Barrier for roadway

Abstract

A barrier for a roadway (e.g., a highway, bridge, or other road), which can be used to manage vehicular traffic, such as to establish lanes, protect motorists and other people (e.g., pedestrians, constructions workers, etc) against crashes or other impacts, and/or other purposes, and which may be configured to enhance its use and performance, such as by better protecting the motorists and others when impacted by vehicles (e.g., reducing deflection by deflecting less or substantially not deflecting; mitigating risks of “catapulting” or “vaulting” of vehicles; and/or otherwise improving protection provided by the barrier), facilitating transportation, installation and/or transfer of the barrier at the roadway, and/or enhancing other aspects of the barrier.

1 .- 438 . (canceled) 
     
     
         439 . A barrier for a roadway, the barrier comprising a plurality of barrier modules hingedly connected to one another, wherein:
 the barrier comprises a hinge connecting a given one of the barrier modules to an adjacent one of the barrier modules and comprising a connector of the given one of the barrier modules, a connector of the adjacent one of the barrier modules, and a pin that is manually installable to join the connector of the given one of the barrier modules and the connector of the adjacent one of the barrier modules; and   the barrier is configured to deflect by no more than 2.2 m according to MASH.   
     
     
         440 . The barrier of  claim 439 , wherein the barrier is a movable barrier configured to be transferred between different locations at the roadway by a transfer vehicle. 
     
     
         441 . The barrier of  claim 439 , wherein: the given one of the barrier modules comprises a base portion, an upper portion, and an intermediate portion between the base portion and the upper portion; and the upper portion of the given one of the barrier modules is wider than the intermediate portion of the given one of the barrier modules. 
     
     
         442 . The barrier of  claim 441 , wherein the base portion of the given one of the barrier modules is wider than the intermediate portion and the upper portion of the given one of the barrier modules; and the upper portion of the given one of the barrier modules is wider than the intermediate portion of the given one of the barrier modules. 
     
     
         443 . The barrier of  claim 441 , wherein the upper portion of the given one of the barrier modules comprises an overhang configured to engage an impacting vehicle that impacts the given one of the barrier modules and impede movement of the impacting vehicle upwards over the overhang. 
     
     
         444 . The barrier of  claim 439 , wherein the given one of the barrier modules comprises a body including concrete and a brace connected to the concrete. 
     
     
         445 . The barrier of  claim 444 , wherein the brace is at least partly embedded in the concrete. 
     
     
         446 . The barrier of  claim 444 , wherein the brace of the given one of the barrier modules is secured to the connector of the given one of the barrier modules. 
     
     
         447 . The barrier of  claim 444 , wherein the brace comprises a plurality of bracing members spaced from one another. 
     
     
         448 . The barrier of  claim 439 , wherein the barrier is configured to deflect by no more than 1.6 m according to MASH. 
     
     
         449 . The barrier of  claim 439 , wherein the barrier is configured to deflect by no more than 1.2 m according to MASH. 
     
     
         450 . The barrier of  claim 439 , wherein: the connector of the given one of the barrier modules comprises an opening to receive the pin; and the opening of the connector of the given one of the barrier modules is configured to limit rotation of the given one of the barrier modules relative to the adjacent one of the barrier modules. 
     
     
         451 . The barrier of  claim 439 , wherein: the connector of the given one of the barrier modules comprises an opening to receive the pin; and an aspect ratio of a cross-section of the opening of the connector of the given one of the barrier modules is no more than 1.8. 
     
     
         452 . The barrier of  claim 451 , wherein the aspect ratio of the cross-section of the opening of the connector of the given one of the barrier modules is no more than 1.4. 
     
     
         453 . The barrier of  claim 439 , wherein: the connector of the given one of the barrier modules comprises an opening to receive the pin; and a ratio of a maximal dimension of a cross-section of the opening of the connector of the given one of the barrier modules over a minimal dimension of the cross-section of the opening of the connector of the given one of the barrier modules is no more than 1.8. 
     
     
         454 . The barrier of  claim 453 , wherein the ratio of the maximal dimension of the cross-section of the opening of the connector of the given one of the barrier modules over the minimal dimension of the cross-section of the opening of the connector of the given one of the barrier modules is no more than 1.4. 
     
     
         455 . A barrier for a roadway, the barrier comprising a plurality of barrier modules hingedly connected to one another, wherein:
 the barrier comprises a hinge connecting a given one of the barrier modules to an adjacent one of the barrier modules and comprising a connector of the given one of the barrier modules, a connector of the adjacent one of the barrier modules, and a pin that is manually installable to join the connector of the given one of the barrier modules and the connector of the adjacent one of the barrier modules; and   a height of each of the barrier modules is at least 42 inches.   
     
     
         456 . A barrier for a roadway, the barrier comprising a plurality of barrier modules hingedly connected to one another, wherein:
 the barrier comprises a hinge connecting a given one of the barrier modules to an adjacent one of the barrier modules and comprising a connector of the given one of the barrier modules, a connector of the adjacent one of the barrier modules, and a pin that is manually installable to join the connector of the given one of the barrier modules and the connector of the adjacent one of the barrier modules;   the given one of the barrier modules comprises a recess at a longitudinal end of the given one of the barrier modules; and   the connector of the given one of the barrier modules is disposed at least partially within the recess at the longitudinal end of the given one of the barrier modules.   
     
