Cable for use in safety barrier

Abstract

A cable for use in a safety barrier is provided. A cable for use in a safety barrier may include a plastic core wire and a plurality of metal wires disposed adjacent to and longitudinally to the plastic core wire. The cable may be pre-stretched prior to installation in the safety barrier. A method of making cable for use in a safety barrier may include (a)providing a plastic core wire, (b) disposing a plurality of metal wires, each metal wire disposed adjacent to and longitudinally to the plastic core wire, and (c) prestretching the cable prior to installation in the safety barrier.

1 . A safety barrier installed adjacent to a roadway comprising:
 a plurality of posts spaced from each other and disposed adjacent to the roadway; and   at least one pre-stretched cable releasably engaged with and supported by the posts; and   the cable having a first plastic core wire, a first plurality of metal wires disposed adjacent to and extending longitudinally along the first plastic core wire.   
   
   
       2 . The safety barrier of  claim 1 , further comprising the cable pre-stretched using a force equal to between approximately 60% to approximately 70% of the force required to break the cable. 
   
   
       3 . The safety barrier of  claim 1 , wherein the first plastic core wire comprises a polypropylene thread. 
   
   
       4 . The safety barrier of  claim 1 , wherein the first plurality of metal wires comprises six metal wires. 
   
   
       5 . The safety barrier of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first wire rope having the first plastic core and the first plurality of metal wires; and   a second wire rope and a third wire rope disposed adjacent to and extending longitudinally along the first wire rope.   
   
   
       6 . The safety barrier of  claim 5 , wherein at least one of the second wire rope and third wire rope comprises:
 a plastic core wire; and   a plurality of metal wires disposed adjacent to and extending longitudinally along the plastic core wire.   
   
   
       7 . The safety barrier of  claim 5 , wherein at least one of the second wire rope and third wire rope comprises:
 a metal core wire; and   a plurality of metal wires disposed adjacent to and extending longitudinally along the metal core wire.   
   
   
       8 . A cable for use in a safety barrier comprising:
 a first plastic core wire;   a first plurality of metal wires disposed adjacent to and longitudinally to the first plastic core wire; and   the cable pre-stretched prior to installation in the safety barrier.   
   
   
       9 . The cable of  claim 8 , comprising the cable pre-stretched using a force equal to between approximately 60% to approximately 70% of the force required to break the cable. 
   
   
       10 . The cable of  claim 8 , wherein the first plastic core wire comprises a polypropylene thread. 
   
   
       11 . The cable of  claim 8 , wherein the first plurality of metal wires comprises six metal wires. 
   
   
       12 . The cable of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a first wire rope having the first plastic core and the first plurality of metal wires; and   a second wire rope and a third wire rope disposed adjacent to and extending longitudinally along the first wire rope.   
   
   
       13 . The cable of  claim 12 , wherein at least one of the second wire rope and third wire rope comprises:
 a plastic core wire; and   a plurality of metal wires disposed adjacent to and extending longitudinally along the plastic core wire.   
   
   
       14 . The cable of  claim 12 , wherein at least one of the second wire rope and third wire rope comprises:
 a metal core wire; and   a plurality of metal wires disposed adjacent to and extending longitudinally along the metal core wire.   
   
   
       15 . A method of making cable for use in a safety barrier comprising:
 providing a first plastic core wire; and   disposing a first plurality of metal wires adjacent to and extending longitudinally along the first plastic core wire; and   prestretching the cable prior to installation in the safety barrier.   
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising prestretching the cable using a force equal to between approximately 60% to approximately 70% of the force required to break the cable. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising forming the first plastic core wire from a polypropylene thread. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising wrapping six metal wires adjacent to and extending along the first plastic core wire. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising forming a first wire rope with the first plastic core and the first plurality of metal wires, and
 disposing a second wire rope and a third wire rope adjacent to and extending longitudinally relative to the first wire rope.   
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 forming at least one of the second wire rope and third wire rope using a second plastic core wire; and   disposing a plurality of metal wires adjacent to and extending longitudinally relative to the second plastic core wire.