Energy absorbing safety cabling system

Abstract

An energy absorbing cabling system is provided to be used in place of existing cabling systems that run parallel to highways as an upgrade for safety. The system comprises a sequentially yielding cabling system that allows for increased contact time (hold time) between cables and vehicles that have lost control, thereby preventing such vehicles from breaking the cabling system and entering into dangerous areas.

1 . An energy absorbing safety cabling system comprising vertical posts in a parallel arrangement and horizontal cables in a parallel arrangement, the horizontal cables being supported by attachments to the vertical posts, wherein an elastic modulus of the horizontal cables varies sequentially from a lowest cable having a greatest elastic modulus to an uppermost cable having a least elastic modulus. 
     
     
         2 . The energy absorbing safety cabling system of  claim 1 , wherein the elastic modulus of the horizontal cables is determined by a thickness of strands in an individual cable and/or a number of twists of the individual cable. 
     
     
         3 . The energy absorbing safety cabling system of  claim 1 , wherein the horizontal cables number four. 
     
     
         4 . The energy absorbing safety cabling system of  claim 1 , wherein a distance between the vertical posts is 30 feet. 
     
     
         5 . The energy absorbing safety cabling system of  claim 1 , wherein the vertical posts are embedded in an edge of a highway. 
     
     
         6 . Use of the energy absorbing safety cabling system of  claim 1  as a safety barrier to prevent vehicles that have lost control from leaving the highway. 
     
     
         7 . An energy absorbing safety cabling system comprising vertical posts in a parallel arrangement and horizontal cables in a parallel arrangement, the horizontal cables being supported by attachments to the vertical posts, wherein an elastic modulus of the horizontal cables varies sequentially from a lowest cable having a greatest elastic modulus to an uppermost cable having a least elastic modulus and is determined by a thickness of strands in an individual cable and/or a number of twists of the individual cable. 
     
     
         8 . The energy absorbing safety cabling system of  claim 7 , wherein the horizontal cables number four. 
     
     
         9 . The energy absorbing safety cabling system of  claim 7 , wherein a distance between the vertical posts is 30 feet. 
     
     
         10 . The energy absorbing safety cabling system of  claim 7 , wherein the vertical posts are embedded in an edge of a highway. 
     
     
         11 . Use of the energy absorbing safety cabling system of  claim 7  as a safety barrier to prevent vehicles that have lost control from leaving the highway. 
     
     
         12 . An energy absorbing safety cabling system comprising vertical posts spaced apart by 30 feet in a parallel arrangement and horizontal cables in a parallel arrangement between the vertical posts, the horizontal cables being supported by attachments to the vertical posts, wherein an elastic modulus of the horizontal cables varies sequentially from a lowest cable having a greatest elastic modulus to an uppermost cable having a least elastic modulus. 
     
     
         13 . The energy absorbing safety cabling system of  claim 12 , wherein the elastic modulus of the horizontal cables is determined by a thickness of strands in an individual cable and/or a number of twists of the individual cable. 
     
     
         14 . The energy absorbing safety cabling system of  claim 12 , wherein the horizontal cables number four. 
     
     
         15 . The energy absorbing safety cabling system of  claim 14 , wherein the vertical posts are embedded in an edge of a highway. 
     
     
         16 . Use of the energy absorbing safety cabling system  12  as a safety barrier to prevent vehicles that have lost control from leaving the highway.