Energy-absorbing vehicle barrier system

Abstract

An energy-absorbing vehicle barrier system is provided. The energy-absorbing vehicle barrier system provides a series of spaced apart barrier units, wherein adjacent barrier units are interconnected by a cable linkage, enabling the modularity that limits damage to the barrier system and facilitates segmented replacement. Each barrier unit provides a vertically spaced apart net of longitudinal cables, each longitudinal cable terminates adjacent the opposing end faces of its barrier unit in the form of a loop, protruding through the end face. The resulting column of spaced apart loops nest with the adjacent barrier unit's column of spaced apart loops in an aligned configuration so that a pin secures both sets of columns, providing the cable linkage. The barrier units are made from no fine concrete that crumbles upon collision so as to absorb energy. The system sits on a substructure also adapted to absorb the energy of a high-speed collision.

1 . A vehicle barrier system, comprising:
 two or more barrier units interconnectable by a cable linkage;   each barrier unit having:
 an upper portion and connected base portion of no-fines cementitious material, the upper portion having a length defined by two opposing end faces; and 
 a plurality of vertically spaced apart longitudinal cables extending a substantial portion of said length, wherein each longitudinal cable terminates in a loop protruding from at least one of the two end faces so that said one of the two end faces provides a column of spaced apart loops in an aligned condition, 
   wherein two columns of spaced apart loops from adjacent barrier units, respectively, are interconnectable in a nested condition.   
     
     
         2 . The vehicle barrier system of  claim 1 , further comprising a linkage pin receivable through said two columns of spaced apart loops in the nested condition so as to provide said cable linkage. 
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . The vehicle barrier system of  claim 1 , wherein the no fines cementitious material comprises rounded stone aggregate ranging from one-quarter inch to three-quarter inch diameter. 
     
     
         5 . The vehicle barrier system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a matrix of concrete reinforcement embedded in each base portion, each matrix of concrete reinforcement disposed orthogonal relative to the plurality of vertically spaced apart longitudinal cables; and   one or more binding wire, each binding wire having two opposing binding loops, wherein one of the two opposing binding loops engages a portion of the matrix of concrete reinforcement and the other binding loop protrudes through an upper surface of the upper portion.   
     
     
         6 . The vehicle barrier system of  claim 1 , further comprising an aggregate bed of graded aggregate comprising rounded stones ranging from three-quarters inch to one inch in diameter, wherein the two or more barrier units are supported by the aggregate bed, and wherein the aggregate bed extends beyond both sides of a footing area of the base portion by at least a foot on each side thereof. 
     
     
         7 . A vehicle barrier system, comprising:
 two or more barrier units interconnectable by a cable linkage;   each barrier unit having:
 an upper portion and connected base portion of no-fines cementitious material, the upper portion having a length defined by two opposing end faces; 
 a plurality of vertically spaced apart longitudinal cables extending a substantial portion of said length, wherein each longitudinal cable terminates in a loop protruding from at least one of the two end faces so that said one of the two end faces provides a column of spaced apart loops in an aligned condition, wherein two columns of spaced apart loops from adjacent barrier units, respectively, are interconnectable in a nested condition; 
 a matrix of concrete reinforcement embedded in each base portion, each matrix of concrete reinforcement disposed orthogonal relative to the plurality of vertically spaced apart longitudinal cables; and 
   one or more binding wire, each binding wire having two opposing binding loops, wherein one of the two opposing binding loops engages a portion of the matrix of concrete reinforcement and the other binding loop protrudes through an upper surface of the upper portion;   a linkage pin receivable through said two columns of spaced apart loops in the nested condition so as to provide said cable linkage; and   an aggregate bed of graded aggregate rounded stone ranging from three-quarters inch to one inch, wherein the two or more barrier units are supported by the aggregate bed, wherein the aggregate bed extends beyond both sides of a footing area of the base portion by at least a foot on each side thereof.   
     
     
         8 . The vehicle barrier system of  claim 7 , wherein the no-fines cementitious material comprises rounded stone aggregate ranging from one-quarter inch to three-quarter inch diameter.