Abstract: A combined road and sound barrier has its upper and lower portions formed as hollow profiles filled with synthetic resin foam.

Abstract: A road barrier for traffic lanes, raceways and the like comprises a sheet-metal shell which is internally galvanized and is filled with a synthetic-resin foam and which extends continuously along the lane in contact with the ground while being of a height equal at least to a substantial fraction of the average wheel height for four-wheel and two-wheel vehicles using the traffic lane. The structure is anchored to the ground by posts fitting into openings in the rail and in the ground and likewise formed of sheet metal.

Abstract: A barrier for highway traffic of the type designed to bring a vehicle to standstill and avoid contact with a roadside hazard, e.g. a post, abutment or pylon, comprises an array of upstanding posts adapted to cushion the impact and increasing in number and height in the direction of travel of the vehicle toward the barrier to impose increasing resistance to traveling. The posts each comprise an upper and a lower section or portion in the form of tubes of which the lower tube is set into the ground while the upper tube is composed of thin sheet metal lined with or filled by a cushioning material such as a foamed synthetic resin. The two tubes or sections of each post are interconnected by a cast iron link which is designed to shear at ground level in part dissipating the kinetic energy of the vehicle. The upper tubes of the array are interconnected by chains.

Abstract: The end of a roadway guard rail which is spaced above and extends generally parallel to the ground is rigidly secured to a rigid beam at least 25 m long having a far end sunk in the ground and supported between its ends by a plurality of vertically compressible posts. The beam may be a metal shell filled with synthetic-resin foam. The posts may be provided internally with shock absorbers, or with springs, or may be made of sheet metal with a synthetic-resin core. In any case the posts are vertically compressible so as to absorb the kinetic energy of a vehicle colliding with the beam in order to slow the vehicle down without flipping it over. The upper surface of the beam is provided with a friction layer that further aids in slowing down a colliding vehicle.

Abstract: A median barrier for highways separating two vehicle-travel lanes comprises a plurality of preferably breakaway posts forming a rigid center wall and, mounted on the latter, a pair of deflectable guard rails spacedly flanking this wall. Arms extending from the central wall carry the guard rails and are swingable about vertical axes. The central wall is constructed to extend sufficiently high so as to be effective for trucks and other large vehicles while the guard rails are positioned for maximum effectiveness with passenger automobiles.

Abstract: A guardrail has a core formed of steel plate, sheet or strip having at least two planar sections lying in mutually intersecting planes. Several intersecting planar steel plates may be welded together in a star-shaped or box-girder configuration. A mass of nonporous synthetic-resin foam surrounds this core to protect it against corrosion. This mass also acts as a cushion and serves to stiffen the rail. The steel members have a thickness between 0.2 and 2.5 mm thick, and the synthetic-resin sheath is a polyurethane structure foam with a density of between 40 and 100 kg/m.sup.3.