Guardrail assembly and method of installing the guardrail assembly

Abstract

A system of the present invention is adaptable for transporting and installation a guardrail assembly having a panel connected to the ground by a plurality of posts. A vehicle of the system includes a manipulator for selectively engaging and removing the posts and the panels from the vehicle. A tool inserts the posts into the ground. A die device interconnects the post with the panel by partially deforming the panel into the post thereby snapping the panel by the posts. The present invention includes a method of installing the guardrail assembly.

1 . A guardrail assembly for use on a roadway for deflecting a vehicle from leaving the roadway, comprising: 
 a plurality of support posts extending in a vertical direction having a mating surface;    a rail extending generally parallel to the roadway and having a connecting panel affixed to said mating surface of said support post, and being disposed between a guard panel and shoulder of said rail, each of said guard panel and said shoulder projecting outwardly away from said plurality of support post at an obtuse angle to said connecting panel to a distal end, said shoulder extending downwardly toward said roadway a distance sufficient to receive a tire of the vehicle and force the tire in a vertical direction thereby diffusing kinetic energy of the vehicle, said guard panel being spaced from said shoulder a distance sufficient to receive the tire being redirected in a vertical direction thereby redirecting the vehicle onto the roadway.    
   
   
       2 . The assembly set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said shoulder is flexible to absorb kinetic energy from the vehicle.  
   
   
       3 . The assembly set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said shoulder includes a distal end having a curled section providing strength to said shoulder.  
   
   
       4 . An installation device for driving a post into a ground comprising: 
 a base for holding the post,    a support extending from said base,    a hammer pivotably connected to said support for driving the post into the ground, and    an actuator extending from said base and cooperable with said hammer for pivoting said hammer relative to said support in a repetitive mode for driving the post into the ground thereby eliminating a clearance between the post and the ground.    
   
   
       5 . The assembly set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said guard panel is cooperable with said shoulder to receive the tire redirected in a vertical direction downwardly toward the roadway.  
   
   
       6 . The assembly set forth in  claim 4 , wherein said guard panel includes a distal end having a curled section providing strength to said shoulder.  
   
   
       7 . The assembly set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said mating surface and said connecting surface are deformed into an interlocking relationship thereby affixing said rail to said support posts.  
   
   
       8 . The assembly set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said mating surface and said connecting surface are affixed with a fastener.  
   
   
       9 . The assembly set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said support posts include a hook for retention when said support posts are driven into the ground.  
   
   
       10 . The assembly set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said assembly is formed from a Type 50 cross-sectional configuration.  
   
   
       11 . The assembly set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said shoulder of said rail includes a lowermost point positioned below an axis defined by the tire impacting the guardrail assembly.  
   
   
       12 . A method for transporting and assembling a guardrail having at least one support post and rail along the ground, said method comprising the steps of: 
 selectively engaging and removing the at least one support post and the rail from the vehicle;    inserting the at least one support post into the ground as the at least one support post is removed from the vehicle; and    interconnecting the at least one support post with the rail by partially deforming the rail to form a first connector extending into a second connector formed in the at least one support post; and    snapping the first connector formed in the rail by the second connector formed in the at least one support post.