Impact attenuator safety truck
AssigneeCROC Enterprises, LLC
InventorJames P. Crocker
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An impact attenuator safety truck with a configurable flatbed capable of carrying a forklift. The safety truck provides a crash barrier for roadway construction projects using impact absorbing sections (TMAs) that are movable from a stowage position above the surface of the flatbed, thereby allowing the entire surface of the flatbed for storage. The forklift is secured to the flatbed when the impact absorbing sections are in the stowage position. When the impact absorbing sections are in a deployed position, the forklift can access the flatbed surface from either side. A pair of hydraulic cylinders in combination with pivot arms and a cradle allows rotating of the impact absorbing sections between the stowage position and deployed position.
Claims8
An impact attenuator safety truck comprising:
- a forward facing operator cab containing a propulsion system for driving the truck along a roadway surface;
- a flatbed located behind the cab having a generally flat surface positioned above a flatbed support;
- a first cradle positioned on a first side of the flatbed and a second cradle positioned on a second side of the flatbed, the second side being opposite the first side, each of the first cradle and the second cradle having a base wall, a first side wall and a second side wall extending upward from the base wall with a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of each of the first cradle and the second cradle being rotatably coupled to the flatbed support;
- a first pivot arm having a first end and a second end, the first end being coupled to the proximal end of the first cradle;
- a second pivot arm having a first end and a second end, the first end of the second pivot arm being coupled to the proximal end of the second cradle;
- a first piston having a lower end coupled to the first cradle and an upper end coupled to the first pivot arm, the first piston being configured to pivot the first cradle between a substantially horizontal plane relative to the first cradle and a substantially vertical plane relative to the first cradle;
- a second piston having a lower end coupled to the second cradle and an upper end coupled the second pivot arm, the second piston being configured to pivot the second cradle between a substantially horizontal plane relative to the second cradle and a substantially vertical plane relative to the second cradle;
- a first impact absorbing section having a base hingedly coupled to the second end of the first pivot arm and the second end of the second pivot arm, the first impact absorbing section including a back end, wherein the first impact absorbing section is configured to move between a perpendicular position relative to the first pivot arm and the second pivot arm and a substantially parallel position relative to the first pivot arm and the second pivot arm;
- and
- a second impact absorbing section having a front end hingedly coupled to the back end of the first impact absorbing section, the second impact absorbing section including a tail end, wherein the second impact absorbing section is configured to move between a perpendicular position relative to the first impact absorbing section and a substantially in-line position relative to the first impact absorbing section,
- wherein the first piston and the second piston are configured to be actuated to move the first impact absorbing section and the second impact absorbing section from a stowage position above the flatbed to a deployed horizontal position behind the flatbed to absorb kinetic energy from a rear end collision.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.