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US 11,885,084 B2Granted
Crash cushion with improved reinforcing cable system
OwnerJason Liminventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A crash cushion includes a number of spaced-apart supports or bulkheads; energy absorbing modules positioned between the supports; overlapping side panels that interconnect the supports and envelop the energy absorbing modules; front and rear fixed anchors; and reinforcing cables extending between the anchors. The cables extend through cable guides formed in the supports so as to stabilize the supports and facilitate controlled collapse of the supports during vehicle impacts.
Claims20
A crash cushion for absorbing energy when impacted by a vehicle, the crash cushion comprising:
- a front anchor structure;
- a rear anchor structure spaced from the front anchor structure;
- a plurality of supports positioned between the front anchor structure and the rear anchor structure, each support including—
- a central frame,
- a ground engaging component connected to the central frame and oriented to engage a ground surface,
- a left side cable guide positioned at least 20″ above the ground surface and attached to the central frame,
- a right side cable guide positioned at least 20″ above the ground surface and attached to the central frame,
- a left hinge assembly attached to the central frame, and
- a right hinge assembly attached to the central frame;
- a plurality of energy absorbing modules disposed between the supports;
- a plurality of side panels that interconnect the supports and envelop the energy absorbing modules;
- a left side cable affixed to the front anchor structure and the rear anchor structure and extending through the left side cable guides so that a portion of the left side cable is at least 20″ above the ground surface;
- and
- a right side cable affixed to the front anchor structure and the rear anchor structure and extending through the right side cable guides so that a portion of the right side cable is at least 20″ above the ground surface,
- wherein a width between the left and right hinge assemblies of successive supports increases in a direction from the front anchor structure to the rear anchor structure.
12 more elements
A crash cushion for absorbing energy when impacted by a vehicle, the crash cushion comprising:
- a front anchor structure;
- a rear anchor structure spaced from the front anchor structure;
- a plurality of supports positioned between the front anchor structure and the rear anchor structure, each support including—
- a central frame,
- a ground engaging component connected to the central frame and oriented to engage a ground surface,
- a lower left side cable guide positioned at least 10″ above the ground surface and attached to the central frame,
- an upper left side cable guide positioned at least 20″ above the ground surface and attached to the central frame,
- a lower right side cable guide positioned at least 10″ above the ground surface and attached to the central frame,
- an upper right side cable guide positioned at least 20″ above the ground surface and attached to the central frame,
- a left hinge assembly attached to the central frame, and
- a right hinge assembly attached to the central frame;
- a plurality of energy absorbing modules disposed between the supports;
- a plurality of side panels that interconnect the supports and envelop the energy absorbing modules;
- a lower left side cable affixed to the front anchor structure and the rear anchor structure and extending through the lower left side cable guides;
- a lower right side cable affixed to the front anchor structure and the rear anchor structure and extending through the lower right side cable guides;
- an upper left side cable affixed to the front anchor structure and the rear anchor structure and extending through the upper left side cable guides;
- and
- an upper right side cable affixed to the front anchor structure and the rear anchor structure and extending through the right side cable guides,
- wherein a width between the left and right hinge assemblies of successive supports increases in a direction from the front anchor structure to the rear anchor structure.
16 more elements
A crash cushion for absorbing energy when impacted by a vehicle, the crash cushion comprising:
- a front anchor structure;
- a rear anchor structure spaced from the front anchor structure;
- a plurality of supports positioned between the front anchor structure and the rear anchor structure, each support including—
- a central frame,
- a ground engaging component connected to the central frame and oriented to engage a ground surface,
- a left side cable guide positioned at least 20″ above the ground surface and attached to the central frame,
- a right side cable guide positioned at least 20″ above the ground surface and attached to the central frame,
- a left hinge assembly attached to the central frame, and
- a right hinge assembly attached to the central frame;
- a plurality of energy absorbing modules disposed between the supports;
- a plurality of side panels that interconnect the supports and envelop the energy absorbing modules;
- a left side cable affixed to the front anchor structure and the rear anchor structure and extending through the left side cable guides so that a portion of the left side cable is at least 20″ above the ground surface;
- and
- a right side cable affixed to the front anchor structure and the rear anchor structure and extending through the right side cable guides so that a portion of the right side cable is at least 20″ above the ground surface,
- wherein a width between the left and right hinge assemblies of successive supports increases in a direction from the front anchor structure to the rear anchor structure,
- wherein the left side cable passes through the left side cable guide but is not clamped to or otherwise affixed to the left side cable guide, and
- wherein the right side cable passes through the right side cable guide but is not clamped to or otherwise affixed to the right side cable guide.
14 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.