     
         457 . The barrier of  claim 456 , wherein the given one of the barrier modules comprises projections at the longitudinal end of the given one of the barrier modules that project in a longitudinal direction of the given one of the barrier modules and define the recess at the longitudinal end of the given one of the barrier modules therebetween. 
     
     
         458 . The barrier of  claim 457 , wherein the given one of the barrier modules comprises concrete forming a body of the given one of the barrier modules and the projections at the longitudinal end of the given one of the barrier modules. 
     
     
         459 . The barrier of  claim 457 , wherein the projections at the longitudinal end of the given one of the barrier modules are configured to limit pivoting of the given one of the barrier modules relative to the adjacent one of the barrier modules. 
     
     
         460 . The barrier of  claim 459 , wherein: the barrier is a movable barrier configured to be transferred between different locations at the roadway by a transfer vehicle; the transfer vehicle comprises a conveyor to transfer the barrier between the different locations at the roadway; and the projections at the longitudinal end of the given one of the barrier modules are configured to limit pivoting of the given one of the barrier modules relative to the adjacent one of the barrier modules to no more than an angle allowing the barrier to be transferred by the conveyor of the transfer vehicle. 
     
     
         461 . A barrier for a roadway, the barrier comprising a plurality of barrier modules hingedly connected to one another, wherein:
 the barrier comprises a hinge connecting a given one of the barrier modules to an adjacent one of the barrier modules and comprising a connector of the given one of the barrier modules, a connector of the adjacent one of the barrier modules, and a pin that is manually installable to join the connector of the given one of the barrier modules and the connector of the adjacent one of the barrier modules;   the connector of the given one of the barrier modules comprises an opening to receive the pin; and   the connector of the given one of the barrier modules comprises a connecting member and an insert that forms at least part of the opening of the connector of the given one of the barrier modules and is secured to the connecting member of the connector of the given one of the barrier modules.   
     
     
         462 . The barrier of  claim 461 , wherein the insert of the connector of the given one of the barrier modules defines an entirety of a perimeter of the opening of the connector of the given one of the barrier modules. 
     
     
         463 . The barrier of  claim 461 , wherein the insert of the connector of the given one of the barrier modules is thermally affixed to the connecting member of the connector of the given one of the barrier modules. 
     
     
         464 . The barrier of  claim 461 , wherein the insert of the connector of the given one of the barrier modules is welded to the connecting member of the connector of the given one of the barrier modules. 
     
     
         465 . The barrier of  claim 461 , wherein: the opening of the connector of the given one of the barrier modules is a pin-receiving opening of the connector of the given one of the barrier modules; and the connecting member includes an insert-receiving opening that receives the insert. 
     
     
         466 . The barrier of  claim 461 , wherein the insert of the connector of the given one of the barrier modules is a plate. 
     
     
         467 . The barrier of  claim 465 , wherein: the insert of the connector of the given one of the barrier modules comprises a base and a projection projecting from the base of the insert of the connector of the given one of the barrier modules into the insert-receiving opening of the connecting member of the connector of the given one of the barrier modules; and the opening of the connector of the given one of the barrier modules extends through the base and the projection of the insert of the connector of the given one of the barrier modules. 
     
     
         468 . The barrier of  claim 465 , wherein an outer surface of the projection of the insert of the connector of the given one of the barrier modules conforms to an inner surface of the connecting member that defines the insert-receiving opening of the connecting member of the connector of the given one of the barrier modules. 
     
     
         469 . The barrier of  claim 467 , wherein the base of the insert of the connector of the given one of the barrier modules is a plate. 
     
     
         470 . The barrier of  claim 467 , wherein the base of the insert of the connector of the given one of the barrier modules comprises a ledge engaging the connecting member of the connector of the given one of the barrier modules. 
     
     
         471 . The barrier of  claim 467 , wherein at least part of an outer surface of the projection of the insert of the connector of the given one of the barrier modules is curved. 
     
     
         472 . The barrier of  claim 468 , wherein at least part of an outer surface of the projection of the insert of the connector of the given one of the barrier modules is curved. 
     
     
         473 . The barrier of  claim 461 , wherein the connecting member of the connector of the given one of the barrier modules comprises a base and a cage extending from the base. 
     
     
         474 . The barrier of  claim 473 , wherein at least part of the insert of the connector of the given one of the barrier modules is disposed within the base of the connecting member of the connector of the given one of the barrier modules. 
     
     
         475 . The barrier of  claim 474 , wherein the insert of the connector of the given one of the barrier modules is spaced from a horizontal part of the cage of the connecting member of the connector of the given one of the barrier modules. 
     
     
         476 . The barrier of  claim 461 , wherein: the connecting member of the connector of the given one of the barrier modules is a first connecting member; and the connector of the given one of the barrier modules comprises a second connecting member spaced from the first connecting member of the connector of the given one of the barrier modules in a heightwise direction of the barrier. 
     
     
         477 . The barrier of  claim 476 , wherein: the insert of the connector of the given one of the barrier modules is a first insert; the second connecting member of the connector of the given one of the barrier modules comprises an opening to receive the pin; and the connector of the given one of the barrier modules comprises a second insert that forms at least part of the opening of the second connecting member of the connector of the given one of the barrier modules and is secured to the second connecting member of the connector of the given one of the barrier modules. 
     
     
         478 . The barrier of  claim 476 , wherein the connector of the given one of the barrier modules comprises a third connecting member spaced from the first connecting member and the second connecting member of the connector of the given one of the barrier modules in the heightwise direction of the barrier.