary.

(20) The term concertinaing as used herein refers to the collapse of the barrier section by controlled folding of the barrier section.

(21) Aspects of the present invention have been described by way of example only and it should be appreciated that modifications and additions may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the appended claims.