BEAM FOR A VEHICLE BARRIER
A beam for connecting between posts in a vehicle barrier includes a steel beam having a web and opposing flanges extending perpendicular to the web, a first plate extending beyond a left end of the beam, a first hole penetrating the first plate beyond the left end, a second plate extending beyond a right end of the beam, and a second hole penetrating the second plate beyond the right end.
This section provides background information to facilitate a better understanding of the various aspects of the disclosure. It should be understood that the statements in this section of this document are to be read in this light, and not as admissions of prior art.
Anti-ram vehicle barrier systems are used to guard against access to protected areas. In particular, the systems are provided to stop motor vehicles, such as trucks, from being intentionally driven into certain areas for nefarious purposes. At least one agency of the United States Government has provided standards to certify barriers for use.
SUMMARYAn exemplary beam for connecting between posts in a vehicle barrier includes a steel beam having a web and opposing flanges extending perpendicular to the web, a first plate extending beyond a left end of the beam, a first hole penetrating the first plate beyond the left end, a second plate extending beyond a right end of the beam, and a second hole penetrating the second plate beyond the right end.
Another exemplary beam for connecting between posts in a vehicle barrier includes a steel beam having opposing flanges extending perpendicular to a web, a first top plate extending beyond a left end of the beam, a first bottom plate extending beyond the left end parallel to the first top plate, a first top hole penetrating the first top plate, a first bottom hole penetrating the first bottom plate coaxial with the first top hole, a second top plate beyond a right end of the beam, and a second top hole penetrating the second top plate beyond the right end.
Another exemplary beam for connecting between posts in a vehicle barrier includes a steel beam having opposing flanges extending perpendicular to a web, a first top plate extending beyond a left end of the beam, a first bottom plate extending beyond the left end parallel to the first top plate, a first top hole penetrating the first top plate, a first bottom hole penetrating the first bottom plate coaxial with the first top hole, a second top plate extending beyond a right end of the beam, a second top hole penetrating the second top plate beyond the right end; a second bottom plate extending beyond the right end of the beam, and a second bottom hole penetrating the second bottom plate coaxial with the second top hole.
This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts that are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in limiting the scope of claimed subject matter.
The disclosure is best understood from the following detailed description when read with the accompanying figures. It is emphasized that, in accordance with standard practice in the industry, various features are not drawn to scale. In fact, the dimensions of various features may be arbitrarily increased or reduced for clarity of discussion.
It is to be understood that the following disclosure provides many different embodiments, or examples, for implementing different features of various embodiments. Specific examples of components and arrangements are described below to simplify the disclosure. These are, of course, merely examples and are not intended to be limiting. In addition, the disclosure may repeat reference numerals and/or letters in the various examples. This repetition is for the purpose of simplicity and clarity and does not in itself dictate a relationship between the various embodiments and/or configurations discussed.
PVB 10 is configured to stop the penetration of a motor vehicle that crashes into the barrier. PVB 10 should fully stop any impacting vehicle within a desired penetration distance, for example, to keep explosives carried by the vehicle at a selected standoff distance from facilities located within the barrier perimeter. United States federal agencies (e.g., the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) and the Department of State (DOS)) have developed test standards using crash tests to quantify, verify, and certify barrier performance. Such test methods were initially published by the U.S. Dept. of State in 1985 as SD-STD-02.01, which was revised in 2003 as SD-STD-02.01 Revision A, and which was replaced in 2009 with ASTM F2656 (Standard Test Method for Vehicle Crash Testing of Perimeter Barriers). Embodiments of PVB 10 are configured to be crash-rated by certifying agencies such as DOD, DOS, ASTM, and British Standards (BSI). Vehicle barriers are tested by crashing a motor vehicle from a perpendicular direction into the barrier. The vehicle barrier is rated based on the test vehicles weight, the speed of impact, and the penetration of the vehicle (e.g., the cargo bed) beyond the pre-impact inside edge of the barrier. For example, a “K” or “M” designates a medium duty vehicle with a gross weight of 15,000 pounds (6810 kg). The speed ratings include K4/M30 for traveling at 28.0 to 37.9 miles per hour (mph), K8/M40 traveling at 38.0 to 46.9 mph, and K12/M50 traveling at 47.0 mph and above. The penetration ratings include P1 for less than or equal to 1 meter (3.3 ft.), P2 for 1.10 to 7 m (3.31 to 23.0 ft.), and P3 for 7.01 to 30 m (23.1 to 98.4 ft.). For example, an M50 P1 crash barrier is designed to stop a medium duty truck traveling 50 mph with a penetration distance of 3.3 feet or less.
