Flexible tensioned crash barrier

Abstract

A roadside crash barrier configured for deflecting errant vehicles towards the road. The barrier comprising at least one tensioned flexible strap comprising a planar face facing the road in use. Compared to prior art systems, the present invention reduces the chances of injury to motorcyclists, as well as being fast and easy to install. A collapsible end anchor for holding the tension of the straps is also described herein, where the end anchor is configured to reduce vehicle rollover should end on impact occur whilst still retaining the effectiveness of the retained road barrier.

1 . An end anchor for anchoring one or more flexible members of a road barrier, the end anchor comprising a road barrier end arranged to meet the flexible members of the road barrier and an opposing terminal end, wherein the end anchor further comprises:
 a support unit for securing to the ground, wherein the support unit is configured to restrain the ends of the flexible members;   a support post pivotally coupled to the support unit for receiving the flexible members at or near the road barrier end, wherein the support post is moveable between an erect position, in which support post supports the flexible members under tension, and a collapsed position, in which the support post pivots in a direction away from the terminal end, at least partially ceasing to support the flexible members under tension;   a bracing arrangement releasably coupled between the support post and the support unit, the bracing arrangement comprising:
 at least one bracing element for bracing the support post in the erect position when the bracing element is secured to the support unit; and 
 a cam arrangement rotatably coupled to the support unit, wherein the cam arrangement is rotatable between a locked position, in which the bracing element is secured to the support unit, and an unlocked position in which the bracing element is released from the support unit, wherein the release of the bracing arrangement permits the support post to move to the collapsed position; 
   a trigger post pivotally coupled to the support unit at or near the terminal end and having a portion presented for contact by an oncoming vehicle, wherein the presented portion of the trigger post is configured to pivot towards the barrier end when contacted by an oncoming vehicle;   an actuator extending between and coupling the trigger post and the cam arrangement, such that said pivoting of the trigger post causes rotation of the cam arrangement from the locked position to the unlocked position, thereby releasing the bracing arrangement and permitting the support post to move into the collapsed position.   
     
     
         2 . The end anchor of  claim 1 , wherein movement of the support post from the erect position to the collapsed position lowers a height of at least part of the road barrier and/or end anchor for limiting or preventing rollover of the oncoming vehicle, preferably by lowering the flexible members proximate the road barrier end. 
     
     
         3 . The end anchor of  claim 1 , wherein the support post is moveable from the collapsed position to the erect position. 
     
     
         4 . The end anchor of  claim 1 , wherein the bracing arrangement is arranged for re-securing to the support unit to re-brace the support post in the erect position. 
     
     
         5 . The end anchor of  claim 1 , wherein the locked position is an over-centre locked position, and wherein optionally the over-centre position is maintained by tension of the flexible members. 
     
     
         6 . The end anchor of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one bracing element is secured to the support unit via a releasable pivot joint. 
     
     
         7 . The end anchor of  claim 6 , wherein the cam arrangement comprises at least one cam flange having a bracing slot and the at least one bracing element comprises or is connected to a pivot pin, wherein the bracing slot is arranged to receive and engage the pivot pin to form at least part of the releasable pivot joint. 
     
     
         8 . The end anchor of  claim 7 , wherein the support unit comprises a U-shape plate and wherein at least one side wall of the U-shape has a plate slot arranged to receive the pivot pin, wherein the plate slot and the bracing slot cooperate to releasably secure the pivot pin to form the releasable pivot joint. 
     
     
         9 . The end anchor of  claim 8 , wherein the plate slot is arranged to retain the pivot pin within the bracing slot of the at least one cam flange. 
     
     
         10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . The end anchor of  claim 9 , wherein rotation of the cam arrangement moves the pivot pin along the plate slot, wherein rotation of the cam arrangement towards the locked position moves the pivot pin along the plate slot until the pivot pin is abuts against a closed end of the plate slot, wherein the closed end of the plate slot is limits further rotation in the first direction thereby defining the locked position. 
     
     
         12 . The end anchor of  claim 9 , wherein rotation of the cam arrangement moves the pivot pin along the plate slot, wherein rotation of the cam arrangement towards the unlocked position moves the pivot pin towards an open end of the plate slot, wherein the at least one bracing element is released from the support unit when the pivot pin exits the slot. 
     
     
         13 . The end anchor of  claim 1 , wherein the support unit comprises an elongate U-shape plate extending longitudinally from at or near the road barrier end to at or near the terminal end, and wherein the U-shape plate at least partially houses the support post, the trigger post, the actuator and/or the cam arrangement. 
     
     
         14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . The end anchor of  claim 13 , wherein the support post and/or trigger post and/or cam arrangement are pivotally connected between side walls of the U-shape plate. 
     
     
         16 . The end anchor of  claim 1 , wherein the presented portion of the trigger post is located above where the trigger post is pivotally coupled to the support unit and the actuator is secured to a portion of the trigger post below where the trigger post is pivotally coupled to the support unit, such that movement of the presented portion towards the road barrier end pulls the actuator in a direction away from the road barrier end. 
     
     
         17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . The end anchor of  claim 1 , wherein the support unit comprises one or more flexible member mounts between the road barrier end and the terminal end for restraining the one or more flexible members 
     
     
         19 . The end anchor of  claim 1 , wherein the support post is substantially upright when in the erect position and is arranged to move to an acute or substantially horizontal orientation when in the collapsed position, and/or wherein the trigger post is substantially upright prior to being contacted by an oncoming vehicle and is arranged to move to an acute or substantially horizontal orientation upon contact by an oncoming vehicle. 
     
     
         20 . The end anchor of  claim 1 , wherein the actuator is a flexible cable. 
     
     
         21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . The end anchor of  claim 1 , comprising a pair of bracing elements arranged to flank the support post on either side. 
     
     
         24 . The end anchor of  claim 1 , comprising a pair of cam flanges spaced apart along a shaft. 
     
     
         25 . A road barrier system comprising one or more flexible members anchored by the end anchor of  claim 1 .