Energy absorbing barrier post assembly

Claim 2

A barrier system for stopping a misguided vehicle travelling upon a roadway comprising: a plurality of barrier posts arranged in a group, each of said posts including means for absorbing energy by angular movement from a first position to a second position, each of said posts movable to a third position after absorption of energy, said second position being limited to an angle away from vertical such that each post would not substantially elevate the vehicle off of the roadway, said means for absorbing energy being operative only during movement between said first and said second position, said third position being such to permit the vehicle to pass over said posts.

Claim 3

A barrier system as described in claim 1 wherein: said first position being substantially vertical, said second position being a predetermined angular movement from said first position, said third position being substantially horizontal.

Claim 4

A barrier system as described in claim 2 wherein: said second position being angularly closer to said first position than said third position.

Claim 5

A barrier system as defined in claim 3 wherein: said second position being approximately thirty degrees displaced from said first position.

Claim 6

A barrier system as defined in claim 1 wherein: said group being divided into peripheral posts and interior posts, the energy absorption of said posts increasing as the velocity of said vehicle increases, said peripheral posts absorbing substantially the same amount of energy as said interior posts although being subjected to a greater impact velocity.

Claim 7

A barrier system as defined in claim 5 wherein: said interior posts also being divided into outer posts and inner posts, said outer posts being adapted to be subjected to a greater impact velocity than said inner posts, said outer posts to absorb substantially the same amount of energy as said inner posts.

Claim 8

A barrier system as defined in claim 1 wherein: said means to absorb energy by a compressible solid material.

Claim 9

A barrier post assembly for absorbing the kinetic energy of a movable object, said object to physically contact a portion of said barrier post assembly, said barrier post assembly comprising: a fixed housing; a post connected to said fixed housing to be angularly movable in respect thereto, said post being located to be contactable by said movable object, energy absorption means connected to said post to absorb kinetic energy during movement from a first position to a second position, said post movable to a third position in respect to said movable object, said means for absorbing energy being inoperative during movement from said second position to said third position, said second position being limited to an angle away from vertical such that each post would not substantially elevate said movable object off of the surface upon which the movable object is moving, said third position being such as to permit the movable object to pass over said posts.

Claim 10

A barrier post assembly for absorbing the kinetic energy of a movable object, said object to physically contact a portion of said barrier post assembly, said barrier post assembly comprising: a fixed housing; a post connected to said fixed housing to be angularly movable in respect thereto, said post being located to be contactable by said movable object, energy absorption means connected to said post to absorb kinetic energy during movement from a first position to a second position, said post movable to a third position in respect to said movable object, said means for absorbing energy being inoperative during movement from said second position to said third position, said second position being limited to an angle away from vertical such that each post would not substantially elevate said movable object off of the surface upon which the movable object is moving, said third position being such as to permit the movable object to pass over said posts.

Claim 11

A barrier post assembly as defined in claim 8 wherein: said post being angularly movable in any direction 360* with respect to said fixed housing.

Claim 12

A barrier post assembly as defined in claim 9 wherein: said first position being substantially vertical, said second position being a predetermined angular movement from said first position, said third position being substantially horizontal.

Claim 13

A barrier post assembly as defined in claim 10 wherein: said second position being angularly closer to said first position than said third position.

Claim 14

A barrier post assembly as defined in claim 11 wherein: said second position being approximately thirty degrees displaced from said first position.

Claim 15

A barrier post assembly as defined in claim 8 wherein: said post includes a friction resisting exterior surface, whereby said fixed object is resisted from movement along the surface of post.

Claim 16

A barrier post assembly as defined in claim 13 wherein: said friction resisting exterior surface comprises a rubber-like coating.

Claim 17

A barrier post assembly as defined in claim 8 wherein: said means to absorb energy includes a compressible solid material.

Claim 18

A barrier post assembly for absorbing the kinetic energy of a movable object, said object to physically contact a portion of said barrier post assembly, said barrier post assembly comprising: a fixed housing: a post being angularly movable with respect to said fixed housing, said post being located to be contactable by said movable object, said post to absorb kinetic energy during movement from a first position to a second position, said post being movable to a third position with respect to said movable object, the absorption of kinetic energy being negligible during movement from said second position to said third position; means connected to said post to resist movement of said post from said first position to said second position, said means includes a compressible solid material; and said compressible solid material being located within a chamber assembly, said chamber assembly being defined as the spacing between a movable shaft and a cylinder, said cylinder being concentric to said movable shaft, said cylinder being fixed to said fixed housing, said movable shaft being directly connected to said post, upon angular movement of said post said movable shaft is moved lineally with respect to said cylinder, a piston secured to said movable shaft and movable within said chamber assembly, orifice means associated with said piston to permit conductance of said compressible solid past said piston during movement within said chamber assembly.

Claim 19

A barrier post assembly for absorbing the kinetic energy of a movable object, said object to physically contact a portion of said barrier post assembly, said barrier post assembly comprising: a fixed housing: a post being angularly movable with respect to said fixed housing, said post being located to be contactable by said movable object, said post to absorb kinetic energy during movement from a first position to a second position, said post being movable to a third position with respect to said movable object, the absorption of kinetic energy being negligible during movement from said second position to said third position; means connected to said post to resist movement of said post from said first position to said second position, said means includes a compressible solid material; and said compressible solid material being located within a chamber assembly, said chamber assembly being defined as the spacing between a movable shaft and a cylinder, said cylinder being concentric to said movable shaft, said cylinder being fixed to said fixed housing, said movable shaft being directly connected to said post, upon angular movement of said post said movable shaft is moved lineally with respect to said cylinder, a piston secured to said movable shaft and movable within said chamber assembly, orifice means associated with said piston to permit conductance of said compressible solid past said piston during movement within said chamber assembly.

Claim 20

A barrier post assembly as defined in claim 16 wherein: a sealing means located at each end of said chamber assembly to prevent escape of said compressible solid, said sealing means includes a flexible sealing element, the pressure upon said sealing element being proportionately greater than the pressure within said compressible solid.

Claim 21

A barrier post assembly as defined in claim 16 wherein: said orifice means comprises a clearance between said piston and said chamber assembly.

Claim 22

A barrier post assembly as defined in claim 16 wherein: pressure relief orifices formed within said piston, said relief orifices being opened to permit passage of compressible solid therethrough upon the pressure exceeding a predetermined level.

Claim 23

A barrier assembly as defined in claim 18 wherein: said chamber assembly comprises a first chamber and a second chamber, the clearance between said first chamber being substantially less than said second chamber.

Claim 24

A barrier assembly as defined in claim 16 wherein: a spring connected between said cylinder and said movable shaft, said spring continuously biasing said movable shaft in a direction so that said post will assume said first position.