Driven post barrier wall

Abstract

A barrier wall includes a panel positioned between a first post and a second post. The first and second posts driven into a supporting substrate by resonant sonic drilling. The first post and the second post each including an I-beam shape having opposed parallel flanges separated by a web, and an additional flange extending from the web intermediate the opposed parallel flanges to define a slot between the additional flange and one of the opposed parallel flanges. The panel is positioned between the first post and the second post, with the first edge of the panel received in the slot of the first post and the second edge of the panel received in the slot of the second post.

Having fully described the invention in such clear and concise terms as to enable those skilled in the art to understand and practice the same, the invention claimed is: 
     
         1 . A barrier wall comprising:
 a panel having a width extending between a first edge and a second edge;   a first post driven into a supporting substrate by resonant sonic drilling;   a second post driven into the supporting substrate by resonant sonic drilling, the second post spaced apart from the first post by the width; and   the first post and the second post each including an I-beam shape having opposed parallel flanges separated by a web, and an additional flange extending from the web intermediate the opposed parallel flanges to define a slot between the additional flange and one of the opposed parallel flanges;   wherein the panel is positioned between the first post and the second post, with the first edge of the panel received in the slot of the first post and the second edge of the panel received in the slot of the second post.   
     
     
         2 . The barrier wall as claimed in  claim 1  further comprising:
 a second panel having a width extending between a first edge and a second edge; and 
 a third post driven into the supporting substrate by resonant sonic drilling, the third post spaced apart from one of the first post and the second post by the width of the second panel; 
 wherein the second panel is positioned between the third post and one of the first post and the second post, with the first edge of the second panel received in the slot of the one of the first post and the second post and the second edge of the panel received in the slot of the third post. 
 
     
     
         3 . The barrier wall as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the first and second posts are made of steel. 
     
     
         4 . The barrier wall as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the first and second posts each further comprising a second additional flange extending from the web intermediate one of the opposed parallel flanges and the additional flange to define a second slot between the second additional flange and one of the opposed parallel flanges. 
     
     
         5 . The barrier wall as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the panel has a thickness, and the slot formed in the first post and the second post has a width configured to accommodate the thickness of the panel. 
     
     
         6 . A barrier wall comprising:
 a plurality of panels each having a width extending between a first edge and a second edge, and a thickness; and   a plurality of posts driven into a supporting substrate by resonant sonic drilling, adjacent ones of each of the plurality of posts separated by the width, the plurality of posts extending along a boundary to be protected;   each of the plurality of posts including an I-beam shape having opposed parallel flanges separated by a web, and an additional flange extending from the web intermediate the opposed parallel flanges to define a slot between the additional flange and one of the opposed parallel flanges;   wherein the plurality of panels is positioned between the plurality of posts, with each of the plurality of panels positioned between different pairs of adjacent posts of the plurality of posts, with the first edge of each of the plurality of panels received in the slot of one of the plurality of posts and the second edge of each of the plurality of panels received in the slot of an adjacent one of the plurality of posts.   
     
     
         7 . The barrier wall as claimed in  claim 6  wherein the plurality of posts is made of steel. 
     
     
         8 . The barrier wall as claimed in  claim 6  wherein the plurality of panels is made of steel. 
     
     
         9 . The barrier wall as claimed in  claim 6  wherein the plurality of posts each further comprising a second additional flange extending from the web intermediate one of the opposed parallel flanges and the additional flange to define a second slot between the second additional flange and one of the opposed parallel flanges. 
     
     
         10 . The barrier wall as claimed in  claim 6  wherein the slot formed in each of the plurality of posts has a width configured to accommodate the thickness of each of the plurality of panels. 
     
     
         11 . A method of constructing a barrier wall comprising the steps of:
 providing a panel having a width extending between a first edge and a second edge;   providing a first post including an I-beam shape having opposed parallel flanges separated by a web, and an additional flange extending from the web intermediate the opposed parallel flanges to define a slot between the additional flange and one of the opposed parallel flanges;   providing a second post including an I-beam shape having opposed parallel flanges separated by a web, and an additional flange extending from the web intermediate the opposed parallel flanges to define a slot between the additional flange and one of the opposed parallel flanges;   driving the first post into the supporting substrate using resonant sonic drilling;   driving a second post into the supporting substrate using resonant sonic drilling, the second post spaced apart from the first post by the width of the panel, and with the slot of the first post aligned with the slot of the second post; and   lifting the panel to raise a lower edge of the panel above the first post and the second post; and   lowering the panel with the first edge of the panel received in the slot of the first post and the second edge of the panel received in the slot of the second post.   
     
     
         12 . The method of constructing a barrier wall as claimed in  claim 11  further comprising the step of fixing the panel in position. 
     
     
         13 . The method of constructing a barrier wall as claimed in  claim 11  further comprising the steps of:
 providing a second panel having a width extending between a first edge and a second edge; and 
 providing a third post including an I-beam shape having opposed parallel flanges separated by a web, and an additional flange extending from the web intermediate the opposed parallel flanges to define a slot between the additional flange and one of the opposed parallel flanges; 
 driving the third post into the supporting substrate by resonant sonic drilling, the third post spaced apart from one of the first post and the second post by the width of the second panel; 
 lifting the second panel to raise a lower edge of the second panel above the third post and one of the first post and the second post; and 
 lowering the second panel with the first edge of the second panel received in the slot of one of the first post and the second post, and the second edge of the second panel received in the slot of the third post. 
 
     
     
         14 . The method of constructing a barrier wall as claimed in  claim 13  further comprising the step of fixing the second panel in position.