Abstract: A ground anchor assembly for a highway guardrail includes first and second spaced ground anchors and a connecting element interconnected between the anchors. An anchor cable included in the guardrail assembly is connected to the ground anchor assembly adjacent the first ground anchor, and the second ground anchor is situated farther from the central portion of the guardrail assembly than the first ground anchor. In this way improved pull out resistance is provided.

Abstract: An energy absorbing roadside barrier includes an elongated container configured to receive and hold a volume of water. The container defines a pair of sidewalls having sufficient rigidity to stand alongside a roadway and sufficient resilience to deform upon an impact by a vehicle and to recover their shape after at least some impacts. The barrier also includes an internal frame positioned within the container. The frame includes first and second axial braces positioned adjacent respective sidewalls of the container, and the axial braces are secured together by at least one cross brace. The frame and container are formed of different materials, and the frame increases the rigidity of the barrier and strengthens the barrier against bending.

Abstract: A vehicle crash barrier for decelerating a vehicle that has left a roadway includes an elongated frame having a number of sections including a front section and at least one additional section arranged end to end along an axial direction. The frame is configured to collapse when axially struck on the front section by a vehicle. A wire cable extends generally parallel to the frame and has a forward end portion anchored independently of the frame and a rearward end portion. Friction brakes are mounted to the front section for engaging the wire cable to generate a retarding force to decelerate a vehicle as the brake moves along the wire cable during collapse of the frame following impact of the vehicle against the front section. Each section includes a pair of side panels, and axially adjacent side panels are connected by a flexible tension strap by fasteners. The tension strap operates to peel the fasteners out of the side panels during axial collapse.

Abstract: An array of inertial barriers positioned on a support surface alongside a vehicle roadway includes a number of separate containers, each having an outer wall and a lower portion. An inner core is positioned within each container to define an annular space between the core and the respective outer wall. This annular space defines an average inner diameter which is at least about 20% of the average outer diameter of the annular space. A dispersible material such as sand is disposed in the annular spaces such that no more than 10% of the mass of sand in any container of the array extends in an uninterrupted disc across the respective container.

Abstract: A highway barrier includes a collapsible guardrail assembly and a rotatable beam which is mounted between the rearward end of the guardrail assembly and a roadside hazard. The collapsible guardrail assembly includes a plurality of overlapping panels, adjacent ones of which are secured together by fasteners riding in slots. The fasteners are designed to retain the panels together after the impact and the fasteners are positioned with respect to the panels to cause the panels to tend to rotate away from the roadside during the impact, thereby redirecting the vehicle away from the roadway. The beam is rotatably mounted to the roadside hazard by a band and the forward end of the beam as well as the forward end of each of the panels is supported above the ground on a respective slip base designed to release in response to axial forces and to resist lateral forces.

Abstract: A vehicle mounted crash attenuator includes an array of parallel diaphragms. A set of cell assemblies is interposed between adjacent diaphragms, and each cell assembly is formed of two L-shaped sheet metal components which are riveted together to form a rectangular column extending between the adjacent diaphragms. These columns are cross braced by ribbed braces which extend diagonally between adjacent columns. These cross braces stabilize the columns against long column buckling and promote short column buckling, thereby increasing the energy absorbing capability of the columns.

Abstract: A guardrail end terminal including a plurality of nested fender panels and a redirecting cable for urging the fender panels laterally in response to an axial impact force. The fender panels are supported on vertical legs which are attached to slip bases and are designed to telescope in response to an axial impact force. The redirecting cable is designed to pass through the leg of the first panel and extend away from the leg at an acute angle. The panel legs and cable cooperate to direct the nose of the impacting vehicle away from the unyielding guardrail while at the same time dissipating the energy of the vehicle.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for grading articles, particularly lemons, according to their surface color. The apparatus measures each lemon's reflectance in infrared, red and green wavelength bands, and computes the ratio of the red and infrared measurements and the ratio of the red and green measurements. If the red/infrared ratio is less than a prescribed crossover threshold, the apparatus compares the red/infrared ratio to a first set of thresholds, to grade the lemon into either a very dark green, dark green or light green color grade. Conversely, if the red/infrared color ratio is greater than the crossover threshold, the apparatus compares the red/green ratio to a second set of thresholds, to grade the lemon into either a silver, tree-ripe or bronzy color grade.