Crash fence assembly

Abstract

A crash fence assembly (10) including: first and second uprights (12) locatable spaced from each other upstanding from the ground; and a first fence panel (14) extendible between the first and second uprights (12), the first fence panel (14) comprising: one or more barrier elements (16A, 16B) configured to define a barrier (17) between the first and second uprights (12); a first cross-panel member (18) configured to span between the first and second uprights (12); a first upstanding brace (19) configured to be secured to the first cross-panel member (18) at least a first span distance from the first upright (12) to distribute impact load, wherein the first upstanding brace (19) has a greater stiffness than the or each barrier element (16A, 16B).

1 . A crash fence assembly including:
 first and second uprights locatable spaced from each other upstanding from the ground; and   a first fence panel extendible between the first and second uprights,   
       the first fence panel comprising:
 one or more barrier elements configured to define a barrier between the first and second uprights; 
 a first cross-panel member configured to span between the first and second uprights; 
 a first upstanding brace configured to be secured to the first cross-panel member at least a first span distance from the first upright to distribute impact load, wherein the first upstanding brace has a greater stiffness than the or each barrier element. 
 
     
     
         2 . The crash fence assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the barrier is a mesh panel, and wherein the one or more barrier elements are mesh wires or expanded mesh elements. 
     
     
         3 . The crash fence assembly of  claim 1 , configured to locate the first upstanding brace to extend vertically. 
     
     
         4 . The crash fence assembly of  claim 1 , comprising a second cross-panel member configured to span between the first and second uprights, and locatable at a different vertical height than the first cross-panel member. 
     
     
         5 . The crash fence assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the first upstanding brace is configured to secure the first cross-panel member and the second cross-panel member to each other, to transfer impact load between the first and second cross-panel members. 
     
     
         6 . The crash fence assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the first upstanding brace is configured to be suspended above the ground by the first and second cross-panel members. 
     
     
         7 . The crash fence assembly of  claim 4 , comprising a second upstanding brace configured to be secured to one of or both of the first and second cross-panel members at least a second different span distance from the first upright to distribute impact load, wherein the second upstanding brace has a greater stiffness than the or each barrier element. 
     
     
         8 . The crash fence assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the second upstanding brace is configured to secure the first cross-panel member and the second cross-panel member to each other, to transfer impact load between the first and second cross-panel members. 
     
     
         9 . The crash fence assembly of  claim 7 , configured to locate the first and second upstanding braces to extend parallel to each other in-use. 
     
     
         10 - 12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . The crash fence assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the first and second cross-panel members and the first and second uprights together are connectable via a plug-socket system configured to support the first and second cross-panel members. 
     
     
         14 . The crash fence assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the plug-socket system is configured to permit sloping of the first and second cross-panel members relative to the first and second uprights, to follow sloping ground. 
     
     
         15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . The crash fence assembly of  claim 4 , comprising a third cross-panel member configured to span between the first and second uprights, locatable at a different vertical height than the first and second cross-panel members. 
     
     
         17 . The crash fence assembly of  claim 16 , configured to locate the first, second, and third cross-panel members to extend parallel to each other in-use. 
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . The crash fence assembly of  claim 16 , wherein a vertical separation between the first and second cross-panel members is less than a vertical separation between the second and third cross-panel members. 
     
     
         20 . The crash fence assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the first upstanding brace is configured to secure the first, second, and third cross-panel members to each other, to transfer impact load between the first, second, and third cross-panel members. 
     
     
         21 . The crash fence assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the barrier is in the form of a barrier panel, wherein the first upright comprises a barrier support to attach a first side of the barrier panel to the first upright, and wherein the barrier support extends over more than 50% of an above-ground height of the first upright. 
     
     
         22 . The crash fence assembly of  claim 21 , wherein the barrier support is in the form of an elongate panel bracket extending continuously along the first upright and comprising a series of fixing points to receive fixings for securing the barrier panel. 
     
     
         23 . The crash fence assembly of  claim 21 , wherein the first upright comprises a further barrier support to attach a second side of a barrier panel of an adjacent fence panel to the first upright. 
     
     
         24 . The crash fence assembly of  claim 1 , wherein openings are provided in the first and second uprights, and wherein adjacent fence panels are configured to be structurally interconnected, with a load path between the adjacent fence panels extending through the openings. 
     
     
         25 . The crash fence assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the crash fence assembly comprises a first energy absorbing member engageable against the first upright if the first cross-panel member moves from a rest position.