In
PVB 10 includes a continuous beam 12 positioned above ground level 17. PVB 10 may include one or more truss sections 14. In the illustrated examples, truss sections 14 are illustrated at terminal ends of a longitudinal length of continuous beam 12, however, truss sections 14 may be positioned within a longitudinal span of continuous beam 12. Beam 12 is formed of interconnected beam sections 16. Adjacent beams sections 16 are connected at joints 18. Joints 18 are pivoting connections that permit a degree of pivoting movement between adjacent beam sections 16 or a beam section and a post when beam 12 is impacted by a motor vehicle. Examples of pivot connections at joints 18 are illustrated in
Posts, generally denoted by the numeral 22, are connected to beam 12, for example, to support beam 12 above ground level and to provide tension to mitigate lift of beam 12 in response to the impact of the motor vehicle. Posts 22 are metal members and may take various forms including I-beams, round or rectangular (e.g., square) members. Posts 22 may be arranged in a line post configuration, identified specifically with reference number 21, connected to beam 12 at a joint 18. Posts 22 may be arranged in an intermediate configuration, identified specifically with reference number 23, connected to beam 12 at an intermediate position in between joints 18. Some or all of posts 22 may be used to support an ornamental fence structure, e.g., a chain link section.
With reference, in particular to
Foundation 24 is concrete and may be a shallow or a deep foundation. A concrete foundation having a depth, for example, of about twenty inches or less, may be considered a shallow foundation. Concrete foundation 24 may be about eighteen inches or less. Concrete foundation 24 may be about twelve inches or less. Concrete foundation 24 may be about six inches or less. Concrete foundation 24 may extend the length of beam 12 as shown for example in
In this example, first end 40 is a rectangular shaped member extending horizontally relative to ground level and having a vertical hole 41 through which a tail end of pivot pin 32 is disposed, and a cross-hole 43 that may be aligned with a cross-hole 38 in pivot pin 32 (see, FIG. 22). Beam plates 28 of adjacent beam sections 16 overlap with holes 30 of beam plates 28 (
In
Brace 20 may be connected to a line post 21. In the configuration of
A passive vehicle barrier according to at least one embodiment includes a plurality of interconnected beam sections, forming a beam positioned above ground level and secured to the ground via a plurality of spaced apart posts. Adjacent beam sections are pivotally connected to one another. In some embodiments, the passive vehicle barrier is an anti-ram barrier is configured to meet or meets ASTM F2656 standards. The posts may be positioned at pivotal connections between adjacent beam sections and/or positioned between pivotal connections.
In some embodiments, braces can be attached to the beam and the ground to form two sides of a triangle and provide a stopping force to a motor vehicle impacting the beam. One or more of the braces may be connected with a vertical post that forms a third side of the triangle.
Although relative terms such as “outer,” “inner,” “upper,” “lower,” and similar terms have been used herein to describe a spatial relationship of one element to another, it is understood that these terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the various elements and components in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. Furthermore, as used herein, the terms “connect,” “connection,” “connected,” “in connection with,” and “connecting” may be used to mean in direct connection with or in connection with via one or more elements. Similarly, the terms “couple,” “coupling,” and “coupled” may be used to mean directly coupled or coupled via one or more elements. The terms “substantially,” “approximately,” “generally,” and “about” are defined as largely but not necessarily wholly what is specified (and includes what is specified; e.g., substantially 90 degrees includes 90 degrees and substantially parallel includes parallel), as understood by a person of ordinary skill in the art. The extent to which the description may vary will depend on how great a change can be instituted and still have a person of ordinary skill in the art recognized the modified feature as still having the required characteristics and capabilities of the unmodified feature.
The foregoing outlines features of several embodiments so that those skilled in the art may better understand the aspects of the disclosure. Those skilled in the art should appreciate that they may readily use the disclosure as a basis for designing or modifying other processes and structures for carrying out the same purposes and/or achieving the same advantages of the embodiments introduced herein. Those skilled in the art should also realize that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the disclosure and that they may make various changes, substitutions, and alterations herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. The scope of the invention should be determined only by the language of the claims that follow. The term “comprising” within the claims is intended to mean “including at least” such that the recited listing of elements in a claim are an open group. The terms “a,” “an” and other singular terms are intended to include the plural forms thereof unless specifically excluded.
