Transitions for joining crash impact attenuator systems to fixed structures

Abstract

A transition system for connecting a crash attenuator to a roadside fixed structure, such as a concrete traffic barrier, includes a plate adapted to securely attach to a desired location on the fixed structure, the plate having a flat surface adapted to correspond to a flat surface on the fixed structure, and being reinforced by a plurality of backing ribs for strength.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A transition system adapted for securing a roadside safety system to a fixed structure, the transition system comprising:
 a plate having a forward end and a rearward end, as well as a front face and a rear face; and   a transition mount adapted to secure a rearward end of the roadside safety system to the forward end of the plate, the plate comprising a flat surface which is configured to be conformed to a corresponding surface on the fixed structure.   
     
     
         2 . The transition system as recited in  claim 1 , and further comprising a plurality of apertures disposed through the front and rear faces of the plate at its rearward end, the plurality of apertures being adapted to receive mechanical fasteners for securing the plate to the corresponding surface on the fixed structure. 
     
     
         3 . The transition system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the plate includes a taper from a location partially along a length of the plate and extending at an angle rearwardly to the rearward end of the plate. 
     
     
         4 . The transition system as recited in  claim 3 , wherein the location partially along the length of the plate is about midway along a distance between the forward end of the plate and the rearward end of the plate. 
     
     
         5 . The transition system as recited in  claim 3 , wherein the plate comprises a first width at its forward end and a second width at its rearward end, the second width being smaller than the first width. 
     
     
         6 . The transition system as recited in  claim 5 , wherein the width of the plate narrows gradually from the first width at the location partially along the length of the plate to the second width at the rearward end of the plate because of the taper. 
     
     
         7 . The transition system as recited in  claim 6 , wherein the corresponding surface on the fixed structure is also flat, so that the plate flat surface is adapted to lie in a flush manner on the corresponding flat surface on the fixed structure. 
     
     
         8 . The transition system as recited in  claim 7 , wherein the second width at the rearward end of the plate is adapted to correspond in size to a width of the corresponding flat surface on the fixed structure. 
     
     
         9 . The transition system as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the taper angle is adapted to the length of the transition plate and to a size of the corresponding flat surface on the fixed structure. 
     
     
         10 . The transition system as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the size of the corresponding flat surface on the fixed structure is one or more of its length, width, or area. 
     
     
         11 . The transition system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the transition mount is secured to the forward end of the plate by either mechanical fasteners or by one or more welds. 
     
     
         12 . The transition system as recited in  claim 1 , and further comprising a plurality of reinforcement ribs disposed in spaced relation to one another on the rear face of the plate. 
     
     
         13 . A transition system adapted for securing a roadside safety system to a fixed structure, the transition system comprising:
 a plate having a forward end and extending along a length to a rearward end, as well as a front face and a rear face;   a transition mount adapted to secure a rearward end of the roadside safety system to the forward end of the plate; and   a plurality of reinforcement ribs disposed in spaced relation to one another on the rear face of the plate.   
     
     
         14 . The transition system as recited in  claim 13 , wherein each of the plurality of reinforcement ribs is disposed along the length of the plate, each of the plurality of reinforcement ribs having a length. 
     
     
         15 . The transition system as recited in  claim 14 , wherein the lengths of at least two of the plurality of reinforcement ribs are different from one another.