Safety Barrier Anchorage

Abstract

A road safety barrier comprising a series of posts rigidly mounted on or in the ground, an anchor body ( 9 ) fixed in or on the ground beyond the series of posts, and at least one rope ( 1 - 4 ) which is supported by the posts so as to extend along the series of posts and which has an end portion ( 8 ) extending downwards from the last post ( 6 a ) of the series towards the anchor body ( 9 ). A terminal ( 19 ) is fixed on the extremity ( 8 a ) of the end portion ( 8 ) of the rope. An elongate tie bar 21 has a first end part connected to the anchor body ( 9 ) and a second end part releasably connected to the terminal ( 19 ) so that the elongate tie bar is in line with the terminal and the end portion ( 8 ) of the rope. The tie bar ( 21 ) reduces the risk of damage to the terminal ( 19 ) in the event of vehicular impact, and is easily replaceable. It also facilitates disengagement of the rope from the anchor body ( 9 ) if a vehicle becomes trapped by the end portion ( 8 ) of the rope during a collision.

1 . A road safety barrier comprising
 a series of posts spaced longitudinally along the ground, each post secured in the ground;   an anchor body fixed in or on the ground proximate a last post of the series of posts;   at least one rope supported by the posts and extending along the series of posts, the rope having an end portion extending downwards from a last post of the series of posts towards the anchor body; and   a terminal fixed on an extremity of the end portion of the rope, the terminal being connectable to the anchor body;   wherein the last post is inclined from the vertical towards the anchor body; and   wherein each of the series of posts except for the last post is substantially vertical.   
   
   
       2 . The road safety barrier of claim I, wherein the last post forms an angle of inclination, β, with a vertical line and wherein the end portion of the rope forms an angle, ∝, of incidence with a horizontal line, such that the angle of inclination and the angle of incidence are approximately related by the equation: β=(∝/2). 
   
   
       3 . The road safety barrier of  claim 1  further comprising an elongate tie bar having a first end part connectable to the anchor body and a second end part releasably connected to the terminal, such that the elongate tie bar is aligned with the terminal and the end portion of the rope. 
   
   
       4 . The road safety barrier of  claim 3 , wherein at least the second end part of the elongate tie bar is adapted to separate from the anchor body in response to a predetermined deflection of the end portion of the rope. 
   
   
       5 . The road safety barrier of  claim 4 , wherein the anchor body has a first abutment surface facing away from the series of posts, an abutment member on the tie bar has a second abutment surface facing the first abutment surface, the abutment surfaces are urged towards each other by tension applied to the rope, and the anchor body comprises a slotted opening allowing the elongate tie bar to separate from the anchor body in a direction parallel to the first abutment surface in response to a predetermined deflection of the end portion of the rope. 
   
   
       6 . A road safety barrier comprising:
 a plurality of posts spaced longitudinally along the ground, each post mounted on or in the ground such that the posts are prevented from moving along the surface of the ground;   an anchor body fixed in or on the ground proximate a last post of the plurality of posts;   at least one rope supported by each of the plurality of posts, the rope having an end portion extending downwards from a last post of the plurality of posts towards the anchor body; and   a terminal fixed on an extremity of the end portion of the rope, the terminal being connectable to the anchor body;   wherein the last post is inclined from the vertical towards the anchor body.   
   
   
       7 . The road safety barrier of  claim 6  further comprising a plurality of concrete footings such that each one of the plurality of posts is secured to one of the plurality of concrete footings. 
   
   
       8 . The road safety barrier of  claim 7  wherein each of the concrete footings comprises a base socket, the base socket rigidly mounted in the concrete footing;
 such that the base socket is adapted to receive a base portion of one of the plurality of posts.   
   
   
       9 . The road safety barrier of  claim 7  wherein each of the concrete footings comprises a base plate, the base plate rigidly mounted to the concrete footing;
 such that a base portion of one of each of the plurality of posts is securable to the base plate.   
   
   
       10 . The road safety barrier of  claim 6  wherein each of the plurality of posts has a top and a bottom such that a cross-section of the top is substantially the same as a cross-section of the bottom. 
   
   
       11 . The road safety barrier of  claim 10  wherein each post has a substantially uniform cross-section between the top and the bottom. 
   
   
       12 . The road safety barrier of  claim 6  wherein each of the plurality of posts except for the last post are substantially vertical. 
   
   
       13 . The road safety barrier of  claim 6  wherein the angle of the last post with respect to vertical is such that a bending moment on the last post resulting from the at least one rope is reduced compared to a bending moment on the posts that are substantially vertical. 
   
   
       14 . The road safety barrier of  claim 6  wherein a distance between the last post and the post adjacent the last post is less than a distance between two of the plurality of posts remote from the last post.