Sound absorbing guard rail system

Abstract

A sound absorbing guard rail system for installation at a lateral or median side of a road, the guard rail system having a series of supporting posts, that are preferably vertically oriented, at least one noise absorbing panel that can be mounted to the supporting posts, and a series of longitudinal guard rails mounted on the side of the guard rail system facing the road. The noise absorbing panel comprise a noise absorbing material which is encased in an energy absorbing material provided with openings.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A guard rail system for installation at a lateral or median side of a road, the guard rail system comprising:
 a series of supporting posts;   at least one noise absorbing panel mounted to the supporting posts, the noise absorbing panel comprising a noise absorbing material encased in an energy absorbing material provided with openings; and   a series of longitudinal guard rails mounted on a side of the guard rail system facing a road.   
     
     
         22 . A guard rail system according to  claim 21 , wherein the noise absorbing material is a mineral wool fibre material provided as a board, foam material, integrated or partial rubber material, integrated or partial plastic material, or other noise absorbing material resistant in regard to weather conditions and wear effects next to traffic ways. 
     
     
         23 . A guard rail system according to  claim 21 , wherein the energy absorbing material provided with openings comprises a mesh, a grid or a perforated material. 
     
     
         24 . A guard rail system according to  claim 21 , wherein the energy absorbing material is a stretch-metal netting encasing the noise absorbing material. 
     
     
         25 . A guard rail system according to  claim 24 , wherein the stretch-metal is a ductile metal capable of absorbing energy while being plastically deformed. 
     
     
         26 . A guard rail system according to  claim 24 , wherein the stretch-metal is galvanised steel. 
     
     
         27 . A guard rail system according to  claim 21 , wherein the energy absorbing material is a perforated metal sheet, a plastic netting and/or a combination thereof, encasing the noise absorbing material. 
     
     
         28 . A guard rail system according to  claim 24 , wherein the noise absorbing material has main sides and a top side, and the netting is a panel which encloses at least the main sides and the top side of the noise absorbing material. 
     
     
         29 . A guard rail system according to  claim 24 , wherein the encasing is made from a stretch-metal netting panel which is bent into the box-like shape around the noise absorbing material and with mounting panels provided at each of the end sides of the stretch-metal netting panel. 
     
     
         30 . A guard rail system according to  claim 24 , wherein the encasing is made from a stretch-metal netting panel which is cast into an insulation material made by a wet-felt process and with mounting panels provided at each of the end sides of the stretch-metal netting panel. 
     
     
         31 . A guard rail system according to  claim 24 , wherein the encasing is made from a stretch-metal netting panel and mounting panels are provided at each of the end sides of the stretch-metal netting panel, the stretch-metal netting panel being produced with non-stretched areas at each of the end sections for receiving the mounting panels at each end for mounting the noise absorbing panel to the supporting posts. 
     
     
         32 . A guard rail system according to  claim 21 , wherein the noise absorbing panel is approx. 90 cm in height and in length approx. 130 cm, approx. 260 cm, approx. 520 cm, or approx. 530 cm. 
     
     
         33 . A guard rail system according to  claim 22 , wherein the noise absorbing material is a mineral wool fibre board comprising stone wool and is provided with a density within the range of 60-150 kg/m 3 , 80-120 kg/m 3 , or 80-100 kg/m 3 . 
     
     
         34 . A guard rail system according to  claim 21 , wherein the noise absorbing material is provided with a protective fabric on its road-facing side. 
     
     
         35 . A guard rail system according to  claim 34 , wherein the protective fabric has a structured surface having different appearances depending on an actual line of vision. 
     
     
         36 . A guard rail system according to  claim 21 , wherein the noise absorbing panel is provided in a planar configuration or a curved or polygonal configuration. 
     
     
         37 . A guard rail system according to  claim 21 , wherein the noise absorbing panel is provided at the respective axial end portions with end profiles, and the end profiles have a I-, H-, U- or C-shape. 
     
     
         38 . A guard rail system according to  claim 21 , wherein the guard rail is made of a steel beam having a predetermined cross-sectional shape. 
     
     
         39 . A guard rail system according to  claim 38 , wherein the beam is provided with sound reducing means, comprising one or more sections of perforations. 
     
     
         40 . A guard rail system according to  claim 21 , wherein the guard rail is a tube or a wire.