Claims
1. A beam for connecting between posts in a vehicle barrier, the beam comprising:
- a steel beam having a web and opposing flanges extending perpendicular to the web;
- a first plate extending beyond a left end of the beam;
- a first hole penetrating the first plate beyond the left end;
- a second plate extending beyond a right end of the beam; and
- a second hole penetrating the second plate beyond the right end.
2. The beam of claim 1, wherein the first plate and the second plate are horizontal with the web.
3. The beam of claim 1, wherein the first plate comprises:
- a beam portion overlapping the web; and
- an extension portion extending beyond the left end of the beam.
4. The beam of claim 1, wherein the first hole and the second hole are perpendicular to the web.
5. The beam of claim 1, wherein the first plate and the second plate are located on opposite sides of the web.
6. The beam of claim 1, wherein the first plate and the second plate are located on a same side of the web.
7. The beam of claim 1, wherein:
- the first plate and the second plate are horizontal with the web;
- the first hole and the second hole are perpendicular to the web; and
- the first plate comprises a beam portion overlapping the web and an extension portion extending beyond the left end; and
- the second plate comprises a beam portion overlapping the web and an extension portion located beyond the right end.
8. The beam of claim 7, wherein the first plate and the second plate are located on opposite sides of the web.
9. The beam of claim 7, wherein the first plate and the second plate are located on a same side of the web.
10. A beam for connecting between posts in a vehicle barrier, the beam comprising:
- a steel beam having opposing flanges extending perpendicular to a web;
- a first top plate extending beyond a left end of the beam;
- a first bottom plate extending beyond the left end parallel to the first top plate;
- a first top hole penetrating the first top plate;
- a first bottom hole penetrating the first bottom plate coaxial with the first top hole;
- a second top plate beyond a right end of the beam; and
- a second top hole penetrating the second top plate beyond the right end.
11. The beam of claim 10, wherein the first top hole and the second top hole are perpendicular to the web.
12. The beam of claim 10, wherein the first top plate and the first bottom plate are located on opposite sides of the web.
13. The beam of claim 10, wherein the first top plate, the first bottom plate, and the second top plate are parallel to the web.
14. The beam of claim 10, wherein the first top plate and the first bottom plate each comprise a beam portion overlapping the web and an extension portion extending beyond the left end of the beam.
15. The beam of claim 10, wherein the first top plate and the first bottom plate are located on opposite sides of the web; and
- the first top plate, the first bottom plate, and the second top plate are parallel to the web.
16. A beam for connecting between posts in a vehicle barrier, the beam comprising:
- a steel beam having opposing flanges extending perpendicular to a web;
- a first top plate extending beyond a left end of the beam;
- a first bottom plate extending beyond the left end parallel to the first top plate;
- a first top hole penetrating the first top plate;
- a first bottom hole penetrating the first bottom plate coaxial with the first top hole;
- a second top plate extending beyond a right end of the beam;
- a second top hole penetrating the second top plate beyond the right end;
- a second bottom plate extending beyond the right end of the beam; and
- a second bottom hole penetrating the second bottom plate coaxial with the second top hole.
17. The beam of claim 16, wherein the first top hole and the second top hole are perpendicular to the web.
18. The beam of claim 16, wherein:
- the first top plate and the first bottom plate are located on opposite sides of the web; and
- the second top plate and the second bottom plate are located on opposite sides of the web.
19. The beam of claim 16, wherein:
- each of the first top plate and the first bottom plate comprise a beam portion overlapping the web and an extension portion extending beyond the left end; and
- each of the second top plate and the second bottom plate comprise a beam portion overlapping the web and an extension portion extending beyond the right end.
20. The beam of claim 19, wherein:
- the beam portion is in contact with the opposing flanges;
- the first top plate and the first bottom plate are located on opposite sides of the web; and
- the second top plate and the second bottom plate are located on opposite sides of the web.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 23, 2023
Publication Date: Feb 15, 2024
Inventor: William H. Neusch (Marble Falls, TX)
Application Number: 18/492,706